Dear Sushigirl07, I dedicate this chapter to you, whom are one of my more loyal readers: this note is to tell you that your reviews warm more my heart and... makes me cry by laughers ;) so I have decided to reward your loyalty explaining why you continue to read this fanfic despite all pain that it gives you: YOU ARE A MASOCHIST!!!!!! I'm joking :P! You, as each other, are curious to know what is behind: does Fuu have completely forgotten Ferio? Will he and Emma really get married? Is Seiji really an asshole a you say? And I tell you: my dear, read and you will discover it by yourself!
P-chan
* * * * *
Christmas 20xx, Kisaragi home at Kyoto
"Merry Christmas!"
They exclaimed at the same time toasting. The Christmas at the home of Kisaragi was the event of the year. In this cheerful occasion, the Kisaragi and the Houojii met in Kyoto to celebrate: often that was the only time that somebody met the other relatives. But that Christmas was more special: Emma, gone back from the mission at Sephiro, and had gotten the Major degree. After the customary toast, the family gathered round the majestic Christmas tree and opened the gifts.
"I hope that you like it, mother. I warn you: this year all my gifts come from Sephiro, thus don't tell anybody where you have bought these things or I'll be degraded!"
Emma said winking handing a green package to her mother.
Fuu smiled weakly while she unwrapped the package: it was a typical Sephirian musical box, with inlays of gold and green enamels. Fuu froze when she saw Windam's symbol on the cover. Trembling, she opened it and she felt her eyes fill with tears: the music box's melody was the same that
Ferio used hum.
Seeing his wife so tense, Seiji laid a hand on her shoulder and said:
"Fuu, are you ok? You are so pale....."
Fuu jumped and stared at her husband's almond-shaped black eyes; she shook her head and sketched a smile.
"Nothing, I'm just...... touched. Tha-thank you Emma-chan, it is.... gorgeous, where did you buy it?"
Emma raised her eyes from her own gift and smiled:
"In an Austina's shop: the salesclerk told me that that musical box had been created by the preceding owner for a very important person -and of whom she didn't know the identity- but that it had never been retired; so when I saw it, I have thought at once to you! Oh, thank you aunt Stella: my bottle of Chanel n°19 has almost run out!"
The party kept on until 07:00 PM and at the end Seichiro, Kuu and Betsy stayed to help Fuu to put things in order. The four women were in kitchen cleaning, when Emma asked suddenly to her mother:
"Mother, what would you say if I were to tell you that I'm in love?"
"I would wonder if he exchanges your feelings."
"And what if I answer you that he loves me too?"
Fuu watched Emma's radiant face: knowing her daughter, she knew that those questions were a way to introduce the topic. Fuu placed the dishes on the table and settled them in the cupboard.
"I would be happy for you, honey."
"And then, what if I tell you that he asked me to marry him and that I accepted?"
"Then you should introduce me to him. Why are you asking all these questions?"
"Ah no reason, so..." Emma answered drying the glasses "What if he is a foreigner?"
"Emma, you know well that in my family we don't have these problems." Betsy said catching fire on a cigarette, "In this case you would just walk over Old Hiro's dead body. Who's this guy? A workmate?"
"What are you saying, granny! And I have asked it to mother, not to you."
"My mother is right, Emma. The important thing is that he loves you and that he's an honest person."
"And rich. You know how it is expensive to support a family nowadays."
Kuu teased Emma grinning. Emma threw a glance-killer to her aunt and resumed her questioning. "Even if he isn't a terrestrial?"
The three women watched her utterly amazed: Kuu opened and closed her mouth without be able to say a word; Betsy was so upset that the cigarette slipped from her mouth and Fuu was stuck in the same position in which she was when she had heard those words. Betsy broke the spell.
"That would be a problem: we don't know how/that thing/ works for the alien."
"I don't find anything of bad." Fuu answered resuming to set the dishes in the cupboard, "Until you are happy, it's all right. And now explain us this story."
Emma blushed excitedly and smiled.
