Chapter seven: She dances like the sea.
Hikaru, Fuu and Umi stood together in the ballroom awaiting the arrival of the gentlemen, the ball was already in full swing and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Presea was dressed in the same costume she had worn to make the weapons for the Magic Knights, and they had to admit she looked spectacular in it.
Caldina was dressed as she always was, but she was bursting with excitement over such a big event being held in the palace, and with being trusted with the responsibility of supplying the musicians for such an important occasion.
The announcer rapped his staff on the floor, the room fell silent, Umi, Fuu, Hikaru, Presea and Caldina spun round to see who was coming in. "Lord Ascot."
He entered and with a polite bow in the direction of the ladies, then he walked off to see the princesses from Fahren and Chizeta.
The announcer spoke again. "Sir Lafarga, Captain of the Palace Guards." He walked in and then over to Caldina: with a bow to the other ladies, he took her hand and they walked off together.
They then heard the next man being announced. "The ambassador Eagle Vision from Autozam." He swept over to the ladies, and with polite good evenings to all, swept Presea off with him towards the garden. Eagle had never seen Presea like this, it made his heart ache with appreciation. The three knights watched them go, smiling. Whilst they were watching this, there came from the ballroom entrance, "Sir Lantis." Hikaru snapped round, as did the other two ladies in time to see him deposit his cloak into the arms of a butler. Hikaru's eyes went wide, as she saw Lantis her first thought was, 'He looks so dashing.' Her face lit up with pleasure at the knowledge he was all hers.
He strode straight towards them, he bowed to each one of them and then looked straight into Hikaru's face with a small smile on his face. "My love." He took her hand in his, she smiled at him, he thought that she was the most beautiful woman present at the ball, like a newly opened rose and smiling at her, he walked off with her to talk to Ascot and the princesses.
"His Majesty King Ferio." Ferio entered, Fuu blushed like mad at the sight of him all dressed up like this.
Ferio came over to them he bowed to Umi. Ferio stared at Fuu, he hadn't thought it possible that she could look more beautiful than she normally did but she did tonight and then taking Fuu's hand he walked off with her to join Lantis and Hikaru.
Umi sighed as the band started to play again and every one started to dance again, she retired to the edge of the floor. It looked like she was going to be alone for the night but what else had she expected it wasn't like there was any one who cared for her here.
Hikaru and Fuu noticed Umi was on her own and looked at their partners who just smiled mysteriously.
The announcer moved again as Clef entered the room, he had patiently waited the five minutes that the others had told him to before making his entrance, though he had no idea why they had been so insistent on him doing this. "Guru Clef, Mage of Cephiro."
The ballroom once again fell silent, Umi spun round, her eyes fell straight on Clef, who was at the top of the stairs: her mouth opened slightly she had never seen him look so handsome before, she could feel her heart racing and she didn't mind it doing so for this once, not one bit.
Clef's eyes swept onto her, a gentle smile spread over his face as their eyes met. To Umi's amazement he didn't take his eyes off of her and she couldn't take hers off of him much to her and Clef's surprise, Umi had never felt this captivated by one person in her whole entire life. Clef couldn't believe how beautiful she looked, Umi looked like a goddess to him, no woman in the room compared to her in his eyes and he was determined that she would be his for the night.
Clef walked down the stairs, the crowd parted before him in the direction of the woman every one knew was his destination Umi.
Umi walked down the passage left open towards him, Clef walked towards her, they met in the middle of the path way, he held a hand out to Umi who took it smiling.
Lantis signalled to the orchestra who started to play a soft, romantic waltz, Clef slipped an arm round Umi's waist and took her hand in his, she slipped her own arm round his strong shoulders and they began to dance, after some time alone on the floor with every one watching them smiling, Hikaru was taken to the floor by Lantis, shortly followed by Fuu and Ferio and soon every one was dancing around them.
However Umi and Clef didn't notice, they only had eyes for one another; they danced gazing into each other's eyes. Their friends smiling at them as they dance round them. Much to Clef's surprise Umi laid her head on his chest as they dance and sighed contentedly, he held her tightly and the dance continued.
