[Authors Note: Forgive me if most of the information is wrong. I've only seen a few episodes from the second season. So if someone died or came back to life. x.x I wouldn't know! But, enjoy the story! And also please be aware that this has a few rated 'R' lines. Please R&R it would make me really happy! If you have any suggestions or questions email me at: Usaako13@hotmail.com . Thanks and I hope you enjoy it!]

[This is probably the most romantic / lovey-dovey chapter in this series, so enjoy it! -.^ I write a lot about Umi's past so if I'm not close to correct about it x.x I'm really sorry. Remember this is just a fic Umi's life could be anything I make it =P Miss Independent isn't mine either, it's Kelly Clarkson's third single. -Sigh- A lot of things aren't mine.]

Chapter 3 - [Miss] Independent

--- Fuu Hououjii's eyes fluttered open as the sun's first rays beamed at her eyelids. She wiped her forehead taking in a deep breath and glanced at her two best friends. They were sound asleep, Umi was quietly resting with her hands under her head and Hikaru was snoring quite loudly sprawled all over the bed.

She sighed as she remembered her dream last night, or was it not a dream? She shook her head; of course it was a dream! She had a silly dream that Ferio came beside her bed and spoke to her. Why would Ferio be here? This wasn't Cephiro! She scolded herself for thinking such stupid thoughts. She slowly closed her eyes as she heard the loud thunderclap and her Rune God drop to the ground. She quickly opened them her mouth wide opened and her heart pounding strongly in her chest. She best not think of that either. Ferio's face came into view again as she shook her head trying to make it disappear.

Fuu laughed softly at herself for being so dense but stopped once her hand hit across something hard next to her leg under the blankets. Could it possibly be what she thought it was? Her heart started pounding again but much louder. She inaudibly opened the blankets and stuck her hand inside feeling the hard cold object. She blinked as she pulled it out and gasped her eyes and mouth wide opened. It was her communicator that Ferio had given her in her dream last night, or was actually real?

Tears started to cloud her eyes as she blinked them back. Don't cry, she thought, this is nothing to cry over you stupid girl. She smiled as she held the communicator gently to her chest. And then she heard a loud snore. She quickly glanced at Hikaru but she was, surprisingly, quiet. She looked at Umi but she couldn't possibly be the one snoring. There was someone else in the room. A glitter of hope filled her eyes as she hopped out of the bed and raced around the room finding Makona. He wasn't the source of the snoring either. She blinked turning around and followed the noise. She furrowed her eyebrows, the shelter really got bigger the last time they used it. They used to only have one room but they had three now. She quickly walked through the doorway and stopped dead in her tracks.

There was her love quietly snoring leaning on a wall. She brought a hand to her mouth and gracefully walked over to him. She smiled bringing a finger to his cheek and rubbing it softly. He stirred. She quickly jumped back some but sighed. She was always too scared to do things; she needed to change, starting now, she thought. She rubbed her forehead with the back of arm again and sat down next to him leaning on his shoulder. She suddenly felt stupid for doing this and groaned. She silently stood over him sitting down a bit so she was sitting on his knees. She then carefully brushed his bangs back smiling at his beautiful features. Running a finger down his scar on his cheek and then crossing over to his noise she shuddered contentedly.

And then his eyes fluttered opened. She froze, her fingertip still on the bridge of his nose and her eyes wide opened. He smiled woozily at her.

"Hey Princess," He muttered still smiling. "Good morning." He brought a finger to her cheek and brushed it softly.

Fuu, still frozen with shock, blinked and smiled. Her heart had settled down as she reached up to hold his hand while it grazed against her cheek. She brought it to her lips and kissed it softly. "Ferio," She managed to say. "You came to me last night, didn't you?" She questioned.

He nodded looking deep in her green, serene eyes.

She quickly held up the communicator and smiled. "You gave this to me, didn't you?" She whispered.

