Title: Whenever I Call You Friend
Anime: Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP
Author: mizamiko
Rating of Chapter: PG
Whenever I call you Friend: Chapter 6 Interlude 2
****Presea****
I wiped away the sweat from my brows with a soft cloth as I slowly slid down the wall to rest on the floor. I had been practicing for the past 2 hours and felt exhausted while at the same time refreshed.
On the other end of the training hall I watched Lantis as he went through his forms. I knew most of the styles developed in Cephiro and I could appreciate the skill he showed in handling the sword. He used several styles of the art, that much I could make out, but some of his moves I just couldn't put a name to. Though I prided myself on my skill with the sword, I knew I would not even hold a candle against him in real combat. I would say I was about at par with Hikaru in my mastery of the sword.
Lantis would be at par with Larfaga, maybe even slightly better. Personally, I would bet on Lantis winning the fight, if ever the two dueled it out. It wasn't because of anything in particular. Just that gut feeling that Lantis would not accept defeat lightly and would do everything to beat his opponent to the ground.
I watched as he stopped in mid-stance then went back a few steps and re-did his last few moves. There was something bothering him, that much I saw. I knew Lantis, enough after so many years living in the same castle as he. He never stopped at mid- stance. If he were dissatisfied with a move he would finish the form and start again from the beginning. The fact that he stopped in the middle and tried to cover it up, that much told me how out of focus he was.
I just wasn't sure what it was that was bothering him. Ever since he went to Earth to meet Hikaru's family he had started to withdraw into himself. Why?
Hikaru had been so happy that he wanted to meet with her family. Almost everyone was. I stopped right there.
*Now! Now! Presea, let's be honest.*
Hikaru was happy. Utterly in cloud nine. Umi had a brow arched when Hikaru announced it. Fuu smiled, but I have yet to figure out what's running around in her head so I have no idea what that meant. Ferio was smiling broadly in his normal happy-go-lucky way. Caldina looked at Lantis seriously then left it at that. Ascot was far too preoccupied with his own love problem to notice, silly boy. Guru Clef simply nodded at Lantis then left.
There was something going on, that much I could make out. Lantis had been shutting himself in the castle Library for the past few days. Him and Guru Clef have been closing themselves off in the old Archives at one of the castle towers. They were keeping something a secret.
I looked at Lantis and pondered at what were my prospects if I badgered him. I snorted. He was no fun to badger. Badgering Clef was just as bad. The two were both too serious for their own good. I sighed and wished for the nth time that Mokona was back. I missed having the little critter around.
I shook my head and stood up. I was not going to find out anything sitting down. I prepare myself for my attack. There was more than one way to get Lantis' attention. This was the most direct.
"Kailu, defend yourself!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs as I jumped into the air. I knew this was stupid but then what was life without such moments. Maybe, just maybe, he'll let something slip while we sparred.
****End Interlude 6.3****
Draft December 3, 2000
Revision January 19, 2003
Disclaimers: All characters belonged to their original creator, CLAMP, I just commandeered some of the characters for a night out into my own demented world.
Note : Thanks to the UAWC or SW for reading through this installment especially
to Melissa Koh.