Chapter 10: Kiss Me



Although the conversation was slow at first but once Iris and Dryden found a topic they both had a say in, it went on forever. *I really guess my parents didn't make a mistake when they set me up with him.* she sighed in relief knowing that everyday with him wouldn't be routine.

Routine, that was one word she hated. She hated knowing what was going to happen. Where would all the fun in life be if everything was predictable? Everyday would be the same boring thing. Living a predictable life would be living in hell for Iris.

"Iris, could you do me a favour?" Dryden asked.

"Sure, what is it?"

"I need something from Allen." for some odd reason Iris got an uneasy feeling about it.

"I don't know Allen that well, why don't you ask Millerna? She practically worships the group he walks on." Dryden chuckled at her reply and took her advice and went to Millerna to get the item he needed.



"Hey Iris!" Melody shouted from the other end of the long hallway. Iris smiled and waved to her friend as she walked to wards her. "So, how did things go with Dryden?"

"They went pretty good actually."

"That's great! So what did you guys do?"

"Just talked." Melody cocked an eyebrow and looked at Iris suspiciously.

"Just talked? Well, what about?"

"Anything really. We shared our views on different myths and folklore, our philosophies on life and just whatever came up." Melody begin to laugh but tried hard to hide it. "Oh you sick pig! Why do you constantly think about sex!?"

"Hey, you use to too Iris so you're not all innocent either." Iris sighed and shook her head. She missed those carefree days.

"God, I wish I could be on Earth with you guys. I miss all our talks. I miss going to the movies on Fridays and not getting home until midnight. I miss freaking the people out at Chapters. I miss everything!" Melody hugged Iris for comfort.

"There, there, I know it's hard but look at how strong you are. I could never give up everything like you have."as the hug broke the sound of something crashing and the shake of the air ship startled them. "What was that?"Melody asked instantly.

"I don't know but I don't think it was a good thing." as a ran by, Iris caught his arm and stopped him. "Allen what's going on?" she asked.

"It's a Ziabach attack." he answered quickly before running off.

"So what do we do?" Melody asked.

"Ummm . . . . .follow him I guess." the two girls began to run after Allen and ended up outside where they saw two guymelefs fighting against the Escaflowne. Just as it seemed that the Ziabach guymelefs had won, Merle ran out in front of the Escaflowne and told them to leave. What was surprising was that they did leave. None of them were sure as to why but they were just glad that they did leave.



"Well, it took me a while but I managed to translate this journal. It was written in the language of the Mystic Moon." everyone looked at Dryden in surprise.

"Young Master, restrain yourself. Ziabach has their eye on you. Nothing good will come of this!" Dryden rolled his eyes at his assistant.

"You can go home. I'm going to the Mystic Valley. Take my ship back to my father in Palas." his poor assistant looked like he was on the verge of having a heart attack.

"I can't go back to Palas with no cargo! How do expect me to explain this to the master!? Oh he's gonna have my head for this!"

"I'll write him a letter alright. Any ways, he wont mind that I'm with Princess Iris and Millerna." Iris didn't seem all that surprised but Millerna was completely outraged.

"I'm not going." she stated trying to hide her anger.

"Well Allen's going I don't see why not."

"Who said I was going?" Allen looked a little more than pissed off.

"Simply because you have to. Your father gave up everything to find the Mystic Valley, his home, his family. It's a well known story in Asturia. Heck, even I know it." Allen just turned away from Dryden and clenched his fists in an attempt to control his rage.

"I want to go, too. The Mystic Valley is the homeland of the Draconians. I want to see the origin of the blood that flows through my body . . .and the secret between that land and Escaflowne." Van stated.

"Hey Iris, why are we going?" Melody asked in a whisper.

"Uh . . .because we have nothing better to do and . . .I don't want to go back home right now. My parents are probably more than pissed that I left Asturia without their permission."



