The Sealed Pendant
Episode Eleven - New Suspicions Arise
Kokkei found herself in Reedington's park, sitting on a swing. She looked at the one next to her and sighed. She stood up and started walking back. She heard a ping sound and turned. A glass, see-through, looking ball was headed her way. The surroundings remained the same, but it was watery. It bounced in front of her, leaving ripples, and just floated there. She leaned forward and looked at it. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice echoing all around. In the small, a figure looked up at her. Kokkei reached out a hand to touch it, but it shattered and so did everything else around her.
She woke up against Yue, gasping. They were still driving home and most everyone was sleeping. Tori looked at her from the rear-view mirror. Yue held her. Kokkei groaned and held her head. "Are you ok?" he asked, holding her face between his hands. "I'm fine." "They say this is your third time passing out. Are you sure you're ok?" She blinked. "Third? Passing out?" He nodded. "But I kept having these dreams..." Yue hugged her. "I just want to make sure you really are okay." Kokkei smiled. She sat up as best she could and looked around the vehicle. "Kaoru. Where were you the whole time we were on the beach?" He looked at her then at the roof of the van. "No where in particular. I met a few people who were interested in you after your game." He looked back at her, smiling. "Mostly boys?" "All boys." They both laughed. "Hey. How 'bout you and me get together? Sit down; just get to know each other better." Kaoru looked at Yue, who was staring out the window, then back at Kokkei. "Ok. That sounds great." Kokkei smiled then the car soon fell silent as they drove back.
Julian, Ceaira, Hannya, and others were following in another car. Antonio looked out the window. "Something's... something doesn't feel right." Hannya turned and looked at him, since she was in the passenger's seat, across from Ceaira, who was driving. "You felt it too?" "I did also." Ceaira added, focusing on the van in front of them. "Me too," Anastasia said, "It's a stronger magic." The older teen, earthly form of Sabaki, had her long ebony hair pulled back in a doubled ponytail, to keep it from blowing all over the place, a simple frown on her face. She looked out of her window, the sun glinting off her purple eyes. "What do you guys means?" Julian asked, leaning forward. "It's nothing, Julian." Hannya said, "We just felt something for a while." She smiled and he slowly returned the gesture. "But why?" Antonio asked, "There is no need for anything else. Kokkei captured everything." "Maybe... Maybe she doesn't have to transform anything... just pass one last test." Ceaira quickly glanced at the others. "Maybe she doesn't have to do anything at all. The presence is probably just here checking her out." "Yeah... I guess." he said hesitantly. "But we have to keep on guard." Anastasia announced, "Nothing should get past us." They all nodded and Julian blinked.
Everyone was dropped off at their homes, and resting. All accept one. Kokkei was getting an earful from Rukki. "What?! Why didn't you take me with you!? I wanted to go to the beach! It's not fair!" Kokkei sighed and tried to tune him out, but he only got louder. "I betcha Aquilia and Kero went! But nooooo, I had to stay here and guard the house, from what?!" A vein popped out on her forehead. "Actually, they were not there, now shut up!" Kaoru came around the corner and she grabbed Rukki, holding him like a stuffed toy. "I heard shouting. Who were you talking to?" He looked around a little. She laughed nervously, waving her hand. "No one. I guess it was the TV, or the radio, or something." He blinked then looked at Rukki in her hand, who was sweatdropping. "I guess. Anyway. I'm going out for a walk. I just wanted to tell you." She smiled. "Ok. See you when you get back." He grabbed his coat and walked out, Kokkei waving at him from the door. She closed it, and both her and Rukki let out a mushroom sigh. "There's something strange coming from that kid." he finally said. Kokkei looked at him. "Something's strange coming from everyone in this house. He probably got too close to something, or something. You worry too much."
