"Okay Umi, I'll meet you there." Hikaru hung up the phone. Racing up to her room she grabbed her bulging sports bag and rushed out the door only to bump into Satoru.
"Hey slow down sis, what's the hurry?" he asked catching her before she fell.
"Oh, hi Satoru. I'm going to Umi's house this afternoon is that okay?"
"You've been staying over at your friend's houses a lot lately is everything okay?" Satoru was worried; it had been four years since Hikaru's second trip to Tokyo tower and even though Hikaru had never told them what had happened those two times he knew something had. The first time Hikaru had gone to the tower on a field trip she'd come back in tears but refused to tell them what was wrong. After that trip she ate less, almost never smiled and cried herself to sleep night after night dreaming strange dreams that made her cry and call out strange words.
Several months later after avoiding Tokyo Tower at all costs, she'd gone back again and come back her old self, just as bouncy and as happy as ever. Every so often her eyes would go misty and she would stare off into the distance but aside from those moments she was the old Hikaru. She also acquired a strange mirrored pendant that she never took off and which she played with when she was nervous or distracted.
Satoru's younger brothers had tried time and again to find out their little sister's secret but to no avail, Satoru knew she'd tell them when she was ready but they refused to believe him. When asked, Hikaru would just smile mysteriously and say something cryptic then look into the distance with that dreamy smile on her face. It caused them no end of worry when she did that.
Hikaru smiled innocently at him, the image of a mischievous sprite up to her latest trick "Everything is fine Satoru. I'll be back later tonight, I'll see you later okay?" Glancing at her watch she saw the time and screamed. "Ahhhh! I'm going to be late, Umi will kill me!" and she raced down the street.
Satoru turned away, an amused smile on his face, yes Hikaru was definitely back to normal.
"I wonder why Hikaru was carrying her sports bag if she was staying the night at Umi's?" he thought as he turned closed the door and returned to the errand he'd been running before Hikaru barrelled into him.
The next day after school Hikaru met with Satoru for their daily sparing session in the dojo. Wielding wooden practice swords they danced around each feinting and striking. When they were both breathing heavily but not exhausted Hikaru moved in to attack, did a few dancing feints and then finally got in a 'killing strike'.
"You know, you've gotten a lot better in the last four years Hikaru," Satoru said as they cooled down, "I haven't seen you use that last move before. Where did you learn it?"
Hikaru grinned, proud of herself, she didn't often beat Satoru. "I learned that one from Lant—," she faltered but recovered quickly, "from late night t.v, there's a programme on about sword fighting and I saw it on there."
Satoru, let it go at that but knew that Hikaru was hiding something, she wasn't a very good liar and he knew her well enough to tell anyway. They finished the training session and Hikaru quickly cleaned up before racing into her room and locking the door.
"Oh man, I can't believe I nearly told Satoru about Lantis," she moaned as she collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow. "Keeping Cephiro a secret is getting harder and harder." It was the latest in a long line of close calls that had happened over the last few months. Lately her life in Cephiro seemed so much more real than her life here, it was always foremost in her thoughts and it was beginning to show. Picking up the phone Hikaru dialled Umi's number, they talked long and hard then phoned Fuu using Umi's conference line and talked some more. After several hours they all said their goodbyes and hung up. Hikaru sighed, turned out the lights and went to sleep.
After school the next day Hikaru rushed home, changed her clothes and then raced out the door. She was in such a hurry that she didn't realise she'd left her overnight bag on the table, grabbing her school bag instead. She narrowly missed Satoru again as she turned the corner and waved to him as she passed, only stopping to yell back to him "I'm meeting Umi and Fuu at Tokyo Tower again, I'll be back tomorrow afternoon, bye!" before turning around and pelting down the street.
