*So this is the second to last chapter, I hope that it was worth the wait, but I really don't think it is. I'm sorry it couldn't have been better, but I've been fried with finals the last three days and besides I don't really do well writing about Lantis and Hikaru. Anyway, one more chapter and that'll be a wrap. Stay tuned for my new summer story Legend of the Swords. It's got some odd couplings for all of you who weren't pleased with this one; you'll just have to wait though before I reveal them. It'll be much more action filled too, with a cool new plot. I'm so excited about this one! Anyway, I'll have the last chapter up on this and be finishing Always With Me shortly, oh and plus I'm going to get back to work on What if Things Weren't the Same? As well. Lots to do, I'm going to take advantage of my half day. Read and Review. Ja ne!*
Chapter 22: Merman
Hikaru smiled warmly, but when she looked around she caught Lantis' secretive eyes staring into Eagle's soul. There was anger there, but worry, then jealousy, but an intense love and friendship. She tried to piece it all together, what Eagle had said to her, and the way Lantis was looking at him, but none of it made sense. Her head began to hurt, and she found herself wishing the ceremony and celebrations would be over.
Everyone noticed her growing distress and wondered over it. Only a few people in the room understood when she ran with her head in her hands from the banquet hall.
Umi was going to go after her, but she saw Lantis go and quickly decided to stay with Fuu and celebrate. She walked back to Clef, frowning and shaking her head gently.
Go to bed
"Hikaru," his voice was gruff and formal. He could hear her crying, but she wouldn't open the door for him…just like she wouldn't open her heart for him, at least, not in the way he wanted. "Hikaru, onegai, open up," his voice softened, and she slowly padded to the door. He heard her bare feet against the smooth floor, and his stomach clenched as he waited for her to open up for him.
The door opened only a crack, and he saw one red eye staring out at him, "Lantis?" her voice was hoarse from crying.
"Yeah," he said quietly, and she opened the door and let him in. He walked around the room and was silent before he began.
"When my brother was killed…"
Hikaru threw her head down, and he watched as her fingers clenched.
"I thought I would hate the Magic Knights forever. I thought that I would live in that regret and anger, and then, something happened…" his voice grew soft as he let a few fingers reach under her chin and pull her dazzling red eyes up to meet his. "Then I met a girl, who was unlike any other girl I'd ever known. I met a girl with strength and a fire that couldn't be put out by anything, not even by the tragedy that faced a land she had so obviously fallen in love with. I met a Magic Knight whose Will was stronger than anyone's was and whose heart was stronger yet. I met you Hikaru, I met the Magic Knight of Fire, and you changed all my views on life."
The Priests are dead
She smiled softly and started to put her head down, but he kept his grip on her chin and forced her to dive into those murky blue depths that were so hard to understand. She stared into his eyes for what seemed like an eternity and didn't want to leave them because she hadn't found what she was searching for. She found more confusion. Just what was it she saw contained in those sharp planets of blue?
Now no one can call you bad
"Maybe I should let you have your rest, I just wanted to say that, no matter what happens, no matter what your decision is, I've always believed in you and respected you. Whatever you decide will make my respect for you stronger," he released her, but she chose to stay staring into his eyes. What was he saying? What decision did she still have yet to make?
Go to bed
She sat up for a long time, just listening to the sounds outside and wondering what was happening in her life. She had spent so much time worrying about the other two that she had forgotten to worry about herself and the people she loved. Now that she didn't have to worry about her best friends she began to reflect on herself and the feelings she had been trying so desperately to hide and bury away. She wasn't sure what it was; she didn't know what to do or what was happening, so she decided she would go to the only person she thought she could. She went to look for Umi.
On her way to Umi's room she passed the gardens and caught a glimpse of golden hair, and she thought she saw a glint of something crystal on his cheek. "Ea…" she started, but saw his facial expressions as he looked into a fire flower and decided that maybe it would be best to work out her feelings first and then involve Eagle. That made her stomach jump and a stirring occur in her heart. Her feelings had something to do with Eagle then…and…Lantis…
The Priests are dead
"Umi-chan," she said quietly and knocked softly on Umi's door.
"Hikaru?" Umi opened her door and let the girl in. "What are you doing up so late?"
"I couldn't sleep, did I wake you? If this is a bad time I'll leave…" she started to walk to the door, but Umi caught her shoulders and dragged her back into the room. She pushed her onto the bed and gave her a look, raising her brows.
