I rated this story R for a reason.

And this is it.

Enjoy.

 

Part Two

Dreaming

 

“Where are you going?” Kiba asked with a pout as his tall playmate, for some strange reason, suddenly began to climb in through Clef’s window.  “You know Madoshi Clef’ll probably yell at ya if you go in there without his permission,” he added importantly, frowning up at her in disapproval.  He knew, because he’d already been yelled at by the short man for climbing in one time, just to get back a ball, and Madoshi Clef could be scary when he got mad!

 

Umi paused, blinking down at the child in surprise, as though she’d forgotten that he was there.  Then, realizing she was being scolded by a mere eight-year-old, she blushed a bit and replied, “Er…I’m sorry, Kiba, but there’s something I have to ask Madoshi Clef about, okay?  It’s really important,” she told him apologetically.  “Can you play with the others for awhile?”

 

“How come you don’t just go to his door instead?” Kiba asked suspiciously, and she smiled awkwardly at him.  “Well, what’s the point of going the whole way around to his door when his window is already open?” she asked in reply.  Kiba, unable to find any fault in that logic, merely shrugged and ran off to rejoin his friends.

 

That task accomplished, Umi once more climbed through the (thankfully) low-silled window and into Clef’s elegant chambers, shutting and latching the glass behind her.  No sense in taking the chance of anybody climbing in there after her, after all.  She was greatly concerned about her friend.  She was well aware that Clef had a temper to rival her own, but unlike her, he was rarely ever prone to spontaneous bursts of violence (well, unless she was insulting his height, of course).  Obviously, something must have upset him greatly to make him shatter that chalice against the wall like that.  And she couldn’t forget the look she’d glimpsed on his face before he’d turned away from the window; an expression that had bordered on despair.  It wrenched her heart to think of the small man in such pain.  She cared for Clef, perhaps a good deal more than she thought she had the right to.  Despite their first rocky meeting, he had ended up being a valuable friend to her, always there to lend a sympathetic shoulder whenever she felt her lowest.  She was dreading the time when she and her friends would finally have to leave Cephiro, which was, sadly, not far off, as the country was close to being fully restored to its original enchanting beauty.  She would miss everybody she had met and grown to care for here.  But…out of everyone, she knew in her heart that she would miss Clef the most of all.

 

Reaching his bedroom door, Umi hesitantly knocked, wondering if she was being wise in disturbing him when he was in such a foul temper.  She knew he valued his privacy above all else, but she also knew that she would rather risk his ire than leave him to suffer alone.  He had always been there for her…so perhaps, for once, she could be there for him, and lend her shoulder so that he might unburden himself on it.

 

After a moment, when there was no answer, Umi tapped at the door again, then carefully turned the ornate knob and pushed open the door ever-so-slowly to peer cautiously inside.  “Madoshi Clef?” she called softly, looking around the dimly-lit room.  Knowing that she was about to break every rule of propriety that ever existed, and facing the possibility of a good tongue-lashing from the uptight mage for doing so, Umi nevertheless stepped fully into his bedchamber.  There, she immediately took note of his small form lost in the center of a ridiculously large bed, tangled in the silken sheets and obviously suffering from some dream or other, if the low moans rising from the diminutive figure were any indication.

 

He’s dreaming already?  But he just went to bed not two minutes ago, Umi thought pityingly.  Well, it was a good thing she was there, then, if she could wake him from whatever hell he’d fallen into, and without another thought, she crossed the room and climbed onto the bed beside him, taking him by the shoulders and shaking him gently.  “Clef, wake up.  You’re dreaming,” she whispered.  She was answered by another low moan as Clef’s pale face furrowed, a small hand rising from the pale gray sheets to grasp futilely at the air.  “Umi,” he murmured softly, causing the girl to freeze with surprise.  “Wait, Umi…”  His voice trailed off into a quiet mutter that she couldn’t make out, then fell silent.

 

Umi stared at him, perplexed.  Why in the world was he dreaming about her, she wondered.  Was he really having a nightmare?  About her?  Frowning, she leaned in closer, and as she did so, his head turned so that his breath drifted across her face, and she reared back in surprise as the strong, sickly-sweet smell of spirits drifted to her nose.  Her eyes widened in shock.  Was…was Clef drunk?

 

Now she was really worried.  She didn’t know of anyone less likely to drink himself into a stupefied coma than Clef, and yet there he lay, reeking of spirits and caught in the throes of a liquor-induced dream.  Shaking off her surprise, Umi was determined to find out just what in the seven hells was the matter with him.  “Umi…” Clef moaned again, tossing fitfully, and with her lips pulled into a thin, determined line, the source of his troubles once more reached out and shook him, forcefully calling his name.