"I did," he nodded again. He held her chin, still smiling and brought her face closer to him. "I'm sorry to say if you don't like it, I can't get a refund...." He said gently.

Fuu's eyes widen again and shook her head frantically. "N-no! I like it, I really do." She panicked.

Ferio laughed as her heart melted. She sighed happily as he brought her face even closer to him. "Shh." He whispered and kissed her in the most passionate way. A warmth spread all over her body, something she couldn't explain even if she tried. She finally felt. free, and wanted. It was then that she realized that she wanted to be with Ferio forever even if it meant leaving her family and friends in Tokyo to live peacefully with him in Cephiro.

After a while he broke the kiss and held her waist. He cleared his throat as he looked at her thoughtfully brushing her hair away from her face like he did the night before.

"Fuu, I." He started. She blinked nodding for him to keep going, to finish this wonderful sentence.

He chuckled softly. "I. I think I"-

"A-ha! So THERE you two are!" Umi Ryuuzaki pointed out. Her eyes widen as she saw the position the two were in. "Fuu-Chan," she giggled winking at her.

Oh great, Fuu thought, Umi please go somewhere else, she begged. Fuu closed her eyes and sighed resting on Ferio's chest blushing rapidly. Please Hikaru, don't come in, she begged again. But it was no use. Hikaru Shidou came bouncing in joyfully but stopped as she saw Fuu and Ferio. She blinked a few times not exactly comprehending but finally her eyes lit up as she looked at Umi happily.

"Fuu-Chan!" She giggled.

Fuu groaned again burrowing her head deeper in Ferio's chest. Ferio's eyes were wide opened; he smiled nervously scratching the back of his hand.

"Er, it's not what it looks!" He started, "I mean, it's what it looks but. it's not what it seems! I mean! It IS what it seems but. Er."

Umi shrugged. "Yeah, okay Ferio!" She winked and fled back into their bedroom followed by Hikaru chatting about what they just saw.

Fuu slowly took her head off his chest and looked up at him. She smiled her face crimson red. She sighed and wiped her forehead again, which was beading with sweat. She'd never been that embarrassed, ever. Ferio just laughed and kissed her nose.

"I'm sorry Ferio, I didn't think Miss Hikaru and Miss Umi would come in." She apologized.

He nodded understandingly. "It's okay, Fuu." He said softly brushing her hair. "It's not like, they haven't had any boyfriends themselves, right?"

Fuu nodded although she didn't have a clue whether or not Hikaru and Umi had any boyfriends. She carefully removed herself from Ferio's lap and brushed her skirt off. She smiled warmly at Ferio as he slowly closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.

---

"Wow, did you see the way Fuu and Ferio were sitting?" Umi gasped flipping her long cerulean hair over her shoulder.

Hikaru just nodded. "Come on now Umi, you had a boyfriend too, didn't you?" She rolled her eyes but Umi just stood there blinking. She didn't want to tell Hikaru that she never had one it would have been too embarrassing. People like Umi ALWAYS had a boyfriend with them at all times, it was just wrong for Umi to never have one.

Umi was always the pretty and popular one. She went to an all girls' preppy school as Fuu and Hikaru called it. Even if her school and another affiliate boys' school got together in every dance and school get- togethers, she never had to courage to ask a guy out. Whenever one came up to her she just walked away casually and into the bathroom.

And she could blame it all on the man she first fell in love with. Ryokasha was his name. When she was a freshman in high school he was a senior in college. Every time she thought of him she wondered why she even went out with a man so old. Suicide even crossed her mind once but she knew better than that. She remembered how happy she was whenever he dropped by at her school to visit her. Her friends would be so jealous and would even have the nerve to flirt with him when she wasn't looking. All the girls in school envied her until one day he met someone else. Someone that he went to school with. She couldn't compete with that. Ryokasha would be able to see his new girlfriend any time he wanted. If he wanted to see Umi, he'd have to drive all the way to her high school, which was an annoyance.