Soon the waltz was over, Umi and Clef walked from the floor arm in arm, Hikaru and Fuu watched them go towards the garden, with their fingers crossed and hoping for a good outcome.
Clef and Umi walked to the garden bench, beneath a tree and sat down together. Clef smiled at her. "You dance well Umi."
She smiled back at him. "Thank you, Clef, you dance magnificently, I had no idea you knew how to dance."
"Even I have my secrets Umi. Do you know this country is truly beautiful again thanks to You, Fuu and Hikaru?"
Umi blushed. "And everyone who lives in it."
He touched her face, Umi looked up at him her eyes wide, and in comparison to hers Clef's were soft. "You were always very special.to me."
"But I thought that you.you thought us so young, so unintelligent."
Clef smiled. "I did at first, after all you did make a rather strong impression on me when we first met."
Umi blushed and looked away from him, Clef placed a hand on her face, Umi's hand flew to his and grasped it. Umi looked up into his blue eyes. "Then as I watched you fight for this world, for your friends and for me, you always said you fought for me, before you listed any of the others who came in the list, was that just because you met me first Umi or was there another reason behind the ordering?"
Umi shook her head. "No..it wasn't because of that it was because. . .I. . .I cared about you."
Clef's heart leapt. "Cared about me, so you don't care about me any more?"
Umi placed her other hand to his soft facial skin. "Yes I still care about you, just as deeply now as I did then."
"Deeply?" He questioned probing her lightly, with his now deepened voice, which always made Umi go cold with anxiety.
"Yes Clef." Thankfully for Umi the tango started up inside. "Clef why don't we go and dance, I love the tango."
Clef looked thoughtful for a moment. "Ah the tango. yes let's."
They walked into the ballroom arm in arm, when they got to the dance floor Clef spun Umi out onto the floor and then rolled her back in along his arm, so his arm was right round her waist. Ferio looked at Lantis, surprised, Lantis just simply smiled back at him knowingly.
Everyone cleared the floor, Umi and Clef danced a scintillating tango together ending with her clasped close to him, one leg circled round his two, Clef's head bent forward onto her shoulder spilling his long hair over it like a dream waterfall.
Everyone clapped they looked at one another and smiled, Clef was still holding on to her hand and before anyone could separate them, he gently led her outside once again.
They found their way back to the bench under the tree, they sat down and caught their breath together. They looked up at each other at the same time and smiled together. Clef spoke. "Well that was wonderful don't you agree Umi?
"Yes very exhilarating and stimulating."
Clef much to her surprise grabbed Umi's shoulders and hugged her tightly. "You were fantastic out there."
She put her arms round him and luxuriated in the feeling of holding him close. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"You would have looked a little silly dancing the tango alone."
Umi giggled, Clef smiled at her. "You have a beautiful smile."
Umi snapped round and looked at Clef her eyes wide and vulnerable. "Do you really mean that?"
"Of course I do or I wouldn't have said it in the first place, you should know that by now."
Much to Clef's surprise Umi grabbed him and hugged him very hard, Clef slipped his arms round her and pulled Umi close to him, as he did so Umi made a little surprised noise that made Clef smile, it wasn't often that he managed to surprise her and he rather liked doing that. He placed a hand on the back of her head, cradling it as he held her. Umi moved her head back to look at him and once again found herself in a position where he could kiss her, Umi gulped this kept happening and she didn't know why.
Clef looked down at her, a gentle smile spread over his lips, he moved his other hand to her cheek, cradling her face with his hands, his eyes went soft and he lent forwards surrounding them with his lilac hair, cutting them off from the rest of the world into there own private sanctuary. "Umi." He spoke so softly, tenderness filling his voice as he said her name.
Umi jumped, Clef was never like this normally, not with any woman, but especially not her, however she felt that he deserved a response and there was only one she could think of that fitted the situation perfectly. "Clef." Her voice was a mere whisper that was whipped away by his scintillating gaze.
