AN: I just want to let the readers know that I will be switching between Ry's and Criet's names depending on what sort of situation they're in. Sorry for any problems! ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflone, but, on the bright side( If there could evere be one : ( ), I do own Ry and Criet!
Van woke to the ringing of the hotel phone. He grumbled something then began to fumble for it. 'What could be so Damn importain to wake me out of such a peaceful dream?' he thought bitterly.
Somehow his hands found the phone and he picked it up, " Konichi wa?" Van pirked up as he listened to the person on the other line. " Got it, " he said as he jumped out of bed, " good work," Van hung the phone up. And threw on a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
Then hurried out of the Hotel room and across the hall. He knocked on the door. There was no answer. He knocked again louder, all he heard this time was something to the affect of, " Get lost," and what sounded like a pillow hitting the door. This time he nearly brought the door down, then yelled, " Merle! Hitomi! If you two don't get up I'll bring this door down!" Van heard some shuffling around the room then the door opened to reveal a disheveled cat-girl, " You two get ready I've got some good news. I'll meet you in the lobby," he said as he left.
Merle moaned and gave out an unconvincing, " yes your highness," then closed the door.
Van waited for half an hour in the lobby, yet there was no sign of Hitomi
or Merle. ' Lazy cat,' he thought heading back up to the room, ' she probably fell back asleep.' He came up to the door, " Do I have to get Escaflone?!"
The door opened with Merle in front and Hitomi behind, " Okay, okay, we're up," said Merle yawning.
" I'll. . . ." Van began.
" Yeah, yeah, you'll meet us down in the lobby," continued Merle with another yawn.
Van gave her a hard look, " and would you hurry up!" he added leaving again for the lobby.
About another half an hour later Merle and Hitomi came still yawning. As they entered the lobby Van stood up and signaled for them to follow. Outside he hailed a cab and they got in.
" So what's the good news?" asked Hitomi trying to stifle another yawn.
" It seems while we slept Ry and Criet were busy," he began.
" Over achievers," said Merle sleepily.
Van laughed a little. Then he looked at the driver and began to speak in a hushed voice, " last night they led a surprise attack on Zaibach's main Mystic moon base," he paused. Both Hitomi and Merle were now interested in what he had to say. " With no casualties they were able to capture the base, and many of the soldiers. Which Ry will soon begin the interrogation of."
Merle frowned, " I've been on the wrong side of that."
" Well, maybe if you didn't steal shiny things from her room you wouldn't have to worry about that," answered Van. Merle gave a sheepish smile and Hitomi laughed remembering her first face to face encounter with Merle. " Now that Zaibach's presence here has been delt a crippling blow Hitomi, you can return home," he said with a smile.
" Seriously!"
" I wouldn't joke," Answered Van.
" That's great!" Merle gave Hitomi a hug.
" We'll drop you off there," said Van as they pulled up to Hitomi's apartment building.
" But, how can I get a hold of you if I need to?" asked Hitomi.
Van handed her a bit of paper, " one of those numbers, or if worse comes to worse, through Ry or Criet."
Hitomi nodded. She got out of the car, and turned around. She and Van locked eyes as they leaned slowly towards each other. Closer and closer. . . .till they suddenly both remembered Merle and the cab driver. Hitomi quickly pulled back embarrassed as did Van.
" Well. . . .uh, bye, and thanks for everything!" said Hitomi quickly as she turned and left.
Van closed the door and the cab slowly pulled away from the lobby entrance.
Merle gave Him an annoyed look, " You know, after all the trouble you went through to find her, and all the time you two've been apart, you could have at least kissed her!"
" Merle," said Van with a half smile.
Merle sat back in her seat and crossed her arms, " Well, you should've."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Hitomi walked over to the elevator and waited when it came a huge crowd pushed and shoved to get off. When everybody had exited Hitomi got on and hit the button for her level. Nobody joined her on the elevator so after a few seconds the doors closed and it began its assent of the building.
Hitomi suddenly relised Yukari and her mother would be demanding an answer to where she had been. Her stomach turned, she didn't like lying, especially to friends and family. A thousand ideas went through her head, but Hitomi found a flaw in every one of them. Finally she decided she'd do what she'd done last time. She would give no answer of any kind. She wouldn't be liying, just withholding information.
The ring to tell Hitomi she had reached her desired level woke her from her thoughts. She took a deep breath as the doors opened and got out. ' Here goes nothing,' she thought, as she came to her door.
Hitomi Grasped the door handle and opened it slowly. On the other side Yukari sat at the dining room table talking with Jake. Yukari jumped out of her chair when she saw Hitomi. She quickly crossed the three or four feet from her chair to the door and embraced Hitomi.
