*This chapter took me awhile because like I said before I have trouble writing about Hikaru because I can't really relate, I'm nothing like her. And I finished transferring it from paper to computer late and didn't feel like editing the last five pages, but I wanted to get it up so gomen for the errors*

Chapter 16 Rayearth

The clang of swords screamed in her mind, "What?" she whispered and looked around and as she did the doors swung open, "Who's fighting?" but she didn't have time to think because a huge creature leaped out of the shadows and ran toward her, bounding at a deadly pace, jaws open in attack position.

She drew her sword and stepped toward the creature; it skidded to a stop, and she saw completely what she was staring at. A huge lion, cloaked in Fire. He seemed ancient, and wise, this had to be the voice she was hearing. She held her sword in front of her, ready to attack if it made another move, but it smiled slightly.

"Thou art strong," he commented with a smirk almost, "Thou would dare to challenge me?"

"Uh…yeah," Hikaru supplied, "I couldn't say I'd win, but I would if I had to. Is there another choice?"

"Thou could flee," he offered.

She shook her head.

"Go on."

"Well," she looked down, "If I ran I might be setting you loose on everyone, Umi-chan and Fuu-chan, and Yukito and Clef and Ferio, and…well…everyone. I couldn't do that, not willingly. So if you want to fight me just let's get it over with okay?"

The grin seemed to grow, "I don't want to duel thee."

"Really?" she squealed excitedly.

"I am Rayearth, the Rune-God of Fire," he introduced himself.

"Rayearth," she whispered, "Then you are my Rune-God?"

He nodded.

"Why would you want to attack me?!" she was outraged, "Don't you want to be my friend?! Aren't you on my side?! You're supposed to help us beat the Dark One! What is your problem?!" she didn't even seem to remember his size.

A slight chuckle escaped his throat, "Calm thyself. I was only testing thee."

"Testing me?"

"That's right."

"I don't understand," she looked confused.

"It's required, to test the strength of the Magic Knights. I meant thee no hurt."

"Well that's good to know," she smiled, "So what is going on exactly?"

"Thou will don me, and become the Magic Knight of Fire. Together thou and thy friends will defeat the darkness and spread light over Cephiro, and so it has been said over the centuries."

"Okay…"

"Don't worry, thou will succeed. I see a strength in thee that is hard to pass over. I have trust in thee, go, Magic Knight of Fire, Hikaru and bring pride to Cephiro."

"I will," she nodded and clenched her fingers as her sword grew in her hands, and she felt her armor change once again, the last time, "Arigato, Rayearth," she said over her shoulder as she fled from the temple and jumped back into the lava and pulled herself to the surface.

§§§~~~

She watched in horror as the battle raged in front of her. They were perfectly matched, swing by swing. They battled fiercely, always trying to get the upper hand of the other. She screamed, horrified, when Yukito was slashed across his face and pulled her own sword, "Stop it!" she threw her sword down onto the Dark One's and threw him to the ground. She panted heavily over him and raised her sword, ready to strike him down, but he threw himself up and grabbed her. He put the sword near her throat and looked into Yukito's eyes.

"Let her go," his voice quivered.

"Leave, abandon her, save…" he stopped when Yukito snarled, "She doesn't know?" a smirk curved on his face, "Of course she doesn't know. Who's idea was that? Yours of Clef's?"

"Shut up Kino!" Yukito shouted but couldn't attack because of the girl in front of him.

Umi struggled in his grip but couldn't free herself, "Let me go!" she screamed, and it pained Yukito to see the tears fall, "Why are you doing this?!"

"You should have explained Yukito," the Dark One sneered and ran a hand down her face, caressing her tears, "She wouldn't have been in so much pain, and I know you hate to see her in pain, we all do."

"You sick…" Yukito couldn't finish because he interrupted.

"Ah ah ah, watch your words," he warned.

"I will kill you for this!" his rage was building up inside him. He wished that there was some way he could get to him without hurting Umi.

