Title: Intruder Alert: Take Two
Author: Frostmourne
Disclaimer: I don't own Vision of Escaflowne so don't sue me…
Chapter Dedication: esca chick, supergirl, (blue) ice, anime_luver, MysticalDreamer, SabrinaYutsuki, Always Dreaming, naria, Kat-Tastrophe, Izzy, AFCAMistress, Caitie, fallen-dark-angel, who cares, Bunny, Fuzzie, Magicman/Smokegirl, Very evil daughter of Lord Vol, Rina, Kendra
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 5: Giving space
"They will what?!" Hiko yelped on the phone just as Dilandau entered the living room and slumped on the sofa opposite him. "But that's, that's, that's impossible! They can't!! What'd I do?! It'd be such a mess!! I can't let them! What would I do now?!"
Dilandau watched amusedly as Hiko raved over the phone. 'Hmm, must be really serious.'
A while later, Hiko ended the call and stared blankly at it. "What will---"
"What was that all about?"
Hiko jumped slightly and looked at him with wide eyes. He looked uncomfortable. "Oh hi there, Dilandau. I didn't notice you came in."
"Of course you wouldn't. You were too busy raving there. What's that all about anyway?"
"Nothing important," Hiko replied a bit too quickly. "Just some usual mess a boy can get in. Well, got to go. I'm going to meet a couple of my friends in the mall."
"We were just about to go there," Hitomi interrupted as she came in. "Dilandau, would you mind if we---"
"Not a bit. Let's go."
Hiko looked even more uncomfortable. 'Next time I tell a lie, never to Hitomi or to Dilandau. Now what do I do? Pretend that I suddenly feel sick?'
"Come on," Hitomi urged. "I'm driving."
Hiko suddenly noticed Dilandau going paler than he already was.
"Uh, Hitomi, don't you think you're being too rash here?" Dilandau asked trying to hide his anxiety.
She glared at him. "What do you mean rash?! I'm driving and that is FINAL." She stomped out angrily.
"Is there by chance that you could convince your sister otherwise?" Dilandau asked nervously.
"No way out. Once she decides something, she'll go through it. Besides, you were teaching her, right?"
"Yeah but---"
"Either the two of you are here in the next second or I'm dragging you both out!" Hitomi's voice interrupted from just outside the living room.
The entire ride, Hiko was mentally fidgeting. But thankfully, Dilandau was too busy trying to keep Hitomi from crashing his car and them for that matter, to anything in the way. Hiko didn't know whether to be scared by the fact that Dilandau may have seen through his lie or the fact that Hitomi was the one driving Dilandau's car.
"It's only a couple more weeks and we're going to see her again!" Yukari exclaimed.
"I am SO excited!" Millerna chirped happily. "I wonder how she'd react if she'd see us there!"
"She'll be happy of course," Allen said casually. "I'm sure she's just too busy but she misses us just the way we miss her."
"You know Allen, we still might tell Hitomi about the leech people," Gades grinned. "So don't get your spirits too high."
Amano nodded. "Besides, Hitomi's too perceptive. Even if we don't tell her she's bound to know. So Allen, start wishing."
Sarah giggled. "The way you talk about her, she seems like a very interesting person. I can hardly wait to meet her."
"Let me guess, Hitomi was the driver for the day." Celena could hardly suppress her giggle as Dilandau slumped on her bed with a haggard look.
"I could've sworn we would die today! Good thing Hiko was there."
"Hiko? Hitomi's brother? You mean he chaperoned you and Hitomi in the mall?"
"Not exactly *chaperoned*. He was just hanging out coz his friends weren't there. But it was a good thing. We could've been in a car accident on the way back home if he weren't there to actually help."
"What happened?"
"You know, I was trying to stop Hitomi from crashing the car into some post but as usual she insists that she can do it on her own, which technically, she can't. Hiko grabbed her from behind so she stuck to the car seat while I maneuvered the car away from the post just in time."
Celena giggled. "I just so love her."
He rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one tortured by her presence."
She giggled more. "Tortured? Please. You practically hover about her. And when she's not around, you can't seem to stay put. You're so restless when you can't see her."
"What are you exactly implying? That I can't live without her? Come on. It's not like I'm madly in love with her like Viole is with Merle."
