Dee: Hiya!! Guess what? We. Are. Back. Bwahahaha!!

Ryuu: Mwahahaha!!! Aye, we're still alive and as crazy as ever!!! Sorry, it took so long to update, but things have been keeping *cough cough* me *cough* back. Blame me then.

Dee: No no *pats Ryuu on the back* not your fault!

Ryuu: Well, it's our duty an' pleasure te inform ye all that the second chapter of our lil creation *pats fic* is up!

Dee: Yes!!! So, go and read what happened to our beloved Esca gang!!!!

*both shove reader to fic*

Ryuu: So, go go!!!

DISCLAIMER: *both sobbing hysterically* We don't own anything!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 2. Independent woman

Hitomi Kanzaki. Twenty-four years old. One meter and seventy centimeters tall. Honey-blond hair and bright green eyes. Smart. Good parental home. Veterinarian, qualified to practice for one year now, ready to be set on the animal kingdom. And until ten minutes ago, she had had a perfect life. It's impressive how fast things can change.

Everyone in the café was staring at her. The couple at the window as well as the man who had dropped his cake into the coffee, warm, brown liquid sprinkling the white tablecloth around his mug. It was completely silent apart from the quiet music in the café and the noises of the engines on the street, the bride in the doorway the center of attention.

"Hitomi, what the hell are you doing here?" Yukari uttered after performing the miracle of finding her voice again, making Hitomi turn around.

Actually, that was a good question. What the hell was she doing there? She was supposed to be in the church. She was supposed to stand in front of the altar and beside Allen, was supposed to reward him with a sweet smile, was supposed to say two short words to seal their love. She was supposed to crown her perfect little life with a sweet little kiss. What had gotten into her?

By the gods, she had ruined her wedding. She had ruined everything they had planned for so long. The drawing up of the guest list, in vain. The fight for the beautiful church, the perfect arrangement of the flowers, the order of the banquet, the journey of their relatives, in vain. Everything had been in vain and it was her fault. Her parents would hate her. Allen's parents would hate her. Everyone would hate her. What had she done?

"Yukari," she whispered hoarsly and her hands started shaking.

The redhead finally moved and together with Millerna she stormed over to Hitomi. The young woman saw all the questions written across her friends' faces but they didn't say a word when they reached her. Millerna closed the door and Yukari grabbed Hitomi's wrists, dragging her gently towards the couch. The white fabric of her dress rustled over the ground and new dirt joined the mud from the street already decorating the hem. When they reached the couch, her friends started to flood her with questions at the same time, surrounding her like a humming pack of bees their queen. One question hovered in the air like thick fog, making it hard to breathe.

"What happened?"

"I...I..." Hitomi stuttered helplessly, her eyes flickering nervously around.

She didn't know it herself. She had stood in front of the priest, listening to his speech while sweat had formed unstoppably on her forehead. And this "so long as you both shall live" thing had somehow finished her off. Goodbye, rational thinking; hello, rash action.

If she hadn't just run away from her wedding, she would have laughed about the expression on the faces of her friends. Their eyes were wide in anticipation of her answer, still shining with the disbelief about her appearance. They were all there; cheerful Yukari and talkative Millerna with whom she could discuss the whole night and shop until she fainted from exhaustion, sleepyhead Amano and lovable Dryden who always listened to her though their advices weren't that useful.

It was when her gaze finally rested on him. A young man whom she hadn't seen for two years. He hadn't changed at all. Same dishevelled, raven-black hair falling adorably into his handsome face. Same unfathomable, auburn eyes which seemed to be able to look into a person's very soul. Same enviably tanned skin and trained figure, the whole guy made to wear a black suit. Van Fanel, who was supposed to be at her wedding.

"What are you doing here?" Hitomi asked, all nervousness and confusion gone and anger evident in her voice, her emerald eyes flashing at him. "Why weren't you at my wedding?"

A warm smile crept upon Van's features which had been unreadable up to now, revealing his white teeth and making his eyes shine intensely. Between all the chaos of runaway brides, totally confused friends and hundreds of unspoken questions, she actually found the time to be angry at him. It seemed as if some things never changed.

