A/N: This is a short chapter, but it was one of those scenes that you have in your head even before you start the fanfiction. And all you do is build the fanfiction around it, so I just wrote it and then added stuff to make it another two pages. Next chapter will be longer, I promise.

Chapter Fifteen

Umi ran from them. She ran as hard and as fast as she could, wishing only that she could spread wings and fly from this place. She wished she had never come here, here was no different from earth. Why did they have to torment her so? Why couldn't she remember? Was she just that weak? She wanted to remember, with all her heart, and the images were there, she just…she couldn't make them out.

Tears blinded her as she ran, and she barely noticed when she had run to the Master Mage's study. She gasped, realizing where she had been running to, "Clef?" she whispered. Could he help her? No, she thought angrily, I've tried. He refused to help me.

"Umi-hime," a gentle voice made her spin, and the waves crashed in her eyes when she saw Clef's gentle blue eyes.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"To know why you're standing outside my study," he answered simply, and she looked back from him, to the doors.

"I-I…don't know," she admitted and hung her head. "I just don't know anything."

"Come inside," Clef offered as he threw open a hand and the doors swung wide. "I don't know what I can do, but…maybe, just maybe…I can help."

I don't want to do I? He asked himself but banished the thoughts. It was my spell; I don't want her to remember, could that be causing this lapse? Stop it! The sensible half of his brain shouted as he led her into his study.

She stared around her in wonder at the rows and rows of not just books, put parchments and documents. At the very back was a large desk cluttered with parchments and small trinkets that he must have been experimenting with. Clef sighed and clapped as everything vanished from his desk to some unknown place. He leaned against the front as he took everything about her in with a penetrating gaze.

Umi looked at the ground and knew her cheeks were flushed. She did like the way he looked…What are you thinking? A voice in her mind growled. She didn't understand that voice. Why did it feel so wrong when she thought of Clef like that? Because he's the Master Mage…she sighed to herself, but no…that wasn't it.

"As you've most likely noticed there are things from your past you don't remember…" Clef grimaced, not wanting to go too far into the story. What if I slip or say something I don't think about first and she dies? I must not let that happen, I must be extra careful.

"Yes, something about us being Princess'," Umi sniffed. She couldn't imagine herself leading an entire country, even with Fuu and Hikaru's help.

"Yes something about that, and something about Shadow. I can't tell you more, it may-harm you."

She looked into his concerned blue eyes and felt as if she had been here before. Standing in front of him like this, looking into those eyes, confessing her deep secrets except for maybe one. She tilted her head and the image was gone, and hope was vanquished from his eyes, "I wish I could remember."

"Me too," his said softly, pushing it from his throat.

She walked forward in an impulse and ran a porcelain hand over his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into the embrace, smelling lavender and roses from a recent bath. She was about to pull back, but he gently gripped his wrist and pulled her toward him. She gasped softly, not out of fright but out of surprise. Being wrapped in his arms felt good. She smiled gently as he bent down and kissed her, but the kiss wasn't gentle as she had expected, it was fiery and passionate, and she felt warmth flood all over her body.

She looked up into his eyes, "Guru?" she questioned, and everything came flooding back in a rush.

{She was standing in this very study, confessing to Clef that she possibly didn't love Ascot the way he thought she did. That, what if Ascot wasn't the one? She felt her heart pounding, because she knew the man in front of her was the one}

{Ascot smiled softly as he kissed her gently, in a way unlike the kiss she had just gotten. He grinned and took her hand as they walked around the gardens, talking and laughing, but somehow something wasn't the same as it had been. It seemed almost as if something was missing.}

{"I bet you can't beat me," Umi challenged, and Fuu and Hikaru gave it their best, but never did beat her.

"You are certainly the best Umi-chan," Hikaru grinned, and Umi bowed teasingly, flourishing her arms.

"Let me try Umi-hime," Eagle walked forward and laughed at his quick defeat. "I should have known if Hikaru couldn't defeat you I certainly couldn't."

