Chapter 14 Destinies Fulfilled

"Clef," the name barely escaped her lips as she opened her eyes slowly making everyone in the room seem to laugh and cry at the same time.

"Umi," he sighed, and that's when she realized the position they were in. She was being supported by him and was laying in his lap, his hands wrapped around her back. She blushed and stood, looking around her and seeing the scene. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Hikaru and Fuu lying unconscious on the ground, and Fuu's barrier somehow holding up even though she was attacking it constantly. Umi forced herself forward to the edge of the barrier, "Don't go out there," Clef begged her, "You'll be killed."

"I don't care, Fuu and Hikaru will be killed if I don't," she summoned her sword to her hands once more and stepped out of the barrier.

"Mizu no Ryuu!" she wasn't prepared for Umi's attack, and it threw her into a wall. Shakily she stood and met the Water Knight's eyes.

They just stood there, their eyes locked for what seemed like hours, though it was only seconds, before she opened her hands, but instead of directing her attacks at Umi she threw her magic on Fuu and Hikaru.

"No!" Umi screamed and threw all her weight at the woman, catching her off-guard and throwing her to the ground.

Her eyes were like a stormy ocean as she gripped her sword and put it near her throat. They were both panting heavily, but Umi's eyes were gleaming with vengeance.

She screamed and fell back as the woman pounded her to the ground with dark magic. She tried to stand but couldn't move through the constant stream of magic.

One ear piercing shriek and Lafarga, Lantis and Ferio had their swords drawn.

"One step, and she dies for sure," her eyes were as dark as the magic she poured upon Umi, "I swear on my life and hers and if that's not good enough for you I'll swear on their lives as well," she sent a dangerous glance toward the two unconscious Knights.

If they hadn't froze already they froze then.

"I thought you would reconsider when your precious Knights were on the line. Now," her eyes scanned the room as she stopped the constant flow of magic on Umi.

The girl was in a ball, her sword hugged close to her body as she looked up weakly but couldn't muster the strength to stand.

"Fight for her," her voice was cruel as her eyes swung around mercilessly. When no one appeared she got angry, "Fight for her! You were willing to fight my brother for her but not me?! Are you scared?! Fight for her!"

Umi's eyes snapped open suddenly as she became aware of what went on around her, "Don't!" she screamed pleadingly.

"She'll die if you don't," she hit Umi again causing her to scream and fall back.

He stepped from out of the barrier and raised his staff, meeting her vengeance ridden gaze head on.

"Clef no!" Umi cried standing and clenching her fists as the Master Mage gripped his staff and let magic loose on the woman while reciting words no one understood. A blinding white and blue light met the woman's dark magic, but he had underestimated her rage, and the effect was deadly. She threw him down pummeling him with magic until he was so battered he could barely move.

"No!" Umi couldn't take it as she threw herself in front of the magic and drew her sword. She pushed back on the magic, and her anger heated and filled her body to the point that she thought that if it didn't express itself soon she would explode.

Her passion fed the Sapphire Stone, and her whole body began to glow. Waves wrapped around her, and streams of water shot out to her sword.

She pulled her sword down on the woman, sweat streaming down her face.

The last she saw of the woman were terrified eyes as sword and magic, passion and lasting desire came down upon her. She didn't even have time to scream before she was on the ground, dead.

§§§~~~

"She hasn't left his side since that battle, and she won't let anyone tend her injuries. It's been a day and a half! I'm afraid if he doesn't wake up she'll…she'll die herself," Persea said softly.

They were all standing outside Clef's chambers praying that he and the Magic Knight of Water would soon emerge.

"There was something she needed to hear from him, about someone," Ascot said softly looking at the floor.

"She wouldn't, like, abandon her friends now would she?" Caldina demanded.

"Of course not," Persea smiled back at her trying to be reassuring, but somewhere they all knew the fate of the Knight lay solely in the Master Mage's hands.

§§§~~~

She had only slept a few hours the night before, waking at every movement he made. She hadn't dreamt, but now she wasn't sure if that was a good thing. She missed him even though they had only touched in dreams.

She knelt by his side and put her hands over his. She looked at his closed eyes for a long time before she bent down and put her lips to his. A tear streamed down her cheek and fell onto his silent lips when she pulled back. She sniffed and smiled weakly as she stood. She pulled her hands away, but something held them. She looked down to her hands and found that he held them tightly. Next her eyes strayed to his face. He licked his lips, savoring the kiss. His eyes fluttered and open, and she was met with ocean blue eyes, "Umi."

She gasped and ripped away trying to stop her pounding heart at his hurt look. She blushed fiercely, "Gomen, I'm probably not who you expected. I was worried that's all."

"Worried," his voice was soft, and it made her heart speed up more, pounding so hard she was almost positive he could hear it. His eyes ran over her and stopped on the sword wound on her cheek. His eyes narrowed and gained a sharp look, "You haven't had that cleaned or checked on. Come here."

She hesitated but then knelt near him once more. She closed her eyes as gentle hands fell on the wound, and a cool sensation ran through her face. When she opened her eyes again he was looking at her curiously. She blushed a deep red and stood again.

He held her wrist, and she looked down at the hands curiously, "Stop running, please, sit, ask, I know you have questions."

She gulped and nodded, taking a seat on the edge of the bed where she could see him clearly. He urged her with his eyes to continue.

'Are you going to tell her the truth?' his mind asked him.

'I don't know!' he shouted back at it.

'You better find out real fast.'

'I know! But I don't know what to do! If she finds out, and everything's changed, then…but if nothing has then what if the same thing happens to her as it did to Princess Emeraude?'

'That won't, can't happen, and you know it.'

He shook his head trying to chase the voices away as she looked at him; concern written across her face, "Please, begin."

She nodded, not sure what to say, "I've had dreams…" she put her head down, and her hair fell over her eyes hiding her face.

His heart leapt, dreams? But he didn't need to wait long before she explained.

"I'm not sure but I think…I think they're about my past. At first…when we first met Kio I thought…I thought that he was the one who was in my dreams, but somehow I know it's not. Then in the battle I had one, but this time he…he had a face, and…"

He couldn't see her face, but he saw the tears hitting the bed. He sat up slightly trying to hold in the wince and pulled up her chin so he was looking at her.

"It was you," she said so quietly he could barely hear the words.