Title: Embrace The…

Genre: Romance / Angst

Pairings: Canon Pairs

Rating: T (13+ Only)

Lit, Type: Collaboration Fic

Author(s): Aruka and Itena-chan

Summary: Seven years had passed and the three Magic Knights parted ways. With secrets kept and stories untold, how would the three Knights cope with each other, when one is suffering a dreadful condition?

When happiness consumes your heart, you barely notice the pain that wells up in you. But what if a certain Magic Knight ceases to feel this pleasure? Would she give into the dark; or would she embrace the light her dear friends envelope her with?

Author's Note: Fangirl-Tachi is an account created by Aruka and Itena-chan as a collaboration fic Pen Name and Account. You can find both our individual accounts on the profile. Thanks and love lots, minna-san!

Disclaimer: Magic Knight Rayearth belongs and is copyrighted to Clamp.

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…Embrace The…

Prologue

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"Umi-chan, Fuu-chan- I," Hikaru, the Magic Knight of Fire was terribly distressed that morning; her voice was somehow muted and shaky as she held her two dearest friends hand, eyes watery with tears.

Concerned and awed about the sudden mood Hikaru swung at them, Umi and Fuu gave looks of wonder at each other; both of them turning to Hikaru's sides as they soothed her back to calm down. Fuu gradually wiped the streaks of tears that ran down Hikaru's flustered cheeks; Umi, on the other hand watched Hikaru tremble in her hold.

"Hikaru-san, what's wrong?" Fuu started, followed by Umi who turned to face Hikaru asking the same question. The redhead muted her sobs in her hands, covering her face from the tears she shed before her friends. With brows furrowed, the two remaining Magic Knights guided her to their favorite place at the garden. All the while, Umi and Fuu couldn't bring Hikaru to tell what's bothering her; giving her time to ease down, they both led her out for some fresh air.

Hikaru remained quiet; her tears were flowing like the fountain across them. Her demeanor was quite out of place that day; the bubbly and cheerful Hikaru was now endowed in tears that drenched her face. Umi and Fuu couldn't help but get worried.

Asking the question again, Umi sternly stared at Hikaru as she squatted down in front of her, "Hikaru-chan, we're not going anywhere if you keep on crying like that," her voice was clear and firm, but the glint of worry and concern were visible in her sapphire eyes, "what's wrong?"

Slipping her hand away from her face, Hikaru drew them to her lap and clenched her fists there, saying-

"Gomen-!" shrieked a voice behind Fuu.

Startled, Fuu tilted her head and saw Umi bowing down in apology. "I got caught in traffic. I can't believe how horrible the streets are now here in Tokyo." As usual, Umi began to make a monologue of rants about certain things; Fuu was amazed at Umi's energy when she goes about it in details. Wearing out the sad expression she held earlier, she smiled warmly at her friend as Umi took a seat across her.

"I didn't keep you waiting, did I?" the bluenette asked, as a young waitress took Umi's order. "You ordered yet?" she followed up the question, still not looking at Fuu. The emerald eyed girl only gestured her head to a yes, which Umi saw from the corner of her eyes. Basking herself in her seat, Fuu began to whirl her wine glass and watched the red liquid swirl around it.

'Red…' Fuu sighed heavily, while a flashback from Cephiro shot at her; mostly, Hikaru's.

Upon noticing the wineglass in Fuu's hand, Umi rested her elbow on the table and placed her hand on her cheek. "Three years passed and now you drink," the cerulean beauty commented.

Shaking her head, Fuu defended herself, "Not all the time," she shrugged her shoulders and took a sip.

Umi, being not used to seeing this change in Fuu only watched and observed; a lot of things changed since they left Cephiro for the third time. She changed, Fuu changed; she wondered- did Hikaru change too?

Sighing, Umi completely rested herself in the chair, watching the city lights illuminate in the dark horizon.

"It's been so long since," Fuu absently said, staring at the familiar structure across the street, with the bright lights reflecting her unmasked eyes. Umi only managed a nod, recalling the memories left in Tokyo Tower.

"Fuu," Umi whispered, "I missed you." The serene look on Umi's face showed all the sincerity she had in her words. Smiling, Fuu's hand crept on the table and reached for Umi's.

"I missed you too," grasping her hand tight, Fuu beamed sadly "I missed all of you."

Knowing how Fuu felt, Umi revered it as her own. She felt awful; all this time she couldn't look Fuu in the eyes 'till now, and her heart was swelling. "Sorry, Fuu-chan…"

"Umi-san," she cheered up doubling her hands on her friend, "Its okay. I understand."

"No Fuu, I left, I shouldn't have." Umi held Fuu's hand tighter, eyes asking for forgiveness. "I left without telling you. I'm so sorry. I just- I couldn't…"

"We all have choices. But our choices would not tarnish our friendship. Back in Cephiro, we looked out for each other, but in life, we must face things that we need to decide upon. To stay or not to stay; but that doesn't mean we're no longer bonded. No distance could set our hearts apart. We're sisters in soul, duty and valor. We're Magic Knights, remember?" Fuu giggled, as Umi began to burst in tears.

