*Fuu's chapter voila! Have I mentioned how amazing French Foreign Exchange students are? They are! I love it!*

Chapter Five: Etienne

Fuu's eyes scanned the page, but she couldn't turn it. She knew what she got; she didn't care what was wrong. She wouldn't care if she didn't know even, all she needed was to see everyone else's grades. A's and B's and then she looked at the carelessly drawn F on her own paper. The better everyone else did the worse her grade got, or so it seemed. Only, she always did badly nowadays.

"Fuu Hououji, may I see you after class?" the teacher called in her prominent, 'you're in trouble,' voice.

Eyes turned to her and her test, this ritual was becoming familiar to them all.

When the students filed out of the class Fuu shoved her untouched test into her bag and slowly walked to the teacher's desk.

"Fuu, I don't know what to do with you. Do you realize you're failing my class?"

"Hai," Fuu nodded, having enough respect to keep her eyes lowered.

"Well, what do you think about that?" the teacher persisted.

She shook her head.

The teacher sighed and looked at her computer, "Look at this."

Fuu turned her eyes toward the screen, "Oh…"

"This is a graph of your grades from your fourth year on. You're almost finished high school. How are you going to get into college with this? Are you even concerned about your future?"

Fuu shook her head, and her palms began to sweat, "Because I have no future," her eyes snapped up and were hostile. "You really shouldn't waste your time on a lost cause like me. I was something, was."

"You shame yourself and your family," she called as Fuu left.

She was ashamed only for her family. They had worked all their life and had gained status in the community. Now, their daughter was a shameful creature, and it stung their pride.

Maybe I'm a witch lost in time

But she couldn't pull herself from Cephiro, from memories of things past. All she could think about was him, and what they had once shared. She didn't even need to close her eyes to see him now.

*"Fuu-chan, be my Princess," he whispered softly, and she giggled.

"Oh Ferio, you know I can't come here yet, not yet…" she looked into his golden eyes and saw the passion that always lingered there. The passion she felt for him, and he felt for her; it brought a new flame into her heart. "But I will, I promise I will."

He smiled gently at her, "How much longer must I wait?"

"Not much, until I'm finished high school," she promised, and he nodded and kissed her forehead.

"But you know for you I would wait forever…"*

Running through the fields of Scotland by your side

And what about now Ferio? Her mind demanded as she ran from the school. The last bell had sounded and she ran, needing to be alone. She ran as fast as her feet could carry her to the safety of the park. She jumped into a tree and climbed to the highest branches where no one could hear her sobs. What about now? Would he wait forever now? Now it truly was forever, and there was nothing she could do. She was helpless and weak, and she wanted to die.

She knew though, that he would wait, and she always would. If it took her entire life to get back there, to get back to him; she would wait all her life. And she knew that he would too. That thought comforted her and eased her heart, if only a little.

Kicked out of France but I still believe

Taken to a land far across the sea

Even with an entire world between them, with no phone or email, she could see his every feature. She could feel every embrace, every caress. She could hear every word he had ever whispered to her late at night.

*The fire began to die down and still his arms were tight around her. "Fuu-chan."

"Mmm…?" she mumbled, barely awake, but able to reply to his call anytime.

"Promise me something," his voice was gravely serious, and it snapped her awake.

"Anything," she looked into his eyes and readjusted herself so that she was facing him.

"Promise me that there will never be anyone else. Promise that in your world, no matter how long we're separated for, there will never be anyone else. And promise too that you will always come back to me," his eyes were pleading.

"Of course Ferio," she shook her head. "I will never have anyone else. I promise you this."

"Arigato."

She smiled, and he put a hand on her cheek.

"I want you to never cry," he took a finger and pulled it down her neck. "I want you to always be happy."

"I always will if you're with me."

"Aishiteru, Fuu-chan…"*

Etienne Etienne

Hear the west wind whisper my name

That had been the first time he had ever told her that, and she had been shocked, but able to respond with the same. Tears fell down her face; for Ferio she shouldn't cry, but she couldn't help it. Her tears had minds of their own these days, and she had no choice in the matter.

