Disclaimer: Still don't own so don't sue.

A/N: (winces) I'm truely evil, I know. I kept planning to update, but I got distracted and a bunch of crap happened, and I sort of forgot about this fic. . . Anyway, what matters now is I'm back and I intend to finish this story, since it seems to be my most popular one. I want to thank you all so much for your reviews, and I hope this chapter meets up with my old standards. Please enjoy!

Wing of Dragon, Song of Goddess

Chapter 3

When Millerna pulled into the driveway of the Kanzaki residence at six in the evening, it was to find a very stressed out Hitomi waiting for her. She raised a pale eyebrow as the girl slid into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt, looking rather nervous.

"Hey girl! Look alive! We're going to a party!" she said merrily, putting the car into reverse as she backed out of the driveway and they sailed off into the night.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Hitomi mumbled, slumping in her seat. Her green eyes were wide and anxious as she tugged at her black skirt uncertainly before smoothing her jade colored top. "What was I thinking?"

"You were thinking about how sexy Van is," the blond girl teased.

"Millerna!" the brunette squealed, her cheeks turning a brilliant red as the other girl burst into laughter.

"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't resist," Millerna giggled. "But honestly, it's going to be okay. Just relax. You look terrific, by the way," she added, smiling brightly.

Hitomi managed to return the grin. The other girl's mood was infectious, and it was impossible for her to remain nervous, especially when Millerna turned on the radio. She laughed out loud, recognizing the music as a mix of the songs they had been singing in choir class, and soon both girls were belting out the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Choir, incidentally enough, was taught by Millerna's eldest sister, Eries Aston, so she had made the CD for her little sister. Hitomi was giggling so hard she hadn't realized they had arrived until Millerna stopped the car.

Instantly her anxiety returned as she stepped out of the car and nervously followed the blond girl up the driveway. It was easy to tell there was a party going on inside from the sound of music, so loud it could be heard outside. Pausing on the pouch, Millerna turned to smooth Hitomi's skirt and hair, fussing in the way that only girls do before pulling back satisfied.

"Okay, perfect! Now, keep calm, and don't forget to smile!" The blond girl beamed before whirling around and opening the door.

It was like being hit by a wall of sound. For a moment Hitomi struggled to adjust to the loud music and bright lights before taking a deep breath and stepping into the house after Millerna. As expected, the place was packed to nearly bursting with teenagers. Allen was famous at school for his parties, and he invited nearly everyone- except the Dragon Slayers that was.

It's a good thing I'm not claustrophobic! Hitomi thought as she and Millerna squeezed through the masses of dancing couples, occasionally stopping to chatter with acquaintances and exchange compliments on outfits with other girls.

They had been there about fifteen minutes when an arm slid around Millerna's waist, causing the blond girl to squeal in shock before she whirled around to slap Allen mockingly on the chest.

"You big doof! You scared me!" she shouted above the music, though she was grinning widely. "What took you so long to find me?"

"Sorry Princess," he returned teasingly, sapphire eyes amused as he pulled her closer. "As you can see, there's quite the crowed tonight." He looked up at Hitomi and nodded in greeting with a welcoming smile. "Great to see you here Kanzaki."

"Thanks for inviting me," she returned in a raised voice, watching as Millerna tucked herself under the boy's arm and blinked up at him coyly.

"No prob," Allen responded cheerfully. "Excuse us, but I think Princess here wants to dance, don't you Princess?"

She giggled, her lavender eyes shining. "I thought you'd never ask," she returned brightly. Allen began to drag her over to where the other couples were dancing, and she called over her shoulder, "Mingle Hitomi! We'll be back soon!"

Soon? Yeah right, the girl thought, though she was smiling.

Allen and Millerna were so cute together, it was hard for her to be angry with the blond girl for abandoning her in the middle of a party full of people Hitomi didn't know. She tried to take Millerna's advice and wander around a bit, but it was so hot and crowded that it was much easier to stay in one spot. She picked a relatively quieter area by the refreshment table, collapsing on a couch with a sigh.

