Blah...I don't own MKR

Chapter 16

"Now where would I go if I was a 7-year old girl?" Hikaru thought out loud.

"I wouldn't have ran away in the first place. I would have stayed with my parents." Umi spoke up.

"Well, maybe this girl couldn't find her parents, so she ran into the forest." Fuu suggested.

"Maybe. We have to find her soon, though. A little girl could get hurt in a place like this." Hikaru said, urging Rayearth to go faster.

5 minutes past & still no sign of a black haired little girl. Sighing, Hikaru motioned for Rayearth to go lower. The others followed, a little confused.

Jumping off, Hikaru turned to her Rune God. "Thank you Rayearth, but we'll continue on foot."

"Of course, fire mistress." Rayearth bowed as he disappeared.

The girls said goodbye to their Rune Gods as well. Once alone again, the girls turned to Hikaru, questions in their eyes. "Why are we walking, Miss Hikaru?" Fuu asked.

"Because it's easier to find a little girl if we're closer to the ground." Hikaru told them as she began to walk.

The girls shrugged their shoulders & followed. After walking in silence for half an hour, Umi was becoming antsy. "I'm tired & hungry. Why don't we stop for camp?"

Fuu agreed. "It is getting darker. It would be smart to camp."

Hikaru looked up at the sky & gave in. "I guess so. But first thing in the morning, we'll look again."

"Thank God." Umi moaned as she fell to the ground. Fuu smiled & sat down next to her.

Hikaru created a fire again & sat down next to them. They all stared into the fire until Fuu spoke up. "Guys? Maybe we should get some food."

Hikaru sweat dropped. "You are so right, Fuu-chan." She stood up. "I'll go." But Umi stood up as well. "Not without me."

Turning to Fuu, Hikaru asked. "Will you be all right on your own for a while, Fuu-chan?"

She nodded. "Of course. Just hurry back."

The girls nodded. "We will, Fuu." Umi said as she & Hikaru walked off to find food.

Fuu watched them go until they were out of sight. Then she stared into the fire once again. "I hope I eventually gain enough power to control this new power." She sighed out loud, clutching the stone in her armor.

Umi & Hikaru walked in silence until Umi finally spoke up. "Hikaru, do you think we'll get our stones soon?"

Hikaru nodded, not stopping. "I'm sure of it. If Fuu got hers from the wind realm, ours are at our own realms as well most likely."

Umi nodded & they walked in silence again. This time, Hikaru broke it. "Umi-chan?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"Um…I'm sorry."

Umi stopped walking, shocked. "About what?"

Hikaru stopped as well, but kept her head down. "For all the trouble I've caused. I was stupid for falling for the snake's rattle. I'm weak…" She couldn't say anything else because she began to cry.

Umi bent down & hugged the shorter girl. "No, Hikaru. You are not. You are probably the most powerful of us all. I mean, you were chosen to become Pillar in the first place & you defeated Nova. When everyone was feeling down, you always made us feel better."

Hikaru still cried, not saying anything, so Umi went on. "So don't ever think you're weak. You are far from weak." She hugged the girl tighter.

Hikaru slowly stopped crying & pushed off of Umi. Standing up, she wiped her tears & weakly smiled. "Thank you, Umi-chan. I feel much better."

Umi stood up as well, smiling. "Good. Now lets go find something to eat." The two of them walked off.

Meanwhile, Lantis was staring into the sky, thinking about a little red-head. Sighing, he looked at the stars & imagined her laughing face. Shutting his face, he leaned back on the roof he was lying on. "She'll be all right. She's a Magic Knight, plus she has Umi & Fuu with her." But it still didn't ease his nerves.

"Still up here?" a voice asked.

Lantis opened his eyes to see Ascot & Ferio standing over him, grinning. Rolling his eyes, he sat up. "Where else would I be?" he asked.

The guys sat down next to him. "True." Ferio stared into the sky. "I hope they'll all right." he said.

"I'm sure. They can take care of themselves." Ascot said, remembering the slap Umi gave him so long ago.

Lantis agreed. "Yeah, they are the most powerful force in Cephiro." He sighed. "Still…they are just teenage girls."

The guys nodded. "Yeah." Ferio murmured as he fell asleep, thinking about Fuu.

Ascot just nodded, falling asleep. Soon, only Lantis was left. He felt his eyes flutter close & could have sworn her heard giggling, but just ignored it.

Hikaru & Umi returned to see Fuu sleeping by the fire. Smiling, the girls put the food down & sat down softly next to the sleeping girl.

"She's looks so peaceful." Hikaru whispered, beginning to eat.

Umi nodded, mouth full. She swallowed & smiled. "Seriously."

They sat in silence, eating, until Umi yawned. "Well, I'm going to sleep now. You coming?" She laid down & looked up at the red head.

"In a minute." Hikaru said, watching as her friend fell asleep. Smiling, she stared into the fire once again, subconsciously clutching the mirror pendant around her neck.

After a few moments, she stood up & put the fire out. Stretching, she laid down next to Fuu & closed her eyes. As soon as she did, a shadow covered them.

What could the shadow mean? Please RR