I'm back!! Yes, I bet many thought I was never going to return, hehehe.

Finals are over... I'm on vacation... and I couldn't be happier. I approved all my subjects and I'm going to Cancun next week... (not that I want to presume 8P) well , those are pretty good reasons for being this happy!!!

Anyway... about the story.. well this is a Fuu/Ferio fic.. but I tried to make all the characters appear and have important parts in the story... I think that's going well... however.. I may write more about F/F relationship from now on.. at least until I feel I made my point.. (which I am not sure I know...) if you think that the story might go better if I just keep it the same please tell me.. of course any suggestions about my writing or anything are accepted.. as always.

heheh.. well, there are many surprises awaiting in the next chaps. Like... Umi's life and loves...what's going on between Lantis and Eagle... more about Zagato and Emeraude and of course the plot and the enemy and MOKONA's important part...

Well, thanks to all those who read this and to all those who review. I really hope you like this... I hope there's still someone reading this (o o).

Well here it is...........

The Quest

Chapter 9 Dreams

"My parents died inside my house when it burst into flames. My sister told me it was never an accident. There was someone, someone there. But she could never tell me whom. She told me she was running all the way home when the house went into flames." Ferio was sitting in a chair. He and Fuu arrived at the kitchen and stayed there to talk.

"She said she ran and ran until she got close. She only found me, lying on the floor. I was like two or so."

Fuu looked at Ferio. It was indeed like her dream. The girl running to the house, then it bursting in flames, and someone there. Fuu thought for some seconds. It all had to be coincidence. Her mind tried to search for logical reasons for her having such a dream, but she found nothing. Ferio looked at the confused sorceress.

"Don't try to hard." He said giving her a glass with water. Fuu took it and smiled.

"I can't find a reason... it's too strange." Fuu rubbed her eyes. She felt tired for no reason. She had rested more than enough, but still her eyes were demanding some sleep.

Ferio looked at her and wondered why the dream was just like the accident of his parents. Just as Fuu was about to ask Ferio about his sister, a very tall man entered the kitchen.

"There you are!" he said walking toward Ferio, the man didn't even bother to look at Fuu, he seemed pretty angered. Ferio jumped of the chair and smiled.

"Geo! How are you man?" he said, but Geo had already got him from the throat.

"You little bastard! What's your problem bringing strangers to OUR hideout!" he said almost in despair.

Ferio tried to speak but it was useless. Geo looked at him, disbelief in his eyes.

"And you brought a guard! A ROYAL guard!" he said as he started to lose control of his hands. He started trembling and let Ferio go.

Fuu helped Ferio, but he was smiling.

"I'm sorry man. I didn't meant to scare you."

Geo looked at him a vain starting to jump on his forehead.

"Scare? Ferio, it's against laws to bring strangers. It's even worst when the stranger is a guard. What if he turns all of us to the police?!"

Ferio watched him as he let go a small laugh.

"It's okay. Lantis would not turn us to the authorities."

"How are you so sure?" asked Geo, this time more calm.

"He is a friend. he would never betray us."

"You think a royal guard will protect our little secret, after all the time they had expended hunting us?"

Ferio nodded contently. Fuu watched him. He truly trusted Lantis. She found that difficult to believe. She knew better than that. Ferio was used to betrayals and lies. He liked Lantis, and was sure he would help them until Hikaru was safe. However, Ferio would always be on guard. Fuu could see that on Ferio. Geo couldn't, Ferio's words seemed to make effect and the tall man was now breathing easily. Geo sighed and cleaned some sweat on his forehead. The clan meant everything to him, a family, it was all he had. The idea of Lantis doing something to them had make him nervous, furious and sad. But now Ferio was telling him to trust. Geo smiled and hit Ferio lightly on his arm. He then saw Fuu.

"Um.. I'm sorry..." he said jumping nervously.

"...I didn't see you." He said stammering. Fuu gave a small smile.

"It's fine, do not worry. My name is Fuu Hououji, nice to meet you." She said giving a small reverence.

