Elemental Aeon
Kesshou Uryou
Act I
Chapter IV
Progress
"Basic Studies!" Sakura had turned her pacing into something similar to a war rampage, trudging past all obstacles threatening to prevent her movement. "That's what it is! Who ever came up with such a stupid, stupid, stupid thing?"
Tomoyo tried to look sympathetic, but all motivation had been lost. She was regretting her asking what the matter was with the younger girl in the first place, really. She instead took pity on her joint room; it being shared with a certain sleeping individual as Tomoyo sat out of harms way on her bed.
"I mean what is the point? We're not here to learn math of all things!" Tomoyo had a part of her that agreed, but her good sense inhibited it from being voiced out loud. Instead she spoke the reasonable and logical answer that was the real cause. Sakura, however, would be disappointed by it.
"Think for a second, Sakura-chan. What's the goal of us being here again?"
"To train our elements, of course! I'm not that stupid even though Basic Studies is harder than I thought it would be…" Tomoyo saw Sakura's tirade began to get a damper placed upon it as she trailed off dejectedly. The poor girl was trying her hardest, but Tomoyo suspected Sakura was used to a self-customizable and self-paced learning style induced by her home schooling. (Tomoyo was akin to the same thing although she had ventured out into private school at one point.) But even more than just that, balancing elemental training and the vigor Sakura placed upon it with the rather stale in comparison Basic Studies was something that proved difficult for her too. Although to be fair, Tomoyo had even one more class than Sakura to worry about.
"Yes and why are we doing that exactly?" Tomoyo decided Sakura needed more prompting to come to a correct and mutual conclusion.
"So maybe we can become an Elemental-sama and beat the elements themselves. Then the world will go back to the way it was before the Elemental Aeon began." Sakura was repeating what had been engraved upon her mind and Tomoyo knew it too. This time of turmoil had been deemed by some as the Elemental Aeon. Elemental simply referred to the elements. Aeon dictated the current indefinite time period. Together the phrase represented a seemingly everlasting time of pure chaos.
"And if we can really do all that, what will you do after this is all over? And to do that, what are you going to need?" Tomoyo reclined into a laying position. That should be all the clues Sakura needed, after all. She could figure the rest out on her own.
"I don't know what I'd do, but I guess an educat- oh." The girl seemed to be hit hard at having lost so easily. She turned introverted for a moment, reflecting on this information, changing her once angered face into a sullen one.
"Makes sense now, doesn't it? Besides, even if we don't accomplish it, most people don't stay in this program for their whole life so we would need some schooling to get other jobs." Tomoyo prattle seemed to completely stop Sakura's angered movements as she sunk down next to her friend. Actually, by now, they had become something equivalent to best friends even though it was a rather strange relationship at times. They had fun they connected better with each other than the others.
"Still, why does it have to be math?" Apparently not all the fight had left the brooding girl.
"Don't ask me. Just put up with it," Tomoyo breathed out as she swung her legs over the side of the bed to stand up.
"But I told you, I'm failing. This has never happened to me before! And if I fail any of my lessons, I can't continue on with my training until I've passed. I don't want to fall behind!" Tomoyo figured that by now this was essentially Sakura whining.
"Find yourself a tutor then. Li-san is good at math, isn't he?" Sakura was so taken back by the idea that she missed Tomoyo's mischievous smirk.
"No way! He'll never let me live it down!" The stubborn protest vibrated off the walls, and Tomoyo subconsciously turned to see if the other occupant of the room had been awakened. Fortunately for the conscious dwellers of the room, it turned out to be not so. Tomoyo mused that she really must have stayed out most of the night like she had said. Sakura, after she had calmed down, seemed to follow Tomoyo's gaze.
"Hey… Rae-san can help me!" Tomoyo blinked then almost laughed. Her endeavor for hiding her mirth completely failed, however, as Sakura had caught on to it.
