Konnichiwa, konnichiwa! Gods, I've never felt amazingly this happy, hyper, or ecstatic – in my life! Finally, my MKR collection is completed – the CD and cassette soundtracks, first and second season VHS and VCD's, the manga and artbooks, the OAV's… bwahahahaha (hey riiya25, don't sound so jealous ^o^)!
Notes and Disclaimers:
* Thank you to yuidagoddess@yahoo.com - did I get it right? Sumi-masen desu! As I was saying, thanks for being the first (and only) person to send my lonely inbox and me a review. 'Yuidagodess' suki desu! Doumo arigatou!
* Rayearth characters, copyrights, (and all that stuff), etc. belongs to the talented young (?!) women of CLAMP. Furthermore, I'd like to fully stress that this story is entirely fictional and dares not to mock anyone who may bear similarities with the depicted characters (my sincerest apologies to mayonaka_survivor and miyu-hime… again!). That's all!
Rendezvous 2: NIGHT OF ETERNITYBy: neko-chan
'Umi, I'm coming…,' a loving voice assured her.
Umi looked around her. There was nothing to be seen but the infinity of the dark abyss that enclosed her about. Yet the voice seemed to come closer… now somewhere very near…
She turned her head around, her hair and night robes moving about gracefully with her every action. Someone whispered in her ear, his breath warm and comforting. 'It's me…,' he said softly.
Her eyes widened at the familiar, unmistakable voice. It was the same voice she had fell for, the voice that knows no hatred or malice… a voice where she finds eternal bliss and serenity. A voice she has grown to love… and miss so terribly.
Tears of joy flooded her sapphire eyes as she turned to see him again… longing to lose herself in blue eyes that mirror her own in depth; wanting so much to be taken in his strong arms and warm embrace; and to finally scream out the words that was imprisoned in her hurting heart for as long as the eternity of nothingness…
'Clef…,' she called out with all her heart, expecting to find her loved one seemingly so close to her.
He was not there.
Umi woke up, sobbing quietly. 'That was such a cruel dream… What could it be telling me? That I… that I…'
"That I could no longer have him," she choked out, in between heaving gasps.
Umi hugged herself, wrapping her willowy arms around her waist. It was unusually cold, even for an autumn night. She shivered again, more chills traveling up her spine. She reached for her bed robes on her bedside table, but her fingers touched not the piece of clothing, but a warm hand.
Umi's head jerked to her right, trying to catch sight of the stranger, but only she saw darkness.
The figure moved closer and she became filled with fear and dread, for her hand was still being held. Slowly, the face came into view.
Her eyes widened. There was no mistaking in the blue eyes – for which images of those were forever etched into her memory. And the hand – emanating a subtle sensation of security and comfort as it clutched her own tightly.
"… C-Clef…"
"Tonight, tonight, the world is full of light with suns and moons all over the placeTonight, tonight, the world is wild and bright, going mad shooting sparks into space
Today, the world was just an address, a place for me to live in, no better than all right…"
For there he was, on Earth, in Tokyo, in her bedroom, right now… and it is no dream. She watched in silence as he slowly inched closer to her, reaching for her other hand. Umi sat motionless, still paralyzed in conflicting emotions: shock, awe, joy, excitement, and the feeling of possessiveness and longing – may he never leave her side again.
Clef slowly dropped her left hand. He gently laid his palm on her cheek and enjoyed the feel of silky, warm skin rubbing against his smooth hand. But he noticed marks of semi-dried tearstains. She has been crying.
"Why… were you crying?" he asked, his voice echoing in the eerie silence.
Umi didn't respond to his question. Instead she whispered to him, "I love you, Clef," barely audibly.
His eyes softened. "I know… and I'm sorry… Hurting you this deeply had always burned a deep, painful hole in my heart… even more so when I see tears in these beautiful eyes… I love you too," he whispered passionately.
Her face broke into a small, but nonetheless happy smile. Beautiful… His heart leaped upon seeing that smile, which had always sent him into a trance of ecstasy during those painfully short nights spent with her.
