Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Another Day in Paradise ❯ Just a Typical Day at Work ( Chapter 1 )

Disclamer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters..too bad so sad..

Another Day In Paradise

 

Chapter One: Just a Typical Day at Work

 

Hitomi lay in her cozy bed for what seemed like hours, staring blankly at her uninteresting white ceiling covered by the darkness given off by absent light above her. She lay motionless underneath the covers with her arms over her head. The sun hadn't even show any signs of the new day to come.

 

Hitomi was zoned out into her own little world of thought. Ever since her return from Gaea she hasn't been able to sleep right, no matter how late she went to bed she seemed to be fully awake at unimaginable hours. Usually she would stay in bed until the sun came up hoping her body will let her fall back asleep but every time she never does, so she continues in her world of thought.

 

Hitomi finally snapped out of her trance and looked over to the little clock on the small round table beside her bed, “5:30, oh man do I hate this its been 4 years of waking up at hours I haven't even experienced before I went to Gaea.” How depressing, well, I may as well get ready to go to work, Hitomi finished in thought sliding out of bed.

 

Her feet touched the cool wood floor of her apartment. Hitomi turned towards her clock which still read 5:30 am; she bent over and turned on the small lamp, the only unnatural light source in her room. She walked over to the fair sized window to stare at the city shadowed by night; the city had grown in the past 4 years, even at night the city was all lit up. There was a nice view of the city where her apartment was. During the day you could see her old school that she graduated from last year and the track.

 

Eventually having enough at looking at the city Hitomi walked out of her room and was in a small hallway and walking across it to the bathroom, turning on the light and closing the door behind her. She took off her top and bottoms revealing a unnaturally thin body. Hitomi examined herself in the mirror, I look horrible, no wonder why I'm still single who would want a girlfriend who looks so sickly. In truth she was pale and really thin, for the past few years she had been depressed that her prince charming (in this case king charming) hasn't come back for her. Because of her depression she didn't eat regularly and if she did she didn't eat a lot, she was now malnourished. Also, after she graduated she went right to work at some diner, never giving university studies a thought. She was unhappy; no wonder why I'm alone, oh Van…why haven't you come for me. She stopped looking at herself; it was making her even more depressed. She pulled the shower curtains aside as she stepped into the tub, closing them when she was in. She turned on the water and slowly began to come out of the showerhead and pouring down long brown hair and her pale body.

 

After washing her hair and body and standing under the warm water for 20 min, she reluctantly turned the water off and stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel, dried off and wrapped it around her body. Hitomi walked back into her room, and sat on the edge of the bed. She just had a feeling this was going to be one of those depressing days. She sat there, looking down with her hands clasped on her chest thinking about how alone she was, her best friends Ammano and Yukari had left the country after they graduated, her father and brother lived in the next city but traveled a lot, she hardly got to see them, her mother had died of illness a year ago and Van who was on a completely different planet to be gin with... a planet she couldn't even see, all she had to remind herself of what he meant to her was a single white feather from he beautiful draconian wings.

 

Van had never been far from Hitomi's mind, she missed him very much. I wish you would come and take me away from this world; there isn't anything left for me to live for here. I want to be with you, I want to be the first thing you see when you wake up and the last thing you see when sleep claims you. But who am I kidding, you have probably moved on and I'm the last thing on your mind, for all I know your married and have children already, you're not going to come for me… Hitomi felt tears slide down her face from her eyes at the thought.

 

She looked back at her clock and it was shortly after 6:00am. Hitomi got up and got dressed realizing she had to be at work by 7:30am and it took 30 min to walk there. By now the sun was slowly coming up in the sky, making the clouds look bright.

 

After putting on her uniform, makeup and doing her hair she had some time left to eat. Hitomi walked into her tiny little kitchen and poured a cup of coffee that had just finished brewing. After taking a few sips she opened up her cupboards to see if she could find any breakfast food, but with one look in the cupboards she didn't feel like eating, which was the pattern for her for the past few years. “I should eat something so I can gain some weight I look horrible…no, I just to feel like eating.” She closed the cupboards and went back to drinking her coffee. After she finished she placed the empty cup in the sink and grabbed her knee length black coat and put it on. It was early fall and the mornings were quite cool.

 

After locking the apartment door Hitomi began her long walk to the diner, there were other diners closer to her apartment but she liked this one, she has known the owners for a long time and their daughter, Maya Hirobe, who Hitomi was friends with in school, is working to take over the business. She always liked the atmosphere of the diner it had a homey feel.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Hitomi hung her coat on the hocks in the back of the kitchen in the diner and walked out to the dining area to go help get ready for the day when they opened at 8:00am.

 

As she walked out into the dining area she noticed how clean it smelled in here, that was one of the reasons she liked having a morning shift as the day went on it didn't smell as good. The diner always seemed to look so nice, white tiles on the floor, red tables with metal trimmings, the booth seats had red cushions, there was windows all around the dining area.