His head moved down towards her, Umi couldn't believe this he was going to. Gently Clef's lips met with Umi's, in a soft, tentative kiss. Umi suddenly realised that this was probably Clef's first time kissing some one and he wasn't shore if he was doing this right. Then the second realisation hit Umi he had chosen her to be the woman he first kissed.
To encourage Clef in what he was doing, Umi responded to him with all of her heart deepening the kiss and putting her arms up round Clef's neck. Clef responded to her deepening the kiss with further filling it with raw passion, moving his hands over her sides, down to her waist and pulling her close to him.
Umi gasped and lent back in his embrace removing her lips from his, long enough to say in deep shock, "Clef, you want me." Then his ravenous mouth found hers once again and forced her back into a rapturous silence.
Clef knew, from her reactions to him, that every thing he did was surprising Umi but he assumed that it was in a good way, he made this assumption based on the fact that she had encouraged him to keep kissing her by deepening the kiss earlier.
After some time they parted Umi was just about to speak to him, when Ferio called out into the garden. "Umi, Clef, where are you?"
The two jumped away from one another. Clef with a deep sigh and a shrug of his shoulders replied. "Over here Ferio."
Ferio came dashing over to the pair Umi smiled at him. "What is it Ferio?"
He was breathing very hard Umi looked at him concerned. "Are you alright Ferio?"
He smiled at her. "Oh yes fine. The guests are leaving you should come and say your farewells."
Umi nodded. "Of course Ferio lead on."
The two of them followed him inside, though Clef was reluctant to do so he had many things he wanted to ask Umi about what had just happened and why it had occurred. The guests said their good byes with many hopes that another such event would be held in the future.
They waved them goodbye with many hopes of seeing them again. The others, who decided it had been a long day and they should all retire, shattered whatever hopes, which Umi and Clef had had of talking together though. Umi and Clef agreed to this so that no suspicion that anything had occurred between them was aroused. Both vowed quietly to themselves to talk to the other as soon as they could about what had happened.
Hikaru, Fuu and Umi stood together in the ballroom awaiting the arrival of the gentlemen, the ball was already in full swing and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Presea was dressed in the same costume she had worn to make the weapons for the Magic Knights, and they had to admit she looked spectacular in it.
Caldina was dressed as she always was, but she was bursting with excitement over such a big event being held in the palace, and with being trusted with the responsibility of supplying the musicians for such an important occasion.
The announcer rapped his staff on the floor, the room fell silent, Umi, Fuu, Hikaru, Presea and Caldina spun round to see who was coming in. "Lord Ascot."
He entered and with a polite bow in the direction of the ladies, then he walked off to see the princesses from Fahren and Chizeta.
The announcer spoke again. "Sir Lafarga, Captain of the Palace Guards." He walked in and then over to Caldina: with a bow to the other ladies, he took her hand and they walked off together.
They then heard the next man being announced. "The ambassador Eagle Vision from Autozam." He swept over to the ladies, and with polite good evenings to all, swept Presea off with him towards the garden. Eagle had never seen Presea like this, it made his heart ache with appreciation. The three knights watched them go, smiling. Whilst they were watching this, there came from the ballroom entrance, "Sir Lantis." Hikaru snapped round, as did the other two ladies in time to see him deposit his cloak into the arms of a butler. Hikaru's eyes went wide, as she saw Lantis her first thought was, 'He looks so dashing.' Her face lit up with pleasure at the knowledge he was all hers.
He strode straight towards them, he bowed to each one of them and then looked straight into Hikaru's face with a small smile on his face. "My love." He took her hand in his, she smiled at him, he thought that she was the most beautiful woman present at the ball, like a newly opened rose and smiling at her, he walked off with her to talk to Ascot and the princesses.
"His Majesty King Ferio." Ferio entered, Fuu blushed like mad at the sight of him all dressed up like this.
Ferio came over to them he bowed to Umi. Ferio stared at Fuu, he hadn't thought it possible that she could look more beautiful than she normally did but she did tonight and then taking Fuu's hand he walked off with her to join Lantis and Hikaru.
