I can't believe it! People like my first chapter! YAY! I was afraid that I would get flames. Thanks everyone!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Escaflowne.

XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD

An Innocent Promise

The First Day of School

XDXDXD

Green eyes looked around the room groggily. Owner of said eyes slowly stood up and went to the bathroom. Hitomi Kanzaki has always been slow during mornings.

"Back to school... I can't believe it... Vacation was too short..."

About fifteen minutes later, she emerged from her shower and dressed up for school. She took a bit of a long look in the mirror. She touched the ring on the chain wrapped around her neck and then stroked it fondly. She then grabbed her bag and went downstairs.

Mamoru was already having his breakfast, early as usual. It was quite amusing to think that someone who was always up to tricks woke up early for school. But then again, Mamoru was the family genius. He got good marks at school, to Hitomi and Anelese's confusion.

"Good morning Hitomi," her mother said with a smile. Anelese's parents would have left for work at this time, same with Hitomi's father.

"Good morning Mom," Hitomi said with a yawn. Her mother gave her rice and bacon. She ate slowly, taking her time. Everyone was silent for about twenty minutes. Hitomi finished her breakfast by then. She stood up. "Shouldn't we be waking Anelese up?"

Mamoru shrugged. "She'll wake up on her own."

"Yes," Hitomi's mother said in agreement. "Actually, she'd awake in a few minutes, probably even now."

The three of them simultaneously looked at their watches. They stared at their own watches for about five minutes or so before they started a countdown in chorus.

"Three... Two... One..."

"HITOMI!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP!!!"

A flustered Anelese ran down the stairs, her short pale blonde hair uncombed, her uniform a bit wrinkled. Her indigo eyes were at a panic. "Am I late? Am I late? Am I late? AM I LATE?!"

"Calm down Anelese!" Hitomi said, laughing. Her mom and Mamoru were laughing as well. "You're so funny in the morning." Anelese scowled and started muttering under her breath about evil laughing cousins and aunties. She marched out through the front door.

"Bye Mom! Mamoru!" Hitomi said cheerfully and ran out to get to Anelese. She caught up with her cousin really fast. She was a track runner after all. "Come on Anelese. We can't help it but you know we love you."

Anelese sighed heavily and smiled. "I know..." she then scowled. "But that isn't an excuse to let you have fun at my expense!"

Hitomi just smiled cheerfully.

Anelese, on the other hand, was thinking. Hmm... I wonder if she already read the letter... Well it might be personal so it's best I don't ask her about it... But I wonder who Folken Fanel is... I wonder who he is to Hitomi...

Hitomi noticed that Anelese was silent. She frowned slightly. "Hey Ann, why are you so quiet?"

"Oh nothing!" Anelese said, laughing nervously. Hitomi looked suspiciously at her but didn't press.

"Hitomi! Ann!"

The two girls looked further in front and saw Yukari waving at them. The two waved back and walked faster. They reached Yukari in five seconds.

"We better wait here for a while," Yukari said as they reached her. "Millerna will be here any minute now."

As if on cue, Millerna emerged from a corner, looking pretty as usual. Yukari grinned. "And here she is."

"Hey guys," Millerna said cheerfully. "We'll be having a new student." The three looked flabbergasted.

"How did you know?" Anelese asked in confusion.

"Yeah Millerna, how did you know?" Hitomi asked.

Millerna smoothed her skirts, though it really didn't need any smoothing, and smiled prettily at them. "Well, I heard from Dryden that the two kids of the owner of the business company he had a deal with were coming to our school since they're moving here. Apparently, one of their children is our age."

"Really?" Anelese asked cheerfully. She then frowned. "Wait, is this person a he or a she?"

Millerna looked thoughtful for a second. "You know, I'm not sure."

"We better hurry before we get late," Hitomi stated. "Come on."

The three went towards school.

XDXDXD

I wonder why she's not answering...

"FOLKEN!!!"

