Disclaimer: I do not own the Vision of Escaflowne. I wish I owned Van or Folken but I don't, so let me weep in peace.
Motorcycles of Escalfowne Chapter 2Van stretched out his arms and leaned back in his desk, already bored as hell. Physics was so useless, besides, he already knew everything about it already from working with Balgus, his father. Balgus had lectured him so much about how physics had a heavy hand in the making of motorcycles. You had to design a motorcycle with care or else the rider could get hurt and that would put a stain on the Escaflowne Motorcycle Company's flawless reputation.
Well, at least it was the last period of the day, meaning he would get the wonderful reward of going home after a round of Physics hell. He did what he always did during Physics: daydream.
His thoughts circulated around Dilandau's red EscaXX. He snorted to himself, accumulating stares of those around him. Dilandau and an EscaXX, what a laugh! Although being an Escaflowne motorcycle instantly made it better than any other motorcycle and didn't like dissing any Escaflowne bike, Van could still think of several motorcycles ten times better than that old piece of junk, and he owned most of the motorcycles on that list. Sure, the EscaXX was the latest model available, but that only because Escaflowne had not released any new models for three months. Van had seen the new designs, he had even test-drove them himself, and he knew that the EscaXX was nothing to those sleek new babies coming out just next week. He had done a pretty good job if he did say so himself of keeping his sarcasm in when Dilandau had eagerly pressed for his opinion. Dilandau was such a poser but he wasn't that pathetic at times, he didn't deserve to be ridiculed in front of everyone and hadn't given a reason to deserve such humiliation, at least there was no reason yet.
Van had also wisely, in his opinion, kept quiet about the fact that the Dilandau's red EscaXX didn't really belong to him: it was rented.
The bell rang. Van leaped out of his desk and sped out of the classroom. Ah, bliss, the end of the school day. And today was even better because it just happened to be Friday.
Van strided to the parking lot, attracting raptures and giggles from enraptured girls around him. He did not grace these admirers with his attention. It's not as if he asked to be popular in the school, people just started paying attention to him and he heavily suspected that his family's business was behind that. Plus, he couldn't help it if he was damn good-looking.
Leaning against his motorcycle (custom made specially for him, of which he fondly named the Dragon) Van sent his gaze out to the surrounding motorcycles, observing them and holding mini commentaries in his head while he waited for his elder brother Folken to arrive. That blue bike over there for example looked sporty but any expert (i.e. him) could tell right away that you wouldn't get good speed riding that heap of junk. He spotted a green painted one to the side and noted that the paint was cheap and the vehicle was rusting. He cast his eyes over an Escaflowne made motorcycle and was about to comment to himself that it was perfect as usual when his eyes glanced over something pretty.
Van raised his head slowly, a tendril of hair slipping across his face. There was a girl walking extremely slowly past that Escaflowne motorcycle. He watched as the girl gradually slowed to a stop when she was in front of it. Van raised his eyebrows. A girl looking at an Escaflowne? She's definitely got good taste. Most of the girls Van had ever dated liked motorcycles but only saw it as something that made people look cool.
He squinted his eyes. Van now desperately wanted to see that girl's face, but her damn hair was blocking his view. A light brown mane of hair upon hair covered the girl's backpack and shoulders and some strands were now on her face. Then he immediately recognized the hair and scowled. It was that squeaky Hitomi Kanzaki. That girl was a strange one. The only way he ever identified her was from her hair, which seemed to be her trademark. He had just been momentarily distracted at the moment as she was looking at an Escaflowne motorcycle. Van's brain hazily recollected the day's lunch, when he had felt her staring at him and stared right back at her. Of course, Hitomi had looked away with a blush that obviously meant she was staring at him. It was strange really, everyone had been staring at him at the time but Van had felt her intense stare.
After a few minutes, Hitomi stepped back from the motorcycle and scurried away. Van watched her go curiously and wondered if she was actually interested in that motorcycle or not.
Suddenly, out of no where, a hand slapped the back of his head. Van spun around and punched his brother lightly in the gut.
Folken grinned amusedly. "Ah, I can never get you off guard can I, 'lil bro?"
Van laughed. It was a their old childhood game. Slap one on the head and try to run away before the other punched you in the gut. Folken was the slow one and always got punch.
"By the way, Van," Folken said. "Allen here," he jabbed a thumb behind him and then noticed the lack of Allen. "Damnnit where did he go?"
