The Sealed Pendant -
Season Two
Episode One - An Anniversary And Something
Special
"Stuff." "Lick." "Seal." "Stamp." As she stuck the folded paper into the envelope, Kokkei Akarui passed it onto Li Showron, who gravely licked it, with narrowed eyes, then passed it onto Sakura Avalon, who closed the envelope, making sure it stuck, who finally gave it to Madison Taylor, who plastered a stamp in the corner. They had repeated the process so much times, there was a big pile of envelopes on the side. "Why do I have to lick the glue?" Li asked, his tongue out of his mouth. "'Cause we're all girls." they chorused, grinning. Li sweatdropped and let his head hit the desk, resulting in a larger sweatdrop. Kokkei giggled and picked up her cell phone. They were all 16 and in their junior year of high school. Sakura had allowed her hair to grow out, and it was pulled back in a ponytail. Kokkei's and Madison's were about the same length now, Kokkei's in one long braid down her back and Madison's in two pigtails. Li kept his trimmed to near the original length.
Kokkei dialed a number and waited. The other line clicked. "Hello. Yeah, Ceaira? Still looking for music?" She twirled her fingers through the phone cord. "Ok. The Two-Mix'll do, but not too much slow dancing ones. Just about two or three." She waited and then smiled. "Okay. Have fun." She hung up the phone and stuffed another envelope, passing it down the line. The front door opened and closed. "We're back!" came Hannya's happy voice. "We're meaning?" Sakura shouted out. "We're meaning me, the decorations and needed baking things, and--" "Me." Julian poked his head around the corner. They grinned, a tiny sweatdrop on each of their heads. "I figured as much." "How's the enveloping going?" Julian asked, walking into the den. "Done. Can you do us a favor, Julian?" Sakura smiled at him sweetly. "Sure. I'll mail them." She laughed and Madison smiled as she handed the stack over to Julian. "Where's Yue?" he asked over his shoulder as he headed out.
"Odd." Kokkei blinked as she handed a glass of water to Li, so he could wash down the glue taste, "I haven't seen him since breakfast." Li's constant coughing and choking made everyone look at him. Kokkei glared him down. "Do you know something, Li?" He shook his head furiously. "Li." Sakura said in a warning tone. He groaned and put down the glass. "I'm not supposed to tell. He confided in me." They all crowded around him with eerie faces. He held up his hands. "Ok. Fine. He went out to get Kokkei a present." he mumbled. "That's so sweet!" Madison sighed. Li tried avoiding Sakura's gaze after he had said that. "Li. Are you getting me something?" He shrugged and was now decorated with a large bump on his head from Sakura hitting him with a chair. Hannya walked in smiling, with a bowl in her hand, with a mixing spoon in it. "I know Julian got me something." Julian quietly slipped out the envelopes, and the area around Hannya darkened. The area around Kokkei was sparkling. "Oh, boy." Madison groaned, then smiled. Eriol had gone back to England halfway through their sophomore year.
"It's not good to move back and forth from place to place," was what everyone had told him as they saw him off. He smiled. "I know. And I'm really sorry." He looked over at Madison. "I'm especially sorry for leaving you once again. Please forgive me." She walked over and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'll always forgive you. And always love you." She leaned back and kissed him lightly. He reached up and ran his fingers through her hair, holding them there for a while. "I love you, too." Everyone in the background was making faces. Eriol looked over at them and laughed. "Take care, you guys." he said as Madison pulled away from him. He looked at Kokkei and smiled, tilting his head a little. "I'll be back in time for it, Kokkei." She blinked and looked at him oddly. "What? In time for what?" "You'll see." He turned around, everyone waving to him as he walked away. Madison stared after him until he disappeared, 'I really wished that he'd make up his mind. Stay one place.' Then left with everyone else.
