You Set Me Free, You Give My Heart Wings Part Two: The Middle
*WHEW!* I just got back from my first day of high school, and am I ever tired!
And even though I got the classes I wanted, I've only got one class with Psycho, and one class with my partner Ms. Sinic and Da Bomb. I don't even have Ameoba Boy in any classes! Which means I don't have a scapegoat for any anger! They shouldn't have taken my own personal punching bag from me! *(T-T)* {Tears}
I've got Preps in every class, and some people I don't know, too. Mr. Madsen sure was funny, though.
Tomorrow I have 0-hour for the first time, and I AM NOT looking forward to Algebra A.
I DON'T WANNA GO!! I JUST WANNA STAY HOME AND TYPE ON MY COMPUTER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!
But I guess I'll have plenty of time for that after I finish college and get my teaching degree, find a job, work for twenty or so years, then retire. THEN I can be a full-time author and work on fanfics, too. If I still like anime by then....
But, I'm veering from the topic at hand. Who's ready for some CCS mush and so forth?!?
Everyone: WE ARE!!
Ameoba Boy: Kill me now....
I'll be happy to oblige you...
Ameoba Boy: NO!!!
{Disclaimer}
Does anyone out there have an IQ less than 60?
No?
Then why must I keep repeating myself? Do you all have God-awful memories or something? Was one of your ancestors a goldfish with a three minute long memory span?
Let me spell this out for you in layman's terms, k?
I. DO. NOT. OWN. CCS.
There. Simple.
Need I say it again?
Chapter Seven: A Picnic And Encroaching Darkness....
Hope met Madison and Shawn halfway up the steps to the house. "Hiyah, guys!! Where's Sakura and Li?" Hope's energy was bursting through the levels of hyperness. {A'sN: Think of a sweeter, more innocent Lizzie with fifteen cans of Mountain Dew in her system...}
"They went to find the third new Power. They should be over in an hour or so." Madison said as Shawn and she climbed the last few steps.
"YIPPEE!!!" Hope exclaimed, dancing inside ahead of the two. "I can't wait to get started!!"
Jade wasn't home today (she had left an hour ago to deliver a new manuscript to the post office), but Josuah was.
Josuah strongly reminded Madison of Aiden Avalon, Sakura's Dad. He even looked somewhat like him, only slightly older and with more gray hair than Aiden. Hope's father was sitting in the living room, drawing furiously on a large blueprint spread over the circular table before him. He looked up absently as Hope skipped by the doorway, but his interest increased when he saw Madison and Shawn. Standing and rubbing his pencil and inkstained hands on his handkerchief, he hurried over with a big smile and an outstretched hand.
"Hello there!" He said amiably as he shook Shawn's hand warmly. "I'm Josuah, Hope and Patience's father."
"I'm Shawn," Shawn said as Josuah released his hand and gently shook Madison's.
"And my name's Madison." Madison liked this man immediately. It was almost uncanny how much he looked like Aiden.
Patience appeared just then, primly taking the last few steps at a hurried walk. She was just about to greet Madison and Shawn when the doorbell rang. Hope flew to answer it with a speed that would leave even Jade envious.
"Sakura!! Li!!!" Hope squealed, actually hugging the surprised and startled Sakura.
"Hope," Sakura gasped out. "I....can't....breathe!"
"Sorry," Hope said cheerfully as way of apology. "I'm just so excited! When do we start?"
"Hope, this is Sage." Li said, gesturing to the boy that had been hidden behind Sakura and Li. In Sage's hands was a fox-like stuffed animal who's eyes almost made it look alive.
"Hi!!!" Hope exclaimed in a piercing voice that made Sage wince. "I'm Hope!! Come on in!!"
Sage was so preoccupied with staring around him at the impressive house with wide eyes, he didn't notice the frozen girl at the end of the hall.
"Sage?" Patience asked in her quiet, slightly surprised voice.
Sage's head jerked about at the sound of the familiar voice. "Patience?"
Patience nodded with a slight smile. "How are you?"
Sage grinned. "Good! I got a job at The Garage."
"That's where I take my car for tune-ups," Josuah's voice echoed from the living room.
"Is your book okay?" Sage joked.
Patience nodded seriously. "In perfect condition, actually."
Sakura interrupted just then. "Li and I decided we're going to have a picnic today. Would you like to come?"
"YES!!!" Hope squealed happily, bouncing about in a sugar-craze. "Let's go, Patience!!"
