Aruka – Author's Note: OMG, I've been squealing from sentence one from shear excitement. I'm sure you loved Itena's work too- but now, it's my time to unravel more of the story. Anyway, I'm going to start the preview a few events before the end of the final chapter, you'll understand later on why.

There are scenes in this chapter where Fuu isn't herself, so it may sound a little OC, same with Umi.

Don't forget to review please! X3

Previously on Chapter 5 – by: Itena-chan

Hikaru was with Presea, the Pharle brushing the red-haired girl's hair rhythmically, humming as the two shared a quiet moment together. It was just like that, no conversation, no jokes or teasing; just a peaceful and silent, calming moment.

Then, Hikaru felt it. She stood straight up with a confused Presea quickly trying to get the brush out of the Fire Knight's hair from the sudden movement. "What is it, Hikaru? Why did you get up like that? I wasn't finish-" Hikaru didn't even listen and was already out the door of the room; running as fast as she could to the Grand Hall. Fuu was there, she could feel her aura, even if it did seem rather strange at that point. She ran through the halls, brushing past bewildered servants and maids.

When she reached the main hall, she was surprised to see no one there. A bit bewildered, she shook her head. Why would Fuu be here anyway? "Maybe its just wishful thinking," she said to herself.

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…Embrace The…

Chapter Six: Malice Tainted Smile

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After being dismissed by Fuu, Umi reluctantly left Tokyo Tower, despite worrying about her friend terribly. Something was troubling her friend, and it could only be one thing-

"That damn Ferio," Umi hissed, as she waved her hand to hire an incoming cab. She felt uneasy for some reason; leaving Fuu alone at the Tower wasn't the brightest thing to do, but she needs her time alone, and Umi respects that as a friend and an individual.

Taking one last glance up at the Tower, Umi sighed heavily and told the cab driver to head for her Hotel. As they went on their way, Umi stared blankly out the passenger window; the bright street lights illuminating her eyes, but the hollowness in them was greater than the many colorful signages' on the city sidewalk.

'Curse you all,' she thought, clutching her hand tight on her arm as she crossed them and leaned her head on the faux-glass window. Closing her eyes, Umi once again recalled the gruesome memories of the years past. 'I wouldn't be miserable now, if I hadn't known that I have save thousands twice in my life…'

Moments of silence passed before she spoke again in thought, 'Why them? Why..?'

Opening her eyes, Umi realized that the cab went to a stop.

"Traffic, sir?" she asked the cab driver, but there was no response. Cocking her eyebrow, she leaned closer the driver's seat and was surprised to see the scene outside. "What the hell…"

Everyone, everything- they were frozen, ceased in time. Umi gasped, eyes bulging from shock and looked at the driver, he was the same as the others. Umi fell back on her seat and took some time to think.

"W-what's going on...?" stammering, she looked around once more in utter confusion and shock.

Umi asked herself over and over but no plausible answer came to mind, and without second thoughts, she nervously went to reach for the knob and slowly opened the door. She stepped out the cab cautiously, only to find that she was the only one moving in color. The whole place was in black and white, all the colors were gone, just like when…

"Oh my god," Umi exclaimed breathily, sharply turning herself to the direction of Tokyo Tower. "No, it can't be…"

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'Hikaru-san,'

The person mentioned jumped a bit. Then she relaxed. Fuu was here after all!

'Oh, don't scare me, Fuu! Where are you right now?' Hikaru replied in her thought, knowing that her friend would hear- and she was indeed right, because it didn't take longer than three seconds for Fuu to respond, saying…

'...in the hallway to your left.'

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"Fuu..!" She screamed out loud, as tears threaten to fall from her eyes. Umi felt a cold shiver run up her spine, speeding her way back to the Tower. On her way back, flashes of unnerving scenes crossed her mind, and for whatever reason, she felt impending horror in the air she breathes. She didn't know why, but she was sure her heart would be again broken.

