Never Enough

At age fourteen, Hikaru Shidou who had never in her life even had a crush on a boy had fallen deeply and irreversibly in love with a man from another world. She had fallen in love with the brother of a man she had killed. She had fallen in love with Lantis.

For a time, she had struggled against such overwhelming feelings; believing them never to be returned.

Yet, no matter how many times she or her shadow self had told her to ignore what she felt, the fire within her burned so fiercely for the Magic Swordsmen that it hurt. Her mind, her body, her soul ached simply to be in his presence. So when finally the mission of the Magic Knights had been fulfilled and they were to go back to their world perhaps never to return, she could not keep herself quiet. Tears brimmed her eyes and she'd confessed.

At last she had been able to admit the truth. She said she loved him and she had thought that would be enough.

'And I love you.'

Hikaru blinked. She had hoped, but to hear those words come from him shocked her, amazed her. She stared at him; daring to move closer and within the span of a moment she'd felt his heart, open for her alone to know. She smiled. One touch would be enough and then Umi, Fuu and she were back in Tokyo Tower.

She hugged her dear friends, cried with them in happiness. The comfortable weight of his pendant still hung around her neck; Lantis loved her. He and the world they cared for so dearly would be safe. She was so sure in that moment that it was enough.

At age fifteen, in the last semester of ninth grade Hikaru, Umi and Fuu, their bond strong as ever met once again at Tokyo Tower. A year had gone by with the love in their hearts never once subsiding. Hikaru often thought of Lantis, everything she knew about him committed to memory. She remembered the way he walked, the way he talked, the gentleness in his touch, the piercing intensity of his eyes... Nova being long reintegrated into her being she could even remember the way he'd smelled when she'd held close to his armor and the feel of his lips when the elven version of her had stolen a kiss. It made her shiver. She needed go back just once more.

Their wish unanimous. They saw the mirage of Cephiro in the sky and then they were there.

Most of their friends, they discovered had found duties within the palace. They were guided to the throne room where they were met with a warm welcome. Ferio sought out Fuu with steady loving eyes. Clef and Umi danced around their hello's awkwardly, though Hikaru couldn't quite understand why. Umi who always seemed to have a sense about relationships, and took to teasing both her and Fuu about the rosy cheeks they sported when discussing Lantis and Ferio stumbled over her own words like a heroin in the cheesy romance novels they'd read. Before she could finally make her first cheeky comment to Umi about romance she felt his presence and all humor left her.

His eyes caught hers over the distance of the throne room. Her lone wolf standing apart from the rest of them; tall, dark and utterly handsome. Her name rung in her ears when he spoke it, like a thunderclap overhead that shook one's entire body and she knew she had been a fool to think that seeing him once more would ever be enough.

"Lantis," His name rolled off her tongue yearning, demanding.

It was then that the others noticed him as well. All taking pause.

"Excuse me," She addressed addressed the group and took her leave with him without so much as a second glance.

The simple act of walking the palace corridors with him, her arm linked around his was enough to make an intangible something inside her want to explode. She asked him to tell her about the new world and when he spoke her insides twisted in excitement wanting more.

Hikaru drew them outside so she could see the outstretch of land and the sparkling ocean in the distance. Her volcano was out there somewhere too. They took up sitting on one of the palaces' long branching crystals and he continued his recollection of the past year's events. They watched the sun set and when prompted, she talked to him about her world and he was just as captivated as she had been when he told her of the rebuilding process.

He stayed the night talking with her outside until she'd fallen asleep against his shoulder. As Lantis had done in the past, he carried Hikaru to her room, rousing her only when they'd made it to her door.

"Sorry," she'd managed as he gently set her down.

He disentangled himself from her and wished her good night.

"Wait," she beckoned. He was still within arms reach.

"Yes?" his voice cool but with a twinge of anxiety.

"Lantis..." her voice held him still while she searched for words.

She gazed up at him with desperate eyes. The intangible something inside her fully returned demanding action. Finally, "If I may ask something of you."

"Anything," he was still, assessing her. Curious and careful.

She sensed the tension in him. He was waiting just as she was.

"It may seem inappropriate. In the dead of night, outside my bedroom..." Her cheeks reddened and she reached for and pulled gently at his shirt until he leaned into her. "Please don't think me promiscuous."

His hands clasped her shoulders she needn't say anymore. He heard the desire in her heart. She stood on the tips of her toes and caught his lips.

Ever the gentlemen with her, Lantis kept the kiss light. The mere contact sending sparks through him and he gleaned just briefly the torrential flame burning for him inside her. He slowly pulled back. He was warm and unsteady on his feet. He held her close not quite ready to break contact.

Hikaru snuggled into his shirt overwhelmed herself. When finally she stepped back they both took a breath after what felt like ages.

"Good night Lantis." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He visibly swallowed, cleared his throat. "Good night, Hikaru."

The door closed behind her and in the quiet seclusion of the hallway he allowed himself to lean against her door. His body still tingled from her touch and he wondered how he'd managed the long year without having her in his life. He wanted more. 'No,' he thought desperately. 'This is enough...'

On the other side of the door Hikaru sat on her bed, still in her day clothes. She licked her lips and touched her fingers to them the aftershock still present. Shaking from the want. 'Oh,' She was barely a woman. Her grasp on sexuality very limited to what her family had allowed her to learn but with Lantis so near she felt the fire in her twist and turn and build lower in her. 'Oh this was not proper at all...'

TBC...

Author's Notes: My intent is to explore the relationship of Hikaru and Lantis in a very sensual way. I have no particular chapter set in mind for an actual sex scene but she will be aged up before that happens...