Disclaimer: I don't own any characters used. :P
Author's Notes: Hiya minna-san!! Another chapter of The Man Behind the Gun... Unfortunately, there is no "Nanashi"/Usagi moments in this one. Gomen nasai! *sweatdrops* This chapter tends to focus on Usagi herself with short appearances of Nanashi, and it's a little cliche-y, I think. Well, you have to read to find out what I mean. So, it's not my best work, but hope you like it! Ja matte ne!
"Love is like sand, if you grasp it too tightly it slips through your fingers. But if you hold it just right it will stay there forever."
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The Man Behind the Gun
Chapter 4 - Mistress of the Cosmos
Author: Krys Yuy
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"Wake up!"
"Come on, Usagi! Wake up!"
"And I thought Ranma was hard to get awake."
There was some rustling in the background and the sound of a punch.
"Ow! What did you do that for, Ranma?!"
"Well, brother dear, I thought you deserved it."
"Usagi, will you please wake up so these two can quit it?!"
The sleepy blonde yawned as she tried to shut out the annoying voices invading her mind. She groaned as she felt someone shaking her. Reluctantly, she sat up on her comfortable king-sized bed fit for two. She blinked her eyes at the three blurry figures at the foot of her bed. As she rubbed her face, the forms became painfully familiar as part of her irritating family. One brother and two cousins to be precise.
Usagi moaned as she put a hand to her forehead. "Can't you three go bug Meilin or something?" she asked. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at them randomly.
Since it was so badly aimed and the fact that it was merely a pillow, Ranma caught it effortlessly in his fist. "Usagi, get up you lazy uncute tomboy!" He stuck out his tongue and crossed his eyes.
"Ranma no baka!" Usagi exclaimed, wide awake as she punched him in the face, sending him flying out into the hallway and landing on the couch.
Ryouga stayed in his place as he narrowed his eyes. 'This scene is all too familiar for some reason,' he thought. Usagi's image had been replaced with a girl who had short bluish-black hair for just a split-second.
Usagi brushed off her pajamas, satisfied Ranma had received his proper punishment. Her blue silk pants and shirts ensemble had gotten wrinkled. "Why did you guys wake me up so early?" She walked into the bathroom and began to freshen up.
"Remember, we're going to the sanctuary?!" Syaoran reminded, a little annoyed.
Usagi looked thoughtful before she nodded. "Oh yeah, huh?" She yawned and stretched her arms as she looked at herself in the mirror. 'Ugh...' Her hair was all messy and she had dark circles under her eyes. 'Why do I always have to look like crap when I don't get enough sleep?' She turned on the sink and splashed water on her face, listening to her family argue in her room. She slowly tuned out their voices as she found herself once again staring in the mirror, losing herself in her own reflection. 'Who was my attacker? And why did he look so painstakingly familiar?' She shut her eyes, feeling the goose bumps on her skin. 'More importantly... who is Shiro Kaze?'
"Yo, Usagi! Hurry up, will ya?!" Ranma yelled impatiently, breaking through her thoughts.
"All right, all right!" She shouted back, obviously annoyed. She shut her restroom door, took a deep breath, and smiled secretly at the mirror. She fingered her silver-gold bracelet and made a sweeping motion with her wrist over her face. Glitter fell over Usagi, bathing her in it. It died down two seconds later only to reveal her face clean and her hair looking as if it had been brushed twenty times thoroughly. Instead of her pajamas, she now wore a short black silk skirt with a dark blue blouse. Stars danced along the hem of the skirt when she twirled to feel the material flap against her skin. She smiled in satisfaction and walked back into her room.
Ranma, Ryouga, and Syaoran immediately ceased their arguing as they noticed her; the two cousins put on innocent faces while her brother rolled her eyes. Then Syaoran looked her up and down suspiciously, making Usagi meet his gaze levelly. "Did you bring those clothes in the bathroom with you?" he asked.
"I had them laid out last night," she replied smoothly. 'I'm glad I used a low spell. They didn't even detect it.'
Syaoran seemed to accept this answer, nodding slightly. "We better get going," he said as he walked out into the hallway.
"Wait!" Usagi called as she jogged after him, their cousins not far behind. "What about Nanashi?"
