Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't written in a while. Things have just been really crazy. Hopefully I will get another chapter up by next week. Enjoy and don't forget to review. Thanx

Disclaimer: N, I don't own any part of Escaflowne. (tear)

Two as One
By. Lady Emerald
Chapter 13 Introductions and Silence

Hitomi knew that the guys weren't telling her something, but she would believe them, for now. Then she saw Rigilo in a corner and decided that since they wouldn't tell her what they were talking about, she was going to flirt. At that thought she giggled to herself.
"Hitomi? What are you smiling about?" Merle asked her.
Van and Allen looked at her and waited for her answer.
"Oh, nothing. Hey I'll see you guys at dinner. I am going to go talk to… um."
"Who are going to talk to, Hitomi? Does this person's name begin with a R and ends with a O and may just happen to be from Lustin?" Merle asked sweetly, knowing that it would tick Van and Allen off.
"Maybe." Hitomi said with a smile.
"How about not. I think that Merle should show you to your room and you can get ready for dinner." Allen said like a protective older brother.
"Oh yes, dear brother. What ever you say." Hitomi said sarcastically.
"Ha, ha. Now get going."
"Fine. I'm going, I'm going. Geez."
Van watched Hitomi and Merle walk off giggling.
"Um, Allen…"
"Van, I know what you are going to say and I did it for her own protection."
"Actually, I was going say go thing you did it and not me." Van said patting his friend on the shoulder and walking inside.

From a dark corner, Rigilo saw the whole thing and smirked.
"So, they have caught on. Mmm. Well, that just won't do. I'll have to get Hitomi all by herself tomorrow."

THE NEXT MORNING

"Oh, what the…" Van yelled at the advisers in the main hall.

"Sorry, Lord Van, but we had to get Hitomi a new dress and wardrobe." Merle whined.

"But you spent how much?!"

"Only a little."

"That little would be?" He said his temper getting the best of him.

"Van, we can try to return the stuff." Hitomi said meekly.

Van turned towards her and his eyes softened and he sighed.

"No, I guess it is alright."

"Oh, thank you, Lord Van! You are going to love the way Hitomi looks tonight." Merle squealed as she hugged Van.

Hitomi just stood there and smiled.

"I need some fresh air." She thought.

As she was walking looking at all the unusual flowers and plants, she heard some footsteps behind her. She turned around and ran into something large and solid.

"Oh, Sorry. Oh its you, Rigilo. I am so sorry."

"It's ok. I don't mind a pretty girl running into me." He said with a smile.

Hitomi blushed. "So what are you doing here?"

" Just looking at the flowers and looking for some company. I found this really pretty spot in the forest and wanted to show it to some one."

"Really! Oh I would love to, but Merle said that I have to start getting ready at lunch and it seems like I just left."

"Yah, time flies when you are having fun. Maybe I can show it to you later?"

"That would be great."

"Then why don't walk you back to the castle." He said offering his arm.

"Thanks you."

As they entered the main hall, there were only a few people in there, but they were the right people in Rigilo's opinion. There stood Van, Allen, Celeana, Merle, Dryden, and Melerna, who all stopped talking when the "couple" walked in. Hitomi tried not the giggle at the looks on Van and Allen's face, the "get -the -hell -away -from –her" look, and Rigilo just smiled.

"Hitomi! Where have you been?! We have to get you ready! Lets go!" Merle yelled as she drug Hitomi up to her room.

"Bye." Hitomi yelled, half way down the hall.

Van and Allen just stood there glaring at Rigilo.

"Well, umm… I best be getting ready myself." Rigilo said as he also walked off.

"Well, you two really seem to like him." Melerna stated.

"Ya, I bet they are best friends from the way they were ready to kill each other." laughed Celeana.

"Ah, cut it you two. It's so obvious." Dyrden said with one of his smirks.

"What is?" Celeana asked.

"That all three of them like Hitomi. So they are all trying to be nice and impress her," he laughed

Van and Allen just stood there embarrassed as Melerna and Celeana burst into a fit of giggles.

THAT NIGHT

"Merle, I am so nervous. What if everyone just stares and laughs at me or something?" Hitomi panicked in her room.

Her and Merle were dressed and ready to go, but Merle was trying to get Hitomi to calm down.

"Hitomi, settle down. None of that will happen! Now just breathe. Man if you do this over a little ball, what are you going to do when you get married?" Merle said.

"That isn't funny."

"Yes, it is." Merle laughed.

"Ok, lets go."

"Introducing Lady Hitomi and Lady Merle!" The announcer yelled over the crowd.

Everyone was silent as they watched this woman of elegant beauty; gently walk down the flight of stairs leading to the dance floor. They parted as Van came forward to take Hitomi's hand and lead her to the front table.

"You look beautiful." Van whispered.

Hitomi blushed as he pulled out her chair, on his right, and then pushed it in once she was seated. Then he stood and told everyone, "Let the festivities begin!"

Everyone started talking all at once. Hitomi looked around and saw Allen seated by Dryden, Melerna, and his sister off to the left. To the right she saw Rigilo seated and staring at her. When he met her eyes he smiled and she smiled back to be polite.

"Something about his smile is so… cold," she thought to herself, but she shook it off and decided to forget about it and have a good time.

END OF CHAPTER

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