Bounded by Orenji Yume
An Umi/Clef fic
A/N: Alternate Universe, slight OOC, and besides Umi and Clef, some other characters are inside as well. I took ideas from all over to come up with this fic, the sources include Wish, Angel Sanctuary, RPGs, fanfics I read before etc. Lately, I've been interested in the idea of heaven, hell and the human world. Thus, this fic came about.
STORY: A short, simple Umi/Clef fic. Umi's a water angel, and Clef's a human she met. The first time, when she visited the human world for the first time. The second time, not long after she was sent down to the human world for that very mistake she made... I'm sorry if I didn't write well. Enjoy!
(Note about chapter 1: This chapter is basically on Umi's background, and how she met Clef for the first time.)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Magic Knight Rayearth, CLAMP does.
Upon hearing the knocking, the marine-haired angel shot up from where she was, and quickly used her hand to stir the body of water before her. Turning around after doing so, she rose to meet eyes with a red-haired angel. Her long, curly hair was in a simple plait, and her flaming eyes shone. She was dressed in a sleeveless robe, with strings of ruby, red beads that was linked from the shoulders of her robe, along her arm, to the golden cuffs around her wrists. Around her neck and ankles, were rings of crimson, red beads, and she also wore ruby earrings. The angel walked down the blue stairway, her bare feet left behind flickers of fire on the ground.
"What is it, Hikaru?"
As Hikaru reached the ground and went towards the other, her face bore a smile, "We've just became one of the eight elements angels, so that means we have the power to enter the human world disguised, don't we?"
"I...guess so..."
The fire angel's smile widened, "Then why don't we do that, Umi? I wanted to ask Fuu along, but I couldn't find her."
Nodding in agreement, the water angel replied, "I don't mind..." 'I've always wanted to do so before...' And that urge just grew before Hikaru entered, Umi had seen something...so beautiful...
……Flashback……
Again, she had that same tug at her heart. 'I want to observe the human world yet again...' Lying down on her stomach, Umi stretched out a hand over the mirror of water, ordering it to reflect the events of the human world. As her hand passed over the body of water, it shimmered and an image started to appear. As usual, the water angel would watch how the humans went about their daily life, and sometimes wished she could reach out to them.
Right now, it was the morning rush for the humans she saw, and she could not help but wonder, was she once like that? As well as Hikaru and Fuu. They were in the same school, and always walked together to arrive to school on time. But on one morning, things were different...they met with an accident. In the end, they died. Umi tried to remember how she felt like then, but her head only ached, and so did her heart. With one hand, she rubbed the temples of her head, and later ran her hand over her chest. The pain was gone.
And then she relaxed. Why should she even try to recall how she felt then? She knew she couldn't, so why should she even try? 'I'm an angel now, and more importantly, I'm the water angel of the eight elements angels now...' Shaking her head, she tried to get rid of her wild thoughts. 'Angels...are not supposed to actually have emotions...they're supposed to be...perfect beings, that's why. So what's wrong with me?' Laughing at herself, Umi attempted to lighten up. 'Fuu can understand that, and even Hikaru. So...I should as well...'
Just then, something caught her eye. Jerking her head towards the water mirror, she saw someone... 'Or something...' Leaning forward, she told the water mirror to shift its focus on that particular something... Her body relaxed as she saw that something so closely and clearly. 'I don't know...I just...that...beautiful...' A smile spreaded across her face. 'Beautiful...' And then, she heard someone knocking the door of her room.
……End of flashback……
Now, the two angels were disguised. Hikaru was in a simple, red T- shirt, along with a pair of black jeans and dark green shoes. Her ears still had that same pair of earrings, and her hand now had a metal watch strapped on. The fire angel's hair remained the same. Umi was in a sky blue blouse, as well as a long and tight, white skirt and a pair of royal blue shoes. Her ears had a pair of sapphire, blue earrings, and a sliver charm anklet hung around her left foot. Her long, flowing, blue hair stayed as it was.
"Shall we?" Umi's azure eyes brightened.
"Yes," Hikaru nodded.
