Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ Magic Knight Rayearth: Medieval Mystery Series ❯ The Girl before the Fire ( Chapter 7 )

Magic Knight Rayearth, Medieval Mystery Series...Part 7.

Note 1: I know I set Hikaru's home in a French Alps type place, however whenever I think of a family run training hall, I think Japanese dojo. It might not seem to match, but Japan has mountains too, and somehow, when I picture it, everything seems to blend in okay.

Note 2: I don't know the names of Hikaru's brothers, and when I searched the web, they were simply called "the three brothers," in most of the fan sites I went to. Finally I found their names, but not their ages. So, in this series, Satoru, is the youngest, Maseru is in the middle, and Kakeru is the oldest. (I found out after I wrote this that Satoru's actually the oldest, but I'm too lazy to go and change it all now. :-P) I also noticed that neither Hikaru's mother or father have a name, therefore, Hikaru's mother will be called Mrs. Shidou, and her father is Master Shidou.

C-chan.

(Actions)

Name: Thoughts.

Name: Speech.

*~*~*~*~*~*

(It's early morning, and after spending the night in an Inn, Lantis and his horse slowly mount a steep, narrow trail, Lantis, as always, seems caught up in deep, dark thoughts.)

(Flashback, Lantis is asking around a few days ago.)

Old man: Warriors you say? Well now, that certainly is odd. Actually there's an old training hall up, over the foot of that hill there. It's run by swords-master Shidou, and his family, very nice people...

(End flash back)

Lantis: Master Shidou....

(They reach the top of the incline, only to be faced with a quaint, Japanese style wall, topped by clay tiles. Straight ahead, the path disappears through a closed, heavy, wooden door. Lantis dis-mounts.)

(He walks up to the door and pulls the cord to ring a door bell. Nothing happens for a few minutes. Just as he's about to ring the bell again, he hears footsteps on the other side of the door.)

Satoru: One Moment!

(Several de-bolting sounds as the door is unlocked. Several seconds later, the door is opened by Hikaru's youngest brother.)

Satoru: Hello there, how may I help you?...

(He is greeted by Lantis' dark face. It unnerves him slightly.)

Lantis: Is master Shidou in?

Satoru: uhh, yes, he is. Come in, come in.

(He opens the door wide so that Lantis and his horse may pass through. Satoru closes the door behind him and locks it again.)

Satoru: Wolves.

(He explains to Lantis.)

Satoru: There've been a lot of sightings lately, so we keep the doors locked, just to be safe.

(Lantis doesn't say anything, just regards him cooly. Satoru just keeps smiling, trying not to show that he's unnerved.)

Satoru: Well, anyway, our father is out training in the mountains at the moment. You can wait inside if you like.

Lantis: No thank you, I'll just wait here.

Satoru: er, well, alright...

Maseru: Satoru, who is it?

(Maseru and Kakeru come out of the dojo wearing gi's. It looks like they've been training.)

Satoru: He's looking for Father.

Maseru: Oh. (aside to Kakeru) For a moment I thought he was a suitor for Hikaru. (To Lantis) Father's up meditating in the mountains, however you're welcome to come inside and wait. It's a long journey up from the valley.

Lantis: No thankyou. I'll wait here.

Maseru: Oh...

Satoru: What a dark guy...

Maseru: I wonder what he wants with father...I got a bad feeling about this...

(Kakeru walks up beside Lantis, matching him in height. He's not unnerved by Lantis' gloominess.)

Kakeru: As you wish. My name is Kakeru, and these are my brothers Masaru and Satoru.

(He extends a hand. Lantis looks at him, as if he doesn't want to shake hands or give his name. They stare at each other sombrely for a moment.)

Kakeru: A handshake is a sign of peace and friendship, are you refusing both?

(It's almost a dare more than a threat. After a moment more, Lantis shakes his hand.)

Lantis: My name is Lantis, and though I desire peace, I do not seek friendship.

Kakeru: The feeling is mutual, I assure you.

(Kakeru smirks, almost as if he's amused by Lantis. Lantis, despite himself does the same. Satoru and Masaru look at them, slightly confused, and impressed by their brother.)

Kakeru: Well then. If you wish to wait here, you may. However it's a long trek up the mountain, and I'm sure your mount is in need of water and food. We'd be glad to provide you with both.

Lantis: No thank you, we're both...

Hikaru: Kakeru!

(She comes running out of the stables across the courtyard, wearing a Heidi uniform. Lantis observes her darkly, noting the long braid which whips out behind her wildly as she runs. He remembers the figure in front of the fire...)

Hikaru: Kakeru? Who's our guest?

Kakeru: Hikaru, this is Lantis. Lantis, my little sister Hikaru.

(She runs right past Lantis and goes to his horse.)

Hikaru: Hello there! It's nice to meet you. Did you come all the way up that big hill? Here, let's get these reins off you...

