AN: I only got one review? That's okay, at least I got one!
Kiyoshi-chan: Thanks! And thanks for reading and reviewing!
SUMMARY: Kumori, Kusaki, and Hakumei are three girls, all daughters of the Magic Knight. After fighting over a galss orb, Kuiki no Toki with a would-be thief, they land in the past. U/C H/L F/F
Unrolling the Future
Chapter Three- Umi's Double
"Done!" Umi said cheerfully, as she placed he icing tube back on the table, and stepped back to, once again, admire her work, but Hakumei, Hikaru, Fuu and Kusaki helped a little.
Hakumei, all covered with flour,bounced up to the cake. "Oooh, it looks soooo good! Can we have a slice Umi-san? PLEASE?"
"Mmmm...how about after dinner?" Umi suggested. "You'll get bigger slices."
"Kay!" Hikaru and Hakumei cheered. "I call for the biggest piece!" Hikaru and Hakumei looked at each other.
"How about we give you guys even slices?" Kusaki suggested, shaking sugar on her head, which Hakumei accidently poured all over Kusaki's head.
"KAY!" Hakumei and Hikaru chorused, before skipping around the cake.
Kusaki's smile faded when she remembered Kumori. KUmori loved to help Umi bake cakes, she would never miss a chance. Kusaki jumped back and nearly shrieked when the next thing she knew was she was staring into bright red eyes.
"HAKUMEI!!!" KUsaki said loudly, clutching her heart. "Oh god, I'll never get used to that!"
"Sorry," Hakumei said sheepishly. "Is everything okay?" she asked, smile fading. "Thinking about Kumori, huh?"
"Yeah," Kusaki said quietly. "I wonder where she is?"
"Ooooh! I just remember!" Hakumei said suddenly. "She has secret hiding places around here! One of them is this room nobody uses!"
Everyone in the room sweatdropped. "You just remembered, now?" Kusaki asked.
"Yeah!" Hakumei said cheerfully. "I'll be going alone! I don't think Kumori will be happy is I showed someone her favorite hiding spot..."
~*~
Kumori sat quietly in a corner, watching Mokona bounce around, silently "puuing". Her head perked up when the door opened and closed. She visibly relaxed when she saw it was Hakumei.
"Kumori," Hakumei said softly, kneeling in front of Kumori. "Nee, are you okay, Kumori?"
"Hai," Kumori murmured.
"You don't still feel bad about the orb thing, do you?" Hakumei asked gently.
KUmori glared at Hakumei. "It is my fault."
"Ri-chan.."
"Look Hakumei!" Kumori shouted, on her feet in an instant. "It's my fault!! If I didn't want to look at that stupid orb thing, we wouldn't be here!"
"Demo, Yaezaki-san would be," said Hakumei, a small smile forming on her lips. "Either way, Yaezaki would be here."
"Demo..."
"No buts! She would be no matter what! But," Hakumei's voice soften, "if you hadn't want to look at it, it would be in her hands. Look at it this way, Kumori, whatever this orb will acheive that she wants, we will have it first! While if there's something else we need, no doubt we'll find it, but we will not let Yaezaki finish her plan. Besides, it's in our possesion!"
KUmori looked at Hakumei in amazement, "Wow, I never thought you could say such things..."
"Hehe, I didn't either!" Hakumei said cheerfully, her hand behind her head.
Kumori sweatdropped.
"Now that you're better, let's figure out how to make the orb thing work!" Hakumei said, bouncing out the room, followed by Monoka, and finally, a smiling Kumori.
~*~
Dinner had yet to come, meanwhile Hakumei, Kumori, and Kusaki were all in the room they shared, all staring at the orb in the middle of the circle they formed.
"DO you think we should shake it?" Kusaki suggested, takin ghte ball and shaking it as hard as she could. Nothing happened.
"Maybe we should have to tug on it like we did the night before," Kumori said as she and Kusaki both tugged on the orb.
"Maybe we should pay the library a visit?" Hakumei suggested, sweatdropping.
KUsaki and Kumori both looked at the orb they still had, and nodded. Putting the orb back into it's hiding place, they headed off to the library only to run into Fuu, Hikaru, and Umi.
"Ah, hi Umi-san, Hikaru-san, Fuu-san!" Kusaki said pleasantly, bowing slightly.