Geo blushed and gave a small reverence too.

"I'm Geo Metro... nice to meet you." He said. "I'm the third commandant of our thieves clan." He continued proudly.

Fuu smiled and turned to Ferio. He smiled back.

"I would be the second..." he said looking at the door.

"An that would be our first." He said pointing at Eagle, who stood at the door.

"Fuu, I want to introduce you to Eagle Vision, our leader." Ferio said as he sit again on the chair.

Fuu looked at Eagle, he was tall, but not as tall as Geo. She smiled and inclined her head in respect.

"This is Fuu Hououji, a sorceress from Kiam." Ferio said this not even looking at Eagle.

"Nice to meet you miss Hououji. I believe you've already met Geo."

"Yes, Eagle, we've already met." Said Geo walking toward the chief.

Emeraude walked with Zagato through the crowded city. The Kiam's princess was gone. All the guards were looking for her. All the clues lead to Ferio and the sorceress from the same country. Emeraude knew perfectly well how hard it was to capture Ferio, but still, she got very worried. Zagato looked at her stern face.

"He'll be fine." He said stopping his walk.

Emeraude looked at him and then at the sun disappearing behind the mountains.

"No, he isn't. Things are getting of our hands."

Zagato knew what she meant. Not only Mokona was in hands of her brother, but he was friend of the sorceress, which must had been the principal reason for rescuing the princess. What would Ferio won on allying the enemy was a question Zagato made frequently. But there was more. He had interrogated Alcyone. And the news became even worse. Lantis, his brother, had allied them too, he was, of course, with the red head and a summoner was with the group too.

Zagato looked at Emeraude. The actual reasons for this awkward group's participants was still a mystery.

"We need to find Mokona before anyone finds it." He said as he took the blonde's hand and started walking.

"What if someone makes Alcyone speak?" she asked.

"That would not happen. My spell is unvanquishable, no one but you or myself can dispel it." He said still walking.

"What if there's someone even more powerful than us?"

Zagato smiled. "That's not possible."

King Stephen sat on his throne looking at the mirror in front of him. He smiled as he saw the couple walking through the streets. A shadow appeared form behind.

"So, it's all about a boy and his bunch of miserable friends." His voice was soar and he gave a wicked smile.

The shadow appeared now in front of the king.

"Still, they don't know were those bastards are. Better to keep an eye on this couple." He drank some wine and looked menacingly at the shadow.

"You better find them first." With that, the shadow disappeared.

Fuu and Ferio watched their friends having a great dinner at the dinner room of the thieves' hideout. Umi had awoken a few minutes before, she didn't look in the mood of anything, but Eagle manage to convince everyone to have a dinner to commemorate Ferio's arrival. Hikaru and Ascot ate a lot, they seemed to be having a great time. However, Lantis was serious and all the time watched Eagle. Umi, although was smiling and was been treated as a princess, looked worried about something. Fuu could tell what it was.

Flashback

"I told him how I felt." Umi smiled at Fuu, they were having tea at the princess's bedroom.

"You... really?" the blonde asked not believing her ears.

"Yes." The princess manage to say before turning around giving her friend her back.

Fuu looked at Umi. She stayed still for a couple of minutes. She could see a tear falling from her friend's cheek.

"Umi-san.. I..."

"Don't worry Fuu." She said turning around cleaning some tears.

"He... he was nice. As he always is..." Umi looked at the delicate palace floor and forced a new smile.

"He said we..."

"Excuse me your highness." Umi stopped and looked to the person that just interrupted her. It was a servant messenger, he was carrying a letter with Kiams emblem.

"What is it?" the princess said looking obviously angered. The servant made a reverence and extended the letter to Fuu.

"A letter for lady Hououji, your Highness."

(End of flash back)
Fuu looked at Umi. She was eating her dinner and was absolutely absent of the world.

"Aren't you hungry?" asked Ferio pointing at Fuu's plate. It was full.