She ran up to her room, Rukki slowly floating after her. She saw Yue sitting on the windowsill, looking out. He turned and smiled at her. "You look well." "Yup." she giggled. She walked over to him and looked out the window, to see Meilin, Dominic, and Li all out there. "What are they doing?" "Who knows." She leaned on him and stared at the three. "Sakura should have been there with them. It would have been more complete." She smiled, and when she opened her eyes, she swore she saw Sakura sitting off to the side on one of the benches. "Sa... Sakura...?" Yue looked at her then out the window. "What?" "Sakura.." Kokkei repeated, "Out there. But Li doesn't see her." Rukki floated up and closed his eyes. "His presence... I feel it." Kokkei looked at him, then back out the window. "She's... gone." "She was never there." Yue said, touching his hand to her forehead. "I'm fine. Really. I just.. need some fresh air." She ran out before any of them could object. She ran up to the roof, and sat there, staring at the approaching night sky. "Sakura... not being there, when I saw her. Just me, though. Those dreams... What does it all mean?" She rested her head on her knees, since they were pulled up and closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, she was back in the park. "Why am I here?" she asked out loud. The sound of something hitting water was heard again and she turned. The ball bounced once then stopped and floated in front of her. The figure inside looked up at her with blank, black eyes. A female with long, black hair that flowed all around in the ball. "Who are you?" Kokkei asked, leaning forward. The ball bounced as the lady disappeared and it now looked like a small glass globe. It passed through her and she gasped as it slowly came out the other side. It bounced some more and a pair of hands caught it. Kokkei turned and looked at the person. The figure was cloaked and hooded, but that fell off as a set of wings appeared from their back. They looked up and she gasped, "Kaoru." A second figure appeared beside him. "Kayo..." But, it's not possible." Kaoru slowly let go of the ball. "No..." Kokkei started running towards the two, but the ball hit the ground and shattered loudly.
Kokkei inhaled deeply, gasping for air. "Oh, God. Kokkei." someone breathed. She blinked and realized she was still on the roof, but it was darker and she had a blanket wrapped around. "Where... who...?" She felt arms around her. "Yue?" "Wei called for an ambulance. Li and Meilin found you sitting up here. You were here for hours." 'But the dream seemed to only last for minutes.' She thought, blinking at him. She let him lift her up and carry her downstairs. Meilin and the others rushed to her. "Oh, Yue. Is she okay?" "Should we still let them take her to the hospital?" He nodded; "Maybe it has something to do with her hitting her head. They should look at it." Wei stood outside with the paramedics as they appeared. Yue placed her on the stretcher. "Hey." One of the men said, "We meet again, kid." Kokkei looked up at him. "Yeah, and it's my second time in a hospital. I hope it's my last." They took the stretcher and placed it in the ambulance. "I'm going along." Yue said. They looked at him and nodded, and he got in. They closed the doors and went back to the front, the ambulance now driving away. Kaoru ran up a few minutes after. "What... what happened?" "Kokkei's in the hospital. Well, she's going to be." "Oh. Gee.." "C'mon." Meilin said, "We have to tell the others. Then go as soon as possible." As they ran inside, Kaoru slowly followed. "It was just a vision." He shrugged and quickened his pace, hopping up the stairs and inside.
"You saw who?!" Kokkei quieted Ceaira down and pulled her curtain across. They were in the hospital, Ceaira, Antonio, Anastasia, and Hannya were in the room with Kokkei, while the others were outside. "Kayo." Kokkei repeated quietly. "Are you sure it was him?" Anastasia asked. "Yes, I'm sure. But the strange thing was that Kaoru was there also." Everyone paused in a moment of silence. "Then..." Kokkei continued, "There was... this lady. It's a really weird dream." "That's true." Antonio sighed, "But it also means something." "Well, I think one thing's obvious." Ceaira said, "Kaoru seems connected to Clow Kayo... maybe in more ways than we know." The others didn't say anything. "We aren't certain yet, but it is possible..." Ceaira said, answering the question that was on everyone's minds. "Listen to his name..." Hannya whispered. The door opened and Meilin's head popped in. "I heard this is your second time in here." She walked into the room, with a teddy bear, that was holding a pillow that said, "Baka" with a grinning face below. Kokkei smiled and Meilin laughed, handing it to her. "Made it myself." "I see that." She placed it on the other pillow next to her. "Where's Li and the others?" "Bonding... around the snack machine." "Ooh. Snacks." Kokkei jumped out of bed and padded softly across the floor, grabbing Meilin along the way. "Let's go find this machine." Meilin sweatdropped as she let herself be dragged along.
As they got closer to the machine, a voice came over the intercom, "Will all nurses or available personnel please help locate a missing patient. Kokkei Akarui. Then report her back to room 112." Kokkei grumbled and moved faster. "Hey, Kokkei." the others said, as she ran up. "Heard the warning they put out for you." Dominic laughed. "Gangway! Snack machine is mine." She ran forward and attached herself to it as a male and female nurse rushed up to her. "No! You can't make me go back there! I'm not Kokkei!" Everyone stood in a group, with little dot eyes and sweatdrops as the nurses looked at her. "Is she? Kokkei Akarui?" They nodded almost instantly. "Traitors! But lemme get a snack first!" Kokkei cried, clinging tighter. "I'm sorry. We can't allow it. It's not good for your health." They finally pried her free, Kokkei nearly taking the whole machine down and leaving fingernail marks. She was carried back to the room, screaming loudly. "Wow." Madison finally said, walking over and examining the marks. "Yeah." was all the other had to say. Kokkei was strapped to her bed, her arms locked at her side. Everyone had been asked to leave.
