~***~
Its so cool! I'm absolutely giddy with excitement! All these kings and queens and dukes and duchesses have arrived from all over the place! They have come for the Grand Ball, and they are staying in the luxurious suites that have been set up for them! sigh I actually helped prepare some of them....they are so beautiful, decorated individually for each important person...
Some of them have even arrived here! They started arriving a few days ago, with these royal trains. The kings and the queens would arrive first, usually in carriages, then come all these ladies and knights on horses..then come the servants and all these other people, that probably serve absolutely no purpose at all. Milllerna let me watch them enter. I stood beside her, as a one of her ladies, and greeted them as they entered. I felt so beautiful, there, just greeting the kings and the queens.....god, I don't think I've ever met royalty before....
~***~
Yukari turned around, staring at herself in the mirror, her hand going up to brush the hair off her forehead. She stopped and stared at herself, studying her features. Sighing, she flopped onto the couch behind her. Why couldn't she be more beautiful? Perhaps, like Millerna......or maybe as beautiful as Hitomi. Yukari hung her head, she always felt so overshadowed by her best friend, always. Hitomi was so strong, she was always so confident in herself. She was funny, and eas to be around. Everyone couldn't help by love her. Yukari had always envied Hitomi's talent, and her confidence..... Yukari was pulled out of her self-pity by a sharp knock on her door.
"Umm..come in." She said. She looked up as Allen Schezar entered, his golden hair shining.
"Hello Yukari, where you up to something at the moment?" He asked. Yukari smiled, she couldn't help but blush. She hated what he did to her. She wished that she could just be calm, and composed around him.
"Nothin much....nothing at all."
Allen grinned, "That's good, then would you be interested in meeting the King of Fanelia with me? I'm sure he would be interested in meeting you." Allen's face betrayed none of his emotions. Inside, he was churning with feelings, should he have done that? Perhaps it was too soon for Van. God only knew that he had a fun time getting over Hitomi. Allen clenched his fists, almost certain that it was the wrong thing to do. But it had been the first thing that had popped into his mind upon seeing her.
He hated what she did to him, made him forget everything else, made his mind go blank. And standing there, in front of her, her dark eyes shining up at him, he couldn't make himself tell her that she couldn't go. Allen blinked, she was just a child, just a girl.
"Come then, we shall meet Van."
Yukari smiled. "Is that.....the one that fought in the war, your hero?"
Allen paused, confusion crossing his face. Then he laughed, something he didn't do too often.
"Oh!" He laughed again, he had forgotten about that conversation. He nodded, "Yes, my hero." He grinned, imagining Van, his fiery dark eyes, his fierce pride.
Yukari laughed, her smile lighting the room, and followed Allen out of the room, her self-pity forgotten.
They headed down to the main Hall. Standing on the staircase above the entrance, Allen paused. He put a hand out to stop Yukari. She gazed up at him, her eyes wide, her face peaked. Allen looked down at her, about to say something, but Yukari shook her head, silencing him.
"I know...no mention of where I come from." She smiled up at him, "I know."
Allen almost hated how she could just read his very thoughts. He nodded quickly and led the way into the main hall.
They stood near the back, behind the king. Yukari stood next to some beautifully dressed ladies of court, and she felt even uglier. She suddenly wished that she'd perhaps dressed up a little more.
Trumpets sounded, and the great doors of the Front Hall opened. Yukari stared as a long procession entered, a retinue of knights and ladies. But it wasn't the knights, nor the beautifully dressed ladies that drew her eyes, it was the young man in the front, the young man with the sad sad eyes. Yukari couldn't tear her eyes away, it was like everything had stopped. Who was he? He had dark hair, and flashing amber eyes, and Yukari didn't doubt that those eyes could hold all the love, or all the hate in the world. He strode forward, his hand over his chest. He bowed low, his cloak brushing the ground, in front of King Aston. King Aston nodded, then rose from his crown.
"King Van of Fanelia, I welcome thee to my court!"
