Tanominotsuna (Last Ray of Hope)
By
LantisHikaru
Chapter Two
Silence. Nothing but silence. Then there was a light tapping sound. Tap. Tap. Tap. Then a new sound entered the sequence. Scribble, scribble, scribble. Then more silence, then more tapping, then more scribbling.
She hadn't even changed out of her school uniform yet. Right after dinner, she excused herself to do her homework, but today, today was...different. She finished the last of her homework and put her pencil down on the dusty desk. The once fresh work place full of manuscripts, books, and papers all organized and categorized neatly gained heaps of dust over time. There were papers strewn about in any random order. Books were open in certain places and closed in others. To point out the obvious, the once organized looking desk left behind a messy, sluggish appearance.
'I'd have to fix that,' Fuu told herself for the umpth time.
She had delayed organizing her desk for so long. Things just didn't seem the same anymore. Fuu realized that ever since something just settled in, her work habits started sinking. Sure, she still got good grades without trying thanks to her sharp and witty mind, but even that seemed to start dulling out.
Fuu finished the remainder of her homework and set it aside. She took two steps away from the chair she sat on when she turned back regretfully and looked at the mess she made. It was still there. Fuu sighed and sat back down. Gathering her homework and her schoolbooks neatly, she put them away in her backpack and stacked up the things on her desk. It wasn't half as organized as it was before, but it will do for tonight.
Fuu scrambled out of her chair and quickly opened the sliding door to the balcony. A cool, refreshing breeze blew past her, reaching into the corners of her stuffy room. Fuu took a deep breath and sighed in relief. It was like the first time she met Windam. Maybe to others, the wind felt biting and harsh, but to Fuu, it was the gentlest feeling she felt in ages.
Fuu stared out into the sea of lights where Tokyo resided. It seemed so close and yet so far. The knight of wind pretended to pluck a few of the lights and throw them into the air to make stars. One star twinkled when Fuu watched it. She knew that technically, stars only twinkled when they were dying, but she loved pretending that Windam was winking at her instead. Fuu played connect the dots until she came up with an image of someone who was all too familiar.
"Ferio," she breathed.
Who knew how long it had been. Maybe it was only a little while, but to Fuu, it felt like a lifetime slipped through her fingers since she last departed from Cephiro. Fuu's eyes settled on the orb that Ferio had given her. Somehow, in some way, Fuu knew she was in a trance as she drifted back into her room and closed the door behind her. The orb sat there and glowed in the moonlight. She gingerly reached out to touch it...
"Fuu are you still up?"
Fuu jerked her hand away and whirled around. Very familiar eyes and long hair, it could only mean one person. The intruder leaned in – one hand on the doorknob, one hand against the wall, head in through the door. Fuu smiled and closed her eyes.
"Kuu-san," she spoke softly.
Kuu grinned. Every older sister knew when she startled her younger sister. It was just instinct. Kuu practically waltzed into Fuu's room when she eyed the orb that rested on Fuu's desk. Kuu tiled her head to the side.
"Why are you so afraid to touch that thing?" she asked.
Fuu bowed her head and blushed while hoping that her older sister wouldn't notice what was happening. Unfortunately, using her sisterly instinct, Kuu noticed.
"Ah-hah! I knew it! Fuu found her lover boy, didn't she?" Kuu teased.
"I-i-ie! That didn't happen...," Fuu stuttered.
Kuu laughed. It was one of those moments where you just couldn't help but grin evilly to yourself, knowing that you've embarrassed a sibling and caught it on tape as well. Fuu quickly turned her head away and sat on her bed.
"I-I think I'll go to bed now. Oyasumi, Kuu-san," Fuu rambled in hopes that Kuu would just leave the topic alone...Fat chance.
"Oh really? Why the sudden fatigue?"
Kuu smiled evilly as Fuu tried to hide her face behind her hair. Kuu sighed.
"All right then. I suppose you can give up now, but remember, the next time I bring this camera, I'm going to get EVERY detail, you hear me?"
Fuu gaped in shock. That did NOT just happen. Fuu reached up and grabbed for the camera, but Kuu easily kept it away from her reach. Kuu laughed as Fuu kept trying to pry it out of her hands.
"I don't think so. Oyasumi, Fuu-chan," Kuu winked as she waltzed back out of the door.
