A/N: Oh my Gawd, I forgot you, Candyland! OO Dammit, I knew I'd screw up my dedications somehow! I'm sorr-eeee! ;;
Thanks for the reviews, guys! Please RR!
Oh, and there's a song in this chapter! Yay! Ph33r Sarah McLauchlan's "Angel." I'm such a sap. Oo You know you like needless fluff. Oh yes.
Vernal Equinox
" ...uu... uu...."
Fuu's hands dropped away from where they were cradling her head. She lifted her gaze, hearing voices in the distance.
"Fuu ... FUU! Where are you?"
Someone's calling me. She realized, blinking the tears away from her eyes hastily. A figure broke out from between a coppice of trees, green hair disheveled and amber irises wild.
"Ferio!" She gasped, clasping a hand over her mouth. She stood on shaky legs, stumbling over to the Prince.
He saw her that moment, stained with blood that was not her own, tears still visible streaming down her cheeks, and felt his heart wrench painfully in his chest. Fuu fell against him in exhaustion, sobbing quietly.
Ferio wrapped his arms around the girl in a state of shock. He had only found her gone about two and a half hours ago. What could possibly have happened to her in that short period?
"What the hell happened, Fuu?" Ferio whispered before burying his stricken face in her soft tresses.
"Umi-chan, do you hear that?"
"Shh, quiet—they're coming!"
"Both of you—shut up!"
The squabbling Hikaru, Umi, Ascot, and the hushed Lantis all tensed when a figure broke out of the bushes before them. The small search party had broken apart from Ferio about a half hour back when he had veered off on his own to travel quicker in finding Fuu.
After Clef had detected faint traces of Fuu's chi in the forest below the floating castle, Umi and the others had dispatched to track her down and to ensure her safety. Unfortunately, the party had found that they were not in accord when it came to navigating an uncharted forest, and thus many paltry fights had erupted.
Their fears were diminished when Ferio stepped out from the shrubbery instead expected demon. Tightened muscles were calmed all throughout the small group.
His face was an odd shade of grey. Ferio looked at the bloodied girl he was cradling in his arms, who now was hovering between consciousness and not. Seeing the woman he loved in such a fragile state was driving him mad. He had to get her back to the castle... he couldn't stand to see her like this anymore.
Ferio glanced up, and found himself staring into Umi's enraged face.
"What the hell happened to Fuu?!" She demanded, pointing rigidly at the precious girl he was carrying.
The young weapons maker, Presea, balanced a silver tray of water glasses as she stood before the door to where the Wind Knight and Ferio were resting. She furrowed her brow in discontent, pondering over whether she should bring the drinks in and disturb them or to just leave them be. Ferio was consoling Fuu at the moment in a way no one else could. Presea sighed; she wondered what it felt like to have your lover's warm hand cradling your cheek...
"Presea?"
Her trailing thoughts were interrupted by Gardina's concerned face. Hands placed firmly against her tanned hips, she leaned to the side in a feminine manner.
"How's Fuu doin'? I saw her when she first came in; she was all bloody 'nd stuff..." She pushed a strand of pink out of her face.
"She's not hurt, aside from a few scratches and scrapes," Presea sighed. "I think she's quite upset, though."
Gardina nodded in understanding. "Musta been difficult for her. Clef said that faerie was in pretty bad shape when they found 'er body. Fuu's gotta be traumatized."
Presea said nothing more, and looked back to the elaborately carved entrance to the adjourning room.
"Somethin' is bothering you, and I can't figure out what." Gardina suddenly mused.
Presea reeled, nearly losing the tray in the process. She caught it just in the nick of time, and glanced back up at Gardina, feigning confusion. "W-What do you mean?"
"You've been spacin' out lately. Really, girl, you've gotta leave that to me. Zonin' is my job." She laughed, but quickly sobered. "What's wrong? Having some man problems? Tell Doctor Gardina what's been on your mind." She situated herself on a plush fainting couch, gesturing for Presea to sit down beside her.
Presea shook her head dismissively. "It-It's not like that. It's..."
There was a ruffling of robes, and the sound of something hard clacking against the marble flooring. Presea and Gardina turned to greet Clef.
"How is Fuu?" He asked. Odd as it may sound, Clef no longer had the body of a child—over the past three years, he had grown like a weed in fertile soil. He now stood almost a head above Presea. It's taken over 700 years, he had mused wryly. But now Umi can't make fun of me anymore over my height.
"U-Um, Fuu's fine!" Presea stammered brightly, cheeks flushing. Mokona, I'm such an idiot; blushing at the mere sight of him... "She's getting much better... awake and all..."
Clef offered Presea a shy smile. "Good. I'm glad."
Watching the flustered Presea and the suddenly meek Guru Clef instantly told Gardina what was going on. She grinned to herself knowingly, and quietly leapt to her feet to leave them be. "It's about time," she chuckled gently once the others were out of an earshot.
Ferio watched down upon the slumbering Magic Knight he held protectively in his embrace. She stirred slightly, and a lock of hair fell into her face. She mumbled incoherently, and Ferio chuckled. He brushed a hand against her frail cheek, pushing the stray tress away.
Spend all your life waiting
for that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
Always some reason
to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
Fuu had woken up briefly upon returning to the castle to tearfully relay the whole story of what had happened between her and Sawn in the forest, before falling back into a deep sleep. Ferio had wanted to talk with her more, but he knew she'd gotten very little rest lately, and it would be for her benefit.
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
Memories seep through my veins
Let me be empty
oh and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
He nestled his head in the nook her neck, reveling in her warmth.
Meanwhile, Umi found herself out on a limb—literally. She balanced precariously on a branch, reaching for the highest fruit in a tree that stood thirty feet tall. It was Ascot's safe haven; the little magical synthetic forest that Clef had so graciously made for him inside the castle back when he was a child. I'm almost there...! Umi winced as she strained her tense muscles, trying to grab that luscious-looking food that seemed strangely like an apple.
"Be careful, Umi-chan!" Ascot yelled from the ground, craning his neck upwards to see the blue-haired Magic Knight flying down at him, having lost her stability and taken a tumble downwards.
"Umi-chan!"
Umi screamed as she plummeted, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
In the arms of an Angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you
fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel
May you find some comfort here
Instead of hitting the cold, inexorable floor, she found herself safe in Ascot's arms.
"Geez, Umi-chan, you really need to be more cautious! Those branches are slippery." Ascot tried to make a joke of it, but he was visibly shaken. His wavering smile was telltale.
Umi let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you were here, Ascot-kun." She nestled her face against his chest, causing Ascot to go bright red.
So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference, escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of an Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
In the arms of an Angel
May you find some comfort here
You're in the arms of an Angel
May you find some comfort here...
A/N: OHMIGAWD, AN UPDATE. I'm so sorry it took me so long! ; Life's been a bitch lately, and I'm sure many of you can relate. This chapter's been sitting on my computer, half-finished, for awhile now. Xx; Once again, gomen nasai, and please reviewww!