Reaching the road across Tokyo Tower, she quickly ceased on her heels. Umi's hair billowed in the air as she drew her gaze up on the site where she and Fuu stood earlier. She was worried; this feeling was the same as when Fuu began to lock herself in her room years ago, after breaking up with Ferio. It was surreal, but all too familiar. Whilst everyone was dead on their tracks, Umi timidly began to walk back to the Tower, her legs shaking and her hands cold as ice.

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"Hello, Hikaru-san," Fuu greeted, with a very morbid look on her face. Hikaru winced, her countenance was heart clenching and she wondered why her friend looked at her in that manner.

'What is this feeling? There's something wrong...' she pushed her thoughts aside and turned to Fuu and asked.

"What are you doing back here, Fuu-chan? Did you forget something?"

Nodding her head, Hikaru noticed that Fuu's lips turned to a smile, but it was done in a perverse manner, she thought she must've been seeing things.

"As a matter of fact, I did." Hikaru snapped, and Fuu just kept the look on her face.

Fuu turned the end of the hallway, the room with the weaponry. Hikaru noticed that Fuu's was covered with the glove orb. She approached Fuu and held that hand.

"Fuu-chan, why do you have that on?"

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The more Umi thought of it, the more her heart pounded in her chest. Fuu was rather cold to her since breakfast in Cephiro, and she wondered if she had done something to upset her friend- her one and only left in this world.

'Fuu, please don't do anything that would corrupt your soul…' she prayed sincerely in her heart, closing her eyes shut as she rushed to the door straight to where the stairs were located, discarding the slow pace she had before the entered the Tower.

Running up the stairs made her weary, but she was determined to go where Fuu was and she'll do it.

Umi felt the heat of her body, yet she was cold and sweating from nervousness, a bead of sweat trickling down her face, making her very uncomfortable; not to mention the eerie-looking people around her being frozen in time. Clenching her fists, Umi felt herself sink in an abyss; she was full of grief for Fuu, knowing that she had put everything together and figured it out.

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"For this," Fuu smiled. She embraced Hikaru. The orb glowed.

Hikaru's eyes widened. The blade sunk into Hikaru's stomach like a thousand needles, creating a numbing feeling in her back. Hikaru didn't even gasp. She didn't utter one cry of pain. She only looked up at Fuu's face wordlessly, blood trickling down her lips. Fuu still carried that same smile.

"Good night, Hikaru-san…"

Suddenly, there was a sharp pain to her head, and Hikaru's world went black.

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A pang of sharp pain seared to her gut, and Umi felt faint.

Louder and louder, she could hear her heartbeat echoing within her. The silent whispers swirling in her head, along with the feint feeling of dread filtering the air she breathes.

The closer she gets to her destination, the more difficult the feeling gets.

"Don't worry Fuu; I'm on my way…"

Another step forward, and her foot slipped through the stair; Umi knew this was to happen at any point before she came back to the Tower. She was certain, very certain that Fuu went back to Cephiro; but as to why the world stood still, Umi gritted her teeth, it could only mean one thing.

"Help save our world, Legendary Magic Knight of Water…"

Tears streamed down her sapphire eyes. Umi couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Selece…" Umi recognized the voice.

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Back in Cephiro, Fuu watched as Hikaru's miserable form fell on the ground, blood pouring on the floor as if she was lying on a velvety crimson bed, or petals of red roses scattered around.

"Red had always been your favorite Hikaru," she said remorselessly, drawing the near her lips and smiled devilishly, "remember, you even sent me and Umi red roses as an invitation to your 'Bonding Ceremony', I thought I should return the favor."

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A pool of cerulean light enveloped her body, as her tears continued to pour. Umi fought hard not to ingest the information that relentlessly echoed in her head. She didn't want to go through it again, she doesn't want to.

She closed her eyes shut, and felt her body float as she travelled back to the world known as Cephiro.

'This isn't happening,' she was practically begging her Mashin to quit, but it just wouldn't stop.

