Hiya kidz! Thank you so much for reading my fic! see you make happy! But newayz same disclaimer applies, yada yada, don't sue you won't get anything worthwhile, blah blah blah. You understand so onward oh yeah! This contains VxH fluffy-ness cuz I needed some to make me happy. I don't own any of the songs in this fic either.

Memories: Part II

Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it.

Michel de Montaigne (1533 - 1592)

"Alright our beautiful young pupils we have the return of an excellent dancer, and what perfect timing too. But anyways this gorgeous student of ours has a name, dear Eriya please bring out Millerna," exclaimed Naria.

Out walked the blonde sister, with the girl who had the model's body and ripples of coveted fair hair. "Well now that we know our new friend, does anyone have any music suggestions?" asked Eriya. Her students started calling out names like: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, any "pop princess" (as the media liked to call them) that was note-worthy or extremely significant. Then there was the occasional punk groups mentioned, and even Prince and Michael Jackson were suggested. The dance teachers then called those wonderful yet horribly rude creatures commonly referred to as guys, who marched in.

That's exactly how they did it. They didn't walk, didn't prance, didn't trudge like they were being subjected to some cruel and unusual fate, didn't frolic; excited that they would be able to touch certain body parts of any good-looking girl without being slapped or condemned by their girlfriends. They simply marched, all serious and business-like, probably thinking they were entering the army rather than a dance class. Seeing them Millerna thought they were silly and needed to show a little more emotion, she was also starting to regret rejoining this dance school, if everyone was that boring she probably wouldn't pay attention for very long. Some people would swear that Millerna had A.D.D.

"Greetings gentlemen and Mr. Rogers were so glad you could accompany us in this competition. Now our young apprentices, Mr. Rogers will take over and tell you all about what we are planning to do over the next couple of weeks," explained Naria.

Mr. Albert Rogers cleared his throat smoothed back his russet coloured hair (a habit he had whenever he was addressing a crowd), and true to the army fashion of his own students placed his hands behind his back jutted out his chest and planted his feet shoulder width apart. He looked like someone in the Navy. Millerna was almost going to shout out "soldier at easy" but she resisted the urge and giggled inwardly instead.

"Now students after your performance next Sunday we will be getting straight to work. We have decided to make this almost like a play we will have two main characters a male and female, but all of you will play an integral part in this competition…," blah, blah, blah. It had been five minutes and Millerna would swear to you that he had efficiently found a way to say the same thing using different phrases. Lord this man could drone on about nothing—for a whole excruciating ten minutes—right she was thinking of…

"Millerna Aston thank you for volunteering!"

"Hmm?" a brilliant answer, from a brilliant student she thought inwardly. And she looked directly at the speaker of the voice determined not to be made an example on her first day there. Indigo eyes stared at defiantly at auburn orbs and she smirked the eyes smirked back. Uh-oh. Miss Eriya was smarter than she remembered…what did she volunteer for?

"But I'm afraid that your skill level is not as high as you will like to believe at this point in time, after all you have been out of practice. So I will ask Julia if she would be so kind to demonstrate," ordered the dance instructor her grin nearly a tangible presence, humiliation was the price for inattentiveness. And Julia glided to the front of the class an uncomfortable smile positioned her face at Millerna's almost sneer.

It was then that Millerna decided that she didn't like Julia.

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Ahhh the wonders of Saturday thought Van languidly. Saturdays were exquisite, it seemed that on Saturdays that the pressures of the previous days just rolled off in waves, collecting in imaginary storm clouds that wouldn't rain till Monday, bringing back it's stresses but leaving you in anticipation. Anticipation for Saturday. Yup Saturdays were beautiful.

But you see Saturdays could be ruined, and Van's, unbeknownst to him, was about to trampled by Merle's loving, scheming question. A question that even though would cause much deliberation in Van's mind he would answer 'yes' to no matter what. A question that would—unintentionally mind you—bring along painful memories of what once was. But you see Van would persevere, the stubborn bastard (his thoughts not mine) that he was, would fight the squeamish feeling, the feebleness crawling through him and he would conquer. He would rule. He would reign. All for Merle's simple question, all for Merle's quaint smile. "Hey Van do you wanna come dancing with me?" And all that Saturday was—his mental depressurization chamber—let all that weight back in.