"Dinner's almost ready," Hikaru cheered. "But we'd thougth we'd get to know you guys for awhile! Unless you have something planned-"
"I'd love to chat!" Hakumei said happily.
"Well, I guess we can put the library up for tomorrow," Kumori said.
"Lets! This is one in lifetime opportunity!" Hakumei said. "Unless we have to tug on the orb to get it way from a madw-"
"Which I highly doubt," Kumori interupted. "After what happened? I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to destroy it."
Hakumei stuck her toungue out at Kumori, who then shot death glares at Hakumei.
"Why don't we go to the gardens?" Kusaki said suddenly. "It's quite a nice day outside..."
"Yeah! Let's go! Do you think Clef-san will let me pick some fujinias?" Hakumei said happily, skipping off to the gardens.
"...what are fujinias...?" Fuu asked.
"Oh, they're pink and blue flowers," Kumori answered, walking towards the gardens. "They're really pretty. I'll show you when we get to the gardens, they should be by the benches near the fountain..."
~*~
The first hour was spent looking at flowers and trying to remember some names of them.
"Kumori, Kusaki, what were these called again?" Hakumei asked, pointing to a bunch of exotic green flowers.
"Anou, I think it was something like Windama," Kusaki said, walking up with Kumori who was also trying to remember the name of a funny looking red flower. "What do you think Ri-chan?"
"Huh?" Kumori said, looking up. "Oh those? I beleive they're called something like Windama."
"Windama it is!" Hakumei said happily. "Oh, Hikaru-san don't touch those. I remember Clef-san saying it was posionous."
"Does Clef teach you guys this kind of stuff, or what?" Umi asked suddenly.
"Yeah! We get to learn magic!" Hakumei answered energetically. "It's fun learning magic! Except the time when when we screwed up up this complicated spell..."
Kumori frowned, and KUsaki's cheeks turned slightly pink. Kumori sighed, "I don't need to remember!" Kusaki cheeks turned pinker.
"Other than that, it's pretty fun! Especially watching Ikkatsu practice his spells!" Hakumei continued happily, ignoring Kumori, who suddenly giggled.
"Who's Ikkatsu?" Fuu asked, taking a seat at the edge of the fountain.
"My older brother," Kumori said, stiffling her giggles. "He likes Hakumei alot!"
"I like him alot too!" Hakumei said, oblivious to what Kumori meant.
Kumori burst out laughing, Kusaki and Umi giggled, and Fuu smiled, and Hikaru was confused.
"What's so funny?" Hikaru asked, not understanding.
"I don't get it! Did I say something wrong?" Hakumei asked, equally confused.
Kumori managed to stop laughing for a minute to say, "I meant he likes you more than a friend!" before she started laughing again.
"Oh!" Hikaru said, then turning to a blushing Hakumei. "So, is this Ikkatsu guy nice? Cute? Funny?"
"Well, it's hard to say he's rude," Hakumei said truthfully. "He's awfully quiet, and spends alot of time in his room. He's really powerful and may become a mage someday! And he's really talented! Oh, and he has a crazy fan! I think her name is something like Caeza or something. She's from Chizeta! Oh, have you ever been to Chizeta? It's really a neat place, and some of the dancing shows are neat with little smoke effects once in awhile!" Hakumei continued rambling on on how much she enjoyed Chizeta and all the things she liked and thought was cool. "Anyways, yeah, Ikkatsu is really nice to me, and-" Hakumei's cheeks turned redder.
"Why are you blushing, Mei-chan? It's perfectly normal to have a crush!" Kumori said, and started laughing when Hakumei furiously denied it.
Kusaki looked up to the sky. "Shouldn't dinner be ready yet?" she asked.
"I beleive so, come on, let's go!" Umi said, marching off to the dining area, Hikaru, Hakumei, Fuu, Kumori, and Kusaki following.
~*~
Dinner went along quietly, despite the fact Hakumei was chattering nonstop about how much she liked Autozam with Eagle. Kumori was figeting in her seat. It was too quiet.
It was a bit later that Hikaru, Fuu, and Umi had a small hushed conversation. Kumori knew for a fact they were talking about her, after noticing they kept looking at her. She sorta wished she was strong enough to learn the mind-reading trick, or at least have Ikkatsu around, although he's not too good at it yet.
Kumori looked around. Nearly everyone was quiet and eating. Then a horrible thought hit her. What if they actually found out everything? She relaxed when she realixed there was really no way they would find out about everything, about Kusaki's little sister, Ritoru, and all that. She slumped slightly in her seat. She hated not knowing what's going on.
