Disclaimer: *walks on a stage with a spot light shining in her eyes* Um...You guys know that I like writing...know that I like escaflowne (because I'm writing this fic! DUH!) Ahem, You know that people who put their fics on ff.net only want to share their wondrous ideas with others, as yourself, who is reading this. So please don't think that I have money to give away to a lawyer b/c I really don't and then that would end this fic from becoming so popular and sadden all my faithful readers...Thank you.*takes a bow and leaves the stage.*



ALLLLRIGHTY!

Now for my response to my reviewers!!!

~*darkcherry*: Thanks for encouraging me! I will do my best to try to get the fics out. I'm updating because I have a game 3 days in a row and don't think that I will be able to do so during the week, so I'll give it to you tonight..or whenever you read! And I feel sooo special that you wrote a long review for me! Thankyou!!!~ *Amy.star*: ~ Good luck on your driving! I know how much a pain that could be, I did good, except for backing around a corner...but just do you best and don't panic...whatever you do, don't panic! LOL, I have 3 games starting tues-thurs, so I hope I get lucky!~ *Fushizen na*: Yeah! Hitomi! You love Van, go to him...Hitomi? Hitomi! ARE YOU CHECKING OUT THAT GUY OVER THERE! You're suppose to be pining over Van! lol, j/k. Fluffy? Meaning everything would be mushy? Weeellllllll, maybe! Just have to see what happens! *giggles* ilikefluffinesstoo!~ *Sailor Centauri*: I LOVE THIS STORY TOO! And thanks for loving it too! Thanks on the congrats, hope I can get some luck off of you guy for the next 3 games...~ *hitomi-chan*: I hope I can write as good as some of these other great people out here. They're just soo good! *pouts, then smiles* As long as you guys understand what's going on, it'll be good right? lol, I will try to look at your story soon and let you know what I think of it! *wink*~ *Amariie*: Like I said, you don't have to think of anything as of suggestion wise, just what you think! Thanks for reading!~ *hitomi21*: Too over dramatic? Eh, Hitomi is always soo dramatic! Gotta try to stick with her character, though it may change because stuff happens in fics, right? Wait! That's not foreshadowing, I swear!~ *kirei hime*: I don't know about making the fics longer right now. I would like to get up what I have and I know they're short but bare with me! Please! *puppy eyes*~ *Princess Neptune*: I'm glad you like my fic, and I hope I go the right route to keep you liking it too! Badminton is awesome, but not cool if you get the birdy smashed on you, though it's awesome to smash it on a very cocky, thinks-she's-all-that opponent!!! *smiles*~



~Oh, and I said this before to someone but if you guys want me to email you when the story is updated, please e-mail me first with the story name and subject that you would like me to e-mail you!~



Now on with the story!!!



Merle pounced around the palace, marveling at how everything has been the last three months. Fanelia was growing quite nicely. The King was helping out the people and his men in town by aiding them with encouragement, food and water. They were all pushing for a new Fanelia; A new home for their families. He had addressed other countries about their current state and asked for their assistance. They had gladly helped with Asturia and Freid being the major countries to abet with expenses and nourishment for the people of Fanelia.

Currently, Merle was on her way to see Lord Van, to wake him up for the busy day ahead of him. She knew everything that he had to do like having meetings with his generals and others, speaking about the defenses, costs and loans. If he kept up with the steady progress of rebuilding his country, then they should be completed within the year. Yet... she did not want to wake him. She knew him better than anyone and knew that Van was hurting, emotionally and physically.

She rounded the corner seeing no one was in the hall that wasn't a guard. Ever since she left, Hitomi, Van made it seem as though everything was all right; That he could live without her. Van may have been able to fool others but not her. She wasn't blind and his heart still ached for her. Sometimes, he would space out, idly playing with the pendant around his neck, appearing very depressed. Merle would also hear him whisper the blonds' name on more than one occasion. Though it pains her to know that he loves her, she only wishes for the best, for him to feel alive and well. But that will only happen if she's here.

One part of her hates Hitomi for being so cruel to him; for leaving him here alone and taking his heart with her. That was so insensitive and Merle knew that he would never see her again. She was so far away and yet he still craves for her being, for her love. But then she couldn't hate Hitomi either. If she never came, then Gaea would have been taken over by Zaibach and ruled by Dornkirk. She would have never changed Van like she had, opening him up to his feelings and for him to express them more freely; Helped everyone out with her amazing caring abilities, her love and powers. Hitomi even helped her out, alleviating her pain and helping her deal with her emotions; Her fear of Van getting hurt and possibly dying in battle. Though Merle was mean to her and told her to stay away from him, she still held on to the little cat girl and whispered soothingly in her ear. For that, she could never hate her. She cared for her, she loved Hitomi but what she did to Van... She should have known! Should have realized that it was never going to work out between them. Hitomi knew that she was going to have to return to the Mystic Moon, to her own world. Yet, she did not acknowledge that fact and fell in love with him; Letting him fall in love with her too. It all could have been prevented and now, Lord Van was enduring the inevitable cost of her absence and the fact that he will never see her again. He will never feel her in his arms.

Van was starving himself and not getting enough sleep. Well, he wasn't doing it on purpose but he just kept saying that he wasn't hungry. He'd lost his appetite. It was amazing that he even did rest sometimes. It was probably because he would tire himself out to where he could do nothing but collapse in exhaustion. He would usually stay up and practice his swordsmanship in all hours of the night. She would catch him staring up at the sky, watching the Mystic Moon and thinking of her. Merle had to bring him his food and hound him to eat properly. She knew that it was only going to get worse but his mind was set one her.

Merle slowed her steps and glanced out a window over looking all of Fanelia. The sun was high, looking down at the rebuilding country with beautiful white, puffy clouds accenting the blue sky above. The two moons stayed overhead in the distance as they always did. She ran her hand through her pink bangs, pushing them back and away from her kittenish features.

Van said that he would never love another like he did Hitomi. There wasn't anyone else in the world that could compare to her beauty, her tenderness and compassion; To the wonderful person that she is. Being some what of a little sister to him, she knew that he would never love her in any other way except that of unconditional love of a sibling. She had to face it but it wouldn't stop her from tending to his needs and taking care of him. Merle wanted him well but he would not listen to her and her instructions to keep his well-being. She sighed and continued on to her Majesty's bedchambers, dwelling on her thoughts of all she cared for.



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AN: I have a 3 games coming up in a row and I'm going to need all the luck I can get, so when I update, which would probably be at the end of the week, I'll tell you how it went and I would really like to talk to all of you! *Ahem* That means, REVIEW please! Thank you all. Later!



~BlizzardAngel~