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Just how had Millerna force her to come to this club? How? How? How! Oh yeah, she almost forgot how extremely gullible she was. 'Pathetic' she scolded herself and shook her head. Millerna had told her in that coaxing, bubbling, sparkling voice—that she knew she would soon loathe—how exciting it would be…it would be their first outing together. First, meaning that there would be more. Hitomi sighed; right now she would rather be at home completing the rest of her homework instead of partying her night away at some club. And her mother—that evil little witch—actually agreed with Millerna saying that Hitomi needed to get out of the house, that she needed to relax, she needed to be less serious about life. Hitomi "supposedly" chase away any great opportunities if she continued to wander through life with a frown and the tense atmosphere surrounding her. Hitomi slumped in the black barstool she was sitting on.

She looked angrily across the dance floor, Celena had long since disappeared and Millerna? Well Millerna was there at the center of the crowd sliding along some guy to the beat of the music. Blonde hair shone green and purple in the multi-coloured lighting and swish-bounced in perfect timing with her movements, like she was some sort of hair commercial model sporting a new shampoo. Hip-hugging—practically painted on is more like it—noir sleeveless jump suit, four inch heeled boots and a loose pink "off the shoulder" with long sleeves finished off her look. Somehow Millerna had mastered the peculiar art of looking inviting without displaying any skin. Hitomi looked down at her own clothes white sneakers, indigo close-fitting jeans (that couldn't rival Millerna's), navy blue zipper hoodie and a snow white tank top underneath. Basically same old, same old…she "hmph'd" once more; perhaps Millerna's father helped her pick out her clothes. Millerna seemingly reading Hitomi's thoughts turned around to face her and winked (who else winks but Millerna?), then separated herself from her dance and scuttled—as much as a girl like Millerna could scuttle—over to Hitomi and tugged her to the dance floor. Hitomi following, but protesting found herself crashing into a hard body when Millerna abruptly stopped, with an embarrassed frown on her face she looked up above the red t-shirt, she was in no mood for a confrontation, seeing the face however she grinned, "Hey Locker Boy!" Van growled angrily.

Shit. It was the only word that floated through Van's head. Shit, shit, and even more shit. That word encompassed his entire being as he stared down at her, because what the hell was she here for? Did she make up in her mind that she was going to stalk him? Why was she continually around him? She was everywhere this annoying girl who it seemed that a bug crawled up her ass and thus was motivated to, whenever the opportunity presented itself, drive him insane. And to think he had only talked to him a maximum of four times. He stared down at her icily…he didn't know what it was but there was just something irritating about her presence and whenever she was in his vicinity he needed to remove himself as quickly as possible. Her impossibly animated, large jade eyes glared up at him mischievously; maybe she was an imp at least that's what he looked like at that moment.

Their staring contest continued until Van realized Merle had disappeared. Unlocking his gaze, he began to thread his way through the moving crowd and then something happened. You see until now the music had been muted to him, he had unconsciously ignored it meeting up with Hitomi had caused that but now, now that he was all alone in this wave of bodies, he could hear. His mother loved this song, played it all the time, and every time she did he'd complain accuse her of trying to feminize him. His mind shuddered at all the thoughts all the memories that were trying to overwhelm him, because every time she played she smiled. The smile was so comforting so warm that no matter how much he whined, and no matter how many times he sincerely professed that he disliked the song he would smile too. Now that song…that hideous song taunted him, it proudly showed him all he had lost, and it smiled.

