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Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne and/or the characters in it. This story though IS MINE. Any person who copies this story will find my wrath upon their doomed heads (and a bottle of Coke up their nose).
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Chapter 3
No Way Out
Hitomi struggled to keep her mouth closed, because if she screamed now, a) she might wake up the insane, piro-maniac on her bathroom floor, or b) someone might hear her and call the police.
And then all hell would REALLY break lose!
Hitomi, coming up with a quick alternative to screaming out loud, but still screaming to release the pressure, made a quick exit to the living area, grabbed a pillow off her coach, and screamed into it until she was out of breath. Okay now Hitomi, she thought to herself as she sat gasping for air, trying to get herself under control and able to rationally size up the situation. You're alone, on earth with an alien boy who has been known to burn entire towns to the ground in a matter of seconds, and has a very big grudge against you and all your friends, who are all not here. What should you do other then make a screaming run for the nearest exit? Can't just leave him on the bathroom floor, and getting help from the Police is out of the question, they'd lock both of us up in a loony bin. So, what else is there? Hitomi could only think of one feasible option.
She'd have to go face Dilandau and try not to get killed in the process.
Taking one last deep, steadying breath, and her panic slowly coming under control, she slowly got up from the coach and made her way back to the bathroom. Maybe he'll be in a good mood, so I can have chance to defend myself. Yeah right. When has that ever happened? Then, a sudden thought struck Hitomi, I've never seen him hurt anyone who's helping him before, maybe I can use that to save my butt, should it go into the fire! Yeah that works, right? As Hitomi desperately grabbed at that one bit of hope, she slowly opened the door, preparing herself for a real battle on her hands.
And there he was, still lying peacefully on the towel she'd laid him on for the pre-bath cleaning and stitching, blissfully unconscious. As she slowly picked him up by the armpits (trying very hard to look straight ahead) to heave him gently into the tub of pink, unmanly bubbles.
She had to admit when he was sleeping, he look kind of, well, cute. So sweet, and innocent looking (and let's be honest here, no woman can resist a guy looking like that, especially a guy they know to try and act like as "macho man") Hitomi actually found herself smiling as she finished the stitch job, with slightly trembling hands.
She had just finished in fact, when she heard a groan escape from his lips, and slowly began backing up from him, eyes wide as saucers, heart racing a mile a minute, hand at the door handle, body tenses, and ready bolt if she had to. And it seemed like hours to Hitomi as she watched him slowly, and rather painfully open his eyes, and half sit up, and take in his surroundings. Then he noticed poor Hitomi standing by the door, and what he did next threw her for an absolute loop.
He smiled at her! Not a smirk, not a crazy "I'm going to rip you apart limb from limb" smile, just a natural smile, as if greeting someone for the first time. Then, opened his mouth and said, very politely (gasp*shock*faint*), "Hello."
"H-hello!" Hitomi replied nervously. What's he doing? I thought for sure he'd kill me the minute he saw me! She watched as he once again circled the room with his eyes, and then came back to her.
"Who are you?" Hitomi couldn't repress the double take she did. He doesn't recognize me. Has my appearance really changed that much in five years? Granted her hair now fell down to her earlobes, and she had taken to wearing a little make up, but her appearance really hadn't changed that much!
"H-Hitomi, Hitomi Kanzaki."
"Hitomi Kanzaki. That's a pretty name."
"Uh, thanks. It means 'mystic eyes.' I've always liked it." Okay, now what's he playing at? She wondered, hand firmly clenched around the door handle as he continued to study her thoughtfully, then suddenly, he asked another question, "Hitomi?"
"Yes?"
"What's my name?" Hitomi's eyes, already large, seemed, if possible to grow even large as she stared him, stunned speechless, a single thought processed in her mind.
Is this a joke?
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Okay, firstly, yes, I am very mean indeed, secondly, don't hurt me for yet another short chapter ending in a cliffhanger, (seriously, would you keep reading this if I didn't?). The next one will be awesome!
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