28 April 2018: Hello, faithful readers! I hope you are enjoying this fine April morning. I'm currently sat at home listening to DIY happening in the house connected to mine (Not pleasant at 8 in the morning on a Saturday) surrounded by startled cats.

Many thanks to Down for doing a final fluff and polish of this chapter last night, and for putting up with my whinging while I fail to get much done with a broken foot.

Content Note: This chapter has been edited for sexual content. The full, un-edited chapter can be found on Archive of Our Own (along with a few other little prequels stories not posted on FFN).

Chapter 11
In which Mama asks questions

Clef spent most of that first week after Umi left worrying about whether she actually made it home safely. He had no way of knowing one way or the other, though she had seemed well enough by the time she left, and she was stubborn enough to make it back safely, surely…

He should have insisted she stay, but he understood her desire not to let her parents worry. Sleep had been a battle ever since. He didn't know how he would live with himself if anything had happened to her.

By the time the Council met for their next regular meeting, Clef was a prickly ball of anxiety. He got into an argument with Murano over minor details of the planned development of the land, of all things. He didn't care what shape the new peninsula off the other side of Eunos took! It made absolutely no difference to him one way or the other. And yet, here he was, getting into an hour-long debate about it. Once he'd started, Clef couldn't make himself stop. Murano was just so convinced he had the only answer and that everyone else would agree.

Someone over the other side muttered 'If this is how stroppy the Guru gets when he has sex, maybe we should reinstate the law' just loud enough to be audible. Clef flushed, horribly aware of doing so, forcing himself not to look even when someone else said 'Nah, I think stopping's the problem - better to just repeal the next two.'

Oh, how he wished they would - wished when people asked how he was, he could tell them 'I'm worried about my partner. I have no way of checking she's okay, and I miss her'.

But that would be admitting treason.

He did, at least, stop arguing just for the sake of arguing.

When the other girls arrived a few days later for a visit, Clef had to restrain himself from grabbing them and demanding to know how Umi was, though he knew, logically, if anything was wrong he would have known from the moment they appeared - they wouldn't have been smiling. But he didn't have to wait too long anyway, as Hikaru bounced across the reception hall to tell him Umi said hello and she was with her friends from school.

When neither Hikaru nor Fuu were concerned at all, Clef finally relaxed, and exhaustion hit him like a weight dropped from the skies. He made it through another two hours, then gave up, packed up early, and headed home.

He got back to Mazda halfway through dinner, and there were several raised eyebrows as he walked in.

"You're early," Aveo said. "Did you stop bouncing off the walls yet, or did they kick you out of the castle?"

"Hikaru and Fuu visited today; Umi is fine," he said, and Getz let out a relieved sigh and flopped back in his chair at the dining table. Clef glared at him. "You - didn't you just spend all week telling me Umi was fine?"

"Yeah, well, I only had one of you I could actually try to do anything for. I don't think Umi would mind a little bit of lying when I'm doing it to keep you from actually crumbling with anxiety."

"You're not meant to lie to your patients!" Clef snapped.

Getz just shrugged. "I do it all the time. 'This won't hurt a bit' and 'I know what I'm doing'."

Aveo thumped him on the shoulder for the second one. "You're a terrible healer. Why did we let you in the Circle, again?"

"Hey, you voted me in. Anyway, I may have been exaggerating the truth a bit, but I was pretty sure she'd be okay."

Clef made a squawking noise, flailing a hand wordlessly in appeal. Aveo just poured him another cup of tea and patted him on the shoulder.

"Well, if you go to sleep now, maybe you'll be able to catch up enough tomorrow that you can go interview new healers for us," she said, and Getz snorted.

"I'll hand over the practice, but no one's getting their hands on my garden."

"It's my garden!" Clef retorted, but the bickering was… restful. It meant people were relaxed enough to poke fun at each other, and he went to bed early and slept the whole night through.

.*.*.*.

A little over two weeks since she'd left, Clef was on his way back to his office when Umi practically ran into him in the corridor, very flushed and out of breath. She must have come to Cephiro directly from school; she was alone, still wearing her uniform. It hadn't changed much in the last three years, though the skirt seemed a little shorter than he remembered.

"Hi," Umi said, stopping in front of him and grinning. "So, I've got maybe an hour before I absolutely have to head home, and I was wondering if you might be free?"

