http://clampfix.fanworks.net/re-fix/cephiro.txt </head><body><pre> "Hikaru?" --Who? Who’s there?-- Hikaru couldn’t see through mist. It clung to her form and dampened her pajamas. "Hikaru! Wake up!" The shrill voice cut through her dream. Her eyes shot open. She stared at the simple wood ceiling as it swam in and out of focus. "Heeeee-Kaaaaaah-ROO!" Suddenly she remembered. "Oh my gosh! Umi-chan!" The sprightly 15-year-old sprung out of bed. Within minutes she was dressed and downstairs. As she turned the hall corner a furry body ran into her shins. "WAAHHHH! Hikari! Don’t scare me like that!" She scratched her friend fondly and Hikari licked her. "Okay, Hikari, that’s enough. I’ll play with you later. Or else..." "You’ll be late," someone else finished for her. "S-Satoru! You startled me." Hikaru glanced up at her oldest brother. "Forgive me. I was just passing." "That’s okay. But you’re right. If I don’t get going Umi’ll have a fit!" "Well, in that case," a new voice cut in, "We’d better help you get out of here!" She watched as two more boys walked out of the kitchen. They were both grinning; one held her breakfast and one held her kendo equipment. Hikaru smiled back, "Masaru. Kakeru. Arigatou!" Umi, meanwhile, was impatiently awaiting Hikaru in the Shido Practice Area. She was attired in her fencing uniform. "What’s taking her so long? And Fuu, too!" She paced across the floor, her footsteps ringing on the wooden planks. "I don’t really expect Hikaru to be on time, but Fuu! What’s gotten into her? Really! What am I going to do with her?" Fuu was actually just leaving her home. She rushed awkwardly through the front garden and found herself fumbling with the front gate. "Oh, goodness! Umi-san must be truly angry with me! Oh, why won’t this gate open?!" "Need a hand?" a melodic voice asked from behind her. "Kuu? Is that you? Yes, please. I really don’t understand why this gate won’t open and I’m very..." The gate swung open at her older sister’s touch. "Oh!" she blushed. "I suppose I forgot to lift the latch." "Fuu," Kuu’s voice was gentle. "Is everything alright? You haven’t been yourself lately. This is the first time I’ve ever seen you late." "Something wrong?" Fuu blushed again. "No. I don’t think there is." "Alright. But if there is something wrong you really should talk about it. Okay?" she smiled and walked back to the house. "Talk about it..." The chime of a bell broke her thoughts. Fuu took a quick glance at her watch. "Oh! It’s nearly ten! I hope Hikaru-san and Umi-san will forgive my tardiness." "You’re late!" Umi scowled at a panting Fuu. "You’re very late!" "I-I’m t-tr-truly sorry, Umi-san! I com-completely forgot!" Fuu leaned against the doorframe as she caught her breath. "Is something wrong, Fuu-chan?" Hikaru’s voice was worried. "Even I beat you today." Fuu had to smile, "No, Hikaru. You do live here and I just forgot today." Umi grinned slyly. "This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain green haired someone, now would it?" Fuu touched the ring on her left hand and blushed. Hikaru looked confused. "Why are we talking about Ferio?" "Oh, no reason..." Umi pronounced. She glanced at Fuu, "Right?" Fuu just blushed more. Hikaru became even more confused. "Well, anyway," continued Umi. "Let’s start." "Alright!" cheered Hikaru. Fuu sighed with relief. Ferio was a touchy subject with her and she had tried to forget the handsome swordsman for a while. She turned her attention to Umi and Hikaru as they began warming up for their match. Hikaru wore a plain kendo style uniform. Fuu couldn’t see how Hikaru could move so easily with the bulky folds of the suit. Each girl held a blade almost identical to her Cephironian weapon. With an enviable grace they took their positions. Then they glanced at Fuu. "Well?" asked Umi. "Huh?" "Start the match, Fuu!" "Oh! Sorry, Umi-san. Face each other, bow, start!" Their blades met with a hiss of metal, then released. The girls watched each other carefully. Umi held the advantage of height and speed, while Hikaru had strength and ironclad control. Fuu watched their parries and blows. Unconsciously she shouted out points and penalties. The sweep of the blades lulled Fuu into a half-dreamy state. Suddenly it wasn’t Hikaru dueling Umi, it was Ferio. Ferio, clad in his princely whites and bearing his trademark sword. Then Umi faded into the background as well. Now only Ferio existed. Fuu gasped as he turned golden eyes onto hers and smiled. Her heart leapt, and a weight seemed to lift itself from her weary shoulders. Fuu reached out her hand a cry escaping her lips. Then the world tilted dizzily and she blacked out; Ferio the last thought in her mind. Hikaru wasn’t sure what happened. One minute she and Umi were dueling, the next Fuu had shouted and fallen over. "Fuu-chan? Fuu-chan!" Hikaru dropped her blade and ran to her friend. "Fuu-chan! Wake up!" Umi knelt at her side, "Fuu? Are you awake? Fuu?" "Waaahhhh! Fuu-chan!" "Stop that Hikaru!" chided Umi, "Fuu’s okay. She’s just unconscious." Hikaru sniffled, "Fuu-chan’s going to be okay?" "Uh-huh. So help me lay her out more comfortably. Okay?" Umi smiled. Hikaru nodded. --What happened?