Strong in Appearance; Fragile at Heart

- Despoina.

Chapter Seven: Torn between two

Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you
and I wish on a star that somewhere
you are thinking of me too

-- Dreaming of you Selena

"I'm sorry," Umi softly whispered and edged off the bed, "I-I have to get back to Eagle."

It took all of Glyndwr's willpower not to pounce on Umi and force her to stay. "Where do you think you're going?" The blue haired goddess halted in her tracks and turned, her cerulean blue eyes glaring at him. His breath caught in his throat, she looked amazing. "I'm leaving, isn't that obvious?" Before she could turn and take a step, Glyndwr blocked her way. A smirked was plastered onto his handsome face and he slowly shook his head. "Afraid not Umi," he chuckled a bit. "You still have to pass the test." She glanced quizzically at him, "What test? I received my goddess," She showed him her gem and turned to leave. "I passed the test." Glyndwr gave a low chuckle and with a wave of his staff, a thick velvet curtain covered the double ivory French doors from view. "You obtained your Soul Goddess but you didn't pass the test yet." Glyndwr slowly made his way, feet sinking into soft plush carpet, to a pair of lounge chairs in front of a mantle with a portrait hanging on top.

"What are you talking about? Why is there another test?" Glyndwr gave Umi a funny look, "You didn't think that it was this easy did you?" Upon hearing no objection, he laughed. "You did, didn't you?" He shook his head and gave a scoff, "It takes more than that to be a true wielder of the Gems of Morganna." The blue haired water knight took a step forward towards the guardian, her hands skimming the edges of the elegantly carved back of the chair. "What must I do?" Glyndwr searched the bright cerulean eyes and looked away to the portrait. It captured all shades of blue – from cerulean to deep royal blue – and a mourning mermaid. Her sequin sea green fin curled around her and a mane of beautiful crystal blue hair embraced her. "Stay the night with me Umi, that's all I ask. Tomorrow I'll tell you everything."

Stay the night? Umi turned her gaze away from the anguished male in front of her, "Why are you doing this to me?" In an instant, a flash before her eyes, she was wrapped up in his embrace. His hair smothered her and his hands held her tightly to him, as if he was afraid that she'll disappear into thin air if he let go. His cheeks repeatedly cuddled her own blue tresses, his hands starting to slightly stroke it. "Why? I think you know why my dear," he pulled back and made a connection with their eyes, "I love-" Umi quickly slapped her hand on to his mouth, silencing him. "Don't say it," She growled and unlatched herself from his arms. "I-my heart belongs to another already Glyndwr, I'm sorry."

Unwelcome arms slammed her lithe frame into his and his lips descended on to hers. This can't be happening, Glyndwr mused, why isn't she reacting? Ocean eyes opened and took in note of the spilled tears from the girl's eyes. Slowly moving away, eyes searching for hers, Glyndwr had a sudden momentary flashback of the girl in front of him to the girl in the portrait. He turned his back towards her and without even a tiny glance back, he waved his hand at the blue velvet covered door. It slid away to reveal a crystal door, Celtic carvings covering the door from top to bottom. The donnor of Selene made an unsure step towards the door, feet moving away from him. "Umi" He called, "come back to me." He didn't expect a response and she gave none, the sound of the door opening and closing as the reply.

"You didn't answer me Hikaru!" Ignatius growled, his eyes blazing at the thought of another man possessing his love's heart. Muted and froze on the spot, Hikaru gave no answer, merely staring at the sherry oak floor in deep thoughts. A hand gripped her firmly on her shoulders, jolting Hikaru from the past to the present. "Who is Lantis, Hikaru?" Taking note of the fire that ignited itself in his eyes, the red haired girl gave no answer. His grip tightened and another feral growl came out of his throat, frightening her at the intensity. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he pulled away abruptly, "He's your lover..." Hikaru emitted a squeal, "Lover! You make it sound as if I'm having an affair with him."

Ignatius gave a one shoulder shrug and turned his back from her. His eyes traveled from the floor to the fireplace and landed on the fire fairies on either side of the fireplace. "Aren't you?" Ignatius snarled, jealousy clearing written deeply in his eyes. Hikaru made her way away from him and to the lounge bench in the center of the room. "I love him, he's my knight and my only one." It was brief, simple; yet that single statement killed him. Auburn eyes burned a hole into the girl's head from the intenseness of his stare. "You're lying!" In a rush, he landed directly in front her and on his knees. "Please tell me you're lying Hikaru, I'm your only one!" The pleading tone Ignatius spoke out nearly made Hikaru take it all back, but it would've been all a lie.

