Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Escaflowne: All you need is Love, Isn't it?

Chapter 68

A week later at the Track Field, on Fanelia

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"READY! … SET! …"

BANG!!!

Van watched from behind the timer's table as Hitomi raced down the track, her face etched in deep concentration as she sped past him in methodical, fluid fashion. A broad smile crossed the young king's face as he watched her speed to the finish line.

"She's going to do it this time, I know it." He said to himself.

The timer stopped the moment her foot hit the finish line. The king looked down at the timer, not having to go around to the front of it anymore after he had the time craftsmen insert the same timers setting on the back of the device. He laughed to himself as he rose to his feet and started running over to where Hitomi was walking slowly with her hands on her hips and her head thrown back still trying to catch her breath. Slowly she made a wide circle till she was facing Van's direction. Her eyes went wide with shock, seeing him running at her. Her hands shot up in front of her chest, palms facing out, in startled surprise at the king's unusual behavior.

Scooping her up in his arms, Van spun her round and around. "You did it Hitomi! You did it! You broke thirteen seconds!" He said excitedly.

The teen from the Mystic Moon's expression changed from one of shock to one of elation. "REALLY?" She yelled, smiling ear to ear. "Eee!" She screeched as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.

After a moment she released him and said. "Let me see. Let me see."

Setting her down, he took her hand and casually ran over toward the timer's table. Standing just a couple meters in front if it, the teen's eyes lit up with joy as she saw the time she just finished running the 100 meters in.

"12.94 seconds, I can't believe it. But that's what is says so it must be true." She laughed as she wrapped her arms around him once again.

"Let me see." Merle said as she ran in front of them to look at the timer. "Whew, that's incredible Hitomi!" She turned, expressing her excitement and joy for her friend's accomplishment.

"Thanks Merle." The teen smiled then turned back to the man in her arms. "And thank you Van, for everything." She leaned in and closed her eyes as she pressed her lips against his.

Van tightened his hold on her as they shared their love for each other in that kiss. Merle smiled as she casually walked back to the starting blocks and did some light stretching in anticipation of another sprint.

Hitomi went on to run six more sprints under thirteen seconds, her best time being 12.91, then she and Merle ran four more and in each, Hitomi's time steadily increased. After running a time of 13.66, she decided she had had enough for one day.

Sitting on the side of the track, the girl from the Mystic Moon changed from her track shoes to her gym shoes, stopping occasionally to wipe the sweat from her brow. The Fanelian king sat down next to her and smiled.

"You did really great today Hitomi. You should be very proud of yourself." He said as he ran his hand over her back.

"Thank you Van. But I couldn't have done it if you hadn't built me this track. And I would never have known that I broke 13 seconds if you hadn't made me the timer as well." She smiled at him then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Van, thank you for everything." Then she sighed. "Gosh I just wish I had a nice cool pool I could just swim around and cool off in." She said while pulling on the collar of her T-shirt in order to fan herself.

"A pool?" He gave her a questioning stare.

"Oh, ah, it's… it's like a manmade pond used for swimming or playing in." She explained.

Van turned his gaze from her to the lake and gestured, "If you'd like to go for a swim, we do have a lake right here."

Looking over at the harbor, the memories of seeing the sailors of the six Fanelian merchant ships mop the decks of the ships and pour the dirty water overboard as well as tossing other food waste over the side of the ship right there in the harbor, brought a somewhat sickening smirk on her face. "Ah, thanks, but no thanks. Have you seen what those sailors toss over the side of the ship? Blah." She stuck her tongue out to dramatize her point.

Van laughed as he stood up and offered her his hand. "I didn't mean right here." He explained.

"Oh." Hitomi's cheeks turned a mild shade of pink.

"Come, I'll show you." He said as he walked over to retrieve his stallion.

Van mounted his horse then brought it next to Hitomi. Taking her hand and removing his foot from the stirrup, she placed her foot in it and allowed him to pull her up and onto the pommel.

Sighing happily she thought to herself, 'It's a good thing the pommel on these Fanelian saddles is just a flat piece of leather.' Turning toward her lover, she smiled and wrapped her arm around his back as she leaned into his chest, resting her head on his collarbone.

"Come on Merle." The young king called to his childhood friend and she came bounding toward them.

Taking care not to extend her claws, she jumped up onto the horse's hindquarters and took hold of the cantle.

"Are you okay back there, Merle?" He asked, stealing a glance behind him.

"I'm fine Lord Van." She replied with a smile.

"Good." And with that he rode off along the path that followed around the lake.

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AN: I was going to make this longer but this seems like a good place to stop. First off let me start by saying I'm very sorry for not updating last week, but I broke my left foot on the 3rd and have been hobbling around on crutches ever since. Since my doctor wanted to wait till the swelling went down before putting me in a cast, I've had to keep my foot elevated and to be honest it is very difficult to do around my computer. It's times like this I wish I had a laptop. But I finally get my cast tonight so I should be able to start getting more writing done. How did I break it you ask? Please don't ask. Each time someone asks and I answer it just makes me feel that much more stupid. :P Just remember, it never pays to rush. Just take your time. There will always be another train, bus, plane, cab, etc..

Again, I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed my last chapter. I'd especially like to thank Fushizen na for her critical comments and observations. Thank you for keeping me honest Fushi. ^_^

The next chapter should come pretty quick. I hope you'll like it.

A. Amishi