DISCLAIMER: I don't own MKR, CLAMP does. Am just one crazy fan. And all of these stuff I had written or will write is a product of my imagination and my imagination only....Yada...yada...Don't sue me.
DESTINED TO BE
Chapter 6
Clef was walking along the carpeted corridors of Zephyr's Loft's west wing when something caught his attention. He sighed, stopped, and then ran his forefinger along the surface of the small, round table beside him. He raised his hand after that and frowned, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. 'Remember to talk to the new maid about this,' he told himself.
Again, he started walking. 'Lord Lantis should be back soon.'
The Earl had left early that morning. For the last six years, he would leave Zephyr's Loft, once every week, just as soon as the sun rises. He would come home, looking paler and gloomier than usual, lock himself inside his study and would not bother to leave the room after that except when it was time for him to retire to his sleeping chambers.
These were the days when servants spoke in whispers and almost tiptoed about the place, careful not to spoil the Earl's chosen solitude. Mira, having been brought at the mansion at a tender age, had grown to believe that this was just a normal occurrence, and had not asked her uncle about it at all. She too, during these days, would try to be more silent while inside the house, as if following some unspoken custom.
Then of course there was Clef, who made it his task to make sure that the Earl was not disturbed, and that the servants would keep their mouths shut about the matter. He was one of the chosen few, after all, who knew the truth. The Earl's 'mysterious trips' were just a part of the secret that the Earl, Lady Felicity, Master Eagle, himself, and the two unmarked graves in the woods a few distances away from Zephyr's Loft share.
* * *
The day went contrary to what he had planned, or rather, to how it had always went after visiting his brother's and Emeraude's grave, despite of it starting out the usual way. He had put the flowers he had brought with him on the graves and talked to its owners as if they were alive---mostly to his brother---telling them about Mira, Hikaru and Aunt Felicity. He left the gravesite without the same feeling of utter sadness though, something that was very unusual indeed.
When Lantis came home and was on his way to the house itself after taking his stubborn beast back in the stables, he passed by one of the garden walls and heard Hikaru's voice talking to Mira about fencing. He had seen Eagle's horse earlier, and was concerned that his best friend would find out Hikaru's hidden skill. This would not be very good. The heir of the Duke of Autozam had a very good memory, and was definitely not daft. Once Eagle was able to put two and two together, the results would not be pretty---at least for Lantis.
And the Earl was right. Eagle had found out. And now, instead of spending his whole day alone in his study, Lantis was walking in the gardens with his best friend, Hikaru and his family, making sure that Eagle would not dare say anything about what the Earl had told him almost ten years ago.
- - -
He was sitting on the ground, leaning on his most favorite tree in his father's garden. Despite of him being very much awake, both of his eyes were closed, his lips slightly curved in a form of an almost invisible smile and his hands were raised behind his head, acting as a cushion.
"Aha! There you are!"
Lantis slightly opened his left eye for a while then closed it again after recognizing the young, silver-haired boy of fourteen that was coming towards him. Really! Eagle's ability to always spoil his moments of serenity had never failed to amaze Lantis. "What do you want?"
"Why, you sound as if you are not glad to see me," the Duke of Autozam's heir said in a voice filled with mocked sadness.
"Eagle…"
"Is it wrong that I would want to visit my friend? You are being difficult as always, Lantis." Lantis sighed, opened his eyes and then glared at the now smirking Eagle who had managed to sit beside him and get comfortable. "How was your journey, my friend?"
"It was interesting, Eagle," the young Solville answered, his irritation forgotten as his visit with the Shidou's was mentioned. Again, an almost invisible smile appeared on his face as he remembered his host's youngest daughter. "Very interesting."
"My sister had been looking for you, as expected. I told her you left so that your father could arrange a wedding for you. She was bawling terribly after that," Eagle told him, and then laughed afterwards. "I really do think that my sister had fallen for you."
"You are mad. She is not even thirteen."
Eagle stopped laughing and then said with a serious face, "She is really fond of you, and it is a major possibility that she would completely fall in love you once she grows up."
"I am very sorry, Eagle…" Lantis said, understanding what Eagle was trying to tell him. Eagle did not reply. "My father is considering an engagement between me and his friend's daughter."
"Ah!" Eagle immediately understood.
Eagle had always been the perceptive one. As perceptive as Lantis is idealistic, their parents had always said. Both were equally mature compared to boys their age. Maybe that was why they became best of friends. They would have moments such as this, talking as if they were complete adults. "Knowing you, you had objected of course."
Lantis just shook his head.
"But why?!" Eagle exclaimed. "You are the last person I know who'd agree on such an arrangement, Lantis. Remember when we were young? I teased you about marrying my sister and you told me that you would only marry a noble girl who is equally-skilled in sword-handling as you are." His friend's reaction surprised Lantis.
"This girl is a skilled swordswoman despite of her still being a child, Eagle."
"That's just silly!" Lantis ignored his friend. "You should at least like someone before you consider marrying them!"
