Windy, Rain, Shadow, Wood, Sword, Thunder, Power, Sleep… These are just a few of the names of the forty-seven oil canvases gathered from across the world. Painted by an anonymous artist, this series depict natural forces and elements in the forms of animals, objects, or spirits. After painstakingly assembling the entire series and restoring each of the paintings to its original state, it has been discovered that artist was commissioned to create a sequence of fifty-two canvases, but unfortunately never finished due to his painting the series out of order. Clow Reed, who was the major contributor to this project, undertook the task of finishing this series. The oil canvases of the Arrow, Create, Earth, Move, Through, Twin, and Dash are placed in this exhibit in the intended sequence all signed by Reed. Also placed in this exhibit are the two canvases the artist created free of charge. One is of a runic circle, with the sun in the center and an overlapping moon. The other, called the Hope, was found to be painted over another image after paint restoration. This nameless painting is titled the Nothing in Reed's reproduction. The last painting at the end of this exhibit is byClow Reed as well, based on the original artist's runic circle. The major difference of this canvas is the five pointed star at the center. With the entire series placed in the sequence the commissioner intended and divided into elements of Firey, Earthy (Solar Division), Windy, and Watery (Lunar Division), we hope you enjoy this exhibit.
With special thanks to: Chairman Nokoru Imonoyama, Director Kentarou Higashikunimaru, Head Curator Sakura Kinomoto, Artist and Contributor Clow Reed, and the students, staff, and affiliates of Tokyo University.
Syaoran looked up from the museum's pamphlet to see Clow Reed's the Nothing canvas and the unnamed artist's the Hope painting framed side by side. Both canvases were larger and taller than Syaoran himself. Both showed young girls with silvery hair that fell in long, silvery waves wearing a frilly dress. However, the emotion shown on Nothing's face was clearly sorrow and loneliness while Hope beamed happily as she embraced a winged heart. Looking from one to the other, he could see why the artist changed his mind in creating Nothing. Hope looked so much better with her bright smile.
And there was someone recently who smiled just as brightly…
Sakura quietly stepped up from behind him. Deciding against interrupting him, she joined him in silently admiring the canvases. She loved each and every painting equally, but there were a few favorites, Hope being one of them. (Another favorite was Fly. After all, it would be a dream come true to be able to have feathered wings.) It was the smile in Hope's portrait that simply charmed Sakura's heart.
For awhile the two looked up the canvases in comfortable silence as they appreciated the works of history, as behind her back Sakura clasped a deep green handkerchief.
Destiny at Work
The Unseen Thread of Destiny
The world you can see isn't all that is out there. In the world… there are a lot of fascinating things that no living soul has ever seen! And just knowing that… is one cause of happiness! —Syaoran's Father (Fujitaka), from Tsubasa RESEVoir CHRoNiCLE
Author's Note: Cardcaptor Sakura and its characters (even the Clow Cards and the Unnamed/Nothing(Void)/Hope Card) rightfully belong to CLAMP. The following characters that appeared/mentioned in Hitsuzen Nine also belong to CLAMP:
CLAMP School Detectives-Nokoru Imonoyama
Duklyon: CLAMP School Defenders- Kentarou Higashikunimaru
Clover- Oruha
Author's Note: The songs used in this chapter is "You Are My Love" by Yui Makino from Tsubasa Chronicleand "Yue Gwong Gwong" (Moon is Bright), a traditional Cantonese lullaby. I decided not to put any English translations (as they vary) because there's also an English version of "You Are My Love" sung by Eri Itoh and composed by Yuki Kajiura, both two of my favorite artists. They're both sweet and beautiful, so I suggest listening to them.
March 21, Destiny's Annual Party, 9:37 pm
Syaoran sighed in relief as he made it safely to the upper deck. After being constantly bombarded by overzealous fangirls, the fighting-happy Chun Hyang Shin, the potential fiancées who were dropping giant hints, and the two matchmakers from hell who were making his life hell, Syaoran had just about enough. (It was a good thing that Fanren was a frequent visitor of parties. If a guy was coming on too fast, she knew how to handle herself. As the protective brother, Syaoran simply would have chucked the guy into the harbor. Besides, she had a flirty side that meant nothing.) Enough with the stupid party. Syaoran will just have to fight his mother head-on. Why was there a need to bring a woman in, anyway?
