Author's Note I own none of these characters. CLAMP does. Rated PG for shoujo-ai.

Umi clutched her movie ticket and twirled her hair agitatedly. Reaching into her bag, she checked her reflection in her mirror once again. 'This is crazy,' she thought. 'Why am I so nervous? It's only Hikaru...my best friend.' But she knew it was not that. Hikaru was more than a best friend to Umi. The innocent young red haired girl was more dear to her than anyone else. Even Fuu.
Fuu. Thinking about how Fuu would react caused Umi to feel even more nervous. The three of them were like sisters, fighting together until the end. Umi didn't want to lose Fuu's friendship, but all she could possibly think about was Hikaru. Fuu had Ferio, that was true, but if anything were to happen between the other two, Umi worried Fuu would be hurt.
And of course there was Lantis. Lantis, the strong, silent fighter who loved Hikaru as his brother had loved Emeraude. Umi sighed. There were no two ways about it. Hikaru was already in love, and as long as she was happy with Lantis, there was nothing Umi could do without hurting the smaller girl. The most she could do was just tell Hikaru how she felt. Just to get her feelings out. It was driving her crazy, keeping something inside like this. Umi's mind was made up. She simply had to get it off her chest.
Just as Umi reached her decision, a pair of hands closed over he eyes. The blue haired girl gave a start. Behind her, Hikaru laughed.
"Hi, Umi!" Hikaru looked tired, but that didn't seem to have any effect on her cheerful attitude. "Sorry I'm late. I've got my ticket and popcorn for both of us!" Umi allowed herself to put aside her problems and let herself float away on Hikaru's nonstop waves of energy. She would enjoy her time with Hikaru, before everything changed, as it would.
The two girls entered the movie theatre, stumbling and giggling in the darkness. As Umi scanned the full rows of seats, her heart sank. It looked like she wouldn't be sitting with Hikaru. 'Great,' she thought. 'What's the point of coming to a movie and sitting by myself? I might as well-'
Umi was jolted out of her thoughts as Hikaru grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the back of the theatre. There were two seats together, right in the middle of the back row. Umi picked her way through the disgruntled moviegoers and sat down, Hikaru to her right.
Umi noticed with some pleasure that Hikaru hadn't still let go of her hand. 'Not that that means anything,' Umi thought. 'That's just Hikaru for you.' Still, it was nice to imagine that the two of them were on an actual date. Colour rose to her cheeks as she thought this, and her hand stiffened involuntarily.
"Oh..." Hikaru barely whispered. "Sorry...I just..." Umi peered closer at Hikaru's face. Was it just her, or was Hikaru blushing? No, it was just the dimness of the movie theatre playing tricks on her eyes.
The people around hushed the two girls as the lights dimmed further and the previews flashed up on the screen. It was a silly chick flick, the only movie showing that hadn't been sold out. Umi paid no attention, planning over and over what she could possibly say to Hikaru.
Just as the girl onscreen fell into the arms of the man of her dreams, Hikaru's head leaned on Umi's shoulder. She had dozed off, leaving Umi to sit there, unwilling to wake her.
Umi tried to relax, pretending that this happened every day. And maybe-just maybe- it might, if she could only summon the courage she needed to confess her love to Hikaru. Once again, she tried to puzzle out her feelings. How was the love she felt for Hikaru different from what she felt for Fuu, or Ascot, for that matter? At last, a question she knew the answer to. She wanted to hold Hikaru tight, never letting go, kissing her softly for eternity.
But she couldn't just say that. There didn't seem to be anything she could tell Hikaru that described how she felt without seeming totally crazy.
Before Umi could torment herself with more questions, the lights came back on and the people around rose to leave. Umi shook Hikaru gently to wake her up. It was too bad, really, Hikaru looked so content and blissful. Umi wished she could stay like this forever.
But her body did not obey her heart, and Umi found herself shaking a little harder, until Hikaru's eyelids fluttered open, looking into Umi's deep blue eyes. "Was I...asleep?" she asked. Umi nodded, somehow unable to speak. "I'm sorry!" Hikaru cried. "I didn't mean to ruin the movie for you!"
Umi found her voice and said perfectly honestly, "Hikaru, you could never ruin anything for me. And I'm glad you could sleep. You looked so tired."
Hikaru flushed. "You're right, I guess. I haven't been able to sleep lately. And it isn't just Cephiro, it's...oh, just things. I know I look awful-and-" Hikaru gasped suddenly as a thought entered her mind. "I didn't talk in my sleep, did I?" Her ruby eyes glistened with tears.
