Author's Notes: Alrighty, this chapter sucks meat. I didn't get the story going anywhere I wanted (these things write themselves, I'm telling you!), But I thought I ended up at a good spot. Well it is that time of year again. The summer. School's out. Fanfics are comin' out the wazzu. AND IT'S ALMOST MY BIRTHDAY!!! Wahoo!! I love my birthday! It's the only holiday that revolves around ME getting stuff. ^_________^ Whew! Anyhow.... I hope you all keep reading this now that this is gonna end up being a frickin' epic. Gomen ne, but there are some spoilers for the beginning of Season two in this. And Clef fans: he made a teeny cameo. Lafarga Fans: (lafarga fans? There is a such thing? I just jest, I like Lafarga.) He makes a small cameo as well. Ja ne peeps.

Finally, after all her classes, it was time to go home. For once, Fuu didn't even think about class for the rest of the day. It was all she could do not to break down in tears. She was just so numb with happiness, it was making her face red.

She didn't even notice Saku and her stupid friends until it was too late. "Hey!"

Fuu looked up abruptly from the little pink communicator. "Excuse me?" She didn't really feel all that thrilled to talk to them, but her polite side won out.

Saku put a hand on her slim hip. "I wanna know what the hell's going on."

"With what?" The wind knight asked, annoyance slipping into her normally docile tone.

"That stupid little pink thing you were crying into during lunch." The more popular girl was completely disregarding all manners and was so blunt that it shocked Fuu into silence. "Who was talking to you? Or was it a fake?" She smirked.

"I-I... It doesn't concern you!" Fuu said in such a quiet voice, that the other girl could barley hear her.


All day Ferio had lye in the grass in one of the gardens surrounding the palace listening in on the remainder of Fuu's afternoon after talking with her. He knew he had a job to do, and that Lafarga and Clef-sama were probably having a fit trying to find him, but right now he was doing something extremely important. He was about to talk to her again, when he heard another voice hostilly address Fuu.

He listened carefully and was nearly blind with anger when he heard the other girl go into a cruel, mocking summary of Fuu-chan's love life.


"So, I'll ask again, you little fake girl. What the hell was that?"

Fuu bit her lower lip. "It's none of you're business." She sounded a little more frightened than she would've liked, but she didn't like how unreasonably angry Saku was becoming. The other girl went to open her mouth again, but this time Fuu pre-empted her. "It's not your business!" She yelled, very uncharacteristically. "If you weren't so horribly rude and cruel to me, maybe I would've been a bit more cooperative!"

By now, all of Saku's friends had come to back her up and since they where just outside the school doors, a few bystanders from the student parking lot had come to see what all the yelling was about.

Fuu resolved that no matter what, she would absolutely not fight them physically. She wasn't in Cephiro anymore, she couldn't be a fist-fighting brute against another girl here in Japan. She mentally steeled herself, even as the familiar white sports-car pulled up to the sidewalk. Fuu sighed heavily as Fumeiyo stepped out.

"Saku!" He called with a bit of worry on his face. "What's going on."

"Fume-kun!" She called in an annoying, hi-pitched flirty voice. "This girl is being a bitch!"

Fuu was completely shocked. This girl she didn't even do anything to had the nerve to use such a ... a mean term to describe her.


On the other end, Ferio looked at his communicator with confusion. He was too shocked and confused to recall the fact that he could talk to Fuu if he wanted. This girl had just called HIS Fuu some bad name. Bitch, or something like that. He had no idea what it ment, but he did manage to pick up a small gasp that escaped Fuu's mouth, so it must've been bad.


Fumeiyo shook his head and strolled up to Fuu. "Hey, it's Hououji! You completely blew me off the other day! I'm gonna hafta agree with Saku-chan on that one." He finished by putting his thumband his pointer finger on her jaw.

The Ex-Magic Knight was suddenly so infuriated, she reeled her hand and slapped him across the face as hard as she possibly could have. Unfortunately for Fumeiyo, Fuu had managed to gain some muscle and technique in Cephiro, so the impact nearly knocked him off his feet.

He stood up straight and wiped away a small trickle of blood that ran out of his mouth. "As much as I'm fighting it, I won't hit you because you're a girl." He snarled.

Hououji Fuu's brows knitted together and she walked away. Saku and her friends still yelling threats and insults after her.

"Fuu-chan?"

She jumped. It was only the communicator, she'd almost forgotten it was there.

"Yes?"

"Why did you wait until now to defend yourself?"

Ferio's face suddenly appeared in her mind's eye. She imagined he was throwing her a lopsided, curious glance, his golden eyes so child-like and full of life. "I didn't need to defend myself."

Fuu heard two other voices on the other end. They were both male, but one was very deep and gruff while the other was very gentle and wise. The loud one was yelling, presumbebly at Ferio, while the other tried to calm him down.

"Fuu-chan, I've gotta go!" He said with a laugh, "I'll call as soon as I'm done, okay?"

She smiled. "Sure. I'll speak with you later."

"Alright, ja ne!"

"Goodbye!" She grinned again as she turned off the communicator.


Lafarga nearly dragged the Prince back into the palace as Clef-sama tried valiently to keep up with the Capitain of the Guard's enormous strides.

"Aw, Lafarga!" Ferio complained. "Lemme go!"

"With all due respect, your highness," He started, "You're not a frickin' kid! Start acting like an adult and be responsible to your duties of Prince."

"Lafarga, please," Clef begged. "He's not used to this life yet! Just give him more time." He sighed dejectedly to himself. He really had better things to do than calm the hot-headed Lafarga or dealing with a little boy of a prince.