Clef's heartrate kicked up a fraction. He couldn't think very well with Umi looking at him so expectantly, but he couldn't remember anything important enough to demand his attention. "If you want, we can go to my rooms?"

"Yes, please." Umi bounced after him, swinging her bag enthusiastically.

"I didn't expect you until tomorrow."

"I missed you. I didn't want to wait that long, and everyone else will be around tomorrow as well."

They were walking fast; it was less than a minute before they reached his door. Umi paused just inside and crouched down to remove her boots, and Clef watched her, bemused

"What?" she asked, standing up again. "You shouldn't wear your shoes inside. You'll track in all sorts of dirt." She looked very pointedly at him until Clef slipped off his own boots with a laugh.

"So, do I get a tour?" Umi asked.

Clef looked around. There really wasn't much to show. They were in the main living area that made up the majority of his rooms here. It stretched from the main door to the windows on the other side, with a little kitchenette and table nearer the door and a sitting area at the far end. He'd added most of the kitchenette himself, as most of the rooms on this floor were guest rooms, not for people who actually resided in the castle. He'd chosen it for that reason; it meant he had a quiet place to retreat to.

Pointing to the doors down the left of the room in order from closest to furthest, he said, "Toilet, bath, storeroom." The two doors to the right. "Study and bedroom."

Umi wandered over to the sitting area in as he stopped to put the kettle on. She dropped her school bag in the nearest chair and practically flopped onto the settee.

"Tea?" He asked, opening the cupboard and pulling out a tin.

"Yes, please." She tilted her head at him. "Do you have anything for a headache?"

"Are you feeling okay?" Clef turned back to her. She looked far better than she had the last time he'd seen her, colour back in her cheeks and an apparent abundance of energy.

"The transport spell always makes me a little lightheaded when I'm on my own. Today it decided to add a stabbing headache. I thought it would stop when the dizziness did - usually it only takes a few minutes - but it's still niggling away. Tell me you have something to make it stop?"

"Of course." He opened the cupboard again and switched tins. This one was similar to the tea he'd given Umi for that hangover after Ouran's ball and had a pleasant enough flavour that he didn't mind sharing it. He picked up the little earthenware teapot from the drying rack and added a few spoonfuls of tea leaves and boiling water, leaving it to steep while he pulled down another cup and turned back to Umi.

"How are your lessons going?"

Umi groaned. "Everyone's stressing about the end of term exams, and university entrance exams, and everything to do with exams. I'm sick of hearing about them and studying already, and the term's barely even started. At least our class has started discussing what we're going to do for the school festival, which is a lot more fun than revision."

Bringing over two cups and the pot on a tray, Clef set them down on the low table and sat himself beside Umi. The school festival had been one of the reasons Clef hadn't seen her for months last year; she'd been so busy with preparations. Her entire class had been involved, she'd told him. "What are you doing this year?"

"A play!"

Clef poured tea into both cups before picking one up. "About what?"

"No idea." Umi shrugged. "But my friend Rika and I want a dramatic sword-fight."

"Of course you do." Umi had been wheedling Ferio or Lantis or really anyone who was willing into sparring with her as often as possible this last year, intent on working on her skill in Cephiro's ways of fighting as well as keeping up with her training back in Tokyo.

Umi picked up her cup and stared at it thoughtfully. "I'd invite you, but I'm not sure you want the festival to be your first experience of Tokyo. If we could even get you to Tokyo, you know, without you turning into a seven-hundred-year-old corpse."

"You can bring pictures back," he offered. She'd brought him pictures of some of the places she'd visited.

"Oh! I could get Papa to film it? The camera should hold battery power long enough to watch it." She blushed and looked away. "I mean, if you want to see it? The screen is tiny on that thing,"

Clef smiled and patted her knee. "I would, if you want to show me."

Umi nodded and drank some of her tea. "So, how did the whole emergency Council meeting go?"

"Well enough, I suppose. We finally have new warden for Honda, Vezel." He hadn't been in any state to be pleased when the appointment was agreed, but with Umi safe in front of him, he was able to feel slightly smug. "Obviously no one told Murano she was my nomination. Only half of her Circle has been agreed on, but at least we have help now."

"Have I met any of them?"

"I don't think so. Other than that, nothing new has happened that's worth mentioning. Though Getz wanted me to tell you that the rota you helped plant started sprouting."