"Talk."
"I…um…well…I'm not sure where to start…" Hikaru stuttered and rubbed her arms while she looked to the floor, moving her bare toes.
"Start at the beginning Hikaru," Umi smiled down at her and said this more gently as she sat next to her on the bed, and Hikaru did begin. She began from Eagle's last return and what he said, to what had just taken place in her room with Lantis. Once she started she told Umi everything, and what she said amazed her. She didn't realize that she had felt this intensely and when it was all out she began to cry.
Umi wrapped her arms around her friend and waited for her to be still. "You understand now Hikaru? You're just seeing what we've seen all these years. Lantis and Eagle, they both love you, very dearly. I know it's hard Hikaru, but you will eventually have to choose."
"How am I to choose?" Hikaru cried. "If I choose Eagle, Lantis will be hurt, but if I choose Lantis, Eagle will leave forever! I love them both too much to choose between them!"
"You have to Hikaru, because your heart tells you which one you really want to be close to you. Think about it, and Hikaru…whatever choice you make the other will understand. They love you, and they love each other; they will understand," Umi released Hikaru and Hikaru nodded and gave her one more quick hug of thanks before leaving the room with Umi shaking her head gently and wishing she could do more. But this wasn't hers to deal with, this was Hikaru's decision, and she couldn't fix or help ease the pain it would cause in any way.
Finally you're on peppermint land
It was early when Eagle came down for breakfast that morning, only Hikaru and Clef were awake, and Clef immediately found that he had something better to do and left the room, leaving the two alone. Eagle looked at him curiously and shook his head, muttering, "Sheesh," under his breath.
Hikaru smiled, but her appearance was ragged. She had circles under her eyes and her hair was unkempt. Her normal smile wasn't as strong as it should have been, and Eagle tilted his head to the side. "What's wrong?"
Hikaru shook her head and waved it off, "What are we going to do today?" she asked instead.
"Don't you remember Hikaru?" Eagle looked hurt.
"Remember what?" Hikaru asked in her chipper voice, but it was missing the song it normally contained.
"I'm leaving today," Eagle urged gently.
He's a Merman
"What?" Hikaru's eyes dropped, and she looked at the floor. "You're not…I didn't think you were serious…why would you…I mean…why do you have to leave Eagle?"
"My duty was to see the happiness of the Magic Knights, and that has been accomplished. I need open skies again, to clear my head and my heart."
Hikaru's heart sank. He needed to see the happiness of the Magic Knights? She wasn't happy was she? But he was leaving despite! He didn't care, did he? He didn't need her; Umi was lying. He didn't love her.
He doesn't need your voice
"Hikaru, what's wrong?" Lantis asked as he walked onto the conversation. When his eyes strayed to her partner he looked down and nodded. "Oh…" he began to walk from the room, but Eagle called him back and urged him to stay.
"We haven't been together in so long, I'd like to spend at least a couple hours together…" Eagle smiled gently at Hikaru. "But first I have to talk to Lantis alone, and then the three of us will spend the rest of the morning together, is that okay with you?"
"Of-of course," Hikaru nodded numbly as Lantis and Eagle walked out of the room. She fell onto a chair and put her head in her hands, sighing heavily.
Fuu and Umi watched from the door and looked at each other in concern, but didn't disrupt. Instead they turned and walked toward the library, in search of some place the other two would be sure to stray from.
He's a Merman
Hikaru waited, at every creak and crack she would look up expecting Lantis and Eagle, but they were a long time. She didn't even think it was odd that no one seemed to want breakfast that morning.
She hadn't slept at all the night before and before she knew it she had fallen asleep on her hands.
Go to bed
She was in the gardens, in a long flowing light pink gown. She was waiting for someone, all her friends were there and there was a bouquet of brightly decorated flowers in her hand. She looked around and found she was standing on a pure white carpet, and Umi and Fuu were standing next to her, each were wearing similar long silk dresses only of different color and were smiling proudly. Clef was standing in front of her, beaming…What? Was she getting married? She looked down to her left hand and found a heart shaped ruby surrounded by three small diamonds. An engagement ring? She looked around, why wasn't the groom here? Then she looked next to her and realized she was standing next to someone. The sun was beaming down onto him, and she looked up to see the face, but a gentle shake almost made her heart stop as she was thrown out of her dream world.