With that, the two of them disappeared in a flash, and very soon found themselves on the human world, in a quiet ally. Exchanging looks at each other, they nodded at each other and, hand in hand, walked out into the brighter side of the street. People rubbed shoulders with each other without much complain, and voices mingled with one another to form a humming noise. Umi held herself back. She was almost frightened of this scene. It felt like she had not been here for so long already, though she knew otherwise.
On the other hand, Hikaru was still quite excited, maybe she had not lost the feeling on the human world, Umi guessed. But then again, it was quite impossible. How were they supposed to retain that feeling when in the first place, they don't actually have feelings? 'Maybe...she's just discovering a new world...' Umi nodded at that thought. That sounded more plausible. 'The feeling of discovering a new world...at least that was better than coming back to the past...I guess...'
As the two, wandering angels were awed by the sights they saw, they did not realise what trouble they had just landed in...
……Back in Heaven……
"I can't seem to find any of them," An angel reported, a worried expression bore on her face. She had short, fair hair, and emerald green eyes. She wore a short sleeve, green robe, with strings of light green beads that hung down from her sleeves. A dark green sash was wrapped around her waist. Around her neck and ankles, were strings of grass green beads, and she also had a pair of jade green earrings, dangling and shaking softly, as the wind that surrounded the angel blew across.
Another angel took the information in, and mulled over the problem, "Where could they have gone?" The angel had soft, brown hair that reached his shoulders, and his dark eyes frowned. And then he called out to the wind angel standing before him. "Fuu, did they...hint at anywhere they may be going when you last saw them?"
"Umi didn't say anything..." Biting her lower lip, Fuu realised something. "But Hikaru did say..." And then she shook her head. "But Hikaru mentioned that yesterday so...I don't think they could've gone there, Nakima." She gazed at the earth angel, hoping the matter would pass.
Another voice broke in, "Whatever! I don't care whether it was today or yesterday!! Just say it!!!" The angel had short, golden hair and bright, amber eyes. Fuming away, he crossed his arms. "If only someone had informed them of the meeting earlier..."
"Are you pointing your finger at me, Watakina?" An angel with long, ice blue hair and pale blue eyes stared at the muttering angel. "Never mind...it's usual of you to push the blame anyway..." Flicking her hair back, the strings of ice intertwining through her hair clicked together.
Watakina cried out, "Of course I am!!!!! You were supposed to inform them yesterday!!!!!!! Stupid ice angel...stupid Houji..."
"Idiot lightning angel..." Houji replied coolly. "If you hadn't stopped me yesterday, then I would've found them earlier and this wouldn't have happened...all you do is annoy me..."
The lightning angel's eyes flashed, "You-"
"You two, quiet!" Nakima raised his voice over theirs. "Go and see what's taking the other two so long to come here..."
Rolling his eyes, Watakina told Nakima, "They're obviously taking their own time with each other..."
"Let's go..." Houji pulled Watakina, who was soon shouting at the ice angel, and struggling to get away.
Sighing, Nakima remarked, "That's better." Rubbing his ears, he smiled. "So, where did you say they might've went?"
"The human world..."
……On Earth……
"Um...Hikaru..." Umi pulled at Hikaru's sleeve. "I think we're lost..."
"I know..." Hikaru frowned. "I don't seem to remember this place..."
The two were now close together, staring around them at the dark street. It was so quiet, too quiet. Just then, they heard footsteps echoing behind them. Turning around, they saw a group of men closing in on them. Gulping, Hikaru whispered to Umi.
"Do you think that they..."
A look of horror passed over Umi's face, "You mean..."
"I haven't seem you two before...where did you two come from...?" A voice crept out at them.
'What...?' Umi clenched her fist. 'If only...if only I could attack them now...but...we're not supposed to reveal our powers as much as possible...' She glanced over at Hikaru. 'But this is an emergency! If we don't attack them then...we may...we may just...' Umi's head screamed at that very thought. 'No way! No way will I allow that!'
"Hikaru...are you?"
The fire angel nodded, "We have no other choice, do we?"
"Yeah..."
Then, that same voice called out, "What are you two discussing over there? Don't even dream of escaping from here..."
The water angel shook her head, "We're about to prove you all wrong..."
Umi opened her mouth, but at that second, something seemed to frighten the group of men away. They let out a shout and ran away, leaving behind a confused duo. Umi blinked. 'That couldn't have scared them away...could it? No way...'
