Chapter 13 Setting Things Right
The three opened their eyes and looked around them. They screamed in delight and ran and hugged each other.
"We did it!" Kojishi shouted, and they nodded emphatically.
"What about Earth?" Mizuuma whispered after a long time, and everyone looked down.
"I guess we didn't do it," Fuuchou said softly.
"That," Yukito walked toward them, "Is up to me."
"Yukito…" Clef shook his head, "You don't have to do that."
"But Clef you know I do," Yukito said quietly and walked first to Kojishi and Fuuchou, "You have your parents in you; I will watch over you." He smiled at them, and they bowed and looked at each other, blushing slightly.
"Arigato," they muttered, and then he turned to Mizuuma.
He hugged her softly and looked down at her, "And you are completely your mother and entirely your father. I have no reason to look after you, but I will. If you ever need me, don't be afraid to ask."
She grinned, "I won't."
"Good."
Next he looked at the three Guardians who each got down on a knee and bowed to the Son of Cephiro, "Protectors for each of the Knights," he laughed slightly, "Stand. I'm glad that you decided they were worthy, because now you all are."
They thanked him and bowed their heads
Then he turned to Ferio and Lantis, "And you two," he shook his head and laughed, "Well there is so much that I could say, but I'm just glad that you finally got what you wanted."
They laughed nervously and both shook his hand before bowing to the Son of Cephiro. They were startled when he bowed back.
"Hikaru, Fuu, you two have really become the Magic Knights you were destined to be. You have raised your children well; they will follow in your footsteps, and I hope everything runs smooth for you now."
"I'm sure it will," Hikaru said optimistically, and he laughed; she hadn't changed, but she had. They had both matured so much since he last met them.
"Good luck, on your travels," Fuu said politely and bowed.
He bowed back and thanked her before turning to Clef. They just stared at each other a long time before he hugged his friend, and there was a kind of peace restored, "Did you lose something?" he asked, and Clef nodded.
"Something that I thought I would never be able to tell how much it hurt."
He smiled slightly, "You were never my keeper."
"I know…"
"You were always my best friend," he added, and Clef smiled again.
"I will miss you always."
"As I will you," then he turned to the one in the room that they all knew meant the most to him. She had tears in her eyes, but he brushed them away before they could fall, "There's nothing I can say that will make what Hebi did right. There's nothing I can say that will ease your pain, but I want you to do something for me."
She nodded, "Anything."
"Always remember this, always remember this, and how you were healed because I did get to say goodbye. Because I always loved you. Don't ever forget that I did, that I do. Remember the good, I never thought that I would get to tell you that like this. But I mean it Umi, remember the good, don't ever remember that last battle because I know it scarred. And besides," here he grinned, "This was the last battle."
She smiled and looked up at him as he bent down and kissed her. She let him and kissed him back. She tasted the salt that mixed in with the kiss and looked up to see him crying, "Who's crying now?" she whispered and touched his face one last time, "Goodbye."
"Goodbye Umi, I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered, and he turned and looked at the girl that was fallen on the ground. He reached down and pulled the Dark Blade from her hands.
"You are free," he whispered and touched her hair as she disappeared. He looked at the blade in his hands disgustedly.
'This isn't over yet Son of Cephiro,' the Blade said in his hands.
'Oh but it is,' Rayearth said happily in their minds, and Umi smiled.
'Do you still hate me?' Yukito asked them.
'Quite the contrary,' Windam responded.
'Though what thou did to the Water Knight was unforgivable,' Selece said gruffly.
'What thou doth now is noble,' Rayearth released the tension.
'And it really does take guts,' Windam added.
'And I believe that thee art strong, and much smarter than in thine youth,' Selece finished, and he smiled.
'It only took about a millennium to win your approval,' he laughed as he threw the Dark Blade into the ground. It stood straight up from the floor. He turned and looked back at them all one last time. He met Umi's eyes and saw she wasn't crying.
"For you," she whispered, and he smiled. She smiled back, and she knew that they would always remember that moment.
Clef took her hand, and she watched while he raised the Blade of Cephiro and slammed it into the Dark Blade. In another instant there was no longer a Dark Blade, and the Son of Cephiro was gone.
§§§~~~
When everything was cleared up and explained they visited Earth one last time. They were glad to see that everything was cleared up and back together, and that there was an Earth and streets and buildings.
The old Magic Knights and their counterparts went to the hospital Misao had told them about in his past life, and the others were left to explore the city.
