The Sealed Pendant
Episode Six - School, Pictures, And Fires


Later in the afternoon, Sakura and the others came to visit, bring her her homework, then Wei came by later in the night and picked up Kokkei and Yue, with Rukki hiding between them. As Kokkei got of the car, after leaving the hospital, she inhaled deeply. "It's so good to be back!" They helped her up to her room. "I'm gonna start school the week after the next one. Bring home the homework for me to do." Li sighed and let her go. She squeaked and fell on the bed. "That wasn't nice, Showron." she growled, turning around. Li was already in his room. Kokkei sat up as Yue sat next to her. "Help me take this off." she instructed, holding out her arm, "I wanna see how it looks." The cast had been taken off, and it was now just wrapped. They had given her extra packs just in case. Yue started to help her unwrap it as she pulled her arm out of the sling, which now hung loosely down her chest. She winced a little as his hand brushed against her shoulder. "You ok?" She nodded and he continued unwrapping the bandages.

They had brought her a blue tank top to change into, so it wouldn't interfere with the wound. As the wrapping fell, Kokkei sighed and touched her arm. "Is it that bad?" Yue looked her straight in the eyes. She took his answer and got up to decide on one for herself. She looked in the mirror and saw the blood-rimmed holes. Two of them; one sat above the other. She turned to look at the back and sighed, then smiled. "I've been through worse." "How's that?" Yue asked, coming up behind her. "I just wanted to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal." She looked back in the mirror. "I wasn't ready to capture these things, so Kayo let me sleep in peace, in America, in what seemed like a different dimension, where Sakura, you, and the others were just a T.V. show. But then I found the Windy Card, it was by Reed, to help me get back to where I belonged. I guess my life back there is forgotten. So, my brother, Steven, is an only child, but he's lost a cell phone."

Yue smiled and rested a hand on her good shoulder. "I believe in you. And I hope you pass your judgment." Kokkei turned around and wrapped her good arm around his waist, then leaned up and kissed him. Yue blinked and blush formed across the bridge of his nose. She pulled back, grinning, then held out her arm. "Wrap me back up, please." Yue slowly took her arm, leading her back to the bed, slightly taken aback by the kiss. He wrapped her arm back up and she put it back in the sling. "Still shocked?" she asked, waving her hand in front of his face. He blinked and shook his head. "Too much show of emotions towards you, not Julian?" Yue shrugged. "Don't you have homework?" Kokkei grinned and shook her head. Rukki chose that time to fly upstairs, grinning widely. "Wow!" he exclaimed, flopping down on the bed, "That was a great dinner!" "Food!" Kokkei squealed, getting up and running downstairs.

Wei was just covering up a pot. "Ah, Kokkei. Your share is right here." He pulled out a covered plate and set it down on the table. She cheered and sat down, eating happily. When she was finished, Wei handed her a piece of the double chocolate cake. She happily devoured it, thanked Wei, then went back to her room, where she fell asleep with Yue next to her. The rest of the week went by quickly, and so did the week after, where her arm was fully healed. She had kept up with her daily work, and maintained her grade point average.


She sat in class, everyone gather around her, as she showed off her courage wounds, well, what was left of them. "Did it hurt to have them removed?" Kokkei shrugged. "I was on some kind of anesthetics, so, I didn't feel anything. But they said I lost a lot of blood." They murmured excitedly. The door slid open and the students quickly returned to their seats. Mr. Tomido cleared his throat. "Class, settle down. Kokkei, we're glad to have you back, and we're sorry about your misfortune." She nodded. "But we have someone who would like to sit in and observe our classes for a few days, and a returning student to Reedington."

"There's hardly any seats left, Mr. Tomido." someone pointed out. "One's right in front of Kokkei." Kokkei looked at the seat in front of her, then at Sakura and the others. The door opened again and two more people walked in. "Meilin!" Sakura gasped "And--" "Yue?!" Kokkei squeaked, cutting off Li. Eriol just watched on, a bemused expression on his face. "I'm sure most of you know Meilin Rae." Most of the class nodded. "And this is Yue Lee." "Lee?" Madison whispered. "That's my middle name." Kokkei whispered. Li had his head buried in his hands. "Not surprised to see an old friend, Li?" Eriol asked. Li shook his head. "You're weird." Eriol commented. Li looked up and grinned. "Why, thank you. That's a wonderful compliment from you." As Mr. Tomido discussed and introduced, the two last rows were talking all at the same time. He developed a sweatdrop then slammed a textbook down on the podium. They all fell silent and straightened up in their seats. "It is very rude to be talking while we have people standing up here, and if I hear another sound from you five in the back... detention." They gulped and nodded.

