Mmmm, I thought two was my number, but last chapter, well... I GOT THREE REVIEWS!!! Hue, I'm happy!! I'm also happy because I just started another fanfic, but I'll tell you more some other time. First things first:
LieskTenshi no Earth: You'll know ^^ Just be patient!
Miemu Akari: Believe me, if I could ever get close to Lantis, the last thing I would do would be slapping him... Errr, I'm sure you understand me... Well I know this story is slow paced, but... what can I say, I enjoy details... I'll just keep working to make it more interesting.
blazingIcEph0eniX: Just a riddle... think about the shyest person in all the Rayearth cast, and that's our main chara today!! I don't think it was so hard... Next one IS a tough one.
Well, the usual crap, I don't own Rayearth (CLAMP does, of course) and I'm not making money out of this, so don't sue me.
Just read and enjoy!
********** Battling emotions **********
Chapter IV
Ascot - Insecurity
Ascot didn't know yet about the arrival of the Magic Knights. He was distracted in one of the towers of the castle, locked in a room with one of his creatures, which was in an advanced gestation state so she needed all the imaginable cares, sometimes it was even necessary to feed her with a silver tablespoon. She was a beautiful animal with forms that reminded the ones of a mythological griffin, but Ascot had no idea of which other creature could have been "playing games" with this one, neither of what kind of thing was about to be born.
When he abandoned the animal, which was a real nuisance, the young summoned went towards Caldina's room, being surprised not to find her there. After that, he went to look for her into the armory and into Lafarga's room. No luck. In the end, after he had already decided to tell her about his four-legged friend's advances later and supposing the dancer had left the castle, he thought he heard her voice when passing by Presea's room. He knocked on the door and he waited till a muffled voice authorized him to enter.
Indeed, there they were, not only Caldina, but also Lafarga and Presea herself. The illusionist filled papers and more papers, presumably with a bunch of things that where strictly necessary for the party, in front of the more and more astonished and amusing looks of her two companions. The poor Lafarga already wondered where will they get all those things from, and on the other hand, Presea laughed lowly, since in her opinion, with all that stuff was already enough to make not a party, but a national scale ball.
- Ascot! - Caldina exclaimed when she saw him enter - You'll help me too!
Diligently, she gave him some of the papers she had been writing on, and Ascot took them with comic and resigned expression, similar to the one spreading all over Lafarga's features. He read in silence for a short while.
- What for do you need all this, Caldina?
It was the artisan the one who realized Ascot didn't know the big news yet.
- Caldina wants to throw a party to celebrate the Magic Knight's return. - she informed between laughs.
- The what? - the young man couldn't believe what he had just heard.
- With so many preparations, this whole thing will end up being a festival, a carnival, or who knows what. - Lafarga grumbled.
- I don't care! - Caldina hugged him with coquetry, with what the swordsman began to sweat cold - We just have to make sure everybody have fun!
Presea kept laughing.
- Hey, hold it right there! - Ascot screamed in order to gather their full attention - Can someone explain to me what's all this about the Magic Knights return??
The artisan stopped laughing, while Caldina and Lafarga pulled away, obviously unwillingly. The three looked at the summoner as if he was nothing but a bug recently arrived from another world, just like his creatures were.
- Don't you know? - the illusionist smiled, while noting the embarrassment her dear swordsman was still suffering - The girls arrived today. I don't know how could they make it, after so much time... but we have to celebrate!
- I have to admit we all have been very happy with their return... well, not all of us... - Lafarga trailed off.
- Did something wrong happen? - Ascot was a little flustered now.
- Lafarga is talking about Lantis. - Presea explained - He also arrived today, altogether with Autozam's delegation, and he has behaved in a quite unfriendly way.
- That Lantis, he is a wet blanket! - Caldina exclaimed, like she wanted to end up the current subject - I bet you guys that my little Hikaru is able to remove all that acrimony away from him. She is exactly what "Mister No-feelings" needs.
Lafarga looked at the dancer, disapproving her last words, which went too far in his opinion. Ascot reddened slightly for the same reason. He was still astonished.
- Out of this - Caldina continued her endless chatter - everybody has been delighted with the party idea. MY idea.
