AN: Haha, here's your awaited chappy people! Review please! ^_____^ Review replies now at bottom because people made me ^_^;;

Leaning against the headboard of his bed and staring out the window, Van watched the reflection of the street lamps appear on the windows of a passing car. As the rubber wheels sloshed through a puddle, staining the new, white-gray pavement a splotchy mud brown, he exhaled.

Tonight was Allen and Hitomi's first official date as a happy new couple. Funny, he usually got a 'I'm-having-a-crisis' phone call from Hitomi, but this time, there was none.

...Not to say he had been waiting for one or anything.

Telling himself he should be thankful that he wouldn't have to listen to Hitomi complain about things that really weren't worth fretting over, Van one handedly threw the basketball across the room with a bang against the door frame of the closet into his laundry basket with a whoosh. He winced slightly as he could faintly hear his mother scolding him from the kitchen, and rolled over and changed the track on his CD player.

Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" echoed throughout his room, and Van flopped his head back on the welcoming softness of his pillow.

Downstairs, he heard the phone ringing, and he glanced at his watch.

It wasn't Hitomi, the date would have started by now.

Burying his face into the white cotton, Van moaned as he heard Merle banging at his door.

"Van!" she screeched, the pounding of her fist and the wood not pleasant to the ears, "Pick up the phone! Van!"

"Alright, alright, I've got it," Van yelled as he groped for his phone. "Hello?"

"Van," came a male voice, and Van tried to sort out who it was.

"Um, hey..." he trailed off, "Who is this?"

"Allen Schezar," Allen prompted as he kept an eye on Hitomi, who was bending down by a shallow inflatable pool and attempting to catch a fish with a green plastic net.

"Allen, you moron! You were supposed to be on a date with Hitomi half an hour ago!" Van yelled angrily, sitting up as he threw the covers off his body, swinging his legs over the mattress and pacing around his room.

"I am!" Allen replied incredulously, "She's right in front of me trying to catch a pet fish."

"Okay, I don't want to know," Van said after a long silence, his left cheek twitching slightly. "So why are you calling? And how the hell did you get my number?" he added after a thought.

"I got it from one of my posse's-- I mean one of my friend's sister," Allen explained, "And I need to ask a favor of you."

"Like?" Van asked suspiciously, making his way over to his reeking laundry basket and plucking out his basketball.

"When I drop Hitomi off tonight, she's giving me her pet hamster to look after, for some odd reason," Allen replied, "Something about giving it new experiences outside, some thrills."

Van stared blankly ahead of him.

"Some thrills?" he clarified, to make sure he heard right.

"That's right," Allen nodded, as Hitomi happily handed a man her net as he plopped the orange red fish into a plastic bag filled with room temperature water.

"...And I'm helping because...."

"Because I have no idea how to take care of a hamster!" Allen complained, "Please? She's coming back over soon, I need to have an answer!"

"Ask your posse or something," Van replied grumpily, practically spitting out the word posse.

"Van! Please! I trust you! Please?" Allen begged, and Van held the phone away from his ear, irritated.

"Shut up," he said with a slight wince, "Okay, I'll help you. But I honestly can't see how someone so intelligent would need help with taking care of a bloody hamster. Especially one named Kitty."

"You have my eternal gratitude, oh crap, she's coming this way. Bye," Allen said hurriedly, and clicked his cell phone shut. "So what are you naming the fish?" he asked Hitomi with a grin as she smiled at the clear plastic baggie.

***

"I'm near your house," Allen said as Van could hear the sounds of traffic on his line.

"Oh joy," Van exclaimed sarcastically, "And why the hell is it so loud?"

"Well, the volume could be the problem, or your environment--" Allen reasoned as he sped along the road, and Van silenced him with a simple 'shut up'. "Okay, I'm here, come out," Allen announced after a few minutes, and groaning Van clicked his TV off and opened his front door to nearly choke.

Allen was doing circles in front of his house on his bicycle, and to Van's horror he noticed Kitty the oh so lovely biting hamster in a cage in the front basket.

"Allen, WHY the hell didn't you take a car?" Van yelled as he stood on the front porch, Allen still circling like a moron.

"Because this would be more thrilling, wouldn't it?" Allen frowned, and Van smacked his forehead.