Folken looked around and spotted the guy in question a yards away flirting with a Millerna, a pretty sophmore. The brothers stared in exasperation. The guy never knew when to stop, did he? At the same time, they both remembered the fact that Allen had just recently broken up with Millerna's older sister.
"Let me guess, Allen needs a ride?" Van asked shaking his head.
"Well maybe he did at one point," Folken said, sighing. He stalked over to Allen and threatened to leave him there if he didn't want a ride. He walked with Allen sulking his in shadow.
"Perfect timing, Folken, I was just building up to the point where I was going to ask Millerna out," Allen complained.
"I'm sure Marlene would love that," Van said, rolling his eyes. He climbed onto his Dragon. "Which bike are you going to go on? The Dragon or the Destiny?" he asked, jerking his head towards Folken's Destiny in silent desperation. Van wanted to ride home alone. Allen had the annoying habit of destroying the perfect balance of his Dragon.
"I'll go with Folken," Allen said quickly.
The ride home was peaceful for once. There were no bikers surrounding him staring at the Fanel brothers and their bikes in awe. That was because it was Friday of course and the scores of teens were now either heading out to the movies or the mall. The lack of attention was slighty surprising but Van didn't mind, not much.
Hitomi quickly ran away from the Escaflowne motorcycle lest anyone notice there gaping at the sheer brilliance of the bike. She had already spotted Van Fanel watching her and as she had no idea what he thought of her especially from the way he had glared at her during lunch, Hitomi decided that her ecstasies would have to be cut short.
It was a shame that such a motorcycle lover as she would be curst with a parent like her mother. Mrs. Kanzaki was biased against the motorcycle from the day Hitomi rode for the first time and had accidentally fallen off the bike. Sure, she had flown completely off the seat and knocked into some random pedestrian and had gotten a few scrapes and bumps. But that random pedestrian had happened to be her uncle, who had caught her easily although that didn't stop them both from stumbling to the ground. But the experience of riding on the bike was pure joy to Hitomi, she had even enjoyed flying off the motorcycle. In fact, her ten-year-old mind had accepted the fall as part of the motorcycle experience and had eagerly hopped right back on. Too bad her mother ordered to get off again. Mrs. Kanzaki from then on refused to by Hitomi her own motorcycle, thus allowing her to beg her aunt for motorcycle rides on the weekend.
In the end, her aunt's job had relocated to a city in a different state, thus taking away the motorcycle and the rides.
Hitomi sighed. She and Yukari were now sitting at a table at the mall, sipping drinks. There were many other high school students here as well and Yukari had spent a precious ten minutes convincing Hitomi to sit out in the open tables. Reluctantly, Hitomi had given in to Yukari but was still uncomfortable and fidgety in the presence of so many people in one place.
"Calm down 'tomi," Yukari said soothingly when Hitomi jumped when someone had accidentally bumped into her chair. "Don't scare the poor guy, he apologized."
"Sorry," Hitomi mumbled, shifting nervously.
Yukari sighed. "Oh what I am going to do with you?" she asked dramatically, flinging a palm across her forehead. "Your shy traits just overwhelm me. How long shall it take me to get you out of your shell? It just takes so much out of me just to make you go to the mall."
Hitomi smiled sarcastically. Yukari liked to complain about Hitomi's shyness but in reality, Hitomi was the one making Yukari get out of her shell. It was Hitomi who spent two hours convincing Yukari not to fake sick to get out of a first date with Amano.
And speaking of Amano…
"Hey, isn't that your hubby over there, Yukari," Hitomi said, pointing behind her friends back.
Yukari spun around and squealed at the sight of Amano. The brunette senior sat at a table across the food court. With him were his twin, Allen and Van Fanel. Hitomi cringed at the sight of Van. She had already had some uncomfortable moments concerning him twice today and she didn't want a third.
"Hitomi come on," Yukari nagged, tugging at her arm. "Let's go surprise Amano!"
"Um…" Hitomi really didn't want Van to see her right now. She shook her head. "You go ahead, Yukari, I'll just go home."
"But how?" Yukari asked, surprised. "We took my car here. You're not going to walk are you? Your house is miles away!"
"I'll just take the bus. Don't worry about me, go ahead," Hitomi insisted.
"Are you sure?" Yukari asked, worried.
"Yes! Go! Your hubby's waiting!" Hitomi pushed her friend gently, making shooing motions. Waving goodbye, Hitomi slid off her chair and wound her way to the bus stop.
