"Hey Ascot, you seen Sera?" Umi asked him curiously. She had seen her at dinner and then suddenly afterwards she disappeared. "No . . . I thought you might have seen her." Ascot said now curious himself. "Well . . .why don't you go see if she's in her room?" Umi asked Ascot as innocently as she could. She knew if she could get Ascot with Sera that would get him off her back and she'd have more time alone with Clef when she wished it.

"Err . . . I was really hoping--" "Go on and find her!" Umi said cutting him off with a big smile she gave him a hug, in which he turned red. She hated using Ascot like that but she knew it would work. "A-alright." He confirmed and tried to settle his blush a little as he left the room in search of Sera. "Now that Ascot is out of the way . . . Where has my man gone?" Umi thought to herself looking around the big dinning room.

Sera sighed when she finally got into the safety of her temporary room. She flicked the light on and decided that it'd be best to take off the lovely kimono so she didn't ruin it. She stood in front of the large full length mirror and turned around in attempt to make sense of the sashes and how to undo them.

She pulled at one and it unraveled easily. She turned back around so her face was to the mirror and dropped it to the floor starting at the next one. She got them all off and started removing the actual kimono when the door flew open and Ascot stood at the door. "Your in he--Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" Ascot said casually and then ended shocked when he noticed Sera was in a state of undress.

The kimono was pulled down her back, all the way to her tiny waist and Ascot noticed how flawless and smooth her skin looked, how tiny she really was. Ascot blushed and Sera smiling inside as she silently pulled the kimono back up and fastened it around her like a bathrobe with no rope to secure it. She held it close to her with her hands and cautiously turned around.

Ascot still blushed furiously but was slightly curious as to why Sera herself wasn't in a bigger state of shock, she looked calm or was trying to act calm. "Erm . . . Were you looking for me?" Sera asked very nonchalant. "No-I mean yes-I mean . . . err . . .Umi . . . Uh . . .sent me to find you." Ascot blurted out "Yes, I bet she did, bet the little genius is loving the time with Clef right now too." Sera mumbled too low for Ascot to hear when she figured out her little scheme.

Sera smiled at Ascot "Well so much for not walking in on me, right?" Ascot lightly chuckled and blushed a bit more, no way was he going to stop blushing now. "So, you think you can give me a few moments to get changed? You don't exactly have to leave, I can change in the closet." Sera explained but before Ascot could protest into leaving to give Sera her privacy she had opened the closet and vanished inside it.

Sera came back out wearing lavender pajama bottoms and a light blue tank top that had stitched on dark blue circles, when Sera initially found the shirt she laughed and thought the circles were bubbles. Her hair was neatly brushed and braided as it hung over her shoulder, a blue ribbon tying it together. Ascot wanted to gasp at how adorably cute she looked but thought better of it and smiled. "Hi." Sera blushed a little at the thought of just the two of them in her room "Hi back," She looked past Ascot for a moment and her eyes caught the bay doors and the sight outside.

It was twilight, the colors beautiful with reds and purples and oranges mixed in as the sun went down and made way for the mysterious moon to come out and play.

Play.

That's what Sera wanted to do. Play. Party. Have fun and forget the world.

An after party . . .

A slow smile spread across Sera's lips as an idea popped into her head. "Ever seen Titanic?" Sera asked Ascot who stared at her puzzled "No . . . is it something you have in your world?" He asked her "Yes, but one scene in particular that caught my interest." Sera said.

She cocked her head to one side and asked the most foreign thing to Ascot "Do you have cell phones in this world?" He had heard the concept a few times from Umi always complaining they had no way of communication. She stopped complaining one day when she found out this is Cephiro, land of the will. She found out if you will your thoughts to another, they could hear you. Voila, instant cell phone connection with better service.

He explained slowly to Sera who got the idea fairly quickly.

Umi sighed. Another night almost completely wasted doing nothing but watch Clef work. She hadn't gotten anything she wanted from him. Not any special affection, no kisses, no hugs, and no declarations of love either.

"Oh!" Umi gasped when she heard a voice in her head that wasn't her own.

