I have gotten so many reviews! This has been such a big boost for me and I'm really sorry I haven't updated in ages! I've been really busy and school is getting harder and harder. I just had the chance to update this fic. since it's currently holidays.
The good news, however, is that I might update more regularly now... You see people, a friend of me discovered my pen name thus reading my fic. and surprisingly, she liked it so now I have to update more often so she doesn't lock me up in a dark room with a computer. (sighs) Now I can't escape from one of my reviewers...
Anyway, on with the story!
Thanks to my reviewers: (Sorry if I don't give you individual replies... There's just an increase in reviewers and I'm really happy about it! So please keep on reviewing!)
bookworym, Inda, Thetys, f-zelda, random, chibihitomi, Katrina14love, Anime Monkey, Annie, Anthius, kmmgirly, Jess, Cherry Dragon, MKILLUA, Xanthia Nightshade, RayxJade, lei, Shayera, Akane, sw33tdesiree, Shizuka-naTenshi, elena-maria (Elaine!)
XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD
An Innocent Promise
The Party
XDXDXD
True to what he said, as soon as Hitomi got home, she found a nice formal dress on her bed. Her mother had placed it there, smiling secretively at her daughter. Somehow, Hitomi had a feeling that her mother might know that the Fanels are back.
Anelese was staring at the dress in shock.
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed. "He must be rich! Oh Hitomi, I can't go! What am I supposed to wear! I'm gonna look like an idiot next to you!"
Hitomi couldn't help but grin. This was the very first time Anelese ever worried about her appearance.
"Then thankfully you invited me to come over," Millerna said, taking her mobile phone out. Yukari was examining the dress carefully.
"This is very beautiful and elegant," she commented lightly. "You never told us your childhood friend was rich... and by the looks of it, he's got style too if he chose this dress."
Hitomi looked over at the dress and agreed. She didn't know that Van's family would become this rich... It was just so very surprising! The dress was indeed beautiful. (A/N: Warning: I am ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS when it comes to dresses! So this description might be a bit blech! Anyway...) The dress was a nice shade of green, somehow bringing out Hitomi's eyes. The material was also light, smooth and whispery. Hitomi had a feeling that with it on her, it would flow beautifully to her ankles. A matching pair of shoes came with the dress.
"...And I mean everything, okay Marie-Paul?" Millerna was saying over her mobile. "It's a big situation and it's urgent... Okay, thanks. Bye." With that, she placed her phone back in her purse. "Don't panic people! Don't forget that no one can give a make-over better than yours truly! Having a bit of money also helps. My personal stylist will be here in a few short minutes to supply you two with dresses." She pointed at Anelese and Yukari. The latter frowned.
"I'm coming?" she asked blankly. "But he told her 'a friend', meaning 'ONE'! Anelese is ONE!"
Millerna, however, merely smiled. "But you forgot one small little detail, Yukari. I am going to be there and I'm allowed to bring a friend. Dryden has his own invitation so he doesn't count and I'm inviting you."
They all stared at her and said in unison. "You're invited to that ball!"
The young lady merely glanced at her manicured fingers. "Of course. After all, the Ashtons have a big deal with the Fanels."
Yukari and Anelese were staring at Millerna with awe in their eyes. She just never ceases to amaze them! Of course, Millerna would have some solution to their predicament - she always did. Dryden must be really happy to have her.
A few minutes later, Millerna's French stylist arrived with a pair of dresses and a huge briefcase full of make-up and hair products.
"Believe me, darling," Marie-Paul said, nose in the air. "The moment I saw a photo of your friends, I knew exactly what to get them. I'll be helping you with the hair and make-up so we are faster." Marie-Paul, surprisingly, didn't have a French accent but more of an English one. Millerna explained in a low voice that her parents were French but she grew up in England.
A couple of hours later, the four girls were ready. Millerna's boyfriend, Dryden, was going to be giving her and Yukari a ride since they weren't sure if they would all fit in Folken's car without future notice. Dryden, always early, arrived before Folken did.
"I figured you would be finished by now," Dryden stated as Millerna gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You're never late."
That was true. Unlike most rich women, Millerna always finished her preparation earlier than the time she gives. This didn't mean that she spent a small amount time in getting ready for anything, though.
"Hello Dryden," Anelese said with a smile as she bounced down the porch steps. She almost regretted doing so when her face almost met the hard concrete. Dryden had caught her. "Ahh! Stupid heels!"
