It was raining, the drops softly hitting the shoulders of the Dimensional Witch. She held in her arms an infant softy sighing as it slept in the arms of her mother protected from the rain by some other-worldly power. Yuko looked down on her daughter's face as she took the baby inside "There is no such thing as coincidence. There is only inevitability. Hitsuzen. No matter by what force be it my magic or Clow's you my dear would come to exist."
She looked to the two young girls who welcomed her inside, "Maru and Moro could you please get some clean sheets and see if there are any clothes we have that can fit this child? Oh and maybe a crib."
The two girls nodded gleefully and skipped down the hallway chanting in unison, "Sheets and clothes for the Mistress! Sheets and clothes for the Mistress!" Yuko smiled softly as she made her way to her bedroom, the crib having already been placed by Maru and Moro. It was then that she decided to take a closer look at the sleeping infant. Her soft tufts of hair were as black as the night sky, and though the child had yet to open her eyes Yuko knew that they would be the same azure color of her father. Now this child wasn't born like any other. She was the result of magic, a fleeting thought between two incredibly powerful people. Because of this thought she was born in a flash of light and floated down into the arms of her mother.
Yuko placed her daughter in the crib, placed a gentle kiss on her brow and whispered to her. "My dear Rika, you have the power to change everything."
Eight years have passed since then and as Rika came home from school that day she was greeted by Maru and Moro instead of her mother. Scrunching her face in confusion she asked the two girls, "Hey where is Mama?"
Maru's and Moro's faces remained passive as they replied, "The Mistress would like to see you in her viewing room." Both pointing their hands in the direction Rika knew as the room where her mother viewed clients. She walked through the hallway, her footsteps becoming the only sound throughout the large house. She slid the door open and she saw her mother dressed what looked to be a beautiful yukata with butterflies placed throughout the light blue silk, smoking from her pipe, lying on her couch. Maru and Moro came in after her and shut the door behind them and moved to sit next to their Mistress.
At this Rika soon became distressed and confused her eyes glistening with unshed tears and cried out a flurry of questions, "Mama! I don't understand. What is going on here? Why are Maru and Moro acting like this? Why didn't you greet me at the door like you usually do? Why are you smoking that pipe again? You know its bad for you!" It was at this moment that Yuko decided to raise her hand as a signal for Rika to stop talking. She extinguished her pipe and sat up and looked her daughter and spoke firmly. "Rika, I have something very important to tell you and it is of the utmost importance that you do not interrupt me. Are we clear?" Rika was struck silent by her mother's tone and looked down and muttered a quiet agreement.
"I have decided that you are old enough to finally understand what I am going to tell you." Yuko looked to her daughter who she saw was fidgeting and wringing her hands together in nervousness. "You aren't in trouble my dear so you can calm down. Its time that I told you, who you really are." Rika's head which had previously been tilted downward at her hands now shot up as she tried to question what her mother really meant, but Yuko held her hand up again to stop Rika from cutting in. "You said that you would not interrupt remember?" Rika feebly nodded again as she moved to sit on the floor.
Yuko continued, "My daughter you are unlike any other child your age. You realize this don't you? Sometimes when you walk around it feels as if the air is charged with electricity and you don't know what causes it. Am I correct?" Rika nodded again. "Other times it feels as if this power courses through your veins and then all of a sudden things around you being to move, such as dishes or your pencils and papers. Have you noticed that when you feel upset the weather reflects that and is cloudy even when it is said to be sunny all afternoon? Likewise when you are radiantly happy the sun shines brighter then ever before. Now why do you think that is?" Yuko got off the couch, her yukata trailing behind her. She bent down and caressed her daughter's face and wiped away any tears that fell from her blue eyes.
"Mama, I still don't understand. What do you mean?" Rika sniffled.
Yuko placed a kiss on her forehead to comfort the child and answered. "You my daughter are the creation of magic, a combination of magic to be correct. I was supposed to die a long long time ago. But I had a friend named Clow Reed. You could consider him your father I guess. He had one thought that I should remain alive and in that thought he also did not want me to be alone and so with both our magic we created a living being. That being was you." Rika's tears fell leaving the mats underneath her with little spots. She couldn't fully comprehend what her mother was telling her. All that she understood was the fact that she wasn't normal.
Rika shut her eyes and yelled at her mother, "So what am I? Some kind of freak? I'm already bullied at school because my eyes are a weird color. And its hard for me to make friends because everyone thinks I'm some kinda weirdo." Even more tears slipped through and her chest started to heave as sobs racked throughout her small body. Yuko's eyes shone with pain as she saw her daughter's crumpled form in front of her. She took her daughter into her arms and whispered into her ear. "No you aren't a freak. You are my daughter Rika Ichihara and I love you. You weren't some random happenstance. Fate brought you to me. It brought me a beautiful daughter who has powers beyond her imagination."
Rika wrapped her small arms around her mother and sobbed into her shoulders. Yuko remained still as she let her daughter cry and cry. She could only guess as to what was going on in the small girl's mind. She rubbed the back of Rika's head and continued. "You are human and at the same time not. You may not have been created out of love but you are surrounded by love now."
