Disclaimer: I don't own "Escaflowne" or "Save the Last Dance"
I don't own Shanice's "Lovin' you"
A/N: Hello all of you! First, I apologise for the EXTREMELY long wait, I'm truly sorry that I didn't inform you about it (I was on a vacation where there were no computers) and now that school has started everything has been a real mess. But I hope I get back into my writing routines quickly, I got this chapter for you now and maybe the next one within few weeks. This is quite a short chapter, but hope you can handle it. Once again sorry for the overdue, happy readings!
* *
Then it happened. Time stopped as the two stared deep in each other's eyes, questioning and searching. Slowly Van leaned forward, letting his eyelids drop as his hot breath caressed her lips. Hitomi opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Then, softly, gently and slowly, Van kissed her.
* *
Chapter 10: Together
Hitomi felt like an onlooker. Her mind was foggy and her body refused to obey any commands. She felt Van press his lips against hers, carefully, yet confidently. His hold on her cheek kept gentle, as he slid his other hand behind her head and sunk his fingers to her open hair. At last Hitomi gave in and closed her eyes as she timidly kissed him back.
Van smiled. Finally, after all of the waiting, he was finally kissing her. She was just like he had expected, a bit shy, yet bold enough to respond. She tasted like a sweet candy and smelled like vanilla. Her lips were soft and moist and soon they would be swollen. Not wanting to make their first kiss a sensuous and carnal one, Van delicately pulled away and smiled when noticing that she stayed still, eyes closed and mouth a bit apart. Tenderly he whispered against her lips: "Believe me now?"
In response he received a small nod. Van smiled and scrutinised her face. Her eyes were still a bit red, but her cheeks were now flushed and a happy smile decorated her rosy lips. He stroked her cheek, travelling a finger to her chin and then the slope of her nose. Her eyelids dropped again and she sighed contentedly. Van leaned his forehead to hers.
"Wanna go? I'll take you home to rest"
Before Hitomi had the opportunity to reply, a sharp voice was heard behind them.
"You're not taking her anywhere!"
Both Hitomi and Van twirled to see the speaker. To Hitomi's great surprise, she saw Millerna standing some metres away, anger flashing in her eyes. Not knowing what to do, Hitomi glanced at Van and suddenly noticed the heavy air that hung between Millerna and him. Both of them glared at each other, like ready to attack the other any minute needed.
"Millerna, leave us."
Such a heated tone, yet at the same time icy cold, sent shivers across Hitomi's spine. Though she had heard Van angry before, this small sentence held so much in it that it made her want to cry. Taking a threatening step towards the couple, Millerna turned her attention towards Hitomi. Though her rage was easily noticed from the way her face was tensed and her nostrils flared, she pulled up the friendliest smile possible, and spoke up:
"Hitomi, look honey you do NOT want to be involved to this guy in any way. Why wouldn't you listen when I told you about him? He's bad! Trust me, if you now follow him, you will be heartbroken tomorrow morning. I do understand your infatuation towards him, I mean, he IS good looking... But still, why couldn't you come with, I'm sure we'll find much a better suitor for you from Steps and..."
"Millerna please!"
At the instant Millerna shut her mouth. She stared at Hitomi in utter shock, as the other girl, still within the arms of Van stared back with a stern expression.
Hitomi had listened to Millerna's every word carefully, cautiously, and made an opinion of all the things she had heard. She understood her friend's concern, but enough was enough. The girl had now come between a serious matter, as if trying to prevent Hitomi from being happy. Talking bad about Van, as if the guy was not present at all made her feel angry. She had heard a certain kind of desperateness in Millerna's tone, but did not understand what the blond was so afraid of. Hitomi felt that she had had to put an end to Millerna's foolishness and now stood strict, taking the side of Van's in the matter.
