A School Excursion
Chapter 7
( All characters duly belong to CLAMP ! )
Author's notes :
Sorry for the LONG delay ! I've been busy revising for my final examinations coming in June and I've taken this short break to squeeze in a chapter ! Phew … wonder if it's up-to-standard. Anyways, hope you guys enjoy it !
" Sakura ? You're taking mightily long in the bathroom … you sure you don't need any help ? "
" No no Syaoran ! I'll be out in a jiffy ! "
" But you said THAT about … 15 minutes ago … "
" This time I'll definitely be out soon. "
" Ooooookkkkkkk … "
Syaoran gave a sigh to himself as he walked away from the bathroom door back towards his bed. He plopped himself down onto the bed and gazed wonderingly at the door. He could almost visualise Sakura inside … her beautiful face … her smile … down to her …
* HOLY GAWD ! What am I thinking ?! *
Syaoran mentally slapped himself as he turned beet red at his own thoughts.
* She'll kill me if she knows what I was thinking … goodness … *
Just as Syaoran tried to re-adjust his thoughts, Sakura emerged from the bathroom door finally. Syaoran looked up half-expectedly to chid her but all senses seemingly died on him. It was surprising how this lady could render him speechless and defenceless at the same time.
" Sooo … what do you think ? "
Sakura shyly paraded up and down the room, wishing for Syaoran to respond. Unfortunately, he looked too awestruck to answer. Sakura started to sweatdrop after a few minutes.
" SYAORAN ! "
" Eh ? "
" I asked you what you think of me wearing this !! "
" It's … it's awfully … "
Sakura gulped.
" … gorgeous … "
Sakura lifted her scared-looking eyes onto the Chinese warrior still sitting on the bed, not having moved a single inch.
" Really ? "
" I swear to the great Chinese Gods above that it truly is … because it's you who's wearing it. "
Sakura blushed deep red at Syaoran's unexpected praise and found that she couldn't look into his chiselled brown eyes anymore. Suddenly, they seemed to be swallowing her up.
" Daidouji-san made this for you ? "
" Hai. "
" Sugoii … she really knows where your beauty lies. "
" Syaoran, you're so weird today. "
" Huh ? "
" You keep … praising me … it's so strange. "
" You don't like me to praise you ? "
" NO ! Erm … I mean … I do … "
Syaoran gave a small grin to himself. Sakura's I-am-so-flustered expression never fails to bring a smile from him, no matter how bad his day was. He walked over to her and gave her a strong and affectionate hug.
" I understand Sakura … I totally do … "
Sakura closed her eyes and returned the hug as best as she could since the clothing she was wearing wasn't very suitable for the purpose. She loved it when Syaoran swept her into his arms like this. It felt so safe and everything else felt so right.
* Nothing could go wrong … *
However, right after she was feeling so nestled and loved, Syaoran released her and was looking around the room in full alertness. Sakura couldn't help but admire the strong warrior aura which emitted from him so naturally.
" Syaoran, what's wrong ? "
" You didn't feel it ? "
Syaoran's expression was incredulous and Sakura couldn't help but feel a little insulted.
" It felt pretty weak … but it's definitely there. "
" What's definitely there ? "
" Sakura, where's your Clow Cards ? "
" In my bag … "
" Take it with you now, we're going over to Eriol's. "
" What's happening ? "
" We'll talk later … "
**
It had actually been the students' last day in Kyoto and everyone was busy packing up and taking group photographs. Due to a sudden landslide prior that day, the schedule was slightly amended and they were to travel back one day later by another route. With an extra day left, students were doing last-minute shoppings and some were just lazing around or chilling out with friends.
Our foursome retired to their rooms respectively for the day, thinking that it would be a good time to spend their last few moments in Kyoto with their loved ones. Tomoyo had made another splendid costume for Sakura which was a kimono that had captured the essence of Kyoto completely. As Eriol mentioned, that was her magic … producing beautiful costumes for Sakura. Sakura had tried it on and paraded it for Syaoran and left him utterly speechless by the brillance of it all …
" Eriol, open up. "
Sakura and Syaoran now stood outside Eriol and Tomoyo's room. Sakura had of course changed into her school uniform and was standing anxiously next to Syaoran. The door slowly creaked open as though it had not been shut at all. Both looked at each other in surprise and Syaoran slowly crept in cautiously.