"Well.... while I was in Sephiro I have met this guy, a real Sephirian. First we have become great friends and then.... and we then have discovered that ours wasn't a simple friendship. So the day before my leaving, he has asked me to marry him and I accepted."
Emma turned and watched the three women. Her smile more and more large.
"I, Emma Suu Kisaragi, as soon as possible will marry no less than to King Ferio of Sephiro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
CRACK!
Fuu watched blankly at her daughter. One of her precious Sèvres plate slipped from her hands and broke down on the floor; some pieces cut her skin. Emma watched speechless at her mother, not understanding what was happening.
"YOU CAN'T MARRY HIM!"
Fuu yelled suddenly with all her strength. Kuu fell for the fear and Betsy stood up to calm down her daughter; Seiji and Saiki ran scared in the kitchen and they asked what was happening. After a momentary dismay, Emma began to ask explanations but her mother didn't listen her.
"I WON'T ALLOW THAT YOU DO THIS ERROR! YOU CAN MARRY EVERYBODY BUT HIM!!!!!!"
"Fuu, please, calm down!"
Seiji said holding her: Kuu had told him frantically what had happened. Seiji understood that his wife was upset by the news, but she had overreacted; he peeped at her face for an instant and he froze: her eyes were dark and full of tears; her face was deformed by the nervous crisis -the first after almost two years- and her voice was hoarse and broken.
"YOU. CAN'T. MARRY. HIM!!!!!!!!!!!"
Fuu freed herself from Seiji's grasp and went outside without changing her shoes. Without take a coat. Seiji ran behind her trying to reach her. Emma was upset: cause a nervous crisis to her mother was the last of her intentions. Saiki laid a hand on her shoulder and shook her slightly.
"Emma, why do you have to tell such a thing to mother? Have you forgotten what doctor Morita told us a long time ago? Her nerves are very delicate and that's why...."
"I haven't forgotten it." Emma whispered with her head in her hands, "that's why I.... she was so quiet and she told me that it wasn't bad. I do-don't understand why she overreact when I told her that I would have married Ferio...."
* * * * *
Kyoto, a whatever street
"*driiiiiin driiiiiin driclack* Ryuzaki house."
"...... *sob sob*........."
"Who is speaking?"
"........... *sob*......... Umi....... * sob sob*........."
"Fuu? Fuu, is it you?"
"*snif*.......... Umi, Emma........ "
"Good heavens Fuu! Why are you crying? What happened to Emma?!"
".... Emma......... *sob*........"
"*sigh* Fuu, where are you? I'll come and get you."
"*sniff* I'm..... I'm near the restaurant Le Jardin."
"Ok, don't move: I'll be there in ten minutes!"
* * * * *
Later, Umi's apartment
Umi sighed throwing a last glance at Fuu: when she had reached her, she had thought more opportune bring her at her own home. Once refreshed with a cup of warm tea, Fuu had told her -or better, stammered- what had happened between Ferio and Emma. A few minutes after she had fallen asleep on the couch. Later, Seiji had called her to know if Fuu was at her home, and now both had sat one in front of the other in Umi's kitchen.
"Thank you Umi-san, I was fearing the worst......"
Seiji whispered painfully looking at his cup. Umi sighed and placed a hand on his.
"The friends serve to this. However, before you bring her back home, I want to ask you a favor: don't speak about this business, not now."
"Emma feels guilt for what happened: there were two years, /two/, that Fuu didn't have a crisis..... today she was so peaceful, almost happy, and then...... My God! I haven't seen her in this state since when......."
Umi squeezed encouraging his hand. Both glanced at Fuu.
"I'm not able to understand her: before she says that the only important thing is that Emma marries the man that she loves and then she reacts in that way when she hears his name. I too don't want Emma to marry an....... an alien, but I would be opposed as soon as she hypothesized the matter."
"Fuu doesn't want the marriage because.... " Umi stopped an instant, wondering if it was her duty to tell that, "never mind; it's fair. It's Fuu's job to tell you the reason."
An astonished Seiji looked Umi.
"Then you know why........"
