Author's Notes: Alright...so it took me a while to get out chapter four.
^^; Thanks for the encouraging reviews and I'll try to get the chapters out
faster since I'll have some extra time now that the school musical is over
and a nice two week break. ^^ Keeping reading and reviewing. =D On another
note...I'm going to be correcting the first three chapters and they may
possibly be added onto.
Chapter Four: Runaway Run
Sieara gazed out the window watching Hikaru and Fuu being entertained by one of Ascot's friends. "It's my fault..." She said softly recalling how Umi had shut herself in her room. The water knight wouldn't even let her two best friends see her.
Clef had been mopping around lately, all though he refused to admit any outward uneasiness. It was clear why he was upset- four of the people he loved were unhappy. It wasn't the three that weren't a direct effect form him, but the final person who's heart had just been broken.
The Master Swordsman's sister felt guilty for putting herself in the position of upsetting Clef more but couldn't help it. "Presea loved these girls..." She whispered touching the figures of Hikaru and Fuu on the glossy window. "And all I have done is caused them pain..."
A salty tear dripped down Sieara's pale cheek. "Is there something wrong Sieara?" Clef stood cautiously next to the woman, his staff erect as always. Sieara had failed, upsetting the Mage again.
"It's nothing Clef..." Sieara answered quietly clasping her hands together.
"If you're worried about their feelings..." Clef said slowly touching Sieara's hand tentively, catching her off guard. "They accept you. They always have."
"They accepted Presea." Sieara corrected moving her hands away from Clef's grasp. "I'm unworthy of their kindness for deceiving them...and you."
Clef took a small step backwards in surprise as the twin continued to talk. "I didn't mean to upset you again Clef...but sometimes I need to be selfish and indulge in myself a tiny bit."
"You never need to worry about others feelings at the expense of your own." Clef consoled reaching for her hands again. "I don't want yourself concealed in pain because of me."
"I don't want you concealed in pain because of me either." Sieara replied returning the squeeze on her hands.
*~*
Ascot stood nervously outside Umi's room. He was uncertain to whether she would actually want to talk to him, especially since she ignored Hikaru and Fuu earlier that day. The Summoner knew full well of Umi's true feelings and knew he wasn't as close to her heart as a selective few were. Then again, he couldn't say he cared about her if he didn't try.
His large jeweled hand tapped lightly against the door- half hoping the distraught girl wouldn't hear so he wouldn't be put in the predicament of seeing her tear stained face. Ascot would murder anyone who hurt his precious Umi and wished not to think such ill will of Mage Clef. After all, Clef had given he and his friends a place to stay without judgment for his past actions and the reputation of his monster friends.
Clef has risked his life for the sake of their country and the lives of everyone inhabiting it back at the crisis of Debonair...Ascot's emotions jumbled in confusion. The creek of the door abruptly stopped Ascot's bickering thoughts as one blood-shot eye peered through the crack. "Ah...Umi..." Ascot hesitated noticing how flushed her cheeks were, a sign of her heavy crying.
"I know you don't want company at the moment but I..." He began diverting his eyes away from the door. "I wanted to check up on you." Silence lingered through the hall spreading a nervous twitch from Ascot's arm to his leg.
Just as the Summoner turned to leave the knight in mourning, Umi's hoarse voice broke through the air. "Ascot...after everything..." Umi flung open the door and raced to the startled boy.
Umi quickly wrapped her arms around him and sobbed. "I'm sorry Ascot." Stunned by the sudden actions, he slowly returned the hug and stood quite still becoming Umi's pillar of support while she drained herself of tears.
*~*
Otamri struggled through the rocky terrain, half drained from anguish of recent problems and half from her journey to nowhere. She held herself protectively from fatigue, occasionally wiping her brow of sweat and brushing her drenched hair from her piercing eyes. Although she felt her situation was hopeless, something kept her going. A force, a gut feeling, a sense of security telling her that at the end of her trip a miracle will be performed and Ferio will be hers again.
She felt guilty for such feelings but Otamri was certain she would either have this man or perish- she couldn't continue without his love. As the journey continued, Otamri began to wonder what had summoned the Magic Knights back to Cephiro. The Pillar system had long gone expired and nobody had the power of summoning except for the Pillar.
