Author's notes: I'm sorry for not updating for a time; I wish Muses sold in bottles. Thanks to all for reviewing; your evaluations are the inspiration for my works. Thank You!! ^_-

Note: This chapter is dedicated to my personal Muse Nicole and all my reviewers. Thanks! Love you all!

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Chapter 17 - On the Flip Side of Everything

(Palace)

~Hope Ming-kun's plan works¡­~ Kico carefully balanced the tea tray in her hands.

Taking a deep breath, the sandy-haired girl knocked on the door to her brother's chamber.

"Come in" A voice sounded inside

"Creeeeaaaak¡­"

Kico slowly push the door open "Tea, oniisan"

The Mage sat atop his chair, staff in hand.

"You may go" The silver-eyed wizard commanded after the girl place the tray on the table.

"Hai" Kico gently shut the door behind her

~Hmm¡­what is that girl up to?~ Silver eyes followed the retreating figure

The wizard picked up a cup of tea and sipped gingerly. Soon the lids to his eyes fluttered. The black-haired teen massaged his temples as if chasing away a deep headache. Soon, he was fast asleep, his head burrowed in his arms.

Ming gently opened the door and tiptoed to slowly coax the staff loose from the grasp of the sleeping mage.

"I can't believe it's that easy" the jade-eyed boy grinned, returning "We should have done that a long time ago"

The sandy-haired girl nodded in agreement. She reached for the oval-shaped garnet on top of the staff, attempting to remove it.

"Oro?!" As Kico touched the stone an eerie scarlet glow surrounded her. The light became more intense and brilliant until Ming had to shield his eyes from the piercing rays.

Suddenly, the brightness vaporized. Before Ming stood a girl around 17 of age. Her long chestnut brown tresses reaching to her lower waist. Lengthy, untidy bangs framed her face. Her menacing silver eyes held no mercy as it appear to glow with unnatural radiance. The corner of her lips curved into a somewhat half smile slightly revealing the points of her fangs. The girl was dressed in a scarlet kimono with intricate black swirling patterns tied by a cream-colored obi sash.

"Who are you?" the former card master narrowed his eyes at the girl

"Why Min-kun, don't you recognize me?" The teen spoke in a smooth tone

She levitated a few inches above the ground and slowly encircled around him, resembling that of a lioness circling her prey.

"K-Kico-chan?!" The brown-haired boy's eyes widen at the sudden realization

"In the flesh" She let out a low chuckle, flashing her fangs.

"Wha-¡­How¡­?"

"I'm not a nine-year old little girl anymore" The brown-haired girl faced him "I am now the Yami no Kisaki, the empress of the Shadow Universe"

"What happened to you?" the boy finally found his toung

"What ever do you mean? This is the real me, at the height of my powers"

"One minute you're¡­" Ming dwindled his hand in mid-air gesturing Kico's height "Next you're¡­like this!"

"The powers of the garnet stone changed me" came the curt reply "There are greater task at stake for me to do. I will spare your life this once."

"Matte!" Ming called out

She closed her eyes as she phased through the pavement beneath her feet and disappeared.

"W-What happened to me?" Within the Mage's chambers, Taiki stirred ~I-I am free¡­I'm free from my dark side¡­I really am! But¡­how?~

The former Mage stood beside the doorway watching as his sister vanish ~Oh. Imouto, what have you done?~

"You!" Ming's eyes shift to the stunned brother

"I'm not¡­who you think I am" Taiki put up his hands in a gesture of peace "I'm being sincere"

"Hoe?" The boy worn an expression his mother often used ~What is going on? Is this some sort of trick? But the Mage¡­he seems¡­different¡­is he really telling the truth?~

"I'll explain later" Calm silver eyes reveled a tone of uneasiness "now we have to get back to your friends, we really need their help"

"Why should I trust you?" The former card master narrowed his eyes at the wizard

"You have no other choice!" The statement was strong, unwavered "Now, come on! We do not have any time to waste."

Ming reluctantly stood beside the ebony-haired teen as he teleported the both of them back.
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(Tomeda)

"I hate warm weather" Syaoran scowled

"Oh, Syaoran-chan" The violet-eyed girl hide a smile "must you be so negative? If you would just wear a-"

"Don't even think about it Tomoyo" The amber-eyed girl grumbled

"You'll look really kawaii in a dress Li-san" Taeia added

"I will not wear a dress even if you thrown me in an oven" The Little Wolf insisted

"Suit yourself" The girls shrugged

"I'm afraid I have to agree with my cute descendent on this one" Start the young English woman

"Will you stop calling me that Hiiragizawa!" Syaoran hissed, shot a dirty look at the girl beside Tomoyo.

Before she can reply, Taiki and Ming landed in front of the card captor gang.

Both of them found themselves in the presence of five girls

Ming spotted Syaoran and Eriol. He bit his lips struggling not to laugh.