"Leave him," her brother stated coldly. He didn't face her as he said it, only continuing to the front door.
Usagi stopped short at her younger brother's sudden order. What was wrong with him? "Syaoran," she started, but fell silent as her door slammed shut. She relaxed slightly as she felt a familiar hand rest on her shoulder.
Ranma smiled down at her as she looked up at him standing behind her. "Don't worry about it. Ryouga's writing Nanashi a quick note so he won't get worried. It's all in good hands, Usa," he grinned, patting the top of her head.
Usagi just sighed, though she couldn't help but smile. "Whatever you say, Ranma. Whatever you say." She rubbed her temples as she too left her apartment.
Ryouga came up behind him, rubbing his hands. "All done. Are they waiting downstairs?"
"That's one way of putting it," Ranma muttered, exasperated but he gave his brother a fleeting smile. "Yeah, they're waiting for us two oldies. Let's get there before they decide to turn their wrath on us."
Ryouga patted Ranma on the back and grinned. "Sure brother."
* * * * *
Nanashi groaned as he woke up, feeling the sun warm his face. He sat up on the couch as he stretched his arms. After much arguing the night before, Usagi reluctantly let him sleep on the couch instead of her bed. He smiled at the thought of her pouting face, but quickly shook the image out of his head. He stood up in his tank top and jeans, which he had changed back into the day before.
As he walked into the kitchen, he caught sight of a note on the counter. He picked it up, reading over the contents and frowned. 'Make yourself at home while we're away at the sanctuary. Signed, Ryouga.' He looked around, wondering what he should do after he made breakfast. His eyes spotted Usagi's bedroom door open, and the cans of paint and old wallpaper in the corner.
Letting his curiosity take over, Nanashi walked into her room and spotted the plans she had laid out on her desk. It had the exact designs of how she wanted everything to look, even coding everything on the plans with the colors of the paint waiting to be used. Nanashi took a paint brush in his hand and twirled it in his hands. He looked at it then at the plans, and then back at the brush. He smirked to himself. 'Hmm...'
* * * * *
Usagi walked silently through the halls of the sacred sanctuary, her sandals making only light noises. Ranma, Ryouga, and Syaoran were following in step behind her. Usagi entered the main area for praying, which had no windows, so it was pitch black. Before her family could see the condition of the room, Usagi stepped pass the double doors. To her surprise, large candles placed in the four corners of the room were lit instantly. 'What?' She thought to herself, wisely keeping her mouth shut as her family came into the room.
The room glowed with its soft flames and the paintings and draperies placed in the room were emphasized. The center of the room was marked with a large circle and three large candles were placed around it on top of three holders. Usagi faintly noticed it had not been lit with the rest of the candles when she walked in.
"Stand in the middle, oneesan," Syaoran instructed, brushing past her and taking his place by one of the candles.
As Usagi followed her brother's command, Ranma and Ryouga took their places at the last two candles. She breathed deeply then kneeled down fully, sitting on the heels of her feet. She brushed her golden hair out of her eyes, eyeing it as the strands surrounded her body. Ranma, Ryouga, and Syaoran all looked at each other, then nodded. They placed their right hand over the candle they stood in front of, just as an imaginary wind blew through the room.
"Fire," all three whispered. The candles were magically lit as fire shot out from their hands. They then placed their hands at their sides. They looked towards Usagi at the center, just as Ranma began speaking.
"We call upon you, ancestor of our blood, creator of the Clow! We, your descendants, ask you to bless us with your presence!" He called out.
Ryouga continued after he finished. "Clow Reed, master magician, 'father' to Keroberos and Yue, show our blood sister the ways of magic! Show her the truth of her powers!" Ryouga knew that Usagi was not really their sister, but they were connected by blood. Besides, Usagi would always be seen as a little sister in his eyes.
Syaoran soon followed as his cousin stopped. "We ask you to show her the way with your guidance! It is the time for our sister, Li Usagi, to face her trial! It is the day of her judgment!"
Lights began to dance around the room as the door to the sanctuary was closed with a slam. They swirled around and around before they began to encircle Usagi. She gasped out as she saw them surrounding her, filling her. She felt the warmth spreading throughout her body, making her somewhat disoriented. Her eyes began to close wearily as she collapsed in the middle of the circle, her face calm and serene, eyes now shut completely.
