A/N: Thank you everyone who reviewed!: Rai Dorian, snowykittenz, Kat-Tastrophe, Blue Demon, anime_luver, Princess Neptune, Snarfburgalar, Niffer, Feye Morgan, jo, Xelena, SHIER, Moon Smurf, and Kazumi! Did I forget anyone? If I did, gomen, I'm still sick so I can't think properly.
Snowykittenz- I know, isn't Dilly just the most adorable bishie out there!? Lol!
Blue Demon- of course you guys love me. How could you hate me? I'm just too cute and sweet to hate *cough*right*cough*
Princess Neptune- don't worry, there's a bit of ass kicking in this chap. Poor Van….
Snarfburgalar-hmmm…..that'd be interesting, Merle pushing Louise off a cliff *grins* but I'm sorry, I can't kill Van, yet. I need him alive. Gomen
Rai Dorian- Yukari/Folken, interesting suggestion. Maybe I might just use that. But You HAVE to continue Take My Hand! If you don't I'll be sooooo angry that'll I'll hunt you down and chain you to your computer and make you finish it! Sorry for the yelling, ^_^
Niffer- I wish I could say I was feeling better but I still feel like shit. At least I don't feel nauseous anymore
Feye Morgan- Do you really think she'd change her mind about that sexy pyro? I know I sure as hell wouldn't!
Xelena- Don't worry, Hitomi will get her pendent back, one way or another *evil grin*
Moon Smurf- Will dilly kick van's ass? I thought it was obvious, lol.
~*~*~*~
First
I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to get along
and so you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you'd be back to bother me
Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
you think I'd crumble
you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
Now I hold my head up high
and you see me
somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person
still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in
and just expect me to be free
now I'm saving all my loving
for someone who's loving me
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
~*~*~*~
Chapter 17: I Will Survive
Hitomi looked in disbelief. There's no way…he can't be here… she told herself as she gazed at the raven-haired boy before her, clad in beige pants and a blue sleeved tunic. "Wh-what are you doing here?" she asked him coldly.
Van looked at her slightly confused. Her cold tone caught him off guard. He could only wonder what was getting under her skin. "I came here to see you." He answered.
Hitomi looked at him both annoyed by his answer and his very presence. "Don't you have duties to attend to?" she adverted her eyes from him and clutched her photo album to her chest.
"Can't a friend visit a friend?" Hitomi laughed bitterly at his response. Van's eyebrows knitted together confused. "Hitomi, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? You really want to know?" Van nodded and Hitomi continued. "When I left Gaea I could think of nothing but you. But I realized that was just wasting my time. I thought you felt the same way towards me since it had been our love that saved Gaea. I guess I was mistaken." Van could see the hurt in her face and couldn't help but feel guilty.
Yukari looked at her watch. "Hitomi's been gone quite a while. It's odd…" Dilandau looked at her with a questioning look. "Hey Dilly-chan why don't you see what's holding her up." Yukari suggested.
Dilandau frowned at Yukari's pet name she'd given him. "Only if you don't call me that damn name!" Yukari giggled.
"Okay Dilly-I mean Dilandau." Yukari replied, trying to suppress her laughter. Dilandau rolled his eyes and stood up.
"I…I'm sorry Hitomi. I didn't know you felt that way."
"You don't have to apologize. I was nothing but a fool for believing that I could ever love someone like you, a king. Things like that only happen in fairy tales. Kings and other royalties were only meant for each other." Van opened his mouth to speak but was cut off quickly. "You're really wasting you time here. You should just go back to your wife and give her attention. I know she'd enjoy more than me."
"Hitomi-" Van stopped and his eyes narrowed.
Dilandau walked down the hallway and saw his beloved Hitomi talking with his archenemy. The scar on his right cheek began to throb as he approached. Looks like today will be better than I thought. A slight grin came to his lips as he neared Hitomi. "Fanel, what are you doing here?" Dilandau asked as he put an arm around Hitomi, drawing her near.
Van couldn't believe his eyes. What was Dilandau doing there? And why was he touching Hitomi who seemed to be blushing slightly. Anger flared in his eyes and his blood began to boil. "I could ask you the same thing." Van growled.
"I'm living my life, what does it look like?" Dilandau answered simply. "Now, why are you here? It better not be to pester my Hitomi." Dilandau put an emphasis on my on purpose.
"Your…?" Van repeated silently and looked at Hitomi. "Hitomi, What is he talking about?"
"What do you think?" Hitomi snapped. "He is mine and I am his." Van shook his head slightly. There was no way that Dilandau could be courting Hitomi. But what boggled him even more was why she's let him court her. She's probably doing it to get back at me! "Van if you think it's just to get back at you, you're sadly mistaken. We have more in common than you'd think. Any ways, why would this bother you? I thought friends accepted their friend's choices and decisions."
"Not when it's courting a mad man!" Van shouted, gesturing towards Dilandau.
"I was mad at one time but that's all in the past Fanel." Dilandau replied keeping his cool aura about him.
