Chapter 3 News to the Palace

She tried to scream but heard no sound as if it had gone on forever with nothing to bounce back on. But there had been walls in the volcano Hikaru thought numbly. Am I still falling? She opened up her tightly shut eyes and looked around, she was in some sort of third dimension. All she saw was black, "Huh?" she asked as she unclenched her fists relieving cramped muscles.

"Hikaru," a voice from the darkness echoed.

"Rayearth!" she shouted happily running to where she thought she heard it.

"Hikaru, listen," he said, but now it was coming from behind her.

"Rayearth?" tears came to her eyes, "Why are you hiding from me? Where are Umi-chan and Fuu-chan? Please come out."

There was a slight laugh, and some of Hikaru's worry and sadness was replaced by anger.

"What's so funny?" she demanded.

"You continue to amaze me Fire Knight, that's all," there was a smile in his voice, and she smiled back at it, "But your friends are hurt, badly. You can't do anything but take them back to Clef as soon as you can. Fuu will help Umi as much as her magic allows but her lungs need help. She landed on a sharp rock, and they're punctured. Take this for now and know that this and two others like it are the only things that can save Cephiro. She cannot take them from you once you have them unless she kills you, but she can recover them first. Go swiftly back to the palace then head to the forest and find the Emerald Stone," his voice was fading quickly.

"Who is she?" Hikaru demanded.

"Go to the palace, then to the forest," he repeated. She remembered nothing else until she opened her eyes again.

She was lying on the ground next to an unconscious Umi. She could hear her breathing was choked and shallow, she was gasping for breath. Hikaru bolted upright, "Umi-chan."

Fuu turned from speaking to Ascot in hushed voices and wiped her tears, "Hikaru-san, so glad you're okay."

"Fuu-chan! We have to get Umi-chan back to the Guru!" Hikaru shouted jumping up and feeling a rush in her head. She swayed but regained herself.

"Hikaru-san what is that?" Fuu whispered walking close to Hikaru and looking at the new stone in her hand. It was like the last only it was shaped as a leaping flame and swirled red and orange. Hikaru looked down at it and gaped.

"I think that we all have to find one to save Cephiro. That's what Rayearth said when he gave it to me," Hikaru responded as everything dawned on her at once, "And that woman wants them too, but we have to get them before her. But first we have to get Umi-chan to the palace. We've got to help her lungs!"

"I know Hikaru-san," those same tears came to Fuu's eyes again. She was going to be a doctor, she knew biology, she could tell, see what Hikaru could not.

"Well then let's go!" Hikaru didn't understand.

"I don't think we can get her there in time," Fuu whispered, "Her lungs, they've filled with fluid. She only has a few hours to live. There's no way we could get her back there in time. We probably couldn't even get down from here that fast," she tried to be gentle, but it hit Hikaru hard.

"You mean Umi-chan is going to…going to…?" she didn't need to finish, couldn't finish the tears were coming to her eyes now. She could feel them sting and burn against her cheeks as she knelt by Umi, "No Umi-chan…"

She knelt her head down near the girl and sobbed letting her tears come as Fuu put a hand on her shoulder gently. She watched the tears hit Umi's beautiful pale skin and as they slipped down her cheeks and onto the girl they turned to Fire and engulfed all of them. When they looked up again Lantis, Ferio, Clef, Persea and Caldina were staring at them looking thoroughly confused.

After a moment of shock Hikaru stood and looked Clef directly in the eyes, "Umi-chan is hurt, Fuu-chan says that there is fluid in her lungs and she's gonna die! You can't let that happen!"

Clef looked down at the injured girl, and they all felt sickened seeing her hair soaked in her own blood. They could hear her gasp for breath, struggling to hold onto life. He nodded, "She's not going anywhere Hikaru." He gently picked her up and brought her to her own room and set her down on the bed. He asked Ascot to go and get some things for him which set him running to do it. He looked down at the Water Knight examining her injuries as Fuu approached him.

"I know of medicine only from my own world Guru, but I know that she is hurt badly. I can hear the fluid in her lungs, but she hit stone. There could be broken bones, ribs, a ruptured artery, internal bleeding, there are so many things. I have no way of telling without any kind of equipment or x-rays or…" she sounded a bit frantic.

He put a hand on her shoulder, "Fuu I know." He looked back at the girl who whimpered in fear still barely holding onto the life that she deserved and knew she wasn't going to willingly give up…not now that she was back. There was a pain in his heart as he forced out the words.

"If she doesn't make it you have to go in her place. You two can't give up, please, for us, for your world, for everyone you can never give up."

She nodded solemnly, "We will never give up Guru, if only for Umi-san." She turned and left Clef with his work as Ascot brought him the things he needed. They both looked down at the Knight knowing this might be the last time they would ever see her alive and gave each other small weak glances then began the long, wearisome task.

