Disclaimer: (How many times must I say this?) The Vision of Escaflowne does not belong to me. I own only the Nya'torians, as well as Ayseth. So if anyone dares to sue me, or tries to steal my characters, they shall find themselves dashing out of my lair, with body parts smoking (and they will be shrieking at the top of their lungs).

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Chapter 6: Anxiety

Hitomi sat cross-legged by the edge of a lake, her hands clenched around the rustling material of her jacket. She clamped her teeth down on her bottom lip, willing herself not to break down and cry. I need to stay calm. She rubbed her arm where she had pinched herself earlier; she had had an urge to make sure she was not dreaming, that what Kirra had told her was actually real.

She and Van were in danger of having not only their love vanquished, but their emotions used as a source of destruction for three inhabited worlds. It was her worst nightmare come true.

A traiterous tear rolled down her cheek, and she swiped at it with a trace of annoyance mixed with rising anger and frustration. Why did everything have to happen to her, and to those she loved? First it was that damned Destiny War, which destroyed the hearts and souls of thousands; and now this? It was a mental overload, and she was starting to feel its weight.

"Kanzaki-sama?" Hitomi jumped and twisted around. Aurelia's soft brown eyes gazed solemnly back at her, a mixture of guilt and sympathy swirling in their depths. The dog-girl immediately bowed her head. "I did not mean to startle you. I simply wanted to apologize."

Hitomi blinked, puzzled. "Apologize?"

Aurelia nodded. "For what my companion did. Kirra is not the most sympathetic of beings; if anything, she is just the opposite. I wanted to apologize for the harsh way she delivered the news to you." Her ears folded back submissively, and she let out a tiny whine. "And I am sorry that it has to end up this way, when you barely had time to recover from…past events."

Hitomi averted her gaze. "It's not your fault," she said, her voice barely audible. "And you don't have to apologize for your companion. That's not right."

Aurelia smiled ruefully. "But the guilt still lies within," was all she said.

"So how many of us are going on this mission?" Hitomi asked. The "mission" she was referring to was a quest to find and defeat this mysterious being known as the "Kalryn's Devil." Just the prospect of trying to find something that used emotions as a source of energy, and was after her emotions, was enough to make her want to return to Earth as soon as possible.

Aurelia plopped down in the soft grass, arching her back and stretching her legs. "Did Kirra not tell you about the Seven? That would be you, His Majesty, Kirra, Urufu, myself, Muniya, and Nyoka." She paused, leaning forward to touch her toes. "It may not be safe to permit others to accompany us. However, if there are some you wish to have by your side during this journey, then I do not see why it cannot be allowed, as long as they are aware of the dangers they may cross beforehand." She paused, then smiled. "Urufu has already spoken to His Majesty, who claims that the little pink-haired feline who follows him would throw a fit were she left behind."

In spite of the anxiety and fear built up inside of her, Hitomi could not help but let out a bark of laughter. "Yes, Merle is that way," she agreed. "Always follows 'Van-sama' everywhere. She can get really annoying, but she's really not that bad."

"I just hope she and Kirra can get along," Aurelia said. "Both are very headstrong, and Kirra has no patience for annoying people."

"They may just have to live with it, because I don't think Merle would forgive me if I left her behind," a voice said from behind them. Both girls turned around, to find themselves looking at a rather calm-looking Van. One hand rested on his hip; the other dangled at his side. His head was cocked to one side, and there was a charming sparkle in his eyes. His gaze never left Hitomi's laughter-flushed face. The sparkle in his eyes brightened until it looked like dozens of tiny diamonds, as the brunette giggled girlishly. He sat down next to Hitomi and put an arm around her shoulder. She leaned into him, her eyelids fluttering shut.

Aurelia watched them with a knowing smile on her face. It's hard not to see how much they love each other, she thought, a pleasurable sparkle in her eyes. Suddenly, the smile on her face faded. She glanced at the still water in front of them, before shifting her gaze to the brightly lit, cloudless sky above. I just hope their love can survive the trials up ahead. She closed her eyes. Huf, ni eoaaomh; qtuyrvy emf vjrodj.

