Concentrated Evolution: (Previously known as:The Way you look at me)

Written by: MuimiKa PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS: MKW, Misty, UsgiChiba, Nebbie, Miako Ree, stupid, stumpy, and Fluffy.

A ferio and Fuu romance story. (Duh! Mushy Muhsy MWAH! Yay! 9_9 wooo, I'm hyper today!)

Note: This takes place at the end of the episode where Fuu revives windam, the ruin god of wind. Also: hey, this is the crappy chapter and the rest of the story gets really good .^_^ So please don't drop it until like the 2nd or 3rd chapter. I can give you credit then, but just gimmie a chance. For those of you who read the original version ::withers in embarassment ,it was so cheesy:: (I made Ferio cry too much!!) I did cut out a lot of stuff, but put in other junk that seemed more realistic. I had to cut out the little humor that there was in the first chapter, because to keep it in wouldn't go along with the more realistic plot Iv'e constructed. Plus... it wasn't that funny anyway. -_- The story in itself will eventually wind down to what happens to people in Cephiro when they die... The difficulties and moralities in Cephiro, and the ethics of hunting down a man of Royal blood. IT'LL BE GRAND!

" You just better forget about me." Ferio spat, after wandering from Fuu. His footsteps were unsure, and she stood, awkward in the silence.

" No! Ferio I can't forget about you! You were the one who gave me courage to revive the ruin god! I can't forget about you.!" Her voice cracked through the silence, breaking something unspoken as well. Why was he doing this? Suddenly a memory came flooding back into her mind.

"But that's not all... somehow I think I fell in love with you... " Ferio whispered as he stood, thoughtful, in front of the window, looking out into the night. His eyes darted back at her, as he stood there, poignant and dramatic. She frowned, blushing. He was pushing buttons. That was his talent. His gift, to use people to get what he wanted. But ... when she saw that surprise on his face, and the momentary confusion shining through his confident mask, she realized that he might not be pushing her buttons at all. For a moment, just one shining second, he seemed to wonder weather he meant those words or not. And Fuu had smiled inside at his uncertinanty. Maybe he was using them. But slowly, she was breaking through him.

"Stop! Look, I just can't forgive myself. So just forget about me. Only think about saving Cephiro and becoming the Magic Knights. C-ya!" Ferio cried as he ran down the hill, his sword over his shoulder. Fuu frowned. His words were so strange and fake. He couldn't forgive himself? He had stuttered and mumbled. What happened to his sophisticated articulation? What happened to the words that had always dribbled out of his mouth so smooth, tempting anyone who heard them? Fuu stood bewildered. He had been caught speechless. He wasn't putting up a front. He meant what he had said, then ... how sad ... he was too confused to realize how helpless he sounded.

(Authors Note: Everything that was written before this author's note actually happened in the anime. Of course, I interpreted it differently than CLAMP probably intended, but that's artistry for ya'.Everything else hereafter is totally improvised. I use me imagination.)

He ran as fast as he could, trying to forget about what might of happened to Fuu. Because of his stupidity, she could have been killed! And Cephiro would have never been saved if she had died! And ... if she had died... Dammnit! What was happening to him? How did he get in this position? Hadn't he been using them? When did this turn around? When did he become dependent on them? When did he start caring about the magic knights more than he cared about himself?

He stopped running.

When hadn't he? When hadn't be cared about himself more than the magic knights? He sat down, rubbing his forehead as a revelation washed over him. There hadn't be a time when he had cared about himself more than the magic knights. It was a notion, though. He had a strange vagueness in his mind, telling him that his personality was self-centered. It's as if he was in the NBA, but he never actually played basketball in his life. He knew he was self-centered. He knew he used people. He knew all these things about himself ... but he couldn't remember any time in his life when he actually WAS self-centered. He actually ... couldn't remember ... anything...

WHAT THE HELL?

Ferio strained, his eyes aching as he tried to think of what he was supposed to be doing. What was his purpose ... besides Fuu? What had he been doing before he met Fuu? What had he been ... no? His mind pushed away the questions again. As it had been programmed to. He was too tired to face truth, of any kind right now.

Ferio's breath was ragged, and he half fell, half sat down underneath a tree as the rain fell down onto his red face. He rested his head against his shoulder and tried to breathe. He was in such a haste to run away, he didn't realize that he was still sick.

