Ok even though the last chapter ends with Hitomi arriving on Gaea, this chapter, and probably the next 2 or 3, is centered on what happens after Van arrives from fighting the mercenaries. It's all due to some time-distortion thing that I wont even bother explaining.

Oh there is some sexual reference in this chapter so be warned, or in the case of Metal Overlord read on.


Chapter 8: Sexual Plans and Tensions...

It had been two weeks since the mercenaries attacked, and Lord Van still hasn't cheered up. Merle wandered through the halls, she would be with Van now, except he was in a meeting with some of his Chief Advisors, dammit! I hate it when they have a meeting, he usually stays in there for the whole day! Merle didn't see much to do so she went and sought out her friend Lilia. "I don't know what to do Lilia! He's been sulking around so much, you'd think Hitomi just left again!" "Who's Hitomi?" asked a confused Lilia, "Oh right you weren't here when that whole thing happened." Its true Lilia was in Asturia during most of the war, so she never met Hitomi. "So? Just cheer him up already." Replied Lilia, like it was a simple matter with a simple solution.

Merle nearly snapped, and yelled with a ferocity that would deafen most people, "YOU DON'T THINK I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING HUMANELY (this doesn't sound right coming from a half-cat) POSSIBLE TO TRY TO CHEER HIM UP! WHAT KIND OF BEST FRIEND WOULD I BE IF I DIDN'T TRY!"

But all this accomplished is make a grin appear on Lilia's face. Merle noticed and became interested, "Why are you grinning like that? If you know a way to cheer up Lord Van tell me now before I claw your eyes out!" she said, half threatening, half joking. "Are you sure you tried E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G?" she said, heavy pronunciation in every single letter in everything.

"Huh what do you mean?" asked a V-E-R-Y confused catgirl. Lilia looked at the catgirl wide-eyed, and slowly asked "You don't know what I mean?" nothing, the catgirl still confused, "serious?", still nothing from Merle, "OH MY GOD you don't know do you?" still no understanding from Merle, just a slight annoyance, "how could a girl not know? It's just prepos--" "Ok just tell me already!" interrupted the catgirl. Lilia looked around the room, and said "ok but not here, meet me at my chambers in an hour, when my shift is over."

Merle still looked confused, "why don't you tell me here?" Lilia turned a slight red, "because I can't talk about that here! Just meet me in my chambers in an hour ok?"

Merle seemed very content that she had found a solution to Van's happiness, she walked down the halls, very happy. She seemed real sure it would cheer up Lord Van, oh I have such a great feeling about this!

In the Council Room, Van shuddered, I suddenly got a bad feeling.

One Hour Later…

Merle waited quietly in Lilia's chambers as she scurried about looking for something, opening her drawers and throwing stuff out of them, looking under her bed and mumbling something. This had been going on for around half an hour, and Merle was starting to get bored, and annoyed, and when ever Merle gets annoyed, someone usually ends up with claw marks on their face. Finally Lilia held up some old dusty looking books and sighed, "Finally I found them." "What are you talking about Lilia, those books where right there on your table, when I got here." Lilia hadn't noticed that and asked, "Well, if that were true then why didn't you say anything?" "Because you didn't tell me what we were looking for!" Spat back Merle. Lilia suddenly felt stupid, and replied with a well thought out response, "whatever." She set the books down for Merle to see.

"How are these books going to help me make Lord Van happier?" asked Merle, who still hadn't bothered to look at the books, Ugh I hate reading!

"Merle just look at the books already!" yelled a slightly ticked of Lilia. Merle looked down glanced at the books and said, "what about them?" "Merle how about the titles already!"

"The Six Ways to A Pleasurable Life by Baron von Fondlebottom the Magnificent Bastard?"

Merle started to laugh uncontrollably, 'snicker' Baron von Fondlebottom! HAHAHAHA!…. I can't believe his stu….HAHAHA! the Magnificent Bas-HAHAHAHA!" She started to roll around on the bed, still laughing and clutching her sides. I don't know why she's laughing, its just some guys name.

Lilia just ignored her and continued to open up the hefty book. She threw it over to Merle, and giggled as the very heavy book landed with a thud on the poor catgirl's face. Lilia said "read page 2,734." Merle, after getting over the initial shock of the book landing on her face, started to do the most dreaded thing she could do, read.

