Title: Intruder Alert: Take Two
Author: Frostmourne
Disclaimer: I don't own Vision of Escaflowne so don't sue me…
Chapter Dedication: Very evil daughter of Lord Vol, esca chick, fallen-dark-angel, Sleeping Melody, , Izzy, anime_luver, Caitie, supergirl, naria, Kat-Tastrophe, who cares, CeCe, Mad Meg Askevron, MysticalDreamer, Diesty-chan, Always Dreaming, Fuzzie, mel_88, AFCAMistress
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 6: Up and down the little coaster ride
He stared at the ceiling intently for the past time he didn't even bother to count.
'At least I'll be seeing Hitomi there. Miguel would be able to keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble. And at least they wouldn't hate her more because I'm not with her.'
His phone rang but he chose to ignore it. He wanted to think about what happened that afternoon. But the phone's ringing was insistent and finally, he answered it though in a rather irritated way.
"What?!"
"Wrong timing?"
He sat straight and leaned on the bed's head board. "Uh, Hitomi, I---"
"I'll just talk to you tomorrow then. Bye."
"Wait!"
"Huh?"
"What did you call me for?"
"It could wait till tomorrow. I guess tonight is a bad time."
"No, I didn't know it was you and I---"
Hitomi's giggle cut him short. "You mean if it's me, it's not bad timing? Dilandau," she said mockingly. "You're growing soft on me you know."
He couldn't stop the smirk. "I know. I must be growing crazy or you're doing some mumbo jumbo on me."
She was quiet for a while and he thought she fell asleep.
"Hitomi?"
"Oh. Sorry, I was just thinking. Never mind. Anyway, about Miguel---"
"I'm fine with you going with him. Really. No big deal."
"I don't think it's right if I go with him."
"Why?"
"I turned you down."
He felt like smiling for some reason he didn't know. "So what's that got to do with Miguel? You didn't want to go with me because you said people in school don't like seeing us together. You didn't say anything about Miguel."
"I guess I didn't. But… are you sure it's okay with you?"
"Yeah. Why would it not be?"
She fell silent for a while again before speaking. "Well since you don't care, then I guess I'm going with Miguel then. Goodnight." She ended the call right then.
He contemplated for a while before dialing her number. And when she answered, he smiled and said what he felt he needed to say. "Goodnight, Hitomi."
~*The Next Day*~
'What's taking him so long?' She thought a bit irately as she decided to see what he was up to.
She had been waiting for Dilandau for ten minutes and she wasn't planning to wait for long especially when the students who passed by her were giving her looks she'd rather not describe or even think about. She walked towards the soccer field and was just in time to see Dilandau getting yelled at by Coach Sakima.
'Well at least I'm sure he's not making me wait while he's having a good time.'
A couple of minutes went by and pretty soon she was aware of the eyes of the girls on her. Sighing, she walked away and decided to walk around out of school while Dilandau was at extra practice not to mention extra scolding.
Lingering for a moment, she finally walked away and had a nice stroll outside the school premises. Nice while it lasted anyway. Because a little past ten minutes later, she found herself in a very familiar back building where she had gotten in trouble with bullies from another school.
Before getting in trouble again, she spun back. Unfortunately, there were already a couple of bullies from a school different from those boys she had gotten in trouble with.
"Hey girl, don't you know that you shouldn't be lingering here?"
She almost rolled her eyes. 'Well duh! I was going to leave.' "I got here by mistake."
The guys looked at each other and then leered at her. Then another one spoke up with a dirty look on his face. "Want us to escort you?"
"Uh, actually, I can manage on my own."
"Well that's too bad coz we REALLY want to be around for you," said the third guy, giving her a wink.
'Uh-oh. Not good. Where is Dilandau when I need him?! Oh yeah. I left him there in the company of his scolding coach and I got myself in trouble. Geez! Why does this always happen to me?! What's up with troublemakers and the name Hitomi anyway?!'
"Why so silent, pretty?"
