centerbPetals Fallingbr
Part Three: Land of the Thousand/b/center
pTomoyo was shying away from him again. The feisty side of her personality had shown, when she had used his sword, but now, she did not speak to him nor look at him in the eye. Finally, Eriol had to talk.
p"I don't believe it." Eriol's tone was filled with wonder, and it rose rapidly with excitement. "We've done it! We're free! Thank God ... you aren't hurt, are you?"
p"No." Tomoyo cast a longing glance over her shoulder. "I am not. But I wish that things could be different." Her voice took on a lighter tone. "We iare/i free now, aren't we?"
pShe chuckled, and smiled, and Eriol was amazed at the way it changed her face. It lit up, breathless and ruddy, like a Christmas tree. There was a smear of dirt displayed prominently on her cheek, overlapping a slight dimple. Her eyes sparkled.
pEriol grinned at her. "Do it again."
pTomoyo started in surprise, the smile fading off, to be replaced by an expression of confusion. "Do what again?" Then she caught on, and giggled, the smile highlighting the pearly-whites lined neatly in her mouth.
p"Yes. Like that." Eriol looked at her in satisfaction. "I don't think I'm very suited for running away, do you?" Tomoyo looked down at her long dress that fell to her ankles. Eriol shrugged and gave her a sidelong look. "Nope, you aren't. We'll have to look for new clothes."
p"After all my savings run out - " Tomoyo swung her bundle out from her shoulder and raised it. "we'll have no money, no food, no shelter." Eriol shrugged again. If worse comes to worst, he would have to sell his blade. Eriol's fingers ran across the sword lovingly. "It doesn't matter," he said, somewhat distractedly. "We'll find a way to get around that."
p"Where are we running to?"
p"There is a place." Eriol's words were quiet, and his eyes glimmered with a strange longing. "It's called Liberia. It's where my parent's origins come from. I have to come clean with you now, Tomoyo. I am not normal. I am not human, not really. I am a sorcerer, and I have magic." His hand strayed to the pendant upon his neck.
pTomoyo blinked in surprise, but she took the shock very, very mildly. "Cool." She gave him a long, lingering gaze. "I knew you weren't normal."
p"The thing is," Eriol paused. "You're a sorceress too. You do have magic. I can train you.
p"Liberia is a town of sorcerers. The gate to Liberia is at Mayfair, and Mayfair is far from here. Mayfair Tides, if you want to be exact: the sea. Only sorcerers can enter."
p"Can I?"
p"Yes."
p"How is it there?"
pEriol closed his eyes and tilted his head back, studying the sky. "I heard from my parent's tales that it is beautiful. Flowers bloom all year round. There usually are no children borne by a couple there. The only children there are the ones who have been magical since young. It is there, away from time, untouched by disasters."
pTomoyo's eyes lit up; she was drawn to the lure of such a place. "I'd love to go there."
p"I'm sure you would. Mayfair, if you didn't know, is near Tomoeda."
p"Tomoeda?!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "It's at the other end of Japan!"
p"My point exactly."
p***
pJoanne was tired. Her job, as an ambassador, was draining and sapping her of the energy she needed for life -
pAyasuki was calling to her, her sister's voice clear although Ayasuki was several miles away.
piJoanne, pay attention. They are here. They are approaching Conyui./i
pJoanne gave a mental nod to acknowledge her sister.
pHer aura flaring out, she picked up the boy's; Eriol's. Then, after thorough scouring, she managed to find Tomoyo's. Joanne stood from her oak table, and disappeared into the night outside of her house.
pEriol and Tomoyo trudged wearily towards the bright lights of the town beyond. Tomoyo could barely feel her legs - they were numb. If one day of running/walking had did this to her ... she wondered about the days beyond, then wiped all thoughts out of her head as she stepped in front of a house. The thoughts were beginning to sound like a broken tape recorder.
