Thanks for all the reviews so far, especially those who have been consistenly reviewing! I really appreciate it. Hope you all enjoy this chaper. Sorry for not updating sooner, had loads of work , plus chinese new year! HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Chapter 10

"Thank you all for attending this year's annual ball. Despite the sudden news of the ambassador from Nula being mugged earlier this week, I'm grateful to you all for attending. I hope that this sudden death does not affect the mood for tonight's ball. As usual, this ball is held to raise funds for the needy in our kingdom and also fund my daughter's creations, which will be used to help the people. Please enjoy yourselves and LET THE BALL BEGIN!"

Cheering erupted not only from inside the palace, but throughout the kingdom. The generous king and queen of Techo allowed the villagers to have their own annual ball in the palace's courtyard. Food was supplied by their local shopkeepers and everyone dressed their best. Inside the palace, the nobles partied in a more, refined mood.

Polka music was heard outside the palace, but due to the great insulation of the windows (thanks to Hotaru), the nobles were able to relax and not be disturbed by the fast paced music outside. A soft and light waltz played and many couples were dancing, inclusive of Hotaru, who had to begin the first dance.

Her parents stood by the side, proud of their daughter's achievements and dedication to the kingdom. Beaming proudly, they never once regretted their decision of agreeing to the rulers of Sol, allowing their daughter to be engaged to the crown prince, Ruka. If anyone could see the couple, you could tell that they were clearly smitten by each other, despite Hotaru's expressionless face and Ruka's perpetually beet red face. Ruka's eyes shown with pride as he guided the raven beauty with his arms, across the ballroom. Hotaru's dark purple gown swished and twirled around her when Ruka spun her round. By the end of the waltz, the young couple smiled and laughed at each other, then moving off the dance floor, Ruka led Hotaru to side for a rest. Another 2 more dances, and dinner would be served.

What the couple didn't notice is that Mika Suni was watching them from the corner of the ballroom while Tsubasa and Misaki-senpai were dancing. Seeing that Hotaru was walking off the dance floor, she slowly made her way towards Hotaru. In her gloved hand clutched a small piece of parchment. Mika breathed in and out slowly to calm herself down and as she imagined it a thousand times in her head, she bumped into Hotaru 'accidentally' while pretending to look for someone.

"Oh my! I'm so sorry Hotaru-sama, I was looking for my chaperone." Exclaimed Mikan. Hotaru merely rubbed her shoulder gently and looked at the brown haired girl. Her hair was braided into an elegant bun with silver hair pins decorated with a sapphire encrusted hilt. Her brown eyes shown in the bright light of the ballroom. Her midnight blue dress accompanied by a simple crimson red pendant at her neck made her look stunning.

"Please let my image remind her of my 11 year old self!"

Hotaru stared at this girl, somehow, she looked vaguely like someone she knew. She couldn't put her finger to it, but her brown eyes seemed to pierce her soul, and her conscious egged her to remember this face. She turned to Ruka hoping that he could place a name to the girl's face, but he shook his head, equally puzzled and intrigued by this girl.

"You seem familiar. Have we met?" asked Hotaru.

"I don't think so your majesty. I've only recently moved to Techno, 2 years ago I presume. I have attended court meetings with my tutors but I don't recall ever meeting your personally." Mika curtsied and lowered her gaze.

"Look up at me. You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago. Someone who was dear to me. You know, if she was alive, she would look like you." Hotaru smiled sadly.

Mikan gently took Hotaru's hand and held them in hers. "I'm sure she misses you as well and always thinks of you. Wherever she may be right now. Bless your soul Hotaru-sama." Seeing Misaki-senpai waving at her, Mikan made sure that the piece of parchment was in Hotaru's hand and she slowly removed her hand, leaving the parchment in Hotaru's gloved hand. Curtsying once again, she looked at Hotaru's sad face and walked away.

It was done. All she had to do was to wait for Hotaru in her room as dinner was announced.

"Swimming, swimming, fishes swimming around and around the glass bowl!" Chirped a young Mikan. "Neh Hotaru, did you ever wish that you were a fish?"

The brown orbs stared at Hotaru, waiting patiently for an answer.

