AN: Sorry it took me so long to update! Really, I am! I'll have to reply to previous reviews later beacuse well, I really just want to get this up! Part three is coming up somtime soon!lol, how was that for short?

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Destiny Foretold, who is now officially a giggle-butt. XD

Halloween Part 3

As Dilandau approached the van, Hitomi gaped openly along with Yukari. They couldn't help it. The costume he was wearing was so…Unexpected. There he stood grinning proudly, van door swung open, garbed head to toe in a…Fireman's costume? Indeed it was, complete with bright red suspenders, a thick red jacket left fashionably open to reveal a light cream coloured T-shirt, and a red fireman's helmet. His costume seemed to contradict most of his actions. The boy was passively fingering a lighter in his right hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Hey, 'Tomi!" He greeted his date happily, taking the seat next to her. Seth slammed the van door shut without sparing Dilandau another glance. "Hey, Yukari…" Dilandau nodded to the devil-lady, shifting his attention simultaneously to the people sitting in the seats in front of him. "Nice to meet you, 'Tomi's brother and girl sitting beside 'Tomi's brother." Seth looked back at the silver-haired teen and rolled his eyes.

"Whatever…" Merle mumbled.

Ignoring Merle's comment, Dilandau continued with his lengthy greeting. "Hey 'Tomi's mom. I'm Dilandau, if you haven't already guessed. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." His smile faltered when his crimson eyes locked onto the person sitting in the front passenger's seat. "Van. Isn't this a wonderful surprise?" He slid his finger down one side of his face with a pale finger. "I do hate surprises…" He growled under his breath.

Hitomi gave Dilandau a nudge when she heard his teeth harshly grinding together. "Please don't start anything. Please." She whispered to him quietly. Dilandau offered her a small smile, his teeth grinding coming instantly to a halt.

Mrs. Kanzaki gave Dilandau a tight smile to acknowledge his hello. Van only glared.

The ride to the Aston residence was a silent one, excluding Dilandau's constant knee tapping. His eyes remained focused on the back of Van's head. It was hard to miss his open display of dislike. Hitomi and Yukari shared a nervous glance.

Jerking the van to a stop, Mrs. Kanzaki turned her head around towards the back seat, making sure she had eye contact with her daughter. "Okay, here's how it's going to be. I'll be giving you my cell phone to call me when you need to be picked up. Oh and remember…No--"

"--Drugs, alcohol, sex…I think we get the picture." Hitomi chuckled. Her mother rolled her eyes and nodded before promptly handing her the cell phone.

"Try to call before one O'clock, please. I don't want to stay up too late waiting for you." Mrs Kanzaki warned.

Sighing, Hitomi nodded. "Yes, mom." Dilandau, Yukari, and Hitomi exited the car together, craning their heads up to look at Millerna's massive house. From where they were standing, the house looked like a large darkish sheet with square holes poked through it allowing a deep yellow-orange light to escape out into the gloom. The air around them vibrated. A faint sound of booming music drew Hitomi's eyes, and her interest. Dilandau meandered towards the house, silently encouraging Hitomi to follow him. She did, Yukari calmly keeping up with her.

Van watched them for a moment, feeling like a stalker behind the vehicle's window. Every time his eyes glazed over Dilandau's profile, his stomach managed to tangle itself into tiny knots. He slowly opened the door with a nervous but calculated hand, moving his feet to meet the gritty driveway.

"Van, I shouldn't be even saying this but-- Do you think you could keep an eye out for her? Yukari too. You can never be too careful." Mrs Kanzaki timidly asked, giving him a small smile. "Not that I don't trust her or anything." She added as an after-thought.

Brushing back his liquidly black hair, Van smiled ruefully. "Sure thing." She didn't even need to mention it. He was going to watch her back anyways, the thanks mostly going to Dilandau.

"Thanks, Van. Oh, and have fun!" Mrs Kanzaki waved good-bye in a kindly fashion as Van closed the van door firmly shut. Smoothing out his long black and red vampire cloak, Van trudged after the group in front of him, silently musing to himself.

He clambered up the steps awkwardly as he kept stepping on the end of his blasted cloak. Grumbling to himself, he seriously considered discarding it. The door was already open. Van caught sight of the bottom of Hitomi's pants as she walked upstairs. There was a woman standing just inside the door to his right dressed in a Cleopatra's outfit. She looked him up and down, eyeing his own costume.

