Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Chemicals ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: In author profile. *Lalala*

Chemicals

By Iron Lotus in conjunction with Quiksilver

Hitomi rested her hands on her knees and panted for breath. Sweat dripped down her body, her tank top stuck to her back. She shivered when a sudden, cool breeze hit her, the clash of her body temperature and the coldness of the air sending chills up her spine. It was dusk now; not the best time to be running, but alas. The little free time she had during the day was spent wandering the halls of the Asturian Palace, searching for Merle or Millerna in hopes that they would be able to entertain each other. Just when the sun began to set, she would change into her running shorts and sneakers and take off.

She would fly through the halls and corridors of the palace until she made it to the garden doors, and then do laps around the gardens. Allen had only found her during the middle of her routine once - she had collided with him as he entered the gardens. He had chastised her for being out so late. It was dangerous, he said, and he didn't want her out of his reach. He worried for her. He loved her. She knew she should have done as he had told her to… after all, he was only concerned for her safety… but somehow, she found herself defying his wishes each evening.

Her head snapped up when she heard footsteps. She straightened herself, wiping her brow from the droplets of perspiration that were slowly coursing their way down to her eyes. "Folken-san," she greeted him, watching as he neared.

"Good evening," he replied, altering his course a little so that he could move to stand beside her. His eyes darted over her form as she stretched her back out in a movement much like a cat's, and walked over to where she had dumped her duffel bag at the start of her run. She wiped her face off on a small white towel before slinging it around her neck. "What are you doing out here?"

She walked over to the fountain and sat down on the edge of it, looking up to the sky. Her eyes closed for a brief moment, and she turned to him, a small smile gracing her features. "I was running."

"Running?"

She stretched her arms out. "I was on the track team, back home. I have to stay in shape if I want to stay on the team, so… running." Folken quirked a brow in acknowledgement and seated himself by her side.

"Hasn't Allen protested? It's somewhat dangerous out here at night. Were he a true gentleman, he would insist that you remain indoors…"

Hitomi averted her eyes and her smile faded a little. "He did."

"And you ignored his request?" He was smiling now - a small smile, but one nonetheless.

"You make it sound so evil," she murmured, and then glanced back up at him, flashing him a little grin. "It's just… I have to be free, you know?"

"Even the songbird must stretch its wings," Folken intoned, his good hand traveling to her head and resting on her damp hair.

Silence reigned between them for a moment after that, the light slowly fading away into reddish streaks of color in the sky before day died away into darkness. Night kissed the land, the moon's glow reflecting on the water of the fountain behind them. Hitomi looked up into the sky and closed her eyes. A slight breeze displaced the air around them, chilling her now cooled body. She shivered.

Folken watched as she trembled from the cold. He moved his hand to her elbow and tugged on it gently. "Let us go inside. It's cold out; I don't want you to catch a chill."

She stood with him and he escorted her indoors. When he turned down a corridor to lead her to his room, she paused and detached her elbow from his hand. "Folken-san, I'm going to go take a bath, okay? I'll see you at dinner."

He half turned to her and tilted his head a degree. "There is a bath in my bedchamber. I would like to continue our conversation," he said.

"But I -"

"Come," he said, and Hitomi followed, though a little hesitantly. She hadn't been to his room, and didn't think it would be entirely appropriate if she were to go with him unattended.

His room was large and dark, with the curtains drawn. She stood in the doorway, waiting as he lit the oil lamps throughout the room. He motioned toward the bathroom, and she went in obediently, taking her duffel bag along with her. He showed her where the towels were kept, and left her to her devices.

The bathwater was cold, and it was awkward bathing in his room. She bathed quickly, washed out her hair, and changed into the only clean clothing she had left in her bag. She knew that her other clothes had probably dried out already and been folded and placed neatly in the armoire in her room, but she wished that her uniform hadn't been one of the outfits among them. Somewhat hesitantly, she changed into a pair of low-slung light blue jeans and a gray knit crop top with long sleeves and a logo of a pair of wings on the back. She wasn't sure it was entirely appropriate for this… planet, but it was all she had with her.

Folken raised his eyebrows quite a bit when she reentered his room. She was showing quite a bit of skin, above and just below the navel. He tried not to stare - it was difficult. Her stomach was smooth and flat, the same golden white hue as her arms and the rest of her skin, though not as tanned. She didn't have tan lines though; he had noticed earlier… the color transitioned smoothly from her arms to her shoulders and to her back. He had liked that little top she jogged in. He liked the breeches she wore now just as well.

"Hey," she mumbled, tugging a little self-consciously at the hem of her shirt. "What did you want to talk about?"

