Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Escaflowne: All you need is Love, Isn't it?
Chapter 49
In the king's private dinning room
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"Did Ma'Lady enjoy her meal?" The servant asked, removing the empty plate from in front of her.
"Oh, yes, very much so; please give Chef Salzer my complements. It was the finest meal I've had since I've been here." She smiled.
"Thank you Ma'Lady, I'll be sure to let the chef know." He bowed deeply and retrieved Van and Merle's plates as well. "I hope you left room for dessert." He grinned then left for the kitchen.
"Do you know what Chef Salzer prepared for dessert Merle?" The king asked as he reached for his goblet of water.
The catgirl nodded enthusiastically. "His specialty." She licked her lips in anticipation.
"What's that?" The older teen asked.
"Baked gorboun fruit with mint cream." The young girl salivated.
"Merle, you're drooling." The older teen pointed out.
"Aaa!" The catgirl grabbed her napkin and wiped her mouth then patted the lap of her dress dry as well.
Van laughed at the sight, "Don't worry Merle, no one can blame you. It is awfully good."
"Is it really that special. Baked fruit and cream doesn't sound all that unique." Hitomi pointed out. "I mean, I'm sure its good but…"
"It's the way Chef Salzer prepares it that makes it so special." Van replied.
Just then one of Van's aids walked into the room. "Lord Van, your presence is requested at the Vinsorii River at the sight of the aqueduct."
"At whose request?" Van asked.
"Sir Baschan my Lord."
"I see. Very well, ready my horse." The king instructed.
"Very good my Lord." The aid bowed then turned and left.
"Is something wrong?" Worry crossed Hitomi's face as she watched Van rise from his seat.
"I'm sure its nothing terribly important but I better go and check." He forced a smile.
"Can I come with you?" She asked.
"I'm sure its nothing. Stay and enjoy your dessert. Believe me it will be worth it. And be sure Merle doesn't eat it all. I'll want some when I return." He teased.
"Meow!" The catgirl pouted, folding her arms across her chest.
Laughing silently, the young king walked over to Hitomi and ran his hand through her hair. "If I'm needed for more then an hour, I will send word to you." He promised as he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
They smiled at each other for a moment then the king turned to leave. Calling over his shoulder, he said, "Remember to save me some Merle."
"Yes Lord Van." She continued to pout.
After a few minutes of silence, Hitomi asked. "Do you think he'll be long?"
Merle shrugged. "The last time Sir Baschan called on Lord Van, he didn't return to the castle for three days."
"Three days!" The teen's eyes went wide.
"Sir Baschan doesn't make a habit of bothering Lord Van unless it's really important." The catgirl pointed out.
The teen's continence fell at this thought. Just then the kitchen servant returned with three servings of the chef's special dessert.
"I hope you like this. I believe Chef Salzer outdid himself this time." He said cheerfully as he approached the table. Seeing Van was no longer there he gave a questioning look but did not say anything.
"He was called away." Hitomi said.
Nodding his understanding he served the two young ladies and turned to leave.
"You can leave Lord Van's plate." Merle said. "He should be back in a little while." She grinned.
The girl from the Mystic Moon shot her a look. "But you just said…"
"Forget what I just said." The catgirl stared at her friend. "He'll be right back." She said through gritted teeth.
"He said to save him some, not eat it on him." The teen stared back.
"It's not a problem ladies. I'll just inform the chef to prepare a few additional servings." He smiled. "Will either of you like an additional serving."
Without hesitation Merle screamed, "Yes!" as she started eating the dessert in front of her.
"Well, I don't know." Hitomi said then picked up her fork and sampled a piece. "Mmm, that's delicious. Yes, yes, please, I'd like another serving as well." She placed another forkful in her mouth and savored the rich sweet and tangy flavor.
Setting the third plate down on the table, the servant said. "I'll just leave this one here… just in case Lord Van returns. I'll be back with your other servings shortly." He turned and left, struggling with all his might to keep from laughing with amusement.
As the two girls enjoyed their dessert, each began to eye the third plate. Stealing a glance at the catgirl, Hitomi noticed Merle was further along with her dessert than she was, so she ate faster. After about a minute, Merle noticed this and she began eating faster as well, their eyes moving as rapidly as their forks, darting at each other and at the third plate. Finishing at the same time they both reached for the third plate.
