Good thing I wrote this earlier. All I have to do is hit upload & I'm good. I don't own MKR.

Chapter 14

The group finally landed in a clearing. Ferio set Fuu down, but didn't move from his spot. Hikaru slid off & created a fire by collecting some wood & using her powers.

"I'll go get some food." Umi volunteered.

"I'll go too." Ascot followed her, leaving Hikaru & Lantis standing.

Sighing, Hikaru turned to Fuu. "Will she be alright?" she wondered out loud.

Lantis came up behind her & hugged her. "Don't worry, she'll be fine." He turned her around & stared at her with his intense eyes. "What about you?"

Hikaru was shocked. "What about me?" she asked.

"You were zapped multiple times." Lantis winced at the memory. "And I let that happen." He let go & turned.

Hikaru walked up to him & put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm fine." She could feel Lantis tighten up & hugged him, her head leaning on his back as his shoulders shook.

"I swore to protect you & I let you get hurt." Lantis murmured, but Hikaru heard.

"Don't blame yourself. Remember what you told me? We're a team. You protect me & I protect you. There are times when we can't, but don't dwell on them." Hikaru hugged him tighter, tears forming. "Please don't blame yourself…" she cried.

Lantis stopped & turned around to see Hikaru trying to wipe her tears. "Don't you start crying." he teased, bringing her into another hug.

Hikaru leaned into him. "I'm fine. Just a little tired." She pulled back & smiled. "Wanna take a walk?"

Lantis laughed. "You just said you were tired."

Hikaru smiled back & grabbed his hand. "I said a little. I can survive a walk. Lets go." She pulled him along.

Ferio's POV

"Fuu…" he murmured, stroking her hair. He had faintly acknowledged that his other companions had left, but he didn't make a move. He was concerned for Fuu.

Shutting his eyes, he tried to make the memory of her crying out in pain go away. "Fuu…" he cried, tears falling down his cheek. "Please be all right. I don't know what I would do without you."

One of his tears hit her cheeks & he heard a murmuring. Looking down with moist wide eyes, he watched as Fuu opened one eye, groaning. "Ferio…?" she faintly called out.

"Fuu!" he exclaimed, bringing her into a hug. "Thank God you're all right."

Fuu smiled & hugged him back weakly. "Of course, silly. You can't get rid of me that easily." she joked.

Ferio laughed weakly. "Still, don't scare me like that."

Fuu nodded. "I promise." They kissed & Fuu leaned on Ferio's chest, just enjoying each others company.

Ascot's POV

He stole a glance at the blue-haired girl walking next to him. Even after everything, he still couldn't believe that she choose him. For the longest time, he thought her & Clef were an item.

Umi broke his thoughts. "Penny for your thoughts."

Ascot smiled. "I'm worth more than a penny." He smiled wider as he heard her laugh. He loved her laugh. It was like bells ringing.

"Fine, just tell me what you're thinking." she pretended to pout, but her eyes teased.

"You." Ascot simply said, smiling as he watched her blush.

"What do you mean, 'me' ?" she asked, nervously.

"I'm thinking about you & how lucky I am to be with you." he admitted sincerely.

Shocked by his confession, Umi smiled up at him. "No. I'm the lucky one. You're different from the boys at home. You actually care about me." She became sad & Ascot wrapped his arms around her.

"Wanna talk about it?" he asked softly.

Umi shook her head. "Not really." Then she looked up, smiling once again. "Don't worry, Ascot. I'll be fine. Lets go find something to eat, though." She broke out & walked ahead, leaving Ascot standing.

"Umi, if you need to talk, I'm here. I'll never leave you." he whispered as he followed her.

Lantis' POV

"Hikaru, for someone so tired, you're full of energy." Lantis huffed as he tried to keep up with the petite girl.

Looking back, Hikaru laughed. "Come on, I'm not going that fast." She began to go faster as Lantis tried to keep up.

"Yeah, but you don't have layers of armor on." he protested.

"Then take it off." Lantis winced at how that sounded, but Hikaru must not have realized it because she turned & tilted her head. "What's wrong?"

Recovering, Lantis smiled. "It's nothing. It's just when you said walk, I thought you meant walk, not a run."

"I wasn't running." Hikaru walked back to him, but tripped over a root. "Whoa!" she exclaimed as she waved her arms in the air, trying to regain her balance.

She stumbled, but wasn't able to regain it. She fell into Lantis & almost took him down with her.

Shutting her eyes, she mumbled. "My bad. Sorry."

Lantis smiled at her apology. "It's OK, no one was hurt."

Hikaru pushed off & looked up with her red eyes holding so much joy that Lantis couldn't help but feel it also.

It must have been obvious because Hikaru giggled. "What are you so happy about?"

"Just being with you." he said truthfully, hugging her & smiling as he watched her blush.

"Don't say stuff like that. You'll make me blush."

"What stuff? That you're the light in my life? Without you, my world would end?" he said the truth in a teasing tone & laughed slightly as she turned as red as her hair.

"Stop that." she ordered, but laughed as well. "Fine. I guess if you want to shower me with praise & love, I'll let you."

Lantis laughed louder. "Jeez, someone's conceited."

Hikaru giggled as Lantis bent down to kiss her. When they broke apart, Hikaru smiled as she leaned into him. "Come on, lets go back. Maybe Fuu woke up."

Lantis nodded, reluctant to leave, but knowing it would be best because it was getting dark. "Lets go." They began to walk back to the camp site.

Okay, a little boring. But so much love in that! Please RR