Title: Intruder Alert 3: Transition
Author: Frostmourne
Disclaimer: I don't own Vision of Escaflowne so don't sue me…
Chapter Dedication: Blue Demon, Yukishin, one_mean_rabbit, Diesty-chan, Magicman/Smokegirl, Always Dreaming, megami04, Fuzzie, Faraday, Kat-Tastrophe, MysticalDreamer32, Catelina, blue ice2, naria4, DillyChic16, SabrinaYutsuki, dreamingofflyingaway, Fluer21, mel_88, windsoffortune, princess neptune, Cole Adams, My Silver Flame, Feathers of snow (Honeypot), the original esca chick, dilly-sammas luver, Kendra, yakiem, bebopin'-dreamer, Lady-of-the-Lord and to LazyCat9@aol.com
Summary: Hitomi Kanzaki and Dilandau Albatou were forced on a roller coaster ride of bad impressions, an unwanted engagement, and a weird friendship others do not take too kindly on. When they stepped out of the ride and went back to how they originally wanted everything – having nothing to do with each other – they're up for another roller coaster ride. This time, it's a ride they both need to decide the right way to pursue.
Chapter 8: There are many things unknown
Lunch time was alright. Mrs. Kanzaki had already left for somewhere she needed to go to and that left the teenagers to themselves.
Hiko was eating silently beside Celena who was wondering why Hitomi's friends weren't treating her with hostility. Dilandau was beside her, eating silently and never looking up from his food.
"I just remembered!" Yukari exclaimed. "Do you still remember that guy who bumped into you the first day of classes at the time before you left America?"
Hitomi nodded, brows drawn in a question. "What of him?"
Sarah giggled and Millerna just rolled her eyes before glaring at Amano who was about to laugh. Gades grinned and proceeded to enlighten Hitomi. "Well, when you left, let's just say that he got into a fight with Millerna's crush of the month. You know that football star? He played with the friend of the nerdy guy."
"As far as I can remember," Hitomi said, looking contemplative. "That guy was just… let's see… five feet nine or something and that football star was… um… six feet four?"
"Yup. Good memory," Millerna praised. "Didn't he court you before?"
Hitomi grinned along with the others. "Trying to sway the topic, Millerna? Well, yes he did court me and he decided he could take Allen on which got both of them a week suspension. Anyway, Gades… proceed."
The grin on Gades' face widened. "Well, let's just say don't judge a book by its cover… nerdy guy wasn't actually nerdy all along. Just like Hiko… he's some secret karate champ or something and he literally kicked airhead's ass and dumped him in the nearest trash bin looking like some mashed potato."
"And Millerna had to go to the disco with a mashed potato…" Amano continued, already laughing.
The popular kids burst out laughing while Millerna scowled for all she was worth. "Not funny! I was so downright humiliated!"
"Suits you right for choosing the airhead," Yukari said with a smile.
"As I said, maybe we should call him football head or something. I mean he is a football star," Gades suggested.
Sarah nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. Hey! Millerna dated a football head."
They burst out laughing again.
"Well at least he's a star…"
"A washed up one," Amano corrected. "He pretty much lost most of the respect or rather fear that the others had on him after he got mashed."
"So what does that make the champ?" Hitomi asked.
"One of the crowd," Millerna said sullenly.
Hitomi raised a brow. "What does he think of me? Some humiliating bi*** who's head is in the clouds?"
"Not really. He pretty much understood how things are from the inside of everything," Yukari said as she shrugged. "He even admitted that he had a crush on you the first time he saw you---"
"Which was precisely the time I had him humiliated in the middle of the school hallway," Hitomi interrupted. "It's amazing how forgiving he can be."
"Tell me about it," Millerna mumbled. "And Allen was just laughing saying you really are cute."
Hitomi scowled. "Do I look like some puppy?"
Yukari looked at her closely. "Now that you mentioned it…"
They all laughed. Hitomi shook her head, a big smile plastered on her face. "Maybe he can visit sometime, huh? And maybe I could apologize to him."
