Hello again! Blossom Hunter's sequel will just have
to wait awhile, because I haven't got a clue how to start it, plus I kinda
want Care to be able to see it too, so I'm going to start a new series
while I'm waiting for an idea to pop up. Here it is! Not the disclaimer,
below it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptors, it belongs to 3 companies
that I know of so far, Nelvana, CLAMP, and Kodansha. I'd like to say Arigato
to Cutemew for that last company. I only take credit for the title. And
the characters I created that aren't from CCS. Thank you.
******
The 7th Warrior Saga
Introduction
____________________
Dear
Diary,
Good news! Today, my wife ,my beautiful wife, gave birth to our first child.
We named him Touya. He's such a fine boy, with raven hair just like his
mother. Oh, I want to tell the whole world about our new baby, and what
a baby he is! The nurses say he was the quietest one and about the easiest
to manage. I even heard one joking, saying that my boy had a schedule,
and ate always at the same time. I went to visit Nadeshiko, and she looked
radiant. Her face was bright, and she was smiling and holding out our son.
He looks so peaceful, and quiet, just as the nurses had said.
Some more news, not as exciting, but still good news. NASA has decided
to begin building a station in space, somewhere in the vicinity of Mars.
They're sending a shuttle up, with a team of engineers, and they say the
station should be up and running within a period of 5-8 years. I remember
Nadeshiko's face when she saw the news. She had this dreamy look on in
her eyes, and she was smiling at the television. She'd turned to me.
" Someday,
Fujitaka, someday, our child will go up and see things from space."
I knew it was only a dream for her, but perhaps...perhaps I could make
it a reality. Maybe, just maybe someday, my son would be one of the few
to live on that station and be great and famous!
******
Dear
Diary,
It's been over 6 years! Touya is now...you guessed it...six years old,
and he's already learning how to read and write. Nadeshiko wanted to teach
him early, so I let her, and he's passing us by! We went to the doctor
to have him TESTED, and I was relieved to find that he was negative, though
Nadeshiko wasn't too happy. The gene was from her side of the family, and
she'd been hoping that he'd be unique as her grandmother had been. But,
nobody in the family has had magical blood since her grandmother. And I
have more good news, our family has been chosen from millions to go and
live on the Space Station Crystalline Dream! Nadeshiko is so excited,
as am I. Our son will finally get what we've been hoping for. I am a little
suspicious though. We didn't enter any contest as far as I know, and Nadeshiko
can vouch the same. So what I want to know is, why is our family being
given a chance in space, if we never asked for one?
******
Dear
Diary,
We have just moved into the station. The quarters are a bit cramped, but
we're bearing it with smiles. We have a wonderful view of Earth, though
it is diminished as the space station revolves. It has been 4 years since
I've last written, and I know I wait too long to tell you these things.
It took us four years to get to the station which was built outside of
Mars. Earth is still visible, but its almost like looking at the moon from
back home. Touya is now 10, and he's really excited. For the last 4 years,
he's been dreaming about the station, drawing pictures of what it might
look like. And there's more news. Nadeshiko is pregnant again.We don't
know if its a girl or a boy, because the equipment here is not exactly
sophisticated enough yet, so we'll have to wait until the babie's born.
Touya just kept jumping around and laughing, shouting out that he was going
to have a baby brother. I didn't have the heart to tell him that it could
be a girl too, but even my hopes lie with another boy.
******
It's a girl. That's what the nurse said...I'm sorry...I just...it just
doesn't seem like much a celebration. I'm not disappointed that its a girl...its
only...Nadeshiko didn't get a chance to know.
I don't know what to name her, yet. The girl I mean. Touya's disappointed.
But, he's taking it well. I still haven't told him where his mother is...he
keeps asking...and I just don't know what to say. How do you tell your
child that their mother died giving birth to his disappointment? Touya
would plague the poor babe forever. No. I'll wait.
******
Sakura is now 2 years old, Touya 12. Yep, at first I wanted to name her
Nadeshiko after her mother, but Touya got over his sadness of having a
sister, and named her Sakura, since she was born with a strange cherry
blossom shaped birthmark at the base of her neck. Two years since Nadeshiko
passed away. I haven't told Touya yet. He doesn't ask anymore, but I can
see the curiosity in his eyes. Sakura was tested after her birth, and I
found out something strange. She is born with the magical blood. It scared
me. I'd better not tell either of them about it, yet.
Oh, Nadeshiko, how can I bear another day without you? Touya asks so many
questions about where you were. He draws pictures of you, and asks me to
help him remember some detail he may have forgotten. Sometimes I think
I'm forgetting as well. Sakura is going to grow up without a mother. Oh,
but you should see them. Once he'd gotten used to the idea of a sister,
he's been so good to her, protecting and watching her wherever she goes.