"Sometimes. All they have to worry about is food, air and water."

Mikan laughed, "all you ever worry about is food Hotaru. Chef said you've been eating 4 meals a day, and at least one meal consisted of your favourite, crabs. Okasan would never allow me to eat all those crabs by myself."

Turning her attention back to the fishes, Mikan made space for Hotaru to sit on the bench. Both girls stared at the fish bowl which sat on Mikan's white grand piano. The fishes were Mikan's birthday present, one orange, one dull blue. Whenever Mikan pressed a key on the piano, the fishes would swim to the surface as if awaiting for food. The two girls entertained themselves with the fishes for a while till Hotaru broke the silence.

"Mikan, you know, you're my first friend that I ever had. Stupid as you may be, you're a good friend to me, always cheering me up and talking to me despite this stone cold face of mine."

"Really? Then you want to be best friends with me? Since you're the first friend that I could talk to so easily. And you're not a stone, you're a beauty! We shall be best friends!" complimented the 11 year old girl.

Hotaru was shocked at the words that spewed from her friend's mouth, no one has ever complimented her before, much less about her expressionless face. It touched her deeply, and both of them held hands and laughed. Somehow, they had a mutual understanding of each other, the could unlock the deepest corners of the other person's heart and illuminate it. Happily embraced in their innocent love for each other, they continued to press the piano keys and watch the fishes swim around. They knew that they would be as carefree as those two fishes in the bowl.

"Hotaru, you ok?" Ruka looked concerningly into her purple orbs. Hotaru was in a daze, reviving the memory which she shared with her now deceased best friend. Raising her hands to rub her eyes, she realized that there was a small parchment crumpled in her palm. Excusing herself from Ruka's present, she walked to an isolated corner of the ballroom and slowly uncurled the paper.

"Surely that girl, Mika was it? She placed it in my hand. I wonder what it reads and why would she do that?"

What she saw on the paper left her speechless. Hotaru stared at the words and re-read it over and over again to make sure she read it correctly. Leaning her head back into the chair, she couldn't believe what she saw.

"HOW DOES SHE KNOW THIS? It was only said between the two of us, no one else knew. No it can't be. She can't be.."

"DINNER IS READY, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE GRAND DINING ROOM!" The announcer boomed loudly. Jumping up almost immediately, Hotaru crumpled the piece of paper in her hand and brushed past everyone, making her way to her room.

"Hotaru, do you ever wish that you were a fish? Do you want to be my best friend once again?
Meet me in your room once dinner is announced, I'll be waiting.
M.S"

Hotaru rushed to her room with a million questions swirling through her mind.

"She said AGAIN. Meaning, she's Mikan? But she said that her name was Mika. The initials are the same though. I could swear that we were the only ones in the room at that time, how would she know about the fishes? Mika Suni… Mika Suni… the pendent she wore on her neck, it looked familiar too, as if the colour of Natsume's eyes when he's angry. Could it be that she would want to hurt him? No, no it can't be, she would have gone straight to him then, not through me. Mika Suni… Mikan Sakura?"

Hotaru stood outside her room door, chest heaving up and down due to the speed that she was walking at. Taking a deep breathe, she pushed open her room doors only to see a brown haired girl in a midnight blue gown facing the window. The moonlight shone through her hair and her sapphire encrusted hilt of her hair pins reflected the light. Never taking her eyes off the girl, Hotaru closed the door behind her and took a few steps closer to the girl. Somehow, the girl never realized she was there.

"Mika… Suni?"

The brown haired girl turned around, upon recognizing Hotaru, she curtsied and smiled.

"Close, but please call me Mikan Sakura, my stone faced beauty." Mikan merely smiled at Hotaru's shocked face.

BAKA BAKA BAKA

"OUCH! WHAT THE HELL YOU DO THAT FOR! I THOUGHT YOU'LL BE GLAD TO SEE ME!" Screamed Mikan as she rubbed her sore head.

Hotaru rushed up to Mikan and hugged her tightly, sobbing heavily into her shoulder.

"Idiot! You deserved that for not telling me you were alive."

I'll update tomorrow! Please R&R! :D