Intruder Alert: Take Two

by Frostmourne

Popular guy, Dilandau Albatou, had finally met his match. But when it seemed that they had settled the negative sparks between them, more embers glow from the outside and soon it ignites some things from the inside. DH (SEQUEL TO IA - COMPLETED)

4. Do I smell trouble?

Title: Intruder Alert: Take Two

Author: Frostmourne (It's still me… Haze ^^,)

Disclaimer: I don't own Vision of Escaflowne so don't sue me…

Chapter Dedication: AFCAMistress, esca chick, GldDragnSR, naria, (blue) ice, YingFa, caitie, Izzy,           , Magicman/Smokegirl, Very Evil Daughter of Lord Vol, Princess Neptune, Kat-Tastrophe, Pyro'sgirl, Rina, Fuzzie, Raine, who cares, fluer21, anime_luver

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 4: Do I smell trouble?

Celena watched from the slightly opened door of the room as for some time Hitomi and Dilandau exchanged whacks using the pillows.

"Hey watch it!" Dilandau yelled as he dodged a blow.

Hitomi giggled and threw the pillow away. She stood up and looked at Dilandau mockingly. "Well then, just a warning, old man. The next time you try pulling that seduction stunt of yours, I'll whack you to your grave."

"Hey! You're lucky I can't fight back so well because I don't want the towel to fall off. I wouldn't want you to see my treasure." He paused and then grinned naughtily. "Unless of course---"

"Do not even say it! I'll really beat you up towel or no towel. Now either you march back to your stupid bathroom or wherever and get dressed, or I yank your clothes on you."

His grin widened. "I take the second choice. Yank them on, babe."

Hitomi flushed from irritation and embarrassment. "Can't you stop being so damn irritating and just march away and get dressed?!"

"Hey, you offered," he said, looking at her innocently. "I couldn't resist."

She rolled her eyes. "You're disgusting, you know that?"

"Perfectly."

Crossing her arms on her chest, she gave him a mocking look. "Good. For a moment there I thought you were so dumb that you don't even know your own self."

He smirked and stared at her for a while. "So, are you going to help me dress up or not?"

"Why you---"

Dilandau's phone interrupted Hitomi from pounding Dilandau, who answered the phone immediately to save himself from the injury he was sure Hitomi was desperately itching to give him. A moment later, he turned to Hitomi, all traces of the teasing Dilandau gone from his features.

"Listen, something serious came up and I really need to handle it. I'll just bring you home later, okay? In the meantime, you're supposed to be back to Celena. I bet she's looking for you and I wouldn't want her accusing me of stealing you from her."

Hitomi frowned. "Stalling."

"What?"

"You're stalling, Dilandau. What was that call all about? And don't even think of lying to me."

Dilandau stifled the sigh that was about to come out of him. "If I tell you---"

"No deals, Dilandau. You'll tell me and that's that."

He stared for a while at his fiancée before smiling. "You're bossy, you know that?"

"Perfectly. Now tell me."

"After I get dressed up. Well, as much as I'd want you to help me on that, I think you better go tell Celena that you're coming with me. I'm pretty sure that you'd force me to take you with me anyway after I tell you what's up."

"Okay, let's get this clear. I go tell Celena, and you wait for me because if you ever use that time to get away and leave me here, I'm really going to pound you."

He raised his hands in surrender and walked back to the adjoining bathroom.

Celena immediately closed the door and walked away from the room before Hitomi could catch her spying on them.

"How can he be so stupid?!" He sat down on his bed, glaring angrily at his shoes.

Hitomi shrugged and sat beside him. "You know, Dalet was just protecting his girl."

"Can't he get it into his thick skull that---"

"Dalet is your friend, Dilandau. You have to understand him," she cut in. "Try being in his shoes. At least he's protecting someone and not just picking some useless fight."

"Yeah, but---"

"Listen to reason!" She snapped, getting tired of this issue that they've been having for the past two hours.

He grumbled inwardly. He was about to say that he was not going to insult Dalet with the thick skull line. 'Can't Dalet get it into his thick skull that Sakima-sensei would kick him out and I can't do anything about it?!'

Thinking that Dilandau was thinking of ways to kill Dalet, she interrupted his thoughts. "Learn to forgive, will you? If you can't take the fact that every mistake your teammates do is taken out on you, then quit being the captain. Or better yet, quit the team!"