Several moments after, Umi noticed that she was no longer floating in space and hesitated to open her eyes, not wanting to see what was in store for her.

"…I thought I should return the favor."

'Fuu..!' her head screamed, as her heart leaped, overjoyed that she found Fuu at last.

Umi quickly picked herself from the floor, following the fluttering murmurs of Fuu's voice in the hollow corridors of the Castle. She was happy that Fuu was just around the corner, and probably hadn't done anything wrong, but she was wrong; she was so wrong for as she found Fuu standing in the dim lighted armory, she also found Hikaru sprawled on the floor bathing in blood- her own blood.

"Heh," she heard Fuu smirk and walked closer to get a better look at the site.

Umi found Fuu inching the blade to her lips and licked a small droplet of blood and looked grimly down on Hikaru,

"It tastes sweet. The blood of poor, young Hikaru, and your unborn child-to-be, it's like nectar," Fuu laughed softly, yet maniacally; Umi covered her mouth in horror and muffled a distraught scream.

Cocking her head to the side, Fuu found Umi standing a few feet away from her, shocked and struck with disbelief.

"What have you done, Fuu," asked the bewildered Magic Knight as she walked closer to Hikaru, dropping on her knees and picked the unfortunate girl in her hands.

Fuu stared at her lovingly, with tear-filled eyes. "I only did what was right. She no longer exists in our world, so she must no longer live…"

"W-what..?" Umi question her friend's logic.

"She left us Umi; she left us," came Fuu's words of crazed reasons, "Hikaru left us to be here; to be in this world. She didn't even come to visit; she never did, and never will. Umi, please you must understand."

"Fuu, are you out of your mind, why did you do this?!"

"Yes, yes Umi…" Fuu sighed, holding one hand on her head, "I must be out of it now. Umi, I know you understand how I feel; no, you feel more than I do because you despise this land more than I do."

A jolt of electricity coursed through Umi's body, and felt rage all over her. She looked Fuu in the eyes and knew what she was aiming at. Umi felt bad for her, for herself and for Hikaru. It seems that fate played a very unfortunate and miserable game on them, and now, all things emerged and she knew she was in no place to defend one or another.

"Why do you keep yourself in silence, Umi?" Fuu asked, raising her brow as she grasped her blade tight in her hands. "Don't tell me that all's been forgiven?"

Umi just looked Fuu in the eyes and stood up, carrying Hikaru in her arms upright.

"You don't hate Hikaru, Fuu…" Umi spat angrily, "its Ferio, you should've just god damn killed that stupid Ferio and not Hikaru!"

"But Umi…"

"No buts Fuu! I could care less if you abducted Ferio, tortured him or fed him to monsters. You didn't have to hurt Hikaru, you shouldn't have…"

"You don't understand do you, Umi?" Fuu said defiantly, "we both hate Cephiro and its people, and that includes Hikaru. We both were already living our good lives back on Earth, but she did what? She invited us to her fucking 'Bonding Ceremony' and what's more- she made me feel like shit having to see her happy marriage with Lantis while I sat there miserable and in pain while Ferio was dancing with her wife on the dance floor…"

Umi was struck with pain once more, as her heart felt heavy recalling the scenes last night. She was well aware that Fuu was uneasy, so was herself; it was true, she did hated Hikaru for staying, for not being there when she needed her back on Earth.

"Umi, he held me in his arms and I felt he still loves me. I'm hurt, and I know you're hurting for me, as I for you. I couldn't think straight anymore; I long for his love, his touch and his whole entirety, and yet…"

Umi continued for her, "You hate him with a passion."

Fuu nodded her head as Umi reached her hand towards her friend, letting her know she was still there for her.

"We can't make things right anymore at this point; we've done things, and the hatred in our heart will live in our hearts forever if we walk out on Hikaru like this. Fuu, please heal Hikaru so she would be better; I beg you, please…"

With sorrowful eyes, Umi begged and held her hand out to Fuu as she carried Hikaru's bloodied body in her arm. Her friend was near death, and at what she heard earlier, Hikaru has a child in her womb.