pEriol raised a limp and very unwilling hand to knock, but took a hasty step back as the door opened of its own accord. The silouhette of a lady emerged out of the faint lights in her house. "Welcome to Conyui," she said, bowing. "You look like you need a rest."
pWithout waiting for a reply, the woman stepped in, and closed the door firmly behind them.
pWhen they entered the hall, Tomoyo took a close look at the lady. She was short and slightly plump. Not plump, but large-sized, rather. She had chin-length, dark brown hair, and pale blue eyes that made her look vaguely Eurasian. She was dressed in a crisp business dress, and her movements were graceful. Her voice was deep and resonating, like a singer's. Her cheeks were tinted with pink that never seemed to go away. A necklace, with the symbol of a bright green triangle in it, hung from her neck.
pEriol thanked her, but mentioned that if it was inconvienient, they could stay at a hotel and spare her the trouble. She seemed to live alone. When Eriol suggested that, she merely gave him an untroubled, mysterious smile, saying, "You should not. You are in danger."
piIn danger?/i
pThe lady intoduced herself, breaking Tomoyo's thoughts. "My name is Joanne. Can I ask yours?"
p"Eriol at your service."
p"I'm Daidouji Tomoyo."
p"Nice to meet both of you." She shook both their hands, and bade them good night. "I'll see you in the morning." Those were the last words to them for the night as the door of her bedroom closed tightly. They both heard the scraping of a lock.
pTomoyo and Eriol began making their way up the steps. They found that there was two rooms waiting uncomplainingly for them. Without speaking, they each took a room, and slipped into their chamber of dreams and imaginings.
pEriol slept well, and had a disturbing dream. When he woke, he had forgotten the content: but a woman, about twenty-years-old, was imprinted firmly into his memory. iStrange. I can't seem to remember how she looks like./i All he recalled was that she was tall, slender, and had short-cropped hair.
pHe did not know her name.
pThere was a quick rap on the door, and Joanne's voice rose out of the din. "Eriol? Eriol, it's breakfast time."
p"I'm coming." Eriol clambered out of bed, pulled on his clothes, strapped the sword to his waist and exited the room quickly. At the exact moment, Tomoyo came out of hers, and they met.
p"Shall we go down for breakfast?" Eriol asked easily. Tomoyo nodded, and they descended the steps together.
p"Good. You're both up early." Joanne eyed them with light-blue eyes and gestured to two empty chairs. "Sit down."
pEriol followed her commands, the metal of his sword clinking slightly against the wooden chair. Joanne laughed. "You need not arm yourself. It is Saturday today. There is no need for work. Once more, welcome to Conyui, and I hope you enjoy your first meal here."
p"Conyui?" Tomoyo pricked up her ears. "iLand of the Thousand?/i"
p"Smart girl. It does mean Land of the Thousand. No one here is similar. We are all different: whether it is species or otherwise."
p"You have people all over the world?" Eriol leant forward, his mouth full with Joanne's simple yet delicious meal of butter spread on bread.
p"Oh, more than that." Joanne gave them a knowing look. When Eriol politely inquired what she meant, Joanne refused to reply any further. "I will say nothing but that you are in danger from your father, Tomoyo, and Eriol: you are being hunted down."
p"How do you know who we are? What do you mean by I'm in danger from my father? And what's this about Eriol being hunted down?" Tomoyo narrowed suspicious eyes, staring at Joanne. Joanne gave her another one of her famous looks: cold. A look that clearly said that one was a higher status than the other, and that one was wiser and knew more about the other.
p"I'll tell you tonight. Meanwhile, I need to go somewhere. I shall meet you back here."
p***
p"I don't trust her."
p"Why?" Eriol raised an eyebrow as they strolled down the main path of Conyui.
p"She knows a lot; almost too much. She's not ... human. She's like you. Like us." Tomoyo stared blankly at the place before her, her thoughts on Joanne.
p"You mean she's magical?"
p"Maybe." Tomoyo squealed and clutched Eriol's hand, pointing wildly. "Eriol! Look!"