"What's so funny? She helps you after all." Tomoyo knew that to be true, but Sakura wasn't exactly helping Meilin out in turn. Besides, their relationship was as blurred as it could get. She was even slightly surprised that Meilin had yet to stop fulfilling her end of the deal. Doing two people's schoolwork would wear down Tomoyo, even just a little. Then there was Meilin helping her get caught up since Tomoyo hadn't even done the work…
"That's a bit different," Tomoyo deadpanned, and Sakura slid down the side of the bed as she neatly collapsed on the wooden floor in apparent defeat.
"Cheer up, it won't be that bad, Sakura-chan." Sakura took this blow with poorly masked disbelief.
"You don't have to put up with him like I do. I'll just end up having to work extra harder on training to beat him there…" Tomoyo watched her pick herself up from the floor.
"That's the spirit." Sakura had already made her way to the door before she turned around again. Her eyes were entirely on a sleeping Meilin.
"It wouldn't hurt to just ask her now about it, would it?" Tomoyo knew the answer to that and shot down Sakura's hopes not for the first time that day.
"You really want to be the one to wake her up after she got no sleep last night?" Sakura pivoted on her heel and was already partially out the door before she answered. Auburn locks and all.
"Right. I'll go ask him."
--e--a--
"Tomoyo!" Sakura came bounding in, clearly a mess but eager to talk regardless. She, however, had forgotten a simple procedure, namely knocking, in the process. This did nothing to appease the one figure actually awake in the room.
"Are you so stupid that you can't knock?" Sakura had learned a long time ago to just let the comments slide if she wasn't in the mood for a full out argument. You never knew when those would end. And frankly, she was exhausted. So instead she mumbled an apology before throwing in her own comment.
"Jeez… whenever I come here one of you has to be asleep." The words had come from a quick observation. Tomoyo was asleep at her desk, her arms serving as a pillow. Needless to say, she had been undertaking a cramming session on either her extra class, Medical Studies, or catching up in Basic Studies. Although Meilin usually would help with the latter. Perhaps she had before the younger girl had fall into sleep. Meilin now was on her bed, writing in her journal per usual. This routine had been hindered by Sakura's sudden appearance.
"Well, it is late. You should be heading off to bed yourself." Meilin was ever the night owl. Sakura had picked up from Tomoyo that she went who knows where during the night and in the night only. Sakura wouldn't be surprised if Meilin was about to be on her way when she had entered.
"No, I'm fine for now." Suddenly her reply took on a desperate edge, "Hey, you sure you don't want to tutor me? Tomoyo's asleep and you must be bored just writing all the time."
"You still haven't asked him, have you?" Well, Sakura immediately translated that to a firm no. She unenthusiastically sighed and found her feet very interesting.
"I'm working on it."
"Work on it faster, would you? Or stop asking me. Pick one." Meilin turned back to her perpetual writing as she dipped her quill in the ever present inkbottle. Sakura knew she should have taken it as her sign to leave, but she felt disappointed that Tomoyo was asleep when she had come to her. She was in the mood for a chat, and challenges had begun to slowly grow on her.
Meilin was as much of a challenge as she could get.
So it was with this in mind when she silently slid across the wooden floorboards in search of her prize. Talking about it had accomplished nothing. So why not just try and go for the kill? Unfortunately, Meilin wasn't that easy of a target. After all, she was a challenge.
As soon as she was within distance to read something, Sakura had begun to adjust her position to get to an angle so she actually could do so. Meilin took this as her opportunity to jump up suddenly, walking away as she blew furiously at the pages. Sakura suspected she would have outright slammed the small book shut if not for the worry of the words smudging all across its contents.
"Why again aren't you bothering Sasaki?" Sakura blinked at the mention of her roommate, Rika, before she realized Meilin was trying to distract her from her self-proclaimed task.
"Because she took all her free time today to go visit her childhood friend. She just got here, and Rika said she'd be gone all day. She probably won't be back until even you're asleep." They both knew that that was a long, long time. There was a silence until Meilin shattered it.