"Are you two alright?"
The two angels were faced with a human. He had locks of purple hair, that fell over his face. His lavender eyes shone. The human was dressed simply, but to Umi, it was a different thing. Her heart tugged. 'Wasn't...wasn't he who I saw before...? B-beautiful...' She could feel her heart aching now, as well as her head. She winced. 'W-what is this?'
"We're fine, thank you," Hikaru answered. "Thanks for helping us."
The human smiled, "I didn't do anything. I just heard a shout, so I came over to see what was wrong. I'm glad you two are fine."
And then, Hikaru saw Umi staring down, one hand over her chest, "What's wrong, Umi?"
The water angel was forced a smile at the fire angel, "It's nothing much." The throbbing pain in her heart and head continued. She herself had questions. 'What is wrong with me?'
Hikaru was bending over her, confused by what Umi was going through. Then, Umi saw the human coming over, and words flew at her. 'Why am I feeling this way? No, I'm not supposed to. Is this considered a feeling? No, it shouldn't.' He placed his hands on her shoulders, and he looked at her with a concerned expression.
"Is there something I can do...to help you?"
Umi stared up at him. 'Oh no...I...I can't help but think...' She winced. 'He's...so beautiful...' More pain cut through her. 'Argh...no...I can't take this pain any longer...it's too much for me...or it there more coming?' And then, she thought she saw something. A dark glow behind the human. 'Who is it? What is it doing to him? Or could it be doing something to me...?'
But before she could think any longer, a familiar voice came, "There they are!"
Upon hearing that voice, it seemed as though half of her burden had vanished. That is...
"Nakima!" Hikaru cried out, she then she caught sight of another. "Fuu! What are you two doing here...?" Her voice was bright at first, but gradually it softened into a murmur.
The earth angel merely gave Hikaru a firm nod, before going towards the human with a smile on his face. Fuu went over to the two angels. By then, Umi's pain had passed, and she was alright again.
Fuu explained in a low whisper, "You two are in trouble..."
"What?" Umi whispered sharply, with a shock expression.
"I thought I sensed it..." Hikaru gave a cute pout.
Nakima nodded once more, "Thank you. We'll be on our way then." With a wave, he pulled the trio along and they disappeared around the corner.
Taking a few cautious steps, the purple-haired human inched forward, before running quickly to look around the corner. He could not see any trace of the four. They just...vanished.
……In Heaven……
"Nobody informed us..." The water angel argued.
"But you shouldn't have gone done without telling anyone!!"
Umi glared, "But we don't need to anymore..."
Watakina gritted his teeth, "Even so...!!!"
Pushing the lightning angel aside, Houji stepped in between, "That doesn't matter anymore. All you two need to know is that, you are in trouble. And your punishment will be coming very soon."
At that moment, Nakima appeared, immediately telling the rest what he had just heard, "You two will be sent down to the human world for ten days, with your powers and wings taken away from you during those ten days. As for the rest, I supposed you already know the details."
Umi nodded. She had been through this a dozen times already, before she became one of the eight elements angels. The only difference was the amount of time she spent down there. This time, ten days was the longest period of time yet. As for the rest, she knew that she and Hikaru would be staying at another person's place. That person was actually an angel, but she prefers working on the human world. What does she do? She's a guardian angel. Sighing, Umi's thoughts wandered yet again. 'Why can she remain there? But I have to stay up here...I just don't see the reason behind it...'
"I think you know the reason why, it's quite clear," The ice angel's voice suddenly interrupted, as if she had been reading Umi's mind all along. "It's just that you don't want to accept it."
Blinking at Houji, Umi sighed again, "I guess so..."
'Our duties are different...hers is to watch over the humans she's assigned to. And mine? To guard heaven, and if needed, the human world. Even though my rank is one of the highest in heaven...but still, that doesn't mean more freedom for me...Instead, it means more tasks to carry out, more responsibility on my part, and more burden to carry on my shoulders...'
Bounded, bounded by the duty I have to go about. Bounded, bounded by the tasks I have to carry out
END
A/N: Concerning the length of the chapters, I'll add on as I go along.