"No, I don't think it's that. I think you'd be even worst than Viole."
"Me? That would be the day that I'd let Hitomi slap me and call me names angrily without me getting pissed off or doing something about it."
"Whatever. Let's just wait and see. So," she said with a smile. "What did Hitomi shop for the dance?"
He frowned. "She's not going."
"What?!" She exclaimed, brush falling on the dresser loudly. "You mean you're not taking Hitomi to the dance?"
"Yeah. So what?"
"What do you mean so what?!"
"She's not going. End of discussion."
"Isn't this supposed to be a requirement?"
"It is. And I'm going."
"But if you're not taking Hitomi with you, then who? I'd always thought that you'd take her since you're practically with each other all possible time."
"Well I'm not going with her okay. I'm going alone."
"Didn't you ask her out?"
"I did."
"And?"
"She didn't want to go."
"You didn't even argue?"
"Lay off, Celena. If she doesn't want to go, she will not go."
Celena's jaw dropped. But then she smiled. "Oh gosh!! It's true. You're into Hitomi!!"
"What part of what I said gave that stupid idea?"
"You don't let anyone turn you down! Not that anyone would. Well, except Hitomi that is. But the point is, you let her turn you down and you're even defending her!"
"Big deal. It's not the end of the world if I made some exceptions."
"You're falling, bro. Definitely falling."
He glared at her.
"What's wrong with falling in love?" Celena asked.
"It's not cool. Being single, now that's cool."
She rolled her eyes. "How so? Because you can womanize?"
"Not just that. You don't get hurt, you stay happy, AND you keep your heart unbroken."
"Well you wouldn't know how much you loved if you don't get it broken."
"So you love to get hurt? Now that's pathetic."
"No. Everything has its ups and downs. You don't love to get hurt but getting hurt is part of loving. Sometimes, you just have to know what pain is to know how much you love someone."
Dilandau merely rolled his eyes.
"Dilandau still hasn't asked the witch to the dance!"
"He hasn't? Oh good! He's finally out of her spell!"
"I think he'd ask Mei some time soon to go with him."
"Yeah, I think so, too."
"Me, too."
Mei smiled and walked down the corridor.
"What's this?" Van asked after soccer practice.
"What's what?" Dilandau asked back.
"You still didn't ask her out?" Chesta put up his question.
Gatti nodded. "We thought you said you'd ask her. You still need a good timing?"
"Viole could provide the setting. He's good with that." Guimel interrupted.
Viole nodded his agreement. "Yeah, I could help."
"No. She's not coming with me."
"Why not?" Dalet looked puzzled. "Then the rumors are true. You still didn't ask her out."
"Actually, I---"
"Dilandau, are you not done yet?" Hitomi's voice interrupted him.
They looked at the locker room's door and saw Hitomi standing there with her things.
"Hi everyone," she greeted. "I hope I wasn't interrupting something. I need to drag Dilandau off… that is if you don't mind."
They were about to say something but Miguel interrupted. "Go ahead." He walked towards Dilandau and said something in a low voice. "Your chance."
Dilandau blinked and then shook his head. He picked up his things and walked towards Hitomi. "Tomorrow then."
"What---"
"Shhh," Hitomi murmured, smiling at him. "Later, okay?"
"But---"
"Okay?"
He sighed, "Okay." And proceeded to relieve Hitomi of her things.
After the ride home, the moment they entered Hitomi's room Dilandau eyed her carefully. She sat on her dresser's chair and looked back at him. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't tell them that you asked me out."
"Why not?"
"You know how things could spread like wildfire."
"Is it so bad to be asked by me to a dance that you don't want---"
"No, that's not it. I don't want them to know I turned you down."
"Why? It'd boost you up. The students in school would most likely shut up if they learned that you turned me down."
She shook her head. "I don't want to make them shut up at your expense. We're friends. I already let you down for my sake. I wouldn't do that again especially at such a short time. I'm not that bad. Sure I could explode and pound you, but this is different. You're reputation wouldn't heal."
'She… she actually cares?' "But this is a good chance for you to---"
"No. I can't do this to you. And you can't do this to yourself. You never asked me out and I never turned you down. Okay?"
"Hitomi,"
"Okay?"
