*You know how it's stereotyped that the Prince saves the Princess and they live happily ever after? Well I had a dream sorta like that the other night, except it was the other way. The Princess had the sword and she killed Medusa with King Midas' hand which she severed and turned into a glove. Well, she turned Medusa into gold and then hung her on her wall and saved the Prince. Then she turned a lot of stuff in her castle to gold, like doorknobs and brooms. She put the glove in a box and hid it under her bed and lived happily ever after. Then I started dreaming something else. Anyway! Because this does have a point, it made me wonder. I normally write the way that Umi and Hikaru know who they're in love with and only have to deal with the others. I guess I just normally associate knowing you're in love with girls. Anyways, this time I've decided to make it that Lantis and Eagle and Clef and Ascot know they're in love with the other two, but the other two don't really know which she loves more or aren't aware. Don't know for Umi, aren't aware for Hikaru. So, this may be a little different. Just like to mention this*

Chapter Seven: God

"Hikaru, come fight with us; you're going to lose your skill," Satoru called from the back room. She heard the clang of wood in the back room as Maseru and Kakeru battled. "I promise I'll go easy on you."

"No thanks," Hikaru called back and walked upstairs to her room. She sat on the bed and looked at the floor absently. Why did the floor seem to turn into hills and a skyline and…she stopped herself; this was crazy.

She had been betrayed by someone she called friend, and never again would she call anyone friend; no one except those she knew loved her.

God sometimes you just don't come through

God sometimes you just don't come through

She blamed herself sometimes; she should have said something, anything. Instead, she just stood there while they said their good-byes.

*"Hey Hikaru, everything's gonna be okay," Eagle soothed her, or tried.

"Please Hikaru, please don't cry," Lantis reached out to touch her but couldn't, and it made her cry harder.

"Aishiteru, both of you, everyone," she whispered before they disappeared. Then she sunk to the floor and cried.*

She slammed her fist into a wall and cursed the tears. The endless supply of them was too much to bear. "I hate Cephiro!" she screamed and began to sob, because that wasn't at all true. She hated not being there.

Do you need a woman to look after you?

God sometimes you just don't come through

Here was a beautiful world with green valleys and deep blue oceans, red clay mountains. In the midst of all this lay a shimmering white palace that their friends called home.

She could just stare over Cephiro for hours and never stray; it was that beautiful.

*"What are you staring at Hikaru?" Lantis came behind her, and she smiled at him then turned back. "Cephiro," she answered softly, afraid to disturb this nirvana.

"The world you saved," he said just as softly, and she shook her head.

"The world we saved together."*

Even the memory of his rare smile made her smile.

You make pretty daisies love

Thinking about him made concern leap to her heart once more. If she was in this bad of shape, how were they? She knew they were strong, but so was she. She didn't want them to hurt for her, and she knew Umi-chan and Fuu-chan didn't want that either.

I gotta find what you're doing about things here

They had to fair better than the three Knights, that was for sure. They had been crucified, burned, and hung, all by themselves in the last year and a half.

Hikaru began to reflect on what they truly had done to themselves, and she cried for her and her friends. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be! They were supposed to move to Cephiro and be happy and young and in love! They weren't supposed to suffer and die here!

A few witches burning

Gets a little toasty here

The world seemed to fade in and out of focus; she was so weak. She knew she should eat, but it had been so long that her body only rejected the food. Her head swam, and she tried not to concentrate on one thing for too long in fear that she would pass out.

She sat on her bed and closed her eyes. After she regained her hold on her breathing and knew she could stay conscious she let her thoughts linger once more.

"Lantis," her eyes were clouded.

I gotta find why you always go

When the wind blows

"So it's a boy," Satoru muttered as he passed and heard Hikaru mumble the word. "Of course it's a boy, it's always a boy."

"Well we'll just kill him," Kakeru offered with Maseru nodding in agreement.

"No," Satoru's answer surprised them all, including him. "She's old enough to make her own decisions."

"But look at her! And it's only getting worse," Maseru protested.

"I'm not sure, but I know something, a broken heart cannot be helped. It must run its course, and we have to believe that she'll be okay and live. She's strong, she'll survive and only be stronger."

They looked at him with disbelief, but trusted him all the same.

Tell me you're crazy

Did he long for her like she longed for him? And then another image, golden-brown hair with eyes to match. Eyes that held passion and strength. She loved them both, and it was no more confusing now than it had been a year and a half ago. She missed them both and thinking about it made her weary.

Maybe then I'll understand

She looked at her door and sighed. To get rid of this she had to something. She went to the door and picked up her bag and sword. She had both packed for her next visit that would never come. She was bringing her wooden practice sword to show Lantis something crafted of her world.

Tears fell from her eyes as she picked up the elegant gown in her bag. All three of the Knights had agreed to buy a new kimono and wear it, so the people of Cephiro could see a traditional Japanese wardrobe. Now, she picked up the garment that was wrinkled but still beautiful. The upper part of it was red with light pink interwoven. Then came a separate piece that went across the ribcage, this was green and yellow with plants along it. Beneath that, on the kimono, were yellow and red flowers leaping on a red background.

She was supposed to look gorgeous in it; she would have, if she had had the chance.

You got your 9 iron in the backseat just in case

She threw the kimono in the bag and began to cry once more. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she get over this? There had to be something wrong with her. She had never been this sad before, not even the first time.

'It's because you didn't know them,' her mind told her.

*He seemed to be lost in her eyes. "Even if I go back to Cephiro, I won't live for long! At this rate, you will…!

"That doesn't matter! It doesn't matter…As long as you live to the fullest until the end. For the people who you love…And…for yourself.

He held her close as she cried, and the pain ripped her apart.*

"Eagle…"

*"In your country, what do you say…to confess your love?"*

"Lantis…" tears began to stream down her cheeks.

Heard you've gone south

Well babe love your new four wheel

She stared at the Tokyo Tower and saw two faces on either side of the Tower. Both were so different, Eagle's light and gentle disposition. A smile came easy upon his lips, and she loved the warmth it seemed to bring. Then Lantis, outlined in black. He spoke so little, but to her he said all he needed. He cared for her, and she was the only one that could make him smile.

She wanted to be back in Cephiro, more than anything else she wanted to be there again.

Tears clouded her vision and when she blinked them away the image had vanished.

I gotta find why you always go

When the wind blows

She turned away from the Tower. Shouldn't they have known? They had to have known something was wrong. They could have warned them and then they'd be safe and happy in Cephiro; everyone would understand.

Didn't they want her there? Didn't they love her anymore?

In all this time she had never thought of the possibility and now that she had she ran to the bathroom and got sick.

Will you even tell her if you decide to make the sky fall?

As she stumbled out of the bathroom a blinding white light from the Tokyo Tower sent her to her knees. She stumbled up and had to know. She didn't even hesitate because she wasn't sure if they would even are enough to call her back.

She grabbed her bag and ran as hard as she could toward the Tokyo Tower. She wouldn't give it time to close, not ever.

Will you even tell her if you decide to make the sky…

*PS. (as if the note at the top wasn't enough) I have to run to school right now, so this isn't edited. Oh my God! The French Foreign Exchange students left today. I cried so hard! My French friend was crying hysterically at the airport! It was horrible; I miss them all ready! :'(*