On the way, something red distracted her. Hitomi stopped dead in her tracks. There before her was a red EscaXX. To her surprise, this bike just happened to be the same one that Dilandau had proudly showed off that noon.
Hitomi frantically glanced around. Seeing that Dilandau was no where to be seen, Hitomi took the rare oppurtunity to stare at the EscaXX unnoticed, admiring every inch and angle of this beautiful thing.
Her hand had already reached out before she processed the action. Hitomi hesitated when her hand was just an inch away from the motorcycle seat. Then she scolded herself, Dilandau wasn't there and it wasn't as though she was defiling the bike, she just wanted to touch it. She felt the leather seat cautiously and then, with new courage, placed her whole hand on the seat. Closing her eyes, she imagined riding on this beauty, feeling the wind toss her hair and the exhileration. She ran her hand across the seat, longingly. Sighing, she recalled that she hadn't rode a motorcycle since her fourteenth birthday, about a year ago. She missed it so much, just touching a motorcycle eased her pain for now.
"Feeling up my bike or something?" an oily voice said, interrupting her thoughts.
Hitomi stiffened and quickly took her hand away. Turning around, she prepared herself for the worst.
Dilandau eyed her. Around him were some friends of his. Hitomi began to tremble now. These guys were part of the group who spent recesses behind the school smoking. She knew that Dilandau sometimes hung out with them. She could tell that they had been drinking recently, she could smell it in their breath.
Dilandau smirked at her widened eyes. "Ah, it's little Hitomi Kanzaki, the mouse." He and his minions guffawed loudly.
Hitomi flicked her eye around. There was no hope of slipping away, they had surrounded her on all sides. She would have to shove her way out.
"I'm sorry," she stuttered nervously. "I, I just wanted to lo- look at your-"
"You were fucking feeling up my bike, that's what you were doing," Dilandau cut in. His quirky smirk deepened. "I never thought a chick like you would be interested in motorcycles. And this baby is one sweet motor," he said, fondly patting the EscaXX. He swiveled his eyes toward the quivering Hitomi, an idea forming in his head.
Hitomi gasped as Dilandau suddenly grabbed her hand. "If you like the EscaXX so much that you'd feel it up-"
"I wasn't feeling it up" Hitomi interrupted, surprising herself. She began to think frantically. Why was he holding her hand? She wanted to run away desperately and escape these guys and their leering smirks.
Dilandau snorted. "Wouldn't you like to feel up something… hotter instead?" He jerked her closer and suddenly placed her hand on his butt.
Hitomi snatched her hand back frantically and moved back. "Stop it!" she yelled at him. Dilandau's face darkened. Hitomi nervously glanced around at his companions, who had suddenly grown silent. She ducked her head down, allowing her tendrils of hair to fall to her face.
Dilandau's face expression suddenly grew crazed. "That damn hair," he muttered. He took a step forward so that he stood right in front of Hitomi.
"You think hiding behind that hair makes you invisible?" he asked, lifting a snarl of hair away from her face. He frowned when Hitomi jerked away at his touch. His expression grew dark again. "You know something, Kanzaki? Everyone knows that you hide behind all that hair just to be unnoticed. But you know what? That hair just makes you even more noticeable then ever! It makes people stare at you more than ever and. It makes them wonder what your face looks like underneath it all. It's one of the legendary mysteries of school." He slipped his fingers through her hair again.
Hitomi jerked away again and backed up, only to bump into one of Dilandau's cronies, who jeered at her and pushed her back. She clenched her shaking hands into fists.
"Stop it," she said again, voice now gone dead with fury. "You're all drunk. I barely even know you and-"
"You don't know us, but we know you very well," Dilandau drawled. He laughed at Hitomi's perplexed look. "Like I said, people notice at you a lot more than you think. The shy Hitomi Kanzaki, always hiding, always stuttering, never looking people in the eyes." He smirked again. "It's too bad really, it should be a sin to hide such a pretty face," he said, slipping a finger under her chin and moving her face up.
Hitomi felt a surge of deep anger rooted from confusion. She was doubtful of Dilandau due to his drunkenness but it seemed that he was telling the truth. Lately, she had caught several people staring at her and they had continued to stare even after she disappeared behind her hair. Her hair was her defense, the barrier that protected her from the world and prevented herself from being overwhelmed with shyness. And now Dilandau was saying that it was doing the exact opposite. If so, than Hitomi had been deceived for years and years.
The anger was giving Hitomi a new strength. She reached up to Dilandau's finger on her chin. She yanked it off her face and slapped Dilandau sharply.
