"Now why would that little shrimp want to talk to Umi?" Kakeru asked.
"That little shrimp is about ten times older then you are." Lafarga said.
"You seem kind of depressed, Umi. Are you all right?" Clef asked as she shut the door.
"Well, kind of."
"Umi..."
"Clef have you ever fell in love?"
"What?" Clef asked shocked.
"Have you ever been in love with someone?"
"Well, yes I have." You, he said silently.
"Well, I never really did. I mean since we met you guys things have looked up in life with our adventures and everything." Umi said pacing in the room. "But then when we returned and seeing Ferio and Fuu how much they love each other, and then Hikaru met Lantis and they've been hanging out so much, I guess I feel left out. Even Caldina and Lafarga found happiness. I know my friends love me and my parents will no matter what, but to have an actually boy love me would be impossible."
"Umi, do not give up your hope just yet." He told her taking her hand to stop her from pacing.
"What about your dreams and hopes, Clef?"
"Well one would be to have a reason to be tall and not a little munchkin I believe."
Umi giggled. "Sorry about that."
"It is all right."
"But Ascot was able to grow taller, can't you?"
"Ascot had his reasons."
"Well you should too." Umi told him. "Clef come on I bet you'd look well you know nice taller." she said slightly blushing.
Ascot and Lafarga gave up on running and returned. Ascot looked around the room. "Where's Umi?"
"She's in there with Master Clef." Caldina said.
"She is?" Ascot gulped.
"Don't you worry there Ascot sugar. I'm sure they're just talking. He'll probably call Hikaru and Fuu in to talk as well."
Ascot nodded. "Yeah, if you say so Caldina."
"I do say so." Caldina said sitting on Lafarga's lap. "Now no making Ascot mad any more."
"I'll try not to." he told her.
"I have no true reason like Ascot to grow taller, Umi."
"Clef please, I'll start naming off so many things."
"I am not sure it'll work."
"Okay um... being the master mage to rule high over his people therefore being tall, to be respected, for me not to call you munchkin any more." she giggled. "Okay let's see. For the people of Cephiro, for Hikaru, for Fuu, for me?"
"For you?" Clef asked.
"Well, sure I mean uh... neck pains and back pains I guess." she said looking away.
Clef chuckled softly. "I'll try to keep that in mind." he said. "I'll try now you best get out of the room though."
"Okay." Umi said turning to leave. "You will call me back in first before anyone else right?"
"I will." Clef said nodding.
"Umi what did you and Clef talk about?" Hikaru asked.
"You'll see." Umi said smiling mysteriously.
"Does this mean good or bad news?" Fuu asked.
"Really good, at least I hope it does." Umi said sitting next to Ascot. "Hi Ascot."
"Hi Umi." He said.
Clef closed his eyes and raised his staff above his head and thought of the most important reason for him to become tall and a picture came to his mind, he knew right away it was Umi. He knew that if they were to go out kind of like Hikaru and Lantis or Fuu and Ferio he would need to be taller or people would think she was walked around with a seven-year-old. I hope this doesn't show my true age, he told himself.
"So what's he doing in there?" Presea asked.
"Magic." Umi said. "He says he wanted to try out something. I really hope it works."
Clef opened his eyes and noticed he wasn't the same height as the chair any more and smiled slightly. Umi." he said in his mind.
Umi looked up. "He's done. Hikaru, you and Fuu stand by to be called in." she said hurrying into the room and shut the door. "Clef?"
"Did it work?" his voice asked.
Umi looked behind her and gasped softly. Instead of Clef being like three feet tall he was more like six feet tall now. "Oh wow."
"Is that a good wow?" Clef asked her.
Umi smiled. "Most defiantly. So what was your reason?"
Clef looked at her. "Well you were."
"Me?"
"Yes, you see Umi you gave me reason to do this, and I don't look over seven hundred do I?"
Umi shook her head. "No you look about twenty and now to keep all the girls of Tokyo to keep they're paws off of you."
"I am sure you will think of a way." Clef said smiling at her.
"Can I call Hikaru and Fuu in?"
"You may."
Umi stuck her head out the door. "Hikaru, Fuu come on hurry up!"
"She seems happy about something." Hikaru said as Fuu nodded and went into the room and the door shut behind them.
They both gasped at the stranger next to Umi. "Umi is this a boyfriend you didn't tell us about?" Hikaru asked.
"What? He's not my boyfriend!" Umi gasped blushing. "Can't you guys see who he is."
"He does look quite familiar Miss Umi, are you sure he's not a boyfriend?" Fuu asked.
"I can assure you girls from another world that I am not Umi's boyfriend." He said.
Fuu and Hikaru gasped. "Clef!"
"Something must be wrong." Lantis said as they all piled into the room and saw a stranger near Umi.
"Whose he?" Ascot asked jealously.
"This is..." Umi started to say until Clef put his hand over her mouth.
"Hey let her go you big goon." Caldina said as Lafarga held her back with one hand.
Presea looked at the stranger and gasped slightly. "Is it really you?" The stranger nodded. Presea looked at Hikaru and Fuu who also nodded and smiled. "Well, then no harm shall come to this stranger."
"But where is Master Clef?" Ferio asked.
Mokona entered the room and hopped into the stranger's arms. "Puu!"
"Wait a second, Mokona are you saying that's Master Clef?" Ascot asked.
"Puu.. puu." Mokona said nodding as he jumped into Hikaru's arms now.
"Well now Master Clef you gave us all a scare there." Caldina said. "But why did you change?"
Umi blushed. "That's my fault."
"You're fault?" Lantis asked.
"Well, when we first met him I always called him munchkin and if we were all to go to the mall together one day it would be like we're baby-sitting to other people."
"Now we just need a leash for him to no one else can get him, huh Umi?" Hikaru asked.
Umi glared at Hikaru and felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. "Don't worry Umi. I am certain no girls in Tokyo but you three would pay any attention to me."
"No one but Umi." Hikaru said to Fuu.
"That's it." Umi said.
"Yikes." Hikaru said hiding behind Lantis.
"No way is your boyfriend going to save you Hikaru."
"Okay I think Umi and Hikaru need to be in different rooms for a while before the little missies tear each other's hair out." Caldina said pushing Ascot forwards.
Ascot shook his head and sighed ad he came behind Umi. "Come on Umi."
"But..." Umi started to say.
"You can tell me about Tokyo." Ascot said leading Umi away.
Presea walked next to Clef. "So did you talk to her?" She asked him in a whisper
Clef shook his head. "Couldn't."
"Well, don't worry. She doesn't have feelings for Ascot like she does for you, Clef."
Clef only nodded.