Chapter 6

Back in Fanelia...

Van watched though the partly open door. Golden beam of early morning sunlight shown on the sleeping figure's face, illuminating her creamy skin and shining off her silky brown hair. He sighed to himself 'She looks like an angel.' Something was heading his way. He strained to listen. Dodging quickly back in to the safety of his room across the hall.

Four feet pattered softly down the hall, effortlessly darting though the half open door. The teenage fur ball leapt onto the stomach of the formally sleeping angel.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh"

"Shush Hitomi, you're going to wake the whole castle."

"Merle!" She said sitting up "Why are you waking me up so early, if no one else is awake yet?"

She giggled "Lord Van is always up and about this time 'every' morning." She nudged Hitomi in the ribs "Did you know your door was standing wide open?"

Hitomi blushed consciously pulling the sheets to cover her nightgown. 'Was that where that strange feeling that I was being watched came from? Was Van watching me sleep?'

Medina stood outside Hitomi's door about to knock when she heard the voices she stopped.

"Hitomi?" Merle said calling her back from her thoughts "Was that a ...?"

"No, I was just thinking." She interrupted

"Good. You sacred me there for a second. I just wanted to let you know that visitors will be arriving all day. I'm planning on going shopping with a few friends and thought you might like to come with us." Merle said grooming herself at the foot of the bed.

"Sure, is Medina coming too?"

"Why would I invite her!" she snapped

"She isn't as bad as she seems at first. You've just got to get to know her a little better."

Merle wasn't buying it "I don't trust her, she isn't being truthful."

Medina had heard enough. She calmly walked back to the room she was staying in, not bothering to listen to the rest of the conversation.

"Please just give her a chance." Hitomi pleaded "for me" she smiled "You didn't like me at first ether."

"For good reasons too." Teasing Hitomi "You're a creepy seer from the cursed Mystic Moon." poking her

"Hey you little cat, who are you calling creepy?" she said hitting Merle with a pillow.

The two sat there on Hitomi's bed having a pillow fight and laughing.

Suddenly a door slammed somewhere down the hallway (louder than intended) startling them. "What was that?"

"I think 'Medina the rude' is awake." Merle huffed rolling her eyes.

"Merle may I please ask her to come with us?"

"Fine but I can't promise to like her."

Van heard the door slam, and went to see what the commotion was. Hitomi's door was still open, her and Merle were heard talking within. Walking to the only shut door in the whole hallway. He knocked, no reply. Again he knocked.

"What?" came the harsh reply

"Are you okay?"

"Just peachy." Sarcasm dripped from her words.

"May I come in?"

"Its your castle do what ever the hell you want." She said dryly

Slowly he opened the door expecting something to get thrown at his head any second. Oddly enough there was complete silence. Surveying the room it looked as if it had been uninhabited for years. Even the bed was made. There Medina stood in the middle of the room, clad in her blue outfit, and strapping her sword around her waist. "What is going on?"

"I beg your pardon for my rudeness, but don't worry I'm leaving."

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"I've overstayed my welcome. Anyways' moving on is just what I do." She shrugged

"Did something happen with Merle? Don't worry she doesn't like anyone at first."

She sighed "Its not that I can handle rodents just fine."

Van ignored the comment about Merle "Please stay, its all I can do to repay you for saving me."

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I must decline." Medina said walking past him to the door.

He grabbed her wrist "Wait, stay one more night."

She raised her right eyebrow, questioning him. Van dropped her wrist. "There is a ball tonight. Please say you'll attend... as a favor to me."

"Fine." She sighed "One more night, that's all."

Some one knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened to revile Hitomi's smiling face. "Am I interrupting something?" She inquired

"Nope."

"I was just leaving. I'll see you ladies downstairs for breakfast in half an hour." With that Van left.

"Medina?"

"What, you look like you just swallowed one of Merle's hairballs."

"That is really gross." Her face turned serous "Can I ask you something personal?"

"..." 'If I say 'no' I'll look suspicious, but I don't want to lie to her.' "Sure, what is it?"

"Do you like Van?"

That caught her off guard, almost falling over. "Why... NO...Me...like... KING Van...You've go to be kidding...you are kidding...right!"

"I guess so. I was just wondering..."

"You're the one that likes King Van obviously. That is so cute!"

Blushing fiercely she couldn't stammer out a denial fast enough.

"Are you going to the ball tonight?"

"What ball?"

"Never mind, your going and I have to make sure you get to dance with him."

Hitomi protested "you don't have-"

Medina interrupted "Its no problem, but you need something to wear that will sweep him of his feet."

"Merle is going shopping later and we are both invited." She just frowned. "You need something to wear too."

"I guess your right."

Merle poked her head in the room. "Hey you two, quit your yapping. Its time for breakfast, if you don't hurry I'm leaving you again. You don't want to get lost do you?" Merle smirked

"We're coming little Miss. Fuzz ball."

"In that case... follow me if you can." She dropped on all fours and sped off down that hall.

Medina smiled "You want to prove we can keep up?"

"Sure."

"Than lets go." They sprinted off after the cat-girl.

Every turn Merle took they were right behind her and gaining. 'I can't believe they are actually keeping up.' With a sudden burst of speed she ran though the open dinning room doors. "Lord Van!" She said jumping into the seat on the left hand side of him.

Van sat at the head of a huge polished wooded table, with the Fanlian crest in the center. "Merle where are the others? I thought I told you not to let them get lost again." Van scolded her.

"But, Lord Van I-"

Hitomi burst in with Medina right behind her "You win Merle. Though I might have won if I knew my way around."

"Who ever knew gerbils could run so fast." Medina gasped for air.

"I'm not sure if that's a complement or not." Merle huffed

"It is."

After that everyone ate their food in peace. Or at lest till May came in to take the dishes away, giving Medina yet another one of her confused expressions. Medina pretended not to see it, but Merle did. She opened her mouth to say something, but Van interrupted her. "The guests won't be arriving till later, and I see you still have your sword with you, Medina. How do you feel about testing your skill?"

"Against you?"

"Yes me, that is if you don't mind."

"Sure, I'm game."

To Be Continued...