"Who ever it is..." Otamri grimaced as she tripped over a rock. "I will have their head for causing such pain on this country."
"Yes, child..." A voice agreed wrapping itself around the tired girl.
"Who's there?" She demanded bolting upright.
"I know who summoned the Magic Knights..." The wind responded breezing through Otamri's locks of purple hair.
"Who?"
"Come to me..." Answered the wind pushing past Otamri and across vegetation sprouting a path of blown leaves. "And I will help you achieve what you desire."
Otamri hesitated as the leaves began to move more urgently to the north, to a reign enveloped in shadow. "Come..." The wind urged propelling the sorceress forward.
*~*
Clef stood quietly, his eyes fixed above him in a daze. The Mage hadn't the slightest idea of what to do and how to handle the problems set before him. He was an intelligent man and well "educated" in tactics, reality, and common sense. However, his logical mind couldn't comprehend the feelings, the problems without a right or wrong. At the moment he would give anything for a right to his problems.
Hikaru entered slowly into the room. Her conversation was dire but she didn't want to disturb Clef while he was in thought. She certainly didn't want to disturb him with another problem but Lantis had insisted.
"Perhaps he is right." She reasoned with herself earlier in her room. She had been delaying her talk with Clef since the commotion with Umi. Her dreams of Nova had become frequent and urgent pressing Hikaru to the conclusion that she had to confront Clef despite her anxiety.
"Clef...?" Hikaru questioned cautiously as the Mage's blue eyes blinked returning him to the awareness of his physical state. Hikaru proceeded towards him as Clef turned to face her.
"What is it, Hikaru?" Clef asked hoping it was a problem he could solve.
"It's about Nova. Lantis told me to come talk to you about her."
"What is wrong with her?"
The fire haired girl took a small breath before she continued. "I've been having dreams about her. And in every dream, she's taken away from me."
"How long have you been having these dreams?" Clef asked in shock. "This is most serious. Especially since Nova is a part of you."
"Um..." Hikaru mumbled feeling rather embarrassed for not mentioning Nova sooner. "A couple of days or so..." Clef's brows knitted in obvious worry halting Hikaru to continue.
"Anything else? What happened in the dream?" Clef started looking up at the Knight.
"Lot's of fog, heavy fog, and she's always calling for me to save her." Hikaru replied recalling her dream, then watching Clef contemplate of the new information.
"Something...is wrong in Cephiro." He concluded after moments of thought. "Everyone must be addressed about this issue."
*~*
The air was unsettling silent as Otamri traveled into a small clearing. Everything seemed to be hidden in its own shadow, hardly any light penetrated through the thick darken clouds above. Once she reached the middle of the clearing, the guiding wind stopped.
"You've come." The voice boomed startling Otamri into a nervous jump. Her pulse began to quicken as a set of glowing eyes shined through the darkness like embers. "Don't be afraid child." It soothed watching the girl shake from nerves.
"Who...who are you...?" Otamri asked, her voice quivering.
"I am the one who can help you gain revenge from your injustice." The voice answered, the eyes glowing a bit more. "I am the one who will replenish your strength and empower your magic to complete your mission."
"My mission?"
"You wanted to give those who summoned the Magic Knights what they deserved, do you not?"
"Yes...I do...but-"
"I can tell you who those individuals are. I can guide you to success." The voice continued growing stronger in sound with every word. "I can help you restore what you once had..." It whispered as a ghostly form of Ferio melted into the air then quickly vanished with the wind as Otamri tried to embrace it.
"Do you want this, child?"
"Yes." She replied, her eyes shining in determination.
"The step forward and receive my power!" The eyes flashed smothering Otamri with a blinding red light once she had stepped towards the voice.
Otamri felt as if her limbs were being ripped from her body, her cries echoed through the dead valley. The voice laughed as Otamri's body rested in the middle of the clearing. Black velvet stretched the length of her body, decorated with shining opals varying in sizes. The jewels glowed, a sign that the power had been received.
The seemingly dead sorceress began to stir and slowly picked herself up from the ground. Her gentle nature had been stripped from her body, replaced with selfish greed and overwhelming power. "Yes child...that is the feeling of power." Otamri's lips curved into a smile matching the tone of the voice rushing through the area as a ripple of purple energy escaped through her fingers.
