Well Here's chapter 7. I had to do this one over, cause I sort of didn't save it the last time I did it. (puts hand behind head and smiles) Oops! Well here it is saved and ready to read. Enjoy!

I just want to say that I do not own the characters from the show, but I do own the characters that the original's meet. You'll understand when you read.

The Vision of Escaflowne ~ The Dracoinian Sphere"

---------------------------------------------------------

"Hey! ... Hey!! ... Wake up!!"

"Hmmm! Oh Lord Van, hee hee!" chuckled Merle in her sleep.

"Lord Van? ... Oh I don't even want to know." said Ryu, as he bent over to shake Merle's shoulder. "Hey! Wake up will ya! Enough with the cat nap!" Ryu shook Merle's arm again.

"Hee hee. Oh yes Lord Van I will!" said Merle excitedly, and then she reached up and grabbed Ryu's neck, and kissed him passionately. Merle slowly opened her eyes, expecting to see Lord Van, but instead she looked straight in the eye's of a very shocked Ryu. Merle pushed herself away from Ryu. "What do you think your doing!" yelled Merle, as she started to spit on the ground and wipe her mouth.

"ME!!! YOUR THE ONE THAT KISSED ME!!!" yelled Ryu, as he clutched his stomach cause he felt like he would hurl.

"I DID NOT!!!" shrieked Merle.

"OH YES YOU DID!!" huffed Ryu. "Oh Lord Van." said Ryu in a girlie voice, and he smooched his lips together. Merle's face went beat red.

"But .... I ...." stammered Merle, but Ryu raised his hand to cut her off.

"I don't even want to know!" sighed Ryu. "Well get ready were leaving." Ryu had already packed up the few things that he was carrying, manly just his sword, and a weird looking dragon shaped flute. "Well are you coming?" Ryu looked over at Merle, who was tiding up her small collection of diamonds that had fallen out of her dress.

"Ya almost! Just give me a second." said Merle, as she picked up her stuff. {Oh man what did I just do! I can't believe that I did that!! YUCK!!!} Merle stuck her tong out at the thought. {Hmmm. But I got ta admit, it wasn't bad.}

"Hurry up will ya!" yelled Ryu, as he started to walk off.

{Argh! What a jerk!!} thought Merle. "HEY WAIT FOR ME!!"

When Merle reached up to Ryu, she lowered her head and blushed. "Um Ryu ...?" stuttered Merle. Ryu looked over at Merle in the corner of his eye. "About this morning ......"

"Hmf! Don't worry. ALREADY forgotten." said Ryu, as a smirk appeared on his face. Merle still looked at the ground, sort of relieved that he wasn't taking it personal. "Plus..." stated Ryu, Merle looked up at him. "I had better." Ryu smiled when Merle's fur stood on end, and a low hiss was heard under her breath.

"SO WHERE IS THIS PLACE? ARNPRIA THAT IS!" growled Merle under clenched teeth. {I can't believe he just said that! How rude!}hissed Merle to herself.

"Were here!" stated Ryu, as they turned around a bunch of bushes and trees, to reveal a vast city.

"WHAT!!!!" shrieked Merle. "You mean, we were only a few feet away from here!" Ryu nodded. "Then WHY did we sleep in the woods, and not in a hotel then!" Merle glared at Ryu.

"I thought I get rid of you that way. But it didn't work." smirked Ryu.

"Ough! Why you! I outta!" growled Merle, but she controlled her temper when she noticed Ryu smiling to himself. {He likes to see me get mad!} thought Merle. {Well I'll show him! I can play this game to!} Merle smiled to herself, as a devilish scheme came into play. Ryu just looked at her wondering on what she was up too.

"Well let's go get something to eat." said Ryu, and with that he started to walk towards Arnpria.

"HEY WAIT FOR ME!!! I'M HUNGRY TOO!!!" yelled Merle.

"Well I hope you have money! Cause I'm NOT paying for YOU!" huffed Ryu.

"OH Come on! You know that I don't have money, for this world!" moaned Merle as she ran after Ryu nagging after him, to pay for her meal.

