Chapter 22-The Second Card
Crystal slowly woke up the next morning. Out of habit, she placed her hand on her throat. As she felt nothing there, her throat constricted as tears came to her eyes. *Anomalous!*
She sighed as she quietly sat up. Crystal quietly walked up to the dresser, and ripped a petal from one of the flowers. She walked to a small white pillow laying on the plush carpet, and stuffed it in his mouth.
Austin woke, tasted his treat, and relaxed. Crystal gently lifted him up, placed him on her shoulder, and exited her guest room. Walking down the hall, she checked in Meilin's room. Her sister and friend were still sleeping.
Crystal passed Li's room. He was polishing his sword. She tapped the door, so she wouldn't scare him. He looked up, startled. She smiled. "I'm going out." Li rose, and met her at the door. "Are you sure you're okay? After yesterday?" Crystal forced a smile. "When you meet people who are intent on killing you, and it seems they're going to get away with it, how would you feel?" Li swallowed, and some color drained from his face. Crystal smiled. "Point made."
Li looked at the clock. "It's not even seven!" Crystal laughed softly. "For my mission here, I wake at 6:30 sharp each morning, just as I would in normal time." Li smiled. "Where are you going?" Crystal shook her head, smiling. "I have my customs as you do, Li Showron." Li sheathed his sword, and followed Crystal's retreating form.
Crystal walked to the park, and sat beneath a cherry tree. After a moment of conferring, Austin flew off into a stray patch of wildflowers. From a distance, Li watched Crystal pray, sometimes crying, sometimes singing, and sometimes he just couldn't comprehend her expression. In an hour, Austin flew out, covered in nectar, and laughing, Crystal rinsed her friend in the stream by her stone house. She entered in her kimono, and returned in her school uniform. Li hurried home. She was headed straight back to his apartment.
*How can she be that focused?*
Meilin stretched. kicked Alyson, and made her bed. Alyson slowly rose, and gave her hair the ritual 50 strokes. both girls dressed, and started making breakfast.
Meilin brightly entered Li's room. Smiling, she said, "Put your sword away, and come out and eat, Li!" She opened her eyes, and saw his sword sitting on top of his ceremonial robes.
*He finished early? Where would he go?*
Squeals were heard from the kitchen. Meilin ran back. *Now what?*
In the kitchen, Alyson was gripping the sink rim tightly. "You sure know how to sneak up on your sister!" Crystal smiled, dressed in her school uniform, and Austin floating slightly left of her head. Meilin asked, "What happened?" Alyson laughed and let go of the sink. "My sister just came in the front door, when I thought she was in bed sleeping." Crystal smiled. "Li will be coming through in 3...2...1..." The door opened, and Li stood there panting. He looked at Meilin, and asked, "Did I beat her?" Crystal laughed. "No, but you would have if I hadn't seen you. I left early, because I didn't want to make you wait as I-" Crystal was still smiling, but she refused to speak again on the subject.
Breakfast was pleasant, and chatter between the girls covered Li's silence. But Li's mind kept repeating the morning walk. Tears dropping, she'd raised her hands, her tear stained face clearly focusing on something unseen. She finished speaking, looked down, and saw him. She gave him a nod, and prayed for another 15 minutes.
Alyson and Crystal entered together, and Meilin was hanging on Li's arm. Sakura ran toward the group, excitement sparkling in her emerald eyes. "She's gone-for good!"
Crystal exchanged a smile with Alyson. Only one girl knew how it happened, and Crystal was not going to ruin her mission by telling her friends, although Alyson knew more than the rest, Crystal knew her sister would keep her lips sealed.
~*~*~
Alex had seemed to have lost his feelings for Alyson.
*Why can't one of them leave?*
*Which one should go?*
*You think I have any idea?*
*Why am I talking to myself?*
*How should I know?*
*I wish one would just decide to leave!*
*They won't, you know.*
*Yes, but I can't hurt either of them.*
*Do you care for Alyson?*
*Well, I think I did, before I got to know Crystal...*
Alex sat up. "No. I won't think about this."
Anomalous Confusion smiled. "No, you shouldn't be. Why did you make me write that?"
Alex jumped, and blushed. "You mean you're including that? Can't you delete it?" Anomalous Confusion smiled sweetly. "Not after you made me type it!"
