Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Escaflowne: All you need is Love, Isn't it?

Chapter 44

Kamakura-Kita High School Track and Field Complex

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Hitomi sat at the very top row of the stands staring pensively up at the moon. The exams were over as were the parent/teacher/student conferences. Assignments were given for over the summer break and school was out till September. Track practice would start in three days and run the whole summer break. But Hitomi's thoughts weren't on track practice or her test results. Rather her thoughts were of another world and the man she loved. 'I can't believe I survived three weeks without Van. I was sure I was going to die of a broken heart that first night. I miss him so, but I had to be strong, for both our sakes.'

The sound of someone walking up the stands drew her attention. Seeing her friend walking up toward her brought a big smile to her face. "And here is the person who helped give me that strength."

"What are you talking about?" Yukari asked as she sat next to her friend.

"Nothing." The green-eyed girl shook her head. "It's nothing."

They sat in silence for a little while before Yukari spoke. "So I saw your mom before she left. She seemed very happy with your test results."

"Mmm, I think I surpassed her expectations, thanks to you." She gave her a thank you smile.

"Well, I had to do my part for true love's sake." The redhead smiled as she looked up at the moon. "Still see Gaea up there?"

"Mmm hmm, just behind and to the right of the moon. Of course, it's much bigger than the moon."

Silence settled over them once more. Finally, the redhead asked. "So have you figured out how to control when you return yet?"

"I think I may have." Hitomi stared back up at Gaea.

"Really? So those books actually helped?"

"No. I think that was the wrong approach. There may be a scientific explanation for this whole space-time phenomena but I think the answer is much simpler than that." She said.

After waiting a few minutes Yukari snapped. "Well! Are you trying to drive me nuts in anticipation? What is it?"

Smiling Hitomi replied. "I think the time I arrive is whatever time I want to arrive."

"What?"

"Well, when I came back from Gaea the first time, it was the day before I actually left, the time I ended up in the infirmary. I think that happened because right before I was transported away, I was thinking how I wished I had never traveled to Gaea. I was angry at the war and at all of the killing. I wanted to return to a time before any of that happened for me. So I returned the day before I left. When I returned to Gaea with Van, he wanted to return to the time he left. He had unfinished work to take care of and so he needed to return without any time passing. When I went back this last time, I kept thinking how long it had been since I saw Van last. I didn't put a time to it, just a general feeling of it being a long time. And to me, six weeks was a long time, but not as long as it was for Van. When I returned home, I was already convinced I'd return before I left, so I did."

"That all can be coincidence. Its not scientific proof." The redhead argued.

"I know; that's why I'm going to put it to the test. Tonight."

"Tonight?" Yukari gasped.

"I can't wait any longer. I'm surprised I managed to wait this long. I have to see him again." Hitomi turned to her friend and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't miss any practice and I'll even train while I'm over there, okay."

"You better." Her friend gave her a glare of fact sternness.

Hitomi laughed softly as she stood up and dusted herself off. "Come on, you can help me pack."

Stopping at the store on the way home, Hitomi purchases two twenty packs of batteries and a couple new CDs.

In her room, Yukari went through a checklist of items they both agreed were essential, while Hitomi verified they were in her bag.

"Deodorant soap?" "Check"

"Shampoo and conditioner?" "Check"

"Deodorant?" "Check"

"Tampons?" "Check"

"Toothbrush and paste?" "Check"

"Hair brush" "Check"

"Eight pairs of underwear?" "Check"

"Four sports bras?" "Check"

"Six regular bras?" "Check"

"Four pairs of gym shorts?" "Check"

"Eight T-shirts?" "Check"

"Running shoes?" "Check"

"Track shoes?" "Check"

"Twelve pairs of gym socks?" "Check"

"Foot powder?" "Check"

"Six blouses?" "Check"

"Three skirts?" "Check"

"Two pairs of pants?" "Check"

"One pair of jeans?" "Check"

"Three dresses?" "Check"

"A Sweater?" "Check"

"Two sweatshirts?" "Check"

"One warm-up suit?" "Check"

"Two pairs of sweatpants?" "Check"

"Lipstick, blush and nail polish?" "Why am I taking these things? I never use them."

"You've never used them beefore. As the future queen of Fanelia, you better get used to looking your best." The redhead shook her pencil at her friend.

"Okay, okay, hmm… check"

"Twelve pairs of sock?" "Check"

"Six pairs of shoes?" "Check"

"Do you think six is enough?"

"I managed with one pair last time."

"How'd you do that? Oh, are you taking your blue ones? You know the ones with the ankle strap."

"I wasn't going to. Do you think I should?"

"Well, if you're not, can I borrow them?"

"I guess." Hitomi shrugged.

"Cool." Her friend smiled. "Okay, you've got the batteries and the CDs in there already. That's everything on the list. Can you think of anything else you might need?"

"Hmm, not off hand… oh," She ran over to her dresser and grabbed her astringent. "Don't want to be breaking out while I'm there." She grinned and put the bottle in her bag. "Okay, I think that's everything."