"You really should be going to bed now." Sakura wouldn't let her mood to be disheartened that easily.
"Oh c'mon. I'm not even doing anything wrong." A point blank glare stopped Sakura from elaborating. There was more silence until a question hung in the air.
"Don't you have a hobby?" And, of course, Sakura's unsure answer would be…
"Training?" After the utterance, she tapped a finger against her chin in thought. Did that even count? Did she really have no hobby?
"Then go do it." Sakura almost took her advice until she realized, per her normal fashion, that she had just gotten back from training. Hence the dirtied clothes and her pure, disclosed exhaustion. Also that it was much too late to train. Besides, hadn't she been focused on something else entirely a moment ago?
So, with half a thought, she took the moment of spontaneity to lunge. She thought it would work well enough, but she hadn't counted on Meilin's left foot to entangle with hers as one arm made clumsy contact with her back. The other extended to take the elusive little book from its owner's grasp. That is, as they were falling to the ground.
And with an echoing thud, they impacted the floor with Meilin taking the brunt of the descent. Sakura had none too gracefully missed her target as well, rolling over to lie with her back on the floor as she was. Now as Tomoyo stirred a bit to change her head's position, Sakura raced out of the room.
She feared that she'd been getting a little too much conversation is she remained.
--e--a--
"Daidouji-san said you wanted to talk to me?" Syaoran spoke these words upon entering after taking note that the said girl was not present in the room. "Where is she anyway?"
"Medical Studies," Meilin muttered before she plunged back to writing hastily, flicking her tongue out of the corner of her mouth every time she made a mistake and had to slow down to cross out the offending scribble. Syaoran watched the show.
"Damnit," she remarked as her eyes shot rapidly back and forth as she reveled in her careless error. She began the process of crumbling up the paper before she picked up another thick parchment. "Damn Daidouji too. I didn't ask you to come here."
Syaoran easily took note of Meilin's anger. He knew when to not push too far, but still there was some breathing room.
"And what exactly are you doing?" Meilin sighed in ill concealed annoyance as she heavily set down her all too present quill. The slap her palm had made on the desk left her hand stinging. Not that she showed it.
"I'm doing our Basic Studies work. Again." Syaoran knew that tone well. She wasn't happy.
"I'm surprised that you're still doing it." Meilin sunk down in her chair, fingering a loose stray of hair. Twirling it around and around her finger seemed to slow down the onslaught of her thoughts. She redirected a faint glare at the wavering candlelight. It was getting late, and Tomoyo should be back soon.
"She's keeping her part of the deal. She ordered what I needed under her own name, and that was risky for her. Besides, I always honor a true promise." Meilin reached for the familiar quill again as she dove back into writing. She still had Clow's work to get done. At this rate, she wouldn't be able to go out at all this night. Then she couldn't gather any new information.
"You can't be happy that she sent me to visit you though." Syaoran plopped down decisively on what he knew to be Meilin's bed as he waited for her reaction. She rewarded him by rubbing her throbbing temples. She had a headache then.
"Well, whatever, I haven't seen you in awhile so I guess it was ok." Syaoran had to offer this when he realized that Meilin was in no mood to respond. She was lashing out again with her most trusted weapon: her quill. He wondered if she'd die if it just disappeared one day. Maybe he'd look into that eventually. Old habits did die hard.
"Hmm." When he thought that would be the extent of the rest of the conversation, he made to leave, but she found her voice to continue. "So how many times have you burned yourself now?" He subconsciously hid his arms behind his back. So she had noticed.
He had had burns when he had come to see her on those rare occasions since he started training, but now they ran the length of his arms. The bandages had been necessary even though he hid them with loose and long sleeves. He supposed the ends of the offending white objects did peek out at the wrist. Even if it was just a little.
"I'm getting the hang of it." He was embarrassed by the burns, and he knew Meilin was relishing in his injury. Salt to the wounds. She was well versed in that practice.
