A/N: Ne! I actually update once again and it's much faster than the last. ^-^*. Please enjoy and more C/U scene here but you might be greatly disappointed in this.
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Clef and Umi stopped right in front of the large double doors, both not making any sound whatsoever as Clef continue to stare at the door with a frown on his lips.
Umi looked up at him, giving a soft scowl, "You could easily make the door open, if you didn't know. Or are you just going to make us stand here and wait for it to come alive for it to open itself?"
The Guru looked at Umi with a silent glare before giving a kind smile at the two figures behind her, "Presea…Sierra…"
Umi flinched, recognizing the names immediately and quickly turned around with a low bow, slowly stepping behind the Guru. Luckily, Clef had swiftly grabbed her arm with his free one to keep her from escaping as Umi stared at him from under her bangs in a mixture of confusion and irritation.
"Guru Clef," The twins chorus kindly with a proper curtsy, both looking between Umi and the man they came to speak in puzzlement.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"To let go of me," Umi muttered under her breath for him to hear but Clef choose to ignore her.
"Sierra and I were wondering if you'll like to join us and the others for lunch. Consider you had never attended to one," Presea asked with a warm smile, "Emeraude-hime or Ferio-ouji will be most pleased."
"I apologized," Clef began, looking at Umi from the corner of his eyes, "But I still have other important business to intend."
"Please come if you have the time," Sierra whispered in disappointment, before both twins gave their last curtsy and left.
As they vanished down the halls, Umi hastily snatched her arm away, "Speaking of lunch, I must go back to my work before the Lead Chef would be really ang-"
"Come inside, Umi," Clef gently interjected once the door slowly opens as he stepped inside.
Umi looked both hallways, wishing someone would pass by for her to get away.
"Reason why we didn't enter earlier was because of the twins we'd just met." Clef looked back from the empty room in annoyance, "Now come inside before there are more interruptions."
"Impatient old geezer," Umi grumbled, walking inside nervously as the door tightly closed shut behind her.
Clef raised an eyebrow, "Old geezer?"
"I had heard you use to have a form of a child and having an age that can compare to no one!" Umi declared, not caring of her low rank compare to his while standing tall and proud, even if he's still a good five inches taller, "Not even Emeraude-hime is as old as you yet."
"She's only a few centuries younger and for a girl with a big mouth like yours, you made a terrible mistake, child…"
"Old geezer kid!"
Thwamp!!
"Sit, we have things to discuss," Clef said, holding his staff back up as a floating chair appeared out of nowhere beside her while he give some distances between them. Umi silently glared at the Guru, rubbing her head painfully from where he had hit and followed his orders, sitting down properly. "My first question as I had asked before, what plans are you trying to perform?"
"And why would you want to know?"
"Then what are you to Hikaru-hime?"
"It's none of your concern, Guru."
His eyebrow ticked, "Aren't you different then the other servants I've ever met?"
Umi crossed her arms and looked away, "I had heard that a lot from others lately so you don't really have to remind me."
"Umi, you're not making this easy for me…"
"It wasn't meant to be, beside, I'm surprised I can make things difficult to the famous Guru Clef," Umi counteract with a smirk, only to have it dropped and gave a yelp while leaning back against her seat when he unexpectedly stood closely before her.
"And I'm glad for making you very uncomfortable with me so easily," Clef softly sneered, letting his staff go which stood magically, "I will repeat my question and expect you to answer them, Umi."
The usual Umi would have snapped back with quite a temper when being forced to speak but for some reason, doing that to the Guru appeared to be very…difficult.
"What are you to Hikaru-hime?"
She managed to glare at him.
"Her former servant?" Clef predicted, lowering his face closer to hers. "Best friends…?"
Umi didn't move as her breath quickens, getting too uncomfortable from their position but stubbornly kept her mouth shut.
"And worrying for her happiness, you left her…to come here and try to change everything, am I correct so far?"
A glint of anger shown in her cerulean eyes, "If you know everything, then why did you ask?"
"It's quite obvious from the way you're behaving," Clef answered, standing back up straight, "If happiness is what you want for Hikaru-hime, then why wanting to ruin her chance to be with Ferio-ouji?"
"And I thought you had a mind that can compare to all the Gods!" Umi shouted, finally snapping a nerve, standing up from her seat abruptly and not caring from the closeness between them. "Can't you see it? She's only here to complete her wish from her Ani-ue's requested! And from the looks of it, Ferio-ouji only agreed with all of this absurd idea is because he, too, wanted to have Emearaude-hime's wish come true."
Clef's eyes squinted slightly before he nodded, "Thank you for informing me with the information."
Umi froze, "You…tricked me?"
"No, you're the one that answered my question."