{Anomalous Confusion disappears, and Alex throws himself on his bed again.}
"I'm going to have to choose, but who?"
~*~*~
Later, the twin sisters were moving Meilin into the stone house, because they'd just finished setting Alyson up. Giggling, they watch Eli and Li try to take the most stuff to the house. Eli's doing it for the sake of doing it, Li's doing it to prove to Sakura he can do anything better than Eli. The girls are having a good time watching.
"ALEX!!!" Alyson screamed, and ran toward her friend. But Alex was solemn. Alyson's face fell. "We need to talk, Alyson."
Crystal watched the discussion, and wasn't surprised when it ended with Alyson bursting into tears, and racing to her new bunk. It went straight over Li and Sakura.
Eli nodded. "I'll keep him away. You go talk to your sister." Crystal nodded, and entered the stone building. She stopped, closed her eyes, and listened as an icy cold wind blew by. Crystal felt it, and anger surged through her veins.
"Alyson? Come down! Alex didn't mean what he said." Alyson's sobs merely intensified. Crystal stomped up the stone steps. Her sister had thrown herself across her bunk, and was wailing at the top of her lungs, "HE HATES ME!! HE HATES ME!!" Crystal grabbed her sister by the shoulders, and shook her. "Listen to me, Alyson." She whispered, and quietly waited for her sister's sobbing to stop.
Alyson sniffed, and her miserably wet eyes met Crystal's. "He says he's loved you since he first saw you. When he thought you were dying, he decided I was second best, and felt I deserved to know that he loves you." Crystal smiled. "Thank you! I knew you would help!"
Alyson stopped crying. "What did I say?" Crystal smiled. "This is a card. And it feels sorry for you, because Alex is thinking about letting you go, and it feels sorry for me, because I feel no one will ever love me. And Meilin and you are feeling sorry for me, so you're moving in. Another word for feeling sorry is-" The sisters said it together, Alyson's eyes brightening as it dawned on her. "Pity!"
Crystal smiled at Eli as she exited the house. He smiled, glad that Alyson was able to help her. Alyson walked over to Meilin, and with animated gestures, explained.
Alex's eyes softened as he saw Crystal. But Crystal was furious with him, even if it was unintentional.
SLAP!!!
Alex gasped, and held his cheek. "Keep your pity! I don't want it! I've never wanted pity before, and I don't want it now! If I die alone, so be it! I don't want your fake love, that's only there because you're sorry for me! And you, card! How DARE you infiltrate Alex's emotions! Either you immediately return to your card, or I will destroy you!"
Alex shook violently as a small girl made of water drops came out, and smiled sympathetically at Crystal.
Here I am, mistress. I only thought it would make you feel better if he dated you.
Crystal said her chant.
"Heaven has a ring around it I have never seen it With my eyes Heaven has a ring around it If you see it, you'll know that it's true!"
The card bowed her head.
I am ready, mistress.
"Pity card, release and dispel, return to your powers confined, Moon card!"
Navy blue rain drops started thundering towards the card, out of people, out of clouds, out of cars, and other places no one would expect pity from.
Alyson smiled. "Does this mean pity is no more?" Crystal smiled back. "No, but it means that we now have the power to control it, if we want to."
~*~*~
Eli's eyes latched onto Crystal.
*So delicate, I hate to send the rest of the cards to her...*
A tall, lithe woman appeared, fluttering her wings. "Don't enjoy your victory too much, master. She'll have you figured out soon enough." Ruby Moon kicked her, and the two started fighting. Eli rolled his eyes, and turned to Spinner Sun. "Why do I do this to myself?"
Spinner merely stared at his master, refusing to speak. He hadn't been commanded to speak, and he really didn't want to upset his master, or the bickering guardians.
~*~*~
Crystal looked up at the distant tower. Alyson approached. "What is it?" Crystal shook her head, and turned to smile at her sister. "Thought I heard Anomalous. It's been a long day. What I need is a good night's sleep.
An hour later, Crystal realized Austin wasn't asleep in his little bed.
*Probably out raiding the garden again. How such small animals manage to eat so much I'll never know.*
But Kero and Spinner are gone as well. And Eli and Sakura don't know why, either..
