Disclaimer: MKR and its chapter belong to CLAMP, I do owe just Arashi and what's related to him
Notes: ....
The sun had just started to raise, its rays painted the mountains and the Forest of Silence in a warm pink and its reflection twinkled on the ocean's surface while the waves gently crashed on the thin, white sand of the Cephrian shore. The soft breeze lightly blew to move the white curtains of the window that Clef had left open, taking with it the salt smell of the sea, the scent the Madoshi loved the most.
He had always been enchanted by the sea, and after he had met Umi his love and admiration towards that mysterious, beautiful yet fearsome element had enormously grow.
The Master Mage's eyes slowly got opened. He surely hadn't a comfortable sleep that night, his dreams were dark and confusing, the only thing he could remember was Arashi's green eyes gleaming in the shadows, a smirk on his lips and the slender frame of Umi, his precious Umi, wrapped in his arms and laughing amused at him.
He shook his head and inhaled the smell of the sea: another day had started, just like the others. No, worse than the others. Umi was going to leave and not for going back home. He'd rather prefer she'd come back to Tokyo -at least there he was sure she was safe- than going to that man. Arashi, oh, he hated him! He had enchanted her, she couldn't realize he was plotting against Cephiro and, worse, he wanted to use her. He was afraid to lose her, and no one had ever thought him how to ménage that kind of problems.
He heavily sighed and finished to wear his outfit, he glanced at his headdress placed on the desk next to the window: his head ached and his patience was slowly fading away, there was no chance for him to wear it, he'd come back for it later when his official tasks would have started, he decided to do the same with his staff, he really didn't feel like carrying it with him in that moment.
Stepping out of his room he realized it was the first time, since he had been nominated Guru of Cephiro, he showed himself in public without his goods. How many years had passed since that day? Four hundred? Yeah, more or less…still he couldn't exactly tell it.
Approaching the throne room he heard voices coming from there: Ascot and Umi's. He'd give everything to be in Ascot's shoes, ok, Umi didn't love him, she had rejected him more than once, but still she was nice to him while with him…well, it was a whole different story.
He couldn't help thinking that, though his life was incredibly empty and flat before her arrival, it surely was easiest.
"Are you ready?" Ascot asked her, she nodded
"yeah, please, tell the others I'll miss them…" she whispered, he nodded and smiled
"Umi, I know it's difficult for you, but promise me something" he said, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at him, the summoner posed both of his hands on her shoulders
"promise you'll stay away from troubles" he added almost laughing to hide his concern for the whole situation, she giggled and nodded, then she raised her right hand
"I swear I'll give my best"
"good" the balu said kissing her forehead
"c'mon, it's time to leave" he added, the bluette nodded while he moved his hand.
Suddenly the doors behind them squeaked and slowly got open, Ascot stopped while Umi's eyes became wide.
Her throat dried and her heart speeded up. What the hell was he doing there so early?
She couldn't take her eyes off of him: without his headdress his lavender hair gently fell to perfectly frame his pale yet beautiful face and the lacking of his staff made him seem a common man, much younger than usual and much more…handsome.
"good morning" he said, without taking his gaze away from her.
Umi's mouth opened to speak, unfortunately no sound came out. She cursed herself mentally: why the hell did he have that terrible effect on her?!
"good morning, Guru Clef" Ascot greeted him, breaking the heavy silence in the room
"I just came to tell goodbye" he explained fixing his eyes on Umi's.
"I...goodbye Clef, and…thank you…" she said trying to be calm
"for what?" he asked, an eyebrow raised
"for letting me go and…"
"I haven't change my mind about your trip" he cut her off, she looked down clearly deluded
"but Ascot was right in the end, you are grown enough to take your own decisions…" he explained
"Clef I..."
"and anyway you are right, you don't need a protector, so I'll just do my Master Mage work bailing you out of troubles in serious situations, so don't worry" he didn't let her talk.
She clenched her fists, she wanted to shout at him, but Ascot's presence made her stop and hold back the tears, she had a pride to defend in the end.
"well, enjoy your trip then" the Madoshi ended turning on his heels. He hoped with all his heart she'd do something to stop him, he was hating himself for his coldness. He was going to exit the throne room when he felt her cold hand wrapping around his one.
He slowly turned, stupor and relief in his eyes. His gaze met Umi's one
"I…you see…I'll miss you. A lot" she whispered lowering her stare. He was surprised, never he thought she could say those words knowing how proud she was. He sweetly smiled and quickly brushed a hand through her hair, he'd like to do more but he was aware of Ascot's eyes on them. The Master Mage just sighed
"go now" he whispered, the bluette nodded and took her hand away from his and stared as he walked out of the room shutting the door behind him.
Once out he leaned against it
"Selece, watch over her" he whispered closing his eyes
"Umi are you ok?" Ascot asked, only in that moment she realized she was shaking, clenching and unclenching her fists
"I…yeah, I'm fine" she answered
"are you sure?"
"yes…please Ascot, I want to go away now" she firmly said, the summoner nodded and with an extensive movement of his arm let a bright green light to surround the Water Knight, in a few she disappeared from the room
"be prudent" he whispered after she vanished
She felt like butterflies were flying in her stomach, but it wasn't a pleasuring sensation like the rare times Clef was nice to her, on the contrary it was tensing, she was feeling sick. She hoped that trip would finish soon.
After a while her feet finally touched the ground and she felt the need to lean on a tall rock next to her, her head was spinning. Definitely she didn't like that way to travel.