Dream instead
And you will find him
"Hikaru, you dozed off just there," Lantis told her as he pulled away from waking her.
"Yeah…" she mumbled and rubbed the new sleep out of her eyes. "I guess I did."
"Come on," he helped her up, and her heart leapt at his touch as she smiled and thanked him.
"Hey," she looked around and couldn't believe she had forgotten so easily. "Where's Eagle?"
Lantis looked down, hurt in his eyes and said very quietly, so it was almost inaudible, "Eagle already left. He thought it would hurt too much to say goodbye, so he left."
"What?" Hikaru's eyes filled with tears.
"He had planned to leave; you wouldn't have been able to convince him otherwise," Lantis tried to be gentle, but it was hurting him too.
"No! That's not fair! I may never see him again!" she screamed, and Lantis smiled down at her.
"I assure you Fire Knight, that you will see him again very soon, very soon. Eagle doesn't stay away from the things he loves long. You'll see," he winked, and Hikaru dried her tears and looked at him, for the first time really looked into those blue clouds. Suddenly, it seemed as if they were parting for her. As if the Red Sea of Egypt and the American stories were coming true, and the seas were parting to let her through. She saw the love in Lantis' eyes, the love for…she pulled back…her?
He's a Merman
In that moment she found that she desperately needed to tell him, everything. "I-I love Eagle…very much…" she watched as his head fell, and he nodded.
"I tried to tell him as much, but he insisted…he insisted that-that…never mind…" Lantis dropped the hold he had had on her hand this whole time, and she felt the cold air hit her hand as he released it. She didn't want to have to feel that cold, so she impulsively reached out and snatched back his hand.
"But I don't love him like I love you," she said softly, not expecting him to understand, but he seemed to…somehow. "I love Eagle, like I love Ferio, like I love Umi and Fuu, I love you…different…" she tried to explain herself, but she didn't know how. She had never been in love before, and now that she was confessing it, she wasn't sure if it was love that she had seen there. If it was love even, what kind? The kind held for a sibling or a good friend? Or was it deeper like she would have loved to jump upon?
"Hikaru…I love you too, and I have…for an eternity," Lantis said softly and dropped her hand once more.
"But…" her lip began to tremble.
He shook his head and looked at their disconnected hands. "But nothing," he bent down on one knee and took a small box from his cloaks. "I want to be with you…" he opened the box and there was her ring, the ruby with three small diamonds, "Forever."
To the knee
She just stared; she couldn't believe this was happening. She didn't realize how much she wanted this until just now. She had never thought about her own marriage, beyond that, one-day, she would inevitably find someone to spend her life with. She never thought that day could possibly be now, that that man could be as wonderful as Lantis. She was shocked speechless.
"I don't want to…to rush you…I mean…" Lantis looked down and was about to reconsider his decision when Hikaru shook her head and then nodded. "What?"
"Don't, you're not rushing, I want this, more than you can imagine. I want to be with you forever," she began to cry as he slipped the ring on her finger and smiled.
He doesn't want something you're not willing to give
As soon as he stood once more she threw her arms around his neck, and he spun her in a circle as she cried and laughed at the same time, never feeling quite so happy, never that she could remember. As he set her down the mood grew deeper and more quiet, and he bent in and kissed her, pulling her back into his arms once more, only more intimately, and she fell into his hold, smiling blissfully as they parted.
He's a Merman
Doesn't need your voice to cross his lands of ice
They were greeted by congratulations and applause that night, and Hikaru saw Umi's smile was the warmest. She had always had faith in her little sister. Hikaru blushed as deep as her hair and hid in Lantis' arms as they accepted the congratulations somewhat quietly.
That night she was sitting on her veranda and staring up at the sky, thumbing her ring and wondering about Eagle. Was he there? Up in those skies, being her angel and watching over her? Was he doing what he loved, was that enough to keep him happy? She didn't regret her decision and didn't wish for another way. She just wished for love and happiness for her friend.
Go to bed
The Priests are dead
Now no one can call you bad
"Hikaru," she opened the door for him and let him in, beaming still, blushing just from his presence. "Fuu sent me here. She said there was something distressing in your eyes. Are you okay?"
Hikaru nodded, "Hai," she looked up to the sky as she closed her veranda doors and sighed heavily.
