AN: Back again with another chapter! ^_^ The plot's doing something odd here (let's face it, the PoF has lost it again and doesn't know where her Muse is taking her again). Hope you enjoy this one. A lot more talking in this one, but hopefully you'll enjoy the little bits of fluff none the less. (P.S.: due to circumstances beyond my control -namely homework, other work, and all the crazy stuff in between like the consuming of food-products and that restless little time some of us call sleep and the rest call dreaming- the chapters will probably come out less frequently. I mean.. Come one! Learning 20 new Latin words a day and spending two bloody hours recopying messy notes from a dictation here! Have fun anyway!)

Disclaimer: The characters and all that jazz belong to the people most of his worship in secret, CLAMP. The plot, on the other hand, is the product of too much sugar, too many mangas, a desire to write a fanfic, lack of sleep, post-exam stress, pre-university stress and the all round craziness of my head. Therefore, I'm pretty sure it's mine. ^_^;.... I needeth sleepth.



Chapter Eight



"A bar?" Fuu squeaked. She stared at the building, then blinked. Once, and twice. She turned to Ferio at her side. Her high voice turned disbelieving. "Ascot and Umi asked us to meet them at a bar. It's two minutes after nine! Don't you think it's a wee bit early to get drunk?"

"You can always have a Shirley Temple," Ferio teased. He put a hand on Fuu's back and guided her through the door he held open for her. Zagato Priest's place was deserted except for two people sitting in a far away corner. Umi and Ascot sat on one side of a booth, Umi sipping delicately from a glass of orange juice, Ascot chugging back on a Coke. Ferio slipped in across from them and pulled Fuu in after him. "Remember, I'm just a reporter and you are our friends. Fuu doesn't know anything!"

The other boy leaned forward. His green eyes were just slightly visible under his bangs. "Aren't you going to tell her? I thought you were supposed to tell her the trust last night! Ferio, you obviously like this girl, and as far as we're concerned, you too are made to be together! She deserve to know."

He frowned. "Something more important came up."

Umi's blue hair spilled over her shoulder. She placed a pale hand on Ascot's forearm and stared up at him with calculating blue eyes. "Ascot, honey, don't you think it's odd how we were meant to be together? And how Fuu and Ferio seem to be made for each other? Don't you think it's just a little. . . ."

Ascot place a finger against her lips. "I know, hon, I know. But I'm not going to say anything at all. And neither are you. Not a single word, do you hear me? Let them find it out on their own. To them, it will seem to be a bigger discover than how 'e' is equal to 'mc' squared. Trust me. It meant that much to me." They smiled at each other, and kissed.

Fuu stared at them, almost as she had at the bar. This time her expression was astonished. She had to hold back on the urge to reach over and hug Umi for capturing such a wonderful guy like Ascot. They looked so adorable together! Instead, Fuu reached underneath the table and placed her hand on Ferio's, smiling to him. Her expression told Ferio that she was proud of Umi and Ascot. But Ferio wasn't looking back at her. He was gazing past her, and his face held the same emotions that Umi and ascot sported: love and affection. Fuu turned to see what Ferio was staring at.

It turned out Ferio was staring at a girl. She was a little or than they, as Fuu guessed, and astonishingly pretty. She had hair down to her knees, maybe longer, made of pure gold. Despite looking older, her body was not as curvy as Umi's or even Fuu's. What she did have was showed off from tight Japanese-style shirt and a matching mini skirt that resembled a business suit.

She waved to the man in the bar, who nodded back. Now there was somebody who could be stared at. He was taller than Ascot, and seemed to be in his early twenties. Broad shouldered, he had black hair that fell past the strong build, pulled back into a ponytail. His hair was as dark as the new girls was golden, but all he did was nod his head and return to cleaning glasses.

Ferio pulled Fuu closer, and for a second she thought he was flirting with her, but then she saw he was only pulling her over so that the new girl could sit down. Wedged in between Ferio and a girl she didn't know, Fuu felt utterly uncomfortable. She doubted she was going to like the next hour or so.

