Disclaimer: I don't own Rayearth, nor shall I ever.

All right! ^^ Chapter 2!! If it's a little short, I'm really sorry! And sorry it took so long to get it up... writer's block and tons of school work do NOT mix... Well, here it is! Enjoy, minna!

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Back in the castle, Umi tossed and turned fitfully in bed. Her body became entangled in the bed sheets and beads of perspiration gathered on her forehead. Her breathing became heavy and her eyes were shut tight. Her cheeks were wet with tears and a barely audible whisper escaped her lips, over and over.

"No...! No...!"

~*~*~*~*~

She was surrounded by darkness, right and left. A eerie, bone-chilling breeze blew past her, and she wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm. Her blue hair fell into her face as she turned her head downward, shivering in the cold. Suddenly, a sinister laughter rang through the darkness.

Umi's head bolted upward. "W-who are you?"

There was no answer except another shrill laugh from the voice. Suddenly, Umi heard a sound from behind her—a sound almost like something... materializing.

She spun around quickly, her blue hair flying in all directions. She gasped sharply and clasped her hands over her mouth at what—or rather whom—she came face to face with.

"Ascot!" she gasped.

Ascot stood in front of her with his head turned downward, a shadow and his long bangs hiding his eyes. There was a deep wound on his chest, where the sword had maimed him, and blood seeped onto his robes. There were blood stains all over his clothes and hands as well as his face.

Umi was disgusted at the sight, and she trembled furiously, her blue eyes wide. As Ascot's head lifted towards her, the shrill laughter began again, and he stared at her with blank green eyes. A woman with merciless emerald eyes appeared and wrapped her arms around Ascot as she hovered in midair, her silver hair flowing around her. She stroked Ascot's cheek as her laughter increased. Umi screamed sharply, clamping her hands over her ears and closing her eyes tightly. She dropped to her knees, tears beginning to penetrate her lashes and flow down her cheeks.

Suddenly, Ascot's form disappeared, and the laughter ceased. Umi removed her hands from her ears and opened her eyes. She trembled furiously as she once again became enclosed in pure darkness. Then, Clef's form appeared in front of her, a few yards from where she crouched. His body was sprawled on the ground and deep wounds covered his arms and side. His eyes were open and blank, and his blood began to cover the ground.

Umi screamed loudly and tears began to stream down her face.

"No!!" she screamed. She wanted to run to him. She wanted to cradle his body in her arms. She wanted to get him to move. But her body would not move. Suddenly, she felt something wet on her hands. Her lifted her hands and stared down at them. She gasped in horror to find his blood covering her hands.

Umi thought she was going to be sick. More tears poured down her face. A few tears fell and mixed with the blood on her hands.

Suddenly, the blood disappeared, along with Clef's body. The cruel laughter began again, and Umi screamed. She closed her eyes once again and covered her ears. She curled her body into a ball and sobbed loudly, screaming as the laughter grew louder and louder.

"NO!!"

~*~*~*~*~

"Umi! Umi!" Clef cried. He pounded on the door to her bedroom, and Umi awoke abruptly. Her tearstained cheeks reflected the little light in the room, and she didn't bother to wipe her tears as she screamed his name.

"Clef!" she cried.

Clef pounded the door open and ran to her bedside. His bare feet made pattering noises against the cold stone floor. The dark blue pants he had worn to bed looked nearly black in the dim room. As he rushed towards Umi, she dove into his arms and buried her face in his bare chest, sobbing.

Clef, utterly bewildered, held her tightly as she sobbed, stroking her hair gently and whispering comforting words as he shushed her.

"Oh, God, Umi," he whispered. "I heard you screaming and I mind created such horrible situations. I'm so glad you're alright!"

Umi's shoulders shook as her cried, and Clef laid a kiss on the top of her head.

"Oh, Clef!" Umi sobbed as she lifted herself from his arms. "It was terrible! T-that laughter! A-and you... and A-Ascot! And—!"

"Shh... slow down!" Clef whispered soothingly. "Calm down... you're alright."

Umi bit her lips and nodded as she tried to stop her tears. "There was this woman... and s-she just kept l-laughing... and then Ascot appeared... and then you... and you... y-you were dead... and I-I—!"

Umi broke down in tears again and Clef held her tightly.

"Shh... I'm here now..." he whispered. "I'm not dead... I'm right here..."

Umi sniffled. "Clef... that other night... in the study... what did you see?"

Clef hesitated. "I saw... eyes... piercing emerald eyes."

Umi paused. "Clef... after you scared me, I saw strands of silver hair caught in the bushes. The woman from my dream... is her."

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The woman's emerald eyes shot open, and her shoulder heaved up and down in fatigue.

"Mistress Shimizu?" a voice asked.

Shimizu's silver hair fell into her eyes as her stared at the owner of the voice. It was a thin man with dark brown hair and tanned skin. A thin scar ran from between his eyes to past his right eye and down his cheek. His black eyes were cold and heartless.

"It has been done," Shimizu said coldly.

"You completely inhabited the dreams of that demon slayer?" the man rejoiced.

"Of course I did, foolish Ozumo," Shimizu spat. Ozumo froze.

"I want you to do something for me..." Shimizu began.

"Anything, Mistress," Ozumo replied.

"Go to the castle and... do something to that demon slayer," Shimizu said. "Mess with her mind a little. The mage, too, if possible."

Ozumo grinned to reveal sharp teeth. "Of course, Mistress."

Shimizu grinned and watched as Ozumo transformed from his own form to the form of Ascot. Ozumo was a shape-shifter. He did not lose his powers after the completion of the prophecy, for shape-shifters were not demons as all... they were merely beasts.

"Good," Shimizu grinned. "I expect that you will do the job quite nicely."

Ozumo smile. "Of course." And with that, he disappeared.

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Wai~! This chapter was a little... dark. But there it is! Hope you liked it! I don't know when I'll have the next chapter up... I have plenty of ideas for it, but I don't know when I'll have a chance to write it...

Response to reviews:

Sab- Clef Lover, hyper*italian*gurl*, and Aranami-koi: Wai~! ^_^ So much love! *gets crushed* I'm so glad you liked "Ryoushi no Yoru" so much! Thanks, guys!!

a n g e l . w 1 n g: Hehe... I write fast? LOL I never really realized that... It always seems to me like I'm taking forever...

shazzam: I'm glad I got the sequel out at a good time! Hope you like chappie 2!!

Momentum, inu87yasha: Thanks so much for the support! Hope you like Chapter 2!

OK, I think that's it.... REVIEW EVERYONE!!! Reviews are VERY much appreciated! ^^