"What for? That's how things go," Amano said with surprise.
"I know it hurts. Trust me…"
They nodded.
"Maybe we could get back at those people who hurt you," Millerna said after a long time.
"And things would just pile up," Sarah interrupted. "I mean honestly, that's the part I can't get about popularity bu******. Popular people have to be right and they should get back when they get hurt. What about those who got hurt? Isn't this enough that Hitomi's paying for all the stuck-up business?"
Hitomi looked amused. "Sarah, you're definitely their conscience! Maybe you and Hiko could get together some time."
Hiko looked up from his food. "Leave me out of everything, will you?"
He, Celena and Dilandau had been pretty much staying out of the talks and the laughs since the meal started.
"Hey, it's a nice idea," Hitomi said as if she was not bothered at all. "Besides, Sarah's pretty."
"And she's older than me."
"But that's not the point. Age doesn't matter at all and---"
"I'm leaving," Hiko mumbled as he stood up.
"Hold it," Hitomi said immediately. "If you're leaving, you might never know what I'm planning out on you. And who knows what I'd be blabbing about regarding you."
Hiko just scowled and sat down. "Sisters can be a pain."
Celena's brows met. "What?"
Dilandau immediately looked away, trying to hide the grin that was starting to build up on his lips.
"Uh, I said," Hiko thought quickly. "I said sisters are beautiful."
"That's not what you said."
"It wasn't? Ask them," Hiko motioned for the others.
Amano and Gades looked away, grinning their hearts out. Millerna and Sarah both looked at their food, trying to hide their amusement. Hitomi and Yukari meanwhile were trying to look like they didn't hear anything.
"Hiko!" Celena exclaimed. "They're on your side! You said sisters can be a pain! Do you want a proof?!"
Hiko coughed and stood up, mumbling something about forgetting to clean his room. He left followed by an angry Celena.
"Funny, Hiko always have a spotless room," Hitomi said with a grin. "What's with Celena, Dilandau?"
Dilandau looked at her with a wide smile. "Red sea."
Hitomi laughed. "First day?"
The red-eyed one shrugged. "All I know is that she's quite touchy when she has that girl thing going on. And she can be dangerous when she's angry."
"Kind of like you?" Amano asked with a wide, amused smile.
"It's alright, Dilandau," Hitomi immediately said. "I think I can guess what happened between you and Allen. And I'm staying out of it. Hey, you've been quiet all along… want to join us for a swim? Just to forget some things… maybe you could wear a bikini and I could wear one…"
Dilandau looked uncertain. "Well, I just remembered that I need to help Hiko escape Celena."
Before anyone could argue, Dilandau was out in a flash.
"They weren't exactly bad," Celena muttered as she and Hiko entered the back garden.
The two had just pretended to have a tiff to get away from Hitomi and her friends. They pretty much felt that Hitomi would be better off left to her friends for a while.
Hiko shrugged. "They aren't bad when they're around Hitomi. But they are stuck-up junks when it comes to other people."
"They weren't to us."
"Because Hitomi deems us part of her life. But see them back at school, they're downright mean. If you weren't able to block of their talks, they mentioned about this guy Hitomi had managed to humiliate. It was that guy's first day at school and he bumped into Hitomi. The rest of the school thought he was a jerk after that and they made fun of him."
"I don't think Hitomi's capable of that."
"She is. Believe me. That's why I hate her friends. They are all like that and I suppose they make each other become even more stuck-up jerky junks." Hiko looked beyond Celena and saw just as Dilandau entered. "You couldn't take them."
"I couldn't take your sister."
Both Celena and Hiko raised a brow.
"She was making me wear bikinis." He then shot the two a glare before they could even think of laughing.
"You like her," Hiko stated, smiling for all he was worth.
Dilandau glared. "I like Hitomi? She's crazy."
"But you like her anyway," Celena reasoned.
"I do not."
"Want to bet?" Hiko challenged. "Did she ever make you a promise or something?"
Silver brows met. "I'm not obliged to answer that."