He glared at her. "I love soccer!"

"Then deal with what comes with it! Geez! How can you be so, so, so, ah whatever!" She stood up and grabbed her things. Walking to the door, she looked back and glared at him. "I'll see you tomorrow. And by then, I hope your not raging and making me upset in the process."

She walked out of his room. He gritted his teeth and glared at the door. Just mere seconds later, he stood up. He may be upset, but he still has to take Hitomi home. Whatever happens to her will all be his fault.

~*The Next Day*~

"Remember, talk to him CALMLY."

He frowned, "You've been telling me that for the entire time we've been eating lunch."

"Of course. I wouldn't have any assurance that my words penetrated your thick skull."

He rolled his eyes and looked at her with mock hurt. "Your words cut my heart."

"Yeah, whatever. But remember, talk to Dalet calmly. Don't go slamming him to the wall or something. By the way, why does Coach Sakima punish you so much?"

"Just some old grudge from before."

"Old grudge? Before?"

He looked at his fiancée. He didn't think she would need to know how he was before. At least not yet. "Just some usual things boys usually do. Nothing much, really. Are you through eating?"

"They seem to really get along well," Merle commented to Viole.

"I know."

"I think they look good together. What does Dilandau say about that?"

"Nothing. He keeps on insisting that they're just friends when Van asks about it."

"It's kind of strange, don't you think? Dilandau is not the type to deny things, especially girls when it boosts up his ego. I mean most male got this big ego. Even you do. But why does he deny this?"

"I don't know. Maybe coz Hitomi's not popular?"

"Come on. Dilandau can make her popular. What's stopping him anyway? He seems to be so around her. If I didn't know any better, they could even be engaged."

Viole laughed and shook his head. "Merle, Dilandau wouldn't get himself hitched. Especially this early. And not with Hitomi."

"Why not? She's pretty, smart, and nice."

"Nice? She could tear anyone apart. Remember when we found her attacking Dilandau just weeks ago?"

Merle frowned. "Well perhaps that's because Dilandau is so fond of annoying her. I say they are really into something."

"I hate to say this, Merle. Really I do. But I don't exactly agree with you. There are girls prettier, smarter, AND nicer than Hitomi that's been around Dilandau. He got interested. But not for long."

"Well, I don't think this thing counts. He's been around her for a couple of months now. Like you said, Dilandau got interested but not for long. I think the longest he's been with a girl is just a week or even less. And with Hitomi, it's been months. M-O-N-T-H-S."

"I think you're just overreacting. Hitomi's Celena's friend. Celena could've made a deal with Dilandau."

"Well, Mei is Celena's friend. How come she wasn't the first?"

"Maybe because," he paused and thought. "I don't know. But I still think there's really nothing here. They just get along. Why are we talking about them anyway? We're on a date. Shouldn't it be about us?"

~*Many days later*~

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?" Dilandau asked, changing his shirt.

"How come you never put pictures in here?"

He stopped and glanced at Hitomi from the center of the room. She was looking around his room, inspecting it.

"That's girl stuff."

"Hiko puts pictures."

"Your brother is sixteen. I'm eighteen for crying out loud."

"So? My dad puts pictures. And he's over forty." She glanced back at him and saw his deep frown. "Something wrong?"

"No." He turned away and walked towards his bed, plopping down on it.

"You know, I have nothing against this room but I think it's too gloomy, too detached. Want me to help you redecorate a bit?"

He eyed her carefully. She looked at him innocently before once again looking around his room. "You've been here for the longest periods of time that I allowed anyone, Hitomi. Why complain about the place now?"

"I don't know. Maybe because I didn't want to be pushy before. But since I'm coming here often, I might as well try to get comfortable. And I can't exactly get comfortable if it's too gloomy and all. I mean, most of this place is black and red. Your furniture is painted black and even all the things around. Your lighting is too dim like that of a candle's. I doubt you can even read here. And you rarely open your dark curtains."

"What? You're scared?"

"No. Not for me at least."

"For others then? Relax. I don't allow much people here. Not even my parents. Celena can come, once in a while. The rest, no way."

"How 'bout your friends?"