"SHUT UP ALREADY!!! YOUR GIVING ME A HEADACHE!!" yelled Ryu, but it didn't work. "ARGH! WHY ME!!!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey Vannnn!! Wake up alweady!" yelled Dwalden as he leaped on top of Van's chest.

"Ouff!!" {Man if this is what having kids are like, count me out!} thought Van, as Dwalden bounced up and down on his chest. "Okay! Okay! I'm up already!" moaned Van.

Dwalden crawled off the bed, and was about to jump to the one above, when he noticed Allen's feet swing over the edge. "Hey Allen! Your wup!" said Dwalden as he watched Allen jump off of the top bed.

Allen turned his gaze at Van, who was sitting up now and clutching his stomach. "So your up Van?" Van just gave Allen a silent stare.

"Come on you three, breakfast's ready!" chirped Lila, as she started to flop some pancakes on too four plates.

{Finally real food} thought Van, as he grabbed his top and pulled it on. "Hmmm smells good!" stated Van, as he pulled out a chair and sat down beside Allen and Dwalden.

"Yes you really out done yourself Lila. But you shouldn't have." said Allen as he grabbed for the syrup.

"Oh no problem! I just thought since your leaving today, that I should at least make you some breakfast." said Lila, as she scooted over to the table to join the others.

{Oh man, finally something that smells, and looks like real food.} Van grabbed the fork and knife and brought it down to the pancakes. {Huh? It's hard as a rock!} chuckled Van to himself. {I knew it was too good to be true!}. "Um Lila........ I can't cut it!" Van started to laugh to himself.

Lila looked a little disappointed, but not surprised. Allen looked at his and tried to cut it. "Hmmm mine's fine." said Allen. Slowly he took the chunk of pancake and stuck it in his mouth. A sour expression crossed his face, and he grabbed a napkin and spat it out. "But it's not quit done yet though." Allen looked over at Van, who couldn't hold it anymore, and was now laughing out loud.

"Ya sis! I think you shwould give wup on cwooking!" said Dwalden as he picked up his hard pancake and flung it across the room like a Frisbee.

Everyone turned there gaze at Lila who was now laughing along with Van. "I'm sorry, I was never a great cook." chuckled Lila. "But there is a restaurant in Arnpria, that you can eat at though." Lila wiped away a tear, and she started to clear the table, with Allen's help.

((Later that day))

"Are you swure we can't come?" asked Dwalden, as he stared at Allen.

"No. You must stay here and help your sister." said Allen as he grabbed his sword and tied it around his waist. "Don't worry I'll come back, I promise" Allen looked over at Van who was standing beside the door. "Well I got to go. Bye." and with that Allen walked out the cabin door with Van.

The twins watched the two men walk out the door, and then they followed. "Don't forget!" yelled Lila, as she stood on the porch. "Keep heading north, and you'll reach Arnpria. It's not that far away, so you'll won't miss it!"

"Bye Allen!! Bye Van!!! See you lwater!!!" yelled Dwalden, as he waved them good-bye.

Allen and Van turned around and waved back and then headed north through the woods. In the shadows of the woods, a mysterious figure watches Van and Allen silently.

{Hmf! There they are! I have to go tell Maru at once!} and with that the mysterious figure vanished from the spot.

"Huh?"

"What is it Allen?" asked Van, as he looked at Allen who was staring to his side and into the woods.

"Oh. ..... It's nothing. Let's go." said Allen, as he turned his gaze to the front and started to walk on.

Van walked up beside Allen looking at him curiously. Allen was silent, he didn't say anything else, so Van just ignored it and kept on walking beside Allen. Allen looked off into the woods from the corner of his eye, watching the shadows. {Hmf! It must of been my imagination. But I could of sworn that ..... } Allen trailed off in thought, and chuckled to himself. {Man I'm getting paranoid!} Allen looked over at Van, and noticed that Van had a serious expression on his face. He then turned his gaze to the front and walked on through the woods with Van.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Be Continued ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did Allen see something in the woods? And what's with Merle having dreams about Van! Naughty naughty cat girl. Will Ryu ever ditch Merle? Who's knows, not likely though. In the next chapter there is a scene of washing dishes, bumping into old friends, and the meeting of a new character. Hmmm is this new person friend or foe? Find out in the next chapter. Bye (blows a kiss to the monitor)