 

“Good morning Hitomi, its Friday arnt you excited you have the weekend off remember? So do you have anything exciting planned, maybe perhaps with a special someone?” Maya greeted with a big smile on her face.

 

“Oh good morning Maya,” Hitomi chirped back happily but didn't last she continued with a depressed tone, “I remember, it will probably be as uneventful as any other days I have off. I don't have a special someone in my life; I haven't had one for a really long time.”

 

“Oh I'm sorry to hear that, well I'm gonna have to fix you up with someone, don't worry I'll find you someone.”

 

“Oh you don't have…” Hitomi kinda faked a laugh as she was being cut off.

 

“I'm doing it and that's final, you deserve a man who will treat you right, you work so hard you deserve it.” Maya said in reassuring voice.

 

“I guess I could give it a try.”

“Great. Oh and Page called in sick so you and Andy are going to busy today” Maya said as she disappeared into the kitchen.

 

“Great, and it's a busy day.” Hitomi mumbled.

 

Shortly after Andy came out of the kitchen and greeted Hitomi with a smile as he went to the front door and flipped the closed sign to open. Now the busy day will begin.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Hitomi was right it was quite the busy morning, all the people who usually come in cane in at the same time and more came after they left. It was nothing that Andy and Hitomi couldn't handle. It was around 11:45 when Erik came in and Hitomi was allowed to have a 10 min break. Hitomi sat at a bench on the side of the diner, which was conveniently on the corner of the block. She watched the people go by; all of them seemed to be in a rush to get where ever they need to go. There were some interesting people that walked by, the Goths, the punks, the barley clothed woman, her favourite, men in suits.

 

She sat there for 10 min just watching, she noticed this one tall guy, and he didn't seem in a hurry to go anywhere. She noticed he had a long black coat, and a wide brimmed hat slanted over his face. He didn't look to out of place but something about him that caught her eye but before she could figure out what it was Andy came out and called her back to come in. I guess I'll never know. Little did she know he went inside the diner.

 

Maya couldn't help but notice the man as he took his hat off and placed it on the table to reveal his long black hair that spiked up at the top. And she kept staring at him when he took off his long coat and laid it down in the booth and then sat down. He's gorgeous, this guy is perfect for Hitomi. He was wearing a black suit with a with a light blue dress shirt underneath and for some unknown reason he wore black leather gloves which looked a bit odd, especially when he didn't take them off.

 

Maya turned around looking for Hitomi and saw her heading out into the dining area, “Hitomi come hear I think I found you a man, he's gorgeous, please give him a try. He's right over there, with the long black hair sittingby the corner facing the wall.”

 

“Alright but I wont guarantee anything.” Aww man, how come I get talked into these things. Hitomi though as she grabbed her pad of paper and a pen and walked out towards the man. While walking towards him she saw the hat and realized that was the man she saw earlier, this was her lucky day.

 

She walked up from behind, passed him a bit and turned towards him and greeted, “Hi there I'm Hitomi, and can I get you something to drink sir.”

 

He looked up at her acknowledging her presence, and also because that name rang some sort of bell far back in his preoccupied mind.

 

Hitomi just stood there staring at his face which looked so familiar like she should know this man.

 

Maya was just loving this, she could tell that Hitomi seemed interested in this man she couldn't keep her eyes off him.

 

Hitomi kept staring at then man, he reminds me of Van's older brother but it couldn't be him, he's dead, and his hair is different and he's missing his tattoos, but the voice, it sounds like him. When she noticed him clear his throat and she came back to earth, “I'm sorry sir you just remind me of someone I use to know, but you can't be him, he died.”

 

“I'm sorry to hear that, was he close to you? Forgive me if I'm getting to personal.”

 

“No it's alright, he was the brother of the man I fell in love with 4 years ago, and his brother's name was Folken.” Hitomi answered.

 

The mysterious mans eyes widened at her answer; this is the girl from the Mystic Moon who saved Gaea. “What would you say if I told you that Folken Lacour de Fanel was very much alive?” with that said he removed his gloves revealing something mechanical.

 

Hitomi starred down at the mans hand, “Folken, is it really you?”

 

The man nodded in agreement and whipped his face revealing his purple tear that had been covered by makeup.

 

Hitomi was overjoyed to see an old friend especially from Gaea; this was the happiest moment in probably 4 years. She couldn't believe he was alive. She couldn't contain her joy and flung out her arms and hugged him and started crying, “Folken we all thought you were dead, what happened to you, how did you end up on earth, and what happened to your beautiful blue hair.”

 

Back in the kitchen Hitomi's recent outburst of affection took Maya by surprise, could they have met before? They seem to be hitting it off I'll let her enjoy herself. She thought as she saw Hitomi sit down across from the man.