~*~
Kusaki calmly ate her meal. She knew Kumori was nervous, it was too quiet. Not to mention Hikaru, Fuu adn Umi were having a hushed conversation, which didn't ease up her nerves at all. Maybe they found out about Kumori's parents? That wouldn't be hard. Just looking at her is a big clue. SHe would be surprised big time if they hadn't figured it out.
"So," Presea said suddenly, making everyone look at her, "have you girls gotten anything yet?"
"No," Kusaki answered politely. "We still have a stack of books in our room to look through. We're hoping they give us some clues."
It was too quiet again.
~*~
Fuu, Umi, and Hikaru were haivng their hushed conversation that made Kumori and Kusaki all nervous.
"I don't know Umi-chan," Hikaru whispered. "She looks ALOT like you."
"The resemble is quite uncanny," Fuu pointed out.
"I know, but look at her!" Umi said in a low voice. "Her hair and eye color is diffrent! Not to mention I remember being a bit taller at her age..."
"I'm not concerned about the height," Fuu mumbled. "There's no doubt in it."
"Maybe she's your sister or something?" Hikaru suggested. "Or maybe your future daughter!" When Umi and Fuu gave her strange looks, Hikaru said, "Toki means time right? So, during the incident they mentioned a few times, maybe they were pulled through a time portal!" Umi and Fuu still gave her a funny look, and Hikaru sweatdropped. "Err...maybe I'm watching too much TV?"
"You're right," Umi said suddenly.
"About watching too much TV?" Hikaru asked.
"No, but what you said did make sense!" Fuu answered. "About the orb, and the time portal! Hikaru you're a genius!"
"I am?" Hikaru asked, cat ears sprouting.
Umi and Fuu sighed. "Maybe not," Umi muttered.
"Umi-chan!" Hikaru said. "Maybe you married a Cephirian! I mean, Kumori is here, right? So in order to be here, wouldn't she have to be in Cephiro?"
"Hikaru-chan..." Fuu said with wide eyes.
"...you're thinking too much..." Umi said, also with wide eyes.
Hikaru laughed, her hand behind her head. "It was just a thought!" she said loudly.
"What was just a thought?" Lantis asked, shifted his gaze to the redhaired Magic Knight.
"Nothing!" Hikaru said, shaking her head vigorously. Lantis eyed her, before turning his attention back to his food.
"SO, are you packed already?" Umi asked. "I did. We're leaving for home tonight, right?"
"Mhm," Fuu nodded. "I'm all ready."
~*~
"You're leavng?" Kumori said. "When...when will you guys be back?"
"About a week," Fuu said. "We have to finish school before we can premantly move here. Besides, if we were not to tell our family about Cephiro, it would make more sense for us to disappear for years after we're on our own. We only have two or three years left."
"They'll go by fast!" Hikaru said happily, bouncing up and down. "Come on! If I'm not back by seven, my brothers might start to think I've been seeing some boy, or something!"
"Kay, Hikaru-chan," Umi said, before bending down in front of Kumori. "It was nice knowing you. Think you'll be gone before we get back?"
"With the rate it's currently going? Not a chance," Kumori answered darkly. "I'll be thirty before we find out."
Umi giggled. "I hope it doesn't take that long. Your praents will probably scare themselves to death at that point or something."
"They sure would," Kumori muttered, meaning especially her mother. IT was not like she had anything against her, but she did have the tendency to worry too much and start thinking ideas that could scare people to death.
Umi got up ffrom her knees to walk back to HIkaru and Fuu. With one last goodbye to Cephiro, they willed themselves away to Earth.
"Well," Kusaki started. "Should we get going?"
"Mhm," Kumori nodded, before following Kusaki and Hakumei.
~*~
The clashing of rapiers and people panting were currently made the only noise. Umi sat in the sidelines, drinking down a whole bottle of water. She had just finished a fencing match with a new member, Kifujin Meimizu, who was quite excellant. She never had such a hard match before.
"Ryuuzaki-san! Ryuuzaki-san!" Umi sauck back in despair. It was Meimizu allright, and Umi had never liked Meimizu ever since she laid eyes on her.
"Ryuuzaki-san!" Meimizu said. "I just wanted to know, since your sooo good, if that, maybe one day we can go against each other in a match someday?"