Fuu groaned. Life was just not fair. But then again, she knew that Kuu only did it to try to make her smile or have her release her stress by yelling at her older sister instead. It was a funny thing, this sisterly love. Fuu could tell Kuu's plan was working already. She smiled with gratitude that she had such a funny sister who loved to take care of her.
"Goodnight, Kuu-san."
The knight of wind sighed as she turned her gaze back to the object of question. Even with the orb, Fuu wasn't able to communicate with Ferio. No matter how many times she tried, nothing had happened.
'Maybe he's forgotten about me,' she thought as a frown crept its way on her face.
Fuu shook her head. That couldn't be possible. Anyway, it didn't matter. All she could do was pray that Windam would pity her and watch over Ferio for her and vice versa. With that, she changed her clothes, turned out the lights, and went to sleep.
"Good night," she called before dismissing herself from the living room to the sanctuary of her bedroom.
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As she ascended the carpeted stairs, one hand on the elaborately decorated railing, her plastered smile quickly vanished, and in its place appeared a frown of deep contemplation. She knew what she would be thinking about tonight.
The door creaked open and closed as she entered her place of safety. She sighed. The room gave off a feeling of strange comfort as though everything was suspended in time. For her, time had indeed frozen when she stepped out of the other world she came to love so much.
'I wish I could go back,' she thought as she flopped down on her bed. 'I mean, I know that there's nothing to do, but still, I want to see Cephiro now that it's returning to what should be its normal state.' She shifted her position on the bed to face the ceiling. 'Then again, I've never seen the real Cephiro, have I?'
Suddenly, she gasped as a telephone ring startled her. She glared at the phone that continued to ring, the phone that intruded her privacy and had to bring her back to the sickening reality and the rotting life that awaited her presence. A rotting life, that's what her life was. It was a rotting corpse of a parasite that haunted her until it had drained her of her very identity, of her very soul, of her very characteristics that made her so-
"Umi, dear, it's for you."
Umi sighed. Yet another thought interrupted by harsh reality.
"Arigato," but she didn't mean it. Umi shifted her position on her bed once again to grab the phone on top of her dresser.
"Hai," she called, unaware of her mother's presence.
Her mother sighed and shook her head. Her daughter usually was delighted to get a phone call from anyone. She would immediately start prattling and having the conversation of a lifetime, rolling around on her bed and coming across various positions on the bed until she would fall off one edge or another, but tonight wouldn't be the night for that. No, tonight would be the night that she would find any excuse possible to hang up the phone and be alone with her thoughts...
"I'm busy."
...and there it was. Mrs. Ryuuzaki closed the door.
"Sorry, but I'm busy," Umi continued.
[But that's what you've told me all week!] came the voice from the other line.
Umi sighed softly, hoping that he wouldn't hear.
"Gomen-nasai. I can't go out with you."
[That's what you've told all the other guys, Umi-san, but I'm not like them. I won't give up on you. You should know that!]
"Hai, I do know, Aki-kun. The more you push it, the more tempting it gets..."
Umi could almost imagine the smug grin on the other line as a chuckle erupted from the caller's throat. Umi grinned to herself, especially when she realized what she was going to do...
"...the more tempting it gets to do this!"
Umi slammed the phone down on the receiver and plucked the line from the wall immediately. She shoved the phone hastily into her drawer and sighed in contentment. Umi made a mental note to thank Hikaru for that suggestion. Well, technically, it was from Kakeru and Masaru, her two overprotective brothers; but Hikaru adjusted it to fit Umi's situation. To Umi's satisfaction, it had worked perfectly.
With a satisfied smile on her face, Umi returned to her resting position on her bed. Still, Umi knew that she felt guilty for slamming the phone so recklessly into her drawer, especially because it was a gift from Hikaru and Fuu, her two closest friends. Even though the two gave her their consent to do so, she still felt guilty for tossing a treasure as precious as that into her drawer without a second thought.
Umi stared up at the ceiling again. She remembered it well when she had received that phone. It was a priceless treasure, all right. Bouncy Hikaru and thoughtful Fuu had walked past an antique shop when they spotted it and immediately labeled it as Umi's. The two hoarded all the money they could gather. Even a yen off the street was worth enough to Hikaru to make her bend down and pick it up when a car (most likely driven by a drunk driver) was about to run her over. Luckily, her kendo skills kicked in, and she saved herself with a quick forward walkover.
