Hello! Thank you to everyone! That pretty much sums it up!

Umm…

You can read now, since I have nothing else to say… Maybe a bit later…

I slowly turned to face Killua and stared at him. His back was turned towards me, but there was a red flush on his neck and I could see part of his face.

What should I dooooo? I cried out despairingly in my brain. Killua looked like he was in pain, from what I could see from his face. He hated the thought of kissing me! I knew it! (Dusky now would shake her head and call me a pessimist. Not my fault, just the way I am.)

Then suddenly, a shout came from Leorio's cubicle. We all looked at him, glad for a distraction. Wait, why was his reaction so late? Maybe it was because it had just sunk into his brain?

'AAH! I DON'T WANT TO KISS GON!!' Leorio yelled on the top of his lungs, pointing at Gon. The speakers in each cubicle squeaked in that ear-piercing way that they do when something's too loud. Like the reaction of a microphone from a person screaming in it. I looked at Gon.

He had his head tilted cutely.

'Huh? Leorio, it's just glass.'

The sentence shocked me through. I turned back to that wavering blue panel. Yes, it's just glass. It wasn't as if I really was kissing Killua. Haha! How absurd! I started shaking my head psychotically. I think the stress was catching up to me from those mountain books and the dance lessons from hell…

It seemed like Killua had also recovered from the enlightening and totally genius comment from Gon. Life-saving comment actually. I've decided. I'll adopt Gon as an older brother.

I jumped as the speakers spluttered to life again.

'We will start the countdown now. Please take your positions. And also, please retain from yelling so loud in a cubicle. Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven…' I stood in front of the blue panel and stared resolutely at my feet. Through the glass, I saw Killua's feet take their places.

'Six… Five… Four…' I lifted my head to look at the blue panel. To see Killua's face already stationed there. My face immediately became red and squeezed my eyes shut.

It's just glass, it's just glass, it's just glass, it's just glass…

'Three… Two… One…'

I leaned forward, kissed the panel and immediately jumped back. Then I sighed in relief and patted my back.

Just like Gon said. It's just glass.

I smiled as we all walked out of the cubicles. Dusky's face was strangely white…

I looked at Dusky. Then at Kurapika, who was also strangely white. My eyes widened.

I giggled evilly and immediately clapped my hands to my mouth. I just remembered! Dusky was facing Kurapika! The person she had been obsessing over ever since we started watching/reading HXH all those years ago! I quickly went over to her.

'So… How was it?' I asked with a smirk, elbowing her. She shook her head.

'It was fine… Absolutely fine… Fine…'

She was still in shock eh? Well, time to wake her up. Or maybe also revenge for that ice cube trick she did on the air-ship. I summoned some water and decreased the temperature as much as I could (which wasn't very much unfortunately, since temperatures are slightly related to Earth, and I haven't mastered that completely yet.)

Then I poured it over her. She started, spluttered and glared at me. Then she smiled at me, with hair dripping and eyes wide with (fake) innocence.

'So… Wind-sama, would you like a back-massage?' My eyes widened in horror.

The last time that Dusky had tried to give me a massage, she nearly broke my back. Literally.

She cracked her knuckles and rolled her head around, loosening her neck. The others (Gon and co.) were just watching in amusement. Damn them!

I started running towards the limousine that was parked outside the security office. I leapt in and went towards the back seat to grab a glass bottle or something.

Surprisingly, there was an expensive wine bottle there. As Dusky charged in (with the others following behind chatting happily) I waved it around.

'This is expensive wine! If you try to give me a back massage I'll break it over your head and you'll need to pay for it!' Dusky immediately stopped.

'Aww, I wanted to try at least…' My head whipped back, glaring at her.

'You've already tried.' I hissed at her. She scratched her head. Then suddenly, a light-bulb above her head flashed.

'Oh! That time! I remember now!' I glared at her and scooted closer to Leorio. As I talked to him about the tourism aspects of Avril (or my country) I felt like I was forgetting something… Something about ballrooms…

Gon and Killua were peering through the tinted windows, pointing at everything.

'Oh gosh! Is that man flying?'

'Wow! Look Killua! There's a fire dragon!'

