The manager got the call before she made it home. Crys was crying in the background as Joci explained that she had drifted in the snow that covered the road and hit a wall. There was cosmetic damage to the car but they were all safe. Joci warned her for snow drifts and explained she would message her once she finished filing out the police report and got the kids home.
The message came in the evening and explained that the reading would go on for the following day. She stands over looking her isle attendants when Joci and the kids enter the building through the back door.
Joci: Man, what a day yesterday. You got home okay?
Manager: Yes. I am sorry you did not have that same fortune yesterday.
Joci: The kids and I are safe and unharmed and that is what counts the most. The doors can be opened, wouldn't want to be standing out there myself waiting to come in. We'll begin within the hour.
Manager: Understood.
With a quick hand signal to her crew, the doors were opened and the crowds were allowed to enter.
Watching from her isle curtain, she watched Crys and Kuro set up their stools on either side of Joci's taller stool before they acknowledged the audience.
Crys: Hello everyone!
Kuro: We are so glad to have you all here with us today. Before we begin, there are a few things we would like to say.
Crys: After the reading today, please be sure to stop by our Comment/Review table and leave a word about today's reading. It would be very appreciative if you do so. Also, you can follow the link here to view the art work Joci has done that follows along with today's reading. wolfgirl17591. deviantart art/Thank-You-324113534 (To view, copy and paste link. Remove space bars between and you're good).
Kuro: 'The Lost Children' was inspired by CLAMP's 'Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles'under the wonder of what the group may have gone through had there been two younger additions to the group. Originally published in 2006, it has since been removed for this newly edited version by Joci for the soul purpose of this republishing.
Joci: Lets give a hand to these two! Thank you!
The audience applauded and the manager signaled for her crew to dim the lights and close the curtains.
Joci: Are we all ready to begin?
Crys & Kuro: We are.
Joci: Well, lets get this reading going, shall we. Today we bring to you, Koryo Act 2 Chap 09 of 'The Lost Children'.
Previously in 'The Lost Children'...
...
"Huh? What is it now?" Grumbled Kurogane.
Fai chuckled, "I think we're the center of attention."
"Everybody wants to see Mokona!" Laughed Mokona as she floated down and landed on Kuro's head as he sat up after having the wind knocked out of him.
...
"Stop right there!" Yelled a little girl whom stood on top of a tile-shingled building. "If you don't want to be kicked, don't go attacking people at random! You stupid little boy!"
"Chu'nyan! Who are you calling stupid?!" Growled the tall boy.
"I don't see anyone stupider than you." She remarked as looked around in each direction.
"You little… You insult me?! I am the only son of the Ryanban-sama, master of the country of Koryo including the town of Ryonfi!" Growled the boy in frustration.
...
"Those are weird clothes."
Fai laughed at her statement. "She called them weird. She must've been talking about your clothes Kuro-rin."
"If I'm weird, then so are you!" Yelled Kurogane.
Crystal stifled a giggle while Kuro shook his head in disappointment. "You people, are you guys…" Chu'nyan paused and with out another thought, grabbed hold of a drowsy Sakura's, "…come with me!"
"Ah! Wait a moment!" Cried out Syaoran before taking off after the little girl whom took Sakura.
...
"They look to be healing well. In another day or so, they should be healed."
"That's good." Agreed Crystal as he bandaged the wounds. "What about you?"
"Me? I'm good." Kuro stated leaning over, but unaware that Crystal reached out and touched his arm and noticed it waver.
"You're still hurt yourself." Crystal stated.
"Not as bad as you. It was nothing more than a cut." Kuro protested but Crystal rolled the sleeve up of his shirt and found the poorly wrapped arm. Crystal took it upon herself to unwrap it and in doing so was, in fact relieved that his wound had closed up.
Touching it carefully, she smiled, "It's healed. But it has left a scar on your body now."
"It's not the first. Won't be the last either." Stated Kuro unrolling his sleeve and taking the used bandage and throwing it out.