Suddenly Merle was there telling him how much she loved this song, how she wanted to dance with him, those azure eyes shimmering up at him. He was presented with a choice: face the song with brazen courage or cower in the washroom trying to erase the memories. And then Merle smiled…why was the whole world beaming when he couldn't? Why was his memory mocking him? Van could feel his knees begin to weaken, his breath was coming out in strangled pants and his memory churned. Apologizing to Merle he told her he had to go to the bathroom. Knees submitting to the cold tiles, face staring at the unnaturally still water Van lost the battle.

I won't go

I won't sleep

I can't breathe

Until you're resting here with me

And I won't leave

And I can't hide

I cannot be

Until you're resting here with me…

And the words continued to smile.

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Celena stared vaguely out in the crowd she had distanced herself from Millerna and Hitomi for a reason, she needed to think. Sinking deeper into the well-worn ash coloured couch her thoughts continued to wander. He was going to come back soon he told them when he left for Freid he would be back in two months. Two months of freedom, two months of decisions. She wished it was a year, in a year she would have drifted away just like her brother had, in a year she would be in Asturia in college never needing to return to that God-forsaken house, except to make an offer to her mother. Try to cajole her mother to come along with her. To evaporate in the mist, just like her. Life would be good then, life would be full of prospects, life would brimming with goodness as soon as she was free…But in two months this feel-good life of hers would end, it would abruptly come a trembling halt. He would knock on the door and proclaim he was home, and when no one would greet him, he would be enraged saying that he wasn't respected, he wasn't treated with dignity. Life and all its pains would coat her again like the cold sweat his company brought.

Sighing she decided to not think of such things. There was a chance, no matter how small, that two months could change him. Forever the optimist she believed that maybe, just maybe, in those sixty days he got himself some help and life would be good. Not great because it couldn't expunge all the horrific memories, but good because those days were gone they were over and life would go on how it was meant to. Yes, she decided there was still an inkling of hope left and covering her arms because of a slight chill that she felt, she grasped that hope. Clung to it, hope is after all what keeps us holding on. Hope; without it our dear Celena would be dead.

Chid watched her dance and his child like face grinned happily, he was looking for her while he was playing up on stage and he weaved through the bodies expertly. "Hey!" he greeted over the music and she looked up at him. Her face flustered and glowing with the youthful exuberance they both possessed. Similar coloured stared at each other and she asked him, "Well my dearest friend is there a reason you're immobilized there? Or have you forgotten the reason they call this a dance floor?"

"Why of course not Merle I was just temporarily struck by your beauty," he professed sarcastically, clutching his heart and then he continued, "the feeling has passed so now we can carry on." Smirking and bowing he asked, "May I have this dance ma amie?"

"Oh dear me, how can I refuse such a dashing prospect, with such proper etiquette and wonderful French? Of course Chid I'll spare you a dance. I do believe that you would are quite the gentleman!" Laughing Chid grabbed her hands and spun her around and she twirled in such a lady-like fashion in her aureate 50's dress that he chuckled some more. Winking, she led him backwards and he followed, they had danced so many times together that they practically followed each other's thought process. No one person was needed to lead, they just flowed like the ol' two-peas-in-a-pod.

While dancing Chid reminisced about all the "good times" that they had over the past years. The first time he met her he was six, all golden curls and muddy face from digging down to the clay in the sand box. Along comes this bouncy red headed girl in pink. Now according to boys, girls were synonymous with another "partner in an innumerable amount of crimes" unless she was wearing pink. At least according to Chid. So when she asked him what he was doing, he told her in his "angriest" mean-little-boy talk to "go away". She, being Merle, was definitely not intimidated; instead she laughed at him and parroting his voice told him no shaking her head vibrant hair and pink ribbon bouncing as well. Next she unexpectedly bent down and with a stick she found lying next to him, and dug beside him with a tremendous amount of feminine gusto. The two grubby faced children had made an agreement that day, unknown to them mentally, in their young, blossoming souls they had made a pact because it seems that nothing could break the bonds formed in an insignificant sandbox. And for all the days that were filled countless childhood (and teenaged) exploits, and witty banter Chid dipped her; Merle's laugh rang out above the beat of the music.

