Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Dangerous Wounds ❯ Getting to know the 'Mystery Girl' ( Chapter 8 )

Author's Notes: Well, it's me again...Krissy-chan with another author note XD. Um...I've only recently gotten inspiration for this story...which is sad and horrible, because I had so many plans for it...and I've just been too lazy to do it. I'll try and get better about having chapters come out. Um...I didn't win the fic contest for anyone who really cares, but it didn't matter that much. Anyway...enjoy.

*I'm...warm. And uncomfortable,* Migel thought bitterly, slowly resurfacing from that lack of consciousness. The minute he opened his eyes, he saw Marlon's and Benjamin's faces lingering over his. If he had enough energy, he probably would have screamed in fear, but instead he settled for a half-choked gasp which immediately faltered into normal breathing patterns.

"Look, look. Migs is finally coming out of la la land," Marlon smirked.

"Unh...where am I?" Migel raised his brows in confusion.

"Shit!" Benjamin's eyes went wide. "You don't have amnesia, do you?! Mom'll -kill- me if I took my brother out and he came back with memory loss! Uh...okay! We gotta stay calm. I'm Benjamin Lavalier...your older brother. You're Migel Lavalier, my--"

"I know who I am, stupid..." Migel rolled his eyes, pushing himself upright.

"You're in the hospital," Marlon stated, pointing to a sign that read as much. "You passed out on stage and took a nasty blow to your head there. We brought you down and got you patched up--"

"Which of course, Marlon's paying for since -I- bought supper," The brother quickly added.

"Me?! He's -your- flesh and blood!"

"I bought you food, damn it!"

"Food can't hold a stick to paying healer bills!"

"Yeah, well we didn't win the prize so I got no money!"

"Who's fault was that?! You were the one who -made- him perform."

"Made?! I didn't make him do anything! He chose to do it 'cus you bribed him!"

"Uh...guys?" Migel paused, listening to them argue a bit more. "GUYS! Could you...keep it down? I kinda got a headache."

"Oh...right..." Benjamin scowled at his friend.

Marlon wore a similar scowl, until it faded and he turned to the younger boy, "Oh yeah, Migs...there's some really good looking girl here to visit you. She told us to get her when you woke up. Should we do it now?"

"Good...looking...girl?" Migel blinked, but then realization struck him. It -must- have been her! "Yeah, yeah! Get her and then leave us alone."

"Aren't you a little too young to be left alone with girls?" Benjamin raised his brows skeptically.

"Yeah, that's what I was about to say. My, my...is Migs becoming an adult?" Marlon leaned in with a lopsided grin.

Migel shoved him away, "Just go and get her already! If it's who I think it is, I want to see her."

"And -who- is it?" Benjamin smirked.

"Just go get her already!"

Migel sighed with relief to see that time they actually went, and then he reached behind himself to fluff up the flattened pillow. Leaning against it only forced the puffiness to sink in and collapse beneath his weight. Migel grumbled about that and just settled for sitting there uncomfortably. It seemed that for as much as healers claimed to help people, they didn't give a damn about whether they suffered or not. After all, if left on that mattress to sleep, Migel doubted anyone would be able to rest peacefully unless of course he or she was unconscious from the start. Then it wouldn't matter. Not one bit.

Those hazel-hued spheres shifted toward the door just in time to see the girl arrive and of course it was the very one he had expected. She held an expression of genuine concern and walked forward slowly. Migel had to admire the way each copper-tinted coil bounced with every step she took, but then she came to a stop before him. One hand crept forward and lay atop his head, but she drew it back and folded those digits together.

"How are you feeling?"

Migel considered exaggerating how much his head hurt and how that pain was making it's way all around his body, for sympathy of course. Though, he couldn't help but tell the truth as he looked at her, "It's fine. Just a little throbbing in my head, though I do feel a bit dizzy."

"You did hit your head pretty hard on that stage. I was afraid you hurt yourself even worse. I'm glad you're okay, though."

