Author's Note: Wow. Chapter 4. I had a lot of these chapters all typed up. I was just too lazy to post them. And, then I decided to update them. So, whatever you're reading on here has been updated and is staying as it is!

Disclaimer: I don't own Magic Knights Rayearth. CLAMP does.

Lantis: "Yep, they most certainly do!"

HOS: "Hey, Lantis."

Lantis: "Hi. What do you want me to do now?"

HOS: "Go get Fuu and Ferio. Their scene is coming up."

Lantis: "What do I look like? Messenger boy?"

Eagle: "Actually, you do it rather well. So, we should all call you "Messenger Boy" from now on."

Lantis: "I have a sword though. And an animal spirit. That wouldn't work."

HOS: "Lantis, I asked you to do something."

Lantis: *starts to leave* "All right, I'm going!"

Caldina: "Hey, Lafarga."

Lafarga: "Hey, Caldina."

Caldina: "Have you like figured out why you had to tell everyone you had a sword?"

Lafarga: *looking puzzled* "No, not really. If the reviewers remembered that from the first chapter, then, they sure are better at remembering stuff than I am. I couldn't find my shirt yesterday."

Caldina: *snickers*

Hikaru: *comes back in from her nap* "Yo!"

Umi: "My line."

Hikaru: "Oh, sorry."

Umi: "It's ok."

Ascot: *running in with his hat as Fuu and Ferio chase after him* "MY HAT!" Umi: "You mean you got it back finally?"

Ascot: *frowns at her* "Yes. I got it back."

Ferio: "Some of the disadvantages to being shorter than a palu."

Fuu: "I agree. Not being able to tease Ascot with his hat is a big disadvantage."

Ascot: *grins evilly* "Ha ha. You bunch of shrimps."

Ferio: "How dare you insult Fuu!"

Fuu: "Oh, not this again."

Hikaru: "At least he's off the whole sleeping thing."

Fuu: "Ah, yes, you do have a point there."

Clef: "We're starting now."

Presea: "Where's Lantis?"

Clef: "I don't know and I don't care."

Umi: "If Clef wears any underwear!"

Hikaru: "That was nice."

Umi: "I know!" *grins* "Sorry, Clef. Couldn't resist the temptation to tease you."

Clef: *paying no attention AT ALL* "Begin!"

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Author: Heart of Sword

Magic Knights: Rayearth

Crimson Skies

Chapter 4: A Promise

Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu all walked along quietly as they made their way to their bedroom. Umi was smiling broadly as she reflected on all that had happened.

"Hey, Umi?" Hikaru suddenly spoke up. "Yah?" Umi looked at Hikaru, waiting.

"Do you know for sure that you like Ascot?"

"Of course. Why else would I have kissed him?"

"Hikaru?" Fuu looked at her friend. "Are you thinking about Eagle and Lantis?"

Hikaru nodded silently. She grabbed Mokona from Umi and held him close to her. 'Maybe I shouldn't have brought it up. Now they're going to probe me for information about what I think about all of that. Nice going, Hikaru.'

"You know we're always here for you if you ever want to talk." Fuu smiled.

"I know." Hikaru looked away. Quickly, she made her way over to a window that out-looked Cephiro. 'The land, so green and beautiful.' Then, she looked at the sky. 'What? It's red? I wonder if Umi and Fuu know. Maybe I shouldn't say anything.'

"Hey, Umi?" Fuu began.

"Yah?" Umi replied as she brushed a strand of her long blue hair away from her face.

"You're really outgoing."

"Um, what's that supposed to mean?"

Fuu started to blush a little bit. "Just that, the way you kissed Ascot in front of everybody? I mean, I haven't even kissed Ferio yet."

"What's the rush?" Ferio asked her as he came in.

'Oops. Now I did it.' Fuu thought to herself.

Ferio came over to Fuu and hugged her. "Hey, what did I miss this time?" he asked as he let her go gently.

"Nothing. She was just wondering about the whole thing with Ascot." Umi laughed.

"Yah, that was pretty interesting. I didn't think you two would ever do that in public!"

"Oh well."

"Look at Hikaru." Fuu gestured. "She's so confused I think."

"About what?" Ferio said.

"Just, oh, nevermind." Fuu looked away.

Hikaru came back over to Umi and Fuu. She noticed Ferio immediately. "Hello. What brings you over here? We were just heading off for bed!"

"Oh, nothing." Ferio shrugged.

"Well, in that case, me and Hikaru are off!" Umi said as she grabbed Hikaru by her shirt. She started to pull her along the hallway. Mokona bounced around Hikaru, annoyed and just a little bit worried for Hikaru's safe being.

Hikaru twitched her cat ears. "We are?"

"Yes. Oh, and Fuu, if you see Clef, ask him about that potion thing for Hikaru."

"Potion?" Hikaru jumped. "Whatever for?"

"It'll help settle you for bed and get your mind off of boys." Umi grinned.

"All right, I'll do that!" Fuu laughed as Umi finished dragging Hikaru down the hall.

"Don't get too mushy!" Umi called out behind her as she turned around a corner to the room.

"Wow, is she ever bossy!" Ferio grinned as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Yes, I know. She treats Hikaru like a little sister though. You can kind of tell that she is really close to Hikaru."

"And you."

Fuu looked away. "Ferio, I don't want to go out there and fight."

"But, you have to. You're a Magic Knight."

"I know, but I'm almost scared to do it again."

"I don't think you're scared. Maybe you're worried about what may happen?" Ferio looked at her closely. He held her at arms length from him.

