Chapter 15 - Love Show

14. Love Show[br]
[br]
“The truth is, it’s painless, letting your love show.”[br]

[br]
She had no idea how long she had been sitting there. [br]
[br]
In truth she should have been in bed, she should have been resting like everyone else was within the castle. Clef would most certainly scold her if he found out she’d gone against his orders to stay in bed. Umi felt a smile pull at her lips, when it came down to it Clef really was a big softy. [br]
[br]
Taking a deep breath to drive off the drowsiness that laced her thoughts she winced from the sore ace in her muscles and bones. It’d been four days since they’d returned with Eagle; she’d awoken after two, most of her wounds well healed. Well all but one. She flinched a little as she touched the tender wound between her neck and shoulder. The most sever wound had been where Eagle’s sword had bitten deep into her flesh. [br]
[br]
At least they could feel a little at ease now, after they had returned Clef had placed a magic barrier similar to the one that had surrounded the castle during the invasion. Hopefully it would prevent another similar incident.[br]
[br]
Eagle hadn’t so much as turned in his sleep. He looked much the same as he had during his coma. His chest gently rose and fell in a steady rhythm, hands folded and resting across his stomach. Though, of course, the major difference between then and now was the massive amount of bandages that crisscrossed his bare chest. [br]
[br]
It was silly of her to sit here and watch him like this, it wasn’t going help him wake any faster, but she just couldn’t bring herself to go to bed. With Fuu and Clef’s help they’d managed to stop his bleeding, his wounds from her magic attack were easily healed but the wounds from the creature that had controlled him proved difficult to close, thus the massive amount of bandages. Magic could only go so far, now it was all up to Eagle’s natural ability to heal and his own strength. [br]
[br]
Her eyes went from his bandaged chest to his calm face, her hands tightened together in her lap. There was so much she wanted to talk to him about, so much she’d come to understand in the brief moment where she thought either he was going to die or she was, or perhaps even both of them during that fight. [br]
[br]
A soft yawn punctuated her thoughts, she should really lie back down, she glanced wearily at the other bed in the room. Apparently Eagle’s room had become the unofficial medical wing once more and they’d placed her in his room again, mostly because her room was a good ways down the hall and farther away should she need help. [br]
[br]
Not that she minded.[br]
[br]
Yet no matter how much she wanted to talk to him he slept on, oblivious to her presence. She gently slid from her chair and sat softly down by his side on the bed. She reached for his hand and took it in hers. Its warmth was comforting, helping to disperse the memory of how cold his body had been when he’d collapsed into her arms and the only warm thing about him had been the torrent of hot blood gushing from his wounds. [br]
[br]
Clutching his hand tightly she refused to leave her post, a part of her felt driven to keep the promise she had made to him before. ‘I promise I’ll make sure you wake…’ she wanted to keep that promise. Her resolve hardened she steadied herself resting her head against the headboard, it was going to be a long night.[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
Lantis was deep in thought, as he often was late at night, when a soft rapping at his door brought him back from his brooding. Deep blue eyes traveled to the door and it only took a pausing second for him to know who was there, “Come in, Hikaru.”[br]
[br]
The redhead sheepishly poked her head in his door, “I didn’t wake you did I?”[br]
[br]
The cail nodded a slight no. “Is something the matter?” she rarely came to him this late at night unless something was bothering her. “Is your arm giving you trouble?” he stood, concern showing behind those seemingly stoic blue eyes.[br]
[br]
The fight with Eagle had left her with a dislocated and broken left arm, as well as a slight concussion. Well patched up by Fuu, but he still worried, in his own quiet way, perhaps in a way only the observant Hikaru could see. [br]
[br]
She nodded no vigorously, her braid swishing with the back and forth motion. “I’m alright, I was just…worried.” She looked up at him red eyes whirling with anxiousness.[br]
[br]
“About what, the others?” he closed his door and guided her over to the sofa he’d been sitting on before. “Umi’s been awake and up for a few days now, I’m sure Eagle will follow suit.”[br]
[br]
“Yes I know I’m sure they’ll be alright, but I was actually worried about Camry. We haven’t seen him since we left him back in that horrid place.” [br]
[br]
Lantis gave a half muttered ‘hum,’ Hikaru glanced up at him, red eyes scrutinizing his face, understanding his thoughts far better than anyone else could even hope to come close to. Sometimes it made him uncomfortable how easily she was able to see though him, as if he was made of glass, but in some ways it was also a blessing. ‘Not today though’ he thought as Hikaru seemed to make a conclusion from her scrutinizing.[br]
[br]
“Something about Camry bothers you, do you not like him?” [br]
[br]