"That's good." Umi took another long drink of her tea before setting the cup aside. She leaned into toward him and grinned. "So what did you have planned for the next-" she glanced at her watch and glared at the time "-half an hour?"

"What did you want me to be doing?"

"Me, for a start."

He couldn't keep the smile off his face as he leaned into her, laughter welling up inside his chest. "And after that?"

Umi grabbed hold of his face and kissed him. His mind went blank as she moved, pressing him back into the settee and climbing onto his lap. She pulled away to unbutton her waistcoat before shrugging it off and leaning back in.

Clef unfastened his mantle. Umi helped him pull it off before it was dropped unceremoniously on the floor. He shucked his outer robes, then went to work on her shirt while she started on the fastenings of his. He pushed her shirt off her shoulders and slid his hands up her sides over the smooth fabric of her undershirt. His thumbs just brushed the soft curves of her breasts when Umi hissed in a breath and took hold of his wrists, pulling his hands down.

"Maybe not there today? My chest's been a bit sore this week."

"Are you sure you're alright?" He pulled away to look at her in the face. She'd strained her magic terribly only a few weeks ago and could easily still be feeling it, but there was something else - something like a warning bell, ringing in the back of his head.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She waved a hand, flushing slightly. "My period's probably going to start soon. My chest always gets a little sore before it does." Leaning in, she whispered in his ear. "But it makes other places sensitive in a good way."

Shoving Clef's shirt off his shoulders, Umi wobbled precariously. Clef's hands went to her hips to hold her steady. The top of her skirt was slightly lumpy under his hands, not at all like the smooth lines of the clothing Umi had been wearing a fortnight ago. Leaning back to get a better look, Clef realised that Umi's skirt was rolled over at the top - which would explain the change in length.

He couldn't help it; he burst out laughing.

"Oh, shut up!" Umi punched him in the shoulder.

That didn't stop him laughing. If anything, it made it worse. "I'd wondered why your skirt seemed so much shorter."

"It's cuter like that," Umi declared, as she climbed off him to slip out of the skirt and her underlayers, giving him a chance to wriggle out of his own clothes before she crawled back onto the settee and pinned him to the cushions

.*.*.*.

When she finally caught her breath, Umi worked her way off the settee and started gathering her clothes. She was running far too late to worry about freshening up with more than the offered handkerchief before heading home. She stumbled a few steps trying to pull on her underwear and pick up her undershirt in one go.

Clef dug under the chair for her tie and his coronet. He tossed the former at her before shoving the latter back on his head. He was quite a sight, standing there in nothing more than his rumpled trousers and the jewellery of his post. She threw his shirt over at him, trying not to get anywhere within arms reach, or she was going to be very late getting home.

There was a pause in the rustling of Clef's robes when she pulled on her skirt. She didn't need to look up to know Clef was watching her, but she raised her head to meet his gaze anyway. A hot blush spread across her cheeks at the look in his eyes. They might not have been doing this long, but she already knew he only felt satisfied when he'd done things thoroughly. Quick wasn't his style.

Umi fastened her skirt and rolled the waistband back over twice while Clef looked on. Hand on her hip she challenged him. "See? It's cuter like this."

Clef quirked an eyebrow at her. "It looks the same, just shorter."

"Exactly." Running her fingers through her hair - they'd managed to lose her headband in the rush of things - Umi grinned and stepped toward him long enough to kiss his cheek. "I really have to go now, but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Shoving her feet back into her boots, she waved a final farewell before heading out at a run. She could make up her excuses on the train. It wasn't the first time she'd been late home because she'd gotten distracted by a friend.

.*.*.*.

In the end, Umi didn't get to use any of the excuses she'd come up with; she was just shoved toward the bathroom and told to be quick. And quick she was, running upstairs not ten minutes later to change into her party clothes before the guests started to arrive. She was still getting dressed when Mama knocked on her bedroom door.

"Come in," Umi said as she zipped up the back of her dress.

Mama walked in and waved for Umi to sit down at her desk. She started gathering up Umi's hair into a simple twist on the back of her head. Umi fiddled with the hairpins on the desk, waiting to hand them up.

"When were you planning to tell us about your boyfriend?" Mama asked, startling Umi so badly she dropped the handful of pins, which scattered everywhere.

"I - What?"

Mama tapped Umi's neck with a finger. "These aren't from fencing club."