He stared at her. She was smiling at him hopefully. 'What's with her? She's actually… nice and almost like what Hiko told me about. Is she treating me as a real friend that she actually treats me the way that Hiko said she had treated her friends in America?'
"Okay?" She repeated.
"Alright."
"Great! Now, can you help me prepare something to eat? I'm starving."
He looked at her and shook his head. As they spend more time together, he sees so many good points in her.
"Hi, Dilandau," Mei greeted him coquettishly at the corridor one day.
"Hey," he acknowledged.
"It's been long since we've actually talked. How have you been?"
"Fine as you can see."
"Oh. So, I heard you don't have a date for the dance yet."
"I don't."
"Oh." She then smiled at him alluringly. "So, um, want to go with me?"
He raised one silver brow and prevented himself from smirking. 'Still flirting with me? Don't you ever get tired?' "Actually, I am planning to go alone."
Her smile faltered a bit, but she quickly regained her composure. "Just planning, right?"
"Yes. But I AM going ALONE. I'm sure there'd be at least half a dozen guys in school who'd want to be your date. I guess I'll just see you around then." He began to walk off.
'Damn it! Are you going with Kanzaki?!' Her mind raged and she had something in her mind to find out the answer to her mind's question. "I see," she called out. "For a minute there I thought you'd rather go with the witch."
He stopped in his tracks. Sure he had heard many students talk about Hitomi and call her names. But now that someone had so pointedly called her names while talking to him, he felt his temper rising. He turned back and smirked. "Witch?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Kanzaki Hitomi."
"She's not and never will be a witch."
"But after all the mess that she's done, she's definitely a witch. Perhaps even more."
He laughed coldly. "Mei, why don't you try looking at a mirror before throwing accusations? It's not good to point fingers especially if what you're saying is closely descriptive to you."
She looked shocked and he merely looked at her and walked off to the day's first class. The students in the corridor started whispering to each other. Dilandau had just defended Kanzaki against Mei, in the process declaring that he sides with Kanzaki than with Mei.
"Something wrong?"
She looked up from her desk and her assignments and shook her head.
"Come on. You've been silent ever since I saw you this lunch period and even when we were dismissed from our clubs. Did something happen that you didn't like?"
She laughed and walked over to him. "Want to play another game at Hiko's PlayStation2?"
"You're hiding something, Hitomi."
"Of course I am. Why would I wear clothes if I don't want to hide them?"
"Nice try. What's up?"
She leaned her head on his shoulder for a moment before pulling away and looking at him teasingly. "You almost sound as if you care. Careful, Dilandau, the next time you check, you'd be siding me instead of the other popular kids in school."
'I just did that,' he thought. "Drop it, Hitomi. What is up?"
She rolled her eyes and walked passed him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Did someone insult you face to face?" He asked, voice rising a bit.
She looked at him with surprise. "You're nuts," she shook her head and smiled. "Quit playing with me."
"I'm not playing with you," he snapped suddenly. "Just tell me what's wrong and I'll fix it."
Irritation gripped her. 'What's wrong with him today?!' "I think I should be asking you THAT. You're acting weird. You're almost scaring me. If you've had a rough day, don't take it out on me coz I have had a surely harder day than you. So, back off."
"I was just trying to help," he retorted.
"But you don't have to act so snappy. It's like you care and hate me at the same time."
His eyes narrowed, and a part of his conversation with Van just a couple of days back came to him.
"So, what's the deal now?"
"Van, what ever do you mean?"
"About you and Hitomi? Sometimes, you come pissed off more than you should be."
He snorted. "Just a little argument with Hitomi at times."
"About?"
"Everything in school I guess. I don't know. I just get irritable at times when she starts acting… sad."
Van laughed. "I think that's because you feel guilty that you couldn't do anything to help her here in school. That you're the reason why she's in this crap of a situation with the student body."
"I think you just lost sanity, Van. I don't feel guilty, especially for what happened to Hitomi."
"Try remembering every time you suddenly snap at her if she's sad or hiding her down spirits your reason for getting easily disturbed and touchy."
"Whatever."
"At times you just act all sensitive and you get easily disturbed and touchy," Hitomi hissed. "I can't stand the fact that you're always messing me up."
"I always mess you up?" He asked sarcastically, feeling guilty somehow. "I keep you from getting hurt in school!"
