*Hey, sorry if I'm not updating as much anymore between school and guy problems my mind has not been focused on my writing lately. :'( I'll try to update more though, so here's the new chapter!*
Chapter Two: Invasion
In the morning I stretched and woke with the sun. I ran and got Nori at his room, and we walked to breakfast together. I told him all about Cephiro on the way (it was long enough). All he could do was listen with wide eyes.
I smiled as we approached the dining room. We walked inside, and Nori was amazed by the huge long table full of people, and the chandeliers that were hanging over the table. He stared in awe.
"U-Umi?" I looked to Ascot as he stood and walked over to me.
"Hai," I smiled at him and gave him a hug.
"It's really you?"
I nodded, "It's really me, I'm back."
"It's been so long Umi!" Caldina shouted at me, and I laughed.
"Where have you been for so long?" Presea demanded.
"I'll tell you as soon as someone gives me some food."
They laughed and did as I instructed. I sat next to Nori, and Presea brought in two plates from the kitchen. He stared at everyone, these people that were so strange yet so normal.
"I went to sleep last night," he informed me.
"That's good," I giggled, and he shook his head.
"It means that I'm not dreaming."
I rolled my eyes at him and began to eat and apologize at the same time.
When I was finished Ascot was the first to speak, "I wish you hadn't stayed gone so long."
I looked up the Palu and smiled a warm smile that made him blush. "I know."
"Umi-san, Umi-chan!" Fuu and Hikaru threw arms around me in a tight embrace. I laughed and stood, so that they weren't hugging half of the chair and hugged them back.
"You've come back!" Hikaru shouted, and I nodded.
As we settled once again, and Nori had been introduced I got down to the real business. I looked straight into Clef's eyes, and he looked down at his food and began to play with it. "Where are we on supplies?"
"Supplies?" Presea inquired, this was her department. "For what?"
"You haven't even told them?" I stood and began to pace. "I thought that since you were the Master Mage you would at least be a little bit more responsible! I guess I was wrong," as I spun on my heels I glared at him fiercely.
"Maybe you should know of what you speak before you reprimand a Master Mage," Clef warned; his voice was hostile. "The army in the south is equipped properly, and everything is ready to go, for whoever makes the first move."
"Army?" Caldina's eyes were full of fear, and Lafarga put an arm around her shoulders.
"The Dark Lords are being revived," Clef mumbled, and Presea's eyes filled with anger.
"And you didn't tell me to make swords or shields or weapons? You didn't tell me to make horseshoes or anything? You didn't even tell any of us anything?" she questioned in a fiery voice.
"Woah, woah, woah, slow down," I calmed everyone. "We need to stick together for this; we need to keep our heads."
They managed to calm and agreed that they wouldn't kill the Master Mage, after all, they might need him. I laughed at the thought and kept my spirits up. I felt so alive now that I was back in Cephiro. This was the way it should always be.
§§§~~~
I was walking through the gardens with Nori when Ascot came upon us and asked to speak with me alone. I nodded and followed him through the gardens until we were far enough that Nori couldn't hear us.
"Umi, who is this guy?" Ascot asked softly, and I smiled at him, trying to apologize with my eyes.
"He's my boyfriend Ascot, we've been dating for two years," I answered.
"Oh," his eyes dropped, and I wanted to apologize with words but couldn't find them.
I didn't know exactly what to say, but he looked at me and smiled.
"Is he good to you?"
"Most of the time," I laughed and put an arm through his. I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Not as good as you though," I assured him.
"I only ever want you to be happy Umi," but I could feel the tears in his eyes that he wouldn't let me see.
"And I want the same for you Ascot."
"That's what friends are for right?" his voice was cracked.
"We'll always be the best of friends."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
He looked down at me and kissed my forehead, "Then I'm okay with that."
I ran a hand down his cheek and hugged him.
"I'll see you later," he turned and walked out of the gardens, his head hung low.
"Dammit," I muttered and walked back to Nori.
"Who's that?" Nori demanded.
"That's Ascot, he's Clef's apprentice. He summons creatures and uses lightning magic," I responded briskly.
"Umi, that's not what I meant."
I couldn't blame him for being hostile. He couldn't help being jealous in the situation we were in at the moment. "He's in love with me; he has been for six years."
"Great," Nori muttered.
"But I don't love him," I added softly. "I do, but not the way he wants it."
He turned his eyes to me, "You mean that?"
"Of course!"
He smiled slightly and kissed me, "I guess there are a lot of people who want you here; you are the most beautiful girl in the palace."
I laughed and thanked him softly, but couldn't help thinking, just because I don't love Ascot doesn't mean that I love you the way you want me to either.
§§§~~~
We spent the rest of the day with the people of the palace. We had a picnic in the woods and stayed by the sea. It was then that Clef's anger brought me to my feet.
"You must really be close to let him come to Cephiro," Clef's statement was out of the blue and in front of Nori.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, getting as angry as his eyes.
"Nothing, just that you seem to be very comfortable letting our secret get out, that's all."
