*This will most likely have a happy ending I hate to give away endings, but I don't want anyone to stop reading because it's too angsty. Wow, that's really not a word, oh well. So, there will be a chapter featuring each of the Knights, this one is Umi's chapter, because she's my favorite so she gets to go first. And then after that main chapter there's going to be a chapter with each of their designated loves. Yes I actually planned this one out! Preview of what's to come*

Chapter Two: Crucify

Umi walked hesitantly into her school, and eyes turned toward her as they did every morning. People snickered softly, poor, pathetic Umi. Her clothes weren't ironed; they weren't the quality a girl of her status needed. Her hair was unbrushed and thrown up into that same bun. Her eyes were dull, and people loved to use that against her.

They watched her walk down the hall until she disappeared into her homeroom, and then they either went back to their former conversations or made her into a new one.

"What is she, forever hung over?"

Every finger in the room

Is pointing at me

Somewhere deep inside Umi wanted to kill them. She wanted to draw her sword and rip them all down. But then she realized she had no sword, and she had no hate left. No strength, so she let them tear her to pieces, because it was easiest.

If she fought them they would just make her feel even worse, if that was possible. If it was she didn't want to risk it; she was barely able to survive as it was.

I wanna spit in their faces

Then I get afraid of what that could bring

He walked into her homeroom, brave, with a smirk playing on his lips.

Umi closed her eyes when he stood in front of her, towering over her meek form. "Hi," she managed, and he just smiled wider.

"Hey, Umi," he used her name with a bit of spite.

She tried to swallow, but she knew what was coming now. She knew that she would be thrown from his life, like all the others. She knew that she was only a bit of fun, but still, it stung every time. She wished she didn't cause herself so much pain, but she did, and they lapped it up.

I got a bowling ball in my stomach

I got a desert in my mouth

"You know as well as I that this wasn't a permanent thing," the words fell from his mouth slowly, cool, calm, confident.

She nodded slowly and ridiculed herself inside. Where was her brazen courage now? Where was her strength? One of the times she needed it and it failed her. It was more important that it be there for her now than anytime in Cephiro. Well…not anytime, but…she could face monsters and fight villains without an ounce of courage. Now, she needed it; she needed it to tell him what she truly thought of him. Instead of fighting back, she nodded submissively, giving him the upper hand, as always.

Figures that my COURAGE would choose to sell out now

"Good, then it's understood? My ex-girlfriend wants me back anyway," he didn't wait for answer, he just left.

Umi stood there, broken again, broken always. She watched him leave and her chance was gone once again. She couldn't believe that out of all the guys in Tokyo not one of them truly cared about her. That wasn't possible, she would just keep trying. She would find her knight in shining armor somewhere, wouldn't she? Of course she would.

I've been looking for a savior in these dirty streets

Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets

I've been raising up my hands

Drive another nail in

She gently padded down the hill near her house and toward the creek. She spent most of her time here anymore; it was one of the few places she couldn't see the Tower. She sat by the creek and let her fingers dangle in the water.

"Why didn't they say something? Why didn't someone tell me…? They should have told us that they wanted us to stay. Anyone…" she stopped; she was feeling sorry for herself again.

She screamed in aggravation and slammed her fists in the water, splashing it all around and scaring a few minnows.

"Dammit!" her fingers clenched tightly together, and the water gently lapped around them.

Just what GOD needs

One more victim

This was a ridiculous battle. She didn't understand why any of them had to be sad. There was nothing they could do. There was nothing that would ever get them back there. There was nothing that would ever change. Why couldn't they just forget it and move on? Why did they have to tear themselves up like this?

Why do we Crucify ourselves everyday?

And why did she have to give herself to them like that? Why did she have to change so drastically? Not just physically, but emotionally, she had lost something of her inner child. She hated her life; she wanted to stop breathing. The only thing that kept her going was that she knew she had to protect Hikaru and Fuu. She promised that she would, and she would die trying to keep that promise.

Why do I Crucify myself everyday?

And if they got back? What then? If the impossible was possible, and they reached Cephiro again would she be worthy then? Would she be able to be accepted, to be loved, after what she had done? Would they ever be able to see her as the person she was, not the person she had become?

