.

.

"So, this was...an accident?" Mebuki's mother said.

Mebuki's parents were sitting on their knees on the tatami mat, utterly bewildered at the sight of their daughter dressed in expensive clothes with a regal air about her, while a blonde-haired foreigner laughed and scratched her head with Mayumi's mannerisms.

"Ah~~ it was a government experiment," Mebuki said. She forced an awkward laugh. "It was...well we died at the same time, and-"

"You...swapped bodies?"

"Yes."

Her parents stared at Audulie and Mebuki again.

xXx

.

This is what happened when Mebuki and Audulie came to the door.

"Mayumi!" Her mother grabbed Audulie by the shoulders and hugged her fiercely. Audulie cringed, then looked in askance at Mebuki, who stepped forward, not sure what the hell to do or say to them.

"Mom? Mom? That's not me," Mebuki said, and her mother pushed Audulie back and gaped at the strange white lady raising her hands and gesturing toward them.

xXx

.

"My name is Princess Audulie de Sevran, of the Kingdom of Sevran. I am pleased to make your acquaintance," Audulie said, bowing at them.

Behind her, Mebuki forced a laugh. "S-see? Doesn't she sound like a real princess? Meanwhile here's me, who's been faking it-"

"So this is why you haven't called? Your mother and I were so worried! We even filed a missing police report!" her father said.

Mebuki spat out her drink. "Seriously?!"

"I was always residing in Tokyo, no one had come up to me," Audulie said. She set down her cup. "My apologies. I was so busy living this new life I thought not to contact Lady Mayumi's family. The fault of this lies with me."

"So can they switch you back?" her mother asked. Mebuki shook her head.

"No, they can't. It's permanent."

Her mother's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "Why didn't you contact me, Mayumi?"

"I didn't have my phone," Mebuki said.

"Mayumi!"

"I- I was stuck in an alternate dimension! I couldn't call anyone. She's not from this realm, she's from a real kingdom."

They took Mebuki's parents to the rift, where Audulie's private security was stationed. "Let us pass," Audulie said, and the bodyguards allowed them in.

Walking through the rift was like walking through a bubble of plastic, a momentary sense of disorientation, before the sky brightened, and they were facing the territory of Arno, the tall green grass and the wide mouth of the sky, bright washes of sunlight falling over them.

"Eh?" her mother said. "Eh? EH?!"

"See?!" Mebuki said.

"Mayumi-chan! You...you really are a princess."

"That's what I've been telling you, yes!"

"Who is that man riding those horses?" her father said.

xXx

.

"Oh!" Zachary said, as her parents bowed at him, handing him the present. His face brightened. "Dried persimmons!"

"Whoa. You know about them?" Mebuki said. Zachary beamed at them.

"My wife and I were lucky enough to sample these in Tokyo. They are her favorite."