She hit the nail, dead on, he heaved a heavy sigh, “It’s not that, I just don’t think he’s being completely honest with us.” His thoughts flashed back to his brief conversation with the man before they had crossed to the other side, “He’s hiding something.” He absent mindedly twilled his fingers in the soft red hair at the base of her neck.[br]
[br]
Sighing herself she leaned against his chest, one tiny hand clutching onto his shirt, “Aren’t we all?”[br]
[br]
From time to time she really did surprise him, so naive in some ways and yet so very wise, he supposed it would have to take someone so special and complicated in their own right to understand him on such a level. “I suppose,” he relented, “but I think he’s holding back something we really need to know.” [br]
[br]
“Like what?” she glanced up into his blue gaze.[br]
[br]
“…” Before Lantis could answer her a sudden rumble reached their ears.[br]
[br]
“What’s…?” Hikaru could not finish her question before they both felt the floor shift below them as the ground beneath the palace rocked with a powerful earthquake. The Fire Knight called out in in surprise and toppled forward and would have fallen if Lantis had not reached forward just in time. The rumbling slowly subsided as soon as it came leaving a bewildered Hikaru, Lantis still grasping her shoulders. [br]
[br]
“What was that?” Hikaru took a breath to steady herself.[br]
[br]
“Cephiro is becoming unstable…” Lantis’ heavy blue eyes turned to the window to glace out at the county.[br]
[br]
“I’m going to check on the others!” Hikaru jumped up and burst out the door into the hallway nearly at the same moment Umi, Feiro and Fuu did the same.[br]
[br]
“Hikaru, Fuu?” Umi poked her out of Eagle’s room, “What was that?”[br]
[br]
“An earthquake I believe,” Fuu yawned quietly.[br]
[br]
Umi rolled her eyes, “We’re all aware of that, I meant why there was an earthquake?”[br]
[br]
“Things are becoming unstable.” Lantis came out behind Hikaru.[br]
[br]
“Why? With all of us here there should be more than enough will power to keep the land stable, even with some of the things that have happened.” Feiro frowned. [br]
[br]
“Unless someone is turning their own will towards making things unstable.” Fuu added softly, gaining everyone’s eyes on her.[br]
[br]
“You really think they have that much influence?” Feiro asked.[br]
[br]
“They’ve consecutively attacked each of us, first me at the river, then Hikaru in the forest, Fuu in the garden. Then they took Eagle right from under our noses and nearly killed him. They are all failed Pillar candidates after all; it wouldn’t surprise me if the quake had something to do with them.” Flicking a strand of her pale hair Umi answered for Fuu as she came down the hall and leaned against the wall as they clustered around Lantis’ door.[br]
[br]
“I agree,” Lantis nodded, “but I do not think they are the only factor. Lafarga and Ascot reported another monster attack on a village in the south. The people are frightened, even we are not enough to completely balance that out.”[br]
[br]
Fuu yawned lightly and was about to add further comment when her growling stomach interrupted her. She blushed, “I guess I’m a little hungry…”[br]
[br]
“You still haven’t gotten your energy back from all the healing you had to do. Come on lets go get something.” Feiro took her elbow, “No buts,” he added as she started to protest as he dragged her towards the kitchen. [br]
[br]
“I’ll come too, I’m kind of hungry.” Hikaru started to follow, “Lantis, Umi, do you want to come?”[br]
[br]
Umi glanced back hesitantly to Eagle’s room, “I’ll go make sure the shaking didn’t wake Eagle, and then I’ll come.”[br]
[br]
Lantis reached out and took her shoulder as he passed her, “I’ll go, you go with them.”[br]
[br]
Umi blinked, surprised by his frankness. So surprised that she didn’t protest, “Ok…” she followed after the perky Hikaru, who was talking bubbly about something sweet the cooks had made.[br]
[br]
Lantis turned back down the hallway towards his friend’s room. Glancing into the room Eagle appeared to have not moved and he turned to leave.[br]
[br]
“Lantis?”[br]
[br]
Surprised the raven haired man turned quickly and reentered the room. “Did the shaking wake you?”[br]
[br]
“Yes, is everything alright?” The young commander’s eyes slid open heavily, barely enough for Lantis to see a sliver of their gold coloring. He didn’t move at all, he seemed to lack either the strength or the desire to do so, possibly both.[br]
[br]
Lantis hesitated, “For now yes, everything is alright. How do you feel?” he sat down in the chair he was pretty sure the Water Knight had been in previously. [br]
[br]
“I’m fi…”[br]
[br]
“And don’t lie,” the cail added before Eagle could finish.[br]
[br]
The blond seemed to contemplate and then sighed, “Like hell” he spoke aloud.[br]
[br]
There was a silence between them for a minute, “Do you remember what happened?” Lantis asked after another moment.[br]
[br]
Eagle didn’t answer right away, “Some things…” he thought spoke again, “I’m not sure about what was real…and what I dreamed. I’ve been having such strange dreams of late…” he paused again. “Umi and Hikaru?”[br]
[br]
“They’re both fine.” Lantis assured him.[br]
[br]
One hand came up slowly to his face, “Lantis…what have I done? I…almost killed her…” he closed his eyes; the mere thought alone revolted him.[br]
[br]
“But you didn’t.” He answered firmly; he knew that Eagle was speaking of Umi rather than Hikaru. “You haven’t told her yet, have you?”[br]