"I know," the Dark One sighed, "That's why I have to kill her first."

"No!" Yukito shouted as the blade sunk into Umi's throat, slowly at first. She tried to scream but found she couldn't. She tried to struggle, but it was useless, everything was over. She fell to the ground, almost dead, bleeding profusely, "Umi!"

He sank to his knees and touched her neck. His hands and clothes were soaked in blood, her blood, and it was more than he could stand. He touched her face; her skin was deathly white. The red of her blood stained her cheeks, and it brought tears to his eyes. He touched his own face and felt the tears; it was a new experience for him, "Umi," he put his hands under her back, "Umi come on."

She tried to speak, but no sound came.

"God I love you, more than anything, please," he begged, and tears began to stream down his cheeks.

Just as she took her last gasping breath her armor changed one final time, and she was pulled up by strands of Water and set down gently again on the ground, fully healed.

"What?" he whispered as she fell to her knees, gasping.

"No!" the Dark One shouted, "Why Yukito?! Why not do it yourself?!"

Yukito looked down, "Because I love her more than life, more than even Cephiro."

"Damn you," the Dark One hissed and threatened, "I will not see the prophecy fall, and I'll be back for her," but Yukito saw a tear in the Dark One's eye for the loss of the water Knight and knew it was all over.

After he was gone Umi fled to the safety of his arms, "God I was so scared."

He let her go and walked to the creek, washing her blood from his arms. She knelt beside him and touched his hands. He looked up at her and tried to smiled, then brought his hands from the water and touched the back of her neck. She shivered and giggled, and he kissed her hungrily, "I could have lost you," he whispered.

"Gomen."

"Why were you out here alone?" he stroked her hair, "It's dangerous."

"I…needed to…" she wasn't sure she could tell him now it was time, "Ask you about…"

"The prophecy," he sighed and sat near the stream.

She nodded and sat down by him, "Yeah."

"Why?" he asked softly, looking down.

"Because it's about me, because it's about you, about Clef," she told him softly, "I need to know, to understand. So I followed you to ask and this…" she looked back to the ground where her blood still stained it and cringed, "Has only made me more curious. Why Yukito? Why would you…you want to hurt, to kill me?"

"You can't know," he shook his head, "It will be too hard for you. I won't see you hurt like that."

"Can you see this?" Umi put his hand to her face, "Can you feel?" she moved his hand to her heart, and he twitched, "I'm hurt Yukito, I'm hurt," she dropped his hand.

"You don't understand," he protested.

"How could I?" she demanded, "If I don't know anything how can I understand?"

"Your ignorance is what is going to save you."

"And kill me in the process?! I'm dying on the inside!" she stood, "And if you don't' tell me I'll leave; I swear to you I will end this now. The biggest factor of love is honesty, and there is none with you."

"I honestly love you."

She looked at him with pain in her eyes, "But how can I believe that when you see the pain you cause but refuse to end my suffering?" she knelt by him again.

"You have no idea the pain it will cause and that's good, please," he was begging now, "Don't do this."

She stayed silent for a long time then finally sighed and nodded.

"Arigato," he stood and helped her up. They stayed close, and she put her head on his shoulder. He could hear the tears hit his armor, "Gomen nasai."

"I know."

"Don't cry," he pleaded.

"Okay, but it sounds easier than it is," she laughed weakly.

"Clef should know," it almost scared her that it came from him.

"Know what?" she asked meekly.

"That it has begun."

§§§~~~

Hikaru climbed down the mountain and stumbled into the camp, barely able to speak. She wasn't sure what had just happened. They didn't even ask; she just began to speak, "Big…lion, and name…Rayearth…tried to pound me, and I stayed, and talking and…woah…and then," she looked at her armor, "Don me, and…"

"What is wrong with her?" Ferio asked Fuu, and Fuu shook her head.

"Rayearth was rather impressive," Clef smiled slightly, "He shocked the Magic Knight of Fire into a frenzy."

