A/N: Yes I am still alive! Well thank you to: Blue Demon, snowykittenz, Kat-Tastrophe, areka hakai, Crystal Alethia, FOX(who was too lazy to sign in, tisk tisk), Princess Neptune, SabineballZ, Rai Dorian, ice, Xelena, Feye Morgan, Niffer, Haze, dillpops(thanx for giving me the title of the song ^_^), Toki Mirage, Snarfburgalar, Mystical Dreamer, and Sin Albatou for reviewing!
Blue Demon- of course they wouldn't kidnap her. Hitomi's not really a kid so they can't 'kid'-nap her now can they?
Snowykittenz- lol! Allen probably would dress Hitomi up as a maid. He seems like the type of guy to do that sort of thing with women.
Fox- I'm sorry that it was short *get's into defensive position* please don't hurt me.
SabineballZ- Van is worried about Hitomi because she is his friend. Friends care about each other, or at least mine do… (btw, Van DOESN'T love Hitomi. Don't go getting any ideas)
Feye Morgan- because men are stupid they don't realize that what they do is wrong, such in this case with Allen and Van. Bakas, it'll only make the situation worse.
Snarfburgalar- *sighs* I don't know what I'll do with you. Calvin sounds cute! Lol! Well, don't worry, Van and Allen will die soon. Maybe, hehehe!
Mystical Dreamer- I'm glad you're really enjoying the fic. *blushes* I really don't think this fic is amazing but if you insist then okay. Ya finding songs is pretty hard(especially for this chap!).
~*~*~*~
i am
little bit of loneliness
a little bit of disregard
a handful of complaints
but i can't help the fact
that everyone can see these scars
i am
what i want you to want
what i want you to feel
but it's like
no matter what i do
i can't convince you
to just believe this is real
so i let go
watching you
turn your back like you always do
face away and pretend that i'm not
but i'll be here
cause you're all i got
i am
a little bit insecure
a little unconfident
cause you don't understand
i do what i can
but sometimes i don't make sense
i am
what you never want to say
but i've never had a doubt
it's like no matter what i do
i can't convince you
for once just to hear me out
so i let go
watching you
turn your back like you always do
face away and pretend that i'm not
but i'll be here
cause you're all i got
i can't
feel
the way i did before
don't turn your back on me
i won't be ignored
time won't heal
this damage anymore
don't turn your back on me
i won't be ignored
no
hear me out now
you're gonna listen to me
like it or not
right now
Faint by Linkin Park
~*~*~*~
Chapter 20: Faint
"Okay, wait Hitomi. Let me get this straight." Yukari paused and rubbed her temples before speaking back into the cordless phone. "The reason you stopped drooling over Amano was because you were in 'love' with that Van guy. Then Van misled you to believe he felt the same way for you when he really didn't. Now he's married and mad at you for moving on?" Yukari asked unsure. "That doesn't make sense."
"No Yukari, he's not mad that I've moved on, he's mad because Dilandau destroyed his country." Hitomi explained.
"But I thought you said the Dragonslayers did it."
"They did but they're under Dilandau's command so to him it's the same thing." There was a long awkward pause after that. Yukari didn't know whether to believe her best friend or not. She wanted to believe her friend but, how could she be certain Hitomi didn't dream the whole thing.
Van sat alone in his private courtyard beneath a large tree. He gazed up at the cerulean sky, his eyes staying locked on the blue moon. How long would it take Allen to get her? Allen had volunteered to go instead of Van. Both men knew it was a better idea since Hitomi and Van weren't on good terms.
"Van…" he turned his head and looked over his shoulder. His eyes brightened at the sight of his lovely wife.
"Louise…" he whispered as a smile tugged at his lips.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Van looked away from her. He really didn't want to explain the whole situation to her at the moment. Louise's eyes narrowed and she walked over to her beloved husband. She sat next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Van please tell me what's wrong…" she entwined her hand with his and began to caress it gently. "You know I hate it when you keep secrets from me." Still Van remained silent. "Van, look at me." She lifted her head from his should and slowly van turned and looked at her. He became lost in her sapphire eyes. "Please, tell me."
Van sighed heavily and looked away. "A friend of mine made a bad choice and is in danger. They've become involved with some dangerous people. I'm just really worried about them." Louise raised an eyebrow wondering whom Van could have been talking about.
"Who is it? Is it Allen or Merle? I hope it's not Merle…"
"No, it's neither of them. It's just an old friend."
Allen landed with a thud in a field of thick grass. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. Only a few trees occupied the sky above. Tall and unusual building filled most of the sky him. How strange…he thought as he looked at his surroundings more closely. Now, where should I start?
Allen walk towards the sounds of people talking and walking down the busy streets of Tokyo. His eyes widened in realization that this task wouldn't be an easy one. With so many people in the city, how would he ever find Hitomi?
Hitomi sat at her kitchen table finishing up her bowl of cereal. She glanced at the clock quickly, she groaned and lazily stood up. She gathered her books from the living room and put them in her blue duffle bag. She slipped on her running shoes and headed for the door but stopped. She put down her bag and crept upstairs and peeked her head into the mess of Dilandau's room. A smile tugged at her lips as she looked at the sleeping boy on the bed. Lucky bastard…she thought to herself and left.
