Impersonation:

Chapter Three: I know.

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, Fushigi Yuugi, or Furuba (Fruits Basket) I am merely borrowing the characters! So please do not sue, I only have candy wrappers from Halloween. ^_^

The boy with the braid was her roommate. She felt like the gods were punishing her for something insufferable.

"Hey! You're my roommate, Awesome!" Touya announced happily, an ear-to-ear grin on his cherubic face.

"Uh…right," Hikou mumbled and went to put his simple traveling bag in the plain drawer he was assigned to. Unruly bangs of copper gold curtained jade orbs as he slumped onto his bed. The sheets of the bed were very clean and had a stiff starchy texture, making Hikou suddenly feel almost sick.

Still being optimistic, Touya hopped onto the edge of Hikou's bed, "I'm not that bad ya know? I'm just trying to liven things up, I can't stand normalcy. I have to stick with out of the ordinary…or I really don't have anything at all…" A flicker of an unidentifiable emotion sparked in Touya's russet eyes before getting snubbed out with the twinkle of laughter.

Hikou smiled, "I'm sorry I sounded rude…I guess I'm just not used to this whole new experience. I've been practically wandering most of the past three years."

Touya seemed to perk up, "Wandering?"

Hikou nodded, "Yeah, I've sort have been wandering for the last three years since I couldn't seem to hold a permanent residence with family…" Leaf jade eyes clouded over in sorrow before quickly being averted, silence rang thoroughly through the shared room.

Knowing when to keep quiet, Touya went to lie on his bed with a bittersweet grin. "Demons of the past…" He whispered in a small, feminine voice before turning over and closing his eyes for rest.

Hikou's half lidded eyes shot up, widening in shock, he looked curiously at Touya. A smile touched his effeminate face, "I know your secret now…Touya?"

Her words were hushed, unheard by the other sleeping occupant.

**********

Hikou and Touya sparred; parrying and attacking fluidly much like the deadly dance between victory and injury. Beads of perspiration lined their foreheads and their breath came in short quiet gasps.

Touya may have been cheerful and innocent looking, but he wasn't one to overestimate, a note that engrained itself into Hikou's calculations. Touya was as limber and slender built as Hikou, and the russet-eyed youth was jumpy on attacks. Hikou watched as Touya deflected another assault of his blade and was quick at returning one of his own.

Touya was good, but not good enough.

Finally ending it, Hikou rammed the pommel of his sword into Touya's blade hand and laced his leg to curve under the braided youth's, efficiently tripping him. Immediately taking advantage of his aggressive opportunity, he lowered his weapon close to Touya's neck. His knee and empty hand trapping and crushing Hikou's opponent's upper limbs, rendering them immobile.

"Looks like I've got you in a tight situation, any chance you might get out?" Hikou's low soft voice rasped loftily, an eyebrow arched in question.

"I don't think so! Look under your tummy." Touya smiled mockingly, his russet eyes twinkling merrily.

Hikou glanced quickly towards his stomach, keeping a watchful eye on his opponent and noticed Touya's blade pressing firmly into his abdomen. Hikou's leaf jade eyes suddenly hardened and focused on russet eyes, he put more pressure on his blade hand.

"Well, it's either a draw…or we can both end up losing." Hikou smirked dryly, "Or would you like to see who's final hit is more potent?"

Nervousness flashed through Touya's features fleetingly, and then turned semi-bitter, "I'm pretty sure that our deaths would solve most of our problems, right? After all, past problems are the hardest to redeem…or escape?" Touya's voice was hollow, the mask of false cheer washed away from his visage. This was the real person that hid from the outside world, fearing rejection.

Hikou turned rigid, his eyes a frosty jade and lips in a bitter scowl. Mechanically he got up, and then walked to sit at the corner of the training chamber, ignoring the odd looks he was cast. Touya clambered up, regaining his usual cheery manner towards the sandy haired boy.

His braid swooshing behind him, and merry grin in place, he held out his hand in consolation. "Hey, look at it this way…it's not really losing. We both won in different matters of speaking and maybe even learned a lesson, friends?"

Hikou seemed reluctant, slowly lifting his hand as a small smile descended on his lips. "You are right, I have learned something." He grasped Touya's hand tightly, "Friends."

I know your secret…you cannot hide from me.

***************

"Those two are pretty good Kyou, what do you think?" Gatti asked the redheaded soldier, he was resting quietly on a bench with Kyou.

Intense mahogany eyes seemed to burn holes through the objects of question, his expression was unreadable with long red bangs shadowing his visage. Kyou grunted noncommittally, "I guess they're okay for amateurs…Chichiri?"

Another young man seated beside Kyou just smiled laughingly, "They are really good, for anyone, no da."

"Only you would say something complimentary like that."

Chichiri just smiled innocuously. Chichiri was a handsome man in his early twenties, with a disarming grin and cheerful visage. He had amber gold eyes, or rather eye. A scar ran over his left eye, sealing it shut, but not marring his cute features, making him appear more battle worn. Long protruding blue bangs and a long thin ponytail at the base of his neck was his sported hairstyle. "Maybe so no da."

Chichiri suddenly got up, the disarming grin still on his face, "I've got an errand I need to attend to. Bye."

***************

Refina wasn't in the stables.

Chichiri searched all over for the blonde haired woman and came out empty handed. He wasn't infatuated with that stable hand, Chichiri told himself, but knew he was only denying.

