Title: Intruder Alert: Take Two
Author: Haze
Disclaimer: I don't own Vision of Escaflowne so don't sue me…
Chapter Dedication: AFCAMistress, esca chick, raven, SabrinaYutsuki, Caitie, Fuzzie, GldDragnSR, aoao, Magicman/Smokegirl, torn, , Anonymous, Pyro'sgirl, Very evil daughter of Lord Vol, Ruby, who cares, Dilandau fan gurl, ice, MysticalDreamer, Mad Meg Askevron, Izzy and to LazyCat9@aol.com
Summary: Popular guy, Dilandau Albatou, had finally met his match in this green-eyed, short-tempered girl from America. Sparks flew between them from the start and intensified when they found out that they were actually engaged to each other. But when it seemed that they had settled the negative sparks between them, more embers glow from the outside.
Chapter 2: Hitomi, the Barbarian Queen
She was no big deal. Yeah right. And he almost had himself battered to death just to save her.
'Damn!' he thought. 'I couldn't even move without experiencing this blasted pain. Even breathing is hell!'
He shut his eyes even tighter in an effort to block out the overwhelming pain all over his body. But it was all in vain. And he hated it that all he wanted to do was burn to crisp the freaking bastards who did this to him. It not only hurt him physically, but it also battered his ego. Imagine being beaten badly enough to be hospitalized when he could've fought back and send them to the hospital as well. Not all of them, but at least some of them to make it on a par.
But no he wasn't able to do so. Why? Because Hitomi had been so hard-headed that he had to protect her from those bastards. Sometimes, Hitomi can be such a trouble. She can be such a pain that he didn't know whether he wanted to throttle her or just plainly get rid of her.
Damn, how he hated the fact that Hitomi was around…
"It wasn't your fault, Tomi." Hiko's voice was soft, comforting as it filtered through the closed door of his room.
"Either you shut up on your own or I'm going have to do something to make you!" Hitomi snapped crossly.
"Gee, I was only trying to be comforting. You didn't have to be so touchy. I couldn't very well imagine if Allen had himself kicked to death for protecting you, which is of course hardly possible since he's such a vain playboy and he has tons of girls to replace you in case you die---"
A resounding slap was heard as it echoed through the halls of the hospital. From his position in the bed, just a mere door away from the siblings, he could just imagine the hell of pain Hiko must be suffering from the sting that Hitomi most likely inflicted on his face.
"Ouch!" Hiko yelped. "If my arm is broken because of that, I'm going to break your arm, too."
'Arm? How come she just hit his arm?' Dilandau thought, still with his eyes tightly shut.
"NEVER say such a bad thing about ALLEN or else I'm going to break every bone in your body!"
'Allen? Who the hell is Allen?'
"Why do you like him so much? He's such an irritating freak of nature---"
Another slap resounded which was immediately followed by Hiko's yelp of pain.
"I do NOT just like him. I LOVE him and you know that damn well."
"Yeah, too well that you ignore the fact that he's such an irritating freak of na---"
Another slap. Another yelp.
"Do NOT insult him twice. If you get away with the first, not in the second. And just to correct your crazy mind, he seems an irritating freak of nature to you because he's handsome enough to even make YOU have a crush on him!"
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say. Now I thought we're here to visit Dilandau who is more cool and good-looking than your swimming pool-eyed jock of a boyfriend."
Another slap. Another yelp.
Dilandau sighed. 'How come I have a barbaric fiancée?'
Balgus massaged his temples to get rid of the growing headache he was again having from serious matters such as the latest fight most members of the school soccer team had been involved in. There are so many problems. Maybe he should retire soon and just rest.
Maybe some other time. Right now, he needs to see personally how Dilandau is doing. For sure his parents would go straight to their work to blow off steam. And he could take that time as an advantage to see how Dilandau is coping with everything.
'Good idea,' he thought as he stood up and left his office.
He opened his eyes, rousing from the sleep he had had after Sir Balgus had visited him hours before. He was overly irritated at the noise his friends were causing.
'Can't they be freaking quiet for once?!' He thought irately as he struggled to ignore the pain that shot up through him with every breath he was doing. "Damn it! Just freaking shut up!"
Everyone looked at him as he finished his screamed order. He was now wincing in pain at the exertion he had just put himself into.