Umi grabbed up the small hand mirror and looked at her neck - and the small speckled bruises down the side of it. In her hurry to get home, she'd completely forgotten about asking Clef to do a healing spell. Biting back a curse, her cheeks heated up. It wasn't like she didn't want her parents to know she'd found someone, but she wasn't ready to answer all the questions about Cephiro.

"I'm happy you have a boyfriend, Umi." Mama twisted Umi's hair up before starting to pin it in place. "But you should be concentrating on studying mathematics and history, not human anatomy."

"Mama!"

Umi tried to jerk her head around to look at her mother, but got tapped on the shoulder and told to sit still.

"I'm not saying you need to stop seeing him. I just think you probably shouldn't be-" Mama tapped Umi's neck again "-so involved just yet." When she was finished with Umi's hair, she crouched down beside her. "But I don't want you to feel you need to keep this a secret."

Umi nodded. "I'm not. It's just -" She chewed on her lip. "New?"

Mama smiled and said she'd be right back. Umi picked up the mirror and glared at the bruises running across the side of her neck, as she traced them with her finger. She hastily set down the mirror, flushing more, when Mama returned proudly holding up a stick of concealer and a cosmetic sponge.

"Turn here." Mama dabbed the make-up gently across Umi's skin. "It's just about covering. You don't want anyone else asking impertinent questions."

"Thank you," Umi whispered.

She finished with the concealer and reached for Umi's foundation and brush. "Tomorrow, you and I are going out, just the two of us. We'll leave Papa at home."

"But -" Umi sat up straighter. She'd told Clef she'd see him again tomorrow. If she was out with Mama, that wouldn't happen - but Umi knew there was no arguing. Once her mother had decided they were doing something, they did it.

"You can see him next weekend." Mama smiled and then stepped back to admire her handiwork. "There. That should do."

Picking back up the mirror, Umi looked at her neck. The marks were nearly invisible. Her mother kissed her on the head and left her alone.

Umi dug through her bag for her mobile phone, only to find that its battery was flat. She chucked it back into her bag and slipped downstairs to Mama's study. That phone was the only one on that phone line, so she knew she wouldn't be overheard if she used it. Dialling Fuu's number first, Umi quickly hung up before she completed the call.

Hikaru would ask fewer questions.

One of Hikaru's brothers answered the phone. Umi apologised, hoping it wasn't dinner time, she only needed five minutes. Hikaru was her usual bouncy self when she answered.

"Hey," Umi said. "I'm not going to make it tomorrow. I'm being hijacked; Mama wants to go shopping."

"Have fun!"

"I'll try, but… um... could you tell Clef I'm sorry?"

"Of course." Hikaru's voice grew serious. "Is everything okay?"

It wasn't exactly a secret between the three of them that Umi liked Clef as more than a friend - especially now he'd grown up - or that she was actively trying to pursue him. They hadn't really talked since her private holiday with Clef, but considering what happened, Umi was pretty certain they would hear about it at some point, even if she didn't bring it up. But it hadn't happened yet - and she'd never actually told them she was going to stay with him, just that she was going back to Cephiro for a week.

"Everything's fine," Umi said. "It's just - I sort of promised I'd see him this weekend."

They probably didn't need to know she'd been to see Clef only a few hours ago, even if it would give her a chance to vent about Mama knowing.

"We'll let him know. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Thanks, Hikaru."

.*.*.*.

True to form, Umi spent as little time as she could being sociable with her parents' guests before escaping to hide in the upstairs sitting room. She'd barely hit the stairs when Satomi appeared behind her.

"Please tell me there's food up there and we don't have to go back down if we want to eat," Satomi said.

"Should be," Umi answered, reasonably sure her mother had sent the caterers up to her 'lair'. "If not we'll go down and steal a tray from the kitchen."

"You can do that. I live here now." Satomi walked into the room and collapsed onto the sofa, dropping an arm dramatically over her eyes.

Umi headed to the table to investigate the trays of appetisers. Most of them were the less fancy options that Umi preferred. She'd just picked up a shrimp and had it halfway to her mouth when Huki and Mako appeared in the doorway.

"Oh, good! Snacks!" Huki declared, dropping down beside her and taking a plate.

His sister rolled her eyes at him, flopping beside Satomi in a flurry of ruffles. "We ate before we came!"

