Just to remind you, this is my first fanfiction. (If it really sucks, that's why. O_o) Umi/Clef fic, yadda yadda yadda. Please review and leave you comments. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Rayearth is the property of CLAMP/Kodansha, not me obviously! My dedication to and love of the series has prompted me to write this. I mean no harm!
The song "You Don't See Me" is from the Josie and the Pussycat's movie soundtrack. It was written by a whole long list of people (wow, the list is huge...) and was performed by Josie and the Pussycats. So, once again, I don't own this!
You Don't See Me
Author: Blue Angel Samui
Chapter Two
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Clef casually walked down the dimly lit hallway. He was rather disappointed in him self, or maybe just a bit surprised. A week ago he had decided that it wasn't necessary to keep his child-like form any longer. He thought he would quickly get used to the change being the master magician he was. But it had been a whole week now and things still seemed strange in his now grown body.
He stopped and looked out a nearby hallway window. The evening sky's colors seemed to swirl in their warm radiance. It would be dark soon. Clef continued to look out the window thinking of the past weeks events. It had been a rather quick decision on his part. He had told the others, when he walked into a room full of dropped jaws and staring eyes, that he had kept his old form for Princess Emeraude. It was more comfortable for her to have a smaller Guru present with her. Now that there wasn't a pillar he wasn't needed in his smaller form. He had decided that he didn't want to keep his child-sized body any longer. The others just continued to look at him when finally Hikaru piped up, "You look so different! But not in a bad way, I mean... you look great Clef!" The others just nodded, still in a rather odd state of shock.
He did look different. He now had the body of a tall, thin, 21-year-old man. His hair had grown a tad longer too. He had discarded his old white robes and replaced them with an outfit more suited for his size. He wore a white coat with a high blue collar that fell to his knees. The coat was taken in at the waist with a large black belt. He also wore white pants and boots and finished the outfit with a large black cloak that draped to the floor and had large open sleeves. His headdress had changed only slightly along with his staff that now was only a head taller than him. And his entire outfit was decorated with blue, purple and gold trim.
Clef continued down the hallway and paused at his room. Leaving his staff there he continued down the hallway. He didn't see why he would need it at the moment but he could easily retrieve it with a simple spell if necessary.
Continuing on his quiet stroll he again went over his reasons for his change. He knew deep down that the reason he had given to the others wasn't the only one. A picture of an elegant blue haired girl flashed in his head. Umi. He smiled slightly at the thought. He had done this for her but she only seemed to shy away from him now.
He sighed placing his hands in his pockets. He had really grown to love their nightly chats. She was so full of life and joy and it was wonderful to be able to spend time with her. Recently she had seemed so lonely and Clef's heart ached at the thought of her misery. He could only hope he helped to take away some of her sadness and he thought that he had. But she suddenly stopped seeing him. At first he thought nothing of it but when he found himself just waiting and hoping she would show up he knew he really missed their time together.
What had he done? He tried very hard not to let her know of his growing feelings toward her as to not make her uncomfortable. He knew Ascot still had feelings for Umi but she had confided in him that she would never feel the same towards the young bal. A small smile of satisfaction came to his lips. He didn't think he could stand to see her with Ascot.
But would she ever be able to feel that affection towards him? Why would she want an old Guru like himself when she could have anyone? Why would anyone not want her? She carried herself with a beautiful elegance that really set her apart from the other knights. Her beauty was enough to make any man want her. But it wasn't just these things that he loved it was her shinning personality that really attracted him. But he knew there was more behind that smiling exterior. She tried so hard to seem tough and untouchable but there was so much emotion and fear behind that wall. He could tell that she felt safe enough to let her guard down when she was with him and that made him all the more happy.
He had been rather disappointed at her reaction when she first saw his new form. She just stood there with Hikaru and Fuu with that same look of shock. But as he talked she slowly pushed herself behind the other two, almost hiding from him. She did continue to look at him from the corner of her eyes though. He mentally kicked himself. What was she supposed to do? Fall all over him? He had caught her eyeing him from across the room at different times only to look away when he noticed. He smirked at the thought.
Shuffling his feet along the floor he began to hear the sound of music drifting through the hall. Perhaps it was Fuu? Her singing had become a frequent sound in the castle halls. He knew how much Ferio loved to hear her sing. Clef had accidentally walked in on Fuu singing to Ferio. Ferio looked completely content lying with his head in her lap. He quickly left the two to their time alone in the garden where they resided.
Clef could hear a quiet, beautiful voice hum along with the cords she strummed. That voice wasn't Fuu's. Though Fuu's voice was beautiful this girl's voice was different and it seemed to sing to his heart. The sound growing slightly louder he looked up to see that his walking had taken him towards the room of the girl he had been thinking of. Umi? Her room's door was cracked open slightly shinning a thin stream of light into the dim hallway. He walked over to her door and couldn't help but look into her room.
