CEPHIRO

It had already been a week since the chocolate's arrival, and even thought said sweets had not lasted that much, the constant unease about what to do with Ascot's and Clef's was increasing everyday.

The fact that the Guru had been watching them closely as of late, did not help them in the slight less. It was Lantis who noticed first this strange behaviour, because only a couple of days after the chocolate's arrival, they started to get summoned more frequently, they started to find him in the corridors and he even began to take his meals at the same time and place where the two friends usually do. To say that they found this weird and suspicious would be an understatement.

Ferio was the first one to crack. It was during one of those strange apparitions in one of the corridors when he decided to confront the mage. It is a shame that things did not go as planned, because with an ability born of years and years of being the supreme mage of the country, Clef answered the accusations as fiercely and then even managed to turn the tables and make accusations of his own, even managing to include Lantis in all of this. It was finally Lantis who, tired of this entirely useless bantering, one that was quickly degrading to something resembling a catfight between toddlers, that he decided that this was as good an opportunity as he could get to talk to the Guru about recent developments.

So, this was how, in an old study that used to belong to Lantis and Zagato's family, a Master Mage, a Magic Swordsman and a swordsman were reunited in hopes of a peaceful conversation.

Lantis explained everything that had happened in the last days, with Ferio's timely interventions, and always keeping an eye in whatever reaction Clef could have at learning the real nature of his own candy. Clef gave nothing away, not a single sign of discomfort, in his eyes there was only understanding and perhaps some kind of worry.

Apparently, Clef was aware of what his eyes were reflecting, because once the explanation was over, he voiced his concerns. They were mostly about both boys mental and sentimental health, because he did not want a repeat of the Zagato and Emeraude fiasco all over again, or even worse, the creation of a being of darkness born out of heartbreak.

His words left the guys speechless. Clef's words were harsh, and they felt that it was a little cruel the way he reminded them of the main reason why they started getting along. Then again, his words were true, so they silently vowed to never bring such a grief to their country and loved ones. With that in mind, and with somewhat heavy hearts, they parted ways to continue with their daily chores.

It wouldn't be until many hours later when their thoughts would be directed to the youngest of their group of acquaintances. If they didn't know how Clef was going to react to the news, Ascot's reaction was even more unpredictable.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Ascot was currently off world. Some days ago, Lafarga asked for a vacation, so Ascot, Caldina and him could go visit some of Caldina's relatives in Chizeta while exploring the place during their stay there.

They were not expecting Ascot until next month; he would be back once the whole White Day drama was over. However that did not relieve them of the problem.

It was still amazing for some of the Castle's inhabitants, the way those three interacted with each other. Aside from their obvious physical differences, they could easily pass as a common family. Everybody knew that, wherever one of them was, the other two were not far behind and their way to demonstrate their feelings was so genuine that no one dared to question it.

This was the source of the three males' biggest worry. Not Ascot's reaction per se, but Caldina's wrath if they dared to harm her little brother in any way. When furious, that woman was scary… and unpredictable.

For now, they could only wait, and hope for the better outcome.


TOKYO

To say that she woke up a little disoriented was an understatement. At least in her mind, this day was not different to any other Tuesday before it, or any other after, she just knew she had a schedule and that she would be following it to the letter.

With the sun hitting her fully on the face, and fighting the impulse of just turning around and sleep some more, she finally got up from bed with the firm intention of taking a shower and attempt to fully wake up.

Once showered and with a fresh cup of Colombian coffee in her hands, she began revisiting her day's activities. She had classes until 2 pm, then she would eat lunch with some colleagues in order to discuss a science project due to next week, she also had to call Hikaru sometime during the day….

Then it hit her. Hikaru, and the chocolates.

So that was what she was missing! She seriously asked herself what was wrong with her! Now, she was mildly convinced that she could not properly function without a good cup of coffee. She tried not to choke on her drink while trying to find rather desperately her phone, now that she was completely aware of the circumstances surrounding this fair morning, she was eager to know what happened with the whole ordeal. Then again, why hadn't Hikaru called? She should know how nervous and anxious Fuu was, with her being directly involved with the experiment so, why? What happened?

Thousands of possibilities and bad case's scenarios crossed her mind, some were as silly as thinking that Hikaru's Dog ate her phone leaving her isolated; some were as sad as thinking that perhaps the experiment was a failure and the chocolates did not crossed dimensions.

But, what if it was really a failure? Would it mean that not even Lantis' chocolate passed through? Did they, in their greed, spoiled Hikaru's chance of happiness, damaging the small connexion with the other world in the process?

She decided to not jump into any kind of conclusion and to focus only in the facts at hand. She was going to call Hikaru and, no matter what her answer was, she would face it as the adult that she thought herself as.

If only she could find the damn phone…

Once she found it, her finger hovered hesitantly over the call button; honestly she was quite insecure about all of this. She steeled herself while sipping more of her coffee and pushed the call button.

And she waited for her friend to pick up…

And waited…

And then, she was sent to voice mail.

Voice mail?! What the hell! Since when does Hikaru send you to voice mail!? She decided that something wasn't right, so she called again. Finally, someone picked up the phone.

That certain someone sounded as if she was just waking up, and wasn't even aware of her surroundings. And when she heard Fuu's voice on the other side of the line, she was so surprised that even from the other side of the line, Fuu could hear how after a brief battle with her blankets, she landed rather hard on the floor.

Just from the sound of it, it should have been quite painful.

For a moment, Fuu considered hanging up and call later, then she dismissed the idea. She had already woken up her friend, so it was better if she took advantage of it.

- Fuu! How are you? Is everything alright? To why do I owe the pleasure?

