Yes, an update. AMAZING ISN'T IT? Lol, anyways I did this in 2 days, so if it's not that good… don't blame me. Oh and please, please read and review!
Thank You's
Thank you to all my reviewers:
Kya77
MysticalDreamer32
Blue Demon
blonde-hitomi
SabineballZ
Inverse-chan
Ferai
Whimsical lady
epiphanystars
starchild247
Arishia
sora
dreamingofflyingaway
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of the character from Escaflowne. They are the respected property of Bandai. However, the plot belongs to me and so does the content of this fan fiction.
"Miss, I think you should come with us. We're going to have to ask you some questions." The paramedic's gentle voice interrupted her thoughts and brought her out from her trance like state.
"Yeah, sure…"
Downtown"Where did you find him?" asked the obviously overworked detective. He and a young girl, around 20 years old, were sitting together in a small, dimly lit room. It was sparsely furnished, with only a square table and a few wooden chairs. There were no windows to the outside, only one large mirror that covered almost the whole west wall. The detective grabbed his coffee from the table and took a sip, eyes always focused on the girl, Hitomi.
"I found him in the fourth floor hallway, in my apartment complex," replied Hitomi. Her eyes gazed back at the detective, not the least bit fazed by his stare. Yukari had told her that some detectives at the station did this as an intimidation technique. The detective took a yellow file folder from the table and flipped through it quickly, stopping on a particular page.
"Your apartment complex, the Asturian Rose?"
"Yeah, hey look when can I get out of here?" Impatience flickered in her eyes. She had been in the same room for almost 30 minutes and that wasn't including the time she had to wait for the detective to come and see her. Besides, she wanted to see him, the man in her hallway. He wasn't breathing, but he'll be okay. The doctors will help him.
"You in a rush?" Curiosity and suspicion danced in the detective's eyes, like he just found a big clue.
"Yeah, I want to phone my friend Yukari-"
"Yukari Uchida? She's working on the downtown murder case, isn't she?"
"Yes."
"Pretty big-time detective then huh? She has a lot of influence here, she probably could get you out of here easily."
"So?"
A smug smile started to form on his face. Hitomi could feel goose bumps form on her arms and for once her eyes looked away from his. Why is he looking at me that way? Chewing on her lower lip, she looked up at him again, uneasiness all over her face. One single thought bounced back and forth in her mind: Why is he looking at me that way?
"So, you think if you just make a little phone call to Miss Uchida, you can just slip out of here a free woman huh? No charges or anything."
"What are you saying?" Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit her. Jesus Christ, he thinks I did it. He thinks that I killed that man. That's why they've brought me here, to be questioned. Sweat was starting to form on the palms of her hands, and everything became a messy blur. Hitomi felt as if the room was closing in on her, and refusing to let her out. I need to get out of here, out of this room, this building, just out. Trying to calm herself, she took deep, shaky breaths and tried to listen as the detective continued.
"I'm saying that you want to use her so that you can get out of here. Be free and never get charged for that guy's murder. Hey, maybe you're the downtown murderer," laughed the detective bitterly. "No wonder you haven't been caught yet, being the Head Detective's best friend, who would accuse you?" he paused again to stare at her. "Did you enjoy getting away with—"
"Stop it." Deep breaths could not calm her now, she was hyperventilating and her clammy hands gripped tightly at the table.
"Away with it? With murder?"
As soon as the word murder left his lips, Hitomi lost it. Her green eyes blazed with immeasurable fury that even the detective found them threatening. Red splotches stained her cheeks and as she spoke, her voice trembled slightly.
"I DID NOT MURDER ANYONE AND HOW DARE YOU THINK THAT!"
"Hitomi!" A tall, slim red headed figure came sprinting across the hall and into the small room. The red head's eyes shone with worry, but when they came across the detective, hardened immediately. Who else could it be but Yukari Uchida?
With narrowed eyes, she glared at the detective. "Why has Hitomi Kanzaki been here for so long? Reception outside said you've been in here with her for nearly 30 minutes!" The male detective blinked at her. He had been so vocal back then, but once brought into Miss Uchida's attention she had rendered him speechless. It was no surprise though, the red head had that effect on most people.
"I-I-I-"
"You what?! Speak up!"
"I-I have reason to believe that she killed the man we found."
Yukari's slim eyebrow arched up. "And what reason is that? I just read the report, she was the one who FOUND him, not KILLED him." With that statement, she had destroyed the accusation the detective had made against Hitomi. He now was looking down in shame because he knew that he had no proof.
"Amateur, get out and learn some shit before making accusations."