" Eriol ? Daidouji ? "
Sakura followed Syaoran quietly and was shocked that there was no one in the room at all. The bed was completely neat, as though no one had slept in at all. There were no luggages, no belongings on the tables, no signs of inhabitations at all.
" What the ?! "
Syaoran looked around the room and was shocked that there was not even a single thread of magic in the air. That was impossible, judging on Eriol's strong magical presence. Even if Eriol had weaved a spell to cover it up … why would he even want to do that in the first place ? Didn't they just meet the pair early this morning for Tomoyo to hand Sakura her costume ?
" Syaoran, what exactly did you feel when we were in our own room ? "
" A strong sense of magic … some sort of a spell … it seemed as though it was … "
" Forming ? "
" You could say that. "
" Related to Clow Cards ? "
" Maybe … "
" Why … then why couldn't I feel it ? "
Syaoran looked on worriedly as Sakura peered questioningly at her Clow Cards.
**
Tomoyo was very surprised when Eriol had returned to their room that evening looking more serious than usual. When she walked up to him, Eriol had wordlessly just hugged her. Tomoyo was even more surprised but decided it was wiser to remain silent. After a few moments, Eriol released her and sat down onto his chair heavily. He took off his glasses and laid them there on the table. Tomoyo peered at him for a while before turning her back to get him a cup of tea. Suddenly, she almost dropped the cup in shock when Eriol embraced her from her back.
" Eriol ? "
" Gomen Tomoyo … I must have scared you. "
" No you didn't … but I'm worried. "
" Ah, I thought so. "
" Eriol, what happened ? You said you went to see to some matters. Did it not go well ? "
" Very badly. "
" Care to tell me about it ? "
Eriol nodded and went back to sit down on his chair. Tomoyo handed him his tea and sat opposite him on the bed, facing him. Eriol sighed rather softly to himself before narrating.
" To be truthful, my memories and powers of Clow Reed would never be much complete since half of me are in Kinomoto Fujitaka. Sometimes, I get some flashbacks of Clow Reed's uncompleted tasks or frightful memories so I decided to settle them whenever I encountered such matters. However, this time, I remembered a lady who was obsessed with Clow Reed's magical prowess. She was someone who had practised the Dark Arts for some time and Clow Reed wanted to revert her back onto the correct path. I guess he didn't and suffered some attacks from her despite his good intentions. Clow Reed was much stronger and recovered fully in no time. The lady however … "
Tomoyo walked up to Eriol and comfortingly hugged him as he suddenly seemed to halt in doubt. He smiled and started to continue.
" She suffered great magical counter-attacks by Clow Reed who had to summon those because of the intensity of her attacks. She is now permanently spiritually crippled and she could not wield anymore magic. If she does so, it would be too powerful and might even shatter her remaining soul. It was terrible … and I think Clow Reed probably regretted it. "
" You went to meet up with her ? "
" Hai, for I decided to try and make amends for him. After all, it wasn't really both parties' fault. It was a great misunderstanding, which I do not want to seek the details in my memories. "
" I understand. "
" She was more powerful that I thought. She was not crippled at all … she had probably sold her remaining soul and body to the devil and she had been practising the Dark Arts to a much more powerful and deeper level … so much so that she probably could not be saved anymore. She recognised me from a glance and started to launch such attacks with pure hatred. She probably blamed Clow Reed for leaving her in such a state. "
" She attacked you ??!! "
" Hai Tomoyo. Don't worry too much about that … I managed to block most of them. However, I believe her vengeance has been rekindled and she is probably after my blood now. I'll need to cast one of the most powerful spells of Concealment which I can summon. Tomoyo, I think it'll be better if you'd let me be alone from now on until a reasonable time … "
" NO ! I can't leave you alone now when you need help ! Let us ask Sakura and Li-kun for help ! "
" They can't help. This is a feud between she and I technically. It would be unfair if she called on her friends to attack me too wouldn't it ? "
" That is true … but I won't leave you alone. Let ME go with you at least. "
" But … "
" Onegai ? "
" All right … but it's unsafe for us to remain here. I'll be using my magic very often from now on to protect the both of us until I find a way to pacify her. You should not alert the 2 of them ok ? "
" Hai. "
**
" Syaoran, I'm worried for Tomoyo and Eriol-kun. Do you think they left any clues for us ? "
" No, it seemed that Eriol had completely sealed off his tracks. He knew we would be looking for them. Something BIG is going on … and we're left out on purpose. "
" Doesn't he know we can help ? "
" You know Eriol's character … since when did he ever requested for help ? There is something which I still don't understand … why couldn't you feel the magical aura just now ? "
" I don't know. I definitely didn't feel anything. Could it be that my magic is wavering ? "
" That's nonsense Sakura, you're one of the most spiritually-inclined one around. "
Syaoran used one arm to hold Sakura close to his chest to comfort her. She nodded into his chest and felt instantly at ease.