"She meant new thrills with a new owner, Schezar! Being in a different environment! Not take it bungee jumping!" he cursed loudly, and Allen was about to reply, still circling, that biking was not bungee jumping and the death rate of bungee jumping when suddenly a stick popped into view....

Or rather, it was always there and Allen just wanted to believe the gods had it in for him.

It was like slow motion, the front tire seemed to trip over the stick as the back wheel came reeling up, Allen loosing grip of his handle bars, his body lifting slightly before crashing to the left off the black bike. As the wire cage flew out of the front basket of his bike, the shavings lining the cage flying out, Van let out a shout as it made contact with the gravel.

And it was then that maybe the gods did have it in for Allen.

The familiar sound of a puddle sloshing could be heard, and just as Van directed his gaze from the red car to Kitty's already half demolished cage....

"Uh oh."

***

"Ah," Van said uncomfortably as Allen hyperventilated, "Look it's okay." Kneeling down in front of the puddle of hamster guts, shavings, and a crushed wheel, Allen could be seen visibly shaking.

"No it's not!" Allen yelled, red rimming his eyes like cheap eye liner, "Hitomi's going to kill me! And that stupid driver didn't even stop!"

"No she's not," Van assured, even though Hitomi probably would.

"I'm dead. She'd just forgiven me for... And now... Oh gods, oh gods. That's it I'm becoming an atheist. Oh gods. Why am I still saying oh gods. Oh... Oh carrots. Oh carrots. Oh carrots," Allen chorused as he rocked back and forth.

"It's not your fault," Van sighed shortly, crossing his arms. Grudgingly, he quickly spat out the most comforting words he could think of for the poor boy. "If the road were a little wider, and that stick wasn't there, and your bike was a bit less jerky, your front basket a bit deeper, and if Kitty had some jumping skills, it would have never happened."

"I'm so dead," Allen coughed in between hiccups, and Van smacked Allen on the head sharply.

"Snap out of it, just take it like a man, and tell her," Van scolded sharply, even though he was hardly one to talk.

When they were about 5, Hitomi had a pet turtle named Pigeon. She had this odd habit of letting Pigeon wander aimlessly through out the house, never worried she'd lose him. According to her, Pigeon would return to her always at the end of the day, faithfully like clockwork.

One summer's day, Van was playing at Hitomi's house, and had some, er, business to take care of, hollering to his play mate that he'd be back, Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation and all. Humming to himself as he mounted the stairs, his short legs scratched up from falling down several times in the back yard, Van slammed the bathroom door open to hear it smack into something. Wincing slightly, and peering at the foreign object behind the door, Van's rosy cheeks paled as he noticed the shell of Pigeon not moving. Shutting the door, and gently poking the turtle with his toe, Van's maroon eyes widened in horror as it didn't stir.

Practically screaming, Van bolted out of his best friend's house before he could be caught red handed, and wisely so, for Hitomi blamed it on her brother Mamoru, and ran into his welcoming arms; sobbing her little heart out.

"Come on," Van said after his little trip down memory lane, his eyes hiding the uneasy look of the vague image of Hitomi on a warpath.

***

"Just be sincere," Van suggested as Allen held the mess that was Kitty in a blue Tiffany's bag they had found in Merle's room. Ringing the doorbell, Van leaned casually against a supporting pillar on the porch, when Hitomi opened the door, evidently awakening from a nap, her hair tousled, her slender body stretching as the sun hit her.

"Van? Hey, what's up?" Hitomi asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, not noticing Allen. Hey, give her a break, she had just woken up.

"Aren't those my boxers...." Van said suspiciously as he eyed the navy material, and Hitomi grinned sheepishly when Allen cleared his throat.

"ALLEN!" Hitomi shrieked happily as she flung herself around his neck for a hug, "How are you-- Oh gods, you got me a gift? You shouldn't have!" she squealed as she stole the Tiffany's bag from his grip. A smile playing on his lips, Van leaned back when suddenly he realized what was about to happen and as he bolted to snatch the bag...

Hitomi's blood curdling scream caused several birds to screech and fly off, a few leaves falling to the ground from the movement.