"Hikaru-chan…sometimes…" he let the added affection sink in and her blush to cease before he continued with a slight smile of amusement on his face. "Sometimes people have to be hurt in the name of love, things have to be sacrificed…" he trailed off and looked to the ground. "But he will go on, Eagle is strong, and he will find other love. You have to believe that and be content with that. Someday soon he'll be back, and you'll see what I mean."
Go to bed
The Priests are dead
Hikaru nodded and smiled, hugging him tight, "Arigato, for everything. I don't know what I would do without you."
"You'll never have to know," he kissed the top of her head and set her down gently. "Now…maybe you should sleep tonight. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be an eventful day."
She smiled and nodded. She kissed him softly once and pulled back, smiling then reached in and kissed him again, laughing gently. He kissed her back several more times before they pulled away, and she let him out, sighing and leaning on the door. She already missed him, but absence makes the heart grow fonder, Umi had always said. This was definitely true in her case.
Finally you found him
He leaned on the wall next to her door and smiled, missing her already.
"Finally," a voice from the shadows said quietly, and his eyes spun as his hand went to the hilt of his sword. He recognized the voice though and guessed quickly who it was.
"What are you still doing here?" he asked softly, "Not that I'm not glad you're still here but…"
"Not for long, just to see that she was okay," Eagle smiled sadly as he stepped from the shadows that always seemed to cloak him. "You see, my duty to Cephiro has always been to ensure and see to the happiness of the Magic Knights, and like love, sometimes for one's duty sacrifices must be made," he looked to Hikaru's door, and Lantis' eyes followed. "Because she wouldn't have been happy otherwise."
Let it out
"Take care of her Lantis," Eagle put a hand on his shoulder, and Lantis clasped his hand around Eagle's.
"I will, thank you, my brother…"
"I will always be looking out for you, don't think you've gotten rid of me," Eagle winked and turned walking into the shadows once more.
Who can say you're not simply wonderful?
He jumped onto the veranda and opened the door softly. He walked to her bed and looked down at his Fire Knight softly, with a shining light in his eyes. He knelt by her side and stroked her bangs gently. She rolled over and opened her eyes; she was half-asleep and her vision was blurry, "Eagle?"
"Sh…" he put a finger to her lips and shook his head. "Sh…I just wanted to see you in good hands."
Who could ever harm you?
"Eagle, I'm…gomen…" her voice was groggy, and he shook his head.
"You've done more for me than anyone I've ever met, never be sorry. I'll be back to see you as soon as my heart allows Fire Knight, sleep now," his voice was so gentle and soothing that she almost fell back into sleep instantly. He reached down and touched his lips to hers gently. "I'll always love you…"
Sleep now
You're my little goat
Go to bed
The Priests are dead
And come sing it all again
Go to bed
Hikaru was her normal self in the morning; bright, energetic and fun loving. The subconscious nighttime visit from Eagle had done her good, and though she swore she had only dreamt the visit, Lantis saw his lasting affects on her and knew that it wasn't only a dream. He was grateful to his friend for setting her mind and heart at ease, and he would never be able to repay him.
"Come on Ascot! Let's pick fruit with your friends today! It's such a nice day!" Hikaru grinned at Ascot who smiled and nodded.
"Sounds good to me," Umi agreed.
"And we can have a picnic," Fuu added.
So they made up baskets (with help from Mokona) and walked out into the orchards near the palace to have a picnic and gather fruit. They weren't entirely sure what the Cephiran fruit was, but Umi said she was going to bring enough of it home to figure out to make a pie, and Hikaru immediately volunteered herself to help with this, so the two bounded off together, Lantis watching Hikaru, starry eyed.
Past the apple orchard
You'll feel nice
The sun beat down on her cheeks and made her hair glitter. Umi smiled and held out her hands as Hikaru jumped into the lower trees and picked fruit for Umi to catch. They did a great deal more throwing it at one another than actually picking it, but when they came back to the campsite they had more than enough fruit for a pie in their arms and their hair. Everyone laughed and teased the two as they smiled innocently back.
Lantis took Hikaru into his arms, despite her stickiness, and kissed her deeply.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder Hikaru," he said softly, and Hikaru smiled and kissed him again.
"You know…I think you may be right…"
Two can play
I said…two can play…
~Lyrics by Tori Amos
*Yes! One last chapter and then a summer of regular updates! Aren't you excited?! ^.^*
