AMBER & EMERALD

Author's Note:

Hey, I'm back! Yeah, altogether with a writer block in the head. Don't worry, 'cause I won't stop writing this story! I love it too much to stop! But I think more reviews will be a good boost for me .

On with the story!

Disclaimer: No, I did not, do not, and will never own Esca.

CHAPTER 13: FANEL MANSION

Hitomi turned right when the closet door flung open. Van stepped out from it, and she blushed from embarrassment. 'God, did he hear me singing?' she thought. Then a question popped in her mind. 'Was he in the walking closet all the time? What the hell was he doing in there?'

"Good morning," Van said, giving her his cocky smirk. "You have a nice voice. A strange thing, considering that you are a dangerous detective who wander around with a pistol and a whip."

"Yeah, but at least it is better than a thief who can't sing," she snapped back, remembering the last music lesson. 'My God, he can't even distinguish between C and D!' she snorted in her mind, glad because she had his weak point.

Van raised his eyebrows in irritation, but said nothing. He had lost, and he knew it. "Want to have some breakfast?" he offered, changing the topic.

Hitomi considered his offer for a while. She was indeed hungry, but having breakfast with Amber was not in her favorite list. What she needed was Yukari. A little chat with that red-head would do her good.

"We are in Fanel Mansion, aren't we?" she asked, letting her gaze wander to the scene outside.

"Yes," Van replied in impatience. "I assume that you are not hungry, then?"

Hitomi hesitated. "Well…," she said. "I am hungry, but it is better to know where I am before having a breakfast with a thief, right?"

Van frowned a little, yet then said, "We are in Fanel Mansion. The fact that you know it surprised me, Emerald."

"I have studied the blue-print of this place. Fanel Mansion is quite…'famous' for a thief, and it is better to be careful than never." She shot a glare at Van. "But now I know why you never 'visit' this place."

"What's the use of it?" Van chuckled. "This is my house."

"I know that," snapped Hitomi. "By the way, are you that cautious? In case you have forgotten, I can't get out of this room. The door is locked. Is this how you treat your guest, Fanel?"

Van gave her a sheepish green. "This is my room, but I never use the normal door. I lost the key several days ago. Haven't found it yet."

Hitomi felt the urge to slap the boy and laugh at his face at the same time. She decided not to do both. "There is another door, then?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Van nodded. "Follow me," he said.

Hitomi glanced around the room. 'So this is the headquarter of Amber the Thief,' she thought. 'What will SPEAR say if I tell them that I know the real identity of Amber and the location of his headquarter?'

'Calm down, Hitomi. You can't hand over your friend that easily,' she told herself. She felt a pang of guilt in her heart. Van trusted her, yet there she was, thinking about handing him over to SPEAR. 'Wait a minute,' she frowned. 'Why would SPEAR want him?'

Van stared at Hitomi for a long time. 'She seems to be deep in her thoughts,' he thought in amusement, admiring the sight. He had to admit, she was cute when she frowned like that.

"Admiring my headquarter, Emerald?" he teased, grinning naughtily.

Hitomi glared at him. "Shut up, Amber. Where is the breakfast?"

"Well, I haven't made it. I guess we have to make it together, then," he said, still grinning.

Hitomi looked around and realized that there were four doors in that room. The room itself was filled with shelves of books and blue-prints. Several computers stood on an enormous desk. A big fireplace stood on one side, and a sword—which she recognized as Amber's—was placed above it. There were also several cozy couches and sofas.

'Great place,' she murmured in her mind. She averted her attention back on the doors.

"The first door leads to a small bedroom. I slept there last night. You took my bed, remember? The second leads to the bathroom, while the third leads to the kitchen," Van expounded. His grin changed into an evil one. "Ready to cook, Emerald?"

Hitomi ignored him. Instead, a question ran in her mind. 'How about the fourth door?'

TO BE CONTINUED TO CHAPTER 14

This is definitely not my best chapter. Sorry, guys. Blame the writer block for this. The next chapter will be out next week. See you later!

R&R!