The former boys shot Ming a "laugh-and-die" glare

The former Card Master cleared his throat

"Ming-kun?!" Taeia's eyes widened a fraction. She quickly pulled him into a hug ~I can't believe Ming-kun is back! Why am I not as excited seeing him?~

"Taeia-chan¡­" The boy embraced her close ~It's good to be back. You have no idea how much I missed you¡­~

"Who are you?" Sakura asked the black-haired boy, voicing everyone's question.

"My name is Rae Taiki, I was the one known as The Mage" Silver eyes darting nervously

Upon hearing these words¡­the card captor gang tensed, then made a grab for their own magic devices, preparing to battle at any moment.

"Before you murder me¡­please let me explain" The boy sweat dropped "I'm not who you think I am"

"Then I suggest you enlighten us, before we do some major damage to you" Taeia threatened

"Hai" The boy gulped

Syaoran practically growled at Taiki, not taking her eyes off what she considered an 'untrustworthy threat'.

"Who you know as The Mage is¡­my dark side" He started

"Dark side?"

"Through the ruby stone that was on top of my staff, it could separate one's ying and yang" Taiki recalled the tale "Legend foretold the story of three sisters, Mekajii, Sumako, and Sofaeia. They were the ones who control the balance of power in the universe. Each one controls their respective domains, Heaven, Earth and the Shadow realm. The youngest sister, Sofaeia, who controls the shadow domain, fell in love with a mortal prince. Since it was forbidden for her to love. She gave up her ruling and ran away with him. That was when the equilibrium of good and evil was thrown into chaos. Mekajii and Sumako went to Earth to take their sister back to the Shadow domain. Once they found her they will kill all of her offspring in fear that they will revolt against them someday. Sofaeia was determined to protect her family, so she sealed all her powers in an oval-shaped gem and gave it to her eldest child. That would protect her children form her sisters. That was why the Rae Clan posses the Eye of Power, because they are direct descendants of Sofaeia. The crystal was passed from parent to the eldest child. It was suppose to enhance one's powers, but if it lands in the hands of the wrong child, that is to say, not the eldest, it would bring out their darker side, and thus turn the stone from its original color of white to red."

"That means you're not the eldest, ne?" Ming speculated

"I¡­" Taiki gained a befuddled expression on his face "I don't know"

"Hoe? How can you not know?" Sakura frowned confused

"Well, I don't have any elder siblings that I know of"

"But then¡­why would the stone bring out your dark side?" Tomoyo joined in

"That is what I'm confused about" The former Mage shrugged "you see, eve if the Eye of Power turns people evil, it produces a calling"

"A calling?" The young reincarnation thought this over

"I don't exactly know how to describe it" "It kind of has a connection with the first born. It constantly drawls itself to the right owner, but I never felt that calling"

"Maybe you have a step sister or brother you didn't know about"

"Perhaps"

"That still does not explain what happened to Kico¡­" Ming gained a frown

"Who is Kico?" was the question on everyone's minds

"That is my younger sister" Taiki replied "What happened was, Kico didn't know about the Eye of Power in the first place. She just though I was like this because of¡­my past. She didn't know that if she touch the stone, then¡­then *she* will turn into her evil side and I will be released."

"Oh" Ming understood, but the others are still trying to understand "Minna-san, let's go back to me and Taeia's apartment. I will explain the whole thing with Kico there."

"The important thing is to convince her to give up the gem. As her powers grow¡­she will be corrupted by the evil and lose her perspective." Taiki told Ming "I don't think I can stand it if I lose another family member. "

"I understand" The jade-eyed boy nodded "We have to find your older sibling and fast¡­before it's too late"

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(Cavern)

It was a large dark cavern. The constant dripping of water can be heard. Green mosses and fungi grew on the walls. The girl slowly walked to the inner chamber where a fork path leads in different directions. Kico hesitated before stepping into left path. Before her came an opening to a fresh body of underground river. The girl levitated, the corner of her robes almost touching the surface. On the other side, she encountered a wall of rigid limestone. The girl seems to be looking for something as she traced a path down the sturdy structure. Suddenly, her hand stopped and pressed at a hollow spot.

With a large rumble, the barrier split open to reveal a short narrow passage. She stepped into the tunnel and soon came upon a large doomed opening. With a flicker of her hand, torches came alive with flickering flames, lighting the dark compartment. A great throne sat erect to the right. Spiky vines wrapped itself all around a large shelf containing mystical volumes and differently colored potions.

"Come my demonic minions" She commanded

"We have awaited centuries for your return o Dark Queen" Slowly, faces and figures melted out of the shadows and gathered in front of the girl.

"Bring me my globe" Kico decreed

One oni kneeled before her, clutching a glass orb in both hands

"Be away" she took the sphere

"As you wish" The demons bowed and disappeared

She concentrated her ki and conjured up a vision of the card captors.

