A/N This is my first fic. I did have it previously uploaded on the FFN site, but I took it down to do some editing. This time I hope things will work, and I will post as quickly as I can.
Disclaimer: Escaflowne belonging to me? I wish!
Prologue
The Suggestion
Without knocking, a figure entered a lavished designed room searching for something or someone. With the grace and quietness of a thief, they moved about the room in a soundless search.
Then, upon noticing the gentle breeze flowing into the room from an opened balcony door, the figure padded over unnoticed to the doors located at the side of the room. There, under the illumination of the moonlight, it was apparent the figure was indeed a female.
The now identified female had soft pink hair that waved slightly as it ended just past her shoulders, as well as other more noticeable womanly features. Judging by those features the female, or more actually described as the woman, appeared to be in her late teenage years.
Yet, what stuck out more than her unique coloring of hair was the fact she was a half cat and half woman. Her soft golden fur with occasional black stripes proved that at a moment's glance. In addition, if someone didn't notice her fur, was the matter of a tail to consider, which currently hung low showing the concerned mood she was in. Her concern was also the object that her eyes were currently fixated on.
Her fixation, a man in his early twenties, still hadn't registered a person behind him just inside the door. The woman smiled tiredly as she stepped outside of the glass doors unto the solid stone balcony.
"Lord Van, you need a vacation," a cat-woman finally spoke as she neared the silent solitary figure. The figure was of a tall man with dark chocolate brown hair leaning on a pillar gazing down at the city below.
The man address as "Lord Van" turned his head to look at the woman. He didn't speak in return to her words but instead smiled playfully looking in her eyes then turned his head back around to admiring the city.
The woman sighed softly, but smiled to herself in return as she took a place beside him out on the balcony of the palace. The silence lasted a minute as both individuals enjoyed the magnificent view that stretched past the place walls into the heart of Fanelia. The sun had just gone down not too long ago making it difficult to see the forest in the distance at all. With the view limited, the pair looked down closer to the place grounds. Looking down below at the torch-lit street they watched as a couple walked by holding hands as if they hadn't a care in the world.
The man or Lord Van secretly longed for that ability, to be able to be in love and not worry about anything. Yet, deep down he believed that would never happen. 'Hitomi,' he thought the name to himself, 'if only…' he began to think of the possibilities. 'No,' he mentally shook his head; no possibilities in the world would do him any good when he had to face reality.
Meanwhile the woman noticed the couple as well. 'Oh Van,' she thought secretly pitying the man beside her. They had known each other for so long that Merle could guess what he was thinking. 'Which is why I simply must convince him,' Merle thought determined.
"I mean it though," the woman said seriously returning her gaze back to him. She looked back and gestured to the city below them. "You have been working so hard to rebuild Fanelia and you have done a magnificent job."
Van smiled proudly at her uplifting words of praise and grinned at her.
"Yeah," the cat-woman continued slyly, "The only thing left for you to do now is get married so Fanelia can finally have a queen again." Her words immediately swiped the smile from Van's face. He expected this kind of talk from his advisors but from his surrogate sister? Van looked back at her shocked.
"Merle you know how I feel," he said softly speaking for the first time since she had entered his presence.
"Have you even tried taking to her lately through the pendent?" she asked.
He was silent for a moment. He knew whom Merle was referring to, but things were complicated. Slowly he stood up straight and spoke dismayed. "I've tried, but most of the time she tries her hardest to tune me out."
"There might be a reason for that," Merle speculated, thinking aloud as she looked out at the city once more.
"Oh thanks," Van replied sardonically glaring at her believing that she was trying to imply something. She noticed his sarcastic tone with the hint of bitterness.
"I didn't mean it like that!" she exclaimed trying to make amends as he eyed her skeptically.
"What did you mean then?" he questioned.
She bit her lip in response before answering. She glance up and saw he was waiting for her answer. "Oh, I don't know. I was just trying to make you feel better," she confessed. Anger vanquished at her concern for his well-being, Van offered her a smile smiled before placing a friendly kiss on her forehead. He strode back inside to his enormous room. Pausing for a moment, he glanced back at her. "Thanks," he said before continuing walking.
"Oh Lord Van," the cat-woman said turning to his retreating figure.
"Yes Merle," he called back stopping once more.
"You could always check up on her," she said approaching the spot where he stood.
"I already told you I can't because she isn't responding through the pendent. She refuses to…" he tried to remind her.
"You could visit her instead," Merle interrupted abruptly.
Van silently thought about what she said. 'It could work…' he thought. However, he remained slightly skeptical.
"Just think about that when you decided where you want to go for a vacation," she finished with a cunning smirk. She stood for a few more moments beside him. When their eyes met once more, she gave him a mother-like smile and exited the room quietly, her tailing swaying side to side gently behind her.
End of Prologue
A/N Like I said this is my 1st fic so please review and I am open to whatever advice you wish to offer.
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