" Thank God you're all right!" she said with a smile. Hitomi reluctantly returned the hug. She knew what would be asked next.
" See I told you she'd be fine," said Jake from his seat with a smile.
" One second Jake, I need to talk to Hitomi alone," she said as she dragged Hitomi outside the door and to the end of their private hallway. Yukari pulled Hitomi in front of her, her features became serious. " Hitomi, where were you?" she asked.
" Nowhere," answered Hitomi.
" Quite a strange name for a place ne?" said Yukari sarcastically. She was getting annoyed with Hitomi avoiding the matter. " Answer me Hitomi," she said sternly.
Hitomi forced a fake smile, " What does it matter? I'm back now," she answered unconvincingly. She looked away from Yukari's hard stare.
" Hitomi!" Yukari forced Hitomi to look her in the eyes, " Hitomi. . . .were you with Van?" she asked. Her eyes penetrating Hitomi.
Hitomi took a step back, ' H-h-h-how could she know?' went throughout her mind a thousand times before she regained her composure, ' The more she knows the bigger a target she is for Zaibach.' Hitomi met Yukari with a glare equal to hers, " I don't know what you're talking about."
" I read your diary, I know all about your adventure to Gaea!" said Yukari gesturing with her arms.
Hitomi was steadfast, " Where?"
" Gaea! I know all about the dragons, the giants, the royalty, and the war!" answered Yukari exasperated.
Hitomi fastened a haughty skeptical look on her face, " Your talk's mad! dragons, giants, AND Gaea don't exist!"
Yukari was shocked at Hitomi's answer, " You DARE call me mad?!"
" Not you, what you're talking about! Any sane person would see that!" answered Hitomi.
Hitomi's words stung, " So you're not calling me mad, you're calling me insane! Hell I probably do sound it, but why won't you just tell me the truth!"
" I have!" Hitomi looked down the hall, " Jake!" she called, " can you come out here!"
Yukari was horrified, " Don't bring him in to this! Please, for the love of God, don't bring him into this!" she begged, as she shrunk back. Hitomi gave a victorious look.
Jake came out of the door, when he came up Hitomi looked over at him, " Yukari here's, been talking about dragons, and giants! Would you kindly tell her they DON'T exist."
Jake met Yukari's scared eyes, he felt a twinge of empathy for her.
" Tell her they don't exist," insisted Hitomi.
Jake broke eye contact, " As far as I know they don't," he answered sternly.
Then Hitomi noticed Alex walk over unaware of the argument. " Alex, will you also tell Yukari that dragons and giants don't exist," prompted Hitomi
Alex also met Yukari's eyes. She felt no empathy or if she did she chose not to show it, as she also said that they didn't exist.
Yukari was horrified and crushed as she backed up to the far wall then sank to the floor. she couldn't believe Hitomi had made her look like a mad woman in front Jake and his sister. " Hitomi. . . .," she weakly begged one last time.
" See, there is no Gaea, no dragons, and no giants. So stop your ranting and come to your sense." ordered Hitomi.
Yukari shook her head, she'd never seen Hitomi like this. She stood up and fixed Hitomi with the strongest look she could muster, even as tears flowed down her face. Then turned and ran into the apartment.
Hitomi watched where Yukari had disappeared " It's for her own protection," she said trying to explain herself, " Zaibach would come after her if. . . ."
" Even so, you took it too far," said Ry also watching the door.
Hitomi turned furious to Ry, " What would you know about feelings? After all your a cold-blooded murderer!"
Ry silently turned and began to leave, but she stopped when she was even with the fuming Hitomi. As she began to speak she didn't even turn her head to face Hitomi, " Yes I have killed many people," she paused, " but, it's one thing to kill an enemy's body, an another to crush a friend's spirit," she paused again. She then turned her head to meet Hitomi's gaze, and continued in a cold, almost amused voice to emphasize her point, " I must congratulate you, I don't think I've ever done as much damage to any one person. mentally, or physically." Ry and Criet left silently.
Hitomi stood rooted to the ground as Ry's words repeated themselves in her head. Could she really have just done that to Yukari? Her best friend? Had those crule words really been hers? Had they really come from her mouth? Hitomi couldn't accept that she had said those things. It was as if the real Hitomi had been watching the whole thing while someone else had said those things. Yes, that was it, someone else had done that to Yukari. Not her, not Hitomi.
Hitomi walked back into her apartment, and to her room. She was in a daze with the same train of thought running through her head again and again, like a broken record. Hitomi fell onto her bed and just lay there.