Crystal slowly woke up the next morning. Out of habit, she placed her hand on her throat. As she felt nothing there, her throat constricted as tears came to her eyes. *Anomalous!*
She sighed as she quietly sat up. Crystal quietly walked up to the dresser, and ripped a petal from one of the flowers. She walked to a small white pillow laying on the plush carpet, and stuffed it in his mouth.
Austin woke, tasted his treat, and relaxed. Crystal gently lifted him up, placed him on her shoulder, and exited her guest room. Walking down the hall, she checked in Meilin's room. Her sister and friend were still sleeping.
Crystal passed Li's room. He was polishing his sword. She tapped the door, so she wouldn't scare him. He looked up, startled. She smiled. "I'm going out." Li rose, and met her at the door. "Are you sure you're okay? After yesterday?" Crystal forced a smile. "When you meet people who are intent on killing you, and it seems they're going to get away with it, how would you feel?" Li swallowed, and some color drained from his face. Crystal smiled. "Point made."
Li looked at the clock. "It's not even seven!" Crystal laughed softly. "For my mission here, I wake at 6:30 sharp each morning, just as I would in normal time." Li smiled. "Where are you going?" Crystal shook her head, smiling. "I have my customs as you do, Li Showron." Li sheathed his sword, and followed Crystal's retreating form.
Crystal walked to the park, and sat beneath a cherry tree. After a moment of conferring, Austin flew off into a stray patch of wildflowers. From a distance, Li watched Crystal pray, sometimes crying, sometimes singing, and sometimes he just couldn't comprehend her expression. In an hour, Austin flew out, covered in nectar, and laughing, Crystal rinsed her friend in the stream by her stone house. She entered in her kimono, and returned in her school uniform. Li hurried home. She was headed straight back to his apartment.
*How can she be that focused?*
Meilin stretched. kicked Alyson, and made her bed. Alyson slowly rose, and gave her hair the ritual 50 strokes. both girls dressed, and started making breakfast.
Meilin brightly entered Li's room. Smiling, she said, "Put your sword away, and come out and eat, Li!" She opened her eyes, and saw his sword sitting on top of his ceremonial robes.
*He finished early? Where would he go?*
Squeals were heard from the kitchen. Meilin ran back. *Now what?*
In the kitchen, Alyson was gripping the sink rim tightly. "You sure know how to sneak up on your sister!" Crystal smiled, dressed in her school uniform, and Austin floating slightly left of her head. Meilin asked, "What happened?" Alyson laughed and let go of the sink. "My sister just came in the front door, when I thought she was in bed sleeping." Crystal smiled. "Li will be coming through in 3...2...1..." The door opened, and Li stood there panting. He looked at Meilin, and asked, "Did I beat her?" Crystal laughed. "No, but you would have if I hadn't seen you. I left early, because I didn't want to make you wait as I-" Crystal was still smiling, but she refused to speak again on the subject.
Breakfast was pleasant, and chatter between the girls covered Li's silence. But Li's mind kept repeating the morning walk. Tears dropping, she'd raised her hands, her tear stained face clearly focusing on something unseen. She finished speaking, looked down, and saw him. She gave him a nod, and prayed for another 15 minutes.
Alyson and Crystal entered together, and Meilin was hanging on Li's arm. Sakura ran toward the group, excitement sparkling in her emerald eyes. "She's gone-for good!"
Crystal exchanged a smile with Alyson. Only one girl knew how it happened, and Crystal was not going to ruin her mission by telling her friends, although Alyson knew more than the rest, Crystal knew her sister would keep her lips sealed.
~*~*~
Alex had seemed to have lost his feelings for Alyson.
*Why can't one of them leave?*
*Which one should go?*
*You think I have any idea?*
*Why am I talking to myself?*
*How should I know?*
*I wish one would just decide to leave!*
*They won't, you know.*
*Yes, but I can't hurt either of them.*
*Do you care for Alyson?*
*Well, I think I did, before I got to know Crystal...*
Alex sat up. "No. I won't think about this."
Anomalous Confusion smiled. "No, you shouldn't be. Why did you make me write that?"
Alex jumped, and blushed. "You mean you're including that? Can't you delete it?" Anomalous Confusion smiled sweetly. "Not after you made me type it!"