ame ni nureta hoho wa namida no nioi ga shita
yasashii manazashi no tabibito
Thank kami-sama the upper deck was empty. Reserved for staff use only, as the deck was a prospective danger hazard, the guests kept away and stayed in the large dining room where the party was staged. Syaoran had to hand it to them, though. The bastard Hiiragizawa and the manipulative Daidouji definitely knew what they were doing. It was really no wonder why the world claimed them as the King and Queen of Matchmakers. As for Meiling… well, Syaoran couldn't wrap his head around the idea of Meiling as a matchmaker, but knowing her, Meiling had fulfilled her role better than ever expected. Syaoran leaned on the rail to look out into the dark night, taking in the cool breeze as his thoughts continued to flitter across topics. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply, Syaoran could hear the faint sounds from the ballroom where the husky voice of Oruha resonated.
shizuka ni hibiiteru natsukashii ongaku
omoidasenai kioku samayou
There was someone else on the upper deck. The sound of a song, hushed and sad and feminine, gently reached the ears. It could have been his own curiosity or the hauntingly beautiful power of the song, but Syaoran could not help but be drawn forward. The singer was just a little further down the deck. Slowly, quietly, Syaoran stepped closer, meeting her around the corner.
Yume wa tobitatsu no chiisana tsubasa de
Omoi no kienai basho made futari de
Tooi umi wo sora wo koete
And there she was. Her gossamer pink dress pooled around her small, petite frame as the side of her body leaned on the metal railing with her legs over the side of the upper deck. Moonlight, as in spilled on the side of the boat, softly caressed her slumped form while her shawl carelessly hung around her shoulders. The light illuminated two glasses beside her, one empty and the other almost done. Her soft voice, as she serenaded to the sea, trembled with tears that threatened to fall. In her hands she plucked the petals of a flower, letting the wind blow them away one by one.
Kurai yoru no naka de watshi wo terashiteru
Yasashii manazashi no anata ni
Aitai…
As the last of the melody was carried out across the distance, ever so slowly she turned her head. Her emerald eyes met with his amber ones. Breathless, he could not help but stare, while one tear escaped to make a lone, wet path down her cheek.
It was the tear that broke the moment. Sakura remembered with a pang that in the short time it had gotten her to get drinks, Yukito had found someone. Of course she knew that they broke up, that they were over… but in spite of that Sakura could not help but hope. Maybe, just maybe, the break-up was temporary and they could be together again, happy again. But as she watched him smile brightly for the first time at another man the facts hit her hard: Yukito was gay, and he would never be hers.
It took everything within her to finally decide it was over and as the ex-girlfriend it was her duty to bow out gracefully and cheer from the sidelines. Eyes misty, she tried her best to smile. "Ganbatte, Yukito-san!" she had whispered, sealing the decision. It was over… so over.
But with the drinks in her hand Sakura was at a loss to do. Even though she decided to cheer him on, at the moment Sakura could not walk up to Yukito and his new friend, wish them happiness, offer them the drinks, and give Yukito the nudge to make a move. She wasn't strong enough. …Not yet. So she turned around to face the way she came but stopped as she stared at the mini-bar just a few steps away. For the life of her Sakura couldn't walk back to the mini-bar and return the drinks. It made her feel sad and pathetic. The noises of music, laughter, and conversation were being swept around her as she stood still.
She wanted to be alone.
Looking around she spotted the darkened stairs. Walking towards it without another thought, she missed the sign forbidding entry to guests. Finding the upper deck, she finally smiled. It was empty. It was quiet. It was sanctuary. Settling down, she let the salty breeze calm her. In one swift stroke, she downed one entire drink. She stopped after it was finished, feeling the effects of the alcohol. No, it wouldn't do any good to be drunk at the party hosted by her friends. What would her father and brother think of her? What would Yukito…? The idea sobered her quickly. So she slowed down, taking sips here and there, the second glass making her feel less inhibited as a song passed through her lips.
But now there was someone else was on the upper deck with her. She had been away too long, and through the haze she realized she was looking up to Syaoran Li. Her mind catching up to her she gasped, wiping the tears away with her nose making a sniffle. "I'm sorry, you want to be here alone, don't you?" she heard herself saying. She attempted to stand up, the movement making her woozy as she put a hand to her head to calm herself, her forehead furrowing.
Strangely enough, Fanren's words echoed in his mind. "You have to be more sensitive to women, Syaoran!" she had scolded him that time, but what was he supposed to do? He had no good experiences with girls in tears. He remembered that the girl before him was introduced as a 'dear friend'. It should be Hiiragizawa or Daidouji or that other nameless friend who should comfort her. "I'll- I should go get someone…"
Sakura's eyes snapped open. If he did that, questions would be asked and Sakura couldn't pretend tonight. Rising quickly, fighting the dizziness, she ran to his side, using both hands to grab his arm. "No! You can't!"