[br]
Again more silence. [br]
[br]
“No.” Eagle finally answered. “Though not for lack of trying…” he grinned a little. “I was coming to speak with you about it when I was attacked.”[br]
[br]
“Why were you coming to me?” Lantis seemed truly puzzled.[br]
[br]
“I wanted to ask you something, at the time I was unsure of something, but now the question seems pointless for I already know my answer.” He smiled a little. [br]
[br]
Lantis shook his head, “You’ve never made much sense to me.”[br]
[br]
“Perhaps that is why we’re such good friends.” Eagle spoke aloud, sounding a little drowsy. [br]
[br]
“You should go to sleep again, you’ll recover faster.” Lantis stood.[br]
[br]
The commander yawned, “I know…but…all I seem to do is sleep and…” he started to nod off, “My dreams have troubled me of late…”[br]
[br]
“How so?” Lantis paused for a moment.[br]
[br]
Eagle yawned, “Snow, red snow…so much ice and cold…” he yawned again eyes sliding shut, “And this strange feeling…” he opened his eyes again for a brief second, “A feeling that weights so heavily upon me. I don’t understand it, but still so heavy, such a weighty thing…” The last was mumbled as he lost the battle to stay conscious and fell into a fitful sleep.[br]
[br]
Lantis gazed at him quietly for a moment; perhaps he should speak to Clef before joining the others. If what he was thinking was true, then there was much darkness ahead for Eagle and probably Cephiro as well.[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
“You’re going to eat all that?” Umi raised an eyebrow at the huge sandwich the Cephirean prince had made for himself. [br]
[br]
“Yes and your point?” He shot her a glare as he purposely took a large bite out of it.[br]
[br]
“Feiro, there is no need to have bad manors, she only asked you a question.” Fuu berated him as she delicately ate a small piece of fruit to quiet her own hunger pains.[br]
[br]
“You must be even hungrier than Fuu was.” Hikaru sat across from them eating one of the small cake like treats Umi and Eagle had enjoyed a few nights before.[br]
[br]
“When is he not hungry? He’s a guy.” Umi retorted more to Feiro than Hikaru. She herself wasn’t eating but packing a small basket with cake treats and several apples.[br]
[br]
“What are you packing for Umi?” Fuu nibbled on the slice of bread Feiro had just handed her, she tired to refuse at first but he glared at her and didn’t take no for an answer.[br]
[br]
“I’m going to take it back to the room for Eagle. When he woke from his coma before he was quite hungry, so I’m sure he will be again.” She paused for a second, “Actually I should probably take something for him to drink too…”[br]
[br]
“Oh that’s a great idea, I’ll help!” Hikaru hopped up and disappeared into the storeroom and returned a moment later with a huge wine bottle, more like a jug.[br]
[br]
“Could you find a bigger bottle Hikaru…?” Umi giggled, “We want to get him something to drink, not get him plastered…Though that could prove entertaining…” she dissolved into another fit of giggling.[br]
[br]
“Sorry…It was the only bottle I saw.” The redheaded knight pouted.[br]
[br]
“Plastered?” Feiro asked halfway though swallowing his sandwich.[br]
[br]
“Don’t talk with your mouth full dear.” Fuu scolded him, again. “Plastered is a slang term for being intoxicated in our world.”[br]
[br]
“Hu?” The young man was now even more confused.[br]
[br]
Umi rolled her eyes as she walked over to Hikaru, “She means it’s a word for getting drunk. You have to use little words Fuu.” She made a small pinching movement with her fingers to add emphasis to her point. “Come on I’ll help you look for a more descent sized bottle.”[br]
[br]
Feiro glared at Umi’s back as she and Hikaru disappeared for a moment, he showed masterful self-control as he bit back his words and took another bite of his sandwich. [br]
[br]
Fuu smiled and patted his shoulder; she’d trained him well, as all good women do. “There, there, she doesn’t mean it.”[br]
[br]
“You know, now that I think about it, Lantis told me once that while in Autozam he, Eagle, Geo and Zazu went out while on base. Somehow the other soldiers got Eagle and Geo into a drinking game with them.” Hikaru was saying as she and Umi emerged with a regular sized bottle.[br]
[br]
“What kind of drinking game?” Umi questioned.[br]
[br]
“I think they were supposed to drink until they couldn’t anymore…” Hikaru mused.[br]
[br]
“That’s not healthy” Fuu seemed to disapprove greatly, Feiro filed that bit of information away under his list of, ‘things to never do around Fuu.’[br]
[br]
“So, what happened?” Umi set the bottle in the basket.[br]
[br]
“He said Eagle drank them all under the table…” Hikaru’s red eyebrows scrunched together.[br]
[br]
“No way, you can’t be serious…” Umi’s hand rested against her cheek as if she were trying to visualize such a scene. [br]
[br]
“Me too…” Hikaru agreed, “Lantis said it didn’t seem to affect him at all.”[br]
[br]
“Speaking of, I wonder where Lantis is?” Fuu questioned.[br]
[br]
“He was supposed to check on Eagle and then join us.” Umi glanced at the doorway.[br]
[br]
“Maybe Clef called him,” Hikaru added, “I’ll pack something for him too if he’s not here soon.” [br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
He was running.[br]
[br]
Faster and faster with those strange soldiers’ of Impreza not far behind him, clad in black and red with a sinister bat like symbol on their chests they were very strange indeed.[br]