"Good. Now, Meilin. You may take your seat in front of Kokkei." Meilin nodded and headed for where Mr. Tomido had pointed. She sat down and smiled at the others. They smiled back. Yue walked to the back of the classroom, smiling at Kokkei. "If you don't mind, I'll stay back here." he said. "By me." Kokkei said quietly. Meilin turned around and stared at her. Kokkei gave a small wave. She rolled her eyes and turned back around. "How rude." Kokkei whispered. "She doesn't know you yet." Eriol whispered. "So what? Must she be so rude?" Meilin just pretended like she didn't hear anything. "She's not rude." Li whispered across. "Is so." Sakura said, "Look how she treated me when we first met." "You were her rival then." Madison whispered, "Now you're like friends." Mr. Tomido's eye twitched and his knuckles were turning white from clutching the podium. "That's it!" he exclaimed. Everyone fell silent. "Sakura Avalon, Li Showron, Madison Taylor, Eriol Hiirogizawa, and Kokkei Akarui! You all have detention!" They groaned and their heads hit the desk as everyone giggled.

Kokkei stood up and bowed. "Excuse me, Mr. Tomido?" "Yes?" he said through clenched teeth. "Um... can I serve my detention during lunch, sir... please... sir?" "Us too?" the others chorused, standing up. He sighed, "Fine. Just... be quiet and sit down." As they all sat, they looked at each other and hissed, "It's all your fault!" The rest of the class period was spent with Kokkei and the others still whispering.


At the lunch bell, everyone else left, but the five, and Yue, remained. "Mr. Lee. Do you think you could watch these troublemakers while I go for their needed tools?" Mr. Tomido asked. Yue nodded. As the door slid close, everyone started arguing. Kokkei moved away from them and hugged Yue. "You came, just to watch over me. How sweet!" He hugged her back. She moved away and looked him over. "Wow. Wei needs to become a fashion consultant or something. You look great!" Yue smiled and a little blush formed on his face. He was wearing a light blue suit, the first two buttons were undone, with the tie still around his neck, hanging loosely. Kokkei then remembered something.

"Ohh. Madison. Madison." Madison looked at her. "Do you have a camera? Not video, but a regular?" She nodded and went through her case. She pulled it out and held it up. "Why?" "Well, Li burnt my framed photo of Yue, which I had from since, like, 11 years old, don't ask how. So, I'll like a new one, with Yue and me." Madison smiled. "And maybe we can have a few groups shots, too." Kokkei nodded. She wrapped her arms around Yue's neck and smiled. "Ready when you are." Yue sighed, then smiled, holding Kokkei around the waist. "Sakura. You and Li go watch for Mr. Tomido." They nodded and rushed to the door, stepping out. Madison turned back to the couple and took a picture. "As many poses as you want." she giggled. Yue picked Kokkei up with her arms still around his neck. She giggled, kicking her legs as Madison took another picture. Their next pose, was them, back to back, focusing on the camera. "Wing, please." Kokkei said after they'd taken the last picture.

"Here?" Yue asked skeptically. She nodded. "Are you sure?" She nodded again. "But..." She then developed large, tear-filled eyes. He frowned then sighed deeply, "It's not fair when you do that, you know." Kokkei grinned. "I know." He stood still as his wings sprouted from his back. Kokkei moved back in front of him, her back to his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and his wings around her, her top half still showing. Madison smiled at how close they'd gotten, and took the picture, then checked the film. "Well, guess we can't have a group picture now. There's only two more left." Kokkei shrugged then turned around and wrapped her arms around Yue's neck, then kissed him. His wings spread out to their fullest from the action. Madison laughed and took the picture. When Kokkei pulled back, Yue was blushing. Sakura's head poked back in. "Mr. Tomido's coming." She looked over at the window and sweatdropped. "And why are Yue's wings out?" She shook her head and closed the door back.