"If I didn't like her I would not agree on marrying her, you dolt!" Lantis took a deep breath before he continued, "I like her enough, in fact, that I did not mind it when Father presented the idea to me."
"She is just a child, Lantis, you said so yourself."
"Nor am I a full adult…I could wait until we are both of age. I do not mind waiting. I believe she would grow into a very lovely lady when that time comes."
"You sound as if you are in love with that girl already."
"I do not know if I am. As I said, she is just a child. But I feel..." Lantis paused for a while, trying to find the right words to express himself. "I feel, I had found my equal and that is why I found myself quite fond of her."
- - -
Lantis stole a glance at Hikaru. Yes, it had been a long time since he first saw her. Almost ten years, she told him so herself. Back then, he and his father had an agreement that they would propose an engagement to Lord Shidou once both Lantis and Hikaru are of age. '…Which would have been now,' Lantis told himself. But both his father and hers were dead. And he was now her guardian—a situation he had not expected to be in.
Of course, he had pushed away the thought of marrying Hikaru a long time ago—after his brother's death, to be exact.
"…How about we have a ball? Don't you think it's a good idea, my dear nephew?"
"A ball?" he asked.
"Yes!" Lantis frowned. "No, no, nephew. No frowning. It's a good way to attract suitors for our dear Hikaru. Who knows? You might find someone you would want to marry yourself," his aunt said, again flashing her knowing smile.
Lantis caught Eagle smirking, and gave his friend another good glare to wipe the silly grin from his face. Eagle then looked away and started whistling. "Do as you wish, Auntie," Lantis said. His aunt knew what he really thought about Hikaru. To him, Hikaru was still his equal, especially now that he got to know her better. And yes, if things were different, he would have asked her to marry him. 'But…'
"Will you help me manage the preparations, Hikaru dear?" Aunt Felicity asked the girl beside her.
"Yes Aunt Felicity."
"Lovely!"
"You will invite me, of course?" Eagle asked Hikaru.
"Of course we will. How could we not invite the Earl's best friend?" Hikaru answered smiling.
"I think it is time that we have our midday meal," Lantis said, changing the topic. "It had been a long time since we had a friendly game of chess, don't you think so, my friend?"
"Y-yes, a good idea!" Eagle said.
* * *
"Now, now Lantis. No reason to get annoyed with a mere slip of my tongue. Besides, she did not notice it," Eagle finally broke the silence between them as they sat opposite each other, engrossed in the game of chess of which Lantis had challenged him.
"There are things that should be left unmentioned, Eagle. And that conversation we had ten years ago was one of them. Check."
Eagle looked at his pieces and rubbed his chin. After thinking it over, he finally made his move on the chessboard. "I admit my mistake. Forgive me. It was quite a surprise finding out that the girl you had planned to marry was Lady Hikaru herself. You were right; she had grown into a very lovely lady indeed."
"And your point?" Lantis asked as he moved his piece.
"My point, my dear friend, is that it would be a waste if you let her slip from your grasp, and into the arms of another man."
"Things had changed."
"You said you wanted to marry her because you had found in her your equal, and in my opinion, that still has not changed. Check."
Lantis did not reply. Either he was contemplating on his next move or he was thinking of what his friend had told him. After a few moments of silence he finally made his move. "You are right."
"So you finally admit you are still very fond of her. You should ask her now."
"And if she agrees? The grief I carry would only hurt her."
"You are still thinking of your brother's death, are you not? Really Lantis, it had been a long time ago! You should let go of that grief, my friend.
"I still cannot, Eagle…That is why I could not ask her...yet."
"Hikaru will not wait. Nor will I. Checkmate." Lantis shot his head up as soon he heard his friend. "I intend to marry her myself." Lantis lowered his head in defeat, and gripped on the arm of his chair tightly.
"Forgive me, Lantis, but I had given you a chance."
"If that is your decision I will not stop you. As Hikaru's guardian you have my permission to visit her as you wish. You are my friend, Eagle…You still are. But if you ever do try to hurt her in any way possible, I will chase you down to the gates of Hell."
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: Here it is! And it's H/L/E now. Hehehehehe…ENJOY!!!
Queen of the Storms: waaaiii!!! here it is!!!
Silly*Niecy: Ahhh another reader to add to my collection...BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I am glad you like my fickie. And oh those poor mosquitos...I mean, poor u being bitten by all those nasty mosquitos.
bishounen lovah : hope this chappie answers your questions. and about that fic you were asking me about? i have no idea. hehehe.
krylancelo : hiya! am glad you like this one.
blackdragonofdeath13: thanks!
Midnight Blossom: You loved it? Awwwwwww...thanks a lot! *huggles*
GoddessLD: here it is...sorry it took so long...
LieskTenshi no Earth: I made this chappie longer. hope you like it.
Sanosuke Hidane: Why thank you!
Miemu Akari: and I thought that dialogue was too cheesy...hehehe.
Hagane: gomen! i made this chappie a bit longer now see?