This said, she danced around the whole room again, causing Presea to laugh again and disappearing the frown on the swordsman's face with her sensual movements.
- Lantis has always been that way. - the artisan declared - he is not very expressive, not to say he's not expressive at all, but I'm sure that he's also happy for the Magic Knights' return. In his own way, that is.
- One more reason to throw a party! - Caldina yelled happily, jumping back to hug Lafarga's neck. Of course, he immediately began to sweat cold AGAIN.
- There's no way to win against you - he mumbled in deep conviction.
The illusionist rewarded him with a fleeting kiss on his nose for giving away such conclusion. Presea looked at them smiling, and perhaps a little bit envious.
- Could you guys just stop that and tell me if Umi came??
One more time, Lafarga and Caldina pulled away, still unwillingly; and Presea stopped her laugh. They looked back to Ascot.
- Of course she came. - said the incorrigible Caldina - And, just in case you wanna know, the last time we saw her she was in the garden. Completely alone. - she added bearing a mischievous smile.
Ascot needed no further explanations.
- I gotta go! - he said as he rushed hastily towards the exit.
And before anyone could say anything, the summoner had already disappeared beyond the door, leaving into the corridor.
- I just hope he doesn't lose his fight to shyness this time. - it was Caldina's last comment.
ºººººººººº
The soft breeze seemed to whisper unknown secrets among the treetops. That part of the garden was kind of lonely, for it was little visited, but Hikaru didn't care about that. She wouldn't be able to explain how she had arrived to this place. The world had seemed to eclipse right after Lantis had entered inside the castle. She was astonished and deeply disappointed by his very distant and cold attitude. She didn't know what to think.
- Are you alright?
Eagle was there, and he leaned towards her with concern painted on his features. She shook her head. She was not the kind of girl who would loose her always-high spirit to discouragement so easily.
- Don't worry, Eagle. - she answered, forcing a smile which finally appeared on her face. - I'm fine.
The young man moved his head from one side to another. He obviously didn't believe her, but she insisted:
- I'm fine, really! But... I'm worried about Lantis...
Eagle had no idea on what could have possibly caused such a change of attitude in the swordsman, but he tried to find a reasonable explanation though.
- I suppose he should be very tired. - he suggested while looking at Hikaru with a half smile - We have had arduous days in Autozam, and I know he's very strong, both physically and spiritually, but still Lantis is not used to our ways of living. The use of mental energy can be really exhausting. Besides, - he added, holding the girl's hands in a rush - he has given so much of himself so that my planet gets better that he already counts with the appreciation of all my countrymen. Everybody knows him, and I don't think we would have achieved such good results in so little time without Kailu Lantis of Cefiro's help and deep compromise with our cause.
Not being able to help it, Hikaru was moved when she heard Eagle speak this way, and he realized the fact that the redhead actually wanted to know more about the works taking place in Autozam and the participation of the magic swordsman in them. So he began to tell her thousands of anecdotes, liven up his speech as he felt himself deeply touched talking about the recovery of his world.
It was a beautiful scene, to see the handsome young man speaking vividly and still seizing the beautiful girl's hands, as she was pending on his words, obviously delighted, with brilliant crimson eyes. Both completely unaware to the glances addressed to them by a tall and dark figure beholding from the shades of the heavy curtains, inside a balcony high above their heads...
ºººººººººº
In the corridor, Ascot was experiencing a real battle between his impatience to see Umi and the bashfulness he felt knowing he would have to admit to her the feelings he could no longer hide. Not that he wanted to, for that matter. He had been waiting so long for this opportunity to come and he was not going to waste it for anything in the world. However, he couldn't stop feeling insecure and doubtful. He was afraid the girl didn't felt the same way about him, and that he could break the confidence existing between them with an embarrassing declaration. Plus, there was Guru Clef...
But... was it possible to leave things as they were now? Faking friendship when what he wanted was something much deeper? No, being Umi's friend was definitively not enough. He yearned for so much more than that fraternal affection she had always shown to him. He wasn't really happy, this was little, too little for what he felt, for what he wanted.
Battling himself this way, he arrived to the castle door and there he stopped, when noticing the brilliant light of the cefirian sun. Fearful, although he knew his attitude was quite ridiculous, he leaned out with caution and addressed a fleeting look to the garden.