"Sure," Umi answered shortly. When the team was dismissed, Umi said, "It was nice knowing you, Meimizu-san. See you on Thursday!"
Umi walked off and decided to go to the park and walk around a bit before going home and calling Hikaru and Fuu, and to cleer her mind.
Umi didn't have a normal weekend, and she knew trouble would start in Cephiro soon. And the new girl, Kifujin Meimizu...she just didn't like her. SHe had no idea why, but she didn't. ANd then ther's the...Umi shook her head. I do not like him. I do not like him. I do not like him. I do not like him....grr...that idiot. I thought I just said I didn't like him! Umi went to the nearest light pole and started hitting her head on it. I do not like him. That is final! Hmmm...I wonder if I can change my mind...? GAH! NO! I WON'T CHANGE MY MIND! THAT'S FINAL! Umi continue to hit her head.
"Hmph. No wonder you're stupid," a voice crackled behing her.
Umi whirled around to see...herself? "Holy cow! Your me!" Umi shouted, taking a step back.
Umi's double 'hmphed', crossed her arms, and stuck her nose in the air. "No, I'm sooo much prettier, and a better fencer." Umi sweatdropped. SHe couldn't tell the diffrence, but her double continued. "And I deserve Clef alot more."
"Eh? Clef? What about him?" Umi asked. She felt like an idiot talking to what looked like her self, maybe a bit cockier, but herself none-the-less. She then blushed when she figured out what her double meant. Okay, so she did like him, a little, just a stupid childish crush, but she never said she deserved him! No doubt he thought she was a loud, obnoxious kid who whines alot. "What? I..I..I...I NEVER SAID I DID!"
"Oh come on! Presea would gladly take him!" Umi's double said, annoyed.
"SHe could have him for all I care!" Umi said hotly.
"But you like him..."
"WHAT? NO I DON'T!!!"
"I know you do. Afterall, I am you."
"But..." Umi trailed off. "But you said you're not! That you're prettier and a better fencer, and..." Umi blushed again, and muttered. "Deserve Clef more."
Umi's double sighed in annoyance and sweatdropped. "Work with me here, okay?" Umi nodded. "I'm here to help you make the love of your life yours."
"But...I'm not in love with anyone!" Umi protested.
"What baout Clef?" Umi's double edged on.
"It's just a stupid crush! It'll go away!" Umi replied.
"Whatever. Anyways, like I said, I'm here to make Clef yours..."
"NO! I told you a million times! It's a stupid crush!! He probably only tolerates me because I'm a Magic Knight!" Umi snapped.
Umi's double sighed. "You don't get it, do you? Look, I'm doing you a favor! And no, he doesn't just tolerates you because your a Knight! I can read minds, okay?"
"But, if you're me, how can you read minds? I can't!" Umi said, frustrated.
"I am you, but I'm not, and at the same time, I am!" Umi's double said annoyed.
"But...tell me this!" Umi demanded. "How can you be me, and not be me? And be sorta pyschic?"
"I was born in Cephiro to help you," Umi's double answered, clearly losing her patience.
"But what does Cephiro has to do with this?" Umi snapped.
"Don't you get it???!!!" Umi's double snapped. "Wierd and strange stuff happens in Cephiro, and it's NORMAL!!! My god, your denser than Hikaru-chan!"
"Am not!" Umi protested.
"Are too! Now shut up while I explain! I'm here to help you gain happiness, and since you don't like Ascot the same as he likes you, I'm gonna pair you up with Clef!"
"NANI!?!?!?!?!?? IS THAT THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU CHOSED CLEF????????" Umi screamed.
"What? You want Zazu? Now shut up while I continue my explanation!" Umi's double snapped.
"I've had it!" Umi stormed off, ignoring the protests of her double. She continued to storm into her house, and pst her mom.
"Have you had a nice day, Umi?" her mother asked cheerfully.
"No, I had the strangest day of my life!" Umi snapped.
"Oh, that's nice," her mother smiled.
Umi stormed past and slammed the door to her room.
"AAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! THAT STUPID NO GOOD CLONE!!! WHAT THE HELL DOES SHE THINK SHE'S DOING!!!!..." Umi ranted on the top of her lungs, letting her fustration out on a stuffed rabbit from her childhood.
"Hmm, maybe she did have the strangest day of her life," Umi's mother thought, sweatdropping when she heard something tear. "Oh, that must have been her stuffed rabbit..."
