Memories by Orenji Yume
An Umi/Clef fic
A/N: Alternate Universe, OOC, only Umi and Clef are present in this fic, and there'll be numerous flashbacks.
STORY: A short, simple Umi/Clef fic (Clef's POV). Umi and Clef have known each other since young, and now Umi's 17 and Clef's 18. But Umi met with an accident and suffered from amnesia. Now, taking this chance during the Winter holidays, they're recreating their memories of each other...I'm sorry if I didn't write well. Enjoy!
(Note about chapter 1: This chapter is mainly tracing the minutes before the accident till the time Umi met with it. Also, Clef does not have any family left, his parents died in an accident.)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Magic Knight Rayearth, CLAMP does.
How precious memories are to one...if one loses them, it's almost as if they've lost part of themselves...
"Umi! Where do you think you're going? We're supposed to-"
"It's the holidays already! I'm thinking of going there," She replied with a wink. And then she stretched her arms out and closed her eyes, letting the soft, white snowflakes brush against her gently.
It had just began to fall this morning on our way to school. I still remember how she watched the trees nearby caught the snow in their bare branches, and she commented on how the tree may fall due to the snow's weight. Upon hearing this come out from her, I merely shrugged and told her not to worry, nature had it's own way. And then, she faced me, saying that she heard a rumour, as to whether it was true or not...was another thing.
'When lovers are together on the day snow first falls, they would be together forever'. I supposed she might have made that up just to see me redden. Or maybe she had actually been telling the truth. Whichever it was, my heart still fluttered and I thought that she might be hinting something. But the problem was that, sometimes I don't understand her at all.
I stopped running after her, only to stare at her, nonplussed. There...? I didn't get it. Though it may be the end of school already, we still had to hurry. We were supposed to catch a movie. I checked my watch. About an hour left...I gazed at her, a bit frantic. I wanted to bring her somewhere else first...
Going up to her, I placed my hand on her shoulder, "Umi...can we start our way to the cinemas?"
"Why?" She looked down at my watch. "Still an hour or so left...I don't want to reach there early and just sit there..."
Sighing, I told her, "Just come with me..." And I pulled her by her arm. It's not that I wanted to keep everything to myself. But I just wanted to surprise her...that's all.
"No, wait!" She protested, wrapping her other arm around a tree trunk nearby. "Why do I have to listen to you?!" She glared at me. "Just because you're a guy, and you're older than me, does not give you any right!"
I could feel something coming...and according to what I've experienced over the years with her...it wasn't good. "Umi...wha-"
"Let me go..." She leaned forward and whispered. "Clef...if you don't then I guess I'll just have to..."
I arched an eyebrow, looking at her in the eye, "What...?" Let go? Why? But wait...it doesn't look anything good...maybe I should just oblige. I loosened my grip slightly, and continued to look at her in the eye. Wait! Like she said, not only am I a guy, I'm older than her as well! I shouldn't be so easily pushed around by just a few threats coming out of her mouth. She doesn't have any respect for me...
"So?" She nodded at me, waiting for an answer.
With that thought floating in my mind, I tightened my grip over her arm, and pushed her against the tree, "No...I'm your senior, shouldn't you have some respect for me?"
"Mm..." She gestured to my hand. "But...this can look as if..."
Curiousity got the better of me, "What?"
She whispered in my ear, "As if you're trying to take advantage of me."
"What?!?!" Immediately, I released my grip over her and backed away. "What are you talking about?!?!?!" Seeing her 'victory' smile, I sighed and buried my head in my hands. This is honestly unfair... Raising my head, I saw her beckoning towards me. What was it now...?
"Watch," She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, sticking her tongue out. A few small snowflakes fell onto her tongue and she closed her mouth, smacking her lips, as she tasted them. "I can't really taste anything..." And then she repeated the same few actions again. "I guess they're not too bad, do you want to try?" She smiled at me. "Yes?"
Seeing her smile, I could feel a blush creeping up my neck. Her deep sea-blue eyes seem to see right through me, and the chilly wind played with her long, flowing blue hair. And when she smiled...I think...I felt my heart leap a bit. I felt hot in the face. She...W-w-wait...w-why am I blushing? Rubbing my neck, I looked away. W-what's with her, anyway? Asking such a silly question...I sneaked a peek at her and could see her puzzled expression. Calming myself down, I quickly recovered myself from before.
Crossing my arms, I stared above, "I don't think you should've done that. You don't know whether they're actually clean or not..." Reaching my hand out, I caught a snowflake in my hand and studied it. "Just because they're white doesn't mean that they're clean."
"Are you sure?"
Nodding, I answered, "It's possible."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?!" She cried out, and quickly clutched her neck with both hands as she coughed violently.
Removing her hands away from her neck, I spoke, "Nothing will happen to you, don't worry."
Umi blinked, breathing heavily, "Really?"
Giving a small smile, I replied, "Yes. Now...can we go?" I gazed down at me watch. "It should be alright with you now."
"Okay..."
Finally...I thought to myself, and took her hand, leading the way. With each step I took, I could feel my heart racing even faster. I hoped she liked the surprise...I didn't wish for anything else to happen that would spoil everything. Glancing in her direction, I saw her observing me.
"What is it? You've been smiling to yourself all this while," She grinned and asked. "Did you do something bad?"
Staring at her, startled, I shook my head, "N-no!"
"Okay," She giggled, and jumped onto my back. "Do you mind carrying me for the rest of the way then? I'm a bit tired."
Wincing, I exclaimed, "Yes, I do mind!" I tried to retrieve back my balance, but failing to do so with her constant fidgeting, I felt myself leaning forward. Before I knew it, I was on the hard, cold ground groaning. Sitting up, I rubbed my back and looked around me.