pEriol followed her outstretched finger and whistled. "Woah."
pConyui was a place built in the woods: the houses were very much scattered apart. Before them was a family of foxes (four of them), three chicks, a weasel and a lone rabbit. Weasels and foxes are the natural enemies of rabbits and birds.
pYet they were playing together!
pThe chick's parents were chatting with the fox's, keeping an eye on their children. The two foxes, chick, weasel and rabbit were playing rough-and-tumble in the sand. "Land of the Thousand," Tomoyo repeated softly under her breath, keeping her eyes trained on the sight. She was certain that she would never see such a thing again.
pTomoyo took a step forward. She felt the weight of Eriol's penetrating, confused gaze upon her, but refused to respond to it. iIf this is genuine ... if this is really the Land of the Thousand ... /i She promptly strode forward and plunked herself down upon the playing animals.
pThey stopped their fun at once, not moving, stiffening. Then the rabbit put one paw forward. Step by step, paw by paw, it walked up to Tomoyo, eyes trusting. It put a paw on the lap, and sorceress and animal stared at each other for a long while. A moment that could not be measured by time elapsed before Eriol's disbeliving eyes.
pThen Tomoyo reached out and raised the rabbit's soft, powdery fur, burying herself into it. Then she lifted her head, set the rabbit, who did not resist, down to her lap. She reached out for the most unlikely: the younger one of the two foxes. It advanced willingly, as did its sibling. She patted both on the head and dropped the rabbit gently upon the ground. The weasel gave a happy, delighted squeal and leapt into her arms. Tomoyo hugged it affectionately.
pTomoyo greeted the parents in a more sedate manner, and Eriol joined her. The ice already broken, the animals welcomed him warmly. Yet it was clear that Tomoyo had a thing for communicating with these animals.
p"You have a wonderful way with them, Tomoyo," came the voice of Joanne.
pubcenterAuthor's Notes/center/b/u
pI would have continued to the end; you *know* that! Just that this was getting too long and I need to work on iDestiny's Threads/i ... ^-^
Part Three: Land of the Thousand/b/center
pTomoyo was shying away from him again. The feisty side of her personality had shown, when she had used his sword, but now, she did not speak to him nor look at him in the eye. Finally, Eriol had to talk.
p"I don't believe it." Eriol's tone was filled with wonder, and it rose rapidly with excitement. "We've done it! We're free! Thank God ... you aren't hurt, are you?"
p"No." Tomoyo cast a longing glance over her shoulder. "I am not. But I wish that things could be different." Her voice took on a lighter tone. "We iare/i free now, aren't we?"
pShe chuckled, and smiled, and Eriol was amazed at the way it changed her face. It lit up, breathless and ruddy, like a Christmas tree. There was a smear of dirt displayed prominently on her cheek, overlapping a slight dimple. Her eyes sparkled.
pEriol grinned at her. "Do it again."
pTomoyo started in surprise, the smile fading off, to be replaced by an expression of confusion. "Do what again?" Then she caught on, and giggled, the smile highlighting the pearly-whites lined neatly in her mouth.
p"Yes. Like that." Eriol looked at her in satisfaction. "I don't think I'm very suited for running away, do you?" Tomoyo looked down at her long dress that fell to her ankles. Eriol shrugged and gave her a sidelong look. "Nope, you aren't. We'll have to look for new clothes."
p"After all my savings run out - " Tomoyo swung her bundle out from her shoulder and raised it. "we'll have no money, no food, no shelter." Eriol shrugged again. If worse comes to worst, he would have to sell his blade. Eriol's fingers ran across the sword lovingly. "It doesn't matter," he said, somewhat distractedly. "We'll find a way to get around that."
p"Where are we running to?"
p"There is a place." Eriol's words were quiet, and his eyes glimmered with a strange longing. "It's called Liberia. It's where my parent's origins come from. I have to come clean with you now, Tomoyo. I am not normal. I am not human, not really. I am a sorcerer, and I have magic." His hand strayed to the pendant upon his neck.