At that moment Umi and Yukito rode into the camp, both looked very solemn.

"Umi-san what happened?!" Fuu burst out, and Clef looked upon the blood that soaked both their clothes in silence. The look he gave her unnerved her, and the way that Yukito looked away from him confused her to the point she wanted to burst out and ask.

She managed to contain herself to offer an explanation, "I was attacked when I went to find Yukito. The Dark One captured me, he slit my throat…" she couldn't finish.

"What?" Hikaru whispered, now obviously snapped back into life.

"You betrayed her," Clef glared at Yukito, "Traitor!"

"I did no such thing!" Yukito fought back.

"How did he find her?!"

"I don't know, but I know I would never betray her," Yukito protested.

"I think it's because, or has something to do with the fact," everyone turned to stare at Umi, and she blushed and tried to begin again, "Well…"

"Umi, tell us," Clef urged, and she nodded and looked down as she began again.

"I can hear you in my head," she whispered, and Clef and Yukito looked at her, suddenly nervous.

"What do you mean by that?" Yukito asked, and she tried to explain.

"You, and Clef, and Selece and Windam, and some other voice that sounds like the last Rune-Gods. I can hear you speaking to one another in my head. And then one time, I heard the Dark One, and he told me that I was going to be hurt, that he was going to take something from me…"

"Oh God," Ferio stepped back and ran into Fuu, "Gomen," he stared at Umi with horror in his eyes. A glare from Ascot sent him scrambling toward the horses saying that he had forgotten to feed them.

"How long?" Clef asked, and Umi shook her head.

"Awhile, since Fuu donned Windam."

"Then it has begun," Clef whispered, and Yukito nodded.

"There were tears in his eyes," he added, and Clef looked away.

"Gomen."

"Me too," Yukito whispered, and Umi looked from one to the other.

"It couldn't be helped," Ascot tried to sound encouraging, but it made Yukito turn away from them.

"Hai…"

"Ascot," Ferio had emerged and hit him for the Master Mage who looked suddenly very angry with his apprentice.

"Gomen, but I…" he began to apologize.

"Stop now before you regret your words," Clef warned, and he stopped suddenly, and Umi could tell he literally bit his tongue.

"Uh…did I miss something?" Hikaru asked looking around.

"I think we all did," Umi muttered and turned, "Fuu, Hikaru, we have fish to fry."

"Guru, now, before it is too late, speak to the Rune-Gods and call forth the 3Mages; they will surely save us," Ascot sounded pleading, "The Rune-Gods will know, Windam, he will know will he not?"

"Selece and Rayearth, Windam, they all know," Clef nodded, and Ascot and Ferio's eyes lit up in hope, "But they have already been summoned," here he looked at Yukito who looked down and away, "They will be present."

Now Ferio turned and looked at Umi, "What about…?" he stopped with Yukito's glare, "Right of course, I understand…I think."

Umi heard the conversation between Ferio and Ascot as they unsaddled the horses for the night, "Afraid of the competition?" Ascot asked, and Ferio laughed.

"I don't…" Umi began, but Yukito put a finger to her lips, and she nodded, "Of course, I understand," she looked down when Clef shook his head.

Fuu, noticing the tension, tried to loosen it and put on a smile, "So where now? I mean what do we do? We've revived the Rune-Gods, so it's as good as won right? After that what happens?"

Clef tried to answer each question one at a time, "Now we go back to the palace. We wills summon the help of those who can contribute. Ascot, I want you to take one of your friends back to the palace with you as fast as you can, notify Persea, tell her to make the finest weapons she can for Lafarga, Zagato, Prince Ferio, and Lantis. Tell her to make them with speed for they will be needed soon," he instructed and turned to Ascot.

"Lantis?" Hikaru looked up and her face was as red as her hair, "Um…" she looked down and if it was at all possible blushed harder.

"Oh I see how it is," Umi and Fuu laughed and spoke in whispers.

