*I haven't had school for four days so I've been on a writing frenzy. I've had all these good ideas and I just had to get them all down. So here's my next chapter. I just hope these ideas keep coming and I don't get stuck which I probably will*

Chapter 12: Tours

Umi stretched as she awoke and looked at the sword that lay by her bag. Today, she thought, would be her last day in Cehpiro. She was leaving that night, and she wasn't planning on being talked out of it.

She went down to breakfast and met the others, when everyone was silent she decided to tell them.

"I'm leaving today," she said cheerily, and they looked at her amazed.

"But why?" Hikaru asked.

"I'm ready to go home, I'm homesick I guess," Umi smiled.

"You…you're coming back right?" Ascot stuttered; it was a shock. None of them thought that any of the Knights were leaving.

"Of course," Umi lied, and Clef looked down; she looked over to him, and the other two saw that glance.

"We're not leaving Umi-chan," Hikaru told her softly.

"I know," Umi looked away, "I've known for a long time. I'll explain everything to your families," she added when she saw Fuu begin to try and ask, "They'll understand, they all want you to be happy."

"You'd do that for us?" Fuu had tears in her eyes; she saw that Umi wasn't planning on returning. This would be the last day they had together.

Hikaru looked from Fuu to Umi confused.

"Of course Fuu you guys are my best friends," Umi responded wiping away her own tears, "I love you guys like sisters. I'll tie up any loose ends for you."

"Arigato," Fuu choked on the word.

"My pleasure," Umi smiled warmly, "Besides," she grinned, "I have a match to go to."

"What are you going to do when you get back to Tokyo Umi-chan?" Hikaru decided to try and lighten the conversation.

"I was going to tell you guys this that day at the Tokyo Tower when we were sent back. I was asked to join the Japanese World Fencing Team; I'm going to tour with them," only the two from earth understood what this meant.

"What?" Hikaru asked meekly.

Umi begged her with her eyes not to tell the others the full extent of this statement, "Uh huh. It's the opportunity of a lifetime."

Hikaru nodded slightly in a sense of understanding, and Fuu got sick to her stomach; she really wasn't going to come back.

"Why Umi-san?" she whispered, and Umi shook her head.

"I'll explain later," she muttered, and the others looked at her confused, "After all I promised I would," she said brighter through a sense of false happiness. She wasn't sure she wanted to leave her best friends behind like this, but she knew she would never forget them, and they would never forget her. She was sure she would never forget Cephiro, and she just wanted her last day to be full of happiness, "So what are we going to do?"

"The guys from Chizeta, Fahren, and Autozam are coming; we'll spend the day with them," Presea told her, and she grinned. She would be glad to see them again.

So they spent the day with old friends laughing at the beach and playing games in the sun. When the sun began to fade over the horizon she knew it was time. She smiled, ran back into the palace to grab her stuff and was about to walk out when Clef appeared in her door.

"You shouldn't have told me Umi," he began, and she looked at him curiously, "I don't want you to leave forever, none of them do but none of them know. I can't let you do that."

"Sure you can step aside Guru," she instructed gently, and he shook his head.

"I can't, for the good of Cephiro as its protector, the protector of the people in it, for their good I can't let you leave," he told her softly.

"For the good of Cephiro you must let me leave," she said just as quietly, "I'm not happy here Clef; I can't sit back and pretend I am. Cephiro is based on the happiness of the people in it, if I'm miserable while I'm here it will crumble. I am a Knight from another world, destined to love Cephiro and its people from afar. The other two have found their lives here, but I haven't. I have to go home and find my own," she walked close to him, "Now please, don't make this more difficult than it already is."

"Umi…I…" he couldn't say it; it would make her unhappy. She had already said she wanted to go home, and he had promised he wouldn't force the other two to leave. He wouldn't force her to stay, and he slowly moved out of the way, "Good luck."

"Arigato," she turned and walked down the hall to say goodbye to the others never looking back.

