1 Note: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! And to
Scathach, I know a bit about fencing and have read the Princess Bride one
too many times! Sorry it's so late, I didn't mean to leave you all hanging
like that, it just sort of happened! Back to the fic! (Side Note: There's
been a change of format! Hope this is easier to read!)
2 Chapter 7: Classified Information?
Hikaru stood with much difficulty, instead of raking her over the coals, as Umi would have, Fuu merely inquired if she was all right and told her that next time she shouldn't be so reckless. Lantis hadn't said anything, merely looked as serious and unreadable as ever. Hikaru was still delighted to see him, if she had to give him Eagle's note she might as well do it as privately as possible.
Fuu continued to hover near, too concerned, or wise, to ask any questions. Lantis had already stood and moved off a few paces to give them some room. In doing so he carefully scooped up the transmitter, closing the halves and sealing it back together.
Hikaru, seeing this, held out her hands and he obligingly dropped it into them, making Fuu frown, but she didn't say a word.
Damn you Eagle. damn you. Noting her angry glare, the blond beside her broke the silence that had reigned since her exclamations of 'I'm fine!'
"Hikaru-chan, is there anything troubling you?" Fuu hoped that she could get at least a partial response from her friend, she received nothing but an empty look from Hikaru.
"No." the short, clipped word made Fuu bowed her head in defeat, knowing that if her friend wanted to tell her about it, then she would, but until then what more could be done?
A small sound from Lantis drew their attention back to him and Hikaru remembered the paper that was clutched in her hand.
"Here, it's for you," Hikaru thrust the paper toward him and Lantis accepted the paper from her without batting an eyelash.
"He said he'd like to deliver it personally but he can't right now," her tone held just the faintest trace of bitter humor. Fuu looked back and forth from one to the other, concerned over the bitterness that was evident in her companion's voice and expression.
"Ah, I see," Lantis read all he needed to know about what would be in the note from Hikaru's voice as she said 'he.' He hadn't known that someone who seemed so kind and caring could be so bitter about anything.
"Hikaru, whatever happened, we'll talk about later, but right now you're going to bed. Don't try to argue, you know that you need to get some rest," Fuu scolded as Lantis nodded in agreement, making the redhead smile shakily and start to walk to the room. Three paces later she collapsed in a boneless heap without a sound or warning.
Fuu rushed forward but Lantis had expected something of the sort and beat her to Hikaru's side.
"Don't worry too much, it's only that she has over extended her heart," he lifted Hikaru as though she was a feather, and then turned back to the astonished Fuu. "Where is the room she is staying in?"
"Follow me, it's not far," Fuu told him, not daring to ask who was this mysterious person that had sent the letter. She privately thought that whoever it was, it wasn't very wise of them to anger Hikaru so.
Lantis heard all her unspoken questions in those words, but didn't answer any, merely followed her and Mokona (who had come out of hiding or wherever it was that he stayed during battles) as they walked quietly through the halls.
? * ?
Five minutes later Hikaru was tucked into the bed, still in her clothes, Fuu hadn't wanted to try and wake her up. Closing the door to the bedroom softly, she turned to Lantis who had been standing in the outer chamber waiting.
He had lit a small lamp and was sitting in one of the three chairs, holding the now unfolded letter that Hikaru had given him. She walked over to him, keeping quiet for fear of waking Umi.
"Here, you should read this," the abrupt statement told her that whatever it was, it was important.
"All right.," Taking the note from him she sat down on the chair beside him to read it. It took her less than two minutes of scanning quickly to finish the front, without pausing, she turned it over and finished the other side, hissing softly between her teeth.
"Poor Hikaru-chan, no wonder she wouldn't talk about it." Lantis nodded, his blue eyes shadowed as he watched her. "You know this Eagle person too, do you not? Is there any chance that he would not be telling the truth?"
"No, he wouldn't lie," Lantis didn't even seem to be offended by her question.
"But what should we do with this? Clef-san, at least, should know about it, if not Umi-chan." There was silence after Fuu's words as Lantis considered.
"Yes, Guru Clef and the other Magic Knight, but I don't think that anyone else needs to know," he said after much thought, quietly breaking the silence between them. She nodded, grateful that he agreed with her.
"Then, if that is settled, I think that we should both get some rest, Lantis-sama," Fuu rose and half-turned to go. "Is there anything else you need?"
"No, thank you," he also turned and strode silently out the door, still holding the paper in his hand, while the Knight of Wind might be satisfied to let things wait for the morning, he wasn't. Traveling had taught him that it wasn't wise to leave important things undone when there was a chance that you might not be able to accomplish them when you planned to.
