Chapter 10 The Wind Temple

After a few days of waiting they were ready to leave. They mounted their horses, waved goodbye and set out for the Forest of Silence.

"You have the Son of Cephiro I don't know why I should have to come," Ferio was grumbling as they trotted toward the lush greenery of the Forest.

"He's a wild spirit, unreliable. Clef seemed insistent that someone who knows the land should come and keep tabs on him," Hikaru responded and avoided Umi's eyes.

"Send Ascot or Lafarga or Lantis," Ferio muttered, but nothing more was said.

When they reached the Forest it was night, "We should stop here," Ferio told them, and they dismounted on the outskirts of the Forest and pulled out blankets, "It would be easier if he hadn't taken Mokona."

"Oh stop complaining," Fuu scolded and smiled.

At first he glared but slowly it turned to a grin.

§§§~~~

She wandered around the Forest aimlessly; it was pitch black, but her eyes were well adjusted. The others had been asleep for hours, but she was worried; he said he would find her. She took her shoes off and the small silver dagger she had carried for protection in the internment camp, (she still didn't remember how she had smuggled that in) and put her feet in the creek. She put her head on her knees, and tears fell down her cheeks, where was he?

Cold steel touched the back of her neck as someone whispered, "You shouldn't be in the woods alone at night; it could get you into trouble with beauty such as yours."

Her heart pounded as she jumped up and threw herself at him so hard he fell, "Ow," he managed to choke.

"Gomen," she whispered closing her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. She nuzzled herself as close to him as she could.

"Miss me?" he joked softly moving to his side, so he could see her clearly.

"You have no idea," she answered turning to face him.

"I missed you too," he reached a hand over and touched her cheek running his fingers down her slender neck.

She took his hand and brought it to her lips. He bent in and kissed her, pushing her onto the lush grass. He pulled back for only a second before she grabbed his neck and pulled him back.

When they broke away he was almost on top of her, only inches apart, their bodies touching gently.

She pulled his neck down and whispered, "Make love to me," in his ear.

He was startled but shook his head and sat up. She sat up too and looked at him, her expression showed confusion and deep pain, "I won't ever hurt you like that," he managed to whisper.

"It won't hurt me," she took his hand, "I want to be with you."

"There have been others Umi," he looked away from her trembling lip.

"But there haven't been for me; I want you," she was to the point of pleading, "I- I love you."

"When I look at you," he cupped her face in his hand, and she closed her eyes and nuzzled close, "I see a pure innocence and beauty. When I look in your eyes I see a love that I won't…can't destroy because I love you too… too much."

For a minute that seemed to last centuries there was silence until she nodded and came close, "Then just hold me, for tonight hold me and never let me go."

He wrapped his arms around her, and they lay together in the Forest, safe in each others arms.

§§§~~~

"Umi! Umi!" she was startled awake by people shouting her name. She looked around and kissed Yukito awake.

He smiled and kissed her back slowly sitting up.

"They've been looking for you everywhere," Fuu stopped short seeing her companion; she blushed and spoke to the ground, "You too Yukito; Ferio was given strict orders to ah…to ah…"

"To make sure this didn't happen," Ferio muttered heavily as he walked into the clearing.

Yukito's eyes narrowed, "And what exactly do you think happened?"

"Don't be daft!" Ferio scolded.

"No I really am curious to know," he challenged.

"You expect me to think that finding you alone in the forest with Umi gone all night and you just happen to be here, with her, you expect me to think that nothing happened?!" Ferio demanded, "I'm going to be in so much trouble!"

"By who?" Yukito's eyes showed murder.

Ferio looked away, "No one of your concern."

One more sharp look, and he decided against testing the Son of Cephiro's nerves.

"Clef," he muttered meekly.

"I thought as much," Yukito muttered and stood giving Umi a hand up, "I suppose he wanted to make sure that she stayed unspoiled?"

Ferio shook his head, "He said something about not leaving you two alone together because it would just hurt her in the long run."

Yukito mumbled under his breath, "As if I didn't already know better. Like I'm some four year old he has to watch over all the time."