To Be Continued...
Kiyoshi-chan: Thanks! And thanks for reading and reviewing!
SUMMARY: Kumori, Kusaki, and Hakumei are three girls, all daughters of the Magic Knight. After fighting over a galss orb, Kuiki no Toki with a would-be thief, they land in the past. U/C H/L F/F
Unrolling the Future
Chapter Three- Umi's Double
"Done!" Umi said cheerfully, as she placed he icing tube back on the table, and stepped back to, once again, admire her work, but Hakumei, Hikaru, Fuu and Kusaki helped a little.
Hakumei, all covered with flour,bounced up to the cake. "Oooh, it looks soooo good! Can we have a slice Umi-san? PLEASE?"
"Mmmm...how about after dinner?" Umi suggested. "You'll get bigger slices."
"Kay!" Hikaru and Hakumei cheered. "I call for the biggest piece!" Hikaru and Hakumei looked at each other.
"How about we give you guys even slices?" Kusaki suggested, shaking sugar on her head, which Hakumei accidently poured all over Kusaki's head.
"KAY!" Hakumei and Hikaru chorused, before skipping around the cake.
Kusaki's smile faded when she remembered Kumori. KUmori loved to help Umi bake cakes, she would never miss a chance. Kusaki jumped back and nearly shrieked when the next thing she knew was she was staring into bright red eyes.
"HAKUMEI!!!" KUsaki said loudly, clutching her heart. "Oh god, I'll never get used to that!"
"Sorry," Hakumei said sheepishly. "Is everything okay?" she asked, smile fading. "Thinking about Kumori, huh?"
"Yeah," Kusaki said quietly. "I wonder where she is?"
"Ooooh! I just remember!" Hakumei said suddenly. "She has secret hiding places around here! One of them is this room nobody uses!"
Everyone in the room sweatdropped. "You just remembered, now?" Kusaki asked.
"Yeah!" Hakumei said cheerfully. "I'll be going alone! I don't think Kumori will be happy is I showed someone her favorite hiding spot..."
~*~
Kumori sat quietly in a corner, watching Mokona bounce around, silently "puuing". Her head perked up when the door opened and closed. She visibly relaxed when she saw it was Hakumei.
"Kumori," Hakumei said softly, kneeling in front of Kumori. "Nee, are you okay, Kumori?"
"Hai," Kumori murmured.
"You don't still feel bad about the orb thing, do you?" Hakumei asked gently.
KUmori glared at Hakumei. "It is my fault."
"Ri-chan.."
"Look Hakumei!" Kumori shouted, on her feet in an instant. "It's my fault!! If I didn't want to look at that stupid orb thing, we wouldn't be here!"
"Demo, Yaezaki-san would be," said Hakumei, a small smile forming on her lips. "Either way, Yaezaki would be here."
"Demo..."
"No buts! She would be no matter what! But," Hakumei's voice soften, "if you hadn't want to look at it, it would be in her hands. Look at it this way, Kumori, whatever this orb will acheive that she wants, we will have it first! While if there's something else we need, no doubt we'll find it, but we will not let Yaezaki finish her plan. Besides, it's in our possesion!"
KUmori looked at Hakumei in amazement, "Wow, I never thought you could say such things..."
"Hehe, I didn't either!" Hakumei said cheerfully, her hand behind her head.
Kumori sweatdropped.
"Now that you're better, let's figure out how to make the orb thing work!" Hakumei said, bouncing out the room, followed by Monoka, and finally, a smiling Kumori.
~*~
Dinner had yet to come, meanwhile Hakumei, Kumori, and Kusaki were all in the room they shared, all staring at the orb in the middle of the circle they formed.
"DO you think we should shake it?" Kusaki suggested, takin ghte ball and shaking it as hard as she could. Nothing happened.
"Maybe we should have to tug on it like we did the night before," Kumori said as she and Kusaki both tugged on the orb.
"Maybe we should pay the library a visit?" Hakumei suggested, sweatdropping.
KUsaki and Kumori both looked at the orb they still had, and nodded. Putting the orb back into it's hiding place, they headed off to the library only to run into Fuu, Hikaru, and Umi.
"Ah, hi Umi-san, Hikaru-san, Fuu-san!" Kusaki said pleasantly, bowing slightly.
"Dinner's almost ready," Hikaru cheered. "But we'd thougth we'd get to know you guys for awhile! Unless you have something planned-"
"I'd love to chat!" Hakumei said happily.
