Chapter 4

Six years later and life went on as usual. Well, not as usual. Toys were outgrown, people left town and others moved in, and the children were slowly moving closer to adulthood. Hitomi and Van found themselves entering their freshman high school year. Meanwhile, Seth and Merle entered their junior year of middle schoo. Well, as their moms always proclaimed, 'they grew up fast'.

Life really was hectic for them all. Hitomi and Yukari juggled homework with track meet, and a social life. Van could usually be found at the local dojo if he wasn't glued to his computer screen playing the odd computer games and listening to music. Seth was doing his best to pick up his grades. Last year he almost failed math and history.

As for Merle, she seemed the most carefree of the bunch. She really didn't have much to worry about. She did well in school and excelled in the arts. Merle loved to paint, draw, and work with clay. However, she was under constant pressure to do well from her mother. Varie wanted her only daughter to be successful in life and she always tried to shape her into a 'proper' lady. Merle knew her mother's goal for her and being the free sprit she was, she rebelled against it. Starting with her hair. To Varies's astonishment and horror, Merle came home one day with vibrant pink hair. Oh how she screamed! Merle stood her ground and stubbornly refused to change it. So it stayed pink, after a very lengthy discussion with her parents. Her father thought that her hair was perfectly fine pink and finally convinced his wife to tolerate it.

Folken finished his schooling and became a teacher. He claimed that he seemed suited for the job, since he had to handle siblings that were much younger then him. Unfortunately, he had to move out of town in order to get a teaching job. Sora, his girlfriend of seven years, went with him and they moved in together. He was sorely missed by everyone and came to visit whenever possible.

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Hitomi lounged across her bed with her head slumped over the edge. She stared mindlessly at her upside-down bedroom while chatting on the phone to Yukari. The girls were looking forward to the weekend. The first month of school flew by. They couldn't believe it was already October.

"No Yukari! If you like him that much you should say something…Uhuh, uhuh. Really? Wow, that's unbelievable! Well Yukari, you should-" She stopped mid-sentence.

There was a knock at her door. Assuming the worst-case scenario, Hitomi grabbed a pillow from off her bed and focused her attention onto the door. She was prepared for anything her brother was ready to throw at her, be it a flying projectile or a half-formed insult.

The brass knob turned suspiciously slow. Hitomi braced herself for his entrance.

"Hitomi? Hitomi, are you even listening to me?" Yukari complained from the other end of the phone.

"Yeah, give me a second…"

The door swung open to reveal an unsure Van towering in the doorway.

"Oh it's just you." Hitomi dropped the pillow down slightly in disappointment.

"Okay, what is it with girls and talking on the phone? It's Yukari, right? Why don't you invite her over? She lives down the street." Van's eyes took in the surroundings of her room as he casually strolled into her room. He took a seat at her desk.

Hitomi stared at him in puzzlement. "That's none of your business. What do you want, Van?" Her hand reached out in search of the dropped pillow.

"I was looking for Merle."

She rolled her eyes "Obviously she's not here. She's probably playing video games with Seth, as usual. You know that as well as I do," she stated flippantly.

Van ignored her. He still can't take a hint. She sighed.

"Aren't you going to go look for her? That's why you're here right?"

Van shrugged in response. "There's no hurry. What's so wrong about spending time with one of my friends?"

Hitomi straightened from her upside down position. "You mean a person who barely tolerates you when you say 'friend' right?"

Van chuckled "You could say that. Whatever, it doesn't matter because frankly, you're stuck with me." He pulled out his Discman out of the font of his baggy red hoodie and snapped the earphones into his ears. He clicked his music on and put his feet up onto her desk, much to her annoyance.

"Fine you can stay. Whatever I don't care but- get your feet off my desk!" Hitomi shot him a death glare that convinced him to put his feet down. Once he'd done that, she turned her attention to Yukari, patiently waiting on the phone still.

"Is Van over again?"

"Yeah, what a bother."

"But he is kinda cute."

"Only if you don't know how annoying he is."

"I guess you'd know better then I would." Yukari laughed

"Yeah, yeah. So, are you going to ask Miguel out or what?"

" I really don't know, Hitomi. I like him but I don't know if I like him that much."

" I say you should just ask him out. He's always talking to you during math. If it doesn't work out then no big deal."

" I don't know Hitomi…"

"Think about it. Are we still on for shopping tomorrow?"

"Aren't we always? I really need new shoes…"

Hitomi sighed. "Yukari, you always get new shoes."

"So? Nothing wrong with that."