"I didn't miss much at all, eh?" Van replied with a shrug and a lop-sided grin, earning a smile on her lips that made his knees weak and his heart leap a beat.

She looked like an angel in that dress, her bright green eyes shining like emeralds and her lightly disordered hair made him feel the urge to reach out and put the loose strands back into place. With two long strides he had crossed the distance between them and wrapped her in his strong arms, holding her fragile form tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut, noticing just then how much he had really missed her. He felt her arms link behind his neck, her face burried in his chest and her intoxicating scent everywhere around him. She smelled like a fresh-picked bunch of flowers.

"I missed you so much, Van," Hitomi mumbled in his jacket and leaned even farther against him, the warmth of his body incredibly soothing. 

"Missed you, too," he whispered in her rose-scented hair and placed a soft kiss on it, clutching the silky fabric of her dress. "It's so good to see you again."

Without some goddamn ring at your finger, he added in silence and a huge grin spread across his tanned features. Van just couldn't believe his luck. Half an hour ago, he had thought that he had lost her. Forever. Lost to a man who had had the guts to tell her that he truly cared for her, that he loved her with all his heart and that he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. Van had drowned in self-pity, accusing himself for his incredible cowardice, and pictures had filled his mind, pictures of Hitomi's perfect little family with Allen at her side.

But there she was, wearing her bridal dress, cradled in his arms and unmarried. He didn't know what had happened but he was thankful that something obviously had happened. If not, she wouldn't be here with him. Inwardly, he was jumping with joy, feeling the urge to embrace the whole world. His cheeks were already hurting from grinning so much.

"Do you want to sit down?" he asked though he didn't want to let go of her, wanted to hold her until the end of times.

The ex-bride in his arms nodded and reluctantly pulled away. Leaving the safety of Van's arms meant facing the reality again, facing the consequences of her doing. Van took her slim hands in his warm ones and led her to the couch, where she plopped down like a wet sack full of potatoes. Pretty depressed potatoes in this case.

"I can't believe I ran away from my own wedding," Hitomi said and hid her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking revealingly.

Seeing her like that was hurting his very soul. Van wanted to cradle her in his arms, wanted to comfort her and kiss the tears away but luckily (or unluckily, all depending on one's point of view), Yukari was faster. The redhead wrapped her arms around Hitomi and whispered soothing words in her ear. The others sat down around them, looking at their confused friend with sypatethic eyes. The people in the café had turned back to their earlier conversations, the man at the door trying to fish his cake out of the mug of coffee.

After some minutes of quiet sobbing, Hitomi released her friend and straightened slowly. With a hint of her typical perfection, she smoothed her dress and rubbed the last tears out of her eyes, noticing with an embaressed smile the wet spot, she had left on Yukari's shirt.

"You really ran away?" Amano finally asked, not able to hide the amusement in his voice. It was all so absurd. That was Hitomi, after all! Hitomi Perfection Kanzaki!

"Yeah," the green-eyed woman answered and looked at her friends, twirling the remains of her little bouquet between her fingers. "Stupid, isn't it?"

"Nah," Dryden said with a warm smile and ruffled her hair, destroying a work of ninety minutes. "If you tell us the reason why you did it, we will understand. Don't worry."

"A reason," Hitomi gave a humorless laugh and shook her head. "Would you believe me if I told you that I don't know the reason? I mean, everything was so perfect. Everything!" She let her hands drop in her lap and sighed. "And when I stood there and everyone was looking at me, I just wasn't sure anymore if I wanted everything to be perfect. I...I..."

"You were afraid?" Millerna finished quietly and leaned forward to place her perfectly manicured hand on Hitomi's slightly shaking one.

"Kind of," the honey-blond beauty replied and smiled weakly, dozens of petals and leaves now lying in her lap.

"And what now?" Yukari asked and moved a bit closer to her friend so that Amano could sit beside her. The young man with the chestnut-brown hair thanked her with a smile and, wrapping her arms around her waist,  he watched Hitomi over Yukari's shoulder. "Will you go back and explain everything and try it --"

"No!" Hitomi blurted out, her head snapping up. "I mean, no. I can't go back and explain it. What should I say? Sorry, my future husband scared me and I ran away?"

