Masterful!
By: Kamika Farinas
Shout-outs!!!
The Princess of Light: Heheh. . .Thanks!!! ^_^ I'm glad you like the story!! And I'm HOPING to get started on CCB if I just get off my lazy butt.
Littlewolfalex: Well. . . I WASN'T able to let Meiling punch Hiroshi on the NOSE per say. . . But maybe the injury he has here is better? Hehehe. . And I'll EVENTUALLY tell who that person is. . . he'll help out later on. . .
Meimei meiling-chan: Arigato!!! I LUV the name!! Is your favorite character Meiling by any chance?? *giggles* Yeah it would have been great if Meiling and Hiroshi kissed. . . but Hiroshi hasn't fallen for her. . . YET. . . ^_^ *grins*
Now just an advertisement: VISIT MY MEILING SITE!!!! Turn My Way: www.geocities.com/maagirl_2000
Cards captured: Flame (Firey), Nightmare (Dream), Blare (Silent), Sink (Float), Clear (Erase), Aqua (Watery), Sour (Sweet), Thorn (Wood), Appear (Erase)
Disclaimer: If you HAVEN'T seen this in the OTHER 17 chapters. . Then I don't know where you've been. . .
Chapter Eighteen
Sakura sighs as she stares out the window. Everyone had seemingly left her alone in the house or was doing something else. Tomoyo had confined herself in the room after hearing Eriol's news. Eriol had vanished after a few minutes since Sakura last checked up on him and Touya and Yukito had left for some walk around Hong Kong, checking out the sites. Meiling had too left to go off and meet Hiroshi once again. Syaoran was in the kitchen right now, cooking off a storm. She was left alone with Kero-chan by her side, staying silent.
She hears the steps of Syaoran walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs, probably to go take a nap in her mind. She sighs again as she continues to look out. "There's really NOTHING to do today." Her comment came a minute late as suddenly vines approach from the ground and grab her by the ankle, flipping her over. "Ack!!!" She exclaims as she watches Kero-chan get flipped over too.
With Meiling. . .
Meiling sighs as she walks down the street. "Gomen ne Hiroshi! I didn't mean to hit you that hard. . ." She says in apology as she walks down the street. Right behind her was a black eyed Hiroshi, an injury given through another one of their spars.
Hiroshi nods, "It's all right, Meiling-sama. It was only a result of our spar, I'm okay." He says just before he twitches from the pain.
She rushes ahead, getting ready to enter the house hold when she smashes into a barrier right outside. She gasps and turns around to see Hiroshi smiling back at her. Her face filled with worry, she shakes it off and tells him, "Gomen. . ."
He looks at her in confusion just as she aims for a specific spot in the neck. She hits against the spot causing him to turn unconscious.
Meiling bites her lip, full of worry. She touches the barrier and it shows its form around the house. "Someone powerful put this. . ." She mutters in analysis. She sighs as she pulls out a necklace from underneath her clothes. "I was hoping not to have to use this until the end." With her eyes closed, she starts to say a chant.
From a tree, Yelan's eyes widen. "What does that girl think she's doing?? Is she. . . Calling on her wand??"
Meiling's necklace floats on the air as she speaks, "I call on the powers of the moon, expose your moon light and release the power held inside. Reveal your true form to me!(1)" The necklace reveals a staff, the length of Eriol's staff with a bell on the top which had red ribbons hanging from the ends. A golden ring encircles the bell with Chinese symbols saying Meiling.
Meiling holds her staff firmly in her hand as she closes her eyes. "I'll get you out of there Sakura-chan. . . I'll get you out!!" She hits her staff against the barrier, breaking it open but with a struggle.
Yelan gasps, "Impossible! Meiling can't have that strong of powers!"
Meiling pushes her staff down, struggling to keep the hole still in the barrier, in time for her to enter. She turns behind her to see the hold disappear and Hiroshi lying just outside. "Hiroshi. . . Gomen. . ." She says before she turns on her heel and dashes inside, throwing the door open and somehow, behind her the door shuts.
