ESCAFLOWNE

"PURRFECT ROMANCE"

PAIRING: Van Fanel and Merle

RATING: PG-13

SETTING: After the Escaflowne Series

CHAPTER TWO - A KNIGHT FOR A NIGHT

It was. It was Hitomi. She was now also twenty two ... it showed all over her face. Her hair remained the same, but her face showed her maturity. Her soft grey blue eyes were consumed with tears as she held Van around the neck tightly. "Oh, Van ... I-I'm so happy to be back to you. I've missed you so much! So much!" she exclaimed happily as she pulled away from him to look deep into his eyes. Van slowly brought his hand to Hitomi's face and rubbed it over her cheek as he also started to cry. He grabbed Hitomi tightly and began crying hard. "HITOMI! How-How is it possible?" Van questioned through his tears.

Folken pulled apart his intertwined hands and showed a fragmented piece of Hitomi's pendent. "The priests have claimed that this small fragment is possibly to blame. It is a fragment of Hitomi's pendent ... a valuble piece of her magic that resides inside of her. It may have been a very mysterious and inner power of this pendent of hers that has given her an entry back from the Mystic Moon and here to Gaea. We are still unsure ... but I'm sure that all doesn't matter right now." Folken smiled as Van looked over to him, smiling in return. Allen returned his gaze back over to Merle who's head was bowed down as if in defeat. She suddenly perked up her head and smiled happily. M-Merle? Are ... are you holding back ... for Van's sake? Oh Merle ... Allen thought to himself as he watched Merle run over to Hitomi and Van. "HITOMI! YOUR BACK!" Merle sang out, wrapping her arms around both Van and Hitomi. Laughing and pulling away from Van momentarily, Hitmoi hugged Merle back. "Merle! Its you!" Hitomi cried out. Hitomi pulled her away and looked at her. "My god, look at you! You've grown so much! Your such a lovely little lady now, so much more mature then I thought possible!" Hitomi jokingly replied. Merle laughed and stuck out her tongue at her. Folken stood from his throne. "I've invited Hitomi to stay at the castle for as long as she wants. Perhaps we will have a feast tonite in your honor, Hitomi." Folken replied. Hitomi smiled and bowed to Folken. "That's so kind of you, sire. Thank you." she replied happily.

Hitomi looked back over to Van, who hadn't taken his eyes off her even for a second. They both smiled lovingly at each other as a silence pierced the room. Merle felt most uncomfortable as she saw their gazes toward eachother, and fighting her will, she grabbed Van's hand and Hitomi's and placed them together. "Its been years. Ha, you two should have some time alone to talk ... " she sweetly exclaimed. Van looked at Merle puzzingly for a moment as he watched her dart towards the throne room doors where Allen remained standing. "See you guys later tonite!" Merle called out, as she dashed outside. Allen reached out for Merle, but missed her as he watched her run ... no, escape from the throne room, obviously hurt. Allen returned his gaze to Folken, Van and Hitomi and bowed towards them. "If you'll excuse me ... I will leave you be. Hitomi, it is nice to have you back."

"Thank you Allen."

"Until tonight at the feast then ... good day." Allen replied, bowing on his way out of the throne doors. Van watched Allen leave, still puzzled, yet with no reason as to why. As the throne doors closed, Allen turned his face towards the direction where Merle had run off too. "Merle ..." he whispered.

Back out in the meadowed field behind the castle, Merle ran as though she were being chased. She suddenly tripped and fell flat on her face ... but she didn't move. Instead she stayed, curled up in a ball and began to cry. She couldn't help it ... but through all these years, her heart has never changed nor has it felt like this for anyone else ... except Van. But he never noticed ... and how could he ever, now with Hitomi back. There was no use now ... she had lost the battle for his heart.

With her hard sobbing, Merle couldn't of heard Allen coming up behind her. His eyes looked sorrowfully upon Merle as he bent down towards her, softly sliding his hand through Merle's hair. Merle jumped up, as she looked up towards Allen ... her eyes tear stricken. Allen offered her his knightly smile and warm eyes as he let his hand slide from her hair to her cheek, wiping away her tears. Merle completlely lost it and fell into Allen's arms, sobbing. "Allen ... oh, Allen ..." Merle wailed, gripping Allen tightly around his torso. Allen held her closley in his arms to comfort her. "Merle ... why do you do this to yourself?" he asked. Merle remained silent as her sobs slowly got softer. "Why do you try so hard to make others happy ... even if it means putting your own emotions ... your feelings ... your heart on the line? You push them aside as if they mean nothing!" Allen replied, angriley yet lovingly towards her. In all these years, Merle had been like a little sister to him ... reminding him of the one he lost. So to see her hurt ... also hurt him deeply.

Merle sighed deeply and looked up towards Allen, her head still resting on Allen's chest. "Because they do ..." Merle replied. "What?" Allen questioned. Merle hugged Allen tighter as she tried to explain. "All my life ... all I can remember is living for Van. He was all I could think about ... the only one who cared for me and worried about me ... he protected me and wanted me close. I've loved him all my life ... and yet no matter how strong my dedication or how much I love him ... he'll never see it. He'll never see me as a woman ... only as the girl he grew up with ... a cat girl. I'm not human Allen ... I can't be what Hitomi is to him. I've come to accept that ... I'd - I'd rather Lord Van be happy ... even if its not with me. Even if it is with Hitomi ... I just ... I just can't win." she softly confessed, crying once more ... so happy to have let all of that out finally ... even after all these years.

"Oh Merle ... dear Merle ..." Allen softly replied. He held her even tighter, trying to comfort her. "Van ... he doesn't truly realize how lucky he is to have you. He does love you Merle ... "

"But not the way I love him. To him ... I'm family ... nothing more."

Allen sighed as he pulled Merle away, again, wiping her face clean of tears. "Love is a force that cannot be predicted, Merle. If fate has it in for you ... great things will happen ... I swear to you. You just have to want it bad enough ... and things will come true for you. You have become a beautiful woman Merle ... half cat or not ... even Van can see that, although he may not have admitted it out loud. Be strong ... live life happily ... and you will find that love you so desire." Allen poetically stated. Merle looked surprisingly at Allen, taken by his words. "Allen ..." she softly cooed. She collasped back into Allen's arms and smiled. "Thank you ... thank you so much, Allen." Laughing, Allen hugged Merle back and stood up, helping Merle up to her feet as well. "I was wondering Merle ..." Allen suddenly stated. "Yes?" she answered back.

"I was wondering if you would allow me to accompany you to the feast tonite. I'd be most honored to have you on my arm." he replied, bowing down to her and taking her hand in his. Allen gently kissed it, making Merle blush. She had never been treated as such because she had always been seen as a kid ... a cat kid. Allen never treated her as such, but always treated her as he saw her. A beautiful young woman, and Merle loved that feeling. "Do you really mean it Allen? You-you want me to go with you?" she happily stated, her eyes growing wide. Allen laughed as he stood and presented his arm. "Of course. When everyone sees you in a beautiful dress ... then they will all see the Merle that I see. The woman. Be proud of what you've become Merle ... and embrace it. Once you have that confidence ... others will see it in you and won't see you as that cat kid that became Van's shadow. So please ... do me the honor of being my date tonite Merle."

Merle blushed and smiled widely as she hugged Allen tightly once more around his thin torso. "Oh Allen ... I will! I will!" Merle delightfully replied out loud. "Consider it done then. I am your knight for the night, my fair lady." Allen proclaimed, taking her hand and placing it on his arm as they both walked back towards the castle, to get ready for the glorious feast that was to be held in Hitomi's honor.