It took a surprisingly short amount of time to get everyone ready. Hope flew about in a frenzy making up a picnic basket fully large enough to feed twenty people (which suited the hidden, sniggering-in-anticipation Kero). Patience hurried upstairs to change into clothes better suited for the outdoors than the black dress she had been wearing. Sage meanwhile sat in the living room, sweating bullets when Celos narrowly avoided sneezing in front of the friendly, chattering Josuah.
Then they were off, Hope skipping ahead and singing off-key, Patience lagging behind with an embarrassed, blushing face for her sister's behavior. Hope was eagerly leading them to a small hollow she knew in the middle of the woods, where a small pond further enhanced its prettiness.
Once safely within the trees, Celos and Kero had been allowed to fly free, and were now doing aerial antics more complicated then the last in an attempt to decide who was the better flyer.
"Where's Julian?" Patience spoke up after a few minutes of walking. "Or should I say Yue?"
"Either. Doesn't really matter," Sakura said, waving a curious bee from her flower-strewn hair. She had collected a veritable bouquet of daisies, and now wore them woven into a flowery crown. "And Julian left early today to explore the town. More likelier than not, he's somewhere eating his fifth helping of eggrolls or something."
"Yue and Julian are so different," Hope commented from up ahead. "Julian's all warmth and friendliness, and Yue's just cold and indifferent. I don't think he likes me."
Sakura laughed. "Yue treats everyone like that, even me. And technically, I'm his Mistress. That's just Yue's personality. I think the only one he's ever been really comfortable and close to was Clow Reed."
Li noticed Sage's confused look, so he took it upon himself to explain about Sakura's past and Clow Reed. While he did so, the girls continued on ahead.
"I think Celos and Kero are sooooo cute!" Hope cooed as the two shot overhead, Celos's tail flaming with red fire, Kero's wings moving so fast they were a blur.
"They're called Guardian Creatures. Maybe someday, if you get strong enough magically, you can create your own Guardian Creature, one that suits you and is compatible with your personality." Sakura said as she picked another daisy.
"Then I want my Creature to be like Kero," Hope said happily, twirling about through the butterflies and bees. "I think he's so cute and smart!"
Li heard this remark and scoffed. "Kero? Cute and smart? Since when does being a stuffed animal who eats and plays video games all day make you cute and smart?"
"Ignore Li," Sakura whispered to Patience and Hope under her breath. "He and Kero never did get along."
They reached the clearing without any real troubles, although Sakura had to use the Windy Card again to separate Kero and Celos when they got into a mid-air wrestling match over who the strongest was.
"It's so pretty, Hope!" Sakura exclaimed as Madison took the clearing in through her view finder.
Hope looked very proud and pleased as she and Patience spread out the picnic blanet and began setting out the food.
Kero immediately forgot about his rivalry with Celos and dropped down to the blanket with the joyful look of someone who has too many perfect things to choose from.
"Cake, pudding, muffins, cookies, jello, everything I love!!!" Kero screamed ecstatically, burying his face in the pudding bowl before anyone could stop him. Hope giggled when he resurfaced, his face a chocolatey, gooey mass.
"Ummmmmmm..." Kero sighed in bliss as he licked his face and paws clean.
Celos turned his nose up at Kero's disgraceful behavior and started to eat a carrot Sage had offered him. "No manners at all..."
Sakura noticed halfway through the picnic that Patience was staring at Li oftener than she was eating. "Patience? Is there something on your mind?"
Patience started in surprise. She hadn't realized that Sakura was watching her. "Uh.... no, not really...."
Sakura nodded in an unsatisfied way and returned to her chicken salad sandwich.
Kero was hovering around Li with a sad, puppy-dog look on his face. Li was eating the last muffin (Kero had already inhaled the others whole), and he was adamant in keeping it to himself. Li kept having to smack the persistent Kero away, until the Guardian finally fell into the green jello bowl after a strong smack from Li.
Hope scooped Kero from the bowl and cheerfully carried the squirming, protesting Guardian Creature to the small pond nearby, where she then proceeded to dunk him into the water and scrub him until the last bits of the slimy jello had been washed off. But as soon as Kero had freed himself from Hope's helpful clutches and had managed to shake himself dry, his hair spiked unnaturally and slowly turned green.
"Looks like you had a reaction to the jello, Kero!" Sakura laughed. Kero skulked for a moment before buzzing off into the woods, eager to explore and escape Celos's mocking comments of commupances for greedy gorging.