Satoru shook his head at his little sister's antics and headed inside. He dumped his own bags on the table and noticed Hikaru's overnight bag was still there. "Oh, Hikaru, you are such a hothead sometimes," he sighed "Always in a hurry." With that he picked up the offending bag and headed out the door for Tokyo Tower, if he hurried he could probably make it before Hikaru met up with her friends and they went somewhere together.
Hikaru ran at breakneck speed to Tokyo Tower and jumped into the lifts. She tried to calm her breathing as the lift rose to the top and then raced over to Umi and Fuu.
"Sorry I'm late guys." she panted "the bus got caught in traffic on the way home and I had to pack my bags."
"What bags?" Umi asked, "You only brought your school bag, are you making up excuses Hikaru?"
"I'm guessing she forgot them in her hurry to get here," Fuu replied, "Am I right?"
Hikaru looked from Umi to Fuu then looked closely at the bag in her hand and went bright red. Umi and took one look at her face before dissolving into laughter while Fuu tried to comfort Hikaru.
"Don't worry, they have spares in Cephiro, I'm sure Caldina will think of something. If worst comes to worst you can always borrow some of my clothes."
"But I had some chocolate I'd made for Lantis in there!" Hikaru wailed, "And I really wanted to give it to him, today was our four year anniversary!"
Umi finally got control of herself and gave her distraught friend a hug, "Don't worry, I'm sure Lantis won't mind getting them a bit late. He knows you remember and that's all that matters."
"Umi's right you know, Lantis loves you no matter what Hikaru, he's not going to break up with you just because you didn't give him some chocolate he didn't know he was getting."
Hikaru looked tearily up at her friends, sniffed and then dried her tears. "You're right. Thanks guys."
Umi gave her shoulders a squeeze, then let go and held out her hands to the others "Well, we'd better not keep them waiting."
"Right" Fuu and Hikaru chorused. The three girls joined hands, closed their eyes and then disappeared.
Satoru, waited patiently as the lift went up, hefting Hikaru's overnight bag in his hand. It seemed awfully heavy for just a one night stay, still it was Hikaru's bag and it would be rude to pry so he contented himself with simply wondering what was in it.
The lift reached the top floor and Satoru stepped out, scanning the crowd for his sister and her friends. He spotted them by the binoculars and headed over. He smiled as he saw Umi give Hikaru a hug then take her and Fuu's hands. It was good that Hikaru had found such good friends, a growing girl needed more than the companionship of three older brothers and he was grateful to Umi and Fuu for providing that.
As the three girls joined hands Satoru's view of them was momentarily eclipsed by a stall selling Japanese souvenirs. It was just as well though for as it did so Hikaru and her friends did a quick area check to make sure no one was watching and didn't see him emerge from behind the stall and come towards them. As he watched they all closed their eyes and in the next instant dissolved into different coloured balls of light which glowed brightly for a moment and then disappeared.
Satoru almost dropped Hikaru's bag in shock, he quickly moved across the deck to where they had been and looked around wildly, expecting his sister and her friends to pop out from behind a stall somewhere and tell him it had all been a trick. After several minutes of confused searching Satoru was forced to conclude that they were no longer on the observation deck, he slumped into a chair as shock overtook him. His sister had disappeared!
Hikaru, Umi and Fuu appeared in the air above the courtyard of Cephiro's Castle and gently floated down to the ground.
"Gals you're here!" a voice cried.
They turned to see the familiar face of Caldina as she rushed towards them, hers arms outstretched.
"What took ya so long we barely have enough time to get ya ready." She grabbed Umi and Hikaru and beckoned to Fuu, "Come on everyone's waiting!"
Caldina dragged them to their rooms in the castle where Presea and a now much more grown up Meara went into a whirlwind of activity. In short order the three Magic Knights were stripped of their armour and Earth clothes and then dressed in three of Caldina's beautiful creations.
Hikaru wore a short red dress with white underskirts, with a lighter shaded cape and white over-the-knee socks with ankle boots. Her dress was belted at the waist with a white, jewelled belt that matched the clasp her cape was fastened with. On her forehead was a slim circlet with a red gem in the centre under her fringe.