He brought his gloved hand up to his forehead, to wipe away the rain. No ... he opened his eyes, flinching as the water hit his eyes. He wouldn't try to escape ... he wanted to know. When was the last time he had sat in the rain? ...never ... he couldn't remember ever sitting in the rain before. Was this the first time he had really laid on the ground, soaking up the chilling water? Had he ever stopped himself and stood, face up in rainfall?

Doesn't every child play in puddles?

Had Ferio been a child?

His thoughts were cut short as he turned around, seeing something in the corner of his eye. He turned quickly, unsheathing his sword. He saw a group of men aiming weapons at him, grimacing. Ferio frowned, his balance off. His teetered and tried to keep his sword at arm's length. He fell forward, his sword outstretched. The men mistook this as an attempt on their lives, and after Ferio fell to the ground, he was hoisted right back up again, and thrown onto a wooden cart.

"HE'S ONE OF ZAGATO'S MINIONS!" The words foggily drifted into Ferio's ears. He looked up, seeing a large wooden object fly at his head. And then, all was black.

~~~~*~~~~

Fuu sat on the ground, motionless, as Umi and Hikaru lay sleeping in the bed. Her logical mind couldn't put a finger on the feeling inside her, but her heart could. For the first time in her life her mind was over ruled by her heart. Her feelings took her over and her mind had no reason.

She knew that she would never forget Ferio, no matter how much he wanted her to. And she knew that in this World, she would see him again if she wished hard enough. But... But would he forget her? She didn't just want to see him again, she wanted him to always remember her, and the same feelings that he had for her. Because she knew he had feelings. You didn't stumble over your words, and put your life on the line unless you cared. Even if you only cared a small bit.

Her heart rose in her throat and her stomach lurched as she heard people knocking at the door and windows. She froze. She couldn't move. She always had an irrational fear of that urgent knocking, the kind of knocking that could be from a stranger or a murderer. The kind of knocking that left you wondering weather you should open the door or not. The kind of knocking that left you wondering if it mattered if you opened the door or not. They might just invite themselves in.

She held her breath, and tried to move, ordering her limbs to operate, though they wouldn't obey. The banging was insistent and the door's hinges were starting to give way. She reached forward in a leap of courage, pulling the door open, as well as pulling herself to her feet. A man wearing a brown tunic stood at her door, with weapons in his hands. Other men stood behind him with torches to light their way through the moonless night, as well as other instruments of primitive torture that you would expect an angry mob to carry.

"Are you with Zagato?!" the man's voice was a deep rumble, sounding as if when talking through his beard, any word he spoke was forced through with resistance. Before she could respond, other men spoke up.

"Of course not! If she was, then we'd be dead by now!"

Fuu heard a rustling noise behind her, and so did the mob. The first man raised a bow and arrow, pointing into the darkness behind Fuu.

"SHOW YER'SELVES!"

Umi yawned, rubbing sleep out of her eyes as she stood into the light, with Hikaru behind her, blinking away sleep as well. The men put down their weapons and laughed.

"Would you like to join us?" One young man piped up as he saw Umi. Umi scrunched up her face.

"Join you for what?"

"We're fighting against Zagato! We already caught one of his rogues!" the young man beamed at the blue haired beauty. Umi smiled politely at the boy, laughing through her teeth.

"Okay then, good for you," she said through her forced smile as this boy and his friends grinned at her. She coughed, looking away from them.

Fuu blinked, seeing Ferio tied to a post in the middle of a wooden cart. He hung from his hands, which were tied together on a wooden stake sticking out of the post. His head hung, and she could see a large bruise on the side of his face. She glared at the men.

"What have you done to him? He's not with Zagato!" She insisted, running to the cart. She pulled her sword from the jewel on her hand, and with a swift movement, sliced the rope around his wrists, and he fell to the floor of the cart, his body limp like a Marionette, thrown in a corner and forgotten.

Hikaru approached the men.

"Look ... um, we're sorry, but he's a good guy. Um, we're on a mission, we can't come with you, okay?"

Umi folded her hands over her chest. " Can you leave, please? We were trying to get some sleep," she yawned and went back into the small egg shaped shelter that she had emerged from several minutes before.

The men left reluctantly, a few boys trying to sneak into the egg. Umi yelled. The boys were scared. The boys went away. Umi was pleased.

