"Hikaru" said Lantis, walking forward, "You've changed," Lantis stated and Hikaru could not tell if he meant it in a good way or not.
"Well of course she's changed," said Umi, butting in, "It's been four years! Those are important years in a girl's life, you know."
"Umi, you're not helping," said Hikaru under her breath and looking down with her face red.
"Oh, sorry," said Umi.
"That's alright," said Hikaru smiling, "I'm happy to see you again Lantis."
Lantis would have replied but suddenly a small child burst through the trees.
The child saw Lantis and grabbed his leg, "Wantis, Wantis, Monster!"
"Aww, how cute!" Umi exclaimed.
"Indeed, she's adorable."
"We'll kill the monster for you so don't be scared," said Umi, forgetting that they had no weapons.
"I don't think that will be necessary," replied Lantis.
"What do you….umph" Umi fell to the ground as a woman crashed straight into her, stumbled, then leaped forward to grab her child.
"I declare, this little one is going to be the death of me. One look at a bug and she goes screaming her head off and running in the other direction. It's a caterpillar, a caterpillar, they turn into butterflies for goodness sakes." The woman stopped and blinked several times, "Umi? Umi!" She leapt forward and almost hugged Umi, smushing the little girl between them and almost throwing Umi to the ground again.
"I think overreacting might run in the family Caldina," said Umi.
"Caldina! It's good to see you again!" chimed Hikaru
"Indeed it is! I assume the child is yours?"
"Well of course. Now who else's would she be? Her name's Fionia. Ya'll may be surprised but you can't be more surprised than I am to see you. What are ya'll doing back in Cephiro?"
"We are here for Miss Hikaru's health. She has been sick recently. We thought returning to Cephiro might help."
"Really? The poor little missy." Caldina moved swiftly to stand in front of Hikaru and put a hand on her forehead, "She looks ok."
"I've been feeling better ever since we got here guys. Don't worry about me, really."
"You've been sick Hikaru?"asked Lantis.
"Just a little. Nothing to worry about."
"You can't believe her Lantis. She wouldn't lie about anything else but when she says she's fine she's as two faced as it gets. She collapsed at a coffee shop two weeks ago and every since then she's been sick as a dog. We came here for her, not that she'd ever tell you."
"Aww Umi, I never meant to hurt your feelings. You know I'm very grateful to have friends like you and Fuu who'd go to a whole different world just to make me feel better."
"Pfft," said Umi looking forward and waving her hand dismissively at Hikaru, "If you want to make it up to me then talk to Lantis and tell him the truth. That's the only way I'll forgive you," Umi changed her demeanor suddenly and said sweetly, "Caldina is there anywhere interesting to go? We want to see everybody but we can wait until Hikaru is done with her long talk."
"Sure, Umi. There's a waterfall around her that's just real pretty."
"Alright let's go. Come on Clef, Fuu."
Caldina, Fionia, Clef, Umi, and Fuu set off down the trail leaving Hikaru and Lantis alone.