Chapter 5 An Exit

She was still groggy from the tonic when she stumbled out of bed and changed. As her vision cleared so did her mind, and she remembered what had happened. She wished she had never gotten up especially when the two girls followed by Lantis and Ferio walked into her room.

"Umi this ends here and now," Ferio said firmly.

"Yes I think it should," she nodded, and they were a little afraid by the way she reacted.

"So then you're just going to stop?" Lantis asked not sure what to say.

Umi nodded.

"Um okay," Ferio gave her a sideward glance.

"That's why I'm going home today," Umi answered.

"What?!" the two girls roared, and the others in the room seemed a bit confused by their reaction; it was too hostile.

"Uh huh," Umi nodded smiling a bit at what she had brought out of them, "I'm going home as soon as I say goodbye to everyone. Cephiro is a place of will, and I can feel your wills don't want me here. I'm going to go home and do everyone a world of good. I know that you two want to fight the enemy alone, so I'll just go," she smiled as she packed her things into a small backpack she had found in a closet. She didn't want to leave Cephiro; she didn't want to say goodbye to all her old friends, but it was out of her hands now. She had to go, there was something wrong, but no one would believe her. If Fuu and Hikaru wanted her out of their lives she wouldn't say no to them. They were still her best friends no matter what. She needed to give them what they wanted.

"But Umi you can't leave! You're not well!" Hikaru protested walking forward.

"I know, that's why I should get home. Give myself some time to calm down. I don't think I'll be coming back.

"I guess this is goodbye," she whispered more to Ferio and Lantis then the other two. She was sure she would see them again.

She walked downstairs and slung the backpack over her shoulder. When she got to the breakfast table she saw an unfamiliar girl sitting there, "Who?" she began, but Ascot blushed and she didn't need to ask. She laughed; everyone had already begun to heal. Now all she had to do was fade from the picture, and it would be good.

"What's with the bag?" Caldina asked curiously.

"I'm going home today," she announced, and their jaws slacked, "I need a vacation from Cephiro, a um… permanent vacation. I'm not exactly…um…wanted here. Not you guys!" she protested, "Not you at all, but I guess I'm not wanted by the other two. I wouldn't want them mad at me so it's best for all of us if I just go."

"No Umi!" Ascot shouted as he stood.

The girl looked startled, then turned to stare curiously from Umi to Ascot as her eyes darted, looking scared. She was thin with lavender hair that was put into a bun in the back of her head. She had light grayish-blue eyes that showed worry.

"Hi," Umi turned to the girl, "I'm Umi Ryuuzaki; one of the Magic Knights. Sorry we didn't really get a chance to meet, but um…" her introduction was brief.

"I'm Aranami," she answered simply still staring at Ascot who was glaring at Umi.

"Umi, you can't leave," he said softly.

"I don't see why not. It seems you're the only one who doesn't want me to, and it'd be for the best Ascot, don't make it a big deal," she ordered a bit harshly, and he looked away, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap."

"We don't want you to leave Umi!" Caldina shouted

Umi smiled, "Maybe I'll be back, just please don't make this harder than it already is."

"If it's hard than why are you leaving?" Ascot fought with her.

"Why should you care so much Ascot?" Aranami stood up anger flaring in her stormy eyes.

Caldina hit a hand on her forehead and muttered. What have you gotten yourself into now Ascot? She asked herself quietly.

"Because…because…" Ascot stuttered, and Clef looked up suddenly interested, "She's one of the Magic Knights! One of the ones that have saved Cephiro so many times! Shouldn't we care that she's leaving right when we're in danger again!" Ascot shouted, and the others stared wide-eyed.

"Ascot," Clef glared, "You weren't supposed to alert anyone of this…situation."

"We're…we're…in danger?" Caldina stuttered.

"By whom?" Lafarga roared, until now he had stayed silent. He almost wanted Umi to leave; she was causing so much trouble.

"We don't know," Clef whispered, "Don't make a big deal out of it. It was just a dream. The Magic Knights are back but nothing has happened, so far."

"Are we in any kind of danger Clef?" Persea asked softly.

"No, not at all. The Knights are here, and at least two of them are staying," Clef assured her.

"So all I have to do is will myself home right?" Umi asked cheerily, and Clef nodded. She turned to the others purposely looking away from him, "So I'll say goodbye now," she walked to Caldina and Persea and hugged them both before turning to Ascot, "I'm glad you found someone. Didn't I tell you?" she smiled as she hugged him and that infamous blush rose to his cheeks as she stood on her tip toes up and kissed him on the cheek, "Will you tell the guys from Chizeta, Autozam and Fahren that I said bye?" she asked wiping away tears, "They're not here, and I'm especially going to miss Lady Aska."

"Sure we will Umi," Persea assured her.

"Bye, Lafarga," she shook his hand, and he smiled slightly at her.

