A note from your Author: I don't own Escaflowne, Romeo and Juliet, or Macbeth.
Chapter 5
They spent the rest of the day looking at the river and when the night sky started to peek out Allen took Hitomi home.
When she was safely in bed, Hitomi thought back on the day, she had never been so happy before. She had always lived in a world of dictatorship and rules. It was a breath of fresh air when she could actually let go and be, well maybe it was her true self, for a few hours.
Hitomi was just about to turn off the light when she heard something hitting her window. She went over to it to see Allen throwing small rocks at her sill.
"What are you doing?" She said after she opened her window and stuck her head out.
"I just forgot to tell you good night, and I wanted to ask you a favor." Hitomi had a hard time believing there was a guy out there who would knock on her window just to say good night.
"Ask away." It was the least she could do after he gave her a day like today.
"I was wondering if you would be up to seeing me again tomorrow. I know it's a lot to ask since, and you probably have some other plans. I wouldn't want you to cancel anything because of be, and I was with you all day today, but I was just so…"
"Stop babbling! Of course I would love to spend tomorrow with you. Is there anything you want to do?" Just being with you is enough, Allen thought.
"I have no idea, but I think we can figure it out." He smiled up at the girl in the window.
"I feel a little like Romeo and Juliet." She said sheepishly. "Did you ever read that play?"
"'Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars as daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven would through the airy region stream so bright that birds would sing and think it were not night. See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. O, that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek.'"
"So what are you, you know how to treat a girl like a princess, you quote Shakespeare, what else do you do? Ballroom dancing? The art of napkin folding? Flower arraignment?" She started to tease.
"You were the one who brought up Romeo and Juliet, you're just as much to blame. Now it's your turn." Hitomi was taken aback, she knew exactly what he was asking for. "Well, I'm waiting, if you can't do it then you shouldn't tease." He joined in, loving the frustrated look on her face.
"Fine 'Thou knowst the mask of night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek for that which thou hast heard me speak tonight. Fain would I dwell on form; fain, fain deny what I have spoke. But farewell compliment. Dost thou love me? I know thou wild say "Ay," and I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear'st, thou mayst prove false. At lovers' perjuries, they say Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, if thou dost love, pronounce if faithfully, or if thou thinkest I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, so thou wilt woo, but else not for the world. In truth fair Montague, I am too fond, and therefore thou mayst think my haviour (behavior) light. But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true than those that have more coying to be strange. I should have been more strange, I must confess, but that thou overheard'st ere I was ware my true-love passion. Therefore pardon me, and not impute this yielding to light love, which the dark night hath so discovered.'" (A.N. If you need translations for either speech they'll be at the end of the chapter). She smirked down at him daring him to challenge her.
"Well, I can see that you know your poetry better than I." Allen could hardly hide the smile on his lips, he turned to go, "Oh, I almost forgot, good night."
"'Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorry that I shall say "Good night" till it be morrow.'" She quoted.
"Ok, ok I get it you know your Shakespeare better than I do. But in time I bet I'll beat you someday."
"'There would have been a time for such a word. —To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time; and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by and idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.' Not Romeo and Juliet but I think Macbeth is worthwhile don't you?"
"Okay I know now, don't challenge you to a Shakespeare contest, and don't you start quoting again I think I am embarrassed enough."
"Until tomorrow then, good night." She smiled all the way back to her bed and for the first time in years she fell asleep with a smile on her face.
"You have to get this, I know you need it." Hitomi had picked up a book and shoved it at Allen, who groaned when he saw the title.
"You're never going to let me live that down are you?" He said grabbing the copy The Complete Works of William Shakespeare out of her hand.
"Nope!" She said bouncing next to him. "It's really rare for me to quote Shakespeare to someone who knows a bit about the plays, think of that as research." Allen just glared at her.
Allen had picked Hitomi up that morning and offered to take her out of Gaea and to town. There was only one small problem in Allen's chivalrous plan, he still was new in town and had no idea where to go. They made their way around the shopping district, a feat Allen had never done before. He was surprised when he found out Hitomi hated clothes shopping, and he would never say it but he was grateful she didn't.
They found the bookstore after going to a few antique places. It was a tiny place, squished between houses down a small alleyway. Both had a hard time choosing books, but none more than Hitomi. She may have teased Allen with a few paperbacks but she simply couldn't decide.
In the end Hitomi left without buying anything and Allen found a single copy of Macbeth. He had fun chasing her around quizzing her on different quotes of the characters.
"Best purchase I ever made." He said when he finally stumped Hitomi, causing her to turn around and poke him in the side.
"Come on let's stop in here." It was a simple restaurant, and though it was the lunch hour it wasn't very full.