So I figured out the instant cell phone service.

Umi smiled, she knew Sera would have figured it out eventually.

Did they ever bring Titanic over to Japan?

"Titanic?" Umi was confused, did she mean the literal ship or the movie that had millions of Japanese girls swooning over Leonardo Decaprio for the first time.

Duh. The movie, ever seen it?

"Of course, who in Japan hasn't?" Umi thought to herself.

Remember the scene where Jack saves Rose from that dinner party on the ship for a party below deck?

"Yea, where are you going with this?" Umi mentally asked Sera.

After party tonight. Drinks. Music. Dark rooms. You and Clef. Extremely exclusive, that means certain people, no older adults.

Umi smiled. She knew exactly where Sera was going with this.

"Certain people . . . Like?"

You, me, Ascot, Clef, Hikaru, Lantis, Fuu, Ferio, Eagle, possibly Presea and anyone else you can think of that wants to P.A.R.T.Y.

"I like where you're going with this but you forgot Geo, Tarta and Tatra and Caldina!"

Lafarga can be a bodyguard . . . I can't really see him partying anyways. And Zazu ha-ha he'll just be in the liquor, so I'm sorry to say, no Zazu. We need a sound proof room. Do you know one in the castle?

"Yea, actually located conveniently down the hall from your room. There's a spare bedroom right on the side hallway from your room, it used to be one of the Princess's old
cousin's room. She hated noise in the morning so the room was sound proof and its big enough to accommodate everyone needed. Check it out with Ascot."

By-the-way nice trick to get Ascot in with me but nothing has happened, he's still too shy. I'm guessing a lot is going on there or nothing.

"Yea . . . Well, not so much here I suppose. Something has Clef all worked up in a frenzy and he's been working ever since I got in here, he won't even stop to barely acknowledge that I'm in here."

Ouch. I'm sorry. Maybe the party is a much needed distraction for him? Do you think he'll go for it? What will you do if he won't go?

Umi frowned. She hadn't thought of that yet. What was she going to do if Clef doesn't want to go. What if he doesn't approve of the party?

"I'll go. With or without Clef, I need the distraction myself. Promise me you'll keep Ascot busy within the next few days so I have some time with Clef and I'll go."

Done. Party's at eleven thirty, tele-cell everyone while I get the room ready. Oh yea, dress to impress.

Umi smiled at the plan Sera thought up. No one had ever made a secret after party before, especially one with so many potential hook-ups involved.

"Clef, how busy are you going to be tonight?"

"C'mon," Sera said tugging Ascot over towards the front door "Where are we going?" he asked her quizzically. "We're going to a party." She told him and walked down the hall. Sure enough there was a door down at the end of the hall right next to the other hallway. She opened the door cautiously, half expecting to see cobwebs or dust everywhere from being unused so long. The room was neat, clean, and above all, huge. It was so big that Sera dropped her mouth for the second time over these rooms.

Once again this room had large bay doors too that lead to a small half circle balcony, perfect for some air when it gets too hot. The huge king-size bed was set into the wall with just the end part coming out. It too was covered in a canopy, Sera knew all too well people would end up there too. There was a couch in the corner by the front door that was big enough to accommodate five or six people. On the other side of the wall were two doors that swung open to reveal a once used closet, now empty. "Perfect for hiding the booze." Sera thought.

Ascot had told her it was the land of will, so she willed things to her fingertips. At her very whim, she conjured things up. Within minutes the room was ready for use, ready for people, and ready for a party.

"We're done!" She told Ascot who just stared at her still half clueless. Sera got the hint and sighed. "We--" She said pointing to herself and then to Ascot "Are throwing a secret after party for anyone still not yet an adult that will party with us, Umi is telle-celling the rest of the people who should be getting outfits on for the party right about now." Ascot finally got it but the look on Sera's face was a look of pure and utter evil. What else was she planning that she wasn't telling him?

"Do you want to change or is that what your wearing?" Sera asked Ascot as she doubled back towards her own bedroom to put on some party clothes instead of these pajamas.