"You're here for the party as well, correct?" She asked him in a bored voice, crossing her arms.

"Yea…" He muttered dully.

Cleopatra pointed upstairs with absolutely no enthusiasm. "Everyone's upstairs."

"Thanks." Van flashed her a tiny grin before slipping off his shoes, and bounding up the stairs.

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Hitomi giggled at Yukari after she announced that she was going to search for Amano. That only left her and Dilandau. Smirking, Dilandau nudged her. "Come on, I have to properly introduce you to some of my friends." Hitomi smiled at him in agreement. They made their way to a group of boys in various costumes that seemed to be just brooding off to one side.

"Hey boys, what's up?" Dilandau laughed.

"Not much. There's no booze here." Miguel complained as he pouted, pulling up the eye patch of his pirate's costume, annoyed at its presence.

"Yea, that Eries chick is watching everyone like a hawk with those creepy icy eyes of hers." Guimel added, looking outrageously hilarious in his gangster costume. His fro looked like a giant fish bowl with a comb sticking out of it.

"The one in the Cleopatra costume." Miguel added.

"That sucks." Dilandau agreed.

"So um, you having fun so far?" Gatti shyly asked Hitomi, his blush almost rivalling the bright red shade his M&M costume was sporting.

"Yea, I guess. I just got here." Hitomi shrugged.

"I'm not having fun." Shesta grumbled, big blue eyes peeking out of the linen folds of his mummy costume.

"I wonder why." Viole laughed. "I don't know whether it's your costume or the fact that every time you ask a girl to dance…she turns you down."

Shesta sniffed indignantly, thrusting his chin up into the air. "You're probably having as much fun as me, Viole. Or should I say Sir Viole." He said, referring to the other boy's costume. "Apparently, Knights are just as popular as mummies are."

"God…" Viole drawled out, rolling his eyes.

"You called me?" Miguel smirked, being a smart-ass.

"Miguel, why don't you just go shove that stupid parrot on your shoulder up your ass?" Voile suggested, a smile dancing lightly on his lips

"I wouldn't be saying that Mr Tin-Head-I-Can't-Get-A-Date-So-I'll-Go-As-A-Knight-So-I-Can-Pick-Up-Chicks…Man!" Miguel retorted childishly.

"Do you think you're better than me or something? Because you're not! You couldn't get a date either, in case you've forgotten!" Viole practically screamed.

"Oh yeah?" Miguel challenged.

"Yeah!" Viole yelled back.

"Fine! I'm gonna find myself a date… Right now!" Miguel growled, stomping off. "Then we'll see who's dateless!"

"You do that!" Viole shouted after him.

"Well, it's been lovely talking to you ladies…" Dilandau said, yawning lazily. "But I think it's about time we left.Wanna dance 'Tomi?" He wiggled his silver eyebrows teasingly at Hitomi, who punched his arm lightly.

"Stop that! Okay…Only for a bit." She laughed. "Nice talking to you guys. Bye…"

"Bye Hitomi!" Gatti said enthusiastically while Voile, Gatti, Shesta, and Guimel just nodded.

After Hitomi and Dilandau left, Shesta looked at Voile and sighed. "How did he end up getting all the luck with women?"

"Wouldn't we love to know." Viole sulked.

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Van sat tiredly on one of the couches set up against one of the walls, just brooding and watching everyone else have a good time. Every so often, his eyes jolted to Hitomi, if only to see what she was doing. They were just quick peeks…He didn't want it to look like he was staring.

As he was scanning the crowd, he noticed a few familiar faces. Well, more than a few. Most of the people here went to his school. Van noticed Dryden, talking casually to the curly blonde-haired hostess, Millerna, with genuine interest etched into his bookish features. The robe of his monk's costume trailed on the floor around him with every move he made. Van wondered if he had tripped over it at all or not.

Not far from where Dryden was standing, Van spotted Gaddess dancing with a turquoise-haired girl Van remembered seeing in his science class. He would have chuckled at his costume had he been in the mood to laugh. Gaddess looked like a very convincing Indiana Jones (1).

Tucked away in the corner, but not out of sight, was Allen, looking ghastly in the nurse costume he'd been forced to wear. A smile found its way to Van's face. If there was a scariest costume contest, Allen was sure to cream the competition. Van glanced back at Allen again as he saw one of Dilandau's friends approach the drag queen, and tap him lightly on the shoulder. The boy in the pirate's costume paled when Allen turned around, wearing a grim expression. Van found himself laughing hysterically. The poor guy probably mistook him for a girl.