pTomoyo blinked in surprise, but she took the shock very, very mildly. "Cool." She gave him a long, lingering gaze. "I knew you weren't normal."
p"The thing is," Eriol paused. "You're a sorceress too. You do have magic. I can train you.
p"Liberia is a town of sorcerers. The gate to Liberia is at Mayfair, and Mayfair is far from here. Mayfair Tides, if you want to be exact: the sea. Only sorcerers can enter."
p"Can I?"
p"Yes."
p"How is it there?"
pEriol closed his eyes and tilted his head back, studying the sky. "I heard from my parent's tales that it is beautiful. Flowers bloom all year round. There usually are no children borne by a couple there. The only children there are the ones who have been magical since young. It is there, away from time, untouched by disasters."
pTomoyo's eyes lit up; she was drawn to the lure of such a place. "I'd love to go there."
p"I'm sure you would. Mayfair, if you didn't know, is near Tomoeda."
p"Tomoeda?!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "It's at the other end of Japan!"
p"My point exactly."
p***
pJoanne was tired. Her job, as an ambassador, was draining and sapping her of the energy she needed for life -
pAyasuki was calling to her, her sister's voice clear although Ayasuki was several miles away.
piJoanne, pay attention. They are here. They are approaching Conyui./i
pJoanne gave a mental nod to acknowledge her sister.
pHer aura flaring out, she picked up the boy's; Eriol's. Then, after thorough scouring, she managed to find Tomoyo's. Joanne stood from her oak table, and disappeared into the night outside of her house.
pEriol and Tomoyo trudged wearily towards the bright lights of the town beyond. Tomoyo could barely feel her legs - they were numb. If one day of running/walking had did this to her ... she wondered about the days beyond, then wiped all thoughts out of her head as she stepped in front of a house. The thoughts were beginning to sound like a broken tape recorder.
pEriol raised a limp and very unwilling hand to knock, but took a hasty step back as the door opened of its own accord. The silouhette of a lady emerged out of the faint lights in her house. "Welcome to Conyui," she said, bowing. "You look like you need a rest."
pWithout waiting for a reply, the woman stepped in, and closed the door firmly behind them.
pWhen they entered the hall, Tomoyo took a close look at the lady. She was short and slightly plump. Not plump, but large-sized, rather. She had chin-length, dark brown hair, and pale blue eyes that made her look vaguely Eurasian. She was dressed in a crisp business dress, and her movements were graceful. Her voice was deep and resonating, like a singer's. Her cheeks were tinted with pink that never seemed to go away. A necklace, with the symbol of a bright green triangle in it, hung from her neck.
pEriol thanked her, but mentioned that if it was inconvienient, they could stay at a hotel and spare her the trouble. She seemed to live alone. When Eriol suggested that, she merely gave him an untroubled, mysterious smile, saying, "You should not. You are in danger."
piIn danger?/i
pThe lady intoduced herself, breaking Tomoyo's thoughts. "My name is Joanne. Can I ask yours?"
p"Eriol at your service."
p"I'm Daidouji Tomoyo."
p"Nice to meet both of you." She shook both their hands, and bade them good night. "I'll see you in the morning." Those were the last words to them for the night as the door of her bedroom closed tightly. They both heard the scraping of a lock.
pTomoyo and Eriol began making their way up the steps. They found that there was two rooms waiting uncomplainingly for them. Without speaking, they each took a room, and slipped into their chamber of dreams and imaginings.
pEriol slept well, and had a disturbing dream. When he woke, he had forgotten the content: but a woman, about twenty-years-old, was imprinted firmly into his memory. iStrange. I can't seem to remember how she looks like./i All he recalled was that she was tall, slender, and had short-cropped hair.
pHe did not know her name.
pThere was a quick rap on the door, and Joanne's voice rose out of the din. "Eriol? Eriol, it's breakfast time."