~The Shadow Realm will triumph over the Earthly Realm once again¡­bring into the world its next Dark Age. I will have my vengeance upon those my sisters watched over!~ The Yami no Kisaki peered into the ball. A voice unlike her own whispered lightly ~ How could you possibly live with yourself, knowing that thousands of innocent lives will be perished? This is wrong and you know it! Don't do this¡­douzo¡­~

~Oh do be quiet! What do you know? I will not end up like one of those goody-goodies. I am a royal queen after all, I have certain responsibilities which I must do¡­~ Kico sighed unable to focus, trying to make peace with the warring sides within her conscience. ~You are good, I know it¡­~
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(Omijika Collage)

"I mean, think about it" The dark brown haired young man leaned back in his chair "Is there really a right or wrong? Who decides if one person is correct and another is incorrect? Its all a state of mind."

"Oh, but if one person murders another, can we really say that what they did was just?" replied Kagi to his friend.

It was a free period at Omijika Collage.

The false form of the moon guardian laced his fingers in the back of his head and laid back, crossing his long legs. He raised a skeptical eyebrow at his best friend.

"Well, that is just another question of morality" Respond Jiichi folding his hands much likes a physiatrist. He was what might be best described a volume of mysteries and surprises, with laughing silver eyes and a heart-shaped face framed by unevenly trimmed dark-brown locks. He was a full head taller than the particularly petite Kagi, but lithe also. However, his energetic appearance belied a quick and perceptive wit -- when it came to verbal sparring, even the teachers are impressed. "The murder may think it's righteous, but we don't necessarily think so. Much like when a mental patient believes that he or she is sane and that other people are actually the outlandish ones. Which brings up a question. Are we the sane ones or are we really the crazy ones who consider ourselves to be normal?"

"How do you always manage to leave me speechless?"

"It's a talent I always posses" Amusement clearly shown in his voice

"How I put up with your idealistic ways is beyond me" The green-eyed Kagi threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender

"That is why *you* are my best friend" Jiichi wrapped an arm around his companion

"You are impossible" Kagi shook his head chuckling
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(Ming and Taeia's apartment)

After explaining the whole situation to detail, the whole gang understood. Taiki even turned Eriol and Syaoran back to their own bodies and gave back Ming's powers as a card master.

"Where can we start to look for your elder sibling?" Taeia sigh "We have not a single clue!"

"There are traits that all Rae clan members posses"

"Well? Spill¡­" Ming stood behind him

"First of all, all of my relatives have" He pointed to his eyes "silver color orbs"

Ming nodded thinking

"Then¡­there is that birth mark on a Rae's right arm¡­"

"A birthmark?" Re popped up

The silver-eyed young man folded his sleeves to his elbow, revealing a dark brown colored blemish in the faint shape of a triangle.

"Well, we can't ask just any gray-eyed stranger on the street to show us their arm" Syaoran added

"*That*'s the problem¡­" The black-haired wizard frowned "I'm afraid that we won't have enough time"

"Oh don't lose hope" Tomoyo comforted gently "I'm sure something will turn up¡­"

As if on cue the doorbell rang. Taeia went to open the door.

"Konnichiwa, watashi wa Kisa Jiichi desu" A brunette boy introduced himself "I'm here to see Kagi-kun for a project"

"Kagi is not here" Taeia answered "he's at the library"

He thanked her and left "Ja ne"

"Shouldn't we tell Guang about this whole situation?" Re questioned

"You can tell him when he comes back" Taeia responded to the little sun guardian
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(Library)

Jiichi arrived to find the false form of the Moon guardian writing something into his notes.

"Hey" He smiled at his friend

Kagi grinned, turning to see the brunette sitting next to him.

"I want to read that one Papa-san" A loud exclaim came next to them

A little boy pointed to a book on the upper shelf to his father.

"Alright, but shhh... other people are reading" The man took the slender book down from the shelf. His son sat on his lap, pointing to the words and laughing quietly at an inside joke. Jiichi watched the bonding moment between the two with an indescribable expression.

"Penny for your thought?"

"I never really known my father" His eyes averted "I use to just imagine what he was like¡­Mother told me that Father couldn't marry her because his parents already found a fianc¨¦e for him at the time" Jiichi continued "She didn't found out until later on that she¡­was pregnant with me¡­She heard that he had a wonderful life with his wife and children, so she didn't tell him¡­in fear that she might ruin his life¡­"

"So you never even meet your father?" Kagi asked "Somehow, I can't imagine that"

"Hey, cheer up. I have a great life with Okaasan. There's nothing more I can ask for." The silver-eyed teen granted a small smile "Let's get to work"

(After a while¡­)

"I never knew Zoology takes all this research!" The green-eyed youth stretched his arms above his head

"Me either" Gray eyes laughed as he took off his jacket revealing a white short-sleeved shirt.

"Where did you get that scar?" The ebony-haired young man raised an eyebrow

"This?" Jiichi pointed to the triangular mark "It's not a scar¡­its what I was born with"

"Oh" Kagi nodded. They went back to work.

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To Be Continued¡­
So what do you think? I'm open to suggestions and comments by e-mail and reviews. So, R&R Plez!