Millerna stood still for some time and scrutinised the couple before her. She knew she had lost the battle. Hitomi would not leave Van. Taking a quick glance at the guy, she saw how he scowled at her and so, decided to pull out her last trick. Lifting her chin and shaking the extra hairs from her face, she crossed her arms and said casually:
"Then, if this is your decision Hitomi, I'm afraid that we can't be friends anymore."
The atmosphere was thick as a minute passed. Millerna stood motionless and waited. Hitomi stared at her and beside herself felt Van hold his breath. She knew her decision; she had made it the minute Van's lips had descended upon hers. Glancing at him, she found his expression tense and rigid. Grabbing his hand lightly, she smiled assuring, and then turning back to Millerna said:
"I've made my decision Millerna. This time it isn't you. I'm sorry."
Van released his breath. Though he had known that Hitomi was not a girl to be ordered around by others, Millerna's influence over people was usually quite strong. He felt happy with the fact, that though neither one of them, he or Hitomi, had still confessed their feelings for each other, the basis of their relationship was already strong. He still had many things to talk with her before gaining her trust totally, but the knowledge that she had chosen him, though he knew Millerna had told her many false facts about him, was enough to make him want to shout for joy.
Millerna looked at Hitomi, nodded, and then left. How sad, she thought to herself as walking back towards the club. Hitomi had not listened to her in Van's case, now she had lost her friend completely. But she did not want to have any ties with any Fanel, ever! As nearing the entrance of 'Steps', she silently whispered into the night:
"Don't worry Marlene, I'm making sure that the Fanels will never hurt our family again!"
* *
Hitomi watched Millerna's back disappear into the darkness. Alone now with Van, they stood under the lonely streetlamp. He had stayed beside her all the time, keeping an arm around her shoulder, never letting her go. She lifted her gaze to meet his compassionate eyes, but was surprised when without a warning he pulled her against his chest and kissed her deep. She blinked a few times, but relaxed then and kissed him back.
On the first time, everything had happened so fast. Hitomi had not had time to savour all the little things about him she wanted, and so now, without any rush, she slowly explored him back. His mouth was evidently experienced in pleasing. Penetratingly slowly he travelled his lips on the side of her mouth and then with his tongue dived into her mouth, stroking her tongue with his own, occasionally sucking upon her upper lip and planting small butterflies everywhere.
Hitomi felt nice with him just like this. He held her gently from the waist and kissed her with a feeling of great infatuation, not fierce passion, but just simple, gentle commitment, and promises to take care of one another.
* *
Millerna calmly passed the people queuing into the club. Though for an outsider she would have looked serene, her inside was raging. Hitomi was a good girl; she was friendly, loyal, sweet... everything a perfect girl would be. Then that annoying Van Fanel had had to tempt her into his arms and turn her against Millerna herself. This was his entire fault! If he had not come to seduce Hitomi, Millerna would still have her friend.
"Damn!" she cursed.
As she walked through the crowd, midst in her own thoughts, she failed to hear someone call her. It was not until the person seeking for her attention caught up with her and grabbed her hand. Millerna, startled, turned to see the person, and was delighted to find Yukari by her side.
Yukari had witnessed everything that had happened between Van, Hitomi, and Merle. Though she had not heard their words, it did not take a genius to realise what had been going on with the three. She had been utterly worried about her friend after the episode had ended with Hitomi running away, but had not been able to follow her, for the large crowd around her had been impossible to push through. Then Van had followed her, and Yukari had decided not to involve on the matters between them.
But now there was Millerna. Yukari was sure Millerna had seen something on her way in, and knowing her friend, also got involved into it. She seriously hoped that Millerna had not done anything to spoil the little Hitomi and Van had. But knowing also Hitomi, the girl would not let Millerna jump her around. Anyway, she needed answers, and the only person she was able to get them from was Millerna herself.
Quickly Yukari made a first-hand notion on Millerna's posture and expression and made her conclusion that the blond knew something. Speaking as casually as she could, she smiled and then innocently asked:
"You've not seen Hitomi by any chance?"
