EPISODE TWO

"52 Pick-Up"

EPISODE THREE:

Of Rivals, Families, and Magical Lineage!

Wooden sandals clicked and splashed on the rain and flower covered walkways. Shibori learned the hard way that running in a kimono while it's raining is not the easiest of tasks to accomplish. Cerberus was hiding under the shield of her hair, perched upon her shoulder.

"Find the source of Wood. Rain won't be far from there. We can deal with Flowery later."

Shibori nodded, and continued to franticly search the shrine grounds. You wouldn't think it would be hard to find a tent-destroying tree, but so far, they'd had no luck.

"Girlie, instead of trying to find it, see if you can't FEEL it!"

Shibori stopped dead in her tracks, trampled flowers bunching and piling under her skidding feet. Indigo colored rod clenched in her hand, and the rain quickly soaking her hair, she plucked the guardian from her shoulder.

"What do you mean 'feel it'?"

"Feel a magical force! Oi, you can't even do THAT?!"

"NO, I can't FEEL MAGICAL FORCES! What do you expect!?"

Cerberus did not answer. Tiny eyes narrowed, and his head whipped suddenly to the side. He pointed and shouted, "Over there!"

Shibori nodded, and immediately started running in the indicated direction, letting Cerberus jump back to her shoulder. Long branches intertwined with the trees surrounding the shrine, threatening to snap them in half. Determination evident on her face, Shibori followed one of the winding branches around the corner of the shrine. She stopped dead in her tracks, amethyst eyes widening in surprise.

There, tearing up from the tiles around the shrine, was a tree. Not just any normal tree, but one so large, and with so many branches, it extended as far as her eyes could see. and as she focused on the center of the tree, she found a tiny rain cloud, pouring water over the large trunk.

"Just like I said." said Cerberus, crossing his arms, "Wood and Rain, right together."

"But where are all these flower petals coming from?!" Shibori demanded of the stuffed animal, as the carpet of petals rose up around her ankles.

"Don't worry about that right now. It's best to take care of these two first."

"Right." Shibori held up her star rod.

"Return to thy true form which thou should be, Sakura Card!"

The circle appeared on command, and a thin outline of a rectangle formed near the tip of the wand. Shibori waited, expecting the tree and cloud to shrink down to light, and become their card forms. But no such thing happened. No, quite the opposite, as the outline exploded in a blast of light, and the circle beneath her vanished.

Shibori blinked, wide eyed and confused.

"N-nani? Why didn't it work?!" She exclaimed.

"Girlie—"

Shibori glared at Cerberus, "Don't call me 'Girlie'"

"—Just HOW did you capture Fly?"

"I just said the incantation. Well, actually I flung my shoes at it first," she sweatdropped, "Why?"

"You got lucky. It will take more than flinging your shoe and a simple sealing incantation to capture these cards. You'll have to use the other ones against them."

"Use the other cards?" Shibori's already wide eyes seemed to widen even more, if that was humanly possible, "HOW?!"

"Use the staff. You command them, and they will do your bidding."

"Are you sure about this?" asked Shibori, reaching into her pocket for the cards, completely ignoring the rain that was soaking her clothes completely through. She was rather surprised to find that all three cards were completely dried.

"JUST DO IT!" Cerberus screeched in her ear.

"Don't ORDER ME AROUND!" Shibori yelled at the creature perched on her shoulder.

"If you take out Rain first, capturing Wood will be easier."

Shibori, being the stubborn girl that she was, refused to listen to the guardian. She put away two of the three cards, and smiled at the one she held up. Cerberus glanced at the image, and his tiny eyes widened.

"What're you doing?!"

Shibori thrust the card forward, and raised her rod.

"Card of Sakura, grant thy power unto my wand. SWORD!"

Shibori struck the card with the star tip of her rod, and much to her surprise it glowed, taking a new shape. Like a wave of magic running down the rod, it morphed from a wand, to a fencing type sword. Silver bladed, and with an indigo hilt, decorated with bright blue stars.

