A/N: Lookey lookey! I've come back from the dead! An other school year has ended, and yet the thesis has not… but alas, a chapter for you all. Much thanks to all who reviewed, you really keep me going!

The day had been ridiculously long for Van, and he was happy to hear the end of the day chatter between Hitomi and Dilandau. This meant that he could finally unstuff himself from under that stupid desk. He was almost positive he had broken at least half of his body from lack of movement, and being so crowded in such a small place. Every now and again Hitomi would kick the desk to let him know she was thinking of his unhappy predicament. He appreciated her gesture.

He had listened to Hitomi and Dilandau talk some, and although Dilandau had seemed to mellow out some, and seemed a lot less arrogant than earlier, he did not trust the man. He had listened to her have many meetings, and noted how unhappy she had sounded. He pretended not to care because once this day was over; he was thinking that he'd just go off on his own. Earlier in the day he had thought that maybe he'd find some way of spending time with the girl to learn about mystique moon life, but thought twice about it. He didn't want to burden her, and plus, he wasn't feeling as miserable as he did before when he was on Gaea. He was always supposed to be miserable. He snapped from his thoughts when he finally heard the security guard leaving the room. He attempted to pull himself out of the small space in the desk.

Hitomi watched him, and let out a small giggle as he fumbled trying to get out. He glared up at her.

"awww, sorry about that! You just looked so silly trying to get out of there."

Van didn't say anything; he just got up and straightened up his clothes.

"Can I have my sword back?"

Hitomi had forgotten about the sword, and was immediately jolted when she thought about it. She was alone in the office now, and with this gentleman who might hurt her?

"Ummm, what's that thing for anyway?"

Van wasn't sure of what to say.

"It's really complicated; I don't want to get in to it. The less you know the better."

Hitomi was kind of amused, and also very afraid. This man was so mysterious. She knew she couldn't keep his sword from him, so offered a deal.

"I will help you out of here, as long as you promise not to like chop my head off with that sword."

Van laughed. Hitomi noticed that this was the first time she had even seen him smile.

"I have no desire to hurt you with the sword. If you just get me out of here, I promise I won't be a bother to you again. I'll just be on my way."

Hitomi was not sure what to say. This man landed through a hole in her roof, and now he wanted her to just leave him alone?

"Where are you going? Is there anywhere I can take you?"

"Ah, no, I just, I have someone to meet."

Van wasn't sure how to proceed. Hitomi knew something wasn't right at all.

"Look, let me get you out of here, and then we'll sit in my car and talk about this. I feel like there's a lot you're not telling me, and I want to help you, even if you do have a scary looking piece of metal."

Van knew he was caught now, and wasn't fast enough to think on his feet. Before he knew what was happening, she was ushering him out the door. She instructed him to act natural, and not to talk to anyone. She also took his sword again, and hid it in the large bag she was carrying. He eyed the bag nervously.

"Stop that!" she hissed. "I'm not going to do anything with your preciouss, well you know!"

They walked in silence through the long hallways in the building, and reached an elevator. Van eyed the strange contraption nervously.

"What, haven't you ever been on an elevator before?"

"Sure! Sure I have."

The door opened, and Hitomi stepped in. Van followed cautiously behind. The door closed, and the elevator started to move. Van jumped, and immediately reached for the bag at Hitomi's side.

"What's going on with you, you're so jumpy! You… um, what's your name?"

"My name is Van Fannel."

"Well Van Fannel, you have sooo much explaining to do when we reach my car. I want to know your entire story."

Van wasn't sure what a car was, but he was soon to find out. The elevator stopped, and let them off. He was in a different place than he was when he had gotten on. It must have been some kind of traveling device. They walked through some more hallways before reaching the doors to the outside of the building. The two walked outside, and began the stroll through the parking lot. The sun was shining bright, and the walk was a slow one. Hitomi had forgotten where she had parked when she had came in to work, and was now doing a major parking lot scan to try to find her tiny car. She finally found it, and Van followed along. He tried to remain as calm and natural as he could, but seeing the strange machines moving about with people operating them made him nervous. For a brief moment, he remembered escaflowne, and practicing piloting it. Folcan had taught him that… Before he could go any further with his thoughts, Hitomi shrieked.