So, instead of going back to his own chambers he went to the Guru's rooms. Clef now spent most of his time going over old documents and histories, looking for clues as to where the road to the Pillar might be, Lantis was positive that he wasn't getting half as much sleep as most people thought.
His suspicions were proved correct when he reached his destination; light was still seeping from under the door when he knocked.
"Come in," Clef's voice was soft and quiet but Lantis heard him. Opening the door Lantis slipped in almost silently, careful not to get his cloak caught in the door.
"Oh, good evening, Lantis, is there anything wrong?" Guru Clef summoned a chair for Lantis, looking slightly surprised that his former student would seek him out at so late in the night.
"Actually, Guru, there is a small problem," he offered Eagle's letter, having sat down as he spoke. Clef scanned the note, both sides, and looked back Lantis.
"When did you get this?"
"Not half an hour ago, it was given to Hikaru," it was probably best, he decided, not to tell what else Hikaru had gotten from Autozam's commander. Most likely a large headache as well as the transmitter, but then, they both seemed so very much alike. Hikaru always reflecting on what had happened and Eagle always trying to anticipate his next collapse, but then, since they were enemies, it wouldn't be wise to be caught between the two when the inevitable battle came to a head.
"Does anyone else know about this?" Lantis had never thought he'd see his old mentor with his eyes almost popping out of his head.
"Only the Knight of Wind."
"Well, if that's the case, then I believe that Umi, that's the Water Knight, should know too and maybe the Prince. But Hikaru didn't want everyone to know about this so. I think it is best that we keep it as quiet as possible."
Nodding, Lantis soon excused himself from the Guru's presence, saying that they needed their rest. He continued turning everything over in his mind the whole long way back to his chambers, but the only answers that he found were the hollow echoing of his footsteps as they bounced off the corridor's walls.
? * ?
Eagle sighed quietly and slumped back down in his chair, closing his eyes and resting. After a few moments he pushed himself up and changed for bed, with a small amount of effort as his vision wavered and he concentrated hard and drained almost all of his remaining strength keeping the road in place. It wouldn't do to collapse and have to retreat at the moment, he could probably hold the road in place while asleep, it was if he fainted that was the problem.
He slipped onto his bed, pulling up the covers and turning off the single light.
I hope that Hikaru gives my explanation to Lantis, from what I've seen of her personality she wouldn't want to explain anything in great detail. I owe both of them an explanation, especially Lantis, I don't want to have to fight him, but.
Eagle fell asleep, a small frown creasing his face as he thought of what had to be done, even if it meant killing two of his best friends.
2 Chapter 7: Classified Information?
Hikaru stood with much difficulty, instead of raking her over the coals, as Umi would have, Fuu merely inquired if she was all right and told her that next time she shouldn't be so reckless. Lantis hadn't said anything, merely looked as serious and unreadable as ever. Hikaru was still delighted to see him, if she had to give him Eagle's note she might as well do it as privately as possible.
Fuu continued to hover near, too concerned, or wise, to ask any questions. Lantis had already stood and moved off a few paces to give them some room. In doing so he carefully scooped up the transmitter, closing the halves and sealing it back together.
Hikaru, seeing this, held out her hands and he obligingly dropped it into them, making Fuu frown, but she didn't say a word.
Damn you Eagle. damn you. Noting her angry glare, the blond beside her broke the silence that had reigned since her exclamations of 'I'm fine!'
"Hikaru-chan, is there anything troubling you?" Fuu hoped that she could get at least a partial response from her friend, she received nothing but an empty look from Hikaru.
"No." the short, clipped word made Fuu bowed her head in defeat, knowing that if her friend wanted to tell her about it, then she would, but until then what more could be done?
A small sound from Lantis drew their attention back to him and Hikaru remembered the paper that was clutched in her hand.
"Here, it's for you," Hikaru thrust the paper toward him and Lantis accepted the paper from her without batting an eyelash.
"He said he'd like to deliver it personally but he can't right now," her tone held just the faintest trace of bitter humor. Fuu looked back and forth from one to the other, concerned over the bitterness that was evident in her companion's voice and expression.
"Ah, I see," Lantis read all he needed to know about what would be in the note from Hikaru's voice as she said 'he.' He hadn't known that someone who seemed so kind and caring could be so bitter about anything.
"Hikaru, whatever happened, we'll talk about later, but right now you're going to bed. Don't try to argue, you know that you need to get some rest," Fuu scolded as Lantis nodded in agreement, making the redhead smile shakily and start to walk to the room. Three paces later she collapsed in a boneless heap without a sound or warning.
Fuu rushed forward but Lantis had expected something of the sort and beat her to Hikaru's side.
"Don't worry too much, it's only that she has over extended her heart," he lifted Hikaru as though she was a feather, and then turned back to the astonished Fuu. "Where is the room she is staying in?"
