I'm ba-a-ack! Okay, explanation time. Please don't be mad at me. I went back to my home country for my summer vacation. Unfortunately, the place I stayed in didn't have a computer. I went to an internet cafe only once because of my busy schedule and the time I could use the internet for was very limited. So... I wasn't able to update! Simple as that! But I'm back and prepared to write some new chapters! So, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Escaflowne. Only in my dreams.

XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD

An Innocent Promise

Meeting Again

XDXDXD

Hitomi was looking at the new student numbly. All thoughts were gone from her head and every single feeling - except maybe shock - were avoiding her at the moment. Van Fanel was back.

Anelese looked a her cousin worriedly. Hitomi was clearly out of it.

Great! And she was in such a good mood this morning!

Anelese decided to study the young man who was standing right in front of the whole class with admirable coolness. It was clear why almost every single girl in class swooned at the sight of him. His raven locks looked soft, as if running your fingers through them wouldn't be any trouble at all. His face was handsome and showed obvious strength. His eyes were also mesmerizing, as if looking away would be the hardest task in the world. Any girl would be lucky to have him as her man - that Anelese could see.

And Hitomi owned his heart when they were small... The question is, does she still own it?

"Welcome Van," the teacher said warmly. "We hope you adjust well in your new town. Now, kindly sit down at the back row over there, next to the window and behind the young girl with the brown hair. What's your name, young lady?"

When Hitomi didn't immediately reply, Anelese took a deep breath and then hissed at her cousin.

"Hitomi! Your name!"

Hitomi quickly snapped from her trance. "Hitomi Kazaki, sir." She answered and glanced at her cousin in relieved thanks.

"Hitomi," the teacher repeated her name. "A very good name. Now Van, sit behind Hitomi over there."

Van walked slowly towards the seat. Hitomi quickly looked outside at the window, not wanting to know if he remembered her or not. The teacher was already talking animatedly to the class, not paying attention to the new student. As Van neared Hitomi, the teacher turned around and started writing a quote on the board for the students to remember. Van took this time to bend over Hitomi and whisper in her ear.

"Don't pretend I don't exist, Hitomi." Hitomi's eyes widened as Van straightened and then took his seat. Hitomi was breathing faster than normal at that sentence and Anelese looked worriedly at her.

Hitomi could never forget that sentence that he had uttered. He often said it when she was upset with him, was thinking of something else or ignoring him. That sentence alone has proven one thing.

He remembers her very well.

qwyqwyqwy

Hitomi was staring at a handsome little blonde boy. His golden locks and bright blue eyes never cease to capture the attention of girls - no matter what age. Hitomi wasn't an exception to this rule. She knew she would always remember this little boy - her first crush.

Hitomi wasn't the only one staring at the little boy though. Emotionless maroon eyes were locked upon the perfect little angel. But instead of admiration, the big green monster was clearly reflected in those maroon eyes.

Van broke his gaze and looked at the girl seated next to him. Hitomi was clearly smitten. Her eyes were focused on the young boy, sighing every now and then. Every time the boy of her affections looked her way, she would immediately tense up and start fiddling with the hem of her skirt even though his gaze just passed her.

Van was extremely irritated by this. Hitomi had come to the park with him to play with him, not stare and drool over that good-for-nothing goody-two shoes!

With a growl, Van glared at the blonde boy and grabbed a startled Hitomi's hand.

"Don't pretend I don't exist, Hitomi!"

qwyqwyqwy

Van turned out to be in every single class Hitomi was in. Coincidence? Hitomi wasn't so sure.

Most of the morning before lunch was a torture to Hitomi. There were so many questions she wanted to ask but there were also so many fears she had. He looked so different now. He had grown and was handsome beyond words. But she also wasn't sure if he was still the same Van inside. Has he changed? Where has his lovely smile gone?

Does he still want to marry her?

"Hitomi? Hitomi!"

Hitomi snapped from her reverie and looked up at the worried eyes of her cousin.

"Anelese?" Hitomi said, blinking. Anelese sighed in exasperation.

"The bell signaling lunch time has rung!" Anelese sighed softly when Van stood up from his seat and stood next to her. "I guess you two need to talk. I'll be with Millerna and Yukari if you need anything." She then left, glancing worriedly back at them before going through the door.

Hitomi looked away from Van, not daring to meet his eyes with her own. Van sat down on Anelese's desk, waiting patiently for her to speak if she wished to. Sensing she didn't wish to start the conversation, he sighed and started it.

"Why didn't you call?"

Hitomi looked up at Van in surprise. "C-call?"

Van nodded. "I got worried when you didn't call. But then again, you might not have received Folken's letter." He then gave a hollow laugh. Hitomi wince at this. "But then I thought, maybe you were angry with me for not sending a letter myself."

"I-I didn't receive a letter," Hitomi said hurriedly. She then looked away from him, blushing slightly as his eyes looked intently down at her. "No... I didn't receive any letter from you or from Folken."

Van stood up from Anelese's desk and drew the chair from the desk in front of Hitomi out. Van placed it against Hitomi's desk and then sat on it himself, facing the backrest of the chair. He placed his chin on his propped-up arm and then looked at the girl in front of him. When Hitomi turned her head away to look at the window, Van gently wrapped his free hand's fingers around her chin and faced her towards him.

"Don't look away," he said gently yet firmly. "Don't pretend I don't exist."

"Why are you back?" Hitomi asked quietly, he eyes cast down on the desk. Van gave her chin a gentle nudge upwards, a small smile on his handsome face.

"Pardon?"

