----------------------------

long lost words whisper slowly to me
still can't find what keeps me here
when all this time i've been so hollow inside
i know you're still there

watching me wanting me
i can feel you pull me down
fearing you loving you
i won't let you pull me down

hunting you i can smell you - alive
your heart pounding in my head

watching me wanting me
i can feel you pull me down
saving me raping me
watching me

Haunted by Evanescence
----------------------------

Chapter 13: Haunted

Hitomi had spent the night at Yoko's with Yukari. They, of course, didn't get to bed until the wee hours of the morning. When Hitomi finally woke up it was actually earlier than she was expecting. She rose from the sofa and walked towards the door out of Yoko's room.

Lipstick and eyeliner were smudged across her face. God I look like shit. Hitomi thought as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She turned on the tap slowly and filled her hands with warm water then slashed it onto her face. She repeated to splash her face a few more times before turning the water off. She grabbed the nearest towel and dried her face.

She shut her eyes and thought back to the dance. Goose bumps began to cover her skin at the very thought of the mystery phantom. Who was he? She never found out which bugged her most. Now she would have to go on for who knows how long pining over this mystery man that gave her the best night of her life.

Deep inside of her mind and heart she wanted the man to Van but reminded herself that the good for nothing bastard was married and gave away her pendant to the whore. She sighed heavily and went back to Yoko's room to gather her things. I might as well go back now. Who knows how messed the house is by now.

----------------------------

Hitomi unlocked the front door to her two-story home and was surprised to see a large number of shoes by the door. Looks like Dilandau got bored. She mused and closed the door behind her. As she walked down the hallway she took a look in the greeting room to her right and saw a few teenaged guys fast asleep on the couch.

Hitomi raised an eyebrow wondering what Dilandau could have been doing while she was gone. When she reached the kitchen, she could have fainted at the sight. It looked as though a cyclone had whirled through her kitchen. Open jars were scattered across the counter along with opened bags of chips and beer bottles.

Why am I not surprised? Hitomi wondered sarcastically. I better cheek the damage to my room. Hitomi continued on her way and notice another guy passed out on the kitchen floor. She looked at him carefully and wondered where she had seen him before. She knew for certain he didn't go to her school but she remembered seeing him once before. But where…? She wondered.

Then it hit her. He was one of Dilandau's Dragonslayers. Ignoring the fact of who he was, Hitomi stepped over him carefully and walked up the stairs. More empty bottles of alcohol were left on the steps.

As Hitomi walked down the dark hallway, she took a peek into Dilandau's room. Clothes were strewn everywhere. Dilandau didn't look too good himself either. I guess he had just a little too much last night. Hitomi thought with a grin. Hitomi then continued on her way to her bedroom so she could empty her bag out.

Her door was shut which made her nervous to open it. What if someone was in there? What if they were sleeping in her bed? What if someone had "done" a certain "thing" in her bed? A shiver went up her spine at the thought.

Her hand cautiously grabbed the metal doorknob and slowly she opened the door. A feeling of relief came over her as she noticed nothing was out of place. Everything was as it should have been. Hitomi went in and closed the door behind her. Her room was her one place of sanctuary.

She dropped her bag down by her dresser and laid back on her bed. I'm never going to sleep on Yoko's couch ever again! Hitomi thought to herself as she shut her emerald eyes. She then turned onto her side and saw something she'd never expect to see. There, sitting next to her head was the mask of her phantom.

He was here? Was her first thought. Wait, is he still here I wonder. But who could it have been? A feeling of excitement rose in her and she sat up quickly. She had to find out who he was.

She left the safety of her room and ventured down the hallway. As she passed Dilandau's room she noticed the door was opened a bit more and Dilandau was gone. Oh my god…no…it just can't be…! Her mind screamed as her eyes fell on a black tuxedo that was hanging from the closet door.

She found her masked phantom but wasn't too happy. Why? She wondered. Why him? Of all the people in the world! Why did it have to be him? Emotions stirred in her heart, overwhelming her. She ran back to her room and shut the door behind her.

Did he know? She asked herself. Did he know it was me? Probably not. He hates me. He'd never go out of his way to make me happy…

----------------------------

Yukari awoke with a stiff back after a large pillow was forcefully thrown at her head. "Ow! What the fuck was that for?!" Yukari demanded as she sat up instantly.

