Disclaimer: sorry for the late update honestly I'm not feeling well… for the past few days I was trying to focus on typing this chap but all I could do was stare at the monitor because of my headache (sobs)
Well anyway here's the next chap and excuse my errors I really didn't try to check it through because I uploaded it as soon as I'm done typing the chapter and well I still have a terrible headache (sighs)
Chapter 49:
Transeo: Book of Memory
Three apprentices of the Shrine welcomed Syaoran, Sakura and Mizuki upon their arrival. Mizuki went to the ritual hall after the apprentices led Syaoran and Sakura to the Sacred Hall. She spoke with Fujitaka and the others and she related everything they had discussed back at the castle. When she told them about her identity, it became clear to Touya and Yukito why the Guardians agreed to help her without hesitations.
After that, Touya went to the meeting hall of the Shrine and contacted Iain to inform him about the situation.
Without much ado the others proceeded with the preparations for the ritual with the thought that the Lottuse Trump Card was already ahead of them.
Syaoran and Sakura made their way to the Sacred Hall where the Guardians were waiting. When they arrived, Syaoran stared at the door and said, "Sakura."
"Nani?" Sakura looked at him. He still had his back on her but she could sense his anxiety. She feared he might lose his concentration once he did the transeo. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I know it's too sudden but please lend me your strength," he started. "I will learn the Ynah's ability and return. I know I don't have to worry about returning because you are my aid… and I… may not seem like it but I trust you with my life."
Sakura reddened. And even with Syaoran's back on her, she could see his ears turned red as he spoke, 'Syaoran-kun….'
"So... so please have patience with me… after this I will do everything in my power to protect you against any assault from the Lottuse Trump Card, and protect the Souma and the Daidouji nations," he went on.
Sakura lowered her gaze and closed her eyes. Her heart had started beating feverishly in her chest and the more Syaoran spoke to her the more her admiration for him grows. She opened her eyes and reached out for his hand.
Syaoran jerked his head when Sakura took his hand. He could feel his heart tightened inside. Just the touch of Sakura made him feel nervous yet warm.
"Okay," she answered in a whisper. "Thank you for trusting me Syaoran-kun. I will wait until you return but," she looked at him.
Syaoran also turned around to look at her.
Sakura smiled warmly at him that made him go red on the face, "You don't have to bear every problem we are facing all by yourself. Together, you and me, and with the others let's do everything to protect the Three Great Nations."
For a moment Syaoran just stared at her but then he smiled and answered, "Aa."
Sakura blushed but beamed at him, "Yosh! Then shall we?"
Syaoran nodded and with his left hand still holding Sakura's, he pushed the big door to the Sacred Hall with his right hand. They both went inside.
"The time has come and so the wheel of fate has started to move once again."
Syaoran and Sakura heard three voices said at once as the big door closed behind them. They stared at the only light at the center of the room as three figures of women appeared.
They were all dressed in a long soft blue gown that glowed in the darkened room. The differences in their appearances were the color of their hair. The one at the left with snowy white hair was Urda. In the middle, Verdandi had pearly black hair, and the one at the right, Skuld had fiery red hair.
"Come forth adored Card Mistress," Verdandi said as she moved forward.
Sakura nodded. She moved forth as Syaoran let go of her hand. He watched as Verdandi offered Sakura a goblet at the center of the room.
"Drink thy water for ye never succumb to slumber," Verdandi told her.
Sakura kneeled down and took the goblet from Verdandi and slowly drank the water. It sent a tingling sensation down her throat and felt like she could stay awake for a week or so.
Skuld walked forward and stood beside Verdandi. She looked at Syaoran and said, "Now step forth Lord Knight blessed by the Great Watch Towers, rulers of all magical supremacy."
Syaoran stepped forward as Sakura stood up and took a step back. She turned to look at him who stopped and stood beside her.
Urda went in front of Verdandi and looked at Syaoran.
"Concentrate only in obtaining the Ynah's ability, for ye to arrive at thy destination without difficulty," she told him.