Umi sighed as the band started to play again and every one started to dance again, she retired to the edge of the floor. It looked like she was going to be alone for the night but what else had she expected it wasn't like there was any one who cared for her here.
Hikaru and Fuu noticed Umi was on her own and looked at their partners who just smiled mysteriously.
The announcer moved again as Clef entered the room, he had patiently waited the five minutes that the others had told him to before making his entrance, though he had no idea why they had been so insistent on him doing this. "Guru Clef, Mage of Cephiro."
The ballroom once again fell silent, Umi spun round, her eyes fell straight on Clef, who was at the top of the stairs: her mouth opened slightly she had never seen him look so handsome before, she could feel her heart racing and she didn't mind it doing so for this once, not one bit.
Clef's eyes swept onto her, a gentle smile spread over his face as their eyes met. To Umi's amazement he didn't take his eyes off of her and she couldn't take hers off of him much to her and Clef's surprise, Umi had never felt this captivated by one person in her whole entire life. Clef couldn't believe how beautiful she looked, Umi looked like a goddess to him, no woman in the room compared to her in his eyes and he was determined that she would be his for the night.
Clef walked down the stairs, the crowd parted before him in the direction of the woman every one knew was his destination Umi.
Umi walked down the passage left open towards him, Clef walked towards her, they met in the middle of the path way, he held a hand out to Umi who took it smiling.
Lantis signalled to the orchestra who started to play a soft, romantic waltz, Clef slipped an arm round Umi's waist and took her hand in his, she slipped her own arm round his strong shoulders and they began to dance, after some time alone on the floor with every one watching them smiling, Hikaru was taken to the floor by Lantis, shortly followed by Fuu and Ferio and soon every one was dancing around them.
However Umi and Clef didn't notice, they only had eyes for one another; they danced gazing into each other's eyes. Their friends smiling at them as they dance round them. Much to Clef's surprise Umi laid her head on his chest as they dance and sighed contentedly, he held her tightly and the dance continued.
Soon the waltz was over, Umi and Clef walked from the floor arm in arm, Hikaru and Fuu watched them go towards the garden, with their fingers crossed and hoping for a good outcome.
Clef and Umi walked to the garden bench, beneath a tree and sat down together. Clef smiled at her. "You dance well Umi."
She smiled back at him. "Thank you, Clef, you dance magnificently, I had no idea you knew how to dance."
"Even I have my secrets Umi. Do you know this country is truly beautiful again thanks to You, Fuu and Hikaru?"
Umi blushed. "And everyone who lives in it."
He touched her face, Umi looked up at him her eyes wide, and in comparison to hers Clef's were soft. "You were always very special.to me."
"But I thought that you.you thought us so young, so unintelligent."
Clef smiled. "I did at first, after all you did make a rather strong impression on me when we first met."
Umi blushed and looked away from him, Clef placed a hand on her face, Umi's hand flew to his and grasped it. Umi looked up into his blue eyes. "Then as I watched you fight for this world, for your friends and for me, you always said you fought for me, before you listed any of the others who came in the list, was that just because you met me first Umi or was there another reason behind the ordering?"
Umi shook her head. "No..it wasn't because of that it was because. . .I. . .I cared about you."
Clef's heart leapt. "Cared about me, so you don't care about me any more?"
Umi placed her other hand to his soft facial skin. "Yes I still care about you, just as deeply now as I did then."
"Deeply?" He questioned probing her lightly, with his now deepened voice, which always made Umi go cold with anxiety.
"Yes Clef." Thankfully for Umi the tango started up inside. "Clef why don't we go and dance, I love the tango."
Clef looked thoughtful for a moment. "Ah the tango. yes let's."
They walked into the ballroom arm in arm, when they got to the dance floor Clef spun Umi out onto the floor and then rolled her back in along his arm, so his arm was right round her waist. Ferio looked at Lantis, surprised, Lantis just simply smiled back at him knowingly.