An amused smile crept on the others lips. She chuckled and then shrugged her shoulders. Yukari got very nervous from these actions and grabbed her friend roughly from the forearm.
"Millerna, what in the world have you done?"
Millerna frowned at the redhead and then, lifting Yukari's hand away from her shoulder, said coldly: "I did the thing every girl would to protect her friend. But it seems that Hitomi chooses Van over me. So, I guess that doesn't give me a lot of space in between. I just gave her something to think about."
Yukari squeezed her eyes shut to control her anger. What was going on in that head of Millerna's? Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her anger.
"What exactly did you say to her?"
Millerna shrugged again and then replied calmly: "I just told her that we can't be friends as long as she stays with that whore-Van."
Yukari's eyes flew open in shock.
"YOU SAID WHAT??"
Yukari could not control her anger anymore, and was ready to slap her friend straight against the face, when somebody appeared behind her and clenched her wrist. Turning around furiously, she came face-to-face with her brother. Mark scowled, gave a nearly unnoticeable shake with his head and then said loud and clearly:
"Don't bother sis. She's not worth of it. Let's get going."
Yukari wanted so much to protest back, but understood that fighting with Millerna was for no good. Giving the blond a death-glare, she then clasped her brother's hand and followed her out of the bar.
* *
Hitomi leaned against Van's strong back. For the first time she drove with him as his girlfriend. The thought made her heart flutter. How was it that he was able to evoke such feeling inside of her? She smiled as tightening her hold around him. All the things that had happened this evening, it was amazing that one kiss was able to change everything! As she thought about it, all they had needed was that single kiss. That kiss had been the key to their relationship, all the talk and the confessions had already been made.
Well, not all of them... they both still had something more to say, but it might as well wait. She knew that she was not ready for it yet, and he most certainly would not say the three magic words to her in quite a while. She shook her head and decided not to think about it. It was just nice to be like this. They had so many misunderstandings, so many problems and stupid secrets behind, that it was about time to halt with the stoppers and really get on going forward.
Van concentrated his attention to the road ahead, but could not stop from thinking of how good her hands around him felt, and how her beautiful body was pressed against his back. He shook his head and reminded himself of the precious cargo he had with him. He did not want to risk anything that might get her hurt. It was funny, because earlier it did not bang at him like it did now. Of course he had been careful always when driving with her, but now, after all that had happened tonight, he felt that she was his to protect.
They reached the familiar lane where Hitomi lived. Van slowed down and stopped before her house. Reluctantly, Hitomi rose. Van did the same and for a while they stood looking at each other. Then he stepped closer, touched her cheek, and kissed her gently. Hitomi closed her eyes, but found the kiss ended before she had the chance to even enjoy it. Opening her eyes, she gave him a small playful pout.
"Won't I be getting any more of that?"
Van chuckled and ran a thumb along her lower lip. Watching her from under his brows, he gave her a mischievous, lopsided grin, something that made Hitomi remember their first encounter. Breathing hot air into her ear, he whispered huskily:
"Don't worry Princess, I'll be making sure that there won't be a moment when your pretty little lips wouldn't be in duty."
Then, indicating towards the house, "I just don't want angry papas running after me with a shot-gun and accusing me for taking advantage of their little, cute daughter."
Hitomi giggled at the image. It would have to take a revolution to get her father away from his writing desk. She sighed and they stood in silence for a while. Timidly, she asked:
"Would-would you like to come inside."
Van looked down at her and smiled gently.
"Maybe next time."
Pressing another small kiss on her lips, he then hurled himself back to the bike. Starting the motor, he winked at her.
"See you Tiger. Sleep well."