 

“Well to answer you question about being dead, I thought I was a dead man, when you and van left me, I didn't have enough energy in me to let you know I was alive, too much blood loss I guess. Well after you left I found myself in that strange beam of light and was transported to the mystic moon. Someone had found me and brought me to the hospital and they managed to save my life. My wings are no longer black.”

 

“Wow Folken that's awesome. So what did you do after?”

 

“The person who brought me to the hospital came and saw me every day in the hospital, he was a nice man in his 40's, and his name was Alex. It took him a long time to believe my story about Gaea but he eventually believed it, my arm kind of helped. He knew I had no where to go so he took me in until I was able to make a life of my own here and this is where I've stayed since then. Alex got me a job in the computer technology field; he was surprised how fast I picked up on them.”

 

“Wow that's great Folken you have made a decent life for yourself here, it's so different here on earth then Gaea.”

 

“That it is, which explains the hair, I haven't come across many people with blue hair that have a good reputation and so I was forced to dye my hair. Also I needed to cover my tattoos to look more professional, I don't really like doing it, and I do it when I have to work. As for these gloves, I get to many questions if I let remain uncovered, it was hard enough at the hospital.” Folken answered.

 

“That's too bad. Why didn't you go back to Gaea?”

 

“Yeah, but that's life, life here is different. I thought it would just be better if I didn't go back, I have too many enemies, and it was nice just to start over again. But, enough about myself, what about you, I thought my brother would have came back for you?” Folken asked.

 

“I thought so too but I've given up hope, I have to move on, I dwelled on it to much to the point it was unhealthy, I don't think he's going to come back for me.”

 

“He would be a fool not to, I know he loves you.” There was a few moments of awkward silence.

 

“I should get back to work, we should get together some time, I missed talking to my old friend.” Hitomi flashed Folken a smile. For once in a long time she was so happy.

 

“How about dinner tonight, my place, I'll write down the address.” Folken took out a pen from his jacket pocket and on the paper place mat on the table he wrote 456 Hunter Street. “It's a small stone house.” He ripped the address off the place mat and handed it to Hitomi.

 

“I know where Hunter Street is, it's not far from here. I'll be there at 7:00, I get off at around three and I'll go home and change and be right over.”

 

“That sounds great. I'll be looking forward to it, I don't get many guests.”

 

“Not even any special lady friends, who can really resist you.” Hitomi said playfully.

“You would be the first,” Folken tried to hide the blush that was creeping up on his soft cheeks.

 

Hitomi just chuckled at his response. She stood up from the table and asked, “So what would you like for lunch?”

”Oh I almost forgot, I'll just have a toasted western on brown, and a tea. Thank you very much Hitomi, I'll look forward to your company tonight.”

 

Hitomi walked back towards the kitchen leaving her old friend behind. I cannot believe it was him; this day has been far from depressing. I can't believe I think he is even more gorgeous and charming now then he was when he was working for Zaibach.

 

Hitomi disappeared through the kitchen doors to find Maya still peeping on Folken. She game the cook his order and walked over to her friend.

 

“Sooo, Hitomi how did it go? It seemed you too had hit it off big time.” Maya asked.

 

“His name is Folken, he is a old friend. He's changed a bit since I last saw him, for instance his hair use o be the nicest shade of light blue. He's a very smart man.”

 

“Hitomi He's gorgeous…does he have any brothers?”

 

“I know, he does have one brother, he is our age, but he lives far away, almost like another world away. I was in love with his brother, Van.”

 

“Oh I see, so what happened?”

 

“uh, we had to part ways, I guess. I don't think I would ever see him again. We had some pretty good adventures. He was a big part of my life four years ago.”

 

“How come I don't remember anyone by that name, how did you meet him?”

 

“That's part of my life not many people know about, and it's kinda hard to explain how I met him its complicated. I wish I could see him again but as I said he is to far away and I don't know how to get there anymore.”

 

“Do you still Love Van?” Maya questioned, what if she still isn't ready to move on, or should she move on with the guy's brother.

“A part of me will probably always love Van, but I know we wont be able to be together, our lives are to different.”

 

Maya could hear her friends tone turn into a sad tone, “Well whatever you do take your time and do what feels right, don't do something you will regret later on. I just want to see you happy. By the way how old is this Folken? And what's his last name?”

 

“His whole name is Folken Lacour de Fanel, and he's older then me, 10 years actually, he's 29. I'm meeting him for dinner at his place tonight at 7:00 he gave me his address, we are just to talk, and nothing else so don't get any weird ideas.”

 

“Uh-Huh, whatever you say Hitomi, if I were you I'd do more then just talk if you know what I'm saying. Especially with someone so gorgeous as Folken Lacour de Fanel.” Maya said while walking away and out the kitchen door, probably going to try to take a better look at Folken.