Ranma, Ryouga, and Syaoran tensed but restrained themselves from helping her. Two figures then appeared on either open side of the circle. One looked to be a rather large fierce looking lion and the other, a pale skinned looking human; both with large wings extending from their backs. The human looking one extended his hand out, and a moon beam shot out towards Usagi's prone form. The lion opened his mouth and a sun beam shot out at the same time towards Usagi as well. They clashed together right above her, and a bubble was formed.
Syaoran looked back and forth between the two magical beings, recognition flashing through his eyes. 'Keroberos... Yue...' he thought absently.
"What happens now?" Ryouga thought aloud.
"Now... we wait," Ranma answered back calmly, staring at Usagi's body. Worry flickered through his eyes, but he knew that she would be okay. She had to be okay.
Syaoran bit his lip as he looked away from Kero and Yue, eyes falling on his older sister. 'Please, oneesan, pass your tests... I love you too much to let you go.'
* * * * *
Usagi opened her eyes to meet nothing but mist. "My head..." She moaned as she stood up. She looked around, confused, but her ears picked up several footsteps walking towards her. She tensed and lifted up her wrist. However, to her shock, her bracelet wasn't there. She looked around, worried, but then got into a fighting stance. She wasn't only trained in the magical arts, but in the form of Anything Goes. She watched silently as eight figures began to surround her with the same black shadow behind them. They all also wore the same ebony soldier uniform. Alarms rang off in the back of her head, though she was sure she had never seen any of them before. She took in their appearances, turning around slowly and studying them each of them.
The first person was a tall woman with fiery red hair and eyes. She smirked maliciously and her clothes were still able to show off her figure dangerously. The same went for the next figure, who was leaning against the first woman. She had straight black hair that went past her shoulders, her lips covered with black lipstick as well. What was even more disturbing was the fact that her eyes were blood-shot red with specks of black.
The next two people looked more romantically involved. They both had light green skin and wild colored hair. The man had his arms wrapped around the woman's waist as she stood in front of him. He had blue hair up to his waist with pink highlights along the bangs, and dark blue eyes. The woman instead had pink hair to her waist and blue highlights on her bangs, and dark red eyes. They grinned cruelly at her, and something akin to lust passed through the man's eyes.
After that, there were two more male figures. One had a dark cloak with a hood over his face while still wearing the designated uniform. He had multicolored hands which kept moving around a floating crystal ball. The other male had light blue hair up to his shoulders and violet eyes. Desire flashed through his face as he looked her up and down while Usagi tried not to shiver.
The last two people were women with bitter and sinister faces. One had wavy dark purple hair that reached the floor with two buns at the top of her head. She also had dark purple eyes which were near the color black. The other had golden red hair swept into a ponytail that was still able to reach the floor. Her hair matched the color of her eyes.
Usagi didn't like the feeling that all of them brought. She especially disliked the shadow that hung over each of them, which radiated the most evil. She watched as they parted for one more person to get through. It was a tall man that had authority and power etched in every part of his body. He had short hair styled carefully and his uniform was similar to the others, but it seemed as if he ran the entire show. She watched as his eyes flashed black-red before they turned to a startling blue.
He began to call out names in the order Usagi had studied them and the person he called stepped forward. "Beryl. Metallia. Ail. Ann. Phantom. Diamond. Nephrenia. Galaxia." He smiled at her, not warmly but not coldly either. "Give me the goddesses."
Usagi never let down her guard and only stared at him in puzzlement. 'What is he talking about?' she thought.
The man frowned when she didn't answer him. "Fine. Have it your way." He snapped his fingers and an image was projected in front of her. She saw dead barren lands and every single living thing gone. There was no one left, not even a single bird or plant.
Usagi gasped and looked away. "I have no idea what the hell you're talking about!" she exclaimed. "What do you want?!"
"I told you," he replied calmly. "I want the goddesses... or else, the world dies."
"I can't give you what you want because I don't understand!" Usagi practically screamed. "How am I supposed to give you something I can't?!"
"If I can't have the goddesses..." He walked up to her and circled her closely, trailing his hand along her skin. "I want you," he breathed in her ear. He stopped right in front of her and looked into her sapphire eyes. "I will settle for the cosmos."
