Disclaimer:
I gave the parents of Hikaru names, not to confuse anyone, but I didn't know their names and it was bugging me.. so yeah!

I've added a few characters. 'Syrah,' younger sister of Hikaru, 'Kamen', younger brother of Fuu, and 'Kaguya', younger sister of Umi.

They all play there parts!

I DO NOT OWN RAYEARTH! But- I do own Kamen, Kaguya, and Syrah- so nah!

Kizuna-San

Hikaru Shidou tossed over in her bed. Groaning she smashed her fist on top of her alarm. It was six in the morning, and the sun hadn't even risen yet. August air wafted through Hikaru's open window. Hikaru sat up and tucked a few lose strands of hair behind her ear. She turned and looked at the wall above the head of her bed.
Three pictures hung. One was a group picture of everyone: Clef, Ferio, Primera, Caldina, Ascot, Lafarga, Alcyone, Nova, Geo, Zazu, the princesses of Fahren and Chi-zeta, Umi, Fuu, herself, Lantis, and Eagle. The second picture was of her, Umi, and Fuu. And the last photo was of Eagle, Lantis, and herself. She felt her heart lurch as she looked at Lantis. It had been nearly a year and half since she had seen Cephiro.
Umi and Fuu had been just as occupied with school, work, sports and life in general. Hikaru was in the same pickle they were in. Yes, the three of them could travel to Cephiro, and time would stop on Earth, but still the idea of having so much to do and so little time was a nuisance.
Hikaru groggily lifted her thin self out of bed and strode over to her windows opening the shades. The sky was fading from dark to light as the sun began to show its pearly whites.
Hikaru stepped over to her mirror, examining her face. Her gentle bright red eyes were tired and worn out. Her complexion was pale. Fiery red tresses burned down to her mid back, flowing as if on fire. Slowly, she brushed and braided it. Hikaru tugged on the braid slightly to loosen it as it draped over her left shoulder and breast.
She strode over to her walk in closet and pulled down a pair of black jeans. Next she slid into an orange tank top, pulling a comfortable red hoodie over it. Lastly she slid on her sandals and walked down into the kitchen. A sweet full-grown female husky bounded in to meet Hikaru.
Hikaru smiled, "morning Hikari!" Hikaru nuzzled Hikari as Hikari lapped at her face.
"Look who's up early!" Hikaru's older brother said teasingly. He was tall and in his late teens, early twenties. (Nineteen-Twenty-One) Light brown eyes gleamed and strewn about his head was his dark chocolate brown hair. He was 6 foot 3 inches. Hikaru wasn't sure how he ended up so tall and herself so short.
"Morning Masaru!" She smiled, hugging him from behind.
Masaru softly smiled, "Hikaru you're getting older with everyday. I hope you stick around once you graduate."
"Yeah, I know what would we do around here with out our baby sister to torment?" Satoru the middle brother said, leaning in the doorframe. The youngest brother peered from behind him, smirking.
"It'd be pretty boring if Mom and Syrah were the only girls."
"Kakeru, Satoru, Masaru," Hikaru's smile broadened, "I'll always be in reach."
Satoru's face puffed up, "You better be young lady!" He walked over and gave Hikaru a gentle noogy. Hikaru giggled and hugged Satoru.
"So sis, why are you up so early?" Kakeru asked.
Hikaru smiled but sadness filled her eyes. "I'm off to see Umi and Fuu. We're going to hang out..."
Satoru blinked, "I'm still with Kakeru. Why so early?"
"We haven't seen each other in quite a while, and the two of them are pretty busy later on. We decided morning would be best."
"Is Syrah going with you?" Masaru questioned.
Hikaru blinked, "No, she's meeting up with Kaguya and Kamen."
"All right then, be back before dinner." Masaru said as he started breakfast.
----

Hikaru choked back her tears as her stomach churned. The gravel of the sidewalk blurred every now and then as she approached the bus stop. She hoped her family could forgive her...even thought they did not know of her private travels.

------

Hikaru got off the bus and thanked the bus driver. She sat on a near by bench awaiting Umi and Fuu in front of Tokyo Tower. Soon enough the other two Magic Knights would show up. Hikaru desperately wanted to visit Cephiro!

-Or rather Lantis is what I am so desperate for...-

"Hoooyyy!!!" Hikaru flushed a bright crimson as she realized her re-occurring thoughts. Hikaru gave in to her mind, allowing her thoughts to wander. His tall, slim, soft gray eyes and tousled black hair. His quiet, calm disposition. She and Lantis had come close to their first kiss, but were rudely interrupted by their own embarrassment.

"Hikaru!" A young woman's voice pulled Hikaru from her thoughts.
"UMI! FUU!" Hikaru jumped up and the three hugged each other tight.

