Awakening

Awakening

By: Shada

Disclaimer: I don't own Rayearth and its characters and I'm not making money off this story.

Rating: PG

Summary: i don' feel like makin' one up (takes place two days after Dreams)

~*~

A lake of shimmering blue stretched out in all directions, the only land visible being the shore far off in the distance. Light reflected off the sparkling water and into the cloudless sky, heightening the intense cobalt color. On the land rose a tall palace of white crystal, purity made solid with an angelic presence all its own. Almost unnaturally the eye was drawn to it, fixing in place, unable to move.

So it was with the small, college age girl that stood at the foot of the stairs to the palace. A breeze rustled across the land, stirring up her locks of fiery red hair and brushing them across her face. Eyes of an equal crimson stared in awe at the towering greatness in front of her and she drew a deep sigh of relief- she was back. Beside her stood a girl of her own age, this one with soft blonde curls, partially tied behind her head, but nonetheless blowing in front of her emerald green eyes.

The tall blonde turned to her friend. "We're here, Hikaru," she whispered as if afraid to break the reverent silence that surrounded them.

Hikaru smiled, her face lighting up with joy. She grabbed Fuu's hand and raced up the steps and into the palace, their footsteps ringing out in the silence as they raced across the smooth crystal.

It had been years since they had laid eyes upon this countryside, this palace, this world, and yet it was a second home to them both. Still, as much as they wished, they were not here for a pleasure trip. Umi, the only other person from Earth who so much as knew that Cephiro even existed, had been sent to this world ahead of them after she had called Hikaru and practically begged to be summoned here. Though time passed almost the same in both places, when an offworlder was in Cephiro time in their world ground to a halt until they returned. So when Hikaru sent Umi back while talking to her over the phone, she had expected the conversation to resume as normal when her blue-haired friend returned.

But what had Hikaru and Fuu both worried was that this didn't happen. After she sent Umi to Cephiro, the line suddenly went dead. She hung up and dialed back only to learn that the number was unavailable. When she tried it again the next day and the same thing happened, Hikaru called up the college where Umi went to school and had them go out and look for her. The search ended up being fruitless and in sheer panic she sent both Fuu and herself to the magical world to see for themselves what had gone wrong.

And so they were back, looking for Umi and with no idea as to where to start. Hoping to bump into someone they knew, the two girls stuck together as they began to search the castle from bottom to high-vaulted top. The polished floors clicked beneath their heels as they walked slowly through the silvery halls, eyes scanning in all directions for familiar face, anyone they could recognize and call by name.

Luckily their wish was granted only minutes later, better than they ever could have hoped. A swish of long, blue hair was reflected off the wall just around the corner, footsteps echoing ahead. Hikaru and Fuu took off at a dead sprint down the corridor, screeching to a halt as they rounded to a corner, but still barreling into the body they had been chasing. A tumble of arms and legs hit the floor, skidding across the marble before crashing into the wall and coming to a stop.

Umi picked herself up only to be knocked over once more by a blur of crimson as Hikaru hugged her ferociously around her neck, nearly sobbing with relief of finding her old friend to be perfectly fine and unharmed. "God Umi, don't scare us like that," she said between gasps for breath, "You just disappeared, I had no idea what had happened. Thought you might be dead or something horrible like that..."

By this time, Fuu had gotten to her feet and joined the happy reunion. "I'm so glad you're okay Umi," she said softly, not as loud or exuberant as her friend.

The blue haired girl stood once more, then pulled to other two to their feet, embracing them both. "Thanks for coming to find me, it really means a lot, but there's nothing wrong. Really." She led them along through the palace, standing between them with an arm over each of their shoulders.

"But something had to have happened," voiced Hikaru, "Or you wouldn't have vanished."

Umi sighed deeply, she wasn't quite sure how to tell them and took a few moments of silence to collect her thoughts. "I no longer belong on Earth," she finally said, head bowed, "I belong here, on Cephiro." Fuu looked like she understood and didn't want to admit it to herself, but Hikaru was obviously lost so Umi provided further explanation. "It's the opposite of what happens to you guys. I now have to be summoned to Earth, instead of the other way around."

A light dawned in the red eyes of the shorter girl and a single tear traced its way down her face. "Why?" was her only question.

Silence reigned for a few moments longer before Umi spoke again. "I didn't fit in back home, not in America, not even in Tokyo. I couldn't live seeing the tower everyday and know what I was missing. And I knew that the only two people I really cared about could always come visit me." Fuu opened her mouth to ask a question, but Umi cut her off with a smile. "I know what you're going to ask. I didn't tell you because you would have tried to stop me."

It was then that Fuu noticed the slight, subtle changes that had occurred in Umi. Her brow knitting in confusion she silently lifted one long, now curly lock of Umi's hair, her question asked without a word.

Umi smiled- and explained everything. Both Fuu and Hikaru had their eyes practically bugging out of their sockets by the time she finished, their mouths agape as she told them of the magic she had seen, and was now learning to control. "You guys want to find everybody else, just so you can say hi?" she asked them when she was done.

Fuu's entire face lit up with the thought of seeing Ferio and she gave an enthusiastic, "Yes!" before flushing red with embarrassment. Hikaru's reaction was much the same, thinking of Lantis, and Umi couldn't help but laugh.

"Come on, I'll give you the grand tour."

They ran into several people before finding those they were looking for. Ferio was on his own out in a garden, practicing his sword play. The girls watched him for several minutes, amazed at his skill, before he noticed them. He grinned and winked at Fuu as he sheathed his blade while walking towards them. Fuu barely managed to whisper a small greeting before he swept her in his arms and kissed her.

Umi smiled devilishly and even the normally non-romantic Hikaru softened and cooed, "That's so sweet." That was when she found herself pulled into a strong embrace from behind. She twisted around until she could get a good look at her captor- Lantis. No one had ever seen either of them grin so broadly as they did then. The kiss they shared was nothing like the whammy Ferio had laid on Fuu, but romantic nonetheless.

Giggling under her breath, Umi left the garden. She had her own man waiting for her, but her friends didn't have to know that yet.

*****

IT'S OUT! I FINISHED! EVERYONE BOW BEFORE THE GLORY OF SHADA! Gee, wonder if I'm excited? AAAAAAHHHHHH, almost a year after it was started, the Nightmares 'saga' is finally completely! REJOICE!