She watched the couples dancing to a fast song, her head moving to the rhythm of the music as she leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes as she softly sang along. As engrossed in the song as she was, she didn't notice the person who had sat down beside her until he spoke.

"Enjoying the music?"

Hitomi gave a little shriek, her emerald eyes flying open as she sat bolt upright. "You scared me to death!" she said accusingly, turning to look at the person and felt her heart leap to her throat.

"Sorry about that," Van said, holding back laughter though he couldn't keep the amusement from his dark eyes. "I should have known you wouldn't be able to hear me over the music."

She knew she had to be blushing as she tried to compose herself again. "No, no, its okay. Don't worry about it." Her heart still thudding painfully against her rib cage, she leaned back into the couch, trying frantically to think of something to say to him, but her mind had gone blank. She needn't have worried, as he took the matter out of her hands by speaking once again.

"You're in choir, right?" When she nodded, his eyes sparkled with something as he added, "I knew it. You've got a really beautiful voice."

Once again she could feel the fire in her cheeks as she thanked him shyly. "I normally don't like singing on my own when I think people might hear," she explained, smoothing her skirt out. "I just thought with the music being so loud, no one would hear me."

"Allen always cranks it up," Van told her, his nose wrinkling slightly. "I think he's trying to make us all permanently deaf."

Both of them laughed at this before getting into a discussion over what kinds of music they liked, and Hitomi was surprised to find they liked quite a bit of the same types. She was also delighted to find how easily the conversation was flowing with him, and her nervousness began to evaporate slightly. She could never remember hearing Van ever speak much before, but he certainly was now.

"So, where's Millerna?" He inquired, running a hand through his messy black hair as he watched her. "She run off with Allen and leave you all alone?"

"Well, sort of- I mean, not really- well actually, yes, I suppose she did," Hitomi admitted, ducking her head.

Van chuckled softly, leaning back against the couch. "That wasn't very hospitable of her, though she can't be blamed I suppose. Its not her fault that Allen makes her loose her mind."

Hitomi blinked, startled for a moment before she laughed out loud, and he grinned. "I noticed," she managed to say after a moment. "What's the deal with them anyway? Are they going out, or what?"

"It's complicated," he said after a moment's consideration. "Allen feels that Millerna is too good for him, and Millerna's too old fashioned to ask him out herself." Van shifted his weight, glancing over at the crowded dance floor where the couple in discussion had just appeared, dancing and teasing each other happily. "But they always end up going to places together anyway. So I suppose they're unofficially dating, though everyone else can see how much they like each other."

She nodded in understanding, tipping her head thoughtfully as a slower song came on, watching as Allen bowed elegantly to a blushing Millerna before pulling her into his embrace for another dance. "I guess its true then, what they say about love being blind."

He inclined his head absently, causing a lock of dark hair to fall forward across his eyes. "Yeah. .. Hey, Hitomi, do you want to dance?"

She only just managed to keep her jaw from dropping. Van Fanel, one of the most popular guys in school, and her secret crush, had just asked her to dance. She was in complete shock. That didn't keep her from managing to stammer out yes, taking his hand to allow him to help her up from the couch before he led her toward the other couples. His hands went to her waist and she timidly placed hers on his shoulders, unable to even hear the music from the intense pounding of her heart, feeling shy, tense, and awkward. But eventually she began to calm, forcing herself to relax in his embrace as the slow tempo of the music soothed her. Van's arms tightened slighty about her, pulling her nearer, and her head went instinctively to rest on his shoulder.

This can't be happening to me, this can't be happening to me! Hitomi's mind screamed at her, but she ignored it, allowing her emerald eyes to close as she breathed in his scent. Fresh air, sunlit fields. . . She observed vaugly, storing the information away for her later imaginings, opening her eyes dreamily only to have the sweet moment shattered by a pair of glimmering crimson eyes. Her body stiffened in shock, a silent gasp parting her lips as she raised her head. What is Dilandou doing here? she thought frantically. Allen would never have invited him!

Van, sensing her discomfort followed her line of sight and went rigid, his eyes flaring with rage just as the white haired teen vanished into the crowds. "Was that who I thought it was?" he asked her in a low voice, one arm still looped around her waist, holding her against him.