"Good-bye, Umi," he said softly.

She closed her eyes but couldn't begin her wish because there was a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Clef standing over her, "Umi aren't you forgetting someone?"

"No," she said harshly and closed her eyes.

He was a bit hurt but stayed where he was, "Umi I mean Celes," he told her, and her eyes snapped open.

"Oh God yes," she ran from the room.

"So you understand, why I…why I must go," she told the dragon spirit softly. She had told him the true story, and he had believed her. He said he could sense a change in Rayearth and Windam, something like they had taken an edge.

"I understand why you are leaving, but not that you are being forced to. In a time of need Umi you are abandoning your truest friends. That is selfish," he told her.

Umi wiped away the tears, "I have to go though Celes, if I don't then… then they'll kill me. I can't die!" she screamed in tears.

"Sh…" he attempted to calm her, "Umi don't cry. I understand; I wouldn't want you hurt. I will watch over the other two for you. If ever the time I will find a way to summon you. If you are summoned you will come won't you?"

"Of course, anything for you and the others," she said softly.

"I will miss you, Water Knight," he whispered as she turned. She spun and shouted.

"I love you Celes! I will NEVER forget you!" then turned from the room crying not even realizing the two that had been listening on the conversation.

They laughed at her weakness and pulled their swords running after her. When they had her cornered there was malice in their eyes.

Umi screamed for help but there was none. What am I going to do? She thought? Fight them? "Water Dragon!" the magic only temporarily stunned them as they struggled up, swords raised.

"You'll pay for that!" Hikaru shouted, but something deep inside her held her back from hitting Umi. Something that was her true self, "Dammit!" she shouted dropping her sword.

Fuu watched curiously then raised her own sword. That wrenching feeling came over her too, and the sword clanged hitting the ground. When Clef walked in on them Umi had a sword drawn, and the other two were on their knees in pain.

"Umi…" Clef whispered, and her eyes darted to him.

"Oh no," she said quietly and saw the grins on their faces.

"What is going on here?" Clef demanded.

"This is so not what you think!" she protested, "They tried to attack me! And then something happened, and they dropped their swords and fell to their knees. I have no clue what happened!"

"Umi-san," Fuu whispered, "Where'd you go? What happened to you? To make you…to make you turn on us?"

"Liar!" Umi shouted and raised her sword, "You are not Fuu! I'm going to kill you for hurting Fuu!"

Once again Clef was there to stop the sword, "Umi calm down! Maybe it's just best you go now," he said softly, and she put her sword down and then away and nodded.

"Yeah it is," she barely got the words out. She closed her eyes.

"Umi no!" Hikaru shouted and grabbed her arms, "Umi, no," she whispered, and tears came to her eyes. Was this? Was this the old Hikaru?

"Hikaru?" Umi asked softly, but as she looked up she saw that glint of black, "No," she whispered, "NO!" she was more fierce as she threw Hikaru off her, "You are not Hikaru!"

"Umi what are you saying? Who else would I be?" Hikaru questioned quietly.

"I don't know," Umi whispered sinking to her knees, "I don't know, but I want you back…" slowly she got to her feet and looked in their eyes. They were not the kind, caring eyes of her friends. They were full of malice and hate, "I want them back! I would be lonely for the rest of my life only to have them back! I took them for granted and I'm sorry, but I want them back!" she screamed and closed her eyes as tears began to flow, "More than life itself I want them back!" her sword appeared in her hands as she heard Celes' voice in her mind.

'Umi, the mirror, the mirror is doing this. Break it,' he whispered.

Umi nodded and gripped her sword tighter as she ran back to her room and locked the door behind her. The others followed intrigued. Clef broke the lock and walked in as he saw Umi staring intently into the mirror. She looked calm, as her sword began to slack in her hand. Hands reached out toward her stomach.

By this time everyone in the palace was at her door watching as the Magic Knight came closer and closer to the mirror. Fuu and Hikaru burst in, and smiles broke on their faces as they saw Umi's pale expression and blank eyes.

"What's like wrong with Umi?" Caldina asked, and everyone shook their heads.

Clef's eyes narrowed as he saw the barely visible hands dangerously near Umi's waste as she sat near the mirror. Her sword hit the ground and the hands darted out and turned glowing white as they ripped her closer. She screamed, but it was too late; they had her. Finally, finally the Water Knight's blood would be hers.

"Umi watch out!" Clef shouted and walked forward saying a spell as he did. His staff ripped through those arms, and someone shrieked loudly as they shrank back into the mirror, and Umi collapsed on the ground.

Aranami means Stormy Sea, my friend Lightbulb (her penname well duh) gave me a name that fit the character. So how is it so far? Do you like? Sorry about the little cliffhanger kind of thing right there. I'll be sure to update. Please R and R until then! ^.^

§Umi-chan§