Well, I've got another chapter out. I tried to get it out sooner but, I had to babysit last night and it's kinda hard trying to type when you have sneaky little kids around. Hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 10





"Man Hitomi, if that shirt gets any tighter..."

"Shut up!"

"I think Van will like it."

"I'm warning you Sonya!"

"Take a pill."

"Paige, why do we have to wear these?" Hitomi asked, pulling at the tight shirt she was wearing.

"Sorry, we can't risk being seen. The guys are doing the same thing right now." Paige said.

"I really don't look good in black." Sonya complained.

"Stop whining. Let's get a move on." Hitomi said, opening the door. She walked out only to face the firing squad.

"Nice outfit Kanzaki. Where's the rest of it?" Kai teased, giving her a couple cat calls. Hitomi blushed and swivelled to return to Paige's room. Paige came out a few minutes later and glared at Kai for opening his mouth.

"You twit! I should beat you senseless! Now I can't get her to come out of there!" She yelled.

"Please do. A senseless beating would be nice right about now." Kai commented with a smirk.

"Grrr...Van, go fix it!" Paige commanded. Van looked at her wide eyed and glanced at the door behind her.

"What are you waiting for? The next millennium? She needs comfort." Sonya said. Van shook his head and went to Paige's room, peeking in before actually entering. Hitomi was looking herself over in the mirror completely lost in thought. He walked in quietly and looked at her.

"You look fine Hitomi." He said. She spun around to face him. All he could do was stare at her. Even that became a task to hard to bare so he lowered his face to examine himself.

"You'd look just as beautiful in anything you wore although, I don't think I'll ever get use to this." He said, gesturing to the clothes Kai had given him. The material of the black pants and turtleneck felt odd on his skin. Hitomi smiled and walked over to him.

"Thank you Van. It means a lot to hear you say that. As for your outfit, I think you look quite hansom." She said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. He blushed and took her hands. The look on his face changed so quickly that it shocked her. His features changed from playful, happy to serious in a matter of seconds.

"Before we go Hitomi, I want you to promise me something." He said. She looked up into his eyes, curiously.

"What is it Van?" She asked.

"Promise me that you won't risk yourself for me. I don't want you getting hurt because of me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you." He said.

"Van I..."

"Please?" He begged.

"Ok, I'll try but, you have to know that if something were to happen to you that I know I could have stopped, I would never be able to live with myself if I didn't try to help you." She answered. She knew that if anything happened she'd do anything to stop it no matter what the consequences would be.

"Just, please be safe. This shouldn't even involve you or the others. I..."

"Van, I've already told you before that you can't do this alone. There's no way I would let you go there and endanger yourself. Please, just let us help. Safety in numbers." She assured him. It still wasn't good enough so, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against his chest.

"I promise I'll be careful Van if you promise you'll be careful too." She said. he sighed and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"Deal."

"Not yet." She smiled as she brushed her lips against his. He gratefully excepted the offer and kissed her back.

"We've got work to do." He said, with a smile. They walked out of the room and looked at the grinning faces around them.

"You did that on purpose didn't you?" Van asked.

"Who me? Never!" Paige replied. They all laughed and proceeded in getting the necessary supplies needed. Kai had brought Van and Allen to the small security office outside the lab to get 'suited' up as he called it earlier.

"Hitomi?"

"Yeah?"

"What happens when this is over?"

"What do you mean Paige?"

"Come on Hitomi. You know what I mean. When we get Escaflowne back. What happens next? Will you go with Van back to Gaea?" Paige asked, perching on a desk in front of her friend.

"Yeah, you guys are so close now. To think, you guys almost bit each others heads off..."

"All set." Kai cut in. They had just come back and hadn't heard any of the conversation. Hitomi was glad for that. She didn't want to think about the future yet. She just wanted to get the Escaflowne first so that Van would be safe. There wasn't time to think about what would happen after. That would be discussed when the time was right. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as she looked over at Van.

"What are these weird things for anyway?" Allen asked.

"They're mics. You'll be able to hear all of us. That way, if we get separated, we'll still be able to keep in touch. It's a safety precaution. I don't need anybody getting lost or getting unnecessarily hurt because there was nobody to watch their back." Paige said.

"See Van, safety in numbers. Paige is good at this stuff." Hitomi whispered.

"Does she break into places for a living?" He asked.

"No silly, she's not a criminal." She grinned as she saw his mischievous smile.

"Enough chit chat you two. We're on a tight schedule. Lets get a move on." Paige instructed.

"What's the plan?" Sonya asked. Everybody looked at Paige as she groaned deeply.

"I've already told you what we were doing like six times Sonya. Sheesh, pay attention! I'll explain it on the way. Again but, slower so you get the just of it." She muttered.

"It's not my fault, I was distracted." Sonya argued.

"What else is new? I beat I know what occupied that brain of yours too." Kai said.

"Yeah, Allen. Oops." Hitomi covered her mouth and hide behind Van who was trying not to laugh and hold a blank expression. It didn't last long when he looked at Allen's shocked expression. Laughter rang from his mouth and he had to hold his stomach because it hurt.

"It's alive! It's alive! What did you do to him Hitomi? I think that's the first time I've heard anything come out of his mouth that wasn't discouraging." Kai commented.

"Maybe someone's tickling Escaflowne to try and open it." Sonya said. Everybody laughed at the thought of some mad scientists tickling a giant robot to make it work. It was a good laugh before they had to get serious again.

"Come on guys, I'll explain the plan on the way for you people that were being too mushy to hear it." Paige said as they filed out of the room. It was almost show time and she wanted to make sure everybody was prepared. They were going into a dangerous place. One that she feared more than anything. She didn't want anything to happen to her dear friends. She wouldn't let them suffer at the hands of that evil man.

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TBC...



How was that? Kinda short I know but, I really wanted to post something so, this is what I came up with. My uncle is snoring beside me on my couch and it's really annoying. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up cuz I'm working the night shift this week. I'll try to get it up sometime this week or next weekend. Hopefully I'll have a ride home after work some night so I can work on it. Next up...the action. Well part of it. Bye for now!