"Oh Fuu," smiling back, Umi acknowledged her words, "Yeah, we are Magic Knights. We're inseparable."

"By heart," Fuu added. "By heart," Umi repeated, smiling all the more.

"So, other than drinking, what's new?" Umi asked, taking the glass away from Fuu's hand and drank down all the remaining liquid.

Fuu shook her head at Umi's attempt of taking the bad stuff away from her system. "Nothing much; just received an Honorary Award from the Medical Bureau for my Research."

"Oh," Umi squealed and clasped her hands together, making the rest of the customers glance up at them; Fuu shyly bowed her head, finding Umi still exhilarated by it. "How wonderful, I'm so happy for you Fuu, I really am!"

"I know you are," she crossed her arms and sarcastically stared at Umi, nudging her head to the tables near them. And with the usual Umi Ryuuzaki death glare, all the other customers looked away as if nothing happened; Fuu only laughed at this.

"What about you?" Fuu asked back.

Pondering, Umi again rested her arm on the table with her hands on her cheek, "Well, you know-" she shrugged her shoulders and smiled, "same old stuffs."

"Ah, modeling and being a marine biologist." Fuu stated.

Umi pouted, swirling her index finger in the air, "It's the other way around, y'know. Being a Marine biologist and Modeling, I already told you that."

Fuu nodded sarcastically, "Yeah, you did." Umi's brows furrowed as she pouted her cheeks more, making her look like a blow fish. "That's cute Umi-chan, let me take a picture."

Discreetly sneaking her cell phone from her purse, Fuu shot a photo of Umi looking childish and silly with the bloated expression. Trying to suppress her laughter as she viewed Umi's picture; her victim, Umi, got back at her almost instantaneously and clicked on her phone for a close up shot of Fuu helplessly holding her stomach as she laughed holding her phone.

"Gotcha," Umi grinned wide and devilish at Fuu, who whimpered about into getting Umi's phone from her hands. "Hey, hey, we're even. You can keep my picture, I'll keep yours."

Sitting back down, Fuu crossed her arms and mumbled, "Fine."

Another moment of silence passed them as they watched Tokyo Tower's mighty structure stand out in the background of bright lights.

"Have you been having dreams too, Fuu-chan?" Umi slightly turned to her.

"Yes, I have." Fuu confirmed, "Do you think it's true?"

"It might as well be. How often do you wake up with Cephirian rose petals showered in your bedroom?" Umi answered a question.

"You're right." Fuu smiled. "How long has it been, since we were last there?" now, the sadness began to consume Fuu again, relinquishing the flourishing romance of her teenage years.

"About seven years, I think." Umi replied. "I was here with you for two years before I permanently moved to France, but in those times, we just sat here admiring Tokyo Tower."

"Sad, but true," Fuu returned, "It's not like we wanted to forget everything, it was just-"

"Painful?" Umi continued in question.

Fuu muted herself from any comments, as she sat languidly in her seat admiring Tokyo Tower from a distance.

"Five years…" Umi sighed, "So I guess you haven't been here either since I left."

Nodding, Fuu looked at Umi in grief. "I haven't been anywhere near this place since. I don't know, but it was better when you were here to have a chat with. It numbs the pain when you know someone is there to comfort you."

"I'm a terrible friend." Umi admitted.

"No you weren't," Fuu interjected. "You're a great friend. So is Hikaru."

"Hikaru…" Umi found herself whispering her dear friend's name. She hadn't seen her in a long time; sometimes, she finds herself wandering off with the thoughts of Hikaru and Fuu in her head. How wonderful were those times they spent with each other. And it pained her a lot when they had to fall apart. But who was she to hinder a decision that would make her friend happy? And it took her years to realize she had hurt Fuu for leaving. She felt guilty; but anyway glad when Fuu shed light to her earlier.

"Finally," Umi breathed in relief, "We'll get to see them soon."

Fuu only glared at Umi; however, she felt a little awkward with the idea. If not for Hikaru's request, she would definitely not go. "Yes, very soon." She blandly said, seemingly uninterested with the topic.

"Shall we then?" Umi offered her hand to Fuu as she stood up. "Our first trip to Tokyo Tower in seven years,"

"Exciting," Fuu ruefully remarked.

"Oh c'mon Fuu, lighten up. It's not that bad, I'm sure he understood why you left, at least by now."

Casting her eyes down, Fuu walked beside Umi as they made their way out of the restaurant. 'If only you knew…' Fuu grieved. 'If only…'

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To Be Continued…

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Author's Note: Prologue written by Aruka. In the next chapter, Itena-chan would make your hearts melt; watch out for it. Don't forget to leave your reviews please! Aruka