"Never," Usagi hissed without thinking.
"Then the Blue Star is gone forever," he whispered, stroking her cheek.
Usagi closed her eyes and bit her lip. "Fine. You win." She opened her eyes and looked defiantly into his face. "Take me."
"So I shall," the man replied smoothly.
Usagi could only watch in horror as he descended his lips upon hers, kissing her softly. She tried to break away but he wrapped an arm around her waist. She struggled and to her amazement, he disappeared along with the other eight figures, leaving her alone again in the mist. She fell to her knees in relief and shock. Her mind was trying to remember where all those people had come from. She knew them... maybe in a different time and place, but she knew them.
Suddenly, she heard another set of footsteps, except this time it was just one pair. She readied herself again and dreaded if it was the man. She dropped her stance once the figure revealed itself. It was her. The person was like a carbon copy of herself, except in a strange uniform of green she had never seen before with a golden name tag on her left side.
"Serena...?" Usagi read as the figure stopped in front of her.
Usagi's 'twin' smiled and nodded. "I am you," she said simply.
"What?" Usagi tried to clear away her headache, shaking her head. "What do you mean?"
"I am you," the other Usagi persisted. She waved her hand and an image of Nanashi appeared. "Mine."
Usagi felt a wave of jealously pass through her. "He doesn't belong to anyone!" She protested immediately.
The other Usagi just shook her head. "Mine," she repeated. She conjured up another picture that revealed Shiro Kaze. "Yours."
Despite her recent jealously, Usagi blushed brightly. "I don't even know him!" she exclaimed, waving her arms around.
"Yours," she repeated once again. "Yours." She pointed to Kaze. "Mine." She pointed to Nanashi. That was when the other Usagi began to fade away.
"Matte!" Usagi cried out, trying to grab her copy but her hand ended up just going through the now transparent body. "Please wait! I need to understand what you're saying!" Her 'twin' paid no heed and just grinned at her before her body was gone completely.
"What is going on?" Usagi muttered to herself. She watched as her surroundings changed. The mist shifted to a lush green valley with flowers dotting it all around. She relaxed a bit, but jumped when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She whirled around to face a tall man with glasses and long black hair in a loose ponytail. She could tell he wasn't her enemy, but someone very familiar. "Clow-sama?" she blurted out, and immediately blushed.
The man just smiled and nodded. "Hai, Usagi. I am Clow Reed."
"It's an honor to meet you," she replied, bowing.
"There's no need for that," Clow said, shaking his head once she looked up at him again. "Family needs no formalities such as those."
Usagi nodded but didn't fully understand what he was saying. 'Is it the end of my tests already?'
Clow smiled mysteriously and bent slightly to pick a flower. "I see that you've come across a handsome stranger." He twirled the stem between his thumb and forefinger.
"Hai," she said quietly, a faint blush covering her cheeks. 'He knows about Nanashi...'
Clow didn't look at Usagi but brought the flower up to his face. "Not that one. The other one. What does he call himself now?" He paused as if in thought, and adjusted his glasses. "Oh yes. Shiro Kaze."
"Shiro Kaze?" Usagi echoed, tilting her head, too startled to realize that Clow Reed had just read her mind. "Forgive me for asking, Clow-sama, but what does he have to do with anything?"
"More than you know," Clow replied softly, looking down into her blue eyes. "He is of great importance in the events that are soon to happen... I understand that you were attacked yesterday?" At Usagi's nod, he sighed and looked distressed for a split second. "You will find out that he means more to you than you'll ever guess. Also, that other stranger of yours... I'm afraid he doesn't have much time here."
Usagi felt fear and panic rise in her chest. "Wh-what?" she whispered, clutching the fabric of her skirt.
Clow placed his hands on her shoulders. "This Nanashi, or so you have named him, does not belong here. He has someone else to go to. Though I do understand what attracts the both of you to each other."
"Attr-attracts?" Usagi stuttered, now blushing brightly. "Gomen nasai, Clow-sama, but I'm afraid I already have destiny to attend to." She grew sober here, and her cheeks faded to their normal color. "I have no choice. So many memories they showed me..."