Rika pulled away from her mother and wiped her face of any remaining tears.
"I still don't understand everything. So I was made of magic? Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat? Like in those American shows?"
Yuko ran the back of her hand softly across her daughter's cheek and replied, "Yes you were made of magic but not that kind. That kind of magic is merely deception. People who perform that have no actual power."
Rika nodded stiffly, "I get it now."
Yuko couldn't help but smile at her daughter's effort of trying to understand such a complex subject. "Do you really? Everything that I told you?"
Rika then hung her head as she drew a circle on the ground and replied. "Well I know that I am not normal. But that makes me special. Right? I also know that I love you Mama and you love me and that will never change." Yuko looked at her daughter adoration shining through her eyes. "You are very right my dear."
Rika giggled and asked her mother, "I may not get everything now but you'll tell me what you mean when I'm older right?"
"Of course I will, but for now I want you to wear this necklace. Its almost your birthday right? Think of it as an early gift." Yuko answered as she held up a pendant held up on a silver chain. The pendant glittered in the light of the room; it was of silver framework and looked like stained glass with varying shades of blue from as light as the sky to so dark it could be mistaken for black. The pieces all shapes and sizes and the pendant contained one yellow crescent moon in the center. If anyone with magical training were to see this particular necklace one would recognize it as a seal. A seal to keep Rika's magical powers in line.
Rika's eyes widened as she happily exclaimed, "Wow Mama! That's so pretty! And it's all mine? Really? Thank you Mama!" The corners of Yuko's mouth lifted up as she placed the piece of jewelry around her daughter's neck. "Now that you have that why don't you go get changed and help Maru and Moro out with dinner?" Rika had nearly forgotten about her mother's two companions and as she scanned the room she came to the realization that they had disappeared during her talk with her mother. "Okay!" Rika said as she ran off to her room.
Yuko was left alone in the room, in the same position she had been when Rika left. Silent tears were falling down her face. She couldn't believe that her daughter could have a mood swing like that. It worried her to no end. No child should have to be told that they are in fact vastly different than everyone else. After all, all we want is to be "normal" right? "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry. I couldn't tell you everything that I wanted to." Yuko whispered to the air, she held herself, as if trying to keep the pieces of herself together. "But everything has a price. If I told you anything more than that then the cost would be greater. I have to wait until you're older."
Only a year has passed and on this spring day Rika was playing outside with Maru and Moro chasing butterflies when suddenly it seemed as if the sky had been stretched and in front of her there appeared two young men both holding on to the other.
"Umm are you ok mister?" Rika asked gently as she approached the two brothers. One of them seemed to pull away and looked at her with his eyes the color of amber. "I'm fine." He responded. "Is this the place of the dimensional witch?" He looked at the small girl obviously sensing her great power. He was somewhat fearful that a human so young could posses that much power. Rika looked confused for a second as she tried to comprehend what the word 'dimensional' meant. She then snapped her fingers and exclaimed her fingers in realization, "Oh! You mean Mama! Hey Maru, Moro can you get Mama?"
"Mama…?" The man questioned his face contorting in confusion.
Rika looked at the strange man. "Hey is the other person ok?" she inquired, her head tilting to the side as she tried to get a better look at this mysterious person. It was then that the man looked to his companion. "Subaru! Wake up! We're here!" 'Subaru stirred and eventually his eyes fluttered open. "Kamui, where are we?" he asked groggily.
"You are in my home. Now shall I grant your wish?" Yuko appeared to the three of them in a blood red Chinese style dress. It reached the floor with a slit running from near the top of her thigh to the ground, her face passive.
"Mama!" Young Rika exclaimed. "This man here called you a 'Dimensional Witch' what does that mean?"
"I'll explain later Rika." Yuko told her daughter as she turned her attention to the two vampires. "What is your desire?" The two said nothing and Yuko pressed on, "Well what is it vampires?"
Rika piped in, "Vampires? Shouldn't you burn in the sun or something? That's what Chika tells me at least. He's really into that weird stuff." Yuko, Kamui, and Subaru ignored her. Subaru finally spoke up and said. "We want to cross the dimensions! Travel across different worlds. We want to escape this person who is chasing us. Please! Help us!" He pleaded. Yuko's face remained unreadable. Rika looked between her mother and the mysterious men. She had seen the people that wanted their wish granted but had never actually witnessed the exchange.
"I will require compensation, something that is not too little and not too great. The universe requires balance. You realize this yes?" Both men nodded in agreement. "Very well then, because there are two of you, you both must pay something. Now another note, traveling across the dimensions is highly disruptive so don't be surprised when I tell you your price." She finished.
"But we don't have any money with us!" Subaru interjected his face filled with fear that they may not be able to have their greatest desires granted.
Yuko looked at the vampire and continued as if she hadn't been interrupted. "Your price is not of any monetary value. First you must give up your freedom. By freedom I mean that you cannot ever separate from each other. You must stay together and travel the worlds together. One cannot cross the dimensions without the other, so none of the useless sibling spats. Got it?" Yuko crossed her arms and leaned against the wall of her house her face masking any emotions she may have felt.