"This isn't exactly a hang out place, Hitomi. We only come here because I'm grounded but we still have to spend time together. Don't worry. Tomorrow my punishment would be over. You're free from this gloomy place. You don't have to be stuck in this house, especially this room."

Hitomi frowned and walked towards him, sitting beside him on the bed. "You seem touchy today. Practice didn't go well? Someone screwed up?"

He turned away, shifting to his side. "Gee, you actually sound concerned."

"That's because I am. Really, Dilandau. You can be so unpredictable. I was trying to be nice you know, since we're already friends and all. And since we even get along up to certain degrees." She looked at his back steadily. "I think you're just hiding something. But I think you don't trust me enough to tell me so I wouldn't push."

"Hitomi~" Celena's voice called from outside Dilandau's door.

Hitomi placed a hand on Dilandau's arm. "Take some rest. I'm going to have the chat with Celena now." She stood up and left.

'How can she be so perceptive?' He asked himself quietly after she left.

~*Eight days later*~

Hiko flipped the pages of the game magazine, waiting for the time he'd call a certain friend in America.

"Give me a couple of minutes," Hitomi's voice interrupted as she and Dilandau entered the living room.

Dilandau just nodded and slumped in one of the chairs. "I'll just sleep a bit."

Hitomi raised a brow and was about to say something when she noticed Dilandau's even breathing, signaling that he already lapsed to sleep. She shrugged and went out, pretty much ignoring Hiko out of rushing.

Hiko looked at Dilandau and noticed the tired expression he had. 'Sakima-sensei must've drilled him off again. What a grouchy old man.'

A few minutes later, Hitomi came in, dressed out of her uniform. She looked at Dilandau and shook her head. Sitting down beside him, she shook his shoulders a bit.

He groaned and opened his eyes. "Through already? I was just---"

"Never mind. We can go to the city library some other time."

"No, I'm awake now. See?" He opened his eyes wider.

Hitomi stared and then giggled when Dilandau couldn't stifle a yawn. "I win. March up to one of the guest rooms and get some sleep. I'll call Celena and just have a chat with her then."

"I was just resting."

"You really want to go to the city library?" She looked at him incredulously.

Dilandau frowned. "Actually, no."

"Well, here's your ticket off. Go to sleep. I think I'm going to eat before calling Celena." Hitomi stood up and then spared a look over Hiko. "I forgot. I've a couple of new game CDs in my room. Grab them later. You might want to try them out."

When she had left, Dilandau turned to Hiko. "Since when did Hitomi actually learn to prepare food?"

Hiko grinned. "Don't worry. I don't think she'd poison herself. Hey, maybe she learned a thing or two and would actually survive her own cooking."

"Yeah right. And Hitomi's boyfriend would actually come and pay her a visit."

Dilandau didn't really notice it, but his joke had a different effect on Hiko. The younger boy's smile faltered but only for a brief moment.

"Uh, who are you taking to the dance?"

Dilandau's eyebrows furrowed. "That's still a couple of weeks away."

"Yeah. But are you taking Hitomi?"

"I doubt she'd even want to go."

"Oh."

"Well, I think I'd go check on her. She might chop her fingers off or even blow up the kitchen."

Hiko watched Dilandau's back as it disappeared out the living room door. Somehow, he was just dreading what might happen in the future.

"Why is he even spending his precious time with her?"

"I don't have a clue. As I told you, that witch may have done something to him."

"Yeah. By the way, who do you think would the Dragon Slayers be taking to the dance?"

"Viole is with Merle, that's for sure. Van would most likely go with Celena. Dilandau…"

"With Mei. She's the closest girl that Dilandau would get interested in."

Mei smiled secretly as she heard the students in the hallway talk, unaware that she had just gotten there. 'I'm winning, Kanzaki.'

"Nice room," Dilandau commented as he stood by Hitomi's bedroom door.

"I didn't say you can follow me here."

"Hey, fair is fair. You go into my room, I go into yours." He invited himself in, ignoring Hitomi's glare and sat on her bed. "My bed is still softer. But hey, I think I like this better. I wouldn't mind---"

"Want to trade beds?" Hitomi suddenly asked, forgetting that she was supposed to be upset with Dilandau just now.

"How exactly do we do that? Zap them?"

"No, stupid. I was thinking along the line of moving them by hiring a truck."

"And the money?"