"Right." Only a complete fool could miss the heavily laced sarcasm. There was silence after that besides for the perpetual scratching of quill to parchment.
"Have you found out anything important lately?" Meilin produced an abrupt and sharp noise as she scooted closer to her desk. Syaoran had realized right away that Tomoyo's was much more organized albeit she did use it as a make-shift bed. Now, however, his attention was back on Meilin who was writing in an ever more frenzied state. Syaoran decided it was time to go now. After all, it was only when Tomoyo had let a few certain things slip, had he had found out that Meilin was collecting information. Highly controversial information at that.
Now with a hand on the doorknob, debating on whether to say any words of parting or not, Meilin instead spoke.
"Has Kinomoto asked you any… favors recently?" He paused, his mind searching after the unusual answer to an unusual question.
"No. We basically only talk about whose better… or we just fight." He heard Meilin sigh. Then more of that almost complete silence.
"Well," Meilin finally snapped, "Get the hell out already."
--e--a--
For the moment, quiet reigned and Meilin enjoyed it. Then it came crashing down as quickly as it had come. Things like this always fluctuated.
"So, it's been eighty-six years since things slipped out of control?" Meilin nursed her head in the crook of her arm. Both girls had taken up their respective desks to get their work done. Tomoyo was currently attempting to catch up in Basic Studies which required questions thrown at the older girl. The program had known that to avoid ignorance, they needed to tact on actual elemental information so it had found it's place under history, necessary to learn under the broader range of Basic Studies.
"Yes, eighty-six years and the hearts of the elements-" Meilin, at this point, had reached the stage where she'd offer the answers instead of waiting for Tomoyo to tentatively offer her assumed answers. It was Tomoyo's third time through, and Meilin was only so patient.
"-lie in the neutral territory north of here. It has no name, and no one lives there, but sometimes it's called the Final Hell." Meilin nodded silently to herself. Meilin had to catch up in the history aspect of her learning for this additional information so it was still rather fresh in her mind. Actually, it had turned out she was only one year ahead of Tomoyo despite the two year age difference. Meilin had lost a year of schooling and was paying the price now.
"And then the elements split into their own domain. Currently, after the last set of Elemental-sama, the area has been sealed off, but the elements still leak out of small breaks to cause the problems we see today. But it's dangerous to go there because that's where the elements are the most uncontrollable." Meilin knew this was coming straight from the textbook. Tomoyo did have an exceptional memory, and she smart for her age. Why was she needed again? (1)
"All of that's right, Daidouji-san." The person spoken to seemed to take no notice of the comment. She plowed through and through what she was studying.
"The elements seem to have a mind of their own, and all of the elements in the world trace back to this place. But-"
"Daidouji-san. Seriously, shut up." That one quieted the girl down who could only smile at Meilin's misfortune. Sometimes the short tempered female just wanted to hit the pale girl. The prolonged time in the sun seemed unimpressionable against her skin tone.
"Tomoyo." Meilin had to hold back her tongue to question what she meant by that. They had had this conversation before.
"When I think of you as someone I know, I will. Until then, be glad I don't call you something else." Tomoyo pouted and opened her mouth, daring to slip in something that Meilin would take as an insult.
"We both know that will be never happen, Meilin-chan." Tomoyo ducked just in the nick of time. She stared as one of Clow's scrolls rolled across the floor. It finally came to stop, but not before reversing direction after hitting the wall. The silence only made the glare more apparent.
"Just joking, Rae-chan," Tomoyo effortlessly corrected herself, slowly drifting her eyes back to what she's been trying to do: studying. Granted, she was a good student, but there was just so much to catch up on, and Meilin wasn't always the most cooperative person in the world. The cheery on top was that her eyelids were starting to feel like lead. Sleep look like a nice option now.
But then Tomoyo decided to attempt another tidbit of conversation. She started off with what she knew Meilin could rant about. It would be simple enough. "What are you working on there? It's from Clow-sama, right?"