"Yah, that's it." Fuu looked up at him. "I'm worried that maybe I won't come back. Or, maybe someone I love won't come back. Ever since we fought Emeraude, I can't help thinking about losing somebody I care for if I fight."

"Look," Ferio began. "My sister, Emeraude, made her choice. She fell in love and wasn't supposed to. Then, after she realized her mistake, she summoned you three here. And, after Clef told you what you had to do, you fulfilled your purpose. I know we all wish she wouldn't have had to die, but it was her decision. Not yours. And, I know she is happy."

"How?" Fuu asked him, quizzically. "How can you know?"

"Fuu, she's my sister. Now, don't worry over what may happen. Be more concerned about what is going on right now, with your friends, with your family, and with the ones you love."

"You're right. I'm being stupid."

"No, you're just not thinking everything through." Ferio reached down for her hand and pulled it up to him so he could see it better. "The ring I gave you." He ran his fingers over it gently. "Never take it off, for, we are bonded together by that."

"I promise I won't, ever."

With that, Ferio pressed his lips to her hand. "I'll see you tomorrow." And, he left.

"Wait!" Fuu called out, but it was too late. "I love you," she whispered. Then, she too headed for her room. She opened the door and went over to the bed and sat down next to a sleeping Hikaru.

"Keep your voice down," Umi whispered. "She's sleeping."

"Yah, I noticed." Fuu smiled back.

"So, what happened?"

"Nothing. We just talked."

"About what?" Umi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Just whatever. I was going to tell him I loved him."

"Oh?" Umi leaned forward, as if she were on the edge of her seat, waiting for the climax to reach.

"But, he left too soon."

"Oh, Fuu! You blew it."

"Who knows," Fuu replied as she lay down. "Time will tell after all."

"Yah, I guess so." Umi lay down as well. 'Tomorrow. What about tomorrow? What are we going to have to do? If Siro poses a threat for Cephiro, who knows what will happen.'

A dark shadow paced back and forth in an empty room in another place. "It's time." The shadow spoke into the air. "Tomorrow, I shall crush them and Cephiro will be mine. I will crush their spirit, their will, and whatever else! Eagle, you may have killed my brother and destroyed my life, but I will have my revenge." The shadow slid over to a corner and leaned against it. It was Siro. She stood alone in her invasion. "Now," she raised her hand and swirled it. A cloud of smoke rose from her hand and projected the palace of Cephiro. "Let us see what is happening, shall we?" She looked into the cloud. Immediately, Lantis's image came into view. She saw him standing by a window, looking up at the sky. "That's it." She made the cloud disappear and stood up from the wall. "I'll get him to do my dirty work for me. After all, it shouldn't be too hard to lure him into a trap." She hugged herself and paced through the shadows once again. "Such a handsome face."

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Ooh. Suspense. Not really, but that sounded good. This is a longer chapter, so no complaining.

Lantis: "Does that mean me?"

HOS: "Well, it could and it couldn't."

Lantis: "Which means what?"

HOS: "Never mind then."

Eagle: "Hey, Hikaru."

Hikaru: "Hi, Eagle. What do you want?"

Eagle: "Oh, nothing."

Hikaru: 'What a waste of time that was.'

Lantis: "Eagle?"

Eagle: "Yah?"

Lantis: *pulls Eagle away from Hikaru* "She's mine."

Eagle: "Oh really?"

Lantis: "Yes, REALLY!"

Eagle: *grins* "I don't think so."

Hikaru: *coming over to them* "What are you guys talking about?"

Eagle: "You."

Lantis: *nudges Eagle*

Eagle: "I mean, how we each feel about you."

Lantis: *nudges Eagle harder*

Eagle: "What? Can't you communicate with me instead of giving me bruises? I just recovered after all!"

Hikaru: "You guys are so weird."

Lantis: "He started it."

Eagle: "Did not."

Lantis: "Did too."

Eagle: "Not."

Lantis: "Too."

Hikaru: *throws her hands up in the air and walks away* "Ugh. Boys."

Fuu: "How's it going Hikaru?"

Hikaru: "Fine."

Umi: "You don't sound like it is."

Ascot: "Hm. No comment here."

Umi: "I wasn't asking you for a comment anyway."

Ferio: "Ah, young love. So tragic."

Fuu: "Hey, what are you saying?"

Ferio: "Nothing." Umi: "You just said: "Nothing." And what is that supposed to mean?"

Ferio: "Nothing."

Lantis: *walks over to a window*

Eagle: "That seems to be a reoccurring habit throughout this fan fic."

Hikaru: "What? The whole window thing?"

Eagle: "Yep." *seeing his advantage, he picks Hikaru up, who laughs with pleasure, and is about to kiss her*

Lantis: *turns around* "NO!" *he runs at Eagle and snatches Hikaru from his grasp and sets Hikaru down on her feet*

Eagle & Hikaru: "What?"

Lantis: "Eagle?"

Eagle: "Huh?"

Lantis: "I said she was "mine"."

Eagle: *smiles again* "I know. I saw a chance to get her."

Hikaru: "Oh, and I was finally going to be kissed by someone for once. You wrecked it all, Lantis."

Lantis: *looks down* "Sorry."

Hikaru: "It's ok. I have my whole life in front of me."

Eagle: "Ha. Just don't interrupt next time, Lantis."

Lantis: *scowls at Eagle* 'Don't worry. I will.'

Presea: "Can we end this now?"

Clef: "I guess."

Caldina: "Remember the little review button at the bottom of the screen!"

Lafarga: "It's not actually at the bottom, but ok. And, I still haven't figured out why I was talking about my sword."