She stepped back. "Uh, I was uh thinking. Yeah. Thinking." 'Of a way to get out here alive,' she silently added. 'Guess I have no choice but to play along then and make a run for it when we're out and where I could scream for help or something.' "Well, since you want to escort me out, uh, let's go?"
Their leer spread and Hitomi had a harder time trying not to make her smile falter. One of the guys stepped towards her and she had to force herself not to back away or to slap this guy senseless. Then, the guy slid an arm on her waist and pulled her close.
"How about giving a kiss first?"
Before Hitomi could answer, someone beat her to it.
"Don't touch her," a familiar voice hissed in a dangerously low voice.
They all looked back and saw garnet orbs glaring at them with murderous intensity.
"Dilandau," was all Hitomi could say.
"Uh, Albatou," the guy holding Hitomi said nervously as he stepped away from her. "This is your girl?"
Without even sparing a glance at Hitomi, Dilandau walked towards the guy who had held her and crashed his fist on his jaw. The guy fell back on the ground and was about to scramble away when Dilandau's hand reached for his collar to jerk him upward.
"Hey, easy man," one of the guys said nervously. "We didn't know that she was yours."
Dilandau's head turned to the guy who spoke making him back away. He then turned back on the guy he was holding by the collar and narrowed his eyes.
"That's enough, Dilandau."
His jaws clenched but he ignored Hitomi's voice. But when she placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip on the collar tightened even more. 'Sh**! Can't she just give me a minute to teach this guy something?!' "I swear you'd get a good beating if you EVER touch her," he hissed threateningly before he shoved the guy away.
He turned to the other guys with a threatening look. "Touch her or threaten her and I'll---"
"Can we just go?" Hitomi interrupted, deciding that she had had enough of the mess.
"Damn it, Hitomi!" Dilandau cursed in a raised voice. "Would you quit interrupting what I NEED to do?!"
Hitomi glared at him and crossed her arms on her chest. "Well fine! Get in trouble then and end up in a hospital! I'm not going to blame myself like before!"
His irritation ebbed a little and he had to prevent a smile from coming forth. "I'll meet you in school in a few seconds," he said curtly.
Her glare faltered. "But Dilandau, the last time---"
"I said I'll meet you in school in a few seconds."
"But Dilandau---"
"Hitomi," he hissed. "Go."
She glared at him once again and stomped away. "Fine! Get yourself killed!"
When Hitomi had gone, he looked at the guys and narrowed his eyes once more. "I never care for girls but if you touch or threaten HER, I'll make sure you all remember how it is when I get pissed off."
"We didn't---"
"I don't care!" He snapped angrily and glared at the guy still sprawled on the ground. "Next time, even when she says it's enough, I'm still going to teach you a thing or two."
Turning his attention back to the guys, he glared once last time and stalked away.
"Exactly why are you pacing?" Dilandau drawled, smirking. "Worried?"
Hitomi stopped and turned to him. Slowly, a smile broke on her face and she unthinkingly hugged him. He grinned smugly but then she drew back and slapped his shoulder hard.
"Hey!" Dilandau yelled, glaring at Hitomi.
"You deserved that!" She yelled back, sending Dilandau her own version of a glare.
"And how?!"
"You… you. Argh! Never mind. Let's just forget about this!"
She spun back and stomped away. He was annoyed at her but as he followed her and heard her grumbles, he smiled. 'So, you were just worried.'
~*A week later*~
They were all surprised to see that Albatou Dilandau did come to the dance ALONE. But they were even more surprised when they saw Lavariel Miguel come with Kanzaki Hitomi. Celena and Merle exchanged a secret smile before turning their attentions back to their dates.
The entire dance night, Dilandau avoided having Hitomi see him. It wouldn't do if they'd be seen together, especially by Mei. And Mei? He avoided her with the best he could.
