A/N Here's another fic from me. I have kinda given up on my why fic. Haven't really gotten much response froom it. I want to say this right off the bat. IF someone has written a fic like this before, I'm truly sorry. I am not trying to steal anyone's ideas. This fic will eventually have Van in it and it will have a little bit of everything in it. Drama, romance, action/adventure and what ever u all iggest I put in here. I am always opened for suggestions. If you like this or don't like it, please review me. I Want to know if it is worth continuing or not. I hope you enjoy. Disclaimer, I don't own escaflowne! I wish I did but, I don't.
Plz r/r and enjoy!
Prologue
Hitomi Kanzaki use to be your average girl. She was smart, pretty and had lots of friends. She was always happy and optimistic but then, something happened to her. Something that she thought would be her fault for ever. Something that she thought would make her cold for ever.
Hitomi was a true performer. She never missed any drama club meetings and was also a huge fan of the camera. She wanted to be an actress. There was a huge school performance coming up and she needed her mom to drive her to the theater after she had eaten supper. Her mom said that she couldn't drive her because she had to be to work by 7. That was the exact same time that Hitomi had to be at school. Her father had to leave for an important meeting by 7:30 but he offered to drive his daughter anyway. Hitomi reached up and hugged him tight. She was so afraid of being late or not even making it now and thanks to her dad, she'd get there.
"Daddy, I love you. You always do anything for me."
"Well sweetie, that's what dad's are for. Now finish eating and then get ready. We should leave here by quarter to seven. Your school isn't that far away and then I will just rush a little more to get to my meeting across town."
"Daddy, are you sure you will have time for this?"
"Yes now hurry along now. Time's getting short."
"Hitomi finished all of meat and vegetables and rushed upstairs to look for her costume and other accessories that she would need for the show. She ran down the stairs and she and her father got in to their small sports car and began to drive. They had the usual conversation about how school was going for Hitomi and how her father's job was going. He was a manager of a huge corporate company which meant, Hitomi had lots of money. She was not the type to flaunt that though. She had a kind heart and would never make fun of someone less fortunate than herself. She was the type of girl that would give all of her money to the needy. And not think twice about it. Hitomi didn't even really hang out with any of the rich kids of her school. She would have rather hung out with her friends who didn't care a whole lot about materialistic things. Her best friend yukari lived with her mom in a tiny apartment. Her father had left them when Yukari was only 3. He left them with nothing. Hitomi's and Yukari's mother were the best of friends so, Hitomi's mother took them in until Yukari's mother could save enough money to get them an apartment. Hitomi's mother had only worked at night so, she had offered to watch Yukari while her mother worked to keep them from starving and being out in the cold.
Hitomi's other best friend was a boy named Allen. He was every girl's dream guy. He and Hitomi had also known each other since they were quite young. Their fathers worked together before Allen's father began his own business. The two children would always play together during any sort of meetings that the two men had been holding. Hitomi could remember always jumping up and down in front of her father begging him to let her come so that she could play with Allen. Eventually, Yukari would come with them. The three had never lost touch over the years and now that they were in high school, they would hold on to one another even more tight. Allen had a huge crush on Hitomi but, she never felt the same for him. He had been more like a brother to her and, she would never risk that sort of relationship. Allen was really the only guy that Hitomi felt comfortable talking with about pretty much anything. She would tease him sometimes and tell him that he was just like one of the girls. Allen couldn't help but want more from her though. HE can remember trying so many different things to get Hitomi's attention. Hitomi remembered in the 8th grade when Allen stood up in front of the whole class and gave her a rose. Everyone thought they were going out and all of the other girls in Hitomi's class were jealous of her. She had to spend an entire week telling them that she was not dating Allen.
A few of the other people in their gang were merle, who was one year younger than the rest of them, Dilandal, who was the same age but spent most of the time out of school.. HE was a bad boy. The last person that was in their little group was an older guy named Folcan. He was a year older than everyone else so, he kind of was the one to keep everyone in line. Hitomi had had a crush on him at one point but, she gave up. She knew that he was in love with a girl named naria so, she didn't want to intrude. Also Yukari had told her that she would find someone better than him. Yukari had always had a thing for Delandal that Hitomi could never understand but, she also left that alone.