"I understand," he replied with a nod.
Verdandi and Skuld faced each other as they held both their hands up at shoulder level. They slowly moved away from each other. A rectangular marble table with a satin cushion lain on top, ascended between them. Verdandi stood at the left side of the table while Skuld stood on the right.
"And the guide?" Urda asked Syaoran. He took the Book of Memory he hid in his coat pocket and gave it to her.
Urda took the book and turned to Sakura, "Take your place at the right side of the table adored Card Mistress."
"Hai," Sakura nodded and went to the right side of the table.
Urda went to the center of the room and faced the table.
"Sit," Skuld told her as she helped Sakura to the table.
Sakura was a bit confused but she kneeled at the right side on top of the table and sat seiza-style.
"Lie down so that we can begin Lord Knight," Skuld told Syaoran.
Taking a deep breath Syaoran sat on the table and slowly lay down. Skuld helped him as he rested his head on Sakura's lap. He closed his eyes and felt Sakura placed her hands on his shoulders. Sakura lowered her head and closed her eyes as well.
The Guardians stood on three corners forming a triangular shape around the table. Urda held the Book of Memory in front of her and said, "By the powers bequeath upon us by the God of Time Chronos, I summon thee Thriatum Guardian of Dimensions unlock thy path leading to thy Book of Memory!"
A symbol of eight-sided star slowly appeared on the floor. The ancient writings around the symbol started to move in counter-clockwise direction as a soft golden light encircled the table.
The Guardians started to chant in Latin. The ancient writings moved faster and faster as their voices grew louder.
Syaoran's body went numb but he ignored the awkward feeling and concentrated his mind in his will to obtain the Ynah's ability. Soon the Guardians' voices became distant… slowly fading away….
"Ki o tsukete ne Syaoran-kun, atashi… matteru kara…" Syaoran heard Sakura whispered to him before everything around him seemed to dissolve in the darkness.
Urda stared at the book in her hands as the soft golden light that had encircled Syaoran and Sakura at the table steadily went inside. She closed her eyes and continued chanting with Verdandi and Skuld.
Nakuru let the prisoner she held in her hand fell to the ground. She flipped her hair to the side and looked at all the prisoner who lay on the ground around her, lifeless. She was outside the training ground of the Lottuse Barracks and she was testing her skills with the prisoners Eriol took out from the cell.
"Eriol-sama, you could've given me more difficult opponents," she said looking up at the veranda where Eriol was standing watching her.
Eriol smiled at her apologetically, "My bad. I expected that they will at least warm you up but looks like I miscalculated."
"You overestimated them. Or don't tell me you're underestimating me," Nakuru glowered at the thought.
"Of course not," he assured her with a smile. "You are as impressive as before. You proved that the long sleep didn't affect your skills and that it is fine to let you fight him for a while."
"Him?" she asked.
Eriol nodded, "That's right. You see when you are asleep it's a little bit lonely so I fashioned myself a new guardian."
Nakuru frowned at him, "What! You didn't really think that I won't be able to come back didn't you?"
"I never thought of that. Besides don't you think it nice to have your very own partner?" he asked her.
Nakuru laughed, "That's something I never expected to hear from you Eriol-sama."
Eriol just smiled at her, "What do you think?"
"Okay then, let me fight the new guardian you're talking about and I'll decide whether he'd be worthy to be my partner."
"Very well then…" he raised his right hand and his staff appeared in front of him. He held his staff with his hand and his symbol appeared beneath him.
"I must warn you though, he's a bit unstable at the moment for I never had a chance to test his skills yet," Eriol reminded Nakuru.
She just grinned at him, "I love challenges."
Eriol's staff glowed and he spoke, "Arise for I summon thee, Spinel Sun!"
A black mist enveloped in front of Nakuru. She stepped back sensing a huge aura coming from inside the mist. She smiled and glanced back at Eriol, "You did created something unstable Eriol-sama."
Eriol just smiled as a black panther with butterfly wings appeared in front of Nakuru.
(A/N woot another late appearance of a character)
"Otosan?"