Patience hadn't paused in her staring at Li this entire time, but Sakura decided to ignore it. Patience was clearly looking at Li in a way suggesting she was thinking of becoming something more than friends someday, but Sakura wasn't that worried. Li had promised her last night she'd never be without him, and Li ~always~ kept his promises....
Hope darted off a moment later, to find Kero. Sage was feeding Celos small bits of a chicken leg, and Patience's food lay untouched. Li looked over at the girl and smiled slightly before returning to his potato salad. Patience blushed and looked down, eyes covertly staring at Li through her long lashes.
Tim looked up from the car he worked on as a shadow fell across the hood. "May I help you?"
"Yes, actually," the strange boy said. He was darkly tanned, had black hair and the strangest brown eyes Tim had ever seen. They were a mixture of brown and black, and looked eerily like the color of dried blood. But the boy himself was quite good looking, and had a pleasant smile on his face. "Do you know a boy named Sage?"
Tim nodded an affirmative as he wiped his hands on his handkerchief. "Sure do. Works here, he does. Are you a friend of his?"
The boy's smile was so pleasant it was almost chilling. "You could say that. Do you happen to know where he is at the moment?"
Tim shook his head slowly. "No, not really. He came by an hour or so ago and asked for the rest of the day off, said he had something important to do. He should be in tomorrow bright and early, though."
The boy smiled again. "Thank you, anyway." As he turned to go, Tim stopped him.
"Do you want me to tell him you dropped by?"
The boy half-turned with a slight smirk. "No thank you. I'll just drop by tomorrow."
Tim turned back to the engine after the boy had disappeared, shivering involuntarily.
Patience looked up from her untouched plate as Li stood, looking over at Sakura.
"Sakura, can I talk with you in private?" Li asked. Sakura nodded with a smile, setting her own plate on the blanket and following him into the trees.
Patience watched them go curiously, eaten alive with curiousity. Madison and Shawn were dozing, Madison's head resting on Shawn's chest. Sage was laughing at Celos's aerial sommersaults, but looked up as Patience stood, smoothing her blue shorts and white sleeveless top.
"Where are you going?" he asked curiously. Patience shrugged.
"No where special. I'll be back in a moment."
Sage nodded suspiciously and returned his attention to Celos, who was disappearing and reappearing with wisps of smoke. Patience hurried into the tree-line, a safe distance away from where Li and Sakura had just entered. Careful to mind each twig, Patience slowly made her way towards the two. She froze suddenly as their voices reached her.
"....she's a nice girl, no doubt, Sakura."
"You know, if she hadn't been watching you so much, she probably would have noticed that Sage was staring at her constantly." Sakura's voice drifted to Patience. She edged forward a few more steps, until she could see the two. She ducked behind a tree to watch.
Li sighed. "Isn't that always the way? You never notice the one that's starting to take an interest in you until months later."
Sakura laughed. "Like you were with me?"
Patience froze in surprise, eyes widening, as Li's hands cupped Sakura's face. "I was an idiot not to tell you sooner."
Sakura smiled softly. "Maybe. But I think Patience is starting to get a crush on you, Li. What'll you tell her if she tries to pursue anything with you?"
Li sighed again. "I'm not sure. The truth, I suppose. I love you, Sakura, not anyone else. Not even Patience or Hope. They're both great girls, and I want to be their friends, but you already know I wouldn't pursue anything with either of them."
"So you keep telling me," Sakura whispered. Patience's eyes widened. She hadn't the slightest clue that Sakura and Li were a couple! They had acted cordial, but separate, to each other from the second she had met them.
"Do you need more convincing?" Li asked in a low voice, suggestively.
Sakura laughed. "I think so, Wolf."
Patience slipped away unnoticed as Li and Sakura kissed, wrapped in each other's arms.
Hope paused for a moment, peering about nervously. "Kero? Kero!! Where are you?!?!" Her echoes rebounded softly.
Hope shivered. The warmth seemed to have suddenly disappeared from the sunlight. The shadows around her became more pronounced. And she was starting to feel a prickly sort of touch along her spine; as if something was trying to warn her of something.
A crack nearby startled Hope. She jumped and spun about, her eyes wide in fear, her lips and hands trembling. She peered into the darkness of the trees. "Is anyone out there?"
Silence. Hope slowly turned around again, shaking with terror.
SNAP!
Hope spun about, her hands clenched into shaking fists. She suddenly wished Sakura or Li were here. Something strange and very wrong was going on....
A loud rustling through the undergrowth made Hope turn again. Her eyes widened in terror.
