Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or it's characters blah blah blah however I do own Otis, Erant, Relim, Perlis you know the weird ones. Okay now that that is straightened out on with the story.

A/N Enjoy

Van paced the floor of his empty council room for the third time that day. Okay, so Merle was a week late coming home. Okay so she hadn't sent word as to why she hadn't come home.

That was it, Relim was going to die.

He had done something to Merle and he was going to die.

Van stormed out of the room and down the halls to grab his armor. His wedding was in two weeks and his sister was going to be there. Rushing down the corridors he skidded to a halt to look out one of the windows. There in the midst of the lush garden sat his mystic moon beauty. She had consented to wearing dresses once and a while but he couldn't care less. She was stunning in anything and everything that she wore.

But the dresses seemed to outline her curves just right causing his heart to beat just a little faster. He stared at his betrothed angel leaning against a stone bench. She had been worried about Merle all week and wasn't up for much talking. Van stuck his head out the window and checked for any signs of servants or guards and smiled as he watched his last guard walk to take his post up front at the gate after searching the garden.

After making sure it was clear he slipped his shirt off and jumped out the window.

Hitomi closed her eyes from the afternoon sun and fingered her engagement ring. Merle still wasn't back and with Perlis wandering around Gaia she was more than worried. Hitomi was about to slip into a small nap when she felt the persistent heat of the sun disappear. A soft feather hit her cheek.

Opening her eyes she smiled up at her angel. Van stood there giving her that knee-buckling smile of his.

"Good afternoon," she grinned

Van knelt down beside her and wrapped his right wing around her side. She felt the cool shade and relaxed in the shadows. Van slid his hand around her waist and pulled her down to the ground with him. Hitomi laughed as he leaned over her still smiling. His wings sheltered them against the majority of the sun; the smallest bit of sunlight sneaking through only enhanced his features if possible.

"Yes I'd said it's a good afternoon," he smiled bending down closer to Hitomi's face

Hitomi wanted to come up with some remark but she just couldn't think of anything at the moment. His body against hers had that affect, so she just stretched out under him and waited for his kiss. But it didn't come, Hitomi looked up into the playful rubies as Van hovered over her face. He was baiting her, waiting for her to move. Van certainly wasn't like the boy she had met those years ago. He was braver, very playful and he had somehow learned to not let the stress of life bother him when he wasn't in his council room. Hitomi frowned and shoved her pride aside. Van's rich deep laughter filled the garden as she grabbed his head and pulled him down to her face.

Smooth lips met Hitomi's rose pink ones. Hitomi smiled against his mouth and tightened her wrap around his neck. Van stretched out next to her still managing to devour her mouth and let the warm sun beat against his exposed back. The need for oxygen would have eventually torn them apart unfortunately Hitomi broke the kiss long before that need.

She tore away from Van's mouth laughing. Van tried to scowl at her as he sat up letting his wings slip into his back. Hitomi ran her hand over Van's bare chest and smiled at his pretend anger.

"Your feathers tickled me!" she defended

Van leaned back down to the ground next to Hitomi and pulled her up against him.

"Sure they did"

Hitomi didn't want to argue as she snuggled up against him. Soon she was subconsciously scratching Van's back smiling as he shivered while her nails caressed his bare skin.

"Hitomi I'm going to look for Merle."

Van waited for her to protest but his fiancé simply snuggled closer, "I'm coming too"

He should have known that was coming, "No you're not, you'll stay here and keep safe"

Hitomi's nails quickly dug into his back as a warning before beginning their scratching again.

"You can't make me stay Van. When I was missing, Merle didn't stay home."

"Hitomi…"

"No Van I'm coming"

"Hitomi I need you to wa-…"

"No Van you don't need me to watch Fanelia, Allen is here and he'll watch it and you know it. Forget it, I'm coming."

Van frowned against her hair and gave up for the moment. He didn't plan on taking her on the rescue mission. He wanted her home and safe, but somehow knowing Hitomi he didn't think that would happen. So he just sighed helplessly into her silk locks and relented in the argument and just relaxed as Hitomi rubbed his back.