'Huh…?' Syaoran heard a voice of a girl spoke. It seemed familiar though he didn't know who the voice belonged to.
"Otosan wake up!"
'What…?' Syaoran opened his eyes. He strained his eyes to see but all he saw was darkness. 'Huh? Where am I…?' he wondered as he tried to get up. He didn't budge. 'Eh?' he tried to get up once more but to no avail. 'What in the—?'
"Hmm…?" came a moaned that Syaoran thought came from him but was sure it didn't.
"Come on sleepyhead! Get up already!"
A deep low laugh came that Syaoran felt coming from him again. Although the voice was too deep to be his and he'd never laughed like that.
"Hurry Otosan! Kaho-chan's already waiting at the living room!"
'Kaho-chan…?'
"Okay, okay I'll get up already…" a deep husky voice spoke. Syaoran shivered. He was sure he spoke yet the voice wasn't his and he swore he hadn't opened his mouth to speak.
Slowly a straight horizontal line of light came into Syaoran's view. He tried to block the light from his eyes through his hands but his hands didn't move once again. He stared as a pair of big brown eyes appeared before him.
'N-Nani!' Syaoran exclaimed in surprised although he didn't hear his voice.
The girl with big brown eyes and a long brown hair with bangs leaned back and smiled at him. 'Eh?' he felt like he had seen this girl before.
"Ohayo Otosan."
'O-Otosan!' Syaoran burst but again no sound came.
"Ohayo, my sweet little filia…"
Syaoran felt himself smile at the girl as he sat up. Once he was up a mirror caught his eye across him and saw his reflection.
Slowly everything came back to him. For a moment there he almost forgot about it but now he remembered. 'That's right…' he thought as he saw a man around early thirty, with shoulder length brown hair, the same shade as the little girl, and black eyes from the reflection of the mirror.
'I did the transeo so this means…' Syaoran stared at the girl beside him who was beaming at him. 'I am already inside the mind of the owner of the Book of Memory… the late King of the Ynah Kingdom. Everything he sees is what I see…'
Tomoyo smiled apologetically at Naoko as she helped her carry the baskets full of dish inside the carriage. "I'm sorry for the trouble Naoko-san," she apologized.
Naoko shook her head, "No Tomoyo-him this is our duty after all."
Because of all the commotion, Tomoyo wanted to do something for everyone. But right now all she could think of was to make sure everyone was properly taken care of at the Shrine. She decided to take two cooks, including Naoko in the castle to the Shrine to make sure of that.
Now Tomoyo, Naoko and the two cooks who were Mrs. Fields and her son Collier, were busily loading the carriage with foods to bring at the Shrine.
'So she's that Kaho-chan the little girl was talking about,' Syaoran thought staring at a younger looking Mizuki. They were now seated inside the living room of the Ynah castle where Mizuki waited. The little girl sat beside her with her huge grin still on her face.
"Sorry for making you wait, Kaho." Syaoran or rather the King of Ynah said. 'This really feels weird,' Syaoran thought uneasily.
Mizuki smiled and shook her head, "Not at all."
"Kaho-chan, did you bring more books for me?" the little girl asked Mizuki as she leaned on her lap.
"Yes your Highness and I brought the ones you loved to read," she told the girl.
"Yay!"
"You shouldn't spoil her too much Kaho," the king warned Mizuki with a laugh.
The little girl looked at her father and smiled, "Otosan can I go see Aunt Naomi and play with Chiharu-chan?"
Syaoran stared at the little girl. For a moment he thought she was Chiharu. 'At least this proves that Sakura was right about the Princess of Lottuse,' he thought.
The king smiled at her, "Just don't trouble your Aunt Naomi okay?"
The girl nodded politely, "Hai." She looked back at Mizuki, "You'll come and play with us later too right?"
Mizuki nodded and smiled, "I will Princess."
The girl beamed as she stood up, "Okay then. See you later Kaho-chan! Otosan!" and with that, she run to the door and left.
