Disclaimer: I don' t own "Escaflowne" or "Save the Last Dance"
Chapter 9: Misunderstandings
Yukari scanned the open area and frowned. She had seen no sign of Hitomi after entering Steps 20 minutes ago. The place was not big, and finding the girl should not have been hard. But she had been looking for her without success and started to get worried. Where was Hitomi?
Yukari had been at the movies with Amano, but later the two had parted. Amano had claimed to be too tired to go anywhere anymore, but since Yukari had still been full of spirits, she had decided to come. She knew Hitomi was here. She had to be, because Mark had said Van would be here tonight. Yukari smiled when recalling the conversation with her brother when walking together with him to the club.
"Is Van coming tonight?"
"Why? Don't tell me you too get ants in your pants when seeing him."
"Mark! I'm with Amano and you know it!"
"Oh yes, how could I forget Pretty Boy. 'Amano is so adoring, Amano is so handsome, Amano is so sweet, Amano is' OUCH! Why'd you punch me?"
"Stop imitating me and stop insulting Amano! You're not even half of the man he is!"
"Sure, whatever sis."
"Anyway, IS Van coming?"
"Why do you care?"
"I JUST DO!"
"Okay, sorry! No need to be so touchy... Sure he's coming. Care to tell me why you're suddenly so interested in him?"
"It's not me... I just wanted to know in case Hitomi asked."
"Oh, so Hitomi's the chic's name Van drools upon."
"Drools...?"
"Hell, you should see the guy whenever she is mentioned. He gets this lunatic dreamy smile all over and falls to some sort of a trance. That girl has seriously spoiled a good stud horse. He doesn't even cast an eye to other girls anymore."
"Mark! How can you talk about your friend like that?! Besides, it's Van who is mixing Hitomi's gentle thoughts all over. The poor girl is so confused she doesn't even know what the guy wants from her!"
"Okay, geez. You really thought I seriously meant what I said? No... Besides, I think both of them are a bit clueless right now. I mean, if Hitomi's really like you said, she's seriously blind. Doesn't she see how Van all the time tries to come closer?"
"Well I can't blame her. I don't see how Van is making the whole situation clear. Bouncing back and forth like that, I would get confused too!"
"But think the situation from Van's point-of-view. Living a life free from all the twists and turns of relationships and suddenly he should be bound to only one. I think he's done quite well."
"I guess you're right. I just wish I could help the two of them some how. They seem so lost, when the thing they are searching for is right under their noses."
"Sweetie, sometimes it's better to leave the flirtations to the one's doing it and just step aside."
"But..."
"Yukari, just leave it."
Yukari woke from her dreams when suddenly she felt someone walking straight into her:
"Watch where you're going jerk!"
She turned to see who had used such a foul tone at her and was not too surprised to find the back of Merle departing to the crowd. Yukari shook her head. She did not see why Merle held such great hate towards her; she had never done anything to rise the others anger. Yukari shrugged the matter away. As long as Merle did nothing that might hurt her or the people close to her, the two did not have to be in any terms together.
* *
Merle was furious. How did that wench dare! The way the bitch had hung in Van like some helpless kitten. That whore, that hussy, that, that... Oh, it made her feel so sick she felt like puking! Luckily she had seen where the couple had headed after their so lovely and intimate episode. An evil glint flamed in her eyes. She would show that minx never to touch Van again. Van belonged to her! Merle was glad she had caught the girl's name. It would be useful in the future.
Slowly she approached the couple. The girl was sitting in a chair and Van was knelt before her like a goddamn prince! Merle felt sick again, but pulled up a neutral expression and calmly walked up to the two. Van had obviously just said something that had made the girl speechless. She sat there, eyes bored to his with a puzzled expression. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Merle made her grand appearance.
"Van dear! I've been looking for you."
Gracefully, making sure her every move was like a cat's she moved to his side. Surprise washed away and replaced by anger, Van slowly rose, eyes narrowed, and an expression filled with rage on his face. Merle decided to avoid it and clasped his arm affectionately. A coy smile played on her lips as she purred so that Hitomi surely got her every word.
"Naught boy. I leave you for a minute and already you are wooing other girls. I thought we were going to your place after this."