"So you can quote Shakespeare perfectly is there anything else I don't know about you?" The couple had been getting quite a few stares, with Hitomi's bruises, most of them were gone, along with Allen's good looks they had been quite popular.
The waiter who came to serve them was no different. He stared at Allen openly and then when he had to glance over at Hitomi his eyes couldn't leave her bandaged arm.
After they had ordered, both looked at one another and burst out laughing.
"I'm really not used to this kind of attention." Hitomi said wiping her eyes. "Usually after I'm summoned I stay inside, that's when I get all my reading done." Allen nodded, he wanted to get to know this person better than anyone else.
"What else about your life?" Hitomi was taken aback, she had never had someone so interested in her life.
"Well, its not really that interesting, I've lived in Gaea since I was little. I had a pretty strong relationship with a guy named Amano but he…we broke up. I would love to leave Gaea and just travel, I've never seen the ocean! Can you believe that? I want to travel to the places in my books, real or fiction. I want to write! I want to cook, I want to try food that you can't get in Japan. I want a life of freedom, where I can choose where I want to go and what I want to do. I want to….. I want to fall in love." The last part came out in a rush. "I'm sorry I'm babbling, sometimes my mouth runs faster than my head." She looked down at her lap, praying he didn't see the blush creeping up her face.
Allen stared at the girl across the table from him, what kind of life have you led? He wondered to have dreams of being free to live and love?
"I envy you." He said quietly, "You have such dreams, yet I don't even seem to care what I want to do once I leave high school. You've shown me more conviction in the past five minutes than I've ever experienced with a girl. I envy you Miss Kanzaki." Hitomi felt the blush creep even faster all the way up to her forehead.
"I'm not that special, I just have some dreams that's all."
"You just keep telling yourself that you're nothing special and hopefully someday you'll learn not to be so pigheaded." The couple looked up to see two of the girls from the other day, still wearing their smug looks.
"So how you been, Handsome?" One of the girls sidled up to Allen as the other continued to harass Hitomi.
"I'm fine." Allen sounded so cold, Hitomi was almost afraid of him. The other girl must not have sensed it because she just went flirting on.
"Well, what are you doing with the trash, can't you see this is the worst place to eat in town?" She dropped her voice in a fake whisper, "Not to mention the company you have is less than desirable." Allen glared so hard at the girl, Hitomi thought she must have sensed his anger. But why was he so angry, I told him if we were seen together he should act liked he hated being with me. But before she could intervene to save Allen the other girl started to speak.
"Yukuri-san we better get going, looks like these two love birds need some privacy. Misery must love company, eh Handsome?" She pocked Hitomi hard in the ribs and stalked away.
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. The girls had successfully taken away the fun between the two. Allen was worried he wasn't able to protect Hitomi well enough, and Hitomi was scared out of her mind that Allen now hated her because of those stupid bullies.
"C'mon we better get you home." Allen said quietly and went up to pay the bill.
"Yeah, we better…" Hitomi's fears had been filled, with the way she saw Allen acting.
When they reached her house Hitomi turned to say good-bye to Allen but he had already left.
I can't even look her in the face anymore; I'm so ashamed that I couldn't protect her.
The figure who had been stalking the couple for the past few days smirked. Perhaps I can go away after all and leave you alone Hitomi, you seem very capable of ending your relationships on your own without my help. Though I hate to see you looking so sad, for the first time since he started watching the couple the figure's eyes filled with compassion, I'll make you happy Hitomi I promise.
A note from your Author:I promised I would explain the speeches I used between Allen and Hitomi, well mostly Hitomi! The first three quotes were all from Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 2. Allen's first speech was from Romeo when he is watching Juliet from a distance and is telling the audience how beautiful she is. He talks about how her eyes twinkle, and her face is pale, and how he would love to be near her. Hitomi's speech is a little longer and more complicated. Romeo has just said how beautiful Juliet is and she is thanking the darkness so he can't see her blush. Juliet then asks Romeo if he will say he loves her, but she says 'don't lie to me or else I'm going to go Jackie Chan on your ass!' well not really but you get the picture. Juliet then curses the night because Romeo was able to hide and listen to what she was saying and how she confesses her love for him. She wishes he didn't hear because then she could have been more of a tease and had the enjoyment but she would have also known if Romeo loved her for real. Macbeth's speech is a little more sinister. The story of Macbeth is much darker than Romeo and Juliet. In this play three witches tell a simple nobleman, Macbeth, that he will become king and will almost be invincible. Of course he swells his giant head at that and kills the king, Duncan. This speech takes place in Act 5, Scene 5, after Macbeth has found out his wife has killed himself and Duncan's followers are starting to revolt against their new king. This speech takes away from the violence of this bloody play as Macbeth is commenting about how short life is and no matter what you do, your life will end. OKAY thanks for this long note! I swear I never write my notes to be as long as the chapter they are under.