Mizuki looked back at the king, "So how's Lady Naomi? She's not really having problems with her baby I hope?"
The king nodded, "She's alright. Although she did complain about how much she had gained weight."
She chuckled at the troubled look on the king's face, "That's Lady Naomi alright."
The king smiled, "I know she was still saddened about what happened to Kirou but I am glad that she was taking everything sensibly."
"Ee… it was unfortunate for Kirou-sama, to think that he would never witness his second child be born in this world."
Syaoran saw the grave look in her eyes. He could almost predict what was bothering her. After all he did hear it already from the present Mizuki.
"You have a grave look in your eyes. I guess you had some bad news for me?"
Syaoran thought he said his thoughts aloud. But then he realized that it was the king who spoke. It actually was good news to Syaoran's part. This meant that he was starting to adopt the King's way of thinking.
Mizuki looked at him somberly, "Your Majesty…"
The King smiled at her and said, "You don't have to be so formal Kaho, do not fret. I am prepared so let me hear it."
It took a while before Mizuki finally got the courage to speak. She took a deep breath before looking straight at him, "Very well then…"
And so she started to tell him about her vision.
The guardians stared as the light vanished into thin air. They stopped chanting and looked at the table.
Sakura also opened her eyes and looked at Syaoran's face. He looked like he was fast asleep.
"And now we wait," Urda said and kneeled down on the floor. She held the book close to her and closed her eyes. Verdandi and Skuld did the same thing. They meditated and balanced the energy around the table needed for the transeo.
The eight-sided star symbol still glowed softly beneath them.
'Syaoran-kun…' Sakura stared at Syaoran's face. She couldn't feel his aura. He might appear to be asleep but to Sakura he was too still to be asleep. She started to worry but immediately shoved the feeling away.
'He said that he'll return remember?' Sakura reminded herself. 'It's only started so calm down.'
Taking a deep breath
Sakura placed her right hand on top of Syaoran's chest. She felt
the soft thumping of his heart and it calmed her down. She closed her
eyes and smiled, 'There's no need to worry about. He will
return no matter what and so I will wait and be the one to greet him
first once he opens his eyes once again.'
After the King and Mizuki had their talk at the living room, he went to the Throne Room and called for Risteard, the newly appointed General of the Ynah's military force.
Syaoran was not surprised when Risteard entered the room. He already knew everything about him and how he became the General of the Ynah's force because he had started to adopt the King's knowledge. The former General was Kirou, who was the husband of the King's twin sister Naomi. Kirou had died when he was defending the Ynah's wall against the first attack of the Lottuse and now Risteard, who was Kirou's right hand before was promoted.
"You called for me your Majesty?" Risteard asked as he kneeled on the floor.
The King looked at him and asked, "General Risteard I believe that you studied magic arts back at the Ynah Colony am I right?"
Risteard looked at him, "Yes your Majesty."
"Well then can I ask for your assistance with my morning practice?"
"Why of course your Majesty, I am honored. Forgive my intrusion but what does my having knowledge of magic arts do with your practice your Majesty?"
"No need to worry, you will find out once we started," the King answered.
Risteard lowered his head in a curtsy, "Then I won't ask anymore."
Though the King hadn't told Risteard, Syaoran already knew what he wanted to do. Finally he would be seeing the King of Ynah use his ability.
It was already past noon. Everyone at the Shrine had already eaten their lunch and went back to their own affairs.
Naoko and Collier, together with the other apprentices of the Shrine were cleaning up at the dining hall. Tomoyo was also at the dining hall. She was standing at the door and was staring at the corridor across the room. It was the corridor leading to the Sacred Hall.
"Tomoyo-hime?" Naoko approached her. She didn't have to ask Tomoyo what was wrong. She already had an idea since she was troubled about it as well.
"I know that inside the Sacred Hall, time seems to be slow and that Sakura-chan and Li-kun won't really get weary but… I hope they will be fine," Tomoyo said without looking at her.
