AN: -yawn- I'm tired, so I don't have much to say. Enjoy and goodnight
Chapter 3 - Ceremony
Fuu walked briskly down the hall, her cheeks pink from the struggle to keep her tears from spilling. As she reached the great doors of the Main Hall, she took a deep breath; she couldn't afford to look like this... Hikaru would get worried, and she didn't want her friend's mood spoiled on this day. She plastered a fake smile that she was so good at putting on, and entered the Grand Hall. A few moments later, Umi did the same.
What they both found was Hikaru and Lantis together in their own world, having a deep conversation.
Lantis kneeled down in front of Hikaru, a gentle smile on his face. The red-haired girl blushed furiously, but also had a confused expression on her face. "Lantis, what are you doing?"
Keeping his lips sealed, he took a small box out of his pocket; a small, black box that looked a lot like... Hikaru breathed in sharply and her heart thumped hard. "That is...!"
The magic swordsman opened up the box to reveal two beautiful silver rings, with a ruby gem placed on each of them. "You said that girls in your world always wished to have a ring," he said softly. Taking Hikaru's small left, he placed one of the rings on the promised finger and the other on his own. Consequently, tears began to flow freely down her cheeks. She embraced the man she was to bond with tightly, and just kept saying over and over again "I love you."
Fuu watched this, a warm feeling of happiness for her friend, until tears threatened to spill again as she remembered Ferio giving her his ear ring to her. And then painfully remembered having to give it back.
"Fuu-chan... I'm sorry..."
"No, Ferio, how could you do this?! I thought..." her shoulders sagged and trembled, tears flowed freely. "You said you'd wait..."
A pained look on his face, he tried to embrace her, saying,"Please, don't cry, I like your smile." But he was immediately pushed back by a furious Fuu.
"Don't! If you want my smile, I'll cry instead! I hate you!"
Fuu was suddenly brought back into reality when a hand touched her shoulder; Umi's hand. With a comforting smile, she said, "Fuu-chan, Hikaru's coming towards us." Fuu focused, and saw that Hikaru indeed was walking towards them, a happy smile on her face. Seeing her dear friend in such good spirits lifted her own mood up as well, so she smiled back. Hikaru's smile always worked on her.
"Fuu-chan, Umi-chan, Let's go!" she said happily, her cheeks rosy as she wrapped herself around Lantis' arm. Umi smiled, remembering Hikaru saying the same thing often when they had just met each other, the Fire Knight always the source of courage and determination as they stumbled their way in Cephiro to fulfill their mission.
The four of them made their way outside to the Castle gardens, where the wooden structure awaited them. They could see everyone else also make their way towards the holy building, laughing and having light conversations.
They all entered the shrine-like room, relieving themselves of their shoes and finding themselves a comfortable place on the floor. No chairs or seats of any kind were in the airy room. Umi and Fuu sat themselves beside Presea and the rest; familiar faces sitting with familiar faces. Hikaru and Lantis didn't have a chance to get to sit with the rest of them; As soon as they entered the vicinity, everyone crowded around them; asking them questions, complementing their attire, congratulating them, etc. Umi could only chuckle as the two were overwhelmed with the guests.
It was then that Madoushi Clef entered into the vicinity, and all chatter was silenced immediately. The crowd around the couple immediately retreated and the two slowly walked towards the pedestal, then proceeded to kneel before it. Clef himself stood upon the pedestal, giving both his hands to kiss. Here, he began to speak.
"Everyone, let us rejoice; the time has come for a Bonding Ceremony!" A cheer and an applause from everyone, happy smiles on their faces. "Today we shall merge two souls together, and tonight they shall merge their bodies together!" At this, there was some whistling and laughs(Caldina and Umi being big contibutors to that), and a lot of blushes, especially coming from Hikaru and Lantis. Clef himself was laughing heartily. And if someone could block out all the other noises, they'd hear a certain little "Harrumph!" from a certain little fairy.
A small raised hand from the Mage, and everyone went quiet. He closed his eyes and said, "You who wish to be together for life and after, prepare thineselves. For I shall connect thine souls and tie thine destinies together."
The next moment was quite something to behold. A ring of light suddenly appeared, encircling the hall and quickly shunk, passing through everybody and causing a feeling of warmth with each person. It eventually was around only the Fire Knight and the Kailu, and the two could feel it's soothing heat enclose upon them. Fire spurted from Hikaru's being, and Lightning from Lantis', twirling around to create a pillar of light which engulfed them. Umi and Fuu looked on in amazement, the magic in the air tingling their very skin.
"Look on, oh people!" stated Clef, "This is the very proof of our two beloved friends' connection! Rejoice!"
Nobody needed to be told twice. A cheer that was loud and merry, from people both amazed and happy. The light dispersed, and everyone once again ran over to the two, who were slightly dazed; Umi and Fuu being the first to get to Hikaru's side, hugging her tightly.
It was a good time, for a while both Umi and Fuu just forgot about all the worry and heartache, and just enjoyed their time together as the social part of the ceremony began. Upbeat Cephirean music filled the air; drums and flutes and bells. The bonfire was large and more vibrant than any other bonfire; perhaps that was Hikaru's doing.
Around the bonfire, everyone danced in large circles, a quick pace in their steps, large smiles and lots of hearty laughing from sheer enjoyment. Around the long tables of food were a few people, eating the feast and having lively conversations. Umi, Fuu and Hikaru were sitting together.
"Man, weddings back at home are never this upbeat. You hit the jackpot, Hikaru," laughed Umi, a strange pink fruit in her hands. Hikaru just blushed again; that seemed to be the only thing she did that night.
Fuu smiled, then asked, "What was it like while you were in that light, Hikaru-san?" Hikaru pondered for a few seconds while she tried to remember.
"I can't remember exactly, but it was... um, well, it's hard to explain. It's like Lantis and I have become one person; there was no 'I' or 'him'. It was..." and Hikaru blushed once again, "well, it was just a really strong feeling of love."
Umi squealed and grabbed Hikaru by the neck in a tight squeeze, while Fuu couldn't help but start imagining. Imagining her and Ferio in such a situation... and then, Ferio and his...wife... Her fists clenched under the table. Neither Hikaru or Umi noticed it.
Everyone cheered one last time as Hikaru and Lantis left together within the Castle, including a few whistles from Caldina and Umi. As soon as the large doors closed, Hikaru and Lantis looked at each other with senses of longing. They didn't tell anyone, but that pillar of light also lit their hormones ablaze, and the entire night they've just been dying to just get in each other's pants. They both quickly ran into the decorated room and slammed the door shut without another word.
As Fuu watched the two go into the Castle, a strange feeling crept up into her heart. She took a moment to look at the door where they exited from, and then rejoined the party.
AN: Well then, I hope you enjoyed it... I really do hope since i was writing the latter half of it...half-asleep.