"Uh . . . I need to change?" Ascot mumbled. It wasn't what he wanted to do, he didn't understand why he would need to change, he thought the outfit he had on was perfectly fine. He was sporting his usual big Palu clothes. Sera turned mid-step to look at Ascot.

She looked him over, once, twice, three times. She chuckled a little. He was right, he didn't need to change, or rather, it didn't matter what he changed into, he'd still look just as gorgeous. His big Palu hat was mussing his hair though, she tugged him to sit on her bed once they were in her room again and pulled his hat off. "Your hair needs a little combing, I can't exactly get it when your standing up, your too tall." She lightly explained to him as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Ascot wasn't sure he was particularly comfortable with the close proximity of Sera's body, considering his head was dead level with Sera's bubble tank top, more importantly, her breasts. He relaxed a little when he stopped looking at her chest and being this close to Sera, he realized she smelled like lavender. Her fingers untangling his hair was an unusual soothing gesture.

Finally when Sera thought his hair was manageable enough, she pulled her hands away from his tousle of brown hair and brushed his long bangs out of his eyes. "There . . . You know, you have really pretty green eyes . . ." Sera whispered to him staring into his 'pretty green eyes'. He blushed at the complement but with her staring at him, she made it hard for him to look away, especially when he realized she had almost the same deep green eyes he did. He was never able to find anyone with the same shade of green he had. Even Fuu had lighter eyes, But Sera's, hers were just as dark, if not darker.

"So . . ." Sera said trying to break the silence first. "Since your already ready, suppose you'll let me get changed, again?" Ascot broke eye contact first and blushed as he looked the other way "Yea, sure . . ." Sera bounced back into the closet and a second later popped her head back out "By-the-way the party is at eleven thirty so you have a while if you want to do something else, it might take me a while to find something in here . . ." She explained and then pulled her head back in.

Ascot sighed and mumbled something about all girls doing that, taking too long to get ready for a simple party. He got up and walked to the full length mirror in Sera's room and looked at his hair. It looked a lot better than when he had his hat on. It looked tidier. He looked down at his clothes, sure they were comfortable but not exactly 'party clothes'. Even if he'd never been to Umi's world or Sera's world, he'd seen pictures and magazine clippings of what guys dressed like there. Ascot didn't fit the profile.

In the end he decided to change. When he came back to Sera's room, she still wasn't ready so he went back to the full length mirror to stare at his outfit this time. He changed into a simple loose white button down shirt, collar popped in the back and a pair of baggy black jeans with black converse. He looked like a typical well-dressed 'emo kid'. At least this is what Ascot thinks they looked like. He'd only seen a few pictures from Umi's magazines from her world, most of them, she had said, were in bands and dressed like this for publicity of their fans.

It seemed to work because Umi liked them and she never dressed like an 'emo kid'.

Sera walked out of the closet a few minutes later in an outfit that made Ascot drop his jaw completely down. She was wearing low rise faded blue jeans, a white corset with the laces down the front, and black heels. Whether she could dance in them remained to be seen. Her hair was lightly curled and to top it all off, she wore a small golden crown tilted at an angle on her brunette head.

"So, is that a good stare or a bad stare?" She asked Ascot who still had his jaw dropped. He regained composure a few moments later and closed his jaw slightly. "Good stare . . . Definitely good stare." He mumbled before realizing he said it aloud "I-I mean . . .uh . . ." Sera laughed. "Don't worry, you look good too," She added, taking in his hot rocker appeal. Sera looked at the Cepherian-time clock as it flashed five till eleven.

Sera, everyone's coming.

Sera smiled as Umi said everything that she needed to hear.

"Even Clef?" She mentally asked.

Well . . . He might show up later, I had to force that much of an answer out of him.

"At least he's coming, by-the-way, Ascot looks particularly yummy. Thank you for showing him some 'other worldly' magazines." Sera commented.

What do you mean?

"You'll see later, see you in half." Sera told Umi and laughed as she 'hung up' the mental phone.