Folken staggered from his seat as a blur of brown and pink hurtled towards him.

"Merle," he gasped, trying to get air. "Please let me breathe! I have lived for less than a century! Don't kill me yet!"

A girl with dyed pink hair and tanned skin smiled happily up at him. She loosened her hold on him.

"I'm just so excited! It's a new place with new people!" she cried happily. "And I'd better meet this Hitomi-person!"

"You have met her," Folken said wearily.

"But I was just seven! I don't remember much at that age!"

Folken sighed. He wrote a letter to Hitomi Kanzaki, informing her that the Fanel family was back for good. He had invited her to a social party to be held tomorrow night.

"Why didn't Van write the letter?" Merle asked, curiosity in her features.

Folken sighed again. "Merle, you know Van."

"He was shy?" Merle asked incredulously. Folken almost snorted.

"Van? Shy? Are we talking of the same Van? Of course he wasn't shy!"

"What then?" Merle pressed.

Folken sighed for the third time. "You wouldn't understand... Now go to school before you get late."

"Where's Van?" Merle asked. Folken raised an eyebrow delicately.

"Why, he left about fifteen minutes ago," Folken replied. Merle squealed and ran off.

"Bye Folken! See you after school!"

Folken sighed. You better know what you're doing Van...

XDXDXD

Hitomi, Anelese, Millerna and Yukari eventually got to their school. They were all talking about various stuff.

"I hope we're still classmates," Yukari said, as if in prayer. The four then looked at their timetables, comparing the subjects and periods. Hitomi and Anelese cheered and grinned at each other. They got every single subject together. Millerna and Yukari hugged each other happily - they got every single subject together.

"We are classmates in English, (A/N: Pretend they learn English.) Math and P.E. together," Millerna stated, looking at their timetables again. "At least there are three subjects where the four of us are together." The three nodded.

"We have different homerooms though," Anelese said with a slight frown. Hitomi smiled at her.

"At least you still have me," Hitomi said with a wink. Anelese couldn't help but giggle.

"We'll see you two later okay?" Yukari said, as she grabbed Millerna's arm. "Tell us if you get the new student! Tell us if he's hot as well!"

"We're not even sure if he's a 'he'," Anelese reasoned as the two walked off. "And you already have a crush!"

"Oh well!" Yukari called back. She and Millerna giggled and waved good-bye.

"Let's go Anelese," Hitomi urged gently. Anelese smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

"Come on!" she said, dragging Hitomi to their homeroom.

XDXDXD

Sharp maroon eyes observed the school office thoroughly. This school office was smaller than his old school's but that doesn't matter. He chose to go to this school and what was a school office to him?

"Mr. Fanel?" An office lady said, looking at a clipboard in her hands. The young man stood up politely. He was tall and almost six feet in height. The office lady looked up at him through her thick glasses. "Your homeroom is in B108 in the B-Building. Your homeroom teacher is Mr. Hiyoshi. Here's a map and your timetable." The lady handed him two pieces of paper.

"Thank you," he said with a bow. The woman smiled.

"It's my pleasure. And welcome Mr. Fanel."

XDXDXD

Anelese and Hitomi were having a good conversation when the teacher suddenly entered the room. The class quickly settled down and kept quiet, waiting patiently for the teacher to speak.

"Good morning class," he greeted. He looked like he was in his late twenties or early thirties. Though his eyes were kind and his mouth gave evidence of smiling often, the students instantly knew that he was not someone to be messed around with. "I am Mr. Hiyoshi. I also teach Math and P.E. this year so some of you I might be seeing often. I'm sure that all of you know the school rules and I don't need to talk about them. This year, however, we have a new student and I want you all to welcome him warmly. Please come in."

Hitomi wasn't listening to the teacher at all. In fact, she was staring outside the window since her seat was right next to the window. She didn't hear the teacher greet the class. She didn't hear the teacher introduce himself. She didn't hear the teacher announce that there was a new student. She only got out of her reverie when the female population - with the exception of Anelese of course - gasped and swooned.