"Dilandau, you're alright," Chesta said, smiling with relief.
He frowned. "But I'm going to die if all of you don't leave."
"Hey, we're here to visit you and you're not even happy," Van mumbled.
"You're all giving me a hard time with all your damn noise!"
They blinked and looked at each other before looking at Dilandau and smiling sheepishly.
"So you now realize," Dilandau said, rolling his eyes and trying to ignore every aches and pains in his body. "Now will you all just get the hell out?!" 'Damn it! Everything hurts!'
"Yeah, yeah." Van nodded and began pushing the others out. "We'll come some other time then."
"And remember to shut your mouths by then," Dilandau muttered crossly.
Van just grinned. "Yes, your grace."
"Just get out! No visitors!"
They moved out with the rest rolling their eyes at Van's cockiness. Their friend could get so cocky that he is the perfect rival to Dilandau's cockiness. They walked down the corridor and were met with Hitomi, Hiko, Celena, and Merle.
"I don't think Dilandau would want to be disturbed right now," Guimel promptly said the moment the new-comers were within hearing range.
Hitomi looked at her feet guiltily. "Oh."
"Let's, um, come back some other time then," Hiko said comfortingly at Hitomi while tugging at her arm. "You want to eat?"
Merle crossed her arms on her chest and glared at Guimel along with Celena.
"Hey, I was only telling the truth you know." Guimel was on his defensive mode.
"Guimel is right," Viole said to rescue Guimel. "He was a bit, uh,"
"Grouchy."
"Van!" Gatti glared at him.
"What? I was just telling the truth."
Dalet grinned. "Yeah. He was grouchy."
Chesta just sighed and shook his head. 'Sometimes, they can all get so---'
"Stupid."
Everyone looked at Miguel after his one-word interruption.
"This is all stupid," Miguel cleared. He looked at Hitomi. "You want to see him? Go. Frankly, you seem to be the one who can handle his grouchiness well enough."
Celena nodded. "Yeah. It's like you actually equal his fiery side. Yeah! Go see him."
"Didn't I just say that there'll be no visitors?!"
Hitomi stopped as she was closing the door and stared at him for a while before opening the door wider again and preparing for her leave. Dilandau chose that precise moment to divert his gaze from the window to the door.
"Hitomi?"
She looked back with uncertainty. "Uh, hi. I was just about to leave."
"Aren't you going to stay for a chat?"
"There'll be no visitors, right?"
He cocked his head slightly and grinned. "But you're not just a visitor. You're my… how should I say it?" He asked mockingly.
'The cocky one,' Hitomi thought with relief. "Oh. I happen to forget how, your most gracious one."
She closed the door and went to him, perching herself on his bed. She looked at him for a long time, deciding how to start.
"You plan to melt me or something?" Dilandau asked cockily.
She smirked. "Something like that to get rid of you permanently. But before that," she paused and sighed. "I'm sorry, okay?"
Hitomi looked guilty and he would've laughed himself to death if his chest wasn't hurting like hell. He just settled for a smirk instead. "Do ogres actually feel sorry?"
She glared at him and stuck out her tongue. "Uh, last time I checked, yeah duh. Well at least we do. Not like some demonic old man I know who finds everything interesting to mock, even serious things like saying sorry."
He laughed, ignoring the hell of a pain coursing through him at that precise moment. Demonic old man. Not much of pet name but certainly as insulting and as amusing as green-eyed ogre. Demonic for his blood red eyes. Old man for his silver hair.
"See? Even laughing at true explanations."
He chuckled more before grinning at her. "You always do give double-bladed apologies."
"I do NOT!" She snapped crossly.
"Oh really? You apologize and then follow it with an insult."
Green eyes narrowed eyes before rolling in exasperation. "You don't look a bit insulted to me."
"Well that's because I'm accustomed to your ways, babe."
"Do NOT call me BABE!! Geez, don't you even know about a movie entitled BABE?!"
He laughed again. "As a matter of fact I do. And I happen to recall the protagonist named Babe was a pig."
She resisted the urge to beat him to his grave that very next moment that he followed his last word with a very hearty laugh. He's still as cocky and as irritating as he could be. But that's not the bad part. No it wasn't. It was on her not really minding way too much the way he was so flawed and so unlike the perfect type of guy she wanted to be engaged to.