"You mean, you're not going to marry Allen...?" the blond-haired actress on the ground said, slightly shocked, and glanced at Van, whose auburn eyes had never left Hitomi's form since she had entered the café.

"I...I don't know," the young woman with the amazing green eyes stuttered and looked around, trying to find the answer in the faces of her friends. "I don't know if I could go along the aisle again with Allen standing there and waiting for me without thinking of the fact that I already ran away once. It's not the marriage start I had imagined."

"Do you still love him?"

It was the first time that Van spoke since the beginning of that conversation, and the question hung in the air like an annoying swarm of gnats which you can't chase away, no matter how hard you try. He had tried to sound casual but he hadn't been able to hide the strain and fear in his voice completely. Over all his joy about the ringless Hitomi, Van had totally forgotten that there was the tiny possibility that she still loved Allen.

Hitomi looked up from her fingers, busy were tearing up the petals and leaves into tiny little pieces. Her still slightly red eyes met Van's unreadable ones. "I don't know," she sighed with a sad smile and turned away again. "I don't know if he's the right one and I don't even know if I can ever look Allen in the eye again!"

"Well in that case, you don't have much of a choice," Dryden suddenly stated dryly and pointed towards the door, making five heads turn around and five pairs of eyes widen.

If you speak of the devil! In the doorframe stood Allen Schezar, dressed in a black suit, his shining blond hair framing his handsome face and a red rose bud in the buttonhole like the dot on the i. His cerulean eyes were fixed on her, Hitomi, his bride. His chest was rising and falling quickly, his features showing confusion and a tiny bit of anger.

What a perfect picture. Bride and groom united again, in a little café somewhere along Hispano Street.

A sudden urge of trying to hide behind Van's tall frame flooded Hitomi as she jerked up brusquely, totally panic-filled; good god, she had ditched her soon-to-be-husband, at least in everyone else's mental schemes… she had left him, dumped him in the altar, like in the films. Without and explanation.

Although she knew it childish and impossible, she wished to be teletransported to somewhere else, anywhere, as long as Allen wasn't there. Not now, not asking for answers she didn't even know herself.

Sensing her fear, the dark haired man moved beside her to take her hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze, a gesture that didn't quite please the dumped groom if one was to judge from the scowl on his face when he noticed it. In a matter of seconds he was in front of Hitomi and encircled her tiny waist with his arms protectively, crushing her against his broad chest.

The red rose bud was starting to wither, she observed laconically, feeling the shiver of his hands around her, as he caressed her spine, his touch possessive, defying the world to dare and take her away from him. He showered her hair with a rain of butterfly kisses, murmuring unintelligible words that came out as hoarse whispers.

Van felt as a teapot right now: rage bubbling as boiling steam inside him, very close to bursting into irate screams and shouts if Allen didn't take his hands off her. He had known it would be bad to see her with another man, but nothing compared to the real feeling that was tearing him apart inside in those precise instants. And he hated it. All in all, as everyone had agreed, they were the perfect couple; he hadn't wanted to believe it, no,  had wanted to hold onto that little hope, the only one he had left, that maybe Allen Schezar was a jerk.

How many times he had played the scene in his mind, Hitomi realizing that the blonde was a bad choice after all, that she didn't love Allen when she discovered, for example, that he had cheated on her. And, of course, then was when he stepped into the picture, playing the role of the friend whose shoulder one could cry on; in his perfect little story, the heroine discovered her true feelings towards her best friend since childhood, they married and lived happily ever after. Hey, the plan was perfect! Oh, yes, he admitted it was terribly cliché, but for him it would have worked just fine. Heh, only one little problem: he was counting on Allen being a bastard. Something he was obviously not, if he were to trust what he was seeing.

"My god, Hitomi, I thought I'd lost you!" the groom whispered frantically, cupping her face into his hands. She tried to reply, but he sealed her words with a passionate kiss, wanting to make sure she was really there, locked in his embrace with no change of escaping from him again.