"You've gotten engaged, I've heard."

"Allen," she sighed, in an answer to her own question. She walked over to where Folken was sitting, and sat in a chair across from him. "It's not quite as solid as that."

"So what is he to you, if not your fiancé?"

Hitomi tried not to feel like she was being interrogated. "He's a guy… that I like… that wants to marry me."

He quirked an eyebrow. "And Van?"

She looked up at him, and frustration passed through her expressive features. "I like him too."

"So you like them equally?" he inquired. She averted her eyes. "How many men are you allowed to marry on the Mystic Moon?"

Hitomi giggled. "Depends on which culture," she replied, and at seeing the look on his face, laughed even harder. "Just one."

Folken watched her until she was silent once more. She looked uncomfortable under his steadfast gaze, and within moments, the last traces of her smile had disappeared from her face. "Folken-san, is something wrong?"

He remained silent, his eyes staying trained on hers as he stood from his chair. Her eyes grew wide as he approached her, and she stayed perfectly still, as though she was playing possum. His good hand reached for one of her wrists and he brought her to her feet as well, pulling her toward the bed only a few steps away.

A strangled squeak pushed its way out of her mouth as he tossed her onto the bed. Her eyes were unimaginably wide and she called his name out uncertainly as he leaned down over her, his face merely inches from hers. "You're not engaged?" She shook her head. "And you're not in love?"

She shook her head once more. His lips twitched upwards and he smiled. "That's going to change right about now," he murmured and leaned toward her, capturing her lips in his.

It was a brief kiss - he teased her lips with his own and the pulled away, grabbing her wrists with his good hand and holding them above her head, while the fingers of his mechanical hand gripped onto her hip. He pulled back, waiting for her response. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her bottom lip drawn into her mouth. A second passed by, slower than an eternity, and she nodded. That was all the consent he needed.

He pulled her up to something akin to a sitting position, holding her up by her wrists and supporting her with a hand on her back. His lips attacked hers in a flurry of small kisses, until she finally caught them with her own. She kissed him back with an innocent shyness that contrasted greatly with the passion he was exuding, and wrapped one of her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

A shiver coursed down her spine and she almost pulled away when she felt his tongue on her lips, asking for entry. It felt velvety and warm and entirely new… and somewhat scary. She flinched away from it, but he persisted, and she slowly opened her mouth to allow him entrance.

Her first kiss was gone in the throes of passion which possessed him then. He ravaged her mouth, exploring it with his tongue, marking her lips with his, tasting her, taking her in. His kisses became lighter as he slowly pushed her back down onto the bed, trailing the sweet caresses along her jaw line and to the soft, pale skin of her neck. His tongue darted out from between his parted lips and he licked down her neck to her collarbone.

She shivered, feeling his hot breath on her skin. Not knowing what else to do, her hands wound themselves into his hair, a pale greenish blue in the soft light of his room. A sound somewhere between a sigh and moan escape her lips as the weight of his body lifted off of hers. He had propped himself up, his knee between her legs, barely brushing their junction which was hot with the excitement of the moment. He moved back up to attack her mouth once more, his mechanical hand still closed around her hip and his other one running over the smooth skin of her side, which had been left exposed by her crop top. His touch tingled, tickled, tormented her flesh, leaving trails of fire in its wake.

"Folken…san…" she panted into his mouth, feeling his hand creep across and up her stomach.

He did not reply, merely turning the attention of his lips back to the line of her jaw. His hand inched closer to her chest, rising and falling with her slightly heavy breathing.

"Folken-san," she said, her voice ringing clearer. "Stop."

His hand was hovering just above her right breast, poised and ready. A sigh escaped his now frowning lips and he removed it, pulling away from her and sitting up. She scrambled to follow his example, sitting up on the slightly rumpled sheets of the bed.

He looked at her, his crimson eyes penetrating, asking for an explanation.

"It's just… I mean…how far are we going, here? I…"

His face took on a softer expression and he put a hand on her head, smiling gently. "As far as you want to go. I will not push you into doing anything," he said. "Was that…? That wasn't…"

"My first kiss? Yeah," she replied, a bright blush staining her cheeks.

He looked down at her with a somewhat paternal, condescending gaze, which turned naughty at the upturning of his lips. "It was a very nice first kiss on your part," he said. "Dinner will be ready soon. I would go back to your room and change into something a little…"

"More appropriate?"

"Less sexy," he amended.

She blushed again and sprung from the bed, pausing to grab her bag before darting from the room.

AN: Await chapter two!! Its coming, I swear, full to the brim with lemon and many a hot bish.