A couple of hours later, he saw Miguel and Hitomi laughing. Sometimes, he gets this weird feeling inside him. Like he wanted to blow up especially when she's with someone and they're acting close and… sweet. He shook his head. He said it was okay. Besides, why should he care? She's just his friend and so is Miguel.
"Hey,"
He spun around and saw Mei walking towards him. He forced a smile and waited for her.
"You DID come alone. I thought you were merely kidding me."
"I wasn't as you can see. Well, enjoy the dance, Mei."
He turned away and decided that he had enough of this hide, hide, and hide game of his.
'I might as well do something else other than hiding from certain people,' he thought and walked to the car he brought to the dance.
"What was that all about, Mei?"
She looked at Hikaru and frowned. "What's wrong with him? He always dismisses me ever since that Kanzaki came into view!"
Hikaru looked back. "You could be wrong, Mei. Celena said that---"
"Of course she'll say that nothing's between Dilandau and that Kanzaki girl! Hikaru, their twins! They'd look out for each other."
"So, what if it's true then?"
Mei's pretty face sported the frown she had rarely on before Hitomi came to Japan and for that matter, to Dilandau's life.
"Then I'd have to do something to make the picture right again."
"What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean, Hikaru. I'd just put back the dividing line between what's heaven and what's dirt."
He looked at his watch. It's almost two hours since he entered Tryst, one exclusive bar he used to always go to with his friends and many more. He smiled unconsciously. This was the very bar where he and Van had had one of their worst fist fights over something he couldn't even remember.
"Look who's here," a familiar female voice drawled.
He looked back slightly and saw a very attractive girl walk towards him with a very charismatic smile on her face.
"Hey," he said as acknowledgment before turning back to his drink.
"Well, it's been a long time, Dilandau," she said as she placed her right hand on his left shoulder and sat beside him. "Been busy?"
"You can say that."
"Then since you're here now, I assume you have time to your self. It's been so long." She drew close and whispered to his ear, "Did you miss me?"
"What do you think?"
She smiled and breathed into his ear. "I bet you did. We never really had an official goodbye."
He kept quiet and stared at his whiskey. There are memories he'd rather just forget.
"So, who are you screwing up with?"
"Nobody," he replied. "And you?"
She laughed. "Do you want to know? You rarely ask others on their current life status. You rarely cared or should I say, you never cared."
He shrugged. "Just forget I asked then."
"This is something worth remembering. But back to you, do you really expect me to believe you're not screwing up someone? Come on, Dilandau. What's the mind game all about now?"
"I don't play mind games anymore." He smirked, eyes still on the whiskey. "I wouldn't want my dad chopping my head off."
She smirked back, even when he's not looking. "Which head? I'm sure it's the one below that you don't want chopped off."
He just exhaled sharply and shook his head slightly. "Didn't change a bit, huh?"
"Would you want me to?" She asked, smiling slyly at her double edged question.
He was about to answer when he felt his cellphone vibrate in his pocket. "Must be my dad. Give me a moment."
She raised a brow. "Aw, you finally learned to ask permission from others."
He ignored the sarcasm dripping in her words and pulled away from her at the same time pulled out his cellphone. A message was the interrupter. And it came from Hitomi. His brows furrowed as he opened it.
Thanks, Dilandau ü
'A wrongly sent message? But what about my name here?' He mused as he replied *for what*.
A bit later, her continuous (consisting of divided SMS) reply came.
I wouldn't have gone to the dance because I turned you down for my own sake. But you said I could go with Miguel.
It was nice of you to do that. I really had a great time tonight. Thanks.
Well, since I think you're enjoying the dance somewhere, I might as well say goodnight now. I'm home and I'm just about to sleep.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your time. Goodnight.
He smiled unconsciously and pocketed his cellphone.
"Seems like something turned out well," her voice interrupted.
"You can say that again."
"It seems to me everything goes well for you."
"Not really. There are still people who hate me," he said amusedly. "Not that I blame them after all that I did to them."
She laughed. "Losers will always be losers, Dilandau. And they can't do anything about that. They hate you because you simply are above them."