Fuu picked Ferio up, gently settling him down into a soft patch of grass near a stream, about a hundred feet from the egg. She carefully ripped off a piece of her skirt and dipped it in the water. She put the wet piece of cloth on his forehead and pulled the snap on the outer layer of his armor, loosing it so he got a bit more air. Picking his limp arm up from the ground, she removed his gloves and laid them beside his head.

She sat for a moment, silent. She would leave him here, away from the egg. He'd be safe. When awake, he would probably drink from the stream, never knowing what happened. That was well and good. Fuu left reluctantly, and silently, as not to wake Ferio up.

~*~

Ferio awoke with a chill on his head, but still warm everywhere else. His hand flew to his chest and felt the unhooked clasp in his armor. He clasped it back on as he sat up and a piece of green cloth fell from his forehead, making a plop sound in his bare hand. He wrung it out and brought it to his face, taking a deep breath of the smell.

"Damnit Fuu..."

He knew something happened last night. And he knew Fuu was involved. He knew she didn't want him to know she helped him. Fuu wouldn't be stupid and show off after she did something courageous. But she wasn't careful enough. Ferio wasn't stupid. Why did she have to do this? Why was she helping him? Why wouldn't she just forget about him?! Why couldn't she just leave him to himself, and his miserable lonely life? He hated her for being so... Fuu.

~*~

Ferio walked through the town, still a bit dizzy. He approached a nearby tavern and settled down at the bar. The bartender approached him and before he could say a word, Ferio held up one finger and set a few golden coins down on the counter. The bartender nodded and fetched him a drink. Another man came and sat down next to Ferio.

"Enjoying the festival? You do know about the festival, don't you Steve?"

"My name isn't Steve."Ferio looked at the drunken idiot, furrowing his brow.

"You gonna go the geyser with me? That's what the festival is for, you idiot."

"I don't have enough money to go to see the geyser." Ferio blinked at the man. The man leaned over, hugged Ferio, and fell off his barstool.

Ferio looked down at the man, disgusted. Even Ferio didn't drink that much. Ferio looked from the drink, to the man on the floor, and back to his drink. He sneered, left the gold coins, pushed the mug away and left. He stumbled out of the tavern, suddenly surrounded by a mass of bodies.

People were everywhere. Ferio pushed his way through the dancing throng, hundreds of people pushing up against him. He tuned himself out, loosing his self in the middle of the chaos. He overheard conversation, and rumor.

"Can you afford to get there? The Geyser I mean."

" No, I don't have enough money. But I hear, you can see it from here, if you look to the West."

"Yeah but... I don't want to see it! I want to feel it!"

"What's so fabulous about this stupid geyser anyway?"

" You don't know? Well, that's why we have this huge festival about every ... thirty years or so. The geyser is ancient, and when it erupts, it shows you any ultimate truth that you're seeking."

"That's not true! Everyone knows their ultimate truth deep down inside. All the geyser does is open your eyes, so that you can see it."

Ferio grimaced as he moved further into the mania. If only he had enough money, he'd be able to go. To open his own eyes and see what he had been trying to see ever since he left Fuu ... but he couldn't. He was broke. He would dance with anonymous strangers, and then mope around the city, confused.

Fuu had stood still, and taken a breath when Ferio left the tavern beforehand. She had been following him, as any girl would. He was so deep into his thoughts, that he hadn't noticed her standing there when he left the bar. She had heard him and his money problems, though. And now, she was following him.

It was a coincidence that she was there, though. This town happened to spark Hikaru and Umi's interest, and they stopped to rest for a bit. Lucky for Fuu, she didn't have to put her two cents in about why she wanted to come to this town. She was the only person in the trio tracking Ferio. It was a little trick she had learned. She wasn't obsessed. She just wanted to make sure that in case something ever happened to--.... okay, she was a little obsessed. But there was nothing wrong with that.

Fuu pushed through the crowd behind him, wondering how to slip him the money. She had enough. She never spent her gold coins. There was nothing for her to buy. She watched as a girl stepped behind Ferio, slipping her arm around his waist and spinning him towards her to kiss him. Fuu got a bit shy, wondering whether she should turn back or not, seeing Ferio in that girl's arms. His arms hung limply as he melted unhappily into the kiss. She let go of him and he said something that Fuu couldn't hear, and the girl walked off, disgusted. Ferio ran his hand through his hair, and faded into the crowd.