[br]
‘Where the hell did she get such creations? They’re not even alive, or human for that matter.’ Camry thought as he spun out in the snow as he rounded a corner, beheading one of the soldiers as he did so. A shower of blue sparks followed it as its’ head hit the cold ground with a metallic thump. ‘From him I suppose, the Dimension Witch warned me about that…’[br]
[br]
He threw a magic attack their way, a large black hole opened up and swallowed them all with a loud popping sound and then closed. With a heavy sigh Camry dropped down into a crevasse and back into the underground fortress, “I’m getting too old for this.”[br]
[br]
“Aye, you are getting on in years. Perhaps you should take it easy when it comes to running around like that.” A familiar voice drifted to him over the wind.[br]
[br]
“Ha-ha, what a cruel thing to say Solara!” he turned to her, cocking his head to the side in his usual playful nature. “Were you waiting for me to destroy them? You could have lent a hand you know, since I’m so old and all.”[br]
[br]
“You’re a fool Camry.” She came to him her light blond hair whipping about in the steady wind streaming down from the crevasse. “But then I’ve said all this before.” She reached out and touched the side of his face where dark red stained his pale hair, “You may not always be so fortunate.” [br]
[br]
“That is where you are wrong,” he took her hand and pressed it to his lips, “I’m a very fortunate man.” He drew her close to him, “Very fortunate indeed.”[br]
[br]
“Camr…” he cut her off before she could finish, cold lips pressing to hers. It was a desperate kiss, something terribly raw and painful behind it. As if he were trying frantically to hold onto something as intangible as a soul.[br]
[br]
Solara could do nothing but yield to such an overwhelming emotion, when he let up she gasped softly, “Camry…?” she murmured, looking up, seeking in his red eyes an answer to a question she herself didn’t even know. Long fingers brushed back her blond hair from her neck as he lowered his head and pressed his lips down to sensitive skin. One hand finding its’ way beneath her tunic, icy fingers leaving a trail of fire. “We can’t…Camry…” she lost her voice for a moment as his fingers slid down her back. “Not now, if we are found…”[br]
[br]
“If not now,” he said his voice heavy, “then when? There are no guarantees for tomorrow. In reality, for us, there is no tomorrow. We are the frozen past that lingers in the present and have no real future. We, who are in this state, are just an endless existence.” [br]
[br]
“Camry don’t say such things…” even as she said it she didn’t put much heart behind it. “It is enough for me, to be this way.” Her hands gripped tightly at his tunic.[br]
[br]
“Aye, just enough.” Camry said gently as he cradled her face in his hand bringing her in close to him. “Just enough…” he whispered as he drew his cloak up around them and they disappeared into the shadows.[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
“Are you sure of it Lantis?” Clef raised concerned eyes from where he sat in his study. [br]
[br]
Lantis nodded, “Almost a certainty.”[br]
[br]
Clef sighed, “I was wondering when he’d start to manifest some magical ability.”[br]
[br]
“He has been here quiet long enough, for even someone outside of Cephiro is capable of attaining power, just as it was possible for someone outside of Cephiro to become Pillar.” Lantis shifted his weight from where he stood by the door. [br]
[br]
“Foresight though dreams, that in itself is rare in Cephiro, much less for an outsider to obtain such ability. Though without more to go on we can’t be sure of it. Did he have any idea what the dream pertained to?” Clef asked.[br]
[br]
“I don’t think so, though he was drowsy when we were speaking. We may be able to learn more when he’s fully awake. The way he spoke of it though it seemed he’d had the dream more than once.”[br]
[br]
“What was in the dream?”[br]
[br]
“He said something about “Snow, red snow…so much ice and cold…” and a feeling that weighted heavily upon him. He didn’t understand the feeling, other than it was ‘heavy’.” Lantis paused, “Hikaru said that the other side is nothing but an empty void full of snow perhaps that was what he was referring to?”[br]
[br]
“Perhaps…” Clef considered the possibility, “When he’s awake you’ll have to question him more.”[br]
[br]
Lantis nodded with a grunt of agreement and then left, presumably to meet up with Hikaru and the others.[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
Snow. Red snow.[br]
[br]
‘Where am I?’ Red snow fell like petals around him.[br]
[br]
“There’s no more time, Eagle.” A male voice drifted to him.[br]
[br]
‘Time…no more…time? Time for what, what do you mean?’[br]
[br]
“Eagle?” A woman spoke this time.[br]
[br]
‘I know that voice…Someone…important to me.’[br]
[br]
“Eagle!?”[br]
[br]
“Eagle!?”[br]
[br]
“Eagle?” [br]
[br]
“Hey, Eagle?”[br]
[br]
Golden eyes blinked furiously, trying to focus in the bright light. “Wha…?”[br]
[br]
“About time you came around, seems like you were having a pretty unpleasant dream.” A rather gruff and familiar voice addressed him.[br]
[br]
Eagle sat up quickly, “Geo?! When did you get here?”[br]
[br]
