Heya! I'm back! Do you remember me? dodges dangerous looking tomato Yeah, you guys do remember me… sweatdrops Hum… well, what can I say? After almost a year without updating, everyone thinks I gave up on this story. Can't believe it's been almost a year… Anyways, I've been having big trouble with my internet connection, with my lazy muse and even with my granma! Not to mention I got a new job, etc, etc… Not that I'm trying to excuse myself, cause I know I have no excuse for been so lazy, but still… isn't it a good thing I'm updating this? Gomen ne, minna-san. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish this story in a couple more weeks. Have more stories in tow that I need to post and finish as well! Hehehe.

Atrilial: Nope, I don't hate you. How can you think that? Here, I'll update, but really, you don't need to beg! It's embarrassing!

Green Animelover: Aha! I've never grinned as much as I did when I read your review. Perfect and excellent are such nice words! It was the kind that makes you feel bad for not updating… dang. But don't worry, I won't stop 'til I finish it. This story is my baby!

ira: Well, thank you! My keyboard is sure working great after so long without internet. Maybe your wishes helped out with that! Arigatou! I'm so glad to have supporters like you!

heya: Lol, I know, kinda. But fear not, I'll finish it!

Red Mage: Well, this was an unexpectedly good review. I'm not used to such long ones, so it was also a nice surprise. What else can I say… yeah, I have nothing against Disney, lol. But, I do know one has to release the tension once in a while, since you can't keep building it up forever or the final chapter would be rushed no matter how long it might be. It can be boring to, so many chapters with no solutions whatsoever. I know I'm still a beginner, but maybe one day I'll be able publish my original stuff. But I don't think I'll ever stop writing fanfics. It'd be like saying I'll stop watching anime… no can't do, lol. Also, I'm working on a capital revision of the story, more like a witch hunt for spelling mistakes and such. Will be updating that as well. Anyways, thanks a lot for your very useful review!

Rhonda21: I'm so glad you won't join the killer mob (that's the smart choice and you all know it!) It'd be devastating for me if you do! I just hope what you're about to read won't make you even crazier!

anony: Here it is! The update!

kattygirl32132: Yes, I am going to finish this story so you won't need to beat me to pulp! However, I'm afraid I'm gonna leave you hanging again! MUAHAHAHAHA! Yes, the evilness of it all! It makes me wanna write more!

Mira33: Lol! Mira is such a lovely name! Anyways, thanks for loving my story! I'm really glad you enjoyed the legend! Here's the update!

Yachtzee: Now that was… SCARY! Were you serious when you said I was going to be pummelled? So mean! I shouldn't update at all! XP But since I am such a kind and gentle and nice person, here's the update! You're going to be pleasantly surprised with the pairings! Heehehehe!

emerida: Ok, dear, here's chapter 17. I know you've been waiting for this one, you poor FuuxFerio fan! I hope you like it!

AerinM: And who said I'm not going to finish it? I did start it a long time ago, but I'm so near the end now! Not planning to give up!

Cev: Hell, yeah, long time! Thanks a lot for all you nice words, you really know how to flatter a writer (wannabe) and how to make me blush too! And don't worry about Lantis and Hikaru, they will be… fine… I guess. Hehehe. Still working on that and my style. Thanks again!

Ayi: Thanks! Awesome is very nice word too! Here's the update!

Liadel: And you were waiting for this one too, ne? I sure hope you don't find it too lame… or something. Anyways, thanks for reading me!

Lady Ronin Tiger: Cookies! YAY! Now if only I could update more often so that I could get more cookies. Still, I'm glad you understand me. That horrid time without internet was not in my plans… sigh… I'm so glad to be back!

nakuru: I just hope your curiosity was not too bad! I tend to do pretty ugly cliffies, so please bear with me for a little while more, til I finish this one! Thank you!

syvonair: Heya, syvs! waves Long time no see, ne? But even if it took me so long to update, you're going to forgive me when you read this chapter! Cause most of you questions will be answered! The key word there was "most", lol. Then again… maybe you'll hate me even more! WAH! Another cliffie!