"It doesn't matter. I'm sure she did. But anyway, if she breaks it and you get hurt for that…"
"I don't have to listen to you and your bet. I'm going to bed." He left without a backward glance.
"He'll be in Hitomi's room, that's for sure," Hiko told Celena with a shrug. "Honestly, your brother is blind. Not that Hitomi isn't but hey, can't blame her. Allen had always been her center of affection so she doesn't realize what's what. But Dilandau?"
Celena smiled. "Hiko… Hitomi's the only girl Dilandau took seriously… the only one he allows to boss him around and all that. He's new to the love stuff but as they say, the higher you are… the harder you'll fall."
"True. Because even if I hate to admit it, I think Allen had been serious about my sister. And if I'm right, he saw right through Dilandau and Hitomi and you know how some people say that love gives… If you love someone set him free and all that stuff…"
"So you think you'd be civil to Allen?"
"If he can trample his own ego and break his own heart for my sister… I think that's more than enough to convince me he deserves some reconsideration. And with her friends cheering my sister up… well… I suppose I could also give them some reconsideration."
"Hitomi would be glad. I'm sure. But about your bet…"
"It won't be long. When dad splashes the cold water… well…"
Uncertainty crossed Celena's face. "Hiko… how can you be so calm? Don't you think this will be disastrous? What if you're right about Dilandau getting hurt? He's got this tendency of retreating away from people and when he comes back, he'd be fiercer than before…"
"Celena, this is bound to happen. Bad things happen, that's the truth. If it doesn't happen now, it'll happen in the future with a different event. So there's nothing we can do but just hope they're all mature enough for everything. Because if they aren't… well, it looks like tears would fall."
Celena cocked her head slightly. "Have you been in a relationship? You're… mature."
Hiko shrugged. "How about learning from three supposedly serious relationships?"
"WHAT?!"
"They're older than me by at least a year. Hey, hanging with mature people can be good. They teach you well enough to know that sometimes, you're too young for some things."
"And?"
"And all those relationships ended well. No hard feelings, and even stronger friendship," Hiko finished, grinning. "Shocked?"
Celena nodded. "Goodness! Another playboy!"
"I'm not! They were all serious relationships though we pretty much kept it a secret from our families and all. But I suppose, they're not meant to be. One of them had to move away, one I had to let go coz she found out her parents had her engaged, the other one was simply pressure. She was trying so hard to prove to the world that she's not taking advantage of my being the younger one and she all ended up destroying herself. And you know how it's better to let go than watch the people you love slowly die because of you. Pretty much like what Allen did to Hitomi…"
"Hey, I think you owe me the long story since you just indirectly said that I'm a pain…"
Before dinner, Mr. Kanzaki had finally had the papers necessary for Hitomi's travel back to America. And from all the heartaches that he saw Hitomi's friends could mend, he finally decided that she was better off in America even when she wasn't with Allen anymore. At least there she was popular and it would be easy for her to date other guys.
Hitomi had gone to her room for a moment to find a sleeping Dilandau on her bed. When she sat on the bed while talking over the phone to another friend in America, he was woken up by her constant giggling. By the time she had ended the call, Dilandau couldn't get himself to sleep again even when he was still sleepy.
"Could you get any louder?" He asked sarcastically.
She smiled and whacked his face with a pillow. For a few minutes, they had engaged into their usual pillow fight. She was winning probably because Dilandau was still sleepy or because he was letting her win. Sitting on his stomach as she whacked him for the last time, she giggled.
He watched her with a faint smile and then finally commented when she was staring at him. "You've finally decided to keep your eyes."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know… the drama of all the silent bawling of your eyes out."
She smirked. "Getting tired of comforting me?"
"Not really," he said softly. "I'm just getting tired of seeing you cry and hurting so much."
"Then don't watch," she said plainly, not offended because of the way he said things.
"But it still hurts."
She frowned in question. "What still hurts?"
"You crying."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
She whacked him with a pillow. "Stop trying to be mysterious and just tell me. It's not like I'd go around shouting whatever you'll tell me."