"Yeah, me too. Guess singing's just not my thing and the stage had the last laugh when it hit me in the face..." He rubbed at the bruise on his cheek with a wince.

"Well, you're a tough guy. I'm sure you'll manage..." She winked.

"Yeah, so tough that I almost died from embarrassment tonight. How could I ever think to go up against you? You're voice is just so...perfect..."

"Migel, that's not true. I was nervous my first time performing too, you know. And then the more I got used to it, the more fun it became. I mean, yeah, I still get those little butterflies in my stomach, but that's only natural."

The injured one stifled a laugh at some mental image of the girl being surrounded by butterflies while on stage, but then quietly shook his head-which, of course, proved to be a bad idea. Great, now he was not only in pain, but having particularly weird thoughts roam through his mind. It was just not his day...or maybe it was. Migel felt the singer's arms move around him and looked toward the worried girl's face. Somehow, the thought of meeting her calmed him down and lessened the pain until it faded into nothing. He offered her a smile and then those eyes widened suddenly. He needed to get her name.

"So, what do you call yourself?"

"Excuse me?" She raised her brows at the question.

"Name..." Migel quickly rephrased. "What's your name?"

"Oh!" She offered a soft laugh. "I'm Isabella Nightingale."

"Isabella..." He repeated. "With a voice like...chimes. Yes, I can call you 'Chime'..."

Isabella quirked a brow, "No, really. That's okay. My family calls me 'Bella' or something like that, but I don't really think 'Chime' would--"

"Belle! I meant, Belle..." Migel sank down a bit. "I'm feeling a bit on the woozy side now. Sorry...confusing bells and chimes...and ugh...my head hurts."

"Maybe you should rest now, Migel. I can come back tomorrow to check on you."

"I'd like to see you again. 'Night, Belle. Be careful out there at night...you might get attacked by dragons. And those dragons...what ferocious creatures they can be with their scales and legs..."

Isabella smiled somewhat at the nonsense he was babbling and honestly hoped that by morning, he would even remember her name, but after a few more moments of listening, she ducked out of the area.

* * *

The sun shifted it's way into the hospital room, though it was unwelcomed by Migel himself. His head was pounding and the bright light wasn't helping at all. Those eyes opened slowly, coming to focus on the stand beside his cot. For a moment, there was a dozen multicolored blurs, but once they became more solid, he saw it was a vase of flowers. Migel furrowed his brows and reached over for the card beside them.

"This must be some sort of joke from Ben and Marlon..." He mumbled aloud, lifting the envelope's flap. Pulling out the note slowly, he read it aloud. " 'Hope you feel better this morning. If they release you, why don't you head down to Garusan's tonight and meet me? I'd really like to spend more time with you. Isabella. PS I hope you don't mind the flowers, I didn't know what else to get you.' "

Migel smiled to himself, "Belle...thank you."

"Hey, look who's up!"

The thirteen year old glance over to see Benjamin walking through the door. He was followed closely by their mother. Migel lit up with a grin, "Mom!"

"Oh, thank goodness you're feeling all right. Your father had to work otherwise he would have been here too," She moved inward, regarding her son with concern.

"Now what do we have here?" Benjamin eyed the flowers and then reached for the note before Migel could defend it.

"Ben! Give it back!"

"Hm...'meet at Garusan's?' Looks like Migel has got a girlfriend. Pretty thing, good singer too..." The elder brother informed his mother, handing off the card.

"Ben!" Migel's cheeks grew red with embarrassment.

"I certainly hope she's a nice girl..." The mother glanced toward her youngest for his confirmation.

"Mom! Of course she's nice, but she's not my girlfriend..." Migel made a mental note to smack Ben the next chance he got.

"Have the doctors mentioned when they're releasing you?" The woman tilted her head with interest.

Thankful for the change in subject, he shook his head as best as he could, "No, but I hope it's soon. I could really go for some your home made cooking, Mom."