"If you didn't ask any stupid questions then I shouldn't have!" Umi snarled, before shadowing her face. "What…are you going to do?"
"Nothing," he replied, grabbing his staff, "Though I advice you not to do anything, Umi. Hikaru-hime may not need your help nor does Ferio-ouji. You are now dismissed."
Umi clutched her hands into a tight fist by her side as she bit hard onto her bottom lip, threatened to draw blood if any harder, standing where she stood with no care at all on his orders. Clef silently observed her for a few moments, slowly making his way back in front of her and waited. Not seeing any movements from her as he expected, his hand gently placed beneath her chin and lifted it up into his warm sapphire eyes.
"But knowing you, I believe you'll still continue on with your plans without a care of my warning." Clef whispered softly, his thumb gently caressed on her smooth skin. With a blink, his eyes widen as if noticing his behavior and quickly drop his hand.
Umi lowered her head in confusion when feeling a deep pinch in her heart as she watched him moving away towards the closed door.
"It seems that I had cared too much for the good of Cephiro that I had not thought much of the other's feelings. Especially Ferio…" Clef continued, his back still facing her, "Perhaps…you may not do this alone but can use some help, Umi."
Her head jerked once the words drilled into her mind while staring at him as if he had gone completely insane, "The Guru...going against Emearaude-hime's wishes?"
He slightly gave a small flinch at her choice of words but turned his head with a small smile, "Help changing her wish, Umi. Not all wishes are to be confirmed unless you set your whole heart into it. A wish can also be changed if it's not too late."
"So you're helping me?" She raised an eyebrow, still not believing him fully yet, "A mere maid like me?"
"A mere stubborn maid, I admit," The Guru replied, giving a soft chuckle at her glare, "You can't possibly do this on your own, Umi. Let me help you..."
"You do know the consequences if you were caught, don't you?" Umi murmured, wrapping her hands around her, "Your punishment may be nothing compares to mines...but I'm taking that risk."
"I swear upon Cephiro and the Three Gods that I'll be going through the same path as you, Guru or not." Clef said out loudly, his right hand raised to confirm his oath, "Are you confident in yourself now?"
"Aren't you different than any other Guru I've ever met?" Umi joked, rephrasing his sentence earlier, her hands placed behind her, "I'm surprised you're nothing like what I'd imagine when I first came here; an old grumpy geezer with looks in his late fifties who would snap at anyone for no reason and may even use some low-rank servants for his own pleasure."
The color drained from his face, "Pardon?"
"But you're not...you care for others more than you show and willingly to follow along with a simple maid to help accomplished the true wish that Emearaude-hime should brought along," Umi said, giving him a beautiful bright smile, "I'm glad..."
His eyes widen in surprise for a second before it closes with a smile in return. "Thank you, Umi."
"Then there's something you can help me in."
Clef looked up, tilting his head to the side, "That would be?"
"Lunch." Was her only answer.
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Emeraude walked gracefully down the halls toward the dining area outside of the garden where the others are waiting patiently for her to arrive. Just a few more steps towards the corner by the door, her face lifted and lovingly gave a smile at the dark tall figure in front of her, "Zagato..."
"They are waiting, Emearaude-hime," Zagato replied, a hand rose to take hers which she gladly accepts as they walked together. Once seeing the door nearing, his question totally caught her off guard as she stopped, "What is now your wish, Emearaude-hime?"
"Now?"
"Your first wish was to have Ferio-ouji find someone he can choose between all the Princesses for a bride, am I correct?" Zagato asked, seeing her nod, "What's your wish that is now replacing the first?"
"Wish..." Emeraude repeated in a low tone, her lids gently lowered, "There are many, Zagato, but for now I must keep my first wish fresh until a couple of weeks when the ceremony for Ferio to choose his bride begins."
His free hand lifted to caress her face, "Maybe one of them involves with Hikaru-hime, perhaps?"
Emeraude grabbed onto his hand on her face as she closes her eyes, a heart-whelming smile blooms on her lips at the mention of one particular Princess, "Perhaps..."
Zagato lowered his hand onto her shoulders and lead her towards the door where it slowly opens for them to enter. The smell of nature from the fresh grass to the enchanting sea reaches them once they stepped outside to the beautiful pasture where every Princess from different kingdoms to other nobles assembles together.
"Emeraude-aneue," Ferio greeted, walking up to them from the crowd, amusement glittered in his large eyes. "You wouldn't believe who's joining us today!"
Emeraude looked at him curiously, seeing her brother daring to laugh with glee but held enough will to hold it back, "Who?"
He quickly answers her with a point of his finger, straight at the Guru on one of the tables who sat near the two twins, Presea and Sierra. Clearly shown on Clef's face was pure irritation, quite obviously to those that knows him that he definitely do not want to intend but still kept a smile on his face. He looked over at Ferio with a glare once he caught the boy and Ferio immediately clamp his mouth shut to muffle his laughter.
