Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ Magic Knight Rayearth: Medieval Mystery Series ❯ Don't Touch!! ( Chapter 13 )

Magic Knight Rayearth, Medieval Mystery Series...Part 13.

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"Magic Knight of the Wind, where are you..." Clef thought as he gazed at the emerald green escudo gem floating magically above the waters of Eterna. Of course, it gave no answer. He sighed.

"Clef?" Presea entered the chapel through the side door that lead in from the library, and stopped as she saw him standing by the spring, his shoulders sagging under his own weight and weariness. For once, he didn't smile, didn't try to hid his fatigue. He knew he could be himself around Presea. She always seemed to know when he was faking any ways. He just continued to gaze at the gem, and the spring.

"What is it Clef?" she asked gently, approaching him.

"It's nothing," he replied, "which is just the problem." Presea was silent, waiting for him to continue. He sighed again, "The wind: it's invisible, yet everywhere. Gentle and usually subtle, but strong and fierce when it wants to be. It fuels fire, and brews storms on the sea. Second to time, it's possibly the strongest force on earth, ever changing, ever moving..." He trailed off and turned to look at Presea. "...I have no clue where the magic knight of the wind is, and I can't stand waiting here, hoping she'll show up on time." He smiled, laughing at his own character fault. He had never be one to believe that something could just happen naturally if you waited for it, and now, that was all he could do.

Behind his smile, Presea saw the frustration in his eyes, and everything in her wanted to take him in her arms and hold him until his mind was at peace. However, she was able to content herself by putting an arm around his back in a friendly fashion.

Clef's eyes lit up in surprise, and momentarily he forgot about the rest of the world as he looked at her.

"It'll be ok." Presea said in her most confident voice. To her surprise, Clef nodded in agreement and smiled genuinely.

"You're right." he said, and gently put his arm around her shoulder as they walked back into the library. Presea felt like she was in heaven.

*~*~*~*~*

Meanwhile, at the other side of the palace, Fuu regarded the turbulent sky with a silent face. So wrapped up in her thoughts was she, that she didn't even notice Ferio coming down the hall towards her. He stopped, waited, and after a moment, cleared his throat to get her attention. Startled, she jumped a bit before turning to him.

"Ferio!," was all she remarked, then she remembered her manners. "Good evening." she smiled and nodded to him before returning her attention to the sky.

"What'cha doing?" he asked, leaning up against the wall to peer out the window next to her. It was a moment before she answered.

"...listening..." she replied quietly.

Ferio smiled, " And what does the wind have to say tonight?" he said, intending to tease her a bit. He stopped however as he saw how serious her expression was. Behind her green eyes, something dark was brewing. This wasn't the time for jokes.

"Nothing." she said after a moment. Ferio looked up at her, intent on listening to every word she said. After a moment she continued. "I've had this feeling for days now, like something's wrong, but I don't know what. I thought that it was just a symptom of getting used to living in a new place, but now..."

She stopped and shook her head, the same familiar smile returning to her face. "Never mind. I'm afraid Guru's words must be getting to me, that's all."

"What do you mean?" Ferio asked, curious to know. It wasn't like he cared about the castle, or Cefiro for that matter, he was just curious.

"It's nothing, really," Fuu said, "it's just that there's a rumor that Cefiro's in trouble, and Clef believes that the Magic Knights have been summoned here because we're all in danger. It's an old Legend, that's all. It's completely impractical that anything like that could ever happen. Right Ferio?"

Ferio was silent for a moment as Fuu turned her gaze back to the window. First rumors, then weapons, now something about magical knights? It made no sense to him, however...

"Fuu," he said quietly. He'd thought this over for a long time, and decided now would be a good a time as any. The truth was he liked Fuu, almost more than he wanted to admit it to himself. He knew it was dangerous getting attached to someone, because you never knew when they'd leave to follow their own path. However, with Fuu, he couldn't help wanting to try.

"Yes?" she asked, now turning her full attention to him.

Ferio felt his face growing warm as the butterflies built in his stomach. Instinctively he slipped back into his usual haughty attitude. It was safer if she didn't know how he truly felt. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned casually against the wall.

"Well, if something's going on, I guess I'm getting out of here in the nick of time." Ferio began. He opened the corner of one eye and peered out of it at her confused face, just to be certain she was still listening.

"What do you mean?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Good," he thought. This was how he wanted it. He stood up from the wall, and dramatically walked to the window and stared out at the sky.

"I'll be leaving here soon." he said, trying to sound both sad and excited at the same time. "My debt will be paid off by next week, and I'll be back on the road again." he turned to her, "Just in the nick of time, it seems, the last thing I need is to be drafted by the army here."

"Oh," said Fuu, not sure how she should take this news. Some how, the thought of Ferio leaving hadn't crossed her mind, and now she was surprised how strongly she felt...

"Yeah," Ferio continued on, hoping to convince her while she was still confused. "It's the great open road for me. No masters, no debts, no walls to keep me in. I've felt so cooped up here, I can hardly wait to be free again!" He smiled, genuinely, just thinking about it. Every day on the road brought some new face, place or adventure to him. He only wished he had someone to share them with...

"You could come too...if you wanted." he asked quietly. Fuu didn't move, and after a moment, he forced himself to look up at her. She was thinking, her eyes focused on some far away object as she thought about this. Howver it didn't take to long before she shook her head.