" We'll have to rely on your Clow Cards to guide us to him since he made them in the first place. "
Sakura looked at her Cards with a fiery determination in her emerald-green eyes and nodded.
" By the way Sakura, where did you put Tomoyo's kimono ? "
" In the room. "
" Okay, let's get going anyway. "
**
Eriol had chosen a place where the feng shui was the most powerful. Since the woman was powerful in the Dark Arts, he had to find someplace where the " yang " element was the most strong and effluent. That would be enough to weaken her powers and strengthen his in the most possible situation of a battle.
His most powerful command of the Concealment Spell had been effective so far. Tomoyo and his belongings and whatever lingering scent had been musked off and he knew his descendant and Sakura could not figure out where they were. He knew they would figure out in no time when he would be needed to wield his staff. They were not that slow-witted, especially when it came to Syaoran. And judging from the keen disarray of the mental element in the air, she had arrived …
**
" Syaoran, I feel very cold. "
Sakura hugged herself as she was walking behind Syaoran. They had travelled not very far from the hotel and were amidst a very quiet neighbourhood. Syaoran immediately started to take off his jacket but Sakura stopped him gently.
" No, not physically cold. "
Syaoran stared at Sakura for a while before understanding. He nodded and waited for Sakura to concentrate on her instincts and senses. After a while, Sakura looked up again and her eyes were fixed determinedly in a direction.
" Over there … beyond that block of flats … "
**
Tomoyo had been directed to stand in an invisible triangle mark which Eriol had casted to protect her. She was warned against stepping out until further directions. However, she was very worried. Eriol looked very serious and somewhat rugged when he gave her a final smile before turning his back and disappearing around a corner. She knew he was going to battle the mysterious woman.
" How could be be so cruel to leave me here to worry about him ? I know he's worried about my safety … but … I'll die of fear and worry here ! "
Just as Tomoyo seriously wanted to breach the agreement, she was very surprised to hear 2 very familiar voices approaching in her direction. As she realised that they were none other than Syaoran and Sakura, she shouted to catch their attention.
" Li-kun ! Sakura-chan ! "
**
Syaoran slowly ceased running and looked around the quiet surroundings. Although it was quite clear in the air that something ominous was approaching, he thought he heard some voice calling out his name. It wasn't an illusion either since Sakura had seemed to stop too.
" Syaoran, did you hear someone call your name ? "
" I think you experienced the same thing huh. "
" It sounded like … "
" Tomoyo-chan ?! / Daidouji-san ? "
" Okay … so we've both gotten it the same … but I can't see her anywhere. "
" Neither could I Syaoran. "
" This is really really weird. Eriol must have sealed her away. "
" WHAT ?!! "
" No no, definitely not for the bad. Something is going to happen to Eriol and if we don't find him soon … oh geez … we'll find Daidouji-san first. "
" But how ? I keep feeling rather panicky with this strange forebidding element in the air. "
" Don't lose your alertness Sakura, they'll be coming in handy soon. "
Syaoran walked some distance away from Sakura and settled for a place where he thought he could sense strong magical waves. He closed his eyes and started to chant a spell in intense concentration. It was one of his more powerful and dangerous spells, because he knew Eriol had casted a very strong Concealment Spell.
I call upon the grand splendour of the Red Dragon King of the Southern Seas
To bestow to me your noble golden flames
Let me through you fulfil my wishes
Reveal to me what I cannot see with my human eyes !
Sakura watched in awe as slow golden-red flames flickered around Syaoran's tall frame as he muttered his spell. The flames roared up into the air and Syaoran opened his eyes again. Sakura could see that his beautiful chestnut-coloured eyes were reflecting the colours of the flames as his spell seemed to take effect. As he uttered his last command, the flames left him and went straight for a particular spot in the middle of a field.
Sakura gasped as the flames showed the outline of a triangular transparent shape with a dazed-looking Tomoyo sprawled on the ground staring at them.
