Heya! -waves energetically- Yay! A MKR fic! This was incredibly fun to write, but don't hesitate to give some tough-love constructive criticism.
A warning though, it's fluffy! Like cotton candy! Hey, I want some cotton candy now! pouts But I don't have any! D:
And of course, I don't own MKR or anything that has to do with it...except for my love towards the series...I love you, MKR!!...
...
Anywho, thanks for taking the time to read this even though you could probably doing much more important things with your time... and I'm pretty sure some of you are procrastinating... Hey, stop it! Go back to your work! D: That means you! points
--
Chapter One: Because I want to see your smile...
Glistening, breath-taking and vast was what was you would describe the Castle of Cephiro. The enormous, crystallized palace was dazzling with it's miraculous ability to float above the ground, water flowing down to make clear and magnificent waterfalls. Within the Castle were amazingly tall ceilings, elegantly designed structures and long, spacious rooms and hallways. The gardens seemed perfect, birds chirping pleasantly as they perched upon the great oaks.
And yet, none of that mattered to Lantis as he stared at a twenty-one year old girl, who's beauty was more captivating than all of Cephiro. And her eyes, her eyes shown with such clarity and purity and strength, that even the bright sun seemed nothing more than a dull lamp. He thought there could be no greater beauty, but he was corrected that morning.
Hikaru fidgeted slightly in his enchanted gaze, a large blush growing as she ringed a handkerchief that happened to be in her hands in embarrassment.
"W-what...do you think?" she stuttered, even though the answer might as well have been already said, counting his transfixed stare.
A pair of gold loops hanging on her ear lobes, Hikaru wore a light-pink dress that went down to the floor, with two "straps" that were actually gold bands etched with intricate markings that hung down to the side of her shoulders, with each having two glittering, ruby orb outlined with a frame of silver that held them to the dress, basically acting as hinges of sort. Around her neck was a thin, gold-chained necklace that held a ruby pendant of rectangular form.
His eyes softened after he recovered from his temporary place in the clouds, and he gave a gentle smile. "You look wonderful."
That only made the red-haired girl blush more, but despite her embarrassment, she looked up to Lantis and smiled back. The black-haired man himself wore an elegant attire. The first layer being a white, tight shirt with a turtleneck, tucked under a golden plate around his waist. Over that shirt was something resembling a small poncho that covered half of his chest that was split in two on the front, held together by a blue orb that also held a long, translucent and silky, pale blue cape. Hikaru couldn't help but love him more.
Lantis took the small hands of the red-haired girl, and brought her closer to him. No words were exchanged, for there were no words needed. They needed only to gaze at one another. But then, Hikaru remembered something. She broke her gaze, and brought her finger to her lips, an expression of nervousness and slight anxiety. "I wonder if Fuu-chan and Umi-chan will really come."
Lantis frowned slightly. Ever since Hikaru had come to Cephiro by herself, the Magic Knights had always been a bit of a touchy subject for her. Hikaru always held a certain guilt for leaving them back in her world to go live in Cephiro. It was natural that she'd be nervous to see them after years of separation.
Taking her shoulders, he gently comforted her in saying, "I'm sure they will. And I'm sure they'll be happy to see you, Hikaru."
Hikaru looked at him with a worried face. "Will they?" she asked, seeking confidence from his words.
Lantis gave her a comforting squeeze, and nodded. "They will. You three are close friends. Time does not matter to the heart, Hikaru."
Hikaru nodded slightly. She remembered Fuu used to say the same thing. Pulling herself closer to her fiancé, she buried her face in his chest, taking in his scent and listening to the beating of his heart. Lantis smiled and gently cupped his hands around her face, then lifted it up so that she was staring directly at him. Hikaru's eyes softened, and Lantis leaned towards her...their lips so close to each other... Hikaru closed her eyes.
Suddenly, the door opened, and the couple stopped in their tracks. Clef gave a mischievous grin and leaned on the doorway frame. Shaking his head, he said, "Come now, now's not the time for such things. You'll have plenty of time for that sort of thing tonight. Here, let's go; there is much work to be done."
The two blushed and mumbled an apology, then quickly followed the Madoushi out of the room.
If it has not been obvious already, that day Lantis and Hikaru were to be wed. Well, it wasn't called a wedding or marriage in Cephiro; rather, it was known as a "Bonding". To truly take one as one's wife or husband, one must spend the night with them; to "bond". The evening before, however, is a day of celebration for the Bonding. The community's most powerful mage will grace them with blessings and will connect them together with a strong spiritual tie. Then there is a great, joyful dance with all the guests and the couple twirling around a huge bonfire. And at midnight, the true bonding will occur, and love will be made.
Outside in the palace's ground was a holy, wooden structure; whose design reminded Hikaru of the shrines back in Japan, only it was definitely not a shrine, and it was elevated so that you had to take a trip up a small set of stairs. If you were to go to the top of the stairs, you'd find a very large, open room that was so airy you might as well have said that it was still the outside. The room was large enough to fit in a hundred people and at the very middle of this room was an odd, circular pedestal.
Within this structure were many bustling people: mages, servants, and the sort. Many of the mages were around this pedestal, casting silent spells of blessing and purification. The servants were setting up the decorations, including elegant strips of red carpet lined with golden threads. And, by request of Hikaru, next to the entrance was a statue of the majestic Mashin of Fire, Rayearth. When asked why, she said simply, "I want Rayearth to see it too."
A little ways outside in the yard was a long, oak table that was to be topped with plenty of food, enough to be considered a feast. Then, A little further away was a large pile of dry wood ready to be lit up; the future bonfire.
Hikaru and Lantis followed Clef down one of the large halls; slightly confused. Everything that they needed to do was finished, with the exceptions of the decorations and cooking previously mentioned. But, of course, this was a large event, so they assumed that there was something they missed.
Entering into another one of the grand rooms, they found Presea and Caldina there waiting for them. Clef turned around and faced the two lovers, and looked straight at Hikaru. "Actually," he said with a smirk on his face, "Presea and Caldina just wished to see your ceremonial attire."
Hikaru blinked, then a bewildered expression grew on her face, a blush very visible on her cheeks. "You tricked me? W-what was the point of that?!"
Caldina laughed and replied, "Because you would of refused otherwise, you shy girl!" Hikaru only blushed harder.
Chuckling lightly, Presea walked over to Hikaru and gently held her shoulders. The Pharle gave a gentle smile. "You're very beautiful, Hikaru. I'm so happy for you right now." And with that she embraced the bride-to be. Hikaru wrapped her arms around Presea as well, and if you watched... it would almost seem as if those two were mother and daughter, due to the compassionate feelings so clearly visible between the two women. Over the few years that which Hikaru was resident in Cephiro, the two grew closer and closer, until Hikaru practically regarded Presea as her own mother. It was never addressed out loud, but it was so obvious that no one gave a second thought about it.
But just then, a flashing light engulfed everyone's vision, and despite the blinding brilliance, Hikaru opened her eyes to see the two forms appearing before her. Her scarlet eyes shone with the wet tears that started to form, from both complete joy and anxiety as she instantly recognized the two despite their silhouetted figures. Before even the light died out, the Fire Knight had both Umi and Fuu grasped firmly within her arms, afraid to even let them go.
"U-umi-chan...Fuu-chan..." was about all she could muster out of her throat, not really trusting her voice.
--
Yay! Chapter done! Hope it wasn't too short for you, because I know how that feels like. Oh well. In the meantime I'm gonna be going on a long bus ride to pick up my brother from summer day camp, yay! (This time it's sarcasm! 8D I like sarcasm, just like ice cream!)
Haha, am I being too bubbly and annoying?