Umi remembered the sheepish glance Hikaru gave Fuu when Umi began questioning her friend's unusual, penny-pinching behavior. Her response was a beautiful birthday present that somehow reminded her of Selece. Maybe it was the watery texture of the colors, maybe it was the dragon form the phone took, or maybe because it was just like the grip of her sword. Whatever it was, Umi fell in love with the phone, and here she was abusing it.
Umi took the phone out of the drawer and placed it back on her dresser. She wouldn't plug it in again for a while, but at least it was there for her to see. The water knight, yet again, returned her gaze to the ceiling. Now where was her last train of thought? Ah, yes. A rotting life, that's what her life was. It was a rotting corpse of a parasite that haunted her until it had drained her of her very identity, of her very soul, of her very characteristics that made her so...Umi. Satisfied that she had finally finished her train of thought, Umi changed into her nightgown, said good night to "Selece," and turned out the lights.
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She curled up lazily on the couch. It had been a long day of kendo training and gymnastics. Homework was piling up on the table along with all the books she brought home that day. Luckily, she finished her homework without much difficulty, with the exception of Kakeru and Masaru's daily questioning that made sure there weren't any boys who assaulted her that day. Hikaru smiled content that she could finally sleep. A rational part of her brain told her to clean up her things and go to bed, but an even more rational part of her brain allowed her to be lazy. Hence, Hikaru chose the latter option and stayed put on the couch.
The former Pillar was about to close her eyes when she realized that there was a problem: what was the commotion that she had heard in her math class? Was it the people of Cephiro? Hikaru sighed. She knew her lazy time was over. The knight of fire quickly put her things away and entered her room. Once she closed the door, she got under the covers, pulled out the necklace from under her shirt, and closed her eyes.
"Lantis," she called out softly.
[Hikaru?] she heard the response.
'Yes, it's me. Who else would it be?' Hikaru giggled. She could easily picture Lantis smiling back.
[Of course.]
'Lantis-chan...Has...anything strange happened in Cephiro lately?'
Hikaru saw him now. In her mind, she saw the swordsman, communicating with her. Lantis' eyes widened but only for a split second just before his face became concentrated.
[What do you mean?]
'I keep hearing voices, voices that are calling me back to Cephiro...to be...the Pillar.'
Already, Hikaru could see the fury burning in his eyes, even if he still had the same stolid expression. That was the key to understanding Lantis: reading his eyes. Hikaru waited for a response. She knew that it was tough on him to let her know because he didn't want her to carry the weight on her own shoulders. He knew very well that she was the type to do that. After all, the happy Hikaru was not always happy. Lantis sighed.
[There have been some...riots as of late. They...they want the Pillar system back.]
Hikaru stayed silent. How was she supposed to answer that? She knew that the moment she decided to be the Pillar again, Lantis would repeat what Zagato did and it would be chaos all over again. Besides, what would happen to Umi and Fuu?
[I won't allow it.]
The anger in Lantis' voice startled Hikaru out of her thoughts. Lantis...he really cared. Hikaru smiled sadly.
'I know you wouldn't. Still, is there any way I can help?'
Lantis shook his head. Hikaru sighed. A happy ending was too much to ask for, wasn't it? And with the rune gods gone back to their shrines, who would be there to help them?
Hikaru shook her head. It was Debonair all over again. Strange that her name was Debonair - there was nothing suave about her behavior at all!
[Hikaru?]
Hikaru yelped. Suddenly, she realized what had happened. Her thoughts have trailed off. Hikaru concentrated again and focused on seeing Lantis. When she saw him, she looked into his eyes and ?
'Lantis?'
A sigh of relief answered her.
'Don't worry. I was just drifting off again.'
He nodded.
[You have been doing that quite often.]
Hikaru sighed.
'I'm sorry, Lantis. I guess I just have a lot on my mind.'
[No need to apologize. Everyone has to have his own time to think. I just thought I'd lost you; that's all.]
'Hm...How long has it been since I last contacted you?'
[A week perhaps?]
Silence was all that was needed right now. Hikaru absorbed the information. Cephiro's week was about one day in Earth unless all three of the knights were present in Cephiro. Suddenly, another question popped into Hikaru's mind. How was she able to communicate to Lantis in the first place?
'Lantis, how am I even talking to you?'
[I think that maybe it has to do with the necklace.]
'But, Lantis...Fuu still has the orb that Ferio gave her. Why can't she talk to him?'
