*Kaiya: I sent you an email saying that I'd like to have some of the old English stuff for help in this story later on but either I sent it to the wrong place (most likely) or something. Anyway ^.^ in case you didn't get that I really would like to try that out and thank you sooo much for offering!*
Chapter 11 Windam
"Who are you?" Fuu demanded the second the doors swung shut looking around her cautiously.
'I am the Rune-God Windam,' the answer was simple, and she stared up at the giant Phoenix.
It looked like a lion with a bird head and wings. It was huge and beautiful, but frightening all at the same time.
"I don't understand," Fuu whispered.
'You have much to learn about Cephiro,' the voice seemed almost sad, 'You all do. You will have much conflict with the Water Knight, but you will end up on the right side, you both will. She will be hurt, but it is inevitable.'
"Why would I fight with Umi?" Fuu asked, and the Phoenix shook its head.
'I cannot explain, it is for her.'
"Fine then why will she be hurt?" Fuu sounded almost irritable as though she was talking to a friend not a giant spirit that could rip her apart without a thought.
'That is for the Son of Cephiro,' Windam answered, 'You though are the Magic Knight of Wind and destined to head for your own path. That path is a good one, and you will suit it well.'
"There is a path for me?"
'Yes, there is a path for everyone, your path intersects with the other two and creates the basis of Cephiro's survival. Intertwined with that are the paths of the three Mages, the Black, the White and the Blue. You will learn it sooner than you want to so of it I will not speak anymore.'
"Okay," Fuu looked more confused than ever, and he laughed slightly in a screechy voice.
'You will be strong, not like the last, you will be strong but mostly smart. You will be the strategist of the three. You are, are you not?' Windam didn't seem to ask the question, just implied.
"I am…" she stopped not sure what to say, "My father…" no, that was no good, "I was trained…" Trained? She was a girl not a soldier, but it was true the Japanese had been trained as had the Germans and the Italians, "Our family is known for strategy," she said simply.
He shook his head almost sadly, 'You are your father's daughter and your father is a military genius. He developed most of the attacks that Japan placed upon America; he passed it to you.'
She nodded and looked down, "But of that I am not proud. I'm not sure that I would be able to use any of it. It makes me sick to think of what it can do."
'But you must get over what is going on in your home. I know much of your home only from watching you; I know that whatever you do when you get back your decision will be the right one. Now, I know that those two need you. The Water Knight is smart when it comes to running and fighting individually, but she has no coordination. She fends for herself and that's all. She doesn't care for anyone but herself, and she's not used to fighting with anyone else. She'll need your help. The Fire Knight, she is untrained. You will teach her, both of you, teach her what she has been sheltered from, and in turn she will teach you how to accept and forgive. She will give you back some of the innocence you lost.'
Fuu nodded, "I will do everything I can to save this land."
'I know and I trust that you will succeed, that's why I did no drastic tests. I see a strength in you that there is no denying, in all of you. You do not need to be tested; it shows through the whole way,' he seemed to smile down at her, 'You will be the Magic Knight of Wind that has been destined to come, the Magic Knight that has been foretold for centuries.'
Streams of Wind engulfed her, and the doors opened as she felt that her armor had changed once more. She walked out, and Ferio stood and smiled at her.
"You're okay," he sighed, "And you've revived Windam."
She grinned, "I guess I have," she looked back at the door as her Rune-God told her.
'Give him a chance, he isn't used to being so wrapped up in one person. His feelings for you are different than anything he's experienced.'
She laughed and thanked him. As they walked to the doors they swung open, and Ferio gulped as he saw that there was only clouds beneath them.
"You're kidding me right?"
Fuu smiled and took his hand. He looked at their hands and then at her and then at their hands before she jumped and pulled him with her.
Before he knew what was going on he was soaring across the clouds and flying over a village, "What?"
"You can fly when you touch me," Fuu smiled and enjoyed the wind whipping against her face.
"Oh," Ferio said softly, and they flew closer to the ground when they heard hooves coming quickly.
"Fuu!" she looked down and saw Umi calling to her. They landed softly and mounted almost immediately.
"What's going on?" Fuu asked curiously noting that their armor had changed as well.
"Something in the nearby village," Umi answered, "We heard screams, and the moon just arose."
Fuu got a sinking feeling in her stomach as the horses galloped to the village she had flown over during the day. She looked around and saw buildings on fire as women and children screamed and cried. Men hurried around trying to put out the fire that was consuming their town.
The smaller houses were made of straw, but the larger were magnificent palaces made of marble and limestone. She couldn't believe the difference in the houses, but she saw them all being destroyed, "Who did this?!" her voice was angry.
"I bet I know," Yukito and Umi simultaneously got off their horses and drew swords. The other three followed and tied their horses before walking through the town.
There's got to be something I can do, Umi thought and looked around. She saw the pain in Fuu's expression and wanted to do something.