...
Crystal gasped as a shiver over came her body, "Something's coming."
The house rattled and steadily got louder and shook with a harder force. "Is that the wind?" Questioned Fai.
"Everybody! You can't go outside!" Cried out Chu'nyan as a window burst open above the table that held the small shrine, revealing a vortex for wind cycling tightly nearly on top of the house.
Mokona screamed for she was nearly taken up by the wind, but Fai grabbed a hold of her and kept her close. Syaoran covered Sakura with his body as objects started to fly about and break off from the house. Kuro turned Crystal from the window and kept her grounded too as a hole was being made in the roof from the winds force.
The wind came and fled in mere seconds of it causing further damage to the house. "That was no natural wind just now." Confirmed Fai as he comforted Mokona in his hands.
"It's the Ryanban! He's the one who did it all!" Chu'nyan yelled out in frustration.
...
"Is s-something, wrong with m-me?" Asked Crystal.
"What do you mean Crystal-chan? You're perfectly fine." Smiled Fai.
"B-but I felt it. I-I think I felt it, the wind earlier t-today." Crystal confessed. "I-I've never experienced a feeling like that before… It scares me." She cried.
Fai held Crystal and patted her head as he did so, "You've always assumed it was one of your Kudan's abilities, but you've had this in you for a long time and didn't have a need to tap into it since you always had him with you."
"W-what do I have?" Asked Crystal.
"A gift. A very special gift that still needs to develop." Remarked Fai.
...
"And she still won't remember Syaoran-kun, even if all of her feathers are returned to her, right?" Crystal voiced, playing with the end of her dress as Fai walked over and sat down beside her with a teakettle and three cups.
"That's right, and Syaoran-kun will continue to search for Sakura-chan's lost fragments of memory, no matter how painful it will be in the end." He smiled as he handed Crystal a cup of hot tea before pouring one for himself. "So, it's our job to make repairs while waiting for their return."
"So, what gives you the right to sit and drink tea?!" Growled Kurogane as he threw the hammer at Fai.
Crystal screamed in shock as the hammer collided with Fai's head and cried. "Now look what you've done Kuro-pon, you made Crystal-chan cry."
"Well maybe if you were still working I wouldn't have thrown the hammer at you!" Kurogane growled.
...
Koryo Act 2 Chap 09
*In Town*
Kuro followed after Sakura and Chu'nyan as Syaoran hung back a little bit to speak with Mokona. Kuro was taking in his surroundings when a man at a stall called out to Chu'nyan, "Ho, Chu'nyan! You dragging some travelers around town?"
"They're guests. They came from a long ways." Explained Chu'nyan.
"Travelers, eh? Won't you join us?"
"What is it?" Asked Kuro.
"It's Negi of course. Haven't you heard of it before?" Asked the man.
"I've seen a game much similar to this, but it was called 'saikoro' where I come from." Voiced Syaoran.
"Well, it's easy. Just take two dice and throw them. You add up the score, and if you have more than your opponent, than you win. Now, why don't you test out your luck." Said the man as he handed Sakura the dice.
"The older men, they just love this game." Chuckled Chu'nyan. "So, who had the highest roll?"
"I did. I threw an 11." Smiled the man whom handed Sakura the dice.
"What?! The only way she could win now is if she threw a perfect score! She's never played before. What kind of game are you playing?!" Asked Chu'nyan as Sakura dropped the die into the bowl, throwing a perfect score.
Chu'nyan and all the bystanders gasped in shock that Sakura threw a perfect score. "Whoo hoo! Sakura won!" Smiled Mokona as she jumped from Syaoran to Kuro.
"I-I guess some people have the luck." Swooned the man. "All right, time for the next round. Your roll young lady." Sakura then continued to drop the die four more times to roll a perfect score each turn. "Give me a break!" Cried the man before he handed over his losses to Sakura.