'Did that farmer just grow that tree in five seconds?'

'A duel! There's water and flames flicking everywhere!' The limousine suddenly stopped. The driver (who hadn't talked to us for the whole time) suddenly turned around.

'Wind-sama! You must stop them!' Then he suddenly seemed to remember who he was talking to. He immediately bowed his head and murmured softly. 'I mean, Wind-sama, the water tribes have grown restless again after you left. It is bad that they are duelling on the street! Weak controllers might get hurt!'

I nodded seriously and got out from the car, sighing inwardly at the way the driver's manner had changed so abruptly. If everyone treated me like that, I think I'll go mad. The others followed me out. I started to walk towards where the commotion was, with the driver trailing miserably behind.

I had read about this. Since the last two imperial princesses (from the water and earth tribes) had both died mysteriously, the water tribe had accused the fire clan, which was sitting on the throne two times longer than it should have been, of underhanded dealings. When I was born and raised, the riots subsided a bit, but when I left, I guess it escalated again.

I strode forward confidently, the walk that I had practiced for hours in the yellow-skied dimension. Apparently, this walk had a "regal, elegant feel, with a touch of kindness and sternness added into the mix. It inspires confidence, attracts attention, and tells people who is boss." (From the textbook, not me).

Head up, smile, nod, don't let the hands drop… I reeled off the list of the things I needed to remember as I kept striding forward. A person noticed me at the edge of the crowd and his eyes visibly widened at the colour of my dress. He quickly whispered to the person next to him and the person glanced back as well. Soon enough, there was a path leading towards the centre of the fight.

The people were craning to see me, but not moving out onto the path that I was currently moving through that they had made for me. I continued to walk and nod to the people around me. They smiled widely and bowed back. It seemed like I was very respected…

Suddenly a little kid stumbled onto the path. I laughed at the cliché that was being presented before me. The powerful guy walks along a path while a little kid stumbles forward to plead for help. Only I was the powerful guy. Which was totally weird. To me.

He kneeled in front of me and put his head on his palms in a submissive gesture. The people behind me (namely Gon and co.) widened their eyes at the gesture.

'Please… Please help my dad! He got stuck in the duel, and he's too weak to come out!' He was sobbing and his fingers curled into the dirt. 'And I'm too young to help him. Please!' He choked on the last word.

I bent down and tilted his chin up with my hands. Then I smiled at him.

'Of course I'll help your dad. What clan are you from?' I knew from his tunic that he was from the water tribe, and since his tunic was a deep blue, I knew he was powerful. Or would be someday anyway. He sniffed.

'The water tribe.' I smiled kindly at him. It was best to get a common subject, or I might frighten him too much.

'And what's your name?' His eyes widened, as if not believing such an important person (a.k.a me. I'm still not used to being important…) was asking for his name.

'Kemichi Usagoruta.'

'Well Kemichi, I'll here to help your father. You can follow us, but stop when I tell you to ok?' He nodded and I stood up again, holding his hand. I looked at the others, all business, still using the "regal" blah blah look. 'Let's go.'

I stepped forward regally until we reached to centre of the crowd. By that time, my neck was aching. Who knew doing this posture for so long would be so freaking uncomfortable?

There was a scene in front of me. Some shops were burnt down, and water spouts were ravaging the ground. A sudden blast of fire from a shadowy figure in the thick of the fighting identified him as one of the main brawlers.

I squinted. From the look of things, there were only two people fighting, although they were powerful. And there were a huddle, of presumably people who were at the wrong place at the wrong time, stuck near the burnt down shops, looking like they were stuck.

No wonder, with all that steam and fire, nowhere looked safe. It was obvious that this was a fight of two strong people. I saw a line of what would be the equivalent to police on Avril, who looked helpless in front of the fight. No wonder poor Kemichi was so worried for his father.

I looked back and bent down.

'I leave you here.' I said to Kemichi, as some embers flew down from the sky. I looked at the others. 'You stay here too. I'll go by myself.' I held up a hand to stop Gon's protestations.