***

"It can't be that bad-- Er, I mean, he didn't mean it," Van corrected hastily as Hitomi sobbed into her pillow.

"But who on Gaea takes a hamster out on a bike ride for THRILLS?" Hitomi hiccupped as she hit the pillow with her fist.

"Look, he honestly feels terrible," Van comforted as he rubbed the small of Hitomi's back, "He was so traumatized he turned atheist."

"So?" Hitomi grumbled, her lip jutted in a pout. "He's not that great anyways," she trailed off, obviously lying to herself and Van.

"So you plan to break up with him because he accidentally killed your hamster?" Van asked bluntly.

"Kitty wasn't just a hamster!" Hitomi retorted, and Van softened.

"Look, I know Kitty wasn't just a hamster. She was like the Mighty Mouse of all hamsters; but dumping Allen because of an accident is silly, don't you think?"

"No," Hitomi sniffed defiantly, and Van sighed.

"Forget about that guy, then," he said, and Hitomi turned slightly as Van propped her up so she was sitting. "Forget about the way you fell into his eyes," he continued, his voice beginning to catch a tune. "Forget about his charms... Forget about the way he held you in his arms," he squawked, and Hitomi let a giggle escape. Winking, Van kept going. "Walking on air's obnoxious! The thrill, the chill will make you nauseous... And you'll never get enough. Just forget about love!"

Allen, Hitomi thought as she suddenly recalled the horrified expression in his blue eyes she hadn't caught before the blaze of anger and sadness swept her up.

"I had almost forgotten the way it felt, when he held out his hand for mine. My heart all a-flutter," she sang.

"Oh, how I shudder," Van interrupted on cue.

"The first time we kissed," Hitomi chirped, as Van continued with his part of the song.

"It won't be missed! Forget about his touch--"

"I can't forget about his touch," Hitomi smiled, and Van picked up.

"In the scheme of things it doesn't matter much".

"It matters so much," Hitomi sang, and Van grinned as a smile begin to take residence on her face.

"You're better on your own... A meal becomes a banquet when you eat alone," Van smirked as Hitomi tried to stifle her smile.

"Love's full of compromises," they sang, and finally Hitomi broke out into a big smile, her cheeks stained with salty tears.

"Feeling better?" he asked quietly as she hugged her pillow to her chest.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Thanks," she added, pecking him on the cheek.

"Hey, no problem," he added with a faint blush, and Hitomi snuggled into Van's chest, Van resting his chin on her head. No matter what, no matter when, he always was there for her, knew how to make her feel better; and sometimes a part of Hitomi wondered if they were soul mates.

"Now are those my boxers?"

Maybe not.

AN: Haha, sadly, the turtle incident actually happened to me when I was a kid ^_^;; Well, please review! GREATLY appreciated ^_^