Hitomi and her dad reached the school at exactly 1 minute to 7. Hitomi thanked him and didn't think to say goodbye. She rushed out of the car and in to the school. Her father sped off in the other direction going toward the other side of town. HE knew he couldn't be late but, he wouldn't see his daughter miss out on something that important to her. He decided to pick up a bit more speed. He didn't think it would hurt him. All of a sudden he saw a van coming toward him and he tried to stop. IT was no use. The van tried to swerve away from his quick moving car but they hit head on. The car smashed in to the van and the whole front of the car was pushed in toward Hitomi's father. The last thing he would ever remember would be the flyingg glass hitting him in the face. He would remember the feeling of the blood trickling down his face. The life trickling from his body. The driver of the van got out almost completely unharmed. He went over to the car to see if he could help the man inside. It was no use. HE pulled his cellular phone out of his pocket and began to make a call that he wished he would never have to make. HE had to report this and, he had a feeling that something was very wrong with the man inside the car.
Back at the school, Hitomi got changed in to her costume and met up with Yukari and Allen. As much as Allen hated anyone knowing, he was a huge drama fan as well. They all went up to the stage and sat down.. It was time to start the first scene of their play. Hitomi got in to her character and began reciting her lines.
Back on the scene, the police and ambulance arrived. They worked quickly to get the man out. The front of the car was on fire and was beginning to burn. They tried to reach the man but, before anyone could do anything, the car exploded. All that was left were a few small pieces of it. They put out the fire and found only one piece of identification. No one could figure out why but, the man's wallet was blown out of his jacket pocket and thru the window to land on the ground below. The police would now have to look through the wallet and figure out who the man was. They learned that his name was kizuki Kanzaki. They had also found a picture of his wife and little girl. This would make the call even more difficult They began to dial the number to the Kanzaki home. There was no answer. They decided to go to the house and see if someone would answer the door. No one was home and then a neighbor of the Kanzaki's seen the police. She rushed over to see what was going on.
"Can I help u sir?"
"We are looking for Mrs. Kanzaki?"
"I think she's at work. Has something happened?"
"I'm sorry to say but, MR. Kanzaki has been in a major accident."
"Is he alright?"
The police officer paused and took a breath. The woman could see in his eyes that something serious was happening.
"Sir, what happened to him?"
"I'm sorry to say but, MR. Kanzaki didn't make it."
The neighbor had been Yukari's mother. She took a gasp and tears began to fall from her eyes like rain would fall from the sky in a vicious rain storm. The officer touched her hand and lead her in to the Kanzaki home. He sat her down on a chair at the kitchen table and allowed her to have a few minutes to cry. He sat and consoled her. Finally, when the woman had regained her composure, he asked her where he could get a hold of MRS. Kanzaki.
"Well sir, she's at work. I can give you that number. His daughter. O god! Hitomi! She'll she won't be able to take this!"
The police officer remembered seeing the pretty girl's picture in the man's bloody wallet. He looked straight in to the woman's eyes and asked her a question that actually hurt him to ask her.
"Where is the young lady. Where is his Hitomi?"
"She's at a drama practice with the school. My daughter is there. Maybe we should go and get her. Then we can drive to MRS. Kanzaki's work and pick her up. I Think it's best we tell them together and I also think it's best that my daughter knows as well. Our families are really close sir. I can't not let Yukari know what's happened. Please, let me come with you. I want to support my best friend the way she has supported me so many times before., I want to help her through her crises. I know this will be the hardest thing for her. They loved each other so much…"
"Ok man, you can come with me.
He took the very upset woman's had and lead her in to the police car. They drove for what seemed like an eternity until they reached the school. The woman was hesitant to get out but, she knew what she had to do.
It had been over an hour since Hitomi had been dropped off and her practice had been going wonderful. She had gotten praise from her director and all of her friends. They were sitting on a break when Allen looked toward the doors of the auditorium and saw a strange site. HE nudged Hitomi who was sitting to the right of him happily eating a granola bar and drinking a glass of water.
"Hitomi, look over there."
"What now Allen. IS this one of your schemes again?"