Mimiluvbug: Hum… yep, I think this one classifies as nice n fluffy, lol. Also, you'll get to know about both Fuu and Umi, so don't worry! Thanks for your review!

(blank): I'm glad you like this story! Here's the update!

bluegenes: So, was that a fortunate pairing choice? Hehehe, I'll try to update more often. After all, only two more chapter to go and they are both partially written! Thanks for you review!

chatterbox-hikaru13: Lol, you'll see what happen to Hikaru and Fuu… but I can't promise you'll love me, lol. Anyways, I'll update soon!

'karu-chan: Well, yeah, that was evil. I apologize for taking so long. I, too, hope I won't be forced to wait this much again. I made up the legend, yeah, even though I'm not sure there's not a similar one somewhere. And yeah, I have other ficcies, I promise you I'll post them when I finish this one so that everyone can read! I'm really glad you are interested!

Well, so that was… pretty much, ne? So I'm gonna just shut up so that you guys can go straight to the fun part! Please remember that I don't own Rayearth (cause I don't think I could handle being the lawful owner of so many hot bishies!) and that I make no money of writing this, only friends, enemies, killer mobs and a great inner satisfaction! Ja ne!

Just read and enjoy!

Battling emotions

Chapter XVII

The dance (Part 5)

In the garden, Fuu watched the sky with empty expression. Truth be told, her blank face could never reflect the storm raging in her soul at that very moment. The unthinkable, the unexpected, had just happened in her presence, with thousands of people as witnesses: Ferio had broken his engagement. It was like a dream come true, but also pretty much like a nightmare. What would he do next? She was sure the prince would come after her, that was quite obvious in her mind. But no matter how hard she tried to find a way out, the only viable solution was to tell him the truth. She had to be strong enough for that. But, really, could she?

"Fuu?" called a voice at her back.

The girl's body tensed like a bow string. He had been so quick in finding her... She knew that it will happen sooner or later, and that she would probably never be quite ready for it, but she feared the moment had arrived too soon.

"Fuu?" the voice got a bit closer.

Letting out a soft sigh, the Wind Knight turned around to face the man of her dreams again. But when she fixed here eyes in those brilliant, golden orbs, she suddenly found herself speechless. All words, every argument she had planned, gone in just one glance.

On the other hand, Ferio didn't even wait to that the girl to speak. He just walked towards her and wrapped her in a tight hug, as if he didn't plan to let her go any time soon.

"Am I worthy of you now, Fuu?" he mumbled, his lips grazing the feminine ear "Now that I'm free again to love you?"

A short silence ensued while Wind Knight tried to find their voice, presumably caught in a knot at her throat.

"Ferio…" she whispered at last, because she knew if she tried to speak normally, the knot was going to explode in tears "I am the one who doesn't deserve you…"

The prince broke the hug to look at her with questioning eyes.

"What are you talking about, Fuu?"

"I…" the girl virtually crumbled in his arms, so much that Ferio had to hold her for an instant until he could sit her down in a bench that, by chance and not by convenience, happened to be placed a few meters away.

"Tell me what's going on." he asked, his glance fixed on her and loaded with concern. He had never seen her so vulnerable, not even in that supreme instant when she had given up to his love.

"I…" Fuu started again with hesitant voice "I am to blame for your engagement with princess Tarta…"

"What?" Ferio said, his expression becoming a surprised one.

"… because I was the one who prevented us… from returning to Cefiro all this years…"

"What?" repeated the more and more astonished prince.

