Title: Whenever I Call You Friend
Anime: Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP
Author: mizamiko
Rating of Chapter: PG

Whenever I call you Friend: Chapter 3 Interlude 1

 

*****Presea*****

I watched them leave the garden together. As always their heads were bent close and soft whispers could be heard. They were lost in their own private world. Both simply enjoying the others company.

*They look good together,* I thought, not for the first time and maybe not the last. Soft cream hair complemented the stark black of the other, both almost touching.

Suddenly, to my surprise, a pair of amber jewels turned my way. A smile, so sweet, was shot towards me. Then it was gone and the heads were close together again.


I shook my head smiling and watched them disappear into the castle hallway.

They were the best of friends. They were there for each other. Always caring and worrying about the other. They were together through thick and thin. Always proving to the world that against the odds they were friends, no matter how different they
were. I knew, because I have seen them when they're together. And I have seen them when they're apart. That was more than enough proof.

At times, I envied their relationship. It was strong and steadfast, built on trust, understanding and especially love.

They loved each other; not that either one would look at that statement kindly. It was simply a fact that went unspoken between them. All that one really needed to do was watch them.
They truly cared for each other. How else could one explain the sacrifices that they did for the other?


Sacrifices? Small things really, but still, it was what kept their relationship stable. Lantis had spent an hour or so everyday with Eagle, when he was bedridden. Somehow, between reconstruction, practice, and the children, he still found time to
visit. Add to that the time he spent with Hikaru and one would be amazed on how he juggled it all. Dead tired he may be sometimes but he would still drag himself into Eagles room. Now that Eagle was up it seemed like he was returning the favor.
Between trips to meeting with the officials of Autozam and returning to Cephiro and helping relations and in the reconstruction, he still found time to accompany Lantis on some of his jobs.

I stepped out from behind the tree that I had been hiding from for the last hour. It had not been my intention to watch them, to listen in. It had been a private conversation, but it could not be helped. I would have ruined everything had I come out.

It was rare enough to hear Lantis hold a normal conversation. Excluding, of course, his talks with Hikaru. Nevertheless, for him to actually drop his mask and actually show concern. It was an amazing experience, to say the least.

That was what Eagle did to Lantis. Silent, reticent, Kailu Lantis became an open book. That was when Eagle was present and they were alone, or thought they were alone. All the gloom that hovered over the Kailus' head almost disappeared. I smirk to

myself. Eagles awakening, from the Deep Slumber, had more than a little to do with it.

Hikaru, alone, was not able to banish the darkness. However, she had lessen his succinct ways in speaking. Now, he answers back in sentences, no longer in single words. An improvement really, one that was well appreciated by all. He even lightened up
a little, smiled a little for her.

His silence was not in anyway mean. It was simply disconcerting at times. It was a fact that had never stopped the children from approaching him. I smiled, remembering how the children would approach him. When they had nightmares or if there was
anything they were afraid off. They would be with Lantis, seeking comfort. Comfort they appeared to find because they seemed to sleep easier after.

They once said, children can see things that older people can't anymore. Maybe, this was one of those things. Maybe they can see the brightness in Lantis, when all we saw was grimness. Maybe they understood him more.


Hikaru had been trying to understand him, with little success though. Why he chose to stay with her, why he would care for one such as her. Even I couldn't answer that. It could be because she is a kind, loving soul, or that one could not help but
love her. Or it could be for a reason far different from that. With Lantis who could tell?

And on how Lantis affected Eagle? Well that was still a mystery. Eagle was an enigma.

True, one would have a hard time calling the clumsy, ever smiling, son of the Autozam President a mystery. He was simply all smiles', an open book one would say, but that was the puzzling part. Was there something behind those smiles? Why does his
smiles never reach his eyes? And when they did, why does it loose its light so quickly?

I wondered, at times, if he was stronger than what he showed himself to be. Could his Mental Energy level be so strong as to read minds? This Mental Energy of theirs, it was far too concentrated on moving, commanding their technology. His people's

powers were stifled by this consequent limiting.

*But how does that explain Eagles abilities? * I asked myself.

I wondered if it could be possible that the young Ambassador might have heard what I had thought? Could he have known that I was there? It was impossible. None of his people had ever shown that much power, or skill. They never had the ability to read
minds. They were nearly incapable of using magic, even the simplest of spells. But he had smiled that sweet secret smile. Was he more powerful than he appeared to be?

Had Lantis been teaching him?

I shook my head as I heard the tolling of the bell. It rang four times. The day was still too young, there was still much to do. I sighed. Not for the first time, I wished that Mokona was still around, I needed the distraction. I left the garden and

wandered through the large, presently empty, halls of the castle.

It was quiet, far too quiet.

I stopped. The halls were unusually empty at this time of the day. No Palace staff, Yil, or Bal was running around. No one was about at all. It was as if everyone had left the castle.

Somehow I felt something was amiss.

I thought about it and drew my sword as a precaution.

Then it hit me. Today was the day Guru Clef had planned to help reconstruct the village near the Forest of Silence. Practically all those who had magic were called to help.


A warmth crept up to my cheeks. I had forgotten.

"Waahhhhhh!" I shouted as I resheathed my sword. *I hoped Guru Clef doesn't scold me for this* I prayed as I ran towards the nearest gate out of the castle.

***End  Interlude 3_1***

Disclaimers: All characters belonged to their original creator, CLAMP, I just commandeered some of the characters for a night out into my own demented world.

Note : Thanks to the UAWC or SW for reading through this particularly long version of the third installment. Thanks to Cleo-chan for checking out the first part of this installment.

**** May 1, 1999****