Chapter 1-Pictures from the past


Meilin quickly did her hair. "Come ON, Madison! I don't want to be late AGAIN!" Madison snapped back, "Well, if you hadn't woken me up in the middle of the night-" Meilin kicked her sister. "Shush! Do you want mom to know we found her album? I just wish she hadn't woken up. We would have been able to look inside." Madison put a finger to her lips, but it was too late. "You found the photo album? I suppose it couldn't hurt to look at your father, or your namesakes." A tortured look came across their mother's face. The blonde twins exchanged anxious looks. They both knew that their mother's closer friends had died in terrorist attacks ten years ago, but they'd never seen a picture of their father. Both girls hugged their mom, and smiled. "It's all right, mom. We don't need to see it."

The girls quickly left. Sakura stepped out onto the front porch. "Meilin, I don't want to hear you've been in another fight this afternoon! Madison, you had better not be wasting time in class writing songs!" Sakura sounded strict, but they knew their mother didn't mean it. She actually encouraged it, as long as they did their hair the way she liked it, Madison's long and flowing, Meilin's up in half buns, hair flowing down. Sakura joked that if they died their hair black They'd BE their namesakes. But both had their mother's blonde hair and emerald eyes. Madison had received the empty Clow book, and Meilin the star wand. Both girls had been taught all about the cards, in case someone released them. Sakura had told them an evil man had stolen the cards, and might release them.

Once they had turned the corner, out of their mother's keen eyesight, the girls smiled. "Do you think I could summon Cerberos or Yue?" Madison laughed. "Remember the fight card? Meilin Rae stomped it! I wish dad was here. He helped train her." The girls felt tears coming. Both rubbed their eyes. The KKFs were ahead. No one dared tell anyone about them. They were highschoolers, and everybody believed them. The grade schoolers were just jealous.

The current commander, Kurt, smiled at Madison. "What a pwetty pink widdle booky wooky. Wemee see." He reached for it. Meilin slapped his hand back. "Leave her alone, Kurt." Meilin was ten, and Kurt was 14. He towered over her. "What'd you say?" he growled. Meilin got into a fighting stance. "I said, leave her alone. Are you going deaf, Kurt?" The teen sprang, but Meilin had ducked under him, and yanked him off balance. His friends snickered. "A 4th grader can defeat Kurt? Ha, wait 'til we tell Jack he couldn't even stop two ten year olds!" Kurt angrily jumped up. "No, I was just playing with her." The guys kept snickering. "Sure." they said sarcastically. "That's what you were doing."

"Stop!" Kurt snapped his head around. "You!" he yelled. A tall 8th grader stood there. Black hair, white T shirt, and khaki shorts, he looked stunning. Meilin turned her nose up. "I was doing just fine, Michael." Madison kicked her sister. "Yeah, but how long would you have lasted against the other five?" Meilin shoved back. "Shut up!" Michael ignored the girls, walked forward, and punched Kurt. "Leave them alone. Why do you want a pink book, anyway? I never knew you were so feminine, Kurt." Mike had Kurt's team laughing hysterically at him. Some of them were on the floor, rolling, and holding their sides as Mike scorned him.

"Girls, I believe class starts soon. Let's get you inside." The girls nodded. Meilin stepped on, not over Kurt. The boy moaned, but his friends deserted him, not wanting to be caught.

~*~

In Japan, Li was training Syaoran after school. "Higher. To the side. Are you even watching?" Syaoran dropped his sword, panting. "We've been working 2 hours! Aren't we done yet?" Li remembered Sakura's smiling face, and set his jaw. "No. We won't be done until you're better than I am." Li relaxed, and smiled. "You've done well. Go take a break. I'm going to continue." Syaoran shrugged. "Knock yourself out." Grabbing a soda pop, Syaoran settled in to watch his uncle. "Would you stop staring?" Li yelled. Syaoran smiled. "Why? You're not nervous, are you?" Syaoran flung his sword at his nephew. Syaoran was too scared to move. It landed on the side of his slipper, not even a centimeter from his foot. Syaoran swallowed. Now Li was smiling. "Throw it back!" Syaoran picked up his uncle's ceremonial sword, and threw it toward his uncle, willing it to go through his foot. It landed a foot from him. Syaoran's shoulders sagged. So depressing. Li grinned, and got back to work. His nephew would find some way to get even. The boy never failed to find a way.

Syaoran climbed upstairs, and decided to sit in the attic, because Li never let him. He picked up a black diary. In gold ink in the front cover was scrawled in his uncle's hand, 'to Sakura Showron, a wedding present from her husband, Li Showron' Syaoran's breath caught. He opened the book, and the first date was 1991. Syaoran stared. He was born 1991.

'May 7, 1991
I'm 14. The cards are all caught, and Eli is done strengthening me. Dad's mad, but he understands. Tori's way too mad. Li says we might move to Hong Kong if Tori's too upset. Knowing Tori, he'd like to pulverize Li. He still calls me a monster. I'm 14, and a wife now! But they don't understand. I haven't seen Meilin in a while. I wish I could see her once again if we're moving to Hong Kong. I'm such a horrible journal keeper, I doubt I'll write in this thing after today.'

Syaoran leaned back, and closed his eyes. Meilin. His mother. When did his aunt find out?

'May 10, 1991
Meilin's 14, but pregnant? I thought she and Tsue would wait. I can't believe it. He's going to be born around July. Poor Meilin! I'd wait until I was older. But a child would be nice.'

Syaoran smiled. He had come in August, right before his parent's marriage. He was slightly upset they hadn't waited, but at least their vows had been said.

'May 21, 1991
My period hasn't come. This might be normal, but it's weird. Am I pregnant?'

Syaoran's eyes widened. Did this mean Li had a kid? Where would he hide him?

'June 25, 1991
I've missed it again. It wouldn't be ten days late both months. But I don't know for sure. I shouldn't tell Li until I know for sure."

Syaoran calculated. July, August, September, October, November. 5 months. That would be why Li never liked the idea of adopting Syaoran. He'd almost had a son already.

'July 1, 1991
The doctor said it's for sure. It's not my imagination! But I shouldn't tell Li yet. With his deadlines, it would be more a burden than joy. I hope he gets a raise. We've barely got enough to eat right now, as it is!'

Syaoran was slightly nervous. Did Sakura tell Li or not?