"Hello again." Ascot greeted the new girl, then introduced her to Fuu, and vice versa. Turning to smile at Fuu, she blinked when she saw her, and then politely shook her hand. It gave Fuu time to notice that this pretty girl had eyes the prettiest shade of blue she'd ever seen. Of course Ferio would look at her so devotedly. Ascot didn't notice Fuu's attempt at inconspicuousness, and continued. "Emeraude knows about the start of the Green Knight and the Summoner. We thought you might like to know."

At this, Fuu showed some signs of interest. Her ears piqued up and she dug a notepad our of her purse, as well as a pen from her pocket. She flung it on the table and began to write. "I suppose it means my friends have already cleared it with you to tell me about their origins."

"Yes." Emeraude nodded, hair sparkling in the dim light. Her voice well mannered, a gentle soprano that didn't seem ill-suited to a young adult. She smiled back at Ferio, who continued to gaze at her admiringly. "However, we must wait for two other people. They will be here soon."

"Others?" Umi repeated. She frowned and slumped against Ascot. "I think I should've eaten a bigger breakfast. I'm worried that I might fall asleep."

"Tough time sleeping?" her boyfriend kindly inquired.

Umi bobbed her head upside down, stirring the ice cubes in her drink with a slender finger. "I had some nightmares. That's all. You know... about... that." Ascot was surprised, and Fuu's reporter eyes didn't miss his face. Umi snuggled closer and yawned. "Wake me up when they get here."

Ferio's eyebrows knotted. "Who are we waiting for?" Emeraude's blue eyes met with his green-yellow ones, and his face turned glowering. "Them. We're waiting for them. I can't say I don't mind waiting for the girl -she's... plucky, to say the least- but as to the man... we're not sure as to what he's after."

"No matter what he's after as you so eloquently put it, Ferio, he's a part of this. As is, I believe, the girl." Emeraude sighed, sinking into the deep couch. "You certainly know how to pick them Ferio. You found one when you saved her, and another one fell into your lap. The third is about to come walking through that door. But finding them was not enough. Deep in your heart, you know that."

Through it all, Fuu was listening. She didn't really know what was going on, but she was making sure to pay outmost attention to their conversation. Fuu even jotted a few notes down, but she stopped when she felt Ferio's eyes on her, and was sure they held just a few hints of gold. She glanced up and found him staring at her. Her cheeks began to turn red. "What?" she demanded in a harsh whisper.

"Uh... nothing. Never mind."

A second later, the door opened, and two people walked through. The young reported caught a tall shadow and a flash of red hair. Hikaru wanted to hold Lantis' hand while they walked, but he was too tall. Her poor arm would run out of blood if she tried to do that. However, Lantis seemed to sense her desire to touch him, and his fingertips kept brushing her red hair. The sensation made Hikaru want to start purring. When they entered the dim bar, Hikaru immediately recognized the green hair belonging to Ferio and the reflective glare of Fuu's large glasses.

"Look, Lantis!" she cheerfully pointed to them with the eagerness of a young child. Lantis said nothing, and she craned her neck to find him staring past her. The naive attitude disappeared when she followed his eyes to a dark man behind the bar. He slammed the glass down on the bar, and Lantis draped his arm around her protectively.

Before the people had the table had indicated for them to come over, Lantis had already begun to pull Hikaru towards the booth. He also pulled up a chair for them to sit on, placing the small girl in his large lap. Hikaru cuddled against him, wrapped safely in his arms, and unaware of the angry looks he was shooting over his shoulder to the man in the bar.

"Hey Lantis," Ferio greeted. He tugged at his earring. "I was ind of wondering something. That guy's Zagato Priest, any relation to you?"

"No," he coldly sad. His eyes appeared black in the empty bar. Lantis was relieved to see that Ferio dropped the question after that.

Emeraude introduced everybody, flashing everybody their own personal smile. Hikaru felt a sense of doom, as if she was going to lose herself or some part of herself. Lantis felt hope, that somehow everything was going to work out. Umi felt that her nightmares were finally going to be fully explained and that knowledge would make them stop. Ascot felt that he was about to read some wonderful book, and become wiser and stronger from reading it. Ferio felt nothing but love, knowing that even if Fuu never reciprocated her feelings the way he wished, he as no longer alone. And Fuu, she was in reporter mode, and felt the story of her life time coming on.

