I made some changes…I did not like how I ended the original chapter.

"Stay…Without you…I can't live…"

The Past

"Hikaru can you stop walking around and look where your going or else your going to hit –"

"Ouch!"

"Wall…" Umi just sighed. " Hikaru are you alright " As she went beside her friend.

"It just kinnda hurt that's it"

"Yeah right when I see Mount Fuji growing on top of your head"

"Not true! It just hurts a little bit"

"Hikaru, is there something wrong. Looks like you haven't slept that well. Is something bothering you?"

Hikaru looked at her concern friend. She got up and embraced her friend.

"Hey something is definitely wrong, I'll find Fuu so we can have a grand talk and—"

"Umi, arigato but everything is alright. Don't worry. I just need some time to be alone and relax. Im just going to the garden." With that she left her friend alone.

Umi looked at her friend go out. She was waiting for Ascot here because he said he wanted to show her something… but as she remembered the look at Hikaru's face when she found out that she was back here..

"ohh Hikaru, we know you're the one who's hurting now…but what can we do when our happiness comes from this place."

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"If I still remember this is the door that connects to the gar— "

She forgot what to say because the garden she once saw was not a garden… it was Eden!! Paradise. So many flowers, trees… the smell of the garden. Its breeze. It was intoxicating. And just like a child. She ran! Ran until she was tired.

She found a perfect spot. A tree where it had a great amount of shade. She loved the smell of the garden. It actually made her feel sleepy… but when she started to fall asleep, something popped up.

"Stay…Without you…I can't live…"

She snapped her eyes opened. Two days had passed since "the conversation"

Why now?

I just don't get it.

Those were the words that had been bugging her for almost two straight nights. She couldn't get much sleep cause those words would start to hunt her.

"He says those words but then decides to go into hibernation mode all of a sudden."

Get a grip, Hikaru. You're the one who's been hiding. It's a miracle that you decide to come out of your room. The whole kingdom wants to see the legendary knights.

I just don't feel like it.

Or maybe because I see Fuu and Umi so happy, that's why I don't want to go out. Seeing them happy makes me jea—

"Hikaru"

I looked up and saw that Umi and Fuu was coming towards me. It was Fuu that called out my name.

"Hey." I signaled to them to sit down that there was enough space for them to sit on.

"Wow its so beautiful here" Umi said as her eyes started to sparkle.

"Indeed, something's do change" As fuu looked around.

We were silent as we all stared at the scenery that was surrounding us. Then…

"Whats wrong Hikaru?"

I looked at Fuu, she was serious. I looked at Umi and she had the expression of 'I didn't tell her'

"Nothings wrong" I simply said.

"Well somethings do never change. Hikaru, stop looking at Umi as if your going to have her for lunch or dinner. She didn't say anything."

"Really?" as I gave a maniac smile to Umi.

"It was obvious."

That stopped me from attacking Umi.

"What do you mean"

Umi looked at me, and I felt as if she was doing an x-ray scan.

"What happened that night?"

We all fell silent again. I just looked down at the grass

"I don't want to talk about Fuu. It's the past."

"Say that to Pinocchio. Your never good at lying Hikaru." Umi said smiling. "You always showed your true emotion no matter what."

Fuu then suddenly hugged me.

"Please, tell us what happened. So we would understand your pain." I looked at Fuu. Tears were about to fall. The Umi joined in the hug. "We're your best friends. We went through a lot. Just tell us whats wrong."

That did it. I finally gave into crying. Finally after I was weak from crying I was able to tell them, why I wished never to return here.

"Everything was ok. We were happy" I sniffed

"You mean Lantis?" Fuu looked at me curiously

I looked at them.

"You mean, you didn't think it was about him."

Umi and Fuu nodded in together.

"Well…" as tears were forming again. "the day before we went back, everything was fine. He even swore to me that he'd would never leave me…but the next morning. He became different. The whole day he became cold with me. Until… that night."

Flashback

"You have to go back. You don't need to stay. Go back to your world."

"Just tell me to stay… why should I go back?"

"because you don't belong here. Because your job is finished. You should live in your world, marry and grow old there."

"Why are you doing this?? Look at me Lantis! Just tell me why?"

"I have to go…"

"I love you…Lantis…."

"Thank you… but I love someone else… Sandy is her name… and I'm going there tomorrow."

"I hate you Lantis!"

End of flashback

"After I heard what he said, I just couldn't help it. I loved him." Tears where rolling down again. " the only thing I knew was that I hated him and that the pain that I felt hurt so much. So I wished that if the gods above me would answer my only request that would be to seal the portal leading to both worlds and never to return here"

I cried again from the guilt "I knew that by doing that I took away your happiness. But I felt that all I wanted was to be happy. So for the first time, I felt selfish. Im sorry." I cried this time, it was hard to look at their face. Now they knew the truth.