Van closed his eyes and bit his lip, replaying the scene in his mind… with some slight twists. Hitomi bites his tongue and he can't eat for a week.

But no, after a little bit of hesitation at the beginning she finally kissed him back, and Van muffled a low growl building up in his throat. A mug of coffee falls on his head and he blacks out.

It seems the gods weren't feeling specially generous towards him that day, because no cup conjured above the groom's head; instead, she reluctantly pulled away from their kiss and looked at her fiancé straight in the eye, a serious expression on her beautiful and flushed face.

When she was about to speak, he placed a finger on her rosy lips to hush her, a silent pledge in his cerulean depths. "No, no, love, let me speak first, please. I really don't care why you did it, it was my fault I didn't notice that you were scared, that you needed me at your side to wash away all your fears, to assure you that everything was going to be all right. I'm sorry that I failed at that, Hitomi, but please let me make it up to you," he murmured, though loud enough for everybody to hear his words.

Millerna sniffed quietly, plainly moved by what he had said, and Yukari had to admit she was also impressed. For a moment she considered smacking her friend on her honey blond head for having left Allen---a walking dream that any woman would cherish-- when, in her opinion, she ought to be doing exactly the opposite, but she had seen what the eyes of Hitomi held within; and it wasn't what was needed to walk down the aisle with that dazzling man at her side.

"Allen, I-" Hitomi started, but was silenced again with a kiss; she fought back the tears gathering at the corners of her bright green eyes, feeling terribly guilty for what her theoretically-soon-to-be-husband had gone through because of her, for what she had to say and didn't want to, for the pain she would inflict on him.

He was trembling lightly as he stroke her hair, finally putting her cheek to rest against his chest and embracing her even more fiercely. "Just say, Hitomi, that you will come back with me and build a life at my side, just trust me this time, and I swear I'll make you the happiest woman in the world," he said in an imploring tone, his hands massaging the base of her back in that way he knew she liked so much.

She arched lightly under his hands; it was a good sign, the blond man thought. There was always passion between them; they were simply perfect together, and he deeply believed in that. The only thing now was to make her believe it as well.

Van clenched his teeth, and the thought of running out of the café flickered in his head for a split second. She is going to go back to him, damnit

If only he could hate the man. Oh, if only Allen was the fucking bastard he had wanted him to be, then he might have been able to pour his rage onto him, accuse him of being a lying fraud who only wanted her because she was the sweetest creature on Earth. But even the frustration, the envy that was eating him alive couldn't convince him of the untruthfulness of the blond man's eyes. It was real love what shone in their pools of sky blue, it was love as strong and intense as the one he felt himself for her. Allen was the mirror of his feelings, only that the blue-eyed man was fully allowed to show them, while he had to bite them back and try to bury them, disguising them as the friendship he knew she wanted to have with him.

She placed both her hands on his broad chest and pushed him back softly, her head lowered and her gaze cast aside, not daring to look into his eyes full of love, full of hope and promise. Hopes she was going to shatter, promised she was going to thwart, love she was going to turn down.

"Say yes, Hitomi, say you'll come," he encouraged her, trying to draw those little words out of her lips, now swollen from his heated kisses. "Say you'll become my wife."

"I… I can't."  Her voice was choked as she drew out a soft breath, her shoulders slumped and her cheeks crossed by moist trails as tears rolled down her pale face.

Amano placed himself behind Yukari and encircled her waist from behind, pulling her into a tight embrace and thanking the gods that he still had his girlfriend with him. He fervently praised such a thing never to happen to him, because he wasn't sure if he could bear it.

The auburn-eyed man who stood quietly next to them didn't think he could've, either. After having conjured as many disasters and misfortunes as he'd been able to imagine so as to break them apart, he found out that he actually felt a strange mixture of sympathy and envy towards Allen. Envy, because he had been able to hold, her, kiss her… he stopped there because his imagination was known to be very hyperactive, and there were some things he wasn't going to think about, like how intimate the two people in front of him had been. Allen had had her. Sympathy, because he'd also lost her.