"When you weep you can know that it's alright...as you sleep I'll just follow your door light...we can talk just as long as you hold on tight...just one breath is a million sighs..." - Runaway Run
Chapter Four: Runaway Run
Sieara gazed out the window watching Hikaru and Fuu being entertained by one of Ascot's friends. "It's my fault..." She said softly recalling how Umi had shut herself in her room. The water knight wouldn't even let her two best friends see her.
Clef had been mopping around lately, all though he refused to admit any outward uneasiness. It was clear why he was upset- four of the people he loved were unhappy. It wasn't the three that weren't a direct effect form him, but the final person who's heart had just been broken.
The Master Swordsman's sister felt guilty for putting herself in the position of upsetting Clef more but couldn't help it. "Presea loved these girls..." She whispered touching the figures of Hikaru and Fuu on the glossy window. "And all I have done is caused them pain..."
A salty tear dripped down Sieara's pale cheek. "Is there something wrong Sieara?" Clef stood cautiously next to the woman, his staff erect as always. Sieara had failed, upsetting the Mage again.
"It's nothing Clef..." Sieara answered quietly clasping her hands together.
"If you're worried about their feelings..." Clef said slowly touching Sieara's hand tentively, catching her off guard. "They accept you. They always have."
"They accepted Presea." Sieara corrected moving her hands away from Clef's grasp. "I'm unworthy of their kindness for deceiving them...and you."
Clef took a small step backwards in surprise as the twin continued to talk. "I didn't mean to upset you again Clef...but sometimes I need to be selfish and indulge in myself a tiny bit."
"You never need to worry about others feelings at the expense of your own." Clef consoled reaching for her hands again. "I don't want yourself concealed in pain because of me."
"I don't want you concealed in pain because of me either." Sieara replied returning the squeeze on her hands.
*~*
Ascot stood nervously outside Umi's room. He was uncertain to whether she would actually want to talk to him, especially since she ignored Hikaru and Fuu earlier that day. The Summoner knew full well of Umi's true feelings and knew he wasn't as close to her heart as a selective few were. Then again, he couldn't say he cared about her if he didn't try.
His large jeweled hand tapped lightly against the door- half hoping the distraught girl wouldn't hear so he wouldn't be put in the predicament of seeing her tear stained face. Ascot would murder anyone who hurt his precious Umi and wished not to think such ill will of Mage Clef. After all, Clef had given he and his friends a place to stay without judgment for his past actions and the reputation of his monster friends.
Clef has risked his life for the sake of their country and the lives of everyone inhabiting it back at the crisis of Debonair...Ascot's emotions jumbled in confusion. The creek of the door abruptly stopped Ascot's bickering thoughts as one blood-shot eye peered through the crack. "Ah...Umi..." Ascot hesitated noticing how flushed her cheeks were, a sign of her heavy crying.
"I know you don't want company at the moment but I..." He began diverting his eyes away from the door. "I wanted to check up on you." Silence lingered through the hall spreading a nervous twitch from Ascot's arm to his leg.
Just as the Summoner turned to leave the knight in mourning, Umi's hoarse voice broke through the air. "Ascot...after everything..." Umi flung open the door and raced to the startled boy.
Umi quickly wrapped her arms around him and sobbed. "I'm sorry Ascot." Stunned by the sudden actions, he slowly returned the hug and stood quite still becoming Umi's pillar of support while she drained herself of tears.
*~*
Otamri struggled through the rocky terrain, half drained from anguish of recent problems and half from her journey to nowhere. She held herself protectively from fatigue, occasionally wiping her brow of sweat and brushing her drenched hair from her piercing eyes. Although she felt her situation was hopeless, something kept her going. A force, a gut feeling, a sense of security telling her that at the end of her trip a miracle will be performed and Ferio will be hers again.
She felt guilty for such feelings but Otamri was certain she would either have this man or perish- she couldn't continue without his love. As the journey continued, Otamri began to wonder what had summoned the Magic Knights back to Cephiro. The Pillar system had long gone expired and nobody had the power of summoning except for the Pillar.
"Who ever it is..." Otamri grimaced as she tripped over a rock. "I will have their head for causing such pain on this country."
"Yes, child..." A voice agreed wrapping itself around the tired girl.