escawing: Yes, Hitomi's so naive ^_^;; I'll try to improve *whimpers* hehe
Sailor Centauri: *whacks Sailor Centauri with a bat* And I agree! Van SHOULD be on top-- Mind in gutter O_O hehe
Crystal Lily: Well at least we know Van will end up with Hitomi? Hehe, here's your chappy!
Luna c: Yupyup, Van's such a sweetie pie ^_~
The Reader is Now Blind: *lol!* Hehe.... Van so cute.... *Can clearly envision Allen bleeding on the lawn.. ^_^*
Magicman/Smokegirl: Hehe, there will be plenty more in this story *cackles*
Yugismpuzzle: Hehe, of course he can sing! ^_^ And I'll try to update "Nobody" soon *hides* haha! ^__^ Keep writing!
Ferai: Haha, well I'll try *ducks* If you call that not enough V/H you're gonna kill me later ^_^;;;;;
chibizaza: Haha! Thanko! I like Van singing too ^^ Here's your next chappy ^_^
little fairy: Me too! If Van sang to me I'd probably faint ^^; Will get of Allen by end of story? Hehe ^_^;;;
Esca-lover: NOO!!! Dont steal Van! Haha! *glomps Van* Thanks for reviewing ^_^
Starzie Chick: Hehe, I'm trying to go light on bashing due to Allen fans O_O;;
sprout: Yes, Van IS hot ^_^ And he'll realize eventually ^_~
van lover: too bad his bullet proof hair protected him..... *sighs* ah well, there's always next time ^_~
snow blossoms: Hehe! And Allen and Hitomi will part ways eventually *grins*
Infinitis: Haha, I still need your location for "Samurai" or I can't add you *nervous smile* Thanks for reviewing! *hugs*
freelancer47: Haha! And there will be many more "Poor Van"'s along the way of this story ^_^;;
Quintessence: Hehe, thanko! *bows* I want to be necked and sucked by Van too! XD
darkcherry: Thanks for reviewing! ^_^ Woah, there are two darkcherry people *_* Haha!
aoao: Don't melt! *needs you to update your story ^_~* Hehe! And thanks so much!! *loves long reviews* *MaGIcAL* Haha, love how you did that ^_^
daddyz-girl: Haha! No problem; you just keep writing ^_^ And tell Yugismpuzzle to keep writing too!
Tevrah: Haha! Maybe... Just maybe... ^_~ Thanks for reviewing!
Rai Dorian: Changed the link; go see! And I'm working on Razzle Dazzle once I get this one or my other drama fic done! ^^
Lev: Yup, Hitomi IS stupid. And if I put review replies at the bottom wouldn't you have to scroll through them anyways? o_O But anywhoo.... There you go.
Lisi Naiku: Ooh, insightful *grins* Yes, thinking hurts my brain too! ^_^;;
naria: Haha, thanks!
Ruby: Thanks! And Van's slow, but he'll realize his feelings soon enough...
Ash Night: Hope you feel better! *pat pat* Thanks for reviewing ^_^
stargazin: Van will get Hitomi in the end ^_^ Thanks for reviewing! *bows*
Fire Fly: It would have been ^_^ But I'm evil, so it was all just a ploy to get out of cleaning *grins* Thnks for reviewing!
Dahee Fanel: Hehehe *grins* Yup, can't hate Maddie, she's supposed to be the "smart" one ^_^:;;;;;;;;;
hitomi chan: LOL! yupyup, Hitomi's just dense ^____^ Continue that AU fic of yours; I like it ^_^
Japanimejo: *waves own Van flag too* Hehe!!! *gasps* DONT WASTE SHOES ON THE LOWLIFE THAT IS ALLE-- *realizes allen fans are around* Ahem! ^_^:;
MaboroshiTsuki: *throws Allen back on Anne for fun* hehehehhee!!! Thanks for reviewing! Miss Talented one! XD
jess131346: *fears jess' wrath* Haha! Poor Van is right XD
PeachesandCream: Thanks for reviewing! *grins and bows* Update, woman! XD
Tommi Gurrl: ^_^;; Well... They peck each other on the cheek? But they will kiss eventually ^_~
A-HOLE: O_O *slightly frightened* Hehe! Oh well, it's okay because Van doesn't know his feelings for Hitomi yet so it's all good ^_~
Rheia: Yupyup, V/H! Wouldn't have it any other way ^_^ Glad you like this fic! ^_^
Paws: Unfortunately, yes ^_^;; But yes! They will eventually realize it! So it's all good ^_^ *grins*
Dariel: Yeah! If Van necked and sucked me O_O *faints and melts into puddle* Hehe! And thanks for reviewing!
Fushizen Na: Allen and Hitomi are smitten of course, haha! Thanks for the review!
Tempest Break: Hehe, gotta love Van! Thanks for reviewing! And I would love to bash Allen more but alas his fans... XD
tokara-naria-sanzuke: *hides* Okay, more V/H later! Swear! ^_^;;;;;; Thanks for reviewing!
Callisto Nicol: Hehe, in my old draft for this chappy I mentioned the rose scratches, but I cut it out *sighs* hehe ^_^;;
darkcherry: Woah, there are two darkcherry people o_O ANYWHOO, LOVE the song XD It's great! And thanks for reviewing!
me: Thanks for reviewing!
Dilandau-is-my-boyfriend: *hides* Didn't mean to make you mad ^_^;; ANYWHOO, thanks for reviewing!
PerfectSoldier09: Haha! Really? The guy dies right? o_O ANYWHOO, yupyup, the Bad Touch is a good song ^_^

AN: Yeah, people asked me to put review replies at the bottom ^_^;; Again, review away! XD