She sent a calculating glance at Hitomi who sat still, confusion and shock written clearly on her face. Smiling to her self, for things going so well, Merle turned back to Van who seemed to be seething at this point. Lifting her other hand to stroke his bulging chest she continued in a syrupy voice: "Of course we can take her with us. I have nothing against all the three of us together. It would actually make quite a nice experience don't you think?"
"Be quiet!"
Van's harsh tone startled Hitomi, but had no affect on Merle at all. The latter kept clinging on Van's arm, but he wrenched it away furiously and moved to stand between the two girls, like wanting to protect Hitomi from the other. Merle smiled in an amused manner: "What's wrong Van? You don't like the sound of a threesome?"
Van snarled under his breath and sent a hate-filled look at Merle. Growling, he said in a dangerous tone: "That's enough Merle. Now get out of my sight before I do something that might hurt you."
Merle thought for a brief split-second to leave or stay. She quickly glanced at Hitomi sitting at the armchair, curled to the corner of it. Then she shifted her gaze to Van who eyed her enraged. Smirking she sent a fascinating smile at him.
"Maybe next time then."
Under his breath Van told her that there would not be a next time, but it seemed Merle had missed it, since the girl was already making her way to the dance floor. Swiftly he turned to Hitomi only to find her staring at him with a sorrowful and hurt face. He sighed heavily and descended before her.
"Hitomi?"
He lifted a hand to touch hers, but she raked it away and clasped her hands above her heart. Van saw how she fought back the tears by sending her gaze to her lap. Her lower lip quivered a bit and she bit it effortlessly trying to stop the trembling. Van cursed in his mind. Damn that Merle! Why the hell did she always have to destroy everything?
His thoughts were cut short when Hitomi rose and started to leave towards the door. Van quickly rose and followed her, but the mass of dancing people around them made it hard for him to keep with her pace. He soon saw her up at the end of the stairs that led to the exit and pushed some people aside to catch her up.
Hitomi's mind was mist and the same time storm of thoughts. The only thing she could think was to get out. Out of this place and away from its entire people. She ran outside, not even caring to take her jacket along. The cold night air welcomed her and immediately goosebumps scattered on her bare arms and shoulders. She shivered, but somehow could not care. She had known it was all an illusion of hers. She had been so fool; trusting that somebody would actually be fond of her. Just as he had confessed that he cared, all her fantasies had crushed down at her. She had been stupid...
"Hitomi!!"
Hitomi squeezed her eyes closed. 'Just go away'. Van reached her and grabbed her from the forearm. He twirled her around and found her trembling all over. Her face was melancholy and her eyes sad. Tears flowed from the corners of her two large orbs down to her cheeks and her lips trembled. He locked his gaze to her two emeralds that usually twinkled, but were now misty and clouded with tears. All this because of that damn Merle!
Van wanted to pull her into his embrace, but first he needed to explain everything. He saw how Hitomi shivered and quickly gave her his jacket. As he was settling it on her shoulders, he heard her small voice.
"Why?"
Van lifted his gaze to her eyes and sighed. He knew exactly what was going in her mind.
"Listen, there isn't anything between me and Merle. She keeps thinking that there's something still on, but believe me I have no interest in her. She means nothing to me, she means zero!"
Van paused, but saw that her expression did not change, but kept sorrowful. He stepped closer and cupped her face in his hands. Her cheeks were wet under his palms. He tilted his head a bit and gave her a reasoning look. She sniffed. With his thumb Van wiped the salty tears away. Then, locking his gaze with hers, he gently whispered: "Merle is nothing, she doesn't exist for me. Only you. You're the one."
Hitomi's eyes widened a bit from his confession. Van cared. He really did. So she was not just someone for him. She saw how he looked down at her with the same gentle eyes she had seen him wear at the beach and before when they had danced. She felt the air become heated and small electric shots sparkle around them. Suddenly his hands on her face sent tingles to her skin and her whole body warmed up.
Then it happened. Time stopped as the two stared deep in each other's eyes, questioning and searching. Van let his eyelids drop as he slowly leaned forward, his hot breath caressing her lips. Hitomi opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Then, softly, gently and slowly, Van kissed her.