Clow frowned for the first time during their meeting. "You don't follow destiny; you make it." He paused and brushed away bangs from her eyes. "Imouto-chan, you taught me that."
Usagi's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Imouto-chan?!" She choked out.
"Hai," Clow confirmed, smiling in amusement. "Imouto-chan." He bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "Remember."
Usagi closed her eyes, falling forward into Clow's arms. She was bombarded with images, just as he laid her down on the soft grass.
* * * * *
"Anichan! Anichan!" cried a young girl with silver pigtails. She bounced up and down like a rabbit as she tugged on her sixteen year-old brother's sleeve.
Her brother smiled at her silly antics. He kneeled down to her level. "What is it, imouto-chan?"
The girl beamed at him excitedly. "We're going to do magic today, right?" She paused as she studied his now serious face. "Right, Clow-niichan?!"
"I don't know..."
"But anichan!" The nine year-old girl whined, pouting slightly. "I want to be a master magician just like you! You said and you promised!" She crossed her arms, staring into his warm eyes defiantly. "And you can't go back on a promise. S'not right!"
Her brother's serious face cracked as he began to chuckle. "You got me there, Hikari." He sighed and shook his head, but his face now wore a wide smile. "Okay, we can do magic today."
"Yosh'!" Hikari cried happily, her pigtails bouncing. She tackled her brother in a bear hug. "Love you, anichan!"
Her brother held her close. "Love you too, imouto-chan."
* * * * *
An eighteen year-old Hikari treaded softly through her family's mansion, wondering vaguely where her older brother was. Their parents were at some important banquet that they couldn't attend, so the both of them were home alone. Her thoughts trailed back to her brother. She dwelled on the fact that her brother still didn't have one girlfriend at the age of twenty-five. He was always cooped up in his room or some other place.
Hikari crept through the dark hallway that led to her brother's room. She saw that his door was slightly ajar, and instead of bursting in, like she usually did, she decided to try and scare him. She pushed the door open a little more to get a view of his room. Her mouth dropped open as she felt her brother doing some very powerful magic. There was also the fact that two magical beings were now bowing before him.
'What in the world?' she thought. She spotted the winged looking man and large lion, seemingly total opposites of each other. The man had pale skin and robes with light colors of white and blue. The lion had golden tawny fur with bronze armor.
"Yue," Clow said softly. The pale winged man looked up to her brother. "Keroberos." In turn, the large lion looked up to him. "I, Clow Reed, bestow upon you the responsibility of watching the cards in my name once I no longer walk among this world. Bear witness as I create the first cards under your namesake!"
Both mystical beings nodded and stepped aside as Clow walked to the center of his room, which had been magically cleared. Hikari, still eyeing her brother, was mentally remembering every detail of what he was doing. She had always jumped at the change of learning new magic, so today was no different. She watched as her brother took a calming breath.
Clow put both of his hands in front of him, palms facing up. He had never done this before, but had planned it all out. He hoped it would, in fact, work. "Forces of magic, heed my call! Under the name of Clow, shall a magical book exist!" Instantly, a scarlet covered book appeared, floating in front of him. It opened to reveal a large empty space inside of it as if you could put something there.
"Power of the sun! I call the first card under Keroberos to come into existence! Light! Come into being! Clow Card!" A beautiful woman burst forth from Clow's hands. She had amazingly long curly golden hair that spread across the floor. She had a crown atop her head and white intricate clothing. She radiated light and warmth. She looked around, before spotting Clow, and kneeled before him.
"Power of the moon! I call the first card under Yue to come into existence! Dark! Come into being! Clow Card!" Yet another beautiful woman came from her brother's hands. She seemed almost the exact opposite of the first woman. She had the same length of hair, but hers was a straight ebony. She too had a crown on her head and the same dress, but hers was a deep black. She was dark, but there was no evil coming from her. She spotted her counterpart and smiled, while also kneeling in front of her master.
Clow Reed smiled in satisfaction and exhaustion. He had created the first cards, but now to convert them to cards. "Light and Dark! Revert to your card forms! I order you as your master!" Lights swirled around the two woman as they shifted into narrow cards. Both floated into Clow's hands. He looked down at them with a smile. On the cards, there was a picture of each woman and their name written on the bottom. Then Clow flicked his wrist and the cards placed themselves in the still floating book. Once the cards were inside, the book flew towards a table to the side, and laid there.