Millerna frowned. "Ann, you're not supposed to hop, skip or jump while in heels. Didn't anyone ever teach you that?"
Anelese frowned in return. "Um, hello? This is the very first time I've worn heels, in case you forgot."
Dryden chuckled as he helped Anelese to her feet. "Come here, let me take a look at you."
Millerna just smiled as Dryden inspected Ann, not jealous at all. Ever since the two met, Dryden and Anelese treated each other like siblings. Both he and Anelese were the only child of their parents. Millerna herself has two sisters.
"You're growing up," Dryden said at last. Anelese beamed up at him.
"That's what Hitomi said when she saw me! Though I don't see why she would say that. I'm younger than her for just a few months! I'm a teen like her, not a child!"
Dryden chuckled while Millerna grinned. It was true and it was evident now that Anelese can look like a lady. Her short hair didn't look tomboyish at all, unlike usual, and the dress brought out her eyes. Her facial features, which looked like a boy's in the past, now revealed a young woman. Millerna was positive that Anelese would attract a lot of attention tonight.
The front door opened to reveal a nervous-faced Yukari. Anelese smiled encouragingly at her.
"Yukari, you look beautiful so stop being so nervous!"
Yukari gave them a nervous smile. "I'm just not used to wearing something so... so grand."
"Stop being so silly," Millerna reprimanded. "It's you who makes the dress beautiful, not the other way around. Right Dryden?"
Dryden's only reply was a low whistle. Millerna elbowed him sharply on the gut, glaring at him. Dryden merely gave her a rakish grin. Yukari blushed.
"If you say so."
Millerna looked at her watch. "Now, where's Hitomi?"
At that exact moment, Marie-Paul emerged from the door, a huge smile on her face. "Presenting Ms. Hitomi Kanzaki."
The three girls and Dryden gave a soft gasp. Marie-Paul had actually taken Hitomi in a separate room in order to give her a 'special' treatment because she's actually going to be in the ball to meet a guy. The three haven't seen her since now and they silently praised Marie-Paul's wonderful work.
"W-why are you staring?" a blushing Hitomi asked.
Anelese was the first to recover. She gave a small frown. "We're gonna look like idiots next to Hitomi." Yukari and Millerna nodded their heads in agreement.
"W-what are you talking about?" Hitomi asked as she descended the steps.
"That Fanel sure has taste," Yukari commented. "You look like a princess Hitomi... about to meet your prince."
"This is so romantic!" Millerna gushed. "Oh wait 'till he sees you! He is going to drop dead!"
Hitomi smiled, more at ease now and less nervous. "I hope not."
"So we're going ahead," Dryden said as he looked at Millerna and Yukari. The two girls nodded.
"I hope I remember what Folken looks like..." Hitomi was biting her lower lip.
Dryden gave her a smile. "Folken Fanel is a person very hard to forget. I've met and talked to him a couple of times. I'm sure you'll know it's him when you see him."
As soon as Dryden and the two girls got into the car, an elegant black car stopped right behind Dryden's car. From the driver's side emerged a tall man with aqua-colored hair and lavender eyes. Hitomi recognized those eyes immediately, realizing Dryden was right.
Folken Fanel was a person very hard to forget.
Dryden opened his window and gave a wave to the oldest son of Goau Fanel. Folken gave a small wave back and with that, Dryden left with Millerna and Yukari.
"Hitomi," Folken greeted as soon as she was in earshot. "The last time I saw you, you were this small." He held his hand up to his waist. Hitomi smiled. Folken looked as serious and threatening as before but she knew deep down that he was a gentle man.
"Hello Folken," she greeted in return. "Long time no see. How did you recognize me?"
Folken shrugged but his eyes danced. "Van's description. By the way he went on about it, you would think he was talking about a goddess." Hitomi quickly blushed. Giving the younger girl time to recover, he looked over Hitomi's shoulder at a suddenly bashful Anelese. "Who's the pretty young lady?"
Hitomi nudged her cousin from behind her. Anelese held out a hand.
"I'm Anelese Kanzaki, Hitomi's cousin," she introduced herself. "Pleased to meet you."
Instead of shaking her hand, Folken took it gently in his and gave it a kiss. Anelese quickly blushed. She had never met a male so polite and gentlemanly before.
"The pleasure's all mine," Folken said before straightening up and letting go of her hand. "Well, we better be off so we can get there in time... Unless of course, you believe in being fashionably late."
