Well, this is my first fanfiction. I decided it would be easiest to write about my favorite character, Umi Ryuuzaki! I love romance stories so this is my pathetic attempt at one. It is an Umi/Clef pairing mainly because of a song I plan on adding in the second chapter fits those two better. I really don't have a preference in the Clef or Ascot war. But I do prefer a taller Clef version. ^_^
I really can't believe I'm writing a songfic for my first story. I used to hate them. ~_^ But I was listening to this song at it was too perfect. This takes place sometime after MKR2. Why the girls are in Cephiro, you decide. Perhaps they never went back home or they visit often?
Once again, this is my first fic! So please be kind. Reviews are welcome of course. I hope you'll enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Rayearth is the property of CLAMP/Kodansha, not me obviously! My dedication to and love of the series has prompted me to write this. I mean no harm!

Umi sighed and threw herself on her bed. She sat there for a moment before lying down on her back, staring at the ceiling. She let out another small sigh and lightly closed her eyes. It was too quiet in her room.

Just a half hour ago she was in a room filled with giggles and gossip. Hikaru, Fuu, and herself had visited Presea that afternoon and it wasn't long before Caldina showed up.

Umi sat on Presea's bed happily playing with Hikaru's crimson hair while Hikaru tried with all her might to affix a bow to the top of Mokona's head. Caldina and Presea made a project of dressing all the girls in "normal" clothes. They whispered and giggled from Presea's walk in closet about what they planned to dress the girls in. Fuu was the first to discard her school uniform for a new dress and Hikaru was next. Both beamed with happiness upon eyeing their reflections in the mirror. They each had promised to meet their significant other later that evening and they hoped they would enjoy their new garments. Umi smiled at her two friends who eagerly talked about the evening's events but she slowly began feeling very left out. She would have to entertain herself again tonight. She sadly looked down at the bedspread and in the middle of the crowded room began to dread the feeling of loneliness she was sure to feel later that night.

Suddenly Caldina grabbed her arm and dragged her from her spot on Presea's bed. "You're turn next little Missy!" laughed Caldina as she pulled Umi toward the walk in closet. Umi pulled her arm from Caldina's grasp.

"No, that's alright. I don't have anything special to wear it for," said Umi forcing a smile.

"That don't matter!" said Caldina grabbing Umi's wrist. "I'm sure someone will love it. Besides it's fun to dress up even if you don't have a reason, I do it all the time!"

"That's right," piped Presea holding up a light blue dress. "Besides, Caldina and I are on a role and we won't let you ruin our fun!" Caldina pushed Umi into the closet and smiled an evil grin at Hikaru and Fuu.

"Alright," sighed Umi from her closet confine. "But nothing showing my midriff, I hate that."

"Hey, what's the matter with showing your midriff?" spurted Caldina loudly following Presea into the closet.

Hikaru and Fuu laughed and returned to talking over their evening plans. They finally looked up from their gossiping when the closet door slowly opened and Caldina and Presea poked their heads out. "We are total fashion geniuses!" laughed Presea as Caldina stepped out of the closet and struck a pose. Hikaru and Fuu laughed but quickly fell quiet as Umi stepped out into the room.

"Sugoi!" Hikaru squealed. "Umi you look wonderful! You really do look more beautiful than a model!"

Umi blushed. "Don't exaggerate Hikaru!"

"No Umi, I mean it. When my classmates and I first saw you at Tokyo Tower we all thought you did!"

"Miss Hikaru is right Miss Umi, you do look really beautiful," said Fuu. "I have to complement Miss Presea and Miss Caldina for their excellent clothing choice!"

Umi looked in the nearby full length mirror and a smile appeared on her face. She was dressed in a long, flowing light blue gown. It was held up by four thin gold straps attached to a thin, triangular, gold breastplate decorated with sapphire gems and an engraved blue dragon. A dark blue sash with gold fringe was tied around her waist. Umi touched the dragon lightly with her hand and smiled as she noticed the dress clung to her curves perfectly. She did look beautiful, if only she had someone to look like this for.

"Thank you so much you guys, I love it!" said Umi spinning to face the others.

"It was our pleasure," giggled Presea handing Umi a jewelry box. "We must never forget to accessorize!"

Umi sat down next to Fuu to pick out jewelry. Umi picked a pair of sapphire teardrop earrings and a few odd bracelets and rings. Fuu and Hikaru continued to go through the stained-glass jewelry box. Meanwhile Caldina was trying to convince Presea to try something from HER wardrobe.

"I don't think so Caldina," laughed Presea shaking her head. Caldina continued to prod Presea the rest of the afternoon until Presea finally gave in but told Caldina she wasn't going to wear it anywhere outside her room. Caldina squealed with joy and quickly jumped up from her chair.

"It is best for us to get going," said Fuu with a small dreamy smile.

"Don't want to be late for Ferio?" snickered Umi poking Fuu in the ribs. Fuu only blushed in reply.

"I don't want to be late for Lantis!" chirped Hikaru picking up the sleeping Mokona.

Umi sighed and got up from her spot and stretched. "Yeah, besides, we don't want to be a bother any longer."