Yelan growls as she jumps down from the tree. She spots Hiroshi's figure and blinks. "What the. . ." She starts to say as she approaches the body. Suddenly, Hiroshi stands up and smiles at Yelan.
"Li-san." He says with a smirk.
Her eyes widen once again as she bows, "It's you!! What are you doing here??"
Hiroshi shakes his head as he crosses his arms. "You chose the WORST times to appear Li-san. . .I was just about to enter the household where Blossom and Wolf lie. . . But now I can't because YOU decided to use a card NOW!" he scowls at her.
Yelan keeps facing the ground. "I'm sorry sir! I had no idea that you would come today!"
He growls at her in aggravation. "Just leave! I'll handle this!"
She nods and throws down a ball of smoke. Hiroshi coughs as the smoke enters his lungs. "And you'll have to change your exit!!!" He curses again and shakes his head. He starts to prepare in causing some kind of spell when he hears the voices of two males. His eyes widen as he falls to the ground suddenly, hoping they hadn't caught him.
"Touya-kun! I'm serious. . . I think Sakura-chan's in trouble!" Yukito urges as he drags Touya towards the house. Touya sighs as he looks at the house to find it standing still from the corner.
"It looks fine! Now let's go back to that house!" Touya complains.
Yukito walks towards the house and stops just short of the barrier. He knocks on it showing the barrier for a split second. Chuckling, he turns to Touya.
"Okay. . You were right. . ." Touya says as he walks towards the house, this time spotting out Hiroshi's body. "Who's this??" Touya wonders as he notices that he was unconscious.
Yukito shrugs as he stares at the barrier, "This is powerful, there's no way we can cut through it. . ." He states.
Touya's eyes widen as he turns to Yukito. "But then. . ."
Yukito nods, "Sakura-chan's on her own. . ."
Hiroshi lies on the ground, listening to the conversation. 'They know about Sakura and the cards. . . Who are these people?!' He wonders.
With Meiling. . .
Meiling bursts into the room only to find Sakura and Kero-chan 'hanging' around, with the help of a few branches or a LOT of vines. She sweatdrops, "Do you need help??" She asks, slightly giggling.
Sakura looks at Meiling from her position, trying to keep her skirt from falling over her head. She freaks out, "What do you THINK?? You think we LIKE hanging upside down?!?!?!" She screams in aggrivation.
Meiling sweatdrops, "Okay Sakura-chan. . ." She holds up her staff and the ring starts to rotate around the bell. At the tip of the bell, a stream of light travels straight towards Sakura somehow causing the vines to untwist and sink back into the ground.
Sakura sighs as she falls to the ground. "Arigato Meiling-chan. . ." Kero-chan stretches as he is released from his own set of vines.
"I never knew you had a staff, brat girl." He comments with a smile.
"I don't get it! I rescue you and you proceed to insult me." Meiling grumbles with her hands on her hips.
Kero-chan was just about to comment when suddenly a scream comes from upstairs.
Sakura gasps, "That's Tomoyo-chan!" She exclaims, immediately racing upstairs to help her friend. Meiling and Kero-chan follow behind her. Sakura throws the door open to find Tomoyo stuck in her own set of vines.
Meiling blinks as she looks around the room. "Why is it all bright purple??" She questions.
"I'm not in the position to answer questions, Meiling-chan!" Tomoyo squeals as she hangs upside down.
Meiling sweatdrops as she does the same thing as she did with Sakura. Tomoyo sighs as she gets up from the ground.
"We're going to have to pin-point the card's location, Sakura-chan." Kero-chan says as he floats in the air.
Sakura nods as she closes her eyes, sensing the location of this card. "It's in the basement." She says suddenly, rushing down. Meiling sighs as she follows behind her, as do Kero-chan and Tomoyo.