Hitomi laughed nervously. "No, we can go now."
With that, the three headed for the ball.
XDXDXD
"Bored Van?"
Maroon eyes suddenly focused sharply on the male in front of the eyes' owner. Electric blue eyes met the maroon ones, amusement mixed with boredom in their depths. Van Fanel frowned at the blonde in front of him.
"I thought you weren't going to make it, Allen," he said slowly. Van didn't dislike Allen but he wasn't exactly Van's favorite person either. The reason will be revealed later.
"My father's meeting with the German ambassador was cancelled," Allen replied with a shrug. "Therefore, we were able to find the time to be here."
Allen's family had a harsh history. They were one of the richest families in the world but a bad contract with another company lead to their swift downfall. Allen's mother died when he was just about a year old, following their family's demise. The Fanels, being charitable people, had taken Allen under their wing while Mr. Schezar tried to recover all his lost assets. Allen and Van didn't really get along when they were children. Allen felt that Van was immature despite the fact that he was a kid while Van felt that Allen was a big snob. Van also felt threatened by Allen since when they were children, Allen was seen as the physically perfect child with his golden locks and blue eyes. That and the fact that Van's childhood best friend and crush had a crush on the perfect little child that was Allen Schezar.
In fact, now that he thought about it, what if Hitomi remembers Allen and her crush on him resurfaces. Van Fanel just realized that Allen can be a threat.
Van scowled at this realization. Why didn't he see this before? Stupid Allen just had to be here of all times!
He'll just have to make sure that Hitomi doesn't see Allen. This place was big after all.
XDXDXD
Red eyes observed the scene before it closely and with some disgust. It was just the owner's luck that he had to have this shift tonight.
It really disgusted him how all these rich people gathered together to have a party and celebrate when lots of other people starved and didn't have any money at all outside this building.
He gave a fake smile when a couple of rich girls with alluring gowns smiled coyly at him as they took champagne from the tray he was holding. How he wanted to just spill all the champagne down their dress. If they think that just because they were rich and he was waiter, he would let them get him to do whatever he wanted then they were in for a huge surprise. He wasn't going to be some-
Everyone suddenly became quiet. They were also all looking at one direction. The waiter looked at the same direction to see what the commotion was.
Four girls and two men were standing on top of the grand staircase. From the distance he was in, the waiter could clearly see that it was these people who rendered the whole ball speechless. The four girls were clearly different from one another but they all made a striking combination.
"Great," the waiter muttered under his breath. "More women."
XDXDXD
"They're staring..." Yukari said under her breath. "Why are they staring?"
"It's a good sign," Dryden said with a grin. "It means you knocked them out cold."
"Meaning we're drop-dead gorgeous," Millerna quipped with a mischievous smile.
"It's making me uncomfortable," Anelese hissed under her breath, her hold on Folken's arm tightening. Folken politely ignored the fact that both his arms were losing blood circulation. Anelese was on his left while Hitomi was on his right.
"Don't worry too much," Folken whispered. "Dryden is right."
"See?" Dryden just had the urge to say so. Millerna was on his left while Yukari was on his right. The picture they made on top of the grand staircase went in this order: Yukari, Dryden, Millerna, Hitomi, Folken and Anelese.
And so, the six descended the staircase.
XDXDXD
She's so beautiful, was the thought that went through Van Fanel's head as soon as he saw his Hitomi. Unfortunately for him though...
"Is that Hitomi Kanzaki?" Allen Schezar asked as he stared at Van's Hitomi.
Damn.
Before Van could do anything else, Allen had gone to Hitomi and bowed to her. Gritting his teeth, Van followed.
XDXDXD
Hitomi was getting really creeped out with all the eyes that were focused on her and her friends. She tried scanning the crowd for Van but before she could, a tall handsome blonde approached her. Hitomi looked up at him in awe. He was so handsome and... he looked so familiar.
"Hitomi? Is that you?" he asked in a pleasingly deep male voice. Somehow, Hitomi felt her insides melt.
And that was when she suddenly recognized those beautiful blue eyes.
"Allen?" she said hesitantly. "Allen Schezar?"
She almost sighed out loud when Allen's mouth slowly curved into a heart-stopping smile. "You remember," he said softly.
Hitomi blushed as she looked at her fumbling hands. "H-how can I forget? We were close friends." And you were my very first crush... Why am I reacting to him like this?