There was the tense silence that Tomoyo had become accustomed to until the point she could brush it aside. "Don't bring him up." Tomoyo complied, but then a moment later: "God, I hate Clow." It was a venomous statement.
At first she blinked. That was the first time she had heard Meilin fail to drop her favorite honorific for Clow. But then she let if past and lifted the corner of her mouth up in her realization. She had won. She was still willing to talk to her.
"Hmm. But how is that coming?" For once, Meilin elaborated beyond the realm of convenience and into what was strictly unnecessary.
"Just some figures for the newest students. He likes to have copies of these things. Then I have to copy this report on the Arch." Meilin didn't even pause for breath as she continued her work.
"Ah," was the response. "The Arch, huh? The restoration, I guess. I heard that thing was a bit off recently. Some kid blew over a thicket of trees by accident. Stuff like that. That thing really should be kept working."
"He's an idiot, what do you expect? You'd think he'd make sure it was working so the elements wouldn't go haywire here too, but he's letting the risk happen. If he's going to have it, he should make sure it works."
Tomoyo knew what point she was driving home. The Arch was a precaution. It kept all concentrated forms of the elements out. Regular instances, such as rain, did get through, but at least those were normal occurrences. Clow's program grounds didn't need to get destroyed by what its inhabitants were trying to destroy. That was just pure, unforgivable stupidity.
So then elementalists couldn't normally use their gift within the premises as they molded the elements in condensed attributes. They could leave the grounds or don a wrist guard on each arm to conduct their element. Novices, as Tomoyo was, however, didn't get to keep the accessory. Trainees and up were granted the benefit.
But then came into play why didn't everyone keep out the elements. Tomoyo didn't know why herself, but she knew it was highly complicated. Clow and his predecessor had apparently molded the arch for its exact purpose along with the walls that surrounded the area that stretched in all directions. No doubt the complications had caused the thing to malfunction.
Suddenly there was a quiet banging, and Tomoyo adjusting her position on the hard wooden chair, glimpsed Meilin abusing herself.
"He gives me all this crappy work to do and I'm sure it doesn't even need to be done. Stupid Clow-kun." There was Meilin's affection shining through again. Tomoyo smiled.
It was another twenty minutes before another word was spoken. Tomoyo knew. She had been staring relentlessly at the clock.
"Kinomoto ask him yet?"
Perhaps it was desire for sleep finally depriving her of her bearings. Although, if she was being realistic, that probably had no effect on the outcome. Tomoyo practically choked trying to make her no heard over her own laughter.
Meilin had no response to that.
--e--a--
"Wow. This is a surprise." Tomoyo looked up from the sheet dictating all the major bones of the human body.
"What, me studying? I've been doing it when you've visited before… Li-san." Tomoyo didn't even give a semblance of trying to hide her smile.
"I'm talking about one of you not being asleep." Tomoyo plopped her chin into her cupped hand as she studied the boy who was leaning against the door frame. Recently, he had picked up an impolite habit from most likely Sakura, and Meilin, had she been there, would have yelled at him for not knocking. His comments were even reflecting her best friend. Sakura would probably wash out her tongue in a childish gesture had she known.
"What's even scarier is that Meilin's not here. In the daylight too." Tomoyo snorted which, undeniably, was uncharacteristic of her.
"Well, she does seem like a vampire, but I promise she isn't. She just had to drop some things off for Clow-sama." Syaoran visibly winced.
"Ouch." Tomoyo nodded knowingly.
"Just be glad you don't have to put up with her when she gets back."
"By the way Daidouji-san, you really should stop telling me that Meilin wants to see me when she really doesn't. Meilin's really starting to get annoyed by it."
"Then why do you keep coming?" Syaoran focus was recaptured at that question, and he would have taken a small step back if not for the closed door securely shut behind him.
