hey everyone! it's me again!

well who else would it be?

not much to say this time 'round so i'll make this short and sweet so you can get on with the story.

nlightnd- i'm glad that your enjoying it

mic- well i tried...hope ya like it

serenityrain2233- glad to hear that my story is one that helps spread Escaflowneitice (the infatuation of Escaflowne)

The Winggoddess- yes, he is fun, there's more of him in the chapters to come

mysisterthinksimasquijum- good

Macky- will 'til the end

Kat57- fun, fun, fun, for the whole family!

Yana5- more then likely

tear-drowned-angel- all shall be explained... i hope...

Chapter 35: New Friends?

Van really did look like he was about to punch the guy in the face, so Hitomi quickly moved to his side and took his hand in her own, causing a very light blush to appear on her cheeks, as she thought about what she was about to admit to her friends. "Every one," She started, and squeezed Van's hand asking silently for his support, as she was about to cut another anchor from her life on Earth. "I'd like all to meet my new husband, Van Fanel."

There was a very long, awkward silence as the four guys just stared at her, as if she had just told them, -quite convincingly- that pigs could fly. The silence was broken when the guy sanding nearest them filled the distance between him and Hitomi, created when she moved to stand beside Van, and placed the back of his hand to her forehead. "I'm perfectly fine, Kurisu." She protested as he then placed the backs of both hands to her cheeks.

"All right then. Who are you? And what have you done to Hitomi Kanzaki?" he asked, peering at her face like the tiniest clue would tell him who the mysterious person, who's face was now trapped between his hand, was.

"Why does no one ever believe that it is me?" she asked somewhat annoyed, as her lips were smooched together.

"Well," the guy who had first greeted them said thoughtfully, "Why don't you tell us something that only Milady would know?" Hitomi batted away the offending hands and rolled her eyes at the long used nickname she had earned herself.

There was a small pause while she thought of something that would satisfy her curious friends. "Well… Kurisu sucks his thumb then he's passed out, pissed dunk." this received rolls of laughter from the three spectators and a dignified "I do not" from the offending gentleman –if one would call him that.

"She's got you there." Chuckled Kurisu's opponent. He had black skin, dark brown eyes that looked almost black, and no hair. He was wearing what the other's were wearing, a black gi.

"Oh, shut up, Maketu!" Shouted Kurisu in a teasing voice "At least I don't drool and snore while I sleep. " this generated more laughter, and Van found it hard not to smile at the stupidity of their teasing. "So. You really are Milady." He stated, looking her up and down thoughtfully, "So where's the crack, and why aren't you sharing?"

Hitomi faked a hurtful expression, "You hurt me. You know perfectly well that I've never touched the stuff."

"Yea, Kurisu, you know as well as the rest of us that if Milady was caught with drugs in her system stronger then Aspirin it would be a national scandal." Teased the fourth guy, a young man of around seventeen, with shaggy blond hair.

"Oh, Miruton, your no fun." Pouted Kurisu.

"So, Van? You spar?" asked the first guy, as he absently tucked the shorter ends of his hair behind an ear as he noticed the unfamiliar sword hanging at Hitomi's side.

"Yea." Was his court answer.

"So, Hitomi, he can beast you?" the first guy asked, surprised.

"Naturally." This seemed to catch their attention once again, and forced it back on the stranger among them.

"I don't believe it! I haven't seen him in any of the circuits, and believe me I would have remembered this one, Frank." Kurisu responded.

"Well, Kurisu, not everyone goes to tournaments." Miruton pointed out. "Take Milady for example, it wasn't till two years ago that we got her to go to a tournament."

"True, True. But I find it quite hard to believe that there's someone out there that can best the 3rd ranked person in all of Japan."

"Then why don't you challenge this person to a duel, Kurisu? After all you are the 2nd ranked person in all of Japan." Came an elderly voice from the direction of a sliding door on the other side of the dojo, revealing a second, smaller room. "Or are my ears starting to fail me as well as my eyes?"

"Sensei!" Hitomi greeted the old man cheerfully, and bowed to him. "I'm happy to tell you that your hearing is just fine."

"Are you sure?" he teased, "For I thought that I heard that you're married. And that this fellow can best you at swords."

"That he can." She said with pride. As her sensei crossed the room to her and held her head between his worn and callused hands, and kissed her on the forehead in greeting. After he pulled back, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug.

"Now girl, where are your manners? " he mock scolded, as she released him. "Introduce us to the lad."

"That's what I was trying to do, but it's hard when you're only allowed to speak one sentence at a time, and that's answering questions!"

"Excuses, excuses." Sang Kurisu. As he flipped his hand brushing away her comment.

She just glared at him, and continued on with the introduction. "Everyone, I'd like you all to welcome my new husband, Van Fanel. Van, I'd like to introduce you to; Kurisu, he's an aspiring actor, " she indicated the guy standing a little ways away, with his back half turned to her, with his hands folded across his chest. "Maketu, he's a dentist," who stood closest to Kurisu, and smiled showing his teeth, which stood out against his black skin. "Frank, a beginner's teacher, " he raised his head in greeting, he was also the tallest of them all, rising a few inches taller then Van. "Miruton, student studying law." who swept in a low, mock, bow to the couple. "And my Sensei, Master Kirijini." He stood tall and proud in front of them, he eyes locked on Van, but seeing through him.

"It 's a pleasure to finally meet you all. Hitomi has said many good things about you all." Van said in response.

"It's nice to meet the guy who's finally caught the eye of our fair lady." Said Maketu.

Kurisu walked up to where Van stood and looked him in the eye, as best he could, and said in a overly seriously voice, "Van Fanel, I challenge you to a duel." Then in a less serious voice, "I would slap you with a glove but I think that I left it in my other gi."

this chapter could have been longer, but alas, i think that you have all waited long enough to know the name of the 'compition'

mysisterisasquijum