Hitomi looked up at him, her expression serious. "Why are you back?"

The small smile on Van's face slowly disappeared and he stood up from the chair. He then walked up to the black board. Grabbing a piece of chalk, he wrote the word 'promise' on the black board and then turned around to face Hitomi, smiling at her.

"A promise," he mimicked a teacher's voice. "A promise is a word you keep - a vow." He then shrugged, his smile becoming lop-sided as he looked at her. "Why else would I be back?"

Hitomi looked away. "So you went back because you felt obligated to fulfill a promise you made?" There was hurt evident in her voice.

"Hitomi." His voice made her look back at him. His look was imploring and Hitomi couldn't look away. "You misunderstand me. I also wanted to go back since I wanted so desperately to see you. I wouldn't try to force my parents to go back here for every single day in seven years if I didn't. Please believe me. I promised I would be back and here I am."

"Hitomi Kanzaki, I promise to return here in Gaea and marry you."

"That was only one part of the promise," Hitomi murmured to herself. Van sighed exasperatedly.

"Hitomi, please stop doing that. I am right in the room. Can you repeat what you said?"

"It was nothing," Hitomi said loudly enough for him to hear.

Van approached her. "When you say it's nothing, it usually means something. Don't forget, I will always know you no matter how many years pass by."

That sentence made Hitomi smile and frown at the same time, if it was possible. Smile because he still knows her even though seven years have already passed by; frown because he still knows her even though seven years have already passed which means lying to him was almost impossible.

Hitomi sighed. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. "It's really nothing, Van-"

"Of course I still remember the other part of the promise," Van said with a grin. Hitomi quickly blushed.

"Then why did you ask me to repeat it, you idiot!" Hitomi bellowed with a glare at him.

Van's grin widened. "I wanted to hear you ask it. But you're just too stubborn - trying to lie like that."

Hitomi went pale then turned red, then redder, if it was possible, then turned pale and then red again. Van laughed. Hitomi 'hmphed', crossed her arms across her chest and looked away with a pout.

"I like making you mad," Van said, smiling lazily at her. "You look so adorable. It reminds me of the old times when we were so inseparable."

Hitomi instantly blushed. She looked at him in surprise, her cheeks coloring.

"Van..."

Van sat in front of her again and took her hands. His expression was serious now, not joking anymore.

"You didn't think I would forget, did you? How could I? You are always in my mind. Always. I know we were little kids but I love you with all my heart. Not once did I forget that... or could."

One of his hands suddenly let go of hers and reached out towards her chest. Hitomi, shocked, wasn't able to move. But instead of touching her anywhere unwelcome, he gently held the ring he gave her. She hadn't noticed that it wasn't tucked inside her shirt. He stared at it for a moment before looking back up at her.

"Did you?" he asked. "Did you forget?" Hitomi shook his head. Van gave a small smile. "Good." He then leaned over the desk, his eyes looking intently at her lips. Hitomi, not sure of what he was about to do, quickly shut her eyes, steeling herself. But before his lips could even touch hers, the bell signaling the end of lunch rang. Hitomi and Van opened their eyes in surprise.

"Is lunch really that fast?" they asked in unison. A pause and then laughter rang out. The halls then started getting noisy with the arrival of the other students. Van stood up and looked towards the door. He then looked down at Hitomi with a grin.

"Here, take this." He handed her a card. Hitomi took it, looking curiously at it. "It's an invitation for a formal party tonight. Folken will pick you up and a dress is currently being delivered to your house. You can invite a friend." He then picked his bag up. Hitomi looked curiously at him.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I signed for half-day," Van explained. "See you tonight!" He waved cheerfully at her and then left. Hitomi looked at the door he just went through, puzzled. After a few moments, she shrugged.

"Well, he's still the same Van... Full of surprises... Doing things without a clear explanation."

XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD

Review Replies:

Kintora - Well... The question about Van not smiling... I don't know... Anyway, I hope you like how this chapter turned out!

Mitori/EscaflowneFreak - Thank you for loving my story! I'm happy to know that someone really loves it. I am evil to put cliffy... I think I was feeling evil when I wrote that chapter...

Anthius - Neither of those turned out! But don't get me wrong, I wasn't planning on doing either of those things. For one thing, Hitomi's left side was a window and on her right was Anelese. As for the slut part, I wasn't planning on making any of Hitomi's classmates sluts.

Jhoeydagger - I hope this is soon enough!

kmmgirly - Um... I hope your questions are answered in this chapter. Thanks for the review!

vampirechild - I don't think this fic will be finished soon but I'll try to update as soon as I can. That okay?

bookworym - I'm glad you liked that chapter. Everyone was upset about the cliffy. Thanks for reviewing!

LaVeNdErSaKuRa - So good to hear that you like it and that you made this fic an exception to your view towards AUs! Ihope you like this chapter!

Kiko cat - I'm glad you like it! Here's the next chapter! Hope you liked it as well!

BlueDreamer - Well, I already left you in suspense but I hope this chapter made up for it!

moggy - Good thing I typed it right! I hope you don't mind if I just type 'moggy'. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter!

Dark Cloudz - You also read my other fic? I'm currently stomped by that one but I've started the next chapter for it. I just can't finish it for some reason.

Katrina14love - Here's the continuation! Hope you enjoyed!

Cherry Dragon - I'm glad you think my fic is good. Thanks for reviewing!

raye - Here's the update. Enjoy!

I'm getting lots of reviews and it's making me happy! YAY! Thanks everyone!

Chisakami Saiyuki