*okay because I don't like cliffhangers and I'm assuming not many of you do even though that wasn't a HUGE cliffhanger, here is the next chapter. Wow. I'm proud two chapters in two days! Man I can make a story drag on can't I? I promise only one or two more chapters after this*

Chapter 11 A Night Meeting

"Let go of her," Clef said firmly.

"Clef!" Umi shouted trying to stop her pounding heart, this feeling she got every time she saw him…

Yotaka shook his head, "No Guru."

"You will use her, and I will not see one of the Magic Knights broken," Clef stared at him, his eyes were like ice.

"How do you know that?" Umi demanded, "And why should you have any say in my personal life?!"

"Because Umi," Clef sighed sounding extremely torn, "When you go back home I want to make sure you come back. even before the portal closed you weren't coming; you seemed to pull from Cephiro. You are needed here."

"And am I not reason enough for her to come back?" Clef had to give him that, if nothing else, he was brave, but then, it could just be the fact that he was holding a Magic Knight in front of him.

Clef glared at him, and he looked at Umi considerately as she looked down. This was her decision. She knew Yotaka liked her, but then so had Ascot…

Could she lead him on like that? Could she be with him when her heart belonged to another?

But just because she loved another didn't mean she couldn't learn to love him. She was young, she had just graduated high school; she would find other love.

"Yotaka?" her voice was gentle, and he looked down at her, "I can't lie to you anymore."

"What?"

"I love someone else," now it was two; she had broken two people's hearts for someone who would never love her back.

"What? Who?" he questioned releasing her.

"I won't say, but it's not fair to lead you on," she looked down.

He seemed to understand; the way she looked at him showed it, "He better treat you good. He's lucky," he pulled up her chin, "It was nice to know you…Water  Knight," he kissed her gently, and she turned and ran from the forest tears stinging her eyes once more.

Somehow, much to his dismay and displeasure, Clef was left alone with Yotaka. As he turned to leave the boy stopped him, "Your duty is to protect the Magic Knights?" it was a question.

"To protect the protectors of Cephiro, yes," he nodded slightly clenching his fists. Even knowing him this short time had caused Umi pain. He wanted to kill him for what he had done, but truly…wasn't it his fault? Why did I think that? He questioned himself shaking it off only to hear;

"You're not doing a very good job, can't you see how hurt she is?" he demanded.

"Of course! That's why I wouldn't let you hurt her more! Umi means the most to me of all the Knights!" he was angered that this boy doubted his loyalty to the three girls, to Umi most of all.

"Does she know that?" suddenly his voice was more intense.

"Yes she does," he snapped.

"I'm not so sure about that," Yotaka turned and left leaving Clef thoroughly confused. What did he mean by that?

§§§~~~

When he got back to the palace he found the three girls in the practice yards.

Umi and Hikaru were sword fighting, Fuu was shooting archery. All three were talking and laughing.

Hikaru threw Umi's sword out of her hand and laughed, triumphant.

"Hey Hikaru can you grab that for me?" Umi asked grinning mischievously as Hikaru went to get the sword.

"Hikaru-san…" but Fuu was too late. Hikaru picked up the sword, and it turned to water, drenching her.

"Cold!" she yelped as Umi picked up the sword easily.

"That's what you get for laughing," Umi pointed the sword at her.

"Didn't you remember that no one can touch our weapons but us?" Fuu asked curiously.

"Well it's been sooo long since we've used them," Hikaru protested, and Umi grimaced.

"Maybe not so long," she whispered.

"Gomen Umi-chan, I didn't mean…" Hikaru started.

"I know," Umi laughed, and Clef chose this time to make himself known.

"Ahem…"

"Guru," Fuu and Hikaru bowed politely; Umi just glared.

"What do you want?" she demanded, and the other two looked shocked.

"To speak to you," he responded trying his best to brush off her tone.

"I didn't do it because of what you said I hope you know," she knew she couldn't say; I didn't do it because of you…she knew she couldn't lie to him.

"I know," he said softly.

She couldn't avoid the way he looked at her, "Tonight, meet me in the gardens after sunset," the dark was her safety.

"Okay," he turned and left.

"Uh…Umi-chan?" Hikaru asked.

"I promise I'll explain it after tonight," Umi smiled at her. Somehow she knew she would have her answer after this night.

§§§~~~

He was pacing when she found him.

"Where's your staff?" he spun at her voice that was like music to his ears. When he turned his breath got stuck in his throat as his eyes flew over her. She had her hair up in a high ponytail to keep it out of her way and was wearing a light blue sweater and dark blue almost black skirt; she was beautiful. The very presence of her made him feel as if magic and water were consuming him.

"It's uh…in my room; I didn't think I'd be needing it, or will I?"

"You shouldn't," she smiled slightly, "Unless of course you make me mad enough."

"I will try not to anger you then," he smiled, and her heart sped up.