Shibori grinned at the sword. "Now we're getting somewhere."

Her interest and confidence reached higher and higher towards it's peak, and she reached for another card. With a sly smirk, she thrust it down onto the glowing circle. Cerberus gasped, and flailed his arms.

"NO! Don't use two at once! Your magic isn't strong enough!"

Shibori acted as if she hadn't heard him, and she struck the card with the tip of her sword.

"JUMP!" She cried, and tiny wings formed on her heels.

Shibori clenched the sword hilt with both hand, bent her legs, and took a flying leap towards the tree and it's personal rain cloud. Cerberus tried desperately to hold on for dear life.

"TAKE THIS!" She shouted, and as she began to descend from her jump, she slashed full-force through the extended branches.

And she gasped. She had greatly underestimated the sword's power, and she watched it cut through the branches like a hot knife through a stick of butter. She landed like a cat, softly on her feet, tree branches and flower petals falling all around her, and new branches sprouting from where the others had once been. Grumbling at the tree's evident persistence, she raised the sword again.

"You are going DOWN!" She shouted, and then she blinked.

The branches had come down and surrounded her, wrapping around her left ankle, pulling at the threads of her kimono. Wobbling on her feet, Shibori sliced at the menacing tree branches, and tumbled to the ground. With a slightly bruised pride, she stood up, and leapt at the tree with as much force as she could get out of her skinny legs.

"HYA!" She shouted, using all her might to slice the tree through the middle. The sword obeyed her commands, and the top part of the tree teetered off it's stumpy base.

Again, she landed as softly as a cat, and sighed. She thrust her sword to the side, and in a light shower of sparkles, it morphed instantly back to the star rod. She held the wand up to admire.

"Kakkoi..."

"SHIBORI!" Cerberus exclaimed.

"Nani?!" she asked, annoyance obvious in her voice.

And as she turned around, a shadow cast over her as the tree fell quickly towards her. She bent her legs and jumped to the side, only to discover the tiny wings had vanished from her feet. Her body and wand went clattering to the ground. She looked up helplessly at the quickly falling tree, eyes wide with fear.

"ABUNAI!" shouted an unfamiliar voice.

Fearing the worst, Shibori clenched her eyes shut, and crossed her arms in hopes of shielding herself.

SMASH! THUD! The ground shook. Shibori opened her eyes, just in time to watch a surge of water knock the trunk aside. The cement tiles of the shrine walks quaked beneath the thick carpet of petals. She blinked. Cerberus blinked, and both stared at the wood that had been moved out of their path. Shibori looked over her shoulder, and for the second time that day, she was shocked and appalled.

Standing on the path, hands poised outward and clenching a strange rod and charm, was Hana. She lowered her hand, and spun the charm that dangled from her long rod.

"Seal it, before it grows back!"

Shibori blinked. The tone in Hana's voice held an air of fierceness that Shibori had never heard from the brunette. Gritting her teeth, she turned back to the stump, only to find it was glowing a brilliant green. Slowly, it changed shape, and much to Shibori's awe, a tiny sprite with leaves adorning her hair floated before them.

"The card's visible form. Seal it now!"

Shibori got to her feet, and lifted the sealing rod.

"Return to thy true form which thou should be, Sakura Card!"

The sprite gave a gently smile, before her body expelled in a glowing green light, forming the card shape at the rip of Shibori's rod. when the light dimmed and the seal was placed, It floated gently into the palm of Shibori's hand. She sighed, and tucked the card away with the others. When she remembered that she had just seen her best friend standing there, using some sort of strange rod, she whipped around. Hana was still standing there, the rod dangling from her fingers.

"Hana-chan... I'm confused. What do you have to do with—"

"We don't have time for chit-chat now, you have to seal the other two!" Cerberus cut in.

It was if he ignored, or completely disregarded Hana's existence, let alone the help she had given them.

