(A/N: Hello! This has to be a record for longest time between updates. Over 3 years since chapter 6 and you wonderful people still reviewed! I want to thank all of you for reviewing because it was you guys that got me back to finishing this story. No this isn't the last chapter but I'm going to Really try and finish it. I hate incomplete stories so review if you like or just send me a shout out so I know peeps are still out there but I'll write as much as I can when I can. Thanks everyone! *throws out monopoly money to everyone* sorry I'm broke :P)

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters but this idea is entirely my own! Woot for imagination!

Chapter 7: Release

Hitomi was on edge by the morning. They had both slept very little but their adrenaline kept them awake. Van's plan seemed simple except for the possible exploding of his home, but he seemed unfazed by this minor detail. Wearing the gas masks, Van would shoot his tear gas grenade at Dilandau's men causing confusion. We would, hopefully, slip by unnoticed and make a break for the garage and to his car. If we are met with resistance Van's M-16 would come into play. Depending on those outcomes, Van might have to shoot a grenade into his own home to blow up any left over pursuers.

The only detail Hitomi didn't like was the fact that they'd have to leave her Angel behind for now. With her wounded right leg she couldn't drive the car but Van promised they'd come back for it once the excitement had died down…if it ever does.

She was back to wearing one of his shirts and some boxers that'd he had tricked her into wearing somehow. She didn't mind too much seeing as they made Van stare at her even more then usual. The baggy jean shorts would've made movement too awkward and speed was a big factor in their survival. It was funny that despite their dangerous situation, Hitomi had never felt happier. She felt free and was with the closest person she's ever known in her entire life.

Both of their duffel bags sat next to her feet and Van was pacing around the apartment making sure they had gotten everything they'd need. "Van you are making me nervous." She says to break the silence. Van looks up, as he is rummaging through the fridge for the millionth time, and smirks. "I almost forgot the beer." Was his response, making Hitomi to roll her eyes at such an absurd notion. Only he would consider beer an important necessity when on the run.

Packing the few bottles he had left and the rest of last night's pizza into his duffel bag, he looks up again but at the door. Multiple footsteps were sounding outside and they seemed to be coming from all directions. They were surrounding the place completely! Hitomi thought as a wave of panic rolls over her thoughts.

Van stands quickly and walks over to her, holding out his hand. "It's show time babe." He says with anticipation shining in his eyes. "It's just like a car race. Whoever gets to the garage first is the winner. Just remember that." I take his hand and nod my understanding. He's right. This is just as dangerous as a car race just different dangers are in effect.

A banging at the door draws her attention away from her thoughts and shouting is heard. "Van come out with Hitomi and hand her over as are Dilandau's orders!" A man shouts through the door. "I'll happily decline!" Van yells. He picks up both duffel bags and then hoists up the grenade launcher getting ready to shoot once the door opens.

I had asked him last night about the use of the grenade launcher for a tear gas grenade and his comment was, "I want to take down as many of Dilandau's men as I can and if the impact of the grenade launcher achieves this, then I'll use it." It seemed like a good idea at the time but seeing him weighed down with all our baggage and weapons made me doubtful.

His eyes glance over at me as I worrying over him and he smirks again. "Don't worry. I'm not as weak as you may think." My eyes widen but I don't say anything. I had never thought he was weak but he did have a knack for pinpointing my thought processes.

I smile at him and reach over to kiss his cheek. In one swift movement he turns and captures my lips in a searing kiss as the door bursts open. He holds me closer to his side and points the launcher at the doorway where men seemed to be moving in slow motion as they entered the doorway.

He aims and shoots hitting a man square in the chest and the yellow gas shoots up blinding three more men who were standing next to him. I hastily pull on the mask and glance over to see Van's mask already in place and the grenade launcher replaced with his M-16. Damn he's good.

Van pulls me with him as we advance to the doorway. Last night we had worked on how we'd move to execute the most effective way of moving with my bad leg, and the practice paid off. We were out the door and headed to the garage before the men even noticed we had left the building. Feeling Van stop, I look over at him and he is turned looking back at his apartment. Shots are fired and thumps on pavement signal the successful shots.

The garage door opens on its own accord and Van dumps me into the passenger seat of his Dragon before stuffing the bags into the back and slamming the door shut. I look over at my beloved Angel and feel tears building as memories of fixing her up and racing her to victory come to mind. We will be back for you my love. I think without much thought to the use of 'we' instead of 'I'. She was attached to Van and him to her. Nothing would separate them again.

The driver's side door opens and shuts and Hitomi looks over at Van almost dreamily. He was breathing hard but when he looked at her, his eyes shone with excitement and feelings making Hitomi's breath catch in her throat. "You all buckled in and ready to go?" He says and she nods happily.

