Passing of Three Summers II

Kailani

By the second summer, Shidou Hikaru, the pillar of the beautiful Cephiro was deteriorating.

.

Cephiro did not prosper because more so than work, the people of Cephiro were busy whispering about their inept ruler.

By the third summer, lives were lost in battles for the freedom to live. Cephiro cried out in pain as blood carpeted the once rich earth.

"Clef, the southern border was, yet again, been attacked by the nifers. I don't know how much life energy exists in the southern border. Our soldiers in the southern border are tired and weary of the continuous attacks." Progress reports of Cephiro began with Presea. Presea hesitantly took a long shuttering breath to release the some of the tension in her voice.

The meeting was being held in the conference room in the deepest, innermost room of the castle. At the circumference of the Table of Truth sat the tired Guru Clef, Presea, Lafarga, Fuu, Ferio and representatives of the borders. These were the survivors. War was arbitrary, yet now was the inevitable. The war, War of Colors, was destroying Cephiro. It was good against evil but evil against good.

Clef had his eyes closed as the reports from the borders continued on. Presea sighed with frustration.

"Crops and animals in our eastern border have died out, sirs and ladies. We need the help of Hikaru to rejuvenate the eastern border!" shouted an angry representative of the eastern border.

"Macbain! How dare you address our leader with such insolence! You and everyone here are to address our leader as Lady Shidou, with respect for all she has done for us!" shouted the representative of the northern border.

"Put a sock in it! What has she done for us, lately? There has been nothing but trouble from the beginning. With her one decision . . . You demand such foolish considerations because your border still stands. What will you say when your border ceases of life-" the representative was cut short when Lafarga roared for silence.

"This is the third summer of which Lady Shidou has remained of our own. Cephiro will prevail in times of good and bad alike. Lady Shidou . . . Shidou Hikaru is now a fighter of Ariana and she has given herself to As-" He stopped short when Clef rose. All amongst the Table of Truth arose with respect of the elder Guru.

"We all speak the truth here in this room. And it is apparent from what-" There were loud explosions behind Clef. The tension in the room rose another level. Cephirians were proud and brave people, they did not whimper but stood strong to the inevitable. " . . . from what . . ." Clef opened his mouth to speak; however words failed to become words. He looked at each and every face in the room of Truth. Such valiant people…

"My people, my courageous people; the War of Colors has drained us of our colors – the colors which represent our freedoms. This war will end . . . we may perish with Cephiro; however, the memory of Cephiro and what we did here shall not perish. As long as there is a memory, we shall have lived with a purpose. May we all . . . rest in peace . . ." Heads were bowed in reverence. Cracks swelled with each explosion. What was left of Cephiro stood tall, unashamed and indifferent to the future for truly, the memory of Cephiro will live on.

Hikaru's skin was as her flaming red hair. She was expressionless as if she were controlled by someone else. Behind her, stood the beautiful and seductive Ariana; laughing deeply as each fire ball of Hikaru blasted the room of Truth. The nifers surrounding them were killing the remaining soldiers of the castle. Blood squirted out into Hikaru's eyes, yet Hikaru did not blink. She pulled out the colorful flower that hastily fell to the ground back into her hair like a robot.

"HIKARU!!!!!" There was a shout from behind them, riding closer and closer. Hikaru turned around to meet eye to eye with Lantis and his wild horse.

"If it isn't the last defenders of Cephiro? Ashitai must have died." Ariana laughed even harder.

Lantis threw an energy ball towards the fanatic. However, even before the shadow of the threat reached Ariana, Hikaru stepped forward and acted as the human shield. Hikaru silently squatted as she coughed up blood. Lantis rode over to her and leaned down to pick her up. He carefully placed her across his lap. He protected her with his equally strong left hand. Ariana shouted in a language only the nifers can hear. The nifers immediately stopped attacking the Truth and paid their attention to Lantis and the hindering Hikaru. Lantis held her tighter into his embrace.

"Ariana! I have ripped out Ashitai's heart just as you have asked!" Lantis was no longer the skinny besotted bodyguard; he is strong and wise. Lantis threw a bloody bag from underneath the saddle onto the ground not too far from where Ariana stood laughing uncontrollably. His forearms, cut and bruise as well as the rest of his body, rippled with hatred. "Take it! Take it and leave us in peace!" With that, Lantis shimmered out of sight with Hikaru.

Lantis sat beneath a cherry blossomed tree. Lantis looked down on Hikaru who sleeped on his lap, in his arms. This was the only area, the northern border which was not as exposed to the nifers. Lantis traced the outline of Hikaru's jaw and then her chapped and bloodied lips. Her face was dirty with dirt and dried blood. Lantis loved the enemy.

"Why did you not love me?" whispered Lantis. Lantis pulled her close so that only she may hear. He felt her cold breath on his mouth. He hungered for her.

Hikaru's face was more mature. Her hair had grown out. She was a warrior princess. She was a woman. Lantis was a warrior; yet he cried out to what he felt from underneath his bruised warrior hand. Hikaru was with child – a child that should have been his. "Forgive me . . . forgive me for I have killed the father of your unborn child . . ."

A soft wind carried the foul scent of the carcasses and along for the ride was a hidden sparkling tear of an inconsolable warrior.