“Three days ago and you’ve slept like a rock the whole time. Here we were all excited to see you up and about after all this time and you went and got yourself into more trouble.” His junior officer reached forward and grabbed his shoulder, “You best not let it happen again, or you’ll have me to deal with.”[br]
[br]
Eagle could only chuckle, “I should hope I do not receive such a cruel fate from a good friend.”[br]
[br]
Geo laughed and threw a fresh change of clothes at him as he stood heading for the door, “Hurry up, you fan clubs waiting for you.”[br]
[br]
“Fan club?” Eagle’s large golden eyes blinked perplexed. “Geo what are you…?”[br]
[br]
“Uh-oh, too late now…” Geo grinned looking out into the hall. [br]
[br]
Down the hall Eagle heard several voices.[br]
[br]
“Is he awake yet?” [br]
[br]
“He’s awake?”[br]
[br]
‘That sounds like Hik…’ before the though finished a flash of red came skittering around the doorway and past Geo.[br]
[br]
“Eagle!” One may now exhibit all five feet and four inches of the overly excited fire knight launch herself across the room. “Yay, you’re awake, thank goodness!” She nearly tackled him as she crushed him in a hug.[br]
[br]
“Hikaru…” Eagle nearly fell over backwards and then she seemed to suddenly rein herself in and realize what she’d done.[br]
[br]
“Oh no! I’m sorry, I didn’t hurt you did I? Are you wound’s better, I shouldn’t have jumped like that, I’m sorry!” She leapt away from him and bowed in apology quickly.[br]
[br]
“It’s alright Hikaru, you don’t have to worry.” He patted her head.[br]
[br]
“That’s great, you’re feeling better now?” She asked.[br]
[br]
“Yes, much better.” He nodded to add emphasis.[br]
[br]
“Eagle!” Zazu came in nearly just as quickly as Hikaru had, “You’re finally awake! This is so awesome!” He dashed over to stand next to Hikaru, somewhere he found himself able to restrain where Hikaru could not. “I’ve go so much to tell you, I’ve been helping design a new fighting mecha, you have to check it out!” The boy gushed on and on.[br]
[br]
“I’ll have to go tell everyone else, this is great now we can celebrate! Now that everyone’s here we should have a party!” Before Eagle could protest Hikaru was gone again and down the hall.[br]
[br]
Geo whistled, “Where does she find all that energy? Well, come on Zazu leave Eagle be so he can clean up.”[br]
[br]
“Aww man! But I wanted to talk to him!” The teenager complained.[br]
[br]
“You’ve got all of this evening to talk to him, come on.” The elder man shoved the teenager out the door.[br]
[br]
Eagle chuckled again and stood grabbing his clothes.[br]
[br]
“Hey, you okay?” Geo asked from his place by the door.[br]
[br]
“Hum? Yes, I’m alright, really I fell fine now. Why do you ask?” He gazed at his old friend.[br]
[br]
“Well that dream you were having didn’t seem very pleasant.” Brown eyes studied the young commander carefully. [br]
[br]
“Oh, it’s nothing Geo, just a dream anyway. I’ll join you in just a few minuets.” Eagle smiled at him and Geo reluctantly let it slide. “Alright.” he closed the door.[br]
[br]
Eagle stood motionless for a passing moment, “No more…time…” he mumbled and then pulled his shirt over his head and headed to wash up.[br]
[br]
Walking down the hall Geo shook his head, ‘Same old Eagle, same old smile.’ He knew that smile, that smile of Eagle’s that always meant he was hiding something. ‘Some things never change I guess.’[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
“Come on Fuu move already.” Umi wined impatiently at her blond friend and stared down at the chess pieces in front of her for the hundredth time. [br]
[br]
The two girls were comfortably sitting in the drawing room of the castle having a round of chess while they waited for Hikaru to come back.[br]
[br]
“I’m thinking.” Fuu answered as she wrinkled her nose in concentration and then moved her white knight pieces forward, taking a black pawn.[br]
[br]
“Ah man….” Umi frowned and then moved her queen back. “Your turn.”[br]
[br]
Fuu gazed at the board once more but soon enough he eyes flicked up to her friend. Umi was looking off to the side, out the window, her blue eyes distant. The girl sighed quietly, resting her chin in one hand.[br]
[br]
The wind knight smiled, “Are you worried about him, Umi?” she asked casually.[br]
[br]
“He’s been asleep so long…” Umi blinked realizing what’d she just said. “Worried about who?”[br]
[br]
Fuu giggled, “Umi, why don’t you tell him?”[br]
[br]
“Tell who what?” Umi blushed and stared down at the board, “It’s your turn.”[br]
[br]
“Oh come now Umi, do you really need to hide it from me?” Fuu returned her gaze to the board as well, “You like him don’t you; not just as a friend or like a brother the way Hikaru does?” Fuu questioned and then waited quietly. She glanced up after a moment at Umi.[br]
[br]
Umi was staring down at her hands, she rung them together and nodded yes gently, she blushed deep red and continued to stare at her hands. “Is…is it that obvious?”[br]
[br]
“Afraid so.” Fuu smiled and Umi sighed letting her head drop to the table. [br]
[br]
“I don’t know what to do Fuu. I mean…Oh I don’t know what I mean…” Umi mumbled from her arms on the table top.[br]
[br]
“If you’re sincere about how you feel I’m sure he’ll understand.” Fuu reassured her, ‘…and if I’m right about those longing looks I saw from him he’ll do more than understand…’ the blond added silently to herself.[br]
[br]
“You think so?” Umi inquired quietly.[br]
[br]