"Five years ago" Fuu said after exhaling a deep sigh "Umi left with her parents to France on vacations and Hikaru was on a tour with the kendo team of her school. So I was all alone in the city. The truth is that I never had that many friends… besides, I also missed Cefiro… and you…" the girl blushed, but Ferio's serious expression urged her to continue "In short, one day my sister asked me to a party with the people from her school. I don't like parties that much either, but that day I was so depressed that Kuu insisted more than usual and she ended up convincing me. If I'm gonna be totally fair with her, I have to admit that the club she took me to was very good and her friends are really nice and very funny… but… I think I overdid the alcohol a bit, in spite of her warning me that I shouldn't mix my drinks. Almost at midnight, my sister decided that it was time for us to go back home, but I didn't want to leave. I was having such a great time, or that's what I thought then. So when she left for the dressing room, I slipped away with a group of highly "amusing" people and we kept the party going on the whole night… I don't think there was a bar in the city we didn't visit in that few hours..."

The Wind Knight stopped as the feeling of her huge shame took over her. If she had listened to Kuu, none of that would have happened. But that was a useless thought, the same way it was useless to complain.

"I don't remember much after paring with my sister." the girl sighed covering her face, her voice only a bit above a whisper "I think I drank more, but I am not so sure anymore. The whole night becomes a deep fog in my mind until the moment that I woke up not knowing where I was. I don't… I have no words to describe what I felt when I finally realized that the place was the worst room of an even worse hotel and that my clothes were spread all over the floor. Not to mention the terrible headache and the puking urge that made me feel even more dizzy and miserable. I really thought I was going to die… I truly wished to be dead…"

Perhaps she deserved to say more, to cover herself a little further in her own humiliation, but Fuu felt like she had no strength enough to tell him about her family's reaction or the AIDS exam. Not while Ferio looked at her, frowning like she had expected he would. She wished she could to be able to read what he thought in his eyes, but they didn't reflect a thing. His expression was blank too, as if he had been left without words and without thoughts at the same time.

However, anything she could have imagined, whatever she could have been able to read at the masculine features would have never prevented her against what really happened. Because what she didn't wait in the least was that the prince would hold her in his arms again the same way he had done before.

"Silly…" Ferio mumbled lovingly – "my little fool…"

Surprise was little to describe the girl's feelings.

"But… Ferio!" she babbled trying to escape from his hug, which of course he didn't allow "What are you doing? Let me go! You can't possibly... you don't mind what I... that I… that I'm no longer…?"

"A virgin?" the prince looked at her mischievously as he finished the sentence that was so difficult for her "No, I never really cared about that. But if it worried you that much, you should have come back to ask me. After all, I think that's something that concerns just the two of us."

As expected, Fuu blushed so bright it even started to look unhealthy.

"You are right, I'm such a big fool. And because of me, Hikaru and Umi have suffered. My punishment should be to be left without you…"

Ferio silenced her with an unexpected kiss.

"Who is talking about punishments here? Didn't you have enough with every year of feeling unworthy…?"

"And of not seeing you." the girl interrupted him with decision.

"And of not seeing me." the prince agreed with a wink "You'll make me conceited if you keep telling me that kind of things. As for met, I think I had my share of punishment already. I almost had to spend the rest of my days with Tarta."

"You have no idea of how much you scared me with that sudden declaration." a hesitant smile appeared in Fuu's lips "And how much I loved you…

"Conceited." Ferio warned again playfully "I'm on the way of becoming the most conceited king ever known to Cefiro. And you" he kissed her one more time "you're on the way of becoming the most beautiful queen ever known to Cefiro."

"Queen?" the girl stared at him, surprised "Who, me?"

"Of course." the prince nodded as if what he had just said was the most obvious and logic thing in the world "You don't think I'm gonna let go again, right?"

"But Ferio…"

"No buts. Don't you think we make a beautiful royal couple? And if my choice bothers someone, I'll simply abdicate of my royalty and I leave with you for the Mystic World. What do you say to that?"

"Ferio…" Fuu rewarded her lover's scatterbrained speech with an almost ethereal smile.

"Do you hear that?" he said suddenly.

"What?" the girl asked absentmindedly, still somehow stunned by what had just happened and mainly by her beloved's last words "The music?"