"That was a whole hour ago," Huki pointed out. "Plus, Umi always has the best snacks."

Not too long after, Daichi came strolling in with a satchel over his shoulder, looking smug. Halfway across the room, he pulled out a bottle of shochu and grinned at them. "Hey, Ryuuzaki, you feeling friendly tonight?"

"Would you shut up about that, already?" Umi picked up a cushion and aimed it at his head. "That was months ago!"

"How about Hideaki, then?" Daichi winked at Huki who flushed bright red and swallowed.

"Oh, lay off it," Mako complained. "What are you bringing that for anyway? We don't usually do alcohol at Umi's place."

"I'm just trying to lubricate the festivities a little." Daichi thumped the bottle down on the table. "Celebrate my last few months as a teenager."

"More like drowning your inadequacies," Satomi said, getting to her feet.

"That hurts, Nakamura. Really, it does."

Satomi waved at him from the doorway. "I'm sure you'll find a way to dull the pain."

"So, what you're telling me is that I don't have a chance, Ryuuzaki?" Daichi asked, trying to use his most smouldering smile on her.

"No chance at all," Umi laughed. It wasn't that Umi didn't find him attractive; she thought was gorgeous. Everyone who came into contact with him probably thought the same; Daichi was all perfect skin, faultless symmetry, and exquisite hair. But he knew it, too, and was happy to use it to get his own way wherever possible. It wasn't like he wanted to manipulate people - he just honestly seemed to think flirtation was fair payment for pretty much anything.

Just because he was a brat who Umi definitely didn't want to date, didn't mean she hadn't thought about sleeping with him, once or twice. Not that she'd ever let him know that, of course. But aside from all the other reasons it would be a terrible idea, she rather thought he'd be as selfish in bed as he was everywhere else.

Clef certainly hadn't been that. Umi's face went hot as she remembered his hands, his -

She ducked her head and ate another shrimp, while Daichi started quizzing Huki over whether a new movie was worth seeing. Satomi reappeared a few minutes later with a bottle of juice in hand, holding it up like a trophy when she walked back in.

"Hey!" Umi called. "Are you raiding my kitchen again?"

"Only when I have to. I got chased out by the caterers, so this is all I managed to get."

"Not a bad choice." Daichi nodded in approval and started pouring alcohol into glasses for those who wanted it, with Satomi adding juice to each before handing it over.

Despite the minor protest, Mako was the first with a drink in her hand, and Huki took the second with a light flush on his cheeks while he cast a wary eye at Umi. She pulled a face at him and he relaxed and went back to watching Daichi wave his hands expansively as he rambled on about whichever film they were interested in.

Umi hadn't been to the cinema in a while - she had more interesting places to go on the weekends. She lifted her glass to her lips, but the first taste made her stomach roll in disgust. Pressing a hand over her mouth as she heaved in a rough breath, Umi slammed the glass back on the table so hard she nearly broke it.

"Umi, are you okay?" Mako asked, grabbing her arm.

"Yeah, fine." Umi pushed the offending drink as far away from her as possible. "I think - I'm just not feeling it tonight."

"It's the guilt, isn't it?" Daichi turned, a grin pulling at the edge of his 'serious' face. "You're worried what Mama and Papa would think if their perfect daughter gets drunk again?"

"No. But I definitely don't want to be hungover tomorrow when Mama starts actually asking me questions about my new boyfriend." Umi picked up an empty glass and poured herself some of the juice, and downed the whole thing, swishing the last mouthful around to get the stomach-churning taste of the shochu out of her mouth. It was weird; she hadn't minded it the last time - in fact, she'd rather liked it - but now it felt like her entire body was trying to reject it. Filling her glass again, she sat back on the floor only to realise everyone was staring at her. "What?"

"Since when do you have a boyfriend?" Satomi asked, scooting closer. "And why haven't I heard about him? I thought we were supposed to be friends."

"For a few weeks, and it's not like I've actually told anyone about him. Mama just - found out?" Umi held her drink closer, wishing she could hide behind it. "You have heard about him, though. Remember the guy I was talking about a few months ago?"

"The hot, foreign one?" Mako asked, leaning forward when Umi nodded. "Did things actually go somewhere with that guy?"

"Oh! Is this that - what was his name?" Satomi waved a free hand excitedly. "It was weird. Like a music thing…"

"Clef," Huki said, his voice quiet. "You said his name was Clef."

