maeko14- here's more, hope u like it

Lady Luna- yes, Van should propose soon, but I don't have ultimate control over the charters, so it may not happen.

Macky- thank you once again

TheElvenHanyou- thank you, its good that I can impress people, and I hope that u enjoyed my long review.

trekker4life- thank you. And if you keep reading and reviewing I shall keep on writing.

Linkinparkfangirl- its good to know that people like my story and here's the up date

pure hope- once again I loved your enthusiastic review, and I can't write good stuff whilst I'm in pain. :D

Chapter 12: Shopping With Merle

"Come on Hitomi! All that is left that we need to get you is some dresses and to get you measured for a gown for the coronation. Oh and some shoes." Called Mere, as they were coming out of a store similar to a hairdresser's. Merle had gotten her hair layered, and convinced Hitomi to get her hair trimmed. The cat-woman had taken her friend to the cosmetics store, saying that her makeup wouldn't work for Hitomi because Hitomi had green eyes -and she had blue. Upon finding out who the girl in very strange clothing was, the elderly storekeeper would not except any money for Hitomi's purchases, even after Hitomi insisted that she should pay full price. "After everything that you did for us during the war, this is the least I can do for you, dear." Was all the shopkeeper said, and the same thing happened in the hairdresser's.

"But what's wrong with the cloths that I have?" whined Hitomi playfully.

"Well you want to make a good impression with the advisers tonight, right?"

" Yea, of course."

"Then you need a dress. I don't suppose that you brought one with you?"

"Of course not, I don't even think I own a dress, plus I was originally planning on going on a hiking trip. " The two shoppers had stopped in front of the store where Merle claimed made the best dresses and gowns in all of Gaea.

"Then you need some dresses and there's no better place then this," Mere waved her hand in the general direction of the building, so as not to break eye contact with Hitomi. "And I doubt that you want to look like some weird person from another planet."

"Merle…I am a person from another planet, and if my memory hasn't failed me, that fact never stopped me before."

"But if my memory hasn't failed me, we were in a middle of a war, and there was no time to get you proper Gaeain clothing. And the one outfit you did have, you ruined. "

"Well, sorry if fashion is more important then saving one of your friends."

If anyone had been paying attention to the two girls, they would have described them as acting like children, but this was Fanelia 'the county where anything was possible' the crowds were used to strange things, and didn't give the dual a second glance.

"Come on, I'm getting you dresses." Ordered Merle.

"Oh, fine" came the inevitable surrender which was received with a very large grin from the pink hared cat-woman, who then dragged Hitomi into the store.

By the time Hitomi's stomach loudly declared that it was time for the mid-day meal she had more dresses that she cared to count and shoes to go with each one.

"Here, you have to try the delfino, Hitomi. Its-"

"Merle!" Merle looked behind her to find a very curly, black hared, woman with hazel eyes, coming toward the two shoppers. She looked to be about Merle's age, and was carrying a book under one arm.

"Sakka!" Merle waved vigorously at her friend, and motioned her to come join Hitomi and herself. "Sakka, I'd like you to meet Hitomi Kanzaki. Hitomi this is Sakka Sakuseisha. Sakka here is one of Gaea's most famous writers, and the author of the most popular book The Tale of Two Worlds."

Hitomi went to shake hands with the new arrival, "Bless, my soul, the roamers are true." Said Sakka in total awe, and curtsied as low as she would have to royalty.

Completely taken back by this gesture Hitomi meekly asked, "What roamers?"

"The ones saying that the Lady Merle's companion is the seeress from the Mystic Moon who has finally returned to Fanelia."

"I'm afraid that you may be a bit mistaken, I'm only staying for a visit."

As Hitomi told Sakka how and why she came back Merle got food for the three of them, and they found some seats on a patio, under an awning.

"So, tell me what you plan to do after the coronation, Lady Hitomi." Sakka wanted to know.

"Well, I'd like to travel around Gaea and see what things are like in peace time." Was the seeress's reply.

"If it's no trouble to you, I'd like to schedule a time so that I can get your version of the Destiny War."

"She's one of the few authors to have almost everyone's version of the war." Chimed Merle.

"And you know, Merle that I am entirely grateful to you for getting me those interviews. Because you see," the writer said to Hitomi, "Lord Van barely ever talks about the war, I believe that there's only five authors with the honor of having his story, and I am the only one to have Dryden Fassa's story."

"Well, I don't know. I haven't had to talk about the war in a very long time."

"You don't have to make up your mind right now, but I would be so grateful if you would tell Me." a bell sounded from the temple, "You'll have to excuse me, I have an appointment that I need to get too." She got up and curtsied once again, and set off down the street, book once again tucked under her arm.

Merle sighed, as the two watched Sakka disappear into the crowds, "Come dinner time everyone in Fanelia will know that you're here, Hitomi."

"How is that?"

"Besides being one of Gaea's most famous writers, she's Fanelia's biggest gossip."

so, was it good, bad, or ugly?

please review people! honest, it makes me write more!