"Baka."

I looked at Fuu. "What"

"Baka." I looked at Umi.

"Why didn't you tell us Hikaru. We could have kick his butt altogether!" As Umi hugged me.

"I felt so guilty, I destroyed your happiness. That's why I avoided you guys."

"Baka, did that help?" Fuu looked at me

"Fuu…we should—" Umi was shocked at the new behavior of fuu. She never acted like this or cut someone when their talking.

"Let Hikaru answer. She took our source of happiness and avoided us. Did it help Hikaru?"

I looked in the eyes of Fuu.

"No. I just ran from a battle which I usually don't. I took away your happiness without me realizing it…that until now all im doing is still running away…instead of facing it. Im sorry"

I looked at Umi. "I know I took away your happiness…im sorry."

I got up ready to leave the place when Fuu called out my name.

"So what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know…"

"Do you still love him?" Umi asked

I turned to face them. "I will always love him…but…he broke my heart."

I left them to go back to my room.

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"Why did you have to be so harsh on her Fuu."

Fuu looked at Umi and smiled. "Don't worry, its part of our plan" as Fuu started to walk out.

"Nani? What do you mean plan? Hey!! Whats going on! Just because your back together with Ferio means you can go high almighty with me." Umi chased Fuu.

"Just wait Umi, all they need is time." Fuu gave a secret smile to Umi. Though she was surprised at the reason why they were not able to go back, she had a small hunch that it would be about Lantis. But now at least Hikaru was able to let it out.

"Fuu, are you mad at Hikaru?"

Fuu looked at Umi.

"No." she gave Umi her sincerest smile. "Never"

"Me too!" as Umi smiled back. "so whats the plan?"

"Nothing. They just have to make a choice and I hope that choice would be mutual"

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The palace was full of laughter and joy. Everyone was busy with their respective partners. It was perfect to have a grand party that night. The sky was shining with stars. The ambiance, the garden was breathtaking. The ballroom full with guests from other countries. Everyone was here for a celebration. What kind of celebration? The arrival of the Legendary Magic Knights and the future wife of Prince Ferio. Everyone was excited. Everyone wanted to see the Magic Knights. For now, the guest have only seen the goddess of wind and water. They were all charmed by them. But they were very interested to see the goddess of fire. The one who wished for the countries happiness. Their princess.

"Where is she?" Umi was starting to get annoyed by Hikaru's non-appearance. "She told be she'd come down in a few minutes." She got off her chair. "Its been 2 hours!!!"

"I got the picture…you don't have to shout…people are going to be afraid of you." Ascot said.

Umi looked around and saw that she drew some attention. "Sorry" and sat close next to Ascot. Ascot smiled.

"So you too, have noticed she isn't here yet huh"

It was Fuu and Ferio.

"Hey Prince Ferio!"

"You know Fuu, whenever she says that I have feeling as if she's plotting something bad." Ferio had to dodge the club that Umi was swinging.

"Well at everyone likes you, princess Fuu."

Fuu blushed by the comment of Ascot. Both of them left Umi and Ferio quarreling. It was normal anyway.

"Im not a princess Ascot" still blushing.

"Technical you are, you are the goddess of wind and soon to be wife of Prince Ferio, so that means your going to be a princess." Ascot smiled.

Fuu just smiled back. She was excited that she would be marrying Ferio.

"Why aren't you dancing?"

"We've been dancing…and Im a little bit tired."

"Ferio jealous?"

"Yup."

Finally Ferio and Umi stopped their argument. Obviously, Umi won.

Umi sat down with pride and with an expression, Im the greatest.

But in some cases, Ferio enjoyed being the loser, cause he gets to be tended by Fuu. Fuu didn't know how much he had missed her. The years he spent without her were torture. He did not want to relive those days again. He turned his attention to Lantis. He had a grim look on his face. Wonder why?

Lafarga came where they were sitting and went to Ferio. "She's coming down." Ferio knew what he was talking about.

Finally.

Hikaru was coming.

And took all their breaths away.

She was so beautiful tonight and he knew, there would be tons of men looking forward to talk to the princess…and he knew why Lantis would be in a jealousy mode.

Before she came down, Hikaru did not know at all that Lantis was going to be there. What she also did not know that her friends were making a bet that she would be getting back with Lantis. On the other side, where a guy was grumbling of having to be at this stupid party was now aware of another presence.

Hikaru's.

He was so transfixed with her. Her hair down. Gone was her braid. She was wearing a simple gown, but to him she looked like a goddess. And wanted to poke all the eyes of every men who was present tonight.

If Lantis knew that, this would be the night were confessions were to be made. If he knew ahead of time that it would be the night were many guys would be approaching her, he would have already commenced his plan to take the eyes out. If he only knew. He would haven't gone to the ball. Too bad he didn't.