Chapter II - The Seals –

Disclaimer: I don't own X, the characters, the plot...

A.N.: Sorry for updating so late, but I had a lot of school work to do. Thanks to my two reviewers Takako-san and omasuoniwabanshi for reviewing my story. As omasuoniwabanshi wished, there will be a third chapter, although I hadn't planned it. It will deal with the reactions of Yuzuriha and Kusanagi to both Kamui and Fuuma, hope you will like that. evil smirk

Arashi carefully set the cup of tea in front of herself, risking a look at the red-haired woman next to her. "So what about your fight with that Kigai? Have you got hurt badly?" Karen gave a sideways glance to Yuzuriha, who was now entering the room slowly. "No, I'm okay, but I think our little Yuzuriha-chan is a little... depressed." Arashi turned to look at the 14- year-old who sat down at the other side of the table. "Karen is right. What happened to you, Yuzu-chan? I hate to admit this, but I kind of miss your genki behaviour." Yuzuriha focused the other girls, one after another, a weak smile on her face. "You don't look happier either."

A torturing silence filled the air. Arashi glared at her cup, face half flushed, while Yuzuriha stared at the ticking clock on a shelf next to her.

"I've got a confession to make." Karen said suddenly. "I love Aoki-san." The others turned at her, not willing to believe what they had heard. Of course they already knew that, but it still was a little surprising that she told anyone. "But you know he's married?" Arashi gave her a sceptical look, while Karen nodded sadly. "But as far as I know, you're also in love with someone you can't get."

"That's something different!" Arashi yelled at her. "Sorata is destined to die for me, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love me, because I know he DOES!" Yuzuriha looked up from her spot and glared at Arashi, who once again tried to pretend being an ice queen. "So you mean Seiichiro doesn't love Karen?" She started nipping at her cup again, as Arashi tried to come up with a reply. "Shut up, Yuzuriha! You shouldn't lecture us just because your boyfriend loves you and isn't destined to die for you!"

"No he isn't." Yuzuriha answered quietly, putting her cup on the table, while Karen started nipping at her one. "Actually he is destined to kill me." Yuzuriha continued. "He's a Dragon of Earth."

She took her cup again, carefully roaming the room with her eyes, but everything laid still. Arashi's face seemed to have turned into an ice sculpture, her mouth opened wide. Karen looked at Yuzu, as if she had just told the most stupid joke ever. She still held her cup right in front of her mouth. The ticking of the clock filled the air. What a silence – Yuzuriha thouht, then burst into laughter. "C'mon! Don't look as if you where shocked! I'm not joking, he really is a Dragon of Earth."

"And you won't meet him again!" Arashi added, her eyes still cold an emotionless. Yuzuriha's smile faded. "That's far too dangerous."

"But I love him!" Yuzuriha cried. Why did Arashi have to be so strict about that? "You're not gonna meet him again!" Arashi repeated, then stood up. "I'm sorry, Yuzuriha, but we've got to tell the others." She risked a look at Yuzuriha's shocked face. To Arashi's surprise, there wasn't a single tear, but inside, in her mind, she could hear Yuzuriha cry and scream. It was likely she would just ignore her warnings and date that Dragon of Earth again, so she would need the support of the other Seals to keep her away from him.

"You know that wasn't fair, don't you?" Karen asked, putting the dishes back into the cupboard. She hadn't thought her free day would end in such a disaster. "I've just told her the truth." Arashi replied with her calm, cold voice. "You know their relationship won't work anyway. He is a Dragon of Earth and she is a Dragon of Heaven. They don't have any chance."

Karen stopped arranging the dishes and turned to Arashi, her eyes narrowing from anger. "But you and Sorata have one, huh? Arashi I guess you're totally mixing up things! You and Sorata are always talking about how destiny isn't foreordained. Sorata is destined to die for you, but you still love him – don't you think Yuzuriha does the same for her love? Why destroy her love, if we believe in Sorata and you, too? It's equal freaky and Yuzuriha is only two years younger than you are. You don't have any permission to tell her who to fall in love with! None of us have!"

They looked outside the window, noticing Yuzuriha, who was now cheerfully running down the street – dressed in a cute, short, yellow dress, Inuki barking happily next to her. A little sigh of defeat came out of Arashi's mouth. "Like we even have the power to..."

Well... please read and review!