Magic Knight Rayearth Fan Fiction ❯ Never Again... ❯ The Night Hearts Fell… ( Chapter 2 )

Never Again…

The Night Hearts Fell…

She had prepared a most extravagant feast, roasting a type of turkey-like creature, warming fluffy mashed potatoes that reminded her of the clouds she felt threw, bright green flowered and leaves where thrown together with a type of golden dressing, sweet to the tongue, and as a drink, she had created a special red wine with little alcohol mixed in.

It had been quite an evening for Umi, first having to explain how she was the only one returning to Ferio and Lantis… though there would be no worries, their beloved red and green Knights would come, this, she was sure of. She traveled to the shoreline, watching the waves glitter in the setting sun with her Mashin, spending time with the legendary Dragon of the seas. Celese spoke of all the wonderful things now in Cephiro, the life coming to full potential once again with the will of the people and the selfless act Hikaru put into action for the choice of the Pillar.

Then came to the dinner, the part of her day she valued the most thus far. Everyone was there, Clef asking all sorts of questions on how she returned, Caldina happily hugging her until she couldn't breathe, and even timid Ascot was there… though Umi questioned his actions above any others. He was very quiet, eating little, mostly picking at it, and rarely smiling… if he did, it was always crooked and force.

She smiled warmly last she saw of him… he didn't smile back, and to add to the guilt creeping into her, he vanished rather swiftly after his meal.

"Hum…" Umi muttered as she collected Ascot's plates, "Where could he run off to…?"

"What was that?" Ferio overheard, drawing closer to her and snatching up soiled dishes as well.

"Oh…" she paused to sigh out what fears she couldn't hold in, "It's Ascot… he dashed off somewhere…"

Ferio shrugged, "I wouldn't worry, he's alone a lot… mostly working on magic or somethin'…"

Taking the plates from Umi and telling her to enjoy her stay, Ferio walked into the shadows of a hallway, off to clean the scraps left from Umi's divine meal.

Now she was on her own, no one in the room with her, no one to tell her what can and can't be done. Umi giggled some, spinning around and smiling as her dress glided around her waist. She remembered the festivals Cephiro held for the Knights, she smiled at the thought of Fuu and Ferio's first kiss, and the quite funny memory of Lantis never letting Hikaru from his sight… she remember how she never had such an experience, being passed around from man to man, never stayed with one, never just one love.

He would watch though, his hidden eyes never leaving her body, not even when dancing, she could see it from the corners of her own eyes. Whenever she snuck a glance to him in hopes of teasingly catching his staring, he'd shy away, moving his face and body in a profile view, the side which she could distinguish red as Hikaru's hair.

Umi took her seat again, holding her chin in the palms of her hands, her elbows resting ever so softly on the wooden table. Her mind flowed with wonderful memories of her adventures in Cephiro and all the wonderful times she created along with her friends. Every thought that would zip through her mind held him in it, sometimes angry, sometimes joyful, be her memories of him had yet to find a stored though of his frown toward her… or at least until this evening. She was accustomed to his face bright with happiness, his eyes, though behind a vale of hair, always dancing with laughter, and his smile wide and never fading. But after dinner was different, disturbing her some… he wouldn't smile to her, no matter how much she laughed warmly, making little comical remarks in hopes that at least a smirk would tug on his lips. No luck.

She noticed how much she thought of him, catching herself visualizing how he had glared at her before he disappeared.

What have I done? What did I say… what did I do…?

She picked her head up from her hands, looking off into the darkness of the muted room, murmurs escaping her knotted throat, "Why am I thinking of him?"

She shook her head, backing the chair out and standing directly up. She paused, balling her hand into a tight fist, resting it on her collarbone, tilting her head down until she felt the tip of her chin brush over her index finger.

This is nonsense… I can beat this!

With an intensely inhaled breath, she straightened her arms to the sides of her body, trotting away from the table and gliding down the bedroom corridor. A laugh echoed through the hall, her happy face feeling the breeze from her running with great speed.

She could see the doorway to her room now, the idea of sleep hit her, and how she enjoyed that idea of rest. As she slowed her pace, her eyes were able to properly adjust to the dimness now… something wasn't right. Her door was wide open and there, leaning on her doorway, was a figure. Tall, muscular, arms folded…

"Lantis…?" Umi called out, walking near.

The figure lifted its head up, their arms losing some, "Oh, I was wondering when you would come."

A grin flashed onto her visage, she knew now, and felt welcomed. Amused that she could talk to him, she leaped gracefully down the rest of the hallway, "Ascot, I'm glad I found you, I…"

She couldn't finish, not with the unforgiving way he looked at her. His lips were curled into a frown, a hostile frown, a damp line traced down the side of his cheek, and his hair shading over the eyes that created the damp outline of a tear. He was barley hunching over now, his lower back the only part leaning on the dark entrance.

"My God, Ascot!" she latched her hands around one of his shivering arms, lowering her own body as he slid down the doorway frame, "I figured something was wrong, now tell me please, I… I wish to help you."

With a heavy sight, he carefully tugged his arm away from her grip, turning his head somewhat toward her, "Why did you come back?"

She was uncertain to answer, the query stunning her for a moment, "To see this land of beau-"

"Why did you come back?" he repeated, now fully looking at her.

Her expression softened, he wouldn't accept that being the truth, not with the hint of guilt looming behind her words.

"I wanted to see someone… someone I haven't seen for years… someone, no matter how much I tried, I could never erase from my mind…"

Ascot gazed profoundly into her sparkling eyes for the longest time, surprised she allowed his emerald eyes to venture over hers.

"It is stupid of me… keeping you awake like this," Ascot stood up, leaving Umi dazed and confused below him.

"You'll just leave it like that? I… don't understand…" Umi stumbled to get up, needing the hold into the doorway just to kneel.

He knelt to her side, brushing away the azure bangs covering her watering eyes, she saw him once more, his eyes holding so much sympathy.

"Welcome to my world…"