Aquilia flew in through the window and landed on Madison's shoulder. "Reporting for decoration duty." she chirped. "Great." Madison laughed, "Hannya just brought them in." Sakura stopped trying to snap Kokkei and Hannya out of the moods. "Something's... missing." Madison caught her glance and they both gasped, "Kero!" Everyone looked up as Madison, with Aquilia still clinging to her shoulder, and Sakura ran off. Hannya smiled and headed back to the kitchen and Li and Kokkei followed Sakura and Madison up the stairs. The door squeaked open and two figures, one carrying a large box, snuck in quietly. "Hey!" Just before they closed the door, someone else ran in. The taller of the three handed the box to the other two and they ran off quickly. As they fled, Li and Kokkei came back downstairs, laughing. "I can't believe they left Kero in a purse." Li snickered. Kokkei punched him lightly, but laughed also. Kero flew down past them, still steaming, and into the kitchen. "Wai! Food! Yue, did you know they -- mmphh!"
"Yue!" Kokkei skipped the last two steps and rounded the corner, to see Yue holding Kero, his mouth being covered. "Hey. How ya doin'?" She waved to him. He smiled. "Where ya been? Where's my gift?" He sweatdropped. "What... are you talking about?" He eyed Li, who was whistling innocently, looking at the ceiling. She walked past him. "I'll figure it out." He smiled as she disappeared into the kitchen. "No, you won't." He looked back at Li and tossed Kero at his head. "Aaaahhh!!" they both screamed.
At 6:30, guests had started to arrive, thanks to Julian's expressway mailing and at 6:00, Madison and Aquilia had just finished with the decorations. Sakura had left while earlier, to change, and Madison left a few minutes before Kokkei decided to change. Hannya was long gone before that. Kokkei had changed into a spaghetti strapped, sparkling, red dress. The straps criss-crossed down the back and the two in the front just passed over her shoulders. She had on a dark, skin-toned pair of stockings, and held her heeled, ankle-strapped shoes in her hands. It was too much too walk around in. She smiled at the few couples that were here, and also at the ones who she answered the door for. Said doorbell rang and she went to answer it. Ceaira and Hannya stood in front of her, Julian and Tori behind them. "Guys, hey!" she laughed. Hannya was wearing a blue dress, with slightly puffed short sleeves, elastic at the neck area, to widen or slacken, exposing or not exposing her shoulders. It stopped right about her knees and she had a pair of low-heeled blue shoes. Right now, it wasn't exposing, for Julian's hands were there, and he wore a dark blue tux/suit. Hannya's hair was combed straight, the ends curled inward a little, so it framed her face.
Cearia wore a sleeveless white shirt, that stopped past her navel and a cream skirt, with off-white shoes. "I didn't feel too dressy." she said, smiling as Kokkei looked her over. Tori sighed then smiled also. He had on a black suit, worn loosely. "Yeah. Me either." Kokkei sweatdropped. "Anyway. Where's Sakura?" "Right here!" Sakura squeezed past her brother and stood by Kokkei. She had on a red skirt, with a white sleeveless shirt, with red sandals. In her hair were several ribbons, wrapped through the ponytail. Kokkei turned to Hannya and Julian. "Well, let's go, properly dressed couple." They all laughed. "I'm sorry." Sakura said as they headed in, "It was like a rush situation." "How so?" "Tori was rushing me." Kokkei gave a half facevault. Sakura giggled, "Where's Li?" "With Yue." Kokkei sighed, "But don't worry, he's dressed as casually as you." She kicked the door close behind them and led them over to the section cleared for dancing, just as the doorbell rang again. "Coming!" Kokkei sang, rushing back out. Meilin and Madison stood there. "Why are you guys doing this to me?" she wailed. Madison smiled.