§§§~~~
Fuu and Kuu, who had come with them on this occasion, walked nervously into the room their father was in. They just looked at him from the doorway before Fuu was able to work up enough nerve to say something, "Hi," she whispered from the door, and he turned. His eyes widened.
"Fuu? Kuu?" he whispered, tears in his eyes, and they nodded and walked in, "But how?…I don't understand…"
"It's quite a long story," Kuu told him, "We'll tell it maybe, but first how are you? You look sick."
He laughed, "I am Kuu…very sick…dying, of leukemia. It was caused by the radiation. The War ended horribly, but I'm sure you know that."
They nodded, "We know," Fuu said softly.
"How did you manage to escape? You look fine, how do you not have the disease?" he questioned, "I'm so glad to see you again. I thought for sure you were killed. I was so ashamed."
"We were teleported to another world; we live there now."
"What?" he muttered, and they sat and told him the story of Cephiro. When it was over they called the others in, and they came, hesitantly. Umi stood in the back, tears streaming down her cheeks, until she couldn't do it any longer and ran from the room. Clef turned and ran after her, and Fuu shook her head.
"What's wrong with her?" her father asked, and Kuu sighed.
"You killed her father."
"I what?!" They had left that part of the story out, and now it seemed that it was vital.
"Umi's father was head of the resistance, her last name is Ryuuzaki," Fuu explained, and his eyes widened. He remembered that night, that little blue haired girl. He remembered how she had taken her father's beating until she could barely move, and how they had shot him in front of her, "I'm sorry."
"I don't think that you need to be telling us that," Hikaru said softly.
"And you are?"
"The Magic Knight of Fire, Hikaru," she introduced herself, "A Japanese-American, traitor of course," she said with spite in her voice.
"Please," he begged, "We are all friends here. That was a long time ago; it doesn't work that way anymore. I learned that I was wrong."
"Wrong doesn't bring my father back!" Umi screamed from the door, and he looked startled, "Wrong doesn't make these go away!" she raised her shirt some, and he saw the wounds made from guns, from their guns, his gun.
"Gomen nasai…"
She nodded and pushed away the tears.
Fuu looked down, and Umi glared.
"But sorry doesn't take away your daughter's neglect either," Umi could stay silent no longer, and he looked deep into her eyes.
"I know that."
"Do you?" she demanded, and he nodded.
"I'm dying, I've had a lot of time to think about it. I know now that it's too late to take away what I've done, but I want them to know," here he turned to his girls, "That I've always loved you. No matter what got in our way I've always loved you, and I always will."
They smiled and took their father's hand, "We know."
§§§~~~
They walked around Washington D.C. and watched the protests.
"Curious, protesting protection," Hiroji shook his head, and it caused the three girls to laugh.
"Interesting," Kojishi commented.
Misao kept stealing secret glances at Fuuchou, and Mizuuma noticed her doing the same. She laughed quietly to herself and looked at Kojishi who was admiring the statue of Abraham Lincoln for a second time. She took that and pulled on Kojishi's arm.
"Hey Fuuchou, we're going to check out that, could you and Misao find us a place to stay for the night and meet us back here?"
"Okay…" Fuuchou began, and Mizuuma grinned and took off, calling over her shoulder.
"Thanks!"
She and Kojishi bounded toward the statue, the other two trailing not far behind.
§§§~~~
Fuuchou watched them go wistfully, and they headed in silence to the nearest hotel, "How are we going to pay for this?"
"Magic," Misao grinned and opened his hand, revealing a lot of money.
"Where did you get that?" she laughed, and he shook his head.
"Not telling."
"Oh you're going to tell me," she informed him.
"Oh no I'm not."
"Oh yes you are."
"Um…no I'm not," he took off through the streets, her chasing him, laughing and screaming.
§§§~~~
"Jeez I thought that they'd never get to be alone," Mizuuma muttered as she and Kojishi looked at the statue.
"Wait what?" Takeru asked her, and Mizuuma turned to him, and looked at him curiously.
"Didn't you notice?"
"No…" Hiroji looked down, "It's forbidden."
"What's forbidden?" Kojishi asked.
"A Guardian and a Magic Knight, it's forbidden," Takeru answered.
"What?!" Kojishi screamed, and Mizuuma felt her heart break in Hiroji's hand.
"You didn't know?" Takeru shook his head as Hiroji looked down.
"Well now we do," Mizuuma muttered.