Umi was seated in a small wall, seemingly contemplating the flowers growing in a hedge near her. The young summoner stared at her for a while, dazzled by her beauty, which had increased with time. She had always been a very pretty girl, but now she was a woman of incredible beauty and reflexive features. The new reality overcame widely to his memories and even to his dreams. Even the clothes she was wearing was queerly beautiful!
Right in front of this vision, Ascot hesitated again. A few seconds ago he was resolved to do anything, and in an instant all his ideas had just vanished, leaving him alone with the sight of the beauty he loved since he was a child... well, to be more precise, since he had the size of a child.
Suddenly, the girl made a slight movement and Ascot, terrified that she had intentions of entering the castle and that she could find him there spying her, he decided to go out to the garden and to face her once and for all. In her distraction or maybe sunken in deep ponderings, she didn't see him until he was very close. She stood up and looked at him with curiosity. Those turquoise eyes left Ascot momentarily breathless. Umi smiled at him... and he felt dizzy of happiness.
- Ascot? - she inquired and hugged him affectionately not wanting to wait for his answer - Of course you are Ascot! It's so good to see you! You haven't changed a bit!
Ascot's happiness was unlimited when seeing the way Umi behaved with him. Without hardly noticing, he allowed her to take him among the flowers that adorned the place, hearing her speak of how much she had missed the world of Cefiro, of the many times they had tried to return, of how happy she felt of being there...
- I'm also very happy that you... that you guys have returned. - Ascot said finally, still fighting his shyness.
They had stopped next to a statue, under a leafy tree in whose branches strange fruits grew. Umi breathed in Cefiro's pure air with pleasure and she looked at her companion with a smile.
- No matter how fancy my life could be in my own world, not even the most incredible luxuries could make Cefiro's memories go away.
- And... are you happy in the Mystic World? - he wanted to know.
Such a question caused a true avalanche of verbosity on the girl's side. Ascot only listened to her. He didn't understand most of the things she said, but neither he cared, he just wanted to be next to her, to see if once and for all he was able to gather courage enough to confess his feelings. Until his curiosity was stronger, when hearing her mention her top model career over and over again.
- Ah! - Umi smiled and she began to explain - Top models are people who exhibit clothes that others people sew, so that the public could see them.
- And how is that? - the summoner seemed extremely interested.
- You'll see. Let's just pretend that suddenly, Caldina is fashion designer, which is not far from the truth, since she sews clothes, and very beautiful ones, by the way. Then, we build a foot-bridge, which is the place for people to walk when exhibiting the suits, dresses and stuff. And so we make a fashion parade, so that people see how clothes look "on the move", and if they like it, then they can go and buy it. It's marketing, in a showy way.
- I see... and all those "modeling" people have to be beautiful?
- Well yes, most of times.
- Just like you. - Ascot concluded.
To this statement, a light blush appeared on the top model's cheeks.
- Well, this business is not only for girls. Males are also needed, to wear man's clothes. - here Umi looked at him for an instant - You could be good for the job, you are tall enough and also, you are very handsome.
Now it was Ascot the one who blushed beyond help. He said to himself, in his mind, that the moment had arrived. He had to tell her, now or never.
- Umi... there is something that I want to tell you...
- What is it? - the girl asked, looking at him with an encouraging smile.
Not knowing it, Umi actually discouraged the summoner with her kindness. To think that he could lose what he had now... although it seemed little to him, at least it was something. He had a knot on his throat, preventing him from speaking. She was so pretty and he was so in love!
- What is it, Ascot? - she insisted, now really curious as to what did he want to tell her.
- Umi... I...
This was so dumb. He was babbling like a fool and making a miserable ridicule! At the top of his despair, Ascot continued trying to confess her that he loved her.
Umi looked at him with growing curiosity. Let alone Hikaru and Fuu, he was her best friend; from the day they had met each other they had helped and protected mutually, so there was confidence enough among them so that Ascot didn't have to hesitate in telling her anything. Or at least that's what she thought.
Just for that reason, her astonishment was indescribable when suddenly the summoner leaned forward and kissed her lips. It was hardly a couple of seconds, and then, before the girl could be able to react, Ascot stood up and retreated towards the interior of the castle in a hurry, right in front of the astonished eyes of an even more astonished Umi.