She slowly descended the tree and walked hesitantly across the grass, wiping her tears fiercely. A few people asked if she was okay. She nodded and smiled a bitter smile and kept on.

She walked into the house and was confronted by her father, "Fuu."

She bowed low to him and stayed, knowing what would happen.

"I know that you haven't been yourself for a long while, and your mother and I are concerned. We got a call from your teacher again today."

Fuu nodded, and he continued, knowing that this had to be said, but knowing too, that she didn't care and wouldn't change.

"She said that your grades are still bad. It's almost the end of the semester, couldn't you even just pull of an average grade, please? Your mother is worried sick, you're scaring her Fuu. Please, just tell me what's wrong, tell someone for God's sake. Fuu, this isn't healthy."

She nodded and walked away, not giving him a chance to finish. She kept her head down, this wasn't who she was, but this was how it was now. They would accept that eventually; they had no choice.

Etienne Etienne

By the morning maybe we'll remember who I am

*"Umi! Fuu!" Hikaru's terror-ridden voice appeared over the crash of the land as it formed into two birds and brought themselves upon the Magic Knights.

Ferio drew his sword calmly and destroyed the bit of Cephiro that endangered her.

"Arigato," Fuu muttered, amazed and humbled.

"No problem," Ferio smiled warmly, and she felt protected.*

Maybe you're the knight who saved my life

*This part of the journey was hers, but she was not alone.

"I believe in you. So…you must come back…"*

She fought not only for herself, but for him, for the one she loved. She had fought with him for his country, as she knew he'd do for her, and in doing so she gained more of his love.

Maybe we faced the fire side by side

She closed her eyes as night began to engulf the world, but sleep would not find her. She sat up hesitantly and looked into the dusk. When she thought of that world she felt a strange sense of happiness. She had done something no one else had; she was still the Magic Knight of Wind. She had found love, and even for that split second, had cherished it.

She looked out into the setting sun and wondered where he was. She looked into the cotton candy pinks and the light blues. She looked at the deep purples, and the bright oranges. She wondered if he was okay, if he was missing her too. Had he cried as well?

Here we are again under the same sky

Her eyes grew heavy and her body weak from crying. Her life was too much anymore, supporting it was just a necessary task. She sank under the covers and looked at the Tokyo skyline, letting her mind be engulfed in sadness. If she remembered everything and cried it all out she would have no tears left and sleep would find her.

As the gypsy crystal slowly dies

"Ferio…"

Etienne Etienne

Hear the west wind whisper my name

Etienne Etienne

By the morning maybe we'll remember who I am

She hugged her pillow close and tasted salt on it.

*"So could you smile for me? When I remember you I want it to always be with a smile on your face…*

I close my eyes see you again

*He gently slipped the ring on her finger, and she looked at him with desperation. Was this what she had been waiting for? All the time she was gone she had waited for this moment, knowing that it would come, and now it had. She wasn't sure if she was going to burst in happiness, instead she began to cry.

A gentle hand on her cheek stopped her protests and brought a smile to both their faces…*

I know I've held you but I can't remember where or when

A flash in the distance made her shoot up and suddenly she was filled with adrenaline. Her mind began to race, what was going on?

She couldn't waste anymore time, and she couldn't be hurt more than she all ready was. She threw everything she thought of into a bag and ran out the door, leaving a note to her sister to explain to her parents. As fast as she could she headed toward the Tower.

Etienne

This could be it, this could be him, them, calling them back. She could go and see him again, everything could be okay.

Etienne

Their tears had bought them passage, and he would open his arms to her and they would be whole again. All of them, they would all be better and safe, and everyone would be okay. There would be nothing more of this disintegration. They would return to their normal selves and all of Cephiro would rejoice.

Here the west wind whisper my name

She ran faster and harder and found herself soon on the observation deck. The Tower was almost closed, and some guards tried to stop her, but she insisted and broke past them at a sprint.

Etienne Etienne

She would awake from this horrible nightmare and be in his arms once more, all she had to do was wish it so. The magic was here; it surged through her veins. All she had to do was wish…

By the morning maybe we'll remember who I am

As she closed her eyes a blinding light hit the tower, and the Magic Knight of Wind had vanished.

Maybe I'm a witch…