Yup, there was the Hikaru everybody loves and adores, the one that always puts everybody before herself… even if she was being forcefully thrown out of bed.

With a smile in her voice, and as politely as she could, she firstly asked her about her wellbeing, especially after that painful landing. Hikaru, as usual, answered with her well known "I'm fine" and at least this time, Fuu took it as the truth. Then she finally got around asking what she really wanted.

Hikaru was silent on the other side for several – too long for Fuu's liking – seconds.

- Fuu… - There was something in Hikaru's voice that was ringing all kind of alarms in Fuu's head. However she reminded herself how she was only going for the facts and not suppositions, so she waited for her friend to say whatever it was that she was going to say.

- Fuu… it worked… Fuu, the Chocolates disappeared! It worked! – Andif Hikaru said something after that, it became just white noise in the background, because Fuu's mind was in a whirlwind. She couldn't believe her luck! Finally, after all this time, her beloved prince will know that she still thought of him, that she still has feelings for him, and hopefully those feelings were still returned.

She ended the call with the promise of a celebration Ice cream after school, and asking her to text Umi to let her know about it.


"The chocolate experiment worked, Fuu and I are planning on going for ice cream to celebrate. We are meeting in the park at two"

She saw the message for the umpteenth time in the last two hours since its arrival, and she didn't know how to feel or what to think. Just as she had told them already, she was happy right now, her boyfriend was awesome and honestly right now she doesn't need anything else in her life. But then, why does the news left her with a bittersweet taste afterwards?

Perhaps it was because she had hoped that that chapter of her life was finally over. She was convinced that she had left behind whatever she once felt for certain mage, and this new development came just to disturb her well earned peace of mind.

As if all those years of sadness and suffering were not enough.

She also thought that perhaps she resented herself a bit, and that she also wanted for the experiment to succeed. It was the best way to set free all those "what ifs" that once plagued her adolescence. It was the best way to know if those feelings, that once were unrequited, after all this years were finally somewhat returned.

But if they were, then what?

She tried really hard to picture herself beside him, but no matter how much effort she put into it, she was simply unable to do it. Perhaps if this had happened a couple of years ago, she would have jumped happily at the opportunity, and would have been as happy and as eager as her friends, counting the days until the reunion time came. That was then, now she didn't want it.

Now she had grown up, she was over all that drama, and now she was full of new dreams and ambitions. She was not that cute fourteen year old girl that fell in love with a master Mage of another world, and that broke the heart of another Boy. Not anymore.

Talking about heartbreaks, Ascot was another matter completely.

To be honest, his confession came as a really big surprise, and up until today she didn't quite believe him. She had always thought that Ascot was not really in love with her, that he was in love of what she represented. Ascot saw her as the strong willed, and sometimes aggressive woman that she used to show everybody in order to hide her own insecurities. He fell in love with a fierce warrior that fought with all her might to save his home world. To her, Ascot was in love with the warrior, but not with the whole girl.

And she hated herself a bit because of that. Even if her intent with the chocolate was to mend a lost friendship, even if it was a Tomo almost Giri-choco, she could be raising his hopes for something more, something that she wasn't willing to give, and it could only end in more heartbreak.

However, what it's done is done, and even if she wanted to take the chocolate back, there was nothing left she could do.

Umi reached a conclusion. At the end of the day, she does not have something to be celebrating for, because she did not have real expectations in it to begin with.

She finally answered Hikaru's Text, telling her that she already had plans and to please excuse her. Then she sent another text, this time to her boyfriend, asking him out to lunch to try some okonomiyaki that she had been craving.


Cephiro

It had been some days now in which, at least in his eyes, Ferio had been acting odd. He have never been the silent and subdued type, au contraire, if properly motivated he could easily become Cephiro's best prankster.

His pranks were legendary, and whenever he was in the mood to play one, he used all of skills in his arsenal to plan them and then carry them out. Some people were of the opinion that he should use those skills to the better of the country. He never really listened to them.

At first, he thought that Ferio was in the planning stage of new prank, and that he had already chosen his next victim. Then, he saw that, instead of been glowing with giddiness at the future results, he had been nervous, almost frantic, like he was looking for something that did not exist.

This obviously worried him, so, seeking him out, he tried to nicely ask him what was ailing him.

And the answer he got was not what he was expecting. Instead of reassure him of the psychological health of his friend, it sent him into a panic that mirrored the others. He felt himself go numb as the words that left the prince's mouth sounded over and over again in his head…

- I'm looking for Fuu's present for white Day, do you have yours already?

He couldn't believe himself! Of course he did not have it! It completely slipped his mind! And now he didn't even know what to give his girl that would fit the requirements of three times value, being it monetary or sentimental, should it be flowers? Candies? A Gem perhaps?

- Judging by your reaction, or lack of one, I must assume that you don't. Who would have thought!? The always serious and controlled magic swordsman of Cephiro is in the middle of a panic attack because he does not know what to give to his girlfriend in their next date! Unbelievable!

The scatting comment was met with a death glare that, if looks could kill, Ferio would have been reunited with his sister and his brother in law sooner than expected.

Once the shock was over, they concurred that it would be best if they joined forces to achieve their goals, and look for the perfect gift for their girlfriends, for those wonderful, and strong women for whom they had fallen in love completely.

They briefly wondered if they should ask Clef to join the hunt.


This should have been up earlier today, (I finished editing around 2 am) but I was really tired.

If everything goes according to plan I may be uploading the next two chapters this month.

(They were recently published in Spanish, so they are still fresh in my mind)

Special thanks to jheun15, Somariel and James Birdsong.

And thanks too, to all of you who read silently.

See you soon!