"As we all know the mouth and tongue are very sensitive parts of the body. People in love, or in plain lust, have found that caressing the lips, the partners tongue, or the partners mouth with their own tongue may enhance a kiss. But very recently through some imagination and exploration, people have found that the mouth, tongue and lips can be used to stimulate in other ways."

What the hell is he talking about? Where else would I kiss Lord Van? Suddenly a small depression came over Merle, I mean where would Hitomi kiss him?

Lilia saw her friend had stopped reading and strictly said "keep reading." "Huh? Oh right." Merle continued to read on, "the mouth can also be used to stimulate the male's pe- HEY! This is one of THOSE books!" Merle snapped, before mentioning a certain male body part. Lilia suddenly quipped back, "oh c'mon Merle! From what you tell me you've been after Lord Fanel since you were little, and what are you now? 23? And you mean to tell me that you've never once had a sexual dream about him?" Merle suddenly had no comeback for this, and just looked down at the floor, "well Merle?" Lilia looked at her friend, hands on her hips.

"Well yeah, maybe one of two." One or two BILLION, she added in her mind. "But the way I've dreamt it, it would be romantic and nice and soft, and well" Oh why am I telling her this! I should just stop right here and now "… not this graphic!" In her mind, Merle wanted to stop talking right there, she didn't want any more of her Fantasies to get out, but no, she just had to keep talking, blabbing out more things. Merle looked through the book and stopped at a picture, "I mean look at this! Even if I wanted to my tail would get in the way!" she flipped the book again, "what about this? Hell I choke when I try eating a whole banana!" she would have kept going through more examples but was stopped when Lilia raised her hand in protest.

"Wait I told you to read page 2,734?" Merle looked at her and said "Yes."

"Oh I'm sorry I meant to read page 273!" Merle, wanted to pounce and claw her eyes out, "why didn't you tell ME?" she said, a vein very visible on her forehead. "I just wanted to see if you've ever Dreamt of Lord Fanel." She said matter-o-factly. Merle wanted to die, so I could have Lied and said that I have never had those types of Dreams? Oh my gods! Now, beside knowing I Love Lord Van, she also knows I've got the hots for him!

Lilia noticed the look of utter embarrassment and mortification on Merle, and said "You know its only natural to want someone when you Love them."

Merle felt slightly relieved by her friend's statement, and said "Well what's so different about page…um…" "273?" "yeah! What so different about that page?"

Lilia started to explain, "Because that chapter is about the ways to give hints to someone. So all you do is talk sweet with Lord Fanel and he will slip right out of that depression and right into your pants… err… I mean into a happy mood!" Merle was about to ask what she was going to really say, but then the brilliance of her plan hit her. "Hey your right! Lord Van will cheer up! Thanks for the great idea Lilia!" She grabbed the book and put it under her arm as she ran out of the room on all fours, eager to read the book to help Lord Van out of his sulking mood.

Van was in the training area, he had just finished training with 6 other officers, and was now overseeing a legion from his army training in hand-to-hand combat. After fighting with the mercenaries, he started to train more extensively, after deciding that he was unsatisfied with how the battle went. After a long-ass meeting with the Chief Advisors nothing does the body better than 2 hours of training. As he overlooked their training, he felt pride in His Country. Fanelia has come a long way in 9 years.

"Lord Fanel!" Van turned around and saw one of the many friends he had in the Grand Army. "Ah Raynor! How have you been? I haven't seen you since you took up that assignment on Fort. Moonmoth." Raynor, walked up to Van and gave him a handshake. He was a well-built man for his age, with brown hair, though it was shaved, and slightly greenish eyes. He and Van had met during the Rebuilding and became friends, even more so when Raynor pledged allegiance to Van, and became a slightly low officer in the Army. However just because of his low rank did not mean that Van would not talk to him.

Just one thing that makes him one of the greatest Kings to have ever lived, he doesn't care about title, or rank, or even if the person is a peasant, he will always take time to talk to them, and talk to them in a good manner.