§§§~~~

She sighed in her room; it had taken a long time to explain her absence to her parents. They didn't believe her at first, but then as she drew her new sword and showed them a steel scale of Celes' they believed. They weren't sure how to take this news, their daughter had been to another realm, and had saved it not once or twice, but three times? They were proud, but they saw the pain it caused her and were speechless.

It had taken even longer, she smiled to herself, to explain to Fuu and Hikaru why she had accepted the fencing position and why she wasn't coming back. She assured them it was nothing of their doing or anyone else's just that it was time to move on, and they hadn't tried to stop her. They saw the same pain in her eyes and knew they wouldn't be able to do it anyway, so they saw her off with a smile and a hug.

Now she wasn't sure what to think; she looked through her window. She would be leaving within the week. Her first match was in China, not that far but far enough. This would only be the beginning of a long career of traveling and fighting. She had her first practice in the morning, and she knew she should sleep but couldn't bring her body to do that. She missed them already. She wasn't sure if this pain would ever let up. Slowly her thoughts turned to dreams, and her dreams turned to Cephiro, the world she left behind, the friends, the love. She awoke sweating and shaking, and she knew she would feel this for many nights to come.

§§§~~~

He cursed himself for the hundredth time since she had left. Why did he let her go? How could he do that? He had to give her up forever. He would never see her again, and it was all his fault. Just like last time…but she had come back last time…she wouldn't be doing that again. Cephiro would be forever protected by the two remaining Knights, and she would never again be needed here.

Why was she gone? He demanded of himself, "Because of course," he said dryly, "You were a coward and wouldn't tell her."

"And now she's never coming back," Fuu said from his doorway.

"What?" his eyes darted up and met hers.

"I don't know if she loves you, but I know that you love her. I think its awful, Umi deserved the truth and you didn't tell her. That's a shame, and now you're never going to see her again, none of us are. I can't help but feel that some of this is due to you, and what you kept from her," he had never heard her this cold before. Her voice was a harsh winter wind cutting at him.

"You think I haven't been thinking the same things since she left?" he demanded, "But I cannot take back what I did. I apologize if you feel I have wronged you, but there is nothing I can do, it's out of my hands now."

"Can't you summon her back or something?" Hikaru popped up beside Fuu.

Not you too, he sighed, he didn't need everyone knowing about this, "No," he said shortly, "The only one who can summon is the pillar and even then it is only for the purpose of suicide."

Hikaru looked down, "So we truly aren't going to ever see Umi-chan again!" she began to cry, and Fuu tried to comfort her, but it was useless, "Umi-chan is gone forever!"

"Sh…" Fuu said quietly putting a hand on Hikaru's shoulder only making her cry harder.

"It's not fair," as tears fell down her cheeks they began to trickle down Fuu's as well.

"I hope you're happy," Fuu said coldly as she and Hikaru walked from his room leaving him worse off than he had been.

§§§~~~

"That's the most beautiful piece I've ever seen," her first opponent said as she drew her sword.

She grinned at the boy in front of her; they were on the same team, but she was practicing, "Arigato."

"Where do you get something like that?" he questioned, but the coach scolded him and told him to begin.

They danced around each other as they fought, and Umi came out triumphant throwing his sword from his hands as he breathed heavily. She had barely worked up a sweat. All the fighting in Cephiro had done her good.

"You're amazing," he panted picking up his sword.

"Very good," the coach commented walking over to Umi. She bowed to him, "I knew you would be an excellent addition to our team."

Umi blushed and thanked him as she met her next opponent. By the end of the day she had beaten nearly everyone on her team willing to take her on and was ready to face the real opponent.

She waited outside Hikaru's brothers dojo until they were finished teaching.

Satoru noticed her and walked outside, "Umi?" he asked softly, and she stood and swiped off her skirt, "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" he looked worried, and Umi grimaced knowing how protective Hikaru's brothers were.

"Uh…" she laughed hesitantly.