Umi tried not to feel hurt at this feud, tried not to keep from wondering what was being hidden from her, but it was eating her inside.

"Where are we going?" Fuu asked curiously, and Yukito looked as if now he was thrown back into life, now they were on his ground, and he felt more comfortable. He knew Clef's magic would never penetrate the Forest that's why he had sent Ferio.

"Wherever your heart leads us," he responded.

"My heart?" Fuu gulped heavily, "What do you mean by that?"

"The second Rune-God is yours," he answered simply.

"Mine?" she gulped again, "How wonderful."

"It's not so bad," Umi told her smiling, "Selece was quite enjoyable. I learned a lot about myself and him, and uh…" she grinned at Yukito, "Well not so much good stuff about him, but…"

"Where's Hikaru?" Ferio looked around.

"She probably got lost," Umi muttered angrily, "She doesn't have a lot of talent for this kind of thing."

Fuu shook her head, "You two really give me a headache. To avoid that again I'll go find her," she stood and walked into the Forest.

"Fuu you shouldn't go out there…" Ferio began, but she was already too far to hear. He was about to go after her, but Yukito stopped him.

"This is her journey, let her go."

§§§~~~

"Hikaru! Hikaru! Where are you?!" she called into the Forest but received no answer, "Really, she couldn't have gotten that far could she?"

She must have walked at least a mile in every direction and still no sign of the girl. She sat down on a rock and took off her shoes massaging her feet. She loved the forest and could walk around for hours, but not without some pain. She hadn't walked like this in a long time, not since the streets had been safe to walk in. How long ago was that? Could she even remember?

"When is Japan going to be at peace?" she whispered to herself trying to hold back tears. She thought about the way her father acted. He acted as if winning this war was more important than anything else, as if it was more important than even her. She was beginning to think that was true, and she sighed wishing that things could change. That the war would just end, and everything would be over. Why had they bombed America? Did anyone even know what they were fighting for?

"Fuu, Magic Knight of Wind," there was a hollow voice whispering in her ear. She spun but there was nothing there.

"What?"

"Find me, free me, and I will be yours to control," it whispered, and she followed the voice completely forgetting her aching feet or her lost companion as she replaced her shoes and listened hard to the voice.

She followed it around and through trees not even bothering to find out where she was, not worrying about getting back. All she did was listen to the voice grow louder, more demanding of her, "Fuu, find me, free me."

"I'm coming," she whispered though the voice still seemed far. It seemed to be in the very being of the wind around her, the air, the trees, the whole world seemed to glow with that voice. She was almost sure that it could hear her everywhere though she didn't know how.

"Hurry."

It seemed urgent, so she sped up.

"Faster."

Her feet seemed to fly, and she didn't know where she was pulling this strength from. She was tired from riding so much and then walking, but somehow she forced her body to push on, and she found herself flying toward the voice

As she looked around to see where she was she saw only white around her. She drew in a deep breath as she realized she was literally flying, soaring toward that voice. She came out of the clouds and gasped at the sight beneath her; a tiny village. She smiled, slowly getting used to this strange phenomenon and watched the people work. She wondered what would happen if someone decided to take a break and look at the sky, but no one did so her fears were put at ease.

"Fuu this is no time for simple pleasures," the voice scolded, and she took off toward it.

The voice grew louder and louder as she drew nearer and nearer her final destination. Her stomach twisted in knots, and she squirmed in the air, but all was forgotten as she saw what was ahead; a huge floating palace in the sky.

She drew forward and looked at the stone doors. A harsh wind blew by, but she didn't even move. It barely seemed more than a light breeze, "What?"

"Fuu, Magic Knight of Wind, you may enter," the voice made her whole body vibrate.

She got close to the door and touched the engraved, 'W' in the doors. When she did they swung back with a crash that rattled her bones.

§§§~~~

"What's taking her so long?" Ferio stood and paced. Hikaru had been back for many hours when Yukito went to find her.

"Be patient," Yukito instructed.

