So it's been a while. Luckily, it's been a productive absence for me.

I've moved into a new place and am in the process of unpacking my things while redecorating. Not exactly what I would have chose to do during my summer, though the pool in the backyard helps.

I've been working on this story for sometime now, rewritting the first few chapters more times than I can count. I've also been re-reading the series to make sure I get all the right information. I might add a few things from the anime too, though I've decided to stick with the book names for this story. It's so much less confusing. That, and I actually prefer most of them over the television show.

So yeah, here it is.

"Oh look! There we are!" A slender finger pointed to a picture of two young girls, grinning widely while hugging each other. They were both dressed in elementary school uniforms; a pressed white skirt, long sleeved dress shirt, and tie. Though that was were the similarities between the two ended. The one on the right had her long, raven hair pleated over her shoulder; contrasting against her milky skin. Her eyes shown brilliantly, sapphires twinkling back at the viewer. The one on the left's eyes were a just as lovely, a green shade that put gems to shame. Her auburn bob was pulled back on each side by a pair of cute barrettes and her face was slightly flushed. Though they were complete opposites, the image of them in an embrace looked utterly right. Like something you would see in a magazine or billboard. An advertisement of sorts.

The speaker's companion giggled at how similar, and yet completely different the two looked compared to their younger selves. She ran a hand through her dark hair that now reached the small of her back, not able to hold back the smile that was tugging at the corners of her lips. "You haven't changed much, Tomoyo." she commented, winking to the girl beside her in a teasing manner as she wound her hair up into a messy bun then secured it with a few bobby pins, leaving the fringe around her face out of it.

The girl responded with a playful shove. "You haven't either, Sakura-chan!" she stuck her tongue out and grabbed the old yearbook that they'd been paging through before passing it across the lunch table that they were seated at.

Truth be told, puberty had been kind to the both of them. Though they hadn't grown much taller (both were barely over five foot - Sakura just making the mark), they now possessed all the characteristics of young women. Over a summer the cousins had undergone their transformations together, though they'd never really payed much attention to the changes until after returning to school. Though Tomoyo's was still longer, Sakura had finally grown her hair out to a length that she was content with. Their legs no longer resembled children's; but were lean and toned from all the running around they'd done on their vacation. But still, they were exceptional in their own ways. Where Tomoyo was thin and willowy, having a ballerina's body, Sakura was slightly curvier for her petite size.

Needless to say, such drastic "transformations" drew the male population in quite rapidly. Though the girls really hadn't seemed to notice much, writing off some of the comments made to them as the results of immaturity.

Tomoyo pulled her phone out of her bag and snapped a picture of her best friend, who'd just filled her mouth with noodles. She broke out into hysterics as soon as she looked at the quick capture; her friend's cheeks puffed out like a fish, eyes round in shock. It seemed like something you'd only ever view on television or in a manga.

"Lemme see!" the girl who'd grabbed the yearbook, Chiharu, exclaimed. Her dirty blonde ringlets bounced as she leaned across the table, hands outstretched for the phone. The two girls seated beside her bowed their heads together to view the tiny screen before joining Tomoyo in her continued laughter.

"Oh gosh, that is so going to be my new wallpaper!" Naoko, the short haired brunette seated next to Chiharu, laughed as the blonde held the phone out, allowing the creature of their amusement to examine herself. She merely rolled her emerald orbs and continued chewing her food, unfazed.

Just as she'd been about to respond to their teasing, icey chills ran down her spine. As if someone had just thrown her into a half frozen lake. Sipping unconsciously at her lemonade she searched the large room, examining faces. Sure, she was used to people watching the group. The girls were known to be a bit different and rather amusing. Though she'd never felt like this while being watched in school. The sickening feeling made her skin crawl, made her want to curl up in a ball and hide. She felt almost violated.

Glancing out the window, she let her intuition get the best of her. Sakura had always had this sort of sixth sense, as did her older brother Touya. While Touya saw things like ghosts and other paranormal creatures, Sakura would get these feelings that would cause the hair on her arms to prick. It would give her chills, stomach aches - anything that would signal danger. It was more potent than an instinct and sent a clearer message than a subconscious thought. She knew from experience that this wasn't something to just ignore. Something was going to happen. She could feel it in the air.

It was like an electric feeling; thrilling, and terrifying all in the same moment. Though the question was when. When would it happen?

Looks like I'm going to have to pay Touya a little visit at the university, and soon. He'll know what to do. Or at the very least, she knew her brother would be able to give her some advice.

Attempting calm herself, she turned around in her seat just as Naoko began making hand gestures to what had been the back of her head.

"Caught!" Chiharu, Tomoyo, and the remaining girl, Rika, chimed as Sakura's brow raised and Naoko bowed her head in embarrassment. The girls' giggling continued for the rest of their lunch period, their antics amusing neighboring tables as well.

After school, the slender auburn-haired girl had decided to pay a visit to the university before going home since she didn't have cheerleading practice. She waved goodbye to her cousin at their shared locker, then wove her way out of the crowded corridor. Once outside she quickly fastened on her rollerblades, made sure to pad her knees and elbows, pulled her long hair into a high ponytail, and then she was off.

Taking a shortcut down her favorite street, she grinned at the lovely sight of the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The flowers had always reminded her of her late mother; they'd been her favorite flower and she'd always swore that if she'd ever had a daughter, she would name the child after their beauty. That was how Sakura had gotten her name. While growing up her father would say, "Your mother believed that only a true beauty would ever be able to live up to your name. She wanted you to be that. Though, you've already surpassed the flowers, Sakura." She'd never understood it, she'd been too young to, though the smile that he would bare while saying such things made her believe that whatever it was, it was positive.

The petite girl smiled the the memory as she continued down the street, believing her father to be a fool for saying such things, then suddenly skidded to a halt. There, in front of the house she'd always dreamed of living in one day, was a moving van. Her breath escaped her at the sight of movers carrying boxes and furniture into the large white house, disappointment flooding through her. As she watched in horror, she realized that the movers were carrying unusual things into house; pottery and statues that looked like they were one-of-a-kind pieces, paintings that were done in a style she wasn't familiar with. Shaking herself slightly, she concluded that these people moving into her house weren't from anywhere around here, though she didn't stay there long enough to find out anything more. She was far too upset to bare it.

It took her longer to reach the university than what she'd originally expected, though she blamed it on the gloomy mood she'd been in ever since seeing the moving van. While waiting for her brother's class to end, she popped in on her father and sat through most of his class. Seeing her father's face had always made her feel brighter, happier, and judging by how intently his students were listening to him lecture she knew he had the same effect on others as well.

She smiled, her mood uplifted, just as the bell chimed throughout the building. The professor wished his class a good evening before being surprised by his daughter, who'd quickly raced to his side only to give him one of her gentle hugs.

"Well this is unexpected," her father laughed, his warm eyes crinkling at the corners as he hugged her back.

"Sorry, Daddy. I need to talk to Touya, though I'm not exactly sure where he would be right now. I know he just got out of his last class for the day, but that's about it." she smiled impishly, begging him with the same green eyes she'd inherited from his wife.

He laughed again, shaking his head in defeat. He rushed in telling her where his son normally went in between the time he was at the school and their home, though was taken aback at how urgent she sounded. "But why do you want to talk to Touya now? Can't you wait till he gets home? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, Daddy." She pecked him on the cheek. "It's just something that takes too long to explain and can't wait for me to do that."

So what did you think? I know this is quite short, though it's only to get the story going. The others are much longer, promise. Reviews are always appreciated and would probably get me to release the next chapter sooner, positive encouragement you know?

Till next time,
- jo