Everyone cleared the floor, Umi and Clef danced a scintillating tango together ending with her clasped close to him, one leg circled round his two, Clef's head bent forward onto her shoulder spilling his long hair over it like a dream waterfall.
Everyone clapped they looked at one another and smiled, Clef was still holding on to her hand and before anyone could separate them, he gently led her outside once again.
They found their way back to the bench under the tree, they sat down and caught their breath together. They looked up at each other at the same time and smiled together. Clef spoke. "Well that was wonderful don't you agree Umi?
"Yes very exhilarating and stimulating."
Clef much to her surprise grabbed Umi's shoulders and hugged her tightly. "You were fantastic out there."
She put her arms round him and luxuriated in the feeling of holding him close. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"You would have looked a little silly dancing the tango alone."
Umi giggled, Clef smiled at her. "You have a beautiful smile."
Umi snapped round and looked at Clef her eyes wide and vulnerable. "Do you really mean that?"
"Of course I do or I wouldn't have said it in the first place, you should know that by now."
Much to Clef's surprise Umi grabbed him and hugged him very hard, Clef slipped his arms round her and pulled Umi close to him, as he did so Umi made a little surprised noise that made Clef smile, it wasn't often that he managed to surprise her and he rather liked doing that. He placed a hand on the back of her head, cradling it as he held her. Umi moved her head back to look at him and once again found herself in a position where he could kiss her, Umi gulped this kept happening and she didn't know why.
Clef looked down at her, a gentle smile spread over his lips, he moved his other hand to her cheek, cradling her face with his hands, his eyes went soft and he lent forwards surrounding them with his lilac hair, cutting them off from the rest of the world into there own private sanctuary. "Umi." He spoke so softly, tenderness filling his voice as he said her name.
Umi jumped, Clef was never like this normally, not with any woman, but especially not her, however she felt that he deserved a response and there was only one she could think of that fitted the situation perfectly. "Clef." Her voice was a mere whisper that was whipped away by his scintillating gaze.
His head moved down towards her, Umi couldn't believe this he was going to. Gently Clef's lips met with Umi's, in a soft, tentative kiss. Umi suddenly realised that this was probably Clef's first time kissing some one and he wasn't shore if he was doing this right. Then the second realisation hit Umi he had chosen her to be the woman he first kissed.
To encourage Clef in what he was doing, Umi responded to him with all of her heart deepening the kiss and putting her arms up round Clef's neck. Clef responded to her deepening the kiss with further filling it with raw passion, moving his hands over her sides, down to her waist and pulling her close to him.
Umi gasped and lent back in his embrace removing her lips from his, long enough to say in deep shock, "Clef, you want me." Then his ravenous mouth found hers once again and forced her back into a rapturous silence.
Clef knew, from her reactions to him, that every thing he did was surprising Umi but he assumed that it was in a good way, he made this assumption based on the fact that she had encouraged him to keep kissing her by deepening the kiss earlier.
After some time they parted Umi was just about to speak to him, when Ferio called out into the garden. "Umi, Clef, where are you?"
The two jumped away from one another. Clef with a deep sigh and a shrug of his shoulders replied. "Over here Ferio."
Ferio came dashing over to the pair Umi smiled at him. "What is it Ferio?"
He was breathing very hard Umi looked at him concerned. "Are you alright Ferio?"
He smiled at her. "Oh yes fine. The guests are leaving you should come and say your farewells."
Umi nodded. "Of course Ferio lead on."
The two of them followed him inside, though Clef was reluctant to do so he had many things he wanted to ask Umi about what had just happened and why it had occurred. The guests said their good byes with many hopes that another such event would be held in the future.
They waved them goodbye with many hopes of seeing them again. The others, who decided it had been a long day and they should all retire, shattered whatever hopes, which Umi and Clef had had of talking together though. Umi and Clef agreed to this so that no suspicion that anything had occurred between them was aroused. Both vowed quietly to themselves to talk to the other as soon as they could about what had happened.