A rush of euphoria suddenly washed over him, as he can no longer keep within all the pent-up angst and longing he had for Umi. Passion came on to him in waves – he reached for her body and embraced the surprised girl with all his strength.
"Clef…"
Clef smiled in satisfaction. He had never expected holding Umi like this bringing such a newfound feeling of paradise for him. Even more surprisingly, when she returned his gesture by wrapping her arms around his neck, as tightly as she could.
Umi hoped to close any more distance between her and Clef. She just wanted to be close to him as possible. It felt so good… and so right… oh, and one more thing would make it perfect.
She turned and faced Clef, their faces only a few centimeters apart. Clef, feeling the same way, lowered his head, his lips wanting to touch hers so badly. Finally they met and stayed that way for a while. Clef enjoyed the feel of her innocent, soft lips, and her occasional hesitation to his advances. Clef opened his eyes a notch ad saw that Umi's were tightly shut. He smiled slowly as the kiss deepened and grew more urgent and amorous.
Umi broke off, her lungs burning. She looked up. Kind, loving eyes met hers.
"Clef," she said as he wound his hands around her tiny waist, her back against his broad chest. "Having you here… holding me like this… kissing you… Is it really you, Clef?" she asked with a hint of fear and doubt.
Sensing her uncertainty, he kissed her hand and closed his eyes. "I know that my presence has created a cloud of doubt in your mind. But in your heart, believe that I am here, for I know that it is the heart that believes that brought me here with you. It is also my heart that longs for you that made possible this miracle. And," he paused to place a kiss on Umi's forehead. "Because I heard your heart calling out to mine," he finished simply.
She turned and reached for him again. "Oh, I knew you would hear my cries! Hold me, Clef?"
Clef gave in to his angel's request. He held her tight, wishing this wonderful night of dreams would last into eternity of bliss. For he never wanted to lose her again. I love you, Umi.
Umi clutched at the back of his robe. He heard his heart calling out again. I love you too, Clef, she acknowledged. "Please stay… forever… Clef…," she pleaded.
Just then, she felt him inch out of her grasp, slowly… slowly… oh please, no, Clef! her heart screamed in anguish. She looked up and saw Clef fading into the air… gradually vanishing.
"Clef!" she screamed and reached for his outstretched arm, but touched nothing but air. "Clef!" Tears were again flowing; her sorrow unrelenting.
He smiled sadly at his angel, teary-eyed. Here am I, causing her to hurt more… "Please forgive me, Umi. But I don't belong here. But always remember, I am yours to keep," his tone full of remorse and sentiment. I love you… I promise to come back again if you call for me again… I promise…
He disappeared.
"But here you are and what was just a world is a star
tonight
Good night, good night, sleep well and when you dream, dream of me tonight…"
Umi heard the words Clef's heart spoke to her… only for her. Her tears vanished, just like as he vanished. Umi hugged herself, lost in the memories of Clef that night. "These hands… these arms… they held him tonight…," she mused in mild amusement with a lingering trace of sorrow.
Just then, she noticed a crinkle of light outside her balcony. Oh… beautiful. It's the sunrise. The night… it's over.
Author's Notes:
* Oh, great. Too mushy. I knew there was something wrong with me today… hope you like it (???)!
* Anyway, I again advertise kazuwe_katana1's coooool website: www.angelfire.com/realm/banished. She said that her fics (a personal one that she created with me and other friends) could already be accessed because she has fixed the broken links. I don't know if the images were scanned and linked already, but if so, please do check them out. The harem of hunks… oh gods *faints…* ^^;; Oh, and she remains totally partial to MKR, so she has links to different Rayearth sites (Hikaru-Lantis ones. *sigh*) and an image gallery as well. You might also want to check out her other image galleries, i.e.: Gundam Wing (with the Endless Waltz version), Gate Keepers, Fushigi Yuugi, and Rurouni Kenshin (!!!). So go already!
* Oh yeah, before you go hopping there, could you please first and foremost, review my story? Onegai shimasu? Yatta! ;D
* And if you have the time, e-mail me: neko@anime-genesis.com. Arigatou, anata-tachi! Aishitemasu! Sayonara!