"Yup, she can handle Dilandau," Celena muttered as she and the rest pulled away from the now slightly opened door where they were all peeking in by pairs at random.
"Looks like everything is back to normal."
"Yeah. You're very right, Gatti. Very right indeed," Guimel said, nodding for additional effect.
"Well, we better leave the two alone," Merle interrupted, pulling Viole away and looking at the rest.
"You're right." They all said at the same time, although very quietly.
~*Ten days later*~
"Oh come on. It's not so bad."
He glared at Hitomi. "You look SO happy."
She laughed evilly. "Why wouldn't I? After you got hospitalized for a week, which was the duration of your suspension in school, you got a whole month's ground punishment."
"Oh, how nice of you to remind me of that *incentive* for fighting," he remarked sarcastically.
"Chill out, old man," she said soothingly as she drank the last of her mango juice.
Dilandau rolled his eyes and laid back on the cold, cemented flooring of the school's rooftop. They had been having lunch there since he came back from the hospital which was technically three days ago. It was just the two of them, no other people to stop them from bickering or stare at them for their friendly banters.
They remained quiet for some time, enjoying the tranquility settling between them. Well, at least they think the other is enjoying the silence while they each delve into their own thoughts.
'How am I supposed to keep Hitomi out of this?' He mused as he stared unseeingly at the clear, blue sky.
'Who were those guys? Ok, so they're soccer players from another school, but I mean who were they in Dilandau's life? What were they saying about me being the new flavor of the week? About me being with the devil? About me getting laid on Dilandau's bed?'
They didn't exactly notice the time at first but Dilandau snapped out of his musings suddenly when he remembered that they were in school. He looked at Hitomi and stood up.
"Hitomi?"
She shook her head and looked up. Dilandau was already standing if front of her, holding out his hand. She forced a smile and reached for the held-out hand.
"That, that, agrh!" Merle exclaimed angrily as she slammed her locker shut. "Someday Manhattan, you're gonna pay for being such a---"
"Sorry, I got caught up with a couple of our girl friends." Celena's explanation interrupted Merle from finishing her exasperated declaration. "Where's Viole?"
"Huh? Oh, he's with the rest, trooping off to soccer practice."
"Oh. Well, I guess we better go and meet Mei and the others then."
"Yeah, we should."
They began walking down the corridors towards the main building's exit, talking about their plans.
"I really don't understand why he hangs around her!"
"Me, too. Didn't he get sent off to the hospital because he had to protect her?"
"I think she poisoned him into being so into her."
"Yeah. That witch sure has got our Dilandau. He didn't even come to the party just to accompany her to the mall. And he got hurt from it!"
"She's so unattractive I really don't know what she did to have him like that."
"And her hair! She might as well cut it off to a boy cut instead of her hair falling to her shoulders in subtle curls. I mean, she doesn't suit such a nice hair!"
"And her eyes are so green. I bet she's wearing contact lenses."
"And I bet she's bulimic or anorexic to be staying so thin!"
"She's nothing but trouble. Remember she was with them during the concert? And then with Dilandau on the mall?"
"She shouldn't even be allowed to go to the up-coming school dance."
The talks quieted down to a certain degree as Miguel passed by. But that doesn't mean he hadn't heard anything. After all, they were always talking about Hitomi in a bad way, especially since the concert and more so after the mall incident not so long ago.
It was irritating, really. After all, Hitomi had been nicer to him and the others when she and Dilandau started hanging together, arguing or not. And especially after the concert incident wherein they have this friendship air about them.
There was something between the two. Quiet obvious that even Van was beginning to back off. It was obvious that Van had liked Hitomi as a potential girlfriend. Although not the so serious type but still, to get Van into wanting a relationship is still something.
Celena had been obviously all over him and he still treats her like she'll be nothing more but a sister. But with Hitomi, it was something else. Perhaps it was because of her feisty attitude. What's with all her acting so rebellious on Dilandau, it would surely spark interest in Van.
But now, even Van was stepping back, saying that there's obviously more to Hitomi and Dilandau than meets the eye. And when Van steps back for Dilandau, it's really something. After all, he did enjoy competing with Dilandau on everything, friends or not. But now he's backing away? Really, Dilandau and Hitomi are not just friends. It was practically in the atmosphere that even Van's sometimes annoying competitiveness was discarded by its bearer.