"Whoo hoo, Sakura won big! Look at all the presents we got! We even got clothes for everyone too." Cheered Mokona.
Sakura, Syaoran and Kuro managed the change into the clothes they won and set aside their clothes along with the other three outfits they won. "They're quite comfortable." Remarked Kuro as he put the basket he was carrying down as Chu'nyan and Sakura decided to take a break over on the bridge.
"That was amazing! No matter how many times you rolled them, they came out to a pair of sixes! You must be a favorite of the gods!" Exclaimed Chu'nyan.
"A favorite of the gods?" Questioned Sakura.
"Somebody with unusually good luck, that's what we call them. My omoni told me about it. Good luck comes from being especially loved by one of the gods. I wonder if you were always like that." Chu'nyan stated glancing at Sakura.
"I don't know to be quite honest." Remarked Sakura.
"Why not?"
"All I remember is my name, and these people from a desert town. There was desert all around the town, but there was a little bit of lovingly tended land. That's about all that I can remember, I can't remember anything else." Stated Sakura.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ask anything so painful to answer." Remarked Chu'nyan.
"The reason we're traveling now is to regain my memories. I don't know any of it really, but he told me about it. Syaoran-kun that is." Replied Sakura glancing back at Syaoran.
"Of course, your highness." Replied Syaoran with a strained smile to his features.
Kuro frowned as well and rocked back on his feet a moment when there was a shrilled scream from across the water. "Don't! Please!"
"Your store hasn't paid the Ryanban tax money, has it?!" Questioned the Ryanbans son.
"Please, my father is old and sick! A sick haraboji needs his medicine! All I ask is that you wait a little long! Please!" Begged the young woman standing up to the son in order to protect the old man.
"You will pay all that you owe in full now!" Ordered the son.
"We can't! You're charging twenty times the charge that the old Ryanban had conducted! We can't afford such a tax!" Yelled the woman.
"Then that old man of yours is gonna feel a lot more of my whip! 100 lashes!" He yelled and brought up his whip to strike the old man and woman.
"No!"
"Stop it!" Cried out Chu'nyan as Sakura rushed forward to protect the old man and woman.
Syaoran leapt forward as the whip was brought down and had it wrapped around his arm as the other grasped the tip of it and his feet held down the hand as the other rested on the sons forehead. "You're the bastard from yesterday!" He growled. "Get out of my way!"
"I will not!" Stated Syaoran.
"Do you really want to know just how terrifying the Ryanban of Ryonfi can be?!" He questioned as his brows furrowed together in anger.
"Well you're not him! You're just his son! And a stupid one at that!" Remarked Chu'nyan as she stood up against him in front of Sakura, the old man and the woman of the store. Kuro stood beside her taking on a defensive position as the son growled and released his grip on the whip to grasp the fan on his back.
"Shut up!"
"I-I know that fan!" Cried our Chu'nyan as the son summoned as warrior from the fan.
"Go!" Yelled the son and the warrior attacked Syaoran as he was falling. Syaoran, with a twist, did a roundhouse kick and blocked the sword from striking him as the whip untangled from his arm and fell to the ground.
Kuro took in his options and made a dash for the whip while Syaoran still confronted the warrior. Sliding out of the way from a stray attack, he grasped onto the whip and stood in a defensive position, bringing the whip to his side waiting for an opening to come in order to strike.
Syaoran took down the warrior with a single kick, but it quickly regenerated and multiplied itself before going in for the strike again. "Watch out!" Yelled Chu'nyan. Syaoran dodged the first blow and started taking down the warriors one by one till they were unable to regenerate. "He did it!"
"Don't let it go to your head!" Growled the son as a familiar sound started up not to far from them.
"I know that sound, the wind is coming!" Cried out Chu'nyan as a strong vortex of wind appeared and the loose rubble hit Syaoran in the head.
"Syaoran-kun!" Cried out Sakura, rushing forward as she did so with a rag.