She picked it up and handed to her friend.

"Ugh, it weighs a ton!" The redhead complained.

"Oh, it's not that heavy." Hitomi picked it up again. "You're just that weak."

"That's why I'm the manager, not the athlete." She got off the bed. "You can carry the bag back to school."

"Okay, okay. Well, let's go." The shorthaired girl looked at her watch. "It's getting late."

"After you, your Highness." Yukari teased bowing low at the waist.

"Very funny." Hitomi shouldered the bag strap. "By the way, women curtsy to royalty, they don't bow."

"Oh, my apologies your Majesty." The redhead curtsied. "Please don't send me to the dungeon."

"Oh, shut up!" Hitomi snapped as she walked to her door.

"Of course your Majesty." She continued to tease.

"I'm going to make you carry this bag if you don't stop."

Yukari just laughed as she followed her friend out of the room and down the stairs.

"We're leaving now mom!" Hitomi called out from the foyer.

Her mother came out of the kitchen. "You're not going to stay for dinner? I made you your favorite, in honor of your wonderful performance in your school exams." She smiled.

"Sukiyaki!" The redhead's eyes lit up.

"Yukari!" She gave her friend a stern look.

"Oh, come on, what difference will another hour make? Pleeeeease!" Her friend battered her eyes as she clasped her hands under her chin and did her best imitation of a sad puppy dog.

"Oh, alright." Hitomi sighed as she set her bag down with a thud.

Everyone looked down at the bag.

"Good heaven's, what do you have in there?" Her mother asked.

"Oh, just stuff for the weekend. You do remember I'm staying over at Yukari's for the weekend, right?"

"Yes, I remember." She turned and walked back to the kitchen. "It just sounded awfully heavy for just a weekend bag."

Following after her mother the shorthaired girl continued. "Well, Yukari asked to borrow a few of my things and since I'll be so busy with track practice this summer, I figured, why not."

"I see. Well, your father will be home soon, so set the table will you?" Her mother asked as she went to put the finishing touches on dinner.

"Okay mom." She grabbed her friend's wrist and dragged her along to help.

"That was delicious Mrs. Kanzaki." Yukari stated enthusiastically as she got up and took her dishes to the kitchen.

"Why thank you Yukari. I'm glad someone liked it." The woman of the house stared at her daughter.

"Oh, I liked it, I just wasn't that hungry is all. Sorry." Her daughter bowed her head as she stood and took her dishes to the kitchen as well.

"Are you feeling well Hitomi?" Her father asked as she and her friend walked back into the dinning room.

"Fine daddy. I feel fine, I guess I just celebrated with a few too many snacks after school today." She gave a fake guilty smile. "Sorry."

"Well, just don't make a habit of it."

"I won't. Well, Yukari and I have to get going now." She bowed to her mother and father, and stuck her tongue out at her little brother who did the same in return. "I'll see you guys Sunday night."

"Thank you for dinner Mrs. Kanzaki." Her friend bowed respectfully then turned and bowed to her friend's father. "Thank you."

"Have fun you two." Her mother said.

"Oh, we will." Smiled Yukari as she gave Hitomi a wink.

Struggling to keep from blushing she said goodbye one last time and the two girls were out the door.

Once on the sidewalk, Yukari turned to her friend as said. "Remind me to take lying lessons from you when you get back. Okay?"

"What are you saying?" She asked innocently.

"Too many snacks hey. That's the reason you weren't hungry." The longhaired girl gave her friend a sarcastic smile.

"Well, what was I supposed to say? Sorry mom but I'm so love sick over this king from another world I just couldn't eat a bite." The shorthaired girl shot back.

"No, I guess that wouldn't do." Yukari stared to the sky as she rubbed her index finger to her chin. "Well, let's go." She turned to head for the train station.

"Wait." Hitomi stole a look back at her house as she slowly walked in plan view of the front window.

"Now what?"

"I've got to make sure their not looking out the window. It'll look awfully suspicious if we're supposed to be going to your place and we start walking in the opposite direction."

"Oh, yeah, I guess you're right." She imitated her friend, peering into her front window.

"All clear, let's go." Hitomi gestured and they started walking to the station.

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AN: I hope you liked this chapter, because it was just so much fun for me to write. No angst, no romantic love affair, just two teenage girls being two teenage girls. I'd especially like to hear from the female adolescent crowd. How did I do? To stereotypical? Not enough detail? Just right? What? Not being a teenage girl and never having been a teenage girl, I had no personal experience from which to draw from but from having observed my daughter and her friends over the years as well as my wife, from back in our dating years, I think I got close to showing fairly typical adolescent female interaction and still maintained the integrity of the characters. Did I make Yukari too playful? Don't know if she really is that much, but I had a feeling that maybe under the right circumstances, she would be.

Well, if you haven't guessed it yet, next chapter Hitomi returns to Gaea. But when will she return to? How much time will have passed? Sorry, got to wait till next chapter to find out. ^_^ I know, I'm evil. Sorry. :P

Thank you for all your comments. I love reading every single one of them. ^_^

A. Amishi