From: Zelda Zosa-Villalon zzv@csi.com.ph Date: Sat Dec 9, 2000 11:14pm Subject: The Trick is to keep breathing Heh, heh. I like Celena... Okay, this is Part one. Thank you, thank you... Disclaimers: Yes! I OWN ESCAFLOWNE! W-wait! Where are you taking me?! Wait! NOOOOO! *Sound of metal bars* ___________________________________________ The Trick is to Keep Breathing Chapter 1: The knight in shining … Jersey? The bell rang and everyone filed out of the classroom. Hitomi picked up her books, keeping an eye for the white-blonde hair that just walked out the door. "Hey, Hitomi. What do you have for lunch?" Yukari's familiar voice said beside her. "You go ahead." Hitomi said, dashing out the door and looking left and right for Celena. "I-- I have a project to cram." "But, I thought we were meeting with Amano-sempai today…" "Look, I --I really need to go." Hitomi said, running down the hall. "Later, Yukari!" She called. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% "Celena!" Hitomi called at the retreating figure. Her prey stopped in her tracks to turn around. Hitomi halted in front of her, panting. "Yes? You needed something?" Celena said with a cheerful smile. "Hi. I'm Hitomi. I sit in front of you during English class?" She shook Celena's hand. "I was hoping we could be friends." "Oh, okay." Celena agreed, starting to walk out into the school grounds. The sun shone brightly, making both girls squint. "I'm quite surprised. Oniisan said it'd be difficult getting acquainted to someone during the first few weeks of school." She giggled. "Let's see what his reaction would be when he sees you with me." Hitomi smiled. She was actually looking forward to seeing if Celena did have an older brother. And now, she has proven it. "Ahh, Celena. Where exactly are we going?" Hitomi asked, crossing the school track. "I'm just going to see Onisan. He's new here too. And he's trying out for the basketball team." They pushed the gym doors opened, exposing themselves to the sounds of a bouncing ball and squeaks from rubber shoes. "Time out." A tall guy said, running to the direction of Hitomi and Celena. He was tall, with sparkling blue eyes and a dashing smile. His long blonde hair was tied neatly, loose strands clinging to his lean body in ringlets. And all Hitomi could do was stare. "Hey, Celena." He greeted, halting in front of them. "Why're you here?" "I need money." Celena said, making the smile on her brother's face disappear. He dug into his shorts, produced some cash and gave it to Celena. "Don't give this to HIM." He said, adding a pointed look to punctuate the sentence. His smile returned as he caught sight of Hitomi. "And who's this?" "This is Hitomi." Celena introduced. "My new friend." She said with a grin. "Hitomi, this is my brother, Allen. How many friends have you had, Oniisan?" Allen shook Hitomi's hand. "Not very much. But I'm making progress. See the guys in the court? I'm nailing them. It's just a matter of minutes before they crown me king." Hitomi smiled. Definitely not the Allen I know. But somehow… "Hey, do you guys want to hang-out sometime? Maybe I could introduce you to my friends." "That'd be great." Allen said, making Hitomi blush. "But not this week, please. I'm too busy." The coach blew his whistle. "I need to go. Hitomi, Keep an eye on Celena, Okay? Don't make her cut classes." Then he ran back to the court with a smile. Celena scowled. "I don't cut classes." She and Hitomi laughed. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Classes were over and Hitomi brought Celena along in meeting with Amano and Yukari. They walked to the school track grounds and found the others there. "Celena, this is Yukari." Hitomi introduced, patting her best friend's shoulder. "And this is Amano. They've been going out for sometime…" "Mou, Hitomi!" Yukari shouted, then turned to Celena. "Hi." Celena shook Yukari's hand, then turned to Amano. "Now where have I seen you before?" She said, just loud enough for Hitomi to hear. They both giggled. "Excuse me, ladies. But I fear I have to go." Amano said, running back to the others in the track team. Celena, Yukari and Hitomi all went to the bleachers to watch. "Hey, Hitomi?" Yukari called. "Have you heard of the group of punk kids who were vandalizing the whole town?" "What? No, I haven't. Why?" Yukari shook her head. "I don't know. I'm just paranoid. They set fire on our neighbor's garden last week. I was able to get a glimpse on some of them. They were just kids, probably as old as we are. They were riding on motorcycles and making noise like they own the whole place." She then turned to Celena. "Have you heard about them, Celena?" Celena, snapped back to reality, as if thinking about something else. "Huh? Oh, them…" She thought for a while. "Not really." She looked at her watch. "Oh, damn. I have to go." She said before leaving. "Nice meeting you, Yukari." Hitomi ran after Celena, catching up only a second later. Suddenly, cheerful Celena became somber and fearful. Why? "What's up, Celena?" "Nothing." The girl answered, walking to the main school grounds. She looked like she was looking for someone. "I don't think you should be following me, Hitomi." Hitomi was confused. "Why--" Her words were drowned out the loud noise of engines, growing nearer. She looked behind her. There was a group of motorcycles, at least seven of them, coming closer. "MOERO!" ____________________________________ Heh, heh... Let's see, Celena? Check. Allen, Check. Dilly, check. ...Oooh, Dragon Slayers... *Snicker, snicker* --Yukishiro Kirei (Recently Canonized saint) (Found out to be Hotohori's royal fasion adviser) (Hentai extrodinaire)