"Hey there!" A silver-haired girl scandalously clad in a play boy bunny's costume grinned at him. "Whatcha laughing at?" The girl took the seat next to him, sitting as close to him as she could.

Van ceased his laughter, staring widely at her. Speechless he pointed across the room at Allen and the costume he was in. The girl giggled. "Isn't that something?" She grinned cheekily. "My name's Naria. What's ---"

"Hey there Mr Tall, Dark, and Handsome!" A girl interrupted with a voice as thick as honey. She was wearing the exactly same thing as Naria…and she looked like her as well except her hair was platinum blonde instead of silver. She wasted no time in sitting down on the couch, on the other side of him. "I'm Eyria. I see you've already met my twin." She grinned slyly at her sister, who looked pissed.

"Eyria…" Naria said crossly.

"Just because you saw him first doesn't mean he's off limits. What's your name, bashful? You don't have a girlfriend right?" She teased.

"Umm…no. heh heh, my names…Van. Uh nice to meet you." Van said nervously.

"Van, eh? Cute name." Naria smiled sweetly, staring deeply into his eyes. "You've got nice eyes. They look familiar…" She began, still staring at his eyes.

"They do." Eyria said, smirking. "They look like his eyes." She giggled.

"Umm whose eyes?" Van said, a bit freaked out. He didn't like the way they were both intently staring at him from both sides. The feeling of being trapped overwhelmed him, under the watch of their bright eyes.

"You wouldn't know him." Naria smirked. "He lives in Austuria."

"You've been there?" Van asked, without much care.

"Been there! We live there!" Eyria responded with enthusiasm.

"Yea, we came here to visit good old Millerna. We'll be here for a few weeks still." Naria added.

Eyria nodded, sighing fondly. "I can't believe we've been friends since the 3rd grade. Too bad we had to move…Oh well, it's not like we don't see her anymore."

"Yea…"

"Oh." Van said, silently hoping that they would stop pestering him. Nervous didn't even begin to describe how he was feeling.

"Hey Van, can I take a picture of you? It's kinda strange how much you look like him." Eyria asked, cheerfully.

"Well you can't say he looks exactly like him. He doesn't wear earrings for one, or have any tattoos, and he's defiantly got a tan. He's more on the pale side than anything else." Naria huffed, correcting her sister.

"Umm sure?" Van shrugged as they giggled. Eyria pulled the camera she was wearing off from around her neck. Van probably wouldn't have even noticed if she hadn't taken it it out. "So, who is this guy you keep rambling on about?" He asked, slightly interested this time.

Naria blushed. "Our science teacher, Mr Fanel."

Van's jaw dropped. They were talking about his brother. "…Naria?"

"Hmm?"

"…He's…uh…My brother. You're talking about a Folken Fanel, right?" Van stuttered out.

Eyria snapped a picture with her digital camera, capturing Naria's amazed and delighted expression along with Van's plainly shocked one. "No way! That's …That's…I can't believe he's your brother! I can't believe you know him! This is so cool!" She exclaimed, uttering a joyful squeak and taking another picture. "Take one of Van and I now, Naria!"

Naria looked at her impatient sister with wide eyes. "Wow…Who would have guessed? Well, I mean the resemblance is uncanny but I didn't expect you to know him…or even be related to him!" Her smile was broad as she accepted the camera from her twin. Eyria wrapped her arms around one of Van's, hugging it close.

"Umm…" Van hummed nervously, leaning away as Eyria continued to engulfed his arm. "Didn't I agree to only one picture?" His plea fell upon deaf ears.

"Smile!" Naria grinned and snapped a picture, the flash temporarily blinding Van.

"So…What's he really like? You know, outside school. For instance, what's his favourite food?" Eyria said with infatuated looking eyes.

"Yea! Tell us!" Naria pitched in, just as eager for answers.

Well, isn't this wonderful? They're never gonna leave me alone now. I feel sorry for Folken…I wonder if they follow him around…?Van sighed, looking across the room at Hitomi dancing unenthusiastically with Dilandau. Hitomi…

The two chatty girls didn't seem to notice Van's mind was on other things, or that he was staring out at the dance floor longingly. All they seemed to care about was churning out more and more questions about Folken's personal life.