 

After a moment, with a choked cry, Clef’s eyes snapped opened, bloodshot and bleary, as he looked wildly around the room.  He seemed confused, until his gaze landed on a highly-concerned Umi kneeling beside him on his bed, gazing down at him through worried eyes.  His own eyes went even wider, and with another choked cry, he sat bolt-upright and threw his arms around her waist in a tight embrace, his head falling to rest against her breast as he trembled against her.  “Umi…” he muttered into her shirt.  “Umi…you’re here…you’re safe…Umi…”

 

To say that Umi’s face was scarlet was an understatement.  In her own time, she was certain she could have been mistaken for a porch light or something, so brightly was it glowing.  But the way Clef was trembling against her made her concern swiftly overcome her embarrassment, and she forced herself to relax.  After all, she tried to assure herself, it was just like the times when she’d comforted the frightened children after attacks on Cephiro. 

 

Only…had any child ever embraced her so strongly before…?

 

Swiftly pushing that thought out of her head, she carefully reached up to tenderly push a lock of silky-pale, sweat-dampened hair from his eyes.  “Clef, what’s wrong?” she asked softly, and couldn’t help but think that, without his normal headdress and all those robes he wore, Clef seemed even smaller and more childlike than usual despite the strong grip he maintained on her waist.  It made her want to protect him, to take him into her arms and cuddle him close, although he’d no doubt give her a good bonking on the head with his staff should he ever learn of those particular thoughts.  “I saw you through the window,” she continued soothingly when he didn’t answer, hesitantly running one slender hand up and down his back, “and I can see something’s upset you.  You…you’re very drunk.  This isn’t like you.  Please, tell me what happened.  Is there…is there anything I can do to help?”

 

The fine trembling in his limbs was slowly receding, and his hold on her began to loosen, although it seemed he had no intention of letting her go just yet.  That was okay with Umi.  She rather liked being held like this by him, and knew that once he regained his senses he’d likely never do so again, so why not enjoy it while it lasted?  He lifted his head, then, to gaze searchingly into her eyes, the confusion and desperation slowly easing from his elfin face, as his expression softened and his beautiful eyes grew hazy again, whether from sleep or the alcohol or something else, she didn’t know.  “You’re here,” he murmured after a long while, looking almost awed, and for some reason she found herself blushing again.

 

“O-of course I am,” she replied lightly.  “I never left.  It was just a dream, Clef.  I’m perfectly safe.  You see?” she added a bit scoldingly, “this is why you shouldn’t drink like that.  It causes all sorts of problems.”

 

He said nothing; only continued to stare at her, as if he wasn’t quite sure whether or not she was actually real.  In fact, he hadn’t even appeared to hear her, and she wondered with a twinge of irritation if he was even actually awake yet.  Finally, he seemed to reach a conclusion, and to her surprise, he drew himself up to bring his face even closer to hers.  “Still dreaming…” she thought she heard him mumble, before he reached up to gently cup her face within his small, cherubic hands.

 

Her eyes widened at this gesture, feeling the warmth of his hands against her skin, and a fine tremor began in the base of her spine as beautiful, lidded blue eyes gazed intently into her own.  “C-Clef…?” she began, only to fall silent as a thumb ghosted softly across her lips, leaving her entire body feeling as shaky as jell-o.  “Beautiful,” he whispered.  “So beautiful…my Umi…”

 

She blinked in surprise.  His Umi?

 

When he gently pulled her toward him, her face still cradled tenderly within his hands, she found she didn’t have the strength to pull away.  Her breath quickened when she felt his heated breath drifting softly across her mouth, smelling strongly of sweet liquor, and her eyes widened and then fluttered shut as warm lips closed softly, insistently over her own.

 

O-oh…

 

He may have looked like a mere boy, but there was absolutely nothing childish about the kiss which he bestowed upon her.  A kiss that stole her breath and set her senses aflame as his mouth ever-so-gently caressed hers, as soft as silk, as warm as velvet.  The fingers that cupped her face slid into her hair to bring her even closer, angling her head in just the right position to deepen the kiss even more.

 

Umi felt herself melting, leaning forward into him, losing herself in the pleasure his skilled lips were invoking.  She barely noticed when he lowered her back into the mattress, his arms sliding around her lithe form as he leaned over her, continuing to suckle at her lips like a man possessed.  She vaguely knew that at some point, she was going to need to breathe, but at the moment she was much too distracted by the warm hand currently gliding across her stomach beneath her shirt, up her abdomen, pausing beneath her bosom to gently caress the skin there, before turning over to softly cup her breast within his palm.  She shuddered in pleasure and pressed closer to him, craving even more contact, which he seemed only too willing to give.

 

Somewhere in the back of her mind, warning bells were going off, trying to remind her that something wasn’t quite right.  After all, the Clef she knew would never act so amorously toward her.  But the rest of her, caught in the throes of rising passion, was enjoying the Madoshi’s tender ministrations far too much to really pay attention.  As often as she’d wondered what her first kiss would be like, she had never dreamed that it would be as wonderful as this.  Even more, she’d never, ever allowed herself to hope that Clef would be the one to give it to her.  I wonder, she thought through the fog of desire clouding her mind, how I could have ever thought of him as a child…?