"We could figure that one out later. So want to trade the entire bed?"

"My bed is painted black. Yours is white. I---"

"At least there'd be something new in our rooms. Hey, why don't we go shop today? I think I want to add a couple of things here. Come on."

Before he could say anything, Hitomi was already dragging him out of the room.

~*Two days later*~

"It's still a couple of weeks and the entire school is already talking about it," Dalet commented.

"Well at least I wouldn't have to think who to bring."

"Knowing you Viole, it would be Merle. Who else would it be," Guimel chided. "I know it couldn't change just like Van here."

Van glared. "I'd take someone else but I promised Celena that I'm going to spend more time with her."

Guimel grinned. "Yeah sure."

"Who're you taking Chesta?"

"I don't know, Dalet. Maybe Momoko, one of Celena's friends."

"I'm taking Hikaru," Dalet declared. "Or maybe… hey, who're you taking Miguel?"

Miguel shrugged. "Depends who Dilandau's taking."

"What do you mean?" Dilandau interrupted as he entered the soccer team's locker room.

"If you're going with Mei---"

"Who said I was going with her?"

"The entire school was talking about it," Gatti said casually.

Van grinned. "Why? You're taking sunshine?"

"I'm just about to ask her later. She'd put up a good argument, but since it's a requirement for us, seniors, I wouldn't back down. Besides, it would be a challenge making her comply with me."

"Do you need a bodyguard?" Gatti asked jokingly. "We can---"

"No. She's going with me whether she likes it or not. I chose her and she's not allowed to turn me down."

"I win!" Hitomi exclaimed. "I'm so much better than you. You need practice. You know, maybe you should start calling me champion Hitomi. I mean after all, I managed to win the games straight this time."

"Yeah, yeah, quite rubbing it already."

"You're just being such a sore loser. So, I assume that you would rather do some other things since you can't win against me in this game."

"Actually," Dilandau said partially as he lay back on the carpeted floor. "I was wondering if you'd heard about the dance."

"What do you think of me? Deaf? Of course I've heard about it. The whole school's going nuts talking about that dance. What about it? Want to ask me for some details? I think you've got the wrong champion here." Hitomi grinned at him.

"Hey, quit rubbing it on my face. Okay. You're the winner. Geez, I think you've got bigger ego than I could ever hope to have."

Hitomi giggled. "I was just kidding. Okay, so what about the dance thing?"

"Well, I was wondering if you'd come with me to the dance." 'Okay. Here goes the start of the real battle.'

"Come with you? Like a chaperone?"

"That could be. But I was kind of thinking along the line of you being my date."

"Hmm, let me think. Date? Why don't you bring a nude woman in a calendar?"

"Hitomi, what's the connection?"

"You want a date? Take the woman at least she accompanies another date with her. Date in a calendar that is." Hitomi proceeded to laugh at her own joke.

'She's hopeless. It's either she just lost her mind or she has no mind to begin with.' "Hitomi, could you come back to sanity for a moment?"

"I am sane, stupid."

"Whatever. So, what's the decision?"

"Decision on what?"

"The date thing."

"Oh. Let me think." Hitomi paused and looked serious for while before looking at him.

'Strange. She's not arguing much, just trying to sway the topic.' "Well?"

"No."

'I guess I thought too soon.' "Can't you reconsider? I mean, that's got to be one of the most important events in school. Besides, you're going with me."

"No."

"It would be fun. I mean, we could---"

"No."

"But it's----"

"No."

"Hito---"

"No."

"I---"

"I said no. N-O. What part of that can't your thick head absorb?" She said, already feeling her upset mood come to surface.

"Just listen to me."

"No."

She stood up and was about to walk off, but Dilandau grabbed her foot making her stumble to the floor. Shifting positions quickly, he pinned her underneath. He then held both her writs up her head.

"LET ME GO!!!!" She screamed, moods swinging immediately to panic and anger.

"Not until you LISTEN to me."

"I WILL NOT GO TO THAT BLASTED DANCE WITH YOU!!!"

He frowned. "Why in hell are you not? I'm not going to bite your head off," he stated calmly.

"NO, YOU WON'T!! I WOULDN'T LET YOU!!! I'D KILL YOU IF YOU DO BITE MY HEAD!!"

"Then what's the freaking problem?!"