I think that he's doing a very good job adapting, but I wonder if I tell
him what happened to you, will he stay as he is? I'll tell him. It's better
then him finding out too late.
******
I can't bear it any longer! It's been 4 months, and Touya refuses to speak
to me, all because I held back the information about his mom. He won't
even let me near Sakura until bed time, for god's sake! My own son saying
I'm a bad influence to my own daughter! He seems to be taking better care
of her then I ever did, so, I'm going. It's not fair on them, if I'm here
just as a hindrance. It may seem harsh, but Touya just doesn't seem to
want my help, and Nadeshiko's death still pains me. I should have done
this years ago. It would have been easier on Sakura, and Touya. I'm going
to do what I've been planning for the last month or so.
Honey, I'm coming to join you. I hope you're there to meet me. It will
be good to see you again. I've only made six entries in this journal, but
they tell a lifetime of events. I hope Sakura, and Touya especially, will
forgive me for what I'm about to do. It's for their own good, Nadeshiko,
you must understand. Goodbye.
******
Fujitaka took a long and deeply refreshing breath, massaging the aching
muscles of his back. He winced as he hit a knot,
and tried
to take it out, and realized it would be to no avail. He stretched his
arms out, yawning. The digital clock on his desk
read (1:54:45AM).
He ran his hand over the smooth dark mahogany wood, memories of the past
flooding back. His fingers,
suddenly
felt two round objects under their tips. Pills. His escape from the hardships
of this world. He put them in his palm,
and rolled
them around for a second. They were ordinary pills, no bigger then peas,
smaller even, but they packed a deadly
punch.
Inside each was a powder made from the flowers of the Xing. Xing were only
grown on Mars for about 5 years, and
then they
were banned for the toxins discovered in the blossoms. 50 bottles of the
pills were sold, and he was in possession
of one.
He looked at the note with the instructions written on it.
Fujitaka:
Here are the pills you asked for. I'm sorry to say that I cannot support
what you are going to do in any
way,
but if you must do it, then you must. I just want to say that you've been
a great friend to me and my
husband,
and if you change your mind, I'll be more then welcome to destroy these
for you. If not, then good-
bye
old friend, I'll miss you. It's been nice knowing you, and I cannot stop
you. I just have to say, that I'm
disappointed
poor Touya and Sakura will have to live as orphans. Heaven be merciful
on the two.
Yours
Truly,
Kamiya
Santeraki
Your
long time assistant
Instructions:
Take pills with water, swallow, do not bite.
Fujitaka set the pills down, and took out a clean sheet of paper. With
his pen, he wrote out a letter to his friend.
Kamiya:
I am attaching to this letter a check for $1500.00 - your monthly pay.
I am asking of you several things:
* Watch
my children at a distance. If you can, help them if they need it, but otherwise
stay out of Touya's way. If you want to send him money, please keep up
a disguise as my attourney. They will not accept money otherwise. Anything
else can be done while the children are at school. The key code to my quarters
is
021986.
Thank you.
* If
you look in the bookshelf by the door, in the top shelf, the last book
to the right, my will is attached in the front cover. If you can, schedule
a reading of it, and get all the inheritances filed out. Make sure all
goes as the will says! Nothing must be changed. It is mostly for my heirs'
benifit. You and your husband have been included.
Before I stop, I also must tell you something. I have kept this a secret
for 2 years, but I think now is the time to tell someone. If I don't Sakura
will never know. Kamiya, Sakura has magical blood. I want you to promise
me, that when she is 10 years old, to contact a man called Stanton Terada.
Please! He can help her! If you must, tell Touya, and he will do it, but
otherwise only you need to know this. Yesterday, I found his address in
a directory, and called him. He is willing to help her, but she needs to
be 10 years old. Something about a prophecy. Help me keep that promise.
Goodbye, and thanks again Kamiya. You've been a great assistant to me in
my work, and I hope that you and your husband have many happy years together,
as I and Nadeshiko would have.
Your
Friend,
Fujitaka
Kinomoto.
P.S.
I have put the bottle of Xing on the bookshelf at the very top. If you
please, get rid of it so my son and daughter come to no harm. Thanks again.
Fujitaka took one last look at the letter, then attached his check to it.
He folded it carefully, then went over to the mail slot in the hallway
outside the quarters. Looking at the address on the front, he put the letter
in, then walked slowly back to the room. When he'd closed the door behind
him with a soft 'whoosh', he looked over at the two pills. They seemed
to be a lot eerier, under the light of the study lamp. With great care,
he checked to be sure the rest of the pills were where he said they'd be,
and that the will was still in its place. With great difficulty, he got
a glass of water from the sink, and walked over to the desk. Slowly, he
swigged a mouthful of water, and put the pills in his mouth. Swallowing,
he grimaced, the pills felt like marbles going down his throat. Feeling
a slight dizziness, he walked towards the room he shared with baby Sakura.