Dilanadau's face turned to the side from the slap's impact. There was a shocked look at on his face that quickly transferred to fury. He slowly turned his face back to Hitomi and growled dangerously. He must have been even drunker than Hitomi thought as a crazed smile leaped upon his face again.
"Bitch," he spat at her, smile still intact. "That slap hurt like hell." His cronies seemed unsure of what to do at the moment but calmed when Dilandau signaled to them to stay where they were. "But don't worry," he reassured her spitefully. "I'll forgive you in exchange for one little thing."
Hitomi watched fearfully as Dilandau reached into his pocket and flicked out a switchblade.
Dilanadau spun the blade around at his fingertips, smirking. "Just let me have a lock of that beautiful hair of yours." Suddenly, he grabbed at her and pulled her close, grunting as Hitomi struggled. "Wassa matter?" he asked. "You've got plenty of hair and I only want one lock."
"Let me go," Hitomi protested. She broke free of him but only stumbled into another oaf, who jeered and jostled her back to Dilandau.
Dilandau grinned toothily and flicked the blade mockingly at her face.
Throughout the whole affair, something inside Hitomi stretched, as tense as a rubber band. At the moment when the blade passed at the closet point possible to her face, that something in Hitomi snapped.
Her hand whipped out of nowhere. Dilandau was too shocked at seeing her hand and his grip on the blade loosened just slightly. Suddenly, her smooth, cool fingers slipped onto blade, shoving Dilandau's fingers off it.
They all sucked in their breath when Hitomi held the switchblade up to Dilandau's nose, hovering at a dangerous proximity. Hitomi was breathing slowly, as if trying not to lash out rashly. The blade was shaking in her hand. When they saw that thunderous, enraged expression on her face, Dilandau's cronies moved to escape.
"Stay where you are," Hitomi's cold, monotone voice lashed out at them. They froze.
Hitomi was now shaking in fury. "You think my hair's so beautiful?" she asked. Part of her was wondering what the hell she was doing. She had no idea what she had gotten herself into and she should back out as soon as possible. The part of her that was controlling her now calmly told that annoying part to shut up.
"You must think yourself lucky," Hitomi said icily to Dilandau. "This is the most I've spoken to a stranger for months. Yes, I consider you all strangers to me." Hitomi's lip began to tremble. To her shame, a tear began to slip from her eyes but she wiped it away. The blade, shaking but steady, inched closer. "Do you know why I hide? It's because I don't like it when people pay too much attention to me. But you don't care of course. Is it true?" she asked. "Does my hair really attract more attention?"
It took a moment for Dilandau to realize she wanted an answer. "Yes," he said cautiously.
Hitomi stared at him for a moment. The blade moved away.
"What are you doing?" Dilandau shouted as Hitomi moved the blade near to her throat.
Van sighed in relief. Yukari and Amano had just left, going to a movie. It was good thing Amano could take a hint or Van would have killed Yukari for sure. God that girl was annoying as hell. He couldn't figure out what Amano saw in her at all.
"Hey, isn't that Dilandau?" Allen asked, pointing ahead.
Van looked up. They were about fifty yards away from the parking lot.
"Why does he have knife in his hand?" he murmured. Then he noticed a mane of hair.
"My god, is that Hitomi?" Allen asked, noticing the hair as well. "What's she doing with Dilandau? I thought she didn't talk to-" Dilandau was suddenly pointing the knife at Hitomi.
"What the hell is he doing?" Van exclaimed. He strode forward, somebody had to control Dilandau and those guys over there were just standing around, but Allen suddenly cut off his path.
"Wait," Allen said nodding toward the group. Hitomi had suddenly grabbed the knife straight out of Dilandau's hand and was now holding it at his face.
The two stopped in their tracks in shock.
"That's Hitomi Kanzaki," Allen breathed.
"Holding a knife," Van gaped.
"At Dilandau," Allen said.
They both went off at a quickened pace. As they neared, they began to pick up some of the conversation.
"-really attract more attention?" Hitomi was asking.
"Yes," Dilandau answered.
And then suddenly the knife was no longer at Dilandau. It was at Hitomi's neck.
Allen stopped Van again.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Van growled. "We have to stop her!"
"Hitomi isn't suicidal," Allen said smoothly. "Besides, this looks interesting, I want to see how it plays.
Allen's grip on Van's arm was strong so Van reluctantly stayed put. They were standing six yards away from them, unnoticed.
Hitomi seemed to look vaguely amused as Dilandau cried, "What are you doing?"