Umi listened to Hikaru and replied "You slept like a baby the whole time. Why don't you come back to my house and tell me about your problems?" Umi was surprised to hear a catch in her own voice. "Hikaru, I think you look beautiful. You will always look beautiful to me." She wiped away the tears from Hikaru's eyes as she said this last part.
Hikaru sniffed. "Oh Umi, you shouldn't say such nice things because I'm your friend..." Umi placed a hand over her mouth to silence her.
"Let's just go to my house," she suggested quietly. "Why don't you sleep over? I have some old pajamas you could wear!" Umi was anxious to make Hikaru feel better and become the same enthusiastic girl who had attracted her attention that fateful day at Tokyo Tower.
Hikaru brightened at the prospect of a sleepover at Umi's. Umi's parents were not only wealthy, but they had the best food, and were so kind. Fuu and Hikaru had practically become their second daughters. And as an only child, Umi had the added bonus of lots of privacy. Hikaru could confide everything that had been plaguing her for the past month. She was sure everything would fall into place.
Umi placed an arm protectively around Hikaru's shoulders and led her out of the now-empty theatre. Hikaru shivered at Umi's touch, something she hoped the taller girl couldn't feel through her thick sweatshirt. Just this once, she allowed herself to think about Umi before Cephiro.
Umi. Umi, the beautiful girl Hikaru loved. Everything was clear now. She loved Lantis-that was true-but not the way he loved her, or the way she loved Umi. After spending weeks of sleepless nights, she realized what she had to do. She had to tell Umi, even thought it would probably mean the end of their friendship. She had to tell. There were no secrets between the girls.
They arrived back at Umi's house, just as it started to rain. The two quickly ran inside and up to Umi's spacious room. Umi flopped down on her bed, long legs gracefully crossed. Her slender arm gestured for Hikaru to sit next to her.
Suddenly, Hikaru felt awkward. Awkwardness was not a feeling the outgoing, energetic girl felt often. She sat down next to Umi, her hands itching to reach out and feel Umi's beautiful long hair, so unlike her own unruly locks.
"What was it you wanted to tell me?" Umi's voice rang a thousand bells in Hikaru's heart.
'How could I possibly explain? How can I tell my best friend I've fallen in love with her?' Hikaru took a deep breath. No matter what it took, she was going to tell Umi. Even if it cost her their friendship.
Then, just as Hikaru opened her mouth to speak, Umi cut in. "No," she said. Hikaru saw tears in Umi's eyes. "Hikaru, I have something to tell you. Something that will probably make you hate me. But I just can't keep it inside any longer! Hikaru, I-I-I love you!" Umi broke down sobbing. "I know you have Lantis, and Eagle, too. And to you I'll just be like a sister-if you still want to be my friend. And if Lantis is who makes you happy, then I-then I won't do anything to stop you. Just please, please forgive me!" Umi choked on her violent sobs.
A tidal wave of emotion swept Hikaru's body. There was pain of seeing Umi cry, and joy that her love was returned. There was confusion-how could this be happening? All her feelings mixed and she simply could not express herself in words along. She acted on an impulse, as she so often did, reaching out to embrace the crying girl.
"Umi," she whispered. "Umi! Don't cry, Umi. I love you too! I love you! I love you!!" Her voice rose until the last "I love you" was nearly a shout.
Umi raised her tear-stained face. She managed a smile. "Hikaru, I don't mean that way. You don't love me the way you do Lantis. And I can accept that. But I can't move on...I'll love you forever, even though you don't love me back." Umi placed a slim hand on Hikaru's cheek.
Hikaru looked into Umi's eyes. "You're right. But you're also wrong." Hikaru's voice was serious. "I don't love you the way I love Lantis. The way I love you is different from anything else. I loved Lantis like a brother. The way I love my family. Eagle, too. But you, you, Umi. You are the one who is dearest to my heart. This is what has been troubling me all this time. And now, we don't have to worry about anything! We can be together, forever!" Hikaru laughed through the tears she was surprised to find pouring down her face. "Oh, Umi! This is so perfect! This is the most wonderful feeling on earth!"
Umi was too astonished to do anything. But her mind cleared, and she laughed too. The two girls hugged, crying and laughing, their love spinning a web of joy, meant for two.
Hikaru rested her head on Umi's shoulder, breathing deep the scent of her love. Everything was wonderful. No worries plagued either girl. Their hearts sang the beautiful songs of love as they lay together on Umi's bed.