Naoko looked at her thoughtfully. She had been hearing a lot about what was going on around the castle, especially about the King of Li's agenda. She didn't really know the whole story but she heard that Syaoran was doing something important yet dangerous with the Card Mistress' aid for the Queen's sake.
Although Naoko was concerned about it she believed that whatever Syaoran would do he'd be able to accomplish it. "Don't worry too much Tomoyo-hime. Although I may not make a difference by saying this, I'm sure that the King of Li and the Card Mistress will be alright," she said.
Tomoyo turned to look at her and smiled, "Of course you make a difference Naoko-san. You're no anybody for me now. You're already a good friend."
Naoko smiled, "Thank you Tomoyo-hime."
"Besides," Tomoyo started. "Of all the people that the King of Li met before, I know that you're words and trust for him meant a lot."
Naoko reddened, "H-How did you know that Ron-ku—I—I mean… t-that's— oh this is so embarrassing was I thinking about it that much? I-I'm sorry—."
Tomoyo giggled, "You don't have to worry Naoko-san I didn't read your thoughts. I felt it in your words."
"Eh?" Naoko looked at her and saw something in Tomoyo's eyes.
"I knew about you're feelings for the King of Li since the day you told me about what happened to you and the others at the Lottuse. I understand how you feel so you don't have to apologize," Tomoyo told her with a smile.
"Was it because it was the same about what you're feeling?"
"Eh?" now it was Tomoyo's turn to look at her taken aback.
Naoko had seen it in her eyes. The very same distant and longing eyes she had for the King of Li, "The feeling of loving someone even though you knew that it will never work out the way you hoped for."
Tomoyo could only stare at Naoko. It was the first time someone actually seen through her thoughts. She felt her heart tightened as she closed her eyes and lowered her head. Regardless of her denying it, she knew in herself that Naoko made a point.
"Ee… I guess you're right," Tomoyo answered in a low voice.
Risteard fell on his knees on the floor. His breathing was shallow and he felt drained out. He looked at the King and smiled, "You really had me there your Majesty."
The King's breathing was also shallow but he wasn't drained out. He stood with his sword in front of him. He smiled and said, "You're not bad yourself Risteard."
Risteard lowered his head, "Thank you very much, Naoshirou-ou."
Syaoran stared at Risteard. He wasn't surprised when Risteard said the King's name. That was least of his worries. Right now he was more concerned about the Ynah's ability. Mizuki had told them that one of the Ynah's ability was to penetrate and weaken someone else's power but there was actually a secret behind it.
To Risteard it might seem like whenever he attacked with his power, Naoshirou penetrated his magical barrier and weakened his attack. But the truth was, Naoshirou absorbed the force from Risteard's attack and accumulated it inside his body.
'So this was the truth about the King's ability. Behind its strength lies its weakness,' Syaoran thought.
'Its not that he was vulnerable to attacks whenever he uses his ability. It was because the force his body could absorb was limited. Basically, when the Lottuse Trump Card attacked, the King absorbed the force of his attack while his sister used her ability to dispel it completely. And from the level of the Ynah's spiritual power, the gap between the Lottuse Trump Card's powers was too much for him to handle.'
Syaoran smiled, 'This is interesting. If I master this ability, together with the Divination Circle, its weakness will be covered.'
Sakura didn't know how many hours had passed since they started. Keroberos had warned her that the transeo method would take time so she wasn't really bothered. Except that her feet were starting to go numb from her sitting position and she wanted to stretch her legs so badly.
But Sakura knew she couldn't think of these things right now. She had to persevere, 'Concentrate Sakura, don't give up.' She kept on reminding herself, 'But… ooooh my leg's going to cramp if I don't do something!' she thought frantically.
She stared at Syaoran's face and it was just then that she realized blood started to ooze down his cheek. 'N-Nani!' she saw a rather deep cut at Syaoran's left cheek. 'When did it…?' she pondered starting to get agitated.
Naoshirou wiped the blood that started to ooze down his cheeks. He felt the wound sting from his touch as he looked at Risteard.