"It's Almera's song!" the prince exclaimed, convinced that such an explanation should be enough to justify his sudden excitement "Shall we, Fuu?"

The Magic Knight blushed, but that didn't prevent her hand from intertwining with the one that Ferio offered her.

"Here?" she mumbled, hesitant "Now?"

"I can't think of a better moment or a better place…" he answered with his bold smile and added next to the feminine ear "… or better circumstances."

Fuu's blush grew, as expected, but all her expression was of complete and immense happiness when she found herself in her prince's arms.

"Truth be told, this is an ill omen." Ferio remembered after several swirls around the magic melody "But thinking again, no silly superstition will tear us apart. Not now, not ever."

"What are you talking about, Ferio?" the girl wanted to know, be it curiosity or to try to hide the blush that, after having almost disappeared from her face, had just returned in full bloom.

"It's an old Cefirian legend." he began to explain, giving her details on Almera and Soarer's story while they swirled around nimbly to the music's beat that could be heard in the garden as clear as if they had never abandoned the ball room.

"So that's the reason why I can feel such powerful magic around us…" Fuu closed her eyes, feeling like she was floating in an encircling ocean where the only thing that kept her tied to reality was the soft pressure of the prince's arms surrounding her waist and the persistent beat of their hearts.

"So I've heard from all those that know at least a bit of magic."

"It's such a lovely history, Ferio." the magic knight smiled opening her eyes and rewarding him with a tender look of her emerald-coloured orbs "But you are cheating. How do you expect us to switch partners if we are all alone in the middle of this garden?"

"That's the idea." he also smiled, which caused his expression to become malicious "I already told you that I won't let anything take you away from me again… not even yourself."

That time, Fuu didn't even blush, lost as she was in her companion's golden eyes whose effect on her was stronger than a hundred songs concocted by princess Almera. And she was so bewitched that she would have probably kissed him without even notice if the melody had not disappeared in that same instant.

The girl blinked confused at the joy flourishing in her beloved's features.

"Does this mean that everyone has found their soul mate?" she suggested shyly.

"This means that you are mine… my Fuu…" Ferio said, never ceasing to look at her with his suddenly intense eyes.

Of course, and they both knew it, the music's absence wouldn't save the Wind Knight from falling prisoner of the kisses and caresses of Cefiro's prince. Because she didn't want to be saved. And because he didn't plan to let her go.

ºººººººººº

Even though she didn't notice at first, Umi didn't open her eyes immediately, fearing the moment of identifying the person who held her in his arms. However, it didn't take her long to scold herself for being so silly and such a coward. That little dance meant nothing! Her heart had already chosen and that's what really mattered.

Slowly, still trying to delay the discovery that didn't cease to disturb her, the Water Knight took a fleeting look at her companion. But she got a huge surprise when she saw that in front of her stood a blushing Ascot that had not dared to look at her either. Something very tender spread all over her body and an exultant smile shone on her face.

The summoner was almost forced to open his eyes when he felt something warm on his lips and the sweet pressure of the body in his arms leaning further into his embrace. What he glanced at then almost makes him utter a joyful cry. Umi! Just like Presea predicted, she had come back to him! So, that could only mean that… could someone be happier than he was then?

"Umi…" he mumbled pressing her to his chest as if he had really been about to lose her "Umi… Umi… I can't believe it…"

"Neither can I!" the magic knight took a step back, only enough to look at him with rejoicing she could not hide "But why did you have your eyes closed? Were you waiting for a kiss, like the sleeping beauty?"

The boy flushed bright red, even though he had no idea of who the sleeping beauty was; but that didn't stop him from pressing Umi against his chest again.

"I… I was afraid…" he explained slowly, a bit embarrassed by his infantile attitude "It frightened me so much to think that you could end up in the arms of any other person… away from me…"

"Silly!" the girl scolded him, her laugh denying the harshness of her word just as much as her hands that caressed Ascot's face, brushing his hair away from his emerald eyes "No ball can decide my life. Although I have to admit that I was also afraid… that it might not be you…"

They hugged each other again, tightly, until an indiscreet voice came to get them out of their own world.