"The origin of the Green Knight and Summoner, and all their affiliates is an ancient story. It is, in fact, so old that the beginning as been lost. There were two tribes: the tribes of the Plains and the Clan of the Forest. Nobody knows how the hatred between them was started. The two tribes did many horrible things to each other, keeping the hatred between them from vanishing. Somehow, four young adults from the opposing tribes met. I believe it was by a river bank. Regardless of where it was or how it was achieved, the two girls from the Plains clan fell in love with the two young men from the Clan of the Forest.

"They kept their relationship a secret, knowing that if their clans found out about it their lives would be over, as would the lives of the person they loved. They kept everything a secret, until one day the secret became revealed. Nobody knows how, but it was discovered. The day that the clans attacked, it was on their wedding day. The massacre on holy ground and such a holy day cursed the two tribes to immortality.

"Over time, some of the tribe manners lost their anger and went on to whatever life is after our Earthly one. Now there are only thirteen left. These are the ones who cannot deal with the anger they feel, the instigators of the war, they are the ones who are left. These souls are so filled with hatred they cannot learn to live in peace with the opposite clan. For them, there is only one way to find eternal rest: murder.

"The two brides who were killed had amazing amounts of power. There was third, a guest from the mountains who also had an amazing amount of power, killed in the marriage massacre. These three girls hold the key to eternity. Their blood, when shed upon the ground, will open the door to the afterlife. Whoever sheds their blood will be the one who can jump into the hole and rescue not only themselves but their clan as well. The clan that doesn't open the portal will be cursed to the underworld, their souls to be tormented for all of eternity."

Fuu was so shocked she didn't realize she was interrupting Emeraude until she was saying something. "That's horrible!" From Lantis' sheltering lap, Hikaru nodded her agreement.

Emeraude also nodded, then continued. "The other ten beings are five from each Clan: a swordsman, a hunter, a thief, a priestess or priest, and a magician or summoner. They fight each other now to find these three girls and keep them for themselves so that when all three are killed the portal will open. However, the love that these people share are still strong: another way must be found! Time is running out. The Swordsman of the Plains has defected and joined the other side, and I believe his intentions are true. The hunter of the Plains has been killed, and the their has not yet awoken. The Green Magician and Knight are members of the Plain clan, and have fallen in love with girls from the Clan of the Forest. They will not kill them. The women are willing to give up their lives, but the men will not take them for they are of the other Clan and will be sentenced to Hell. It is a standstill, and so, some other way of stopping this war must be found."

She sadly blinked her eyes and looked at Fuu, only at Fuu. "If you wish to know more, go to the library. Read books. Philosophize, even. Try to find some way to stop more bloodshed. Please. You six are the only ones who will not fight, and you must try to find a way to stop it all."

When Emeraude had finished, Fuu's heart leapt in her chest. She was going to help stop this! Then, her mood changed. The biggest story of her lifetime and she'd promised not to say anything! Fuu jumped from her seat, though she was squished in between Emeraude and Ferio. "Okay! So, let's get to the library and start to research this stuff! Hurry, while the day's still young!"

More urging than the desire to find the story, she wanted to get out of the cramped space. She didn't want to sit between the handsome boy with the green hair and the girl with the strange blue eyes anymore. Fuu jumped out of the booth, walking out the door without even looking over her shoulder to see if anybody else was following her.

Umi and Ascot were hot on her heels, hand in hand.

Ferio reacher over and held Emeraude's hand. He kissed his sister on the cheek. "Thank you. I promise you that we'll try and find the three girls and keep them safe."

Emeraude clasped his hand. Her mysterious eyes now turned to him, so deeply gazing at the soul of the man she called brother the world fell away. "Don't let her get away, Ferio. She means so much. And I need to tell you something else. The other clan is planning on attacking one of Umi's friends tonight. She is the Thief of our clan. You must save her. Only together can you be strong. Embrace Lantis, he will take the place of the one you have lost. If it is at all possible, try and find the other Summoner. He's weak, and you can easily be rid of him. I don't approve of the action, but if they are always forcing you into defending yourselves, your strength will eventually wear down and you will lose. Sometimes you must attack back."