Merle dodged across the hall and into the shadows again. The guards marched past her without a flinch and she let out the shaky breath she had been holding in. Clutching the bag in her hands she dropped to all fours and rushed down the hall in the opposite direction of the guards.

It was truly beyond frustrating how one simple man could take over an entire kingdom in a week. Most of it was bribery and just plain mind control. Perlis had threatened the soldier's families and about ¼ of the army had surrendered. Still the majority refused pledging their loyalty to their king. That was the night the screaming had begun. Perlis had flown into a rage at his plans gone wrong and whirled into an angry temper. He set the entire desert town on fire. The flames mixed with Westin's day were almost unbearable. After burning a majority of Westin down Merle had watched in shock as he floated up into the air. She had covered her eyes immediately against his black light and listened as the people around her were thrown into a mindless trance.

That night she had ran for the doctor's seemed so long ago. The days were never ending and Relim was still too weak to move. The healers had sewn him up and given him a few herbs. Now a few loyal refugees and herself were hidden in the secret passageways of the palace with Relim. He had built a sort of inner palace to hide in that only he had known about.

Checking to make sure the hall was clear she turned and pushed against the bricks. A few slid and she was able to push open the rest. Disappearing into the hidden hall she closed the mysterious door behind her. The damp passageways were pitch black and cold. She rushed through them heading what she hoped was forward. Luckily it was and she could soon see the faint light of a fire.

Speeding up she dropped to all fours again and grabbed the food in her mouth rushing off to the fire. She skidded to a halt next to Relim and handed the food out to everyone after snatching some for herself and Relim.

The injured king was currently asleep so Merle pulled a blanket up and snuggled down next to him holding the food.

She smiled at his peaceful face and brushed a few teasing locks of his dark hair out of his nice pale bluish gray eyes. She was immediately mortified to watch his lips curl up into a small smile followed by the playful gaze of those entrancing eyes. Merle immediately jerked her hand back, frowned at him, hissing for emphasis. She shoved the food into his hands and rolled onto her right side ignoring his light laugh.

"Why did you stop?" he questioned grunting as he tried to turn on his side.

Finally after about 5 good minutes of struggling he was on his side and pulling Merle around to face him. Her own blue eyes glared at the king as he smiled down at her.

"You were supposed to be asleep," she growled embarrassed that he had caught her.

"I am," he whispered leaning closer to her, "I'm dreaming,"

Merle stiffened when she felt his warm gentle hand brushing her own stubborn hair out of her eyes. Relim felt her stiffen and his smile fell. His hand slowly made it's way back to his side and with some more struggling he slipped down onto his back again. Merle watched him and felt the giddy fear gripping her heart. It was more of an exciting fear. Knowing it may hurt if something were to happen but wanting it all the same.

She watched as the dancing flames played across his face and his soft regular breathing could be heard. He was asleep. She could act on her feelings and he would never know the difference. Thinking it was a winning plan indeed she ignored the stares from the fellow refugees as she leaned over and kissed Relim on the forehead. She wanted it to be lower. Somewhere towards his lips maybe but she wasn't sure that would be the best thing right now.

Felling quite smug she turned over wrapped up their uneaten food and went to sleep happy with herself.

Relim watched as Merle settled in to go to sleep and couldn't help but grin like a fool. She had just kissed him, no matter that it wasn't exactly the place he had in mind. She had still kissed him and that was a promising sign indeed. Finally feeling a slight bit peace, more so than he had been in the past few days he closed his eyes and went to sleep.



"Blast!!!!" Perlis slammed his fists down on the council table and growled when it split and shattered under his angry blow.

He was standing alone in the council room the dying fires of the town flickering into the other wise pitch-black room.

"I have kidnapped and all but brainwashed his fiancé!!! Attacked his allies!!! Fought him in hand-to-hand combat!!! And still I struggle to kill that pest for a king!!! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!"

Perlis fumed and stormed all over the room. " I would take his beloved sister except I can't find the sly kitten!!"

He fumed a little more.

"IS THERE NO WAY TO STRIKE AT THE MAN!!!!!?!?!?"

His roar echoed off the walls and he fell to the floor panting for air.

"I try to strike at what he loves best and he takes it right back!!"

Perlis let his head fall onto his knees.