{Anomalous Confusion disappears, and Alex throws himself on his bed again.}
"I'm going to have to choose, but who?"
~*~*~
Later, the twin sisters were moving Meilin into the stone house, because they'd just finished setting Alyson up. Giggling, they watch Eli and Li try to take the most stuff to the house. Eli's doing it for the sake of doing it, Li's doing it to prove to Sakura he can do anything better than Eli. The girls are having a good time watching.
"ALEX!!!" Alyson screamed, and ran toward her friend. But Alex was solemn. Alyson's face fell. "We need to talk, Alyson."
Crystal watched the discussion, and wasn't surprised when it ended with Alyson bursting into tears, and racing to her new bunk. It went straight over Li and Sakura.
Eli nodded. "I'll keep him away. You go talk to your sister." Crystal nodded, and entered the stone building. She stopped, closed her eyes, and listened as an icy cold wind blew by. Crystal felt it, and anger surged through her veins.
"Alyson? Come down! Alex didn't mean what he said." Alyson's sobs merely intensified. Crystal stomped up the stone steps. Her sister had thrown herself across her bunk, and was wailing at the top of her lungs, "HE HATES ME!! HE HATES ME!!" Crystal grabbed her sister by the shoulders, and shook her. "Listen to me, Alyson." She whispered, and quietly waited for her sister's sobbing to stop.
Alyson sniffed, and her miserably wet eyes met Crystal's. "He says he's loved you since he first saw you. When he thought you were dying, he decided I was second best, and felt I deserved to know that he loves you." Crystal smiled. "Thank you! I knew you would help!"
Alyson stopped crying. "What did I say?" Crystal smiled. "This is a card. And it feels sorry for you, because Alex is thinking about letting you go, and it feels sorry for me, because I feel no one will ever love me. And Meilin and you are feeling sorry for me, so you're moving in. Another word for feeling sorry is-" The sisters said it together, Alyson's eyes brightening as it dawned on her. "Pity!"
Crystal smiled at Eli as she exited the house. He smiled, glad that Alyson was able to help her. Alyson walked over to Meilin, and with animated gestures, explained.
Alex's eyes softened as he saw Crystal. But Crystal was furious with him, even if it was unintentional.
SLAP!!!
Alex gasped, and held his cheek. "Keep your pity! I don't want it! I've never wanted pity before, and I don't want it now! If I die alone, so be it! I don't want your fake love, that's only there because you're sorry for me! And you, card! How DARE you infiltrate Alex's emotions! Either you immediately return to your card, or I will destroy you!"
Alex shook violently as a small girl made of water drops came out, and smiled sympathetically at Crystal.
Here I am, mistress. I only thought it would make you feel better if he dated you.
Crystal said her chant.
"Heaven has a ring around it I have never seen it With my eyes Heaven has a ring around it If you see it, you'll know that it's true!"
The card bowed her head.
I am ready, mistress.
"Pity card, release and dispel, return to your powers confined, Moon card!"
Navy blue rain drops started thundering towards the card, out of people, out of clouds, out of cars, and other places no one would expect pity from.
Alyson smiled. "Does this mean pity is no more?" Crystal smiled back. "No, but it means that we now have the power to control it, if we want to."
~*~*~
Eli's eyes latched onto Crystal.
*So delicate, I hate to send the rest of the cards to her...*
A tall, lithe woman appeared, fluttering her wings. "Don't enjoy your victory too much, master. She'll have you figured out soon enough." Ruby Moon kicked her, and the two started fighting. Eli rolled his eyes, and turned to Spinner Sun. "Why do I do this to myself?"
Spinner merely stared at his master, refusing to speak. He hadn't been commanded to speak, and he really didn't want to upset his master, or the bickering guardians.
~*~*~
Crystal looked up at the distant tower. Alyson approached. "What is it?" Crystal shook her head, and turned to smile at her sister. "Thought I heard Anomalous. It's been a long day. What I need is a good night's sleep.
An hour later, Crystal realized Austin wasn't asleep in his little bed.
*Probably out raiding the garden again. How such small animals manage to eat so much I'll never know.*
But Kero and Spinner are gone as well. And Eli and Sakura don't know why, either..