*Umi/Clef what more can I say? Any Ascot fans reading this there'll be some Ascot/Umi fluff too, not yet, but soon. This isn't really fluff either, this is distorted angst, anyway! Onto the chapter!*
Chapter Three: The Pool
Clef walked through the mist, ready for anything, but knowing exactly what would emerge from the white and blue mist. Black engulfed it though, this dark fog that overtook everything but the little bit in front of him, the little light his staff gave off.
The black was her heart, and the white and blue was what she once was. His eyes stung as he tried to concentrate and see ahead.
Suddenly he didn't need to see ahead, because what he was searching for slowly walked from the mist.
Still delicate as a flower and with beauty that could outshine the sun, the Magic Knight of Water was in his view. She stood there in the fog with hurt in her eyes, but something he had wanted to see in her a long time, desire.
Her voice was but a whisper, "Clef…"
His heart seemed to leap into his throat as a lust overcame him. He lost all sense of control, and heat sprang into his body. His heart pounded loudly and the heat beat against him like a supernova in his system.
One
He slowly approached her, "Umi…"
She reached out and took his hand; her fingers were tender on his skin, and he let her caress his hands gently. When she looked up into his blue eyes she smiled softly, "You changed," a hand gently slid down his face, along his lavender hair and down the shoulder armor of his new robes.
"For you," he found himself answering and returning the caress. His hands fell down her hair and ran along her shoulders; her armor was absent. "You're not here to stay, are you Umi?"
She shook her head, but offered herself despite. She put her hands around his neck and laughed lightly, a sound that tickled his heart.
With her hands
"Clef, I don't want to be alone anymore," she whispered into his neck, and he pulled her away.
"Umi, you never were. I never forgot you," he promised her, and she smiled.
"I'm glad."
Open
"I don't want you to leave," he confessed gently, and she smiled a sad smile, and that heat sprung into his body again.
"But I must," she sighed and managed another smile. "You could…just be with me tonight."
He shook his head. "I could never do that."
She looked hurt, and it stung everywhere in his being, "What?"
"You will go home, and everything will be lost."
"I could never forget you."
Don't be afraid
His eyes ran over her, and she blushed slightly which only made him long for her even more.
Her long blue hair was held only by her headband, and it blew lightly in the breeze the mist created. Her school uniform was held loose around her. The dark navy blue jacket rolled up at the arms showing a light blue material on the other side. Her white shirt was buttoned to the top. Her light blue skirt fell the same way her hair did, and her black stockings clung tight to her small legs. She was gorgeous, and he didn't know if he could deny her.
"Just for tonight," her voice was like music to his ears. And why should he turn her away? Because of an ancient code? Whoever created that was just spiteful because they never had a creature such as this stand in front of them and offer what she did.
She said
"If I were to stay then all would be ruined," she told him softly.
"How?" his voice was choked; he wasn't sure he could resist her for much longer. She looked so sad. How long had he been here? It felt like only a few minutes, but something told him hours had passed by without him even knowing it.
"It would destroy you," she looked down. "But tonight, no one will know. Tonight you and I can be one. Please, Clef…"
No one will know it
In the mist he reached out and touched her face gently. She shut her eyes and let him touch every curve in her face.
Her silky blue hair fell through his fingers like water pouring down a cliff. Her skin was silk to the touch, and he was afraid that he might break her. Then he remembered she was the Magic Knight of Water and had seen worse things. This made a smile appear on his lips, which made her laugh lightly.
"What?" he mused, and she shook her head.
"Nothing."
He then began to feel that if he didn't kiss her he would break, so he put a hand around her neck and gently touched her lips. When she didn't pull back in fright he put more pressure on the kiss, and she fell into his arms.
Just you and me
Tears mingled in their kiss, and her lips tasted salty. When he pulled away he realized that she was weeping. "Umi?"
She had her head down and her fists clenched; her shoulders heaved, and he didn't understand.
"Umi what?" his voice was frantic, but she shook her head and would not answer his cries.
"Umi, please, tell me."
"Clef, I will go away," she looked up, and her tears were gone. It was as if she had never cried.
"What?" he stepped back, and the image began to fade. When he realized that she was vanishing once more he ran forward. "Umi!"
"Clef, I must go away…" her voice echoed in the mist.
And when it's over
He chased her far into the mist until every last wisp of hair and every last color had vanished from sight. When that happened he sunk to his knees and stared at his hands which had betrayed him.
He woke and sweat poured down the back of his neck. He stood heavily and walked out on his balcony overlooking Cephiro. He listened to the sea crash on the shore and tried not to think of her last words.
'I must go away…'
Why did she have to go away so quickly?
The sun began to rise and the dream haunted him, as the dreams always haunted him. But, her crying, it had been so real, so…he shook his head and rose for breakfast, donning his new robes.
He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed heavily; everyone was glad to see that he had gone back to his old form. He had stayed a child for so long; he had changed to please her, and she never saw his new form.
His eyes filled with tears at the thought of never seeing her again. It had been too long and still he dreamt of her almost every night, and he wasn't the only one affected. It had taken its toll on everyone in the palace; it still did. Somewhere in his heart though, he knew that they all faired much better than the Magic Knights. He knew that the other two faired much better than the Water Knight, and his heart ached at the thought. He hated himself for letting her slip through his fingers.
He greeted them softly for breakfast and looked around the table managing a weak smile for all. His thoughts plagued him, and how did his Water Angel fair? Was she okay?
Most importantly, how long would she stay there? Forever…
I'll go back…
*There will be spotlights on the other two, just one more chapter with Umi and Ascot, and then I'll move to Fuu. I'm so proud of myself for actually having this one planned out. Oh, and if it takes me awhile to update it's only because I have to study for science, because I'm doing so horribly in my second best subject ah!*