"I will have my revenge," he growled to no one in particular

He sat there in the dark for hours ransacking his mind for ideas on how to strike at the Fanelian King. Then it struck him.

"Why search my mind," his evil smirk grew

Perlis laughed to himself as he leaned back against the stonewall closing his eyes. During his temporary control of the fanelian king's witch he had been able to ransack her mind and see her life through her eyes. Gagging at the romantic thoughts and memories of the king and the happy moments with the gaian royals and friends he smiled when he reached what he wanted. Smiling and gushing with absolute joy he spun the picture around in his mind.

The face smiled back at him and he couldn't help but feel a little pull towards the person.

"This will do nicely," he whispered to himself

If he couldn't win by striking at what the King loved best well then he would just strike at what the love of his life cherished besides himself and the cat sister.



Hitomi walked down the long halls and frowned at the armor hanging there. It was rather lonely without Merle and her fiancé. The council had managed to drag him away for a meeting, the one he had been avoiding for a few days now. He was going to announce his departure for Westin and Allen's control while he was gone.

The armor soon disappeared and pictures decorated the halls. Hitomi loved looking at the pictures and scanned over portraits of the Fanel family, group pictures of the gang from the great war, then of Van and Merle and Allen with Cheid on his shoulders.

She didn't miss her family as much as she thought she would because she had Van but she did miss them. Her Mom and Dad weren't home much these days and her brother had become distant after her return from Gaia. But Yukari and Amano had been there they had fought but she began to miss the pair. She stopped and looked at the large picture of everyone. Crusade members, mole man and all.

Hitomi relaxed when she felt the muscular arms latch around her waist and pull her backwards.

"How did the meeting go?" she asked pleasantly

Van lightly kissed up her neck, "Same as always they don't agree with anything I do but I'm King so they can't do anything in the end"

Hitomi shivered at his warm breath tickling her ear. Van smiled against her neck and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Cold?" he teased

"Not really your majesty," she smiled and laughed when Van released her and turned her around to face him.

"Don't do that, please," he almost begged

"Something the matter?" she smirked

Van narrowed his eyes at her but they soon faded into a smile, "I have to organize our trip anyways," Van waved goodbye to her and started off down the hall

Hitomi ran up and grabbed his arm pulling him back into her arms, "Not so fast"

Van chuckled and kissed her forehead, "Okay let me go now I have work to do"

Hitomi frowned, "You're teasing me"

"Possibly," he gave her that knee-buckling smile again and Hitomi grabbed onto his shirt to keep balance

"Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye before you go?"

She saw his lips twitch, " I don't think I will"

Hitomi hugged him tighter and pulled his head down so it was a few centimeters from hers.

"You sure you don't want to?" she smiled, she was winning.

"Nope," he whispered not able to hide the crack in his voice

"Alright then," Hitomi shoved him away and folded her arms still grinning.

Van took a few deep breaths and brushed his shirt out. Smiling at her he turned and went down the stairs. Hitomi waited for a few seconds but he didn't reappear so she walked over to the window to watch how things were going in the courtyard. She wanted to help but the soldiers insisted that she rest and they would take care of loading the wagons. So standing in the lonely hall she leaned out the window and gazed up at the clouds. It was a beautiful sunny day, not too cold and not too hot.

Fingers danced around her stomach and Hitomi shrieked jumping back inside. Van stood there laughing and pulled her against his chest.

"I lied," he whispered

Hitomi didn't have time to react before she felt his soft lips caressing hers. Her eyelids slid shut and she tightened her grip around his neck. It was simply impossible to do anything other than hang on when he would kiss her. His tongue danced near hers and she shivered again feeling the jolt of electricity he always seemed to send through her veins.

She was just about to faint when he pulled back breathing a little ragged. The left side of his lips curved into a half smile and he kissed her forehead.

"Now I can leave," his playful voice floated to Hitomi's ears pulling her out of the trance he had set.

"Yea," she mumbled grabbing the windowsill behind her, "okay"

"Do you want to come?" he offered out his hand

Hitomi looked up from the ground and traveled from his hand to his eyes.

"No I think I'll just watch from the window"

"You sure you want to stay here?" he stepped closer and leaned into her face again

"Maybe not," she breathed

"Good let's go then," he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her down the stairs with him.