A strange creature came barreling out of the undergrowth, with black scaly skin and a cow-like body. Its head was strangely canine, and its eyes and teeth were a fearsome blood red. Its front legs ended in human-like hands, and its back was ridged in sharp spikes.
Hope screamed, stumbling backwards in fright. The creature snorted as if contemptuous as it continued running forward, its eyes becoming larger and larger-
A whistling of wings overhead engulfed the trembling, frozen-still Hope. Bare moments before the creature struck her head on, she was lifted from the ground, whisked over the creature's head!!
Hope looked up in terror. Had she escaped one monster only to be kidnapped by another?
But the yellow, white-winged creature who carried her so gently looked oddly familiar...
"Kero?" Hope whispered out in awe. The creature looked down for a brief moment. A large smile betook his furry face.
"Actually, in this form I am know as Keroberos. But Kero's still just fine with me," the creature rumbled. In this form, Kero certainly looked stronger and sounded more powerful. Hope smiled and decided to enjoy the flight in Kero's safe paws as the two coasted over the tree tops, flying towards the picnic.
Sage looked up absently as Patience retook her spot on the blanket. "Is something wrong?"
Patience smiled brightly and shook her head. "Not really. For a moment I thought there was, but I'm okay now."
Sage's brow furrowed in confusion, but Sakura and Li returned just then.
"Patience-" Li began.
Patience looked up with a sunny smile. "I know."
Li looked confused. "Know?"
Patience nodded slightly with the same smile. "I know about you and Sakura."
Li looked both concerned and relieved. "And you're okay with that?"
Patience nodded with a warm smile. "I think I'll live, Li. You're a great guy, but I'm sure there's a better one out there waiting for me."
Sakura laughed. "You're probably right! But I think I'll stick with Li; he may be slightly flawed, but he's the best I'll ever do."
Li adopted a look of mock hurt while the girls laughed. Just then, Kero and Hope appeared.
"Kero?" Sakura asked worriedly as Hope was set gently down to the grassy ground. "What happened?!? Why did you transform?"
Kero folded his wings over his shaggy back. "Hope got into a bit of trouble a ways away from here."
"What happened?!?" Patience asked in concern, rushing to her sister, enveloping her in a warm, sisterly hug of comfort. Hope certainly looked pale and shaken.
"Hope was attacked by a mage-construct," Kero said solemnly. "A ~Dark~ mage-construct."
Patience and Hope looked over to Li and Sakura in puzzlement, uncomprehending. Sakura's face had drained white as Li dropped limply to the blanket.
"Thank God you got to her in time, Kero." Sakura breathed as she sat herself, as if physically unable to stand any longer. "That thing could have destroyed her."
Hope began trembling in Patience's steady arms. "It was horrible looking. Like a cow and a human and a dog all mixed together. But ~what~ was it?"
Li squeezed Sakura's hand for comfort. "A Dark magicker is nearby. One that doesn't care if he destroys a new Power. He probably sensed the three of you and came to investigate, since we're all Shielded. The mage-construct was probably a bodyguard to keep other magickers from him." Li paled further. "And Hope, when we talk about Dark mage-constructs, there's something you should know."
"It's an ability the contructs possess," Sakura said weakly. "They can destroy you. Completely. Even your soul. If that happens, you'll never be reborn again."
It was only by supreme will that Hope did not faint.
Hope and Kero (back in his usual form) were sitting on the tower roof. The others were inside, talking about the mage-construct and the good possibility of a Dark magicker in town. Sakura and Li had firmly decided to begin buckling down on training, to prepare Hope, Sage and Patience for the worst case scenario.
Hope looked over at Kero, who was laying sprawled on his back, taking in the last rays of sunlight. The Guardian of the Clow was quite tired after his sudden, unexpected transform-ation. But, as Kero would always say, you should always expect the unexpected.
"Kero, thanks for saving me." Hope said softly.
Kero opened one eye and grinned. "No prob, kid. All in a day's work."
Hope grinned and scooped Kero up, hugging him tightly. "Thank you very much! You're such a nice bear-thingy. I love you, Kero!"
"I... love.... you.... too!" Kero gasped out. "But.... if.... you.... love.... me, please.... don't... kill.... me!"
You like? Any suggestions? REVIEW!!
Next chaps gonna have:
Sakura and Madison try their hands at matchmaking, Shawn's surprising question interrupted, the meeting of the Darkness, and even more Li and Sakura mush!!!
Everyone: YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!
