A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews! ^__^ I feel so privileged! ::hands a cookie to ChibiUmiChica and to everyone else:: On with the story! Fuu/Ferio all the way! (Quit with the exclamation marks, Momiji-chan . . . x_X) By the way, I'm still not sure if I'm gonna end it at this chapter or whether it's gonna continue, buuuut . . . I guess we'll see when this installment's all wrapped up. xD That being said, PLEEEASE REVIEW! COOKIES STILL AVAILABLE!


Vernal Equinox

"Fuu-chan!"

Fuu was practically tackled by a certain energetic red-haired knight.

"Fuu, we were so worried and we thought something might have happened and I could hardly sleep and neither could Umi and--" Hikaru hugged her friend tightly.

Fuu patted Hikaru's head reassuringly. "It's okay. A lot happened, but I got out alive in the end."

Once Hikaru released Fuu from her mighty embrace, it was Umi's turn for a brief reunion. The girl with the beautiful blue mane squeezed Fuu in an apprehensive hug. "You gotta be more careful." Umi scolded.

"I will, I will," Fuu laughed lightly. "Like I said, I'm fine."

They stood in the main atrium of the castle, the vestibule with the domed ceiling. Sunlight streaked in from the see-through glass overhead, bathing every occupant of the room in a lovely manner. All of the Knights' old friends were there—from Clef, to Presea, to Gardina, everyone was present. Fuu felt at ease, and was now ready to relay her wild story as well as she could remember.

The others listened with interests as Fuu told her tale as vividly as her blurred memory would allow. Everyone was quiet for a while afterwards when the Wind Knight was done. Clef then proceeded to interrogate Fuu about the woman she had been saved by. Fuu almost felt embarrassed when her details about her savior's appearance were skimpier than Gardina's wardrobe.

 "That . . . she-creature . . ." Lantis spoke in a soft, yet commanding voice, "it seems almost as though she has the traits of a faerie."

"A faerie?" Lafarga scoffed, incredulous. "They died off millennia ago."

Hikaru then glanced at Primera, who was buzzing impatiently by Lantis's shoulder. "But what about you, Primera? Aren't you a faerie?"

"I'm a pixie, baka," the tiny creature snapped huffily. "Get it straight. We're totally different species."

Hikaru just sighed. Primera still disliked her because of the relationship she had with Lantis. The pixie's concerns were totally unfounded, however. She and Lantis were simply good friends. If Primera wanted him as an object of romantic interest, so be it.

Umi saw the discomfort evident in Hikaru's crimson eyes, and quickly turned the conversation elsewhere. "Ano, Fuu-chan, you must be tired. Maybe you should rest?"

"Er, that's a great idea," Fuu replied quickly. "Gomen, but I'm really beat." That was certainly not a ploy to divert attention from Hikaru. She was fatigued. Though she had been unconscious for God-knows-how-long, she still felt like the living dead . . .

"Don't apologize," Ferio butted in. "I'll take you to your room."

The couple started off, talking in hushed voices, practically conjoined at the hip. Clef and Presea cast knowing glances at each other, as did Hikaru and Umi. Fuu and Ferio deserved their privacy.

"Hey, Ascot. Do you want to--" The Wind Knight glanced every which way, realizing that Ascot had left the vestibule sometime during Fuu's story. She groaned and slapped herself on the head. "Kami, you take your eyes off of him for one minute . . .!"

***

Fuu quietly shut the door behind them as they entered her designated room. She took a deep intake of breath, and then exhaled slowly, relishing the fresh air taken into her lungs that was impossible to find back in Tokyo. She removed her wire-rimmed glasses and placed them on her nightstand, sitting down on her plush bed.

Ferio smiled at her and was about to depart, but Fuu stopped him. "Wait, Ferio-kun. I haven't seen you in ages . . ." She was a bit stung that he was going to leave so abruptly without catching up with her.

"Gomen, Fuu."

Ferio took a seat next to her on the bed, and Fuu rested her head against his chest. He gingerly placed a strong arm around her shoulders. "You really gave me a fright back there."

Fuu chuckled. "How many times have you told me that?"

Ferio was surprised. "Have I told you that before?"

Ferio may be a handsome, dashing prince, but like with any guy, he could be forgetful and even dense at times. Fuu didn't mind, though. It was somewhat charming to know that even characters that seemed to be ripped right out of a fantasy novel could be imperfect, and that made her love Ferio all the more.

Ferio intertwined his fingers with hers, happy to once more be able to feel this girl's warmth in his embrace. The few months that had passed since she had left the last time had been cold even in the hottest weather, chilly under the thickest blankets.

But now . . . Ferio just smiled to himself. There was really no reason to finish that thought.

After a few minutes of sitting silently together, just reveling in their possibly ephemeral joy, Ferio realized from the Fuu's deep breathing that she was fast asleep.

He oh-so-cautiously picked her up and set her under the quilt of the bed. He leaned down and kissed her warm forehead, whispering:

"I love you, Fuu. Never scare me like that again. Sleep well."

The prince of Cephiro left the room. Fuu just sighed contentedly.

***

"As-s-s-cot-t-t!"

Ascot nearly fell off the tree branch he was perched in from the sudden call from behind him. Umi gasped as she saw him teeter, and ran forward, arms outstretched, as if she was able to catch him. She breathed a sigh of relief when he caught himself and regained his balance.

"Gomen," Umi apologized. "Didn't mean to scare ya like that."

Ascot laughed. "Don't mention it, Umi-chan."

With the help of one of his 'friends' (in this case, a large hawk with talons that looked more like razor blades), Ascot managed to get down from the tree and onto the safe ground.

Umi gazed around at Ascot's favorite room in the whole castle—it was almost like an indoor rainforest, with thick shrubs and healthy trees of species Umi had yet to identify. The grass was lush, and the air was thick with scents of all kinds of floral.

Ascot stuttered a bit before commencing to speak. "A-Ano . . . Umi-chan, what brings you here?"

Umi smiled and brushed his long bangs out of his eyes gently. "What do you think, silly?"

Ascot blushed. "You came to see me?"

Umi scowled. "No, I came to count the hairs on my head. Of course I came to see you, Ascot-kun! I hardly had a chance to talk with you since I arrived because of all the confusion! . . . And you got taller again!" Umi stood on her tiptoes, but found that reaching his head was an impossible task. "Geez." She then smiled, and hugged him tightly. "It's so nice to see you again, Ascot."

Ascot blushed again, but returned the embrace tightly. "It's nice to see you again, too, Umi-chan."

"This feels so good," Umi murmured into his chest.

"Huh? What was that?"

Umi didn't think he would have been able to hear her, so she thought of something fast. "Er, I said, 'everything is as it should'." She giggled stupidly, and sweatdropped.

Ascot just laughed. He knew he should release her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Because who knew . . . who knew if when they went home to Japan, they would be able to come back? Every trip they took was a risk, and Ascot always feared that the Umi would one day be torn from him forever . . .

A/N: Okay, I need your honest opinion here, people. This is the first time I've tried my hand at fluff, so I want to know if I laid it on too thick, or not thickly enough . . . help! @_@ Oh, and keep in mind that I'm only familiar with the manga version of Rayearth, so no anime-only characters for j00!

Anyway, I was SOOOO surprised to find I had eight reviews for one chapter! That's, like, a new record for me! ^___^ Thanks so much, everyone!

PLEASE REVIEW, MINNA-SAN! ARIGATOOOOO!