They reached the bottom of the steps just in time for Allen to start.

"And just where have you been hiding Hitomi?"

Van looked to the walls and Hitomi blushed.

"Alright so you were making out, again! You had better get going they are packing up the last of the luggage and you need to get out of here."

Hitomi hugged Allen goodbye and Van shook hands goodbye. They were almost out the door when Allen piped up again.

"And Van!!" Van turned to face him, "STAY! In your own room!"

Hitomi blushed harder and Van clenched his fists, "I'm not that disrespectful!!" he yelled back to the smiling blonde

"Yea sure just stay out of hers," Allen smiled at Van's rising anger, "Have a nice trip and bring Merle back safely."

Van's eyes narrowed and he mumbled a few uncomplimentary terms to Allen under his breath and made his way into the courtyard with Hitomi. Soldiers bowed and tried to help Hitomi onto her horse. Van watched as she pushed their hands aside and jumped up onto the horse straddle way. He smiled as she pulled the skirt out from under her and spread it over the horse.

She turned and grinned at him, "Well they never said I couldn't wear pants under the dress they just said I had to wear a dress."

Van laughed again and lead his horse over to Hitomi's, "I love you"

"I know," she smiled leaning in towards him

Van's lips just brushed hers when their horses whinyed and jerked the lovers heads apart. Allen stood there glaring, he had hold of their horses reins and was pushing them farther apart.

"If you two keep it up you'll never get there! Captain if they continue go ahead and separate them," The captain nervously looked back from Van to Allen.

Van shifted in his seat and glared at his captain, "I don't think it would be wise to listen to this fool Captain"

"Yes your majesty," with that the Captain galloped back to the soldiers leading the wagon.

Allen turned his frown back to Van, "If you keep kissing your fiancé you're liable to get stabbed in the back merely for lack of paying attention!"

Hitomi jerked her reins from Allen's grasp and moved her horse in front of him blocking his view of Van.

"Thanks for the help Allen you can go now," she gave the knight her own frown

Van smiled as he watched Allen bow to Hitomi and march back into the castle.

"Have I told you lately how much I love having you around?" Van rode up beside Hitomi.

"Yep," she beamed



Merle groaned at the soreness of her limbs from sleeping on the cold hard stone. Rolling onto her back she stretched out her arm where Relim should have been only to find his blanket.

Bolting straight up she looked around, "Relim?!" she called

"Ssshhh it's okay Merle don't scream"

She turned her eyes to the figure sitting by the fire. Merle wrapped the blanket around herself and crawled over to him.

"What time is it?" she asked

"Almost morning, I woke up feeling great, those herbs sure are working."

"That's great!" Merle's big smile made Relim smile a little himself

"So how is it out there? Sorry I haven't been able to go with you," Relim's downcast eyes shifted to the fire.

Merle had seen that look before, when Van had lost Fanelia in the Great War, when he hadn't been able to help his people it was the same desolate look. A mix of anger, sorrow, and shame.

"It wasn't your fault," Merle offered

Relim tried a genuine smile but failed.

"I'm their King I should have been able to stop it," he threw a twig in the fire and let it crackle and pop.

"No one knew he was coming," Merle defended, "The coward stabbed you in your sleep!"

"Thanks Merle but I'm still the King I need to do something. So how does it go out there?"

Merle tightened her grip on the blanket and tried to hide her face.

"Merle? What happened?"

"He….he burned most of the village and market. The castle is intact outside and the people are all locked in the dungeons. About a fourth of your army was bribed with threats to their families the rest who claimed loyalty to you were taken mentally."

Merle could fell the tension and watched as he clenched and unclenched his fists taking deep breaths.

"Where is Perlis?"

"They say he's been locked in the council room for 2 days now"

"Good that makes him an easy target," Relim growled

Merle jumped up, "You aren't going to him!"

"Yes Merle, I am."

"But he'll kill you!" she countered

"No he won't Merle"

"Look what happened to Erant and Hitomi! He'll take over your mind!"

"No offense to the lady Hitomi but I'm not that weak minded"

Merle gasped and felt her hair rise, "That shows you how much you know about Hitomi! For your information she is a seer!! Remember the great war! The girl with the visions! We weren't joking and that's her! She saved us! She is not weak minded!"