"Umi?" I widened my purple eyes. "Umi, where are you?" Standing up, I looked behind me, but say no one. "Umi? Umi?" My heartbeat began to quicken and I started to panic. "Umi, where are you? Umi? Answer me! Umi?!" I quickly gathered my things. "Umi?!"
"I'm here!" I heard her voice.
Turning behind me, I let out a shout as I saw her jumping onto me, once more. Falling on me back, I moaned and stared at her. She was smiling meekly and then pinched my face lightly.
"I'm sorry...when I saw that you couldn't take my weight, I leapt away," Laughing to herself, she asked. "Are you fine?"
Frowning, I snapped at her, "Of course not! Who would be?!"
"I'm sorry...really..." She leaned forward and brushed her lips against my forehead. "Clef..."
Upon hearing her say my name, I reddened. W-what is she trying to do now? When she drew away, I could see a blush lingering on her face. At that moment...I felt...I felt...
Just then, she jerked her head up as a loud sound filled my ears. She quickly stood up and helped me out. Still a bit dazed, I did not know what was going on. Pulling me aside, we landed on the ground once more. Raising my head, I looked at her, as if expecting her to say something.
"You'd better start thanking me! I just saved your life!" Standing up, she brushed the snow off her clothes. "Luckily I saw it coming...or else we'd both be in Heaven right now!"
Getting up, I managed to get a glimpse of a large trunk driving past us. if she hadn't reacted quick enough then...we'd both be dead by now...and maybe I could've seen them for all I know...Staring above me, I squinted my eyes. Heaven...I wonder how my parents are doing up there...
"Clef? Clef?" She waved a hand in front of me. "What are you thinking of? Clef?" Seeing my expression, she looked down. "I'm sorry...did I say something wrong? Did I-"
Smiling, I cut her words, "Thank you, Umi." Gazing around us, I asked her. "What do you think Heaven is like?"
"What a weird question..." She commented, but that did not stop her from answering my question. "I'm not sure...but my idea is that it's paradise...and we won't age!" Putting a finger to her lips, she carried on. "I'm not trying to curse you or anything, but...when I die..." She flushed. "I would like you to be by my side...as in...have you die along with me as well..." Looking up to see my response, she quickly added. "Of course, that's just my wishful thinking!"
I wrapped my arms around her, "Umi...actually...I would like the same from you too..." Brushing a finger against her cheek, I saw her turn her gaze away from me, blushing lightly. "Umi..."
"Hm?" She urged me to go on, but still did not dare look at me. "What is it, Clef...?"
Leaning forward, I made her face me, "Actually...I wanted to show you something...and..." She stared at me, and I thought I saw a longing in those eyes of hers. "I wanted to...tell you something as well..." I dug my hand in my pocket to feel something. "Umi...I..."
"Clef, watch out!" Her eyes looked behind me and stared in horror, and she pushed me aside.
As I fell to the ground, I felt my surprise for her slip through my hands. Rubbing my eyes, I stood up to meet the sight before me. Umi...no...Umi...this can't be happening...not when I was about to...
There was fire burning fiercely...almost as if it wanted to hurt my eyes. And at the scene, I could clearly see a tousle of blue amongst the scraps of metal lying in a pool of crimson blood glimmering in the soft sunlight. Taking some steps forward towards the mess, I saw my reflection in the ruby red liquid, so vividly. Reaching a hand to my forehead, I felt something running down the side of my face. Bringing my hand down, I saw blood. Looking up, I saw Umi's face in a distance. Eyes closed, her face somewhat twisted in a pained expression.
Feeling my heart wrench in the same way, I rushed up to her, "Umi...Umi..." But very soon I was being pulled back by a couple of men. "No! Let me go to her! Umi! UMI!!"
At that moment...I felt...I felt...I thought I could feel her warm love pouring throughout me...She wasn't bring playful, she was...she was being herself...as she would when met with love...and at that moment I could understand her words and actions fully...
……Flashback……
When we were younger...around the age of 7...I remembered her telling me that she thought she was in love for the first time. We were in the park then, and it was the season of autumn.
"Clef...I have a secret...promise not to tell anyone?"
"Yes,"
Cupping her mouth with her hands, she whispered into my ear, "I think I'm in love...that person is..."
"Who?" I blinked at her.
Shaking her head, she said, "I'm can't tell you that."
"Why not?" I leaned forward, persistent on knowing who that secret person was. If I was not wrong...I think jealously was boiling in me. But I guess I didn't know that and took it as anger.
She did not say anything, because something happened. Our lips met for a second or so until we both jumped.
Pointing accusingly at me, she cried out, "You stole my first kiss!" But if I wasn't wrong, I think...she made that kiss happen between us. So that could only mean that...
……End of flashback……
"Umi! Umi!" I grabbed her hand, calling out her name repeatedly.
I was shaking with sobs, almost in despair. Her hands...they were so cold...and it was not only due to the fact that it was winter...Trying to give her some warmth, I blew onto her hands, and constantly rubbed them together.
They had allowed me to follow her to the hospital. And my wound was already being treated. But as for Umi... Hot tears flowed down, and it fell into our hands. I don't know...
I was never afraid of anything...even though it may seem that I was afraid of her. That was just to make her happy. But this time...I grinned to myself, in a somewhat ironic way. If she knew this, she most probably would have laughed at me, but really, this time...she had overdone it...
"Umi! Umi!!!" Laying my head next to hers, I closed my eyes and continued to call out her name, and at the same time comfort myself.
But at the same time...she has really succeeded in scaring the wits out of me. She had finally done it. For the first time, I felt fear gnawing at my heart...and it was painful...it was aching so much...
I've just seen the worst of me...
END