"Time to get the last minute things in order." Sera told Ascot as she walked back towards the door and down the hall to the now official 'party room'. The first thing Sera did when she opened the door was go straight to the stereo and turned on some music that's definitely danceable. She then went to the empty closet and willed two ice cold coolers next to each other, Sera smirked when she willed both of them filled with various tasting Smirnoff bottles. "Smirnoff?" Ascot read over her shoulder "Its good." was all Sera replied as she then dimmed the lights.

"Watch it! That is alcohol." Sera warned Ascot as he downed his first bottle "But it tastes really good." "Yea, until you drink too much of it and throw it all up." Sera mumbled.

Exactly at eleven thirty Umi walked in with her entourage of friends and marveled at the old bedroom. Sera had turned it into, basically, a club. The lights were dimmed, music in the background, and there was fabric hanging off each side of the metal frame of the lights. They each wound over to a corner of the ceiling to create an Arabian gypsy feel.

Sera found Umi right away and gave her a huge evil grin as she looked over Umi's new outfit. Ascot, in the middle of downing his second drink, glanced over at the door and choked on the fizzy drink. Umi was . . . In a word, sexy. Her long hair was still down, as usual but like Sera's it was slightly curled at the ends. She wore a black pinstripe mini, a dark maroon halter, and black heels like Sera's.

"Nice outfit." Sera said trying to act very nonchalant, but in fact she wanted to squeal and felt like photographing the look Clef would get when he walks into the room and sees Umi like this.

"The party has begun!" Sera told everyone as they walked in. Umi asked about the drink that was in Ascot's hand and Sera pointed over to the closet doors. "Ever been drunk before?" Sera asked Umi as she grabbed two Smirnoff bottles and handed one to Sera.

"Once . . . When my parents weren't home I snuck into the liquor cabinet, curious about why they always drank it." Umi said blushing slightly.

"Go easy then, alright?" Sera said cautioning Umi who smiled and took a sip.

By midnight the party was in full swing. Lafarga was the bodyguard at the front door, and just for fun had a Smirnoff in hand too. Sera and Umi were the life of the party in the middle of the room dancing up a storm, both way passed buzzed. The large room was a good idea, half the people here were already hooking up. Fuu and Ferio, whom both had ignored the fact there was even alcohol present, were seated closest to the door on the couch making out. Geo, the pretentious flirt, was all over Tarta and Tatra, obsessed with the fact they were twins.

Even Lantis managed to loosen up and let Hikaru have one Smirnoff, he was keeping count, and keeping careful watch over the Pillar as she tried to shamelessly flirt with him.

Caldina would every now and then go over to Lafarga and keep the body guard entertained for a while by giving him a few private dances. Mainly she was the third groupie around Sera and Umi in the middle of the dance floor. Clef still hadn't shown up yet but everyone seemed okay with that, even Umi, especially Ascot. If Clef wasn't here that meant one less dance partner for Sera and Umi, who were taking turns alternating between dancing with him and each other. They couldn't get Eagle to come and dance with them. He seemed fine and content to just watch.

Around one Clef walked in and saw in an instant, Umi fling herself at him. Her long arms instantly around his neck and she squealed a 'hello'. He paused for a moment as he surveyed the room. He saw Fuu and Ferio to the side, completely ignoring everyone, Clef was embarrassed that his Prince would even do something like that in a public room. He saw a flash of red-ish pink hair from one of the closet doors and knew it was Caldina, probably trapped Lafarga in the closet with her.

He saw Eagle, red face, standing by the balcony bay doors. Hikaru and Lantis sitting on the canopy bed, Hikaru full on passed out in Lantis's arms. Geo, of all people, twirling Tarta with one arm and held Tatra as he kissed her with the other. Of course Sera was in the middle ring leading it all.

At once Clef turned into his old self and brought the lights all the way up to full, which then caused half the room to stare and tell him to dim them again. He silently crossed the room and shut off the music to Sera's protest.

"Everyone out!" Clef called as people began circulating towards the door.

"Everyone except you, you, and you." Clef said pointing at Ascot, Umi, and lastly Sera.