"I don't think it's that."
She looked perplexed for a moment. "You're defending all those people? Even that grouchy old man?"
"Sakima-sensei may have his moods with me, but I do understand him. Wrecking a new car isn't exactly amusing."
"It's just a new car."
"Yes. And it's from hard earned money."
"Big deal. Both your parents and Van's paid for the damages anyway."
"But my parents couldn't pay for what I did to his daughter."
She frowned slightly. "She should feel privileged that you even set your eyes on her."
"I don't think Sakima-sensei feels the same way. It's even good that he allowed me in the team."
"He's a bastard a**h***."
"And he feels exactly that about me."
For a long time they remained quiet until he spared her a look. She was still how she was back then although now she looked more mature and more attractive to the very last part. He reached for her hair and ran his hand through them. They were still as he remembered them, soft and silky and so was her skin as he ran his fingertips over her cheek.
She smiled temptingly. "Would you want me to?"
He withdrew his hand and turned back to his whiskey, drinking the remaining of the liquid. "Yes." He then stood up and headed for the exit of the bar, pretty much ignoring all the different looks he got from both male and female.
She followed him outside. "Which car do we take? Yours or mine?"
He looked at her. "When I said yes, I meant I wanted you to change. I didn't mean yes, I want to have sex with you."
It was as if he had slapped her hard. Her ice-blue eyes narrowed.
"What's past is past. Let's leave it at that, shall we?"
"You're serious with someone, aren't you?" She asked in a low voice.
He couldn't answer her. Was he? Of course not. Who would he be serious with in the first place? No one. He just got tired of the things he did before.
"It's late. We should both be going," he said instead and walked towards his car.
He felt his unwanted memories catching up with him, making him feel even more desperate to run away from it. He needed to clear his mind, needed to talk and get it off him. But he couldn't talk to anyone. Not to his friends whom would remind him of what he wanted to get away from. Not to Celena, who hated how he was back then. Not to anyone.
Except…
He reached for his cellphone and waited for the line to be answered, as he drove his car to a certain place he knew he'd want to be right now.
"Hello?" Her sleepy voice came.
"I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"
"Obviously," she grumbled.
He smiled. "What do I say? Whoops?"
She sighed with much exasperation. "What's up, Dilandau? Couldn't this pestering wait till tomorrow?"
He laughed for a moment before falling silent.
"Now you're silent," came her irate comment. "Did you wake me just to annoy me? Because frankly, you've succeeded with flying colors."
He didn't bother to reply. Just her voice was enough for him to forget even slightly.
"Hey, I'm hanging up. Just enjoy the dance. I'm sure many are dying to have your attention. That reminds me. Are you even in the dance? Your background lacks sounds."
"You wanted to hang up, my dear. Why are you starting a conversation now?"
"Fine. If you don't want to have a decent talk---"
"I didn't say that."
"You were hinting."
He just scoffed. "I'm apologizing, okay?"
She snorted. "You're growing soft."
"Don't want me to?"
"Am I obliged to answer that? Because I'm just dying to continue my sleep you know."
He kept silent for a while and waited for Hitomi to hang up on him. But she didn't and he had to wonder if Hitomi was sensing the commotion of his emotions. At length, he sighed unconsciously, uncertainty lacing the sigh.
"Dilandau?" She asked in a changed tone.
"Yeah?"
"Do you… do you want to talk about something? You're not in the dance anymore, are you?"
"No, I'm not," he replied as he stopped the car and stepped out, staring at a massive gate while talking to her.
"Where are you then?"
"Outside."
"Where?"
"Outside your house."
"Wait, I'm---"
"Stay there. We can still talk over the phone."
"Stop being stupid. Your bill would soar and you're dad would have your head."
He laughed. "Can't you even express concern without insulting me?"
"Just shut up a moment and give me a few seconds to run there."
She hung up. He smiled and pocketed his cellphone, waiting for her outside his car. She came out a few moments later. He had obviously just disturbed her sleep when he called. She was still in her pajamas and her hair was all tousled up.
