Author email: ibebexcoco@hotmail.com
Category: Romance, Drama and Angst (kinda)
Keywords: Clef and Umi and Eagle
Spoilers: none
Ratings: PG-13, but may go up
Summary:
Strong, what is more to describe the Water Knight? But appearances are deceiving. Can you really prove she is? Hidden behind masks, it's a routine. Strong, that's what you can use to describe Eagle. In a coma for so long he still lives and hope is always present. When he wakes everything changes. Strong, another word to describe the Master Mage but is he really? All these spell and powers, does it really make you strong? Hidden behind books, he doesn't need to pretend. Hidden between something they don't need to pretend... pretend that they are strong.
Disclaimer:
This story is based on characters created and owned by Clamp. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Authors Note:
Character Pairings include Clef/Umi/Eagle triangle, Hikaru/Lantis, Fuu/Ferio and more when needed.
I am complete now that I've found you
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
-- I knew I loved you Savage Garden
Chapter Two: Best Friends or more
Time came to a halt; or at least that's what Umi thought as her hand was gently squeezed. Was it her imagination running? She had read an article somewhere that a girl was hallucinating that she gotten wings from an angel and she jumped off a building. Could she be hallucinating too? But she could have sworn... Oh! There it goes again.
"Umi? Are you listening to me?"
Clef's voice was an echo to her ears as she stared intently at Eagle's closed eyes. A flicker, an eyelash moved! Kneeling closer to Eagle's bedside, a pair of brown eyes stares at the world in daze. Finally, the eagle has awoken.
Where am I? That was the first thing he could think of as he opened his eyes. It felt like he was just born into this world. He felt like a baby, everything was blurry, a fog. Lavender, blue; he made out a person or was that two?
"Eagle?"
The blurry blue shape was calling to him. He was sure of that; the way the figure tilt it's head, the blue seem to glide a bit before settling. Wait! That voice; that voice was the same voice that calls to him when he was trapped. Her voice, she was calling him again. Blinking a few times, his focus became sharper.
"Can you answer me?"
Her voice calmed him when he was on the verge of a breakdown. He couldn't remember the place; he felt utterly helpless, exposed. He opened his mouth to speak, only to have no sound come out.
"Your throat must be sore since you didn't use it for so long. I'll get you water." Eagle panicked, she was going to leave him. With difficulty he reached out for his hand.
Umi stopped, turning back she saw Eagle with a panic look. Smiling softly, she turned to Clef who was standing there looking shocked. His eyes were slightly widen to the point in which you can easily tell that he was still in surprise. His jaws was hanging open, he made no attempt to close it. If the circumstances were different Umi would have enjoyed the display of expression but this condition was calling out for attention.
"If you must Clef, can you please fetch Eagle some water?"
Clef's attention snapped back at Umi. Nodding, he turned on his heels and went in search for water. Closing the door behind him he wonders, how can Umi wake him up so easily? Was there a connection? He could have just stayed in the room and with a snap of his fingers he would have a glass of water but he needed to inform the others. At that exact moment Hikaru and Lantis rounded the corner, deep in their conversation. "Let's go to the gardens after this!" Clef could visibly see his unhappiness. "Hikaru, we went there yesterday." Before Hikaru could argue anymore, Clef stepped in. "Eagle woke up."
It wasn't easy to get Lantis to leave the safety of his room to the fields outside. It took much persuasion and much pleas to get him to walk an inch. It was a beautiful day outside and Hikaru wanted to get some fresh air before a storm stirs. "Come on Lantis, let's go walk along the ocean."
Lantis sighs, "Hikaru, I have much work to do."
Hikaru pouts, "I get some time off and visit Cephiro; wait hold on to that, visit you and you are telling me you have no time for me? Are you implying something?"
Lantis could practically feel the Magic Knight of Fire's anger flare. "No, no; come on then lets take a walk around the castle and we'll talk."
Hikaru shrugs and nods softly. "I feel like I'm in your way. Am I?" Hikaru stares at the floor with great interest. She was always in the way to Lantis. One way or the next she always seem to be bothering him, either for a favor or just to spend a day. He was always working on something and she could feel him distancing himself.
Lantis continues to stare ahead not once looking at the fire pixie next to him. She was the world to him in the beginning and she still is but lately he has been feeling strange. It was always there when Hikaru was around. He did what his instincts tell him to, he creates a distance. "You're not in my way Hikaru, I'm just busy these past few days. I'm sorry if I made you feel this way. It's just- never mind, forget it."
Forget it, never mind; it was always those two words that bothered her. He's building a defense around himself again. It would raise its wall as time passes and one day she won't be able to get in. No one will. Placing a fake smile on her face she turned to him, adding a skip in her walk.
"Let's go to the gardens after this!"
Hikaru could feel Lantis's annoyance and unhappiness.
"Hikaru, we went there yesterday."
Hikaru opened to her mouth to protest to only have Clef interrupt her. "Eagle woke up." She could feel her heart leap up to her throat. Eagle, her Eagle? Without a backward glance, Hikaru ran, ran all the way to his room.