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"Having fun?" Dilandau asked Hitomi, inches away from her ear in order to be heard over the music.

"Yeah!" Hitomi replied loudly, not bothering to stop dancing.

"Me too." Dilandau said, smiling widely.

"What?" Hitomi cupped a hand to her ear to indicate that she didn't hear.

" I said 'me too'." Dilandau repeated, increasing his volume.

"What? Buy dead kangaroo?" She replied, with a puzzled expression.

"Never mind, 'Tomi." Dilandau laughed, and continued dancing. Hitomi inclined an eyebrow at him, but let his seemingly weird comment pass.

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"Oh my God…" Naria said, pointing at Dryden and Millerna with an excited fling of her hand.

"What?" Eryia whispered, her head twisting in the direction her sister was pointing.

"That's him! The guy Millerna keeps talking about!" She informed her golden -haired twin.

"You mean Dryden? That's him? She could do way better than that." Eryia said sceptically, turning to Van. "What do you think?"

Van shot out of his lazy stupor, thinking that they had found yet another random question about Folken's life that he'd have to give some answer to. "Sure, I guess." He replied with undercurrents of uncertainty in his voice. How was he supposed to know what to say to her question?

"I don't think so." Naria argued. "I think they're cute together."

"Nah. She could do better. Even Van agrees." Eryia pointed out, grinning at the black-haired youth. Naria stuck her tongue out at her.

"Like Van knows what he's talking about." Van mumbled to himself under his breath, rolling his eyes.

"Did you say something?" Eryia asked sweetly, genuinely interested in anything he had to say.

"…No. I didn't." Shaking his head worriedly, he looked down and pretended not to exist.

"Strange, I could have swore you did." Giving him another awkward glance, Eryia shrugged and continued her conversation with her sister.

Van rested his elbow on the arm of the sofa, the palm of his hand cradling his chin. While maintaining his outward relaxed, calm, and slightly gloomy outward appearance, he was bursting at the seams with irritation and the need to walk over to Dilandau and tell him what he really thought of him dating Hitomi. Without moving, Van's eyes swivelled to the twins sitting beside him, pointing out people on the dance floor and talking rapidly to each other. I wonder if they'd notice if I got up and left…Will I be able to get away quietly? His eyebrows squished together in thought, creasing his forehead.

"Naria! Eryia! Long time no see!" Someone exclaimed, startling Van. A teen waltzed up to the sofa, wearing a green camouflage army costume with a strip of black ribbon wrapped across his forehead. He had wavy shoulder-length blonde hair, a prominent but not so overly bold nose, and sparkling green eyes. Van guessed that he had to be 17 or 18 years old. "I hope you've been behaving?" He said, winking at Eryia.

"Jajuka! It has been awhile, hasn't it? Good to see ya!" Eyria chimed, smirking at her sister.

"We've behaved. For the most part. How about yourself?" Naria rolled her eyes playfully.

"Not bad. I've been busy with school. You know, the usual." He laughed lightly when he noticed Van sitting on the sofa next to them. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Jajuka, and you are…?" Jajuka asked, offering out his hand.

Van took his hand, shaking it briefly. "Van." He answered simply.

"Cool. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Van grumbled. Jajuka gave him a funny look

Naria chortled at Van's serious expression. "Van, do you wanna dance? It'll take that grumpy look off your face." She teased.

"Great idea! Better than just sitting here like big lumps. Care to join us, Jajuka?" Eryia tilted her head to one side, regarding Jajuka with her big ruby eyes.

"No fair. You know I can't resist those big eyes of yours. Come on, let's go." Jajuka laughed, pulling Eryia up to her feet by her outstretched hand.

Naria poked Van's arm suspiciously. "Are you coming?" She asked with hopeful tone in her sleek voice.

"I'm not much of a dancer. Sorry, I'll pass." Van said, causing Naria to pout.

"Awe. Are you sure? What if I said please?" Van shook his head.

"Too bad…" She sighed. "I'll see you around then." Winking at him, she disappeared into the crowd along with Jajuka and her sister.

Why did I even bother coming to this thing? All I've managed to accomplish is sitting around. I could have done that at home. Van groaned slightly, knowing exactly why he forced himself to come. The reason was right in front of him, dancing with another guy.

