Title: Welcome Home
Author: Potato Maiden
Pairing: Umi Ryuuzaki/Ascot
Fandom: Magic Knight Rayearth
Theme: #20 - The Road Home
Disclaimer: I do not own Magic Knight Rayearth, it, and all it's components belong to Clamp, who refuse to answer my phone calls...

There comes a time in our lives when we, as adults, sometimes misguided youth, choose to leave our home for greener pastures. The magic knights were no different. Leaving behind the hallowed halls of high school for Tokyo University was an example of a door closing then a new one opening. Once the three had graduated from the university, they had agreed that they would move to Cephiro. During one visit, the girls had asked Master Mage Clef if it was possible for them to stay there for the remainder of their lives and leave their families behind. Following this query, the knights had fallen into an impromptu nap due to the man explaining what could and most likely could happen. Clef was quite displeased when the sounds of soft snores reached his ears. However, the day of June sixteenth was quite different. That was the day, the girls, knapsacks packed with clothes, shoes and other necessities, arrived at Tokyo Tower for the last time.

"Ready?" Fuu asked, her voice choked. Umi and Hikaru silently nodded. The three joined hands and a familiar blinding light took them to their new home. The three opened their eyes as they landed outside the crystalline palace and glanced at each other.

"We're..." Umi paused, the concept still not yet being firmly grasped, "home."

"Let's go in and sort our stuff out then." Hikaru said, adjusting the dark red bag on her back. They walked into an empty castle.

"Did we come to the right world? Right about now, Caldina would be killing us with one of her hugs." Umi observed.

"That's true, let's set this stuff down, it's getting quite heavy." Fuu suggested. The three women placed their bags on the floor and straightened up. The three froze as an earsplitting shriek reached their ears.

"That's Caldina." Umi mused as the three became reacquainted with the tile beneath them.

"You're back!" the dancer squeaked.

"Indeed we are Miss Caldina, but, we'd like to get off of the floor, if you don't mind."

"Of course! C'mon, everyone's waitin' on ya!" Once off the floor, the girls followed Caldina to where everyone was at.

"Umi! Over here!" Ascot hissed. The water maiden looked to where she was being summoned. Departing from the others, she walked over to where Ascot stood.

"Hi." she said, a smile spread across her delicate features.

"I missed you." Ascot said, wrapping Umi into a hug. Returning the hug, Umi breathed in his scent.

"I missed you too. But now, I'm here to stay." Ascot tilted Umi's head up with a single finger and kissed her gently on the lips.

"Welcome home." he said when they parted.