"Here they are, my little turtledoves! Together once and for all!"

It was Caldina who came towards them accompanied by her inseparable swordsman.

"Don't tell me." Ascot laughed "You and Lafarga ended up in each other's arms for… the umpteenth time?"

"Umpteenth?" Umi opened her eyes, astonished.

"This man can't get rid of me!" the dancer sighed with theatrical air as she practically hanged of Lafarga's arm, so tight she was holding him. As for the swordsman, it was hard to say if he was happier of having confirmed for the umpteenth time that his destiny was next to Caldina or due to the fact that the melody had stopped… at last.

"Then…" the water knight said intertwining her hand with one of the young summoner's "this has been the final result every time you guys have danced Almera's song?"

"Danced is a somehow wrong term in Lafarga's case" the illusionist laughed, and the very pleased swordsman didn't even try to deny it "but yes, we are fated or so it seems even in spite of that little and insignificant detail. As a matter of fact, I don't know a single person who has ever complained about the results of this tradition."

Caldina moved one of her arms in a circle that covered all the room and the young couple followed her gesture with their eyes. Certainly, different emotions boiled everywhere, finding occasional escapes from time to time in bewildered exclamations or cries of joy. Nobody seemed displeased though.

Near them, princess Aska and Sang Yong looked each other, both flushed like there was no tomorrow, none of them willing to let go of the hands of the other. They were not informed about the legend surrounding the song that had just concluded, but something told them that it had not been a common piece.

A bit away from them, Geo didn't even try to hide his satisfaction at having princess Tatra back in his arms. She, for that matter, was equally pleased, even ignoring the true transcendence of that result. On the other hand, Eagle and Tarta only watched each other with mild astonishment and also a bit of curiosity, as if they weren't fully able to understand what had happened yet. And Zazu laughed nervously, a bit embarrassed but not really upset that Mira didn't seem to have intentions of coming off of his neck for the rest of the evening. The NSX would fall to pieces if he understood so much uproar about a simple song.

In the opposite end of the ball room, Guru Clef gathered Sierra in his arms, after staring at her happy but not so surprised expression.

"Is this what you expected?" the mage whispered in her ear.

"I never expected as much." the artisan admitted, sighing lightly "I only dared to hope."

Guru Clef was couldn't help but smile to that answer.

"Do tell me, Presea… Sierra… What happened the night Caldina gave me that awful drink? I can't remember much, but was Almera's song was also present that time, am I right?"

The artisan blinked several times, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"It happened just like today, Clef." she answered in a low voice, her eyes fixed at any random place far from the mage's face.

"Like today?" Guru Clef inquired forcing her to look into his eyes, his hand grabbing Sierra's chin with soft steadiness "You mean, the two of us, you and I…?"

She nodded for all answer, not really able to resist his baby blue eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you to feel obliged just because of a mere legend…"

"You probably did right." the mage admitted, placing a fleeting kiss in his companion's lips "I needed someone to tell me some harsh truths and I even needed you to threaten me with leaving Cefiro so that I was able to finally realize that I have been an idiot all this years."

"Clef…" Sierra smiled at him lovingly. Anything that had happened until then was of little to none importance for her. It was as if her life had begun that night, after having heard him say that he loved her.

"Which reminds me…?" Guru Clef mumbled "Where is Lantis?"

"Over there." the artisan pointed out with a gesture and an almost imperceptible smile.

The master mage turned around in the general direction of her extended hand, his eyes searching with renewed curiosity. Once he caught sight of his former student, his expression bearing so much complicity that it even seemed to contain some evilness as well.

"That's it." he laughed like a boy that has just performed a very mean practical joke without being discovered "He has nothing more than what he deserves."

