Chapter 2: Danger Written In The Stars
Two weeks ago…in a smoky bar, St. Petersburg, Florida…
"My bet is impossible. Pfft. You couldn't possibly pull something off like that. You aren't that powerful." A young man, about 25, spat. He sat with two other men at a table in a dark corner.
"You shouldn't underestimate the great magician Orion. He's capable of more than you think." An older man in his mid-fifties said with a cunning look in his eyes.
"But that of all things! Nico you can't seriously think a mere mortal can pull off such a feat." Retorted the young man, drinking half his beer and belching loudly.
"How much are you willing to bet, my drunken friend. The well being of your wife? Your family? Your precious money?" A mysterious man asked. He had a black hood shadowing his handsome face.
"Hmmf. That isn't very nice to say." The young man was beginning to slur his words.
"That's enough drink for you Brandon." Nico snatched the half-empty beer bottle beside him. Brandon gave him an evil glare.
"So what's your price?" The hooded man's silky voice asked again.
"You don't have any real magical powers. It would be unfair to make such a bet."
"Magician Orion, I suggest you show this drunken lowlife the extent of your outstanding abilities." Nico smirked, taking a drag from his pipe. Orion raised his face, clearly showing the amused twinkle in his icy blue eyes.
"I think I will." He turned and spotted a very drunken young man being floozied my hookers. With a hidden grin, Orion pointed his fingers toward the man and closed his eyes. In a gentle monotone, he whispered two words very slowly.
"Agastine Desistre." Time seemed to slow for a moment. A tingling sensation ran through Orion's body. His outstretched fingers quivered and his eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he focused all his energy on the painstaking task. In an instant, Orion released himself from concentrating and time slipped back to normal speed.
"Nothing happened." Brandon blurted, a few seconds too soon. There was an ear-splitting scream and Brandon stared at the young man, shaking violently and gurgling on the concrete floor. In a matter of seconds, he had ceased moving and a pool of blood oozed from his mouth, his eyes glazed over and lifeless.
"W-what did you do to him?" Brandon uttered, completely shocked and flabbergasted.
"I severed a few arteries in his brain." Orion managed to say, trying to hide the exhaustion that plagued his body and his mind.
"Fine. I believe you. But even if you get them, how will you make them comply with your orders? They pledged allegiance to the one who sealed them."
"You still underestimate. Stop asking questions foolish boy. Magician Orion doesn't need to be bothered with such talk." Nico spat, swallowing the urge to punch the dumb boy's face in.
"Fine 50$ million is my offer." Brandon mumbled, fiddling with the golden chain around his neck, "You get your 50$ million and then leave me and my family alone."
"Deal." Nico grinned maliciously.
"Wait. What do I get if I win?" Brandon asked.
"I will resign my powers and endure a human life and I'll stop ruining the lives of your loved ones. That was the reason you showed up to meet me is it not? To make a deal?" Orion purred.
"Yes." Replied Brandon who was now tugging at his chain nervously.
"Fine. Our bet is official." Nico shook hands with the nervous young heir.
"When will you be off to Japan?" Brandon asked, snatching his unfinished beer back from Nico. The old man growled.
"Very soon." Orion whispered, "I must prepare the proper guise before I even try gaining control of the Card Mistress. It is getting late. I must leave now and begin preparations. Good evening to you." Orion pushed out his chair and wearily got to his feet.
"How long do you expect you will be?" Brandon tested his luck one last time.
"Stop asking foolish questions you block-headed bastard!" Nico fumed.
"Be calm Nico." Sometimes he felt deeply concerned for his ageing friend. His violent streak gets out of hand too often, "I will return as soon as I obtain the cards. But do not expect me back too early. I plan to make the Card Mistress suffer miserably before I extinguish her, play around with her before I cut the cord to her existence. It's been a while since I've had any fun. I will call you when the cards are in my grasp. Until we meet again." Orion and Nico left the bar; barely giving the very dead man a glance. Brandon stared wide-eyed at the corps on the ground and thought long and hard about what he had gotten himself into.
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Thursday…
"Cerubus, Sakura. I am glad you came to speak with me." Yue spoke softly yet emotionless, "What I have to say deeply concerns the strange happenings in Tomoeda."
"Well wasn't that a little obvious?" Kero grunted. Ignoring Kero's comment, Yue continued.
"Yukito keeps having the same dream over and over again. They involve a young magician. I sense his magic is what caused all the trouble last night."
"Now that I think about it, I do remember seeing a boy in my dreams a few nights ago. That's definitely no coincidence." Sakura leant against the wall of Yukito's home and thought back to her dream, "Then I heard someone yell out, a voice terribly familiar yet a voice I can't recall hearing before. And then I saw…" Sakura broke off and looked away, careful not to meet Kero's constant gaze.