"Fuu, give Hikaru and her child a chance in life…"

Fuu only grimaced and pushed both Hikaru and Umi away. "You've softened up your heart. You hated her; you hate everyone and everything in this land; why Umi, why?!"

"No, it's nothing what you think…"

Turning her head away, Fuu recalled her sword back to the gem and lounged at Umi with a slap in the face. "I can't believe you're betraying me now, Umi. I thought you're on my side. You chose him over me; I can't believe one night could make such a big difference to you…"

"What on Earth are you talking about Fuu," Umi shot back out loud, rubbing her cheek, "Oh you know what I mean Umi, I saw you."

Puzzled, Umi let things at bay as Fuu began to pace away from the scene.

"Traitor…"

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Umi sat there motionless for what seemed like hours; why did Fuu called her a traitor? There were things left unsettled between them, and she began to question hers and Fuu's logic about their feelings towards Cephiro. It's true that she hated everything about this world, but somehow, her gut says that Fuu's has surpassed hers already; and for whatever reason, she was certain it was cultivated all throughout their brief visit.

With blank eyes staring out the door, she saw shadows moving in close to the room. Faint footsteps were heard just outside, and there was a ruckus of voices coming near.

"Oh my," exclaimed one of the people who barged in. It was a very familiar female voice, while a tinge of unusual accent.

"Umi, Umi, what happened here?" She felt hands holding her shoulders, shaking her to reality as she stared at the face of the person.

'I can't tell them what happened…' Umi slowly returned to normal state, her eyes softening with fear and confusion. She quickly put together a series of unreal events that might have happened in that room, where Hikaru was attacked. She wouldn't give Fuu's name as the culprit, no.

"Someone attacked her," she lied, looking at everyone in the room. There was Caldina, who held her shoulders. Presea tended Hikaru next to Lantis. "I don't know who he is, but he was here."

Lantis shoved Caldina aside and grabbed Umi by the wrist, grasping it firmly which made her wince in pain, "tell me who did it!"

"I don't know! I would've told you, but I don't know, okay?!"

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An hour passed, and Umi could only recall people pacing to and fro the room, anxiously waiting for the resident healer to come back and give them a source of hope.

"Umi, can't you pick up Fuu and tell her what happened to Hikaru?" Presea sat before Umi, holding her hands in plea. "She's the best healer in all of Cephiro; I know she can help…"

"Fuu..?" Umi was out of herself, she would have to make another lie to keep them from asking anymore from her. "I can't."

"Please Umi, we need her here." Presea begged once more.

Umi shook her head and repeated, "I can't."

"Argh," Lantis, who was enraged still took the center table and lifted it over his head, throwing it across the room as countless other inanimate objects began flying all over, making a huge mess.

"Magic Knight, tell me who did this to her! Tell me!" He was in a state of madness, as he held Umi tight in his hands and hurt her, screaming and yelling at her face for answers.

"I said I don't know! And I can't bring Fuu here! Why can't you all just deal with it?" Umi stuck a foot on Lantis' chest and freed herself off his grasp and began to catch her breath.

"You bastard, this all wouldn't have happened if not for you…" the Magic Knight said this as she walked away; her voice was too timid and unclear for anyone to hear. The more she thought that Fuu hated her, the more she wanted to tear the Castle apart.

'They said that in Cephiro, Will is everything…' she said in her thought.

'But why can't I have Fuu back? It's all I wish for. I no longer want to be here and see all this. I want to go back to Earth with Fuu and forget all this. All of this…'

A stream of tear flowed down her eyes, and from the corner of the room, someone was watching her; eyes seeking inside her locked up heart. Umi knew nothing, she just kept on crying, trying her hardest not to scream and break down before these people.

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To Be Continued…

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