Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Seriously, when have you seen ANY author on this site own something?

To all who reviewed: Thank you SO MUCH. I really appreciate all of your comments! I know that there has been a delay, but I blame school! With my surgery and all, I still get tired…more so after school. I have been saving my energy to write up some more of this story! I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Eleven

"Van!" Merle mewed. "Let's go!" Hitomi and her were currently standing in front of the carriage that they would be taking to Austria. Both were waiting for King Van, the 'royal pain in the butt' as Merle called him.

"I'm coming!" Van shouted back at them from the entrance of the castle. Many guards were surrounding him, escorting him to the carriage for safety…just in case.

Satisfied, Merle jumped into the carriage and sat with her legs folded around her and her arms straight out, holding the seat. "Finally! Now we can see Allen, Millerna and Yuki again!"

Hitomi climbed aboard, with some assistance from the driver. "Thank you." She took a seat beside Merle.

"Hey! Don't you want to be beside Van?" Merle whispered, grinning. "Go on! Sit opposite to me. I think Van would like that."

The other girl stuttered. "Uh…Merle…Come on…" Before she could resist, Merle had pushed her to the opposite side and lay down on the seat, blocking any chance for her to sit down beside her again. "Merle!" Hitomi hissed, blushing.

Merle just smiled. "I think Van would really like this…."

Just as Hitomi was ready to talk back, Van entered the carriage with a smile. "Good morning, ladies." He sat on the seat and motioned Hitomi to sit next to him as she was still standing, hunched over, in the middle of the cart. "Sit, Hitomi. It's not a long trip, but you will get tired."

Hitomi sat, but gave Merle a glare anyway. She'll thank me later on. Merle stretched, extremely satisfied. There is NO WAY I'm letting Shina take Van away. I want him to be happy…

"Driver…To Austria. We will be visiting King Allen and Queen Millerna today." Van said to the driver as he shut the door.

"Yes sire. To Austria it is."

The carriage began to move as the animals marched forward. Hitomi watched the animals from the window. It's like they're half horse and half llama, or something…She noted, looking at their interesting body shapes. It had four legs with a lot of fur and long necks. Gaea never ceases to amaze me.

Hitomi took a moment to take in the scenery of Van's castle. A garden lush with green and multi-coloured flowers came into view as the carriage moved forward. The wind blew in the tall grass making it wave to them.

And in the shadows of the blades…

…something moved.

Her eyes opened in realization. Something's there! Before any thoughts of panic came to her head, a logical part reasoned with her. It's a garden. Obviously animals live there too! It's probably some weird half-horse, half-llama baby or something. You don't know the animals here! It could have been anything!

Hitomi's thoughts did nothing to ease the knots in her stomach. It could have been anyone…

The carriage moved away from the garden and finally into the roads of Fanelia.

And the creature smiled, watching the carriage move farther and farther away. Just perfect.

"Princess Shina! You were correct! It is a lovely day to be outside!" Advisor Mamoru decreed happily. Shina had asked them if they could spend the day in the gardens since Van had left unexpectedly.

"Do you mind if I looked around in the garden?" She asked sweetly.

"Not at all, your majesty. Would you like an escort?"

"No thank you. I prefer to do my exploring on my own." Shina smiled and chuckled.

"Ah, yes. Well, upon your return, the servants will have lunch prepared for us to eat out here."

"Marvelous. I won't be long, Mamoru." Shina bowed to the advisor and proceeded to walk amongst the tall grass and flowers.

"Lord Van may not see it now, but they will be very happy together." Mamoru said, to the other advisors. Each nodded as Shina slowly disappeared out of sight.

Once she knew all eyes were off her, Shina headed towards the densely covered areas in the garden. I know it is here somewhere. Next to Folken Fanel's grave! She growled as her eyes came up with nothing. Perhaps I'm in the wrong garden?

Shina continued to move, pushing away all the flowers in her way. Tired, she sat in the grass and placed herself in her meditative position. Folken was indeed Draconian…

Focusing her mind on finding traces of a nearby Draconian, she envisioned her black pendant in her mind as it rocked back and forth like a pendulum. Shina looked for a weak trace of it, since Folken has been dead for some time.

Suddenly, the pendant swooshed to the right. Shina looked up quickly, her white hair being blown by the breeze. My prize is there…She got up quickly and hunched in the grass. No prying eyes…Almost on all fours, Shina followed the direction of where her pendant told her where to go.

Shina moved silently, constantly checking the pendant to make sure she was being pointed in the right direction. About fifteen minutes later, she came upon a forest clearing. Shina had noticed that the grass and the flowers were different from the ones where she started. Standing up, she realized that she was very far away from the castle. Looking around in the dense forest ahead of her, Shina frowned. Dammit. Where am I? Stupid thing… She thought, glaring at the pendant.

Moving forward towards the trees, Shina continued to look. My pendant has never lied to me before…It MUST be around here somewhere…A light breeze swept through the trees to allow more light and a different perspective between the barks and branches.