Hitomi watched him drive away. After he was gone, she squealed with joy and jumped around for a few times. She had put him in a small test, when asking him inside and he had passed it. He had rejected, just like she had hoped him to. Skipping along to the door, she hummed her favourite lovesong.
lovin' you is easy cause you're beautiful and lovin' you is all I wanna do lovin' you is more than just a dream come true and everything that I do is out of lovin' you
* *
I don't own Shanice's "Lovin' you"
A/N: Hello all of you! First, I apologise for the EXTREMELY long wait, I'm truly sorry that I didn't inform you about it (I was on a vacation where there were no computers) and now that school has started everything has been a real mess. But I hope I get back into my writing routines quickly, I got this chapter for you now and maybe the next one within few weeks. This is quite a short chapter, but hope you can handle it. Once again sorry for the overdue, happy readings!
* *
Then it happened. Time stopped as the two stared deep in each other's eyes, questioning and searching. Slowly Van leaned forward, letting his eyelids drop as his hot breath caressed her lips. Hitomi opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Then, softly, gently and slowly, Van kissed her.
* *
Chapter 10: Together
Hitomi felt like an onlooker. Her mind was foggy and her body refused to obey any commands. She felt Van press his lips against hers, carefully, yet confidently. His hold on her cheek kept gentle, as he slid his other hand behind her head and sunk his fingers to her open hair. At last Hitomi gave in and closed her eyes as she timidly kissed him back.
Van smiled. Finally, after all of the waiting, he was finally kissing her. She was just like he had expected, a bit shy, yet bold enough to respond. She tasted like a sweet candy and smelled like vanilla. Her lips were soft and moist and soon they would be swollen. Not wanting to make their first kiss a sensuous and carnal one, Van delicately pulled away and smiled when noticing that she stayed still, eyes closed and mouth a bit apart. Tenderly he whispered against her lips: "Believe me now?"
In response he received a small nod. Van smiled and scrutinised her face. Her eyes were still a bit red, but her cheeks were now flushed and a happy smile decorated her rosy lips. He stroked her cheek, travelling a finger to her chin and then the slope of her nose. Her eyelids dropped again and she sighed contentedly. Van leaned his forehead to hers.
"Wanna go? I'll take you home to rest"
Before Hitomi had the opportunity to reply, a sharp voice was heard behind them.
"You're not taking her anywhere!"
Both Hitomi and Van twirled to see the speaker. To Hitomi's great surprise, she saw Millerna standing some metres away, anger flashing in her eyes. Not knowing what to do, Hitomi glanced at Van and suddenly noticed the heavy air that hung between Millerna and him. Both of them glared at each other, like ready to attack the other any minute needed.
"Millerna, leave us."
Such a heated tone, yet at the same time icy cold, sent shivers across Hitomi's spine. Though she had heard Van angry before, this small sentence held so much in it that it made her want to cry. Taking a threatening step towards the couple, Millerna turned her attention towards Hitomi. Though her rage was easily noticed from the way her face was tensed and her nostrils flared, she pulled up the friendliest smile possible, and spoke up:
"Hitomi, look honey you do NOT want to be involved to this guy in any way. Why wouldn't you listen when I told you about him? He's bad! Trust me, if you now follow him, you will be heartbroken tomorrow morning. I do understand your infatuation towards him, I mean, he IS good looking... But still, why couldn't you come with, I'm sure we'll find much a better suitor for you from Steps and..."
"Millerna please!"
At the instant Millerna shut her mouth. She stared at Hitomi in utter shock, as the other girl, still within the arms of Van stared back with a stern expression.
Hitomi had listened to Millerna's every word carefully, cautiously, and made an opinion of all the things she had heard. She understood her friend's concern, but enough was enough. The girl had now come between a serious matter, as if trying to prevent Hitomi from being happy. Talking bad about Van, as if the guy was not present at all made her feel angry. She had heard a certain kind of desperateness in Millerna's tone, but did not understand what the blond was so afraid of. Hitomi felt that she had had to put an end to Millerna's foolishness and now stood strict, taking the side of Van's in the matter.
Millerna stood still for some time and scrutinised the couple before her. She knew she had lost the battle. Hitomi would not leave Van. Taking a quick glance at the guy, she saw how he scowled at her and so, decided to pull out her last trick. Lifting her chin and shaking the extra hairs from her face, she crossed her arms and said casually:
"Then, if this is your decision Hitomi, I'm afraid that we can't be friends anymore."