Sugar pie honey bunch

You know that I love you

I can't help myself

I love you and nobody else

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So seductive…

Pink lips parted blue smoke coiling away appreciatively from its pretty caged center. Smoking, almost all men complained how disgusting or unattractive it looked for a woman to participate in such a dirty habit. All those men had never seen Millerna smoke, because like most delicious actors out there she made smoking look sexy. A lot of women cursed her for that talent. Inhale. Exhale. And the pattern became continuous until, oh no, the butt met her finger tips.

She knew she shouldn't do that, not right after she had just had a dance-a-thon with numerous amount of partners, she should be catching her breath. But hell, she'd do what she wanted because she was now removed the ever watchful eye of her nanny. She shuddered as she thought of that woman, she never, never, wanted to see that woman again. That miserable human had stolen her innocence and she'd never forgive her for that. Her innocence was something was something that she prided herself in having, her mother or what she could remember of her was the epitome of child-like purity. And her sisters, they were immaculate almost to the point of being frigid. 'Too clean to take their tramp sister,' she thought angrily getting ready to light another cigarette. She decided against it, she didn't need anymore chemicals in her system than she already had.

Her sisters, she hoped God for all their goodness, damned their souls to hell. It'd serve them right, well…at least Marlene. That idiotic sister of her's, it was her fault that she ended up with that nymphomaniac of a nanny, because Marlene could have taken her. She could have kept her with her when she went off to university, and Marlene the perfect freak she was, wouldn't even have to pay for her. Their great grandfather founded the school after all. They were a legend at that school and her father had to pay a small amount for both his daughters to go to that prestigious 'Ivy League' facility. But nooo, Millerna would only bother her, she would have to be home early and couldn't bring boyfriends home after dates…like she even had any in the first place. And her inconsiderate, icy sister never once considered Millerna's or her father's feelings. Millerna felt worthless and her father was grieving the death of his wife, "unfortunately" his daughter had refused to help him out in his time of helplessness, and he was undoubtedly betrayed. See how far purity got you? It made you a bitch.

Listening to the thumping music she was once again sucked in; tucking and reorganizing her thoughts so that the upsetting ones were neatly tucked to the furthest corner Millerna decided to just dance. It was good for her, perhaps she imagined whimsically that they her cursed memories, while in the midst of her dancing, would flit away and she would be the carefree, innocent, virgin girl she was once before. Nah. She lifted her eyes to the dance floor and they met creamy brown. She would never be a virgin again, but she could definitely enjoy being heathen, and a smile curled her lips.

I'll take you to the candy shop…

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Merle and Hitomi were worried. Merle had somehow recognized her as the girl who talked to Van an on Friday (what a great memory) and had thus asked Hitomi if she had seen Van. He had apparently been missing for twenty-five minutes and Merle was beginning to feel anxious, she knew that Van was strong, stubborn and had amazing perseverance but she couldn't ignore what her mind was telling. He looked sick. He had since she had first met him but she had failed to acknowledge it, she had even heard him retch violently before. A nauseating sound that had made her stomach slosh with worry. Now he was gone, telling her specifically that he had to go to the bathroom. Dear God, she hoped he wasn't passed out on the bathroom floor.

Suddenly there he was—she silently praised whoever was up there—his tanned complexion looked almost hauntingly transparent and the flashing lights reflecting off the contours of his face, making him a colourful canvas that she so desperately admired. She hugged him. She was just so happy he was alright, fine, okay, in Van-working-order. That simple notion made her so…so incredibly happy that embracing him to be certain he was there and not still stuck in that dreadful bathroom was a must. She felt his body jump a bit from the hug but he didn't stiffen he just hugged back.

Van cursed his hands silently, silly little creatures, 'traitors' he told them. They just didn't understand the simple concept of stay away form Merle Hoshino, he'd swear at that moment that they were rebellious things that lacked the knowledge of obeying logical orders. Obviously his face was too, because he could feel his face stretched in a smile. Something that was bound to happen around Merle, 'backstabber,' he scolded angrily. But the anger wouldn't show on his face because his hormone induced reactions were taking over his mind. Feeling her curves mold into all his angles he rained down damnation on testosterone.