"It really is interesting that you call each other by the first name when you refuse to do so with any one else. Meilin-chan can be so difficult. Right, Li-kun?" Syaoran's mouth started to produce recognizable sounds again.
"Hey! What happened to Li-san?" As an after thought he added, "And it's none of your business." Tomoyo smirked, and sighed.
"Yes. I know it's not." She stared fondly at her bare feet before placing her arms behind her and arching her back slightly in a stretch. "Talk to Sakura-chan recently?"
By now this was common procedure, and he let out a quiet affirmative response.
"Any favors come up?" This was where he always lost his temper, especially when Tomoyo delivered the punch. She always droned it out just right.
"No, and that's for the last time! Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Tomoyo shrugged nonchalantly as if she really had no clue. It only served to increase his annoyed mood.
"Oh, it's nothing really. Say… you keeping up with your studies?"
"Of course I am." Tomoyo didn't miss the prideful part of the statement. It was amusing how the anger had instantly converted to something so much more… arrogant.
"That's good to hear. Make sure you don't work too hard though. I don't want you to be my first guinea pig." Syaoran knew full well that Tomoyo had immersed herself in Medical Studies and what she meant by the statement.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about that. You just worry about making sure Kimura-sensei and Midori-sensei don't figure out you're not doing your own work." (2)
"Hey, it's only Kimura-sensei I have to worry about," Tomoyo defended distinctly. She didn't like to have the fact she didn't do her Basic Studies work flaunted in her face. Fortunately for her, she had perfected absolute calm when questioned how she balanced everything.
"Midori-sensei is the one who does Medical Studies. And we all know that Meilin couldn't help me there. She's more likely to be the one who creates my patients." Syaoran secretly agreed. "And see! Look here!" Tomoyo held up what she was studying with one hand. Her handwriting lightly marked the names of the bones she was set to study. She waited for his response.
For lack of anything to say, Syaoran didn't. "You should learn to talk more." Tomoyo's wise advice fell on deaf ears. He half-suspected what was coming next.
"You also should learn to be a little less- How to put it? Well, I guess I could say-"
"Right. I have to go. Yeah." Tomoyo watched him flee with a smile.
Not that she wanted him to go, really. But she did have studying to do. Besides, it was fun. And it never failed.
--e--a--
Yes, Sakura had done the unthinkable. Finally. And after the first unrelenting bouts of gloating and other demeaning activities, Syaoran let her live it down. Sakura could remember the scene perfectly too of her caving in and swallowing her pride. It was not something to easily forget on her part. Before the taunting phase had set in though, Sakura heard Syaoran mumbling something along the lines of 'so that's what they meant' as he looked to be having an epiphany.
As soon as Tomoyo had found out about the development, she confided that she was a little more than just disappointed. Her inquires on the matter had been keeping her in good spirits. Sakura thought that she was always happy no matter what. That and she enjoyed torturing her way too much.
So, regardless of Tomoyo's reaction, it had happened, and it had somehow wormed its way into their daily schedule. It was a miracle it even fit in the first place seeing how she tried to make the most of her time, especially in training. (It was times like these that she truly felt sorry for Tomoyo who had even less time). But she really did need to bring up her grades to even continue doing that, resulting in the pathetic begging on her part. Sakura seriously thought that Syaoran was doing the favor completely out of pity. But then she found that was fine, as long as he was helping her.
But enough was enough in her book. She could only handle so much math in one session so she suggested they call it a day for now. Tomorrow was always an option. And though she hated he fact that she'd have to waste more time then (although admittedly the same was true for Syaoran), she'd put up with it. Her grades were improving, if only very slowly. Besides, she couldn't deny that Syaoran's company was all that bad. He just got on her nerves a little too often.
But every once in a while they found a common ground and had a nice conversation.
"And then I heard Rae-san gave him a black eye." Sakura was overcome by the mental image as she burst into a fit of giggles. Syaoran seemed to understand the story perfectly. To him, there was nothing out of the unimaginable with the supposed rumor. When Sakura recovered herself, she remembered Tomoyo's request.