"Come in come in," he ushered her in, and she sat down in his private room to the side as he changed in another room then walked back in looking fresher, "So what's up?"

"Maybe the other two should hear this," Umi said quietly, and he looked immediately serious as he nodded and went and got the other two. When all three were in the room she began.

"Hikaru isn't coming back."

"What?" they were confused, maybe she shouldn't have begun this way, "Where is she? We've known she's been missing for days, but then so have you. We thought you were all together and that she was back as well staying with you." Kakeru wasn't completely off.

"Well we were together, but then we separated. She stayed in Cephiro and I came home. She isn't going to leave, the portal may close," Umi wanted them to ask the questions. She didn't want to have to explain more than was necessary.

"Cephiro?"

"Portal?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Cephiro is another realm, beyond this one. It is a land of will and magic, and we were summoned there four years ago, Hikaru, Fuu and I. We were sent to save Cephiro's ruler, Emeraude. We did and we returned. Not long after that we were called back again, only this time we were sent to find a new ruler and to fend off invading countries. Again we succeeded and came home. From then on we returned every Sunday, or at least the other two did. Then a year ago the portal closed. We were trying to get back when we were summoned again. Again the enemy was vanquished, but the other two didn't want to come home. It wasn't anything you did, but they fell in love, both of them and couldn't leave," it felt good to tell someone else about Cephiro. She didn't have to hide anymore.

They looked at her stunned, "Are you crazy?" Masaru finally burst out.

She shook her head, "This," she opened her bag from fencing practice and pulled out her sword, "Was made by a woman from Cephiro, Presea, and this," she showed them her scale, "Came from my guardian, Celes."

They were awed, and they realized slowly that these things couldn't have been made here, but it was hard to believe.

"Do you need more proof?"

They nodded weakly, and she handed Kakeru her sword, "Try using it," she dared.

He did as she said, and the sword turned into a stream of water and fell to the floor. As it did it recollected itself and turned back into a sword. He slowly picked it up and handed it back to Umi who swung it easily.

"It was made so that only I could use it. It was a parting gift. I was sent here to send you Hikaru's love and tell you that she was in good hands. Lantis, he's a good guy and will take good care of her; you don't need to worry."

Now they seemed to suddenly snap into life, "You know this for a fact?"

"Of course," Umi smiled sheepishly. She knew that they would like Lantis if only because Hikaru did, and because she was happy.

"So we'll never see her again?"

"Never say never," Umi winked and walked out leaving that part of her life behind.

"Umi!" Satoru caught her, and she turned, "Why didn't you stay?"

"I have things I have to do here. I had to tell you, and I have to tell Fuu's parents. It wouldn't be fair to leave you guys hanging, and besides," she smiled, "I had no reason to stay."

But you did, her mind told her and she cringed and turned not listening to anything he said, she just kept walking refusing to turn back or shed tears. Cephiro was as far behind her as that dojo, and she wasn't going to let that stop her or her dreams.

§§§~~~

The morning for them was bittersweet. They all winced when Hikaru spoke before she thought.

"I wonder what Umi-chan is doing right now."

"She's probably fencing," Presea said cheerily. Only three people at the table knew that they had no reason to be happy.

"What is wrong with you this morning?" Ferio asked Clef who had been silent and hadn't touched his food.

"Just a little under the weather," he muttered, "I'm going to go lie down." He left the table without another word said, and he could feel the other two girls glare at him.

"What was that about?" Ferio asked, and Caldina shrugged.

"No one ever knows with him."

§§§~~~

Fuu's parents were a little less excepting but finally Umi got them to understand, and Fuu's father asked questions about his daughter's happiness as her mother cried into her husband's shoulder. Her older sister Kuu just looked struck.

"So she fell in love?" Kuu asked, and Umi nodded.

"With a Prince," her eyes glinted, "The Prince of Cephiro. She'll live in the palace, it's beautiful, and be treated like a Princess. If they get married, and I'm assuming they will she'll be the Princess of Cephiro and the Magic Knight of Wind. She said she loves you all, but she loves him too much to leave him alone. She knew you'd understand."

