*Well I updated about three days ago and it never worked, so I'm going to do this instead and put up two chapters. Fanfiction had my next chapter posted but they never put it at the top of the list or added another chapter to the chapter thing so I don't know what happened. If this doesn't work I'm going to be angry. And oh my God! Do you realize how long I've been spelling Presea's name wrong?! And no one told me?! Please don't mention it *blushes* more than anything I hate being wrong. So besides that here's the next chapter*
Chapter 10 Capture
"Yukito," she looked into the water, "You have to help me now; I know you can hear me. I need to find her, please."
"Umi," he appeared in the water before her, and she touched it. It rippled, and he smiled softly at her, "This is very dangerous."
"I don't care. I know you know where she is; you have to let me know. You have to help her, you have to help Fuuchou and Brian and Jake, please," Umi begged.
He shook his head, "Umi I can't do that."
"Why not?!" she screamed, and her tears were unstoppable, "This is my daughter! My only child!"
"Yes I know," he said quietly, "But she will be safe, you must go with that, and trust your heart. You are strong Umi, and you have taught her well. Please you must let this go for now. You will be reunited with her soon; you all will. Don't fret. Hurry, go to the palace with speed."
She closed her eyes, "Did you love her?"
"Would it be horrible if I did?"
"You would have lied to me."
He shook his head, "I never did."
"Are you saying that just to please me?"
"No."
She smiled slightly as he disappeared.
"Umi," she hissed, and Umi jumped up and drew her sword.
"Hebi," she answered calmly.
"You saw him, what did he say about your precious daughter?" she demanded cruelly.
"He told me that we would be reunited soon," she answered calmly, and that set Hebi off.
"You will not! He meant that we will be reunited soon!" she shouted, and Umi glared.
"If I meant that I would have said that!" she hated it when people doubted her words, because her words were something she prided herself on.
Hebi drew the Dark Blade, and Umi's head swam with the memories it sent her. She remembered the last flash and her dying lover. She screamed and fell to the ground. Her sword clattered beside her.
"Hebi get away from her," Clef's voice was strong behind her, and the girl turned.
"Clef," she smiled sweetly, "I thought you'd be here to protect her. Let me kill her Clef, and I'll let your daughter go, give me the book and maybe I'll let them both go."
"Neither will I give to you Hebi. I will never let you hurt Umi, and I don't have the book."
"Don't give me that!"
"It's entirely true," he knelt by Umi and looked into her deep blue eyes and could see the visions that screamed in her mind. Her eyes were blank, "Umi." There was no response, "Umi!" Still no response. He shook her, and she just wobbled in his arms. He glared at the girl, "What did you do to her?!"
"I did nothing."
He closed his eyes and went inside her with his magic. He saw that she was being controlled by the Dark Blade; she was tainted only by her memories of it. He slowly released it, and she was awakened.
"Clef?" she whispered and found her throat was extremely dry.
He nodded and hugged her quickly before she stumbled up and faced the girl.
"Ready to die now?" she demanded, "And you," she looked at Clef and held up a hand. He raised his staff, and it reflected the spell. She screamed but turned back to Umi.
"Why do you speak as if you're the only one who lost anything?" Umi demanded, "Do you realize that he was my love? Do you realize that I lost something too?!"
"You killed him!" she raised the blade, and Umi met her swing for swing. Finally she got the upper hand, as she always did, and the blade was flung from her hands. She grabbed it and disappeared.
"Quickly," Clef took Umi's arm, "She's headed for Kojishi."
§§§~~~
Kojishi was as quiet as she ever had been as her father spoke with her Prince in hushed voices, and her mother consoled a sobbing Princess.
She didn't know what to think, her two best friends were gone. What was she supposed to do? Wait. Wait for what? She knew Umi was trying but also knew she would be unsuccessful because somewhere inside she knew that this was her mission, their mission, as soon as she found them.
"Everyone get out of here," Clef and Umi appeared from the Forest, but it was too late, and Hebi was in front of them once more.
"Thank you for the introduction," she smiled at Clef, "Now it is time to take what is mine."
"Stay away from her," somehow he knew, and he stepped in front of Kojishi, drawing his sword, surprising Lantis.
She laughed, "Hiroji, nice of you to challenge me, but you will fall like your friends," she looked at the nearby Misao who mumbled, tossing and turning in fever and delirium, "You should be with the others," she snapped, and he was gone, "I can't do this alone because if I know you all, and believe me I do, you'll all fight together, call your Rune-Gods and such nonsense, so I'll need some help. Shinji," she called in a thick voice.