-- Umi wondered as they put Fuu on their coats. Hikaru shrugged. "I think I know." "Who said that?" "Me." The speaker stepped out of the blinding sunlight and into the arena. "Ferio?" He nodded. "In the flesh." "How? I thought you were in Cephiro." Ferio nodded, "Yeah, but something important called me away." He glanced pointedly at Fuu’s unmoving body. Hikaru tilted her head. "Something important?" Umi noticed. "What do you have to do with Fuu’s condition?" He shrugged. "I don’t know." "Liar! You know something!" Umi vented as Hikaru tried to figure things out. He shrugged. "Hey, you can point your finger at me all day and you won’t be any closer to figuring out why Fuu passed out. I don’t know." "Fine then. You can just go back to Cephiro now. Thanks for dropping by." Then Umi promptly strode away. "H-Hey! What about Fuu?" "What about her? You said yourself you didn’t know why she’s unconscious so you’re obviously not going to help. So you might as well leave." "That’s not fair," he mumbled. "What’s not?" "I don’t know anything. Not even how to get back." The girls stared at him for a while. Then Umi sighed. "Fine. You can stay." "Umi-san?" Umi glanced around at her name. "Fuu? Are you okay?" Hikaru bounded to her side and carefully helped her up. "Fuu-chan! I was so worried!" "What happened? I-I vaguely remember seeing Ferio..." She gasped as he stepped into her view. He bowed deeply, his cape sweeping the ground. "My Lady Fuu..." Fuu blushed a crimson red and hid her eyes. "It-It’s nice to see you Ferio." Ferio laughed. "You’re the same as ever." Hikaru, unwittingly, came to Fuu’s rescue. "Hey, Fuu-chan, do ya know why Ferio is here?" Umi shook her head. "Why would she know?" "She doesn’t," cut in Ferio. "But I do. I was called by a strong will." "Must’ve been a strong reason, too." Umi grinned at the embarrassed Fuu. "Well," Hikaru perked up. "That means you can stay in our world for a visit!" He shook his head. "I’d like to, but I can’t. I was in the middle of important Cephiro business. I need to find a way back so I can sign the treaty with Autozam. If it weren’t for a certain someone, I’d probably be done with it by now." Fuu found herself becoming quite angry. "Then why did you come in the first place?" Ferio gave her a blank stare, "Huh?" "If you have such an important job in Cephiro, Your Highness, why did you allow yourself to be brought here?!" She raised her head and Ferio jumped back at her expression. "Well?! Hmmm...I see. In that case I’m sorry to have bothered your important schedule. In the future I’ll remember to avoid ever calling you again!" And with that she stormed out of the room. Umi glared at Ferio, "Now look what you did! You better go apologize!" "Huh? Why should I? She’s the one making the fuss!" "Look here, buddy." Umi towered over him, "You either apologize or I’m going to use MY will to kick you back to Cephiro!" Ferio shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just try to back up that threat." Umi looked about ready to explode. But she simply tossed her head and closed her eyes. Nothing happened. "What’s wrong?" She fumed. "Heh, just as I thought. You can’t overpower my will to accomplish what I came here to do." "FINE!!!!!" Umi screamed. "Stay here and make Fuu miserable! I’m going home!" Hikaru was drooping, "Why are you so mad Umi-chan? And where’s Ferio going to stay if he’s visiting?" "That’s his problem. Let him find his own place," she stepped out the door. Seconds later she popped her head back in and gave Hikaru a long stare. "Don’t you dare let him stay at your place!" Then she was gone. "Well Hikaru? Are you going to let me stay?" "But Umi-chan said..." "Forget what she said. I need a place to stay and I obviously can’t stay with Umi or-" "I got it!" "What?" Hikaru jumped up and down. "You can stay with Fuu-chan! She’s got the bestest garden and-" "But I can’t!" "Oh," she grew immediately somber. "I forgot. You need directions!" "ACK!" Ferio fell over in exasperation. "NO! That’s not what I meant!" "It isn’t?" "No it..." He looked at Hikaru’s innocent expression. How could he be mad at such a pure person? Ferio sighed, "Oh, all right. Never mind. Just let me have the directions." Soon Ferio found himself walking towards the one person’s house he had hoped to avoid this night. How had he gotten himself into this mess? Oh well, he was committed and he needed a place to sleep. In a few minutes he had reached Fuu’s house. A warm light shone from one of the windows and Ferio could see Fuu’s shadow. He leapt over the front gate and crept up to the window. He tapped gently on the pane. Fuu’s shadow jumped at the sound and approached the glass. "Who’s there?" "Uh...It’s me." Fuu slid the curtains aside and opened the window. She was wearing forest green pajamas with yellow trim. "Oh, it’s you. What do you want?" Her tone was icy. "I was just wondering if I could talk to you. Privately." "Hmph. And why should I?" "Please? Just this once?" Fuu’s expression softened. "Oh, all right." Fuu’s garden was beautiful at night. As she and Ferio walked, she found herself thinking about the forests of Cephiro. She glanced at Ferio as he walked next to her. His entire form was cast in shadows. It made him look mysterious. Fuu shook her head. "So what do you wish to talk about?" "Umm...Mostly about what happened earlier." Did he sound a bit apologetic? "I’m sorry about what I said. I guess...I guess I’ve gotten used to acting like that around you." "So?" "So I guess I should apologize," Ferio looked at the ground, "to Umi and Hikaru." Fuu wanted to slap him. "And you came all this way just to tell me that? You shouldn’t have bothered." Ferio couldn’t figure out why she was so mad. "What’d I do?" "What did you do?! You only made me angry enough to blow up at you and then you say you should apologize to my friends! Not me?! Don’t you know how I feel?!" She started crying. "You mean you didn’t know I was joking?" "Of course not, baka!" Ferio drew her into a hug. "I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was hurting you. Will you forgive me?" She wiped at her tears. "Of course." "Please don’t ever doubt my feelings again." "Alright," Fuu smiled. "Oh, by the way, can I stay in your garden tonight? It’s beautiful." "You mean you’re staying? But Cephiro..." Ferio smiled and Fuu thought she would die. "Cephiro can wait."</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>