'You are in an unfamiliar country where everyone controls the elements. It won't be safe for you.' With that, I turned around and walked towards the people stuck in the fight. I created an air bubble that deflected any attacks that headed my way, and some water from the ground to keep it moist.

When I reached them they looked at me with wide eyes, then at my tunic colour.

'Hime-sama! Please save us!' A little girl cried out, suddenly clutching my legs. The woman behind her, obviously the girl's mother by the distressed look on her face, pulled the little girl towards her again.

'Silly! You can't do that to the more higher ranking!' I frowned. This country based themselves too much on rank and status and power.

'Are there any other people that are stuck here?' I asked, as I deflected a stream of fire from the group.

There goes another few minutes of my life...

'No. Just us.' An elderly man called out. He had a light blue tunic on. I looked at all of them.

'Is Kemichi's father here?' The elderly man raised a hand. I smiled at him. 'He asked me to help you.' The old man immediately went on his knees and bowed. Then everyone else just had to do the same. I sighed in frustration. There wasn't time for this now!

'Please stand up. We need to get out of here.' I increased my air-bubble to cover the whole group and started leading them forwards. When we reached the crowd, the father immediately ran towards Kemichi, who had been holding Dusky's hand.

I nodded, glad that everyone was safe and went back into the fight.

Sigh… And to think it's my first day here…

I quickly found them due to the air movements around them and quickly brought them down with a hard blast of air that pinned them onto the ground. Then I quickly extinguished all the parts that were still on fire with puddles on the floor. Soon enough, there was only some light steam and very very heavy cursing.

'Who *beep* dares to *beep* interrupt Duke Ryeim's son?' the one with the red tunic roared as he struggled against my air. The other one in the blue tunic just lay there; face down like the other one, but silent. The crowd drew closer, sensing that, behind the steam, the fight had ended.

I lifted the air and both of them immediately jumped to their feet to face me. Their eyes widened and the red one who recovered faster from the shock just took one look at me and sniffed. But the blue one immediately knelt on the ground with his forehead to his hands crying 'Hime-sama!'

I heard a splutter.

'Hime-sama?' I heard Leorio splutter. I ignored them; I couldn't hide it anymore now anyway. They would have found out sooner or later.

But it didn't stop the sinking feeling in my stomach as I thought about how Killua would think of me after this.

...Killua? I mean, how the group would think of me after this.

I kept my emotionless face and looked at both of them in the eye. Although they were both taller than me, I had more presence. Even I sensed that. The blue one replied first.

'He,' he spat at the red guy, 'insulted Hime-sama in public. I just could not let it pass.' I nodded at his explanation, sensing no lie. I looked at the red tunic guy. He spat at me. I raised an eyebrow. The crowd gasped.

'Heh. I bet that you are as weak as a duckling. We have never seen you use your powers, always training exclusively. And anyway,' he eyed me, 'you are so short. No wonder they keep you locked in the palace all the time.' The blue person immediately jumped up.

'All the people know that Hime-sama has a disease! You cannot blame her for that alone!' I held up a hand. The blue guy immediately shut up and bowed deeply towards me.

'I will fight my own fights. But thank you for your quick defence of me. But please do not do another fight in public, as it disturbs the townspeople.' He nodded.

'I am sorry, Hime-sama.' I looked at the red guy.

'Would you believe me if I said I do not need to prove my abilities?' He narrowed his eyes.

'No. I need to see it firsthand. Duel with me!' I shook my head at him. He sneered. 'So, too afraid?'

I looked at him coolly.

'No. It is just that it would be bad to duel in public again. It seems that you do not have respect for the townspeople. Your earlier duel had already damaged quite a few buildings.'

'Then come to the duel grounds.'

'I accept.'

Then he started walking and I followed him. To my amusement, the whole crowd followed too, with more and more joining on. When we actually reached the duel field, practically the whole town was behind us.

The crowd stopped at the edge of the duel ground and started filling in the seats.

Am I really that interesting to watch? Maybe I was a recluse or something…

The red tunic guy turned at snarled.

'We fight when the count goes to three.' I nodded.

'One, two, three!'

He suddenly rushed at me. Everyone watching gave a collective gasp. I just closed my eyes and stood on the spot. He had been quite far away when he started.