"Hey, how did you do it?" Upon her obvious lack of elaboration, she continued, "You know, have her let you call her Meilin." Syaoran considered it for a moment.
They continued their way around the main building of the complex. Clow worked here, but they hadn't come there to interact with him. They had simply come out of a borrowed sitting room where they had done their studying session. Sakura's room had been overtaken by Rika and her still recently arrived friend, Naoko, and Sakura refused to go over to Syaoran's room. She claimed adamantly she couldn't study there for reasons yet told. So this was where they had settled on the place of meeting.
After a long pause from which Sakura thought there would be no answer returned, there came a soft, "We go way back. Before the whole Clow Reed thing." Sakura blinked in surprise. She hadn't thought she'd actually get something like that out of him when so many previous and similar attempts had failed. Those initiated by Tomoyo too.
"Really? I knew you two knew each other when I came along." A moment of silence commenced for the incident that had marked her arrival. "But Tomoyo never told me that you two didn't meet on the way here."
"Well, Daidouji-san came along after us. She wouldn't know." Sakura became quiet as she absorbed this new information. She clutched at the materials she had used for the tutoring.
"Thanks again," she smiled. Syaoran looked thoughtful. "Now all I have to do is finish practicing melting ice…"
"That's what you're doing right now?"
"Well, yeah. What are you working on? Tomoyo told me about those burns." Her eyes adopted a sympathetic look. She knew how troublesome and painful burns were.
"Putting out fires. Boring." Sakura nodded. She could see why he didn't find it all that interesting. This was Syaoran after all.
"Well, just look ahead. If you don't learn that you can never get past Fire Novice. You still need to graduate to Fire Trainee. Then it's the real challenge to Fire Apprentice. Before you know it, you're probably going to be at the Prerequisites! Maybe even passing!" Sakura had lost herself in an optimistic rant. Syaoran smirked.
"Meilin won't like me passing." Sakura frowned just a bit.
"Well, we do know the risks, but I'm not going to give up because of them. I still have to beat you, after all."
"If you can." Sakura snorted and crossed her arms, looking off into the distance, slightly miffed. He always knew how to ruin a moment.
Out of the corner of her eye, however, she could see those who were making the heard footsteps. She turned her head completely, and she minimally saw Syaoran do the same. The two figures walked by, but not before Sakura lingered on the color sapphire.
Once out of earshot, Sakura turned to her companion. "Clow-sama…" she trailed off. "But who was that with him?"
"You didn't hear?" Sakura shot him a confused look.
"Hear what?"
"That's his apprentice. Hiragizawa Eriol."
-End Act I-
(1) Tried looking it up, but it was difficult. I decided I wouldn't add a 's' at the end of Elemental-sama to convey more than one because I don't believe that is done. Any corrections would be received with open arms.
(2) Kimura-sensei and Midori-sensei really are characters in Card Captor Sakura. Well, at least in the manga. They're basically two teachers and nonexistent. So I don't really know anything about them, but they should only be mentioned and not appear so it's all good.
Whew, this story really is a monster. You have no idea how good it is to type "End Act I". At least now the story can move on with a plot. I hope I didn't confuse anyone beyond repair with all the information I threw at you. I'm willing to explain anything that you don't understand if need be.
And now here's the part where I talk about the future of the story. There are six acts in total and one epilogue. I have outlined the story until the end, but only thoroughly up to chapter twenty. Still it now really looks like twenty-nine chapters (including the epilogue). There should be two side fics regardless of how popular this story is. One is mostly comprised of one-shots with moments left out from the actual story and with parts of the characters' pasts. The second is a probably mild ExT side fic based on something that happens between Act IV and Act V.
So there you go. I might not leave work on any other story right now, but it does seem like the perfect time. Who knows when I'll be done with Act II. Well, we'll see what happens. Sorry for the long author's note. Take care readers!