Allen gave her a gentle smile. "Yes, we were close."
Little to the knowledge of the two, Hitomi's three girl friends were staring at them, along with Dryden Fassa. Folken had left them.
"Oh my gosh!" Yukari squealed. "He is so handsome! Is that Van Fanel? If he is, I am soo jealous of Hitomi!"
"No, that's not Van Fanel," Anelese replied, answering Yukari's question. She looked very curious. "I wonder who he is though."
Millerna was frowning slightly. "I'm not sure... Dryden, is that Allen Schezar?"
Dryden merely nodded, his look serious. "It is. I've seen him just once with his father. His mother died when he was young... sickness they say but there are rumors that she died of childbirth. The thing is, Allen doesn't have a sibling. No one really talks about it."
"I think I saw him once," Millerna said thoughtfully. "It was when Marlene had to do some charity work... he was there as well."
Anelese stared at Allen. There was something about him...
Van finally reached Allen and Hitomi after subtly fending off some ladies and gentlemen, who approached him. To his dismay, Van saw that Hitomi was already very comfortable with Allen, laughing at some of the things he was saying.
After giving a small cough to get their attention, Van's heart wrenched when Hitomi looked a bit disappointed at being interrupted. However, upon seeing that it was him, her eyes widened in happiness and she approached him shyly.
"Hello," she greeted with a soft voice.
"Hello," Van greeted in return. He slapped himself mentally. What kind of comeback was that! He was so confident with her this morning! "You... look very nice. No, that's wrong... Beautiful."
He saw, with some satisfaction, that Hitomi's cheeks flushed prettily. "Thank you," she whispered almost inaudibly. Van caught it though. He smiled.
"I'm glad you're all reunited," a blond lady cut in smoothly. "But it would only be polite, and right, Hitomi, if you introduced your friends to your childhood friends."
Van watched as Hitomi suddenly beamed at the women that approached them. So these are her new friends, Van thought. She seems to be really comfortable with them. He felt a small pang of jealousy but quickly brushed it off.
"Van, Allen," Hitomi began. "These are my closest girl friends. This is Millerna Ashton-" Millerna was the one who had asked for an introduction. Van immediately noticed that this was a girl you do NOT mess around with. He also realized that this was Dryden Fassa's fiancee. "-Yukari Uchida-" Yukari was a very pretty redhead. Van noticed that she was looking thoughtfully at Allen. "-and last but not least, my cousin, Anelese Kanzaki."
Van immediately felt Allen stiffen next to him. He gave his blonde companion a glance and saw that Allen was staring at Anelese with eyes wide with shock. It wasn't an admiring shock though. It was a disbelieving shock. Van looked back at Hitomi's cousin and saw no resemblance between her and Hitomi. In fact, if his eyes weren't deceiving him, he'd say that Anelese almost looks like Allen...
When Allen continued to stare at Anelese, Van gave him a very subtle nudge, waking the blonde from his stupor. A waltz suddenly filled the air and Allen turned to Anelese, his hand held out in front of him.
"May I have this dance?" he asked gravely. Anelese looked as if he just asked her if she could run a mile in less than ten seconds with her heels.
"Go on," Millerna said, nudging her. Yukari also nodded her head in encouragement. Anelese slowly approached Allen and placed her hand in his. In one swift movement, Allen was able to pull her to the dance floor and start dancing in tune with the music.
"What was that staring thing all about?" Yukari asked. Her eyes then brightened. "I remember who he looks like now! Amano!"
"No wonder you were staring at him," Millerna said slyly. She and Yukari suddenly paused and looked at Hitomi and Van.
"We'll be there near the food table if you need us Hitomi," Yukari said, glancing at Van. "I need a drink. Come on Millerna."
Millerna followed Yukari, giving Hitomi a wink. The brown-haired girl quickly blushed.
There was an awkward silence following Millerna and Yukari's departure.
"So-" began Van but was quickly interrupted.
"VAN!"
Hitomi watched as a pink-haired girl gave Van a tight hug, almost causing them to fall to the floor if it weren't for Van's good reflexes. Hitomi quickly recognized that pink hair.
"Merle!" Van almost yelled. "Not in front of all these people!"
Merle let go of him but held onto his arm. "You promised to introduce me to Hitomi! You promised!"
Van sighed exasperatedly. "She's right there in front of you."
Merle looked at Hitomi, as if noticing her for the first time. She quickly let go of Van, her eyes widening.