 

Clef finally broke their kiss, allowing her to draw in some much-needed air, lifting his face just far enough to be able to gaze into her wide, wondering eyes.  “My Umi…” he whispered again, his thumb trailing softly over her kiss-swollen lips.

 

“C-Clef…” she stammered, trying to ignore the heavy, liquidy sensation that had begun to throb low in the pit of her stomach, wanting so badly for him to kiss her again that it almost hurt.  And yet, now that it was over, and the daze slowly receded from her head, she was able to think a bit more clearly, and sadly, the memory that Clef was rather intoxicated, not to mention still mostly asleep, had wormed its way back into her mind.  As much as she didn’t want to end this surprising turn of events, she didn’t dare let it go on.  What he made her feel was wonderful, yes, but…but it was also meaningless, if he didn’t even realize what he was doing, and would doubtless not even remember once he was sober again. 

 

His Umi…

 

She felt a thrill that started in her chest the whole way to her toes when he called her that.  If only it was true!  But…he wasn’t himself.  She knew that.  He’d been dreaming something awful about her, and between that and whatever alcohol he’d consumed, he was no doubt confused; likely thought he was still dreaming.  She was glad that his nightmare was over, but…how would she ever be able to look him in the face, knowing what she did?  Feeling what she did?  She would never be able to see him in the same light, ever again.

 

Very reluctantly, Umi sought to untangle herself from Clef’s possessive grasp, only to have his arms draw even more tightly around her, burying his face into her chest again and setting her heart to hammering against her ribs.  “Where are you going?” he murmured, his voice only slightly slurred as his breath warmed the breast he’d earlier been teasing, making her shiver with want.  She hadn’t even realized that he’d pushed aside the shirt and the lacy bra she wore, baring her to his view, and now she nearly lost her resolve completely when he nuzzled his lips against her, pressing soft, heated kisses to her warm flesh.

 

            “C-Clef…” she gasped out, shuddering when his tongue licked tentatively at her hardened nipple, before drawing the throbbing, tingling little nub into his mouth and suckling gently, his lips and tongue branding her like fire.

 

            Umi released a breathless cry and fought not to lose control.  She had to leave.  She had to leave now or…or she wouldn’t be leaving at all.  So, with shaking hands, she gripped his hair and forced his head away from her breast.  He released her very reluctantly, his lips clinging stubbornly to her for another moment before finally easing the soft pressure on her wet, reddened nipple.  “I…I have to go now,” she gasped out, her voice hoarse with unfulfilled longing.  “A-and you need to sleep off that alcohol.”

 

            “No.  Please don’t leave me, Umi,” he pleaded, his soft voice husky with want and his eyes staring hungrily at her, the crystalline blue darkened into passionate sapphire.  His gaze dropped to her bosom, and she shuddered as she felt it sear her, desiring to feel his mouth embracing her breast again more than anything.  She only barely refrained from pulling his head to her again, and instead forced his gaze up to meet her eyes.

 

            “I…I wish I could let you love me like this,” she whispered, forcing the words past the lump in her throat.  “Y-you don’t know how much I’ve…wanted you to pay me this kind of attention.”  She paused, wondering if she should say so much, then decided he’d probably never remember anyway, and plunged ahead.  “I wish I really was your Umi,” she continued, blinking back the tears that suddenly stung her eyes, “but I know it’s just the liquor and the dream and…and you’re not yourself.  I know you’d never even think to lay a hand on me when you were sober, so I know when you come back to your senses you’ll be horrified and…and I don’t want to you to be disgusted with me for letting you do this to me.  Your friendship means more to me than anything and I don’t want to lose that.  Please…please understand, Clef.  Please just go to sleep and…and don’t remember any of this when you wake up again, okay?”

 

            Clef listened quietly, the dark, passionate glow fading from his eyes as solemnity replaced his pleading expression.  When she fell silent again, he slowly reached up to cup her face in his hands once more, drawing her head down to cradle against his shoulder.  One small hand stroked soothingly over her mussed hair as he pressed warm, weightless kisses to her temple.  Umi closed her eyes at this tender display of affection, allowing the hot tears to slip down her cheeks.  Why couldn’t he mean it?  Why couldn’t he hold her like this when he was in full control of his senses?

 

            They lay curled together for a long, silent time, Clef cuddling Umi close to him, saying not a word, doing nothing but cradling her as though she were a child…or perhaps a lover.  She knew she should probably get up, but…but she couldn’t bring herself to leave his arms just yet.  She knew she’d probably never have the chance to lay in them again.

 

            When she felt Clef’s breathing become deep and heavy (bordering on almost a snore, she thought with faint amusement), she slowly raised her head to gaze down at his calm face.  Her heart broke as she reached to brush fine tendrils of hair from his eyes, and leaned down to press a soft kiss to his lips.  “I love you, Clef,” she whispered into his ear, fighting back more tears as she realized she’d probably never hear him return the sentiment.  Then, gathering all her strength, she withdrew from his arms and—being extra careful not to disturb him—climbed off the bed and silently left the chamber.