Syaoran halted, feeling the strong tug on his arm. Looking back at her, she desperately begged him not to go, her eyes wide and expressive. The strength and determination in her eyes were so captivating that the moment stood still.
Suddenly there was a splash off the side boat. Tipped over by her sudden movement, one of the glasses Sakura brought rolled down the deck and fell into the harbor. Mouth dropping open in horror, Sakura watched with helplessness as the second glass followed suit with a ker-plash.
When Sakura returned to meet his gaze she embarrassedly dropped the hands on his arm. The moment broken, Syaoran said, "Here," offering her the green handkerchief that Fanren saw fit to include into his dress attire, "you might need this."
Syaoran waved the quiet thank you away and decided to head back to the party. She was on the upper deck first, and besides, he would be hunted down by those matchmakers from hell if he stayed away too long. Unfortunately, Sakura saw it differently. "Wait!" she called. "I'll leave. You can stay, Li-san."
Shaking his head, Syaoran refused. "You look like you need it more than I do."
"But…you came here to be alone, didn't you? And this is the best place. No one bothers you here. I've been here too long, you can stay." She tried to walk past him but stumbled instead. Her face burned, she surely was making a fool of herself.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked her as he led her to a bench to sit. He heard her mumble something incoherently about the alcohol in the drinks. "This is why you should stay. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you're here." He got ready to leave again.
"It's just…" Sakura started, wishing for someone to understand. But there was no one she could talk to because no one knew Yukito was in love with her brother. She definitely couldn't talk to her brother, because that was Yukito's place. And she couldn't talk to Eriol, because he would definitely tell Tomoyo, and Tomoyo should be the last person to know because she was her brother's girlfriend. Even if Sakura could try to hide it and speak in third-person terms, both Eriol and Tomoyo were too smart and would figure it out.
"It's just…have you ever been in love with someone? Someone who you love so deeply that it feels like it could hurt… someone who can make you laugh and smile and just make you so happy, so happy to be alive… someone who becomes an irreplaceable person to you, someone who is so important to you that you wouldn't mind spending the rest of your life with that person… and then," Sakura swallowed, the tears threatening to fall once more. "and then that person suddenly person turns around and says he doesn't love you anymore. Do you know how it feels to have your hopes, your expectations, your heart to be splintered into a thousand pieces, never to be the same again?"
"Actually," Syaoran said softly, remembering his ex-fiancée, "I do." Taking a seat on the other end of the bench, he looked at her as a comrade, a friend-in-arms, as she clenched the handkerchief and took a shuddering breath desperately. "But I don't think it does any good to bottle those emotions."
She looked back at him with a teary smile. "No, it doesn't. But…" But Eriol, Tomoyo, and Yukito would wonder why she was crying when the breakup was long time ago. Sakura sighed as she leaned her on the wall behind her. A calm and easy silence washed over the two as the moon reappeared from behind the clouds.
"Nee," Sakura smiled as reached out to let the light caress her fingers. "It's the moon."
Yue gwong gwong, dziu dei tong
Ha dzai nei gwai gwai fan lok tsong;
Ting dziu ah ma yiu gon tsaap yoeng law
Ah yaeh tai ngaw koei soeng saan baw…
A reminiscing smile made it to Syaoran's face. "My sisters sang that lullaby to me when I was little."
Sakura blinked as she broke out of the song. "Excuse me?"
Frowning, Syaoran repeated his words. "My sisters always sang that song when I was a child. Now they sing it to their own children."
There was a slight pause before Sakura answered. "You answered in Japanese that time…"
"Oh…" Syaoran embarrassedly ran a hand through his hair. "It's a habit of mine. If I hear Cantonese, I answer back in Cantonese, if it's Japanese, then I answer back the same."
"Then," Sakura said, shifting her body to face him better as an idea came to her, "could you speak to me in Japanese for a bit? Speaking Chinese will help me clear my head."
"Sure," Syaoran started, then seeing her face he nearly slapped himself. "I did it again, didn't I? Speaking in Cantonese."
She smiled gently that time. "Let's start off easy. Hm… introductions! Ngo gow meng hai Kinomoto Ying Fa. Nei giu me meng?"
"Ngo giu…" Syaoran stopped as she shook her head. "Muzukashikatta desu," he muttered under his breath, but then he realized he switched to Japanese on his own. Realizing he could do this, his gaze met hers determinedly. "Watakushi wa Ri Shaoran desu. Hajimemashite."