To be continued...
Next chapter: Adversity
LieskTenshi no Earth: You'll know ^^ Just be patient!
Miemu Akari: Believe me, if I could ever get close to Lantis, the last thing I would do would be slapping him... Errr, I'm sure you understand me... Well I know this story is slow paced, but... what can I say, I enjoy details... I'll just keep working to make it more interesting.
blazingIcEph0eniX: Just a riddle... think about the shyest person in all the Rayearth cast, and that's our main chara today!! I don't think it was so hard... Next one IS a tough one.
Well, the usual crap, I don't own Rayearth (CLAMP does, of course) and I'm not making money out of this, so don't sue me.
Just read and enjoy!
********** Battling emotions **********
Chapter IV
Ascot - Insecurity
Ascot didn't know yet about the arrival of the Magic Knights. He was distracted in one of the towers of the castle, locked in a room with one of his creatures, which was in an advanced gestation state so she needed all the imaginable cares, sometimes it was even necessary to feed her with a silver tablespoon. She was a beautiful animal with forms that reminded the ones of a mythological griffin, but Ascot had no idea of which other creature could have been "playing games" with this one, neither of what kind of thing was about to be born.
When he abandoned the animal, which was a real nuisance, the young summoned went towards Caldina's room, being surprised not to find her there. After that, he went to look for her into the armory and into Lafarga's room. No luck. In the end, after he had already decided to tell her about his four-legged friend's advances later and supposing the dancer had left the castle, he thought he heard her voice when passing by Presea's room. He knocked on the door and he waited till a muffled voice authorized him to enter.
Indeed, there they were, not only Caldina, but also Lafarga and Presea herself. The illusionist filled papers and more papers, presumably with a bunch of things that where strictly necessary for the party, in front of the more and more astonished and amusing looks of her two companions. The poor Lafarga already wondered where will they get all those things from, and on the other hand, Presea laughed lowly, since in her opinion, with all that stuff was already enough to make not a party, but a national scale ball.
- Ascot! - Caldina exclaimed when she saw him enter - You'll help me too!
Diligently, she gave him some of the papers she had been writing on, and Ascot took them with comic and resigned expression, similar to the one spreading all over Lafarga's features. He read in silence for a short while.
- What for do you need all this, Caldina?
It was the artisan the one who realized Ascot didn't know the big news yet.
- Caldina wants to throw a party to celebrate the Magic Knight's return. - she informed between laughs.
- The what? - the young man couldn't believe what he had just heard.
- With so many preparations, this whole thing will end up being a festival, a carnival, or who knows what. - Lafarga grumbled.
- I don't care! - Caldina hugged him with coquetry, with what the swordsman began to sweat cold - We just have to make sure everybody have fun!
Presea kept laughing.
- Hey, hold it right there! - Ascot screamed in order to gather their full attention - Can someone explain to me what's all this about the Magic Knights return??
The artisan stopped laughing, while Caldina and Lafarga pulled away, obviously unwillingly. The three looked at the summoner as if he was nothing but a bug recently arrived from another world, just like his creatures were.
- Don't you know? - the illusionist smiled, while noting the embarrassment her dear swordsman was still suffering - The girls arrived today. I don't know how could they make it, after so much time... but we have to celebrate!
- I have to admit we all have been very happy with their return... well, not all of us... - Lafarga trailed off.
- Did something wrong happen? - Ascot was a little flustered now.
- Lafarga is talking about Lantis. - Presea explained - He also arrived today, altogether with Autozam's delegation, and he has behaved in a quite unfriendly way.
- That Lantis, he is a wet blanket! - Caldina exclaimed, like she wanted to end up the current subject - I bet you guys that my little Hikaru is able to remove all that acrimony away from him. She is exactly what "Mister No-feelings" needs.
Lafarga looked at the dancer, disapproving her last words, which went too far in his opinion. Ascot reddened slightly for the same reason. He was still astonished.
- Out of this - Caldina continued her endless chatter - everybody has been delighted with the party idea. MY idea.
This said, she danced around the whole room again, causing Presea to laugh again and disappearing the frown on the swordsman's face with her sensual movements.