"So what do you want to talk to me about?" she seemed to be calmer, and he was grateful.

"You're not still angry with me then?"

She shook her head, "You helped me realize what I already knew. I couldn't take Ascot because I didn't love him, and I couldn't be with Yotaka because my heart belongs to another."

"Is it a one-sided love?"

"Actually," she smiled weakly, "I don't know; I've never told him."

"You should," he had to force the words out. To say this meant to possibly loose her, but for her happiness he could bare anything, "Whoever he is he's very lucky, and he better take good care of you."

She smiled back at him, "He already does."

He looked at her curiously but didn't persist.

"Sooo?"

He grinned, "I want to show you something."

She looked at him curiously but didn't object as he led her down to the water. As they reached the ocean a lone object glinting in the moonlight caught her eye. It was thin and long and stood completely upright in the sand. She neared and saw a blue hilt, she gasped. It was a beautiful fencing sword. Its hilt was an ocean blue with small sapphires and amethysts in it. Next to it lay a similar sheath. She itched to touch such a fine piece; it was the most beautiful fencing sword she had ever seen. She then noticed Clef was smiling at her stunned look.

"It's yours pick it up," he told her, and her jaw slacked.

"M…m…mine?" she looked astounded.

"Yes yours," he answered, and with trembling fingers she picked up the sword and subconsciously felt its weight and balance by swinging it. Everything was molded perfectly to her, and she looked back at him.

"But why?" she asked weakly.

"You saved Cephiro; it was the least we could do. I remembered you saying you liked to fence, many times," here she blushed, "So I had Presea make you this. It is like yours, it will evolve not with your heart, but with your skill. People can pick it up but cannot fight with it. It will be able to go home with you."

For the first time since she had been here Umi's mind brought her back to her fencing coach's words.

"Umi, you have been invited to join Japan's World fencing team."

"What?" she had whispered.

"They saw you fight and want you on their team. It's a great honor. You would travel the world with them, see everything you've only heard about."

She had discussed it with her family and chose to go. That's what she was doing with Hikaru and Fuu that day; she was going to tell them she was leaving.

This sword, she turned it over in her hands, would be the envy of everyone. She would win many competitions, and have a piece of Cephiro and of him with her at all times.

She decided not to mention it now. She knew that he expected her to return to Cephiro after this, but she wasn't sure if she'd be able to. She'd be touring all the time, and when she did come home to Tokyo she knew her time would be spent with her family. She was the only Knight that was leaving Tokyo.

Hikaru was going to teach at her brother's dojo, and Fuu was going to a private University in Tokyo then going on to become a veterinarian somewhere locally.

"Arigato," she managed to choke.

"I wanted you to have it before you left," he told her quietly.

"Clef I don't know if the other two want to leave. They have families, but I think that they love the people here too much to leave them," Umi admitted as they began to walk down the beach. He had missed doing this with her.

"And I don't know if I can make them. If they were meant back home, home is where they'll go. But if not, and they choose to stay I cannot and will not force them to return."

Umi looked down, "I thought that you'd say something like that."

"Does this bother you?"

"No, I want to see them happy," she looked at the moon over the water.

"And what about you Umi? Will you go home?" he questioned knowing he wouldn't get the answer he longed to hear.

"Yes with or without them I'll go home," she didn't even hesitate.

"What are you so eager to get home for?"

She sighed; she couldn't tell him that she wasn't eager to get home only eager to get away…from Cephiro, from him, "My family, my studies, my routine," she said instead.

He knew she was lying though he wasn't sure what about; he didn't push it though, and she was grateful.

"I'm going to miss it though," she looked at the beautiful land, "It's so different from Tokyo."

"You speak as if you're never coming back," Clef informed her.

"I can't pretend to act as if I will," Umi admitted, and his eyes widened.

"You don't plan on returning?" he whispered.

Umi shook her head.

"But why? What have we done to anger you?"

She wanted to cry she didn't mean to upset him, "You haven't done anything, but I have to get on with my life. I have friends here, but my life is at home."

"I understand," but he didn't, why did she have to leave? "But it would be best if you didn't tell the others. They would try to talk you out of it, and I'm sure you don't need or want that."

She nodded, "I wasn't planning on it," she looked up and saw their stroll down the beach had led them close to the castle.

"Well I should be heading back," Clef smiled at her, and she smiled back.

"Okay I'll see you tomorrow," she said cheerily and watched him walk back to the palace.

She sighed and sat on the beach letting the waves crash onto her feet. She couldn't believe she was leaving this, but she knew she couldn't stay.

§§§~~~

He watched her from his terrace, watched the water lap onto her feet, and saw the breeze play with her hair gently.

Why don't you just tell her? His mind urged him, she's leaving anyway and if it makes her stay…what do you have to loose?

"Okay," his word was a sigh, "Just before she leaves I tell her."