"No...I am not that hungry." She said looking at him, she was actually very tired. Ferio frowned.

"It's not healthy..."

"I know. It would be just this time." Ferio looked at her for some seconds then smiled.

"Then you won't be bothered if I eat those, right?" his smile as big as ever. Fuu giggled and offered the plate to her companion.

That night had a strange mood for Fuu. Eagle and Lantis were two difficult characters. They were serious and at the same time they were like others during some times. Hikaru on the other hand was very happy to be with Fuu and Umi, and enjoyed very much their talks. Ascot was all taken aback every time Umi spoke to him and Ferio would look her all the time, except for those little moments where he looked at Eagle.

That night, when everyone was asleep, the dreams of the three girls were haunted again by that strange dream, and in the darkness, many miles away, a blur of dark light emerged from the ashes of what once was a beautiful house.

Fuu woke up sweating as always. Her head ached a lot and some tears were on her cheeks. She looked around her. Umi and Hikaru were sleeping. They decided to sleep together. She saw that they were having bad dreams too. She was about to wake them, when someone knocked the door.

Fuu stood up and walked toward the door silently. She opened the door and gasped as she saw Ferio smiling at her.

"F...Ferio?" she said very quietly.

The green haired young man smiled.

"Were you expecting someone else?" he asked teasingly.

Fuu blushed and waved her head as in no.

"What are you doing here?" she asked looking back at her friends.

"I couldn't sleep. And since you are always having that nightmare I thought that maybe you would be awake."

Fuu smiled and got off the room. She closed the door carefully behind her.

"I just woke up." She said looking at the lonely corridor. She felt nervous as a chill air rose through her body.

"Did it changed?" he asked.

Fuu looked at his eyes. It changed. It definitely changed. Fuu didn't want to lie again, and still.

"It changed." Ferio affirmed.

Fuu nodded. She started playing with her hands. Ferio looked at her and wondered what was that she couldn't tell.

"We are leaving tomorrow." He said.

Fuu looked at him not understanding. He was at home, why leave so soon.

"Why?"

"We have to get to your country as soon as possible. We are not safe here."

"What about your friends... it will be very difficult to return after we cross the frontier." Fuu looked worried at him. She was afraid he'd say he wasn't coming to Kiam, with her.

"I don't care a damn about this place. And I told you I would get you there." He said looking at the ceiling. He was sad.

There was silence for a long time.

"Are you sure?" she asked playing nervously with her hands.

"Yes. I won't get back, ever. I may even stay with you forever." He smiled and got closer to Fuu. She blushed as soon as he finished his sentence. The blush redden when she felt his touch and breath too close.

"Ferio... I..." she tried to say.

"You don't want me there?" he asked not getting away.

"No! It...is not ...that." She said not looking at him. He smiled and started wondering how far could he get this time. She always got nervous when he was close, and he had been trying to talk to her for some time. But not about the princess or Kiam or the war, not even about the dream. Talk about them.

"Fuu...would you like me to go with you?"

Fuu looked at him. Yes. She wanted him to go, she wanted to be near him, she would have said yes, but...

"You can not love him. You have a task to accomplish, a task that will take your life, a task that will require all the strength of you heart..."

Fuu gasped. She could hear the voice of her dream inside her head. Ferio hold her.

"Fuu, are you alright?" he asked holding her. Fuu felt a deep pain inside her head and then her heart. An image appeared in her head.. blood, screams, blood...

"NO!!!!" she yelled holding her head. She got to the floor and closed her eyes tightly. Ferio grabbed her and hugged her not knowing what was going on.

"Fuu, please, what's going on." He said desperate for not being able to do a thing.

The pain suddenly disappeared and Fuu could open her eyes once again. Ferio was there looking into her eyes. She's never seen him that worried.

"Are you alright Fuu?" he said caressing her head.

Fuu nodded as some tears escaped form her eyes. Ferio cleaned them and hugged her.

"Do not lie!" he said hiding his face into her hair.