- Lantis has always been that way. - the artisan declared - he is not very expressive, not to say he's not expressive at all, but I'm sure that he's also happy for the Magic Knights' return. In his own way, that is.
- One more reason to throw a party! - Caldina yelled happily, jumping back to hug Lafarga's neck. Of course, he immediately began to sweat cold AGAIN.
- There's no way to win against you - he mumbled in deep conviction.
The illusionist rewarded him with a fleeting kiss on his nose for giving away such conclusion. Presea looked at them smiling, and perhaps a little bit envious.
- Could you guys just stop that and tell me if Umi came??
One more time, Lafarga and Caldina pulled away, still unwillingly; and Presea stopped her laugh. They looked back to Ascot.
- Of course she came. - said the incorrigible Caldina - And, just in case you wanna know, the last time we saw her she was in the garden. Completely alone. - she added bearing a mischievous smile.
Ascot needed no further explanations.
- I gotta go! - he said as he rushed hastily towards the exit.
And before anyone could say anything, the summoner had already disappeared beyond the door, leaving into the corridor.
- I just hope he doesn't lose his fight to shyness this time. - it was Caldina's last comment.
ºººººººººº
The soft breeze seemed to whisper unknown secrets among the treetops. That part of the garden was kind of lonely, for it was little visited, but Hikaru didn't care about that. She wouldn't be able to explain how she had arrived to this place. The world had seemed to eclipse right after Lantis had entered inside the castle. She was astonished and deeply disappointed by his very distant and cold attitude. She didn't know what to think.
- Are you alright?
Eagle was there, and he leaned towards her with concern painted on his features. She shook her head. She was not the kind of girl who would loose her always-high spirit to discouragement so easily.
- Don't worry, Eagle. - she answered, forcing a smile which finally appeared on her face. - I'm fine.
The young man moved his head from one side to another. He obviously didn't believe her, but she insisted:
- I'm fine, really! But... I'm worried about Lantis...
Eagle had no idea on what could have possibly caused such a change of attitude in the swordsman, but he tried to find a reasonable explanation though.
- I suppose he should be very tired. - he suggested while looking at Hikaru with a half smile - We have had arduous days in Autozam, and I know he's very strong, both physically and spiritually, but still Lantis is not used to our ways of living. The use of mental energy can be really exhausting. Besides, - he added, holding the girl's hands in a rush - he has given so much of himself so that my planet gets better that he already counts with the appreciation of all my countrymen. Everybody knows him, and I don't think we would have achieved such good results in so little time without Kailu Lantis of Cefiro's help and deep compromise with our cause.
Not being able to help it, Hikaru was moved when she heard Eagle speak this way, and he realized the fact that the redhead actually wanted to know more about the works taking place in Autozam and the participation of the magic swordsman in them. So he began to tell her thousands of anecdotes, liven up his speech as he felt himself deeply touched talking about the recovery of his world.
It was a beautiful scene, to see the handsome young man speaking vividly and still seizing the beautiful girl's hands, as she was pending on his words, obviously delighted, with brilliant crimson eyes. Both completely unaware to the glances addressed to them by a tall and dark figure beholding from the shades of the heavy curtains, inside a balcony high above their heads...
ºººººººººº
In the corridor, Ascot was experiencing a real battle between his impatience to see Umi and the bashfulness he felt knowing he would have to admit to her the feelings he could no longer hide. Not that he wanted to, for that matter. He had been waiting so long for this opportunity to come and he was not going to waste it for anything in the world. However, he couldn't stop feeling insecure and doubtful. He was afraid the girl didn't felt the same way about him, and that he could break the confidence existing between them with an embarrassing declaration. Plus, there was Guru Clef...
But... was it possible to leave things as they were now? Faking friendship when what he wanted was something much deeper? No, being Umi's friend was definitively not enough. He yearned for so much more than that fraternal affection she had always shown to him. He wasn't really happy, this was little, too little for what he felt, for what he wanted.
Battling himself this way, he arrived to the castle door and there he stopped, when noticing the brilliant light of the cefirian sun. Fearful, although he knew his attitude was quite ridiculous, he leaned out with caution and addressed a fleeting look to the garden.