"Syaoran." Yue finished the sentence for her, "He appeared in the dreams of Yukito too."
"What's the 'kid' doing in your dreams? I thought he left for good." Kero grumbled. Yue shot a glance at him and suddenly he could hear Yue's voice in his mind. I 'You knew he would come back. Their destinies together are inevitable.' /I
Kero sighed, I 'Yeah but him of all people.' /I
"Hello!" Sakura waved her hands in front of Yue's and Kero's faces, "Why don't you include me in your heated conversations too." Yue and Kero both glared at poor Sakura who started feeling a little nervous and small under their gaze.
"W-what's the matter?" she asked, her voice strangely high pitched.
"Nothing. Just the inevitability of your destiny." Kero mumbled.
"Huh?" Sakura looked as confused as a toddler would be doing algebra.
"What we must concentrate on is the task ahead of us, this mysterious magician," Yue said, strategically changing the subject, "and how we will defeat this new magic. He's proven himself already that he is a powerful magician, defeating a Clow card."
"Yeah. He's definitely powerful." Sakura replied, still staring at Kero.
"Time is running short. I'll keep you posted on Yukito's dreams." With that, Yue transformed into Yukito.
"Hello Sakura, hello Kero. Would you like some tea? I'm feeling rather famished right now." Yukito smiled widely and gestured to the kitchen.
"Definitely." Kero replied with a cheeky grin and followed Yukito to the kitchen.
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Saturday…
The airport was as crowded as ever. People of all cultures and backgrounds flocked the tunnels, hangers and waiting areas. With Wei at his side, he manoeuvred through the tight crowds of people and finally to the exit of the airport. I Oh Japan! You don't know how excited I am to see you again/I Syaoran grinned widely and took in his surroundings. It had been to long since he had seen the cherry blossom tree in their full glory.
Syaoran and Wei climbed into a taxi and they were off to Tomoeda. As they drove through the city, Syaoran stared out his window expressionless. I Since when was that building there? There is a lot more people here than I would have imagined. Look at that subdivision. Holy crap things have changed. I wonder how everyone is doing. Will the recognise me? I haven't changed that much. I've certainly gotten a little taller…well maybe a lot taller. And I suppose my hair has gotten a little shaggier and my face has gotten a little longer and I have gotten a wider upper body and…maybe they will find it hard to recognise me. /I The taxi turned onto the road where his apartment was located on. I I hope everyone hasn't changed too much. I suppose everyone's gotten a little taller. Tomoyo probably has boys hanging off her left and right. Sakura…hmm. I'll have to wait and see. /I
Syaoran climbed out of the taxi and stretched his legs. He grabbed his luggage from the trunk with ease and entered the apartment building, Wei not far behind. Syaoran and Wei rode the elevator to their floor and opened the door to their little apartment.
"I think we have some cleaning to do." Wei wiped his finger on the table and examined the build-up of dust. Syaoran sighed and dug out the cleaning supplies from underneath the kitchen sink.
"Well we better get to it." Syaoran replied unenthusiastically, slipping a rubber glove on his hand.
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"Ohayoo Kaijou." Touya taunted as Sakura entered the kitchen on Saturday morning. Sakura ignored the comment.
"Ohayoo!" She smiled at the picture of her mother and sat down to eat the meal prepared by her father that was sitting on the table in front of her.
"Where are you off to today?" Sakura's father asked, emerging from the food preparation part of the kitchen and sitting down across from her.
"I'm going to Tomoyo's to sleepover. She wants me to model some of her new creations." Sakura replied.
"Sounds like fun." Her father grinned and stuffed some food into his mouth.
"You like Kuriyama Kyoko's art don't you father?" Touya asked behind the newspaper.
"Yes. She's one of my favourite artists. Why?" he replied.
"Well, in a few days, Thursday to be exact, she is debuting a few new pieces of art including the much anticipated, "Emerald Eyed Angel."
"Sounds enthralling. I think I'll go to the debut. Any of you care to go with me? I'll treat you all to dinner." Fujitaka offered.
"I'll come with you! What about you Touya?" Sakura exclaimed.
"I'll go." Touya replied simply, hiding behind the newspaper again.
"Well I better leave for Tomoyo's. Were going shopping!" Sakura hopped from her chair and grabbed her purse and her duffel bag and strapped on her roller-skates.
"Today shall be a glorious day!" She said to herself as she skated down the street, her custom Tomoyo-made green summer dress billowing in the wind behind her.
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