I felt the breeze. The air movements. The oxygen that was being consumed by his fire. When he was about a pace away, I opened my eyes and stepped sideways, summoning a pillar of air to the place that he would be a second later.

The attack was successful. He got pinned to the ground and the whole crowd stood up and cheered. I smiled and waved a bit. Then I released the pillar of air and helped the red tunic guy up.

'Are you ok?' I asked him, my eyes brimming with sincerity. It wasn't his fault. Who knows what a bastard I might have been in my (non)remembered memory of this world?

He (interestingly) blushed and took my hand.

'You are Vaun Ryeim, am I correct?' He nodded. 'Nice to meet you. Next time, make sure you do not move so much. I could sense it easily.' He nodded.

'It seems like I was wrong about to comments from before. I take them back.' I smiled.

'No problem. Friends? One could never get enough.'

'Of course! You have beaten me in a fair duel! Nothing can break a bond this strong! May I be take the honour of being your husband?'

What the heck?

'Umm…' He leapt forward, flames in his eyes and seized me by the hand.

'It is custom in the fire tribe that, if one beats another in a duel, then if it is a young woman, they become their wife, a man a friend, an old man a master, an old woman as family, a child as a younger sibling!' I shifted my eyes away. Oops. Forgot about that tiny detail. Fire clansmen really respected duels.

'Err…' I blurted out the first thing that came into my brain. 'I already have someone I like… and I'm not a woman yet...' The whole crowd gasped. I blushed and continued talking to Vaun. 'But I am willing to be like your younger sibling.' I said it because it was a major insult to reject a person's offer. So many customs, I wonder how the people in the country didn't trip over them...

'Then we shall be as close as brother and sister! I have never had a sibling before! I am so excited! But if you ever change your mind to become my wife after watching the most handsome and distinguished me,' He exclaimed, 'the offer still stands!' hugging me tight. I raised an eyebrow. Well, someone was modest.

'I'm so happy!' he suddenly burst out. 'I have a pretty younger sister!', he said while jumping around all over the place.

What? He spat at me a second ago and now he's my sibling?

'No-one has beaten me in a duel before. I have tasted the bitterness of defeat.' He hugged me again (while still clutching my hand). I smiled at him (couldn't help it, he seemed nice) but removed my hand from his clutches.

He suddenly stepped forward towards the blue tunic guy.

'And you! You are amazing at battle, maybe not as good as Hime-sama over there, but amazing! What is your name?'

'Rami Manon.' I nodded at him and smiled.

'Friends?' I mouthed, as I remembered him as the son of Duke Manon. He suddenly smiled and nodded enthusiastically. Vaun clapped his hand over his shoulders.

'I have a hunch we can become good friends!' I suddenly remembered a passage from the book.

"Fire controllers are unpredictable, but are usually friendly and are extremely trustworthy when you get their respect and friendship. They are the type that sticks with you to the end, although they are sometimes extremely fickle and a bit prejudiced. They are also quickly enraged, just like their element."

I smiled. I had met two of the lower court already on my first day, bonded with the city people, met a cute little boy called Kemichi and most importantly, found FRIENDS! Albeit a bit weird (one wants to marry me! I'm only eleven going twelve! The thought of marriage was still a bit disturbing…)

I looked around and spotted Dusky chatting happily with Kemichi while Kurapika seemed to be immersed in conversation with Kemichi's father.

I walked towards them happily, with the two new friends trailing behind me. I went up to them and hopped over the little fence there.

'Hi! So, do you want to get back to the limo?' Then I realised something that I forgot.

Oh no! What if my revelation of me being a princess had changed their views about me?

I kept my smile fixed to my face. What would they say? I fidgeted and twitched. I smiled at Rami and Vaun and motioned to them that I will be going first. They wandered off, Vaun enthusiastically tugging on Rami's tunic while Rami kept trying to edge away. It was quite cute really. I looked back at the group, the smile still fixed in place. An awkward silence came over the group. Then suddenly Gon launched over and glomped me.

'Wow, Wind! Why didn't you tell us that you were a princess before?'