* *
Chapter 9: Misunderstandings
Yukari scanned the open area and frowned. She had seen no sign of Hitomi after entering Steps 20 minutes ago. The place was not big, and finding the girl should not have been hard. But she had been looking for her without success and started to get worried. Where was Hitomi?
Yukari had been at the movies with Amano, but later the two had parted. Amano had claimed to be too tired to go anywhere anymore, but since Yukari had still been full of spirits, she had decided to come. She knew Hitomi was here. She had to be, because Mark had said Van would be here tonight. Yukari smiled when recalling the conversation with her brother when walking together with him to the club.
"Is Van coming tonight?"
"Why? Don't tell me you too get ants in your pants when seeing him."
"Mark! I'm with Amano and you know it!"
"Oh yes, how could I forget Pretty Boy. 'Amano is so adoring, Amano is so handsome, Amano is so sweet, Amano is' OUCH! Why'd you punch me?"
"Stop imitating me and stop insulting Amano! You're not even half of the man he is!"
"Sure, whatever sis."
"Anyway, IS Van coming?"
"Why do you care?"
"I JUST DO!"
"Okay, sorry! No need to be so touchy... Sure he's coming. Care to tell me why you're suddenly so interested in him?"
"It's not me... I just wanted to know in case Hitomi asked."
"Oh, so Hitomi's the chic's name Van drools upon."
"Drools...?"
"Hell, you should see the guy whenever she is mentioned. He gets this lunatic dreamy smile all over and falls to some sort of a trance. That girl has seriously spoiled a good stud horse. He doesn't even cast an eye to other girls anymore."
"Mark! How can you talk about your friend like that?! Besides, it's Van who is mixing Hitomi's gentle thoughts all over. The poor girl is so confused she doesn't even know what the guy wants from her!"
"Okay, geez. You really thought I seriously meant what I said? No... Besides, I think both of them are a bit clueless right now. I mean, if Hitomi's really like you said, she's seriously blind. Doesn't she see how Van all the time tries to come closer?"
"Well I can't blame her. I don't see how Van is making the whole situation clear. Bouncing back and forth like that, I would get confused too!"
"But think the situation from Van's point-of-view. Living a life free from all the twists and turns of relationships and suddenly he should be bound to only one. I think he's done quite well."
"I guess you're right. I just wish I could help the two of them some how. They seem so lost, when the thing they are searching for is right under their noses."
"Sweetie, sometimes it's better to leave the flirtations to the one's doing it and just step aside."
"But..."
"Yukari, just leave it."
Yukari woke from her dreams when suddenly she felt someone walking straight into her:
"Watch where you're going jerk!"
She turned to see who had used such a foul tone at her and was not too surprised to find the back of Merle departing to the crowd. Yukari shook her head. She did not see why Merle held such great hate towards her; she had never done anything to rise the others anger. Yukari shrugged the matter away. As long as Merle did nothing that might hurt her or the people close to her, the two did not have to be in any terms together.
* *
Merle was furious. How did that wench dare! The way the bitch had hung in Van like some helpless kitten. That whore, that hussy, that, that... Oh, it made her feel so sick she felt like puking! Luckily she had seen where the couple had headed after their so lovely and intimate episode. An evil glint flamed in her eyes. She would show that minx never to touch Van again. Van belonged to her! Merle was glad she had caught the girl's name. It would be useful in the future.
Slowly she approached the couple. The girl was sitting in a chair and Van was knelt before her like a goddamn prince! Merle felt sick again, but pulled up a neutral expression and calmly walked up to the two. Van had obviously just said something that had made the girl speechless. She sat there, eyes bored to his with a puzzled expression. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Merle made her grand appearance.
"Van dear! I've been looking for you."
Gracefully, making sure her every move was like a cat's she moved to his side. Surprise washed away and replaced by anger, Van slowly rose, eyes narrowed, and an expression filled with rage on his face. Merle decided to avoid it and clasped his arm affectionately. A coy smile played on her lips as she purred so that Hitomi surely got her every word.
"Naught boy. I leave you for a minute and already you are wooing other girls. I thought we were going to your place after this."