So stay tuned folks! It's getting better every chap! {A'sN: I hope....}
*WHEW!* I just got back from my first day of high school, and am I ever tired!
And even though I got the classes I wanted, I've only got one class with Psycho, and one class with my partner Ms. Sinic and Da Bomb. I don't even have Ameoba Boy in any classes! Which means I don't have a scapegoat for any anger! They shouldn't have taken my own personal punching bag from me! *(T-T)* {Tears}
I've got Preps in every class, and some people I don't know, too. Mr. Madsen sure was funny, though.
Tomorrow I have 0-hour for the first time, and I AM NOT looking forward to Algebra A.
I DON'T WANNA GO!! I JUST WANNA STAY HOME AND TYPE ON MY COMPUTER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!
But I guess I'll have plenty of time for that after I finish college and get my teaching degree, find a job, work for twenty or so years, then retire. THEN I can be a full-time author and work on fanfics, too. If I still like anime by then....
But, I'm veering from the topic at hand. Who's ready for some CCS mush and so forth?!?
Everyone: WE ARE!!
Ameoba Boy: Kill me now....
I'll be happy to oblige you...
Ameoba Boy: NO!!!
{Disclaimer}
Does anyone out there have an IQ less than 60?
No?
Then why must I keep repeating myself? Do you all have God-awful memories or something? Was one of your ancestors a goldfish with a three minute long memory span?
Let me spell this out for you in layman's terms, k?
I. DO. NOT. OWN. CCS.
There. Simple.
Need I say it again?
Chapter Seven: A Picnic And Encroaching Darkness....
Hope met Madison and Shawn halfway up the steps to the house. "Hiyah, guys!! Where's Sakura and Li?" Hope's energy was bursting through the levels of hyperness. {A'sN: Think of a sweeter, more innocent Lizzie with fifteen cans of Mountain Dew in her system...}
"They went to find the third new Power. They should be over in an hour or so." Madison said as Shawn and she climbed the last few steps.
"YIPPEE!!!" Hope exclaimed, dancing inside ahead of the two. "I can't wait to get started!!"
Jade wasn't home today (she had left an hour ago to deliver a new manuscript to the post office), but Josuah was.
Josuah strongly reminded Madison of Aiden Avalon, Sakura's Dad. He even looked somewhat like him, only slightly older and with more gray hair than Aiden. Hope's father was sitting in the living room, drawing furiously on a large blueprint spread over the circular table before him. He looked up absently as Hope skipped by the doorway, but his interest increased when he saw Madison and Shawn. Standing and rubbing his pencil and inkstained hands on his handkerchief, he hurried over with a big smile and an outstretched hand.
"Hello there!" He said amiably as he shook Shawn's hand warmly. "I'm Josuah, Hope and Patience's father."
"I'm Shawn," Shawn said as Josuah released his hand and gently shook Madison's.
"And my name's Madison." Madison liked this man immediately. It was almost uncanny how much he looked like Aiden.
Patience appeared just then, primly taking the last few steps at a hurried walk. She was just about to greet Madison and Shawn when the doorbell rang. Hope flew to answer it with a speed that would leave even Jade envious.
"Sakura!! Li!!!" Hope squealed, actually hugging the surprised and startled Sakura.
"Hope," Sakura gasped out. "I....can't....breathe!"
"Sorry," Hope said cheerfully as way of apology. "I'm just so excited! When do we start?"
"Hope, this is Sage." Li said, gesturing to the boy that had been hidden behind Sakura and Li. In Sage's hands was a fox-like stuffed animal who's eyes almost made it look alive.
"Hi!!!" Hope exclaimed in a piercing voice that made Sage wince. "I'm Hope!! Come on in!!"
Sage was so preoccupied with staring around him at the impressive house with wide eyes, he didn't notice the frozen girl at the end of the hall.
"Sage?" Patience asked in her quiet, slightly surprised voice.
Sage's head jerked about at the sound of the familiar voice. "Patience?"
Patience nodded with a slight smile. "How are you?"
Sage grinned. "Good! I got a job at The Garage."
"That's where I take my car for tune-ups," Josuah's voice echoed from the living room.
"Is your book okay?" Sage joked.
Patience nodded seriously. "In perfect condition, actually."
Sakura interrupted just then. "Li and I decided we're going to have a picnic today. Would you like to come?"
"YES!!!" Hope squealed happily, bouncing about in a sugar-craze. "Let's go, Patience!!"