She looked at Hikaru next, and smiled. "Small one, you must be quiet about that which you know. Some secrets are meant to be kept, and you will know when it is time to reveal themselves."

Lantis stared down at Hikaru, violet eyes black in the bar. "What do you mean, secrets? What is she talking about?"

Hikaru smiled up at him and her cheeks blushed slightly. "Everybody has secrets, Lantis. You let me into some of yours, today. I'll let you into mine soon enough. Once I have everything sorted out, that is. Everything's been confusing since that day when you kissed me. I've been trying to sort life out, but I can't make out what's what."

Thinking he should leave and let the two nervous love birds be, Ferio rushed outside. He looked out and down the street, but Fuu wasn't there. Neither was Umi or Ascot. He pulled his car keys out of his back pocket and swore. A windy voice stopped him.

"Were you thinking of leaving me behind?" He turned to see Fuu leaning against the wall, hands stuck in her coat pockets and a pout on her face. "Umi left with Ascot in his car, but they're going to meet us at the library." She pulled herself away from the wall, still pouting, but indicating the bar with a shrug. "So who is she?"

Ferio's eyebrows creased together. He spun the keys around his finger, watching them reflect sunlight. Then, he understood. "You mean Emeraude. You want to know what Emeraude... means to me, that's what you're getting at, right? Fuu, what does that even mean?"

"It means what does she mean to you? I don't understand you, Ferio! Is she your girlfriend? Is she your ex? Is she somebody that you want but can't have? How come I sit between you two and all I can feel is this... bond. How come I only feel it with you two? No, actually, I can feel it with Ascot and Umi. But I can't feel it with.... what is she to you?"

He almost laughed. Instead he brushed Fuu's cheek, and he almost had his heart crushed when she jerked away. "Fuu, she's my sister." He was surprised when Fuu suddenly rushed into his arms, giving his cheek a kiss.

"Oh, you don't know how happy that makes me feel!"

"I have an idea," Ferio muttered.

Back inside the bar, Emeraude had left the table, leaving Lantis and Hikaru together at the table. The tall man and the short girl stared at each other. Lantis looked away first, the faintest hints of a blush painted on his cheeks. He stood up, still holding Hikaru, and carefully put her down. "Why don't you catch up to Fuu and Ferio and see where we're going to meet them? I find this story interesting, and I'd like to help them. Besides, we don't have anything better to do, correct?"

"Right," she answered, her cheerfulness unusually forced. Her face went pink. "Although I was kind of hoping we could... that we could maybe go and sit under that tree like we did when we had that picnic. I like what happened that day. I guess the library wouldn't be the proper place for that, but do you think it would be okay if you held me?"

Much to her surprise, Lantis chuckled. His large hand ruffled her braided hair, and she made an annoyed face. "I think that would be perfectly alright. Besides, you're so short I think if I didn't hold you in my lap I'd lose you in a pile of books." Hikaru's expression turned exasperated, and he chuckled again. He gave her lips a quick kiss, and she had to remember to breath. Finally, Lantis carefully set her down, and with the same carefulness, pushed her gently out the door.

He knew he was being unfair, but didn't really care. Lantis locked the door, turning to the man behind the bar who he had been trading dirty looks with since he had arrived. The man behind the bar looked very much like Lantis: black hair, and eyes holding the slightest hints of a violet light.

"Hello, brother."

Lantis sat down on a stool, folding his hands on the wooden table top. "I never thought I'd see you again. No, I knew I would, I just didn't expect it to be so soon. Have you been keeping well?"

If Lantis' voice had always been deep and cold, then compared to the man behind the bar, his was a summer day. Zagato finished cleaning a glass, then poured himself a drink in it. "I've been keeping busy, if that can be called well. You look like you're in good health."

"I've started taking up martial arts, Karate Do. I'm much stronger than I was before, and I feel much better as well."