"You get it now?! This is the power of the Ryanban!" Yelled the son unaware of Kuro moving along the side of him until Kuro struck.
Kuro brought the whip back and struck the sons hand that held onto the fan. The son cried out and released the hold on the fan as the whip coiled around it. Kuro pulled the whip back sharply and it flung the fan into the air toward him and he managed to catch it without further damage brought onto him. "You little brat-!"
"You have to call your daddy when you're losing a fight?! You are the worst excuse for a family that I have ever seen!" Yelled Chu'nyan.
"Just shut up! If you don't like it, then go ahead and try to beat my aboji, Chu'nyan! But wait, you can't! Why? Because you can't even touch him!"
"Yap away all you want! Once Amen'osa come, all of the evil things that you two have been doing will be judged!" Chu'nyan shouted in frustration.
"They'll never come! As punishment for your resistance, your tax is doubled!" The son ground out to the woman and old man.
"You can't-"
"If you don't pay, your store will be confiscated and both you and the old man will receive 300 lashes!" The son began to laugh as he stomped away with his men, not bothering to try and get his whip or fan back from Kuro.
Chu'nyan gritted her teeth as she fell to her knees, "Damn!"
Kuro walked over to her as Sakura helped Syaoran to his feet. He crouched down in front of her, "You said you recognized this?"
"My omoni's fan!" Chu'nyan reached out and took it from Kuro before cradling it to her chest. "Omoni." She whispered as tears came to her eyes for a brief moment before she fiercely dabbed at them with her sleeves.
"I think its best that we return to the house now." Voiced Syaoran as he walked over with Sakura. They agreed and gathered their winnings from the bridge where they left them, and returned to the house.
Kuro coiled the whip as they walked and he secured it on the strap of his waist tie just as they approached the house.
Kuro looked up and saw that Kurogane and Fai were sitting at a wooden table just visible from the doorway while Crystal was no where in site. "Welcome home!" Fai greeted them. "How did everything go? The fact that Kuro-tan and I were able to continue talking meant that you were still near enough where we could communicate-" Fai paused. "Is something wrong?" At their silence, he figured it was so. "I guess something is wrong."
Kuro noticed Kurogane glancing at the corner of the room with a slight glare and upon stepping back into the house, Kuro spotted Crystal lying down on a mat and her jacket with Fai's blue one on her.
Kuro put down the basket of winnings beside the ones Syaoran carried and removed his shoes before heading to check on Crystal. "Oie, let the girl sleep." Kurogane muttered and Kuro stopped in his tracks and looked over at Kurogane whom was eying the whip at his waist. "Where did you get that?"
"The Ryanban's son was gracious enough to lend it to us." Kuro muttered before taking a seat next to Kurogane as Mokona hopped off of Syaoran's shoulder and situated herself in Kuroganes lap.
As Chu'nyan began to explain the incident, Sakura was tending to the wound on Syaoran's head. "I see, you were defeated by the wind of this Ryanban guy again." Fai understood.
"If this Ryanban guy is as bad as you say, why haven't you tried to take him down?" Asked Kurogane.
"We did try on a number of times, a great number! But we were never able to set one finger on the Ryanban. The Ryanban's castle has some sort of magic surrounding it. Nobody was able to get close." Chu'nyan stated.
"That makes sense. Its quite possible that this power is what Mokona sensed, yes?" Questioned Fai looking over at Mokona.
"With all of the weird power around, Mokona can't tell if there is a power wave from the feather or not." Explained Mokona as she shook her head.
"Well, what about holding that son of his hostage? Have you considered that possibility?" Asked Fai.
"We can't! The Ryanbay uses magic to watch every part of the town of Ryonfi! If anything happens to the son…" Chu'nyan began to faulter.
"You'd get hit with a magical attack. Just like what happened to Syaoran-kun yesterday and today, hm?" Fai paused as Chu'nyan nodded, still holding onto her Omoni's fan as she did so. "You also said that this Ryanban suddenly got stronger about a year ago… I wonder if that has anything to do with Sakura's feathers."
