A/N: Okay I know I'm a terrible person and I haven't updated in….let's see…..TWO YEARS! WHAT! Okay I had excuses but seriously what is wrong with me? Alright so I'd try to explain, but really it's not worth it. So any way I'm sorry to anyone who's still hanging on with this because I'm a horrible person. I finally guilted myself into this by logging on for the first time in months and seeing the reviews and so here I am. Forgive me dear readers; I don't know what came over me.

Half of twin, for you and Nightfall2525, and SuicuneLuver please, please don't hurt me.

A/n (from back when I first wrote this) : I'm so sorry that I take forever with this. I could tell you I was doing stuff but that would be a lie and I like you people to much to lie to you, so here you go the next chapter, and yes I know, "BAD AIKKA!" any way.

I don't own Oban star racers, and I don't know who does but they are some lucky people.

Life was monotonous for the slaves of the palace, especially so for Eva. As the newest of the slaves, she rarely got the chance to see anything but the servants' quarters and the kitchens. The increasingly icy weather outside didn't help either. More and more of the guards for the palace were finding reasons to loiter in the warm kitchens to tease the pretty maids and scorn the enslaved humans. The guard who had brought Eva to the palace seemed to have taken a certain liking to bothering Eva when she was doing her work. Her sharp tongue got her into more and more trouble with him until she found herself shoved out of the kitchen because she was of no use.

Chaula, stuck to her side however. Any criticism Eva sent at the bubbly slave bounced right off. In time Chaula introduced Eva to the rest of her band of friends. Roger was the first to meet Eva. He was a tall surly man, with overgrown black hair that flopped into his hard black eyes. Next was Sumomo, a small red haired girl from Japan, with a kind and shy nature. The last of the small group was Ren, a quiet, studious 17-year old boy. The small group was like a family and reminded Eva tremendously of the group that had shared her home back on earth.

As for Prince Aikka, Eva didn't see him again. It had been a month by her count since that first night in the palace and she hadn't seen the slightest trace of him. Not that that surprised her. Why, after all would a prince seek out a slave for conversation? Eva thought about this at night lying on her tiny cot in the open room. The curtains were drawn back and she was staring at the stars outside in wonder. They showed none of the constellations she knew, of course she was in a totally different place in space, but it was still strange and wonderful.

Just as she settled herself to go to sleep, the door that led out into the secret passage, opened. The quiet figure of who she assumed was Prince Aikka slipped in. Eva sat upright and watched him. Aikka drew back the hood of his cloak and smiled at her.

"Good evening, lady Ashlynn." he said kindly. Eva smiled at him as she sat up, slightly surprised he remembered her.

"Good evening your highness." she replied formal as ever. The prince nodded at her before moving to stand beside her. She looked up at him and noticed the smile on his face slip to a more serious expression.

"Pardon me, for disturbing your rest. The guards were more persistent tonight than usual." Aikka said with distaste. "I found it necessary to hide here for the time being." Eva nodded.

"That's fine, your highness."

"Aikka." he said cutting her off.

"What?"

"Call me Aikka" he said grinning down at her. Eva nodded again, slightly puzzled. Aikka sat down beside her and looked out at the stars thoughtfully. Eva watched him with growing interest. The prince noticed and turned to look at her smiling.

"Doubtless you are wondering why spending my time hiding in the servants quarters is preferable to princely duties." Aikka said boyishly. Eva hadn't been wondering anything of the sort. She could easily understand why he'd be here if "princely duties" was anything like her school work. Something about his eyes interested her though. Unlike the last time she'd seen him, the seemed more innocent and childish, and totally foreign to the Aikka she knew. She nodded entranced by this stranger.

"Ever since I was young I have had no freedom what so ever. In fact I don't think I've ever left the main land." he said thoughtfully. "My parents are very adamant that I focus on my studies, and that I learn to be a proper king, My father especially." Eva stared at him in a mix of horror and shock. What in the world was he talking about?

"Are you kidding me?" Eva cried astonished "What about the Great Race of Oban?" the prince looked extremely confused.

"The what?" Eva stared at him in the same shock.

"You have to remember that! At the very least." she said. She wanted to yell, she wanted to scream it all to him so he would remember something. "You competed in the Great Race of Oban, for Nourasia. You wanted to free Nourasia from the Crogs! You flew G'dar. The first time we raced each other it was to be a clean race, but Jordan shot at you, and you won that race! And another thing your parents died, about two years back, from what I heard."

The Prince looked at her in confused interest and cocked his head to the side. He looked totally confused by the intensity that Eva was exhibiting as she spoke harshly. The tension grew in the room, Eva with her fists clench staring at the Prince, and Aikka blinking owlishly totally lost. Finally the Prince began to chuckle.

"My dear lady Ashlynn, I must say you have the most impressive imagination I have ever come across," He said through his laughter. Eva's anger receded only to be replaced with confusion.

"You don't know anything about the Great Race, do you?" She asked in a small child-like voice. Aikka startled by the tone her voice took on turned to her.

"Should I know of it?" He asked quietly. Eva felt like crying, but instead she settled on staring at the stars.

Okay it's not much….Mostly it's what I already had. I wish my return was more spectacular, but I have to march tomorrow, and well I've kinda lost my handle on this story. I know where it's going, but other than that…nothing.

But I swear I'll be back with a longer chapter sometime in the next week. On my honor!

Love and stuff,

The writer formally called muffin ;)