I Crucify myself everyday

Nothing I do is good enough for you

Her eyes were blurry, and she knew that she was once again holding back tears. Once again, always, a year and a half and they had only gotten worse. They weren't going to be saved; they weren't going to heal.

She began to weep; her shoulders heaved and her chest screamed. Her mind was about to give out; she began to break down into nothing. She had ruined her life, here and there.

And my HEART is sick of being in chains

They watched their daughter trudge into the house. Her hair was falling from the loose bun, and her clothes were mud-stained and dingy. She refused to go shopping anymore. They watched her and wanted to reach out and ask, but knew she would never answer.

Somehow, it had happened instantly. In one day, she had gone from being the Umi they knew into this creation. They didn't know what to do or say. They couldn't yell at her, not in this state. They couldn't talk to her; she wouldn't let them in.

They knew she wanted to be loved and comforted, but they knew too that it wasn't by them.

So all they did was say bright hellos and watch her retreat to her room.

Got a kick for a dog

Beggin' for LOVE

If she closed her eyes really tight she could be in Cephiro. She could see the mountains and the sea. She could see the forest and the rolling hills. Mostly, she could see the palace and the people inside. If she tried really hard she could even hear them, speaking with them happily, as if they had never left.

When she opened her eyes she was sitting in her room, and tears were rolling down her cheeks.

Maybe this is a test, her mind thought numbly; Mokona is testing us somehow. They want to make sure we're worthy. As soon as we've cried enough they'll let us back, and it'll be like old times.

I gotta have my suffering

So that I can have my cross

Mr. Ryuuzaki held his wife as she cried into his shoulder.

"She's destroying herself, where has our daughter gone?" her voice was thick with tears, and she felt him shake his head.

"She's punishing herself for something, but what?" he thought out loud.

"Umi does that," she nodded her agreement. "This has gone on for so long though, it must have been awful. I just wish she would talk to us."

I know a cat named Easter

He says will you ever learn?

"She will, when she's ready. Maybe she's just not ready," but he was lying to himself.

"Maybe we should send her to a psychologist," Mrs. Ryuuzaki suggested. This had gone on long enough, and the thought had crossed her mind several times.

"You know she wouldn't go," he answered her though she knew the answer.

"We could make her…"

He stopped her idea with a shake of the head.

"We can't make her do anything, not like this."

You're just an empty cage girl

If you kill the bird

She held her pillow close to her and looked at Tokyo. She watched the shimmering lights and smiled slightly at the scene. They looked like stars. She wished that they could see this; she wished she could bring the people of Cephiro to her and let them see the beauty here.

She missed Cephiro so much.

She wanted to try on clothes with Caldina and Presea. She wanted to learn to dance with Tatra and Tarta. She wanted to play with Lady Aska. She wanted to tease Hikaru about Lantis and Eagle, and she wanted to yell at Ferio for not being a proper Prince. She wanted to pick fruit with Ascot and his friends, and to walk along the shore with Clef. She missed everything she used to do with them.

If only she could find a little bit of that happiness in someone, but all the men here only used her and threw her out.

I've been looking for a savior in these dirty streets

Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets

I've been raising up my hands

Drive another nail in

Somehow, she blamed herself. She wished that she had stayed with the others one of those times instead of insisting to go home because she had a fencing match the next day. They would laugh and say they'd stay when they were older, yes, permanently. But then, older never came. Had that been because of her?

Got enough GUILT

To start my own religion

Rain started to come down, and she looked outside. A flash of light from the Tokyo Tower caught her eye. Her eyes widened, could it be? She shook it away; it couldn't be. There was no way, but still…it seemed so real.

She grabbed a bag and threw some clothes in along with a few personal things and wrote a note to her parents. She ran out the door and flew toward the Tokyo Tower. She ran as fast as she could, never thinking or looking back until she reached the door and ran up the steps. It was almost closing time, but she didn't care. She ran to the observation deck and felt something in the air. This was her chance…she closed her eyes and wished herself there. Wished with all her might as tears streamed down her cheeks.

This was her last chance. She needed to be there; she wished with all her might, prayed and begged and the tears poured.

Please be

Save me

I CRY…