“Yes I do. I’m sure everything will turn out all right, but I think you shouldn’t wait around too long Umi. You know best of all that there are no guarantees in tomorrow.” Fuu added quietly. “Oh, checkmate.” She smiled as she took Umi’s king.[br]
[br]
“What?!” Umi sat up and glared down at the table, “No way, again?!”[br]
[br]
“So it would seem.” Fuu laughed at Umi’s outraged reaction.[br]
[br]
“Hey guys!” Hikaru poked her head in the door, “Eagle’s awake! I was thinking since everyone’s here we should have a party!”[br]
[br]
“Oh a party sounds wonderful, we all need to have some fun after worrying so much.” Fuu stood along with Umi, not missing the look of relief and joy that crossed her face. As she passed her she gave her friend a gentle pat on the shoulder, “See, this is perfect. You can tell him tonight if you want.”[br]
[br]
Umi smiled nervously, maybe she could tell him. She swallowed hard, ‘maybe’.[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
The day passed quickly into evening and the party/strategic meeting was well in way. Along with Geo and Zazu several representatives from Autozam were present as well and information was being relayed via the viewing mirror to Fahren and Chizeta. After much discussion about the current turn of events in Cephio it was decided to send reinforcements to strengthen the country’s defensives in preparation of a larger attack. The threat was deemed worthy of attention by the other nations for the sheer fact that the enemy seemed willing to attack anyone, if Eagle could be attacked, what about the other nations’ representatives?[br]
[br]
Eagle yawned quietly to himself as things began to wrap up. He’d always understood the importance of meetings like this, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed them. They were a necessary evil, in his mind. He vainly wished he’d brought some of the snacks from that basket he’d found in his room.[br]
[br]
Everyone stood from their seats exiting the throne room where the meeting had been held, Eagle excused himself from the Autozam representatives and passed Lantis, looking for the girls. He’d been unable to speak to any of them more than a passing hello since he woke; they’d been thrust into the meeting almost immediately. [br]
[br]
He caught a passing glance of them, giggling about dressing up for the actual party. A swish of blue hair caught his eye and Umi glanced up and back in his direction. A small, tentative smile graced her face and then she was gone.[br]
[br]
The pale blond man sighed with a bit of a frown. [br]
[br]
“Perhaps you should go change as well; I do believe Geo brought your dress uniform for you.” Lantis appeared next to him.[br]
[br]
“You really think I should wear that thing?” Eagle chuckled more to relieve his own tension than out of actual amusement as he reached for a drink.[br]
[br]
“Well, you wouldn’t want her to out class you, now would you?” Lantis said with the utmost straightest face.[br]
[br]
Eagle nearly did a spit take with this drink. “Lantis?” The commander looked up bewildered at his friend.[br]
[br]
Lantis merely walked away, probably to go change himself from his usual black into his white dress clothes.[br]
[br]
Eagle stared after his friend for a good moment, then scratched his head a bit as he headed for his own room to change…sometimes he really didn’t get Lantis, not at all.[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
Umi sighed as she took her hair down for the third time and began to comb it once again. She still couldn’t decide what to do with it. Up or down nothing seemed to work, well, in her mind anyways.[br]
[br]
Hikaru was sitting across from her, already in her fluffy pink chiffon dress, helping Fuu to lace the back of her bodice styled dress, its heavy forest green folds pooled around her feet. “Umi do you need some help?” she asked as she stepped away from Hikaru.[br]
[br]
“No, its just I don’t know what to do with my hair…” Umi pouted as she stared at her reflection. [br]
[br]
“We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry.” Hikaru hopped up looking every bit like a fairy, her red hair lose and wild with a few flowers in it. [br]
[br]
“I know, I think I have an idea.” Fuu smiled knowingly and reached for her comb. “You’ll be ready in no time.”[br]
[br]
It took only a few minuets of Fuu’s steady hands to style Umi’s long hair. Umi settled for the style, partly pulled back with long slender silver pins and the rest left to hang lose. [br]
[br]
“Come on lets go!” Hikaru tugged the two of them down the hall.[br]
[br]
Umi and Fuu could only smile at one another and follow the bubbly red head.[br]
[br]
Meanwhile in the main room, Eagle in full dress uniform was about to drive Lantis crazy with his fidgeting. The blond kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other while mildly listening to Zazu about the new design for a fighting mecha. [br]
[br]
Lantis wondered vaguely how in the world the commander managed to keep so collected in every other kind of situation. Women nearly fell over him back in Autozam; he would think Eagle could deal with just one. Perhaps it made a difference that this time the feelings were not one sided. [br]
[br]
He’d never understood why other people made such a fuss over these things, he’d not found it difficult to tell Hikaru his intentions. She hadn’t quiet understood what he meant at the time, but he’d always been a patient man and she eventually came to understand his feelings. Lantis gave an internal sigh of relief as he saw the bouncing red head appear with the other knights in tow. [br]