"Umi," Yukito called her forward, and she went to his side looking around her warily and telling the others to be on their guard.
"Whoever did this needs to die," Fuu whispered.
"Funny you should say that considering this looks so familiar to you I'm sure. Only last time you saw a scene like this death was far from your mind, more like congratulations," Hikaru muttered, and Fuu's eyes darted to her.
"What?"
"This is exactly what Pearl Harbor looked like just after you bombed it," Hikaru said cruelly, and Fuu glared.
"You act as if it was my plan!"
"It wasn't your plan I'm sure, but I think you supported it. At least that's what I got from it. Some of my best friends had brothers that died there. I lost some of my best friends because I was Japanese. For that I can never forgive the Japanese. I regret ever even having the cursed blood in my veins," Hikaru spat.
"Traitor!" Fuu screamed and raised her sword.
"Stop now," Umi's eyes were like ice as she and Yukito walked over and saw the scene, "None of you have any room to talk, you didn't have to…" she stopped and shook her head looking at them disgustedly, "Even if we don't all consider ourselves Japanese we're all Magic Knights and that alone is enough reason to stop this. We have to be on our guards in case…" she stopped because she felt someone behind her. She spun and looked at him in the eyes.
"Who shall we play with today?" he mocked, and Umi's grip on her sword tightened. She wanted to kill him for stealing what he had from her. She wanted to kill him for hurting these people, and for causing so much anguish, "I want to play with the Water Knight but…" he looked at Umi wistfully, "Not today, later perhaps, today I think I'll go with the Wind Knight," he walked to Fuu who stood completely frozen.
"Umi," Yukito whispered to her, "Go do what I told you. I'll stay here with them. These people need your help."
She nodded and ran toward the biggest fire, "Mizu no Ryuu!" she screamed, and a Dragon made of water flew from her fingers. The others watched awed as the house was drenched in water and the fire put out.
"Ruining my fun," the Dark One shook his head, "Oh well," he turned back to Fuu, "Now what shall we take from you?"
"Nothing," Ferio stepped forward and met the Dark One's sword. They fought hard, and the Dark One backed up a few steps before he threw Ferio's sword from his hand.
"Ferio!" Fuu screamed and threw her sword in front of the Dark One's blade before he could bring it down on the Prince.
"Arigato," he whispered as she struggled hard with him.
"Kino," Yukito hissed, and the Dark One dropped his sword on Fuu throwing her to the ground and faced Yukito.
"You've been to see Clef," his voice was vicious, "I can see it in your eyes."
Yukito scowled, "How else was I to get your taint off of her?"
"You shouldn't have bothered, you would have been safer if you hadn't," he laughed, "But either way this ends here and now."
"No I don't think much will be ending except your life," Umi whispered from behind, "Mizu no Ryuu!" she raised her hands, and the Dragon spun at him, its watery jaws wide open as it flew upon him. He shouted a curse at her and vanished.
Umi flew into his arms, and he tried to soothe her. She was shaking hard; she was tired from the use of so much magic, and so soon too.
"That was stupid," he whispered and kissed the top of her head.
"I couldn't stand to see you hurt," she responded and tried to calm her shaking body.
"But now you're vulnerable," he pulled up her face, so he could see her eyes, "And your life means more to me than my own."
"And mine to yours," she answered, and he tried not to grimace.
"Fuu," Ferio shook her shoulders gently, and she opened her eyes and shook her head slightly.
"Huh?" she looked around her and jumped up, sword raised.
"It's okay, he's gone," Ferio said gently, and Fuu sighed, relieved.
"How?" she asked, and he pointed to Umi who was shaking in Yukito's arms, "She's always saving us. I just wish I could do something in return."
"I don't," Hikaru muttered, and Fuu tried not to glare at the girl. It seemed Windam was wrong; it looked as if the only true enemies were her and Hikaru. She couldn't imagine anything making her hate Umi.
"I think it's time we all got some sleep. We'll ride in the morning," Yukito said over Umi's shoulder, and they nodded and began to get sleeping bags out.
"What are you doing?" Ferio asked, and they looked at him confused.
"Getting ready for bed," they answered, and Yukito laughed.
"You don't need them, Mokona!" he called and the little fur-ball jumped up to him.
"Where have you been?" Umi demanded, and the thing puued in response, "Is that all it can say?" she whined, and Ferio and Yukito laughed again.
"Yes," Yukito told her, "And Mokona doesn't like danger; he always runs when it's around. It's quite a little warning system. Right when he disappears then the fun begins."
"Oh how reassuring," Umi muttered.
"I think it's cute!" Hikaru hugged the little creature that puued, obviously extremely pleased with the arrangement.
"I think it's annoying," Umi mumbled, but didn't say more about it.