Van slams the car in reverse and they expertly peel out of the garage executing a perfect 180. Hitomi gasps at all the dead bodies that were strewn across the little alley but before fear set into her, her heart seemed to vibrate with excitement and joy at finally being free. They were both free and both together! She laughs out loud and Van joins in as he reaches over to give her hand a squeeze before slamming the car into drive and zooming down the alley way and out into the city.

It had been a couple hours since we left Van's city when he breaks the comfortable silence. "So…you still owe me a date by the way." He glances at me from the corner of his eye and I smile softly at the thought. "I can't believe you actually remembered that bet. I mean, after everything that's happened…" Hitomi says with a laugh but it stops when she's sees his frown. "Oh Van…of course we will go on a date. But I want you to know that it's not because I lost the race." She says with a smile and his sexy smirk is back in place in seconds.

"But you pick where we go. I've never been down to the Southern Continent before…and I don't have any nice clothes either." I say looking disgruntled at this news. I really didn't have anything appropriate for a date and I want to look amazing for him. His laughing brings me back to reality and a wad of large bills gets sprayed at my face. "You silly girl. Did you forget that I'm the best street racer as well as the most successful assassin in the South?" He laughs again as I ogle at the pile of 100,000 dollar bills. "Of course! How stupid of me." I say sarcastically as happiness flows over me.

We sit for a couple more minutes in silence as I ponder about this new notion of money that wasn't from my parents and Van looks smug about getting the upper hand over me for once. "I still don't know where to go." I say at last. A road sign goes whizzing by and Van points to the last city, Pason 167 miles. "That's where we are headed. It's a big racer city so we'll be safe there from Dilandau's influence. Racer's around here don't take any shit from authority and they are all my buds." Van says and Hitomi feels her excitement building.

The car speeds up to 85 and the scenery turns to a blur. Van must be as excited as I am…Hitomi thinks with a small smile as she sneaks a sideways glance at Van. His face was relaxed, his fingers lightly gripped the steering wheel and his whole body seemed to just melt into the vibrations of the car. While she's lost in her staring he glances at her and catches her mid stare. A slow smirk works across his face and he gently shakes his head so his unruly black hair rested around his face perfectly. He was such a playboy! Hitomi screams to herself but she finds him even more irresistible. It's hard to believe he's an assassin.

They reach Pason before sundown and Van drives right downtown and parks in front of what looked like Hollywood Boulevard. The sidewalks were packed with a diverse crowd of people and no one even blinked at Hitomi in her men's shirt and boxers. Van's Dragon, however, got numerous stares and several high-fives as he greets pals. Hitomi smiles at him but is soon taken in by the flashing lights and storekeepers selling their wares.

Bags of green were being passed at every corner and alcohol was being consumed on every street. People laughed and drank and smoked and did whatever the fuck they wanted and Hitomi felt slightly light headed and overwhelmed. These people were so different from what she was used to back home. Would they accept her? Would they all hate her and see her as a prissy rich bitch? Her mind reels out of control at all these horrible thoughts until a strong arm around her waist jolts her back to reality.

Van was looking down at her with a concerned expression and Hitomi felt even more overwhelmed. "Are you okay babe?" He whispers so only she could hear. She felt his fingers gently rub her side and slowly pull her closer to his body until she was comfortably pressed against his side. His warmth flooded through her and disintegrated her previous fears. These people could've been like her at some point. They were all different and they all accepted each other just fine.

She looks up at him and smiles widely. "I'm wonderful! Where are we going first?" She laughs to makes her point and hugs him to her tightly, pressing her sparsely clothed body right up against his front. He breathes in deeply and wraps both arms around her, burying his face in her hair. She loved this side of him. Sure he was amazing in bed but he had a loving side too. Them just standing there holding one another was the most special moment she's ever experienced.

Hitomi pulls away slightly and looks up to see him smiling down at her. Really, he was smiling! No smirk, even though it's a sexy as hell look too, just a smile and eyes only for her. No words passed between them, just a comfortable silence as he leads her to the first store. It was called Shoe Fantasy and Hitomi had never seen so many shoes under one roof. Every shoe imaginable was here, and even some that were unimaginable, and Hitomi ran excitedly around checking out the ones that she wanted to try on.

Van followed slowly behind her and made notes of the ones she picked up, checked the price, and then put down. Even though she was born a Noble, she wasn't selfish or greedy by any means.

When she was done and had selected three shoes that she found adequate, Van came up and grabbed them from her. "Now go back and pick up the shoes that you declined because of their price. Then you can try them all on." He says and she blushes at being caught. To his surprise, she doesn't object and goes right back to the four pairs she had passed up. She had really liked them and it amazed her that Van had noticed. She had always been the observer, not the observed, but she kind of liked being watched like this. She liked having someone actually paying attention to her.