"What is he doing here?" she cried in a half whisper.

He didn't answer her, biting his lip as he glanced across the room, finding Allen and Millerna who it seemed had also seen the Dragon Slayer. Allen gave a short nod, already moving as he alerted other members of the White Dragons, all of whom were moving quickly towards the door. Inculding Van.

Dropping his hands from her, he offered a quick appology, "I'm truely sorry Hitomi, but I have to take care of this now."

She stared after him, stunned, before quickly moving to follow him. "Wait, what are you going to do? Where are you going?"

He shook his head. "I can't explain, just stay here!"

Van evaded her reaching hand, racing out the door followed by Allen and the other members of his gang. She stepped toward the door but suddenly Millerna was holding onto her arm, a frightened look on her pretty features. "Hitomi, no, stay here. It's okay, they'll be back in a few minutes. Please, just wait, okay?" She smiled, but something flickered in her eyes, something the other girl couldn't name.

"You're not telling me something," Hitomi said, her emerald eyes boring into Millerna's purple ones. "What's going on? Are they getting into a fight with Dilandou? Is that it? We can't let them!" With a twist, she pulled free of the other girl's grasp, darting off into the gathering night.

"Hitomi! Hitomi, no! Come back! You don't understand!" came Millerna's desperate cry as she tried to chase after the honey haired girl, but Hitomi was a track racer, and soon left her behind.

She paused, panting, scanning the dark alleys as she tried to figure out which way the boys had gone. The sound of shouts caught her ears, and she started off in the proper direction. She couldn't explain why she felt such a strong need to find Van at the moment, only knowing that she wasn't about to let the fragile new relationship she had begun to build with Van be shattered in a fight between the two.

Hitomi stopped again to catch her breath, her palm resting against a brick wall to steady herself as she tried to get her bearings. The sidestreets and alleys of Allen's neighborhood were unfamiliar, and she knew if she wasn't careful she could end up hopelessly lost. Once more she strained her hearing for voices, picking up her pace again as she wound her way though the maze of streets.

She rounded a corner and the sudden brightness of a streetlamp momentarily blinded her. When her eyes adjusted to the sight that lay before her, Hitomi was sure she had lost her mind, for it couldn't possibly be real. But if it wasn't, then it was certainly the most life like dream she had ever had, and at that moment, she wanted more than anything to wake up.

The Dragonslayers and the White Dragons stood on opposite sides of the open area, the tension between them sparking like a fire. In the hands of nearly every person there was a gleaming sword. Her mouth dropped open with a frightened squeak, backing up a step as she struggled to grasp the reality of the situation. It was as if she had walked into a modern science fiction action movie, one that was too real for her taste. It looked as if the fight had been stalled momentarily, for some of the boys were sporting wounds, though none looked too serious.

At the forefront of the group, Van and Dilandou faced each other, both panting harshly as they glowered at her. Van's lean body was tense, his sword held protectively in front of him, and for the first time, Hitomi noticed the plate armor that had been strapped across his chest, odd looking with his t-shirt and jeans. Dilandou too wore similar armor, his eyes gleaming gleefully as he gazed at Van.

"Not so cocky now, are you?" he taunted. "It's a different game outside the bounds of the school walls, isn't it Dragon?"

"Not one I can't handle," the raven haired teen retorted, dark eyes blazing. "I can take you on in a duel any day!"

The albino laughed mockingly. "Oh really? Then lets make things a little more. . .interesting, shall we?"

He raised his palm skyward, and Hitomi saw a green orb in his grasp. It exploaded with light that seemed to pierce the sky, the ground rumbling. She cried out, flinging her arms up to shield her eyes as the wind roared and a huge tremor shook the street. As suddenly as it had come, the light faded, and Hitomi found herself staring at something she had only ever had nightmares about.

A horrible shrieking roar split the night air, mingling with Dilandou's insane cackle as he shouted, "Defeat this, then if you can, Van Fanel!" A dragon stood between the albino and Van, its devilish beady black eyes fixed on the boy before it.