"I wouldn't need you if you didn't do this to me anyway!"
His jaw tightened. "So you want me to leave like a puppy ordered to leave?!"
"As a matter of fact, yes! I want you out of this house now!"
She wrenched her arm free and walked off. He stared at her retreating form, pretty pissed off because of the fight. He didn't even understand how or when the fight started. She was messing with his head, it was apparent from his loss of control on his over-protective and over-caring mood swings. And even more with this guilt. This knowledge fueled more his already pissed off state.
"What did you just do?!" Celena snapped the moment he stepped inside the house.
He stared at her and then frowned. "Not now, Celena." He walked passed her and went upstairs.
Celena followed him and continued. "Why did you just say that to Mei?!"
He walked briskly and pointedly ignored her.
"Do know what would happen now?! Hitomi would---"
He spun back and glared menacingly at her. "Damn it! I said not now!!" He swiped the nearest antique in the hallway. It toppled down and broke to a thousand pieces. "Do not EVER berate me and use Hitomi's name to mess with my fu***ng head!"
He stalked off and slammed his bedroom door, leaving Celena staring at his door.
~*The Next Day*~
'Damn it! Where the hell is she?!' He thought angrily as he walked through the corridor towards the rooftop.
He slammed the door open and stopped dead in his track to see Hitomi there, looking at her watch impatiently.
"Hitomi?"
"What was taking you so long? What? You got truly old and it took you all this time to arrive here?"
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Actually, I dropped by your room to see if you were still there and I checked out the cafeteria and kendo practice room. I forgot that you might be here."
She raised a brow and looked at him cockily. "What? You decided that you need to be my prince charming and fetch me for lunch? Very unlikely of you."
"I thought you might not come up here. We had a fight in case it flew off your mind."
"It was your fault anyway."
He shrugged. "So what? Everything looks okay now, and we haven't really talked about the fight yet. It's almost as if we understand each other."
"Now THAT'S unlikely."
He looked at her and smiled unconsciously. "I guess so. But it seems that way. Weird, huh?"
"Pretty weird, but pretty true. Shall we eat?"
"Why of course," he said with a mock host-of-a-party look.
"Good. I wouldn't want you to be acting weird again, going too touchy on simple matters and actually acting like you're… never mind."
"Celena," Merle greeted as she sat down beside her friend in the farthest table in the cafeteria. "What's up? Why aren't you at our table?"
"Mei."
"Oh." They lapsed into silence. But then Merle couldn't take it. "I talked to Mei early this morning. Nothing changed. It was like there wasn't even the thing about Dilandau. You know, people could just be exaggerating things."
"Yeah."
The pink-haired Merle noticed that there was still something wrong though and as a friend, she wanted to help. "You want to talk about something?"
"No," the blue-eyed girl replied, shaking her head slightly.
"Well, if you need someone to talk to, then I'll be here, okay?"
"I know." Celena looked confused and then she turned to Merle. "We have to watch out, Merle. I don't think Mei dropped this issue yet. You know how big her pride is. And you know how hard it is if one's pride gets injured."
"What exactly are you implying?"
"She'd get revenge. I'm sure."
Merle's brow furrowed but then she nodded. "I think so. What did Dilandau---"
"We didn't really get to talk. He was pretty much annoyed last night. When I was about to say that Hitomi would suffer for what he did, he broke one of mom's favorite antiques. And something he said speaks really more than what we think we see."
"What do you mean?"
Celena suddenly brightened up. "He said do not ever use Hitomi's name to mess with his head."
"You mean you think Hitomi's really got a hold on him?"
"Yup. I think my brother is displaying signs that he's feeling something more for someone."
Merle smiled but then frowned. "That may be good news. But somehow it's not. If Mei hears of this, you know the disaster. And what's worse? What if people like Manhattan hears of this and doesn't take it well?"
"Oh please let it not be so. I can't seem to imagine what would happen."
"Me neither. But it's sure to be a disaster."
"Oh damn. The dance. It's getting nearer. I think it's just two more weeks."
"Freak! Did he ask her out? They shouldn't be going together."
"What do you suggest we do?"
"We have to find Hitomi another date."
~*A week later*~
"Would you mind?"