She had on a light blue, jumper dress, down to her ankles, with a white, long-sleeved shirt under it. Her hair was down, with a tied blue ribbon at the end. She had on a pair of light blue sandals, with the straps wrapping halfway up her calf. Meilin had her hair pulled back in one, and she wore a silk, short, black dress, with splits up both sides, and black stocking. She had on ankle-high black boots. Kokkei held her hand over her face. "Just... in." She pulled them in and closed the door. Yue and Li walked out of a room. Li looked at Meilin and raised an eyebrow. "You look like one of those loner girls. Those that wear all black." She frowned then smiled. "That's why..." She and Madison pulled clothes from behind their backs, "I brought clothes to change. I know someone would have something to say." She rolled her eyes at Li as she took the clothes from Madison and walked off. Kokkei took Yue by the arm and led him towards the party. Li took Madison's arm and escorted her after them. They mingled a bit; talked a bit. Meilin came back with an orange skirt, still just as short, with the splits up the side, and a white shirt, v-neck, the orange sleeves making it look like a vest. She'd pulled her hair back in two ponytails.
Yue and Li came out and took Meilin and Madison to another room, an hour through the party. Kokkei snuck after them and peered through the door. Antonio and Anastasia stood on either side of a large box, with the three guardians sitting on the top. "What's... going on?" Meilin asked, looking at them. The two judges were dressed casually, too casual for Kokkei. "We have a present for you." Kero said, grinning. Aquilia and Rukki nodded. "What is it?" Madison asked, taking a step forward. They guardian beasts grabbed the large bow, flying upwards. Antonio and Anastasia pulled the box apart, letting the pieces slowly fall. Two bowed figures looked up slowly, smiling. The first one straightened up and looked at smirking Meilin. Dominic walked over and held her shoulders, kissing her on the cheek. "That's it?" she sighed. He laughed and brushed his lips from her cheek over his lips, kissing her lightly, then deeply. Madison looked away from those two and to Eriol, who stood a few feet in front of her, a long black box in his hand. He walked over and took her hand, kissing her on the cheek. "Hey." she whispered. "Hey." he said back.
"This is too mushy." Anastasia groaned. "Then I guess you don't want what I got for you." "Ooh. You got me something?" She moved to Antonio's side. "Nope." "Quit playing." "Why are you complaining? You said it was too mushy." "No. They're mushy." He shook his head. "Mizuiro!" she whined. The room filled with a light and Kokkei's guardian stood there. He smirked. "You called?" "Argh!" Anastasia pushed him away and changed into Sabaki. "You're gonna ruin the party!" Kokkei wailed. Everyone looked at her, the two sets of wings disappearing. "Why?" she sniffled, "The first party I've actually thrown." Sabaki sighed and stormed past the group, Mizuiro following. "Sabaki! I was only kidding. I'll give it to you." They walked past the other dancers, causing them to stop and stare. Ceaira and Hannya sweatdropped as the judges headed upstairs. "Sabaki. You lose your temper easily." "No, I don't!" A door slamming was heard. "I rest my case..." Ceaira took a deep breath. "Alrighty, folks." She started a different song from Two-Mix to get everyone's mind off the scene. "Just listen, relax, and dance." she laughed. The past events slowly faded away as everyone went back to dancing to Rhythm Generation. Kokkei came back out, fuming over said past events.
"Eriol! Dominic!" Sakura laughed, rushing up to them. She hugged them both, then noticed something about Madison. She moved close and stared at the new addition to her neck. It was a sparkling silver necklace. In the middle of it, the pendant was the engraved name, "Madison", in a fancy styled writing. "That is so cute!" Sakura giggled. Madison giggled also and held up her hand. Sakura squealed, "And ID bracelet! It's got your name on the front and Eriol's on the back." Eriol and Li sweatdropped. Sakura dragged Madison into the sea of dancers, giggling happily. Li looked at Eriol. He looked back. "Hey, Li." "Hey. How long are you staying for?" "Just tonight." Eriol sighed, looking at the ground. "Sorry to hear. Does she know?" He nodded. They walked to the side, where Hannya was standing. She looked up at them and smiled. "I heard about your presents." Eriol smiled. "Sakura was that loud?" She nodded. Li smirked and went looking for his so-called-loud girlfriend. Eriol held his hand out to Hannya. "Would you like to dance?" "Sure." She took off her shoes and set them to the side. She giggled and ended up taking him into the crowd.