I staggered. 'Umm… I didn't want to…' A sudden slap to my back made me look back.

'Should have told us sooner.' Killua muttered while smirking a little.

'Gosh, Wind, you must be absolutely rich!' Leorio noogied me. I laughed.

'Let go Leorio! We need to go back to the limo!'

To my surprise, Kemichi and Kemichi's father also followed us to the limousine. Kurapika explained to me.

'He's the manager of all the records in the palace. I want to ask him about anything related to–' his eyes darkened. '–my clan. So can he hitch a ride with us?' Kemichi's eyes gleamed.

'Wow! To ride in the royal limo! It's such a rare honour! Thank you Hime-sama!' He bowed to me and quickly ran into the limo, the driver looking out carefully to make sure that he didn't break anything.

We slid into the limo and it started off again. Gon and Killua talked to me non-stop about me "suddenly" being a princess, Kurapika continued to be in deep conversation with Kemichi's father while Leorio became occupied with trying to stop Kemichi tugging his tie off. I laughed at a little joke that Killua made and looked out the window. My eyes widened a little, but I controlled my facial muscles before anyone noticed my little slip up.

'And there's the castle guys. Take a look.' Killua took a glance at the castle and barely raised an eyebrow over it. I guess his home was about the same size…

It was a huge building, made out of grey bricks. But the flags that covered it made up for the greyness. It was colourful, the castle. Like a huge, organised (somehow) patchwork quilt. It seemed so, so far away. I still haven't got rid of my commoner instincts yet, and to think that the castle was actually my home instead of just staring at it from the outside was just so amazing.

The limousine stopped at the end of a red carpet, with all the traditional people with uniforms blowing trumpets outside. The moment I stepped out, they started a fanfare, and a megaphoney sort of voice sounded out.

'Announcing the Imperial Princess, Heir of the Crown, Master of All Five Elements, Daughter of the Venerable Tohru Sani, Princess of the Wind Nomads, Windfarest Sani! With her guests Gon Freecs, Killua Zoldyck, Kurapika Kurata and Leorio Bandeer. Also with General Dusketha Lianne, adopted daughter of the brave Junera Lianne, bodyguard of Imperial Princess and head of the palace guard!'

I stepped off onto the red carpet, inwardly twitching at the long announcement. Daughter of the venerable Tohru Sani? Dusky was a general and the head of the palace guard? Wasn't she a little young? I heard a murmur as Kemichi and his dad sneaked out the other side saying something about the servant's door.

Lucky them.

I sighed as I resigned myself towards my fate of being over pampered.

Whoever said that living as a princess was a "happy ever after"? I thought, as I strained my neck again as I tried to do that "regal" walking thing again.

Sigh.

Why did Jeb make me the freaking Imperial Princess? I shook my head as I entered the palace and passed the palace ballroom to go to the main receiving hall, where the monarchs receive people.

As I waited outside for the person to announce us in, I realised what I had forgotten.

Ballrooms. Balls. Dancing.

When rich people celebrate, they do it by balls. Balls meant dancing. I resisted the urge to bash my head against the side of a pillar that I was standing next to.

I cannot dance.

I had been taking lessons with Jeb, sure, but I was still a failure.

I wailed in my head while I kept my outward appearance cool, although my eye was twitching a bit. I clutched my pack and staff tightly as I tried to control my urge to scream in frustration.

Stupid Jeb…

Anyone find Leorio's real surname, please tell me! I'll change it when I find it!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I truly appreciate it. (So please review? Hehe…)

And yup, if I ever go to Brazil, I will try to get some pineapple! Also to Alaska for the salmon, Italy for the coffee and gelato, Switzerland and Germany for the chocolate… (Haha, I really like food, if you haven't noticed. *wink*)

The fluff, huh? I think about halfway through the "Avril arc." That's what I'm planning anyway!

So, did people like this chapter? Was it too abrupt? Was if not good? I'm starting a whole new arc, so I don't know if they are still in character or not, so please help! I can't exactly do it myself, since I wrote it and would most likely be biased. (sigh).

And thank you once again for reading my story! *bows deeply while clutching a tin of pineapple*