DISCLAIMER: I do not own Magic Knights Rayearth nor do I claim to. I just like the show and wanted to write a little something for it.

Sestercentennial - Means 250 years

Squall - Is another term for a storm.

_[ STORY ]_

After their initial reintroduction, the group started to discuss the flair of magic; none had a clue why Hikaru's magic which had gone dormant after Mokona left with Rayearth and the other mecha suddenly became active. Fuu and Umi chose to keep their names from Clef which he was not happy over, but could understand at one point his stomach made its plea to the mage to eat, loud enough that the others heard, they laughed as he scowled.

When Clef refused to leave his office to eat saying he was fine, the laughing stopped and knowing how stubborn he can be Hikaru pulled his chair back and thankful he was still small picked him from his seat and started to walk. Umi stifled a chuckle at the mages shocked face; that was how Clef found himself at a table with the strange girls, Caldina having to excuse herself.

"So before this whole mess started we had planned a birthday party for you," Umi said, pulling a small pastry from a white box, "so with lunch we have a little something for you to celebrate."

"Well, you could have told me that," Clef said, "there was no need to drag me here."

"Maybe, but would that have worked?" Umi said.

"Fair point," he said as Fuu put three candles in the cake, "what are those for?" Clef asked; Fuu lit them using a pack of matches.

"You put one candle to represent one year you have lived," Fuu explains, "we know you are quite old and there is not enough room to put them all, so we decided to put the number of candles we have known each other."

"I don't think I ever asked how old I am," Clef said after a moment, "the memories I have say I'm a hundred and twenty-five."

"Only a hundred and twenty-five!?" the Magic Knights said flabbergasted.

"I figured I lost some, but could you tell me how old I am now?" Clef asked a bite of annoyance entering his voice.

Hikaru smiled, she liked this younger Clef he wore his emotions on his sleeve, "well when we met, you said you were seven hundred and forty-five," Umi said, "that was three or so years ago now."

Clefs eyes grew wide, "seven hundred...that can't be...no that can't be right!? Over six centuries...gone…" Clef muttered sinking into his seat, deep in thought.

"Everything will be alright," Fuu said, "you already know Hikaru's name meaning you still have your memories they're just hidden."

Clef nodded listening absently as the girls spoke around him.

It was well into the night when Umi awoke to a strange feeling, one that sat like a rock in her stomach, she looked around the room her foggy mind searching for the other Magic Knights, but the time of them sharing a room was long over.

Picking herself from the bed, Umi wrapped a robe around herself before starting down the blackened hallways, letting her feet take her where her heart need her too.

She yawned before a brisk breeze created her face making the robe flutter; Umi pulled it tighter as she realized where she was. The gardens; one of her favorite places at the palace, she prepared to walk back inside when she spotted a faint glow of some kind moving along the other side of the fountain.

As Umi drew closer, she found the glow was coming from a ring, one attached to a pacing Master Mage.

"Clef!?" Umi called startling the man.

"My goodness you gave me a fright," Clef said after snapping his attention over at her, "why are you out here in the middle of the night?" he asked.

"I could be asking you the same thing, " Umi replied, "it's chilly."

Clef noticed her attire, he removed his cloak and wrapped it around her before stepping back, "would you like to sit?" he asked motioning to the fountain edge.

"I can stay a minute," Umi said, "what has you up at such an ungodly hour?" she asked taking a seat.

"I could be asking you the same," he said sitting beside her, "my mind is clouded with thought and being out here in the garden is soothing. It's like the one my mother kept when I was a boy."

"You never talk about your family, Lantis told Hikaru, and she told me you had a sister. Is that true?"

"Yes, she was much older then I, she was the apprentice to Master Maroff, the Master Mage…"

"Was he the one who taught you magic?"

"No, maybe, I'm not entirely sure," Clef said rising once more to pace, "I know it was never supposed to be me batting this mantel. Every time I try to find any records of either of them it like they've vanished."

"Alright let's take a break from trying to figure out what is going on with the here and now," Umi said, "take a step back and tell me about your sister."

"I'd rather not in all honesty," Clef said taking a deep breath, "we did not get along very well. Why is it so easy to talk to you?" he asked looking at the Magic Knight.

Umi chuckled, "I don't know, this is however by far the longest we have gone without being at each other's throats," she explained, "we're known for our arguments. It's completely fine not wanting to talk about your sister, that very well could be why you never mentioned her before."

The Mage remained silent the words bouncing around his skull, "Clef?" Umi called, "try and get some sleep will you," she told him standing"I don't think any will come even if I do try," he retorted.

"You're as stubborn as Hika...WOW…" Umi shouted as she fell having tripped on Clef's long robe.

Clef grabbed Umi to steady her, but the momentum of her fall coupled with the weird angle they both were at, meant both Magic Knight and Master Mage found themselves in the cold water of the fountain.

Umi was the first to pull herself free of the frigid liquid; Clef followed suit clinging to the side as he caught his breath, "go, go inside fast as you can," Clef said.

Umi didn't need further prompting as she bolted for the entryway; Clef sat a moment longer before pulling himself free, he rubbed at his head staggering to the entryway himself; images flooded his mind as they had earlier that day.

Clef froze in his step, "Umi!? That's her name Umi!" he said, more and more came back, perhaps too much as his mind became overloaded with information, his swayed on his feet before collapsing.

_[ TO BE CONTINUED ]_

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