"You're never a bother!" smiled Presea hugging Umi.

"We'll be seeing you little missies latter then!" said Caldina with an evil grin. "Enjoy your evenings!" Caldina then dragged Presea from her room.

Umi opened her eyes and she was back in her all too quiet room again. She hadn't taken off the dress yet. Caldina was right; it was nice to have a change. Besides, it was extremely comfortable.

As the silence in the room continued Umi crinkled her nose in distaste. She let her eyes wander down to look at her toes as she wiggled them. She let out a bored sigh.

Why did she feel so lonely? She never had a problem being alone in Tokyo. She thought of Hikaru and Fuu and how they were with someone that loved them. They were probably receiving praise for their new dresses too. They were having a wonderful time. They weren't alone. She was.

Umi rolled over onto her side. Why was she feeling this way? Was she jealous? Self pity and perhaps hate filled her. Why couldn't she have someone to share her time with, to love, to care for her? She blushed at the thought of having someone's arms around her right now. To feel their breath on her neck. To know she was loved.

Love. She sighed at the thought. There was someone she loved but had long decided that she would never gain the courage to tell him. Umi closed her eyes and pictured his wonderful lavender hair that she longed to run her hands through and those captivating blue eyes she had come to love. He could never love her though. She was just a child to him, an annoyance. Why should he love her, what could she offer him?

"Nothing," she said out loud with a huff. Umi entwined her fingers in her hair and pulled a few strands in front of her eyes. Examining the strands she sat up and looked into the vanity mirror set up against the wall to the right of her bed. She frowned. Perhaps she was too plain. She got up and sat at the small vanity, picking up a long blue scarf she had received as a gift from Presea. Maybe if she tried something new with her hair he would notice her? She pulled the long sapphire locks off her neck into a high ponytail. She tied the ponytail up with the scarf leaving it's ends to hang loose. Examining the results she only shrugged and sighed.

She rested her head on her overlapped arms on the vanity. She continued to look into the mirror for a few moments examining her features and thinking about her love situation. Clef had always been there when she had a problem. She always felt so much better after talking with Clef over a cup of tea. She was very fond of her late evening conversations with him she had recently made an almost nightly ritual. With Hikaru and Fuu busy she had plenty of time to spend with Clef. They even spent a few evenings talking while walking along the seashore. She loved listening to the waves crash onto shore and Clef being with her made the experience all the more enjoyable. But recently she began to worry that she was more of a bother than a pleasure. The more she realized she really did have feelings towards Clef the harder it was for her to look him in the eyes. And recent events had made things all the more odd. She didn't visit Clef as often anymore.

Boredom set in again and her eyes roamed across her room. They landed on a small wooden case in the corner of her room. Umi got up and walked to the case. Opening it carefully she ran her fingers along a long stringed instrument. It was decorated with gold leaf at looked like a cross between an acoustic guitar and a long mandolin. She carried the instrument back to her bed and sat down facing the small vanity and mirror. Checking her position in the mirror she propped up the guitar.

Umi really hated spending her evenings alone. Hikaru and Fuu wanted to spend time with Lantis and Ferio. Umi didn't blame them, but she was beginning to feel very lonely every evening. She had taken to wandering around the castle. During her explorations she had found a room full of music instruments. She had found this instrument and had taken it back to her room where over the last few weeks she had been practicing it. She had help from Presea on the basics, but had taken to just experimenting with the instrument. She picked it up extremely quickly, to her surprise, and it became one of her favorite pastimes when she was alone. It reminded her a lot of the sound of an acoustic guitar. She had always enjoyed guitar music and playing it made her evenings a little more bearable.

Umi picked up the pick and strummed a chord. She hummed lightly with the resonating sound. She had always loved to sing but she always sang by herself. She never sang in front of anyone, Fuu had tried to get Umi to sing with her but Umi always refused. Singing was something personal for Umi. A way to express her emotions that she always felt she needed to hide. Perhaps it was actually a bit of stage fright too. Who would have thought? The ever-confident Umi afraid to sing in front of others!

There were other things she was afraid of. Why did she always have to seem so strong and confident? She didn't feel that way. She was afraid to admit her feelings to the one she really did care for. She would never be able to, she was sure of it. Besides there was no way he would return her feelings. Clef. Why couldn't he feel the same way for her?

She laughed a soft laugh. Shaking her head she began to strum a soft song she had slowly composed over the last two weeks. At least she could now accompany herself. Smiling a sad smile Umi quietly started to sing hoping to forget her all too quiet and lonely room.

I hope you don't think Umi singing and playing the guitar is too odd. I didn't think it was too far of a stretch.
Don't worry, Clef will make his appearance next chapter. At first I hadn't intended to split my story into chapters but the story is getting long. Oh well. Now I can post this chapter and get a little feedback for my other chapters.
Hopefully you're enjoying the story. Be sure to let me know if you are! I'd be so happy if you liked this story.
Anyway, stay tuned for Chapter Two.

-Samui
[email protected]
www.angelicdream.com
(Soon to have "Sapphire Elegance" an Umi Ryuuzaki shrine!)