It was already late afternoon...
Eli and Umi had received another project coming from a celebrity couple and they are still brainstorming for ideas.
"So since they are both action celebrities, maybe we should set it up like this." Eli sooner started to draw on the paper, which was on the table.
Umi hummed, "That could work but why don't we add this?" She also started to draw as well.
Then, a doorbell interrupted the both of them and it made them turn their heads on the front door.
Eli raised an eyebrow, "I wonder who could that be." She then stood up and went to open it, seeing Tanya by the doorstep. The blonde blinked, "Tanya?"
Umi also stood up and went beside Eli, "Oh, Tanya! What brings you here?"
"Be ready. We are going to capture your father." Tanya replied.
Umi and Eli's eyes widened.
"When?" Umi asked.
"Tonight." Tanya answered, "We received reports from our spies and it seems your father is not that much of a decent human being."
"What do you mean?" Eli narrowed her eyes.
"Well, it seems that not only he trespassed into your property but he also committed a few more crimes such as illegal possession of firearms. Along with that, is illegal gambling and pushing drugs."
Umi narrowed her eyes also and nodded.
"Brenda and Honoka will also be there." Tanya sooner added.
Umi blinked, "Honoka and Brenda? So they came back from their trip?"
Tanya nodded.
Umi smiled.
"Alright."
And later that night...
Tanya, Brenda, Honoka, Eli, Umi and a few policemen were hiding behind the bushes just beside the forest entrance.
A woman with long black hair sooner arrived with a torch and went to the barn. The familiarity of the face made Umi and Eli's eyes widen in shock.
'Seth?!' The both of them thought.
Seth then sooner raised her chin up to look at the barn, her eyes were hovered with her bangs. And few minutes later, Umi's father went in and approached the black-haired female. Tanya just observes them for a moment.
Seth sooner faces Umi's father and the male smiled at her before speaking, "Good job in bringing me here, Seth."
The black-haired female looked down and nodded.
The father then continued, "Now, we shouldn't waste time here. Burn it down along with the stables. We must burn everything down and let it reduce to ashes. I don't care if they will call a lawyer on us both. Don't worry, I will handle our bails."
Seth tightened her grip on the torch then faces the barn. However, she hesitated, who wouldn't? Seth was also one of those people who rebuilt the ranch. But she wanted to give it some time.
Until...
A certain brown-haired girl entered the scene and approached the two, which made everyone's eyes widen in surprise.
'Thea?!' They, except Tanya, thought.
"Is this what you really want, Seth?" Thea sooner interrupted, making Seth and the male turn their heads at her.
"Thea..." Seth's eyes were widened, she didn't expect Thea to be here.
"Seth, remember when we first met? It was at this place, too. When I was carrying off things and you just approached me, asking for my number and such. Isn't that a treasure to you?" Thea narrowed her eyes. Her voice is firm yet gentle.
"But... I..." Seth halted.
"Listen to me, you always tell me about how bullshit life is. You also told me just how much you want to be with me under the same roof because you just want to be at peace."
"That was because—"
"It was because of this bastard's influence isn't?" Thea gritted her teeth as she pointed at the father, who narrowed his eyes at her.
"Watch your mouth, young lad—"
"Doesn't matter!" Thea raised her voice, interrupting the man in the process, "This is your life, Seth! You'd always tell me just how much you were afraid to be around in your home! Because you'd always tell me just how scary it is! And I was there to help you take that fear away! I want you to start over! With me!"
Seth gritted her teeth as she listened to the brown-haired. Just hearing her voice calmed her down for some reason.
It has always calmed her down...
"Seth! Are you going to just burn the place where we first met just to fulfill someone else's satisfaction?! I know that you don't like it! We planned to get married right?! After everything was over, we will go buy our dinner goddammit! So what the fuck are you doing there, holding that goddamn torch!? You think our future daughter would like what her mother is currently doing, Seth Sonoda, Umi's younger sister?!" Thea kept her voice in a steady, loud tone.
Everyone in the bushes, except Tanya, had their eyes widened still. Consecutive surprises are already more than enough for them to stay still.
'Way to really fill in the drama.' Tanya thought.
Seth loosened up and let out a smile before dropping off the torch and launching herself towards Thea, tackling her and wrapping her arms around Thea's neck. As soon as she finally got ahold of the brown-haired, she immediately released a bawl.
Thea stumbled back slightly but immediately regained her balance while pulling Seth close into a tight hug.
Umi's father then tched, "This is nonsense. If you won't do it then I will." He sooner picked up the torch and took out a lighter from his pocket, lit it up and pulled his hand back, which was holding the torch, attempting to throw it at the barn.