"Is that it?" Kamui asked.
Yuko tilted her head as if trying to remember something "Hmm now that you mention it…You!" She pointed her finger at Kamui. "You seem to be more skilled when it comes to combat. Do you see that girl there in the cute little jumper? I want you to teach her everything you know about combat and fighting.
"WHAT?" Rika, Kamui, and Subaru said in unison.
"But Mama why do I need to learn-"
"Why should I teach that brat-"
"What an odd shop indeed." Were the three responses Yuko got at the same time. She stuck her finger in her ear as if that could help drown out the cacophony of sound. "Enough!" She yelled. "That is your price." Now how long do you plan on staying?" She inquired.
Both Kamui and Subaru looked at each other and without speaking nodded in a silent agreement. "One week." Subaru said.
"Alright then 1 week from now you will have the power to cross the dimensions." Yuko's face then brightened as she exclaimed "I think its time for some sake! Maru! Moro! Bring our three glasses and some juice for Rika!" Maru and Moro skipped
"Oh Mama… You and your customers are so strange…" Rika sighed. She turned to walk into the house but instead hit something that felt like a wall. "Oww." She rubbed her nose to soothe the pain and looked up. She had run into the backs of one of the vampires, which one she could not tell.
"Why hello there. We have not been properly introduced. My name is Subaru. What is your name my dear?" Subaru asked gently as he bent down and took her hand.
Rika's faced turned a slight pink as she faced the handsome vampire. "M-My name is R-Rika Ichihara. It is nice to meet you." Subaru smiled and kissed her hand.
"My how polite. Your mother has down a wonderful job in raising you." Subaru told her.
"Subaru! C'mon you should get inside." Kamui's voice advised from inside the house. Subaru chuckled lightly at his brother's overprotective nature and whispered to Rika. "Let's not keep them waiting." And they both walked into the house.
The days passed and Kamui begrudgingly trained young Rika. Even though she was excelling quickly at everything he taught her. He couldn't help but feel unsettled. She possessed so much power. Could a being like her really exist? "Ok stop runt. That's all I can teach you for now. It has been 7 days. It is time for Subaru and me to depart this world. Or else we'll be caught." Kamui said as he blocked one of Rika's kicks with his hand. He let go of her foot and walked towards his twin who had been watching them off to the side.
Rika huffed in disappointment that they wouldn't stay any longer. She had grown fond of the twins. She had even muttered in her sleep that she wanted to marry them. Something her mother would never let her live down. But she was still a child; she could have crushes if she wanted to. "You're leaving already? But you just got here Kamui!"
"They actually got here 7 days ago Rika. But you already knew that didn't you" Yuko said as she walked to the yard. Rika looked away as her face grew warm. "So this is it." Yuko stated. "You two will be granted the power to cross the dimensions. There will be an event that will reunite the three of you again. Be aware of that. I wish you luck in the future." Yuko with a wave of her arm had a seal appear at the feet of the twins. "You only need to stand together and earnestly wish to travel and that seal will appear. Remember you both must be present and of course awake to travel." Then Rika noted that it seemed as if the world was swallowing them whole and pulling them to the ground. Then they just vanished.
"Mama what was that?" Rika asked as she turned to her mother who started to return back inside. Yuko stopped and looked over her shoulder and said in her monotone voice. "That is only the beginning. I have to prepare you Rika. For the dream must end and you are vital in that endeavor."
"Mama is this like what you told me before? Like last year?" Rika pushed on asking her mother. Yuko sat on the wooden deck and beckoned her daughter closer. "Yes it is like that." She responded. Yuko then divulged to her the happenings all at Fei Wang Reed's hands. She learns of Fai, Kurogane, Syaoran, Sakura, and even Mokona. But that was only the beginning. Yuko pulled her daughter into her lap and wrapped her arms around her and whispered into her hair. "You have the power assist them. You can go along with them and help save Sakura and Syaoran. Would you like to do that?" She felt Rika nod. "Very well let's begin. You need to learn to harness your magical power. You did remember you had that right?" Yuko teased.
"Of course I remembered Mama! Its when you gave me the best birthday present ever." Rika fingered the pendant. "I really do love it Mama." Yuko smiled and kissed her daughter's head. "I know you do. Come, oh, and don't forget anything that Kamui told you. It is going to come in handy later." Yuko then let go of Rika and then walked back into the shop with a wink. Rika sighed, now used to her mother and her quirks and she too walked inside, waiting for that fateful day.
Let me just start off by saying Hi! Its been years since I've actually submitted to Fanfiction... And let me just say I'm kinda embarrassed to go back and read it. I don't even remember how old I was when I typed that. Oh well this is my second fanfiction so please be kind! Constructive criticism would be great seeing as I have no idea what the hell to do structurally or grammatically. I know where I want this story to go.. Its just getting there that is the tough part. Oh well I'll learn along the way right? See you next time.