She stands with her wand in hand, right at the door inside the basement. She recognizes the work of this card, as the other card in the deck. "Wood Card!" She yells, releasing the same card.
Kero-chan's eyes widen. "No!"
Sakura blinks as she pulls back the card, reverting it back to card form.
"Sakura-chan. . . You have the right idea but this isn't the Earthy Card."
"Hoe?? Then how will I capture it?" She asks.
"This is the SAME as Earthy only it's weakness is not trees this time. Now do you know how deserts are created??"
Sakura blinks, "Well. . . Doesn't that happen when there's not enough water and. . . the wind blows away the top layer of soil?" She questions, not seeing how it was relevant.
"I don't know. I was just asking you." Kero-chan says as everyone face faults.
"Kero-chan!" Sakura frowns. She shakes her head and sighs, "I guess it's worth a try!" She exclaims as she pulls out two cards. "Firey! Burn the ground!"
Firey launches at the ground, burning at the ground. It turns back into a Card just as Sakura releases her second card. "Windy! Blow away the dirt!" She commands. As the wind blows away, a small shrub appears from underneath, with little swirly eyes. "Clow Card! Return to thy true form!" With that command, the shrub forms into a female, looking exactly like the Earthy except seeming a bit older in age. Sakura holds the newly formed card with the words The Ground on it.
"WAI!!!" Tomoyo screams suddenly.
Meiling, startled, turns quickly to her friend. "What is it?" She asks.
Tomoyo pouts, "I forgot my camcorder!" Everyone face faults once again.
Sakura sighs, "Tomoyo-chan. . ."
Meiling suddenly gasps as she races upstairs and outside. Sakura, Tomoyo and Kero-chan blink and shake their heads.
"I wonder what that was. . ." Sakura says as she heads up the stairs to see Yukito and Touya who had an unconscious boy in his arms. Meiling stands before them, slightly worried.
Touya lays the boy on the couch, just as the boy starts to awaken. Meiling rushes to his side. "Hiroshi??"
Hiroshi groans as he holds his head. "Meiling-sama. . . Why'd you lunge at me?" He asks.
Meiling sweatdrops, "I. . . I DIDN'T lunge. . . I. . . um. . . I tripped!! I knocked you unconscious. . . Gomen. . ." She says looking down at the ground.
Hiroshi smiles at her, "It's okay. . ."
Meiling gasps, "Where are my manners?" She turns to the 4 people that were gathered behind her. "Hiroshi meet my friends, Sakura, Tomoyo, Sakura's older brother, Touya, and Touya's best friend, Yukito." Meiling smiles, "Everyone, this is Hiroshi!"
The group exchanges small "Hellos" and "Nice to meet you."
"I should be getting you an ice pack Hiroshi. . ." She says as she stands up.
"Li-san. . . I need to talk to you." Touya says with a worried face. Meiling nods as she enters the kitchen. Right behind her was Touya and Yukito.
Sakura excuses herself and walks upstairs to her room to freshen up. Tomoyo also excuses herself and locks herself in her room, leaving Hiroshi sitting by himself in the Living Room.
With Meiling. . .
"What's wrong Kinomoto-san??" Meiling asks as she looks through the refrigerator, looking for an ice pack.
Touya leans against the counter, picking up an apple and biting into it. "Normally I wouldn't care about any body related to the brat but that Hiroshi guy. . . . he seems strange. . ."
Meiling turns to Touya, "What do you mean?" She asks.
He sighs, "I don't know. . . There's just something about him that I can't seem to tell. . . Just be careful Li-san. You're one of my Kaijuu sister's close friends, and I'd rather look out for you." Touya explains.
She smiles, "Arigato, Kinomoto-san demo. . . I know that Hiroshi isn't bad. . ." She grabs an ice pack and walks out. "Don't worry about me!"
Yukito chuckles from the table, "You have a great job of looking out for Sakura-chan's friends. Do you STILL think that you don't have a sister complex?"