§§§~~~
He stood and looked at Mizuuma, "I'll be back," he bent down to kiss her, but she turned her head.
"Don't go," she managed to find tears in her deep blue eyes, "I pulled from my Guardian, now you pull from her."
He bent near her and touched her hair. She bit the insides of her cheeks, so she wouldn't scream, "Gomen." He disappeared.
She knew he was headed for Kojishi, and she knew she had to get out. She ran to the door, but it was locked. She drew her sword and brought it down on the door, but she was thrown to the ground by a magic seal. She screamed in agitation and began to pace. All she could do now was wait.
§§§~~~
"Hiroji," he growled when he was met with the Guardian of Sun.
"Shinji," the Guardian replied.
Suddenly Kojishi noticed the resemblance, "Brothers?"
"Brothers, but only one got the love of the Spirit," Clef said softly, "Only one would be strong enough to become a Guardian."
"Only one got the love of Hebi, only one," Lantis said quietly, and Hiroji looked down.
"But who are you protecting now Hiroji?!" Hebi was cruel; she hated him for breaking her heart.
"It was a long time ago Hebi," he said calmly and avoided Kojishi's eyes, "You loved Yukito."
"And you were destined to serve and protect; they banished you to Earth. Why do I fall for people that are destined to serve and protect others?" a tear streamed down her cheek and when it hit the Dark Blade it sizzled and began to glow a deep black. She looked down at it in horror, a piece of her old self in it, and then suddenly, she was back to her new form, and she raised the Blade while it glowed.
The power was too much for Hiroji, and he fell back, leaving Kojishi vulnerable. Lantis struggled with Shinji for access to her, but it was too late, and all four disappeared. In one moment all the new Knights, and their Guardians had vanished. They had nothing left to fight for except to have faith that they were okay.
§§§~~~
"Brian!" Fuuchou shouted from across the room when he appeared.
Takeru knelt by his friend and saw that he was in worse shape than he had been. Fuuchou looked like she was to the point of tears.
"Fuuchou throw me your sword," he instructed, and she nodded and drew her sword. She slid it across the floor to him, and he caught it. When it touched his skin it grew dangerous rose thorns and cut deep into his flesh. He shouted and kicked it away. She pulled it back and looked scared as he nursed his bleeding hand.
"Should've known that, my fault," Takeru smiled slightly as he cured the wounds, "Simple healing magic; we all know it," he explained to Fuuchou, "Now you'll have to use a spell to help Misao, you could…" he stopped because Fuuchou looked depressed, "What?"
"I-I don't know any spells," she said quietly.
He smiled at her, "You've been sheltered from magic a long time. You know in Cephiro everything is determined by Will. Look into your heart and if you truly want to heal him you'll see what to do."
She closed her eyes and thought about how he tried to protect her, what he said about her. Without thinking or knowing she knelt down and put her hands through the bars. Small vines covered with flowers sprouted from her fingers and ran across the floor to Misao. When they touched him they covered his body and drank the very Darkness from him. The Dark Blade's taint was reflected in the black tears that rolled down Fuuchou's face as her flowers died for him. When they had all turned brown and fallen Misao was slowly opening his eyes.
He coughed and sputtered as Takeru slowly helped him up, "Takeru?" he whispered and looked around him, blinking and seeing only swirls of color, "Where am I?"
"Oh we're being held capture by the enemy," Takeru informed him.
"Oh that sounds good," Misao muttered. Slowly he stood and looked around the room, "Fuuchou," he whispered and sighed when he saw she was safe, "I thought you were hurt."
"Well," she laughed slightly, "I was, but I was lucky enough to have landed on my sword."
"Luck plays no part in destiny," Misao said quietly, and she looked at him curiously, "How are we going to get out of here…" he began again, but before he could begin completely two newcomers landed in the two different cells.
"Kojishi!"
"Hiroji!"
When the two had stood and looked around they began to explain.
§§§~~~
"We'll get them back," Lantis told her quietly, and she nodded, a grim determination in her eyes.
"I know; I have faith. We've done wonderful things together, and we've only gotten stronger over the years," Hikaru clenched her fists.
"You know," Fuu said quietly, and they looked at her.
"What do we know?" Umi asked softly.
"I pity her."