"So Raynor how is your wife Kerrigan?" "Oh everything is just great! Our first baby is due by the end of the 8th moon." "Ah that's great for you Raynor! Send Kerrigan my respects." "What about you Van? Do you still think about the Lady from the Mystic Moon?" Van became slightly more serious, "every day and minute of my Life, old friend." All Raynor could do is nod, he himself remembered when he was a young man, and had met his true love Kerrigan, who he ended up being happily married to. He decided to try something to cheer his friend up. "How about a match?" Van immediately accepted.

Merle was wandering about the training area, looking for Van; I heard he was around here somewhere…

As the two entered an arena, and drew their swords, a crowd started to gather around them. Soldiers started making wagers, "I have 20 on the King! Who wants to place their bets on the Officer?" "Are you kidding? He'll lose for sure! Give me 50 on the King!" I'd be worried if any one bet on me, thought Raynor, that would only mean that the King is still a child. "Are you ready Raynor?" Asked Van, already in his one-handed fighting position. "Sure! Ready as always!"

And with that Raynor charge at Van, he ran full speed at him, with Van merely standing there. Raynor swung his blade in an upwards-diagonal fashion, only to have Van deflect his attack with his sword hand and hit him right in his stomach with his free hand, sending all of the air in Raynor's lungs out of his body. Raynor coughed several times, and in between his attempts to try to regain his breath he said, "shit! No 'cough' no more!" Van helped Raynor up, and said "I guess I should take it easy?" Raynor stood there and barely whispered back, "no shit Van!" He stood up and shot a glare at Van, who seemed very confused at his attitude, Raynor doesn't usually act like this when he loses. Van was about to apologize when Raynor suddenly said with a smile, "jeez Your Majesty you have to get a better sense of humor!"

Merle had overseen the whole fight (not really a fight as Van barely made two moves) and was overjoyed to see Van win. Lord Van always wins! I bet, without a doubt he is the strongest on Gaea! She started to run to Van, hearing all the cheers for him on her way over, and jumped on him hugging him tightly.

Whatever conversation Raynor was about to start with Van, was dropped and only said, "Well looks like you have company, besides I just came here to get supplies for the fort." He wavedand then went off in the direction of the armory.

In the Palace…

"So Lord Van how are you feeling?"

"Huh?" Van was still thinking about the camp that was destroyed awhile back, he still had some nightmares. "I'm alright. Why do you ask?" Merle kept hugging his arm as they were walking through the Palace. "Because I'm worried about your well-being Lord Van. And if you are Sad I want to be able to help you out anyway I can." Van put his hand on the top of her head, caressing her hair gently, "oh Merle, why do you care so much? You should be out having fun, not worrying over my problems." Aha so he still feels bad about it! I knew he would slip up sooner or later. Well I don't like it when he stays sad about something, so here goes anything.

Merle decided to put her and Lilia's plan into motion.

Just as they were reaching his chambers, she took a step in front of him, and stepped within a breaths distance of him. Gods he smells so great! "Are you sure there isn't anything I can do?" she said in her most seductive voice possible, all the while looking very innocent, a trick she picked up from Lilia's book. She pressed her body against him, and thought well since it worked last time why not now? So she started to slowly and sensually move her hips, she was trying really hard not to get herself aroused, but failed when she noticed Van's own erection, Thank the Gods I never wear anything under!

Van felt Merle's lower regions start to warm up, but he still tried to control himself. No I can't do this! I Love Hitomi! He noticed that he was getting an erection, No! This is Merle! I can't do this! Van was fighting a War with himself, as he found out that trying to suppress Natural Urges is a very hard thing to do. She pressed up against him even more, her breasts touching his chest. Van looked slightly down and caught a glimpse of her cleavage. The Natural side of him suddenly won that War. He brought his head down closer to Merle's.

Gasp! Is he going to kiss me? What do I do? Should I kiss him back? What about Hitomi? PFFTT! Who cares about Hitomi? She lost her chance! YES! I'm finally going to kiss Lord Van! Oh my Gods this is going to be great! She brought her head up to his…

Despite how much they were discussing what to do in their heads, neither one of them was thinking. They both knew of the consequences, but still didn't think. They were about to have their First Kiss…

But it never came, for at that moment a bright light appeared outside the window.

They both separated immediately, the sexual daze wearing off.

They both looked out the window, and realized what it was.

Hitomi was coming back.


ElVerdaderoOdio: I really had fun writing this chapter.