Rotten little beast. Can't even say THANK YOU! But... What is Hana-chan doing here anyway?... HOW did she move the tree?

"*AHEM* TODAY would be good!"

Shibori, who hadn't noticed she was staring at Hana, jolted with surprise when the tiny beast yelled in her ear. She shook her head as if to clear away forming cobwebs, so she could better focus on the task at hand. The large cloud formation over the tree had disappeared. No, not disappeared. Shrunk. Shrunk down to a tiny, cotton-like cloud. A tiny child popped up from the cloud, her head topped with a bush of curly hair. The card child blinked innocently at Shibori, and cocked her head. Shibori raised an eyebrow at the spectacle before her.

What was Sakura-san thinking when she made these cards?

Shibori pulled out, clenching it between her middle and index finger. she took a breath, and tosses the card outward. To her great surprise, it spun around, as if fixed on an axis in mid air. She said the first words that came to mind...

"Wind be the chain that binds…WINDY!"

She struck the card, and Shibori watched in awe. The sword was interesting, and the tiny wings appearing on her feet were certainly interesting. But to watch this ghost-like figure literally emerge from the face of the card made her jaw slack in amazement.

She felt dizzy. Windy's image seemed blurry... But maybe it was all a part of the magic. She didn't know. she could only watch, spellbound, as Windy stretched into ribbons of pale yellow, encircling the tiny cloud child. It looked at her with innocent eyes, and then bowed it's head in shame. It was almost like it was saying 'I'm sorry. I'll be a good girl next time.' Shibori drew in a breath, and raised the rod.

"Return to thy true form which thou should be..." Shibori yelled, vaguely aware that it did not come out as strong as she had originally intended it to, "Sakura Card."

The magical beings glowed brightly with an internal light, before their forms exploded outward, recollecting into the cards at the tip of Shibori's rod. She let out a long sigh, and the two cards floated to her extended hand.

"Just one more…" Hana mumbled to herself.

Hana looked around, and Shibori watched her. Neither of the girls could see a card anywhere in sight. However, the petals continued to rain down, slowly rising in depth. Their sandals already pushed down into the carpet so thick that their feet were lost under the pink petals. Hana clutched her rod with the dangling charm, and held the rod outward, parallel to the ground.

The dangling orb pendant glowed in light green, and then faded to pale pink. It flashed back and forth between colors, swinging side to side of it's own accord. Shibori watched as Hana closed her eyes, and began to chant in a strange language. It certainly wasn't English, that much Shibori could tell. The orb stopped it mid swing, hovering in the air. It seemed like it was being pulled by a magnet. Hana's eyes snapped open, and she looked up in the direction the orb was indicating.

"Up there." she said calmly, and the chain the orb was attached to shorten suddenly, clamping the orb firmly onto the end of the stick.

Shibori gaze followed Hana's. On the shrine rooftop, was a large, glowing pink sphere. The orb was expelling petals from seemingly nowhere. And when Shibori looked closer, she saw a girl with curly hair dancing within the sphere.

"Go get it." Cerberus more-or-less demanded, and Shibori scowled at him as best she could.

As she reached into her bag for a card, she noticed the fuzzy, dizzy feeling was still lingering around her. She shook her head, hair whipping about. Convinced she was ready, she pushed back her shoulders in a proud stance, and threw the selected card into the air.

"Hear my command, and enable me to arrive at my destination. FLY!"

Shibori wasn't sure what to expect from the card, but she CERTAINLY wasn't expecting a pair of light pink wings to sprout from her back. Few stray feathers settled upon the flower-cover ground, and Cerberus smirked to himself. Amazed and dazed, she grabbed Hana's hand, gripping it tight. Unsure, and hoping the wings would do the work, Shibori jumped as high as her legs would allow, and hoped for the best. The wings fluttered in response, and both girls lifted high into the air. But the higher they went, the more it seemed that everything was blurring and bleeding together. Soon, both landed on the roof, startling the dancing girl. She smiled at them both, and beckoned them closer. Hana slid her hand out of Shibori's and stepped cautiously closer to the card. Shibori groaned, and put a hand to her head.