"Don't even think about it." Hitomi glared.
"Back off or you'll be pulling back a stump." Merle snarled.
"Big talk from a little fur-ball." The older girl shot back.
"This fur-ball has teeth." And she bared them in an intimidating manner.
Balling up her the fist of her free hand, the teen retorted, "Try anything and you'll be missing a few of those teeth."
Not having anything else to say to each other, they remained motionless just glaring as each other waiting for the other to back down.
"Hmm, excuse me." The kitchen servant said from the doorway, a mixed expression of fear and uncertainty on his face.
Both girls turned abruptly to look in his direction.
"I thought you might want some more already." He said timidly.
"Chef Salver made more already?" Merle asked.
"No. Actually he anticipated everyone wanting seconds so he prepared extras." Slowly he walked forward.
Just as slowly both girls took their hands off the third plate and sat up straight trying to pretend nothing had happened as they each smiled innocently at the servant.
Carefully, the young man placed the new plates before each girl and removed the used ones. This caused both girls to smile broadly. But when he reached for the third plate he heard Merle snarl and Hitomi's fists hit the table. Looking up at the two females he saw his life flash before his eyes as he feared for his life if he removed the plate from the table. Slowly reaching into his pocket he pulled out a short bread knife causing the two girls to gasp. Ignoring their reaction, he cut the dessert on the third plate in half and scooped each half onto their plates. Smiling nervously at them he took the third plate and left the room.
The two young women looked down at their plates and smiled widely as they picked up their forks. Then they looked up at each other, both giving the other a big toothy grin before they started eating. Thirty minutes later a different kitchen servant entered the room with two more servings of the luscious dessert.
Ten minutes after finishing their third serving, both girls moaned in pain. Hitomi sat doubled over with her hands over her stomach and her forehead pressed against the table. Merle sat with her chair leaned back on its back legs with her feet on the table as she slowly stroked her stomach in a circular fashion.
"I can't believe I ate all that. It's so embarrassing. I'm just glad Van wasn't here to see me make a pig of myself." Hitomi murmured. "This is definitely not how I wanted my trip here to be like." She moaned again.
"What do you mean? What did you want it to be like?" Merle asked trying to get her mind off her own pain.
"I was going to train so I could be better prepared for the summer practices." She explained.
Merle sat up. "So you only came here so you could train?" A look of disappointment etched on her face.
Hitomi looked up. "No! I came to be with Van, but I know I can't be with him every minute of the day. So I thought I'd take a couple hours each day to workout, otherwise I'll be terribly out of shape for the summer practices and I won't have any chance at making the first squad."
"Oh," Merle thought about this for a moment. "So what do you do? I mean, how do you train?"
"Basically I run." She said.
"You run?" The catgirl gave her a confused stare. "That's it?"
"Will I am a sprinter." The teen informed her.
"So, could you use some help with your training?" The younger girl asked.
"Are you offering?" The teen smiled despite the pain.
"Well I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't offering." Merle said sarcastically.
"Sure, but I'm warning you. It won't be easy. Training is hard work." Hitomi warned.
The catgirl waved her off, dismissing her friends warning. "Don't worry about me. You just make sure you can keep up with me."
"Awww" they both moaned.
"I think right now a slow walk around the castle may be what the doctor ordered." The teen said as she got up from her chair and headed for the door.
"Wait for me." Merle slowly got up and followed her.
"I sure hope Van's okay?" Hitomi wondered out loud.
"You worry too much." Merle teased.
"I can't help it. I love him." She said with a faint smile.
Merle didn't reply; she just looked over at her friend and smiled.
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AN: Okay, I admit it, I was going for some laughs here. Well, at least some mildly amused chuckles. ^_^ Sorry but Fushizen na inspired me with her two "A Girl for …" shorts. Funny stuff. ^_^
It's funny how Merle always seems to bring out the worst in Hitomi. :P Guess it's just their personalities.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions of fanfics I can read. Hope to get around to them soon. Also, thanks for the comments on the last chapter. It was the latter part that I had a problem with. I may go back and revise it some time. If and when I do, I'll let you know.
Have a great day everyone, I love you.
A. Amishi