"This is inhumane!" she screamed, "Let me go!" Her doctor watched from behind the mirror-window. "Are those shots taking any action yet?" "Soon. They will." a nurse said. In a few minutes, Kokkei had quieted a little, but was still protesting. Eventually, she fell asleep, and they came out and quickly undid her restraints. She opened her eyes and realized where she was.
The glass globe has just cracked and darkness fell. Kokkei looked around and a figure appeared, looking exactly like Heal, only everything white, except her color, was black. "The lady from the globe..." The woman glanced between her and the city of Tokyo, which panned out, then circled in on Reedington. Kokkei got to her knees and looked at it. "Who are you? What are you doing?" The lady's hair grew and extended, reaching out to the city below. Groups of people suddenly turned against each other; fighting and accusing each other. "What are you doing?" Kokkei repeated again, looking back up. This time Kaoru stood beside the lady. Kokkei got up and ran to them. A shield made of immense power stopped her. She pounded against it. "Stop it!" she yelled, "You're destroying the people, and they're destroying the town!" Below, the image, had now widened, and fires had been started in certain areas. "You stop it." Kaoru said. Kokkei stared at him. He had his arms crossed and his hair fell into his face.
She stepped back and pulled the key from her neck. "Power of Kayo... Key of Akarui.. Reveal your true form to me!... Release!" She grabbed the Wand and pulled out a silver, star-shaped pendant. "Wisdom!.. Unlock!" Silver energy swirled around her and she stood inside of it, eyes closed. "Is it... true?" She opened her eyes and looked ahead of her. Kaoru's figure shimmered a few minutes, then changed to the one of Kayo, flickering back. "I knew it..." He looked at her and smiled. She clenched her fists and grabbed the pendant as it came back to her. "You're ready." he stated, "To stop her." Kokkei closed her eyes again. "Clow Kayo..." She felt herself falling backwards, darkness enveloping her.
She knew she was awake, but she refused to open her eyes. "Kaoru is..." She let her eyes flutter open, "...Clow Kayo." "You make it sound so bad." She gasped and sat up. Kaoru sat in a chair off to the side, his arms crossed, his head down, and his right leg crossed over the left at the knees. He looked up, shaking his bangs out of his face. "What are you doing in here?" Kokkei asked, sitting up and holding the sheet close, "The doctors said no visitors. Get out." Kaoru smirked and got up, walking over to the bedside. "The doctors... are sleeping. And why so rude? You're a direct descendant from me." He leaned down and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. She pulled back. He lowered his head, then looked back up at her, laughing silently. "Let's get out of her. You have work to do." "Get away from me." She got up and headed for the door. "Yue. Sakura. Li!" She opened it and looked up and down the hall. "Meilin! Eriol!" She spun around to face Kaoru. "Where are they?" "They went out to get a bite to eat. But I think... they're sleeping also." He smiled.
"Kayo... you're crazy." "Thanks, but it was uncalled for." He looked at her and his eyes narrowed. Kokkei blinked then her eyes slowly shut as she fell unconscious. Kaoru caught her and picked her up. Everyone in the hospital was asleep, so he just walked out. When Kokkei woke up, she was back at Wei's. "How I... get here?" She sat up and looked around. She looked at her closet, where several new outfits were hung up. "Madison..." She got up and walked to the outfits. "When'd she make them? Where is everybody?" She ran outside and into Li's room. "Li, where are you?" She ran to the guestroom, but both Meilin and Dominic's beds were empty. "Wei! Kokkei ran through the house, but found no one. She ran back to her room and grabbed an outfit. The color mixture was that of red and black. The near knee-high boots she slid on were red, as were the tights. She pulled on the short black skirt, which had red designs on it. The shirt was split between the two colors. The right side, red, and the left side, black. The adult thing about it, was the back. The only thing holding it together, was a cloth, about five and a half, six inches in length, coming down; the rest showed her back.
She grabbed her chain off the dresser. "Power of Kayo... Key of Akarui.
Reveal your true form to me!... Release!" She grabbed the tool and pulled
out a star pendant. "Dragon!... Unlock!" She opened the window as the wings
appeared on her back, then gasped, holding her hands over her chest. "So...
much... power." She looked into the sky and saw the faint black line. "It's
started..."