§§§~~~

Hikaru jumped at every little movement that might be from Umi's room. Finally Lantis held her down and forced her to tell them the story of what had happened if only to calm all their nerves some. Fuu listened intently but kept glancing back to Umi's door nervously. So was she the only one who knew? The only one who knew Umi might never make it out of that room?

"Fuu," Clef walked out barely able to stand, tired and sick looking. Ascot was following him in case he collapsed.

Fuu nodded and walked in looking at the others softly before Clef closed the door shutting out Hikaru who had jumped up. She stared at the door then turned back to the others looking at them for help.

"Clef probably wants her to help," Persea offered, and she nodded and sat down putting her head in her hands to wait some more.

§§§~~~

Fuu looked down at the bed, and her heart stopped when she couldn't hear Umi's breath, "Clef tell me this is wrong," she begged not daring to move from the door.

He raised his eyebrows as she knelt near her and felt her pulse as she heard a steady rhythm rise from the girl. Her eyes widened as she looked back to Clef who smiled slightly.

"She's going to be touch and go for awhile, but I'd like to keep her here with me in the palace until you guys come back from the forest or until she's able to come and find you. Time can't be wasted and now you know how she's fairing."

Fuu nodded, "Of course Guru, we'll be back as soon as we can," she turned and left the room.

"Ascot," Clef turned to him, "You're needed with the Magic Knights you are of no use here."

"But…"

"Go with them," it was an order not a request, and Ascot nodded.

"Yes Guru," he said softly and left.

§§§~~~

They were headed toward the forest quickly, the Unicorn beneath her was cantering; its mane was flying freely behind it, whipping in the wind. She loved the feel of the way the animal moved beneath her, as if it had wings and was allowing her to ride on the wind with it. She molded to become one with the creature, and they rode together across the grassy fields enjoying the comfort of each other. She heard the hooves beat on the ground and the mane flap in the wind, but she heard their hearts beat as one as they took breaths together and flew across the field in search of their prize.

§§§~~~

He thought only of Umi as the forest began to show. Why had Clef pushed him away from the Knight? Surely the Master Mage knew that he would gladly send his friends with the other two and stay himself. Why did he make him leave then? What use had he been to them in the last battle? What use could he be to them now? But then, what use could he be to her at the palace? He sighed feeling extremely confused. He was thinking when the eagle looked and saw the other two were waiting for him, "Why did we stop?"

"I think we should go on foot from here," Fuu responded.

"Why?"

"It's not going to be safe; I don't want these beautiful creatures hurt," Fuu smiled lovingly at the Unicorn; it seemed they had become friends.

"They're strong though and will be faster so…" he didn't want to say so we can get back to Umi sooner. He knew they were suspicious of his feelings already, and he didn't need that hanging over him the rest of their stay, maybe forever.

Fuu gave him a sideward glance, but Hikaru stared clueless. He shrugged it off and resummoned the beasts, "Fine."

Fuu nodded and took the lead. It was a hard journey through the terrain that Hikaru was so unfamiliar with.

"Fuu-chan!" she whined.

Fuu spun and looked at the girl that was torn with brambles and had leaves in her hair. She looked at her sympathetically. Hikaru was as made for the forest as she was for the volcano. She wasn't used to walking in the woods, it wasn't a thing that was common at a dojo, and that had been her whole life. Fuu had grown up with a sister near the woods and she was used to being alone walking in the forest, maybe accompanied by her sister maybe not, but either way she loved the forest, the feel of the wind whipping her silky hair around her slender shoulders.

"Gomen nasai Hikaru-san I know you're not used to this, but please we have to keep going," Fuu said gently, and Hikaru nodded and tried to push some of the leaves out of her hair.

"Hai, Fuu-chan,"  she nodded determined.

§§§~~~

Umi moaned as she turned and felt her shoulders bruised and bloody. She screamed causing the Master Mage to come running into the room.

"Umi," he pushed her back on the bed, "Stop it you're hurting yourself!"

She screamed and tried to pull away from him, "Hikaru! Fuu!" she had no idea what was going on around her, all she knew was that she had to get away and find the two, fast. She pulled herself up, and Clef watched horrified as she stumbled out of the bed and collapsed on the ground. She gripped the cold wood of the bed and pulled herself up screaming as she did.

"Umi!" he grabbed her arms and held her firmly.

She tried to rip away, her eyes were desperate and frantic.

He watched her numbly not understand why she was trying to get away from him. Was she scared of him?

"Fuu, Hikaru," she whispered looking at him for answers, "I need to…get to them," she ripped away and ran from the room. She stumbled down the halls reaching out to walls looking as images blurred in front of her. She ran into a plant, "Uh gomen Ferio," she muttered as she kept walking knocking the pot over completely as it shattered on the ground.           

"Umi?" Caldina asked as she walked down the hall.

"Fuu, Hikaru…"

*AH! I want to add romance but what to do?! I'm so confused! Grrr…okay I'll figure it out and maybe have something in the next chapter. Until then read and review Arigato! ^.^*