Yue was standing next to Kokkei, who had just stood up on a chair, after dropping her shoes. A champagne glass was in her hand and she tapped it lightly with a spoon, until she got everyone's attention. "Hey, everyone." She smiled at them. "I'd like to thank you all for coming. This little get-together is a Happy Anniversary for me and several couples that got together around this time." She hand the glass and the spoon to Tori, who set it off to the side on a table. Yue was fiddling with the cuff of his sleeve. "It might seem silly," Kokkei continued, "But it doesn't interfere with anything you want to do on your Anniversaries. Last time, we did it separately. So, I feel, every other year, we'll do this. And everyone who just got together, and wants to celebrate with us, do so!" Everyone clapped and happily agreed. Kokkei laughed and was about to step down, but Yue moved in front of her.
She blinked and looked down at him. He cleared his throat and half-looked at everyone. "Uh, as Kokkei said, this was like an Anniversary thing, but I have my own reasons, and only a few people knew." Madison, Sakura, and Meilin looked at the boyfriends as they felt their hands being held. "Is he... going to...?" Sakura whispered. Li nodded, slowly smiling. Sakura's eyes sparkled with tears and she laughed, looking at Madison and Meilin, Madison have a close enough expression as hers. A few people looked around curiously, whispered questions going around. "What's he doing?" "You know what going on?" "You think he--" "Shh! He's about to talk again."
Yue turned to face Kokkei, reaching into his pocket. he pulled out a small, black, velvet box. her eyes widened and her gasp mixed with others. He looked at her, opening the box to reveal a slim, gold band, with tiny diamonds running through it, and a heart shaped diamond on the top. Yue took her left hand gently, after taking the ring out of the box. "Kokkei..." he said softly, sliding the ring slowly over her ring finger; second from the pinky, "Will you... marry me?" After holding out for what seemed like an eternity, Kokkei's legs finally buckled and she fell from the chair. Yue caught her and sat her in the chair properly. He got down on one knee, still holding her hand. "Will you?" She looked at the ring then threw her arms around his neck. "Yes! Yes, I'll marry you, Yue!" He sighed happily and hugged her back. The quiet group now exploded with claps and congratulations as the two slowly kissed. Yue pulled back, cupping Kokkei's face with both hands, wiping the tears that flowed freely away with his thumbs. Kokkei stood with his help, laughing between sobs.
Most of the whole crowd, were either crying, sniffling, or holding in the tears, which left lots of sparkling eyes everywhere you looked. She kissed Yue again then made her way through the people, laughing still as they continued to congratulate her. Yue also got his own share of "way to go", and "tying the knot" by a few of the older guys. Kokkei took Hannya's hand on the way, motioning for the other girls connected with the Clows to follow. They stood around Ceaira, who was wiping the tears off her CD player. She looked up and chuckled. "I thought I would have been first to marry. Seeing I'm the oldest, but you... Kokkei. I'm so happy for you!" She hugged her across the table. Kokkei smiled and hugged back. She pulled away laughing. "You guys. I'm gonna need something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." They all laughed, never feeling happier.
Tori and Julian walked to Yue, who was staring at the group of girls.
Tori slapped him on the back "Way to go, Yue!" He looked at them. "Yeah."
Julian laughed, patting his shoulder. "Thanks, you guys." he smiled. "What
brought about this change?" Li, Dominic, and Eriol walked up. "I felt like
I should." Eriol smiled. "I'm glad for you." "Again, I thank you." They
nodded. "Hey!" They all looked at Meilin, who was holding the mic, "The
whole show was great, but the party's not over!" She pressed a button and
music blasted through the building. "My poor house." Eriol groaned, tears
in the corner of his eyes. "It's not yours anymore." Li patted him on the
back, "You gave it to us to use if we wanted to. We needed somewhere for
a party." Eriol glared at him. Li laughed. Everyone cheered and instantly
got back into the swing of things. Madison and the others slowly left the
table to mingle.