Hikari, having seen enough, closed the door quietly and dashed off to her room. She jumped onto her bed and then laid there, looking up at the ceiling. 'Clow Cards, huh?' she asked herself. She thought about how amazing it had been to see her brother do all that magic. She wouldn't tell him, of course. Her older brother would be furious if he found out what she had been doing. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she had her very own set of cards, though?
Hikari smirked to herself. 'Hmm...'
Over the months, Hikari watched quietly as her brother made fifty-two cards, all the while informing Keroberos and Yue of its importance and meanings. Clow never seemed to notice his little sister spying, nor did he detect the fact that from observing what he was doing, Hikari had been able to create her very own magical book to store her own cards. However, she just couldn't seem to be able to create the cards themselves.
Hikari was sitting on her bed Indian-style, and pondering quietly. 'Maybe I can't do the same chant as anichan...' she thought. 'But what do I have to do?!' She was frustrated and too excited.
Hikari had already mapped out the cards she wanted to make, and had decided on the one opposite card that would balance the other fifty-two positive cards. There would be ten master cards, and four cards would fall under each one, except two master cards would have one extra. Hikari was ashamed to have copied some of her brother's cards or something related to it. Besides, she wanted to have fifty-two, the same amount as her brother, and she liked all the elements he had picked.
Hikari snapped her fingers and her magical book appeared in front of her. She sighed happily and traced the silver intricate designs. Stamped with multicolored fancy letters across the front was the word: Cosmos. It was placed right under the picture of a magnificent unicorn. 'Why can't I make cards like anichan?' she thought, tears coming to her eyes. 'I don't want to be lonely anymore!'
Unknown to her, a silver glow was emitting from her forehead. Hikari began to chant mindlessly, knowing she was talking but not listening to the words. "Under Cosmos Cards, I call The Moon into existence..." However, she did notice the bright flash of light in front of her, and the pale looking woman that made her feel like she was looking into a mirror.
"Who are you?" she whispered, awed. She lifted her hand slowly and to her delight, the woman copied her movements. They touched hands and the strange woman smiled at her.
"I am The Moon card. First master card under the Cosmos Cards," she said softly, her tone musical. "And you," she pointed at Hikari, "are my mistress."
Hikari's face lit up with happiness. "I can't believe this is happening. I made my first card!" She jumped up and down, not caring if anyone heard her. "Yatta!" She grinned at Moon, who was only waiting patiently. "Cosmos Card! Return!" She watched as the woman transformed into a card, which in turn floated in Hikari's hand.
'My very first card...' Hikari thought, sighing wistfully, stars in her eyes. She placed it carefully in the book, and shut the cover slowly. 'A new chapter...'
* * * * *
"I love you, Odin," Hikari whispered softly into a young man's ear. She stroked his dark brown hair as he led her around the crowded dance floor.
"Hn..." Hikari smacked the man on the head, and he glared at her, but a smirk graced his lips. He kissed her cheek and watched in satisfaction as she blushed. "Love you..." he whispered quietly.
"Do you promise to be with me forever?" Hikari said softly, avoiding his penetrating gaze.
"As long as you love me," Odin replied, brushing a hand through her silver hair.
"So for eternity?" Hikari said teasingly, looking into his eyes. She watched, giggling, as a faint pink tint graced his cheeks. "Sorry for being so sappy, koi..."
"Not a problem, Hikari," he said, squeezing her waist. He breathed deeply, suddenly very nervous.
Hikari noticed the change in her lover, and placed a hand on his cheek. He leaned into her touch as she gazed at him worriedly. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"Would you bind your heart and soul to mine always?" Odin shakily asked, unlike his usual attitude.
"How do you know that they aren't already?" Hikari retorted, smiling.
"This is serious," he scowled at her.
Hikari sobered up quickly at his serious face. "You already know the answer," she said. "Of course." She grinned at him and kissed his nose.
Odin crossed his eyes for a second, shaking his head at her silliness. "Even if our souls are already bound for eternity, would you like to guarantee it?"
"By magic?" Hikari added, eyes shining at the idea before she frowned. "Everyone will notice. We are dancing in a giant ballroom after all."