It took a surprisingly short amount of time to get everyone ready. Hope flew about in a frenzy making up a picnic basket fully large enough to feed twenty people (which suited the hidden, sniggering-in-anticipation Kero). Patience hurried upstairs to change into clothes better suited for the outdoors than the black dress she had been wearing. Sage meanwhile sat in the living room, sweating bullets when Celos narrowly avoided sneezing in front of the friendly, chattering Josuah.
Then they were off, Hope skipping ahead and singing off-key, Patience lagging behind with an embarrassed, blushing face for her sister's behavior. Hope was eagerly leading them to a small hollow she knew in the middle of the woods, where a small pond further enhanced its prettiness.
Once safely within the trees, Celos and Kero had been allowed to fly free, and were now doing aerial antics more complicated then the last in an attempt to decide who was the better flyer.
"Where's Julian?" Patience spoke up after a few minutes of walking. "Or should I say Yue?"
"Either. Doesn't really matter," Sakura said, waving a curious bee from her flower-strewn hair. She had collected a veritable bouquet of daisies, and now wore them woven into a flowery crown. "And Julian left early today to explore the town. More likelier than not, he's somewhere eating his fifth helping of eggrolls or something."
"Yue and Julian are so different," Hope commented from up ahead. "Julian's all warmth and friendliness, and Yue's just cold and indifferent. I don't think he likes me."
Sakura laughed. "Yue treats everyone like that, even me. And technically, I'm his Mistress. That's just Yue's personality. I think the only one he's ever been really comfortable and close to was Clow Reed."
Li noticed Sage's confused look, so he took it upon himself to explain about Sakura's past and Clow Reed. While he did so, the girls continued on ahead.
"I think Celos and Kero are sooooo cute!" Hope cooed as the two shot overhead, Celos's tail flaming with red fire, Kero's wings moving so fast they were a blur.
"They're called Guardian Creatures. Maybe someday, if you get strong enough magically, you can create your own Guardian Creature, one that suits you and is compatible with your personality." Sakura said as she picked another daisy.
"Then I want my Creature to be like Kero," Hope said happily, twirling about through the butterflies and bees. "I think he's so cute and smart!"
Li heard this remark and scoffed. "Kero? Cute and smart? Since when does being a stuffed animal who eats and plays video games all day make you cute and smart?"
"Ignore Li," Sakura whispered to Patience and Hope under her breath. "He and Kero never did get along."
They reached the clearing without any real troubles, although Sakura had to use the Windy Card again to separate Kero and Celos when they got into a mid-air wrestling match over who the strongest was.
"It's so pretty, Hope!" Sakura exclaimed as Madison took the clearing in through her view finder.
Hope looked very proud and pleased as she and Patience spread out the picnic blanet and began setting out the food.
Kero immediately forgot about his rivalry with Celos and dropped down to the blanket with the joyful look of someone who has too many perfect things to choose from.
"Cake, pudding, muffins, cookies, jello, everything I love!!!" Kero screamed ecstatically, burying his face in the pudding bowl before anyone could stop him. Hope giggled when he resurfaced, his face a chocolatey, gooey mass.
"Ummmmmmm..." Kero sighed in bliss as he licked his face and paws clean.
Celos turned his nose up at Kero's disgraceful behavior and started to eat a carrot Sage had offered him. "No manners at all..."
Sakura noticed halfway through the picnic that Patience was staring at Li oftener than she was eating. "Patience? Is there something on your mind?"
Patience started in surprise. She hadn't realized that Sakura was watching her. "Uh.... no, not really...."
Sakura nodded in an unsatisfied way and returned to her chicken salad sandwich.
Kero was hovering around Li with a sad, puppy-dog look on his face. Li was eating the last muffin (Kero had already inhaled the others whole), and he was adamant in keeping it to himself. Li kept having to smack the persistent Kero away, until the Guardian finally fell into the green jello bowl after a strong smack from Li.
Hope scooped Kero from the bowl and cheerfully carried the squirming, protesting Guardian Creature to the small pond nearby, where she then proceeded to dunk him into the water and scrub him until the last bits of the slimy jello had been washed off. But as soon as Kero had freed himself from Hope's helpful clutches and had managed to shake himself dry, his hair spiked unnaturally and slowly turned green.
"Looks like you had a reaction to the jello, Kero!" Sakura laughed. Kero skulked for a moment before buzzing off into the woods, eager to explore and escape Celos's mocking comments of commupances for greedy gorging.