"Girlie, you okay?"

"Hai…" she whispered feebly.

Why am I... feeling like this? Is it the cards?

Hana looked as if she expected an attack, and she was prepared for such. But it came as a great shock to the brunette when the girl clad in pink clapped her hands in silent joy, and drew Hana into the bubble. Not immediately aware of the magical being's intent, she was very surprised when she began spinning in circles. Shibori's mouth twitched.

"Is it...DANCING with her?"

"It appears so." Said Cerberus with a smile, "Ya see, Flowery is a very happy, docile card. She likes parties and happy occasions, and particularly likes dancing."

"You're describing her as if this was a beauty pageant." Shibori raised an eyebrow, "You mean to say these things have personalities?"

"Damn Straight." the stuffy replied.

What they heard next shocked them.

"Water Dragon, come forth!"

Shibori's stared as Hana slapped a strip of paper to the good-natured cards forehead, and streams of water burst forth from it. The card was soaked, her luscious curls hanging limp, and her cheerful smile wiped from her face completely. The pink sphere disappeared, Hana nodded at Shibori.

"SEAL IT!"

"Huh?" Shibori blinked, and nodded.

For the third time that day, she lifted the rod.

"Return…" her eyelids drooped, and she staggered. Alarm filled Hana's eyes, as well as Cerberus's.

"Daijoubu?" asked Cerberus. Shibori nodded.

"Return to thy true form... " Again, her voice came out quietly, "Which thou should be… Sakura Card!"

Flowery closed her eyes, and swirled into a shapeless ghost of pink light. The card formed at the tip of the staff, and as it floated downward, Shibori held out her hand.

But instead of gently floating into her hand, it zipped through the air as fast as a bullet, and was caught between Hana's fingers. Hana smirked in triumph, and studied the image of the card.

"Huh?" Shibori stood in shock.

Hana smiled genuinely at her friend. "Flower for flower. Funny, ne?"

"Hana-chan… shikashi… doushite…"

Shibori couldn't finish her statement. The blurred edges of her vision encroached upon the whole image. Colors bled together in a watery mesh. Her knees buckled under her weight, and the rod slipped from her fingers as she collapsed on the flower-covered, tile roof.

"Shibori!" Cerberus gasped, and he fluttered in mid air as her shoulder fell from underneath him.

Hana gasped in horror, and wobbled across the tiles to her fallen friend. Shibori's fingers twitched as her hand trembled, reaching for the fallen rod. As soon as her fingers grazed the metal surface, it shrunk down to the tiny key, reattached to the silver chain.

"I feel so tired…" She spoke, her voice quiet and meek.

"It's from using too many of the cards." Cerberus almost scolded her, while Hana bent down to help Shibori up. "Your magic isn't at a high enough level yet that you can handle it."

Shibori's weak arms looped around Hana's chest, and Hana wrapped her arm firmly around Shibori's waist. Hana put the chain around Shibori's neck, and clenched to own rod in her free hand.

"Give me Wood."

Shibori was confused, "but Hana-chan, how can you use--"

"You haven't put your name on it yet. So the power won't be completely sealed until you do."

Cerberus seemed uncomfortable with how much Hana seemed to know about the cards. Shibori took one of her shaking hands, and handed Wood to Hana. She tapped the card face with the orb tip of her rod.

"Create a ladder of vines. Wood."

The small green sprite emerged, and flew down the side of the shrine. She left in her wake, a series of vines and branches, woven to make a step-ladder of sorts. With a good grip on Shibori, Hana began to descend the ladder, helping Shibori along the way. Cerberus flew down after them. No sooner had their feet touched the ground did the magic ladder disappear, and the card reform in her hand.

"I'm confused..."

