Chapter 27: The Chase

"Silence." He uttered the word with a smile of satisfaction on his face. Lei drowned himself in cold fountain water, in the hopes that it would wash away his exhaustion.

Silence.

It brought with it peace, and all too familiar pang of emptiness.

"Azami… Yukino…" he muttered, his voice nearly a whisper.

Once again he was thinking about them. Those two girls had occupied his thoughts since the day he stepped on Morrocian soil. As much as he hated to admit it, the two had grown on him, to the extent it felt unnatural to be away from them for prolonged periods.

Lei extended a hand into the air and a crimson bird flew into his open palm. "You miss them?" the avian asked him in a even tone. Lei took in a deep breath and looked at the bird with wistful eyes.

"Yep." He breathed.

"You've grown very fond of them."

"Very."

"I'm worried, the men your father's been sending are now from his elite core." Pyre told him his voice filled with dread.

A crease formed across the mage's brow. "You're still concerned about him?" he spat bitterly. The bird looked at him. "Your father has already sent his most trusted soldiers to take you back home. I cannot defend you for much longer...as much as I hate to admit it, i lack the power to do so." he said bitterly.

"I thought you phoenixes were supposed to be all powerful?" Lei asked.

"Myths and rumors that are greatly exaggerated, my race's power is limited, reincarnation has it drawbacks. It will be centuries before I even recover a fraction of my full power." The bird paused. "Do you think I enjoy being in this ridiculous form?" it extended both of its wings for emphasis.

Lei chuckled softly and gave the bird a soft pat on the head. "I'm sorry dear friend, I promise, I won't burden you much longer. I'll just finish this last semester and we'll leave for Juno. It'll be a few years before anyone tracks us there if we keep a low profile." the young mage said flippantly.

"When do you intend to quit running?" Pyre asked him in a mournful tone.

The young mage kept his head bowed. "I'm not sure—" Pyre interrupted. "—you've fallen for one of them haven't you? I can't find any other explanation as to why you'd endanger yourself." he asked Lei.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"We were only supposed to stay in Geffen for six months, how long has it been?" Pyre asked, his voice edgy. "Almost a year." was Lei's response. The bird blinked and exhaled. "Well, it's not like I can do anything at this point. So tell me, which of them caught your eye?" Pyre asked with a mischievous tone.

Lei suddenly turned a pale hue of crimson. He still wasn't sure who he liked more.

Azami rubbed her eyes, this was insane. She wasn't sure if the letter was real. She nervously sucked her thumb as her eyes skimmed through the letter once more.

---------------------------------

()-Payon Telegraph Agency-()

December 17, 2001 A.R.

Azami, this letter will be very brief. By the time this letter arrives I'll probably be at the Payon Train Station. I'm going to board a train headed to Morroc, it'll be the only train headed for Morroc the day you get this letter, which is December twenty... Sorry if it sounds stupid, I just wanted to keep things clear. This will sound crazy but I'm afraid Lei and Rae are both stuck there, in Morroc I mean. I'll try to explain as clearly as I can. While I was on the train heading to Lutie I saw Lei on the train station's platform, chasing him was Rae, seeing this I quickly got out of the train, I followed them and saw Lei on a cart that was pushed into inside a train's cargo hold, you know he can get himself into situations like these so I hope you'll believe me. It also seems like Rae followed him. I was planning to do the same but before I could get there the train had already started moving. I asked a conductor where the train was headed, he told me that it was headed Morroc. I'm sure that explains why I'm going there. I know it seems like the two eloped… But I went back to our room to check up on their things and it seems they brought nothing with them, no clothes, money, nothing at all, that lead me to the conclusion that they're stranded. I'm off to bring them back to Geffen. If you want to join me, better hurry, the train leaves the station at noon. I'll be waiting at the rear cart.

Sincerely Yours, Aerahein, Yukino G.
---------------------------------

Many thoughts raced across Azami's mind. Among them strangling Lei for being the dumbass he is. She wondered how he got himself and others into these grand escapades. Just because of one mistake he's gotten Rae stranded with him in a foreign country! And now, he's even had Yukino chasing after him to clean his mess up. Azami frowned and tore the piece of paper into two. She was going to make sure someone would punish him, after all, the ordeal she was going to go through should have some sort of reward for her right?

"Nee-san, I made you soup." a girl who looked much like Azami set a steaming bowl of soup on Azami's desk. Azami slid out of her pajamas and quickly rummaged trough her drawers. Azami triumphantly pulled out a pink halter-top and white jeans. She approached her Azami and bent down beside her. "What are you doing?" she asked her older sister.

Azami grabbed a bag and started putting in an assortment of garments without looking. "I'm packing some clothes. Isn't it obvious Yumi?" she replied coldly.

"For what?" Yumi asked innocently, she rarely saw her sister in such an angry state and she was worried.

"I'm going to Morroc." Azami replied in a serious tone. Yumi blinked once, twice as the words sink in. She shook her head and bit her lips, something was really wrong here. Yumi placed a hand on Azami's forehead and one on hers. "You don't seem feverish." she muttered.

Azami shoved her sister's hand out of the way. "I'm in a hurry, I only have thirty minutes." Azami told her sister. "B-But…" Yumi stammered, of the two of them Azami was the perfect example of what a young Payonese lady should be. This was the first time she'd seen her sister do something so…unexpected.

Yukino stared at the lush green forests with half-hooded eyes. She hadn't slept a wink, she wondered what Lei was up too at this very moment. Her eyes snapped open when she felt someone tap her shoulders.

"Next time try not to travel alone, it's very dangerous you know." The alchemist-in-training said with a soft smile on her face. Yukino couldn't help but smile as she stood up giving the girl a warm embrace. "I'm glad you're here!" Yukino said cheerfully. "I was starting to think you wouldn't make it." she added weakly.

"Of course, why shouldn't I?"

Yukino sunk back on her chair and smiled. "I thought you hated Lei." Yukino stated in a matter-of-factly manner. "I don't hate him!" she snapped.

"You don't?" Yukino stared at Azami wide-eyed.

Azami felt the blood rush up her face, she quickly thought up an excuse. "I was just worried about you, I know how ditsy you are and—" Azami found an angry Yukino's face staring back at her. "Ditsy!" the brunette grunted.

"I didn't mean it that way, I wasn't even serious." the alchemist-in-training brought both index fingers together. Yukino's features softened and she took in a deep breath. "So you don't hate him?" she asked once more.

"Y-Yeah…" Azami replied, somewhat reluctantly.

"Do you like him?"