[br]
He reached over and lightly tapped Eagle on the shoulder and nodded in the direction of the girls. [br]
[br]
Eagle blinked and then followed the motion and smiled.[br]
[br]
“Lantis, Eagle!” Hikaru let go of the other knights and hopped over to the men. Latching onto Lantis’ elbow she looked like a wisp of pink cotton candy.[br]
[br]
“Hikaru you shouldn’t hop around like that in a dress.” Umi laughed at her.[br]
[br]
“I know but I’m happy, I can’t help it.” Hikaru shrugged.[br]
[br]
“Well, don’t you three look lovely?” Eagle greeted them, his gaze flicked to Umi and he smiled at her. “You outshine everyone else here I think, wouldn’t you agree Lantis?” The blond glanced up to his friend, who gave a single, ‘hum’ of agreement.[br]
[br]
“Thank you Eagle.” Fuu smiled and waved at Feiro as she glanced at Umi and then Lantis. Lantis caught her eyes and seemed to understand what she was thinking. Looking back on it later Fuu could have sworn she saw him roll his eyes…but she could never be quiet sure about it.[br]
[br]
Feiro joined the group and Fuu gently grabbed his hand. She smiled at him and he turned a few shades of red himself, she did look rather pretty. “Let’s go dance.” [br]
[br]
“What…but…” Feiro protested not sure if he really wanted to make a fool of himself.[br]
[br]
“Come on it’ll be fun.” She coaxed him out onto the floor and placed one of his hands on her waist and placed her own on his shoulder. The Prince turned a few shades deeper with a rather large sweat drop on his forehead before he got a hold of himself.[br]
[br]
Umi giggled at the sight the two of them made and Eagle couldn’t help but join her at the Prince’s expense.[br]
[br]
“Let’s get something to drink Hikaru.” Lantis offered and Hikaru obliged, smiling back as they walked off.[br]
[br]
Once again, by no fault of their own, Uri and Eagle were alone.[br]
[br]
Eagle glanced down at Umi; she was watching Fuu and Feiro, a soft smile on her face. ‘Well,’ he thought, ‘since everyone else has left to their own devices.’ “May I have the honor?” he offered her his arm.[br]
[br]
Umi glanced up and smiled, “Yes” she quickly agreed, linking her arm in his. She glanced back at Fuu and Feiro as Eagle led her towards the garden. Fuu smiled in gentle encouragement and the water knight swallowed nervously. [br]
[br]
“Something the matter Umi?” Eagle asked as he casually snagged two drinks as they passed a table.[br]
[br]
“Oh no, I’m fine” she flashed a smiled up at him.[br]
[br]
“It worked!” Fuu grinned, as she tugged the confused Feiro off the dance floor and watched the retreating couple.[br]
[br]
“What worked?” The prince’s copper eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”[br]
[br]
“Look.” She pointed after Umi and Eagle.[br]
[br]
“What, those two…? You mean…?” Feiro raised a green eyebrow and pointed in their direction.[br]
[br]
“Not yet, that’s why I wanted them to be alone.” Fuu smiled.[br]
[br]
“Who’s alone?” Hikaru asked as she and Lantis returned.[br]
[br]
“You did a wonderful job Lantis, thank you.” The blond graciously took a drink Feiro handed her.[br]
[br]
Hikaru blinked, “What did Lantis do? And where did Umi and Eagle go?”[br]
[br]
“Ya, where did they go?” Geo suddenly joined them.[br]
[br]
“Into the garden together.” Fuu answered, seeming quiet pleased with the turn of events.[br]
[br]
Feiro rolled his eyes, “Apparently Fuu has decided to play matchmaker…but what I want to know how you got Lantis to help you?”[br]
[br]
“Eagle and Umi…?” Hikaru blinked and looked up to Lantis, “When did they start to like each other?”[br]
[br]
“Whoa, wait. When did that happen?” Geo was just as surprised as Hikaru.[br]
[br]
“Not long after he woke from his coma.” Lantis answered bluntly.[br]
[br]
“I didn’t notice until later.” Fuu added. [br]
[br]
“So you decided to lend them a helping hand?” Feiro laughed.[br]
[br]
“Well I thought it couldn’t hurt to at least give them the chance.” Fuu sipped her drink; ‘I just wanted them to have a chance to be happy as well, they deserve it’ she thought and then sweetly asked Feiro if he’d dance with her again.[br]
[br]
o
o
o[br]
[br]
Eagle and Umi wondered into the garden, following the spiraling stone path to wherever it led them. There was a comfortable silence between them until they reached an area with stone benches and he asked if she’d like to sit, she agreed, and gathering the long train of her dress she set her self down delicately on the edge of the cool stone.[br]
[br]
“Here” he offered her one of the drinks he’d snagged and sat beside her.[br]
[br]
“Thank you” her pale fingers wrapped around the cool glass and she took a sip.[br]
[br]
“I should be the one thanking you, I believe, that’s twice now you’ve saved me.” He laughed quietly.[br]
[br]
Umi shook her head, “I think we should call it even, since you saved my neck in the fight with those two women.” She took another sip of her drink, her eyes narrowed, as if she were contemplating something.[br]
[br]
“Well, that still leaves me one short then.” He smiled; leaning forward with his elbows on his knees he rested his chin on his hands.[br]
[br]