The symbol of elation that decorated Van's face caught her off guard. In all honesty it scared her. There was something beautifully disturbing about that smile, he looked wonderful when he smiled, just wonderful, it was so enchanting that she found herself staring. His permanent scowl which was present for her and the rest of the world did him almost no justice and that scowl was so very endearing most of the time, which was why she tolerated it with such good temperance. But that smile, it nearly alighted his eyes with its modest brilliance. Which was even more captivating, he saved it for Merle. Then for the second time that night envy had coated her mind…how she wished—although she would never admit it—that someone would give her that look. It would burn through her soul and for that instant everything and anything would be that smile. It was something that Hitomi-the-romantic waned for, and her brain, the sensible part in times like these, would tell her she didn't need that, she could survive without it. Logic had yet to figure out the line between surviving and living…the romantics already had.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment from watching them, seeing that they probably wanted their personal space she spun silently on her heel about to leave. Besides she needed to wallow in self-pity for a while, 'Damn romance,' she cursed, it always made her feel absolutely pathetic. However before she could sufficiently run away Merle turned and grabbed her pale arm. Looking up to see what she wanted she was forcefully dragged over to Van, "Merle what are you doing?" she questioned alarmingly as she was pushed softly into Van's arms. She looked up at Van's face and the smile was gone, he was frowning again and he looked a bit worried.

"Uh Merle?" he asked blankly, what a great response. He was so articulate.

"You two wonderful young people are going to dance together! And I will have no back talk from either of you, now go on and dance this spectacular night away! I'm off to find Chid so ta-ta for now my companions!" she spoke the incredulous glares given to her were ignored with that unique grin and her motherly scowl look plus the wave of her hand.

She was gone yes but that didn't mean she couldn't see them, and so Van did what he was told obedient to Mother Merle to the end, he pulled Hitomi into him and began to sway their bodies to the slow music. However he found some resistance from her what was she doing? "Are you trying to lead?" he inquired looking down at her his tenor voice ringing out over her.

"Do you have a problem with that?" she retorted that annoying smirk plastered over her face, her train thought was simple if she aggravated him enough he would eventually let her go. Perfect plan, and what better that to get into a gender-related argument with him? She was still thinking about that smile.

"I thought that the men were supposed to lead," he answered gruffly, she was turning out to be a difficult partner. But fine he could deal with her. He seriously needed to get over Merle she was making him submissive.

"Only if you're a chauvinistic bastard, which I think you are," she replied smile widening. Why oh why was it destined for her to see that smile, it was driving her insane with its romantic-charm. Such an enthralling smile, stupid Van for wearing it.

He could smell her hair and surprisingly it didn't smell like the ever oppressing hairspray, it was something more relaxed more comfortable and he enjoyed it. This made him glower down even more, 'No matter how great your hair smells you'll still be annoying little Hitomi,' it was then that he realized that she fit just beneath his lips, okay so she wasn't so little. He could see a random pimple or two placating itself on her face, he hated those too they made her seemed natural. She wasn't just some elaborately ornamented doll like most girls. "And you're a feministic homo I think we're even," he growled.

She despised him when he growled it made her mind wander to things that it shouldn't, it made her want him. She looked up and noticed how close her face was to his, this frightened her. She had never allowed herself such proximity with men, they were distrustful and you could never predict what they were going to do next. She always expected their hands to be roaming. Thankfully Van's weren't. She didn't like this, Van was being a decent human being, but all she had to do was wait. Yup, it was going to come and it would be soon, this would give her a reason to slap him and stomp away clearly displaying all the dignity she possessed…Wait did he call her lesbian? Stupid twit he was going to be castrated, and she told him so.