[Hm...This is interesting.]
Hikaru saw him, his face obviously in deep concentration, well at least for those who knew how to read Lantis. After what seemed to be a few minutes later, Lantis' eyes returned to normal.
[It may be because you were the Pillar.]
'Possibly...'
Or is it because of me?
Hikaru jerked her head. Who said that? Suddenly, she realized that, yes, she was not alone. Not alone in that room, not alone in her thoughts; not now, not ever.
'Nova,' Hikaru smiled.
I think it's me. Fuu and Umi don't have a shadow in them. Maybe that's why.
'That could work. What do you think, Lantis?'
Lantis was abnormally silent...well, actually...never mind. He seemed shifty when he realized that Nova was there. Hikaru giggled when she realized what was going on: Lantis was very, very uncomfortable around Nova.
What?
'It's nothing, Nova. Can I talk to Lantis alone now?'
Hikaru heard grumbling as Nova returned to wherever in their mind she came from. Hikaru could see the relief on Lantis' face when Nova disappeared. Hikaru giggled again as Lantis frowned.
[That's not funny...]
Hikaru burst out into...well...she cracked up. It couldn't be helped. Seeing that pouty look on Lantis' whole face and not just his eyes only heightened the comedy. Hikaru wiped away the tears from her eyes.
'Ah...Sorry, Lantis. It was just...too...'
But she didn't get to finish. She was clutching her stomach and laughing again. Lantis resumed the pouty look and smiled only when Hikaru didn't look up at him.
[At least I did something...I guess.]
Hikaru smiled and stopped her laughing. As she caught her breath, Hikaru realized something else: Why was she the only one who had Nova? As if he could read her thoughts, Lantis answered.
[Hikaru, you were one to keep in your thoughts, were you not?]
'Yes, yes I was.'
[Don't you think that maybe smiling to hide your sadness and trying to carry the burden on your own must have created some negative emotions in you? The Master Mage and my theory is that because of this and your dreams that stirred up fear in you, you've endured the most, and, therefore gave birth to Nova.]
'I guess so. It makes sense now that I think about it.'
Hikaru fell back onto the pillows...only...it technically wasn't her pillows. What she did was she banged her head against the wall.
"Ouch!"
[Hikaru?]
"Hikaru?"
Hikaru's eyes widened when she realized who was at the door: Kakeru. Kakeru ran into her room, not bothering to knock on the way in. He immediately cradled his "baby" sister.
"Hikaru, what happened? Are you hurt? Did someone attack you? What? What happened?"
Hikaru shook her head. Of course...the overprotective brother...
"I'm fine. I just hit my head against the wall, nothing big. I'll go to bed now. Oyasumi, oniichan."
Kakeru pulled the covers to her shoulders and walked out of the room, turning the lights off on the way out. Hikaru concentrated again to find the thread that led her to Lantis.
'Lantis?'
[Hikaru? What happened?]
Hikaru clutched her head.
'Gomen. I hit my head against the wall.'
He nodded. Hikaru smiled. That's what she loved about Lantis. He was never too overprotective; he knew when to worry and when not to worry.
[You should be going to bed.]
'But I don't want to...'
[Nevertheless, you do have that thing that you called 'school,' do you not?]
Hikaru pouted. She hated school...well...not really, but she hated cutting off her communication to Lantis because of school. It just wasn't fair. Lantis seemed to have sensed her thoughts again; he started laughing.
[Don't worry, Hikaru-chan. We will talk again, I can assure you that much.]
'Lantis,' she whined, 'you make it sound like you don't want to talk to me anymore.'
Hikaru almost regretted saying that. She could see the sadness surface to Lantis' eyes as his lips thinned out. He was mad, all right. Hikaru knew she shouldn't have even suggested the thought, but then again, she couldn't help it, could she? She was only joking around! Hikaru yelped when she felt Lantis embrace her. Wait...They were still only using telepathy...was he allowed to do that?
[Hikaru, don't even mention that. You know how much I care.]
'I know. I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to come out like that.'
Lantis sighed.
[I know.]
Hikaru snuggled under her covers as Lantis slowly went away.
'Good night, Lantis.'
[Good night, Hikaru.]
The parting couple hesitantly let go of each other's hands. Little did they know that a bright light in Tokyo Tower would take something away from Earth that night.
LantisHikaru: Any comments would be appreciated, since this chapter isn't fully developed yet...