"But your closet is full to bursting with just shoes! Maybe you should get rid of a few pairs."

Yukari gasped "How can you even suggest that? You can never have too many pairs."

"Don't you think you're getting a bit obsessed with them?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Guilty as charged."

"Yukari are you still on the phone? Time to get off. I need help with supper. You can call Hitomi later. Yukari?" a muffled voice chimed in the background

"Well, looks like I have to go. I'll call you back in a few."

"Okay, bye Yukari."

"Bye."

Hitomi turned her cordless phone off with a cute and delicate beep. Van was still reclining in Hitomi's chair, tapping his fingers on her desk in beat with the music. Hitomi placed the phone onto her night stand and meandered about her room. She took a sidelong glance at Van and came to a sudden realization.

"Hey Van?" She tapped his shoulder to get his attention.

"Yeah?" He paused his music to listen to her.

"It's Friday, so how come you're not at Gaddess' house?"

Van nonchalantly shrugged. "He's gone paintballing with Allen." With that, he smoothly turned his music back on and set the volume to max.

This is what I get for trying to have an intelligent conversation with him. Hitomi swallowed the urge to strangle him and yanked on of his earphones out. Van looked up with a startled expression.

"And why didn't you go with them? You love paintballing."

Van shrugged yet again "I didn't want to," he said flatly. Van recovered his earphone and was in the mid-motion of placing it back into his ear, when Hitomi caught his wrist.

"You just can't stand Allen. Am I right?" He stared at her in complete silence. He didn't even shrug.

"I knew it." She let go of his wrist and smiled smugly.

"So what if I don't like him." He tensed and waited for Hitomi to respond. He had a feeling that she was going to say something that would most likely make him look foolish.

"Why are you letting that get in the way of spending time with Gaddess? Huh?" She shook her head in disappointment.

Van opened his mouth to say something but closed it again.

"So, what do you plan on doing if Allen wants to tag along again?" Hitomi leaned in closer and waited for an answer.

Van's fingers itched to put his earphones back on so he could crank his music back up to max in order to ignore Hitomi. He wouldn't do that however because she'd probably do something drastic like attack him. He didn't want his Discman harmed.

"I don't know." He thought that was the right answer or maybe not but what else was he supposed to say?

Hitomi brought an exasperated hand to her forehead. "Man, you have some serious social anxieties. You know that don't you?"

Van pushed his chair back and stood up to his full height. "This coming from the girl who can barely utter a word to Amano. Why don't you just get it over with and ask him out? You know you want to." He smirked.

Hitomi gasped and found herself unable to say anything to that.

"Come on, I know you like him."

A rush of embarrassment and slight rage tinted her cheeks red. " I…I…You! I can't believe you!"

"Now look who has social anxieties," he replied simply. He grinned with triumph and popped his earphones back into his ears. He was about to turn the volume up when he thought he heard a growl. He looked up at her again and felt afraid. Her devilish green eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched unforgivably tight.

She looked about ready to murder him. Van suddenly regretted making her angry.

"Hitomi, calm down…." He stepped away slowly and fearfully. Van startled when he bumped into the chair behind him.

His eyes popped when he saw her open-faced palm swinging up to meet his unprotected cheek. He swallowed. It was too late. He flinched as her indignant slap stung his face

"What is wrong with you?" she shrieked at a flabbergasted Van.

Van clutched his cheek in awe. He was still shocked at the fact that she actually slapped him.

"Oh my god! I can't believe I did that…" She cupped a astonished hand to her mouth. "I'm so sorry."

Van rubbed his ruby-red cheek and sat down. " It's okay. Ow, this stings. Where'd you learn to slap like that?"

"I'll go get you some ice." She made her way towards the door feeling slightly guilty.

Van ruffled his thick mane of shaggy hair. "I'm sorry." He smiled shyly. Hitomi turned abruptly to face him.

"It's okay." She felt considerably less angry now. Hitomi turned to leave for ice again.

"Hitomi?" She turned around again, slightly annoyed this time.

"What is it now Van?" Hitomi placed her hands onto her hips.

"Next time could you warn me?" His smile turned from shy to crafty.

"Warn you about what?" She arched an amused eyebrow at him.

"You know, that time of month? I'd kinda like to know if I'm dealing with a hormonally unbalanced time-bomb." He pointed to his cheek for emphasis.

Hitomi blinked and then smiled. "Very funny."

She turned around for the last time and made her way down the hallway. Embarrasment rushed to her cheeks. How could he have known? She shook her head and continued walking.