"No seriously, tell Yukari to look to. She past on the message to her friend after she looked for herself. There she saw Yukari's mother talking to a police officer and the drama director.
"Yukari, is that your mom's new boyfriend?"
"No! mom doesn't have a new boyfriend. What the hell are the police doing with my mom. Did she do something wrong?"
As if the question knew it was asked before they knew it, they would have their answer. The drama teacher walked up to both Hitomi and Yukari. She looked at them both with pain in her eyes.
"Girls, your dismissed for the rest of the practice. You have to go now. Something has happened and I think it's important that you go talk to Yukari's mom and the police officer. Allen chirped in.
"Can I go with them?"
"No Allen, this is not your place. You continue reciting your lines until the practice is over."
Allen gave the teacher a look that he never meant to give her and then said, "Fine! You just better tell me what's going on with my friends!".
After Yukari and Hitomi left, the teacher took Allen aside. She began to explain what had happened. Allen couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Why didn't you let me go with them. I care for Hitomi and Yukari of course but, Hitomi needs me. Why couldn't I go? I was close to Mr. Kanzaki as well."
"I know Allen, I was told not to let you come. Hitomi's mother has yet to find out so, it's not my place to get you involved in that to. You will be able to help them both soon. You just have to be patient alright?"
Allen gave a sigh and turned away from the teacher. HE walked back to the stage and sat down working on his lines. He was reading them but it was no use. Nothing would stay in his head now, nothing at all.
They had all gotten in to the police car and, were now driving toward where Hitomi's mother worked. IT was a clothing store. She always worked the night shift each night since Hitomi could remember. They pulled up beside the store and began their commute inside. Yukari knew in the pit of her stomach that this wasn't good. Everyone seemed so happy but yet, no one in Hitomi's life did. She new something was really wrong. They went inside and asked to speak with Hitomi's mother. She came out with a smile on her face but the smile quickly faded.
"What's going on?"
"Mam, I would like you to come outside with me. Close your store now. Something horrible has happened and we want you to sit down for this."
Hitomi's mother did what the officer said and closed her store down for the night. They walked out of the store and got back in to the car. They drove back to the Kanzaki home and all sat down in the living room. The police officer refused to sit. Hitomi sat beside her mother and then sat yukari and then Yukari's mother. The police officer stood in front of them all and began to speak softly but seriously.
"I'm sorry to tell you but Mr. Kanzaki has been in a horrible accident."
Hitomi's mother began to shake lightly. She decided to stay calm and see what was going on.
"Is he alright?"
"I'm sorry Mrs. Kanzaki, he didn't make it. The car crashed in to a van and, it set fire. He was trapped under the front of it which had been drivig in by the impact of the crash. We managed to rescue his wallet but his body was burned in the crash."
Both Hitomi and her mother began to scream grieving cries. They both fell in to each other crying and sobbing. Yukari began to cry as well but, her mother stayed calm. She held her daughter and rocked her back and forth trying to comfort her. After Yukari had calmed a little, she sat with Hitomi consoling her. The police officer stayed for a while and answered any questions that were needed to be asked. Hitomi had asked one question that would rune her for the rest of her life.
"Was he speeding sir?"
"Yes dear, we believe he was. The impact would not have been that great if he had not been going so fast."
Hitomi couldn't take it anymore. She began screaming at the top of her lungs. Screaming words that would flash over and over in her mind for a long time to come.
"This is all my fault. IF he hadn't had taken me to school, he wouldn't have had to speed. All of this is because of me. I am a murderer, a real true murderer.
She bolted up the stairs and slammed her door. She was only 15 and now, she believed that she had killed her father. Yukari went upstairs after her but, it was no use. She was blocking her out and didn't want to see her.
Hitomi had changed since that day. IT didn't take her long to change either. The funeral wasn't really a funeral. They held a service and people came and brought them things. She never said much to them though. She hardly said much to her friends for a long time. Eventually, she opened up to them but, not very much. She blamed herself for everything and her mother would never say it but sometimes, she also blamed Hitomi. Allen stayed with her as a friend and comforted her along with everyone else. She hated all of the questions. She hated being consoled. She knew that now, she would have to live with thisf or ever. Or would she?
To Be Continued…