He knew how he would've felt, the rage, impotence, frustration that would've welled inside him if he were to be in his place. To know he had had the world, and that he didn't have it anymore. Hitomi was, for both men, the light in their lives; only shadows lay ahead if she left, if she walked away.

Allen's lower lip trembled slightly at her declaration. "I love you, Hitomi Kanzaki."

She bit her lip, more tears shining in her eyes like iridescent pearls trapped between her dark-blond eyelashes. "Please, don't make it more difficult than what it already is," she whispered with a thread of voice. "I just can't do it, don't ask me why-"

"I haven't!!" he cried out in frustration, pulling her again into his embrace. "I think I already told you, the only thing I want is you, Hitomi!! You were so happy this morning, yesterday, the day before! And now you just… leave it? Without giving it a second thought? You give up on us because you're scared, and that's the end of it?!" he shouted in rage, his trembling now noticeable to all the people in the café.

A woman in her late sixties stepped into the place, dragging along a small poodle who started to sniff the air with a disdainful attitude. "Sorry, could I have a tea with some milk, please?" she asked, adjusting the pair of glasses perched up on her nose. All the people in the café shot her murderous glances, even those who didn't know Hitomi or any of her friends, who were now deeply intrigued and moved by the scene unfolding before their eyes. Gods, how not to… it was better than in the films, only that it was a live show!

Dryden hurried to the woman's side, taking her arm and nearly throwing her outside the small cozy café. "I'm sorry, we're closed," he mouthed before shutting the door again; he then turned to see if the interruption had affected the little scene that was taking place in the middle of his establishment.

Hah, as if, he smirked dryly; in Allen, Hitomi, Van and the rest of his friends' eyes, the woman had never been there.

The green-eyed bride shook her head, causing more glistening tears to fall onto Allen's black suit. "Please…" she implored, her small hands placed flat against his shoulders, as if she were trying to break free of his fierce embrace, though not strong enough to do it.

"Please? Please?! Please indeed, Hitomi!! Damnit, I love you!!! And I thought you loved me back," he spat bitterly. "Is there nothing worth fighting for?! Isn't there a single reason to stick with me?! Was it all a lie?!" he roared, grief overcoming his rage and bringing his voice down into a broken whisper. "Are you saying… are you saying this is the end?"

She had thought she could cope with it; yes, she believed she was strong enough to accept all his regrets, all his accusations, but she had been wrong. Oh, how wrong she had been, now she knew. How much it hurt her, to see, to know she could wound him, so deeply she felt despicable for what she was doing, for what she had done. His questions rang in her mind, awakening hundreds of echoes that hammered in her head mercilessly.

Was she being a coward? So coward she couldn't live up to her decisions, that she had to back away and resent them last minute? Doubt and fear crept into her, guiding her thoughts to the option Allen was opening for her. If she went back, everything would be okay. She would be back to her perfect life, and he would be happy. Oh, yes, she did care for his happiness. But she didn't really know if her own happiness was at his side.

Maybe she should do what he wanted. Go back to the church so that she could forget about that feeling that made her sick, despising herself, hating herself for the hurt she was causing him. Give it a try, a part of her cried, you can be happy at his side, you will make him happy.

Her inner turmoil must have shown on her face, for Allen's expression changed, growing hopeful again, his hungry hands crushing her against him. He was going to prove it to her, that he was the man that she needed, the man that could make her happy. He brushed her hair gently, lovingly, his lips whispering reassuring words in her ears.

"I need you, Hitomi Kanzaki. I want you to be my wife, there's nothing I want more than that," he vowed.

It's not you alone, buddy, thought Van with a dry scowl. He had been sorry for the man as long as he had thought that she was going to dump him anyway, but now that her decision was wavering, he wasn't so sure of that anymore. No, he far preferred pitying Allen and having Hitomi still single and unmarried to pitying himself for not being the one married to her.

"Please…" the groom coaxed her in the sweetest of murmurs, using the same word she'd been saying from the beginning of the conversation.

Now, that's the end of it. She will say yes, kiss him and happily walk back to the church to live their perfectly happy life, making mine a hell, though Van, his lips set in a grim line, his black bangs covering the hurt in his deep crimson eyes.

