A/N: (sniff sniff) I'm sorry! I made Clef too mean! (Audience: Maybe the author likes to torment the characters in her fanfic.) Shuddap!! Wahh!!! I'm sorry! (God I must sound like a wuss whining like this. (Straightens up and pulls herself together) So I'll try to make this chapter happier but I won't guarantee that Clef and Umi will be back together in this chappie. (That is unless you want a really lousy ending) (Dries eyes) I'm better now. So don't worry! I can promise y'all one thing though: The ending WILL be a HAPPY one. And noo its not type of story that gives a lame ending, it's (I mean I actually type that out) and this chappie might be a little. Ok on with the story.

Chappie 7: Return to Earth

Umi drove home, her hair hanging loosely and flying behind her in all directions. She loved the way the wind tickled her neck; it reminded her of Clef. The snow looked so beautiful... But it wasn't Cephiro.' 2 weeks till Christmas 'she thought. I hope I can find myself before that. I want everyone to be happy on Christmas. But it feels as if I'm leaving them. Slowly she drove up her car into her garage. Getting out, and taking her bags, She wondered how long had she been from Earth. I hope everyone got his or her letters.

Hikaru blinked. One tear fell onto the paper. Then she got up and said nothing. She only hoped that her friend would be happy. Fuu felt the same way.

Ferio thought. 'Crazy girl. Doesn't she know that she's only running away from her problems? I hope that Clef will go after her or he's going to lose her.'

Clef read the letter 5 more times (A/N: Maybe I should have put 3.) Turning around, he muttered something a secret department in his drawer opened and slipped the letter inside. Someone knocked on his bedroom door.

"Come in! It's unlocked!" Clef called out. Lantis (A/N: Of all the people to turn up.) Stepped into the room. Leaning against the wall, crossing his arms and closing his eyes, he spoke.

" You should go after her." Clef looked at him wide-eyed. Of all the people to give advice, Lantis would seem to be the one most unlikely to. But here he was.

"If you love her, go after her."He said again. Then walked out of the room. Not turning back. Clef got up and straighten himself. He knew what he had to do. Walking over to his study next door, he took the rose he had found in his study and flung it out the window, watching it scatter its petals in the wind...' I hope it finds you Umi.'

Walking around in the park, she tried to piece her mind together and figure out what happened. Clef had told her to stay out of his life. No. was it true? Did he really want her gone? Does he hate me for not tell him? Is Yuki mad at me? Holding her trobbing head, she sat down on a bench. Watching children play around her and young couples go off together, she smiled slightly. I hope that I might be like that. someday. A complete family.

Night came, and she returned home. Opening the door, she walked into her cold house and took off her shoes She put her purse against the wall and turned on the heater. Sighing, she pulled on a sweater and walked in her bedroom. Strangely, on her desktop was a rose.

Yuki jumped on her bed, snuggling into her soft pillow. Her mother had explained everything in the letter. What she couldn't understand was why her mother had left Cephiro in the first place. Nothing made sense these days. Taking something from and envelope, she took out a necklace that had a silver chain and a little silver rose with a sapphire in the middle. It was the only thing she had from her mother that had a clue to her father before her mother's explanation. She had always wanted to know who her father was and what happened to him. I guess I got my wish huh? Sighing, she pulled on a tunic, slipped on some armor and went down to the practice ground. Maybe some self-beating will clear up this mess in my head. She thought.

Walking down to the grounds and taking the sword Clef had given her, she drew it out and admired its simple designs. My first gift from my father. The sapphire was so bright and warm. The hilt soft and comfortable in her hands, as if it had belonged there. Onto the grounds, she began doing a load of drills, making herself move on until she blacked out.

Waking up again later, she pulled herself up and groaned. "Maybe I shouldn't have pushed myself THAT hard." she grumbled. Stumbling up the stairs and taking the mot unused path to her room, she took out a potion Clef had given her and drank some of it. Immediately feeling strength pour through her veins and her heart pounding strongly again, she lay down, fingering her newfound necklace. ' I wish with all my heart. to go back to Earth and talk to my mother. I know she won't came back unless someone pushes her in the right direction. And I don't want anyone else to go to Earth while I'm there.' In a flash, she disappeared.

Waking up on the front porch of an all too familiar face, she got up and walked into the house, as it wasn't locked.

Clef looked into the vortex, Earth seemed like a nice enough place to live. Putting an illusion spell to hide his Cephirean robes, he jumped down in the seemingly never-ending blackness and hoped and knew that he had to find Umi. He never would forgive himself until he did.

Umi woke in the middle of the night. Seeing a shadow in front of her, she gasped and pulled her covers tightly around herself. The person or thing stepping out of the shadows, her eyes widened at the identity of the person. It was a dream.right?

A/N: I know this chappie is short but hopefully, if I can get rid of a slight writer's block, the next chappie should be longer. I just wanted to leave this one as a cliffhanger! Again, I'm sorry for making Clef be too mean to Umi but that's the story! (Mutters, I should have put angst in the genre.) sigh. What's done is done. I should be updating soon, hopefully tomorrow. Anyway, I always welcome criticisms as long as you put it in a nice way. Tune in next time!

-Yume-damo-shirinai

P.S. If you know any good Inu-Yasha stories with the pairings Sessomaru and Kagome or Miroku and Sango Please tell me in a review or email me! (Again my e-mail is Yenglee@aol.com Aligatou! Ja ne!