Hen Dekigoto
By Tig Jones
Disclaimer: Tenkuu no Escaflowne is owned by Sunrise and Bandai, and a whole bunch of people who aren't me.
Part 3
Hitomi did not see Van for over a week following the party. Her aunt kept her busy with site-seeing, shopping, and her new job. She did these things with cheer and enthusiasm, yet she could not get Van off of her mind. Sure he was gorgeous, and seemed to be interested in her, but it seemed to Hitomi that it went beyond that. Beyond to what, she didn't know. Despite that feeling that she had, Hitomi knew she didn't come part way around the world to moon over boys, even boys as good looking as Van.
She was coming back from the store when she bumped into Van as he was getting off the streetcar. He grabbed her shoulders to prevent her from falling backwards. Instead, she fell straight into his arms. Van laughed as he helped her up.
He smiled at her. "Long time no see." Not quite comprehending the expression, Hitomi kept her head down.
Van bent down so that his head was level with hers and tried again. "Hi."
Hitomi tried to ignore the fact that her face was bright red. "Hello."
He stood up straight and, cupping her elbow, began walking towards their homes. "It's been awhile since we met. What have you been doing?"
Simple questioning allowed Hitomi to relax, and she chatted brightly about her visit the museum and the CN Tower, then laugh about her first few awkward days at work. The companionable atmosphere lasted all the way home. Before Hitomi could turn into her walk, Van caught hold of her wrist.
"Since it's a Friday night, why don't you come out with me and some friends? I'm sure Arisa hasn't shown you any of the nightclubs yet."
Hitomi's heart gave a little leap. "I'm not sure about that…"
Van tugged her wrist and gave a little mock pout. "C'mon!" he implored. "It will be fun, I promise." When he still saw hesitation in her eyes, his expression became more serious. He leaned closer to her. "I meant it when I said I hoped to see you again. Will you come out with me tonight?"
Her face flushed, Hitomi just nodded. Van grinned. "Great. I'll come around about eight, okay?" She continued to stand there as Van released her wrist and made his way into his own home.
"Right, Hitomi," she said to herself quietly. "Of course you did not come this far to meet a guy. Jeez."
Feeling awkward in a short skirt and tank top, Hitomi met Van on her porch at eight that evening. She was amazed that, even through her embarrassment, she could see a slight flush on Van's cheeks when he picked her up. Was she the one to do that to him? The idea gave her a fluttering thrill in her stomach.
Van smiled, all at once bashful and confident – a devastating combination. "Hitomi, you are looking amazing tonight… Honestly," he added, as she tried to shake her head in protest.
"You look nice, too, Van," she offered, while internally she berated herself for the incredible understatement. He was wearing a black button-down, with the cuffs pushed up to his elbows, and a slim-fitting pair of buff-coloured slacks. He looked casual yet well put-together and altogether handsome.
There was an uncomfortable moment where Hitomi and Van just sort of stared at each other until each was able to collect their thoughts and they set out for the evening. They pushed through the Friday night crowds into a small club that shook with bass and dripped of hipness. Van gave his name to the man at the door and someone led them to a table.
Never big on clubs and intimated by the people around her, Hitomi kept herself close to Van. Looking around, she realized something. "Van," she said as quietly as possible, given the volume of the music, "I don't mean to be insulting, be this does not seem like a kind of place you would go to."
Contrary to her fear, Van laughed pleasantly. "No, I'm not really cool enough to frequent joints like this. However, my friend considers himself a mover and/or shaker of the Toronto night scene, so he insisted I meet him here. He said something about how it would ruin his image if he wasn't hanging out an in "It" spot on a Friday." Hitomi giggled and Van couldn't resist touching her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Van steered her to a table. "Here he is now."
In front of Hitomi stood a tall, beautiful blond man, with the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen. He extended an elegant hand. "You must be Hitomi. I'm Alan."
It was Alan Cruse. Allen Schezar. "Nice to meet you," Hitomi replied as they shook hands, annoyed with how weak her voice sounded.
Alan pulled out a chair and motioned for Hitomi to sit down. Van followed suit, his eyes scanning the area. "Hey, Alan, wasn't your girlfriend supposed to join us? What was her name? Buffy? Missie?"