"I can't be patient! The Forest is a dangerous place. I shouldn't have let her go alone. What if…" he didn't realize how worried he sounded, but Umi and Hikaru caught ever word and even now were stifling snickers.

'This will do nicely,' a voice rung inside Umi's head, and she looked up. It looked as if no one else had heard it.

Then she heard Yukito's voice arguing back, 'Windam you have no right to bring him into your testing.'

'I have every right,' the voice Yukito called Windam responded.

'He isn't some beggar village boy; he's the Prince of Cephiro!' Yukito shouted.

Umi stared in amazement. She watched Yukito move around effortlessly, he even spoke to Ferio as if this battle wasn't raging inside his head. What she didn't understand was why it was raging in hers.

'And she isn't a country bumpkin; she's the Magic Knight of Wind!' Windam countered.

'Why do you need him? She rejected him; it's obvious.'

'A humbling experience that you should experience,' Windam said dryly.

Umi put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.

'That doesn't answer my question,' Yukito said dryly.

'She dreams about him. You know Ferio, he just moves too fast.'

There was a long silence before Yukito answered, 'If you don't harm him you have my blessing.'

'I did not need your permission.'

She realized it was over and looked up.

"Ferio!" she turned just in time to see the Prince of Cephiro vanish, and Hikaru looking mortified.

Yukito didn't look surprised, "He's being used in Fuu's test; he'll be fine," he said simply. He turned to assure Umi, but found she didn't seem effected at all. He stared curiously, but she shrugged and got ready for bed.

§§§~~~

Fuu looked around her and stared at the beautiful marble pillars around her, "Where am I?" she asked, and a noise made her spin and draw her sword. She looked behind her and tried to see what had made the noise.

'Magic Knight of Wind,' a voice echoed in the stones around her, that same voice, 'What would you do for the protection of your loved ones?'

She looked confused, but the voice demanded an answer, "I would do anything for my loved ones, I would die for them," she said quietly.

'What would you do for the Prince of Cephiro?' the voice continued in that same formal tone.

"What?" Fuu whispered, her eyes widening, "Ferio?"

'You know him,' the voice showed amusement, 'I thought you might be interested.'

"What have you done with him?!" she screamed, "If you hurt him…!"

'Ah, so you do care for him.'

She recoiled, "I…"

'So if I maybe did…this,' Ferio's limp body landed on the floor in front of her.

"Ferio!" she knelt by him and let down her sword, "What have you done to him?!"

"Fuu," he whispered and looked up at her, "Fuu you have to get out of here, there's something not safe in lurking in this place," he shut his eyes.

"Ferio," Fuu whispered, "Ferio!" he wouldn't open his eyes, "FERIO!" Carefully she lay his body back on the floor and picked up her sword, "Come out here and fight. You hurt him and for this I can never forgive you. Come out here and fight me, are you afraid?!"

'You're brave Wind Knight especially considering your little skill,' the voice mocked.

"I have enough skill to kill you, coward!"

'Why die for him? Is he a loved one? Would he die for you?' the voice questioned.

"Of course he's a loved one!" Fuu screamed, and didn't realize until after the fact what she had just said, "He's a friend," she added, "And he would die for me; he's fought with his life to protect me, fearlessly. I owe him the same. Are you going to fight me or am I going to have to find you?!" The sword in her hands began to mold, and she looked down. It was longer, "What?" she whispered.

Two doors at the end of the hall swung open, and something soared out. Fuu screamed at what she saw, and Ferio ran to her side.

"What the…" he stopped and realized what it was.

'Magic Knight of Wind, step forth,' the thing commanded, and Fuu just stared.

"Fuu," Ferio touched her shoulder gently, and she jumped.

"What? Ferio," she smiled, "You're okay, I thought…"

"I must have been part of your test," he told her softly, "It's okay, do as he says."

She nodded trusting Ferio more than the creature in front of her and stepped forward into the darkness. The doors slammed shut, and Ferio settled to wait wondering why he had been used in her tests. He couldn't help but love the fact that she was glad to see him unharmed, maybe there was something there yet.