"Why though?" Kojishi asked, softer now.
"Because your feelings can't be involved in your duties," Hiroji told her.
"But your feelings is what makes your job bearable; your feelings only make you more passionate about your work," Mizuuma shot back.
"Hey they aren't our rules!" Hiroji snapped, and Mizuuma withdrew. She could feel his pain too.
"Obviously," she muttered and turned, "Because it would be different if they were. Life is so messed up," she walked from the room.
"Mizuuma," Takeru sighed and walked after her.
§§§~~~
Fuuchou didn't watch where she was going as she bounded after Misao. She ran into a guy that looked about her age and apologized quickly. He smiled at her and grabbed her arms, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she pulled away and looked at Misao who's eyes were dark with rage and protection, "Fine."
"Hey, this might sound sort of weird, but see, I don't run into pretty girls all the time. Do you wanna get a bite to eat?" he asked.
"Actually…" Fuuchou began.
"Actually, we were on our way to do just that," Misao interrupted; his eyes were dark, and the man backed off.
"Woah, woah gotcha," he nodded and turned.
"Misao," Fuuchou blushed.
"Gomen," he whispered, and she shook her head and walked up to him.
"No, it was okay."
She was so close to him; he could feel her breathe, could reach out and…his mind told him no, but his heart said something else, and at the moment his heart was more important. He reached out and touched her, and his skin quivered feeling that intense emotion. He knew he should pull back, but he couldn't force himself to do it.
She nodded, and he felt her get closer to him. He put another hand around her waist and pulled her closer than was supposed to happen. He couldn't tell himself that he didn't want this anymore. He knew that he did, he always had. He knew that it was forbidden, but he didn't care.
"Please," she whispered, and he let go, but she shook her head, "No, get it over with, stop teasing me," she reached in and kissed him, and at first he was startled, but he pulled her close to his trembling body and kissed her back.
§§§~~~
"Wow…forbidden eh?" Kojishi went and sat on the steps to Abe Lincoln's feet.
Hiroji came near her and sat down beside her, "What's wrong?"
"Well…" she looked at her feet, "We're friends right?"
"Of course."
"And friends can tell each other everything right?" she sounded stressed, as if she was trying too hard to be happy.
"Yes…" he stretched the word out.
"Well…" she looked up at him and into his brown eyes. He wasn't going to laugh at her; she saw it. She wasn't normally very perceptive, but she saw that, "Well see because I don't want to be friends."
"What?" he didn't know he could feel that crushed.
"I don't," she shook her head, "I want…wanted…to be more," here she looked up again, and suddenly his heart was whole again.
"Me too…"
"What's stopping us?" Kojishi slid next to him.
"Legend."
"Is that all?" she laughed slightly, "We've destroyed a lot of legends in the past few days. I think that this wouldn't be much different."
"No," he shook his head and grinned, "I don't think it would be."
"So?"
"So…" he didn't know what to do. She took his hands and kissed his fingers. She was so beautiful, so playful with him that he couldn't stand it any longer. He reached in and kissed her with all the passion and desire he had felt for her since the day he met her.
She smiled when they pulled away and waited for him to do it again.
§§§~~~
He found her looking over the water by the Washington Monument, listening to the screaming of the protestors. He came behind her and watched her quietly, as he had so many times before.
She closed her eyes and felt all the emotions run through her, "I like being here," she told him though she never turned around.
He wasn't startled or even mildly surprised as he came and stood next to where she sat. He knew her gift had developed after the last battle, "Why?" he asked, and she looked up and smiled at him.
"Because I can feel."
"What do you mean?" the answer scared him as he knelt beside her.
"See all those people out there? Each has their own emotions. Mostly anger, passion, rage, a little hatred, but dedication and commitment…love; things I'm not capable of feeling anymore. Things I haven't felt in a long time," she sighed and smiled though he knew that she wanted to cry, "Sorry to dump this on you; I know I shouldn't."
"Don't be sorry," he sat next to her, "But that's not true."
She looked at him, looking for her hope in his eyes, "Enlighten me."
"Well," he laughed, "I really don't think I've seen as much anger in any person as I see in you. You have as much hatred as anyone though I wish you wouldn't embrace it like you do. There is a passion in you that not even I can deny; something I've seen reflected in everything you do. You're both dedicated and committed to your friends and family, and I know you love them."
She shook her head.
"Don't believe me? Ask anyone," he challenged.
"It's not that. I'm capable of the emotions; it's that I can't feel them."