"What?! Why?!" Ferio burst out, and she smiled but there was no glimmer in it.
"She's just been hurt by many different people. She's just trying to find love, and it was taken from her many times. She's a scorned lover, nothing more," they wondered where she found the pity.
"I know, I felt the same," Hikaru admitted, "I thought that when she spoke to Hiroji. Do you think we could help her?"
"I can't believe we're discussing this!" Umi screamed and began to pace.
"Could it be that she hurts you Umi? Seeing her again?" Fuu questioned, but they weren't questions. Umi turned and glared.
"She has your daughter captive," she lashed back, and Fuu looked down.
"That doesn't mean that we have to hate her, that doesn't mean that we can't help her. She hasn't killed Kojishi or Fuuchou or Mizuuma for that matter because you know we'd know. She hasn't, and maybe that's mercy in a primitive kind. Doesn't she deserve something in return?" Hikaru inquired.
"How can you two be so understanding?" Umi fumed and resumed her pacing, "All that matters right now is getting them back; we'll deal with her later. Sometimes I wonder if it's understanding or just plain downright stupidity," she muttered to herself.
"And sometimes I wonder if you have courage or just plain stupidity," Fuu answered what Umi didn't want them to hear.
"Well we both know that she has enough arrogance to go around. I mean if we had half as much understanding we'd be able to rub off on her a bit," Hikaru laughed but there was no joy in it, and Fuu smiled slightly.
Umi glared and looked at Clef for help, but he shook his head.
"We should go to the palace," she changed subjects instead, "That's what…"
They looked at her curiously, and Clef looked down. They still didn't know what she had done alone in the forest.
"That's what Yukito told me, when I-when I spoke to him, anyway," she quickly dismissed it, "That's where we should be headed."
"Horses are too slow," Lantis added.
"But we can't just leave them here," Fuu protested.
Umi grinned and walked to the stallion and whispered in his ear, "Take them back to the palace, with speed. Make sure you don't get hurt on the way," she kissed his forehead and removed their tack quickly, Fuu helping her.
"What are you doing?" Ferio asked, and Umi grinned mischievously.
When all the tack was removed Clef snapped, and it was back at the palace stables.
Umi hit the stallion on the haunches, and he took off toward the palace. The others reared and whickered and followed him.
"Wh-what?" Ferio stuttered, "Those are our best horses!"
"They'll be fine," Umi dismissed it, "Now."
"Rayearth!"
"Windam!"
"Selece!"
The Rune-Gods were summoned, and they were headed toward the palace once more.
§§§~~~
He walked back into the room and found her sound asleep on the bed. He smiled slightly; he had won. He walked near her and kissed her neck. She turned in her sleep and mumbled something that he didn't understand and probably didn't want to. He stroked her hair and watched her sleep before he too headed for bed.
§§§~~~
The visions screamed, and she couldn't stop them. She watched as her mother and her mother's best friends mounted their Rune-Gods, and took off toward the palace where Hebi was waiting and watching. She saw the Princess of Cephiro at the palace, screaming for her secret lover; her long golden hair was drenched in blood. The High Priest was dead on the ground, Hebi hovering over him. The Rune-Gods approached.
Then her father was handing over a huge book, and Hebi was grinning evilly. She struck her mother down as her father watched, stunned and unable to do anything. She took a finger and ran it down the blade. She touched the bloody finger to her tongue and licked her lips in a sick pleasure. Her father sank to his knees and did something she had never seen; he cried.
A blinding light filled the sky, and Earth was incinerated, and everything was destroyed.
A man walked to her through the light as she screamed in her sleep, "MOM!"
"Mizuuma," he said gently, and she looked up through her tears and blood.
"What?" she muttered miserably, "Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted to see?"
He grew angry in an instant, "Your mother's blood?! Is that what you think?! I would rather die a thousand more deaths than see that. I never want to have to see that. And I never want to see this premonition come true. It was just a warning, of what's to come if you don't stop it."
"Why me?" she whispered and suddenly she was near a stream and clean, no blood was in sight.
"Because you are your mother's daughter, and you are strong. You've gotten yourself into quite a messy situation, and trust me it will hurt you and other people in the long run, but that's always the case in a war."
"I had no other choice," she protested, but he shook his finger.
"There are always choices my dear; I know that better than anyone."
"Fine then," she glared, and he saw her mother in her, "I saw no other choice. I will get out and free them. All I have to do is get close to the enemy."
"And you may kill yourself in the process."
