AMBER & EMERALD

Author's Note:

Sorry for the extremely long wait! There were exams, projects, and etc. I thought I was going to die of exhaustion… Once again, sorry! I am also working on two other fanfics and two stories. Yes, I am a busy person….

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. You can understand that, can't you?

CHAPTER 16: REASONS

Hitomi didn't even blink when Van said that. "Oh," she said. "Thanks for telling. That makes me feel better," she added sarcastically.

Van ignored her sarcastic comment. Instead, he asked, "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure," she replied with a shrug. "As long as I can answer it."

"Why do you agree to join me?"

Hitomi's eyes gleamed strangely, as if filled with hidden emotion and unknown reasons—reasons which she herself did not know. "I don't know," she said in monotone. "Perhaps if I do have a reason, that must be because of joining you means I can have more chances to avenge the death of my parents."

Van stared at her, but said nothing.

For a few minutes, the room was in silence. Hitomi was the first one to speak up; and when she did, a faint blush was coloring her cheeks. "Perhaps…it is because I trust you."

Van raised his eyebrows. "Easy to trust a stranger, aren't you, Emerald?" he half-joked.

"I have chased you for quite long to see that your words are quite trustable," Hitomi snapped back hotly. "Still a joker, aren't you, Amber?"

"Forever," Van said proudly, earning a sharp thwack on the head as he did so—courtesy of a super-thick encyclopedia and Hitomi.

Hitomi waited as Van talked on the phone, arguing about lunch with someone across the line. "NO, you DON'T need to come. I can cook myself something…" (Hitomi rolled her eyes, thinking about the breakfast accident.) "My friend is here. I'm going out to have some lunch with her." (The caller shouted "WHAT! I DON"T KNOW YOU HAVE ANY FRIEND!".) "I HAVE friends. I'm closing the phone." And the line went off.

"Who is that?" Hitomi asked curiously. "Your girlfriend?"

"Nay, don't have any girlfriend besides you," Van said, and immediately found himself being punched by another large encyclopedia. "Hey, you are a girl and you are my friend! That makes you my girlfriend, doesn't it!" he protested.

"Save your silly jokes for later," Hitomi snorted. "Answer my question and I'll treat a quarter of your lunch."

Van grinned. "My stepsister, Merle. Sometimes she is so annoying to be true."

"Serves you right," Hitomi said uncaringly, smirking. Yet her smirk disappeared when Van started to give her the puppy dog eyes—dangerous and critical-hit ones. She groaned inwardly, 'How can he be so cute when he wishes to? Unfair!'

"Don't," Hitomi growled. "…do that to me."

Instantly, she knew it was wrong to say those words, for it gave out her weakness.

And Van used it as an advantage, with a very sly and tricky way: he doubled up the…uh…'intensity' of his eyes.

The result was amazing, so outstanding that it surprised him beyond all limits, for Hitomi Kanzaki suddenly shouted to his face, "I LOSE! YOU WIN! I TAKE MY WORDS BACK! HAPPY?"

Van smirked in amusement. "Satisfied," he agreed. "Don't forget your words about treating a quarter of my lunch, Emerald."

The only reply he got was a GIGANTIC encyclopedia thrown at him in such an incredible speed that surpassed the speed of the balls of world-class pitchers.

"OUCH!"

TO BE CONTINUED TO CHAPTER 17

Sorry, but this chapter is kinda short and pointless. Merle's name is here. The next chapter will be 'heavier' than this one. I promise you!

R&R!

Celon Ierith