Sighing the blue haired soldier sat on a bench nearby a black steed, he petted the animal's muzzle carefully and became lost in thought. As of lately, Refina had become a close special friend of his, a friend Chichiri began to think of a lot.

Refina was a proud and confident woman, someone unattainable by his standards. She was elegance and beauty wrapped into one, with gold spun hair and dark brown eyes. She exuded a calm that made him fidgety and sweaty palmed. The golden-haired beauty was three years younger than his twenty-four years, and she still was able to make him feel like a child reaching for the pastry jar on the highest shelf.

"Well, look what I have here! A knight and his steed, how charming." A voice called out in amusement, interrupting the golden-eyed soldier from his thoughts.

A figure in black armor walked up to Chichiri. Sparkling aqua eyes seemed to glow from under the oversized helmet the stranger wore, his face and form was hidden with extra-large black clothing.

Chichiri blinked, a bit of color coming to his cheeks as he continued caring for the steed before him. "Hello" His voice was deep and baritone, seeming to have a laughing lilt to it.

"Well aren't you going to correct me, or are you actually a knight?" The stranger questioned, and Chichiri found this person's voice to be melodic.

A voice definitely not male Chichiri confirmed.

The aqua-eyed person continued, " It's a bit hard to believe when you are wearing Zaibach armor. Zaibach is too…non traditional, I don't believe they have that rank anymore."

Chichiri smiled, "I guess I'm not a knight then, although I have no objections. A knight is a high honor."

"A knight is only a rank achieved by able men correct?" A slender tan hand reached out of the mass of black armor the person wore; reaching for the helmet he wore.

Chichiri eyed this mysterious person, who seemed swamped in a mass of black mail and armor, was this a male or female? "I'm not opinionated, but I'm sure a woman could reach that status if they were able minded…" Chichiri trailed off, then quickly asked, "Who are you?"

A giggling emanated from underneath the large helmet, and the obstruction was lifted to reveal a young heart shaped face with glittering aqua orbs and short silver white hair. "I thought the gentleman was supposed to introduce himself to a lady before asking that question." A small smile touched her golden face, "But I guess I'm an exception! I'm not much of a lady anyways."

Chichiri blanched, "You are a woman!" His golden eye widened, and he dropped the grooming brush in shock. He didn't expect the stranger to actually be a female!

She grinned almost haughtily; "I'm Yui Hongou, former knight of Caesaria…and now a swordswoman of Zaibach."

Chichiri blinked stupidly and gaped like a fish out of water, "…da"

"Speechless I see," Yui said in a bored tone, brushing back her long bangs of silver hair, it appeared a light blue in the shade of the stable. She tugged uncomfortably on her breastplate. "Zaibach's armor is very unfitting for me, everything was too large for me, and I wasn't allowed to wear my original armor."

"What happened to Refina, no da?!" Chichiri sputtered finally, seeming to have regained somewhat a respectable composure.

A puzzled look came to Yui's face, "Refina…? Was that the pretty blonde woman with an attitude problem?"

Annoyed by Yui's description of Refina, Chichiri snapped, "She doesn't have an attitude problem! It's probably just you!"

"Sorry…" Yui mumbled quietly, hurt by the quick accusation. He probably thinks I'm a snob now…I didn't mean to offend him. Great Yui, this is just an AWESOME way of making friends…"maybe it is just me then."

She put her large helmet back over her head, looking away to hide her hurt. Her voice trembled slightly, but was too soft to be noticeable; "U-um I believe Refina was just taking her break…s-she asked me to watch over the stables for her. But I see everything is in order around here, s-so I'll just take my leave. B-bye!" Yui quickly turned to flee, not bothering to look back at the blue haired soldier.

"Wait! Yui…" Chichiri said sadly and was only to be met with the wind. "Great…now I feel bad no da…"

"Chichiri! Where have you been?! I thought we were meeting over in the mess hall!" A loud voice rang in Chichiri's ears, the blue haired soldier turned to the sound in dread.

A tall elegant blonde woman was standing at the entrance of the Zaibach stable, a sultry look in her dark brown eyes and angrily pouting lips.

It was Refina.

In Chichiri's mind, a young girl was in Refina's place. Her smaller frame was replacing the blonde's and her long flowing hair shortened to boyishly short locks. Refina's dark sultry eyes dissipated to wide glittering aqua orbs that glowed under long silver blue bangs.

"Yui…"

Looking at Refina, Chichiri felt nothing.

And she doesn't even know my name…

*******************

Yui was lost.

Everything in the Zaibach fortress looked the same, all the walls were a bland gray and undistinguishable. The silver haired girl felt minuscule in this compound, every face she met was male. Back in Caesaria, female soldiers weren't particularly common…but they weren't particularly rare either.

"The first day here and you get yourself lost Yui! That's a very nice impression on the others!"

Yui suddenly heard someone yell.

"There! Yay, I'm not lost anymore!"

With a cheerful grin on her face she headed towards the shouting voice.

***************

Yay, I got another chapter done! I feel like jumping for hoe! But I only got 3 reviews this time…waah…oh well! I enjoy writing this! I finally updated this and I feel happy!!

Chichiri is hot, but with Yui, they're on fire!! (lame sounding!!) I'm just hyper! Heh

Kyou is so cool! I love him so much! Cats rule!

More Hitomi action later, sorry there isn't much but I want to try to introduce everybody. I also apologize for having it so confusing, or so the reviews say!

Can anyone guess who Hikou is? I'm pretty sure it's obvious! ^_^