"Was I not good enough? I'll be better my sweet Hikaru. Was I too closed? I'll open myself more to you. Did I make you wait too long? I'll never leave your side from now on!" He continued to beg and plead with her, his head in her lap, tears soaking her attire. Gentle hands caressed his hair and it tilted him to meet her gaze. "It has nothing to do with you, Ignatius. I have not even a slight memory of living in Cephiro or meeting you; I fell in love with another. If someone was to blame, it would be me. I'm sorry." Hikaru softly whispered and Ignatius clutched her dress tightly in his hands. "You're not leaving you know."

Hikaru threw him a confused look and the Gem of Morganna came into his view. "I have my goddess, Ignatius. It's time I get back with the others." Ignatius gave a bark of laughter and stumbled up to his feet. He collided with the stones that made up the fireplace and propped his elbow on the stone fairy's head for leverage. "You thought that it was that easy? My dear sweet lady, you have more to go through." He snapped his fingers and a wooden door appeared on the side of the room, appearing as if it's been there all along. "Leave me." Hikaru stood and mumbled an apology before turning on her heels and leaving. She was stopped short by a pair of warm arms, "I'll wait for you, I'll always be here." Letting go, Ignatius gave the donnor of Rayearth a slight push and returned back to his position besides the fireplace. He watched as she left and even when the doors closed behind her, he mumbled, "I swear I'll always be here."

Arms still ensnared around her and a warm breath grazing her cheeks jolted her conscience. Removing herself from his arms, Fuu took a seat in a wooden bamboo chair closest to the double French doors- as far away from him as possible. "I'm sorry but that wasn't appropriate." Odin smiled and gave a hearty laugh, "You haven't changed my lady, Fuu. You're still as regal and compose as ever." Fuu cleared her throat and sought for the correct words to issue in this situation. What does one say in this predicament? Do you brush off the fact that someone just shown a past that felt so real or do you demand what kind of magic trickery was fooling around? Green eyes skimmed the room for any possible sign of a fault, perhaps she's still dreaming. "Oh you're far from dreaming my dear lady, this is reality." Fuu looked up in a state of confusion and it brought another laugh from the guardian. "You always had that look when you think you're dreaming." Odin sighed and walked closer, only to have her inch back.

He frowned and stood his ground, why was she trying to leave him? Wasn't the past thousand years, or so, long enough? It was too long to him, too long since he last felt her in his arms safely. "Ferio, where is Ferio!" Fuu demanded when her mind lost its hazy gloss and the green haired prince made its way into her mind. Odin narrowed his eyes and gracefully sat in the wooden chair opposite from her. He seemed to scrutinize her with his deeply emerald eyes. It was a bold and dark green, one that matched with the color setting of the room. Ignoring his uncomfortable stare, she took in the sheer curtains that decorated the room. It draped from the canopy of the bed she was in, it danced softly with the wind that flew in from the open windows. "Who is this, Ferio, that you're talking about? A friend perhaps?" It came out as if he wanted to comfort himself and he silently scold himself mentally.

Fuu sat up a little straighter and gave him a direct look, eye to eye. "He's my savior, my prince, my-" "Savior?" Odin breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled, forgetting that the knight before him didn't finish her sentence. "Well I'll make sure he's generously rewarded then. I'm sure he'll be-" "He's my love." That completely stopped the guardian in his tracks, "Love?" In a gust of wind, Odin was directly in Fuu's face- his green eyes glowing with a reserved anger. Fuu emitted a squeak and leaned back farther in her chair, as if it was possible to escape him. "What do you mean, he's your love?" Fuu sighed, "I'm sorry sir but I have no recognition of you." Green eyes glared back defiantly, "Now I don't know what games you're playing at but I really have to go. Ferio must be worried sick about me and-" A pair of soft lips intruded her personal space and a slap echoed in the room.

