Authors: Let's see how Aikka handles seeing molly again shall we!

Disclaimer: I don't own Oban star-racers, if I did, I'd have had to fit in Yuuni and Aiyan and little Aiyan in it somewhere (just three of my most prized creations).

Blood red skies:

Chapter seven: Playing dumb.

After much of a brisk walk Aikka came to a halt at an almost heavenly sight. He hide around the corner so he would not be spotted peering out to watch the scene before him, he almost smiled. Who knew…?

Aiyan was outside her room kneeling on both knees whist he played with little Aiyan, Aikka young, and foolish Cousin, they both held looks of sheer joy on their faces they giggled every so often when one of them either made a mistake in the game they were playing or perhaps just at being so happy, Aikka's eye's widened when his cousin jumped upon the crog female in a friendly and almost loving embrace, which to Aikka's relief the potential wife reluctantly accepted.

Aiyan stood still holding his cousin in her arms, lovingly and carefully as little Aiyan yawned over Aiyan's shoulder and heard Aiyan say "See, I told you, you should not have snuck out of your room…your tired…"

Aikka heard his cousin reply through yet another yawn "Gno…I'm not…tired" it was then Aikka decided it proper to 'arrive' at the guest quarters.

"Good morning Lady Aiyan" Aikka gave a small bow out of respect with Aiyan returned with a make-shift curtsy.

"Good morning, I was just returning Young Lady Aiyan to her chambers, if I may of course, with your permission?" Aiyan asked, completely aware of Nourasias' hostility towards the Crogs, and also completely aware that Young lady Aiyan was his cousin.

Aikka peered over to look upon Little Aiyan's sleeping form; she had a small smile upon her face "you may…" Aikka began, and Aiyan nodded in thanks and turned as Aikka spoke again "By the way…you have an extraordinary gift with children" she gave a faint smile as she smiled back in a shy manner and bowed her head once again in thanks before leaving.

Aikka sighed, what on Nourasia possessed him to watch the act, much less compliment upon it? Man! These women were getting to him. He shook his head and turned to Eva's chamber doors.

He knocked, solidly, he didn't want her- or anyone else to know something was up. he waited a moment before he heard the door knob and the door opened a fraction to reveal the striped half of Eva's face, her eye's widened and opened the rest of the door to reveal he in one of the dresses the palace had supplied for her, it was a jade colour and clung loosely to her body, they were knots where the fabric had been tied together to shop the material from falling off her petit form, the dress itself was made from the Nourasian equivalent of silk and seemed to match her skin tome perfectly she also wore white slippers to company it on her right arm was a traditional armband. (Like Aikka's on Oban)

Aikka managed to stop himself gapping at the beautifully elegant creature in front of him "Good Morning, Lady Eva, I wonder in we may talk a while?"

Eva nodded hastily "o-of course, come in, Prince Aikka" she said bowing her head as she entered.

"Lady Eva, do I frighten you?" Aikka asked his voice full of concern.

Eva's eyes widened at the sheer enormity of the question, and at the forwardness at which it was presented to her "I-uh-no- of course not! It's just- I…I don't know…this?"

Aikka raised and eyebrow "this...being?"

Eva sighed in defeat and moved over to the widow seat in her room "This whole thing…"

Aikka nodded pulling up a chair next to her "I mean, one second I'm asleep in my bed, at home, the next some crog kidnapped me and brought me here!"

"I apologise, Lady Eva" Aikka said, deciding the floor to be more interesting.

"How quickly do you expect me to adjust? I'm not the type that resigns to fate! No way in hell I am…I've been through too much to quit fighting now…"

"Lady Eva?" Aikka by now was very confused as to where this conversation was going. Good thing he was more of a listener then a talker.

"To end up becoming a potential wife to some- some Prince?!" Eva paused seeming slightly panicked "no offence" she stated.

"None taken" Aikka smiled just like Molly…he mused to himself.

With that Eva continued her rant "But I don't want to get married! Much less be an 'option'! I'm not ready!" but something clicked in her head "how long do you have to decide who you'll marry?"

"I am not sure, this whole event was a surprise in itself…if it will make you feel any better, I do not wish to marry either…" Aikka sighed and stood to leave.

"Wait-" Eva stood form her window seat and stared Aikka in the eyes "Um…A- before you go…anything else you want to ask me?"

Aikka thought for a moment "Yes…"

"Well…?" Eva sat back on the window seat awaiting the question.

"I hear you raced on Oban, and won, correct?" Aikka began.

"Yes…?" Eva answered, waiting the second half of the question.

"Did you have time to make friends?" Aikka asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, two. My Friend Jordan, he became the new Avatar and the other…we sort of had an on and off relationship, he was a Nourasian, a Prince, with the same name as yourself…but I sometimes think he's completely forgotten about me…"

"Do you know what planet you're on?" Aikka asked, inwardly wincing at Eva's words, she shook her head. "You are on Nourasia itself, Lady Eva"

At this Eva looked out the window, then back at the Prince with a sad smile on her face "He promised he'd taken me here one day…"

Aikka looked at the floor for a moment before he spoke "I am sorry, Lady Eva" he turned and walked out of the room at a steady pace. Why hasn't she put two and two together? He thought…am I so far at the back of her mind that she doesn't recognise me?

Aikka walked down the hall so deep in thought he did not hear the concerned voice of Canaan asking after him…