"I JUST CAN'T GO!!!"

"You can't dance? I could teach you."

"I SAID I JUST CAN'T GO!!!"

"Stop screaming!"

"LET ME GO!!!"

"Alright. I will if you'd stop screaming and if you'd settle this with me CALMLY. If not, we could stay this way until you can't deal with it anymore."

She weighed her options and then nodded. "Alright. I'll choose the first one."

"Good," he said and then released her wrist before getting off her and just sitting down beside her laying figure. "Why can't you go? You can't dance?"

"Of course I can. I took ballet back in America and I often go to parties and dances," she said, frowning at him.

"So why?"

"Because I'm with you. As simple as that."

Somehow, the words hurt and he didn't like it one bit. "What? So being with me makes it automatic that you can't go? I wouldn't bite your head off or embarrass you," he retorted in a barely restrained voice tone.

Hitomi looked at him with changed expression like she was regretful and confused. "I know that. But I…"

"What?"

"I can't go with you."

"Why not?!"

"Because you are Dilandau Albatou. And I… I'm just me… Hitomi Kanzaki."

"So?"

"What do you mean so? You're popular and I---"

"That's not good enough! You just can't put me down because---"

"They'd hate me more. The students don't like me being around you, okay?! When I go with you, that'd be the final straw. You're ardent admirers would do something to me. I swear that they'd do."

His brows furrowed as he noticed that Hitomi was trying not to cry from frustration and hurt. "I wouldn't let them."

She shook her head and continued in a tear-filled voice. "They already talk behind my back. No, even when I'm in front of them! Do you know how that hurts?! I get called names and all and I didn't even do anything to them! I wasn't used to all this bull****, Dilandau. I can't deal with more of it. So just drop it and take someone else."

She turned on her side, away from him and willed back the tears of frustration. He felt guilty somehow and had the strange urge to comfort her.

'Guess I'd just have to find some other way out then,' he thought tiredly. "Alright. I'm not going to force this one on you."

"I'm sorry. I know it's a requirement for you since you're a senior. But I really can't go with you, okay?"

"I understand."

And for the first time that he said that to someone who turned him down, he really did mean it.

~tbc~

Author's Note: I know the last part here is a bit… uh… weird. What with an ogre screaming at a demonic old man when he asked her out. Well, I just hope you understand her dilemma. I mean with her being in the bad side of the people in school, it's pretty tough. About Dalet's fight, the main reason I placed that is because I need that to provoke Hitomi into asking Dilandau about something related to his past.

      By the way, I want to thank those who read and reviewed my other esca fics. Thanks and since I wouldn't post another thing on the 'Standing at the Edge of the Earth', I'm taking advantage of this fic (like with the 'Better Than a Gift Given') to thank them. Thanks to aradow, Izzy, Tinka, bighug, bigkiss, naria, Mia, aoao, Phoenix, YingFa, Snooptopian. I'd also like to say thank you to YingFa and Raine for also reviewing Intruder Alert when it's been finished long ago. And I thanks to Cev for reviewing 'Standing at…' Sorry I didn't get to thank you in my other story. You reviewed a day after I updated 'Better…'

      To Izzy, you're being too hard on yourself. I doubt you can't write something worth it. And about the dedication, I insist. You see, if there isn't any support, I wouldn't have the enthusiasm to write anything at all so I still insist that reviewers make it possible.

      To Magicman/Smokegirl, well I hope that PC would let you review this one ^_~

      To Kat-Tastrophe, yeah it's a whacked out pillow fight. What could be expected with an ogre and a demonic old man?

      To Pyro's girl, glad I could finally reach you. And Hitomi beating Mei up? Uh, isn't that a bit too… uh… barbaric?

      To Fuzzie, as good as me? Nah, I'm sure you can be better than me coz I suck at stuff like this. I guess I was just lucky that my story clicked.

      To fluer21, this is the sequel to Intruder Alert. And yeah I have other stories you can read. No, I don't think you'd suck in writing coz no one really sucks unless they think so.

      To anime_luver, I was wondering if I had disappointed you. Well now that I know what happened, welcome back to the flow.

      Okay, time to end this. Thanks to all who gave me their feedbacks. This chapter is here because of the support. Thank you once again. I hope you enjoyed. ^^,