Previously On Chapter Three – By: Itena-chan
Everyone cheered one last time as Hikaru and Lantis left together within the Castle, including a few whistles from Caldina and Umi. As soon as the large doors closed, Hikaru and Lantis looked at each other with senses of longing. They didn't tell anyone, but that pillar of light also lit their hormones ablaze, and the entire night they've just been dying to just get in each other's pants. They both quickly ran into the decorated room and slammed the door shut without another word.
As Fuu watched the two go into the Castle, a strange feeling crept up into her heart. She took a moment to look at the door where they exited from, and then rejoined the party.
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…Embrace The…
Chapter Four: Change of Heart
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Watching as Fuu walk back to the Hall, the expression on the Water Knight's face began to dissipate with depression. She herself was having troubles masking the distaste she had in going to Cephiro, just to pacify Hikaru; it was, after all her wedding. Welcoming Fuu back in the crowd, Umi handed her a serving of some Cephirian liquor, which she was also enjoying herself.
Fuu smiled a little and motioned for a toast, as they both jugged down the content of the glass. "So, wonderful isn't it?" the Wind Knight blandly said; being with Umi's company made her feel less intimidated, as she knows Umi was also rather conscious about her presence being back in the land.
"Scarcely," Umi dejected, pursing her lips as she watched the dancing couples dance by the Bonfire. "We're done here, right?"
"Almost," Fuu sighed heavily, "I'm sure Hikaru would want to spend more time with us while we're here."
Frowning, Umi massaged her temples and began to walk away inside the Castle, followed by Fuu who got two more drinks for them, who also went out to the balcony to get some fresh air.
The night was definitely beautiful; the stars glittered brightly up in the horizon, as if acknowledging the Bonding of Hikaru and Lantis' soul.
There was muted silence between the two Magic Knights; both of them staring blankly and hazily over the vastness of the land. Umi propped herself up the railing, her smooth right leg being exposed by the long slit that lined her dress; she stretched and matted down her skirt, looking down at Fuu who leaned against the railing, facing outside the Castle, not caring to look down and see the celebration.
"Hard, isn't it?" Umi broke the silence, peering at the festivities over her shoulder. However, Fuu only made a shrug and took a sip of her drink. "Right, I thought so." Umi added sarcastically, cocking an eyebrow at Fuu.
"If I'm having a hard time now, I'm sure you're feeling it ten folds." Umi clenched her fists onto her skirt, her eyes narrowing down in fury. "Remember when I told you I love this place," she turned to Fuu who only nodded in response, "Well, I'm sure you know that's not the way it goes now."
Sighing, Fuu crossed her arms over the railing and rested her head over it and moved her face to the side, looking at Umi. "Frustrating, isn't it?"
The Water Knight bit her lips, as she began to tremble with tears. "Very, Fuu; Very frustrating," she replied, slipping off the railing as she held her glass to the side. "And it's hard to imagine I was out there whistling and cheering earlier just for show; I'm happy for Hikaru, you know that, but-"
"No need to explain, I understand." Fuu took steps closer to Umi as she held her in a warm embrace, as tears began to line her faces; sobs of despair being drowned by the hustling and bustling outside where the celebration was at. The two cried to her hearts content, crying together like old times; right now, the two of them could feel something stirring somewhere in their entirety, afraid that it would somehow break from them, destroying what they are.
"I'm scared Umi," Fuu shook her head violently, holding Fuu tight on her shoulders, "I hate Cephiro very much, I don't even want to remember anything or anyone about it."
Pulling Umi back again, Fuu hushed the blue haired female and began to soothe her back. "It's okay Fuu, nothing's bad is going to happen if we leave sooner; I'm sure Hikaru would understand."
"She'll ask us why though."
Umi fell silent, she has a point. "We don't have to tell her everything; it'll make her feel bad, you know how Hikaru is."
"You're right." Fuu agreed, raising her pinkie towards Umi who hooked hers to Fuu's, making each other a promise.
Later that evening, Umi walked alone from their chamber and back to the party, finding everyone ever so cheerful as if they never ran out of things to be glad about; as she got back, the enthusiastic glow that she harbored in the Ceremony was gone, all was left was a blank stare going about everyone who laughed and enjoyed themselves in the crowd. Fuu was already tucked in bed, not wanting to partake in the celebration with half the heart that she should; Umi respected that and left her to sleep.
From her spot, she could clearly make out some familiar faces nodding at her, with smiles perpetually plastered on her faces.
To her left was Presea and Caldina waving at her, drinks on their hands. Smiling forcefully, Umi made her way towards them.
"Where have you been," asked the Pharle, offering Umi a drink.
Umi smiled for real this time, "Thanks," she said, not thinking twice as she donned the drink, thirsty from their crying session at the balcony.
From her side, she could hear Caldina's obnoxious laugh getting louder and louder; she had never been irritated by it before, but since the day she had a change of heart, anything or anyone regarding Cephiro always triggers her temper.
"Umi," the illusionist drunkenly trailed, nudging on her shoulder, "someone's here to see you."
"Oh?" Umi raised and eyebrow as she turned to look at Caldina, only to find Ascot standing by her side, blushing bashfully as ever. She was glad to see him of course, but not like the way she used to, same as with the rest of the Cephirian friends she has.
Raising her glass at eye level, Umi just smiled and took another drink, refreshing her dried throat.