Relim looked up at the cat girl, "I'm sorry to upset you Lady but I'm going"

"No you're not," Merle crossed her arms

"Merle…"

"Don't start with me Relim, I am dirty, tired, cold, and in the middle of another under siege kingdom. I'm not the cat you want to start a fight with."

Relim's pained gaze didn't even faze her, "I won't get hurt I promise"

"No you're staying here-…" Merle stopped in mid sentence and scanned the room, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what Merle?"

"I know that sound……no" Merle dropped to all fours and turned to the hall leading out.

"Merle!"

Merle ignored Relim's calls and bounded down the hall, quietly pushing the brick door out at the end of the hall. She checked the outside hall and gratefully found it empty. Jumping into the warm hall she closed the door and headed to a window near by. Skidding to a halt she leaned out the window and gasped.

"No…"

Sure enough disappearing into the sky was the blue beam of light.

"HITOMI!!!"

Relim jerked his head back towards the hall and bit his tongue. He had tried to follow her but Merle had been right he could move but not agile enough to defend himself. He heard the guards heavy footsteps pounding down the hall and prayed Merle had left before they reached her.



Merle dropped to all fours and raced off down the hall. She rushed past soldiers and dodged grabbing hands. After a few minutes of running and dodging she made it into the courtyard and froze. Perlis stood there smiling at the cat girl.

"So we finally fish out the little kitty"

Merle hissed and bared her claws. She frowned when she saw someone tied up and trembling behind him.

"Where did Hitomi go?!"

"Hitomi didn't go anywhere"

"You're lieing I saw the blue light!!!!" Merle growled

"That my dear girl was me returning to my wonderful palace, did you miss me?"

Merle spit at his feet, "I don't believe you! You can't control the light!"

"Oh but I can dear girl it is a gift of mine since child hood. I am able to steal others gifts and use them for my own. In this case Hitomi's power with the Atlantean stone."

"What do you want on the mystic moon!?" Merle hissed

"Would you like to see my precious kitty?"

Merle was silent.

Perlis dragged the person he had been holding in front of him and threw her at Merle's feet.

"A dear friend of your brother's witch."

Merle didn't have time to react before the guards tackled her and the girl. Merle nailed a few but ended up bound and bruised. The girl next to her already tied was dragged to her feet. She had a black eye and a couple of bruises on her legs. She was wearing weird short pants and a t-shirt. Must have been more strange mystic moon clothes. The two were grabbed by their hands and literally dragged up the steps and across the halls. Merle was almost out of her ropes when the soldiers threw them into a room and bolted the door shut. Merle ripped her ropes off and untied the other girl who immediately jumped back from her screaming in fright.

Merle rolled her eyes, "Great here we go again"

"WHO ARE YOU!!" the girl screamed

"My name is Merle and I am a friend of Hitomi's. I'm king Van's sister now get over your little fear and help me get us out of here!"

"Hitomi's here?" the poor lady sounded hopeful

"Not exactly in this castle she's in Fanelia, we're in Westin, a good day or two ride from Fanelia."

"Fanelia? Westin?"

"Yes welcome to Gaia," with that she scanned the room for some means of escape

"Gaia," the girl sounded ready to faint, "She was telling the truth?"

"What?" Merle asked irritated

"Hitomi was telling the truth. She went to Gaia"

"Yes she did"

"Who was that man that brought me here?!"

"His name is Perlis, he seems to have the ability to steal other's powers and control minds. He had Hitomi for a while but we got her back. Now he's taken over Westin."

"Why aren't you in Fanelia with your brother?"

"Because I was visiting a friend when Perlis attacked," Merle spotted a metal pole leaning against the wall of the small storage room.

Merle turned back to the girl to find her shaking it wasn't cold so Merle sighed when she saw the fear in her eyes. Bending down on to her knees she peered at her.

"Who are you?"

The girl looked up tears sliding down her cheeks, "Are we going to die?"

"No, we're going to get out and get Van and Hitomi. They'll fix it trust me. Now who are you?"

"I'm Yukari, Uchida Yukari."

A/N Hope you peoples like it.