The atmosphere was thick as a minute passed. Millerna stood motionless and waited. Hitomi stared at her and beside herself felt Van hold his breath. She knew her decision; she had made it the minute Van's lips had descended upon hers. Glancing at him, she found his expression tense and rigid. Grabbing his hand lightly, she smiled assuring, and then turning back to Millerna said:
"I've made my decision Millerna. This time it isn't you. I'm sorry."
Van released his breath. Though he had known that Hitomi was not a girl to be ordered around by others, Millerna's influence over people was usually quite strong. He felt happy with the fact, that though neither one of them, he or Hitomi, had still confessed their feelings for each other, the basis of their relationship was already strong. He still had many things to talk with her before gaining her trust totally, but the knowledge that she had chosen him, though he knew Millerna had told her many false facts about him, was enough to make him want to shout for joy.
Millerna looked at Hitomi, nodded, and then left. How sad, she thought to herself as walking back towards the club. Hitomi had not listened to her in Van's case, now she had lost her friend completely. But she did not want to have any ties with any Fanel, ever! As nearing the entrance of 'Steps', she silently whispered into the night:
"Don't worry Marlene, I'm making sure that the Fanels will never hurt our family again!"
* *
Hitomi watched Millerna's back disappear into the darkness. Alone now with Van, they stood under the lonely streetlamp. He had stayed beside her all the time, keeping an arm around her shoulder, never letting her go. She lifted her gaze to meet his compassionate eyes, but was surprised when without a warning he pulled her against his chest and kissed her deep. She blinked a few times, but relaxed then and kissed him back.
On the first time, everything had happened so fast. Hitomi had not had time to savour all the little things about him she wanted, and so now, without any rush, she slowly explored him back. His mouth was evidently experienced in pleasing. Penetratingly slowly he travelled his lips on the side of her mouth and then with his tongue dived into her mouth, stroking her tongue with his own, occasionally sucking upon her upper lip and planting small butterflies everywhere.
Hitomi felt nice with him just like this. He held her gently from the waist and kissed her with a feeling of great infatuation, not fierce passion, but just simple, gentle commitment, and promises to take care of one another.
* *
Millerna calmly passed the people queuing into the club. Though for an outsider she would have looked serene, her inside was raging. Hitomi was a good girl; she was friendly, loyal, sweet... everything a perfect girl would be. Then that annoying Van Fanel had had to tempt her into his arms and turn her against Millerna herself. This was his entire fault! If he had not come to seduce Hitomi, Millerna would still have her friend.
"Damn!" she cursed.
As she walked through the crowd, midst in her own thoughts, she failed to hear someone call her. It was not until the person seeking for her attention caught up with her and grabbed her hand. Millerna, startled, turned to see the person, and was delighted to find Yukari by her side.
Yukari had witnessed everything that had happened between Van, Hitomi, and Merle. Though she had not heard their words, it did not take a genius to realise what had been going on with the three. She had been utterly worried about her friend after the episode had ended with Hitomi running away, but had not been able to follow her, for the large crowd around her had been impossible to push through. Then Van had followed her, and Yukari had decided not to involve on the matters between them.
But now there was Millerna. Yukari was sure Millerna had seen something on her way in, and knowing her friend, also got involved into it. She seriously hoped that Millerna had not done anything to spoil the little Hitomi and Van had. But knowing also Hitomi, the girl would not let Millerna jump her around. Anyway, she needed answers, and the only person she was able to get them from was Millerna herself.
Quickly Yukari made a first-hand notion on Millerna's posture and expression and made her conclusion that the blond knew something. Speaking as casually as she could, she smiled and then innocently asked:
"You've not seen Hitomi by any chance?"
An amused smile crept on the others lips. She chuckled and then shrugged her shoulders. Yukari got very nervous from these actions and grabbed her friend roughly from the forearm.