"Mokona a couple tents please," Yukito asked politely, and the gem on its head began to glow and out of it came two tents, but they weren't exactly tents. They were egg-shaped and when you walked in them they were more like hotel rooms with beds and dressers equipped with all kinds of clothing.
"Cool," Hikaru grinned.
"Arigato Mokona," Fuu thanked it, and Umi just stared.
"It can do that but it can't talk?!" she burst out.
The others laughed, and she eventually got in on the fun.
After a minute they realized the reason they had asked for tents was because they were going to bed and walked inside the tents. Umi and Yukito were the last two to go in.
"Guess this is good night," he told her softly, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I don't want to go in just yet," she whispered and kissed him. He grinned and kissed her neck.
"We're going to be in trouble if we don't," he told her, and she laughed.
"I don't really care."
"You need to sleep though," he wrapped a piece of her hair around his finger, "Because we have to ride tomorrow, early."
"You're all I need," she looked into his eyes and sounded serious.
"Please don't say that," he begged, and she looked worried.
"Why?"
"Because it's a dangerous thing to say with anyone, especially me," he responded, and she looked distressed.
"What do you mean by that?" she pulled away from him, "If you mean you're planning to leave me like the others you have to realize that I'm not one to stand that kind of thing."
He shook his head, "I would never do that to you."
"Then what? What are you hiding from me?" she questioned.
"I will tell only when you tell," he answered.
She looked down, "My father…" tears welled in her eyes.
"Sh…" he put a finger to her lips and moved it away kissing her softly, "I don't want to know if it will make you cry. I never want to see you cry."
She looked down and away, "I understand," she turned, but he caught her wrist.
"You don't understand, but you do understand that I can't explain."
She nodded, "Something like that."
"For now, until it's time let's just pretend that there are no secrets and just be together okay?"
She smiled and agreed.
He kissed her one last time, and they walked inside the different tents.
They rode through the village and surveyed the damage. Luckily not much had been completely destroyed, but many houses were burnt horribly, and the effect would only cripple the people further. They smiled and thanked the Magic Knights for their help, but behind their eyes was a strong look of fear. Where would they sleep? What would they farm? Much of their crop had been destroyed, what would they eat? They never asked for further help from the Knights or mentioned any of their problems.
"What is this village called Ferio?" Fuu asked as they rode through.
"Breezeville," he answered simply, "It is the home of the Magic Knight of Wind."
"What?" Fuu inquired in a whisper.
"Just a legend," Yukito said gruffly.
"It is said that a Magic Knight of Wind will settle in Cephiro and be the protector of this city, that she will have some of her most precious memories here," Ferio elaborated.
"That's not getting off to a good start," Fuu muttered.
"Basically each of you are like guardians to three central cities of Cephiro; the palace being directly in between them all," Yukito muttered, "They are like strongholds," he sent a glance towards Fuu.
She nodded and stored that bit of information for later.
"So where are we going?" Hikaru questioned.
"Toward the heated mountains, toward Embertown," Yukito answered.
As they rode Fuu brought up a question that she had since her meeting with Windam, "What are the Black, White and Blue Mages?"
Yukito winced when Ferio answered.
"They are three Mages said to be connected by a strong friendship, but all must follow different paths and each ends up loosing something by the hands of the others. They say that all three, when they surface, will be in love…" Ferio was stopped by Yukito.
"Fairy Tales told to little children. You know those stories aren't true."
"If they aren't true why does she know about them?" Ferio demanded.
"Because Windam likes to put things in people's mind that shouldn't be there; he's notorious for it," Yukito said sharply.
"Be careful what you say around me," Fuu warned.
"Oh don't worry Wind Knight, of all the Rune-Gods I believe I like Windam the most," Yukito told her, "And Selece the least."
'Don't insult me like that!' Windam's voice raged in her mind.
'Windam you're slacking,' another voice jeered.
'Both of you have no room to talk considering I'm in the lead,' Selece sounded smug.
'That's just because…' the other voice began.
'I can hear this!' Yukito informed them, 'And Windam I wish you wouldn't tell her things about my life. That goes for you too Selece, and when your time comes you too Rayearth.'
'I just mentioned three Mages,' Windam complained, 'What's the harm in that?'
'What's the harm in that?' Yukito muttered in her mind 'What's the harm?! What if the rest of the prophecy slips?!'
'And that would be bad because…?' the other voice asked, drawing the last word out.
'There are some things not even I want to know, and other things no one needs to know,' Yukito said softly, 'You know it will just hurt her any other way.'
They sighed, 'You are difficult,' they informed him before disappearing from her mind.
She tried to pretend there were no secrets between them, but it was hard because there were.
*I decided to give the Rune-Gods distinct personalities. It makes it a bit more interesting, and I can't imagine that anything that is as old as them wouldn't want to spice up their lives with a little bit of action so please bear with me. ^.^*