"Lets go to my house…" Hana said, "We have some things to discuss anyway."

Hana tucked the wood card into her pocket. Shibori assumed, for safe keeping. Much to Cerberus's displeasure, they departed the shrine grounds, headed for Hana's house. Ceberus hid on Shibori's shoulder, concealed by her hair if there should be any late night stragglers.

Once they were safely out of hearing shot, The shrine door slid open only enough at first for the girl inside to peer out. A smile crossed her face, and she pushed open the door.

"Ayame-chan, Kokken-kun, Ookami-kun, it's all dry now! Rain's gone, we can go home!"

Ying wasted no time in stepping out of their shelter, her sandals sinking into the cherry blossom carpet.

"But how sad... all the poor trampled cherry blossoms." Ayame noted, crestfallen.

"But they make such a pretty carpet!" Ying added, and Ayame nodded her head.

Ookami, however, was busy watching the three figures vanishing down the street. Shibori having to lean against Hana because of her lack of strength. It was almost PATHETIC.

"I'm not so sure she was a wise choice..."

Ying looked over her shoulder at the boy. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he was scowling at the girls as they slowly disappeared. His scowl vanished, and a red blush spread across his cheeks as Ying wrapped her arms around him.

"Have faith, Ookami-kun!"

Ying followed his gaze, and smiled.

"She'll be fine."

* * *

I can't believe Onii-san just LEFT me at the shrine! Shibori thought bitterly as she hung up the phone.

When she called home, her mother had informed her that Makoto had also called. She said he called to say he was with Shijou-kun. She had assumed Shibori was with them as well.

I guess it was all for the best. I mean, I couldn't have captured the cards if he had been there...

Shibori sighed, "Thank you for letting me use the phone Fukashigi-san."

Fukashigi-san, Hana's mother, smiled at Shibori. "It was no problem. Hanako tells me you might be spending the night. You're more than welcome."

"Arigatou gozaimasu." Shibori bowed to the tall woman, and then she stiffled a yawn.

Fukashigi-san giggled. Shibori blinked, and blushed crimson with embarrassment. She bowed once more, for good measure, and then made her way to Hana's room.

Step by step, Shibori inched her way towards her destination. She'd managed to get a bit of her energy back after the key had stopped using her spirit as fuel, but she was still on the brink of exhaustion. She'd changed out of her soaked kimono and into a loaned sweatshirt and pair of jeans. With Hana being just slightly taller than Shibori (and all of that extra height coming from her long legs), the bottoms of the pant legs swallowed Shibori's stocking feet.

Slowly, she pushed open the door.

"I called home, and--"

Shibori stopped. She wasn't sure what she had expected to see. Maybe Hana laying on her bed, with Cerberus and herself staring at the TV. Well, they were staring at something, but it wasn't the TV. Hana had pulled her hair from the twin buns, letting her shiny locks fall down over her shoulders. She was sitting crosslegged on the floor, clad in pale peach pajama's and glaring at Cerberus. Cerberus, despite his size, was matching Hana's glare completely.

"This is…NOT Cerberus."

"Kid, I already toldja, My true form is MUCH COOLER!"

Hana looked up at Shibori, disbelief etched across her face. Scowling, she pointed at the yellow creature.

"Shi-chan, PLEASE tell me this ISN'T Ceberus. Cerberus is a GOLDEN LION BEAST! Not a stuffed animal!"

"Stuffed animal?!" Cerberus's eyebrows twitched, "NOT THIS AGAIN!"

"I actually thought he looked like a cat toy." Shibori couldn't help but add in her two cents as she shut the door, "and Chibi thought so too!"

What followed was a moment of silence as a smile pried the scowl off of Hana's face. Then, Both she and Shibori burst into a fit of laughter, Shibori falling backwards onto Hana's bed, and Hana rolling onto her back. Cerberus did not find it quite so humorous as the girls did.

