http://clampfix.fanworks.net/re-fix/bf10.txt </head><body><pre> Between Friends Part 10 Lantis considered the world of the night sky as he lay on his back, gazing at the stars. Eagle had gone back to sleep; he could tell by the long, even breaths that he heard to his left. The kissing had been nice, he decided. That was one thing he was now sure of; in addition to being a good dancer and a loyal friend, Eagle was also an excellent kisser. However, Lantis wondered, was that reason enough to commit himself in _that_ type of relationship to his friend? Nighttime dreams of handfasting aside, did he truly feel enough for Eagle to make it a worthwhile effort on either of their parts to become involved? Yes or no, yes or no, white or black.... He tried to picture himself spending the rest of his life with Eagle, and failed. He had never been able to picture himself spending that long with anyone. Unlike his elder brother, he had never cared enough for one person to say that he would stay forever. He liked Eagle, yes, perhaps even loved him a little, but there were things that were more important to him than any one relationship. The Princess' fate. And his brother's. Those were the things which determined his path. He knew what was coming on Cephiro, he had when he left. Like Prince Ferio, he did not wish to witness the tragedy with his own eyes. And in the "after" of the future, he knew he would return to his home. Now, here and now, was merely a time between past and future, which were mirrored identicals. The Pillar, Princess Emeraude, whom he had guarded for as long as he cared to remember, would die, as would his brother, most likely. In death, at least, they would be united. Then a new Pillar would have to be found, before Cephiro's instability destroyed it. He would return at that time, to his teacher, to his world, to do what he could. If Cephiro should die, he intended to die with it, fighting the darkness to the last moment of his life. And Eagle, whose heart was so pure and innocent? He would leave Eagle behind, Lantis replied to his inner mind. But before then... until then...? Damn Eagle for being so sweet and appealing.... Eagle woke out of a dream whose contents he couldn't quite remember... something about Lantis, and Cephiro, and a girl with carnelian eyes.... As Eagle opened his eyes, even those vague impressions vanished. But that was all right, because he woke to find the campsite deserted except for himself and Lantis, who was building a new fire to take the place of the one from the night before. He was dressed in a thick cloak, which, Eagle realized, was probably a wise precaution. It was *cold*. "Good morning, Eagle," Lantis said, sensing he was awake without even looking in his direction. "I hope you slept well?" "It's cold," Eagle mumbled in reply, curling up further inside his sleeping bag. "I want to go back to sleep." "If you do, you'll miss breakfast," Lantis warned. "Where are Geo and Zazu?" Eagle inquired, poking his face just far enough out of the layers of warm fabric to note that they were nowhere to be heard or seen. "Checking those fishing lines we set out last night," Lantis answered. "If we're lucky, there'll be something besides what we brought to eat." "You mean eating REAL meat?" Eagle whispered, shocked. To eat something that had once been alive... to eat the corpse of an *animal*.... "That's barbaric!" he objected. Food was best synthesized... nothing got hurt making it.... "Well, I come from a barbaric world, then," Lantis agreed. "Besides, Geo and Zazu were both interested in seeing what it was like." He paused, his back still to Eagle as he tended the small flames carefully. "Do you want to know my answer?" "Answer?" Eagle asked. Then he realized what Lantis was talking about and the images of dead fish left his mind. "What did you decide?" Lantis let the fire and knelt down by him, violet eyes meeting Eagle's. Eagle hesitantly straightened out and let the sleeping bag fall open as he leaned upwards on one elbow to hear Lantis' final decision. "I don't know how far I can go with you in this, Eagle," he said softly, "but I am willing to try. My answer is 'yes.'" Geo smirked in amusement as Eagle enthusiastically hugged, then kissed, the slightly-off-guard Lantis. Good. Lantis had given Eagle the answer Geo had been hoping for. "You owe me some liquor," Zazu whispered from his side, a wide grin on his face that Geo was pretty sure was on his own as well. "Told you it'd be today!" "Right. You win," Geo whispered back. "Come on, let's leave the two of them alone and go check those fishing lines." Zazu nodded, and they disappeared into the underbrush silently from where they had been hiding to watch their two friends. ********* Kurama <conversationally>: You lied, you know. Author <looking up from computer>: Where? Kurama: The conversation at the end of part one with the questioner. You said that the Magic Knights wouldn't show up in here at all. I definitely caught a passing reference to Hikaru in this part. Author: Bright youko! Yes, you did. Kurama: Why "carnelian eyes?" Rubies are more traditional.... Author: Because her eyes are exactly the color of carnelians. I know because I set some in a bracelet for a friend the other day. Besides, "ruby eyes" is too cliche, and I see rubies as shining, shimmering pure red. Hikaru's eyes are darker than rubies. Kurama: So, break time from fanfiction? Author: Yup! Except in class, when my sensei is covering something I already know... then I can fanfic. Kurama: There are no computers in your classroom. Author <patiently>: That's why I have a notepad to write on, Kurama. Kurama: Really? I thought it was for you to doodle on.... Author: Nah. Little art talent, remember? I work best with words. Kurama: True... very true.... </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>