Love Across Time: Hidden Royalty
Disclaimer: I do not own Rayearth.
Chapter 8: Return to Atlantis
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Umi slept on her bedroom balcony oblivious to the world around her. A sad smile crossed her face as she dreamed. It was the same dream she had been having since she had left Cephiro. The scene would change occasionally, but the man in it never did. She first saw him in her shrine. She would sometimes see him walking or sitting in a water garden, or sitting on his bedroom balcony much like she was. Her heart longed to be with him. With this man who she knew loved her and she loved him. That was the only thing she knew about him.
This time was different though, instead of being just an observer, she seemed to enter her dream. She moved up behind him but stopped, as the sound of his voice began to sing softly.
Never knew,
I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Umi smiled as a tear slid down her cheek. Somehow, she just knew that very few people knew this man could sing. She also knew that he loved to sing for her. She vaguely remembered asking him many times to sing for her, and every time with a broad smile he would agree. As she watched, something began to brake lose in her mind. He had written this song with her, and they had promised to only sing it with each other.
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Everyday I love you more, and more
Listen to my heart can you hear it sing
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change
Winter to spring
But I love you
Until the end of time
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you
Until my dying day
"It's our song," she whispered. Umi jumped a slightly when he turned around suddenly. Tears shone in his eyes, and one slid down his cheek as he looked at her in disbelief.
"Umi?" he moved towards her slowly, "Is this a dream? Are you really here?" He moved towards her his arm outstretched to touch her. Umi knew he must not touch her and put her hand up to stop him. He stopped confusion filling his emerald green eyes, and as she spoke her voice started to choke up.
"I have to go now."
The man bowed his head and clenched his fists. Neither spoke for a few minutes before he spoke again. "When will I see you again?"
Umi took a careful step closer and looked up into his eyes. "When we sing our song together again, we will never be separated again." He reached out to touch her cheek, but suddenly Umi found herself out of the dream, and alone on her balcony. She tried to keep herself from crying but started to sob anyway unable to stop.
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"Umi! Why are you crying?" Umi looked up to see the concerned eyes of her older sister Marina. Immediately Umi threw herself into her sister's arms.
Marina looked down at her weeping little sister, how many times had she held her since she and the others had found the portal to their family. "You were dreaming of him again weren't you?" she asked quietly.
Umi looked up into her sister's midnight blue eyes and nodded. "I love him."
Marina smiled at her understandingly, and pulled lose the white sheer scarf that held up her deep navy, almost black hair. Using one of the soft corners, she wiped the tears from Umi's eyes. When she finished Umi hugged her sister again, laying her head on her shoulder.
"Oh, how sweet," came a mocking voice. Both girls looked up to see a young man, with a teasing smile, striding up to them. His hair was the same color as Umi's and his eyes were a shade deep than hers. His smile disappeared when he got closer and noticed Umi's slightly red eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked touching her shoulder, "Did something harm you?" he looked around searchingly, with his hand moving to the sword at his side.
"Calm down Tenchi, it's nothing you can torture, mane, or kill. She just had a dream," said Marina rolling her eyes, at him for overreacting.
"Just a dream," Umi reassured the youngest of her older brothers. Tenchi let his hand fall back to his side, and for a moment just looked at Umi. Suddenly, he reached over and pulled her to him in a tight hug.
"Is father and mother here?" he asked looking down at her.
"Yes, they are here. Why?" asked Umi.
Tenchi gave her a knowing smile. "Takashi will be coming soon, we need to talk with everyone," without further explanation, he offered an arm to each of his sisters. Umi took his arm and silently followed her siblings down to dinner, wondering what it was Marina, Takashi and Tenchi wanted to talk about.
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"Atlantis is splitting up into fractions. Only you father, and you mother can unite our planet. People are beginning to doubt that there even is a High King. Yukito is just keeping things together. We need the entire family to return." There was silence as Takashi finished speaking.
Umi looked at her second oldest brother and found she was smiling. "When will we leave?"
Marina smiled in relief that her sister showed no objection to leaving earth, and returning to Atlantis. "Right now if you wish," said Marina and Takashi in unison.
Umi laughed at the twin's response. Takashi and Marina shared the same hair and eye color, and slightly similar facial features. Other than that they were different, with Takashi a good inch taller than his twin sister.
Umi's father and mother spoke in hushed tones with each other for a good five minutes, before they turned to speak to their children. "If all are agreed," said her father standing, "then we will leave immediately." Eager cries of approval came from everyone gathered, and Marina ran over to her father and mother and hugged them excitedly.
"Take these. They are the family crests, that allow us into Atlantis," said Tenchi handing a blue dragon pendant to each of his parents. The symbol on the dragon's neck glowed for a moment, and replaced their clothes with those of the royal robes of Atlantis.
"Where is my crest?" asked Umi after admiring her parent's new clothes.
"You don't have yours?" asked Takashi worriedly, "I only had the two, and I assumed you had yours."
Everyone fell silent and Umi felt tears forming in her eyes. "I'll have to stay?" she asked dejectedly, bowing her head.
"Umi," said her mother gently raising her chin with her hand, "you were a Magic Knight right?" When Umi nodded, her mother continued, "Only a princess of Atlantis could become the Water Knight, changing into your armor will prove your blood, and our crest is on the armor.
Umi immediately called upon Selece and changed into her armor. Once she did, Takashi opened the portal to Atlantis and the Ryuzaki's disappeared from the planet earth.
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Once through the portal, Umi moved closer to Tenchi, who had been holding her hand, as she surveyed the room. She was standing in what looked to be a throne room. The ceiling was a huge dome of glass, and Umi realized they were underwater. It took her a moment to get over her awe, before she looked to the rest of the occupants of the room. She searched the gathered crowd for her other siblings, for out of the eight she had, she had only gotten to really know two of them.
She had met them all once, but because of their duties as Demi Kings, her older brothers could not visit her on Earth like Marina, who did not rule over a province. Tenchi had been free to visit as well, for although he had a region to rule, he was still finishing his studies in law, and had not taken on his full time duties as a ruler.
A tall man with black hair and dark brown/black eyes, step out of the crowd and moved up to her with open arms.
"Yukito!" Umi squealed throwing herself into her oldest brothers' arms.
"Hey! What about us?" yelled four other voices. She looked up just in time to see her brothers Mamoru, Seki and the second set of twins Kota and Kunzite, before they surrounded her in a crushing group hug.
King Yuu and Queen Nadesico smiled fondly at their children.
"Isn't it wonderful?" asked Nadesico, as her husband led her to their thrones, the children not far behind.
"What is?" asked Yuu.
"That we are now home, with all our children," said Nadesico as she sat down.
"It is," said Yuu squeezing his wife's hand, "It definitely is."
A/N: Sorry this took so long. Hope you enjoyed it. adesico adesico