“No” she said quietly and paused for a moment, he waited quietly for her to continue. Setting her glass down beside her she gazed downward, some lose strands of hair sliding down to hide her eyes from him. “You stopped me from doing something I would have greatly regretted, if I had killed that woman…I would have never forgiven myself.” [br]
[br]
Slender fingers clutched the fabric of her dress, her knuckles turning white. “I’ve never felt like that before, not in the battles we fought when we first came to Cephrio or in the fight with Zagato or the Princess, not even in our fights with you. I didn’t just want to defeat her, I wanted to kill her…” she stared down at her hands as if they weren’t her own.[br]
[br]
Eagle stopped her words by reaching up to slide the hair out of her face with the back of his fingers. “I understand, but you shouldn’t worry about it so much, regrets are for after something happens, not before. You were scared and worried, your friends were in danger, most people under such circumstances would feel the same.” [br]
[br]
His hand dropped away from her and he sat up strait looking off and away from her, “Killing isn’t always done by evil people. Sometimes, no matter how much we wish it wasn’t true, the taking of a life is necessary. When you’re in such a situation hesitation over whether something is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ will most likely get you killed, because the person you’re fighting isn’t likely to be thinking the same thing. The price of taking a life is heavy, you know that, and you shouldn’t go into battle unless you’re willing and capable of taking on that burden.”[br]
[br]
Umi sat utterly still, her gaze riveted on the young man in front her, only when he spoke with such heavy words did she remember first and foremost he was a solider and just how many lives had probably ended by his hand.[br]
[br]
“I think, when it comes to it,” he continued quietly, “no matter how much blood you spill the only thing you can do is get up, wash the blood away, and keep going. You and Hikaru made me understand that dying doesn’t change anything, if you want things to change and to protect the people you love, you have to live.” [br]
[br]
He stood and walked a few paces away from her, glancing back at her with an unhappy smile, if such a thing is possible. One closed hand was pressed to her lips, wide blue eyes stared at him unblinking. “Do I scare you now, knowing that I think like that?”[br]
[br]
“No!” she said so sharply that he turned to her. She stood, her blue dress shimmered, catching the early moon light and throwing it back out like millions of tiny stars. Nearing his side she glared up at him, the sea’s wrath visible in her gaze, “I don’t ever want to hear you say such a thing, do you understand?” she demanded.[br]
[br]
Eagle blinked, momentarily stunned by her sudden spit fire tone, but then he smiled, “Yes of course.” “You should tell her…You may lose your chance, if the resent turn of events should go ill.” Lantis’ words rang in his ears as he gazed down at her.[br]
[br]
“Good, because I would never be frightened of you. That would be silly, because…” her tone softened, “because I…” she hesitated. ‘Oh why can’t I say it out loud?!’ she silently berated herself. Her hand nervously fidgeted with the pin in her hair. [br]
[br]
She was pulled out of the silent debate with herself when his hand came up and cradled the side of her face and then gently pulled the pin from her hair, the mass of blue locks tumbling into his fingers. The touch instantly made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, she turned her eyes up to his and her breath stopped in her throat.[br]
[br]
He was gazing down at her, he seemed content for his eyes had turned that deep warm butterscotch color she’d come to understand meant he was happy. Almost of its on accord her hand came up to his, pressing it against her cheek, the warmth from his skin was soothing. “Eagle?” she breathed his name more than spoke it.[br]
[br]
Stepping a bit more forward he closed the distance between them, but he just couldn’t seem to break the silence between them. He smiled, perhaps he didn’t have to. “Umi, may I ask you something?”[br]
[br]
For some reason Umi found herself smiling as he switched to thought speech, “Yes.” [br]
[br]
Leaning forward he was close enough for her to smell the distinct aroma she’d noticed when he’d comforted her before, along with another more subtle scent that she couldn’t quiet place, but something about it just said ‘male.’[br]
[br]
“May I kiss you?” He held her gaze steadily.[br]
[br]
If he hadn’t sounded so sincere, if his eyes hadn’t held hers so earnestly she might have laughed at his formality. In answer she reached up and tied her hands around his neck, “Yes.”[br]
[br]
A heartbeat later, his arm slid around her waist pressing her close, her eyes slid shut and his mouth found hers in a strong but gentle kiss. One hand supported the back of her head at the base of her neck, tilting her back to deepen the kiss. [br]
[br]
Umi swore her knees were about to give out on her and her arms tightened around his neck, one hand sifting though the soft hair at the base of his neck.[br]
[br]
In the quiet stillness of the garden, the two of them told each other everything with out ever saying a word and silently wished that time could be frozen if for only a little while, so that such a precious thing could last but a moment longer.

You are not authorized to comment here. Your must be registered and logged in to comment