Rubbing a timid hand to his cheek, Odin gave a scowl. "Fine then, leave to your 'lover', if you live through the test my queen." The double French doors closed with a snap and the sheer spring green curtains fell into place. "Go on, through there is your true test." Turning his back from her, he ignored Fuu's muttered apology. It wasn't until the sound of a pair of door closing once more did he turn around. "Oh my dear lady Fuu, what has become of you?"

One moment it was darkness and the next moment, light shot from all sides. Umi squinted and waited until her eyes adjusted to the awful brightness. "Lady Umi!" The water knight spun around, startled that someone was calling her. A little girl with an adorable smile ran into her arms and Umi looked on with confusion. "Lady Umi, the Master Mage has been looking for you!" The girl gave a naughty little smile and gestured for Umi to lean in. Complying to the strange girl's wish, Umi leaned down until they were eye level. "The Master Mage said that he misses you and can't wait until you're in his arms." Rearing back in utter shock, the blue haired knight looked on speechless. "Excuse me!" The girl giggled and smiled a toothy grin, her whole being leaking with innocence. "Just beyond the hills milady, hurry before anyone suspect that he's missing." Having no other option, Umi found herself following the little girl; running deeper and deeper into the forests. 'Clef? What is he doing here?'

Making her way up the hills, Umi found herself at a clearance. "She's here Master Mage, I brought her as you asked!" The little girl giggled and a hand went to pat her for a job well done. "Misaka, I have to talk with Lady Umi here alone. I'm sure you will speak nothing of this?" Closing in the distance between her and Clef, she saw Misaka nod. "But of course, how will you speak of it, if you're dead?" She wasn't even able to scream or see what hit her, only falling into darkness. Stopping in her tracks, Umi felt herself speechless and before she knew it, she was on her knees vomiting. Misaka, the innocent little girl, was torn in two. Her face was one of confusion and her bright green eyes were open wide. "Umi, my lady knight." Picking herself from the floor, and whipping her lips, the donnor of Selene stumbled back to create distance – instead of closing distance like before. Blue cerulean eyes glared at the mocking hand in front of her, how could he! "Why? Why did you kill her!" Blinking, once, twice, the Master Mage of Cephiro threw his head back and laughed. "That's what you're mad about?" His lips twisted into a wicked grin and clamped his hands on to her wrist, pulling her to him. "We must take precautions, my love, we can't have them know. We must do what it takes to keep this forbidden love, a secret." His voice soon fell into a whisper and his breath tickled her ear. "The preparations are almost done, Umi. Cephiro will fall and then, then can walk around freely. We won't ever have to hide again, isn't that what you want?"

She pushed him, her hands shoving him as far from her as possible. The clearance was beautiful, with green grass swaying softly in the breeze and a willow tree providing breeze. It was almost romantic if Misaka's dead form wasn't there. The green eyes staring at the endless blue eyes above her. The blood stained the grass around her and Umi almost felt herself vomiting again. "You're not Clef!" The Magic Knight of Water screamed. "Clef would never agree to this; I would never agree to this." There was only silence, and Umi waited as the man before her stared with void sapphire eyes. "I knew a day like this might come, a day where you'll stop loving me." His face harden and his stance became more offensive, "I cannot let you love another than me. You must die, Ryuuzaki Umi, Magic Knight of Selene."

As soon as the door closed behind her, Hikaru found herself surrounded by a second of darkness before a flash of light overpowered her senses. "Hikaru" The donnor of Rayearth turned and smiled widely, "Lantis!" She ran into his arms and the lack of emotion in his response startled her. Opening her eyes, Hikaru noticed for the first time her surroundings. It was dark, and the air was gloomy. The walls were built with stone and the floor beneath her were cobbles. She tensed as she heard battle cries outside. Turning to one of the window, the red-hair girl gasp at the scene in front of her. The land before her was covered in rivers of blood, precious life dripping from fatal wounds on the fallen soldiers, and she turned away from it all. Strong arms embraced her and Hikaru looked up with fright, "Lantis! We must go out and stop them." The anguished cries echoed and it tore at her heart. "Stop them?" Lantis's flawless face lifted into a smirk, his gaze to the windows. "Why stop them, Hikaru? We're winning and soon, soon Cephiro will be ours." Tearing herself from his hold, she narrowed her eyes in disbelief at the man who just turned his back towards her. "What?"