Hitomi ran into the dressing room with her shoes, she said she wanted it to be a surprise, and Van sat down in the chair provided. He had a hard time keeping his eyes, let alone his hands, off his little vixen and just the thought of seeing her something fancy and sensual made his body react in noticeable ways. (wink wink) He had loved all the shoes she'd pick from the black 5 inch stilettos to the business woman pumps. They all looked great on her.

The door opens hesitantly and she steps out in a pair Van hadn't seen her pick out. They were a simple black color but with a 5 inch heel and 2 inch platform. The black strap went around her toes and crisscrossed up her foot to her ankle where she had them tied in a bow in the back. Van coughs and clears his throat, "They look real good babe. They make your legs look like they go on for miles and they fit the contour of your foot and ankle perfectly." She blushes crimson at such an in-depth comment and nods wordlessly before disappearing behind the door.

Van wondered if he'd said something wrong but she reemerges five seconds later with her decision in hand. "I picked my favorite pair first and your comment was enough encouragement." She says happily. He laughs and takes the shoes from her so he could pay for them while Hitomi puts her other selections away.

"That'll be $41.32 Van." The cashier says and Van blinks in surprise. That little sneak! She got a cheap pair of shoes passed me! Granted it wasn't that cheap for shoes but in Pason, shoes ran up to several hundreds a pair. Hitomi comes up next to him with a smug look on her face and carefully avoids his annoyed look.

Taking the bag from the cashier, they leave the shop. "Well I'll admit you got that one passed me but when we pick out your outfit, don't look at the prices please?" Van says seriously. He looks down at her and she smiles and nods. "Alright deal." She laughs and grabs his right hand, lacing her slender fingers through his and swings their arms like a little kid. "So where to next?" She says looking through the windows we pass by curiously. "I have a favorite store in mind for your outfit. It's called Fantastique and it has the widest variety of styles I've ever seen for both men and women. We will go there. It's only a block away." Van says and Hitomi gives his hand a squeeze in excitement.

When they arrive at the store, Hitomi dashes in to get selecting, leaving Van outside for a couple seconds. "Allen where are you. I know you're out there." Van says nonchalantly so as to not attract attention. Allen emerges seemingly from thin air and advances on Van swiftly. "How are you Allen? Fine day isn't it?" Van continues in his cool detached tone.

"Where is the girl Van? Dilandau is willing to take you back if you'll hand her over right this second. If not I will take her back even at the cost of killing you to do it." Allen growls in a low voice. Van stiffens at his tone and turns fully towards him. "You'd sell me out for Dilandau? I thought we were brothers?" Van says actually feeling hurt at Allens coolness to the idea of killing him.

"We are brothers Van. And Dilandau is our father. We both need to go back to him right now with the girl and forget this all happened. Then we can go back to our old lives." Allen says irritated that he actually has to explain all this to him. Van frowns and shakes his head. "I refuse. Why would I want to go back to a life of killing? To a life where I'm being threatened and controlled by our so called 'father'? That may work for you but it doesn't work for me Allen."

Van starts heading into the dress shop but Allen's hand on his shoulder stops him. Without looking back at him, Van hears him say, "Then let the games begin Van" before he's gone. A scowl breaks across Van's face and he unconsciously touches his right side to where the M-16 was strapped across his chest. He takes a couple deep breathes to cool his nerves and gives his body a physical shake to loosen up. He was the best assassin in the South. Not even Allen could beat him during their training so he wasn't sure why he was getting so tense. However, he would be on his guard but he couldn't tell Hitomi.

Speaking of her…Van looks through the window and sees his vixen rushing around already carrying an armful of clothes with the happiest look on her face he had ever seen. She practically glowed from her very core and Van's stress flew out of him. He wasn't sure what she'd done to him to make him feel this way but he loved it and he loved her…more then she would ever know probably.

With these thoughts in mind, Van enters the store and sneaks up on Hitomi who was in the midst of choosing from a large display of tight mini skirts. He grabs her around the waist and swings her around loving how she screams but clings to his arms all the same. "Van! Put me down! The clothes are all over the floor now!" She says laughing her head off until he finally sets her down, nuzzling the side of her face and giving her ear a little nip.

She blushes crimson but smiles and playfully pushes him out of the way so she could pick up the fallen clothes. Van takes the opportunity to check out her ass and proceeds to give it a little slap making her yelp but she gives her butt a little wiggle and Van growls under his breath. Yes, complete vixen she is.

Discarding all thoughts of Allen from his mind, Van helps her with the clothes and takes a seat as he waits impatiently for her to emerge. She wanted to put her new heels on as well to see how they matched her outfit and Van was doing everything to remain calm on all levels. This was going to be a long night.

(A/N: Well that's the end of the seventh chapter! Sorry for all the fluff but I wanted to build up their relationship more for what is to come later in the story. There will be more racing and action so don't worry! I really want to finish this story! So thanks to everyone who has kept reviewing even after years of inactivity…this chapter and following chapters are to you guys! You are what got me to write again!)