"Yes Detective Uchida." With his eyes still looking at the blue linoleum floor he shuffled out. Once out, both Yukari and Hitomi let out a sigh of relief. Their eyes met and a smile took shape on both their lips, then a small laugh.
"Thanks 'Kari."
"No problem. Sorry 'bout him, new guy you know. Wants to prove something… Don't know what though…"
"It's alright," replied Hitomi, smile still shining on her face. Thank God for Yukari, she was always there for her. Actually, she had been there for her all of her life, from kindergarten through high school and even after college. Yukari was definitely the more down-to-earth and strong one in their friendship. If Hitomi were a boat, Yukari would be her anchor keeping her from being swept away into the sea and lost forever.
Now, however, both their smiles were slowly fading and the same thought crossed their minds: Now what are we going to do?
"Hey 'Kari?"
"Yeah?"
"Do they really think I did it? That I killed him?" a pair worry-stricken eyes stared into Yukari's. When no answer came, Hitomi continued, panic and nervousness obviously becoming increasingly noticeable in her voice. "I mean, I was the one who found him, and the only at the scene of the crime and- God do they really think I did it?"
"No, not for now at least…" Yukari's face remained calm and her voice was soothing, but her eyes reflected one emotion, doubt.
"Is he alright?"
Now, Yukari's ever-calm face betrayed her. Her mouth parted slightly to take a sharp breath and her eyes shifted to the floor. She seemed to be trying to say something, but not a sound ever left her lips. Silence echoed in to room, and now the answer to Hitomi's question was obvious.
"I'm sorry Hitomi, the doctors did all they could, they really tried."
"I understand, I do," mumbled Hitomi. It's all my fault. If I hadn't been such a coward and panicked I might have saved his life. God, I'm useless. Tears formed and burned Hitomi's eyes, and one by one, they fell onto the floor. It was so hushed in the room that both people could hear the sound of the tears contacting the floor. Yukari looked nervously at her for a while, waiting for some more dialogue, but none came.
"It's not your fault you know—"
"Yes it is! I was so scared and I panicked and Christ—I could have saved him Yukari!"
"No you couldn't, the doctors, they said he was already dead before you even found him."
A chill ran down Hitomi's spine moments after Yukari said that. He was dead before you even found him. That meant it wasn't her fault, she wasn't to blame. But that didn't make sense, it couldn't make sense! She heard the groans coming from the hall and the sound of the body thump onto the carpeted floor. If he wasn't the one who made those sounds, then who did?
"Look Hitomi, I know you've been through a lot tonight. Hell, you've been through what others will never have to go through. But, I need you do something for me."
"What?"
"I need you to come to the hospital with me," there was a hesitant pause before she continued, "Because I need you to identify the body."
Hitomi's shocked expression was mixed with dread and fear. "'Kari I don't think I could do that." She brought her hands to cover her face and then rubbed her eyes. "In fact, I can't do it at all."
"I'm sorry Hitomi, but it's procedure. The police couldn't find any I.D. on him or any other information for that matter. You were the one who found him and you have to identify him. I'm sorry, but that's the way it goes."
Whimpers could be heard from Hitomi, and Yukari's tone softened. "Don't worry, I will be right there beside you."
"Alright…"
Asturian General Hospital
The drive there had been silent. Yukari drove her beat up old Volkswagen while Hitomi sat in the back seat gazing out the window. It was late, even the clubs were beginning to close and the party girls and drunks were hailing for cabs. A slow drizzle was beginning to fall and Hitomi could hear it against the cold window. Tap, tap, tap. Looking out again, she noticed that now the skimpily dressed party girls were shrieking and seeking shelter while the drunks opened their mouth thinking the water was some alcoholic drink.
Hitomi turned away from the scene and closed her eyes dreading what lay ahead.
Moments later, they arrived at the hospital. The second Hitomi entered the building and saw the police, her stomach lurched. She walked by the waiting area, where worried families huddled together to pray. Others there were crying, probably because they had just lost someone close to them. Oh God. What if they finally find his family? Will they cry and mourn? Will the blame the killer? Or will they blame me?
As they got into the elevator, Yukari looked at her best friend. She was a wreck. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, and she was biting her lip so much that Yukari was beginning to think that she would bleed in the next second or two. Hitomi was wringing her hands non-stop, another nervous habit of hers.
As they finally arrived to the long awaited floor, they stepped out of the elevator. Leaning in, Yukari whispered to Hitomi, "Breathe and calm down, it'll be ok."
Hitomi forced herself to take deep, slow breaths, inhale 1, 2, 3, exhale 1, 2, 3. They walked down the bare corridors, shoes clicking against the shiny, white floor. Yukari could swear she could see her reflection perfectly in them. At the end of the corridor, a group of police officers along with a few doctors waited for them.
