A/N: First and foremost, I'd like to apologize for the long overdue update. I realize I have seriously neglected this fic. There are reasons however. And they aren't excuses :P They are legit reasons. The big reason was college. Oh my god I am so glad I'm DONE with college! This last semester nearly killed me! Nearly failed two courses ; that would have been really bad and hard to explain to my parents --;;; So it was super stressful. I basically had no life other than school which totally sucked.

Any ways, onto the thank yous!!!! Thank You to tear-drowned-angel, serenityrain2233, rIOko, aan, Nina225, Ice Everlasting, Mizz.Smilez., and kun-chan for the lovely reviews you guys are awesome!

Now for responses! weeee!!!!

tear-drowned-angel: please don't send your stupid, drunken, lazy, usless minions after me oo I'll try to update more frequently. And you'll just have to read to find out who the guest is it is revealed in this chapter. Although I could have been super evil and made you all wait one more chapter evil laugh

Nina225: No I'm not dropping this fic. 've fallen in love with this plot/idea. I've always wanted to try it and now that I've tested the waters with it, I'm gonna stick with it! I was actually kinda nervous to post it initally b/c through my own experience, I've noticed some fans just aren't willing to try reading something new or different like this. There's far too many V/H fans out there sighs

Now, without further ado, here is chapter 11!!!!!

Chapter 11: Presenting…

Marla, with her hand firmly holding onto Hikari's wrist, hurried down the grand staircase. Hikari tried her best not to fall . How the hell can she run down stairs like that!? And in heels no less!? She wondered. As they reached the bottom of the stairs Hikari had to ask, "Who is this special guest exactly? Is there anything I should know, like how to act? I-"

"Oh don't worry Hikari!" Marla said and gave her a reassuring look. "You wont be frowned upon. He's…well, according to my father's stories about him, he's quite casual. Hates big formal gatherings. When he does attend one it's only because his wife had to force him." She giggled and led the way down the hallway.

"You still haven't really answered my question…" Hikari pointed out.

"Oh, right, sorry." Marla apologized, "He's an old friend of my parents-"

"Oh quit boring her with your stories, Marla." Cadel interrupted and took the opportunity to free Hikari from his sister's merciless hands. In his typical suave way, he gently pulled her away and to his side. Before either girl could even react he had his arm linked with Hikari's, who couldn't seem to stop herself from blushing.

"What do you think you're doing Cadel!?" Marla demanded.

"Mom wants you to go fetch Emily. She should be terrorizing the maids in the kitchen." Cadel said and began to walk Hikari toward the dinning hall. "I hope Marla didn't put you through too much torture."

Hikari forced a laugh. "Oh not anymore than normal," she joked. Cadel glanced down at Hikari and took a better look at her. As much as he found Marla to be a pest, she did know how to make a woman look like a goddess.

"You look absolutely stunning." He told her, which only made her cheeks burn a brighter red.

"Ah…um…th-thank you…"she managed to say. She knew she had to regain her nerve and confidence. At this rate, if he were to give her another complement like that she feared her knees would give out on her, as they would turn to jelly. "So, um, who is this guest?"

"A king."

"Just a king? Does he have a name?" Hikari was starting to grow suspicious. Why all the secrets?

"Yes, he is King Van Slanzar de Fanel, the reigning king of Fanelia." As they approached the grand doors to the dinning hall, the two soldiers who stood on guard opened the doors for them. The dinning hall was vastly transformed from the previous night. Deep red and gold tapestries hung along the walls. They each featured a elegant and detailed embroidery of a gold dragon.

Everyone was present in the room, awaiting Hikari's arrival. Well, almost everyone. Excluding themselves, Marla was the only one missing. Hikari quickly glanced at Cadel suspiciously. "I thought you told Marla that Emily was in the kitchen?" she asked him in a whisper. Emily was already seated at the table.

"Did I?" he replied, acting innocent. "My eyes must be failing me." He chuckled and escorted her over towards her seat.