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Yukari spotted Van standing alone by the refreshment table, filling a plastic cup with some punch. Wasn't he sitting with two girls just a few minutes ago? What's he doing now? He looks so…down. She frowned slightly, studying the lonely boy for a moment. It didn't take a genius to figure out why he was taking so long to pour himself a cup of punch. He kept looking back at the dance floor with a very troubled look on his face. Yukari smiled to herself. So, that's what you're up to. Sneaking glances when no one's looking. Did you really think no-one would notice? She had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing. Van's perpetual cycle of filling his cup up and looking back at Hitomi did in fact look comical.

"Should I be jealous? Or worried ?" Amano asked, fingering his chin with amusement.

"Huh?"

"You keep staring at Van. Why?" He inquired. Yukari sighed.

"It's nothing. No need to worry. It's just that…Well, never mind." She said, pulling her gaze away from Van for one moment. "I think I'm gonna need to have a littlechat to him. Amano, could you wait here for a second?"

"Sure." He nodded. "For my devil lady I'll wait as patiently as a saint." Amano laughed, smiling at her fondly.

Yukari smiled back, standing on her tip-toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks."

She approached the table slowly, red heels clicking distinctively on the hard-wood floor. "Hey Van…" Yukari said, holding her hands clasped loosely behind her back.

"Hey." Van didn't even look up from his cup of punch.

"How come you're not dancing or talking to someone like everyone else?" She asked with concern.

"Well, I'm talking to you know, right? And thanks to you, I now have an excuse for not dancing." Van said stubbornly, giving her a flat stare.

"Grouchy." Yukari huffed. "I bet you wouldn't have to be asked twice to dance if Hitomi asked you to." At that, Van's shoulders visibly tensed. "You like her, don't you." She finished off with a smug expression.

"Of course I like her. She's a likeable person." Van shrugged indifferently.

"No! You don't understand what I'm saying. Read between the lines! You like her, don't you?" Yukari said, placing her hands on her hips with haughtiness.

"…Why do you ask?"

"What kind of answer is that!" She asked bluntly, raising her voice dramatically. "You can't answer a question with another question! I asked a question first, so you have to answer mine before I answer yours!"

Van grimaced at how far her loud voice must've carried. He was glad that the music was loud enough to obscure most of what she had said. "Well, it was an honest one!" He said to Hitomi's meddlesome friend.

"You're so hopeless!" She scolded. "Why do you have to be such a smart-ass?"

Van shrugged again. Wordlessly this time.

Yukari took this moment to glance at Hitomi and Dilandau out on the dance floor. The rhythm of the music had slowed to a crawl. Dilandau gently picked Hitomi's hands and confidently placed them around his neck before resting his hands onto her waist. Hitomi gingerly kept them there, but her weak smile screamed that she'd rather remove them. Yukari pursed her lips slightly. Well Van, there is one way to find out if you do…

"Come on, Van." She impatiently tugged at his unsuspecting arm.

"Why? What are you doing?" Van looked at her, startled at her sudden change of pace.

"What does it look like? I'm doing you a favour, that's what I'm doing. Now follow me before I drag you." He relented, knowing that she meant what she said, and followed her out onto the dance floor.

Amano watched the events unfold with a raised eyebrow, wondering what his girlfriend was up to. "One second, eh?" He mumbled with good humour.

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"Yukari--! Wha--! Why--? Stop--! What are you--?" Van protested as Yukari placed a hand on his shoulder and grabbed his hand.

"Just dance with me and you'll see." She winked.

Van grumbled with his eyebrows furrowed, annoyed at Yukari's actions. He wouldn't dare walk away from Yukari Uchida. She was very straight forward with her opinions, and getting what she wanted. The last thing he wanted was to get on her bad side. How Hitomi put up with her, he didn't know. Besides, if he tried walking away now, he would probably get smacked.

Yukari hummed along to the chorus of the song, while suspiciously leading Van across the room at such a fast rate of speed that people were constantly turning their heads their way with puzzlement. Van's embarrassment increased by the fact that Yukari didn't seem to care at all! To top it off, she smirked each time someone stopped to look. He couldn't believe she actually found this amusing.

"What are you doing?" Van hissed through the corner of his mouth.

"Shhhh!"

Yukari pulled Van back a few steps, giggling at how his eyes popped when he realised he was right beside an irritated looking Dilandau, and a very surprised looking Hitomi.

...To be continued.