"I finally found it!"

Van followed her to the car, and she unlocked his door for him. She noted his expression of carefulness, and eyed him.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing. It was just a long day of being stuffed under your stupid desk, and now you just want me to get in this… car?"

"Well, yeah. What was wrong with my desk anyway? Would you have rather gotten arrested? All I was doing was trying to help you!"

Van remembered the last time he angered an emotional female, and thought it best to stop quarreling right then. He opened the unlocked door and slipped in. Hitomi walked to the other door, and also made her way in. When she got in and closed the door, she rested in her seat. She was going to get answers, and she was going to get them right now.

Van had noticed that she was in no hurry to begin operating the strange machine. He eyed her nervously.

"Aren't you going to make this thing move?"

She noticed the strange way he talked. It was if he didn't know anything about earth. Maybe he had bumped his head or something?

"I want you to talk first."

Van looked at her.

"About what?"

"The fact that you're acting so strange! You just randomly fall through my roof, perfectly I might add, and now you don't give me any answers? I think after hiding you all day, I deserve answers. Not to mention, your clothes are so weird! It's like you're from a world away!"

"Look, it's none of your business! Why are you so damn nosey anyway! Don't you know how to mind your own business? Didn't anyone ever tell you that being curious just gets you in trouble?"

Hitomi was hurt and angered. She was having a terrible day, and this was the last straw. She opened her bag and shoved Van's sword at him. She started to push him toward the door of the car.

"Get out of my car! All I tried to do was help you, and this is how I get treated? I should never help or trust men, they're all the same!"

Before Van could say anything, she reached around and slapped him in the face. He was too angry to say anything, so made his way out of her car. He left the car, slamming the door behind him. Hitomi noticing him leave put her head down on the steering wheel and cried for the second time that day. What she didn't notice while she was sobbing was Van watching her from beside the building. There was no way an emotional female, even as emotional as this one seemed, could go over the edge over that one little comment. Van noticed Hitomi start the car, and begin to drive away. Before he knew what he was doing, he had jumped in to a second car, and was following after her. He had no idea how to operate a car, but he was going to try. The girl looked reckless as she drove, and it was making him nervous. It was something about the darkness that was in her eyes as she cried.

Hitomi drove as fast as she could with out getting caught for speeding. It had been the worst day in a while, and all she wanted to do was go home. Before she knew what was going on, she noticed the strange man was driving beside her. He was driving someone elses car! She pulled over to the side of the road, and he followed suit.

She got out of the car, and walked toward the car he was driving.

"What are you doing?"

"Following you, you looked… upset."

"Well yeah, you insulted me back there!"

"And you didn't insult me? You were just as harsh."

"Well you were ungrateful!"

"Look, I don't want to do this right now. You look… upset, and like you shouldn't be driving."

"And what, are you going to drive? You don't look like the most confident driver either."

Van thought for a minute. He knew she was right.

"Okay, fine! Drive us to your house."

Hitomi was dumbfounded.

"Are you trying to come home with me?"

Van was speechless. How come everything he wanted to say always came out so wrong?

"No, I just thought I'd ummm drive with you, until you got there. Then I'd be on my way."

Hitomi pondered for a second. This was how she'd get him to talk.

"Fine! Not that I need your help, but the company might be nice. I'll make you a deal."

"What's that?"

"I drive, you talk, and I want to know everything!"

Van considered for a minute before agreeing. He had to tell someone, it might as well be this girl. Hopefully she won't think he's crazy. She was already messed up enough.

"Fine, but if you get weirded out, it's your own fault for asking."

"Oh, I use to be a social worker, nothing will weird me out. I've heard them all before."

Van had no idea exactly what a social worker was, but he was betting she had never heard the story he was about to tell her.

TBC…