"Who's there?" She demanded bolting upright.
"I know who summoned the Magic Knights..." The wind responded breezing through Otamri's locks of purple hair.
"Who?"
"Come to me..." Answered the wind pushing past Otamri and across vegetation sprouting a path of blown leaves. "And I will help you achieve what you desire."
Otamri hesitated as the leaves began to move more urgently to the north, to a reign enveloped in shadow. "Come..." The wind urged propelling the sorceress forward.
*~*
Clef stood quietly, his eyes fixed above him in a daze. The Mage hadn't the slightest idea of what to do and how to handle the problems set before him. He was an intelligent man and well "educated" in tactics, reality, and common sense. However, his logical mind couldn't comprehend the feelings, the problems without a right or wrong. At the moment he would give anything for a right to his problems.
Hikaru entered slowly into the room. Her conversation was dire but she didn't want to disturb Clef while he was in thought. She certainly didn't want to disturb him with another problem but Lantis had insisted.
"Perhaps he is right." She reasoned with herself earlier in her room. She had been delaying her talk with Clef since the commotion with Umi. Her dreams of Nova had become frequent and urgent pressing Hikaru to the conclusion that she had to confront Clef despite her anxiety.
"Clef...?" Hikaru questioned cautiously as the Mage's blue eyes blinked returning him to the awareness of his physical state. Hikaru proceeded towards him as Clef turned to face her.
"What is it, Hikaru?" Clef asked hoping it was a problem he could solve.
"It's about Nova. Lantis told me to come talk to you about her."
"What is wrong with her?"
The fire haired girl took a small breath before she continued. "I've been having dreams about her. And in every dream, she's taken away from me."
"How long have you been having these dreams?" Clef asked in shock. "This is most serious. Especially since Nova is a part of you."
"Um..." Hikaru mumbled feeling rather embarrassed for not mentioning Nova sooner. "A couple of days or so..." Clef's brows knitted in obvious worry halting Hikaru to continue.
"Anything else? What happened in the dream?" Clef started looking up at the Knight.
"Lot's of fog, heavy fog, and she's always calling for me to save her." Hikaru replied recalling her dream, then watching Clef contemplate of the new information.
"Something...is wrong in Cephiro." He concluded after moments of thought. "Everyone must be addressed about this issue."
*~*
The air was unsettling silent as Otamri traveled into a small clearing. Everything seemed to be hidden in its own shadow, hardly any light penetrated through the thick darken clouds above. Once she reached the middle of the clearing, the guiding wind stopped.
"You've come." The voice boomed startling Otamri into a nervous jump. Her pulse began to quicken as a set of glowing eyes shined through the darkness like embers. "Don't be afraid child." It soothed watching the girl shake from nerves.
"Who...who are you...?" Otamri asked, her voice quivering.
"I am the one who can help you gain revenge from your injustice." The voice answered, the eyes glowing a bit more. "I am the one who will replenish your strength and empower your magic to complete your mission."
"My mission?"
"You wanted to give those who summoned the Magic Knights what they deserved, do you not?"
"Yes...I do...but-"
"I can tell you who those individuals are. I can guide you to success." The voice continued growing stronger in sound with every word. "I can help you restore what you once had..." It whispered as a ghostly form of Ferio melted into the air then quickly vanished with the wind as Otamri tried to embrace it.
"Do you want this, child?"
"Yes." She replied, her eyes shining in determination.
"The step forward and receive my power!" The eyes flashed smothering Otamri with a blinding red light once she had stepped towards the voice.
Otamri felt as if her limbs were being ripped from her body, her cries echoed through the dead valley. The voice laughed as Otamri's body rested in the middle of the clearing. Black velvet stretched the length of her body, decorated with shining opals varying in sizes. The jewels glowed, a sign that the power had been received.
The seemingly dead sorceress began to stir and slowly picked herself up from the ground. Her gentle nature had been stripped from her body, replaced with selfish greed and overwhelming power. "Yes child...that is the feeling of power." Otamri's lips curved into a smile matching the tone of the voice rushing through the area as a ripple of purple energy escaped through her fingers.
"When you weep you can know that it's alright...as you sleep I'll just follow your door light...we can talk just as long as you hold on tight...just one breath is a million sighs..." - Runaway Run