Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne!

Sorry that the first chapter was a little on the short side, this one is longer!


By the third day, the two were tired, hungry and thirsty. They couldn't stop for anything, for fear they would get captured. But it wasn't to be that they would get a clean getaway.

The cat children clung to each other as they stood in the middle of a group of men with all sorts of weapons.

"Lookee here. We've got ourselves a pair of runaways."

"What should we do with them?"

"I think they'd get a pretty penny at a slave auction, especially that older, paler one. Even so young, her legs are something to look at."

Shiko cringed, hugging Merle tighter to her.

They were tied up and gagged, only for a large man on a horse to approach the company. "Does it take so many of you to handle a pair of children?"

"Well sir, these two have been giving us a lot of trouble. They're going to be sold to the highest buyer when we get to the slave market."

Merle and Shiko stared at the large man in pleading to save them. The older man dismounted, the smaller and less scary men parting for him. He had scars on his face, giving him a fierce expression. He picked up the cat girls, one under each arm. "How much for both?"

"Considering how much we had to work for them—"

A large bag of money was held up by the man, Shiko already set across the back of the horse. "Is this enough?"

"Done!" The bag was snatched. "Pleasure doing business with you, sir!"

When the mob of men had left, Shiko and Merle relaxed, the large man sitting Merle on his horse and untying her. Once her mouth was free, she chirped, "You're a nice man! What's your name?"

A smile came to his face. "I am Balgus."

Shiko hopped up as she was freed. "You saved us, Balgus-san. Why?"

"Two nice girls like you shouldn't be sold off as slaves. Vari-sama sent me on an expedition since it was heard that a massive homicide in the neko clan was in the makings. Are you the only survivors?"

Merle sniffed, tears coming down her face. "Those mean men killed everyone they could. Only Shiko and I were able to get away."

Balgus patted Merle's head and placed the pair of them in front of him as he mounted. "I'll assure you'll have a good life, where I'm taking you. There's even someone who would be your friend."

Shiko smiled a little and asked, "What's their name?"

"Van. He's the prince of my country and all on his own. He needs a friend and you two would be the perfect playmates."

Merle cried, "Van-sama! He must be a really fun boy to be around!"

Balgus nodded. "I suppose he'll be a little shy at first, but once he sees you're friendly, you'll all be the best of friends. What are your names?"

Shiko played with the horse's mane as she answered, "Shiko."

Merle piped up, "Merle!"

"Vari-sama will be glad to have you around as well. So you will be now called Merle-sama and Shiko-sama." He then took notice of Shiko's odd coloring. "Shiko-sama, would you perhaps be an albino? I've never seen any of the neko clan with such pale coloring."

Shiko nodded. "Merle's and my clan always called me 'Ghost' because I was so pale. I suppose that I would be called an 'albino' by the humans."

Merle chimed, "It was useful against those who wanted to hurt us, because of the rumors that were caused by Shiko's mere name. Her name does mean 'death child'."

Balgus nodded in understanding. "You two are quite learned for being so young with your people's stories. I suppose Van-sama will find that to be exciting."


So...what did you think?

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