" Tomoyo-chan ! "
Sakura ran up towards her best friend as the majestic flames died off. Syaoran followed suit and grabbed Sakura's arm to stop her from approaching the seal.
" Syaoran ? "
" This is The Triangular Seal which Eriol must have casted. The flames only showed you what we didn't see but it didn't destroy it … it could only be if the subject which it is protecting is gone. "
" You mean if Tomoyo leaves The Seal ? "
" Hai, please don't make Eriol worry and make her walk out of The Seal. He could sense it. "
" Um … I … I understand. Gomen ne Tomoyo-chan ! "
Tomoyo couldn't hear a word what they were saying but she probably guessed it correctly. She could read Sakura's lips as she apologised. She shook her head to wave the apology away and smiled reassuringly.
Syaoran gave her a rather sheepish wave as he ran off with Sakura to find Eriol. Sakura grabbed her Cards tighter, wondering what could happen next. It had been such a weird day.
**
" I see that you've come for me. Do you really want my blood so badly ? "
" You landed me in such a sorry state. I wished I never trusted you, Clow Reed. "
" I am not him. He is dead. "
" LIAR ! You have his disgusting scent all over. How dare you even try to make such a lame lie ?! For this, you know you'll have to pay for your life. "
" I don't even remember your name. I am not him. I am just half his reincarnation. "
" Reincarnation ? Don't even joke about such a matter. It's so stupid. "
The woman had arrived in the camouflage of an army consisting of eerie white mist as Eriol patiently waited for her in the place where he had chosen. He had lifted off his Concealment Spell and decided that it was time to settle things once and for all. He took the chance to observe his opponent more thoroughly this time.
The woman looked as though she was of Chinese ancestry, with long black hair tied neatly up in a bun and wearing a blue satin cheongsum. She looked as though she arrived weaponless but Eriol knew better than to underestimate one's enemy. Sure enough, as soon as she was posied to battle, 2 long metallic swords morphed from her hands from nowhere. Words were no longer effective nor required from this point onwards.
Eriol sighed to himself and opened his palm to reveal his Key.
* Please protect Tomoyo for me, Syaoran and Sakura. Do not try and interfere with this battle. *
His Clow Staff formed effortlessly and gleamed radiantly under the afternoon sun. Magical winds emerged powerfully all around Eriol's alert frame and his face looked more similar to Clow Reed's than anyone could remember. He was summoning some of his more powerful enchantments as much as his limited memories could serve him.
**
Syaoran and Sakura both stopped in their tracks as though lightning bolts had struck them. Fear was evident in Sakura's eyes as she had never encountered such strong waves of magical power radiating so intensely before. Syaoran was not as surprised to encounter such matters since he had been trained since young but he was rather anxious since that only meant the battle had begun. His rashinben had already pointed fixedly at one point where Sakura had led them.
* But with whom ? For what ? Why Eriol ? *
Syaoran's hand instinctively reached for his pendant and he activated it in no time. Seeing that, Sakura followed suit and her Clow Staff was also soon wielded in her hands.
" Sakura, be careful. "
" Um, Syaoran too. "
**
Eriol's attention was slightly arrayed by 2 powerful magical forces emerging dangerously close to him. Cursing mentally to himself as he noticed the change in his enemy's features, he knew this was going to be tricky.
" So Clow Reed, you found reinforcements. "
" Leave them alone. They shouldn't be able to find me any time soon. "
" Hmm … "
The woman looked around their area with a slight look of admiration on her face.
" Nice job on the spell of Concealment. You certainly had me delayed for almost a whole night in finding your presence. You only have yourself to blame for seeking me out in the first place. "
" That's because the memories of Clow Reed wanted to save you and I am left with this duty. "
" DO NOT LIE TO ME ! YOU ARE CLOW REED ! "
The woman screeched with a certain agony in her voice as she launched into the air and started to shower Eriol with black sizzling laser-like beams. Eriol waved his Staff and a Shield was formed. The beams were absorbed into the Shield but Eriol continued looking pensive. He was afraid of what she might do next … and what would happen if Syaoran and Sakura appeared.
**
Author's Notes :
I know the story kinda sucks … I'll finish it up really soon once I get my next break during my revision. Don't ask questions on the story as for now since the answers will be in the next chapter ! Sakura and Syaoran will get into the action … what will happen to the battle between Eriol and the mysterious woman ? Feel free to leave your kind reviews ! ^__^ v