When everyone was finally out of the room, sneaking Smirnoff bottles out on the way and complaining as they walked out, Clef sighed.

"If I had any idea of what you were asking me into, Umi, I never would have agreed to go and I would have called this off a long time ago." Clef sighed again when he looked both Sera, and Umi over.

"Look what you both are dressed in!" He told them with too much force. He had never in his life seen Umi with this little of clothing on, and this willing to show it all off.

"So what, their party clothes, we picked them out ourselves, we like them, we are old enough to wear what we want." Sera told him, still red faced from the alcohol.

"That may be true but you have no right to dress like . . . Like . . .sluts . . ." Clef murmured slowly.

Umi was drunk, she felt good, she knew she looked good, but the last words out of Clef's mouth stung her as if he slapped her. "B-but . . . I dressed this way for you! Don't you like it?" Umi asked him as the hurt expression managed to find its way to her face.

"Umi . . . I don't like you willing to bare your body for a reaction you think you want. Have some respect, you're a gorgeous woman with a beautiful body, show it but don't flaunt it." Clef explained to her which still, got the wrong reaction from Umi.

Her eyes glassed over with tears and Sera knew what was coming. "Oh no, this is not the time, nor the place for it, Umi please think, don't say it." Sera thought. She felt like she was watching a bad horror movie and she couldn't look away.

"But, I love you!"

Sera cringed. It was word vomit, it was bad timing, it was wrong.

Ascot, who had looked at the ground for most of the conversation now looked up to see what had happened.

"You . . . Love . . .him?" Ascot phrased out slowly trying to make sense of it all. You could hear the distaste in his voice when he meant Clef.

Umi, being as stupid as she could be agreed to it.

"Yes . . ." Her tears hit the floor below as she wept. Clef stood, immobilized. Ascot was expressionless, and Sera was hopeless . . . She didn't know what to do.

"Umi . . ." Clef mumbled moving out of his immobile state to go to her and comfort her, telling her all she wanted to hear.

"Its alright."

"I love you, too."

"You don't need to cry."

Ascot paled and Sera knew what was coming too, this time, she could try to yield it just a little. She tugged Ascot over to the bay doors, flew open the doors and yanked Ascot over to the balcony just in time for him to vomit, very literally now, all the alcohol he consumed and his feelings that he held in too long.

This continued for a few moments till he pulled his head up from over the side, he dared a glance over his shoulder just in time to see Umi and Clef kiss. His head was dangling over the balcony again with a fresh wave of vomit hitting his throat. After a while, Ascot had enough energy, and courage to pick himself up from the balcony and sit on the cold granite floor. Sera was leaning over him with a wet wash cloth and dabbed his face, cooling him so he didn't pass out.

"Their gone." Sera mumbled to the empty air between them. Ascot felt catatonic, felt hollow, felt like he lost a piece of himself, "Hell, maybe I threw that up too." He whispered inside his head.

Sera left the balcony for a few minutes knowing Ascot wouldn't have the strength to leave it any time soon. She collected a few blankets, some pillows, a bottle of water, and a bottle of aspirin that Umi had given her, for the morning after. She turned off the lights again and as she came back outside with the things she closed the doors behind her. Sera sat Ascot up just long enough for her to assemble a makeshift bed on the balcony ground.

He flopped down immediately and propped his head against one of the pillows. Sera sat at the other end, curled in a blanket. She had set the aspirin and bottle of water on the ledge above them closest to Ascot so he could use it when he woke up. They were both still conscious to a point, but both were silent.

Sera stared up at the dark sky and noticed it dotted with bright stars as far as the eye could see. "The stars are out . . ." She mumbled to the air.

"Sing me a lullaby . . ." Ascot asked her, disturbing the silence.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are . . ." Sera looked back down at Ascot who was fast asleep. She looked back up at the stars again.

"Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky . . . Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are . . ."

Fourth chapter done. Longer than I would have imagined too. I also did a lot of things in this chapter I told myself I wouldn't do until later chapters either but with the flow of the story it just seemed to fit.

--Mkrayeath