"It sounds wonderful Ferio, and I wish you the best of luck, but for now, I think I'll just stay here." Ferio's heart sank at her words as she continued on. "I've met so many new people and friends, like Umi and Hikaru. I love working in the library with Clef...I don't want to give this up just yet..." She trailed off, thinking for a moment, then smiled at Ferio with kind yet determined eyes. "Besides," she said, "If the kingdom is in trouble, I want to be here. It would be wrong of me to leave my friends in danger here. I have so few, and they're all so dear to me...I don't want to lose any of them..."

She became quiet, her strong, silent gaze once again falling on Ferio as he tried not to show his disappointment. She was right after all, if she had friends, she should protect them, and Ferio should do the same. But Ferio didn't have friends, he only had Fuu, and if she didn't return his feelings, then...

"I see. Well then, I'll be around for a few more days, if you change your mind." He waved, forcing a smile, and walked quickly down the hall and around the corner. Fuu stood there for a moment, wondering if Ferio realised that her last words had been directed to him...

*~*~*~*~*

And so the days wore on, hour by hour. Ascott came back from the coast with news of Umi's father and friends. They were all well, they all missed her and sent her little gifts to help her or remind her of them. Ascott himself brought back a tray of fresh seafood a peace offering, just so that she wouldn't be as homesick. Still, Fuu noticed that sometimes she wandered off alone, and came back with red eyes. Even Hikaru would sometimes go off to the stables and tend to the horses. Sometimes Fuu would join her, and they would talk about stuff. Caladina joined Lafarga and Presea in mounting the palace guard, and Fuu spent a lot of her hours in the library helping Clef.

There was so much to be done, that Fuu rarely found a moment to herself. When she did, that strange foreboding feeling came over her again, and she would quickly search for something to keep her mind occupied. However, there was one day in the library when she found herself alone.

Clef had gone down to see how Umi and Hikaru were faring with their combat training. Fuu, deciding she could take a break until they got back, sat down by the window to read. After a few pages, however, she began to feel restless, and suddenly looked up to see a door that she hadn't noticed before. Feeling adventurous, she decided to try it, and after ascending a small flight of stairs, she found herself in the chapel.

Fuu thought is was the most beautiful room she had ever seen. The sunlight streamed through the stained windows, casting coloured patterns on the smooth grey pillars and accentuating the carved figures on the walls and pillar bases. Most beautiful of all was the basin that was placed at the front of the chapel, carved with mythical dragons, birds, and wolves, and set with precious stones...and the Escudo gem...

For a moment, Fuu stood transfixed by the gem. It was beautiful, yes, but more than that it was deep and alive. Fuu felt when she was looking at it, that she might be looking at the infinite sky, so deep it seemed. Whether curious, or because of some magical calling, Fuu took a step forward, and another, and again. Soon she was so close, she could reach out and touch it. Then, slowly, as if her hand was being pulled on a string, she lifted it, and moved it forward...

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A deep voice rang out across the chapel. Surprised, Fuu looked up to see Priest Zagato standing by the main entrance. Instinctively she drew her hand back. For a moment, she was too shocked to say anything, knowing what this must resemble.

"That is the escudo gem belonging to the Magic Knight of the wind. Only she and she alone may touch it. Anyone else, will suffer grave consequences." Zagato said, quieter this time, but no less darkly. Fuu finally found her voice...

"But I wasn't, I didn't mean too..." she stammered. Zagato silenced her with a wave of his hand.

"I do not blame you, the gem is very beautiful and very tempting." Zagato went on," I will forget this incident if you leave right now and promise never to return to this room."

Horrified, Fuu nodded and quickly left the room, scolding herself for being so stupid. Upon reaching the safety of the library again, she shut the door and vowed never to open it again. Even so, it took her a few minutes before she could get her pulse back to normal.

*~*~*~*

Meanwhile, back in the chapel, Zagato approached the fountain of Eterna, and observed, silently, the Escudo gem. His eyebrows arched in surprise as he noticed a feint but definite glow resounding from the gem. He thought, "..It seems I have found you... magic knight of wind..."

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Clef! I'm hungry, and It's such a nice day out. Can't we take the rest of the afternoon off?" Umi asked one warm afternoon. Hikaru glanced up from her work, but said nothing.

"I gave you last Sunday off, wasn't that enough?" Clef said, knowing full well where this was going.

"But last week was rainy," she wined," not sunny like today. Besides, wouldn't you like to spend the afternoon in the garden with Presea. It would be so romantic..."

"That's enough! Get back to work." The SD Clef yelled, his cheeks turning slightly red. Umi just giggled and got out of her seat.

"You really ought to take some time off Clef. All this work is making you old and wrinkled before you should be. Come on Hikaru." Umi smiled and started to walk out the door, a confused Hikaru being gently dragged behind her.

"Hey! Get back here right now! Wh-what do you think your doing!"

Umi stopped for just a second and smiled, "I'm going you a big favour. Presea should be coming up any minute now with our lunch." She winked, "Don't get too carried away now." and she walked out of the room, giggling as Clef repeatedly denied having any romantic feelings for Presea. However when she didn't come back, Clef gave in and turned to Fuu.

"Fuu," Fuu looked up from her work as Clef called her.

"Yes Clef-san?" she answered. Clef approached her.

"I've given Umi and Hikaru the afternoon off," he said. "Why don't you take a break too. We've all been working much too hard." Fuu thought for a moment, and then her eyes lit up.

"Thank you Clef-san! I think I know just what I'll do this afternoon!" and with that, she turned and walked quickly out of the library and down the hall.

*~*~*~*~*