Zagato smirked. "Is that because that sprite of a girl who was on your lap is keeping your bed warm an night?" Lantis reached over in the blink of an eye, and dragged his brother up to his face. The older man merely smiled. "No matter how high a belt you achieve, no matter how calm you think you are, I know what's behind your facade. And I can still get to you. Still, I never thought you'd stoop so low as to rob the cradle, Lantis."

His face twisted into a snarl, and his hold on Zagato's shirt tightened.

"See what I mean? Come now, Lantis, brothers are meant to share everything. What do you say I have a go at her? If you don't want to share that badly, I'm sure you could put the pressure on her tonight. The idea of a family reunion in your bedroom is rather amusing."

Only now did he realize his mistake. Zagato had wanted to try and get him riled up. He'd been probing, trying to find Lantis' weak spot. Now he had found it: Hikaru Shidou. By holding his dear little Hikaru in his lap, wanting to be close to her and trying to shield her from Zagato's prying eyes he'd unknowingly pointed out his weak spot. Lantis, disgusted with himself and his so called brother, released the other man.

"You touch even one hair on her head, and I swear I'll forget everything I ever learned and kill you." Zagato merely smiled.

As he walked away, the sound of his brother's icy voice made him freeze. "Why did you defect from us? Master Clef already has found one of the girls, and came very close to killing her. By changing sides, you've made yourself our enemy, and when we win, you won't be saved. We could have lived in Heaven together, brother, but you had a change of heart. Why?"

Lantis' body was rigid when he turned around. His violet eyes were throwing icicles at Zagato. "Emeraude may not remember or be able to do a Tarot reading as to how the three people getting married were caught, but I do. I was there, do you remember, brother? I was wearing my best clothing, and my fiancee had given my a handkerchief she had made from materials found in the mountain ranges where she lived. The moon was low over head, and the sun was beginning to set when we began to say our vows, but we never got to finish them. Because the one person I trusted in my Clan had turned their back on me and told the Elders I was going to marry outside the Clan. I remember who it was. I'll never forget how you betrayed me, Zagato."

He spied Emeraude hiding in the doorframe behind Zagato. Even standing in the shadows could not lesson the brilliance of her hair. Her hand was clasped at her throat, and her tear-stained blue eyes glanced back and forth from Lantis, to Zagato, and back again.

Giving a disgusted snort, there was a hint of a smile in his flat mouth. "But now, it's your turn to suffer. You've fallen in love with their Priestess. The Priest and the priestess. It sounds like it should be a perfect match, doesn't it? Is she keeping your bed warm at night, brother? Maybe you should stop. After this final battle, it's going to be lonely again in your chambers. Turn around, Zagato, turn around and look at the woman you love. Look even deeper than that, look at the soul of the woman you're in love with. Then tell her that you're going to sentence her soul to an eternity of torment for a crime committed by her Clan, and not by her. Maybe then, you can stop asking why I defected. Even Hell with Hikaru is better than Heaven by myself, because as long as I'm with Hikaru, nothing can hurt me."

Outside, Hikaru had her face pressed up against the glass, trying to see what was going on inside the bar, but she could only make one thing out for sure: there was a lot of hostility between the two men. When Lantis came out, the red headed girl nearly jumped on him. "Who was that, Lantis? Why were you and he exchanging such harsh words?" The tall mean was quiet. Frustrated, she stomped her foot. "Lantis!"

Turning, he picked her up around the waist and kissed her. His lips were warm against hers, and she felt her small frame starting to tremble. She was so aware of everywhere they touched -their lips, his hands pressed against her back, his muscled chest hard against his breasts- that lightning seemed to crackle around her body.

Releasing her, Hikaru could swear there was a hint of laughter in his seductive violet eyes. "We all have secrets, isn't that what you said? I'll share this one with you when you tell me yours."

"We never used to have secrets before!" she protested with lips swollen from his kiss. He reached down and brushed his thumb across her mouth. She nearly lost her train of thought. Hikaru wanted to curl against him, or run her hands through his soft, coal colored hair, but she did neither. "Please, won't you tell me what it is? I've never seen you become so. . . ."