If Van can sense it, it was THAT obvious then. And now if he, Miguel Lavariel, heard most gossiping on Hitomi despite his no-time-for-gossips attitude, Dilandau has definitely heard his fair share. And he's bound to do something about it.
'Not another trouble,' Miguel thought.
"Going to Hitomi?"
Dilandau raised a brow at Van. "Let me guess, you want to tag along?" He asked with sarcasm dripping.
Van laughed, enjoying Dilandau's temper. 'Obviously, Dilandau, you're taking Hitomi more than seriously. I doubt you'd even want me to try courting her even if it's just because she's interesting in a sense that she's gutsy around you.' "Get a grip, Dilandau. I like her. Can be a girlfriend. But since you obviously have all the hots for her, I'm off the case. I think in your case, it's not just *can be a girlfriend* thing like mine. But more on *can be a wife*."
Red eyes rolled upwards for a moment. "Please," he said sarcastically. "Am I that obvious? Gee, do you think I need to have a cover up?"
"Funny," Van said, laughing heartily. "Oh well. Troop off to Hitomi now. You'd never know who'd be around her."
"Like someone would mess with what's mine."
Dilandau sauntered out the locker room just as the rest of the members came out of the shower room's stalls and entered the locker room, joining Van who was about to exit the place.
'She's really your girl then. Your last line is so full of hints. Guess you slipped,' Van reflected, shaking his head at the apparent obviousness that his friend had finally lost his grip on being very far from love-struck.
"Please," Hiko mumbled, rolling his eyes. "Like they'd really do that."
Hitomi entered the living room, pointed to one of the seats before glaring at Dilandau and leaving for her bedroom. Dilandau merely smirked and plopped down on the designated seat.
"Just a moment," Hiko murmured on the receiver before looking at Dilandau. "I'm sure Tomi wouldn't mind if you go get something to eat in the kitchen. I'd just tell her you went there."
Dilandau grinned and shook his head. "Nah. I wouldn't want the barbarian to beat us both up. She's in the bad mood so beware."
Hiko laughed. "Don't worry. I think she hasn't got rabies."
He laughed at the comment. "But she can still pack a *friendly* swipe on our bodies. Well, get back to your girlfriend on the line. I wouldn't want you to get scolded." 'Like I most of the time get,' he added silently to himself.
The sixteen-year old denied the girlfriend on the line thing before going back to the conversation he was having with his friend on the phone. Dilandau just sat their, leaning on the couch and looking at the ceiling, waiting for Hitomi.
"Oh come on Jasper. Like the high and mighty people would give a damn about how Tomi is really doing here. Please. I think they're even too busy with who's the new girl again? Sarah or something? And I'm pretty sure that Allen is up to his womanizing thing again. I swear, even if he's two years my senior, I'd break his bones if I see him here trying to play with my sister again."
Hiko paused and frowned. "Oh? Tomi is just my senior by a year. She wouldn't be able to stop me from beating her Allen who is, let me quote this, the most gorgeous and most chivalrous guy in the school. Can't she get a life and drop him like a hot potato like he did with your sister?!"
Dilandau frowned. Hearing Hiko talk about Hitomi and this Allen person sure was piquing his interest.
"I know. But at least she's hanging out with a couple of people here. Although I've got to say that she's lost her position above the food chain. Yeah, I know. Unbelievable and I'm sure her high and mighty friends there would drop her quickly if they learn… Oh? They're really keeping jock boy away from girls? Please. That's so hard to believe. The last time I had answered a call for Tomi, the *princesses* ordered me around to look for Tomi. They are just so intolerable. So, anything else about them?" Hiko frowned. "No way. That's just a wild rumor. They wouldn't. I mean hey, they wouldn't spend a couple of thousand bucks to come and see---"
"Dilandau, I'm ready."
Upon hearing Hitomi's voice, Hiko promptly changed the topic like he wasn't really talking about Hitomi and her friends a couple of minutes back.
"Millie had her hair cut like a boy's? Oh wow! She must look like the perfect tomboy!"
"Hiko, tell mom and dad I'm going to Dilandau's place and help him on some things, okay?"
