Passing of Three Summers I
The euphoric streaks of the sun seeped through the rose colored curtains of Hikaru's sleeping quarters. As dawn turned to day, the radiance of the sun teased and bade her to wake up.
It was slow but one by one, Hikaru's eyes opened. She smiled at the sweet smell of flowers from the window. The gentle flowing waterfall seemed to pacify the hullabaloo of the busy life in Tokyo.
Hikaru suddenly sat upright from her slumber.
"Wait . . . a waterfall in Tokyo?!!" shouted Hikaru.
She rubbed her eyes to look around the room. It wasn't her room. But she's been here before. This was the room that she had slept in, the second time she was summoned to Cephiro. Hikaru remembered exactly where everything was . . . there were a couple of chairs in the far corner to her right – Fuu and Umi were sleeping next to her.
"I must be in another dream. I'll just go back to sleep and the next time I wake up, I will be in my own room and in Earth." She groaned loudly as she flopped back on her pillow.
There was a moan.
"Hikaru, will you pipe down? We have to get some rest if we're going to battle with Autozam, Farhen, and Cizeta. Oh~ those weird Rakoon and Rasheen creep me out."
Hikaru saw Umi's long blue hair disappear into the blankets. Hikaru sat back up and blinked again and again, trying to understand the information given to her.
"Wait. We're in battle with Autozam, and- huh? When?" asked Hikaru. Eagle Vision was her friend. When was the declaration of war? How could she miss something so important?
"Hikaru-chan, don't worry. It's going to be fine. Get some rest. I know how much stress you are going through and I know the sleep is the last thing you want to worry about, but please try to get some rest. We need you." Said another sleepy voice.
Hikaru turned to see Fuu sleeping on her side, facing toward the door. Hikaru was confused. She didn't understand what was going on. She couldn't remember the last time she went to the tower again. When did the war begin again?
She slowly climbed off the bed and looked for her clothes. They were her junior high uniforms. Hikaru hadn't worn these for almost 3 years. She meticulously put her skirt and her blouse on. She tried with all her might to tie her bow into a nice sailor's bow. But all her efforts prove in vain, so she left it down.
Hikaru felt her hair. It was the same as it was when she was in junior high. It was short but at the same time long.
This was a most odd dream. By the way the battles went the last time she was here, Hikaru wished she would wake up soon. She quickly braided it and cast outside to the castle for some answers.
Hikaru peered outside through some windows located in the hall that led out to Clef's meeting table. Cephiro was looking as it looked when she left after being named pillar Cephiro. It was breath taking. It was so beautiful. Where was the war?
She passed by a brightly lit room and peered in. It was covered wall to wall with green trees and colorful flowers. The dome of the room was high. And just below the dome was a big fountain. And –
He looked up. For an altogether reason unknown, Hikaru began to blush.
"He-Hello." Said Hikaru in a weak voice. There was no answer from him. From his sitting position next to the fountain . . .
He had the most beautiful eyes. They were clear aqua blue as the ocean. Hikaru didn't know how long she stood staring at them.
"Are all of the Earth girls as rude as you?"
Hikaru recognized the voice immediately. "You sound familiar to me. That's very odd because I never forget a face."
He didn't seem to be very interested in the way that the conversation was going.
"Zagato is my brother."
A sudden guilt spread throughout her system. Hikaru noticed her vision was getting fuzzy.
Hikaru smiled and walked closer to him.
The man observed the untied bow of her blouse and smiled.
Hikaru wasn't thinking, but just did what came naturally to her. Hikaru lightly kissed him on the forehead.
The man didn't move or make any gesture that he didn't like it. He just . . . remained still.
"I'm so sorry about Zagato. I – I was the one who killed him. I'm sorry." Hikaru couldn't concentrate . . . her thought was becoming muddled.
Hikaru sat on his lap and leaned in close to him. She was able to hear his rhythmic heart beat.
"I'm sorry . . . sir. I'm so sorry. It was all my fault."
There was moment of silence.
She was so small and innocent. Her apparent feelings toward the death of his brother were real. He had no reason but to wrap his arms around her frail body, to protect her.
"It's Lantis."
" . . . hmm?" She heard the 'it's' part. But after she couldn't hear what he had said.
" . . . Lantis." His voice came out callous and difficult as it always sounds.
" . . . huh?" Hikaru yawned softly. She felt as if her body were floating.
Lantis gave up trying to communicate with her. It was apparent she wasn't able to understand him because she was asleep. Lantis studied her face and wondered if all girls from Earth were as beatific as her.
Lantis didn't understand how much time had passed. He didn't want to move and disturb her sleep.
A good three hours passed when her breath became rapid. Lantis checked her pulse. There wasn't anything abnormal about her pulse. But she continued to breathe rapidly. The magic knight began to perspire.
There was ember like glow from her abdomen. Lantis placed his hand on her stomach and shook her awake.
"Magic knight, wake up."
She moaned softly at first but it became louder and louder like approaching footsteps. Lantis's placed his warrior hands on her forehead. He suddenly felt possessive of the magic knight. And he only just met her.
Suddenly, the magic knight stretched her hands and grabbed his face with both of her hands. Lantis noticed her hands shaking as if she were under someone's control.
The magic knight pulled herself up to his face and lingered close to his lips. Lantis had to hold her at her waist just in case that her sudden jerking movements wouldn't make her fall to the ground.
Hikaru's breathing became worse. She was panting furiously.
Lantis observed her face slowly. He meticulously wiped away the cold sweat that beaded her forehead. It was as if he knew her somehow, perhaps in a different life . . .
"Lantis!!!" shouted the magic knight in a different toned voice. It was much more mature.
Lantis squinted his eyes.
" . . . help me!! I . . . in some place . . . different time . . . Cephiro . . . Rayearth . . . mate ritual . . . circle . . . with star . .I . . . don't know . . . where . . . he's . . . here . . . symbol . . . coming . . . don't . . . fall for . . . please . . .help!!" Suddenly, the magic knight's body went limp as before. Her panting ceased and her jerking had stopped. Everything was quiet as before.
The magic knight's head went limp and rested lightly on Lantis's forehead. She was so close . . . all this time, Lantis face expression never changed. It was reticent from beginning to end. But this was the first time that he felt the need to keep a human so close to him. With one swift movement, Lantis held her up in his arms and walked to his sleeping quarters. He lowered her to his bed. He covered her up well with his blanket. Lantis sat next to her, quietly watching her breathe. Was it all a nightmare?
"Circle with star. . ."
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KaYLee's cOrNeR:
I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed my story. Thank you!!! Well, I'm done with chapter one but now that I read it over it feels incomplete so the 'Passing of Three Summers' will continue into chapter 2. So . . .? How is it so far? Have I lost anyone yet? =)
Thank you once more for reading Derivation of a Generation.