"Allen… just…" she wriggled in his arms as he silenced her with another kiss. A very effective method to make women shut up, I must admit, the raven-haired boy observed, wondering how it would be like, to hold her as the blonde was now, to seal his lips with hers with the same passion, the same love. Hitomi smiled faintly when her fiancé broke the kiss and took a deep breath. "…let me finish."

"Of course," he agreed humbly, catching her earlobe between his teeth and sending shivers down her spine. But her words remained unaffected by it.

"… I am going to do exactly as you've told me."

It was like being kicked in the teeth; suddenly Van felt all the air being pulled out of his body, his last crazy, foolish hope crashed, shattered by her decision. Time to come back to reality, he though bitterly. This is the end of it.

Allen beamed at her the very same moment he heard what she'd said, but before he could utter another word it was her who placed her hand on his lips this time. "No, listen to all I have to say. I didn't say I was going to go back. I can't do that, and believe me that I am really sorry, but I simply… it's beyond… I just can't do it. But," she added, as she felt him deflating, his eyes covering with the shadow of grief again, "I am going to find out. Answers, I mean. I intend to find out if there is really something… I can go back to. If it's worth fighting, as you said. And when I have my answers… well…"

"We'll get married," he finished ardently; she shook her head, a sad smile on her lips.

Like hell you will!, Van silently vowed, the fire of resolution running through his veins again. She was not getting married. She was not getting married! … yet, he hastily added, though it was a word he would be willing to erase from that statement, and the sooner the better. So, the gods weren't feeling so wicked after all…

"I can't assure that, Allen… maybe it's better if you get used to the idea that perhaps I won't marry you…" she said, a new strength filling her as she finally got to speak her mind. Time to think. That's what she needed right now.

"Okay then, when she knows what she wants we'll send you a note," Yukari chirped sternly, separating the two of them with a firm hand and pushing Allen towards the door. "Now, my dear, I think you've caused enough havoc in the little bride here, so it's time for you to leave her to her thoughts. Byedibye, see you in a while, now go." Yukari told him firmly, though absolutely calm, an edge of feistiness in her voice.

He seemed dumbfounded by her words, nodding dumbly, though not before stealing a kiss from Hitomi's lips and shouting a very heartfelt 'I love you!' from outside the Escaflowne.

"And lemme tell you that you were an idiot for not calling me for the wedding, I would've taken the best pictures you could think of!!" Yukari shouted back, just before he disappeared into a taxi, his eyes never quitting the green-eyed girl's frame.  The red head closed the door and rubbed her hands with a bright smile on her face.

"Hey Hitomi, where's the hidden camera?" she asked playfully, her hands on her hips. "I just know there has to be one around here…"

The world, that had seemed frozen for as long as Allen had been in the café, resumed its normal pace, murmurs filling the establishment at once while side looks were shot at the bride, who was too distressed to actually notice them.

Dryden scoffed. "Yah, kinda like taken out of a soap, huh?" he joked with a grin, going back to the counter to serve the runaway bride a warm cappuccino with tons of cinnamon, as he knew she liked it.

Even though the moist trail of her tears were still shining on her cheeks, the green-eyed girl burst into laughs, immensely grateful for having the friends she had. Simply incredible. They had seen probably the oddest scene in their whole lives, and they didn't ask, they didn't judge her. Accepting, offering her the comfort of a good laugh when a second ago she hadn't thought herself capable of laughing again, at least, until the following day. "Ohmygod, thanks, guys…" she smiled feebly. "I feel like an ass right now, a very stupid and ridiculous one… I've made a complete fool of myself, and in front of all of you…" she whispered, biting her lip unconsciously.

Van stepped forward to her, but Millerna was quicker and hugged her warmly, patting her back softly. "Don't be silly, we're all very proud of what you did and said," she smiled as Hitomi tried to protest meekly.

"But-"

"No 'buts', missy, and that's all you're going to think about it for today. We've already had a handful of wedding and Allen, so now you're gonna relax and forget about it for a while," the pale blonde declared, tucking her between a few pillows on the couch and straightening the creases on her beautiful wedding gown. "What you need now is a warm bath, a nice supper and a movie to watch until you fall asleep."