That particular thing denominated by Guru Clef as "what he deserves" was nothing more than the person of Hikaru Shidou, almost fainted in the magic swordsman's arms. Not used to parties or balls and not being especially skilful in such performances, her always overflowing energy should have been more than enough to help her hold on for a song, no matter how long it was. However, the magic had shaken her stronger than the rest; in such a way that it had been quite a while since the complete disappearance of the melody and the Fire Knight didn't dare to leave the safe refuge of those arms surrounding her.

On the other hand, Lantis didn't know what to do with his own bewilderment. He had listened to Almera's song many times during the years he spent in Cefiro, but never had the spell reached him before. He even remembered how much this fact worried him in his adolescence; he used to be so concerned that he ended up asking his master Clef why that music didn't seem to affect him like it did to others. And how could he forget the mage's answer, explaining him that his soul mate was probably not there so that they could finish the piece together. His juvenile discouragement had met no limits back then, even though it had been replaced by an unbeatable indifference later on. Nevertheless, there he was, in the very middle of the ball room, holding in his arms the only woman he had ever loved in his entire life.

Finally, and after recovering her lost breath, Hikaru started to go back to surrounding reality step by step. And the first thing that hit her senses was the aroma that wrapped her, that emanated from those white robes. White? Yes, her companion was all dressed in white. Eagle? No, Eagle smelled different, like something to what she always referred as "Autozam scent". No, this perfume was different, one that she knew very well and exactly the one she didn't want to think about. But of course, it was as if all the accidents and coincidences were against her. Or were they in her favour? She didn't even know what she was thinking anymore. But of one thing she was completely sure. Even if she was to find herself in the deepest darkness again, she would never forget her beloved's aroma. The scent of the forest, and that of rain about to fall. Why would she prolong more the scarce uncertainty she still had? Did she even have uncertainty at all? The Fire Knight raised her eyes and a cry of joy and pain almost escaped her lips. Of course, she couldn't be wrong. She was, once again, in Lantis' arms.

"Are you alright?" amazingly, it was him who spoke first.

Hikaru breathed in loudly and sharply. Her lungs had felt suddenly empty when he placed his eyes on her face. Or was it when she placed her eyes in his face? Whatever. She still didn't know what she was thinking. "Better impossible", was the answer that came to her mind, but of course she couldn't tell Lantis that. However, she couldn't keep quiet either!

The magic swordsman merely stared at her with a mix of admiration and anxiety. The surprise of the unexpected result of Almera's song was yet to fade from his soul. If that was not a sign that he still had to fulfil his part in the deal he had made with Clef, then he didn't know what else it could be.

"Hikaru…" he started with voice oddly firm, only to be interrupted by an exclamation at his back.

"Hikaru!" Eagle hurried to take the girl in his arms when seeing that Lantis let go of her as if her touch could burn "Are you alright? You're so pale! Perhaps you need some fresh air? Yes, that must be it."

Not even pausing to wait for the redhead's answer, the autozamian guided her towards a lateral door that lead to the garden, leaving a very frustrated magic swordsman behind.

'What are you doing?' Guru Clef's voice resonated in his brain 'Do you plan to just stand there and watch him take her away?'

Suddenly, Lantis felt so stupid that with pleasure he had hit himself right then and there. However, he only frowned and searched with his eyes for the mage's face until he finally found it. Of course, Clef's expression didn't leave room for doubts on what he expected from his former student. Who was not a person anyone could influence easily, but who was also very well-known for fulfilling his promises against all odds. Therefore, the magic swordsman pressed his fists into balls with fierce determination and rushed in pursuit of the couple that had just abandoned the multitude. All this, never betraying his usual calmness.

In his search, he almost tripped with Fuu and Ferio, who were coming back to the ball room looking like they were back together. That is, if they were ever really apart, which he didn't know. Truth be told, Lantis didn't pay them much attention, more concerned in finding another specific couple.

Nevertheless, when he finally located them, he almost wished he hasn't. Either his eyes were pretty much deceiving him, or Hikaru and Eagle were about to kiss!

To be continued…