Touya glares at his friend. "Shut up." Yukito just chuckles again at his response.
With Sakura. . .
Sakura steps out of her room, about to walk down. She freezes right before the top of the staircase, hearing the ring of Hiroshi's cell phone. Hiroshi picks it up and answers as Sakura hides and listens on.
"Moshi Moshi. Hiroshi speaking." She listens on as Hiroshi answers most with a "Yes" and a nod.
"Yes, I know my mission. . . . I have already entered the household of Blossom and Wolf."
Sakura gasps, 'Blossom? Wolf?? Could. . . Could that mean me and Syaoran??'
"That's right. . . Ruby has ALREADY let me in. . . So gullible. . ."
Sakura resists releasing her Firey card on him. 'He was just using her!!!!' "That. . . That ASS!" She says accidently TOO loud.
Hiroshi looks up hearing a noise coming from upstairs. "I'll call back later. ." He says, immediately hanging up. He stands up cautiously and heads towards the stair case. "Hello? Is anybody here??" He asks out loud. (He only heard the last part. . .The S!)
Sakura bites her lip as she presses herself against the wall, not making ANY movement in case he would hear her.
"Hiroshi??" Meiling's voice kicks in.
Hiroshi whips around to see Meiling standing by the bottom step with an ice pack in hand. "Oh Meiling-sama. . . I thought I heard a noise. . ." He says as he walks down, "But it must have been my imagination. . ."
Sakura exhales calmly, keeping her aura at low, knowing now that he must be capable of some type of magic if he was after her and Syaoran. She listens carefully as Meiling and Hiroshi return to the Living Room and start to talk. She takes this opportunity to rush into Syaoran's room. Quickly closing the door, she leans against it with her eyes closed. She slides down in despair. "What am I going to do?" She mutters softly, her eyes filling with tears.
With Eriol. . .
Eriol holds his bags as he approaches the house he was looking for. Without having to knock the door opens and the smiling face of Fujitaka Kinomoto appears.
Eriol bows, putting his bags on the ground. "Fujitaka Kinomoto-san."
Fujitaka chuckles, taking the bags in his hand. "Eriol Hiiragizawa-san. . . You do not have to bow at your other half."
Eriol stands straight, "I see that you have been expecting me. . ." He comments as he enters the house behind Fujitaka.
Fujitaka leads him to the kitchen, putting the bags to the side of the room. "Yes. . . It isn't too hard to spot your dark blue aura." He chuckles as he adds in, "Would you like anything to eat or drink?"
Eriol shakes his head as he sits by the table, "No. . . The quicker I have this done. . . the better Fujitaka-san."
"Yes, I agree. Now I assume that you are to tell me why you are here."
"Knowing my other self, you already know."
Fujitaka chuckles, "Yes I do know. . . I'm sorry to say but I do not know where the Second Book is."
"Yes, it is true that the second book does NOT reside in Tomoeda but there is one way we can find it."
"And what would that be if I may ask?"
"We must. . . combine our staffs and call on a pin-pointing spell."
Fujitaka blinks in confusion, "Our staffs? But I do not have a staff to speak of."
Eriol grins as he pulls out another necklace, different from his own. "This is yours. I was holding on to it until we would truly need it."
Fujitaka takes the necklace in his hand, "Well. . . All that's left is to do the magic. But how do I call on my staff?"
"A chant of course. Your chant is merely the same as mine but instead of darkness, you would say lightness."
Fujitaka nods, "Let's get ready then."
To Be Continued. . .
(1) Yes the chant is REALLY bad!! I'm sorry. . It was the best I could come up with. . . *sweatdrops* I assumed she had moon power since she's part of the Li Clan and they have moon powers more than anything. Okay?
Gomen. . . I ended it there since I had NO idea what to do. . . But anyway. . . Sakura captured another card!!! Not only that. . .She finds out something about Hiroshi that she doesn't like. . . What's she going to do?! Well. . . See you for the next chapter!!! Bye!!!