"It is an energy-draining spell, but it is very powerful. I can guarantee no one will notice," he replied. "Shield." Hikari felt a flash of magic as an invisible shield formed around her and Odin, so that if they performed any magic, no one would see a thing. "So you really want to do this?" he asked.
Hikari simply nodded and waited for him to start whatever spell he had thought of.
Odin grasped one of her hands, still dancing. "We ask the Higher powers to grant this request. Bind my heart and soul to hers..."
Hikari quickly caught on when Odin paused. "Bind my heart and soul to his..."
"For eternity to beyond... Through reincarnation and reincarnation, our spirits may remain entwined."
Hikari and Odin said the next phrase together. "As it has been, as it is, as it will be..."
Odin leaned his head down towards Hikari's. "Through this kiss, shall the covenant be created and sealed, never to be broken." He pressed his lips to hers, feeling her respond. A silver-blue glow emitted from their intimate contact for a brief second, before it died down along with the shield.
Hikari and Odin sighed, leaning against each other, before Hikari asked a question that was tugging at the back of her mind. "What if I fall in love before I ever get to meet you in our next lives?"
Odin only kissed her again, before smiling softly. "Then I'll just have to win you back."
* * * * *
Usagi opened her eyes wearily, looking around before sitting up on the soft grass. She saw Clow standing in front of her, and smiled brightly at him. "Anichan!" She jumped up and nearly tackled him in a huge bear hug.
"Imouto-chan..." Clow sighed, hugging her back, smiling as he buried his head in her golden hair. Then he pulled back and stared in her eyes. "I can't believe you created your own set of cards..."
Usagi grinned innocently and batted her eyelashes at him.
"Don't even try that on me, Hikari Reed," Clow said, glaring down at her. "Do you know how dangerous that was, making your own cards when you don't even know what you're doing?!"
Usagi pouted slightly. "But I love all my cards!"
"Speaking of the Cosmos Cards, you have to find them," Clow said, crossing his arms.
"What?! What's happened to them?" Usagi demanded, panic flickering in her eyes.
"They're getting restless," he replied, sighing. "They need their mistress again." At Usagi's puzzled expression, he grew even more sober. "Usagi, your cards were designed to have a new master or mistress every time their previous owner dies. They can only go on a limited amount of time before they grow chaotic." He leaned towards her eye level. "They will escape their book to find a new master if no one comes for them."
"I- I still don't remember everything," Usagi said softly, rubbing her arms. "I can't possibly figure out where they are..." She grew sad at the prospect of never finding the cards she had made.
"As you know, my cards have a new mistress. They are no longer mine. They are Sakura Cards," Clow stated, a depressed tint in his voice. "They were fine if left alone in the Clow Book. However, if someone with great magic happens to open it, Keroberos grants them the guidance as a Cardcaptor."
"Sakura-chan..." Usagi whispered, nodding her head.
"Unlike my cards, your cards always remained as Cosmos Cards. From master to master, they have still remained yours in name," he continued.
"The masters or mistresses they came under... were they treated well?" she asked softly, meeting his eyes.
Clow smiled at her concern. "Hai. Actually, in a few of your past lives, you came across them again and became their mistress once more. Also..." He hesitated a bit. "Odin. He became their master a couple of times when he was reincarnated."
"Odin?" Usagi gasped, bringing a hand to her heart. "Do you know who he is in the present time? I didn't get a clear look at his face. Is he Mamoru?"
Clow shook his head regretfully. "I know too much, imouto-chan. I can't tell you what you want to know on that particular subject."
"But I'm in love with Mamoru," Usagi protested. "He has to be Odin!"
Clow rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it briefly. "Hikari... Usagi. I know about that spell you and Odin cast during the ball. Yes, both of you did bind your heart and soul to each other. Yes, your spirits are entwined." He lifted his hand up as she tried to argue again. "However, do you not remember what you asked him about the spell? You wondered what would happen if you fell in love before you ever got to meet him in your next lives. Back then, both of you knew the implications of the spell. You understood the words he uttered. Your spell guaranteed that you and Odin will always meet in every next life. That didn't necessarily mean you will end up together."
Usagi stepped back a little. "O-oh," she stuttered.
