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Chapter Five - The Second Mistress

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Sitting down for a cup of tea

Thinking back on days passed

What is it...

...that made those days so special?

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Yumiko gazed out towards the sea, as if mesmerized by its slow calm waves. I walked up to her, hands behind my back, and stood by her side to look out at the huge vastness of blue that lay ahead of us both.

'Yumiko, you say that your last name is 'Kinomoto', right?' I asked her, as she continued looking out, as if not hearing me at all, but I took it that she was too absorbed with the scenery ahead.

'Yes, my last name is 'Kinomoto'. Why?' she asked, facing me with a smooth expression. Her expression gave me a feeling that I was looking at myself somehow ... as if she were me in a way...

'Well, mine is too' I replied. 'What a coincidence'

Yumiko smiled and continued looking out at the ocean. 'The books say its good luck to meet someone with the same last name as you. Perhaps I should wish for it to come true?'

I saw that her smile slowly disappeared and she just sighed. 'Unfortunatly...if luck exists, then where is fate involved?'

I sat down, hanging my legs from the side of the dock, as my shoes slowly danced among the ocean water. 'What if fate doesn't exist?' I asked her, watching her breath out another sigh.

'What if fate controls you so much that you are blind to know that you are its own slave?' she asked me. I shrugged, that was a pretty damn good answer.

'Is there something wrong?' I asked Yumiki, and she glanced to me again. Her hair was a light brownish...tinted with a hint of grey on the tips.

'No...just a feeling' she said back, her voice as soft as ever. She sat down next to me, and just gave out a deep breath. 'Just a feeling...that I know you somehow...'

I looked down at the water, admiring its natural beauty. If only we could all just flow on just like it. 'We usually all feel that way, Yumiko.' I replied.

She smiled and suddenly gave me a friendly hug. 'Thank you stranger, I very much doubt that you aren't an angel impersonified.'

She stood up again, looking behind her. 'I must return home before my brother gets angry at me.'

'Wait!' I interrupted. 'I believe this is yours.' I pulled out the small music box from my bag and handed to her, and she gave me a look of gratitude.

'Thank you so much, I didn't even notice that I had forgotten it. I hope to see you again Ms. Kinomoto.'

'As of you' I answered, giving her the impression that I wasn't strangely affected by her presence. Just as she said she felt as if she knew me...I had the deepest emotional feeling...that...somehow...she could have been close to me at one time. That I had known her at least once in my life. That can't be though...I'm in Li's mind...the Cosmos.

As she walked away, I could only give out the idea to follow her to wherever she was going. Without even thinking about it, I just ran, silently however, ran and followed her to her home.

She walked inside, and I could hear a man talking to her. Obviously..it had to be her brother.

I stood outside, peeking through a window, as Yumiko walked into another room and shut the door. I moved over to the adjacent mirror to observe her. I had a feeling that she may do something that would give me a clue about Syaoran...or maybe a complete explanation of what is happening.

I watched her as she sat down and brushed her hair. She lay the small music box on the vanity, and lifted the lid, the tune playing out sweetly. Then, I could hear her brother call her again, as Yumiko called back and ran to him.

...somehow her brother's voice seemed so familiar to me... I don't know why either...

With Yumiko gone, I took a glance around her room. It was a small room, with only a vanity and a small bed. There was a small desk on the side...but not large enough to probably call a desk, but instead...a coffee table perhaps.

Then I saw it. Lying on the small coffee table was actually...a small wand. It looked much like my old one, but instead, had the shape of a crescent moon at the top.

Could Yumiko possibly be a...

...no...

...she couldn't be...

I could hear footsteps comming from outside the room, and a tall young man opened the door. He was tall...perhaps even as tall as Naroays when he stood on two feet.

I ducked, as the man, obviously Yumiko's brother, looked around the room.

'I could have sworn I heard something in here.' he said, scratching the back of his neck and closing the door. I stood up and walked away.

  'That was close'  I thought to myself, walking away from the window. I made my way down the street, finding mywelf at the edge of the massive floating city. I sat down, much as I did before, and took out the katana that I carried, sheathed, on my back.

   The handle was beautiful, very ornate, and the blade was a long, yet thin, piece of steel. It was a fine sword, and had a tag on it, much like the Foxes' Sword did.

   "From the grasps of the goddess, the sword, cloaked as its previous user...the hidden katana..."

    'Fine name for a fine sword' I thought to myself, and re-sheathed it. 

    I sensed someone walking towards me, and faced backwards to reveal Yumiko, wearing her nightgown and holding a plate of cookies.

    'I thought you might be here, you're not too good at sneaking up on people are you?' she asked, and I choked.

    'How did you know I was there?' I asked, trying to keep as calm as possible.

    'I could see you in the vanity mirror. Your hair should be tied down at least when you do stuff like that, especially on a windy day like today.' She said and laughed.               

    'Then maybe I will, judging from your extensive experience' I said, laughing with her. It was so embarassing, I just had to laugh it off. I can't help myself.

    She picked up a cookie and ate it, while offering me some. I picked one up and ate it...it felt good to eat something...I was hungry.

    'You know, I don't even know your name.' Yumiko brought up, looking at me at the same time.

    'My name?' I asked. Should I tell her my real name? No...

    'My name is Kyoko, Kyoko Kinomoto' I lied, but still smiled.

    'Kyoko? I see, well, you already know mine.' she shrugged. She handed me the plate, seemingly as if she knew that I was hungry. 'I have to go now. You don't need to return the plate, my father works at the pottery mill and brings a lot home.

    'Thank you, Yumiko' I said back to her, literally swallowing the cookies with all my hunger involved.'

    She waved and ran home. I sat, eating and admiring the beautiful moonlit ocean. Tomorrow I would continue my journey...whether it wear me out before I leave Maidel or not...

       ...Li...I am comming for you...

    ~to be continued