"Wow! You're pretty! Way prettier than-"
Before Merle could say anything more, Van quickly clamped her mouth shut. Hitomi looked confused.
"Prettier than who?" she asked. Van glared at Merle.
"No one," he said with a meaningful look at his sister. Merle nodded to signal her understanding and he let her go.
"I'm Merle Fanel," the younger girl introduced herself. "I think you're pretty. Are you kind too?"
Hitomi sweatdropped. "I can't really be the judge of that."
Merle's eyes suddenly narrowed dangerously. Hitomi suppressed the urge to swallow. "You should be," Merle said, voice dangerously low. "Or else I'll be really, really upset."
Van placed a hand on Merle's shoulder, a weak smile on his face. "Merle, stop that. You're scaring Hitomi." He then looked at his childhood best friend. "She's a bit protective."
Hitomi nodded her head in understanding. She knew exactly how that felt. Mamoru would always glare at any boy who tries to approach her with a brotherly protectiveness despite the fact that he was younger.
"Well," Merle said after a while. "I'm going to look for Folken. He wants to show my skills off to some people. See ya' later!"
With that, she left.
"Skills?" Hitomi echoed. Van nodded, a small smile on his face.
"Merle has a photographic memory. That's not the only thing. Her memory is unique from others. She can actually organize her mind in categories in order for her to easily pick out one particular memory. It's really amazing."
Hitomi stared at the short teen-ager who was now in the presence of her eldest brother. She was chattering animatedly with the older people her brother was with, not seeming to be lost at the conversation but was rather at the center of it.
"She must be really smart," Hitomi commented. Van nodded his head, also looking at his sister.
"She is."
There was another awkward silence as the two pondered on what to say to the other.
XDXDXD
Anelese was really getting freaked out with the way Allen Schezar was staring at her. Ever since the dance started, his eyes haven't left her face for at least a second. Anelese knew that her face was all flushed with all the attention she was getting from this young man. However, she wasn't physically attracted to him - not at all. He was not her type, she decided.
Mercifully, the dance finished. Allen reluctantly let go of Anelese while she, on the other hands, was all too happy to get away from him. He wasn't bad - he just made her so nervous.
She looked up to thank him but was stopped short when she saw immense sadness in his eyes.
"A-Allen?" she stuttered. She gasped when Allen raised a gloved hand to cup her cheek with, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.
"Y-Your eyes," Allen started. "They're like my mothers... Identical with the ones in her pictures."
Anelese stepped away from him, eyes wide. "That's just pure coincidence. I-I'm not related to your mother... Sorry." With that, she ran away from him, surprisingly not tripping with her heels. Allen watched her go, not daring to follow. She disappeared into the garden.
XDXDXD
The red-eyes waiter scowled as he mumbled under his breath, walking deeper into the garden. He sat down on one of the benches hidden from the guests' view.
As usual, a rich woman tried to get him to... go with her someplace. Now, he really didn't mind women at all. In fact, he liked women enough. The only issue was that he hated rich women. In fact, he hated all rich people. It was just his luck that the only job he could get was in this country club for the rich.
He took a silver lighter from his pocket and started flicking it open then close, open then close, open then close, and so forth. He was so focused with the lighter that he didn't hear the running footsteps approaching his bench. Before he knew what was happening, a girl burst from walk path and stumbled and fell on the ground. Curses followed after the fall. The waiter quickly stood up but didn't go over to her to help her.
The girl slowly sat up and turned to look at him. She had such pretty violet eyes.
"Well? What are you staring at? Help me here!"
Instead of walking over to her, the waiter merely crossed his arms across his chest. "And why should I?"
The girl frowned. He couldn't help but notice how cute she looked when she did that. "Don't you work here? Isn't it in your job description or something to help guests? I think I sprained my ankle... Stupid heels."
"That's what you get for wearing such high heels," the waiter replied with a harsh note.
"Well, I didn't want to wear them in the first place!" the girl shot back. "I was forced to wear them! Do you seriously think I can afford these shoes! They have diamonds on them for goodness' sake!"
The waiter paused as he looked cautiously at her. "You're not rich?"
"Heavens, no!" the girl replied emphatically. "These things I'm wearing are all borrowed. My cousin was invited and she wanted me to come along. These dresses and shoes are my friend's. She's the one who's rich."