A shriek tore from her throat when the man she love turned to her suddenly, a crazed smile adorned on his once handsome face. "Once they're dead, no one can tear us apart Hikaru." A manic laugh bellowed from his throat – the sound foreign to her ears – and Hikaru took a step back. "They think they can separate us? They come at us with threats and swords, but look at them now; now, they're getting slaughtered like pigs!" A scream for mercy went unheard as Hikaru heard the scream died out into a gurgle, as if the victim was choking on its own blood. "Together, Hikaru, together we'll rule this land." Remembering her place in Cephiro, Hikaru stood tall and shook her head. "I will not stand for this Lantis, this is meaningless manslaughter." She turned for the door, only to have her slammed into it by a force from the back. "Meaningless manslaughter? Oh my dear, have you gone soft? I will kill you before you abandon me!"

The light filtered in and she had to cover her eyes before she was able to see clearly. Emerald eyes stared at the transparent glass window in front of her. Outside the sun shone and the sound of children's laughter rang, warming the hearts of all those who heard it. Touching the glass, Fuu turned abruptly at the sound of a giggle that wasn't as innocent as the one outside. "Hello?" No one answered to her question and she was about to return to her watch the children outside when she heard it again. Her feet drew her near to the source of the sound, wanting to investigate where the noise came from. Soon, the giggles turned into sensuous moans and the young girl found herself blushing. A rather heavy object on her ring finger distracted her for a moment and Fuu gasped at the diamond ring. Whirling around and documenting her surroundings, she found herself in a castle. Her gown of white silk twirled with her and Fuu felt a smile blossoming, she was married to Ferio no doubt – the crown on her head spoke for itself. Another moan, except much louder this time, brought her back to the task at hand and Fuu nodded mentally. As duty as a queen, she should see to it that such behavior is discouraged. It was funny actually, how there were no one else around on this floor. Making her way down the halls, she found the route to be very familiar. Arriving to a door of pure white, Fuu recognized it immediately. It was Ferio's room.

Another moan ripped the silent air and Fuu found herself angered, of all nerve! Not only were two strangers having sexual activities in the castle during broad daylight, but also having it in the King's room – though it's now most likely known as the King and Queen's room. How can anyone let this happen? She scanned for the guards but found none around, where were all of them? Bracing herself, Fuu steeled her nerves. She would be the one to teach them a lesson, no one should be allowed to trespass into her room. Her hands reached for the golden handles and she pushed the door open, her lips pressed together into a frown. There, lying on the bed was the backside of a woman, straddling a man on the bed. "You there! What do you think you're doing in here?" The woman stopped in mid-movement and turned, long black hair slithered with her move. "This is the..." The words died on her mouth as soon as they came once her gaze landed on the man in the bed. "I am very aware that this is my room, you may leave." The woman on top of him giggled and shifted, earning a groan from the man.

Not believing her eyes, Fuu took a step forward. Wide emerald eyes faded to a glare at the naked woman on top of her husband, "Get out." It was clear that she was talking to the woman, but the adulteress made no effort to move. "I said, get out!" The wind knight screamed, her eyes narrowing even more. The stranger paid no heed to the furious woman and turned to the man she was on, "Ferio," she whined, "she's scaring me." The king gently cooed at her in comfort, "Go outside Naomi. I'll fetch you in a moment." The girl huffed but nodded all the same. Not caring about her lack of clothes, Naomi walked pass the fuming queen with a smirk. Once the door was closed, Fuu turned her eyes to the man, her lover, on the bed. "What is it you want? You know better than to barge in my room when I'm entertaining guests." Growling, Fuu stomped her way towards him and gave a prompt slap. "Guests? Don't you mean some whore! I loved you, why are you doing this!" Ferio turned and stared at his queen. "Love? Whore? Doesn't that make you my whore too?" Fuu raised her hand for another slap but a larger hand held on to her wrist in a dead-lock grip. "You must think I'm stupid to let you lay your filthy hands on me again. Just because you're my queen does not mean you can touch me." Throwing her to the grounds, Ferio reached for a sword next to the bed stand. "I was a fool to not kill you before, my queen. But it's time you say goodbye now."

A/N: Yes, yes, I know. Late update – very late – but I still updated? I'll try and update sooner, since my semester is almost done and a week off is coming up. Let me know if there's still people reading this, or I won't update as often. Off to start next chapter, remember to review!