As it neared sunset, and dinnertime, Merle and Hitomi made their way back to the Fanelian Castle. But much to their surprise, Van still had not returned. It only made Hitomi feel more anxious and worried. Merle reassured her that things would be all right.

They headed to Hitomi's temporary living quarters in the castle where they could relax for a bit. They had practically walked and explored every inch of the city. Much of the city had changed, but that was expected. The last time Hitomi had been in Fanelia, it was still under heavy construction. According to Merle, it took nearly five years for all the construction to be completed.

While Hitomi changed out of her borrowed clothes and into some of the new ones Merle had graciously offered to buy for her, Merle spoke to the maids and had them serve dinner to them in Hitomi's room.

Hitomi entered the Solar wearing an emerald green kirtle over a golden yellow chemise. She went and sat across from Merle at the small, round table set for two. "You didn't have to do this Merle."

"I know, but figured you'd want to talk."

"Talk? About what?"

Merle raised a brow. "I'm not an idiot Hitomi. I've known since you first found out who Van married. You want to know how they ended up together."

Hitomi laughed nervously, "What would give that impression?" Merle crossed her arms and gave Hitomi as knowing look. Am I that transparent? "Well…okay so maybe you're right. I mean she did use to be…Van's enemy…"

"To be honest, Lord Van was crushed when you left and never came back. It took him a long time to move on. Allen had approached Van about marrying his sister many times afterwards. It seemed like people in Asturia couldn't forget or get over who Celena use to be. I kind of felt sorry for her. The people treated her like she was some sort of diseased monster.

"Lord Van began to visit her and spend time with her. Don't ask me how he ever got over the whole thing about her past. But he did and well, here we are."

Millerna smiled as her eyes caught sight of Hikari entering the hall. She didn't wait long to wave her son and Hikari over to where she stood. "That dress looks lovely on you, Hikari." She commented. "I'd like you to meet someone." She glanced over at Dryden, who was still deep in conversation with Van. "Boys," she said, gaining their attention. They ceased their talk and made their way over to Millerna. "Van, I'd like you to meet Hikari Kanzaki."

Van looked at the young girl, eyes full of wonder. This was her. The resemblance to Hitomi was stunning. He was quite literally speechless. "Hikari, this is King Van Fanel of Fanelia. I believe Marla and Cadel have told you about him."

"Sorta." Hikari replied quietly. "Uh, it's a pleasure to meet you." She added, unsure of what she was supposed to do. Should I curtsey? Maybe a handshake? She glanced quickly to Cadel for some sort of sign or signal. She bit her lip out of frustration and decided to give a small curtsey.

"Cadel!" Marla shouted as she entered the dinning hall. She marched over to her twin, fists clenched tightly. "How dare you!"

Cadel looked at her dumbfounded. "How dare I what?" he asked innocently. "Please dear sister, what is it I have done?"

Marla's brow twitched. She hated when her brother played his mind games with her. He knew perfectly well how to get her riled up. "Mother," she turned and looked pleadingly at Millerna, "Cadel, he-" Millerna brought a hand up to her temple and began to massage it as her eldest daughter went on about Cadel's trickery. It was always the same story.

"Marla, Cadel, now is not the time for this." She gave them a stern look. A look they had come to know and understand well. Cadel shrugged it off, as per usual. Marla let out a frustrated huff and turned on her heel, heading over to the table. Millerna smiled with relief as one of the maids approached, informing her that the food was ready. "Shall we begin then?" She gestured to the table and waited until everyone was seated.

Dinner went by smoothly. Hikari was glad that she was no longer in the spotlight. She could finally relax and not have to answer any more awkward questions about her family. It still shocked her that Marla couldn't grasp the concept of married couple getting divorced.

All focus had been shifted to their new guest, Van. Dryden lectured him relentless on his lack of visiting. To which he retaliated with turning the tables, asking why he hadn't visited Fanelia. The two royals sparred until Millerna decided enough was enough. Their arguing was going nowhere.