"Well, I guess we can put the library up for tomorrow," Kumori said.
"Lets! This is one in lifetime opportunity!" Hakumei said. "Unless we have to tug on the orb to get it way from a madw-"
"Which I highly doubt," Kumori interupted. "After what happened? I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to destroy it."
Hakumei stuck her toungue out at Kumori, who then shot death glares at Hakumei.
"Why don't we go to the gardens?" Kusaki said suddenly. "It's quite a nice day outside..."
"Yeah! Let's go! Do you think Clef-san will let me pick some fujinias?" Hakumei said happily, skipping off to the gardens.
"...what are fujinias...?" Fuu asked.
"Oh, they're pink and blue flowers," Kumori answered, walking towards the gardens. "They're really pretty. I'll show you when we get to the gardens, they should be by the benches near the fountain..."
~*~
The first hour was spent looking at flowers and trying to remember some names of them.
"Kumori, Kusaki, what were these called again?" Hakumei asked, pointing to a bunch of exotic green flowers.
"Anou, I think it was something like Windama," Kusaki said, walking up with Kumori who was also trying to remember the name of a funny looking red flower. "What do you think Ri-chan?"
"Huh?" Kumori said, looking up. "Oh those? I beleive they're called something like Windama."
"Windama it is!" Hakumei said happily. "Oh, Hikaru-san don't touch those. I remember Clef-san saying it was posionous."
"Does Clef teach you guys this kind of stuff, or what?" Umi asked suddenly.
"Yeah! We get to learn magic!" Hakumei answered energetically. "It's fun learning magic! Except the time when when we screwed up up this complicated spell..."
Kumori frowned, and KUsaki's cheeks turned slightly pink. Kumori sighed, "I don't need to remember!" Kusaki cheeks turned pinker.
"Other than that, it's pretty fun! Especially watching Ikkatsu practice his spells!" Hakumei continued happily, ignoring Kumori, who suddenly giggled.
"Who's Ikkatsu?" Fuu asked, taking a seat at the edge of the fountain.
"My older brother," Kumori said, stiffling her giggles. "He likes Hakumei alot!"
"I like him alot too!" Hakumei said, oblivious to what Kumori meant.
Kumori burst out laughing, Kusaki and Umi giggled, and Fuu smiled, and Hikaru was confused.
"What's so funny?" Hikaru asked, not understanding.
"I don't get it! Did I say something wrong?" Hakumei asked, equally confused.
Kumori managed to stop laughing for a minute to say, "I meant he likes you more than a friend!" before she started laughing again.
"Oh!" Hikaru said, then turning to a blushing Hakumei. "So, is this Ikkatsu guy nice? Cute? Funny?"
"Well, it's hard to say he's rude," Hakumei said truthfully. "He's awfully quiet, and spends alot of time in his room. He's really powerful and may become a mage someday! And he's really talented! Oh, and he has a crazy fan! I think her name is something like Caeza or something. She's from Chizeta! Oh, have you ever been to Chizeta? It's really a neat place, and some of the dancing shows are neat with little smoke effects once in awhile!" Hakumei continued rambling on on how much she enjoyed Chizeta and all the things she liked and thought was cool. "Anyways, yeah, Ikkatsu is really nice to me, and-" Hakumei's cheeks turned redder.
"Why are you blushing, Mei-chan? It's perfectly normal to have a crush!" Kumori said, and started laughing when Hakumei furiously denied it.
Kusaki looked up to the sky. "Shouldn't dinner be ready yet?" she asked.
"I beleive so, come on, let's go!" Umi said, marching off to the dining area, Hikaru, Hakumei, Fuu, Kumori, and Kusaki following.
~*~
Dinner went along quietly, despite the fact Hakumei was chattering nonstop about how much she liked Autozam with Eagle. Kumori was figeting in her seat. It was too quiet.
It was a bit later that Hikaru, Fuu, and Umi had a small hushed conversation. Kumori knew for a fact they were talking about her, after noticing they kept looking at her. She sorta wished she was strong enough to learn the mind-reading trick, or at least have Ikkatsu around, although he's not too good at it yet.
Kumori looked around. Nearly everyone was quiet and eating. Then a horrible thought hit her. What if they actually found out everything? She relaxed when she realixed there was really no way they would find out about everything, about Kusaki's little sister, Ritoru, and all that. She slumped slightly in her seat. She hated not knowing what's going on.
