ESCAFLOWNE

"PURRFECT ROMANCE"

PAIRING: Van Fanel and Merle

RATING: PG-13

SETTING: After the Escaflowne Series

CHAPTER ONE - HOME SWEET ... HITOMI?

The sun shone brightly across the sky, shining beautifully and graciously across the reborn and renewed Fanelia. It had been years since Hitmoi had come to the world of Gaea from the Mystic Moon ... four years to be exact. Life had passed peacefully in the world of Gaea as many new changes had taken root.

It was early morning in Fanelia as the sun danced along the rooftops. It danced among the eyelids of a playful and petite feline, who found a comfortable nestling spot on the rooftop of Fanelia castle. Four years had passed since Hitomi left Gaea ... and it showed upon Merle. When Hitomi came to Fanelia, Merle was only fourteen. Now, Merle was eighteen, it showed in her personality, character and body. She was now a young woman, still a playful kitten but a bit more mature then she once was. With an undying loyalty to her prince, Merle never left his side.

Her eyes slowly opened, allowing the sun to focus her eyesight. She sat up and let out a loud yawn, stretching out her arms and legs and tail. She scratched her head as she looked at the sunrise before her. She smiled to herself. "Heh, good morning Fanelia." she replied. Merle stood up and looked over the castle roof edge curiously. She peered over into the window of Van's bedroom, and realized he was no where to be found. "Huh? Van must've woken up early this morning. Only one place he could be." she chuckled to herself, flipping inside of Van's room and running out the door. Her energy was bustling with the thought of seeing Van. He had grown as well. He was now twenty two and has grown more handsome, but to Merle he had always been a vision. Now with Folken back in command as King of Fanelia, Van returned to the title of Prince and spent most of his time training with his sword and studying and reading in the kingdom library. Every early morning, Van only could be found in one place ... his special place that he and Merle share.

In the large fielded meadow behind the castle, Van laid on his back, his eyes closed and his hands behind his head. He was dressed in his normal wear, his red shirt and beige pants as his black hair laid gently over his eyes. Merle stood there, watching him from only about four or five feet away. He looked so peaceful that it enjoyed her just to watch him sleep. Merle crept over silently like the cat she was, and crept next to Van. Her eyes laid across his face as she laid her head gently on his stomach. This was where she belonged. With Van and no one else. He was everything to her and he was all hers. "Morning Merle ..."

Jumping up frightened, Merle stood up with her tail and back hair on end, as her eyes met with Van's. He smiled lovingly towards her as his soft brown eyes linked with her soft green eyes. Merle blushed, Van was so much older now and much more mature and skilled then before. He was no longer as lanky as he used to be, but medium built and yet he still retained his overall sweetness towards her as he always had ever since they were born. "L-Lord Van ..." Merle replied. Van stood up and placed a hand on Merle's cheek. "Its always good to wake up to see you. Its so comforting to know I can always count on you being there beside me ..." Van sweetly exclaimed. Merle chuckled a bit as she grasped her long brown shirt in her hand. "Lord Van, you know I'll never leave your side. I haven't once ... ever since I was born. I could never leave you ..." she confessed, placing her head softly on Van's chest. Van was taken for a minute but smiled and laid his forehead against Merle's head and wrapped his arm aroung her shoulders. "We are forever bound you and I ... you are forever special to me Merle ... you are forever ... my family." he replied.

Family? Merle thought to herself. Still ... after-after all this time ... even with Hitomi gone from this world ... he only thinks of me as family and nothing more. Merle closed her eyes and lightly shivered as she tried desperatly to hold back her tears. Van could feel Merle shiver as his eyes showed a look of concern. He released his grip from her shoulders and pulled Merle away a bit to try and see her face. "Merle? Merle, what's the matter?" he asked, as Merle turned away. She didn't want Van to see her like this. He would probably think she was still a kid if he ever saw her crying like this. She was a young woman now ... eighteen ... now to be thought of as a woman not just a kid.

"VAN!"

Before Van could question Merle further, he looked towards the castle. Only ten feet away from himself and Merle was Allen Schzar. He too was much older, yet he still regained his knightly beauty. He smiled brotherly towards Van as he gestured for Van to come. "VAN! YOUR BROTHER IS CALLING FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN THE THRONE ROOM!" he called out. Van nodded and looked back towards Merle, now worried. "Merle?" he whispered. Merle let out a loud sigh and sucked back her tears. "He's calling for you, Lord Van ... we shouldn't keep him waiting!" Merle replied sweetly, returning the smile to her lips. She jumped up and grabbed Van's hands, pulling him to his feet. "Come on, Lord Van!" she happily exclaimed. Allen watched as the two of them came running down the field and towards him. He smiled, for he had watched these two grow into what they had now become. Van walked ahead of Merle and smiled at Allen. Van had grown taller and when compared with Allen, he now stood a bit above Allen's shoulders now. "Did he explain as to what he needed me for?" Van asked. "I believe seeing will do what words cannot Van." Allen exclaimed. Both Merle and Van looked puzzingly at Allen.

Folken sat in his throne, eyes closed as if he were in deep thought. His hands were intertwined and laid upon his lips. The sound of up and coming footsteps brought Folken's eyes to attention as he looked over to the large throne room doors. Allen was the first to enter, as he stood to the side allowing Van and Merle to walk in. "Van ..." Folken replied softly, letting a smile cross his lips. "Brother ... you called for me? Is everything alright?" Van asked. Folken chuckled a bit and glanced over at the hallway across from the throne doors. A figure could be seen standing in the darkness. Van's eyes squinted, unsure of who was standing there. Merle looked over Van's shoulder and felt her heart jump in her chest ... and stop for a few seconds. Her eyes wavered and a very faint smile crossed her lips as her body began to shiver again. Allen glanced over at Merle, his eyebrows arched in worriment over her. Van walked forward a bit, and stopped as the figure darted from the dark corridor and towards Van, arms opened wide as they wrapped around Van's neck. Van could feel his heartbeat go crazy as he stood in shock to do anything. "H-Hitomi?" Van whispered.

Folken chuckled again, smiled and closed his eyes. "Is everything alright? Heh, why don't you tell me ... Van."