And that's when she saw it. Shina etched closer to the entrance of the forest to confirm her suspicions.

She was not disappointed.

Up ahead, almost camouflaged with vines and leaves covering it, sat the legendary Escaflowne.

And the creature smiled.

"Sire! Sire! A carriage is coming this way!" Called one of the guards to King Allen. With quick grace, Allen was up and at the look-out station. All panic was gone as Allen recognized the royal carriage.

"No need to be alarmed. It is King Van."

"Apologies, my majesty." The man said.

"No worries." Allen dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to attend to some guests."

Walking out with long strides, Allen was content. I wonder what pleasure I have to get Van's presence…It's been a few years since I've seen him for anything but business meetings.

"Allen?" Millerna's head poked out from Yuki's bedroom. "Where are you going? Who's coming?"

He smiled at his wife. She always had a knack of knowing things. "We have guests."

Millerna's eyes opened. "Oh no! Nothing's ready! I haven't told anyone to prepare anything! I hate it when we have unexpected guests!" She quickly shut Yuki's bedroom door and hurried to the kitchen.

Allen reached for Millerna's shoulder to stop her. "Do you really hate Van?" He smiled.

"What? Van's coming? I didn't mean to say that I hate HIM, I just hate…You know what I mean!" She gave up trying to explain. "Ugh. I guess lunch will be a little before noon. Say hello to Van when he arrives, will you?…I'm going to tell the cook..." Millerna had already disappeared around the corner.

"Sire. Your guests have arrived."

Guests? Who is Van's company? Merle? Perhaps a new mate? "I'm coming…" Allen reached the entrance to the castle. He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Hello Allen." Van smiled at his friend's expression. He paused before continuing. "I'd like to re-introduce you to Hitomi."

A taller, shapelier woman stood behind Van. Her dirty blonde hair was just a little past her shoulders; her eyes were still as green as he remembered. She was in traditional Gaea clothes: a long pale yellow dress with red and green in it. Hitomi smiled and waved at him. "Allen!"

Before he knew it, Allen was embraced by the older woman from the Mystic Moon. He hugged her back with a laugh. "Hitomi! You've returned!"

"How've you been?" Hitomi smiled, getting out of the hug and looking at him. His hair was shorter, about as long as hers was. He was sporting a beard just on his chin. Allen's eyes were still that hypnotizing blue that Hitomi almost fell in love with when she was fifteen.

"I've been well. And you?" Allen rubbed her arms. "You've grown."

Hitomi laughed at his statement. "You sound like my uncle."

Allen smirked. "Oh…I'm lost for words…I never thought I'd see you again…Jeeze, I'm not prepared…How's the Mystic Moon? What happened since I last saw you?"

As Hitomi talked with Allen excitedly, Van watched with a twitching frown.
She kissed him first
His hands tightened into a fist, but only for a moment. He didn't want to ruin anything.

Merle noticed Van's uneasiness and placed her paw on his shoulder gently. She withdrew it quickly when he flinched under her touch. "Van?"

"What is it Merle?"

She loves you, remember? She told you…Merle was tempted to talk, but instead said, "Nothing…"

Van returned his gaze to the talking couple--
She kissed him first
--and noticed that they were done. "Van…It is good to see you again." Allen smiled and walked over to him. Outstretching his hand for a hand-shake, Van studied the hand.
He touched her first
"Allen. Good to see you too." Van shook the hand with vigor. "Sorry for the unexpected visit, but, Hitomi came unexpectedly as well…She wanted to see you and Millerna…"

Before my time is up…Hitomi thought as she overheard Van.

Allen turned to Merle and smiled. "Merle…I haven't seen you since—"

"—since EVER, Allen!" Merle glared. "What? No hug? Jeeze…What do I have to do to be loved around here?"

"Just as I remember you…" Allen grabbed Merle and hugged her as well.

"Allen? Where is Millerna?" Hitomi asked. She turned around slowly at the sound of footsteps. Then, there was a high-pitched scream.

"OH! HITOMI!" Millerna came running, her long blonde hair flowing behind her. She gripped her friend tightly. "I can't believe it!"

Van smirked. Hitomi is sure getting her share of love today…As Millerna talked fast and eagerly about her life since she'd last seen her, Allen ushered him and Merle towards the dining hall.

"Come. We insist you have lunch with us."

"Lunch, Allen?" Merle asked. "It's time for breakfast!"

"Don't complain. My cook's best meals are for lunch." Allen smiled, pulling them a long. Van admired the craftsmanship and elaborate carvings on the walls.

"Allen, how is Austria?" Van asked casually. "Has your treaty of trade with the Laertians been passed?"

"Van, Van…This is no time for business." Allen responded. "Now, I insist, we will talk nothing of trade and economic matters because I don't want Merle to fall asleep."

"Yeah! Like last time!"