~*~
Kusaki calmly ate her meal. She knew Kumori was nervous, it was too quiet. Not to mention Hikaru, Fuu adn Umi were having a hushed conversation, which didn't ease up her nerves at all. Maybe they found out about Kumori's parents? That wouldn't be hard. Just looking at her is a big clue. SHe would be surprised big time if they hadn't figured it out.
"So," Presea said suddenly, making everyone look at her, "have you girls gotten anything yet?"
"No," Kusaki answered politely. "We still have a stack of books in our room to look through. We're hoping they give us some clues."
It was too quiet again.
~*~
Fuu, Umi, and Hikaru were haivng their hushed conversation that made Kumori and Kusaki all nervous.
"I don't know Umi-chan," Hikaru whispered. "She looks ALOT like you."
"The resemble is quite uncanny," Fuu pointed out.
"I know, but look at her!" Umi said in a low voice. "Her hair and eye color is diffrent! Not to mention I remember being a bit taller at her age..."
"I'm not concerned about the height," Fuu mumbled. "There's no doubt in it."
"Maybe she's your sister or something?" Hikaru suggested. "Or maybe your future daughter!" When Umi and Fuu gave her strange looks, Hikaru said, "Toki means time right? So, during the incident they mentioned a few times, maybe they were pulled through a time portal!" Umi and Fuu still gave her a funny look, and Hikaru sweatdropped. "Err...maybe I'm watching too much TV?"
"You're right," Umi said suddenly.
"About watching too much TV?" Hikaru asked.
"No, but what you said did make sense!" Fuu answered. "About the orb, and the time portal! Hikaru you're a genius!"
"I am?" Hikaru asked, cat ears sprouting.
Umi and Fuu sighed. "Maybe not," Umi muttered.
"Umi-chan!" Hikaru said. "Maybe you married a Cephirian! I mean, Kumori is here, right? So in order to be here, wouldn't she have to be in Cephiro?"
"Hikaru-chan..." Fuu said with wide eyes.
"...you're thinking too much..." Umi said, also with wide eyes.
Hikaru laughed, her hand behind her head. "It was just a thought!" she said loudly.
"What was just a thought?" Lantis asked, shifted his gaze to the redhaired Magic Knight.
"Nothing!" Hikaru said, shaking her head vigorously. Lantis eyed her, before turning his attention back to his food.
"SO, are you packed already?" Umi asked. "I did. We're leaving for home tonight, right?"
"Mhm," Fuu nodded. "I'm all ready."
~*~
"You're leavng?" Kumori said. "When...when will you guys be back?"
"About a week," Fuu said. "We have to finish school before we can premantly move here. Besides, if we were not to tell our family about Cephiro, it would make more sense for us to disappear for years after we're on our own. We only have two or three years left."
"They'll go by fast!" Hikaru said happily, bouncing up and down. "Come on! If I'm not back by seven, my brothers might start to think I've been seeing some boy, or something!"
"Kay, Hikaru-chan," Umi said, before bending down in front of Kumori. "It was nice knowing you. Think you'll be gone before we get back?"
"With the rate it's currently going? Not a chance," Kumori answered darkly. "I'll be thirty before we find out."
Umi giggled. "I hope it doesn't take that long. Your praents will probably scare themselves to death at that point or something."
"They sure would," Kumori muttered, meaning especially her mother. IT was not like she had anything against her, but she did have the tendency to worry too much and start thinking ideas that could scare people to death.
Umi got up ffrom her knees to walk back to HIkaru and Fuu. With one last goodbye to Cephiro, they willed themselves away to Earth.
"Well," Kusaki started. "Should we get going?"
"Mhm," Kumori nodded, before following Kusaki and Hakumei.
~*~
The clashing of rapiers and people panting were currently made the only noise. Umi sat in the sidelines, drinking down a whole bottle of water. She had just finished a fencing match with a new member, Kifujin Meimizu, who was quite excellant. She never had such a hard match before.
"Ryuuzaki-san! Ryuuzaki-san!" Umi sauck back in despair. It was Meimizu allright, and Umi had never liked Meimizu ever since she laid eyes on her.
"Ryuuzaki-san!" Meimizu said. "I just wanted to know, since your sooo good, if that, maybe one day we can go against each other in a match someday?"