Slowly, the young man bent down on his knees to look at her ankle. He hissed in sympathy. It was really red and swollen and he knew that this was going to get bigger. She was in dire need of medical attention.
He turned his back on her. The girl looked curiously at him. The waiter rolled his eyes.
"Come on. Get on my back and I'll carry you to the clinic in the second floor." The girl nodded in understanding and carefully wrapped her arms around his neck. He hoisted her onto his back as she quickly grabbed her shoes.
"I can't leave them," she reasoned when he gave her a look. Rolling his eyes again, he walked towards the country club.
"I'm Anelese Kanzaki," the girl said softly as to not hurt his ears. "What's your name?"
"Why do you want to know?" the waiter replied gruffly.
"So I can thank you properly... even though you're so grumpy."
There was a long pause. Anelese sighed, about to give up when he spoke.
"Dilandau Albatou."
XDXDXD
Van and Hitomi were still silent, talking about whatever that comes to the tip of their tongue - making the conversation random.
This was not working as Van planned. He was supposed to give her a new ring tonight but he couldn't find the guts to do so! No after Hitomi saw Allen!
Ever since they were little kids, Allen always got in Van's way. They were constant rivals for everything. The thing that irked Van the most, however, was the fact that when it usually came to Hitomi, Allen usually wins. Why like that? Someone up there must really dislike him.
But now was the perfect chance and he was blowing it! After taking a deep breath, Van placed his hand in his pocket and slowly took out a small velvet box.
XDXDXD
"Hitomi..."
Hitomi turned to look at Van and as soon as she did, her breath caught in her throat. He was staring so intently at her that she almost forgot to breathe. He obviously wanted to say something very important.
But what?
Hitomi's heart suddenly raced. What was he planning on doing? Was he seriously going to ask for her to marry him? But they were still a year off the legal age. He couldn't be, could he?
But Millerna was the same age as them and she was already engaged to Dryden. Was she and Van going to be the same?
And what about Allen? Hitomi wasn't sure what she exactly feels for her childhood crush but she was sure that there was something. Every time he looked at her or spoke to her, she would feel so lightheaded and nervous - at the same time, feel really good. Hitomi didn't understand what these feelings were but she was positive that they shouldn't be ignored. If she did, she knew there would be grave consequences.
"Hitomi..."
Van's voice roused her from her stupor. Hitomi gasped softly when Van took her hand gently in his - his gaze making her feel warm. His maroon eyes were just so deep with... pent-up emotion?
Was he going to do it?
One look in those eyes told her he was.
Or maybe he was planning to since at the exact moment he opened his mouth, a female voice rang in their silence.
"Van! There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"
Hitomi watched in confusion as a stunningly magnificent woman with beautiful green eyes and silky black hair approached them. Hitomi noticed Van suddenly wince as he turned around to face the woman.
"E-Elaine... What are you doing here?" (A/N: LOL! elena-maria, I can't breathe from laughing!) he asked, eyes wide with horror.
"Van, darling-" She said the 'darling' as if the word didn't have an 'r'. "-is that the way to greet me? Who's your lovely friend, hmm?"
"My name's Hitomi Kanzaki," Hitomi introduced herself, not liking this woman one tiny bit. Who was she to Van? "And you are?"
Elaine laughed. It was a beautiful laugh which ran like sweet bells. However, Hitomi didn't like it one bit.
"Van, you naughty boy," she said with a playful slap at Van's arm. "You never talk about me, do you?"
"Elaine-" Van tried to intervene. Elaine, however, held up a hand to stop him, her eyes on Hitomi's. Both eyes were a beautiful emerald shade.
"I am Elaine Deville, Van Slanzar Fanel's fiancée."
XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD
(wipes sweat off forehead) For you people, I spent an entire FOUR hours on that! As in no stopping! My fingers really hurt! You'd better appreciate what I'm doing for you by reviewing! And I hope you liked that chapter! I'm a bit... um... well... Anyway...
Okay, I introduced a lot of characters in that one: Dryden, Allen and yes, Dilly! I wasn't really planning on putting him in but I did. Well, like I said, I sometimes stray away from plans. Sorry if he's a bit OOC. Plus, I also introduced an OC. And I BET a lot of you now realize that Anelese is NOT an OC! For those who don't realize that fact, then wait for the next chapter!
Anyway, please review and as usual, NO FLAMES! Criticism accepted.
Chisakami Saiyuki
P.S. Did I mention that was the longest chapter I've ever written in