"Hitomi where's Dilly-chan?" Yoko asked her friend as she walked up the school steps.
"He's suspended remember?" Yoko shot Hitomi a questioning glace. "Didn't you see the fight yesterday?" Yoko shook her head in response. "Yukari didn't tell you?" Yoko once again shook her head. That's odd…Yukari didn't gossip about it… "Well Dilandau got into a fight yesterday with this guy so he got suspended."
"Oh…so who was the guy? What grade is he in?"
"He doesn't go to our school. He was just a guy I use to be friends with." Hitomi tried to explain, hoping Yoko wouldn't want any further details about Van.
"Well then what school-" Yoko was cut off by the sound of the warning bell ringing.
"Sorry Yoko! I'll see ya at lunch!" Hitomi shouted as she went into the school and became lost in the crowd of students all in a hurry to get to their classes.
Dilandau laid in his bed staring up at the white ceiling. His mind seemed to not be able to stay still. He couldn't stop himself from thinking. He thought back to his brawl the other day with the dragon. He began to wonder what would have happened had Hitomi not stepped in and pulled the bastard by his hair. A grin tugged at his lips, hw knew he would have won the fight had he been given the chance.
As he thought more about the dragon and how the dragon had acted he could only wonder what he would do after returning to Gaea. This is what really made Dilandau feel unsettled. What if the dragon was plotting something? Plotting revenge on him for making him look like an ass.
When the last bell went, students piled out of the school in a hurry. Hitomi however took her time. She and Yukari decided to go to the mall after school just to hang out like old times. They hadn't just hung out together since the accident that claimed Hitomi's family.
"So Hitomi how do you think you did on the math quiz?" Hitomi didn't answer; her mind was too busy thinking. "Hitomi? Earth to Hitomi…" Yukari began to wave her hand in front of Hitomi's face trying to get her attention. "Hitomi!" she shouted, snapping her friend out of her trance.
"What?"
"You were off in your own little world. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Hitomi replied quickly.
"Nothing?" Yukari repeated, doubting her friend. "You can tell me. Does it have to do with Van?" Hitomi's eyes saddened. Just the sound of his name was enough to make her sick. Too many times he had hurt her and too many times she shed necessary tears for him.
"Well…sorta but…"she paused trying to find the right words. "Well I had this dream last night."
"And…?"
"And I was back on Gaea. I don't know how I got there. I just remember being there. I also remember seeing everyone I knew there. They stood in a circle around me; all of them were glaring at me or something. Then…"Hitomi paused. "I remember begin locked in some room and when I looked out the window I saw people fighting and killing each other…"
"Maybe it was a vis-"
"No. It wasn't." Hitomi snapped. She wouldn't let herself believe she was having a vision. It had been years since she last had one. Why would she be having one now? It was just a dream…she told herself. Just a dream…
"Okay, if you insist then…" Yukari didn't dare try to talk Hitomi into believing other wise. It would be a fight she wouldn't win. Yukari glanced down at her watch, her eyes widening at the realization at how late it was. "Hey I'll see ya tomorrow in class. I have to go before my parents try to ground me again." She hugged Hitomi quickly and ran off.
"Bye…"Hitomi whispered as she watched her friend head out the mall doors in a hurry. Six already? Where does time go? Hitomi wondered as she looked down at her watch. I better get home and see what sort of shape Dilandau has left the house in. she rose from her seat and left the mall. She walked home instead of taking the subway. But she would soon learn that it would have been a better idea to have taken the subway.
As Hitomi took a short cut across an empty park, she heard someone shout her name. "Hitomi!" they yelled. Amano? A smile came to her lips as she turned around. However her smiled faded when she realized it wasn't Amano. Her emerald eyes looked away from the heavenly. What is he doing here?
"What do you want?" Hitomi spat bitterly.
"Hitomi why are you with Dilandau?"
"Didn't Van tell you?"
"Is he forcing you to be with him? Is he brain-"
"Brainwashing me? No. Why can't you people leave me alone!? I'm finally happy!" Hitomi shouted at Allen, her voice dripping with hate and frustration. "just go back to Gaea and leave me…" Allen approached Hitomi and placed a hand on her shoulder as she turned away from him.
"Hitomi, listen to yourself. You can't possibly be happy with Dilandau. He's a psychotic pyromaniac. He tried to kill you before."
"Get your hand off of me." Hitomi growled. Allen didn't remove it which only angered Hitomi further.
"No, I won't let you go back to him." Hitomi turned on her heel and looked at Allen outraged.
"And just who do you think you are!?"
"Your friend. Trust me, once we get you back on Gaea everything will be alright-"
"What!? I won't go back! You can't make me!" Allen grabbed her by the arm as she went to run off. "Let go!" she yelled but he wouldn't. "Allen don't make me have to hit you!" his grip only tightened. "Fine! You asked for it!" She raised her hand to hit him but became frozen in her place. A familiar blue column of light descended from the sky above, surrounding both of them; taking Allen and Hitomi back to Gaea.
A/N: OMFG! I UPDATED!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?!? Sooo sorry about the wait. School became very busy for me and also I couldn't find a song for this chap. Thank god I saw the new Linkin Park music video "Faint". If I hadn't seen it this chap would still be in the making. So I hoped you guys all enjoyed. 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