"What are you talking about?" Hikaru risked a look up, and her face was beet red, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Uh huh, yeah," Umi grinned wickedly, "Lantis," just the mention of his name made Hikaru look down again.

"Umi-san," Fuu tried not to laugh, "Leave Hikaru-san alone."

"Sure, okay," Umi turned and looked at Ascot, "Send Lantis Hikaru's love."

"Umi-chan!" Hikaru burst out and tackled her.

Umi laughed and pinned the girl easily, "Save that anger, you'll need it, just think about it this way," she stood, "If you get tripped up he'll be there to save you."

Hikaru sighed loudly and glared, "Think about it this way, if you get tripped up Yukito will be there to save you."

Umi blushed slightly and laughed, putting her hands around his neck, "Yeah Hikaru, I think you're right."

He pulled away, and she looked hurt. Suddenly everyone was very tense and…angry.

"You can't rely on me," he told her, "This is serious, this is going to be one of the hardest things you've ever done."

She looked down, "I know."

"Yukito this is not the time," Clef glared, and Yukito glared back.

"You will never be my keeper!"

"I've never tried to be," Clef always stayed calm, and Umi wondered dhow, "I never tried because I know I never could."

"You're right, you can't contain me, I am who I am, and I will do as I please," Yukito's fists balled, and heat rushed into him. No one was sure why they fought, no one was sure how best friends could hate each other. But they all knew that this was it, this was two best friends doing a one-eighty and turning against one another.

"That does not give you the right to display this sensitive matter and rip her apart in the process," Clef looked at Umi and then tore his gaze back to Yukito.

"Why do you always look out for me?" Umi whispered, but it was as if no one heard, or everyone pretended not to hear.

"You think, you assume, that I do not think, but it has been many years since last time we last met; I have gotten wiser," Yukito looked into those blue depths without fear.

"No you've just gotten luckier," Clef said calmly, "And you know that sooner or later your luck will run out."

"I was cursed with the knowledge of exactly when my luck would run out, as were you."

"And you've let that lead your life! You've let that consume you! And you're letting it get to you, and in the process you're hurting her! Can you not see?!" Clef's emotions got the better of  him, and for a second he was uncontained which caught them all off-guard.

Yukito turned and looked at Umi; her lip quivered, holding back tears. He turned from her, and his eyes shone, "I can do nothing for her now, it is too late."

"You could run," he said it so softly they barely caught it, "You could leave this to the Black and the Blue."

"What?" Yukito's eyes widened.

"Leave it to them, run."

"Yukito," Ferio and Ascot whispered simultaneously, "The White Mage," at the same time they both bowed, and Yukito winced.

"Arigato Clef," he muttered, and Clef looked as if he had heard none of it.

"Leave."

"No, I will not abandon her."

"Do it for her!"

"No," he shook his head, "We head for the castle tomorrow. Let us all get some sleep."

As the six companions (Ascot had headed toward the palace) readied for bed, the creature, creator, Mokona jumped onto Umi's head causing her to glare and grab him.

"You know what?" a cruel light shone in her eyes, "We could eat you; you would make a wonderful snack."

"Umi-chan," Hikaru groaned.

"No I'm serious!" Umi cried, "Feel how squishy! It would be perfect! I bet it would taste just like a marshmallow!"

"Umi-san does have a point," Fuu agreed, and Hikaru groaned and picked up the pink creator of the world.

"They won't eat you…I don't think…"

It seemed to cower in fear and because of that Hikaru kept it close all night.

*You've been waiting to hear about the prophecy ne? Well everything including details, except for one heeheehee I have to have my secrets, will be revealed next chapter! Isn't it amazing?! I have the chapter almost finished too, so it'll be up in the next few days I hope *crosses fingers*

Tori Quote of the Chapter:

"And is your place in heave worth giving up these kisses, these kisses?" Tori Amos, Cooling, To Venus and Back