~*~

"What?! We're leaving this afternoon?! Van-sama!" Merle screeched, falling out of her chair. She stared in shock at the young king, who was gazing solemly out the window, the wind playing with his mussed hair. She detangled herself from the chair and sprang over to him. "You're joking, right? Van-sama!" she wailed, clinging to him like a toddler. Prying her arms loose, he set her down on the windowsill and finally turned to look at her.

"Yes, we're leaving this afternoon. No, I'm not joking. Do I look like I'm joking?" Van said sternly. Blinking, Merle looked at him. His jaw was set; his face absent of a smile; his eyes were cold and hard, flashing with the determination he had worn before his gaze had been softened by his love for Hitomi. Her tail twitching in annoyance, Merle hunched her shoulders and stuck out her lower lip in a childish pout.

"Stupid foreigners," she muttered under her breath; but Van heard her.

"If you really don't want to leave this afternoon, then you don't have to come," he said sensibly.

Merle stared at him, horrified. "Van-sama!" she wailed, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck; this time, he did not even bother to attempt dislodging her. "What if you get hurt?" she cried. "What if you get killed?! Van-sama, you're not leaving without me. You wouldn't do that, would you?" She twisted her head to look him in the eye; Van was slightly shocked to see the tears brewing in her eyes. He reached his hands up to pry her arms away, but changed his mind and simply stared at her.

"How much do you know?" he asked.

Merle situated herself in his lap and leaned her head on his chest. "Kirra told me everything she said she told you," she said, "and said I was too young to accompany you." She hissed. "Too young… That bitch… I'm not to young, am I, Van-sama?"

Van did not answer. Half of him wished for Merle to remain home, where he knew she would be safe; were she to travel with them, there was risk that she would be killed by the Devil's minions. He did not think he would be able to take the stress if two people he cared deeply about were at risk of losing their lives.

The other half of him yearned for her company. Though he would not admit it to anyone, he was slightly nervous about spending a period of time with inhabitants of another planet. True, Hitomi would be there; but even she had admitted to him that she was nervous about it being the two of them, against the five Nya'torians. The presence of something else he was familiar with would be a blessing.

"Van-sama?" Placing her hands on his shoulders, Merle heaved herself onto her knees and looked him straight in the eye. "You're worried about Hitomi-chan, aren't you?" she said, tilting her head slightly. A smile spread on her face, revealing her fangs. "You really do love her, don't you, Van-sama?"

The young king felt a blush rise to his cheeks, and nodded briskly, looking anywhere but at the cat-girl. The last thing he would do was admit that he feared for Merle's life, as well; it would make her all the more determined to accompany him, to prove that she would be of help, and that she was old enough to take care of herself.

Merle scooted out of his lap. "I'm sure she's worried about you, too. There; you can worry together." She paused, then, "Where is Hitomi-chan, anyway?"

"She said she wanted to wander around alone for awhile," Van answered. He rose to his feet. "I'm going to the roof," he announced; and walked out of the room before Merle had a chance to reply.

~*~

A cool breeze fluttered by, playing with his bushy hair. His tail scraped against the shingles behind him. He held one claw up in the air, and felt the wind seep into his finger, sending a comforting chill throughout his hand. He turned his gaze to the bright, cloudless sky above, his pupils contracting as his vision was overwhelmed with brilliant sunlight.

The cracking of the shingles on the edge of the roof broke Nyoka's train of secret thoughts, driving his attention to the dreary gray rooftop. Without thinking twice about the dangerous slope, he rose to his feet and made his way over to the edge, his claws almost involuntarily gripping the shingles.

A sudden rush of air, followed by the scattering of a few fluffy white feathers, cause the reptile to halt in his tracks. It took a few moments before realization dawned, and he sat down right where he was, his arms folded across his chest, ignoring the fact that he was on the most dangerous part of the roof.

There was another rush of air, and then the young king whizzed over the edge of the roof, twirling in midair, as if he were a carefree chick. Great white wings burst forth from his bare shoulderblades, and spread out to their fullest on either side of him. Upon sight of the reptile, Van froze in midair, his eyes bulging, as if in fright.