(Everyone's stares at her, Satoru and Maseru have sweat drops.)

Maseru: ...Of course, it's just like Hikaru...

Satoru: ...She loves animals...

Hikaru: You don't mind, do you Sir Lantis. May I take him out back and give him a drink of water?

(Lantis regards her for a moment, somewhat surprised that she knows his title. Then realises that she was just being polite. Hikaru just smiles back, genuinly unafraid of his dark regard.)

Lantis: I guess he could use a drink.

(He goes and removes the covered staff and his bag from the horse.)

Hikaru: Great!!

(She goes back to talking to the horse while leading it into the stable.)

Hikaru: Did you hear that? I'm going to get you all cleaned up, you'll see. I bet you'll be the most handsome horse once I brush you down.

(The horse whinnies happily.)

Hikaru: Yeah! Come on!

(They watch her go back into the stable. Maseru and Satoru still sweat-dropping, Kakeru smiling. Lantis just watches her.)

Kakeru: You'll have to forgive her forwardness, my little sister just loves animals.

(Lantis nodds, still watching Hikaru as she disappears into the barn.)

Kakeru: Well then, if you just wait here, my mother will be out shortly with some tea...

Lantis: ...That won't be necessary...

Kakeru: You don't know my mother. If you won't come in the house, she'll bring the house to you, and nothing I say will stop her.

(Lantis regards him with scepticism. Kakeru is smiling, but does not look as if he's joking, and considering Hikaru's personality, he probably isn't. Lantis nods and follows Kakeru to the house. Maseru and Satoru trail behind.)

*~*~*~*~*~*

(Later in the day, around noon, Lantis and Master Shidou are talking in a closed room. Maseru and Satoru are going there best to eaves drop.)

Satoru: Damn, I can't hear...

Maseru: Idiot, stop squirming! ...

Master Shidou: ...I see, and you believe one of my boys to be this, Magic Knight, chosen by the gem to save Cefiro?

Lantis: Yes. However I cannot be sure until one of them is able to touch the gem without being burned by it's fire. That is the risk they must take...

Master Shidou: I see, well then...

Master Shidou: ...Maseru, Satoru, stop spying and come in here.

(Satoru and Maseru freeze in shock. After a few minutes they sheepishly open the door and come inside. )

Sarotu: Y...yes Father...

Master Shidou: Go, find your brother and bring him to the training hall. I'm sure you both heard what this is about.

Maseru: Yes Father.

(They shut the door and leave.)

Master Shidou: You say this is a secret mission, yet you did not stop them from eavesdropping.

Lantis: They would have found out soon enough, as this affair does concern them.

Master Shidou: ...Or could it be that you don't fear this danger, as you already know what it is...

~*~*~*~*~*~

(Meanwhile, out in the barn, Hikaru is tending to her animals. It seems she runs a type of veterinary clinic out of her barn, as there are injured animals of all shapes and sizes, penned up in there. Kakeru talks to her as she cleans out pens, and waters and feeds the animals.)

Kakeru: You stayed up half of the night for the last week, meditating in front of the fire. Did you find what you were looking for?

(Hikaru stops what she's doing for a moment and looks down at the ground.)

Hikaru: No. In fact, I'm even more confused about the dreams now than I was before...

(She bites her lip a bit with worry and continues to fill a feed bowl for a raccoon.)

Kakeru: What was it you saw?

(Hikaru stops again, not quite able to find the words.)

Hikaru: It's not so much what I saw, but what I felt...

(Kakeru doesn't move, pressing her to go on. She finishes cleaning and closes the pen before continuing.)

Hikaru: ...It...it was cold, and I found myself shivering, even in front of the fire...and then I thought something was calling me...It seemed to be coming from across the valley, but when I looked...

Kakeru: ...it must be a very strong vision...

Hikaru: It was. In fact...I still...feel it...

(Kakeru regards her with a worried face. It seems he's about to say something, but suddenly Satoru and Maseru come running in...)

Maseru: Kakeru, father wants to see us in the training hall right away...it's about Sir Lantis...

Satoru: Yeah, turns out, he really is a Sir, a knight from the castle! Apperantly, Cefiro's in trouble...

Kakeru: That's enough...

(The angry tone in his voice surprises them both, until they realise Hikaru is right there. The look on her face is one of stunned worry.)

Maseru: Oh, sorry Hikaru...uh, you probably shouldn't worry about it...

Satoru: Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with your night-mares. It's probably just a coincidence...

(They try smiling encouragingly, however Hikaru's face remains the same...)

Kakeru: Hikaru...

(He puts a hand on her shoulder, breaking her from her trance. She looks up at him.)

Kakeru: Maybe you'd better come too...

Hikaru: ... ...Thanks Kakeru.

(She smiles at him encouragingly, and they all head off towards the training hall.)