"It's…" Hana spoke, her giggles interfering with the words, "It's no wonder grandma called him Kero-chan!"

Shibori immediately went silent, and sat up. Cerberus's expression changed from annoyance, to shock. His beady eyes turned on her, as did Shibori's. When Hana became aware that her companion was no longer laughing, her giggles quickly died.

"What?" she asked, puzzled.

Cerberus put a paw to his chin.

"I didn't like that nickname, and only Sakura and Tomoyo called me that!… well… them, and their kids, but that's beside the point!" The guardian spoke with annoyance lacing his every word.

"How...how would your grandma know him?" Shibori asked.

Hana's expression grew solemn and still. A silence filled the room. Hana stood up, with Shibori watching her every movement. to Shibori, it seemed as though Hana was trying to figure out the best way to handle what had just slipped out of her mouth. She pushed hair hair back over her shoulder, and walked towards the door.

"Hana-chan, where are you--"

"I'm going to get us some tea. We can discuss everything when I get back."

No sooner had she finished speaking did the door shut behind her. Cerberus and Shibori were left alone in the room. Shibori turned her eyes on Cerberus, who seemed to have come out of shock, and was now busy thinking everything through.

"This may have just gotten a lot more complicated for you, girlie." He finally spoke.

Shibori glared, and spoke in a deadpan voice.

"Don't call me that."

"I'm SERIOUS!"

Shibori blinked.

"Think about it. It's strange that she knew you had to seal the cards... Now she knows about... Who could this wizard kid possibly be related to that would have known me?"

Cerberus paused, smirked, and pounded a paw to his chest.

"I admit, I AM the famous guardian beast of the seal, Cerberus, and I'm extremely cool...But how would she know about my 'nick-name'?"

"I suppose you're right. It is pretty odd..." Shibori rested her chin in her hands, and her elbows on her knees. She knitted her brows together while she thought.

"I don't understand how she could have magic. I've known her since we were in kindergarten. I would have thought she'd have said something."

"Family's with magic don't openly tell people about it, Shibori."

"But still..."

Shibori let her hands drop onto her lap, and she pursed her lips while she thought some more.

"...And that she reads tarot cards...It's really weird."

"And those weren't normal tarot cards. Those were replica's of--"

But before the guardian could finish his statement, The door hinges squeaked and the door slowly opened. Hana managed to gently kick the door open and step over the threshold, balancing a tray in her hands. sitting upon the tray was a delicate tea set in Chinese style, with steam emerging from the spout of the teapot. She gently kicked the door closed, and set the tray on the ground.

Shibori sniffed the air. The gently scent of rose tea and lemons made her senses tingle. Shibori slid down off the bed, and accepting a brim-full cup of the tea from Hana. When Shibori found the plate of sliced lemons on the tray, she helped herself to one.

"Shi-chan, we really need to talk."

"I agree completely." said Shibori, watching the lemon juice fall into her tea drop after drop; she appeared to be counting them.

"So… I'll repeat my question." Shibori added, tightening her squeze ever so slightly on the lemon rind, "Just who is your grandmother?"

Hana glanced Cerberus, who was busy drink his tea via the spoon that Hana had brought for him. Finally, as Cerberus was getting a mouth full of the hot, steamy liquid, she spoke.

"Attashi no obaasan wa Li Nadeshiko."

[*My grandmother is Nadeshiko Li.]

Well, the hot tea went spraying from Cerberus's mouth as he screamed "NANI!?" at the top of his tiny lungs. The high pitched screech caused Shibori to clench her fingers so tightly on the lemon rind that all the juice went spraying; half into her tea, and half into Cerberus's eyes. The tiny yellow guardian cursed and yelled in some language Shibori couldn't understand. Clenching her teeth, Shibori (who was unaware that she had even gotten the citrus liquid in his eyes) clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Quiet!" she hissed.