"I am sorry, but I can't tell you: I have promised to Fuu that I would never have done it."
"How is going with Koichi? And is Iroshi-chan all right?"
Umi smiled: Seiji was a very comprehensive man, who placed before his wife's health to everything.
"My lawyer is chasing him: also this month that jerk has forgotten to pay the maintenance. Iroshi is with my parents in London: even if he isn't really their little grandson, those two love him so so much. And this is the first Christmas that I spend alone."
"Why didn't you tell it to us? You could have had lunch with us: the guys would have appreciated it."
"If had come I couldn't have finished my job."
Umi sighed getting up and putting the cups in the sink.
* * * * *
Three years after, Kisaragi home
Seiji set his briefcase on the floor, he put off his shoes and exclaimed:
"I'm home!"
Fuu appeared in the kitchen's door and welcomed him:
"Good evening Seiji how was your job? At the end have you concluded that business?"
Seiji put an arm around his wife's waist and kissed her temple.
"We'll speak about this at supper. Are the guys back?"
Fuu nodded going back in kitchen and tasting the soup.
"Saiki is still at school: it seems as if some parents have complained about some teachers' behavior. Emma was back about half hour ago, now she's taking a shower. Yet I don't understand why that blessed girl has left the air force. Do you remember? She was four years old: we went to that air show and since that day she has wanted to be a pilot. And just now that her career has just begun..... the worse thing is that we know /why/ she has done it."
"What about you? Are you well?"
Seiji asked a little bit worried: Fuu hadn't accepted that Emma had left her flashing career, as she didn't still approve that Emma marries Ferio. Also, he thought like his wife, but he has reserved each judgment on his probable son-in-law: after all Emma was right when she said that they didn't know him.
"Today doctor Morita has called me." Seiji said making his wife sit, "he is very worried about you, he wants that you have a change of air for a little bit.... that you go in some place....... so........."
"So what?"
Fuu said watching her husband: from much time her eyes had lost any expression. Seiji bit a lip, unsure if he should communicate his decision to his wife or not. He opened his mouth, but the bell interrupted him.
"Good evening mother! What are we eating this evening?"
Saiki chirped hugging his mother. Fuu smiled and made him to taste the soup.
"How good mama's soup is! It doesn't have comparisons!"
"Flatterer."
Fuu said with a half smile. Saiki was the masculine version of Emma: he too had curly blonde hair, lively green amber eyes and a contagious laughter. Saiki was a little childish man and he tried to find the positive side in each thing: that's why his pupils loved him, and they loved him because Saiki was able to teach them to love the study. Saiki was taller than his sister, actually the tallest of the family.
"Welcome back Good Giant." Emma grinned, "Also today you have tried to conquer one of your pupils' mother?"
"Ah ah ah! Even if I'm a playboy, I don't risk doing avance to marry a woman! With an only exception: Mrs. Fuu Kisaragi!"
The four burst in a roaring laughter and Fuu announced that the supper was ready.
Seiji watched his family with a satisfied smile: Fuu seemed quiet and Saiki every so often was able to draw her a rough smile while he told them what had happened during the meeting; Emma paid attention to the topic and at the opportune moment she said a joke. Seiji sighed: many of his collaborators considered his family a happy and enviable family. The reality was very different: in the last three years there had been many dissension between his wife and his daughter because of this Ferio guy, and often Fuu had come on the edge of a crisis. Seiji had elaborated a theory: to loosen the tension, Saiki tried to make his mother smile, speaking about frivolities and above all definitely abdicating to a serious relationship. Seiji drank a sip of water and cleared his throat.
"Today I have concluded the business with Mr. Alante."
"Mr. Alante is that guy form Sephiro, isn't he father?"
Saiki asked curiously and his father nodded.
"His..... his delegate has told me that Mr. Alante would want me in Sephiro: as you know we have the awful habit to check the goods before we acquire it."
He said giggling.
Emma lit up and exclaimed:
"Therefore soon you'll leave for Sephiro! In this way you'll have the opportunity to meet Fe.... to meet him. Could I come with you? Can I, father?"