"Nice slippers."
She looked down before looking back at him. "What's wrong with fluffy slippers? Celena shopped them for me a few days back and I only wore them now. They look nice and new."
He smirked. "Whatever."
She cocked her head to the side and inspected him. He was wearing leather shoes and slacks. And the first two buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned with the sleeves drawn to his elbows.
"I know I don't look THAT presentable, your highness," he said sarcastically.
She smiled and walked near him. "Does it matter? You still look good."
He stared at her. 'Did I just hear her say I look good?'
"Although I could say you smell bad. You smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol. Bad indeed."
He didn't know whether to smile or frown. But then, this was Hitomi. She's always double-edged when dealing with him. So he just smiled. "What do I say? Thanks for the compliment and hey I'm taking it back because you insulted me?"
Her smile widened. "You can say all you want. I wouldn't really care."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, I'm letting you have your way now. After this, I'm going to pound you if you upset me."
He smiled and contemplated for a while. He needed comfort; he needed someone to assure him that he's not the bastard he was. He needed something that would show that he's not the figure that was so feared… that was a seductive trouble-maker. 'I might as well give it a shot.' "Hitomi?"
"Want to talk about what's bothering you now?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Then, what can I do to help you?"
He looked hesitant. But upon her reassuring look, he continued. "Can I… can I just have a hug?" 'Here goes the swipe that would no doubt send me to unconsciousness.'
She nodded and hugged him, to his surprise. She hugged him comfortingly and a while later, after he recovered from his shock, his arms wrapped around her slim body. Somehow, though he couldn't quite understand, he felt better.
Her warmth, her smell, her feel, and her presence made him forget and feel at ease. He could stay this way forever. Hitomi seemed to have noticed that the hug was giving him what he needed for she didn't pull away, not even after many minutes had passed.
He leaned on the closed car door and continued holding her for a long time he didn't bother to count. Then, he dimly noted her leaning her weight more on him and soon, her hold on him relaxed. He smiled slightly, finally realizing that she had fallen asleep.
He stirred a bit and opened his eyes. He hadn't realized that he had fallen asleep leaning on his car while holding Hitomi close. He looked down slightly and smiled.
Then suddenly he remembered something – school. There wouldn't be any lessons today but still the attendance would be checked.
Looking up at the sky, he realized it was almost sunrise. He stifled a sigh. He didn't want to wake her up. Not when she was comfortable in his arms and especially not when HE was comfortable holding her. But she'd be very annoyed if they were seen in such a position. She'd surely accuse him of going bonkers because he was embracing her and rant to herself about her losing her mind because she let him hold her.
He couldn't forget the event when they had fallen asleep on the couch and woke up to find him cuddling her close. She had been annoyed then. Surely she'd be annoyed now.
"Hitomi," he said softly, shaking her slightly.
After many minutes of attempts, she stirred and opened her eyes. She looked up at him and looked confused for a moment before she pulled back. "Uh, sorry. I fell asleep."
He smiled unconsciously. "Me, too."
They stood there for a while before he noticed that Hitomi's green eyes were glowing with concern. "Did that help?"
His smile widened. "More than you'd understand. Thanks, Hitomi."
"I'll be here for you, okay?"
He nodded. "Well, I guess I disturbed you long enough. Go back to bed." He then grinned cheekily. "I'd just pester you later."
She grinned in return. "And I'd just pound you later then. Sleep well." Debating for a moment, she kissed him quickly on his cheek and went inside the house.
He stood there, eyes widened in shock. 'Was that supposed to be a goodnight kiss or a good morning kiss or something?' Blinking profusely for a few minutes, he reached for his cellphone and called her room phone. When she answered it, his face felt warmer than usual. "Uh, I… thanks… for everything."
"Go home. I think the cold air is getting into your head. You're stuttering uncharacteristically. Besides, your parents might be worried. It's already early morning you know."