"Now!" Tanya ordered and she and everyone rushed out from the bushes, heading towards the trio. The father stopped as he turned his head towards them. Thea and Seth also looked at them with smiles on their faces.
"Halt! You are under arrest!" Tanya said as she aimed her pistol at the man while she used her free hand to raise her black wallet that contains her card as one of the police forces.
The father tched and glared at Seth, "You planned this?!"
Thea sooner stepped up and placed herself in front of Seth, "Don't blame her. I planned this."
The man gritted his teeth and eventually took out a gun.
Tanya narrowed her eyes and her fellow policemen rose their rifles and pistols at the man while raising their shields up for protection.
"It's over, father." Umi said as she stepped up.
"Not until I kill you." The man aimed his gun at the blue-haired.
"Umi!" Eli immediately went in front of the blue-haired female and pulled her into a tight hug.
The man sooner fired the gun.
Eli then closed her eyes tightly at the sound, she was long prepared to get hit by a bullet if it meant protecting the one she loves.
But mysteriously, she didn't feel something piercing into her skin. She opened her eyes few moments later to see what happened.
Seeing Tanya in front of them. The white-haired was holding up a shield, which she borrowed from one of the police officers and the bullet struck there instead. The shield area, where the bullet landed, released a light smoke.
Umi's father's eyes then widened, "That... can't b—" But he didn't get to finish his sentence for few of the policemen suddenly went and pinned him down on the ground. One of them then forcibly put the man's hands around his back and cuffed him while the man struggled.
The man gritted his teeth, "Let me go! You don't know who you're dealing with!"
"Are you gonna be okay?" Eli asked Umi, who nodded up at her.
The blue-haired woman then went up towards her father and looked down at him, her eyes were softened as she just gazes at the pitiful parent.
"Umi... I'm sorry, but tell them to release me this instant. I swear I won't burn it down. I will go somewhere else! Y-You can have this ranch all you want! That's a good deal, right? It's a win-win, right?" The father was obviously pleading while wearing his most nervous and pitiful smile while he waits for Umi's answer.
Umi shook her head, "I'm sorry, father. But I can never trust your words nor your offers. But I want to thank you for taking care of me and my sister." She sooner bowed down and it just made her father's eyes widen in shock, "However, like I said..."
"...It's over."
"Wha... Umi—" But it was too late for the policemen already picked him up and dragged him away.
Umi sooner took a deep breath to calm her nerves down.
Eli sooner walked up towards the other female from behind, "Umi, are you okay?"
Umi turned around and glared up at the blonde, "Okay?! Do I look like okay to you!? You almost got yourself killed!" She shouted and it made the blonde flinch.
But Eli could feel the worry behind Umi's voice so she just stayed silent and looked down. But Eli looked back at her lover and raised her hands, "I'm sorry..." Her voice is gentle and apologetic.
Brenda and Honoka blinked in surprise as they watched.
"O-Oh wow, not only we get to see what is really happening, but we also get to witness Umi, being mad at Eli." Brenda said as she crossed her arms.
Honoka giggled nervously, "Now I feel guilty of not being able to help at all. We should have stayed ho—Oh wait! I almost forgot!" She sooner rushed up towards her blue-haired friend, "Umi!"
Umi then turned her head towards the orange-haired woman, "What is it?"
Honoka then took a deep breath before looking over at Brenda who nodded and looking back at Umi, "We should meet up tomorrow! I have something to say to you."
The blue-haired female blinked before nodding, "Okay then."
Honoka smiled, "You, me and Nozomi only. Got it?"
Umi smiled back, "Okay."
Eli sooner focused her gaze at Brenda, who just smiled at her.
The next day...
Back to where Umi and Nozomi talked. The blue-haired female found herself leaning forward and resting her elbows on the railings while staring at the rows of maple trees, which were making a mess by letting their leaves fall around the clear water below. Few moments later, Honoka and Nozomi came.
"Umi!" Honoka called out with a wave and Umi perked her ears up before turning her head towards them.
"Honoka! Nozomi!" Umi sooner stood up erectly to face them.
Nozomi smiled as she looked at the orange-haired, "Go on."
Honoka sooner took a deep breath before she started to speak, "Umi, there's something I have to confess. It started when we went to Austin."
After hearing that from Honoka, Umi knew that it was about Eli. She stood still and prepared herself for a long sermon and probably a fight.
"You see Umi... I don't love Eli anymore." Honoka finally confessed.
Umi blinked in surprise, "Eh?"
Honoka giggled, "I said I don't love Eli anymore. I love Brenda instead."
"E-Eh?!" Umi's heart was filled with great relief for some reason but she has to stop herself from jumping with joy and focused in listening to her friend.