"Hitomi, here, sit. You must be tired from your journey….I'll go get Yuki." Millerna appeared, ushering her friend into the dining hall.

"You said she was sleeping…" Hitomi reminded her, not wanting to disrupt the baby's sleep.

"You can still show her Yuki without waking her…Just bring her to her room." Allen suggested.

"Obviously!Come on! I'm sure Yuki would want to see Aunt Merle again!" Millerna pulled both girls out of the room quickly.

Then, it was just Van and Allen. Van sat uncomfortably in the chair, looking the other way while drumming his fingers on the table. He wasn't sure what to ask. The most they had ever talked about that wasn't business was his wedding.

Great. "So…Uh…" Van chuckled at his unsocial manners. Wow, I really can't start a conversation.

Allen sat down beside him. At once, his face lost the smile and was replaced by seriousness. "Why did she return?"

Van was taken back by the question. "What?"

"Don't play with me, Van. We both know that the last time Hitomi arrived it because she had to do something with that sick plot the Zaibach Empire had…"

"Are you saying that Hitomi brings evil wherever she goes?" Van glared at him through his bangs.

"Van, stop it." Allen leaned closer to him to keep their conversation quiet. "You know what I mean. Why did she come here? What vision did she have?" Something's going to happen. Things like this don't happen for no reason. Her arrival is out of place…

"Nothing's happened, Allen." Van said coolly. Something told him not to tell him anything. After all, it wasn't his business.
He touched her first
He wouldn't understand anyway.

Allen glared at Van, studying him closely. "Don't lie to me, Van Fanel."

"Who are you to tell me what to do?"

What's gotten in to him? He's never this quick to anger. "Van…"

"What?" The other king snapped.

"I want to help in any way I can. Please…Her arrival is against nature. It doesn't make sense. Something's been disrupted in the universe. Something's wrong…" Allen said strongly, trying to get his point across. "I want to help you if something IS to happen…as a friend…"

"Allen…
He kissed her first
…You're not my friend..." Van hissed under his breath. Part of him didn't even know that he said it. As if another person was talking through his lips.

"We're back!" Merle cried as she entered the room. "Oops! Did I interrupt something?" She asked as she noted that Van and Allen must have been in a conversation as they were sitting facing each other.

"No. Not at all." Van smiled at Merle, his anger vanished in a flash.

"Oh! I think lunch is ready!" Merle pointed to the kitchen doors as two servers appeared with three trays with silver lids on all of them. "I wonder what's inside! No, wait! Don't tell me! I like surprises!" The cat-girl sat across from Van and Allen left his seat to sit at the head of the table.

Hitomi sat in the chair that Allen had left unoccupied. "Yuki is adorable. You sure you don't wanna see her before the meal starts?" She asked Van.

Van smiled uncharacteristically. "You know, I think I will…Excuse me."

"Oh! Let me show you where the room is…" Millerna was about to get up again to lead the way, when Van shook his head.

"Don't worry. I remember where it is. Besides, I like to do my exploring on my own." He chuckled softly and left the room in a few strides.

Allen watched him for a few moments until he turned the corner. "Allen?" Millerna asked, slightly concerned.

"Come, let's eat." Something's not right…I know it…

Van strolled the hallways quickly, whistling a song his mother used to sing to him. It wasn't until he recognized Yuki's bedroom that he thought about his words to Allen. Jeeze…What got into me? He immediately felt horrible. Oh man...Why didn't I tell him?

He turned the door handle and walked in quietly, remembering that she was sleeping. Van walked over to her crib and watched her sleep. Her chest rising and falling normally; her eyes fluttering.

Van leaned on the crib's edge. She sure has grown. She's what…One now? He reached out to stroke her thin blonde hair. You'll forgive me, right? You'll forgive me for being mean to your daddy, right?
He touched her first
Yuki's eyes opened slowly, awakened by Van's rhythmic hand movements on her head. She did not know who the man was and instinctively began to cry.

"Shh…Why are you crying?" Van looked at Yuki's tears sadly. "Come on…Shh…It's Van...Remember?"

He removed his hand. "It's not my fault…Your father should mind his own business." Van told the baby mockingly. "Shh…Stop crying."

But she continued to cry. Van glared at her. He had a feeling that he should make her be quiet. For good?
He touched her last

His heart almost stopped. What the hell is wrong with me? He backed away from the crib before he could anything he would regret. My God…What is going on? Van suddenly felt sick to his stomach. He wasn't acting like himself. Van backed up into the wall, as far away from the crying baby.

"You think I'm a monster too, don't you?"

OMG…I KNOW I'm so late. I know…school has been killer. STUPID PHYSICS! Honestly…I HATE IT…I've never felt this much loathing for a science, EVER.

But, I can't drop it.

So I'm doomed to complain until I finish the exam.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this! As you can see…Van IS SO NOT acting right…Hmm…I wonder why? Anyway,

PLEASE REVIEW!

PS. I'm SO SO SO SO SO SORRY!