'Darn it,' Syaoran thought. He didn't really care how many times the King of Ynah used his ability. The truth he wanted the King to use it as much as possible for him to fully grasp the technique behind its usage.
But Naoshirou had stubbornly used his ability more than what's necessary that even Syaoran thought it was suicidal.
'They're just practicing he didn't have to be this serious!' he thought. But then again, he knew why Naoshirou was serious. It was because of what Mizuki told him.
"Are you okay your Majesty?" Risteard asked in concern.
"Don't let your guard down Risteard I'm coming," Naoshirou told him as he stood up at once and charged at him.
Risteard was taken aback but he stepped back and concentrated his energy in his right hand. When he had formed a ball of energy in his hand he fired it at Naoshirou's direction.
Naoshirou raised his left hand at Risteard's attack, slowly the ball of energy grew small and with a swift swing of his sword he held in his right hand, he cut through Risteard's attack.
When Naoshirou absorbed the energy from Risteard's attack, a straight cut had appeared to his arms as if an invisible blade attacked him.
'Kusso!' Syaoran could feel that Naoshirou's body was starting to reach its limit from all the energy he had been absorbing since they started. He could almost feel his real body being affected by Naoshirou's recklessness as well. 'Calm down damn it!' he thought.
"W-What's happening?!" Sakura exclaimed as another cut appeared at Syaoran's arms.
"It has begun," she heard Verdandi spoke.
Sakura looked at her, "Please tell me what's happening?"
"The Lord Knight had started to obtain the one he seeks. All the pain, all the suffering, all the knowledge from the past… he had started to attain everything," the Guardians answered her in unison.
"But this is…" Sakura looked back at Syaoran.
'So the returning part of this method wasn't the only danger he had told us. It was also about this… Syaoran-kun…' she closed her eyes. She lowered her head and wrapped her arms around Syaoran's shoulder as she held him close.
A symbol of the stars slowly appeared beneath her. It overlapped the eight-sided star symbol although just the center of it.
The guardians looked at her in surprise but didn't say a word. They were astounded at how Sakura could control her power's influence just at the center. She didn't even disturb the balance of energy they were preserving.
'You always do things even if you knew the danger… you're unfair you know that. Even though I told you not to bear it alone you still try and do it alone. But this time… at least let me ease your burden…'
Slowly, Syaoran's wounds started to heal from Sakura's power.
Nakuru smirked as she looked at Spinel. She was breathing so hard and her knees were shaking from exhaustion.
"I had to admit that you're fast and really skillful," she commented.
"Honestly you're the one who's slow and lacked skills," Spinel told her.
A vein popped at Nakuru's forehead as she glared at him, "I'll shred that sharp tongue of yours Suppi-chan."
"My name's Spinel!" he bellowed at her with a similarly large vein as Nakuru on his forehead. He breathed a black flame towards Nakuru.
Nakuru held her crystal in front to block his flame. She flew and looked at Spinel. Crystal blades appeared in front and charged at his direction.
Spinel flew back to avoid the blades as it hit the ground. A ball of black flame formed in front of Spinel and he aimed it at Nakuru in midair.
Nakuru blocked it once more with her crystal. She smirked, "You know this is getting a little bor—AH!" From the back a black flame came and hit her straight on her back. She started to fall.
"Like I said, you're too slow." Spinel told her with a smirk.
Nakuru glared at Spinel as she regained her balance before she hit the ground, "Yaro…"
Eriol smiled as he watched them. He expected them to be good. He even overestimated them and he wasn't disappointed at all. 'After they grasp each other's strength maybe I could test their teamwork on her…' he thought as he took a card out from his coat.
A wing-eared girl was drawn at the front of the card.
(A/N woot he already sealed the Seal card! Hmm why am I surprised? Lol again sorry if I was late… I'll try to type faster but I'm really feeling to weak right now (sighs)
Anyway I'll start with the next chap and when I'm done I'll update at once (smiles)
Translation:
Ki o tsukete ne
Syaoran-kun, atashi matteru kara 'Be careful Syaoran-kun, for I
will be waiting')