"Well....... ah ehm.... I wanted to speak about this: if it is possible, I would want to go the four of us."
"Sephiro hum?" Saiki mumble thoughtfully " Now I can't, there are still two months before summer vacation. But then I would be able, instead, it would be very useful for me: the last week one of my pupils has asked me about sephirian fauna and flora, this would be an excellent chance to deepen the topic. What do you think, mother?"
Fuu glanced at son's face: as always Saiki was smiling, but his voice was veiled with worry. She sighed and considered the opportunity that was offered: going back to Sephiro after thirty years, after have married Seiji and raised two children. Surely many things had changed, perhaps the people she had fought for had forgotten her. Seeing again Ferio after thirty years: she finally had the chance to speak with him. To prevent that absurd marriage.
"Even if I don't want to, you would be in three versus one. But Saiki is right: it will be better if we wait for the summer vacations."
Seiji sighed in relief: his wife had reacted rather well to the suggestion to go to Sephiro. Soon, he said to himself, they could have resolved the matter that for three years mined his beloved wife's psychic health.
* * * * *
About two months later, Palace of Sephiro
Ferio had appeared at a window: below him, in the southern garden, there was the meeting between the Sephirian trader and the representatives of the greater terrestrial trade companies. He was sure: among them was Seiji Kisaragi, Fuu's husband and Emma's father.
"You seem worried, Highness."
Ferio sigh and looked Clef.
"/She/ is here, I could sense her presence. Clef, how should I behave with her? Surely I won't....... tell what I think about her in front of Emma."
"Sure. For Emma it would be an awful shock if she discovers that her mother and her future husband were lovers in past. Try to speak alone with Fuu: this evening at the party, find an opportunity to somewhere to clarify each other's misunderstanding."
"There are no misunderstandings." Ferio grumbled firmly, "Emma has told me that her parents have been together for three years and that they have gotten married because her mother at sixteen years became pregnant. Do you know what that mean? It means that when my sister has evoked the Magic Knights, Fuu was yet this Seiji guy's girlfriend. She..... she seemed so pure and sweet and angelic, instead she was worse than Alcyone. She has cheated me...... she has cheated /us/, her present husband and me! She said to.... care of me, and like a fool I have given her the ring that Emeraude left me: I couldn't find a less worthy person. When I have saw the ring, a thousand thoughts have crossed my mind: Fuu had a sister and perhaps Emma was her grandniece, thus Fuu had given the ring to her niece, whom had given it to Emma. The fact that Fuu was her mother terrorized me, but from the letters that Emma has written me, I understood that unfortunately this is the reality."
Clef watched Ferio destroy himself with doubt and anger. The Mage laid a hand on his shoulder and shook him gently.
"Each thing has an explanation, that's why I want you to speak with Fuu this evening. I hope only that all this causes suffering to nobody: I don't want to see a dear person suffer."
"I..... I need to clear my ideas. See you later."
Ferio said going out of the throne room and went toward the stables. At his passage the guards and the maids bowed, not much amazed by their ruler's very bad humor: the rumor about his marriage with a terrestrial woman had spread some time ago, and the fact that this woman was back with her family, confirmed these gossips. Ferio knew about these gossips: fortunately few knew about his affair with Fuu, even, many of his servants had never met the Magic Knights. Suddenly he noticed a middle age woman looking at the frescos that decorated the hallway.
She was a terrestrial woman. She wore a night blue dress and a sandy jacket; the sunlight made her hair shone with gold and silver hair. Her green leaf eyes stared at the wall and she seemed to haven't noticed his presence. It wasn't necessary to look her in the face: Ferio knew very well that she was Fuu.
Fuu had sensed his presence immediately, but she had continued to look at the frescos without see them: her whole attention was intended on his reaction. When Ferio passed close to her, completely indifferent, harsh and with his rhythmic pace; Fuu neither turn nor called him. Only when he was out of her view, Fuu sighed painfully.
================================== TO BE CONTINUED=================================