Alan only raised an eyebrow at Van's comment, used to his jibes about his female companions. "Sadly, Joanna and I decided to break it off. I thought I told you. No matter."
Van smirked. "You must be heartbroken. How long were you going out for? Two – two and a half weeks? That's a decently long time for you."
"We had run our course. It's clear that we weren't meant to be. Besides, there's no reason to be heartbroken when one's company is as lovely as mine." As smooth as can be, Alan winked at Hitomi.
Hitomi, surprised and shocked, flushed at the action. Unsure of how to react, she mumbled "thank you." She peeked at Van, but he was staring at Allen, disapproval marring his brow. What was this about?
Van was quiet throughout dinner, watching sullenly as Alan conversed with Hitomi. Damn it, he thought viciously, he wanted to have a night out with Hitomi. He figured that if Alan had his girlfriend there too, Van and Hitomi would have a chance to talk. But with Alan alone, his presence dominated. Certainly Van was not jealous of Alan, but he knew the power of Alan's charm and he had watch helplessly as Hitomi fell under it.
After the meal was over, Alan pulled an embarrassed Hitomi onto the dance floor, as Van watched them from the table. Ignoring offers to dance, he sat there and wondered if he had already lost her.
Again.
To him.
A quiet voice intruded on his thoughts. "Van?" He looked up and saw Hitomi standing before him. Allen was back on the dance floor, dancing with two gorgeous woman. He never changed.
Hitomi's face was red as she rolled her shoulders in discomfort. "Um… I was wondering if you wanted to dance… with me." She watched her fingers pleat her skirt as she avoided eye contact with him.
Inwardly delighted, Van merely raised an eyebrow at her. "I don't dance much..."
Hitomi's embarrassed turned to annoyance. "Fine! I just asked you since you looked so pathetic sitting here by yourself…!"
"But I'll make an exception for you," Van cut her off, before she could stomp her foot.
"Oh," was all Hitomi could manage before Van led her to the dance floor. The energetic dance music stopped and a sweet, slow melody filled the club. Suddenly extremely nervous, Hitomi placed on hand on Van's shoulder, while the other was held in his. She tried not to think about his warm hand on her back, pulling her closer to him.
Van, feeling how stiff she was, put his head closer to hers and whispered in her ear. "Just relax." As they moved around the floor in small smooth circles, she did just that. Her head rested on his broad chest as they moved closer together. Van just closed his eyes at the sensation. He had been waiting for this for too long.
In the early hours of the morning, Van and Alan sat in a taxi, a sleeping Hitomi between them, her had rest on Van's shoulder. Alan had an amused smile on his face. "She sure is adorable," he said to Van.
Van just scowled at him. "Sure."
Alan laughed mockingly. "Come off it, Van. For whatever reason you're completely smitten with her. Be careful. She's young, and your brooding intensity might be too much for her. As a matter of fact, you're young too. Why be so serious with her?"
"Alan…!" Van growled, which sent Alan into laughter.
"I'm serious!" he raised his hands defensively. "What kind of twenty year old girl wants the kind of lasting relationship you're promising with your eyes? As sweet as she is, does she really want that kind of commitment? You should be more like me. Enjoy women! Enjoy life!"
The taxi pulled in front of Alan's condominium and he stepped. Van glared at him over Hitomi's head. "Alan, you'd better not try anything…" Van warned.
Alan just smiled and shut the door, leaving Van and Hitomi alone.
Author's Note
I'm so sorry! I am honestly the worst at updating. I actually wrote the conclusion before part 3, so I knew where the story is going. And part 4 is almost done so there shouldn't be four months before the next update.
A big thank you for all who reviewed, and to everyone who is reading this in general!
Can I just say I hate writing Van. I try to keep him close to the series, yet I also add in other fanfic author's characterizations of him. Plus, he's nine years older than he was in the series, so I'm not sure how he'd age. Despite the number of fics I've written with him in them (all of them gone except for this one) I still can't write him the way I want to.
PS. Please check out my deviantArt stuff (link found on my author page)