His mind began to wander. 'Whoa, calm down Van those thoughts are evil, disgusting, you should be burnt in hell they're so condemnable!' Foolish pituitary gland, idiotic chemical reactions, sometimes he hated all of the male species. Dirty things they were. He inhaled deeply her scent a heady mixture of Hitomi and her just plain fuzzy shampoo. Bad idea. He groaned inwardly and wondered if Merle had conspired to kill him. He looked down at her again maroon eyes glancing at forest green, her eyebrows had furrowed from their verbal fight but the grin was still plastered there, daunting. Making her look like a small child, an elf or something it was adorable… 'NO! NO! NO!' His mind yelled, all the same he wanted to touch that grin, wanted to see what it felt like. He told her she was a sadistic pervert and spun her around then and there to keep from doing anything that he would regret.

She twirled and for a miniscule second something other than that ridiculous toothy beam was placed on her face. She smiled. When she twirled back in though she was closer than before. Bad. Very bad. She could smell him, feel him. He smelt like the outdoors, he felt hard and soft all at once. He didn't smell like sweat even though she suspected she did, and he was so luxurious feeling that she didn't want to move. Thus she had too, things happened when people didn't go anywhere, the things that were swimming carelessly through her brain were some of the things. Things with wispy ebony hair and bronzed skin. His hands, those gorgeous objects, still hadn't tried to grope or violate and she wanted them to but they refused to. She wanted to slap some sense in his decent head. Then his hands threaded through her own. She knew it was an unconscious action on his part he was attempting to be a gentleman, but that act of doing practically made her sigh. His hand was on her lower back now and without warning he dipped her. She wanted to kick him for that. But it felt so fairytale-ish that she couldn't help but enjoy it. She was being intoxicated by this adolescent; she was burning him in her mind.

Where did the dip come from? Why was he finding the need to be creative? He didn't want to know. He felt slightly paganistic because there were so many images running and imprinting itself in his mind, like his brain had become a scanner and he was pasting all the images across the borders of his psyche. It was consuming him and he felt somewhat woozy. Woozy— oozy, images were created once more from that word. 'Damn you mind,' when he went home he was taking a cold shower. Lord, those cheeks void of blush were painted with the red splashes of anger she was flustered. Good. A thought pranced gleefully through his sanity. No not good, definitely not good. 'Vanish corrupt imaginings! Be slain vile imagination demon!' his mind screamed in protest. Shit, what was she doing to him? He gritted his teeth at the vision that blew past his mind. She was fighting again on a quest for dominance it was undeniably imploring. 'Stop!' his mind protested angrily. He could feel her heat emanate from her being and he needed to pull her closer, but alas he denied the pleasure…Pleasure? What pleasure? When had being in the company of Hitomi Kanzaki even been the slightest enjoyable! Bloody hell, he needed a cold drink.

She could feel his warm breath splay languidly across her forehead it smelled of cinnamon, the gum that he was chewing. It made her hungry. Ideas which she would rather not share bounded through her mind. That breath blew strands of her hair wildly, naturally framing her face her eyes shining from behind coming to the forefront, and with the verdure eyes she captured mahogany, cinnamon dusted chocolate seemed to melt her insides. She was particularly happy she had dancer's legs, or else she would have been jelly. Something flickered in those eyes as he insulted her again. Quietly, breathily. It was silk against her skin, she loved it. She hated it. It was so simple yet so complicated. Something touched her arm, she believed it was him. Yes finally he was sinking to that sex-crazed man she knew he was. She was going to go in for a mass murder. However it was just Celena, Celena telling her she—they—had to leave. No. Yes. No. She wanted to, to escape from him, to erase him from her memory from invading her stone wall where she hid her thoughts. But this dance couldn't, just couldn't end. And when she was leaving him about to tell him how nice it had been dancing with him in a sarcastic tone he was falling into her arms and she was saving him.

Van, although slightly dizzy, felt as if he was at home. He didn't like that at all…

Well that's it for this chapter, and plz do keep reviewing it would be greatly appreciated. I know, I know it's a little early for VxH fluff but there just so cute together I couldn't help myself! Thanks a bunch to all my reviewers starry eyed you make me feel special! well until we meet again… Ja ne!