She wasn't asleep. Her leaf green eyes could be seen studying him from
between the bars of her crib.
" Go to
sleep, Sakura."
The two green dots seemed to turn off, and there was a rustling, then all
was still. Fujitaka lay down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. His
vision blurred slightly, and he knew the poison was taking effect. Getting
up quickly, he went to his son's room. Touya was fast asleep, sprawled
across his small bed. Around him, hand drawn pictures of just about everything
were taped to the walls. With tenderness, Fujitaka tucked his son in comfortably.
He leaned down and whispered something in his son's ear.
" I'm sorry
I never told you sooner, Touya. I hope you can forgive me."
Touya shifted slightly, and Fujitaka turned. He saw Sakura snoozing, and
walked up to his daughter. Brushing her cheek with his hand, he whispered,"
Good night, Sakura, sweet dreams."
He left, and went to his bed. Laying down, he felt his vision worsen, and
his stomach cramp up. Suddenly, he felt his legs go numb.
' I mustn't
panic,' he thought.
A slow paralysis set in, and pretty soon, he couldn't move his arms. Fujitaka
was now immobile, everything seemed like lead clumped onto him. He felt
drowsy, and his last conscious thought was that of his wife smiling at
him on the day of their wedding. At 2:00 AM that morning, Fujitaka Kinomoto
was no more.
The next morning, Touya wakes up to hear crying. He gets up sleepily, only
to find Sakura in his room. He looks at her curiously.
" Hey,
Sis, what's up?" He looked at her. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she
hiccupped. Touya smacked his head, duh, she's two, of course she can't
tell YOU what's the matter.
" Alright,
Sakura, show me what's the problem."
Sakura pointed towards her and Fujitaka's room. Touya picked her up, it
was quicker, and took them in. He looked around, seeing nothing unusual,
he looked to her for hints. She pointed at their father. Touya shrugged
and walked over to his father's bed, and shook him lightly on the shoulders.
His eyes widened. Either his father had just been out in space lately or...no!
Touya shook his father harder, feeling for a pulse. None. Sakura was staring
at her father, she was too young to understand why he wouldn't get up and
say hello. He always got up and said hello.
" Maybe
he's just been sleeping with the covers off..." Touya said. Touya shook
his dad. Nothing. Again, this time with more force. Still nothing. Something
was wrong...
" Dad!
Dad! Wake up! Come on..." Touya shook the corpse frantically. His eyes
were starting to blur with tears.
" COME
ON!!!!! DAD!!! WAKE UP!!! IT"S NOT FUNNY!!! GET UP, DAD!!!!" Touya collapsed
on the bed, crying for the first time in years. Sakura was shocked in her
own baby sort of way, she'd never seen Touya look so helpless. She crawled
up to him, and tried to give him a hug like her dad did to make her feel
better, but he continued to sob into the sheets, wringing them in one fist.
Looking around, he saw the emergency comm system. On impulse, he rushed
to it and asked frantically for the station doctor. He heard a young voice
on the phone.
" This
is the Station Medical Office, how may I help you?" There was a slight
tinge of boredom hinted in the way the person spoke.
" My father
is dead! Do you hear?!!! I need a medic team down here NOW! ASAP! STAT!"
Touya's voice seemed to be a scale higher.
" What?!!
Alright, just a sec! Will be down in a split. What's your apartment number?"
" 23A."
" Alright.
Remain calm. We'll be right there."
There was a shrill ringing coming from the door. Touya went to answer it.
Standing in the hallway, were 10 medical personnel, all dressed in the
appropriate white uniforms. On their arm was a band indicatating their
rank. The head doctor walked up to Touya. He was only about 5' 6", but
to Touya he seemed like a giant. Being twelve years old didn't help him
very much. The rest of the team ran to the room where the two children's
father lay, as directed by Touya.
" Well,
son, do you know when your father died?"
" NO."
Touya wasn't liking this man very much.
" Do you
know what he died of?"
" NO!"
" Was
he in poor health before he died?"
" No."
Sakura was hustled out of the room, where she huddled in the corner.
" Then,
we'll have to check the body ourselves. In the mean time, you children
stay put. Did your father have any relatives?"
" I don't
know."
" I believe
I can answer that question." A mysterious figure was standing in the doorway.
" And
who, praytell, are you?" The head doctor turned as he addressed the occupier
of the doorway.
" I am
Kamiya Santeraki, the man's work assistant."
" Do you
know this woman?" This was directed to Touya.
" Yeah,
I do."
" Alright
then, its settled." He looked straight at Touya," If we find anything you
people will be the first to know."