"Oh, but not tonight, Mom, because Migel's got a date."

"Ben! It's -not- a date!"

"Uh huh...suuure..."

"It's not!"

"Then why are you blushing so much, Migs? You like her, admit it!"

Migel reached up to cover his reddened cheeks, "I do not! Shut up!"

Mrs. Lavalier released a soft laugh at the display and then shook her head, "Benjamin, please. You're brother's been through a lot lately..."

"Yeah, Ben. So if you stress me out too much, I might die or something," He smirked, folding his arms behind his head.

"Oh? Well, I'll just have to wait until you're out. Then I'll really have fun teasing you."

Luckily for Migel, he was released just that afternoon, provided he was 'careful.' That's what the healers said and he didn't disagree, though he didn't exactly bother to find out if going to meet someone was considered 'careful.' To be honest, he really didn't care. He would just rest in bed all day and later claim to feel all better, regardless as to whether or not he really did. So, with the help of his brother and mother, he made it to his bedroom and started phase one of his plan. He got lunch on a tray and ate that happily, giving his mother the dirty dishes when she returned.

"Migel?"

"Yeah?"

"Something came for you in the mail this morning...here," She walked toward his bureau and handed the envelope toward him.

Migel took it with a tilt of his head and then studied the address. His features brightened immediately and he tore at the seal. It was something from Zaibach and reading important things from that place made Migel feel...well...important. He scanned over the writing, quickly moving through the body of the letter. It was about the trials and gave the exact date and place where they were to be held. It also mentioned that a levi-ship would be there to pick him up and he grinned. He had never been on a levi-ship before. The note ended with the signature that read 'Adelphos Gein.'

Well, his life most certainly seemed to be taking a turn for the better. In one pocket, he held a potential sweetheart and in the other, he had the chance of a lifetime. Good things like that didn't seem to come around so often. Even if he couldn't have both, so long as one remained in his grasp, he would be the happiest teenager in the world. Migel lay back on the comfort of his own mattress, enjoying the way it supported his body. He didn't even seem to notice his mother's departure from his chamber, for in time he entered the folds of a peaceful sleep with only pleasant dreams to come.

Migel awakened sometime in the late hours of the afternoon, a bit disoriented at first. He fought his way through grogginess and eventually managed to sit up. Much to his surprise, the pain on the side of his head was minimal and perhaps he would be able to stand up straight without all those dizzy side-effects. His feet swung over the side of the mattress and he pushed himself up completely. His legs were a bit shaky, not used to his weight, but he pushed himself onward, starting to walk toward the mirror.

Upon regarding his reflection, those features contorted to disgust, "They actually let me leave looking like this? Ugh, there's dried up blood in my hair. How hard did I fall anyway?"

He reached for the wash basin, letting the cloth in there soak up the water. He, then, began to swipe at the side of his head, raising the bandage with one hand. A visible wince crossed his face, but he continued to clean the wound to the best of his ability. Though, the blood didn't seem to want to separate easily and it was then that he decided to get in the shower. When he went to see Isabella, he needed to look his absolute best after all.

He crept into the bathroom with a pile of clothing beneath one arm and towels under the other. Locking the door behind himself, he moved toward the tub, turning the nozzles just enough to get a good temperature for the water. His outfit was shed until he was fully nude and he slipped into the tub, allowing the downpour of water to patter over his body. It made him feel cleaner already to have just the wetness glisten over himself. But, soap was added soon afterward; suds crept into his cut and left a rather painful sensation behind which forced his eyes to glaze over. Still, he went through with cleaning it out and the matted clumps of hair finally detangled once the blood washed free. He wiped down the rest of his body and climbed out carefully once all the bubbles washed down the drain.

Migel slipped out, swiping the towel over his skin and through his hair. When he was semidry, he covered his body with those clean clothes and started out of the bathroom. But almost instantly as he did, his shoulder knocked into something. He winced and stepped back, only to see that it was Ben who stood there.