She sent a calculating glance at Hitomi who sat still, confusion and shock written clearly on her face. Smiling to her self, for things going so well, Merle turned back to Van who seemed to be seething at this point. Lifting her other hand to stroke his bulging chest she continued in a syrupy voice: "Of course we can take her with us. I have nothing against all the three of us together. It would actually make quite a nice experience don't you think?"
"Be quiet!"
Van's harsh tone startled Hitomi, but had no affect on Merle at all. The latter kept clinging on Van's arm, but he wrenched it away furiously and moved to stand between the two girls, like wanting to protect Hitomi from the other. Merle smiled in an amused manner: "What's wrong Van? You don't like the sound of a threesome?"
Van snarled under his breath and sent a hate-filled look at Merle. Growling, he said in a dangerous tone: "That's enough Merle. Now get out of my sight before I do something that might hurt you."
Merle thought for a brief split-second to leave or stay. She quickly glanced at Hitomi sitting at the armchair, curled to the corner of it. Then she shifted her gaze to Van who eyed her enraged. Smirking she sent a fascinating smile at him.
"Maybe next time then."
Under his breath Van told her that there would not be a next time, but it seemed Merle had missed it, since the girl was already making her way to the dance floor. Swiftly he turned to Hitomi only to find her staring at him with a sorrowful and hurt face. He sighed heavily and descended before her.
"Hitomi?"
He lifted a hand to touch hers, but she raked it away and clasped her hands above her heart. Van saw how she fought back the tears by sending her gaze to her lap. Her lower lip quivered a bit and she bit it effortlessly trying to stop the trembling. Van cursed in his mind. Damn that Merle! Why the hell did she always have to destroy everything?
His thoughts were cut short when Hitomi rose and started to leave towards the door. Van quickly rose and followed her, but the mass of dancing people around them made it hard for him to keep with her pace. He soon saw her up at the end of the stairs that led to the exit and pushed some people aside to catch her up.
Hitomi's mind was mist and the same time storm of thoughts. The only thing she could think was to get out. Out of this place and away from its entire people. She ran outside, not even caring to take her jacket along. The cold night air welcomed her and immediately goosebumps scattered on her bare arms and shoulders. She shivered, but somehow could not care. She had known it was all an illusion of hers. She had been so fool; trusting that somebody would actually be fond of her. Just as he had confessed that he cared, all her fantasies had crushed down at her. She had been stupid...
"Hitomi!!"
Hitomi squeezed her eyes closed. 'Just go away'. Van reached her and grabbed her from the forearm. He twirled her around and found her trembling all over. Her face was melancholy and her eyes sad. Tears flowed from the corners of her two large orbs down to her cheeks and her lips trembled. He locked his gaze to her two emeralds that usually twinkled, but were now misty and clouded with tears. All this because of that damn Merle!
Van wanted to pull her into his embrace, but first he needed to explain everything. He saw how Hitomi shivered and quickly gave her his jacket. As he was settling it on her shoulders, he heard her small voice.
"Why?"
Van lifted his gaze to her eyes and sighed. He knew exactly what was going in her mind.
"Listen, there isn't anything between me and Merle. She keeps thinking that there's something still on, but believe me I have no interest in her. She means nothing to me, she means zero!"
Van paused, but saw that her expression did not change, but kept sorrowful. He stepped closer and cupped her face in his hands. Her cheeks were wet under his palms. He tilted his head a bit and gave her a reasoning look. She sniffed. With his thumb Van wiped the salty tears away. Then, locking his gaze with hers, he gently whispered: "Merle is nothing, she doesn't exist for me. Only you. You're the one."
Hitomi's eyes widened a bit from his confession. Van cared. He really did. So she was not just someone for him. She saw how he looked down at her with the same gentle eyes she had seen him wear at the beach and before when they had danced. She felt the air become heated and small electric shots sparkle around them. Suddenly his hands on her face sent tingles to her skin and her whole body warmed up.
Then it happened. Time stopped as the two stared deep in each other's eyes, questioning and searching. Van let his eyelids drop as he slowly leaned forward, his hot breath caressing her lips. Hitomi opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Then, softly, gently and slowly, Van kissed her.
* *