"And if I do I'll have died for people I love," she answered quickly.
"You are so like your mother, but that is not always a good thing," he laughed, "As much as I loved her she made some pretty risky moves in the name of good deeds. Things that should never be repeated, things that I see reflected in you. Mizuuma," he got to the real reason he was here, "You must get out, and you must save your friends. Your father and I were friends for many many years, and I know him. He would sacrifice anything for your mother, for you, even Earth itself. You can't let that happen, please."
She nodded, "Okay."
"Good," he smiled, "It's interesting. Every time I see your mother she cries, but now that I see you it reminds me of her, when she was younger. I hope you are successful, as she was."
"Me too," she whispered weakly.
He smiled and vanished, and she understood why her mother must have loved him. She smiled slightly as she woke. She jumped awake and found herself in the arms of the enemy. She almost screamed but held it back and tried to pull away.
He woke and looked at the girl, "Mizuuma?"
She nodded weakly.
He rolled over and wrapped a strand of dazzling lavender hair around his finger, "Why did you leave with me?"
"Honestly," she laughed and tried to give herself time to think, "I was waiting for a time when I could ditch Takeru, and," he turned and looked at her, and she found she could read his thoughts, "I wanted to help you."
He looked at her for a long time, "Help me?"
"Hebi, she's not for you. You could be just as great, greater, without her."
He fell back and sighed, "Maybe."
"Just sleep on it," she kissed her fingers then touched his cheek.
He grinned and grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his chest.
She turned and wouldn't let him kiss her. He sighed and let her go, nodding slightly.
When he was sound asleep she crept from the bed and looked for a door. She found it locked and sealed and slumped against it. Her tears hit the ground, and it reminded her of the rain. She smiled slightly. She loved the feel of the rain against her parched skin. And the thunder, so powerful, so beautiful. The lightning, quick, sleek, silent, that would get her out of here.
Her yearning, her Will, brought a huge bolt from the roof which hit the door, and swung it open. She almost screamed in happiness but managed to contain herself.
She walked around the place for a long time, looking for them. Finally she approached a room that looked much like the one she had been in not too long ago and found there was an open door now. When she looked in she saw Hebi, screaming.
"Where is she?! Where did she go?!"
They were all silent, and no one could see her.
Fuuchou looked down and tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Fine I'll find her myself then!" she turned and began to walk away.
Mizuuma turned and bolted down the hallway. She got back to the room and shut the door. She gently curled back into the bed and closed her eyes, just as Hebi stormed into the room.
"Shinji, Mi…" she stopped when she saw the scene as he arose, "I see…"
He looked at her, and Mizuuma could almost distinguish terror in his eyes, "I…well…and she…"
"No need to explain," she smiled slightly, "You are entitled to your needs. Just tell me next time. I thought she escaped."
He nodded and smiled at her as she left.
Mizuuma sighed and closed her eyes. She wished she was anywhere but here.
§§§~~~
They stayed in the Forest for the night, and waited for word from Emeraude that would come soon. They were nervous and worried, and didn't know what to do to pass the time. They tried to stay in good spirits with high hopes, but it wasn't easy. And they ended up turning in early, so they could try for sleep that would never come.
§§§~~~
In the morning Hebi showed up and told Mizuuma and Shinji that they were going to pay her friends a little visit.
She winced when she heard that and followed obediently.
They walked into the room, and the people there smiled warmly at Mizuuma who turned and tried not to let them see her cry.
Shinji came near and put his hands on her, and Takeru growled and hit the bars with his fists.
"Get off her!"
Shinji laughed and pulled her closer.
Takeru began to pace the cell and tried not to make eye contact with Mizuuma.
Fuuchou looked deep into Mizuuma's eyes and saw the pain that lie there. She closed her own eyes to the pain, and Kojishi whimpered slightly.
"Mizuuma, remember the pact?!" she demanded, and Mizuuma's eyes widened.
"I-I," she stuttered, "I…"
"You broke it!" tears streamed down Kojishi's face, "You promised, and then you broke your promise!"
"And what of your promise to Earth?" Takeru asked her softly, "Your commitment to Earth? You can hardly keep a promise like that when you're defending Earth's enemy."
She glared and stayed silent.
Hebi laughed slightly, "Oh by the way," she turned to the other two in the cells, "We're going to kill your parents today."
"What?" Mizuuma whispered.