"What are you talking about?" he didn't understand.
"It's…" she sighed, "I don't want to talk about this."
"Are you going to stray from this your whole life?" he demanded, "Keep yourself trapped until you can no longer breathe and you die?"
"If I have to…"
"But you don't," his fingers itched, but he would never please them, "You could tell me now."
Instead she changed subjects, "Kojishi has fallen in love with Hiroji."
"What?" his face paled.
"Why is that so wrong?"
"Because it is forbidden, because if he is holding her he is not watching out for her. If he's looking at her he's not looking ahead," Takeru answered.
"But you are no longer Guardians; you said it yourselves," Mizuuma protested.
"That doesn't mean we can abandon our rules, our values for a-a…" he faltered when she glared.
"For a girl?"
"Mizuuma that's not what I meant…" he tried.
"No of course not," she said dryly, "That's never what they mean."
"They?"
She screamed, aggravated, and turned back. He followed her, regretting his words, as always.
§§§~~~
They stayed in each other's arms for a long time until Fuuchou looked down, blushing.
"Um…" she made Misao blush, and he let her go gently.
She looked at him almost regretfully.
"We're supposed to be looking for a place to sleep."
"Oh…right…" she took the hand he offered and snuggled close to him as they walked. He retreated to putting an arm around her waist and holding her close to him, which made her blush and made him look down at her lovingly almost the whole way.
§§§~~~
Mizuuma and Takeru walked into the Lincoln Memorial and found Hiroji with his arms tightly wrapped around Kojishi.
They scampered apart, but it was too late, and Takeru's eyes narrowed, "You," he pointed at Hiroji, "Come with me."
Hiroji followed stiffly and took a glance at Kojishi as Mizuuma pulled her aside.
"Sooo?" Mizuuma inquired when she was sure they were gone.
Kojishi blushed and looked down, then looked up again, "We kissed."
"Oh?" Mizuuma raised her eyebrows, "And?"
"Wow," Kojishi sighed, and Mizuuma laughed.
"That good?"
Kojishi nodded, then looked around, and, seeing there was no one else around, said quietly, "Mizuuma, I think I love him."
"I know," she said softly.
"How?"
"I've felt it for a long time; it was my gift,"
Kojishi's eyes widened, and a smile spread across her face, "What about him?"
"Don't ever let anyone tear you two apart because your love for each other is strong," she glared as Takeru walked back in, Hiroji trailing miserably.
"Mizuuma you need someone," Kojishi said softly, and Takeru pretended to be uninterested though he was listening hard.
Mizuuma laughed, but there was no joy, "I've been hurt enough."
Kojishi shook her head and sighed; she had never pretended to understand Mizuuma, and she thought she never could, "What she needs is someone who can make sense of her," she muttered and turned to Hiroji who looked down.
"Listen to me," Kojishi instructed, and he looked at her, startled, "I don't care. I don't care about rules or this being forbidden because I don't know about you, but that felt right. Something that forbidden, that wrong wouldn't feel so right."
He looked at her, and Mizuuma felt their love and smiled. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, and Mizuuma turned to Takeru.
"Try and help someone once in awhile; it would do you a world of good," she advised.
"I've tried," he met her eyes head on, "You don't want my help."
She glared and looked down.
Fuuchou and Misao burst in, ending the moment of awkward silence, "We found somewhere…" they trailed off seeing Hiroji and Kojishi.
"Interesting," Fuuchou grinned wickedly.
"You too," Kojishi looked at their hands that were interlocked, and Fuuchou blushed and looked down.
Takeru's eyes narrowed, and he scowled.
"Seems they don't have your beliefs," Mizuuma whispered, and then turned back to Fuuchou, "What were you saying?"
"We found somewhere to sleep."
"We're not sleeping here," Fuu told her as they walked into the monument.
"Why not?" Kojishi whined.
"Because if we do about ten years in Cephiro will have already passed," Lantis laughed slightly.
They joined hands and closed their eyes, ending up back in Cephiro.
Tori:
"Now she seems to be sand under his shoes
There's nothing I can do
Can't stop what's coming
Can't stop what is on it's way
And now I speak to you
Are you in there?
You have her face and her eyes
But you are not herAnd we go at each other like blank ettes
Who can't find their thread and their bare
Can't stop loving
Can't stop what is on it's way
I can see it coming
And it's on it's way"~Tori Amos, Bells For Her, Under the Pink