She smirked a very uncharacteristic grin. "I just want to be left alone," she said in a light tone. "It seems that my long hair prevents me having that. If so, then it's just useless."
Hitomi turned her head to the side and looked up at the darkening sky. Holding the blade in one hand, she gathered her tresses of hair in the other. She brought the knife up and with a violent thrust, Hitomi began to slice through her hair. With a grim expression, she cut off the tendrils of hair that normally covered her face, she sawed through the hair that covered her back, they all sliced clean off like butter. On the inside, the old Hitomi screamed at what she was doing, yelling that she'd regret later on. But that Hitomi was unimportant, the new Hitomi wondered why she had ever listened to that old Hitomi. After all, she had never gotten anything good out of hiding behind her hair. She had changed in that short time, a change was necessary for her hair as well.
Everyone watched in shock as the strands of hair fell away. This was an extremely rash action for someone to do. For Hitomi, it was as if there was another girl standing in her place. This was not the shy Hitomi everyone wondered about. This was a Hitomi to respect.
Hitomi held the cut off hair, staring silently at it. Then she tossed it over Dilandau's head, where landed a few yards away. She glared at Dilandau and his cronies, a sullen look on her face. They could only stare helplessly back.
Allen had let Van go. Van had moved forward while Hitomi sliced off her hair. Now he moved toward the pile of hair. Unconsciously, he bent down and picked up a lock of hair, just touching it for a moment. Without thinking, he carefully coiled up the hair and placed it in his pocket. Van looked up Hitomi again.
Hitomi raised her chin up, looking down her nose at Dilandau. Van was struck by her appearance then: Hair cut at jagged lengths around her shoulders, eyes burning, glowing tears that streamed silently down her cheeks. She looked amazing right there, almost beautiful.
Hitomi looked at blade, still clenched in her fist. The guys around her flinched and scooted back when she threw it too the ground. She glowered at them and directed her gaze to Dilandau, who had a shocked look on his face.
She nodded toward the pile of hair by Van's feet. "There, take a lock of hair. There's plenty of it," she snapped. When Dilandau only stared at her more, her eyebrows pinched together. "You don't want it? Fine. Then get out here!" she spat.
Dilandau looked uncomfortable. "Um…" he mumbled.
"What?" Hitomi whipped at him.
"My…bike…"
Hitomi looked down and saw that she was leaning on the EscaXX. She demurely stood up and walked away from the motorcycle. When they were still standing still she growled at them. They left quickly after that.
It was then that Hitomi registered Van and Allen. She began to blush, looking more like the former Hitomi. But that was all she did. She didn't look down or run away.
"Did you see all that?" she asked wearily.
They nodded slowly, not knowing how to react to such a different person.
"Are you alright?" Van asked. After seeing the EscaXX he correctly guessed that it had something to do with it and began to feel partly responsible for no reason.
Hitomi looked at him. Van tried not to flinch as she gazed straight into his eyes.
"Why wouldn't I be alright?" Hitomi replied. It was hard to tell if she was being sarcastic or not.
Hitomi looked at Allen, wondering if he was going to say anything. He just stood there, staring at her. She sighed.
"Um… well I'm going home then," she said.
"Wait," Van said. He was certain that he EscaXX had something to do with the incident. Guilt began to settle in. "How are you going to get home? Do you need a ride?" he asked.
"I'll take the bus but thanks for offering." Hitomi said demurely, hiding her surprise.
"No, I insist. I'll take you home on my motorcycle," Vash offered again, not taking a no for an answer.
It wasn't as if Hitomi could say no. The chance of riding a motorcycle brought a spark to her eyes. "Thanks," she said.
Their motorcycles were parked nearby. Van handed Hitomi an extra helmet and secured his on.
"Don't forget to return that bike, Allen," he reminded his friend.
"Oh I won't," Allen said distantly, still staring at Hitomi.
Hitomi ignored the stare. She climbed on the back seat of Van's Dragon, sliding her arms around Van's waist.
Van tended to judge girls by the way they reacted on a motorcycle. There were the girls who jumped, startled and tightened their hold around his waist. There were also those who squealed in fear and quivered for the whole ride. Hitomi was her own individual set of a girl. As Van turned on the engine, he could feel Hitomi's tense body relax, her arms around his waist loosening. He even heard Hitomi sigh in contentment. It was as if Hitomi had settled somewhere where she belonged. Having this kind of girl at his back on a motorcycle was oddly comforting. This factor made it a smooth ride.
