A/N: Wow! Thanx Kazumi, Feye Morgan, snowykittenz, Rai Dorian, Niffer, Moon Smurf, Cindy, MoonFairy, Kiya, jen, Blue Demon, Kat-Tastrophe, Kin, anime_luver, lidehtium, Princess Neptune, Anne-WritinAngel, Snarfburgalar, and Toki Mirage *deep breath* for your reviews!

FeyeMorgan- Van-sama kill Dilly-chan? HAHAHAHA! That'd never happen! Or maybe it could….*evil grin*

Rai Dorian- ditto. I'd be in Folken-san's office for a verrrrrrryyyyyy long time! lol! But any ways, you got the new CD!?!? *sniffles* I want it…..

Cindy- Folken-san is working at the school as a teacher so he can keep an eye on Dilly-chan. He doesn't really want Dilly to burn down the school.

jen- don't you worry, Dilly-chan isn't finished with Van yet. In a chap or two the real battle will begin *grin*

Blue Demon- you may like your lipnumb but it's a real bitch when you're trying to eat or drink. I spilt my drink so many times at dinner that night.

anime_luver- actually I got stabbed with 2 needles; one on each side. It was only that one that hurt a lot.

Snarfburgalar- ah…..finally someone who understands that I'm aloud to be evil! Yes I am a girl. I've been in a few fights before(I have an older brother, that should explain a lot). Don't worry, Jajuka will make an appearance. It might be in the next chap too! I'm glad your friend enjoyed my joke.

~*~*~*~

Since you've been gone I feel so much better
Cause I saw how mean you could be
I used to want some explanation
Now all I want is my Patsy Cline CD
 
How I've waited for today
When I could finally say
 
You jerk
You jerk
You are such a jerk
There are other words
But they just don't work
 
Sometimes I wish I'd mailed you that letter
That said the things I dare not say
Instead I set the thing on fire
I had to say this outloud anyway
 
I'm so glad I found the nerve
To say what you deserve
 
You jerk
You jerk
You are such a jerk
There are other words
But they just don't work
 
They try to be so cool
Insult you like a fool
Never take your call when you're nobody at all
Until you're somebody and then they want to be your friend
How come jerks don't know they're jerks
(I don't know)
 
So next time someone makes you feel little
Just sing this song inside your head
And like a great big cartoon bubble
These lovely words will dance above their head
 
How I've waited for today
When I could finally say
 
You jerk
You jerk
You are such a jerk
There are other words
But they just don't work
 
You jerk
You jerk
You are such a jerk
There are other words
But they just don't work
You Jerk by Kim Stockwood

~*~*~*~

Chapter 18: You Jerk

            Dilandau, Van and Hitomi sat in Folken's office in front of the large oak desk. Hitomi sat between the two boys by Folken's request. Dilandau sat slouched back on the uncomfortable wooden chair, staring out the window. Hitomi sat up tall and held her hands together on her lap. Van sat cross-legged and from time to time shot a glare Dilandau's way. Of all the people on Gaea and the Mystic moon, why him?! Van wondered.

            "So let's begin from the top, what happened?" Both Van and Dilandau went to speak but were cut off quickly. "Hitomi, would you care to give your side of the story first. Starting from the very beginning."

            "Well for me the beginning is over a year ago. Would you like me to start there or from today?"

            "A year ago will be fine."

            "Well it all started when I left Gaea. Everything was going fine up until my family died. Then it was about four or five months after that when I ran into to Dilandau. I wasn't happy about it but I got use to him living with me-"

            "He lives with you!?" Van shouted.

            "Ya I live with her, is there a problem Fanel?" Dilandau asked in his cocky little tone. Folken glared at both the teenaged boys warning them from continuing.

            "Well, as I was saying, Dilandau told me about what Van had been up to." Hitomi looked at Van briefly then continued. "I didn't believe him when he said that Van moved on so I went to Gaea and found him with 'Louise' in the garden." Hitomi said bitterly. She crossed her arms across her chest and suppressed her feelings. "After that I was really hurt Van. I even tried to take my own life. I really thought it was our love that saved Gaea. But I guess it was only my love that did so.

            "Well Dilandau found me and surprisingly he saved my life. After that things between us changed. Yukari tried to set us up and actually came up with a plan that worked. That happened about…" Hitomi paused and counted using her fingers. "Nine months ago I think… And since then me and Dilandau have been together." Hitomi sighed and once again continued on.

            "That brings us to today. I was going to my locker to get my photo album and ran into Van. Dilandau showed up and he declared his feelings for me and I did the same. Van threw the first punch. Dilandau retaliated."

            "Is that all?" Folken asked. Hitomi nodded in response. "Well, do you both agree with what Hitomi has said?" Dilandau nodded but Van was obviously not ready to take the blame for starting the fight.

            "Hey Van, why did you give my pendent to your wife!?" Hitomi asked suddenly. Van looked speechless.