Later that morning, everyone who was going to the Mystic Valley boarded onto the Crusade. Dryden gave his assistant the letter for his father and had him leave for Palas immediately. When everything was all settled, Iris, Melody, Ian, Millerna, Van, Merle, Hitomi, Allen, and Dryden sat in the meeting room and listened to Dryden read aloud the journal.

Iris and melody couldn't help but find some humour in Allen's reaction to the entries. They tried not to but it was too hard. At the end of the night, everyone retired to their rooms. The five girls all shared one room together.

For the next few days it became like a routine. They'd wake up, eat, listen to Dryden read some more, eat, listen some more, eat and go to bed. but on one night, Iris and the other girls didn't want to go to sleep. They wanted to have some fun. While they stayed in their room, Iris and Melody took out some wine and other alcoholic beverages they were able to steal.

"Where'd you get all that?!" Millerna asked as she looked at the large collection of bottles on the coffee table.

"We found them down below." Melody answered honestly. Iris grabbed one bottle, opened it and took a sip. She squinted her eyes and swallowed.

"Holy shit that's strong!" Melody laughed at how foolish her friend was.

"Here Millerna!" Melody grabbed a bottle and tossed it over the princess. Millerna looked at it unsure. She was debating whether to open it or not. "Aw, come on, don't be chicken!" Iris passed Hitomi and Merle a bottle each. Merle opened her's quickly and began to try and chug it down. Hitomi was hesitant but nonetheless, she took a few sips.

Within the next hour, all the girls were feeling pretty buzzed. That's when Melody came up with the idea to play her version of truth or dare. "Okay, so these are the rules. If someone proves you wrong when you're telling the 'truth' then you have to do three shots and if you chicken out during a dare then you have to do five shots."

After only playing for half an hour, Merle was close to passing out. Millerna was getting close as well. Iris and Melody were still holding strong.

"Okay Iris, truth . . .or dare . . ." Millerna asked.

"Dare!" she answered excitedly. Millerna grinned evilly as she thought of the prefect dare.

"Alright . . .I dare you to . . .to make out with . . ." she paused and tried to think of who to pick. The longer Iris had to wait made her patients wear thin. "Hmmm . . .I dare you to make out with Dryden and if you don't you have to do ten shots!"

"Hey that's unfair! Ten shots! You're nuts!"

"Oh stop being a baby Iris! Go and do or else ten shots!" Melody said while nudging her friend with her elbow. "Oh, I knew it! you're a chicken!" Melody then went on to make chicken like sounds. Merle joined in and even Millerna did too. Normally Iris would have done the shots but she knew very well that Melody would use this to tease her for weeks to come. Iris picked up the bottle of alcohol beside her and took a large gulp before standing up.

"Are you gonna do it?" Hitomi asked.

"Damn straight!" Iris replied and handed Melody the bottle. She stormed out of the room and went to the one place where she knew she was bound to find him. She went to his study. Just as she had expected, he was there, sitting on the couch with his nose stuck in a book. She took a deep breath and walked into the room towards Dryden.



The sound of the door shutting brought Dryden's attention away from his book. He was surprised to see Iris there, walking towards him. His eyes followed her carefully as she walked and sat down on his lap. *What is she doing?* he wondered.

She leaned towards him and tossed away his book. "What are you-" he never got to finish speaking. Iris brought her lips to his in a forceful kiss. It had caught him completely off guard and he debated whether to push her away or not to. He brought his arms around her and held her closer.



Melody and Millerna tip toed through the hallway to Dryden's study. They had to make sure Iris didn't chicken out. when they reached the room, their eyes went wide. She had actually followed through with the dare. Iris was all over Dryden!

"Damn! I was hoping she would chicken out!" Millerna whispered.

"Why? This is so much better to watch!" Melody replied back.



A/N: sorry for the long wait! I've had like these two really big projects in history due so I didn't get much of a chance to write. So I hoped you enjoyed and please review!