Umi sat on her bed strumming her guitar quietly singing in tune with the chords. Clef's breath caught in his throat. God, she was beautiful. She wasn't wearing her usual clothes but a beautiful light blue dress that draped lowly on her back exposing her creaming white skin. Eyes wandering down her elegant form he noticed how the dress hugged her curves perfectly. Her long elegant neck was bare and the fact that her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail intrigued him. She looked simply angelic sitting there. He had to use all his control not to walk into the room right there. She was so tempting. But he didn't want to startle her, she made such a perfect picture. He looked into the mirror she sat in front of and was able to see her face. To his surprise it wasn't a content face.
Umi continued to play looking down at her finger placement closing her eyes from time to time. Slowly she started playing louder. Clef, now realizing he was staring, felt awful for spying like this but he couldn't pull himself away. Umi began to sing quietly at first but as her confidence in herself began to grow she sang louder and with more emotion. Clef thought that he had better go before she noticed him but he couldn't leave. Hardly breathing he stood at her door listening.
This is the place where I sit
This is the part where I love you too much
This is as hard as it gets
Cause I'm getting tired of pretending I'm tough
I'm here if you want me
I'm yours, you can hold me
I'm empty and achin'
And tumblin' and breakin'
Quietly opening her door Clef leaned against the doorframe completely entranced.
Cause you don't see me
And you don't need me
And you don't love me
The way I wish you would
The way I know you could
I dream a world where you understand
That I dream a million sleepless nights
Well I dream a fire when you're touching my hand
But it twists into smoke when I turn on the lights
I'm speechless and faded
It's too complicated
Is this how the book ends,
Nothing but good friends?
Clef, watching Umi, was beginning to realize that this song wasn't just a song. It had personal meaning for Umi. She was pouring all her soul into into the words, he could feel it. He felt like he could kick himself. Had he made her feel like this?
Cause you don't see me
And you don't need me
And you don't love me
The way I wish you would
Entranced by her sad, beautiful voice he looked into the mirror again and saw that she was quietly crying as she sang. Pain shot through his heart. How could he do this to her?
The way I wish you would
Umi's voice suddenly faded too low to hear and she stopped singing all together. She sat there with her head bowed over her guitar, crying. Why did she do this to herself? She could never finish it. It hurt too much.
A quiet voice ended the silence, "That was beautiful."
Umi looked up into the mirror with horror. She saw Clef standing in the doorway. She turned to look at him as he slowly walked into the room. As he did she could feel her heartbeat quicken with excitement. She quickly wiped away her tears. Out of all the people that could hear her sing why did it have to be him!?
Seeing the fear in her eyes Clef stopped in his tracks. "I'm sorry for listening, but it was so beautiful." He paused. "Please, sing some more for me."
Umi's mind was racing at a thousand miles a minute. Did he know what this song meant to her? She watched him slowly sit at the head of her bed. He had to know.
"Please?" he quietly asked again.
Umi turned to face him completely. Clef was in awe of her beauty. Bowing her head to hide her eyes she spoke.
"I can't... I don't sing in front of people. It's one of the few things I guess I'm really afraid of." Her voice was as quiet as a whisper.
"You were wonderful. Please, just for me?"
She looked into his eyes and her breath caught in her throat. He was so handsome. She blushed and looked at her guitar. If she was ever going to be brave now was the time. Slowly her hand brought the pick to the strings. Lowering her head and closing her eyes she sang quietly.
This is the place in my heart
This is the place where I'm falling apart
Isn't this just where we met
And is this the last chance that I'll ever get?
I wish I was lonely
Instead of just only
Crystal and see-through
And not enough to you
The meaning of those last lines hit Clef hard. How could she not know that she meant so much to him? "Because you never told her!" he mentally yelled at himself. He continued to watch, never taking his eyes off her face.
Cause you don't see me
And you don't need me
And you don't love me
The way I wish you would
The way I know you could
Umi slowly brought her hand from the strings. They both sat in silence. After what seemed like an eternity to Umi she slowly got up and walked to the guitar case, her back to Clef. Why won't he say something? Nervousness filled her entire body. Her stomach clenched and she could feel her knees begin to shake. She bent down and carefully placed the guitar into its case. She felt like she was about to cry again. As she stood up she felt something slip around her waist.
Umi gasped, "Clef!?"
End of Chapter Two
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
Oooooo, did I actually right a bit of a cliffhanger? Never thought I could do that! I hope you kind of pictured an OAV style Clef when I described him. (You have to love that OAV Clef!)
Anyway, stay tuned for Chapter Three.
-Samui
samui@angelicdream.com
www.angelicdream.com
(Soon to have "Sapphire Elegance" an Umi Ryuuzaki shrine!)