Umi pulled back just enough so she could see Hikaru and her shortness. Hikaru looked up at Umi and grinned. Umi was tall and thin with gorgeous light blue hair that reached her hips. Bright bubbly, ocean blue eyes glimmered with life as they reflected in Hikaru's. Umi wore blue jean Capri's, and a snug, light blue t- shirt.

"How does it feel to be seventeen Hikaru?" Umi grinned slyly.
Hikaru smiled, "definitely a lot better than being sixteen! Fuu how've you been?" Hikaru turned to the blonde.
"Just fine thank you." Fuu said politely. Fuu looked through small thin-framed glasses with radiant green eyes. Golden blond tresses sat fashionably on her shoulders, curling perfectly. Fuu wore a long dark tan skirt and a light green blouse.

The girls smiled thoughtfully at one another, unable to with stand the fact they were returning to Cephiro!

"What do you say we visit Cephiro?" Hikaru suggested excitedly.
Umi bobbed her head. "I have wanted to for so long! But it's been so impossible with all this vacation work, PLEASE! Let's go!"
Fuu chuckled, "Umi you sound like you're begging Hikaru!"
"Oh, but I am." Umi said teasingly, winking.
"Then let's go!" Hikaru said grabbing her best friend's hands and running inside Tokyo Tower with them.

A silent shock hit the Magic Knights.

"WHY AREN'T WE GOING!?" Umi snapped, her brows furrowed.
Hikaru's eyes fogged over, "I'm not sure..."
"Hmmm," Fuu pondered. All three girls stood there, at the top of Tokyo tower, clueless as to why they weren't transporting.
The girls pondered for a little longer, bickering as quietly as they possibly could.
Umi growled. "I want to see Clef!" As quickly as Umi had said it she was covering her mouth and flushing.
Fuu blinked, "You mean to tell us that you fancy Master Mage Clef?"
"No! No never!...I just meant umm...what I meant...mmmm" Umi hung her head in embarrassment. It was hopeless trying to fake out Hikaru and Fuu. The three shared a quick laugh before going back to their sad thinking postures and the depressing situation at hand.
"I wonder," Hikaru said sadly, "If Cephiro is still alive..." Hikaru trailed off, an enormous look of disappointment crossing her visage.
Umi and Fuu exchanged worried glances.
"What do you mean Hikaru?" Umi said tilting her head.
Hikaru swallowed the knot in her throat. "I mean, what if Cephiro is gone! And we were never aware of it!" The stress level rose in her voice as she thrust tears back into her gut.
Umi fidgeted. "Don't think such things! Cephiro couldn't be it?"
Fuu's eyes softened sadly, "Oh Ferio..."
The girls all agreed to discuss this over a restaurant breakfast. They hit the elevator just as tourists filed in.

----

The girl's sat in a restaurant near Tokyo Tower. They ordered their food and waited.
"So, our current situation is..." Fuu started off the conversation, "we can't get to Cephiro, and we're all very desperate to."
"Captain obvious." Umi stated sarcastically. "Do you think our maturing has affected our will?"
Hikaru sighed, "That could be a possibility; yet if we're desperate enough, why can't we get there?"
Umi thought out loud. "Maybe the portals stopped working because we did not use them often enough?"
"I really don't think that's the case. I have this odd feeling something is wrong in Cephiro and needs fixing, or Cephiro isn't there anymore..." Hikaru's voice trailed off, crimson eyes filling with tears. "I may never be able to see him again..."
Umi put an arm around Hikaru. "Don't worry! Cephiro isn't gone!" Umi looked up at Fuu. "We can try again in a few days Hikaru..."
"Miss Hikaru has a point Miss Umi. What if something is wrong? We aren't there to save them..." Fuu's eyes filled with tears, but she quickly swiped them away.
"Mmmm." Umi hugged Hikaru. "We'll figure it out one way or another! In one week we'll meet at the bottom of Tokyo Tower, and if it doesn't work then we'll keep meeting every week! Same time, same day."
"Mmmm hmmm..." Hikaru nodded wiping away her tears.
"Let's eat." Umi said softly, holding back her tears for Hikaru and Fuu's sake.