King!? Yukari's mind whirled. Van..? That name...wasn't it, the name that Allen had mentioned..the fairytale hero with his princess....
Yukari blinked, staring hard at King Van of Fanelia. King! He was barely a boy! He looked, at most only a few years older than Yukari herself, if that! Yukari had imagined something along the lines of a great knight, perhaps broad of shoulder and tall. At least something along the image of Allen! But...this young man, standing proudly in front of the King of Asturia, Yukari didn't doubt that he was a good king. Something about his fierce pride, and those glowing amber eyes, Yukari could suddenly see this...boy, fighting proudly, side by side with Allen. Van's eyes shifted, his head turning, as if sensing Yukari's eyes resting on him. His dark eyes met hers. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity. Suddenly, the trumpets sounded again, and the procession left the hall. As he left, Van's eyes never left Yukari's.
"Yukari? Yukari!" Someone was tapping her shoulder. Yukari shook her head, shaking herself out of her thoughts.
"Uhmm...yes?" She looked up vaguely, and saw Millerna's clear eyes gazing at her. "Millerna..."
"Yukari," Millerna smiled, "come, there is a garden picnic out by the swan ponds, you would come?"
Yukari turned back to look at the spot where the young king had knelt. She nodded, turning back to Millerna.
"I'd love to."
~***~
Its so strange.....the boy..well, I guess I should address him as King...but...
He just doesn't resemble a king. An ideal king anyway. He's so....young.
But there's something about him, something strange, something so...familiar, I could taste it. Don't you hate it? When, there's something you just know you remember, but when you think about it too hard, it just disappears, like a wisp of smoke that slips through your fingers. Groan I know I've seen, or no...felt, him before. I don't know why....
How odd...
~***~
Yukari wandered through the garden. Tables had been set out, covered with various goblets and other delicacies for the royalties that had arrived. Yukari felt out of place, plain next to all the other beautiful princesses and queens and duchesses. Servers, dressed in black and white hustled around, hands full with cups and treats. Yukari slowly wandered around the edges of the crowds, not want to be noticed, yet curious about all the people. Her eyes caught on the the young king of Fanelia, as he sat, speaking to Allen. They seemed engrossed in their conversation, yet there was a grace about the way they regarded each other, that instantly struck Yukari in knowing that their friendship was deep and rooted. And although taller, and much more the epitome of a knight than Van, Allen spoke to the young king, respect apparent in his features. Yukari wondered what Van could've done to instill such respect in such a knight as Allen Schezar. In the middle of her musings of the two young men, Yukari was rudely shoved aside. A little streak of pink hair flashed past her to the table laden with food, and began shoving food into her mouth like there was no tomorrow. Yukari narrowed her eyes, and glanced around. No one else seemed to be paying any attention to the little girl, but, as Yukari glanced at the seemingly normal child, her eyes widened, for the little girl was like nothing she had ever seen before. The girl turned, her eyes wide staring back at Yukari's gaze. Her eyes suddenly narrowed in a scowl,
"What do you want?" Her voice was whiny and Yukari got the distinct impression of 'BRAT' written on the child's forehead. Yukari was too amazed at the little girl's appearance to retort.
"Umm...what are you?" She asked soflty, peering closer to look at the little girl. The girl looked about 12 or 13 years of age, and would've looked like any child of that age, except for the odd pointed ears, and the long tail that extended behind her. And furthermore, Yukari couldn't shake off the distinct cat-like expression and stance of the girl. The girl narrowed her eyes even further. She reached out a hand and pinched Yukari, hard, on the shoulder.
"OW!" Yukari exclaimed, grabbing her shoulder, imagining a large bruise forming there. "Hey! What was that for?"
The girl stuck her nose up, a self-righteous look on her face, and returned to her food. Yukari glared at her, an irritation building within her.
~***~
I don't know what to make of this girl! She's certainly the oddest child I've ever seen! She's like half cat and half human...if she weren't so rude, I'd almost feel sorry for her odd looks! I mean, imagine going through life half of something..part human but not quite, part cat, but not quite. I would feel pity...but god, she's such a spoiled brat! I wonder who her parents are! If I were her mom, I'd slap her! laughs sadly reminds of my cousin..back on Earth...sigh...