Ferio watched the girl fade away into the sea of bodies, and he wasn't disappointed. He didn't want anonymity right now. Not in that way. He raised his head from the ground, smelling something. It wasn't very strong. Not at all, but it was still there. Something sweet, innocent, and familiar.

Fuu bit her lip, and took a breath. She reached forward, running her hand around Ferio's waist, the other hand reaching forward to cover his eyes. She felt him tense up, and then loosen up as he tried to turn around and look at her. She took her arm off his waist, slipping the small pouch of money into his pocket. She swiftly let her arms slide off him, ducking down and out into the crowd. She held her hand over her mouth, surprised at herself. She'd never done anything like that before. She felt like she should feel guilty ... but she wasn't. She smiled quietly, pleased with herself.

Ferio felt her hands slide off him, and he already knew who it was. He pulled the small pouch out of his pocket, quickly opening it and glancing at the money inside. Yes, ... it was Fuu. She had a sweet scent about her, and he shivered inside. He felt like he needed to run his hands through her hair, nuzzling his face in it, and be surrounded by the refreshing sweetness that enveloped everything around her. But ... she had gone. He spun around, only catching a glimmer of blond hair among all the other wild colors.

He trampled over people's feet, not watching where he was going. He was only watching Fuu. He started to gasp for breath, still exhausted from the sickness that his body was just now getting over. But should he be doing this? Really, should he follow? What did he think he would accomplish? He could leave with the money she gave him, and open his eyes to his "ultimate truth." Or ... he could follow her, wing it, and distract her from saving the world.

He ultimately decided that he would stop chasing her, and go catch the train to the geyser of so called "ultimate truth." He kept telling himself that. He wasn't going to chase Fuu, and she would be lonely and hurt, but she would save the world. He wasn't going to be a distraction. He said it a million times. But his body didn't want to listen. So he ran anyway, and the crowd slowly started to fall deeper and deeper into entropy, giving Ferio a good view of Fuu, and where she was going.

He took deep breaths, practically heaving, when Fuu stopped running. She stood in an alley, leaning on a brick wall. He watched, quiet, as she took deep breaths, leaning on her shoulder. Ferio felt alien, like he shouldn't be there. He coughed, and she stopped moving.

"Hey, Fuu," he murmured, but loud enough for her to hear. She slowly turned her head around, her face turning red as she did so. Ferio's lips parted, and he started to say something, but instead he reached in his pocket, pulling out the pouch of gold coins she had slipped into his pocket.

"Why?" he tried to be suave and savvy, but all Fuu could see was the desperate confusion etched in his face. Especially in his eyes. His mask was breaking. She gave a smile, but her mind decided to cancel that action when she was already halfway there. It resulted in a quivering smiling frown. Her eyes darted down the ground. Suddenly her heart shut down and her mind, as usual, took over, splurging out rational words and phrases, while at the same time, her heart's irrational notions turned her cheeks beet red.

"It's for the train ride to the geyser. Since you don't have enough money, I observed, I gave you mine since I never spent it..." her sentence trailed off and she glanced up at him. He didn't look any different, and her words never even reached his ears. He already knew what he was supposed to use the money for.

"Why did you help me?" he spoke, with that same curiosity. The same curiosity that he was trying to hide. He was trying to use her, and push buttons. But he didn't do that anymore. And he knew it. He just couldn't let go of that mask. It was all he had. He really meant all he said. He just wished that he didn't, that was all.

She looked at him and those eyes of his, and stood silent, looking back at her feet. Her mind froze. She couldn't think ... of an answer. As if she was taking a test that would determine life or death, she froze. That one question on that one test that would decide the outcome of the future for everyone stopped her in her tracks. She could be gloriously praised for her genius, or she would get the question wrong, and get burned. Her heart tried to take command, but she knew her mind had to have an answer! She always had an answer! She wracked her mind for some sort of answer ... it just ... never came...

"Why do you help me, Fuu?" he asked again, tilting his head down a bit, as he took a step forward. He bit his lip, wondering what he was doing. He had no idea. It was all up to her.

She closed her eyes and shuddered as he said her name. It seemed to sound different, coming from him. Especially when his voice was so smooth, and he dropped his mocking act. When he dropped all that he thought he was. And he stopped getting what he wanted by giving Fuu what she wanted. She loved him when he did that, and spoke for what he wanted, not thinking about what she wanted in return. He could be hurt now, too. She wasn't the only one.