The two remained like that, exchanging glances and smiles. Sakura continued in Cantonese and Syaoran in Japanese (although he still wasn't good at switching between the two) until the voice of Tomoyo singing and Eriol playing on the piano reached their ears. They had been gone for too long, they realized, it was a miracle no one had discovered them yet. They were reluctant to leave as they got up from the bench, and then the fireworks started and they stayed a little longer.
There was no real reason why Sakura kissed Syaoran. Maybe she was still a little tipsy and the alcohol in her made her do it.
…Maybe.
And as the fireworks carried on while she left the upper deck first, they didn't know it yet, but something had happened. The thread of destiny had tied two souls together.
Thank You to jennycuencaSnowCharms, waterlilies52, ROAR-Lisa, rendezvous159, and Fallen from the skyfor your reviews! Keep them coming!
jennycuenca: Thank you for your review! I am so sorry that I did not update fast enough, but I hope this chapter makes us for it. Finally(!) we know what happened on that upper deck!
SnowCharms: Thanks for your review! About Meiling… well, I cannot say. (Meiling: Huh. The author just doesn't want to say you might be right. Me: Shh!) Moving on, you have X/1999! Wasn't it amazing to watch?! Unfortunately though, even if the anime was finished, CLAMP did not finish the manga. (Yet.) Hopefully they'll get around to finishing…
waterlilies52: Thank you for reviewing. I also wish I have much more reviews, but there's nothing I can do about it. I am more than thankful for the reviews and the loyal reviewers I have. I'll try to keep the plot as intriguing as possible. Thanks for your support!
ROAR-Lisa: Yay! New reviewer! Thanks for reading my other story as well! Let see the story get even more interest, ne?
rendezvous159: Wow! Thank you for your review and your applause! This story is also so fun and interesting that I don't want to abandon it. I want to finish this to the very end! Thank you for your support!
Fallen from the sky: Yes, yes, Syaoran definitely needs closure. How else is he going to have a relationship with Sakura if things aren't finished with Meiling?! (Me: Meiling, hurry up and tell already! Meiling: Never!) Thank you for your continued support!
March 23, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum
Syaoran at long last realized someone standing next to him. A smile flickered over his face as he remembered Sakura. "You were talking with Hiiragizawa for awhile. Are you finished?"
Sakura nodded as she smiled with ease. After handing Eriol his birthday present, he wanted to speak to Sakura alone as Syaoran left to explore the museum on his own. "Oh, we were just talking about a present for a friend," Sakura told him. "Eriol-san and the others left already, saying that you would much rather stay here. Was that not okay? Should I call Eriol-san to come back?"
"He's right, I'd prefer a museum than sticking with Hiiragizawa. It's fine."
Not really understanding, Sakura outstretched the arm holding the green handkerchief. "Thank you for the handkerchief and for everything that night. I'm sorry getting it dirty then, but I washed it. Thank you."
Syaoran stared the handkerchief. He really didn't have a use for it; the only reason it had then was because Fanren. "No," he said, shaking his head. "You can have it. The next time you cry you'll have a handkerchief."
"No," Sakura said with a faint smile. "That night was the last of those tears. You won't find me crying over that broken heart again," she spoke resolutely. "So," she offered the handkerchief again, "I won't be needing this. But thank you, very much."
Her eyes were so clear, so determined. The time for tears were over and now she could move on. What Syaoran didn't realize that it was because of him that she could smile again. "Alright," he conceded, accepting the green cloth.
Sakura frowned half-heartedly. "I wish there was some way I could thank you…"
"There's really no need for that. Really," he insisted. "Seeing this museum is enough. Getting a look at this exhibit you set up, it's more than enough. You did a good job, Kinomoto-san."
Blinking, Sakura realized that he loved archaeology and artifacts just as much as her. "You really are interesting in history, aren't you?"
"Yeah," he answered, a warmth in his eyes as he looked over the painting of Hope again. Archaeology was his first choice as a major, and if not for the circumstances seven years ago, he probably would have been an archaeologist today. "The world you can see isn't all that is out there," Syaoran started, dredging up a deep memory. "In the world there are a lot of fascinating things that no living soul has ever seen."
"And just knowing that," Sakura finished the quote with a smile, "is one cause of happiness!"
Wide-eyed, Syaoran looked back at the curator. Not many people knew that quote from his most favorite and respected archaeologist. Sakura smiled even more brightly as an idea to show her thanks popped up in her mind. "Li-san, are you free on April first?"
No, they definitely didn't know it yet, but the thread of destiny had tied their two souls together.
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