"Hello, gentlemen," greeted Yukari in her usual professional tone. "This is Miss Hitomi Kanzaki, the woman who found the deceased." She gestured towards Hitomi, and Hitomi managed to raise her head and force a weak smile onto her face.
"Hello."
"Hello Miss, uh, Kanzaki was it?" started one of the doctors. He was the shortest one there with spectacles that seemed to be on the brink of falling off. His had tuffs of thick, dark hair along the sides of his head, but none on the top. As Hitomi looked down on him, she couldn't help but think his head reminded her of a turtle's shell.
"Yes, it's Kanzaki."
"Well, if you will come with me and identify the deceased." He motioned to the door right next to them and waited for her answer.
With a shaky breath Hitomi replied with, "Sure."
Together, he and Hitomi, along with some policemen (and woman including Yukari) entered the room. Once they went in, Hitomi couldn't help but notice the acidic smell of chemicals used to cover up the scent of blood. It sent chills up her spine and burns her nose. The room was rather big, with your basic medical supplies. It had a few signature furniture pieces such as the oak table and matching chairs. But what caught Hitomi's attention was the stretcher pushed to the side of the room. There was a human shape under it.
"Miss Kanzaki, if you please," said the doctor as he removed the sheet that had been covering the body. It was him, the same man from the hallway.
"Yes, that's him."
"Alright, I'll go copy that down," said Yukari. "Boys," she barked at the policemen, "come along now." Now, everyone was at the other end of the room, far from the lifeless body, all except for Hitomi. She was standing right next to him, an unidentifiable emotion on her face.
The sheet had been pulled down to the middle of his chest, revealing broad shoulders and a muscular chest. He skin was unbelievably pale, the reason why, she didn't know. She looked at the familiar face, from his high cheekbones to the strong jaw, the pale, almost white hair. It's him. I can't believe he's dead. Bending over slightly till there was only a foot between their faces she said, "I'm sorry, I really tried to save you, forgive me please." Her voice was cracked, but filled with emotion. Against her will, a tear fell from her eye to his cheek.
Sniffling, she reached out to brush it away. Stop crying Hitomi!
The instant her hand contacted his pale skin, another hand shot up and grabbed her. A loud gasp escaped Hitomi's lips and her eyes were filled with confusion and shock. She tried to take a step back, but the other hand help firmly onto hers, denying her the escape her yearned for. Hitomi's eyes scanned the hand that had grabbed her and the body it came from. It was the dead man's. Shallow, shaking breaths were emitted from Hitomi, and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears, pounding so fast like a drummer would do on drums.
A moan escaped from the man, who was supposedly dead and his eyes moved under his eyelids. Then, they flickered open. Blood red orbs started into her green ones. His red eyes, looked her up and down before glancing at his surroundings. Slowly, a smirk formed on the delicate features and he released her hand.
Still in shock, Hitomi stumbled back into a cabinet causing bottles and medical utensils to clatter onto the floor. The man now sat up and was stretching.
"Hitomi what the are you doing?" yelled an surprised Yukari, "you could try to do a bit more—Oh my God…" Her sentence was left unfinished as she stared a man of the stretcher. One thing looked wrong with the picture, he was alive. "What the hell?!"
Now everyone was in shock, just staring at a man who was supposed to be dead. But who had ever seen the dead SITTING UP?
The man now got of the stretcher and noticed he was naked. A frown appeared on his face and he grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around his waist. He looked up to see a gaping Hitomi, "Like what you see Miss?" No response. "Guess not."
Yukari had been the first to react, "Hey, stop right there!" The bold order snapped everyone out of their state of shock and caused the man to turn away from Hitomi to face them. Looking at the body, the moving body, everyone had the same thought crossing their minds, ISN'T HE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD?
The pale man now raised a slim eyebrow as if to laugh at their so-called authority. Scanning the room again, his eyes found a window right next to Hitomi, and grin appeared on his face. In long, confident strides he walk over to it and punched the glass. The sound of shattering glass hitting the floor and footsteps of the others coming near her swirled in Hitomi's mind.
Hitomi turned her head to look at the man who was halfway through the window and onto the quiet street. He stared right back and did something rather unexpected- he gave her a wink. Then, he ran off into the night. By, the time Yukari and the others had arrived, he had already disappeared into the shadows.
"Hey 'Kari? I thought you said he was dead."
For some strange reason, I think I made Hitomi claustrophobic by accident… o.O;; Anyways, read and review PLEASE! I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!! ^^
'Dana