It was Shibori turn to howl as the guardian sank his teeth into the flesh of her finger. With one good jerk, Cerberus unclamped his jaw an went tumbling, and Shibori stuck the finger into her mouth. Hana stared wide eyed at the chain of events.

Once Cerberus had managed to successfully clear the burning lemon juice from his eyes, he turned to Hana.

"So THAT'S how you knew about the cards..."

"Jush who ish Ree Nadesh'ko?" Shibori inquired, while the finger in her mouth interfered with anything she had to say sounding coherent.

"Li Nadeshiko, is the daughter of Li Syaoran and Li Sakura, of the powerful Li Clan in HongKong." Hana supplied the answer.

"And not only that." Cerberus added, while Shibori sucked on her swollen fingertip, "Li Sakura was formerly Kinomoto Sakura, the Mistress of the cards."

Shibori's eyes widened, and she looked at Hana. Finally, Shibori pulled the saliva dampened finger out of her mouth, "So you mean…?"

"That's right. Your friend here is a direct descendant of Sakura."

"That's—that's—" but it was no use. She was too stunned to utter her thoughts, in even then the least coherent of ways.

"Which means of course," Hana began, "that the cards rightfully belong to me and my family."

"Now JUST A MINUTE!" Cerberus exclaimed, and he fluttered angrily up in her face, mere inches from the tip of her nose, "You of all people should know after your great grandfathers own experience, that that is NOT the way it works in this deal, Little Girl."

"Don't call me that," Hana glared (which was hard, considering her eyes were crossed.)

It was at that moment, Shibori decided to have an idea.

"Hana-chan, you could help me, right?"

Hana, growing more annoyed with the stuffed animal of a guardian, flicked Cerberus like a fly that just would not not go away. Cerberus fell from the air for what seemed the umpteenth time that day. Shibori looked hopefully at Hana, with a great feeling that this was another one of those times when best friends would stick together, and work together.

But Hana sadly shook her head.

"Why not?"

"The cards rightfully belong to me, and my mother and grandmother. We belong to a very tight knit family, and just as the cards belonged to my great grandmother, they should rightfully go to us."

Hana looked down. "I'm sorry, but I have to take them from you."

Shibori was paralyzed. Forget shock. Shock, was finding out your best friend could read tarot cards. Shock was finding out they new more about what you were doing than YOU did... But to have your best friend, suddenly as a rival?

Her heart nearly froze.

But it quickly thawed, replace by the anger that welled inside her. Best friends don't do things like that do each other! She stuttered, before her mouth formed a loud, and appalled "NANI?!"

Hana was silent. Shibori clenched the key that dangled around her neck, "Does your wand do what mine does?! Can you seal cards too?!"

Hana was silent, and Shibori leaned closer to her friend.

"Can you?"

Hana stood up, and Shibori blinked as Hana grabbed her by the upper part of her arm, dragging her to her feet.

"I'm sorry, I'll have to ask you to leave."

"What? Why—"

Shibori was cut off, taken completely by surprise when Hana thrusted a black teddy bear into her arms.

"Take this. You left it in the booth."

The bear was rather tiny. Not much larger than Cerberus. shiny plastic eyes peeked through the fake but silky black and white fur. it looks something like a tiny panda.

It was the bear she had won for her little sister. But before she could thank Hana, the brunette was already shoving her out of the bedroom, towards the door. Cerberus, irate at the girl's nerve, fluttered after, diving to hide on Shibori's shoulder.

"Hana-chan, can't we talk about this?"

"Shi-chan, there's nothing left to talk about tonight."

But Shibori protested, "Demo—!"

Hana locked eyes with her best friend, glimmering orbs filled with sternness, and a pinch of confusion. But before Shibori could question it, Hana had looked away, and was opening the door.

"Please."

Shibori's eyebrows knitted together, "Hana-chan --!"

"C'mon, lets just go." said Cerberus.

He glared in Hana's direction, "Just you wait and see, little girl!"