Fuu's mother nodded, and Umi made her exit. Okay, she sighed and never looked behind her, now onto China…

§§§~~~

"Umi," he whispered her name even in this restless sleep. He darted up; she was crying. Why did he think that? Oh right…his dream.

She was crying over Cephiro, she was crying alone in her room and no one was there to comfort her. She was curled up near the window overlooking Tokyo, looking at the Tokyo Tower. The image was so vivid though he had never seen it. He could hear her sobs, see her chest raise heavily with her breathing, and slowly they faded, and she reached out a hand and whispered an inaudible word. Then she struggled to her bed and cried herself to sleep.

He wanted to reach out to her and tell her he was sorry, that he wanted her with him, but then he woke and realized it was just a dream. He woke to cruel reality and felt his heart break all over again…

§§§~~~

"Next up is Umi Ryuuzaki the up-and-coming new star of Tokyo's fencing team," the loudspeaker boomed, and Umi took a deep breath and gripped her sword tighter. She sighed and walked out onto the field where people cheered for her. Her first professional fight.

Her opponent was good, but she was better and within a matter of minutes she had the sword thrown from his hand, and the victory was hers. The crowd roared, but all she heard was his voice…

"I can't let you leave."

Guess what Clef? You did let me leave, and now I'm suffering because you didn't love me and I loved you. She glared and as she faced her next opponent she used her rage in her attacks and even faster than before the sword was thrown. Opponent after opponent she defeated until finally she was being pulled into the arms of her team, and she heard cheering all around her.

"Umi we won!" someone shouted up to her, and she stared blankly. Was she fighting? Oh yeah that's right, she thought numbly.

"So where are we going next?" she wasn't really listening to the conversation between the two people in her room. She was staring over the foreign country again straining to see the Tokyo Tower. She didn't know why, she was hundreds of miles away, but she longed to see it again.

"Russia," someone responded.

"So what do you think Umi? Are we going to show these Russians what we're made of?" the first speaker turned to her.

"Huh? Yeah," she muttered, and the two girls neared.

"What is wrong with you? You're so spacey," the second informed her. She had light pink hair that was tied in a loose ponytail and bright red eyes that looked young and innocent. The other girl had dirty blond hair and light hazel eyes with flecks of green in them.

"Fuu? Hikaru?" Umi replaced their faces. She shook it off and saw the two looking at her curiously.

"She's new," the second sighed, and the first nodded.

"You're homesick," the first informed her, "It gets better trust me."

"Homesick?" no she wasn't homesick she was Cephirosick. She laughed at the thought, "Yeah that must be it, I just need to sleep." She was numb to their words and astounded looks as she curled up and fell asleep.

The next six months took her farther and farther from Tokyo as she saw Russia, France, Italy, London, Canada, and even the United States of America. She truly did tour the world.

The pain never eased, and she fell asleep many nights sobbing. The love never disappeared and the longing to see Cephiro increased. She had worked so hard to save it and then she had just thrown it away.

"I just want to use it once," the first girl was giggling one day, and Umi didn't feel like getting up. She had just finished a grueling competition in Seattle, their current position was Seattle Washington, America.

"It's not yours don't touch it," the second scolded.

Umi put a pillow over her head trying to drone out the noise as she heard the first creep near her and draw something. Then Umi's eyes snapped open, and she bolted upright as she saw the girl about to swing her sword.

"Don't touch it!" she shouted, but it was too late. She swung the sword, and it turned to water and recollected on the floor as Umi grabbed it from their petrified eyes.

"What was that?!"

*I said a couple more chapters what I didn't say was that the chapters were going to be long. I could have ended it before, but I had to expand on the whole touring thing. It was too good to resist. I don't know if they fence in Seattle but if they don't they should. Anyway I promise not to make this too much longer. Until then ^.^*