Kuro looked up as Syaoran's head shot up in thought. "That wouldn't add up though. It was only a short time ago that those memory feathers were scattered through the worlds." Remarked Kurogane.
"While that is true, we're not only traveling to different worlds, we're also traveling through time. That could be a factor." Said Kuro looking up as Kurogane who resorted to flick a game piece at him.
"You'd be correct Kuro. We're in different dimensions. It's quite possible that time flows differently in each of them." Smiled Fai.
"I'll go and check whether or not the Ryanban has a feather." Said Syaoran as he stood from his kneeling position on the floor.
"Wait! You're wounded Syaoran-kun!" Insisted Sakura as she grasped onto his sleeve.
"I'm fine."
"But-"
"Everything will be okay. If there's a feather, I'll get it back for you." Syaoran insisted with a smile.
"Syaoran-kun…"
"Just a moment. You can relax, I'm not trying to stop you, it's just that the magic of the Ryanban is pretty strong. If you simply walk there, you'll never succeed. At the very least, we'll need enough power to create an entrance to that castle." Fai explained.
"Can't you do something about that?" Questioned Kurogane.
"Impossible!" Grinned Fai.
"Then quit pretending like you have an actual plan that will work!" Growled Kurogane.
"Mokona will ask!" Smiled Mokona hopping from Kuroganes lap to the center of the room.
"Whom?" Asked Kuro when the gem on Mokonas head sparkled and a screen was projected in the air.
"Ah? Mokona, what's up?" Asked the dimensional witch.
"It talked!" Shrieked Chu'nyan whom grabbed Sakura, whom was in shock alongside Syaoran.
"Mokona sure is convenient at times." Smiled Fai.
"There are limits to how convenient things should be!" Growled Kurogane.
"So, what is it that you need?" Asked the witch. After collecting himself from the shock, Syaoran explained his thoughts and Fai explained the magical concept of it. "I see. So you have to break through the magic barrier, if that is what it is, to get to the castle?" Yuko, the witch, summed up.
"That's the problem."
"Why would you need to contact me? Fai can use magic, can't he?"
"I turned over the source of my magic to you." Resorted Fai.
"The markings that made up of your payment to me were a device that held your magical power in check. Your magic now is what it was originally meant to be." Explained Yuko.
"Be that as it may, without those markings who could expect you to be able to wield your magic." Consorted Fai.
"If not you, then the girl is capable." Explained Yuko.
"She has some magic, but she's had no lessons or teachings on how to use it. Crystal-chan can't help us either." Stated Fai.
"Fine. I'll hand over something that will help break the magic barrier surrounding the castle. But I'll expect payment in return." Yuko explained.
"B-but we don't have anything to give-" Syaoran started in worry as Fai got up from the floor.
"Here. Will this do?" Asked Fai as he pulled out his staff from a closet along the wall where his other jacket hung. "It's a magical device. Can you use it?"
"I think that will do. Send it through Mokona." Explained Yuko.
"Here we go." Smiled Fai as Mokona opened her mouth to take in the staff.
Chu'nyan cringed and cried as Mokona took in the staff whole. Seconds later, a round, brown mass shot out from Mokona's mouth and Syaoran caught it. "This, will defeat the castles magic?" Wondered Syaoran taking in the sphere object.
"It sure appears so, doesn't it." Smiled Fai as he glanced over his shoulder to see Crystal sitting up in a daze.
Kuro noticed and got up from his spot on the floor to greet her, "Hey Crystal-chan, we're back."
"Hello Kuro, how long have you been back?" She asked.
"Half hour, possibly an hour." Kuro explained as he sat down beside her. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, sorry to worry you. I just had a dizzy spell and Fai-san said I should sleep it off." Explained Crystal.