Clow sighed a bit. "The truth is, Usagi, you and Odin did and will always meet each other. Your spell cements that. In the past, even before both of you were known as Hikari and Odin, you fell in love. I might go as far to say both of you are soulmates. Both of you have an alarming high number of counts of ending up together. However, there were those times when either of you fell in love with other people or were already committed to someone else before you met. Every time that happened, you each felt a sort of emptiness, but brushed it off as something else. I can not reveal if you already have or will fall for him in this life."
"Anichan, you shouldn't say anymore," she replied quietly. "One really shouldn't know too much."
"Gomen nasai," he said, looking at her and feeling the sudden urge to change topics. "You know, you should also meet up with Ruby Moon and Spinel."
"Who?" Usagi asked, questions filtering through her eyes.
"The others like Keroberos and Yue," he replied with a wink. "On your spying visits, you didn't seem to notice them as you did the other two."
Usagi flushed as she looked up at him guiltily. She decided to change the subject. "Anichan, how come you weren't reincarnated?"
Clow seemed to smile even more. "I do live in your life. You just haven't met me yet, though you are acquainted with people close to me in this life. It just so happens my soul has been split in two. I live in one called Eriol and one called Fujitaka."
"Those names do sound familiar," Usagi mused aloud. "How am I supposed to find you? That's still not very specific."
"You'll know, imouto-chan. You'll know." He gave her a hug, which she returned full force. "Now it's time for you to go."
"Thank you, anichan. Thanks for everything," Usagi whispered as she began to fade.
"Your powers are just awakening, Usagi. They'll be growing every day. By the way, check your bracelet when you get back! And remember not to let destiny control you!" He exclaimed the last two sentences when she nearly faded away completely. She smiled at him just before she fully disappeared.
Clow smiled once again as he felt a pair of arms wrap around behind him in a hug. "Why hello."
"Hey anichan."
"So you escaping for a bit?"
"Just wanted to really feel you for myself."
"You should return to Usagi, Hikari. She needs her whole soul to deal with her current predicament. To remember certain things."
Hikari's spirit laughed quietly. "Yeah well, try as I may, sometimes I just don't get through to her." She hugged her older brother one last time. "Bye for real this time, anichan."
Clow watched her go for a second time. "Bye, imouto-chan."
* * * * *
Keroberos and Yue sensed a ripple in the flow of magic surrounding the girl they had formed a shield around. Both wondered why the girl seemed so familiar to them, and why Syaoran was watching over her intently. They eyed her rather suspiciously as she stirred from time to time. Then they tensed as they felt her start to awaken.
Syaoran rushed over to his sister when he saw her eyes open, keenly aware that Yue and Keroberos were suddenly on their guard. He knelt down and placed her head on his lap as she began coughing violently. He could only hold her tightly for comfort, her body jerking with pain. "Usagi, Usagi, what's wrong?" he whispered, worry etched on his face.
"I... I can't..." Usagi murmured in her trance, frowning unconsciously. "I... don't... remember..." Then, surprising Syaoran, she sat up straight, mouth wide in a silent scream. Her eyes were bloodshot and her shoulders shook. Suddenly, she tensed and shut her eyes once again. She bent forward as a blinding light surrounded her.
Syaoran had to back away from the power. "Usagi!!" he shouted.
Usagi could not hear her brother. She let only one name escape past her lips. "Odin!!" Another bright light flashed and she blinked her eyes twice. She looked around confused, and saw her family all staring at her. She could have sworn she saw another man with wings as well as a lion, but at a second glance, they were gone. 'Yue... Keroberos...' Then she pouted innocently at her cousins. "What happened?"
* * * * *
Nanashi paused in his work as he felt tingles spreading through his body. He felt a wave of power come from the apartment, but it disappeared just as fast. He shook his head at his imagination, and continued to paint.
Little did he or anyone else know that a book was hidden within the walls. It was growing wary and impatient. It needed to placed within the warm hands of a pure-hearted person once again, or its existence would be at stake. This time, however, it knew that their creator was near. Very near. It only hoped that she would find them in time. They would soon be released to reek chaos among the world and its people. They needed her. Only when she revealed her magic would they be able to really recognize her.
Hikari Reed. Mistress of the Cosmos.