            "I didn't give it to her!" Van answered. Hitomi raised an eyebrow and looked extremely unimpressed.

            "Really, then why was she wearing it on your wedding day?" Hitomi asked bitterly.

            "She found it in my-our room. I didn't realize she was wearing it until the wedding. That's the other reason why I came here." Van reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny black pouch. He opened it and took out a gold chain with a ruby-like stone attached to it. "I figured you might want it back." He held the pendent out towards Hitomi.

            Hesitantly Hitomi took it. "I…I wasn't expecting this…" she replied breathlessly. Dilandau rolled his eyes. I thought she hated his guts? God it's only a stupid necklace.

            Folken cleared his throat, trying to bring attention back to the matter at hand. Hitomi clasped the pendent tightly in her palm until her knuckles turned white. "Now, as I was about to say, you're behaviour was unacceptable. Both of you should know better."

            "Hey he was the one who threw the first punch!" Dilandau shouted.

            "I wouldn't have had you not been taunting me!" Van retaliated. Hitomi sighed and rolled her eyes. This is going to be a long afternoon…

            Yukari pressed her ear against the door, listening in on the conversation going on. Yoko stood by Yukari with her arms crossed. "What's going on Yukari?" Yoko asked in a slight whisper. Yukari's eyebrows knitted together.

            "I'm not sure. I heard something about a wife, pendent, punch, and I think someone in that room is supposed to be dead." Yoko looked at her friend confused.

            "Let me listen."

            "No!" Yukari said in a whisper back. Yoko uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on her hips.

            "I have better ears than you so I should-!" the door clicked and opened. Yukari had no time to move away. As the door opened, Yukari fell into the room, right into the raven-haired boy's arms. Yoko held back her laugh. "Yukari, what have I told you about eavesdropping?"

            "Shut up" Yukari muttered and stood up, backing away from Van. "So, Hitomi, who died?" Yukari asked bluntly.

            Hitomi paused and tried to think of answer. She couldn't exactly tell them that both Folken and Dilandau had died. "Um no one died. Who said that?"

            "I distinctly heard someone say something about someone supposed to be dead."

            "I'm sorry Miss. Uchida but I think you heard wrong." Folken interrupted. "Any ways shouldn't both you and Miss. Kamata be getting ready for class?"

            "Um… well… ya." Yukari answered sadly. "Come on Yoko; Mr. Nishi will have us running laps after school if we're late again." Both girls sighed and headed for their classes.

            "Well, I guess I'll be leaving." Van said sadly. "Bye Hitomi…"

            "Bye Van." Hitomi said but kept her gaze down cast.

            "Dilandau I'll be expecting you to be staying after school for an hour each day for the next week." Dilandau's eyes widened .

            "What!?" he asked, hoping he had heard wrong.

            "You heard me Dilandau. You may not have started the fight but you did fight back." Dilandau clenched his fist in rage.

            "Well what about Hitomi? She pulled his hair!" Hitomi looked at Dilandau completely surprised.

            "True but had she not intervened the fight could have been worse."

            "But-!"

            "No buts Dilandau." Folken went back into his office, leaving Hitomi and Dilandau alone in the hallway. At the sound of the first bell, Hitomi reached for Dilandau's hand. Dilandau grinned and wrapped his arm around Hitomi's shoulders. Hitomi smiled and wrapped her arm around his back. Together they walked off to class.

            Van walked back to the Fanelian castle. He was still having trouble comprehending what had just happened on the Mystic Moon. It had to have been an illusion, he told himself over and over again. Hitomi knows better. She'd never run to the arms of that sadistic pyromaniac. He must have brainwashed her or something.

            Van sighed as reached his beloved city. He looked up to the watch guards, smiled slightly and waved. The guards both saluted their king and opened the gates to the city. Van turned and looked up at the darkening sky. His eyes saddened as they landed on the cursed moon. Hitomi…how could you…

            "Van-sama!" Merle squealed with delight as she caught sight of her childhood friend enter the castle. She ran up and hugged him fiercely. "So how'd it go?" she asked.

            "Merle…" he paused to gather his words but stopped.

            "Van…" Van smiled softly at the angelic voice of his beloved wife, Louise. "Where did you go? Merle wouldn't tell me. I was so worried." Van smacked himself mentally for not telling her that he was leaving to visit Hitomi. He walked towards her and embraced her.

            "I'm sorry. I needed to visit and old friend."

A/N: yes I know it's short. I'm very sorry but school has been very hectic. I've been getting assignments after assignments. As if that wasn't enough shit to deal with, my beloved kitty Gatti died on Monday April 28th 2003. He was only 8 months old and we had only just adopted him about 3 months ago. I was at school when it happened. Right now we don't know what caused him to have a heart attack. My one friend says it could have been that he was inbred (he was a barn cat so who knows who the father was). I think it could have been the feline leukemia which can cause death to kittens. Well I've babbled on long enough. 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