Nyoka allowed a small smile to curl the corners of his mouth, careful not to bare his fangs. "Always wondered, I have, of a Draconian," he said slowly.

Slowly, Van landed beside him. With another rush of air, his wings vanished. He sat down beside the reptile-boy, just as an enormous gust of wind whooshed by, yanking their hair away from their heads. For the first time, Van noticed the green-tinted, flimsy-looking, pointed ears on the side of Nyoka's head. Those ears… They looked familiar… What species of reptile has those kind of ears? He reached into the back of his mind.

"What species of reptile are you?" he said incredulously.

Nyoka smiled. "Wondering, I was, when Your Majesty would ask me that," he said. "I am a dragon."

Van gaped. A dragon? He immediately thought of the great beasts who wandered the mountain and the valley surrounding Fanelia. Just thinking about those creatures brought back memories of his trial to kingship…along with other memories that, at this moment, he would rather forget. Shaking himself mentally, he shoved those unpleasant things into the back of his mind; no, he would not think about them right now, not when he had other, more important things to worry about.

He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by an enormous gush of wind shoving past them, sucking away his very breath. It was followed by a whirlwind of golden-brown feathers, and Van blinked in slight confusion. His puzzlement was diminished as Muniya, her wings spread to their fullest, shot over the edge of the roof and landed neatly in front of the young king. She bowed low, her hair sliding over her shoulders to stretch to the shingles. She straightened her body and met Van's eyes.

"I am sorry to bother you two at this time, but Kirra says that we must leave," she said, in her unusual barely-audible voice. "And if we do not hurry, she may lose her temper. I apologize," she added softly, as though she felt it were her fault her feline companion was so impatient and rough.

Van rose to his feet, brushing off his pants the dirt that had traveled with the wind and landed on his clothing. "Think nothing of it," he assured the bird-girl. "I've been up here long enough, anyway." And before she had a chance to answer, he had spread his wings and was gone.

~*~

"My lord, when and where are we to strike next?" said a mysterious, black-clad figure in the darkness. "The queen has already sent out warriors to thwart you; what are you going to do about them?" A black-hooded head lifted slightly; golden eyes peered out from the darkness to stare at the golden throne.

Mounted on the throne was a violet-clad figure, with a blood-red and silver staff balanced against the arm of the throne. A deep, throaty chuckle erupted from beneath the violet hood, bouncing off the dank, cold walls like a ping-pong ball.

"So Her Majesty seeks to thwart me?" a deep voice rumbled menacingly. "Just like her grandfather. So brilliant, and yet, so stupid." Another throaty chuckle, then: "We shall set forth for Gaea this afternoon. Prepare your men, Zychlesk."

"What about Earth, my lord?" the black-clad figure, Zychlesk, ventured nervously.

The mounted figure grabbed the staff suddenly in a black-gloved hand, lifted it over its head, and brought it down hard on the black marble floor. "Imbecile!" the figure roared. "How many times must I tell you not to mention that damned planet again!"

Zychlesk trembled violently and stepped back. "Forgive me, my lord. Forgive me."

The staff clattered to the ground, as the hand disappeared back inside the robes. "We shall strike this afternoon. Get your men ready, Zychlesk. Or I'm leaving them behind." Without another word, the figure rose out of the chair, and floated past Zychlesk, leaving the silver and blood-red staff lying on the marble floor.

"Nobody shall defeat the Kalryn's Devil."

~*~

To Be Continued…

~*~

First off, I must thank everyone for your patience. I know it's taken me over a month, and that's ridiculous, but I've suffered writer's block and a very busy schedule. I'm going to try to do better from now on. Next time it takes me forever to update, check my profile, because I put up notices about things like that in my Bio.

SabineballZ: Yes, I think it was magic (some form of it, at least).

aradow: You can picture Muniya with a beak if you really want to (I don't blame you for doing so); but actually, her face is very human with narrowed bird's eyes and a very pointed nose with narrow nostrils, that resembles a beak.

Thanks to everyone else who read this, even if they did not review. And stay tuned! (Hopefully the next chapter will come out in less than a month!)