"Well, well, Migs...looks like you're going to hurt yourself even more so, aren't you? And why are you out of bed anyway? Didn't the healers say--"

"I'm fine now. Feeling much better, see? I can walk on -both- legs," Migel demonstrated for his brother.

"Bah, I don't care if you can walk or not! Point is, you're going out on that date with that Isabella girl, aren't you?"

"No!"

"Then, why are you blushing?"

"I'm not!"

"Heh, you know you can't fool your older brother, Migel. So, stop trying okay? I'll even help you sneak past Mom."

"Would you?"

"Uh huh."

"Then, what's the catch?"

"No catch at all! Geeze, you must have me pinned as some sort of monster or something..."

"Ben, I've known you all thirteen years of my life. I'm talking to the guy who conned me into trading a toy 'melef for a bunch of 'magical' rocks which I didn't even realize my darling brother had tricked me until I was six!"

"Well...okay, there might be a tiny catch, nothing big..."

"What is it...?" He sighed with exasperation, pretty much preparing for the worst.

"Well, me and Marlon got roped into cleaning this guy's levi-ship out for him. Only problem is, we didn't realize how huge this thing was gonna be. So, we need help with that, will ya do it?"

"I suppose I have no choice, now do I? You would have run to Mom and told her everything if I didn't."

"Now you're catching on, Migs. Be proud...you might learn the art of my evil talents..."

"Great, I'll practice them on the dog, now would you let me get ready?"

"Of course, Migel, of course. You just have lots of fun!"

The thirteen year old rolled his eyes and moved into his room, shutting the door behind himself with a sigh, "My brother...is an idiot."

But it seemed even idiots could be smart at times and Benjamin guided Migel out with ease, bidding him a safe trip afterward. The youngest Lavalier made his way toward that restaurant, smelling of only the finest cologne. To avoid looking strange with a white bandage on the side of his head, he wore a bandana tied in the back. It conveniently hid the evidence of the wound and actually looked good beneath that flop of hair. His clothing was neat and tidy rather than the normal dirt-stained clothes he wore to train his swordplay outdoors. Alas, there would be no more of that for a while.

Migel moved toward that place and slipped inside the door. He glanced around the semi-crowed dining area and then he saw her. Isabella's pretty face across the room. She looked around herself and then toward the doorway. Those features lit up almost immediately and she offered a wave. He smiled and started toward the table, only to be stopped by a waitress's hand.

"Do you have a reservation, sir?"

"Huh? A reservation...? Well, uh, no...I was just meeting someone in here..."

"Then you'll have to pay to be seated."

"What?!" Migel sighed and reached in his pocket. "How much?"

"Ten tegra..."

"Here..."

He absently handed off the money and then walked out to Isabella. Migel stopped before her seat, "Hey..."

"Hi," The girl smiled, motioning toward the seat. "Sit down. I'm glad you came."

"Yeah, I am too..." He shrugged his jacket off, placing that on the back of the chair before he sat down. "I had to have my brother sneak me out. Over protective mothers, you know?"

"Yes, I know...very well. But, you have a brother?"

"Yep, an older, highly annoying one named Benjamin. How about you? What type of family do you have around here?"

"Well, I've got a mother, three older sisters, and a younger brother. We have quite a big family and really not the money to pay for them all. That's why I sing in taverns. To help out with the family income."

"Hm, I could help you. If I make it into the dragonslayers for Zaibach, I could send you some extra money."

"Oh, Migel, you don't have to. I mean, I barely know you and I really don't want to put you up to all that trouble."

"Really, it wouldn't be trouble at all. I'm good at saving my money, so anything I'd need after I'm done serving as a dragonslayer, I'd more than likely be able to get. Even with sending you portions from time to time."

"You are too kind. I really hope you make it in. Rumor has it that's going to be an elite group of young soldiers. Only the best can make it in."