"We're going to the palace, and they'll be noble and come and find us, and we'll simply kill them," Hebi responded and smiled at her, "Oh don't think just because I found you in Shinji's bed that your mother will be spared either. Your father, maybe, but not her, not her."
Takeru turned with that remark, and Mizuuma's eyes widened.
"No!" she screamed.
"Oh yes."
"No," she crumpled to the ground and closed her eyes.
"Mizuuma," Kojishi said softly and reached out to her friend.
"I'm so sorry Kojishi," Mizuuma whispered and took her hand through the bars.
"It's okay," tears fell down Kojishi's cheeks.
"Up," Hebi kicked her, and she crumpled to the ground.
Takeru turned but didn't have the strength or Will to protest.
"Leave her alone!" Fuuchou shouted, and Kojishi looked down in fear when Mizuuma's grip weakened, and she fell to all fours in pain.
"Don't touch her," she warned Hebi when she reached down, and Hebi looked into the eyes of the Sun Knight.
She laughed slightly, "What are you going to do? You're in a cage remember?" She bent down and pulled Mizuuma's hair. She screamed and tried to fight back, but Shinji held her hands from hitting Hebi.
Kojishi's anger flared, and she wished that she could be free from her cage and teach this girl a real lesson. She put her hands on the bars, and her hands were so hot that the bars melted away completely and left her and Fuuchou standing there, free. She looked down at her hands in wonderment and ran to the other cage. She let the Guardians free and drew her sword. Fuuchou and the other three did the same.
"Leave," Hiroji said quickly and looked to the two Knights, "We'll handle this, get out of here, find your parents warn them," he met his brother's sword as he struggled.
"No," Kojishi whispered.
"Go quickly," Misao looked at Fuuchou, and she nodded and pulled Kojishi from the room.
Now Takeru was free, and he vented his rage at Mizuuma's injustices on Shinji. He threw him to the ground quickly, leaving the other two to deal with Hebi, "You die now," he whispered and raised his sword. It flashed purple and black, and Shinji blocked, the power was immense, and he was almost thrown once more.
Mizuuma flew from Hebi's grasps when the other two threw her back. She drew her sword and stood near Takeru.
"Mizuuma, go with the others," he instructed, and she shook her head.
"I won't leave."
"Go!" he shouted and knew that they were going to have this argument again. He took her wrist and threw her toward the door. She hit the ground and stared at him, more stunned than hurt, and he glared.
"No wonder," Shinji chuckled softly.
"What?" Takeru snapped, and Mizuuma had never seen anyone's eyes so angry with one person.
"Well she said she wanted to be rid of you, now I see why," he said simply, and Takeru's eyes turned from angry to full of anguish and betrayal as he turned to Mizuuma.
"I…" but she couldn't lie into those eyes, and she nodded and turned, running after the others.
He watched her go, and in his vulnerability Shinji attacked.
Hiroji blocked it and nodded to Takeru's small thank-you.
"We don't have time for this petty fight, Shinji," Hebi summoned, and they disappeared.
"They're going to the palace," Misao said, panting, and the other two nodded. They walked out in silence until Hiroji looked at Takeru and said quietly.
"I'm sure she didn't mean it."
"I am her Guardian," Takeru snapped, "Nothing more."
They nodded and let it go.
§§§~~~
When they got outside they saw that they were in the Forest of Silence and the palace was in sight. They caught a glimpse of the Legendary Rune-Gods headed toward the palace and knew that word from Emeraude must have come swiftly. She wouldn't be expecting them so soon, Fuu's plan was efficient as they knew it would be.
Mizuuma quickly joined them, and they smiled at her, "See Kojishi, I would never break my promise."
"Come on," Misao said behind them, and they turned, "We have to hurry."
"How are we going to get there though? It's far, we'll have to walk. By the time we get there the battle will already have taken place. We may be too late," Kojishi looked forlorn.
"No we won't," Hiroji took her hand, and they got the idea and joined hands. They closed their eyes and concentrated and in a beam of purple, black, deep green, yellow-green, pink and gold they teleported toward the palace.
Tori:
"Sure that star can Twinkle
And you're watching it do
Boy so hard boy so hard
But I know a girl
Twice as hard
And I'm sure
Said I'm sure
She's watching it too
No matter what tie she's got in her right
Dresser TiedI know she's watching that star
Gonna TwinkleGonna Twinkle
Gonna Twinkle"
~Tori Amos, Twinkle, Boys for Pele