"Tell me your secret," he urged. Hikaru fell silent. Draping his arm around the short girl, he lead her to his car. "We never had secrets before, it feels weird to have them now, doesn't it?"

"I was the only one you ever opened up to, Lantis. I can't remember a time when we couldn't talk to each other. To do so now... I feel like I don't know you anymore, Lantis. And yet, sometimes, I feel like I understand you more than ever and I start to fantasize that we're keeping the same secret."

Lantis looked down at her sharply, is way of showing he was surprised. Lantis smiled down at her. "Hey, Hikaru, want to have a sleep over tonight?"



****



After spending several hours at the library, the three "couples" had found nothing about the two tribes Emeraude had spoke about. However, in that time the six of them soon became very good friends. Ferio's flirtatious attitude had gotten to Lantis, and the dark haired man nearly bit his head off, but after Lantis saw it was just how Ferio was, he cooled down. Ferio and Hikaru kept everyone in good spirits, the first with jokes and the second with her perky nature. Fuu and Ascot had the determination to urge everyone to try just one more book, and over time "one more book" stack after stack after stack. Umi, when not being goofy, was running around doing errands, putting her fencing lungs to good use, although Ascot worried about her, knowing she was still weak from the fight with Clef. Lantis provided a calming presence, one of strength, and his level-headedness, which had returned during the ride to the library, had a different perspective than the others.

When the kind, elderly librarian had told them the library was closing, the girls excused themselves to use the washroom, and the man had a chat. Ferio was the first to speak. "We'll take them home, then meet at the usual place, Ascot. Lantis, do you want to come with us? Emeraude said we could trust you, and my sister never lies."

"I'd be honored, but I do not have an... alias. Nor do I wish to leave Hikaru alone. Zagato. . . ." Lantis trailed off, worried.

"We'd not be out long," Ascot said with a smile, slapping him on his shoulder. "I know exactly how you feel. I don't like leaving Umi for very long, especially now. Clef knows who she is, and she's still a little weak from her fight with him. But, if we join forces, it won't be for very long. We can find Clef, trail him to the Thief, and then rescue her. If we're lucky, we won't have to even fight them."

"United we are strong," Ferio said, sticking out his hand. Ascot cover it with his. Hesitant at first, Lantis placed his own large hand on theirs.

"And without women, you wouldn't be here in the first place."

"So count us in too."

Umi and Hikaru placed their own hands on the pile, their smiling looks receiving ones of displeasure from the males. As if on cue and before the males could say anything in response, their hands flew to their hips.

"We're not going to let you guys foolishly going to go and risk your necks! It's like you and Emeraude said, Ferio, united we're strong. You three aren't united. I'm a part of this too, don't ever forget that! This life may be my last one, and I'm not going to sit by to let you play the hero and turn myself into a victim. This time, I'm fighting back!"

"A part of what?" Hikaru innocently asked. Umi blushed and started mumbling to herself, irate at almost letting their secrets slip out. She strained her neck to look at Lantis. "Wherever you go, I go. That's the way it is... because... because I think I love you!"

Everyone gasped, and Umi let out a giggle at the melodramatics of the moment.

Lantis sighed, rubbing Hikaru's head so she would know he hadn't said anything because he was uncomfortable, not because he wasn't touched. "You're a fine warrior and I trust you. Those should be all the things needed for these two. I'll take you home so you can change out of your school uniform. I guess it's time that I came clean, even though afterwards you may want to take back that statement."

"Nothing could make me take it back," she muttered low enough so that only Lantis could hear.

Ascot stared Umi in the eyes, twirling her soft hair in his fingers. She smiled up at him, her blue practically glowing. "You already know how I feel, Ascot, so why do I have to embarrassed you in front of everybody?"

"Hey, if it's embarrassing to hear the woman of my dreams say that she loves me, then who am I to say I don't want to go red in the face?" Ascot hugged her close and kissed her on the cheek, rubbing his chin against her head.

Ferio, almost afraid to ask, found his voice was shaking. "Fuu? What about Fuu?"