Fuu wore a white dress with a split at the waist to reveal a green skirt beneath covered by a sash of the same green fabric. Her cape was fastened with a gold brooch inset with a green gem which matched the ones on the top of her ankle length boots and green socks. She also wore a white tiara with a large green gem set in the centre, reminiscent of the crown Emeraude wore when she was Pillar of Cephiro.
Umi wore an off-the-shoulder dress in blue with a white belt and thigh-length boots. Flowing from the belt was a second skirt that was cut to hang of her hips. Revealing the dress underneath while falling to the floor to frame her legs. Her cape was fastened to the straps of her dress and was the same blue as the dress and the headband she wore with gems fastened on either side. At her neck was a white choker inset with gems and that matched the rest of her outfit.
Caldina surveyed the trio and announced "Y'all look gorgeous dahlings now lets go wow the menfolk!" and swept them all out of the room, down the corridor and out to the front garden where the picnic had been set up. Throwing open the garden doors dramatically Caldina danced through them like a bird in flight and soared over to Lafarga who smiled at his wife's antics.
The three girls entered the garden at a more leisurely pace and waved at the group of people collected there before separating to meet the three men who waited for them at different spots in the garden.
Lantis' heart soared as Hikaru practically bounced down through the doors with her friends, filled with such joy and happiness he wondered how her tiny body could contain it all. But that was what made her so special. His little ball of fire and spirit had returned to him once again, the only girl who saw past the dark, silent exterior to the real him beneath the mask and lit up the cold corners of his heart. She walked over to him, managing not to fall over her cape which trailed along the floor behind her and curtseyed gracefully (she'd practiced for hours to get it right). She then ruined the effect by jumping into his arms and kissing him, holding him tightly as she started to recount everything that had happened since her last visit. Lantis smiled one of his rare smiles and carried her over to the food table while she continued to chatter away. He let her talk, happy just to feel the fire of her aura near him once more and knowing that the little box in his pocket could wait until later in the afternoon or evening when they were both alone and up to date with affairs.
Ferio watched Fuu as she walked towards him falling in love with her all over again as he saw in her the queen who would hopefully one day rule Cephiro by his side. Her calm and poise steadied him, her quiet and gentle love touching him like nothing else could. He knew he needed her by his side and was determined to take another step towards that dream tonight. But that could wait till later, for now he bowed gallantly to Fuu before offering her his arm and leading her to a spot on one of the rugs to sit down and talk. It had been quite a while since her last visit and he was anxious to hear how she'd been and tell her the about latest events in Cephiro. As if sensing that need Fuu smiled and kissed his cheek and settled more comfortably on the rug, waiting for him get his thoughts in order before he started to speak.
Umi walked into the garden looking like a princess out of a fairytale, only twice as stylish. Ascot leaned against a tree and watched her approach with eyes hidden under his bangs –it was one of the reasons he'd never cut them short. Being able to watch people without seeming too –especially Umi –was too useful an ability to waste. Caldina's outdone herself this time was all he could think as he took in every detail, memorising everything so he could remember it in days to come. Every time Umi left and then returned, her beauty, elegance and spirit seemed to imprint themselves afresh on his mind. Once again he was struck by how much she'd changed since he first met her, how much she'd changed him too and that just made her all the more precious.
While he still had time he gave himself a stern talking to, the time was coming near for him and Umi to either come to an understanding or not. He devoutly hoped they would. Umi came over and grinned at him. "So do you want to get me something to eat?" she asked. "or do you want to try the cake I brought?" she lifted the box he only just noticed she'd been holding and offered it to him. Ascot grinned right back, offering her his hand "Sure you don't want to offer it to everyone else first? I might not leave any left for them."