"Good morning gorgeous!" Yoko said in a mocking tone.

"Ya, ya, ya…whatever…you don't look good yourself so shut up." Yukari mumbled back. "Hey, where's Tomi-chan?" she asked as she noticed the empty spot on the sofa.

"I dunno but it looks like she left." Yoko pointed out. "Her bag and costume are gone."

"Hey Yoko, you know who the phantom guy was right?" Yukari asked.

"No, do you?" Yoko answered honestly. Yukari nodded and grinned. "Really? Who?"

"Guess." Yoko sat deep in thought but couldn't come to any conclusion. "Here, I'll give you a hint. I've been trying to get Hitomi to go out with since he first came here."

"Makoto?" Yoko asked confused.

"No you idiot! Dilly-chan!" Yukari answered and threw a pillow at Yoko's head.

"Oh my god! Did he know it was Tomi-chan?"

"Of course! I told him what Hitomi would be wearing and I took him out on Thursday to get a costume."

"Oh……so that's why you bailed on me when we were supposed to go to the movies." Yoko replied somewhat upset.

"Ya, and I'm really sorry about that but what's more important? Going to see a movie that we can see any time we want or helping two friends hook up?"

Yoko sighed and clutched the pillow in her hands. "You're right Kari-chan, like usual. The romance of two friends is always more important than seeing a stupid movie we could see any other time." She sighed again and held the pillow tighter.

"See, I knew you'd under-" Yoko flung the pillow back at Yukari hitting her right in the face. She burst out laughing at the face Yukari had made when she saw the pillow coming at her. "Oh you're so gonna get it Yoko!" Yukari shouted sounding both angry and playful. ----------------------------

Dilandau crawled out of his bed for the second time that morning. The first time was when nature made its call. Now, he just couldn't sleep. Something was bothering him but he wasn't sure what. It was a deep feeling that was lingering within his soul.

He looked at the floor of his bedroom and wondered how on earth he had made such a mess. But he just shrugged it off and grabbed a pair of baggy blue denim jeans and slipped them on over his flaming red, silk boxers. His stomach growled, begging for food.

He walked slowly down the stairs; his head was still dizzy from the night before. After the dance he and his Dragonslayers went out clubbing and after being kicked out of five clubs, they went back to the Kanzaki residence and drank up a storm.

As Dilandau set foot in the kitchen, he instantly felt regret for what he did last night. Hitomi's not going to be happy about this, he told himself. He walked over towards the fridge and as he did, he didn't bother to watch where he was going. When he had come across Dallet passed out on the wooden floor, Dilandau didn't bother to walk over or around him. Instead he walked on him.

"Who the fuck-!" Dallet began but stopped promptly. "Oh, it's only you Dilandau-sama." He said while hoping and praying Dilandau wouldn't hit him.

Dilandau just continued on his way to the fridge and opened it. He searched through the fridge for a few minutes and finally pulled out a nice, ripe and juicy apple. He closed the door and leaned against it and took a few bites out of it. The damage that had been done was going to take one hell of a long time to fix.

When Dilandau had finished his apple he went back upstairs to change. When he reached the top of the stairs he heard some muffled noises coming from Hitomi's room. His first thought was that there was an intruder. He knew it couldn't have been one of his slayers in there. He had made it quite clear the night before that no one was to go into Hitomi's room.

As he neared the door, he realized the voice was that of a young woman's; it sounded like crying. Dilandau pressed his ear against the door and recognized the sound of the sobs. Hitomi? He wondered and went to open the door but stopped. Should I really go in and intrude? A voice in his head told him yes but to be all cocky about her pathetic crying. However, another said yes as well but to be there to comfort her.

Dilandau stood outside her door arguing with the voices in his head. His conscience wasn't much help either; it too was indecisive. His hand rested on the metal doorknob, ready to turn but Dilandau was now finding that he was lacking the courage to turn it. He squeezed the doorknob harder and bit his lip as he turned it and slowly opened the door.

----------------------------
A/N: Yep, I'm stopping there. Why? I dunno. I feel like leaving you on a cliffhanger.