Even Zagato looked surprised, "Guru Clef?"
"The one and only!" Ferio chirped, walking back into the crowd towards where the Guru sat, interrupting his conversation with the two twins, "How are you, ladies?"
Presea smiled, "Very well, Ferio-ouji."
"Please take a seat," Sierra added kindly with a gesture of her hand.
"But first," Ferio started, grinning at the man across from them, "Having fun, Guru?"
"Quite," He answered, his smile started to strain and patted a seat beside him, "Join me if you will, Ferio."
Ferio scratched behind his head in confusion and nodded, sitting down on his seat. Clef didn't say anything afterwards but reached out for a loaf of bread and began to eat. Ferio's confusion increases but gave a small shrugs, reaching out to grab onto his own bread from another basket. He gave a startled jumped when grabbing a warm hand instead and turned towards the owner to apologize. His words were caught in his throat when meeting a pair of emerald orbs.
"Ferio-ouji?" Fuu spoke up in surprised, taking her hand back, "I didn't notice you had come, I'm sorry."
"Please, it's my fault," Ferio said with small laugh, looking at Clef from the corner of his eyes. The Guru seems like he hadn't notice anything as he chewed on his bread silently. Ferio could have sworn he saw a faint smile in between his chewing but he gave the dark-blonde beauty his full attention when she spoke.
"I want to thank you for today, Ferio-ouji," said Fuu, grabbing her cup in her hands, "I enjoy it very much."
"It's a pleasure."
"Where did you guys go anyway?" Hikaru asked innocently from the other side of Fuu, deeply interested. Hearing the question, the people that sit on the long table with them immediately looked over at Ferio and Fuu.
Noticing their gaze, Fuu gave a small blush but hid it well behind the cup as she drank. Ferio gave a nervous laugh, "We should take you along with us, Hikaru-hime. You'll deeply enjoy it a lot."
"I'll take the offer next time!" Hikaru said cheerfully, munching on her food.
"Don't forget me as well, Ferio-ouji," A pale-blonde man joked with a kind smile, lifting a teacup in greeting from across Hikaru, "I wouldn't want to miss out all the fun."
Ferio stared, "Eagle? When did you arrive?"
"Not too long," Eagle replied, tapping his chin, "I had received Ascot's invitation this morning and immediately set flight over here."
"Anxious, are you?"
"All the better to see everyone's pleasant faces," Eagle said lightly with a wink, "And also I was hoping you'll be introducing your bride-to be once I arrive. I'm disappointed, Ferio-ouji."
Presea giggled from beside him, "There are still plenty of time until the ceremony begin, Eagle. Everything just started today and there's never a love at first sight."
Eagle blinked, looking over at her before giving one of his casual smiles, "I believe you may be wrong on that one, Presea. Am I right, Lantis?"
Lantis just gave a swift nod from beside him, not really too comfortable joining in a large crowd. He looked up at Hikaru, who gave him a large smile in return.
Ferio took a small glance of Fuu with a small blush and turn away, expecting to see a stern look on the Guru's face. But it didn't happen; in fact, Clef doesn't seem to be too involved with their conversation at all. After swallowing his food, Clef finally talk without even looking at him, "Something wrong, Ferio?"
Ferio quickly shook his head, "No! Nothing's wrong,"
"Yay! Cake!" Hikaru loudly cheered, receiving a laugh from Eagle as she looked over excitedly.
"Charming, isn't she?" enquired Eagle, who's pouring himself another cup of tea.
Clef took a small sip of his drink and looked over at the nicely crafted cake. He stared at the person carrying uninterestedly, meeting a helpless pair of cerulean orbs from the owner, "Ppff!!"
"Guru Clef!" Sierra cried out in shock, seeing the man literally choking on his drink as she gave a concern look, "Are you alright?"
"Fine," He answered with a wave of his hand, staring back at Umi. He had expected her to be baker of the fabulous cake, but he had not thought that she'll be the one bringing it out as well! His eyes quickly laid over at Fuu and Hikaru once Umi walked nearer and nearer towards their table.
"I hope its ice cream cake this time!" Hikaru said with a single clap as everyone looked at her with a smile. Then she stiffens, her eyes widen when seeing a glimpse of familiar long blue hair behind the cake as her face started to turn pale when a face slowly reveal itself from around, U...Umi-chan...?
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Gomen ne! From here on, there is going to be a BIG writer block so expect the next chapter to come out very VERY late. (Hopefully not as late as the last). Please Read and Review your comments, I really appreciate it. ^-^...Maybe...just MAYBE romances would be next chapter but don't get your hopes too high cause I might be lying. Arigatou!