Umi laughed, he's so confident in himself now she thought, it's hard to believe he was the shy kid I knew four years ago. He's really matured. She took the offered hand and following Ascot to a rug to sit down so he could sample the cake.
Lafarga, Caldina, Presea and Clef watched the three couples go their separate ways.
"Awwww, ain't they just the cutest thing you've eva seen?" Caldina practically squeed at the thought of what each of the guys were planning to do that night and then turned to Presea. "So who do ya think'll pop the question first?" she asked.
Presea smiled and shook her head, "I honestly don't know, but I do hope that it all goes well. They've been through a lot and it's time those six got the happiness they deserve."
"Speaking of deserving, I know a certain Master Smith who also deserves her happy ending. When do you think that might be happening Clef?" Caldina innocently looked over at the mage who almost choked on his drink, turning red before exerting control over himself.
"I don't really think that's any of your business Caldina. I could say the same for you though."
The dancer merely laughed and hugged Lafarga tightly, kissing him on the lips before twirling around to show off the ring that suddenly appeared on the appropriate finger of her left hand. "But mine already has dahling."
Presea swept Caldina up in a hug "Oh I'm so happy for you!" she cried and dragged her off to another part of the garden "You have to tell me everything! From beginning to end and don't leave out a thing!"
Clef, who had assumed his adult form some years ago after hints from several parties (namely Caldina) that a certain Mastersmith thought he looked more handsome in that form, looked at Lafarga with a new found respect. "Congratulations."
The swordsman smiled, "I thought I'd better catch her before someone else did. You might want to do the same Clef." He turned serious "Presea won't wait forever and she's been waiting an awfully long time already."
Clef sighed, "I know, it's just..." he raised his hands helplessly, unable to explain the irrational fear and doubt that assailed him every time he tried to tell Presea how he felt. 'what if it was the wrong time and she refused? What if he'd just been deluding himself all this time and she felt nothing for him?
In quiet moments of reflection these doubts seemed silly and small but at the time they always felt like looming obstacles that made him lose his courage. "The greatest mage in Cephiro and I don't have enough self-control to tell the woman I love how I feel." His hands curled into fists, betraying his frustration anger at himself, "How did you manage to do it Lafarga?"
The swordsman looked out over the crowd for a moment before returning his gaze to the young man in front of him, he knew he spoke to that young man rather the age-old mage the rest of the world usually saw. "I don't know. I'd had the ring for weeks, waiting for the right moment to tell her but then I just saw her dancing through the halls one day and it was like everything just clicked. She landed right in front of me, smiling and laughing and before I knew it, I'd pulled out the ring, got down on one knee and was asking her." He grinned a little foolishly "She said yes right away and the rest is history."
Clef sighed, "that's not much help friend." Lafarga gripped his shoulder encouragingly, "you'll find the time Clef, just, when it does don't hesitate."
Clef nodded. "I'll try."
Lafarga brightened, "Don't worry, Clef the opportunity will present itself. No doubt Caldina's already plotting ways to make it happen."
"Save me." Clef groaned. Lafaraga just laughed.
"Come on, let's go get something to eat to make you feel better." He led his frustrated companion to the food tables to sample some of the Earth dishes the three knights had brought.
Hikaru was on cloud nine that evening. She'd spent the whole day with Lantis talking about anything and everything new in her life and expertly dragging details of his out of him. She'd apologised for forgetting his chocolate on their anniversary but he'd just smiled his gentle smile and replied that she was all the gift he ever wanted. Needless to say she'd blushed and mumbled something incoherent as she looked down at her shoes in embarrassment. She loved it when he said things like that but it still embarrassed her sometimes when he did. After catching up she'd met up with the rest of the gang and everyone had gone to a nearby lake to swim and enjoy the summer sun, which in Cephiro was pleasantly hot instead of the furnace Tokyo got during summer.