"Yeah, that's it! Clef." Satomi bounced up even more into Umi's personal space. "You have to tell us everything!"

"It's none of your business," Umi said, trying not to blush, her cheeks were getting hot anyway.

Daichi leaned his elbows on the low table and looked at Umi with grin curling over his lips. "What I want to know is how your mother found out."

The heat rushed up Umi's neck and face and she pressed a palm to her cheek trying to will it to cool down. This was so stupid. It wasn't like the lot of them hadn't discussed all their various first (invariably disastrous) attempts at dating over the years. "I was late home today?" She forced herself to not touch her neck.

"Is that why you skipped out on fencing club today?" Mako demanded. "You were making out with your boyfriend, instead."

Umi shrugged. "At least I didn't have to try making up an excuse about why I was sweaty and gross when I got home." She reached for one of the little glazed meatballs, plopping it in her mouth before she had to answer any more questions. Not that they stopped asking once she'd swallowed, but she pointedly picked up another meatball, not responding.

Once her friends realised they weren't getting anything more out of Umi about her new mysterious boyfriend talk turned to other things: club activities, people's new haircuts, and anything else they could think of that had little or nothing to do with any sort of exams or studying. This was their time to unwind and ignore the rest of their responsibilities.

"You're going to get fat if you keep eating like that," Satomi said when Umi absently stuffed another meatball in her mouth, then picked up one of the crunchy bits of bread with the herby tomato stuff on it.

Looking down at the food in her hand and the now mostly empty plates, Umi wondered just how much of it she'd actually eaten. She was still hungry, so it couldn't have been that much, right?

"It'd take more than that for Ryuuzaki to get fat," Daichi laughed. "If anything, it wouldn't hurt if she gained a few pounds."

"Hey!" Umi said, reaching around to smack him on the shoulder.

"True," Satomi agreed, sidling up to Umi, poking her in the side. "You might actually grow some boobs if you gained some weight."

"Oi!" Umi flailed around at her. "I have boobs!"

"They're no bigger than when we were fourteen," Mako declared, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol. "You still don't even wear a bra most of the time."

Umi's face burned as she told Mako to shut up and picked up the closest cushion to throw it. But she couldn't say they were wrong; she had only really grown upwards since they were fourteen. Those few inches had put her at roughly the height Clef was now, but with all the magic and sword practice on the weekends as well as fencing, she burned as much energy as she could eat, and then some. Her figure had remained pretty much 'stick with muscles'.

"Maybe you should get your new boyfriend to massage them so they get bigger," Daichi offered with a cackle.

"You are such a pervert!" Umi shouted as she pushed him over and smacked him in the face with the cushion she'd been holding, while the rest of their friends cheered her on.

.*.*.*.

Despite not drinking any alcohol, Umi still woke the next morning with an agonising headache. It wasn't helped in the least by the cat charging in and thumping onto her chest when Mama opened the door. She swore at the cat and shoved him off, but still didn't get up immediately.

"Umi," Mama sighed, and Umi didn't have to look up to know the look she was getting.

"I wasn't drinking," she said and dropped her head back into the pillow. "It's just a headache."

Umi may have been doing all sorts of things her parents weren't aware of - travelling to another dimension on weekends being one of many - but she never actually lied about it. She just hadn't... told the entire truth.

She heard something thump down on the desk, but she wasn't prepared to see the brightly coloured box of condoms when she looked up. "Mama!" she squawked, her face going so hot it was painful.

"We both know I've never been able to talk you out of anything you've decided you're going to do," Mama said, giving her a serious look. "Still, I would rather not be a grandmother until I'm at least forty. And I want you to be safe."

Umi stared at the box of condoms, then at her mother. Obviously, she'd taken the marks on Umi's neck as evidence that she was sleeping with someone. Not that her mother was wrong, but it was embarrassing for her to - well - know.

If Umi said she didn't need them, her mother would probably outright ask her if she was having sex, and she'd never been able to lie - especially not to her mother. The last thing she ever wanted to talk to her parents about was her sex life, and magical contraception was not the topic she wanted to introduce them to Cephiro with.

Thankfully Mama didn't linger on the topic, she just ruffled Umi's hair and said, "Come on, sleepy-head. Breakfast is waiting."