"So, Van, what exactly brings you here to Palas so unannounced?" Millerna asked, interrupting them.

Van shifted uncomfortably in his seat, searching for the right words. He hadn't exactly thought this far ahead. His initial plan was to simply speak in private to Dryden and Millerna about the situation. However, he didn't foresee Millerna suddenly jump in and invite him to stay for dinner and spend the night.

"Well…" he ran a nervous hand through her thick hair as he tried to come up with an explanation. "I came here…to inform you that…Hitomi has returned." He let out a much-needed breath. He felt somewhat relieved. It was out, however, he knew more question would arise. Questions he knew he either couldn't answer or wouldn't want to answer.

Millerna's eyes went wide. "Hitomi? As in Hitomi from the Mystic Moon!?" Van forced a smile and nodded. "Oh my…" She leaned back in her seat, stunned. "Why didn't you bring her along?"

Hikari felt a whirlwind of emotions flow through her. First she felt shocked. Her mother had managed to follow her to this strange world. A feeling of relief quickly followed that. Someone she knew was here! However, that was followed by a feeling of outrage. Her mother was probably her to scold her some more. She clenched her hands together tightly in an attempt to mask her anger.

Hikari kept her eyes downcast and focus on her half empty plate. She didn't want to be angry right then and there. She wasn't one for wanting to create such a scene.

"Isn't this amazing Hikari?" Marla said, her face aglow. "Your mother, the woman who helped save our very world, has returned!"

Hikari glanced up at the beaming princess and forced a smile. "Sure…it's fantastic…" her eyes quickly returned to her plate, still half empty. Her appetite had completely left her by this point. Her head began to throb as an unwanted headache began.

Cadel raised a brow as he watched Hikari. Something was bothering her. To his surprise, no one else seemed to notice. She bit down hard on her lower lip and closed her eyes. Her eyebrows knitted together as she tried to ignore the pain; the pain in her head and the unusual pain in her back. She drew in a deep breath and slipped away from the table.

Cadel opened his mouth to say something but let it close instead. Everyone was far to engrossed in their conversation about the heroine from the Mystic Moon. He followed Hikari and slipped away from the table.

He wandered through the hallways in search of Hikari. She couldn't have gotten far, he told himself and continued his search. "Hikari?" he called as he rounded another corner.

He eventually came to find her in one of the courtyards. She sat at the edge of the large fountain, staring into the calm waters. He made his approach slow, so not to startle her too much. As he drew near, he cleared his through to get her attention. She glanced up at him for moment, before returning to look at the water.

"Are you okay?" He asked, seating himself down beside her. She drew in a deep breath and shook her head. "What's the matter then?"

"I…" she brought her hands up to her temples, massaging them. "I'm just so angry at her." She said in a bitter tone.

"Who?"

"My mother!" she spat out. "She…she came all this way, to another world to find me, yet she doesn't even have the nerve to come and face me! She sends some guy to come retrieve me. Am I a lost pet in her mind? Am I even a daughter to her anymore? Or just one big disappointment?" she drew in a sharp breath and held back her tears. The pain wasn't receding; it was only increasing in its intensity. What the hell is wrong with me!? Her mind screamed.

Cadel placed his hand on her back, rubbing it gently to calm her. "I think maybe the situation is a little more complex. I'm sure she probably wanted to come find you herself. But Gaea isn't like your world. I can only assume traveling is much easier in your world than it is here." Hikari looked at him, a few tears spilling down her cheeks. "From what I can recall of my mother's stories, his highness King Fanel can fly his guymelef, the Escaflowne, to just about anywhere in Gaea in a short amount of time. It's probable that he simply couldn't take your mother with him in search of you."

Hikari nodded her head slowly as she took in the information he offered her. "Maybe I was just jumping to conclusions…but…"