Umi had been in her element of course, looking divine in her swimsuit but Hikaru had grown in the last four years and could no longer be mistaken for a middle-schooler. She'd grown taller and filled out just enough to boost her confidence without making her uncomfortable about showing it off. And show it off she did in a new swimsuit Umi had helped her pick. Lantis, upon seeing her in it had immediately scanned the area for any possible male threat but upon finding no one but the party from the castle relaxed and complimented her and on her choice. His gaze had been warm and approving and it made Hikaru feel like she was made of pure light and happiness.
Leaning on the balcony of her room after dinner Hikaru stared dreamily into space, fixing that moment in her mind so she'd never forget. Movement down below caught her attention and she glanced down to meet the clear blue gaze of the man she'd just been thinking about.
"Come down Hikaru." He called up to her, "Come walk with me for a while."
Hikaru grinned. "Only if you catch me!" she called back as she climbed up on the rail and jumped off into space.
Lantis caught her of course and she savoured the moment of being held securely in his arms before he set her on her feet and took her hand in his. "Come."
Together they walked through the moonlit gardens barely talking, just enjoying each others presence. Finally Lantis stopped and turned to Hikaru. She sensed the sudden tension in him and touched his arm, worried. "Lantis?"
He smiled at her and touched the necklace he'd given her where it rested on chest. "Even after all this time you still wear it." He said quietly.
Hikaru nodded, "Because you gave it to me Lantis. It's one of my most precious possessions." She smiled at him and put her small hand over his on the pendant. "You're in my heart Lantis, even when you're far away I have a small piece of you right here. I'd be a fool not to treasure it."
Touched by her words Lantis marvelled at the strength of the love he felt for the young woman in front of him. Once a young girl who had wormed her way past all his barriers and into his heart with the warmth of her love and the fire of her soul, now a young woman who made the very air around her sparkle with the vibrant life of her spirit. As she gazed at him out of those scarlet eyes Lantis stood before the Pillar of his world and the centre of his life and revealed the small box he'd kept hidden in his other hand.
Hikaru gasped as he opened it to reveal the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen. Threads of platinum wove around each other to form a beautiful rope which cradled a single ruby bounded on either side by a sparkling diamond. "Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up into the eyes of her magic swordsman and saw the love and devotion that glowed there.
"Hikaru." Lantis said, "For years I locked away my heart so that I could ensure the events of the past would not be repeated. But even in the midst of your own pain you saw mine for what it was and sought to heal it. Your fire is the light that burned away the shadows in my heart and made me feel again. Every time you leave for your world it's like my heart leaves with you and everything around me seems less bright until you return. I know that you love your own world and your family there and I understand if you do not want to leave them, I only ask that you spend as much time as you wish here in Cephiro and that you would spend at least some of that time with me, whose heart has belonged to you since the day we met, though I didn't know it at the time." Gently he took Hikaru's hand and placed the ring in her palm, curling her fingers around it and then letting go.
Hikaru stared at her hand for a long moment. Then looked at Lantis with eyes so filled with joy that they almost seemed to set him on fire before throwing herself into his arms with a cry of inarticulate happiness.
"Oh Lantis, I want to spend every waking moment with you!" she said into his chest as he held her close. "I love my family but I'm sure we'll figure something out so I can still see them. I'm the Pillar aren't I? And we have Clef and Presea and Larfarga and Caldina and everyone supporting us. We'll find a way for all of us to be happy!" Still clutching the ring in her hand she waited for Lantis to put her down before skipping back a step and sliding it on her finger to admire. Holding it up to the moonlight the gems twinkled like stars on her finger. "Lantis, thank you, I love it!" she cried and jumped up to kiss him on the lips, giggling like a little girl before dancing around the garden like a firefly.
Finally when she was too tired to dance anymore she collapsed on the ground in an exhausted but deliriously happy heap and allowed Lantis to pick her up and take her back to her room. "Goodnight Lantis." She managed to get out as he tucked her into bed before she drifted off to sleep. "I love you."