Kokkei stood and pondered for a moment. "Last picture... last one..." She snapped her fingers. "Think we have time for a nude pic?" Eriol turned away, laughing, while Madison just grinned. "No." Sakura and Li said, both of their heads poking through this time, "He's almost here." "C'mon." Madison whined, "Hurry." Kokkei, acting on impulse, took off Yue's jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, then moved to his side, where he held her, his wings folded behind him. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, as Madison took the last picture and Sakura and Li rushed back inside.

When Mr. Tomido stepped back inside, Li and Sakura were erasing the blackboard, Eriol and Madison looked as if they were talking about something interesting and funny, and Kokkei was looking out the window, her hands clasped behind her back, while Yue leaned against the wall, his jacket tossed over one shoulder, and his wings gone. Mr. Tomido stared at them all strangely, then shook his head. "You're all a lucky set of children. There's nothing you can do now, but sit out the rest of the lunch period, or just clean up whatever you see that needs to be cleaned up." Kokkei looked at him, then back out the window. "Um... Mr. Tomido? Is it hot enough to start a small brush fire?" "Not really." "Well, there's one outside!" Everyone rushed to look out the windows, just as the small fire Kokkei had seen started to spread. Kokkei and Sakura turned away from then window, running out of the room. "Hey! Get back here!" Mr. Tomido shouted after them. The others ran out also, Yue with them. Mr. Tomido looked out the door to see them disappear around the corner. "These kids are too much." he muttered, rushing to the office.

"Even when I was away from school, injured, I still had to seal these things." Kokkei said, running out into the back of the school, the others around her. "I have over 40." She pulled the chain from her neck and held it out in front of her. "Power of Kayo... Key of Akarui... Reveal your true form to me!... Release!" Kokkei grabbed the Wand before her, the ring attaching to her wrist. Sakura stepped up. "Key of the Star, with Powers burning bright. Reveal the Staff, and shine your Light. Release!" She grabbed the Staff. "Time Card!" She tossed the Card in the air, raising the staff up to it. "Sleep!... Unlock!" Kokkei's young, pale, blue-complexioned girl, twirled, releasing tiny sparkles that spread everywhere. Madison looked at Kokkei. "When did you...?" "Did you not hear me say I was still busy?" Kokkei sighed. Madison smiled. Kokkei grabbed the pendant, Sakura grabbing the Card, since the people were asleep, and looked around for something. "Um... err..." The fire blazed up in front of them, breaking off into the form of a girl that looked just like Windy, only with an orange glow, and hair that was the fire itself.

She had knee-high boots, with a short skirt, and a very good-looking shirt. It had only one sleeve, the rest of the shirt just wrapped around her chest area, meeting at the back of the sleeve, which was long, and she wore fingerless gloves. Kokkei stepped forward. "Um... err..." "What's with the "um... err.." bit?" Sakura asked, "Do what you have to do." Kokkei opened her mouth, but then closed it as Fiery formed a fire ball, and flung it after the group. They dispersed and looked at her. She smirked and repeated it, only at the separate groups, which separated more. "Need some help?" Ceaira landed between the whole thing. "Sky-chan!" Kokkei squealed, rushing to her. Fiery growled softly and formed a firewall between them. Kokkei skid to a halt. "Ok. I've had enough of this." She pulled out several pendants. Ceaira tried to stay as far from the wall as possible. "You can't open those all at once." she said. "Just watch me."

Kokkei held up the Wand. "Really. Sakura. She is just as bad as you." This time Sakura acted on instinct and chopped Li over the head with the Staff. He cried out in pain and held his head. "Water... Windy... Mirror... Fog! Unlock!" The four powers mixed together after being released. "No. No." Kokkei yelled, waving her arms frantically, "Water. Windy. Mirror. Her." She pointed to Fiery, "Fog, the area. Cool her down a little, Water." They obeyed and broke off. Mirror took on Fiery's form and started throwing attacks back at her, while Water and Windy worked together. The fire wall slowly dropped and everyone rushed together, as best they could, since the fog thickened. "I under-estimated you." Ceaira laughed, "I shouldn't have." "You really shouldn't have." Aquilia added, landing beside her, in her true form. "What are you doing here?" Ceaira asked. "You came, so I came." She sweatdropped. Kokkei smiled at the two.