Umi hurried into her clothes - the little, ruffled dress she'd planned to wear to Cephiro, but with a shirt underneath rather than the cardigan she would have taken off once she arrived at the Castle.

When she made it down to the breakfast room, Mama and Papa were already sat at the table. Mama's hand rested gently on Papa's arm as she spoke to him, and he turned and smiled at her, eyes twinkling. Umi paused in the doorway watching them. She'd often found their lovey-dovey behavior embarrassing. They were always so open with their affection compared to her friends' parents. Now she was older, she thought it was kind of sweet, but she wasn't about to let them know that.

Papa looked up as she walked in and grinned. "Good morning."

Umi sat down at the table, watching him suspiciously. "Morning."

"So, Mama's been telling me that you have a boyfriend."

Tightening her grip on her fork, Umi stared down at her plate, willing herself not to blush, despite her cheeks growing steadily hotter the longer she delayed saying anything.

"You never did mention his name," Mama said, not waiting for Umi to gather herself for a response.

Umi glared at her mother. She knew perfectly well that her parents had checked up on most of her close friends over the years, even Hikaru and Fuu. She'd refused to let herself mention the names of her Cephiran friends since that first visit; too many people they couldn't find a trace of would only make them worry. "You're not going to investigate him."

Mama laughed, but she didn't deny that as a goal. "Just one name, then. What do you call him?"

"Clef," Umi said, giving in. It wasn't like they could find him if they tried. "I just call him Clef."

"Hm. That's an unusual name," Papa said. "What do his parents do?"

"They're dead." Umi was glad to be able to answer that question honestly.

Papa paused and set down his cup. "Does he live alone, then?"

Umi chewed on her lip. That was a complicated question to answer. "He has his own apartment near… I guess it's sort of near Tokyo Tower, in a building with some of our other friends, but he also stays in the country part of the week with family."

"You've been to visit him at his apartment, haven't you?"

"I only saw it for the first time yesterday." Umi couldn't help it; she blushed. "He made a pot of tea and we talked about school."

Hopefully it wasn't that obvious that she saw his place for the first time because they'd had sex there. Her fingers went to her neck, and she knew that Mama knew something had happened between them that was more than just talking.

Mama took Papa's hand and smiled. "Darling, do you remember when we used to just sit and talk for hours?"

"Oh, to be young again," Papa agreed.

Umi ate her breakfast and tried to ignore her parents reminiscing about the early days of their relationship.

.*.*.*.

Despite Umi being absolutely certain that shopping was just a front for Mama to further interrogate her about Clef, her mother didn't actually ask any questions for the first few hours they were out. Umi watched her warily whenever she would suggest Umi try something on, or ask which colour Umi preferred of some dress, but she didn't bring up the topic again for a long while.

Obviously, this was just a way to lull Umi into a false sense of security. Umi's suspicions were proved correct when they went to a small cafe for lunch.

After they ordered food and drinks, Mama turned her full attention to Umi. "So, while we're waiting, why don't you tell me a little more about this Clef."

Umi eyed her. "Like what?"

"What's he like?" Her mother gestured elegantly with a hand. "What does he do?"

"Well he's kind of a grouch, I guess. He works in the government and he teaches some. He has like five other jobs too, but those are the most important ones. And… I like him."

"He's a grouch and you like him?" Mama smiled at that. "What do you like about him?"

"I like arguing with him?" Umi offered. She'd never really thought about what she liked about Clef. "I like spending time with him."

Their drinks arriving was only a momentary distraction, before Umi found herself being asked, "Is he cute?"

"Mama!" Umi flailed a hand at her, her face unbearably hot. "I - yes? He's very… he's pretty. Even if he's too skinny half the time because he gets too wrapped up in whatever he's doing and forgets to eat while he's trying to save the world and all that."

Mama stirred her tea. "When do Papa and I get to meet him?"

"I… um…" Of course, they would want to meet any boyfriend she had, but how was she supposed to introduce them?

"If he's working in government, I assume he's older than seventeen," Mama said, setting the spoon down and lifting her cup. "Which means he at least needs our approval to be seeing you, if not more than that. I can't approve of someone I have never met."

Umi poked her sandwich. "I'll talk to him about it. Maybe we can work something out soon?"

"I expect to meet him by the end of next month."

"Next month?" Umi pulled a face. That was less than six weeks. In three years they hadn't even tried to get anyone else across with them. If things bounced back to Cephiro, what would happen to people?