----

After breakfast the girls spent a few hours window-shopping and went their separate ways.
Hikaru walked lazily down the street to her house. Normally she forced herself to be happy go lucky for everyone's sake, but at the same time she couldn't even go see the man she loved!
Once home Hikaru moseyed on around the house doing absolutely nothing. Syrah came out of her room to catch the depressed face of her elder sister. Suspicion rose in her eyes and she stepped quietly towards her sister.
"Sister what's wrong?" Syrah's eyes were the same bright red as Hikaru's, and her hair was a thick, flowing, lightening pink. Syrah was slightly shorter, seeing how she really was the youngest in the family.
Hikaru looked at Syrah, "it has to do with Cephiro, doesn't it?" Suddenly the sweet and innocent expression changed on Syrah's face. Her voice became seductive and mysterious. "Do tell."
The girls went into Hikaru's room shutting and locking the door.
Syrah did not look like Syrah anymore. Her ears had formed to a more elf-like shape. The color of her clothing shifted to a black spandex outfit, fitting to her form perfectly.
"So, what happened?" 'Syrah' said intensely.
"We couldn't get to Cephiro..."Hikaru's eyes watered some.
"What do you mean?" 'Syrah's' sounded bewildered.
"Nova," Hikaru's voice was frustrated, "WE COULD NOT GET TO CEPHIRO EVEN THOUGH OUR DESPERATION AND WILL WAS STRONG ENOUGH!!! Why!?"
That's right, Nova was Hikaru's counter part. As much as Nova was born from Hikaru she was also born from Syrah; she was Syrah. Syrah was unaware of this however. When Cephiran related things occurred Nova sensed it. Nova would remove her out-self memories, and draw her within herself so that she, Nova, could be released temporarily. So in a literal sense, Nova possessed young Syrah.
"So..." Nova pouted, "We won't be able to see Eagle or Lantis?"
Hikaru nodded. Tears slid over her cheek and onto the dark ruby rug. "I need to see him!" Hikaru's face fell into her hands.
Nova sighed, "Just as much as I need to see Eagle..." Ever since Cephiro was able to support itself without a pillar and Nova was connected back to Hikaru; Nova had fallen for dear sweet Eagle.
"What will we do?" Hikaru's face was stained with tears, and the tears still flowed.
Nova's smile softened. Yes it was still true, she hated everything Hikaru loved, and everything Hikaru hated, she loved. However, from being with Hikaru for nearly two years it really had worn off, and Nova had a mind of her own. "I'm sorry Hikaru..."
An abrupt knock on the door interrupted the two.
"Girls it's dinner time!" It was their mother, Kauri.
Nova closed her eyes and was back in her Syrah form as quickly as she had gone into her Nova form. "I'll tell mom you'll be out in a minute."
Hikaru shook her head, brushing away the tears. Syrah swiftly left through the door without having Kauri see Hikaru. Hikaru sat there and stared at her hands. She had matured so much since then. She sighed hoping Lantis would still love her.
Everyone in the family was suspicious of Hikaru's actions at dinner but allowed it to slide. Usually if someone was having a troublesome time, the rest of the family would let a few days go by before confronting the upset member.

----

That night Hikaru lay in her bed. The room-dark and the summer night air she breathed made her think more and more of Lantis. She felt her eyes cloud over and the tears spilled over her cheeks.
Every night it was like this. Ever since they'd come back from that visit, a concern nagged restlessly at Hikaru. That changed her whole attitude and outlook. For threes years Cephiro survived on its own. Had she survived on her own that long? Could she go longer? Was she really so dreadfully in love with him?
Just as she sleep befell her, a crash awoke her. Next there was rustle and struggling.
"Hikaru is something wrong in there?" Satoru's voice echoed from the hall.
Hikaru hopped up, "No! Not at all!" Hikaru dashed over to the closet. She flung it open. Her shelves had fallen, and her clothes were strewn about. All she saw was a large figure tangled amongst the mess. A white-pink ball of fluff was knotted up in one of Hikaru's sweaters.

"Mokona!"
Hikaru wasn't positive as to who it was or what was going on, but seeing Mokona was proof enough someone from Cephiro had just taken a one-way ticket to her closet. But how could that be possible? Was it her will?
Satoru opened the door, "Hikaru let me take a look..."
Hikaru panicked and slammed the closet door shut. What was she going to do!? "Satoru, my stuff just fell down! It's, it's really okay! I'll clean it up in the morning!"
Satoru turned the little corner in Hikaru's room. The shifting and wrestling had suddenly come to a stop. Satoru raised an eyebrow curiously. He scanned Hikaru's apprehensive reaction.
"If you're hiding something... I'll know.." Satoru tormented.
"Satoru!" Hikaru scolded. Fear raging in her heart.
"I'm just teasing little sis," He grinned, "and I'm sure all that noise was more of your stuff falling. Make sure it's clean before mom decides to check it out." Satoru winked and sauntered out, closing the door behind him.
Hikaru sighed and fell back against the wall, sliding 'till her butt met the floor. Slowly she turned on her knees and slid open the closet door. Mokona bounded on out into Hikaru's room making its usually "PUU!" noise. Hikaru followed Mokona while he bounded around the room, but her eyes traveled back to the person in the closet. Skepticism and alarm causing her heart to fall passed her feet.
"Oh my..." Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped at who she saw.