Umi was seated in a small wall, seemingly contemplating the flowers growing in a hedge near her. The young summoner stared at her for a while, dazzled by her beauty, which had increased with time. She had always been a very pretty girl, but now she was a woman of incredible beauty and reflexive features. The new reality overcame widely to his memories and even to his dreams. Even the clothes she was wearing was queerly beautiful!
Right in front of this vision, Ascot hesitated again. A few seconds ago he was resolved to do anything, and in an instant all his ideas had just vanished, leaving him alone with the sight of the beauty he loved since he was a child... well, to be more precise, since he had the size of a child.
Suddenly, the girl made a slight movement and Ascot, terrified that she had intentions of entering the castle and that she could find him there spying her, he decided to go out to the garden and to face her once and for all. In her distraction or maybe sunken in deep ponderings, she didn't see him until he was very close. She stood up and looked at him with curiosity. Those turquoise eyes left Ascot momentarily breathless. Umi smiled at him... and he felt dizzy of happiness.
- Ascot? - she inquired and hugged him affectionately not wanting to wait for his answer - Of course you are Ascot! It's so good to see you! You haven't changed a bit!
Ascot's happiness was unlimited when seeing the way Umi behaved with him. Without hardly noticing, he allowed her to take him among the flowers that adorned the place, hearing her speak of how much she had missed the world of Cefiro, of the many times they had tried to return, of how happy she felt of being there...
- I'm also very happy that you... that you guys have returned. - Ascot said finally, still fighting his shyness.
They had stopped next to a statue, under a leafy tree in whose branches strange fruits grew. Umi breathed in Cefiro's pure air with pleasure and she looked at her companion with a smile.
- No matter how fancy my life could be in my own world, not even the most incredible luxuries could make Cefiro's memories go away.
- And... are you happy in the Mystic World? - he wanted to know.
Such a question caused a true avalanche of verbosity on the girl's side. Ascot only listened to her. He didn't understand most of the things she said, but neither he cared, he just wanted to be next to her, to see if once and for all he was able to gather courage enough to confess his feelings. Until his curiosity was stronger, when hearing her mention her top model career over and over again.
- Ah! - Umi smiled and she began to explain - Top models are people who exhibit clothes that others people sew, so that the public could see them.
- And how is that? - the summoner seemed extremely interested.
- You'll see. Let's just pretend that suddenly, Caldina is fashion designer, which is not far from the truth, since she sews clothes, and very beautiful ones, by the way. Then, we build a foot-bridge, which is the place for people to walk when exhibiting the suits, dresses and stuff. And so we make a fashion parade, so that people see how clothes look "on the move", and if they like it, then they can go and buy it. It's marketing, in a showy way.
- I see... and all those "modeling" people have to be beautiful?
- Well yes, most of times.
- Just like you. - Ascot concluded.
To this statement, a light blush appeared on the top model's cheeks.
- Well, this business is not only for girls. Males are also needed, to wear man's clothes. - here Umi looked at him for an instant - You could be good for the job, you are tall enough and also, you are very handsome.
Now it was Ascot the one who blushed beyond help. He said to himself, in his mind, that the moment had arrived. He had to tell her, now or never.
- Umi... there is something that I want to tell you...
- What is it? - the girl asked, looking at him with an encouraging smile.
Not knowing it, Umi actually discouraged the summoner with her kindness. To think that he could lose what he had now... although it seemed little to him, at least it was something. He had a knot on his throat, preventing him from speaking. She was so pretty and he was so in love!
- What is it, Ascot? - she insisted, now really curious as to what did he want to tell her.
- Umi... I...
This was so dumb. He was babbling like a fool and making a miserable ridicule! At the top of his despair, Ascot continued trying to confess her that he loved her.
Umi looked at him with growing curiosity. Let alone Hikaru and Fuu, he was her best friend; from the day they had met each other they had helped and protected mutually, so there was confidence enough among them so that Ascot didn't have to hesitate in telling her anything. Or at least that's what she thought.
Just for that reason, her astonishment was indescribable when suddenly the summoner leaned forward and kissed her lips. It was hardly a couple of seconds, and then, before the girl could be able to react, Ascot stood up and retreated towards the interior of the castle in a hurry, right in front of the astonished eyes of an even more astonished Umi.
To be continued...
Next chapter: Adversity