"I'm crazy…" He mumbled. "But I suppose when an ogre has driven you crazy, you'd also get hurt if they get hurt."
She stared at him. "You mean… you mean you feel hurt whenever I'm crying my eyes out and hurting like some miserable puppy kicked by its owner?"
He sighed in frustration. "Yes and I wonder why!"
She just smiled and from her position atop his stomach, she leaned down and hugged him. "Thanks. I know that I'll never be alone even if my friends aren't around anymore because I have you. And you'll always have me. I promise you that combined with the one at the poolside. I wouldn't leave you."
He smiled. "That's… great… It's hard to be alone but since I have an ogre to keep me company… I'll never feel alone again. Why do we even understand each other at all?"
"I don't know but maybe because we've been through a lot together as enemies and as friends."
He laughed. "Yeah, maybe. Now what do you think would other people think if they find you on top of me with your arms around my neck and your forehead resting against mine?"
For some reasons, she blushed and she quickly scrambled off of him. She coughed uncomfortably, almost fidgeting under his amused gaze. "Well, everything I said is true so you better have not been fooling around, old man."
She fled then, leaving him unconsciously smiling.
"I wasn't kidding either," he mumbled faintly.
Hitomi and her friends were in the living room by the time Mr. Kanzaki had arrived. Hiko and Celena were dragging a still sleepy Dilandau by the living room then and Mr. Kanzaki had called them in because of Hiko and immediately both he and Celena was sure that it was time for the cold water to be splashed.
"Well, I haven't really expected to make the announcement if front of most of you but perhaps it's for the best," Mr. Kanzaki began.
"What's the announcement all about, dad?" Hitomi asked, feeling nervous for some unknown reason.
"Well, after your very bad experience in school, I have had some papers arranged. And now that they are ready, it's time to tell you what you long so much to hear."
Hitomi stood up and glanced at Dilandau, who was with Hiko and Celena by the living room entrance.
"You'll go back to America and stay there for good," Mr. Kanzaki finished with a big smile.
The room was silent for a while before her friends started to celebrate that Hitomi was going to be with them again. Celena and Hiko waited for Dilandau's reaction but the latter just stared at Hitomi as if he was waiting for her to say something. But she didn't and she just looked back at her father and forced a smile.
Mr. Kanzaki hugged his daughter. "I'm so glad you're happy. Come, let's all celebrate."
Dilandau didn't say anything and he just walked away, Celena following him while looking at Hiko who was shaking his head.
They were going so fast but it didn't bother Celena in the least bit. She was just silent as Dilandau drove the car towards home. But when she couldn't take the silence, she decided to talk.
"Say something," she said.
"What would I say?"
"Anything. Scream some curses, I don't know. Just say something."
Dilandau's eyes never left the road and his hold on the steering wheel tightened. "Good for Hitomi."
Her heart sank. From the answer of her twin, she knew it. Hiko was right. "Dilandau…"
"Maybe I could talk to Allen and they'd get back together. Then she'd quit crying her eyes out," he said as he laughed.
Celena knew he was faking it even when he was convincing. Because from his hold on the steering wheel, it was clear that he was upset.
"Dilandau, please tell me the truth."
"About?"
"What is she to you?"
He didn't answer because he didn't know the answer when he reflected on the question.
"Do you… do you trust her? Please tell me…"
For a long time he didn't say anything and Celena almost thought that he wouldn't answer. But then he did. "Yes… with all that I am."
She nodded. By nature, it was hard for Dilandau to trust anyone and even as she was his twin, it took almost all her lifetime to make him talk to her about some things. And still he didn't even tell her until she pleaded him or until he was senselessly drunk. But around Hitomi, he was different and it was enough to convey something to her… he was very open for Hitomi to hurt badly.
The rest of the ride was filled with silence. But when they were about to leave the car, Dilandau spoke softly. "She promised me she'd never leave me and my trust… but she will. I don't even understand why I'm so bothered by this. I don't know why Hiko's right. We're just friends… so why does it hurt so much? Why?"