"Sure," Umi answered shortly. When the team was dismissed, Umi said, "It was nice knowing you, Meimizu-san. See you on Thursday!"
Umi walked off and decided to go to the park and walk around a bit before going home and calling Hikaru and Fuu, and to cleer her mind.
Umi didn't have a normal weekend, and she knew trouble would start in Cephiro soon. And the new girl, Kifujin Meimizu...she just didn't like her. SHe had no idea why, but she didn't. ANd then ther's the...Umi shook her head. I do not like him. I do not like him. I do not like him. I do not like him....grr...that idiot. I thought I just said I didn't like him! Umi went to the nearest light pole and started hitting her head on it. I do not like him. That is final! Hmmm...I wonder if I can change my mind...? GAH! NO! I WON'T CHANGE MY MIND! THAT'S FINAL! Umi continue to hit her head.
"Hmph. No wonder you're stupid," a voice crackled behing her.
Umi whirled around to see...herself? "Holy cow! Your me!" Umi shouted, taking a step back.
Umi's double 'hmphed', crossed her arms, and stuck her nose in the air. "No, I'm sooo much prettier, and a better fencer." Umi sweatdropped. SHe couldn't tell the diffrence, but her double continued. "And I deserve Clef alot more."
"Eh? Clef? What about him?" Umi asked. She felt like an idiot talking to what looked like her self, maybe a bit cockier, but herself none-the-less. She then blushed when she figured out what her double meant. Okay, so she did like him, a little, just a stupid childish crush, but she never said she deserved him! No doubt he thought she was a loud, obnoxious kid who whines alot. "What? I..I..I...I NEVER SAID I DID!"
"Oh come on! Presea would gladly take him!" Umi's double said, annoyed.
"SHe could have him for all I care!" Umi said hotly.
"But you like him..."
"WHAT? NO I DON'T!!!"
"I know you do. Afterall, I am you."
"But..." Umi trailed off. "But you said you're not! That you're prettier and a better fencer, and..." Umi blushed again, and muttered. "Deserve Clef more."
Umi's double sighed in annoyance and sweatdropped. "Work with me here, okay?" Umi nodded. "I'm here to help you make the love of your life yours."
"But...I'm not in love with anyone!" Umi protested.
"What baout Clef?" Umi's double edged on.
"It's just a stupid crush! It'll go away!" Umi replied.
"Whatever. Anyways, like I said, I'm here to make Clef yours..."
"NO! I told you a million times! It's a stupid crush!! He probably only tolerates me because I'm a Magic Knight!" Umi snapped.
Umi's double sighed. "You don't get it, do you? Look, I'm doing you a favor! And no, he doesn't just tolerates you because your a Knight! I can read minds, okay?"
"But, if you're me, how can you read minds? I can't!" Umi said, frustrated.
"I am you, but I'm not, and at the same time, I am!" Umi's double said annoyed.
"But...tell me this!" Umi demanded. "How can you be me, and not be me? And be sorta pyschic?"
"I was born in Cephiro to help you," Umi's double answered, clearly losing her patience.
"But what does Cephiro has to do with this?" Umi snapped.
"Don't you get it???!!!" Umi's double snapped. "Wierd and strange stuff happens in Cephiro, and it's NORMAL!!! My god, your denser than Hikaru-chan!"
"Am not!" Umi protested.
"Are too! Now shut up while I explain! I'm here to help you gain happiness, and since you don't like Ascot the same as he likes you, I'm gonna pair you up with Clef!"
"NANI!?!?!?!?!?? IS THAT THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU CHOSED CLEF????????" Umi screamed.
"What? You want Zazu? Now shut up while I continue my explanation!" Umi's double snapped.
"I've had it!" Umi stormed off, ignoring the protests of her double. She continued to storm into her house, and pst her mom.
"Have you had a nice day, Umi?" her mother asked cheerfully.
"No, I had the strangest day of my life!" Umi snapped.
"Oh, that's nice," her mother smiled.
Umi stormed past and slammed the door to her room.
"AAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! THAT STUPID NO GOOD CLONE!!! WHAT THE HELL DOES SHE THINK SHE'S DOING!!!!..." Umi ranted on the top of her lungs, letting her fustration out on a stuffed rabbit from her childhood.
"Hmm, maybe she did have the strangest day of her life," Umi's mother thought, sweatdropping when she heard something tear. "Oh, that must have been her stuffed rabbit..."
To Be Continued...