Migel chuckled, "Well, so long as there's no tests that involve getting up on stage and singing, I'm sure I'll do fine."

"Well, let's just hope there isn't..." Isabella laughed softly; that pretty, lighthearted, twinkling laugh of hers. "Speaking of that, though, how are you feeling?"

"Much better. I can stand up and not get dizzy, so that's an accomplishment if I do say so myself."

"Yes, yes...quite the accomplishment."

"Say, should I order something for us to eat or drink? It'd probably be the polite thing to do..."

"Oh no, you don't have to do that--"

"I insist. I already told you, I don't mind spending the money on you. Waiter!"

"But, Migel...I already ordered something for the both of us. I get a free meal here for winning last night and all..."

He blinked, "Oh...okay. Er...nevermind then, waiter!"

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness," She smiled toward him.

"It's just my normal Lavalier charm, Belle..."

"I see...and quite the charm it is."

"Why, thank you!"

"But of course..."

Just then, one of the waitresses approached with a few platters, setting them before the couple, "There you go, Mrs. Nightingale. Can I get you anything, sir?"

"Uh, no thanks. Just a glass of..." Migel paused in thought and then smirked. "Vino, please."

Much to his surprise, the woman didn't ask how old he was or anything. She just nodded and headed off to fetch his drink. Well, this was great. His first real date and taste of alcohol, all on the same night. He sure did feel accomplished. However, he found a disapproving look from Isabella directed on him, and he blinked at that.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Belle?"

"You know why. You're not old enough to drink..."

"Oh, not you too. My brother always gets on my case about this. I just want to try it. It's not like I'm going to get soused or anything."

"How do you know if this is your first time?"

"Trust me. A Lavalier trait. We can all hold our liquor pretty damn well."

"I certainly hope so. The last thing you need to do is make a fool of yourself, hurt as you are."

"My, we are certainly worried about someone who's just a stranger," Migel grinned smugly.

"Well, I..." A blush rose into her cheeks. "You're just nice, Migel. There aren't many guys like you around. Believe me, I've seen plenty of men at other taverns. You're different from all of them..."

"Heh...thanks. Wait. That is a good thing, right?"

"Oh yeah, yeah it is..." Isabella giggled somewhat and then pushed a plate in his direction. "Here, eat up. This is far too much food for one person by herself."

"Ah yes, don't worry. I won't mind helping you at all..." He smirked, beginning to dish out some of the meal for himself.

Isabella and Migel's meal went over rather well for the most part and the thirteen year old could proudly say he took in the vino quite well (and enjoyed it too). Neither of them had kept track of time, so it was only when the tavern started to empty, that they filtered out as well. It was a fairly warm night, the type of warmth that wasn't really expected at that certain time of the year. Still, it was nice and comfortable-especially when Migel was walking side-by-side with Isabella.

Following her lead, the Lavalier boy guided her back to her home-- a rather run-down looking house quite far from his own. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked back toward her, "Well, I really had fun tonight. Maybe, we can get together sometime soon?"

"I'd like that, Migel...I really would. I'm supposed to perform at Garusan's tomorrow night, I don't suppose you'd like to--"

"Come? Are you kidding me?! I'd love to. Anything to hear your beautiful voice again..."

She smiled shyly and blushed, "Thank you..."

"Welcome..."

"Well, it's getting late. I should probably get inside before my mother starts to worry."

"Oh, right. Shit!"

Her eyes widened as he said the obscenity and she stared at him with a rather perplexed expression.

"Uh...sorry..." Migel cleared his throat. "It's just, I didn't really realize how late it was. My mom's sure to notice I've been gone by now, after all, I snuck out to meet you. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. I better hurry back to soften the punishment. See ya, Belle!"

Isabella nodded, watching him rush off in the opposite direction. She fell back against the door, allowing that to be the only thing supporting her weight as she smiled to herself, "I can't wait until then, Migel."