"Follow me, it's not far," Fuu told him, not daring to ask who was this mysterious person that had sent the letter. She privately thought that whoever it was, it wasn't very wise of them to anger Hikaru so.
Lantis heard all her unspoken questions in those words, but didn't answer any, merely followed her and Mokona (who had come out of hiding or wherever it was that he stayed during battles) as they walked quietly through the halls.
? * ?
Five minutes later Hikaru was tucked into the bed, still in her clothes, Fuu hadn't wanted to try and wake her up. Closing the door to the bedroom softly, she turned to Lantis who had been standing in the outer chamber waiting.
He had lit a small lamp and was sitting in one of the three chairs, holding the now unfolded letter that Hikaru had given him. She walked over to him, keeping quiet for fear of waking Umi.
"Here, you should read this," the abrupt statement told her that whatever it was, it was important.
"All right.," Taking the note from him she sat down on the chair beside him to read it. It took her less than two minutes of scanning quickly to finish the front, without pausing, she turned it over and finished the other side, hissing softly between her teeth.
"Poor Hikaru-chan, no wonder she wouldn't talk about it." Lantis nodded, his blue eyes shadowed as he watched her. "You know this Eagle person too, do you not? Is there any chance that he would not be telling the truth?"
"No, he wouldn't lie," Lantis didn't even seem to be offended by her question.
"But what should we do with this? Clef-san, at least, should know about it, if not Umi-chan." There was silence after Fuu's words as Lantis considered.
"Yes, Guru Clef and the other Magic Knight, but I don't think that anyone else needs to know," he said after much thought, quietly breaking the silence between them. She nodded, grateful that he agreed with her.
"Then, if that is settled, I think that we should both get some rest, Lantis-sama," Fuu rose and half-turned to go. "Is there anything else you need?"
"No, thank you," he also turned and strode silently out the door, still holding the paper in his hand, while the Knight of Wind might be satisfied to let things wait for the morning, he wasn't. Traveling had taught him that it wasn't wise to leave important things undone when there was a chance that you might not be able to accomplish them when you planned to.
So, instead of going back to his own chambers he went to the Guru's rooms. Clef now spent most of his time going over old documents and histories, looking for clues as to where the road to the Pillar might be, Lantis was positive that he wasn't getting half as much sleep as most people thought.
His suspicions were proved correct when he reached his destination; light was still seeping from under the door when he knocked.
"Come in," Clef's voice was soft and quiet but Lantis heard him. Opening the door Lantis slipped in almost silently, careful not to get his cloak caught in the door.
"Oh, good evening, Lantis, is there anything wrong?" Guru Clef summoned a chair for Lantis, looking slightly surprised that his former student would seek him out at so late in the night.
"Actually, Guru, there is a small problem," he offered Eagle's letter, having sat down as he spoke. Clef scanned the note, both sides, and looked back Lantis.
"When did you get this?"
"Not half an hour ago, it was given to Hikaru," it was probably best, he decided, not to tell what else Hikaru had gotten from Autozam's commander. Most likely a large headache as well as the transmitter, but then, they both seemed so very much alike. Hikaru always reflecting on what had happened and Eagle always trying to anticipate his next collapse, but then, since they were enemies, it wouldn't be wise to be caught between the two when the inevitable battle came to a head.
"Does anyone else know about this?" Lantis had never thought he'd see his old mentor with his eyes almost popping out of his head.
"Only the Knight of Wind."
"Well, if that's the case, then I believe that Umi, that's the Water Knight, should know too and maybe the Prince. But Hikaru didn't want everyone to know about this so. I think it is best that we keep it as quiet as possible."
Nodding, Lantis soon excused himself from the Guru's presence, saying that they needed their rest. He continued turning everything over in his mind the whole long way back to his chambers, but the only answers that he found were the hollow echoing of his footsteps as they bounced off the corridor's walls.
? * ?
Eagle sighed quietly and slumped back down in his chair, closing his eyes and resting. After a few moments he pushed himself up and changed for bed, with a small amount of effort as his vision wavered and he concentrated hard and drained almost all of his remaining strength keeping the road in place. It wouldn't do to collapse and have to retreat at the moment, he could probably hold the road in place while asleep, it was if he fainted that was the problem.
He slipped onto his bed, pulling up the covers and turning off the single light.
I hope that Hikaru gives my explanation to Lantis, from what I've seen of her personality she wouldn't want to explain anything in great detail. I owe both of them an explanation, especially Lantis, I don't want to have to fight him, but.
Eagle fell asleep, a small frown creasing his face as he thought of what had to be done, even if it meant killing two of his best friends.