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflone, but, on the bright side( If there could evere be one : ( ), I do own Ry and Criet!
Van woke to the ringing of the hotel phone. He grumbled something then began to fumble for it. 'What could be so Damn importain to wake me out of such a peaceful dream?' he thought bitterly.
Somehow his hands found the phone and he picked it up, " Konichi wa?" Van pirked up as he listened to the person on the other line. " Got it, " he said as he jumped out of bed, " good work," Van hung the phone up. And threw on a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
Then hurried out of the Hotel room and across the hall. He knocked on the door. There was no answer. He knocked again louder, all he heard this time was something to the affect of, " Get lost," and what sounded like a pillow hitting the door. This time he nearly brought the door down, then yelled, " Merle! Hitomi! If you two don't get up I'll bring this door down!" Van heard some shuffling around the room then the door opened to reveal a disheveled cat-girl, " You two get ready I've got some good news. I'll meet you in the lobby," he said as he left.
Merle moaned and gave out an unconvincing, " yes your highness," then closed the door.
Van waited for half an hour in the lobby, yet there was no sign of Hitomi
or Merle. ' Lazy cat,' he thought heading back up to the room, ' she probably fell back asleep.' He came up to the door, " Do I have to get Escaflone?!"
The door opened with Merle in front and Hitomi behind, " Okay, okay, we're up," said Merle yawning.
" I'll. . . ." Van began.
" Yeah, yeah, you'll meet us down in the lobby," continued Merle with another yawn.
Van gave her a hard look, " and would you hurry up!" he added leaving again for the lobby.
About another half an hour later Merle and Hitomi came still yawning. As they entered the lobby Van stood up and signaled for them to follow. Outside he hailed a cab and they got in.
" So what's the good news?" asked Hitomi trying to stifle another yawn.
" It seems while we slept Ry and Criet were busy," he began.
" Over achievers," said Merle sleepily.
Van laughed a little. Then he looked at the driver and began to speak in a hushed voice, " last night they led a surprise attack on Zaibach's main Mystic moon base," he paused. Both Hitomi and Merle were now interested in what he had to say. " With no casualties they were able to capture the base, and many of the soldiers. Which Ry will soon begin the interrogation of."
Merle frowned, " I've been on the wrong side of that."
" Well, maybe if you didn't steal shiny things from her room you wouldn't have to worry about that," answered Van. Merle gave a sheepish smile and Hitomi laughed remembering her first face to face encounter with Merle. " Now that Zaibach's presence here has been delt a crippling blow Hitomi, you can return home," he said with a smile.
" Seriously!"
" I wouldn't joke," Answered Van.
" That's great!" Merle gave Hitomi a hug.
" We'll drop you off there," said Van as they pulled up to Hitomi's apartment building.
" But, how can I get a hold of you if I need to?" asked Hitomi.
Van handed her a bit of paper, " one of those numbers, or if worse comes to worse, through Ry or Criet."
Hitomi nodded. She got out of the car, and turned around. She and Van locked eyes as they leaned slowly towards each other. Closer and closer. . . .till they suddenly both remembered Merle and the cab driver. Hitomi quickly pulled back embarrassed as did Van.
" Well. . . .uh, bye, and thanks for everything!" said Hitomi quickly as she turned and left.
Van closed the door and the cab slowly pulled away from the lobby entrance.
Merle gave Him an annoyed look, " You know, after all the trouble you went through to find her, and all the time you two've been apart, you could have at least kissed her!"
" Merle," said Van with a half smile.
Merle sat back in her seat and crossed her arms, " Well, you should've."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Hitomi walked over to the elevator and waited when it came a huge crowd pushed and shoved to get off. When everybody had exited Hitomi got on and hit the button for her level. Nobody joined her on the elevator so after a few seconds the doors closed and it began its assent of the building.
Hitomi suddenly relised Yukari and her mother would be demanding an answer to where she had been. Her stomach turned, she didn't like lying, especially to friends and family. A thousand ideas went through her head, but Hitomi found a flaw in every one of them. Finally she decided she'd do what she'd done last time. She would give no answer of any kind. She wouldn't be liying, just withholding information.
The ring to tell Hitomi she had reached her desired level woke her from her thoughts. She took a deep breath as the doors opened and got out. ' Here goes nothing,' she thought, as she came to her door.
Hitomi Grasped the door handle and opened it slowly. On the other side Yukari sat at the dining room table talking with Jake. Yukari jumped out of her chair when she saw Hitomi. She quickly crossed the three or four feet from her chair to the door and embraced Hitomi.