When he told her it was officially over she locked herself in the school bathroom all day and never came out until the last bell of the school rang. She sheltered herself in her room for weeks not answering phone calls and only came out to go to the bathroom or get a bite to eat. Her parents worried over her but they didn't have time to talk to her, they were all too busy working themselves away. And then finally after a month of grieving she changed to a new school and met new people. She soon learned that she didn't have to love someone to live, that she could just have fun with her friends. She could thank Hikaru and Fuu for that piece of advice.

Umi just nodded and fell quiet.

Hikaru pat her back and silently went outside for some fresh air.

---

Hikaru stretched as the warm sun hit her back. She shuddered. Why was it so dirty and dead here? Did anyone care about how their land was? After Hikaru saved Presea and figured out Lafarge's secret she'll come back and clean this land.

Yawning she spotted a strong shaft of light over the mountains and treetops. She stared at it wide-eyed until it suddenly faded into the sky.

"What was that all about?" She blinked walking back into the house still staring at the sky. "Could that be part of Presea's work?" She shook her head and ran inside.

Umi was sitting on her bed silently. Ever since Hikaru asked about her having a boyfriend she was acting really odd. And Fuu was busy making her bed. Ferio was leaning on the wall. When the three saw Hikaru's flabbergasted face and they all stopped what they were doing. Fuu dropped the sheets and walked over to Hikaru extending a hand to put on her shoulder.

"What's the matter, Hikaru?" She asked gently tilting her head.

Hikaru just shook her head and opened her mouth. Nothing came out.

Umi's eyes widen as she dashed over to her. "Hikaru! What happened? Did you see something?"

Hikaru nodded and swallowed. "I-I saw this flash of light." She started trembling, "It might be connected to Lafarge or Presea."

The four all rushed by outside to investigate the light.

---

Presea kneeled down so that both her legs were flat on the ground. Both of her hands were clasped together as she whispered a prayer. Though she knew that this prayer would never come true, that the Legendary Magic Knights would never find her, she knew she had to try. Not only did she need to try but also it was an instinct, or a habit. Whenever something went wrong in Cephiro she always prayed, for Cephiro was the land of the will. And if she was willing, something was bound to happen. Alantica was not. Alantica was nothing more than a dirty, cruel world, with men more stupid than a rock.

She continued whispering softly hoping Yamoto wouldn't see her like this. She knew that if he did, he'd have her beaten and perhaps other corrupted things that only Yamoto and his pigs could think of. The last time they found her taking a break from her hard work, they stripped her from her clothes and chained her back on the cold, rough, horrid wall. She wasn't quite sure what Yamoto was doing to her because her eyes were blindfolded by cloth, but she could feel it. He first hit her all over her body, she knew she had scars and bruises all over. And then after he had raped her, ignoring her cries and protests. She knew she had to get out of this place, and fast.

She sighed realizing it was no use. The girls could have never heard her pleas and cries as much as they tried. Presea was as good as dead. Frowning she picked up a sword, turning it over and over again, watching the sunlight glitter upon the blade. She had always been proud of her work, but now she couldn't help but hate it. She hated everything about her being a blacksmith. She hated making swords for Yamoto. She hated sitting in the cold, damp cell. She hated working her butt of just to please Yamoto. But why was she the who was taken away from Cephiro, she knew that there were other worlds out there that had good enough blacksmiths, much more better than she would ever be. Why her? Why did she have to be put through all this pain and suffering. She didn't. And she knew that.

She then heard footsteps approaching her way. She quickly released her hands and crawled back over to where her tools lay. She grabbed a hammer- like object and began pounding on the blade of the sword, looking up to see whom it was. Of course! It was her 'master' Yamoto. She let out a sigh of relief, glad he didn't catch her praying. She continued pounding on the sword narrowing her eyes at him. She was exactly looking at where she was pounding; she just wanted to make him leave.