Lantis stared at the position in which Hikaru was before. The emotions in her voice was clear as a paper being hold up to a light; a bit fuzzy but you could read it. She was happy; happier than he ever heard.
Clef snapped his finger and found himself in the gardens. He heard Fuu and Ferio's voice slightly. Walking as fast, which wasn't all that fast, as he can he searched for the sources of the merry voices.
"My turn!" Fuu's excited voice warmed and gave pleasure to Ferio. He turned his attention to the golden goddess in front of him. She held her arms high in the air and slowly spread them down.
"A rainbow?"
Ferio was confused by Fuu's actions. They were playing a game of 'Taboo' and it was quite fun to think what the other thought while they thought of another. Fuu shook her head.
"Heaven?"
Fuu laughed, her soft voice seems to wrap itself around him and warmed him even more. Before he could say any further, Clef interrupted. Leave it to the master mage to destroy fun.
"Eagle has woken."
Umi took a cautious seat next to Eagle. "Am I allow to sit here?" Eagle gave a little nod, smiling slightly. "Do you remember me?" Eagle pondered this and nods slowly. Umi smiles, "Well I'm Umi, the Magic Knight of Selene just in case." Before he could comment, the doors slammed open.
"Eagle!" A shriek was followed by a red blur and poor Eagle knocked upon the bed. "Oh! I'm so glad you're awake! Wait till I tell you everything." Eagle a small smile and points to Umi. "She filled me in when I was asleep." His voice was hoarse and his throat felt like sand paper. Hikaru spun around and spotted Umi on the floor. "You mean you heard everything I said?" Eagle nods, "Every little thing."
Lantis strolled turtle-like toward Eagle's room. It was true that he was delighted in hearing Eagle waking from his coma but Hikaru's reaction reminded him that Eagle was his rival for Hikaru. Entering the room silently he caught Eagle's gaze on Umi instead of Hikaru. Eagle was involved deeply in a conversation to notice another person's presence. Umi looked up as soon as he entered. "Lantis." He gave a nod and moved his sight toward the one on the bed, the one that turned silent.
"Glad to hear you woke up." Lantis. He was the one who tried to steal Hikaru from him. But yet, he didn't feel anger or hatred towards him. Maybe awkward but not hatred. Could it be that someone else was taking up his heart and thought. He gave a quick glance at Umi, that didn't went unnoticed by Lantis and Hikaru.
Clef entered with a cup of water and all the residents that was currently living in the castle. Everyone was either crying with joy or chattered to him with the speed of light. Umi slipped toward the door and left. Eagle looked up and stared at the door with longing. Dropping his stare, he turned his attention or what was left toward his friends.
Hikaru could feel her eyes narrowing. Eagle was staring longingly at the door once Umi left. Does it mean that he likes her? Did it mean that he doesn't love her anymore? But who was she to complain about? She has Lantis; yes, Lantis. She should be happy for Eagle that he found someone but deep inside, she wished it was her.
In a couple of weeks Eagle was bed-ridden and spent more and more time with Umi. They took long walks in the morning and night strolls. Their friendship deeply evolved, it was noticeable to all does who saw but the one that experienced it. To make long stories short, Umi was clueless to the way Eagle feels about her. She would always mistaken his actions as a friendly or brotherly fashion.
"Umi!" The blue haired goddess spun around and noticed Eagle heading towards her. Waving back she slowed her pace. "Why so early? You didn't wait for me!" Umi laughs, "Don't whine Eagle, I woke up early so I decided to walk a bit earlier. I would have gone back for you."
"Sure you will Umi." Eagle made some puppy eye look, which was rewarded with a heart-warming laugh. Somehow it gave Eagle strength to ask, to ask what he wanted to know since he woke up seeing her. "What do you consider you and I?" Umi stopped in her tracks. "You and I? Well I guess I would consider us.. best friends silly! What else?" Eagle felt his heart cracked. "Oh, well I think you're my best friend too." "Good to hear that, come I'll race you back!" Eagle followed heartbroken but smile regardless. "Someday, someday you'll love me." With that he broke into a run, chasing Umi.
As for Hikaru, her relationship with Lantis plunged. Fights were growing constantly, it usually lasted a couple of minutes but now it lasted for hours, days even weeks. Things didn't look right, they didn't look right; they weren't right.
Fuu and Ferio's relationship however was at its climax, their little golden age. They shared one heart, or at least that's how it seemed. They finished each other's sentence and wished. They had no arguments or slight downfall. It only went up.
Happiness or at least to does who felt it was spread throughout the castle. It was until a villager came to the castle in torn clothes and injuries reporting an attack on his village. No mercy.
They all gathered around the young boy's bedside as Clef and Fuu healed his wounds.
"He's physically and mentally exhausted but I was able to find out that there has been a sighting of a monster. The image in his mind was blurry but I have a feeling that whatever it was, more would come." True to his words, more did come. Strange encounters of monsters never seen have been spotted throughout the lands. This, whatever this is, is the cause the Magic Knights are back and this is what they must defeat.
Sorry for the delay. This might be a sucky chapter but I'm trying. I got a lot of regents but I'll try my best. I accidentally checked the no anonymous review and I un-checked it now. So review and better chapters are coming up!!