Dilandau stared at Miguel both amusedly and irately. "Do you even know what you're asking me?"
"You said you were just friends. And you didn't ask her out so---"
Red eyes rolled upwards. 'Well, I might as well see her there.' "Alright. I wouldn't mind if you asked her to be your date."
"Thanks," Miguel smiled slightly and moved towards the door of the locker room to go to soccer practice.
"Before you go, Miguel," Dilandau put in. "Hitomi is my… friend. If something happens to her, I'm taking your head, okay?"
Miguel blinked. 'He's been spending too much time with her. Since when did he even asked about others' approval on punishments?' "Okay."
"PRACTICE IS OVER!!!" Coach Sakima blared and stood up to leave.
Dilandau glanced at Miguel. 'I'm watching you.'
Van raised a brow as he saw Dilandau's eyes trail Miguel. 'Something's up.' "Dilandau, catch!"
The silver-haired captain spun back and had his stomach hit with the soccer ball that Van had just kicked to his direction. He glared and immediately turned his eyes all over the place. 'Now where is Miguel?!'
"Hitomi,"
Hitomi smiled and walked towards Miguel. "Hey, did Dilandau order you around to fetch me or something?"
"Actually," he paused and took her bag. "No."
"Oh, so, um, what's up then? I didn't do anything to you, did I?"
They walked off from the school building.
"Not that I can recall. We've been friends for the last couple of months."
Hitomi smiled. "Regretful?"
He shook his head. "No."
"So, what's up? You had a squabble with Dilandau?"
"No. But I was thinking if you'd go with me."
"To?"
"To the dance."
Hitomi stopped walking and stared at him. He stopped a couple of steps away and but didn't look back.
"Well, I, I think there are still many more girls who'd want to go with you."
"It's a no then."
She smiled uncomfortably. "Something like that."
"I see." He looked at his feet and smiled slightly. "Still waiting for Dilandau?"
"I actually don't want to go."
"Mei?"
"No. Everybody I guess."
Miguel nodded. "Well, want a ride home?"
"Dilandau---"
"I don't mind," Dilandau interrupted and walked over to Hitomi. "Miguel can take you home." He bent his head slightly and whispered on her ear. "I don't mind. Go with Miguel."
She looked up and asked, "Home or to the dance?"
He sighed. "Both."
~tbc~
Author's Note: Okay, I know Dilandau blowing up on Celena was a bit weird but a confused Dilandau is bound to be… er… explosive. And even weirder was when he and Tomi just set the fight aside. Well, they're two weirdos anyway. Lolz. Ah yes, another trouble, Tomi's troops are coming over. I need it to spice things up for the dish you people want. ^^, And the last part, yeah I know it's disastrous. Please don't hate me for Dilandau's suggestion about Miguel and Hitomi. To those who don't want Dilandau having anything to do with Mei, I made it a point that he turns her down real bad. Hope that's good enough for now.
Changing topic, I'd say thanks to jess131346, Kendra, and fallen-dark-angel for reviewing the part one. Glad you dropped a review for a story long since finished.
To anime_luver, yup you're definitely forgiven. Talented? Nah. Just got lucky, I suppose. You flatter me much. Yours suck? Maybe you're being too hard on yourself.
To Izzy, you actually like the other D/H fic enough to ask for it here. That's so touching.
To AFCAMistress, you make my heart swell too much. And I'm updating now ^^,
To Caitie, you shouldn't be jealous coz there's nothing to be jealous about. About the Hitomi's view on Dilandau, not so sure. IA 1 was more on the ogre's side so IA 2 would be on the old man's. But I'll try hard to put hers without overpowering Dilandau's.
To Kendra, four reviews… whew~ I think I must've tired out your fingertips from the long reviews.
To those affected by Mei's presence, no killing or kicking ass please. Hitomi may be a barbaric ogre but her temper is reserved for the old man ^^, Well, I'll think of a way to take care of Mei without really killing her.
Cliché or whatever, I'm thanking those who so continuously supports this one through feedbacks. At least I know someone's still reading this one. Thank you so much. ^^, I'd also like to thank those who read my other fic. Thanks a lot.
And sorry for the late update. I couldn't access the site for a couple of days and then there were some electricity problems for a few days. I apologize for that.