~***~
Yukari glared at the girl, wanting to retaliate, but not wanting to draw attention and make herself look like a child. Yukari found it hard to resist the urge to shove the little cat-girl's face into her plate that she was devouring. With a deep breath, Yukari turned to go, hoping that if she left the girl alone, she'd forget about the incident. But as she turned, she walked straight into someone. The other person exclaimed in surprise, and Yukari stared at the ground, blushing furiosly. How careless! She should've checked if there was anyone around her! She prayed to whatever kind god was out there, that it wasn't going to be some powerful king that would make her look like a fool. She didn't look up, and murmured,
"I'm sorry." She turned to go. Just then the cat-girl shoved past her again, her face in a open book of joy.
"Van!" She yelled and jumped. Yukari looked up and saw the cat-girl hanging off the King of Fanelia's neck. Yukari stared at the young king. His expression was affectionate, and he seemed to be hugging the little cat-girl back. A pang of envy shot through Yukari, though why, she couldn't have answered. The irritation for the bratty cat-girl grew to anger. King Van looked up and smiled at Yukari.
"That's alright. I should've watched my step."
Yukari blushed, wishing that she could have Hitomi's silver tongue. "That's okay." She mumbled. Then looked up to find the young king staring at her, his expression odd. It was a mix of pain and wonderment, but at what, Yukari couldn't quite place. The cat-girl looked at Yukari. Yukari blinked at the both of them, unsure of what to do. It was so odd! Was the cat-girl Allen's explanation of King Van's princess? Surely not! The cat-girl's face suddenly contorted, and she stuck out her tongue rudely.
"Merle!" Van exclaimed, looking at the cat-girl named Merle. Yukari looked at Van, cautiously, she asked,
"Is she...your princess?"
Van looked at her, then his face broke into a grin. "She's my sister."
Yukari smiled, but pointedly ignored Merle, who gave her an 'I-told-you-so' look of accomplishment. Van's face grew somber again, and he peered at Yukari suddenly, his gaze intense. Yukari backed slightly, more than a little self-conscious under the scrutiny.
"Have we met before?" The king of Fanelia asked her. Yukari gazed at him. He wasn't very tall, and she could easily look him in the eye. Her impulse was to say no, but something stopped her. Yukari couldn't quite place it, but something stopped her. It wasn't quite an order, no, it was something much more subtle than that, it was...a feeling.
~***~
It's so weird, I mean, I know, I'm positive, that I've never seen this Van before. For one thing, I've never in my 15 years, left Earth, and for another, I'd remember it if I'd met someone like Van. His looks are not something you forget..I'm not sure if it's the eyes, or the gaze, or the way his whole face is set, or maybe its just his aura, but...there's something about him. Something that assures me that, if I'd ever seen him before in my life, I'd know and I'd remember.
But yet, the question 'have we met before?'..its just, I don't think I could answer 'no'. Why, I'm not sure. But, it feels like, this is going to sound crazy, but, it feels like I have met him before. Not physically, meeting, no, but....I don't know how to explain this feeling. Its like I've felt his aura, his being before. I'm a nutcase right? Yeah...I know, but, I don't know how else to put it into words!
~***~
Yukari looked Van straight in the eye, and Allen's caution earlier on sounded in her ears. She suddenly had an overwhelming urge to tell Van that she came for the 'Mystic Moon'. She opened her mouth to tell it, but someone grabbed her arm.
"Yukari, come over here! The entertainment is about to begin!" Millerna was holding her arm. The princess nodded to the king, and Van acknowledged her, though his eyes never left Yukari's. Yukari was pulled away through crowds of people, all the while the young king's eyes on her. She hadn't answered him, but she felt that she would've answered wrong whatever she had said.
And even during the majestic and awe-filled performances of magicians and actors, Yukari couldn't get the feeling of nostalgia out of her mind, out of her heart.