"You think I would willingly endanger Cephiro or the people that live here?" I stood and clenched my fists.
"Of course not," he sounded casual, but I could feel his anger.
"Then what is that supposed to mean?" I repeated my question.
"Nothing, nothing."
"Don't nothing me."
He was surprised by my harsh order but managed to keep his turmoil calm, "I simply meant that when he leaves you, is he trustworthy enough to not tell humans about Cephiro?"
"First off, don't plan for things like that, it's just wrong. Second of all, even if he did tell, the only ones who can come here are the Magic Knights. Everyone would just think he was crazy. Do you honestly doubt my intelligence that much?" I was hurt by his words.
"No," Clef sighed. "I'm going to be gone a few days, checking on the army. You three can hold up here while I'm gone?"
We nodded despite the sudden change of subject.
"But why shouldn't we come?" Hikaru asked defensively. "We have as much right to know as you do."
"Someone needs to be here just in case. I'm leaving a Speech Spell with Ascot, so he can speak to me," Clef looked at Ascot who nodded.
"Besides," I turned my eyes from Clef, "the Guru needs some time to cool off and think about what he's done."
"I think the Water Knight is the one who needs some time to think," Clef spat back viciously, "but that's irrelevant."
I glared but kept the peace with my silence.
"I will see everyone in two days."
"Yey," I said dryly.
"Love you too," he answered sarcastically and vanished.
After a long silence Nori decided to change the subject, which I considered very noble, "So why are you Magic Knights? I've heard you called that but have yet to see magic or swords or armor or any of that stuff. So how do you get the name?"
"You will see that; we have it all," I responded.
"You will see it all too soon, count your blessings that you don't have to see it now," Fuu added just as quietly as I had spoken, and then there was another long awkward silence until we decided to call it a day. We sought shelter from the coming cold in front of the fireplace in the 'living room' in the palace.
Nori leaned against the sofa where Fuu and Ferio lie and I braced myself in his strong arms.
"Wouldn't it be nice if things could always be this peaceful?" I muttered through the sleep that was all ready setting in.
"It could be, if you'd stay. The people," I could hear Ascot shake his head.
"They love you Umi, they always have. It upsets them when you leave," Presea explained where Ascot couldn't. "They get rambunctious, feel unprotected."
"Don't go there," I felt sick. They weren't saying this war was because of me were they?
"It's not like that," it was as if Presea could read my mind. "It's not like that at all; this is something quite different…"
It was as if the sleep had been snapped right out of all of us when Presea said that.
"What do you mean?" Fuu asked skeptically.
"I don't…can't…explain it. I thought that Clef would before he left, but apparently he has other things on his mind at the moment."
"Yeah, like being grouchy," I scowled at just the thought, but my heart truly ached with his words. I hated him hating me.
"Umi, you just…" Presea stopped and smiled at me wistfully.
"Presea, what?" I asked, and my heart leapt into my throat.
"You just don't know how lucky you are," she answered, "to have gotten off so easily."
"Oh," I put my head down and smiled through the loss. "I know, he goes easy on me."
"Yeah, he really does," Hikaru put in which made us all laugh and eased the solemn mood of the group.
"That's easy?" Nori shook his head and grimaced, making us all laugh more.
§§§~~~
Nori walked me to my room, and we stopped just at my door. I put my hand on the doorknob and started to open, but he spun me around and grabbed me in a passionate kiss. He smiled with my dumbfounded expression, "That was for bringing me to this place. While I know that not everyone here likes me I'm glad you could trust me."
"Arigato," I whispered, and he kissed me again.
"Since Clef isn't here…"
I shook my head, "He's watching everything." I whispered mischievously in his ear.
"Then let him watch," he nuzzled my neck softly, and I laughed and pushed him off. I shook a finger at him and opened the door. Once inside, I closed my eyes and sighed heavily, leaning on the door.
"I'd rather not watch thanks," a dry voice said from my window, and I stifled a scream.
"Clef?" I demanded into the darkness instead, and he stepped from the shadows of the balcony and faced me. His eyes were angry and secretive, as always, when he faced me anyway. Just the thought made tears want to spring to my eyes. "What are you doing in my room?"
He came close and made my breath shorten and my heart quicken, "To warn you."
"Warn me?" he was so close that his breath was warm on my face.
"Yes, you see," he backed me into the door.
"Clef…" my voice was shaky, but not from fear.
"Umi?" Nori burst through the door; Clef quickly moved us both away with a snap. "Umi?" his eyes were worried. "What are you doing?"
"N-Nori," my head was spinning, what was going on?
"Umi, what's going on here?"
*Cliffhanger!*
Tori Amos, Sweet Sangria, Scarlet's Walk
"I know you know every desperado and sharpshooter in the west
You say that I can't see behind the mask of those who call themselves
The Good Guys in this who take and take
'So are you with me or not you say this time decide'
Balmy days Sweet Sangria
She's been gone have you seen her?
Senorita shyly turning away
Leaving me our fading flame
Yeah you think about that"