Anelese looked at the new guy. Though most of the girls were stunned in awe, she was stunned in shock.

H-he looks like the person Hitomi always describes... Van! Anelese thought in shock. She then remembered maroon eyes that she knew she would never forget ever since she first saw them. Anelese has met Van before though only for a short while. But those eyes! They're so similar! She quickly looked at Hitomi and found her staring outside.

Anelese gave Hitomi a sharp nudge. Hitomi would've yelped loudly if Anelese didn't quickly cover the girl's mouth. Anelese hissed at her and motioned her to look in front. Thankfully, the teacher didn't notice.

No... It can't be...

Hitomi was as stiff as a statue. She was staring in front in shock.

This must be a horrible trick... I'm sure I'm still dreaming...

Her emerald gaze was locked with his maroon ones. Neither of them blinked. The young man never let go of her gaze, his eyes showing no emotion - his face unsmiling.

This is impossible...

Mr. Hiyoshi spoke up. "Well. Introduce yourself!"

"Good morning everyone," he said in a pleasantly deep male voice. Hitomi felt her heart flutter at hearing him. Every girl - again, with the exception of Anelese - swooned.

"My name is Van Fanel."

XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD

Review Replies:

Inda - Well, you just found out what's in the letter! Thanks for reviewing!

HimmelsfeeCeres - You love my fic? Shucks! I'm flattered! I know I'm evil with the open window but... well... If you hurt me, I won't be able to finish this fic!!! (hehehe)

reLLik-o6 - Am updating!

Spirit0 - (looks at mirror, admiring herself) Hmm... I am evil aren't I? I LOVE writing cliffies so you'll get more than just this chance to call me evil. Do you think this chapter ended with a cliffy? Hitomi doesn't get to open the letter! But oh well, the letter's sort-of useless at this point. Sort-of but no really... I'm glad you like Anelese!

MirokuLover - I'm glad you love my story! Thanks for reviewing!

FF Fanatic - I hope this chapter answered your question! Thanks for reviewing!

Jameth - Don't die on me! I don't want anyone's death on my conscience! I'm glad you like my fic. and I am good with cliffhangers, aren't I? (don't mind my stupid arrogance)

moggy201484271612345 - Did I type your pen name right?! Anyway, I'm glad you like my fic! Thanks for reviewing!

Aka V-Chan - You're just like Anelese? Really? My friends just keep on forcing me to buy more stylish clothes since they say I'm too conservative! Anyway... I didn't base Anelese on me so...

fireangel621 - I'm not sure if I'm putting Dilly in this fic. It still depends but he is such a complex character that I'm afraid that I might make him a bit OOC and I don't think many people would like that.

Ah Young Song - I'm glad you think it's cute. Thanks for the review! I'll try to update as soon as I can and don't worry. No limos next time! Agree?

Annie - You like Anelese? She seems familiar? You see, she isn't exactly OC... (smiles mysteriously)

kmmgirly - This chapter answers your questions! Thanks for reviewing again!

f-zelda - This chapter is the answer to your questions! Why a letter and not a phone call? People tend to change phone numbers over the years. An letter will be better in this situation. Is Hitomi in love with Van? What do you think?

jess131346/jess-darkwater - I just granted your two wishes!

bookworym - Well, Hitomi didn't find the letter but is this chapter good enough for you?

Everyone thinks that Anelese is my character!!! Well, you're wrong... DEAD wrong!!! Ha...ha...ha.. Hahahaha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA- ARGH! (coughs violently) Don't mind me, I'm in one of those evil moods...

Anyway, please review!

Chisakami Saiyuki

P.S. People, I might not be able to update in TWO MONTHS!!! I have... matters... to attend to. But if you review nicely, I might decide to update soon! So keep the reviews coming!