Hiko nodded absently and pretended to focus on his conversation about this Millie person. But Dilandau knew better. Hiko was just being the protective brother, gathering what he can to protect his sister. And he'd find out soon enough what Hiko knows that he should know of as Hitomi's fiancé.
"Celena, do you know who your brother would be taking to the dance?"
Celena turned her blue eyes to Mei's light brown ones and shrugged. "I really have no idea."
"Do you think he," Mei paused and frowned. "would take Kanzaki to the dance?"
'My, my. Aren't we jealous or what?' Merle thought as she suppressed a giggle and tried to focus on the magazine she was reading.
"Perhaps," Celena replied nonchalantly, flipping the magazine page.
Mei's pretty face sported an even deeper frown. She looked at the rest of her friends who were busy discussing on what they'd wear before looking at Celena. "What's with the two of them?"
"Two of them?"
"Dilandau and Kanzaki."
"I don't know. Try asking my brother."
"Hey, Mei, do you think this would look nice on me?" Merle interrupted, trying to change Mei's line of thoughts before Celena could make a slip up and reveal something.
~*Another Weekend with a grounded Dilandau*~
"Are we just going to watch TV?" Hitomi whined as she changed the channel.
"Hey, we're lucky that I'm allowed to watch TV even when I'm grounded."
"Tell me again why I have to go through all this with you?"
"Well, we need to spend time together, right? And I can't exactly go out so that leaves you stuck with me."
"I hate this you know."
Dilandau grinned. "I happen to recall you saying one time in the rooftop that it's not so bad."
"That's when I didn't know I have to share your blasted punishment!" Hitomi angrily turned the TV off and glared at the carpet for all its worth.
"Relax. It's not like we'll have to be cooked up for the rest of our lives. Can't you just enjoy what most girls would enjoy?"
"What's to enjoy here?! Would you care to point it out, Mr. Know It All?!"
He grinned even more. Hitomi was obviously getting angry by the moment. And if he'd just keep on taunting her, she'd blow up any moment.
'That would be fun. Taming a raging Hitomi is very, very challenging,' he thought gleefully. "Well, you are spending time with me."
"What's so damn fun about that?!"
"Aw, stop being so hard on yourself and just admit the fact that you do enjoy being around me. I think that you even like me more than you should."
She gritted her teeth and took in a deep breath, all the while clenching and unclenching her fists. She was visibly red from her efforts to calm herself down and of course from preventing herself from killing her fiancé.
"Oh how sweet," Dilandau drawled in a deadly sweet voice. "You actually DO like me more than you should that you're not even denying anything. So what now, my dear? Do we kiss and touch?"
The line of Hitomi's patience and restraint snapped.
"THAT IS IT, DILANDAU!!! YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO GET IT!!!" She screamed for all she was worth and launched herself towards him.
Damn, how she hated the fact that Dilandau was around…
~tbc~
Author's Note: I know this is weird and the D/H interaction is a bit on the roller coaster side with them being nice and then being sarcastic the next minute or something. Lolz. I just wanted to preserve their attitudes but add a bit of friendliness or something. Anyhow, I know that the sequel was updated sooner than anyone had anticipated. Well, that's because of the reviews. They made me happy. And a happy Haze develops a lot of ideas which would enable me to update faster with a bit longer chapters.
To aoao, yes this would take a more mature level and I'm really sorry if the first chapter wasn't flowing too well for your liking. I was still on the bad side because of what ff.net did to me. But since I owed much to those who were supporting this, I just had to post the sequel. To Pyro's girl, the bikini for Dilandau stuff is up to Hitomi. Although I doubt I can make her wear one but we'll see. And my e-mail still can't get to your add. Really sorry. To Ruby, I think I'll just stick to the title coz people are more familiar with this one but thank you for the suggestion. I do appreciate it. To MysticalDreamer, sorry I didn't have the flashback on the mall thing. I honestly didn't know what to do. To Mad Meg Askevron, could we change that into sending you some prospective stories?
By the way, I am going to do another D/H. My sister likes D/H so much that I'm doing it for her. Please check it out and spare some time to read it. It's entitled 'Better Than a Gift Given'.
Thank you so much everybody for the nice reviews and comments. I love them thus the early update. It's barely been a week. Well, anyhow, thank you so very, very much. Hope you enjoyed this one and give me some reviews. ^^,