Patience hadn't paused in her staring at Li this entire time, but Sakura decided to ignore it. Patience was clearly looking at Li in a way suggesting she was thinking of becoming something more than friends someday, but Sakura wasn't that worried. Li had promised her last night she'd never be without him, and Li ~always~ kept his promises....
Hope darted off a moment later, to find Kero. Sage was feeding Celos small bits of a chicken leg, and Patience's food lay untouched. Li looked over at the girl and smiled slightly before returning to his potato salad. Patience blushed and looked down, eyes covertly staring at Li through her long lashes.
Tim looked up from the car he worked on as a shadow fell across the hood. "May I help you?"
"Yes, actually," the strange boy said. He was darkly tanned, had black hair and the strangest brown eyes Tim had ever seen. They were a mixture of brown and black, and looked eerily like the color of dried blood. But the boy himself was quite good looking, and had a pleasant smile on his face. "Do you know a boy named Sage?"
Tim nodded an affirmative as he wiped his hands on his handkerchief. "Sure do. Works here, he does. Are you a friend of his?"
The boy's smile was so pleasant it was almost chilling. "You could say that. Do you happen to know where he is at the moment?"
Tim shook his head slowly. "No, not really. He came by an hour or so ago and asked for the rest of the day off, said he had something important to do. He should be in tomorrow bright and early, though."
The boy smiled again. "Thank you, anyway." As he turned to go, Tim stopped him.
"Do you want me to tell him you dropped by?"
The boy half-turned with a slight smirk. "No thank you. I'll just drop by tomorrow."
Tim turned back to the engine after the boy had disappeared, shivering involuntarily.
Patience looked up from her untouched plate as Li stood, looking over at Sakura.
"Sakura, can I talk with you in private?" Li asked. Sakura nodded with a smile, setting her own plate on the blanket and following him into the trees.
Patience watched them go curiously, eaten alive with curiousity. Madison and Shawn were dozing, Madison's head resting on Shawn's chest. Sage was laughing at Celos's aerial sommersaults, but looked up as Patience stood, smoothing her blue shorts and white sleeveless top.
"Where are you going?" he asked curiously. Patience shrugged.
"No where special. I'll be back in a moment."
Sage nodded suspiciously and returned his attention to Celos, who was disappearing and reappearing with wisps of smoke. Patience hurried into the tree-line, a safe distance away from where Li and Sakura had just entered. Careful to mind each twig, Patience slowly made her way towards the two. She froze suddenly as their voices reached her.
"....she's a nice girl, no doubt, Sakura."
"You know, if she hadn't been watching you so much, she probably would have noticed that Sage was staring at her constantly." Sakura's voice drifted to Patience. She edged forward a few more steps, until she could see the two. She ducked behind a tree to watch.
Li sighed. "Isn't that always the way? You never notice the one that's starting to take an interest in you until months later."
Sakura laughed. "Like you were with me?"
Patience froze in surprise, eyes widening, as Li's hands cupped Sakura's face. "I was an idiot not to tell you sooner."
Sakura smiled softly. "Maybe. But I think Patience is starting to get a crush on you, Li. What'll you tell her if she tries to pursue anything with you?"
Li sighed again. "I'm not sure. The truth, I suppose. I love you, Sakura, not anyone else. Not even Patience or Hope. They're both great girls, and I want to be their friends, but you already know I wouldn't pursue anything with either of them."
"So you keep telling me," Sakura whispered. Patience's eyes widened. She hadn't the slightest clue that Sakura and Li were a couple! They had acted cordial, but separate, to each other from the second she had met them.
"Do you need more convincing?" Li asked in a low voice, suggestively.
Sakura laughed. "I think so, Wolf."
Patience slipped away unnoticed as Li and Sakura kissed, wrapped in each other's arms.
Hope paused for a moment, peering about nervously. "Kero? Kero!! Where are you?!?!" Her echoes rebounded softly.
Hope shivered. The warmth seemed to have suddenly disappeared from the sunlight. The shadows around her became more pronounced. And she was starting to feel a prickly sort of touch along her spine; as if something was trying to warn her of something.
A crack nearby startled Hope. She jumped and spun about, her eyes wide in fear, her lips and hands trembling. She peered into the darkness of the trees. "Is anyone out there?"
Silence. Hope slowly turned around again, shaking with terror.
SNAP!
Hope spun about, her hands clenched into shaking fists. She suddenly wished Sakura or Li were here. Something strange and very wrong was going on....
A loud rustling through the undergrowth made Hope turn again. Her eyes widened in terror.