"She doesn't know what's going on. She's busy checking out a book," Umi said with some sadness. She knew what Ferio had wanted. He had wanted Fuu to say that she would fight alongside them, and to be able to tell her his secret. Dejected, Ferio walked away.

"You guys go and get ready. We'll met a nine, just like this morning. I've got to take Fuu home."

Around the corner, Ferio found Fuu talking to the kind librarian. She smiled and told the elderly women goodbye when she saw him. She rushed to his side, still wearing her gorgeous smile, and the way she held her book to her chest made her seem younger than she was. Taking her hand, he escorted her to his car and helped her inside. Only then, did she talk, and nervously at that.

"So... out of curiosity... did you want to stay home tonight? I mean, stay at my house tonight. You know... like we did last night? Because... I thought it was kind of nice... waking up to you. I wouldn't mind waking up like that again."

It broke his heart to say no. Ferio wanted to be able to say yes so badly his entire being was screaming it. He shook his head, earring catching the dim light and green hair obscuring his eyes. "Sorry, I wish I could -you have no idea how much I want to stay- but I have things to do. I've been neglecting them for too long."

"Oh." Fuu fell quiet, staring out the window. She took off her glasses, cleaning them. Beside her, Ferio put his keys in the ignition and then stopped.

Reaching over, his slender fingers cupped Fuu's chin and tilted her face back to them. His breath was taken away when he found himself staring into unshielded eyes the most amazing shade of green he had ever seen. Fuu was just as taken by the hint of a golden sheen in Ferio's eyes. She put that thought away for later. Ferio's eyes broke off and he put Fuu's glasses back on for her.

"Do me a favor and don't take your glasses off for anybody else, okay? I don't like the idea of having somebody see your pretty eyes. I like the idea of me seeing them, and only me." His fingers trailed behind her ear, tucking fine stray hair back to where it belonged, then down to her chin again.

Fuu could feel her lips begin to quiver. She felt oddly cold, but warm at the same time. She watched Ferio's eyes travel to her mouth as she wet her dry lips. She tried to take a deep breath, but couldn't. "Ferio. . . ."

"Yes?" he eagerly asked in a hushed voice.

"That story you told me earlier. . . ." He nodded, leaning in closer. "It was about us, wasn't it?" Fuu's body seemed to be itching. She felt like little bolts of lightning were running across her skin. Her breathing was coming out in short, hollow waves, and the air in the car was so hot it was freezing.

"I suppose it was," he said. Fuu ran her fingers through his green hair, and he actually shuddered from pleasure. He was surprised that he could make a sentence of more than two words.

"Could you do me a favor?" she asked. Fuu's cheeks turned bright pink, but she still couldn't manage to take her eyes away from Ferio. She felt so silly, but she wanted it so badly. . . . Ferio shook his head emphatically. She leaned a little closer, and pulled her glasses off, afraid they would get in the way. Her eyelashes brushed his cheek, and his breath warmed her lips. "This might sound odd, but... please, could you kiss me?"

Ferio blinked. He was pleased, but he wasn't sure what was going on. "You... you want me to kiss you?" This time, it was Fuu nodded.

Swooping forward, his heart surged as his lips touched hers. With a free hand he undid his seatbelt and pulled himself towards Fuu, who found herself backed up against the door. His hands laced themselves in her hair. Their bodies shook as their lips brushed over each other. As if sharing a mind, they found a rhythm, each trying to fill the heated passion rising in their stomachs. She let out a moan when his lips traversed her neck. Fuu wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Fuu was barely even aware when she began to pull at his shirt. With a slow kiss, he ended the heated embrace. His hands brushed down the hair he'd messed up. Even then, his lips still brushed hers as he spoke, and she clung to him. Fuu was glad that he was there to support her, because she felt like she couldn't sit up straight if she wanted to.

Their eyes still locked, he appeared just as breathless, fingers still trailing through her hair and across her cheek, then up again. He didn't even know what he was saying until it had come out of his mouth. "I'll be done around midnight. Will you wait for me?"

Fuu tried to nod, but it only came out as a shiver at the very idea. She gave his lips another kiss, but Ferio pulled away before it could deepen to the extreme it had before.

Damn, it was going to be a long night.