Honoka sooner softened her eyes, "Umi, I know that you and Eli love each other the most. I had begun noticing it ever since that day when we rebuilt the ranch."
The blue-haired softened her eyes and looked down sadly, which made Honoka flinch and flail her hands on her chest level.
"C-Cheer up! I'm not mad!" Honoka chuckled, "In all actuality, I thought you would be the one to get mad at me because I fell in love with someone else while I am together with Eli."
Umi sooner looked up at her with a smile, "Silly. You didn't know how worried I was when I fell in love with Eli right when you two already have something special."
"No worries about that, Umi!~ Just don't steal Brenda!" Honoka grinned.
Nozomi chuckled, "I guess, it ended well huh? But don't you think there's something that you two must do?"
Umi looked at the purple-haired woman before turning to Honoka, who looked back at her. The two of them then nodded.
"Let's correct everything." The duo said simultaneously.
The next day...
In the middle of a vast field of greens filled with white flowers lies a gigantic tree, where in its branches spread in a spider web fashion. The gentle and cool wind, which was playing along the grasses and flowers, as well as the tree's leaves that creates a large shade underneath the branches accompany it. It can fit multiple groups of people and around the ends of the field are rows of trees.
A tall woman with long, blond hair tied into a high ponytail walked up towards the giant tree and stopped in her tracks once she got near it but she stayed out of the tree's shade and looked at what is in front of her—more like, who is in front of her. The woman has bright, blue orbs and a fair tone of skin.
"Life has always been something we couldn't understand. Sometimes, it's on our side and sometimes, it's against us. It is something that can either keeps us high or low, makes us weak or strong. And along the way, we find ourselves lost in the middle of the road in life's hands. Have I gone lost? Of course I did. Have I found my way?"
A beautiful woman in a white dress was facing the tree's trunk, looking up at its branches and leaves with a smile. As she felt the blonde's presence, the woman turned around to face her and the woman's smile grew into a grin, it looked like that the woman has been waiting for the blonde.
"Yes, I did."
The blonde smiled back at the other before she walked towards the woman as the wind continues to caress everything it touches in its gentlest way.
"Eli!" The woman was Honoka.
"Honoka... So what did you call me out here for?"
"Well, I called you here to talk about us."
The blonde just nodded.
"You know... you are better with Umi-chan than with me." Honoka said, her grin reverted back into a gentle smile.
"I know." Eli chuckled, "And you are better with Brenda."
"So, should we correct our relationships and end it here?" Honoka asked.
"It was fun to be with you though." Eli smiled at the orange-haired.
"Same here! I pray for your happiness with Umi-chan!" Honoka said.
Umi sooner walked up towards them with a smile on her face.
"Well, she's here so I better leave you two alone." Honoka peeked over the blonde's shoulder before she went close and pulled her into a warm embrace. After few seconds, the orange-haired let go of the blonde and walked away, turning to her friend in the process, "You go, girl." She winked before she left.
Umi saw that and blushed slightly before she approached the blonde, who sooner turned around to face her, "Eli..." Umi called out before she wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck.
Eli then held her back, "Umi..."
"So how did it go?" Umi smiled up at her.
"It went well." Eli answered.
Umi giggled before she leaned up to nuzzle the blonde's neck, "We should go to the doctor."
The blonde female's eyes widened, "Why? Are you sick?"
Umi sooner pulled out and turned her heels to walk away, "Who knows?"
Eli raised an eyebrow in curiosity before she went to follow the other female.
"Eli." Umi called out again as she stopped in her tracks.
The blonde also stopped and kept her gaze at the blue-haired woman.
Umi then gently turned around, her smile is still plastered on her face as she placed her hand on her stomach, "I think I'm ready."
A sudden and sheer joy flooded Eli's heart, which made her eyes widen. She already knew what that meant. The feeling became unbearable to hold that she just went and happily embraced her lover.
Umi giggled and hugged back.
Eli sooner pressed her forehead against the other female's. Their smiles could reach their ears because they finally found the happiness that they always sought.
The soft light coming from the sun entered the gaps between their faces while the leaves coming from the tree rained down and created a mess around them, creating the same intense and romantic atmosphere around them.
And a thought entered Eli's mind:
'All of us are meant to be misled by life and it is up to us if we want to take risks in finding our right path. And I'm so glad I took mine.'
~THE END~
A/N: Heeeey guyyys! Here is the final chapter of the novel! Hope you guys enjoyed reading it! How's it going by the way? Good? Good! Bad? Relax for a while and listen to some music! High five! If you liked this EliUmi story be sure to vote for it and comment about it! And if you have fellow EliUmi shippers, share this to them! It is available in Wattpad and AO3!