Fiery grunted and put a shield up around herself. "Guess you do need help after all." Ceaira smirked and pulled out the Water Gem. "Shatter and dispel!" She fired an arrow at the gem and released the large water snake. "Water Card!" The young mermaid-typed girl frowned as she appeared. "Use your powers on Fiery!" Both Sakura and Ceaira said, commanding their elements. The Fiery Pendant tried to hold up her shield, but the others were more, and stronger, since she had been weakened. She fell to her knees and Mirror, Fog, Windy, and Water came back to Kokkei, and she rushed forward. "Sleep's power is wearing off." Sakura said, "Hurry." She gripped the Water Card as it came back to her and Ceaira grabbed the Gem. "Fiery!... Return to the pendant you were confined to! Lock and seal!" As the pendant drew up the energy, she felt Sleep's power return to the pendant she had already put away. She grabbed Fiery as the fires started disappearing.

A few moments later, Mr. Tomido and other teachers and faculty ran around to the back. Ceaira looked at her outfit, then gave Kokkei a quick hug, and took off, Aquilia, now in her Earthly form, following close behind. "From now on," Mr. Tomido started, "I've got my eye on you five." Miss Mackenzie walked out from behind the group. Eriol shook his head. "This is too much." He let Madison escort him back to the front of the school. At the sight of Yue, Miss Mackenzie raised a surprised eyebrow. "Yue?" He looked over at her. She gave a small laugh. "Unbelievable." "You're right about that." Mr. Tomido said, "The rest of you, back to the classroom, on the double!" The kids jumped and scattered like little bugs. Yue walked over and stood beside Miss Mackenzie. "Nice to see you again, Yue." she said. he just nodded. "I assume a new captor has something to do with you being able to show yourself." she whispered, both of them standing right next to each other. "It's a long story." he said, "I promised that I would just help her and protect, and I will." They turned and walked back into the building with the other adults.


Kokkei watched them from the classroom window. "He said "just" to help and protect me." she told the others. "You read lips?" Sakura asked, picking up her case. Their next class was cooking, with Miss Mackenzie it seemed. "Yeah." Kokkei sighed, "I do a lot of things." She walked back to her desk and quietly stuffed her things into the briefcase. "Ready." she announced as cheerfully as she could, just as the bell rang. Everyone looked at her, then at each other, then followed her slowly out, just as most were coming in. "Li. Wait up!" Li froze and turned slowly. Eriol snickered as he followed after the others. Meilin ran up to Li, smiling. "Meilin. Hi." he said, both of them starting to walk ahead, "Welcome back." "Thanks. Who's that new girl? Kokkei?" "Oh. She came here from America. She's been here almost a month. She's also a captor." "You're kidding!" Li shook his head. "Li, hurry up." Sakura said. She smiled at Meilin then went back to talking with Madison. "How are things with you and Sakura going?" Meilin asked as they ran to catch up with the others.

They stopped right behind them. "It's ok. Nothing too serious as of yet." Meilin smiled. "That's nice. So, now. What does Kokkei capture?" Kokkei turned at the mention of her name, then turned back, her eyes clouded over. "Some kind of pendants. It's connected with Clow Kayo." "So Ceaira's involved again?" Li nodded. "She was here earlier." "I can't believe I missed it." "Yeah. We used a whole lotta things to keep anyone from finding out. Cards. Gems. Pendants." Meilin sighed and they both walked into the cooking classroom. Today, they were to make a cake, any kind they wanted. Of course, Kokkei started to make a chocolate one, but her heart wasn't in it, so when everyone started calling her name, she finally smelt the smoke coming from her oven. She jumped up and yanked it open, a black cloud billowing out. She coughed and pulled out her cake. She tossed it to the side and groaned.

Miss Mackenzie walked up to her, along with Yue. "Kokkei, is something wrong?" She shook her head. "Well, it's not like you to burn a cake, or so I've heard" Kokkei sighed and shrugged. Miss Mackenzie touched her arm lightly. "Do you want to talk about it?" "No. I'm fine. I just need some time alone." She moved away from them, tossing her apron and head tie to the side, and ran outside. Yue started after her, but Miss Mackenzie stopped him. "You heard her. She needs to think." Yue frowned and stared at her as she turned back to the class. "Ok. The rest of you, back to work. Keep an eye on your cakes."