" Thank God you're all right!" she said with a smile. Hitomi reluctantly returned the hug. She knew what would be asked next.
" See I told you she'd be fine," said Jake from his seat with a smile.
" One second Jake, I need to talk to Hitomi alone," she said as she dragged Hitomi outside the door and to the end of their private hallway. Yukari pulled Hitomi in front of her, her features became serious. " Hitomi, where were you?" she asked.
" Nowhere," answered Hitomi.
" Quite a strange name for a place ne?" said Yukari sarcastically. She was getting annoyed with Hitomi avoiding the matter. " Answer me Hitomi," she said sternly.
Hitomi forced a fake smile, " What does it matter? I'm back now," she answered unconvincingly. She looked away from Yukari's hard stare.
" Hitomi!" Yukari forced Hitomi to look her in the eyes, " Hitomi. . . .were you with Van?" she asked. Her eyes penetrating Hitomi.
Hitomi took a step back, ' H-h-h-how could she know?' went throughout her mind a thousand times before she regained her composure, ' The more she knows the bigger a target she is for Zaibach.' Hitomi met Yukari with a glare equal to hers, " I don't know what you're talking about."
" I read your diary, I know all about your adventure to Gaea!" said Yukari gesturing with her arms.
Hitomi was steadfast, " Where?"
" Gaea! I know all about the dragons, the giants, the royalty, and the war!" answered Yukari exasperated.
Hitomi fastened a haughty skeptical look on her face, " Your talk's mad! dragons, giants, AND Gaea don't exist!"
Yukari was shocked at Hitomi's answer, " You DARE call me mad?!"
" Not you, what you're talking about! Any sane person would see that!" answered Hitomi.
Hitomi's words stung, " So you're not calling me mad, you're calling me insane! Hell I probably do sound it, but why won't you just tell me the truth!"
" I have!" Hitomi looked down the hall, " Jake!" she called, " can you come out here!"
Yukari was horrified, " Don't bring him in to this! Please, for the love of God, don't bring him into this!" she begged, as she shrunk back. Hitomi gave a victorious look.
Jake came out of the door, when he came up Hitomi looked over at him, " Yukari here's, been talking about dragons, and giants! Would you kindly tell her they DON'T exist."
Jake met Yukari's scared eyes, he felt a twinge of empathy for her.
" Tell her they don't exist," insisted Hitomi.
Jake broke eye contact, " As far as I know they don't," he answered sternly.
Then Hitomi noticed Alex walk over unaware of the argument. " Alex, will you also tell Yukari that dragons and giants don't exist," prompted Hitomi
Alex also met Yukari's eyes. She felt no empathy or if she did she chose not to show it, as she also said that they didn't exist.
Yukari was horrified and crushed as she backed up to the far wall then sank to the floor. she couldn't believe Hitomi had made her look like a mad woman in front Jake and his sister. " Hitomi. . . .," she weakly begged one last time.
" See, there is no Gaea, no dragons, and no giants. So stop your ranting and come to your sense." ordered Hitomi.
Yukari shook her head, she'd never seen Hitomi like this. She stood up and fixed Hitomi with the strongest look she could muster, even as tears flowed down her face. Then turned and ran into the apartment.
Hitomi watched where Yukari had disappeared " It's for her own protection," she said trying to explain herself, " Zaibach would come after her if. . . ."
" Even so, you took it too far," said Ry also watching the door.
Hitomi turned furious to Ry, " What would you know about feelings? After all your a cold-blooded murderer!"
Ry silently turned and began to leave, but she stopped when she was even with the fuming Hitomi. As she began to speak she didn't even turn her head to face Hitomi, " Yes I have killed many people," she paused, " but, it's one thing to kill an enemy's body, an another to crush a friend's spirit," she paused again. She then turned her head to meet Hitomi's gaze, and continued in a cold, almost amused voice to emphasize her point, " I must congratulate you, I don't think I've ever done as much damage to any one person. mentally, or physically." Ry and Criet left silently.
Hitomi stood rooted to the ground as Ry's words repeated themselves in her head. Could she really have just done that to Yukari? Her best friend? Had those crule words really been hers? Had they really come from her mouth? Hitomi couldn't accept that she had said those things. It was as if the real Hitomi had been watching the whole thing while someone else had said those things. Yes, that was it, someone else had done that to Yukari. Not her, not Hitomi.
Hitomi walked back into her apartment, and to her room. She was in a daze with the same train of thought running through her head again and again, like a broken record. Hitomi fell onto her bed and just lay there.