She couldn't answer because he had left abruptly then.
"Where is Dilandau?" Mr. Kanzaki asked as they sat at the table, Mrs. Kanzaki having just arrived.
"He left with Celena," Hiko said casually but secretly giving his sister a quick glance to see her reaction.
Mr. Kanzaki nodded. "I see."
"So, where's Hitomi staying?" Millerna asked excitedly. "She's not quite eighteen yet so she needs a guardian."
"Well, I've talked to Yukari's father and he said Hitomi may stay there."
Yukari nodded. "I didn't tell you all because I wanted it to be a surprise!"
"We'll finally be together again! And maybe you and Allen could make up or something, or if not, well we'll still be together," Gades blabbed as he continued eating.
"Well, even if some of us will be going to college, we could still catch each other on our free time," Amano added.
"When will Hitomi go?" Sarah asked politely.
"A little more than a week… about ten days from now."
"Well, we'll have to wait up for her then… we'll be leaving two days from now." Millerna sighed. "But we'll be there and everything would be so fun."
Hitomi just nodded and forced a smile as she half-listened to the excited conversation that was going on. She had seen it, the words in Dilandau's eyes…
I don't trust easily…
But I trust you with all that I am…
Will you break your promise?
Will you leave me?
She couldn't answer then so she looked away from his asking garnet orbs. And when her father hugged her, she had to close her eyes… they hurt for some reason much like her chest and then she realized that she could hardly breath.
Hitomi lay awake, thinking. She couldn't sleep. Dilandau's questioning eyes kept on haunting her thoughts.
I don't trust easily…
But I trust you with all that I am…
Will you break your promise?
Will you leave me?
'Will I really leave?' She asked silently. 'Do I really want to leave?'
"Hey, Van's on the phone!" Celena yelled from the other side of the door. "He said he couldn't contact your phone."
There was no answer.
"Dilandau, I know you're awake. The others have been calling. Are you coming to---"
The door abruptly swung open and Dilandau's tired and irritated face stared down at her. "NO!"
Before she could blink, the door shut loudly in front of her. Slightly unsettled by her brother's abruptness, she held the cordless phone and answered. "Van, he's still in a bad mood."
"Sunshine?"
Celena sighed. "Yeah."
"Why don't you talk to Hitomi and ask her to settle things with Dilandau? What did they fight about this time?"
"Van, it's out of our business. We may make it worse."
"Well, then maybe just telling her that Dilandau's practicing being a hermit would help."
She sighed. "Call a week from now or something. Maybe Dilandau will finally see that he's not fit to be a hermit."
"Maybe… okay, bye."
"Bye." She sighed once more. Maybe Van was right.
Three days of a hostile and hermit-like Dilandau wasn't a very welcome experience for her. A long talk with Hitomi would be even better. She wouldn't really convince Hitomi to stay, that's being unfair. But maybe she could get Hitomi to talk Dilandau out of his current state.
She didn't exactly blame Hitomi. The girl was happier back in America. But she wasn't blaming her brother either. Dilandau rarely opened up to someone so it was just logical for him to get hurt when that someone who he had given a chance to would leave him.
'They aren't even together and everything's so complicated! I can't imagine the mess if they ever get through this and decide to get together! I'd probably die young from too much problem,' she thought sullenly, already feeling a headache coming up.
Her friends weren't around anymore to help distract her from her thoughts. When they were around, at least she was half-away from her mind. But now that they were gone, she found it absolutely hard not to think of Dilandau. And thinking about him was giving her the dull ache she couldn't really understand.
She was feeling guilty and hurt for unknown reasons to her.
From the time that her father had announced her return to America up to the current time, she had been thinking hard about her decision. All in all, she was better off going to America. But even as she listed down so many positive points of going than that of staying, she still couldn't understand why she had to leave… she still couldn't drive away the image of red eyes talking to her…
I don't trust easily…
But I trust you with all that I am…
Will you break your promise?
Will you leave me?