"Uh, yeah, I guess. Well, later then."
"Okay. Good morning."
She hung up and he was left staring into where she had stood moments ago. A bit later, he shook his head and drove towards home.
"Do you think he just lost his mind?" Celena whispered to Merle.
Merle looked at Dilandau as they entered the school building. "Definitely."
"I think the plan made some major bad effects. Isn't he supposed to be grouchy since Hitomi was with Miguel?"
"He was supposed to be. But your bro has definitely lost sanity. Now, he's grinning like he's SO happy about everything in his life."
"Oh really?" Hiko's voice interrupted them as it echoed a bit in the corridor. "She really did that last night?"
"Better believe it. Guess we succeeded in matchmaking our classmates," Hiko's companion said.
"Oh hi," Hiko greeted them as he and his friend came across them.
"Hi," Merle and Celena both greeted back.
Dilandau looked at Hiko. "Where's Hitomi?"
"In the clinic. She has neck cramps or something. I think she stayed in the same sleeping position the entire bed time or something."
Red eyes sparkled in amusement. "I'll go see her then."
He walked away. But Hiko called out. "Remember not to piss her too much. In her bad condition, she'd really be capable of tearing you apart in case she gets too mad."
"I'll remember that," came Dilandau's undisturbed reply.
Celena and Merle looked at each other. "Did we miss something?" They uttered at the same time.
Mei had been too annoyed to be able to participate well in anything the whole day. She couldn't forget the brief encounter with Dilandau and now, rumors about Dilandau and Hitomi really hooked up are flying everywhere.
There had also been a proof. Dilandau was smiling all the way at Hitomi all day that they could possibly be together. Even as she watched Dilandau's soccer practice, he was still being on good mood while Coach Sakima scolded and screamed his lungs off at the red-eyed captain.
"Could this day get any worse?!" She asked the air irately as she walked out of the school gate.
"Mei," came a pleasant and familiar voice.
She looked back and stared at the red-headed girl standing beside the school gate.
"Clover, what brings you here?"
"We need to talk."
~tbc~
Author's Note: First off, don't hate me for the D/H interaction here. When I type, they just turn out to run both hot and cold from one moment to the next. Anyhow, to those who for so long had wanted a kissing scene, sorry I couldn't do a kissing scene. But I do hope the part where they hug is enough. I mean they DID hug for hours so that has got to make up for the lack of kissing.
Moving on, I'm thanking Diesty-chan for reviewing Standing at the Edge of the Earth and Intruder Alert. I don't think I've mentioned this before but it's really gratifying when people still drops reviews to stories that aren't really going to be updated anymore.
To esca chick, you practically hate Mei from head to toe. Well about her dying, I still need her in the story ^_~
To Sleeping Melody, the flattery is too much. I can't stop grinning whenever people give good comments and even put me in their fave. ^^, Anyway, I hope this story won't bore you anytime soon.
To Izzy, no I can't have Mei in a coma or something. Still need her in this one. And about Dilandau getting hurt, I guess I'll just have to find some bunker to hide in coz there'll be some hurtful events I need to put in this one.
To anime_luver, what can I say? I'm benevolent *wide grin*
To Caitie, I think I'm gonna take the last part of what you said as a promise.
To MysticalDreamer, you got excited over this? ^_^ Looks like the ogre and the old man made quite a team. A weird one at that.
To mel_88, that I honestly don't know yet.
To AFCAMistress, I hope this gives you out another good feeling and a longer one at that than the other one. And I wish you good luck on your university entrance test. You can do it. Just believe in yourself.
To everyone bothered by Miguel asking Hitomi to the dance: Blame Merle and Celena. Kidding. Anyway, those two where behind everything (as I hinted back at the dance where Merle and Celena exchanged a secret smile).
Before I forget, I'm going to give a longer chapter next time. To those who'd be happy, that's a bonus. To those who hate longer chapters, *looks apologetic* please tolerate it. It's just my way of saying thanks to those who support me through their feedback.