Thanks for all the nice reviews!!! I'm so happy! So, I wrote on... huh, still have to write the next chapter... argh! I want to write it now but... Anyway, enjoy reading this and please, review!!!

Chapter 5: Fanelia

Ren seemed to be worried as they entered Fanelia. Being in such a big city made him feel uncomfortable; not only because he didn't like place with many people around – it was because of Hitomi. After all, she had been the only daughter of Zaibach's emporer and someone could recognize her.

He had mentioned this before but she just shook her head and told him not to worry about this. Very few people knew what she looked like, thanks to her father. Right now, she was really thankful not to be well-known.

"What are we going to do, Hito?", he asked slowly.

"We're going to find some place to stay... maybe a flat or something like that. Won't be too hard, I guess.", she answered as she looked at him and whispered: "Help me to get down from the horse."

"Huh? You can get down alone, you know.", he answered, thinking about what she was up to.

"I know I can get down alone, Ren. It's just that a Lady doesn't get down alone if a man's with her, you know.", she sighed and waited.

As she finally stood on the ground she looked around but no one was staring at them.

"What do you want to do first, dear brother?", she asked and noticed that he understood at once. Getting into the game he answered seriously: "I don't know, sis'."

Hitomi knew that there was one big problem: money. They couldn't do anything without money and she knew that were some people running around this place who wouldn't really suffer if some of their money "disappeared".

"Hitomi, you won't... what if someone finds out?!", Ren whispered, trying not to shout.

"They won't, Ren. I had a very skilled teacher, you know."

She was right; he had been her teacher and shouldn't worry but still. Losing his little princess, too, would break his heart into too many pieces and he was sure he couldn't take it.

But before he could say something she disappeared in the crowd, leaving him where he was. That was her way of making sure he wouldn't try to find her; she wouldn't find him when he ran around the city looking for her and so he was forced to stay with the horses.

°

Hitomi made sure she found someone who didn't need the money he was carrying around – after all she was going to steal something. After some time she had managed to find a man who was standing next to a woman.

Slowly, she went in his direction and when she came near she ran into him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I'm so sorry.", she said, looking at him with a smile that could have melted ice.

"You're welcome, Mylady.", he answered, smiling at the beautiful young woman in front of him.

Hitomi turned around and disappeared once more in the crowd, holding a big lether purse close to her.

"This was so easy.", she whispered as she went right to Ren who was still where she had left him. The expression on his face told her that he was angry with her and if there weren't so many people he would surely yell at her what he thought about her acting.

She showed the purse to him.

"Don't you ever do that again.", he hissed, feeling much better now that she was back. She's like the sister I never had., he thought suddenly.

"So... give me a break... what are we going to do? Where do we get the information we need?", he asked. He didn't know what she was up to and that... well, it didn't scare him but made him wonder what was going on behind those beautiful eyes.

"Well, let's seek a calm place where we can talk.", she suggested.

With that she turned around and disappeared into some space between two houses, followed by Ren as soon as his mind started to work again.

"You better explain what's going on, sis'.", he teased her and smirked. This was quite fun, after all.

"Well, we're the only one who could have set our house on fire must know about me, you know. Maybe... they were looking for me... and when I wasn't there... I guess they were just angry and...", she couldn't finish her sentence. Tears were streaming down her cheeks again and Aki knew that she thought it was her fault.

"Hitomi, it's not your fault. Please, stop crying. It's their fault!"

She whiped her tears away and went on: "The only one who could knew that I'm not in Zaibach anymore must be a nobleman, Ren. So, to get information we have to go where they are and we will."

She looked around, making sure no one was watching them.

"The Fanelian Castle is perfect for that, Ren. Don't you think so?"

"You're crazy, Hitomi. If you think there is someone who knows you then how can we go there?!"

"Ren, I'm not going to run around and tell them who I am. After all, I changed, you said so yourself a few days ago. I'm not the princess anymore."

"But...", he started but knew that he had lost this game before it started.

"No `but`, Ren. We're dear Lady Hitori and nobleman Ren, right? Brother and sister. Siblings.", she told him. "And I'll change my haircolour, just to calm you."

"I give in. Have your way, Hitomi.", he said but she stared at him.

"Oh, sorry. I'm sorry Hitori.", he corrected himself and smiled.

"I hope you're plan works."

"Want to bet?", she mocked and smiled.

***

A few hours later in the Fanelian Castle

"Van! You're family is back!", Merle screamed and tried to hide behind her friend's back.

She was not the only one who feared them. Even if she was born here, Van's best friend, she knew they were staring at her as if she was some ugly thing.

"Calm down, Merle. Folken did never hurt you, did he?", Van smiled. After all, this was his family. His older brother, who got never tired of telling him what to do. But Van wouldn't listen.

Oh, yes... and his father who was looking at his youngest son as if he was crazy.

Well, he blamed him for being a Draconian. His father had been hoping that he would not have his wife's blood flowing through his veins but Van was a Draconian...

The only thing his father was happy about was that Folken was "normal". Folken, his son with only Fanelian blood.

Van sighed as his father entered the room.

"Welcome back, father. Folken.", he said and smiled while Merle was still hiding.

"We have a lot of work, Folken. Next week, we're going to celebrate! Invitations must be send...", his father said, without noticing Van.

"I guess we'll have a lot of people around here, then.", he mused, leaving the room through another door, followed by Folken.

"Hush. They didn't saw me! I'm so lucky!", Merle sang.

"Strange.", was all Van could say before his thoughts drifted back to the beautiful girl he had met last night.

"Van! Hey, Merle to Van! Do you hear me?!"

Merle stared at him and shook er head.

"Not again!", she shouted and slapped him.

"Ouch! For what did I get that?", he asked, finally realizing where he was.

"That was FOR DREAMING AGAIN! DREAMING WHILE YOU WERE AWAKE!"

TBC

A.N.:

Hope you liked it! Please read on and review again!!!