But he didn't. He walked over to the cell, holding the cold, iron bars that kept her inside. He smiled roguishly watching her every move. She knew that she couldn't fool him, but she couldn't show him that she was weak. She lifted her chin up pounding on the blade even harder. He just stared at her with his deep, beckoning eyes. She turned her head away. She couldn't help it. Thankfully, he turned around silently and walked away. She gave out another sigh of relief.

Little did she know, her prayer had actually worked.

---

The sun was setting quite quickly and the girls and Ferio knew that they wouldn't find Presea in one day. They had been traveling for ten whole hours, getting lost in forests and falling off track. They had no clue where they were going, and the civilians were ignoring them, no matter how much they begged and implored. They were lucky enough to have Makona around. Without him they would most likely be starved to death.

But Hikaru knew that they needed to go follow that white light. She knew it had to do with Presea or perhaps Lafarga. She was so determined that when everyone else dropped down to the ground she picked them all right back up and continued again. She clenched her sweaty hands as she walked through ugly and dirty streets of Alantica. She couldn't help but hate the people who lived here. Could they have been more ignorant? Why couldn't they just give them directions, just once? Was it too hard for them?

Hikaru sighed throwing her hands up giving up for today. "Okay guys, I'm finished. I don't think I can go on any further." She slowly turned around and almost jumped back at the sight of them. All four of them had their hands under their heads sleeping like babies. She looked up and groaned rubbing her head. What companions they were.

She stomped over to them pulling out a blow horn from nowhere. "WA-AKE UP!" She yelled through it kicking all of them in the process. "WAKE UP SLEEP- HEADS!" She cried out again.

Fuu sat up rubbing her ears. "Miss Hikaru!" She blinked as Umi and Ferio jumped up, saluting Hikaru as if they were in an army camp. The relaxed their muscles as they realized who they were saluting to and groaned.

"Hee-ka-ruuu!" Umi whined stomping her feet. "I was tired! And then you go waking me up with that microphone!" She wailed turning her back on her.

"Blow horn." Hikaru countered rolling her eyes. "But we should find a vacant spot where Makona can set up the shelter. I don't think it's quite safe sleeping out here with all these people." She said slowly eyeing the drunken men who were kicked out of their homes (most likely by their wives) and sent to sleep on the doorsteps.

The three nodded agreeing and picked themselves off the filthy ground. Hikaru reached down to cradle Makona in her arms as they set off back into the forest. As Hikaru continued to walk she promised Presea one thing. That she'd find her no matter what. She'd risk her life for her in a heartbeat. She would cross the ocean for Presea and bring her back safely to Cephiro. Even if she had to do it alone.

Presea had risked her life for Hikaru, and now it was her turn to re-pay the favor. She didn't notice Makona hoping out of her arms and re-creating the shelter. She sighed and walked in after the four silently; she couldn't wait to fall fast asleep in her bed. And that she did. She hopped inside her bed, pulled up the covers, turned off the lamp and fell into a deep sleep.

---

"I feel the Magic Knights coming closer." He said in a deep, sinister tone. He growled softly pounding his fist on the wooden table. His dark black eyes penetrated into the girl's innocent brown eyes. But she stood her ground sustaining the light smirk on her face.

She was brave he could give her that. But would she be able to beat the Magic Knights? He eyed her for a bit resting his elbow on the table. She was a small one, but strong, no doubt about it. He could see her muscles bulging as she crossed her tanned arms. She had long black hair that extended down to her waist. She had full pink lips, which he would have loved to taste. She was also short in height, around 5'1. She was wearing a light brown tank top that was cut in so many places showing the top of her breast and most of her stomach. And a matching skirt to go along with. In her hand was a long glaive which he figured was her main weapon.

"What's your name, love?" He asked softly clasping his hands together on the table.

"Usako." She said firmly tapping her foot and narrowing her eyes as she looked around the room.