It was long before she noticed that her phone was ringing. She frowned. It was just a little after lunch and she was already in her room, deep in her thoughts. Weren't she in the living room a few minutes ago?
Sighing, she answered the call, hoping that it would cheer her up somehow. "Hello," she mumbled flatly, her thoughts once more starting to pull her out of reality.
"Hitomi, let's talk."
She was jolted out by the voice. "Celena… what's up?"
"Well… it's Dilandau."
She sat on her bed. "What about Dilandau? Is he sick?"
"No. He's… he's practicing being a hostile hermit."
If it wasn't for the distress and worry in Celena's voice Hitomi would've laughed. "What happened?"
"Uh… it's about… well… I think… I mean… I know…"
"Celena, why are you hesitating? Just go straight to the point."
"He's hurt."
"WHAT?! Did he fall down or something? Did he---"
"Not physically," Celena cut in. "This is about you going to America. He said you promised but you will leave him… is that true?"
Hitomi hesitated. "Well… yeah…"
Celena sighed and she was almost amused by how many times she did that for the past time since the announcement. "I'm not going to convince you to stay. That would be unfair to you. But answer this… Is he important to you?"
"Of course."
"Then make him understand why you have to go. It will help stop the pain."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know that it would hurt him," Hitomi said softly, her voice sounding hurt for some reasons.
Another sigh escaped Celena. "Hitomi, you're the only girl that I've seen my brother devote himself to. He can drop someone like a hot potato and he wouldn't even think twice. But with you, everything's different. And you're just his friend. You can just imagine how important a friend you are if he treats you so differently. He doesn't even try to reconcile with anyone like he did with you."
"I know. He tried even when I'm so closed-minded to his efforts."
"See? And do you know that he never has the knack or the patience in comforting anyone? But when it's you… well… it's like that's what he lives for… to comfort… and that's not even the end of it. Listing everything down would take a long time and it all sums up to one… he's open to you and he made himself vulnerable to you simply because you're important to him. He's so changed you know and when I reflect on it, it's like he's a totally different Dilandau from what I can remember."
"I know."
"So then talk to him, Hitomi. Make him understand."
Hitomi was silent then and Celena suddenly panicked. What if Hitomi didn't really want to waste time talking to a teenager who was throwing a temper tantrum?
"Can I come now?"
"What?" Celena asked, afraid that she was just imagining what she had heard.
"I mean… may I come there now?"
"You mean you'll talk to him?"
"Why not?"
"He's throwing a temper tantrum, Hitomi. When he's practicing being a hostile hermit, his mood changes like the winds not that it doesn't normally do even when he's normal. But I mean the likelihood of him blowing up and traumatizing you while throwing things and trying to kill you---"
"I'll be there in a couple of minutes."
"Hitomi, it's not that easy. Dilandau would---"
"Are you convincing me not to talk to him?" Hitomi's voice had so many uncertainties behind its sad tone.
"Of course not! I'm just telling you the likely events that you'd experience if you come so you wouldn't blame me if you'd need to go see a psychiatrist because of some trauma and---"
"Bye, Celena."
"Hitomi---"
"A few minutes."
Celena was about to continue but the call was already cut. She sighed once more, hoping that Hitomi could fix things. She knew well enough that even when Dilandau was acting hostile, he was in his room hurting and most likely as messed up as he was when she had found him in his room senselessly drunk not so long ago.
Just the thought of her brother being so down was hurting her. And for the first time since the announcement, sadness overtook her completely.
~tbc~
Author's Note: I know that this isn't what any of you expected. But that's all I can write for now. Anyway, the next two chapters would be focused on Dilandau and Hitomi Ű By the way, I didn't have a writer's block. I was just preoccupied with my life, fixing it and actually living it coz when I started writing I forgot the joys of life away from a computer. In case you'd be wondering about me or the fic or anything, I'll be updating my bio. Anyway, I'm rushing a bit right now so I'll make it quick. THANKS TO ALL WHO DIDN'T ABANDON THIS STORY AND EVEN ASSURED ME OF THEIR LOYALTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Ű