"Dance," Caldina poked Umi's side, and somewhere in the background was Presea giggling as she pushed Ascot more to her.
"Uh, no, I don't think Umi wants to dance," Ascot muttered to Caldina and Presea, who grinned at Umi cheekily. As usual, Ascot would stall what he really desired and shyly hide under his bashful cover. Umi just stood there watching the commotion, finding it rather amusing and annoying at the same time.
It didn't take Umi long to have Ascot dragged to the Bonfire, where couples danced hand in hand.
'A party is a party. Not matter how much I dislike Cephiro now, doesn't mean I have to be all depressed and down myself in my own angst.'
Smiling at Ascot, Umi curtseyed before him as he offered his hand to her to dance, which she took kindly, placing her right hand over his, while the other rested over his shoulder, the both of them swaying in the music that played sweetly in the background.
Umi looked up at Ascot and found the same familiar face gazing at her bashfully, with cheeks ablaze, heavily tinted red, blushing furiously as his hand quivered at her touch. The Water Knight giggled, narrowing her eyes with a smile, making Ascot's face turn beet red in embarrassment.
"Oh Ascot," Umi tapped his shoulder for comfort, squeezing his hand tight, "enjoy yourself, okay?"
The Palu nodded, pulling Umi close to him as he rested his head over hears, inhaling her sweet scent. "I missed you Umi-chan."
The four, five words spoken made Umi's heart skip a beat, not out of flattery, but of disdain for herself; here he was, saying words of kindness and regard for her, but inside her heart, she wished she wasn't here. Umi never missed anything that has to do with Cephiro- she admits, in some points of her separation from her friends made her disregard them for a while, not wondering how they were; she felt totally guilty, yet, that doesn't change the fact that she despises the past she had in Cephiro.
Clearing her throat, Umi laughed dryly, breaking from Ascot's glare looking far away into the crowd, where the people had danced and enjoyed themselves of the peace and harmony they now achieved, thanks to their saviors- the Magic Knights.
Moving into the music, Ascot watched Umi as she waltzed along with him, finding that her eyes were out wandering to the vast expanse of the festivities blankly, seemingly unaware of his presence with her. "You've changed," he stuttered shakily, wondering if his words had offended her.
Waking from the daze, Umi looked up at Ascot again, cocking an eyebrow in question, "What was that?" she asked curiously, feeling a little ashamed of not paying attention to her dance partner, "Uhm, I'm sorry Ascot, I wasn't paying attention."
"So I've noticed."
Her brows frowned and Umi stepped away from the young Palu, bowing her head in retreat, excusing herself back to where Caldina was.
'This is getting really hard, I can't stand being here,' she mindlessly thought as she rushed to the corner, brushing past Caldina and Presea who called out to her, but to no avail. 'I hate this place.'
Before she knew it, Umi found herself inside Clef's study, noticing that the infamous Mage wasn't inside doing his nightly read. As she moved towards a nearby chair, Umi found a picture of her, Hikaru and Fuu displayed on his desk; it was taken back in the early years, when the three of them used to visit every now and then when school wasn't very hectic. Instead of giving her a smile at the site of it, Umi turned the picture down and gritted her teeth.
"Some savior I turned out to be," she waspishly said, clenching her hand over the frame, nearly crushing it in anger. "This is so pathetic, how could I have helped save this land when…"
Her words stopped in its track, as gentle tear drops streamed down her face, staining her rage flushed cheeks.
"How could it have happened?" she asked herself unknowingly, shaking her head as memories of years gone by flashed in her mind, reminding her of the gruesome tale of her loved-one's demise.
Cries and sobs filtered the air, as the beautiful Magic Knight of Water curled pathetically on the plush chair in a fetal position, muffling her tears in her hands, covering the miserable expression she held in her face. In the years past, Fuu was the only comfort she found- but she knows that every time her heart weeps for the memories of Cephiro, she too dies in agony of her own painful fancies. Umi left Fuu in cowardice, letting her friend wallow in every bit of pain alone, while she so shamelessly tried to erase all their memories, drowning herself in fame and fortune as she busied herself with work, burying the times they shared together.
Slipping her hands away from her face, Umi looked at her hands while tears continued to stream down, as she looked at her ovum gem where her beloved Selece laid, waiting for her to summon him when needed.
"Forgive me," she fingered the precious gem placed over her hand, clenching her hand over it, wanting so badly to rip it off, "I'm just not cut out for this anymore, I can't lie to myself; but I can lie to all of you, for Hikaru. She'll be pained if she finds out how terrible Fuu and I felt when she chose to stay here. When she chose Lantis over us; when she, our dearest most warm friend decided to live in this harmonious place while Fuu and I went back to Earth…"
Umi sighed heavily, limply resting her body on the chair, looking up at the ceiling with a hazy, tear blurred eyes. "They've all been happy here, while two of their saviors suffered in pain back in their world, all because they chose to do the right thing over their hearts. Now everything has tarnished, perhaps, even our friendship. It hurts Selece, it hurts so badly I wanted to die then; I wanted to…"
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To Be Continued…
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Aruka- Author's Note: I'm so sorry if it took me quite a while to update the fic. I was thinking if I should blast the full-blown Umi plot, or keep you guys coming back for more- though obviously, I've take the liberty of doing the latter so we can add every details as the fic goes on. Please watch out of the next chapter; don't forget to leave your reviews. Thanks everyone!