"Runaway Bride?" Dryden suggested with an impish grin, and Millerna threw a pillow at him in response, though her aim wasn't that good, so the item ended up hitting Van, who was still standing in the middle of the café.

Yukari poked the raven-haired man softly, a giggle escaping her lips. "I think his brain cells are still trying to understand that you're not getting married, 'Tomi," she chuckled, and Van thanked the heavens that the red-head wasn't looking at him when she said the words, as he could've sworn his cheeks had gone deep red.

"Well, it's been quite something, if you ask me," said Amano finally, sitting carelessly on the couch next to Hitomi and Millerna. "On your wedding day, first you burst into the café saying you've ran away from the groom, then he appears and nearly makes you go back, then you don't… I really thought you were going to give in back there, you know," he commented, and the green-eyed girl smiled sadly.

"I thought I was, too…"

Waves of relief washed over Van as the realization, the full implication of what had just happened, finally and completely sank in. Gods, it was heaven. His love was not getting married, and she really had no intention of doing so. Right then, the world was wonderful, painted with the brightest colors his vivid imagination could conjure. He nearly lost track of the conversation taking place in the café, revolving now around Hitomi's new situation.

"I was living with Allen, but I think it's quite clear that I'm not going back there, no way," she explained, closing her eyes for a moment. Yukari kissed her forehead in a sisterly way and grinned.

"Don't worry 'bout that, love. We'll think of something…" she assured her, then shot Millerna a questioning glance. The woman with violet eyes frowned, as she tried to work out a solution for their friend.

"Didn't Fionna just tell us that she was planning on moving with her boyfriend next month?" she asked her flat mate arching a questioning eyebrow; Yukari slammed her fist into her palm, giving Hitomi a dazzling smile.

"Thaaat's it!!" she shouted happily. "You can move with us! You can sleep with me until Fionna moves out of the place, and then her room is yours. Whaddaya think of it?" Yukari sat on Amano's lap, her liquid brown orbs staring at her honey-blond friend as Hitomi smiled widely, with a pinch of shyness in her expression.

"Would that be possible…?"

Millerna threw her arms around the runaway bride's neck with a giggle. "Sure thing, silly! I'll call Derek and tell him to go and get your bags…"

"Oh puhleease, don't bother him with such… unimportant things," Dryden said cynically, plainly ignoring the murderous glance the violet-eyed woman shot at him. "I'll go," he offered as he planted the cappuccino in front of Hitomi, which she took and avidly drank, the delicious warmth of the coffee filling her with a new determination.

A new life was starting today. And this time, she was going to make sure it was exactly the kind of life she wanted to have.

As her friends scampered away to busy themselves in different tasks –Dryden to fetch her bags, Millerna to prepare their flat, Yukari and Amano busy… err… well, showing their affection for one another (translation: kissing ^^U)-, she stood alone in front of the counter, looking at her reflection on the clean and polished surface of it.

She saw a woman that was satisfied with what she'd chosen. And now, she was free to savor what life may have reserved for her.

"Hitomi…" his voice was no more than a hoarse whisper behind her, his hot breath tickling the back of her bare neck. She smiled; as long as her friends were with her, everything would be all right. The green-eyed girl turned around to face Van, who beamed at her, his eyes crinkling at the ends when he did so; hugging him wildly, Hitomi breathed in his fresh scent, and felt at home.

"Van…"

"I'm glad to have you back," he murmured, hugging her as well.

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At first a big big THANK YOU and an even bigger hug for all the ones who reviewed!!!! Thanks a lot, people!!!!

Dee: That's it for now. Not much, we know but hey, at least, Tomi's not with Allen, right?! ^_________^

Ryuu: Aye aye *ducks flyin' vegetables* we saw some ppl were quite... shocked... c'mon, ye didn't really think we could leave them together, did ye??

Dee: Nooo, of course, not!! ^____________^

Ryuu: So, here we have the real start of our dear Tomi's lil life... we hope ye stick te her through all that's te come...

Dee: And it'll be quite a lot *wink wink*

Byedihoooo and till next time!!!!!