"Millerna, what in the world have you done?"
Millerna frowned at the redhead and then, lifting Yukari's hand away from her shoulder, said coldly: "I did the thing every girl would to protect her friend. But it seems that Hitomi chooses Van over me. So, I guess that doesn't give me a lot of space in between. I just gave her something to think about."
Yukari squeezed her eyes shut to control her anger. What was going on in that head of Millerna's? Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her anger.
"What exactly did you say to her?"
Millerna shrugged again and then replied calmly: "I just told her that we can't be friends as long as she stays with that whore-Van."
Yukari's eyes flew open in shock.
"YOU SAID WHAT??"
Yukari could not control her anger anymore, and was ready to slap her friend straight against the face, when somebody appeared behind her and clenched her wrist. Turning around furiously, she came face-to-face with her brother. Mark scowled, gave a nearly unnoticeable shake with his head and then said loud and clearly:
"Don't bother sis. She's not worth of it. Let's get going."
Yukari wanted so much to protest back, but understood that fighting with Millerna was for no good. Giving the blond a death-glare, she then clasped her brother's hand and followed her out of the bar.
* *
Hitomi leaned against Van's strong back. For the first time she drove with him as his girlfriend. The thought made her heart flutter. How was it that he was able to evoke such feeling inside of her? She smiled as tightening her hold around him. All the things that had happened this evening, it was amazing that one kiss was able to change everything! As she thought about it, all they had needed was that single kiss. That kiss had been the key to their relationship, all the talk and the confessions had already been made.
Well, not all of them... they both still had something more to say, but it might as well wait. She knew that she was not ready for it yet, and he most certainly would not say the three magic words to her in quite a while. She shook her head and decided not to think about it. It was just nice to be like this. They had so many misunderstandings, so many problems and stupid secrets behind, that it was about time to halt with the stoppers and really get on going forward.
Van concentrated his attention to the road ahead, but could not stop from thinking of how good her hands around him felt, and how her beautiful body was pressed against his back. He shook his head and reminded himself of the precious cargo he had with him. He did not want to risk anything that might get her hurt. It was funny, because earlier it did not bang at him like it did now. Of course he had been careful always when driving with her, but now, after all that had happened tonight, he felt that she was his to protect.
They reached the familiar lane where Hitomi lived. Van slowed down and stopped before her house. Reluctantly, Hitomi rose. Van did the same and for a while they stood looking at each other. Then he stepped closer, touched her cheek, and kissed her gently. Hitomi closed her eyes, but found the kiss ended before she had the chance to even enjoy it. Opening her eyes, she gave him a small playful pout.
"Won't I be getting any more of that?"
Van chuckled and ran a thumb along her lower lip. Watching her from under his brows, he gave her a mischievous, lopsided grin, something that made Hitomi remember their first encounter. Breathing hot air into her ear, he whispered huskily:
"Don't worry Princess, I'll be making sure that there won't be a moment when your pretty little lips wouldn't be in duty."
Then, indicating towards the house, "I just don't want angry papas running after me with a shot-gun and accusing me for taking advantage of their little, cute daughter."
Hitomi giggled at the image. It would have to take a revolution to get her father away from his writing desk. She sighed and they stood in silence for a while. Timidly, she asked:
"Would-would you like to come inside."
Van looked down at her and smiled gently.
"Maybe next time."
Pressing another small kiss on her lips, he then hurled himself back to the bike. Starting the motor, he winked at her.
"See you Tiger. Sleep well."
Hitomi watched him drive away. After he was gone, she squealed with joy and jumped around for a few times. She had put him in a small test, when asking him inside and he had passed it. He had rejected, just like she had hoped him to. Skipping along to the door, she hummed her favourite lovesong.
lovin' you is easy cause you're beautiful and lovin' you is all I wanna do lovin' you is more than just a dream come true and everything that I do is out of lovin' you
* *