"That's plenty of time to make dinner plans," Mama said. "If he refuses, perhaps his intentions aren't very good."

"He'll agree. We just - he'll have to check his schedule. I don't know when he'll be free for long enough?" She'd have to talk to Hikaru and Fuu about how they might do this. Maybe they'd had some ideas since they'd been talking more seriously about their futures in Cephiro.

There was always the option of telling her parents they were meeting him at Tokyo Tower and trying to get them across to Cephiro. Which would make explaining the whole other-world thing easier.

Food arrived, and Umi threw herself into the distraction, but the plates were empty and the bill paid far too soon. As they walked out of the cafe and out into the sunshine, Umi suddenly found herself asking "What would you say if I wanted to study abroad?"

Mama stopped walking and looked over at Umi. "What happened to attending university here in Japan? Is this Clef going abroad?" She didn't sound very happy. "I am glad you have found someone you like, Umi-dear, but you are perhaps a little young to be following someone to a foreign country."

"You married Papa when you were sixteen!" Umi argued.

"Which was not the best idea I've ever had." Mama grinned. "I've never regretted it - but things would have been a lot easier if I'd waited a few more years."

Maybe Mama had a point about rushing into things, but Umi hadn't made her decision lightly. She just needed to work out how she was going to tell them about her plans. There were only a few more months before her parents would be paying for exams she didn't need to take - that she wasn't planning to take.

But even if she did explain Cephiro - even if she managed to take them there - would they really believe she wasn't just moving for Clef?

"I'm not planning to get married yet. I just -" Umi sighed. "I don't know. They teach some things elsewhere that they just don't teach here."

"Why don't you prepare a proposal of your plan, then Papa and I can consider it."

"A proposal?" Umi spun round and stared at her mother. "It's still just studying, only - only abroad. It's not like - Mama!"

Mama waved off Umi's frustration with a flick of her hand. "I just want you to prove to us that you have thought your plan through. Write the whole plan out: where are you going; what university will you attend; what courses do they offer; and what do you plan to do with the degree once you have it? I want you to convince us that it's the right choice for you before I'll say yes."

"You weren't making me do a proposal for my choice of university in Japan."

"There wasn't a boy involved in your choice then."

"I thought you wanted me to find a boyfriend! You and Papa always say you want me to find a nice man to marry, but suddenly, when I'm actually seeing someone, it's all 'you're too young' and - and business proposals," Umi said, stomping off in a huff. She'd spent years of her life with her parents' teasing her with their over-the-top, lovey-dovey melodramatics, and talk about finding someone wonderful to love her, but as soon as she was actually in something like a serious relationship, why was everything different?

Irritatingly enough, Mama just laughed as she caught up with Umi.

"I never once said you can't see him. You just ought to be sensible about it. You're awfully young to be dating someone in their… twenties?"

"I'm old enough." Umi crossed her arms and refused to play into her mother's attempt to discern Clef's age - not that she'd possibly manage to guess the truth. "And you know perfectly well that life doesn't run according to a business plan."

"And it shouldn't." Mama patted her arm. "Enough about all this. Let's go have a look in there and see if we can't come out with something pretty."

"I don't need any more clothes," Umi muttered.

Her mother paused. "How long have you known your Clef?"

Umi blinked at the apparently rebounding subject. "We met when I was fourteen?"

Her mother nodded, like she'd been expecting as much. "And you have been friends these past few years? You've seen each other regularly?"

"With Hikaru and Fuu and a group of other friends, yes," Umi offered, suspicious where this was going.

But Mama beamed at her. "Then he'll have seen most of your outfits already. Don't you want something nice he hasn't seen before, to wear when you tell him he has to meet us? Wearing the appropriate weapon for the occasion can help win arguments, you know."

"Mama!" Umi burst out laughing, and let her mother take her hand and lead her into the little shop.

.*.*.*.

To be continued...

Coming soon in Chapter 12: Umi is back in Cephiro for the weekend, and Clef learns of a serious mistake (and maybe a little more about Lantis's personal life than he ever wanted to know).

Note: April is kind of a rough month for me (emotionally), especially the end of the month, so I thought I would try to amuse myself and the rest of you by getting this chapter up before May. I hope you enjoy it.

All questions, comments, and happy thoughts welcome and appreciated. (Good, bad, and even nonsensical flailing.)