Van got to Hitomi's house in no time flat. Hitomi gave him the helmet.
"Thanks for the ride," she said.
"No problem. Sorry if it was a little bumpy," Vash said.
"Not at all," Hitomi denied. "That's a really nice bike by the way."
"Thanks." Van fell silent for a while. Hitomi assumed that he had nothing left to say and turned around to leave but Van stopped her.
"Aren't your parents going to wonder about…you know-" Van indicated her new haircut.
Hitomi's eyes flickered to the side. "I'll think of an excuse."
"Good luck." Van hesitated before asking one last question. "Hitomi, why'd you do it?" he asked quietly.
Hitomi looked at him and then looked away. "It's hard to explain. I guess I just felt that it's no use hiding behind my hair anymore. You know, I grew it long so that people wouldn't notice me, but according to Dilandau, people stare at me all the time." She looked him straight in the eye again. "Is that true?"
Van carefully picked his answer. "People just can't help notice you behind your hair, and they wonder what you have to hide." Actually, people just wanted to look at her because she was considered a hottie. Looking at her now, Van could agree that Hitomi was very pretty indeed.
Hitomi shrugged. "Well, bye then." She turned around and walked back into the house.
On Monday, the students of Gaea High received a huge shock.
Hitomi smiled amusedly to herself. She couldn't blame them for being surprised. Her mother had been shocked for sure to see her fabulous haircut. Hitomi had just shrugged and remarked that she wanted a change. Mrs. Kanzaki had taken her to the beauty salon during the weekend to straighten her hair out.
Even Yukari was mortally shocked. "Hitomi!" she gasped. "Your…your…your…
Hitomi grinned widely. "Like my new hair cut?" she asked, running a hand through her hair.
Yukari could only mouth wordlessly to herself.
Hitomi's hair had been clipped in a classic but stylish tomboy style. It was feathery and light. Hitomi loved it. She now felt light-headed without the former weight of long hair. With some regret, she had to remind herself that she could no longer disappear behind her hair. But then again, the disappearing thing was just a lie anyway.
It was almost funny to see people's reactions. She was aware that people would stare at her more than ever now but that couldn't be helped. Guys now more frequently stared at her figure and girls narrowed their eyes jealously at her. Some people even looked at her with their mouths hanging open.
They whispered literally behind her back. Wow, that's Hitomi? My god she's so pretty? Who knew she would look like this underneath at hair? They looked at her and saw a newly born beauty. They took in her strange new calmness and her passionate eyes. What had happened to her that would evoke such a transformation?
Hitomi looked up at a group of senior guys watching her, who looked away quickly. She sighed. The reasons why she had cut her hair ran deeper then the reason she had given Van. She remembered when she was a small girl and had this exact tomboy hair cut. Her classmates had jeered at her, calling her boy and asking if she was really a girl. In the end, Hitomi had gotten fed up with all the attention. She thought that since people teased her all the time in her short hair, maybe longer hair would make them go away.
But that had certainly backfired.
So now Hitomi was trying the reverse method, only with a twist. Hitomi was no longer going to be shy anymore.
Van was not quite as shocked about Hitomi's transformation as everyone else. In fact, Van would have been disappointed if Hitomi didn't shock the whole school in some way. He walked up to her in the hallway, ignoring the surprised looks on the surrounding faces when he spoke to her.
"How did you parents react?" he asked casually.
Hitomi looked up in surprise at him. A guy so popular as he would talk to her at the mall but at school? She shrugged.
"I just told her I needed a change and it didn't turn out the way I wanted," she replied.
"Cool," he said. Van was about to walk away but Hitomi said something first.
"About last night?" Hitomi remarked.
"Yeah?" Van asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hitomi's eyes flickered down a little before courageously looking up at him again. "Thanks for being so kind to me."
Van's expression softened. "What's to thank me for? I just gave you a ride home," he commented, a corner of his mouth tugging upward.
Hitomi smiled. Just then the bell rang and they scrambled off to their classes.
A/N wow this chapter was more than twice as long as the previous one. It's actually almost three times as long. Well, this is the dramatic chapter, the ones that give the character development a push forward. Right now, I'm going to apologize to the people who are probably pissed at me. First, the Dilandau fans for making Dilandau the bad guy here. I'm sorry if he is kinda cool but for this fic he's not the good guy. And second, to Lady Luna for cutting Hitomi's hair. I couldn't help it and I had originally planned it anyway. Gomen o sai!
Reviews?