She looked around her, the place was horrible, the floor was dry and dusty, tall rocks were lying around and the sky above her was cloudy and grey. There were no trees just some short and stark bush, the wind wasn't soft and scented as the Cephrian one, but damp and heavy. The landscape reminded her Cephiro during the period of war against Debonair. She was starting to regret her decision to leave her country. Suddenly she heard a loud cry coming from above her, the Water Knight looked up to see an enormous grey hippogriff coming down.
She looked at the man on it, he was tall and robust, wrapped in a grey cloak that showed only his blue, piercing eyes
"Umi Ryuuzaki?" the man asked, she hesitantly nodded, a smile touched the eyes of the man
"Welcome to Iris, Lady Ryuuzaki, I'm Rai, the general of the Royal Army" he said bowing to her, the bluette smiled, she liked the ways of that kingdom, they made her feel someone important
"please stand up" she said, the man obeyed
"King Arashi sent me to take you to the palace, it will be an honor escort you there"
"thank you" she said picking up her valise, the man stopped her
"please, let me think of it" he said, then with a light movement of his hand the luggage disappeared, Umi looked at him with wide eyes
"so you can use magic"
"of course, here we are trained since young age to the most advanced magic spells" the man answered
"impressive"
"thank you, my lady" he answered lowering his head in respect, then Rai leaded her towards the hippogriff
"don't be afraid, he's a trained animal" the Water Knight nodded and looked up at the beast,
"please, let me help you" the man said and passing his arms around her waist and rising her to make her sit on the back of the animal, Umi blushed, no one ever picked her up, neither Ascot.
"thank you" she commented fixing her skirt
"my duty" the man said climbing in fron of her
"hold tight on my cloak, Lady Ryuuzaki" she nodded and clutched his robe, it was coarse and think, all the opposite of the soft and smooth fabrics they used in Cephiro.
Suddenly the hippogriff took off. Though she was used to that rides –she often went around with Ascot and Ferio on their pets, as they used to call them- she didn't feel safe on that stranger beast, the man before her sensed it and gave a small slap to the animal who instantly slowed his race
"better?" he asked
"yes, thank you"
"no problem" the man answered, then he pointed a tall building before him, it was massy and build up by dark and sharp edged stones, three golden domes stretched skywards
"look, the Royal Palace" he said
"oh…impressive" she commented though she really disliked that building. It seemed so dark, so dull. It was awful compared to the beautiful and majestic crystal palace of Cephiro.
When they approached the palace a large and heavy rough woodened gate slowly slipped open, showing a gloomy hall with a red carpet on the floor, the walls were made up by stone bricks and with some torches hanging on the side, she hugged herself, that place gave her chills.
The guard helped her to climb down of the beast
"follow me, I'll take you to our King" he said, Umi nodded and walked after him.
After a while they arrived to a heavy gold door,
"please, wait here" Rai said opening it without knocking
"your majesty, the Magic Knight of Water is here" he announced, Arashi turned and smirked
"let her in" the general nodded and made her sign to step in.
"Umi" the green eyed King whispered as she stepped in.
She smiled, he looked really good in his black armor, a green mantle flowed behind him, it was clasped to his shoulders with two emerald stones that perfectly matched his gleaming eyes
"Arashi, it's fantastic to see you" she said, he stepped closer and lightly kissed her hand
"I never expected for you to come so soon" he commented
"oh…I hope this won't take any disturb to you…"
"of course not, it's a honor having you here" he cut her off, he let his eyes wander on her, she surely was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, no surprise the Master Mage had fallen for her
"follow me, I'll show you your quarters" he said taking her hand.
She looked at his hand wrapping around hers, the same hand that some hours ago had took Clef's one. She didn't feel comfortable with it but she was too excited by the whole situation so she allowed it.
He took her to the last floor of the castle, and leaded het to a golden door with a hippogriff engraved on it, he slowly opened it revealing a huge room enlightened by bronze chandeliers hanging on the walls, the bed was made of dark wood and the window had a sight to the deserted place where she landed when she arrived there. A cupboard was in the corner, it was woodened too and on the floor lied a dark blue carpet, her valise was lying on the bed, it was empty
"my clothes…"
"my mistresses thought about it" he said opening the cupboard, she was amazed seeing all her stuff perfectly placed there
"thank you…" she whispered
"you are welcome Umi" he said, then he smiled at her and took a strand of her hair away from her face
"I'll let you rest, there's your private bathroom there" he said pointing a small door on the side
"do as if you're home, see you at dinner" she nodded
"well, see you tonight then" he said placing a kiss on her cheek, she blushed and nodded so he smiled and walked out of her room.
He went to his throne room
"Rai!" he called, the general immediately went to him
"tell me your highness"
"what do you think of her?"
"really a wonderful woman" the man answered
"true" the king considered with a smirk
"what do you want to do, your majesty?"
"I'll just have her, I can read human soul, it never had been a problem to me…"
"I know it your highness…"
"and then, thanks to her, I'll have Cephiro…"
"that country is beautiful"
"of course it is or I wouldn't fight for it"
"not to lack of respect towards you, but do you know that the Cephrian will fight, right?"
"Rai, they can even fight me, but do you really think they'll go against the Water Knight?" the general stayed silent, Arashi laughed, a low chuckle and closed his eyes imagining how good it would have been having both Cephiro and its Water Knight for him.