p"I'm coming." Eriol clambered out of bed, pulled on his clothes, strapped the sword to his waist and exited the room quickly. At the exact moment, Tomoyo came out of hers, and they met.
p"Shall we go down for breakfast?" Eriol asked easily. Tomoyo nodded, and they descended the steps together.
p"Good. You're both up early." Joanne eyed them with light-blue eyes and gestured to two empty chairs. "Sit down."
pEriol followed her commands, the metal of his sword clinking slightly against the wooden chair. Joanne laughed. "You need not arm yourself. It is Saturday today. There is no need for work. Once more, welcome to Conyui, and I hope you enjoy your first meal here."
p"Conyui?" Tomoyo pricked up her ears. "iLand of the Thousand?/i"
p"Smart girl. It does mean Land of the Thousand. No one here is similar. We are all different: whether it is species or otherwise."
p"You have people all over the world?" Eriol leant forward, his mouth full with Joanne's simple yet delicious meal of butter spread on bread.
p"Oh, more than that." Joanne gave them a knowing look. When Eriol politely inquired what she meant, Joanne refused to reply any further. "I will say nothing but that you are in danger from your father, Tomoyo, and Eriol: you are being hunted down."
p"How do you know who we are? What do you mean by I'm in danger from my father? And what's this about Eriol being hunted down?" Tomoyo narrowed suspicious eyes, staring at Joanne. Joanne gave her another one of her famous looks: cold. A look that clearly said that one was a higher status than the other, and that one was wiser and knew more about the other.
p"I'll tell you tonight. Meanwhile, I need to go somewhere. I shall meet you back here."
p***
p"I don't trust her."
p"Why?" Eriol raised an eyebrow as they strolled down the main path of Conyui.
p"She knows a lot; almost too much. She's not ... human. She's like you. Like us." Tomoyo stared blankly at the place before her, her thoughts on Joanne.
p"You mean she's magical?"
p"Maybe." Tomoyo squealed and clutched Eriol's hand, pointing wildly. "Eriol! Look!"
pEriol followed her outstretched finger and whistled. "Woah."
pConyui was a place built in the woods: the houses were very much scattered apart. Before them was a family of foxes (four of them), three chicks, a weasel and a lone rabbit. Weasels and foxes are the natural enemies of rabbits and birds.
pYet they were playing together!
pThe chick's parents were chatting with the fox's, keeping an eye on their children. The two foxes, chick, weasel and rabbit were playing rough-and-tumble in the sand. "Land of the Thousand," Tomoyo repeated softly under her breath, keeping her eyes trained on the sight. She was certain that she would never see such a thing again.
pTomoyo took a step forward. She felt the weight of Eriol's penetrating, confused gaze upon her, but refused to respond to it. iIf this is genuine ... if this is really the Land of the Thousand ... /i She promptly strode forward and plunked herself down upon the playing animals.
pThey stopped their fun at once, not moving, stiffening. Then the rabbit put one paw forward. Step by step, paw by paw, it walked up to Tomoyo, eyes trusting. It put a paw on the lap, and sorceress and animal stared at each other for a long while. A moment that could not be measured by time elapsed before Eriol's disbeliving eyes.
pThen Tomoyo reached out and raised the rabbit's soft, powdery fur, burying herself into it. Then she lifted her head, set the rabbit, who did not resist, down to her lap. She reached out for the most unlikely: the younger one of the two foxes. It advanced willingly, as did its sibling. She patted both on the head and dropped the rabbit gently upon the ground. The weasel gave a happy, delighted squeal and leapt into her arms. Tomoyo hugged it affectionately.
pTomoyo greeted the parents in a more sedate manner, and Eriol joined her. The ice already broken, the animals welcomed him warmly. Yet it was clear that Tomoyo had a thing for communicating with these animals.
p"You have a wonderful way with them, Tomoyo," came the voice of Joanne.
pubcenterAuthor's Notes/center/b/u
pI would have continued to the end; you *know* that! Just that this was getting too long and I need to work on iDestiny's Threads/i ... ^-^