A strange creature came barreling out of the undergrowth, with black scaly skin and a cow-like body. Its head was strangely canine, and its eyes and teeth were a fearsome blood red. Its front legs ended in human-like hands, and its back was ridged in sharp spikes.
Hope screamed, stumbling backwards in fright. The creature snorted as if contemptuous as it continued running forward, its eyes becoming larger and larger-
A whistling of wings overhead engulfed the trembling, frozen-still Hope. Bare moments before the creature struck her head on, she was lifted from the ground, whisked over the creature's head!!
Hope looked up in terror. Had she escaped one monster only to be kidnapped by another?
But the yellow, white-winged creature who carried her so gently looked oddly familiar...
"Kero?" Hope whispered out in awe. The creature looked down for a brief moment. A large smile betook his furry face.
"Actually, in this form I am know as Keroberos. But Kero's still just fine with me," the creature rumbled. In this form, Kero certainly looked stronger and sounded more powerful. Hope smiled and decided to enjoy the flight in Kero's safe paws as the two coasted over the tree tops, flying towards the picnic.
Sage looked up absently as Patience retook her spot on the blanket. "Is something wrong?"
Patience smiled brightly and shook her head. "Not really. For a moment I thought there was, but I'm okay now."
Sage's brow furrowed in confusion, but Sakura and Li returned just then.
"Patience-" Li began.
Patience looked up with a sunny smile. "I know."
Li looked confused. "Know?"
Patience nodded slightly with the same smile. "I know about you and Sakura."
Li looked both concerned and relieved. "And you're okay with that?"
Patience nodded with a warm smile. "I think I'll live, Li. You're a great guy, but I'm sure there's a better one out there waiting for me."
Sakura laughed. "You're probably right! But I think I'll stick with Li; he may be slightly flawed, but he's the best I'll ever do."
Li adopted a look of mock hurt while the girls laughed. Just then, Kero and Hope appeared.
"Kero?" Sakura asked worriedly as Hope was set gently down to the grassy ground. "What happened?!? Why did you transform?"
Kero folded his wings over his shaggy back. "Hope got into a bit of trouble a ways away from here."
"What happened?!?" Patience asked in concern, rushing to her sister, enveloping her in a warm, sisterly hug of comfort. Hope certainly looked pale and shaken.
"Hope was attacked by a mage-construct," Kero said solemnly. "A ~Dark~ mage-construct."
Patience and Hope looked over to Li and Sakura in puzzlement, uncomprehending. Sakura's face had drained white as Li dropped limply to the blanket.
"Thank God you got to her in time, Kero." Sakura breathed as she sat herself, as if physically unable to stand any longer. "That thing could have destroyed her."
Hope began trembling in Patience's steady arms. "It was horrible looking. Like a cow and a human and a dog all mixed together. But ~what~ was it?"
Li squeezed Sakura's hand for comfort. "A Dark magicker is nearby. One that doesn't care if he destroys a new Power. He probably sensed the three of you and came to investigate, since we're all Shielded. The mage-construct was probably a bodyguard to keep other magickers from him." Li paled further. "And Hope, when we talk about Dark mage-constructs, there's something you should know."
"It's an ability the contructs possess," Sakura said weakly. "They can destroy you. Completely. Even your soul. If that happens, you'll never be reborn again."
It was only by supreme will that Hope did not faint.
Hope and Kero (back in his usual form) were sitting on the tower roof. The others were inside, talking about the mage-construct and the good possibility of a Dark magicker in town. Sakura and Li had firmly decided to begin buckling down on training, to prepare Hope, Sage and Patience for the worst case scenario.
Hope looked over at Kero, who was laying sprawled on his back, taking in the last rays of sunlight. The Guardian of the Clow was quite tired after his sudden, unexpected transform-ation. But, as Kero would always say, you should always expect the unexpected.
"Kero, thanks for saving me." Hope said softly.
Kero opened one eye and grinned. "No prob, kid. All in a day's work."
Hope grinned and scooped Kero up, hugging him tightly. "Thank you very much! You're such a nice bear-thingy. I love you, Kero!"
"I... love.... you.... too!" Kero gasped out. "But.... if.... you.... love.... me, please.... don't... kill.... me!"
You like? Any suggestions? REVIEW!!
Next chaps gonna have:
Sakura and Madison try their hands at matchmaking, Shawn's surprising question interrupted, the meeting of the Darkness, and even more Li and Sakura mush!!!
Everyone: YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!
So stay tuned folks! It's getting better every chap! {A'sN: I hope....}