Hana grabbed Shibori shoulder, and gently shoved her out the from door. Shibori, still clutching the tiny stuffed toy, looked at her friend.

"See ya at...school?"

Hana only nodded, before closing the door on them.

"Hanako, what was that all about?"

Hana turned around to find her mother standing behind her. She turned a very puzzled expression on her daughter.

"I thought that Aishouka-san was going to be spending the night. Why would you send her home at such a late hour?"

Hana heaved a large sigh. "Okaasan... Shibori opened the book."

Her mother dropped the glass in her hand, and it shattered into tiny peices. It was obvious she knew what Hana was talking about.

"You're sure?"

Hana nodded, "She sealed three tonight at the festival. Flower came to me... and this..." Hana reached into her pocket and withdrew...

The Wood.

"This, I borrowed."

* * *

Shibori trudged along the dark streets. The street lamps were dim, and offered only enough light for her to see a feet feet ahead. The moon glowed brilliantly, high up in the sky. Shibori discovered her little guardian had fallen asleep, and so the walk had been a quiet one. Her feet were sore... her muscles ached, and she still felt exhausted from using the cards. She would have to sign her two new cards, first thing in the morning.

...I have to stop. I don't even know how far I've gone. It seems so much closer by car or bus.

And stop she did. She was near the old penguin park. She stepped past bushes and twigs, into the area that had once been a favored playground. Now, a new one had been built, and the poor old sets had been torn down, or left to rust. Thus was such with the only structure they could not move. The old, King-Penguin slide. The old cement had long vines growing up the sides; mostly clover and weed. But cherry blossoms, carried by the breeze, had formed a nice carpet on the slide. it looked so soft...and comfortable...

Shibori sat at the bottom dip of the slide. The fallen leaves and blossoms were crushed beneath her, but she was too tired to notice or care. She stared up at the moon. She was still a long ways from home. Old penguin park was nearly 15 minutes away by bike...who knows how long it would take to walk.

Her limbs where going numb from the cold, despite her sweatshirt and long pants. She laid her head back against the old metal slide. Her vision was blurring again. But this time, she wasn't light headed. she was weak. She was simply...tired. and the shining moon...it seemed to...lull her to her sleep.

She cringed. A gust of cold air circled her body. It was so sudden, it was as if it didn't belong. She felt so warm. And as she moved her arms...she noticed it was pinned loosely down.

A...Blanket?

Now that she thought about it...she was resting against hard metal anymore either. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Everything was dark, aside from a single beam of moonlight pouring into the room from her open window. Lavender curtains swayed in the wind as she sat up, pulled back her covers.

She was lying in her own bed.

And something else. a Long, gorgeous white feather lay on the carpet beside her bed. It seemed to glimmer and sparkle with it's own light. Slowly, so as not to disturb Cerberus, she laid the blankets back, and slipped from the mattress, to her knees on the floor. Her fingers felt the soft surface of the feather, and she lifted it into her hands. it was nearly as long as her arm! And then she gazed to the open window...and watched a shadow disappear.

My guardian angel... he appeared again...or is it a she?

She held the feather to her heart.

Anata wa... dare?

TO BE CONTINUED!

Next Episode: e

SHIBORI: Why do things hafta get so darn COMPLICATED?! Hana hasn't spoken to me since The festival... and now I'm stuck with Mori-chan... Hey...What's going on NOW?! and...OI! Where'd my Wood card go?!

k

EPISODE FOUR: Of Siblings, Sorcery, and Swimming

Next Time! ^.^

CHARACTER OF THE DAY!

Fukashigi Hanako

Birthday

October 28 [Scorpio]

Blood Type

B

Favorite Subjects

Physical Education

Least Favorite Subject

Math

Activities

Swimming

Favorite Color

Orange

Favorite Flower

Cherry Blossoms

Pinks (Nadeshiko)

Favorite Food

Ramen with beef broth

Least Favorite Food

Sushi

Wish List

Private Pool

New Swimsuit