"And how old are you?" He asked again.

"Sixteen."

"Why do you want to work for me?" He asked curiously. But why *did* a cute sixteen year old want to work for him? What could have possibly happened in her life that made her go mad?

She just shrugged and yawned. "I don't know, I have nothing else to do. I've got no family, no friends, no nothing. AND no money. I know I can take these girls down one by one. Trust me on that one. I can do it, I've once taken down five strong men in one blow." She said proudly whipping her glaive around.

He frowned. "Put that weapon down or I'll have you taken down by one blow as well."

Her eyes widen but quickly narrowed as she dropped the glaive down with a clatter. She crossed her arms again sighing. "Okay, okay, sorry." She said rolling her eyes.

This girl had an attitude, he presumed. He was going to have to change that. "Now, do you know any magic spells?"

She nodded her head. "I know a few, but not a lot. All my attacks come from that thing." She said pointing at her fallen weapon. "Magic is stored in there too."

He nodded rubbing his chin. "Where did you learn this magic?"

"Oh, this mage a few miles away from my home." She said walking over to the table and sitting down. She grinned placing her feet on the table, flipping her long black hair over her shoulder.

He raised an eyebrow and lifted the palm of his hand that faced her. With one grunt a strong wind came from his palm and pushed the chair and Usako back. She groaned staggering back to her feet and rubbed her back. He leaned back crossing his arms. "I thought you said you had no friends."

She groaned still rubbing her aching back. She then stood up and crossed her arms. "I killed him. Meaning he's no longer living, he's not my friend." She said smirking.

This girl did not give up, he growled. Though that could be a good thing when it was time to face the Magic Knights. He nodded giving the cue to give her, her second test. He quietly got up from his chair and walked out the door. As he did so, three strong men came out, each holding their own weapons. As he walked out of the room he held his palm up again. All the doors that lead to the room closed shut and locked. He walked over to a one- sided window and looked in. He smiled watching the girl's terrified face.

"Let's see if you can take down my men." He said grinning. "And if you do, I'll give you a little reward." He said seductively. His voice echoed in the room as she looked around trying to find him.

---

Usako smirked at the men coming her way. She knew she could take these boys down. She quickly grabbed her glaive from the ground swinging it around in circles, examining the men. The one on the left was closer to her, he was holding something that looked like a giant mallet. He too was wearing an ugly grin holding the mallet high above his head. She pursed her lips and swung at him with the sharp He expectedly, ducked and swung at her with his mallet. But she was far more quick, swinging the glaive again she kicked him from the side making him loose his balance. She laughed softly as she placed the sharp metal to his neck. She could see the fear in his eyes as she plunged the glaive into his throat. He gave out a last cry as she pulled it out and turned around facing the other two.

She beckoned for them to come closer with her finger. Raising the glaive up high she realized that it was time to show off her magic tricks. The two continued walking her way, unaware of what she was about to do. She closed her eyes as dark, purple energy waves bordered the top of the glaive. She pulled it back down so that the metal was facing the men. She opened her eyes quickly watching them back up in horror.

"Star Gaze BLAST!" She cried as the purple energy waves combined into a ball of energy and blasted into the men. They cried out placing their weapons and hands in front of themselves but the blast was way too strong. They flew back and hit the wall falling twenty feet down and landing on their faces. They were as dead as a rock. She wiped her hands on her skirt grinning.

From behind she could hear him clapping. Her heart skipped in fear that he was going to attack her too. But she swallowed and turned around smirking. He beckoned for her to come over like she did to the men. She was tranced by him. She could feel his warmth pushing her forward. As soon as she was a couple inches away from him, he took her by the hand and proceeded into his bedroom.

---

[Hey, I hope you liked it. Also note Usako is kind of based on me! XD Not that I'm a slut or anything but-well you get it. I'll have chapter four up as soon as I can! Any suggestions, questions, etc email me at Usaako13@hotmail.com ]