That was the Eagle she knew, she remembered.}

{"Come on Umi you have to come!" Ascot shouted desperately, but she couldn't abandon her people, no matter what Clef said.

"No!" she screamed and heard the clangs of metal in her head and the boots on grass. She heard Selece and the ocean scream. She heard the waves crash angrily in her head and tried to cast, but Ascot grabbed her arms and pulled her away.

She met them in Clef's study, and he was ready. He seemed to sigh, but all she could do was glower at him. He sighed sadly and shook his head, then raised his hands and all was lost.}

She pulled away quickly, guilt flooding through her.

"Hime?" he whispered, and she turned and scampered out of the room. "Umi wait!" he called after her but she kept running.

*

She sprawled into Hikaru's room only to find Fuu there as well.

"Umi-chan?" Hikaru looked concerned.

"I remember," Umi whispered, and tears began to pour down her cheeks. She couldn't be strong, not now. Not that she had betrayed Ascot, not now that she had finally learned that Clef cared for her too.

"Umi-san," Fuu and Hikaru knelt by her side and comforted her the best they could.

"You haven't gotten your ovum," Hikaru told her softly and touched her hand where her ovum should lie.

"I can't face him," Umi shook her head. "Not now," she laughed bitterly.

"What happened?" Fuu's eyes were worried, but curious all the same. Just what was it that could rip the strength right from her body?

"It's too complicated, everything is just too complicated…"

*

"Damn that Water Knight!" she screamed and threw a hand against the wall.

"I'm sorry My Lady," Eagle bowed to her, but she shook her head.

"No Eagle, sorry will not undo what has been done. You will pay for this, and pay dearly," she whispered. "The first I kill will be your Fire Knight. The first will be her, and then the Wind Knight, and then I'll leave the Water Knight to suffer."

"No!" Eagle tried a spell, but she quickly shielded it and used another. She threw him against the wall, and he lie there, completely still.

"Fool!" she shouted for herself more than Eagle, "I should have known it was the Fire Knight all along. Not even a Protector can completely turn."

*

"Umi-chan, you have to go get your armor and your magic," Hikaru told her softly, and Umi shook her head.

"Can't face him," she whispered, and they looked confused. "I can't look into his eyes. They-we-know."

"Come on," Fuu and Hikaru helped her up. "We'll take you to Ascot."

"No!" Umi protested, but they didn't take no, they pulled her with them and took her to Ascot's room.

*

"Umi?" he whispered, and tears filled his eyes. "My Umi?"

"Hai," the two nodded when all Umi could do was look down and mumble.

"What's wrong?" he let them in and set her on his bed.

"She won't let us go to Clef to give her her ovum," Hikaru looked at Umi sternly. "But then won't tell us why she won't."

"I just can't face him," Umi mumbled miserably.

"Can't face your Protector? Umi that's silly," he laughed and took her hands. "Whatever Eagle's said…"

"Eagle," Umi's eyes shot open. "Something's happened to Eagle."

"I know," Hikaru looked down. "I knew I shouldn't have banished him from the palace, but I felt it too. I don't know what, but I feel as if…as if maybe there's good to be found in this."

"He was being controlled by Shadow Hikaru, he had to have been," Umi stood and clenched her fists. "I will destroy her yet."

"Well to do that you first have to get your ovum," Hikaru told her, and Umi nodded slowly.

"I guess I do."

*

"Are you ready to retake your oaths and defend Cephiro, Magic Knight of Water?" Clef tried to keep his voice formal, but the hesitance was enough to make everyone question what had happened between the two. Whatever it was, it was strong enough to make Umi remember.

"I am," she answered strongly, and he nodded.

"Then so be it," and in a flash of blue Water magic Umi was wrapped up and her armor was replaced and the ovum on her hand glittered.

'Magic Knight,' something from inside whispered, and she grinned and summoned him in spirit form.

'Selece.'

'Trust thine heart,' he whispered for her ears alone, and she paled but hugged him all the same before he disappeared back into her gem.

Clef turned his head from her and walked away. It is best; I couldn't have lived in that fantasy world forever. She knows it too; it is best.