"Because of the way you're looking at me..." she blinked, looking up at him. A numbness settled over her though ... because she realized that Ferio was doing was she admired, and not thinking of consequences. But, this was going to be hard. There were going to have to part ways. He shouldn't have come at all... She swallowed that thought as he looked at her, and she tried to return his stare. But she couldn't. Her eyes darted to her shoes, and Ferio was thankful for it. That gave him an opportunity to do something ... without being seen. Even if it was just her.

He walked forward slowly, and with caution, softly ran his hand over her hair. She closed her eyes and gave up, leaning over on his shoulder. She couldn't resist, or even try to think. She was burned out.

He blinked, and tried to think of what to do. For a moment, he stood, with her leaning against him, and his hands were held up slightly, not knowing where they should go. He blinked a few more times at her, and put his arms around her, resting his forearms on her shoulders. He closed his eyes, taking a quiet breath, realizing what this would do. He gave up, letting sadness slowly wash up his back, tucking over his head like a hood. He wouldn't get to do this again.

He brought another hand up, slowly running it through her hair. She rested her head in the nape of his neck, closing her eyes and slipping her arms around his waist, leaning into him. They stood in silence. A warm comftorable silence, that was still jaded though. Fuu took a deep breath, drinking in everything she could feel at that moment.

She knew what Ferio was going to do. Even with their communicators, Ferio wouldn't be coming back. And Fuu knew that it was kind of important that he didn't. Although she hated it, she knew he was a distraction. She hadn't been thinking about Cephiro in days. And the magic knights hadn't achieved anything in days. And part of it was her fault. And Fuu knew that Ferio wouldn't dare contribute to the distraction of the prevention of the destruction of the world. Fuu just nuzzled her face deeper into Ferio's shoulder, burning his feel and his smell in her mind forever. Or at least what she hoped would be forever.

Time stood still, and Ferio leaned his face in Fuu's hair. He opened his eyes, glancing at the sun. It was almost time.

"Ferio." Fuu's word was startling, though it broke the silence softly, like a screw digs into a piece of wood slowly, unlike a nail, which strikes with a brash and sudden force.

Ferio took a breath, and when he answered, his voice dribbled out of his mouth slowly, like steaming water from a kettle."...Yes?"

"The geyser.... You need to go if you want to make the train."

"Yes,... I know."

"Let's just pretend ... let's pretend that we are going to see each other again. This is just...another normal day."

"Alright." he whispered, running another hand over her hair. He let go of her, and her hands slid sadly off him. They stood for a moment, eyes closed, still standing as close to each other as they were before. Fuu's head was still tilted down, looking at her feet. Her hair hung around her head, hiding her face. Ferio reached underneath her hair, taking her jaw in hand, tilted her face up and lightly kissed her. Fuu didn't want to let this go. She ran her hands up to the back of his neck, encouraging him. After a few moments, he had to let go and took a step back. He closed his eyes, bit his lip and sighed, turning away.

"I'll see you soon, Fuu," he said, never turning back.

"Yes, Ferio. I'll see you soon." Fuu replied, never looking up from her shoes.

They parted ways and that was it. Fuu leaned against the wall, and slid down it, her fingers lingering over her lips where he had kissed her. Her eyes opened in a rush, as if she had a sudden realization. She snapped her head up to watch him leave, because through the whole ordeal she hadn't gotten a real good look at his face. But he was gone. Faded into the crowd. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she had a disastrous longing to see his face again. But she couldn't ... she'd lost that chance. She heard familiar footsteps rounding the corner.

She looked up to find her comrades, who were stunned and startled to find Fuu, collapsed in a sobbing heap, sitting in the floor of an alleyway, all alone.

~*~

THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHAPTER TWO! I know I haven't left you with a cliffhanger, BUT there is more! MUCH MUCH MORE! See, you can get more! Hee hee WHOO AH! The story itself is not about what just happened, but what is going to. (To quote myself at the beginning of the very long opening author's note:)The story in itself will eventually wind down to what happens to people in Cephiro when they die... The difficulties and moralities in Cephiro, and the ethics of hunting down a man of Royal blood. IT'LL BE GRAND! Read it all PUH-LEEEEAZE-OO!