Yukari sat impatiently waiting for Hitomi and Dilandau to turn up. They're probably off locking lips or something. She mused. Her eyes drifted to her watch. Time seemed to tick by at an incredibly slow rate. Okay, that's it! I'm not waiting any longer! Yukari stood up and stormed out of the cafeteria, completely unaware of what she was about to come across.
"Hitomi!" She shouted as she ran down the hall. Hitomi looked over her shoulder and sighed heavily. Great…she thought sarcastically. Just was we need, a bigger audience…
"Hitomi please tell this is a joke. You can't seriously be with him!" Hitomi rolled her eyes.
"Van how many times must I say it? Yes, yes, yes and for the last time yes! I love him!" Van's face seemed to pale. Dilandau looked at her shocked. She loved him? She'd never said that before.
"You what?" Van asked hoping he hadn't heard her correctly. Hitomi hesitated to answer.
"I…I love him. There I said it. Do you have a problem with that Van?"
"Of course I do!" he shouted. "I wouldn't mind if it was anyone else but why him?!"
"Simple really Fanel. I provide her with what she couldn't find from you or anyone else. And before you ask I do love her back." Hitomi's heart raced and her stomach fluttered with joy. She looked up at Dilandau with overwhelming happiness.
"You love me?" she mumbled. Dilandau looked down at her and smiled.
"Of course I do, how could I not? I'm nothing without you." He answered. Their heads moved closer until their lips met. Van looked in total horror at the sight before him. He had to put an end to this madness.
"Hitomi, why am I not surprised." Came Yukari's voice. Hitomi broke the kiss immediately. "Is that all you two do? If so, I'm a little afraid to wonder what you to do alone." Hitomi blushed madly. Yukari then caught notice of the raven-haired boy standing by. "Hey, who's he?"
"No one important." Hitomi replied bitterly. Yukari raised an eyebrow and looked more closely at the boy.
"Okay, whatever you say Tomi-chan." Van clenched his fist into a ball. He had seen enough and let his rage take over. His fist flew and landed square in Dilandau's jaw. Hitomi looked in shock as she watched Dilandau stumble backwards.
Dilandau's crimson red eyes flared with rage and revenge. He clenched his teeth and returned the favour. He first threw a punch at Van's face then grabbed him by the collar and slammed the king's body up against the lockers.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Some nearby jocks chanted. This of course only fuelled Dilandau. He now had an audience to please.
"You made a big mistake Fanel." Dilandau said tauntingly. "So are you just gonna stand there or are ya gonna fight me?"
Van threw another punch. Dilandau dodged it easily and took the opportunity to get a punch in as well. He forcefully threw his fist into the young king's abdomen. Van doubled over but didn't make a peep. He'd win this fight at any cost, even if it meant killing Dilandau.
"Face it Fanel, you don't stand a chance against me." Dilandau laughed. Van clenched his jaw tightly and tackled Dilandau to the floor. He sat atop of the red-eyed demon and threw a punch at his pace face. Blood trickled his face to his lips.
As Van went to punch again he was pulled backwards by his hair. He growled but suppressed the pain. He looked to see who it was and was surprised. "Will you two stop acting like children!?!" Hitomi yelled and stood between the two boys. "This is really immature! How old are you?! Five? Six?!" Hitomi sighed heavily and closed her eyes.
"I'm going to be eighteen in August." Dilandau answered smugly. Hitomi looked down at him and shot a glare at him.
"It was a rhetorical question." Hitomi replied. I'm so not in the mood for this… she thought to herself. Van grinned in a victorious way. "Wipe that grin off your face. You two should be both ashamed of yourselves. Especially you Van." Hitomi said and looked Van dead in the eyes.
"What's going on here?" came a familiar masculine voice from the crowd. Hitomi, Dilandau and Van all looked to see whom it was.
Folken looked at the scene before and could only shake his head, not surprised Dilandau had started a fight. However, he was surprised to see his brother. But not surprisingly he had few bruises and dried blood caked on the corner of his mouth. "Br-brother…"Van stuttered.
Folken sighed. "Alright, who started this?" Folken asked, completely ignoring Van.
"I'm pretty sure it was the black haired guy." Yukari informed pointing at Van.
"It wasn't me!" Van retorted.
"Bull shit Van. You threw the first punch." Hitomi replied, glaring at Van.
"I wouldn't have had to if he hadn't taunted me!"
"Enough! I want to see you three in my office now!" Folken yelled, silencing any bickering.
A/N: Ya, I'm stopping there due to I want to be semi-evil. I'm mad at my dentist so I must take my revenge out on my readers. He jabbed me in the mouth with a giant needle! It's been over 4 hours since my appointment and my lips is still numb!* sigh * So I'm not sure right now how long I want this fic to go on for. I have an idea that would probably make the fic almost 5 chaps or so to finish but I have another plan that will take less. I still don't have the ending planned out exactly so if it takes a while to update, I'm really sorry. If you want me to e-mail you when I update, leave your e-mail address or e-mail it to me at esca_chick@hotmail.com
P.S. I really liked the song I chose for this chap. I know it sounds kinda disco-ie but the lyrics fit almost perfectly! Oh and sorry for the shortness. It's either you get some now or wait longer. Which would you rather?