"I see. Well while we were out, Sakura played a game and won prizes, and one basket had an arrange of clothing." Started Kuro. "There is an outfit that I think would fit you."
"Is that where you got these?" Asked Crystal as she tugged on his sleeve of his new clothing.
"Yeah. There's also an outfit for Fai-san and Kurogane-san too. Let me go and get them." He said and hurried over to the front porch where the baskets sat and grabbed the basket that held the clothing.
Kuro pulled out the articles of clothing and handed Fai and Kurogane their new outfit while Crystal was changing into her new one. "Come on, let's put these on!" Smiled Fai pulling Kurogane up from the floor.
"I'll do it in my own privacy." Growled Kurogane retreating to an unused room as Fai stepped into the one Crystal used after she stepped out in her new outfit.
"How does it look?" Asked Crystal as she showed it off to Kuro.
"Very nice." Kuro insisted as he helped secure the ribbon around her hair tighter. Crystal's outfit was very similar to Chu'nyans but with a lot of blue rather than red and peach colors.
Kurogane and Fai came out of the rooms in their new outfits and Fai picked Crystal up and hugged her, "You look beautiful."
Crystal giggled and hugged him tightly as Kurogane stepped over too and fixed the tie around her waist. "There. It was coming undone."
Crystal turned and hugged him too, "Thank you."
Kurogane grumbled and walked over to Syaoran whom stood outside with Chu'nyan and Sakura. Fai put Crystal down on her feet and patted her head. "You stay here Crystal-chan. We'll be back before sundown." Smiled Fai.
"Okay." Crystal nodded and walked Fai to the porch. Kuro stepped off and followed after him.
"No! I want to go to the Ryanbans castle too!" Yelled Chu'nyan.
"The Ryanbans castle is protected by some powerful magic. This is going to be dangerous." Explained Fai.
"I'm prepared for that! I'm going!" Insisted Chu'nyan.
"Hmm, I'm just not getting through to her." Grinned Fai looking back at Kurogane.
"I don't have any talent for explaining things to kids." Kurogane replied turning away.
"Aw, is that because you're so shy?" Chimed Fai as Kurogane growled at his statement.
"I'm going to take down that Ryanban! I have to avenge my Omoni!" Cried out Chu'nyan as she grabbed onto Syaorans sleeves. "I'm going with you! It's okay isn't it? Syaoran!" Chu'nyan pleaded.
"No. You will stay and wait here with her highness, Sakura-hime, and Crystal-chan." Syaoran replied as he pushed her off of him and turned to walk out of the house grounds.
Crystal waved to Fai as he took a look back at the house and smiled to her. "Stay safe." She whispered before stepping off the porch to meet Sakura and Chu'nyan whom stood in the center of the house grounds.
Kuro walked along side Kurogane as they headed for the castle. "Oie, you able to handle that?" Kurogane asked looking down at Kuro.
"In times of battle, Haku would change into a whip. But back in Hanshin, I was able to control him more easily. This is real and not connected to me, so I'll have to practice and master it to become better with it." Kuro stated as he glanced down at the whip on his hip.
"Practice you will. You're the only one out of all of us with a weapon now." Stated Kurogane.
"I'll be sure to take care of it." Kuro replied.
End Chapter 9
With the reading finished, the manager gave the signal to her isle attendants and the lights returned to the theater and curtains pulled back for the audience members to leave.
Joci: Thank you all again for coming to today's reading.
Crys: Please remember to stop at our Comment/Review table on your way out. It is over at the enter acne doors for those who are unfamiliar with our readings.
Kuro: Share with your friends and family and bring a friend with you to the next reading. We hope to see you then.
Joci: Thank you all again and good night to you all!
The audience gave a final applause before gathering their belongings to file out of the theater. The manager watched as they went, noting the few members stopping at the table to leave a comment while most left, looking forward to the next reading.
With a word from an isle attendant, the theater was deemed cleared and the grand doors were closed till the next reading.