The Shadowed Prophecy
Jo-chan
Disclaimers: Standard CCS disclaimers apply. I do not own any of CLAMP's wonderful characters, I'm only borrowing them for the moment. Some characters that would appear are solely my own.
Chapter 4- New Arrivals
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Tap. Tap. Tap.
Murmuring sleepily, Sakura slowly opened her eyes. Kero-chan was sleeping soundly beside her as she sat up groggily, small circles appearing on top of her head.
"Hoe?" asked Sakura, slowly swiveling her head to look out the window. Her eyes opened wide and Sakura blinked her eyes rapidly as a blue line replaced her eyes.
"HOEEEEEEEEEEE!" screamed Sakura, grabbing her blanket in fright and diving under it. Her frantic movements knocked Kero-chan off the bed loudly.
"GAH!" shouted Kero-chan, jerked awake, his eyes turned to spirals. Apparently still in a state somewhere between dream and full consciousness, he began to mutter, "The horror... the horror..."
The pale face pressed tightly against Sakura's window drew back slightly and lifted a gloved hand to hold a shining ruby in front of her face.
A sweatdrop appeared on Sakura's head as she gasped, "Akizuki-san?!"
Kero-chan opened his eyes dazedly to look at the face outside. "GAH! It's another freak!" screamed Kero-chan as Touya, Fujitaka and Yukito all rushed inside Sakura's room, looking disheveled.
"Oi Kaijou!"
"Are you all right Sakura-san?"
"Is there something wrong Sakura-chan?"
Touya paused, his eyes looking like dots as he said, "Oh, it's you Akizuki..."
Ruby Moon immediately opened the window and pounced on Touya. "Touya-kun! Did you miss me? Eeewww, you smell like Yue!" exclaimed Ruby Moon wrinkling her nose as she glared at Yukito over Touya's shoulder.
"So we use the same cologne so what?!" asked Touya heatedly, trying to get Ruby Moon off his back. Yukito only smiled while Sakura watched everything with eyes like dots.
"Maa, maa(well), why don't you come downstairs for tea Akizuki-san?" invited Fujitaka, looking flustered by the rapid turn of events.
Ruby Moon turned to look at him, the other half of her Master's reincarnation. Sobering a bit, she answered, "Arigato(thanks), but no. Eriol needs to speak to Sakura-san right away."
Glancing at the time, Fujitaka nodded. "All right, since it's 5 AM, why don't you wear your uniform when you go visit Eriol-san, Sakura-san? You can go straight to school after it. Come, I'll change your bandages," said Fujitaka with a kind smile.
"HOE? Eriol-kun's back?" exclaimed Sakura, still dazed by the turn of events. First, the attack, Syaoran's decision, first day of school, sealing the dark force into a Sakura card and then this dawn visitation!
"Aa(yes), it's pretty serious. Oi(hey), you stuffed animal, you can come along, just don't eat everything! Touya-kun, Fujitaka-san, Tsukishiro-kun, you can come along if you like," said Ruby Moon.
Fujitaka shook his head. "Thank you but no. I'm looking forward to talking with my wife later on..."
"Yuki, why don't you go along with Sakura? I have a job interview tomorrow," said Touya as he yawned.
"All right," replied Yukito as he smiled at the outraged look on Ruby Moon's face. He closed his eyes as huge wings then enveloped him. Yue appeared, his arms crossed over his chest. He gave Ruby Moon a look of disdain. "Took you long enough to come back..."
Tossing her long hair, Ruby Moon ignored Yue. "Well, Sakura-chan, let's go!" said Ruby Moon as she paused to look back at Sakura who was still holding her blanket against her.
Sakura blushed. "Well... can you go out then?"
"Why?"
"Because I need to change and all of you are guys that's why!" exclaimed Sakura exasperated.
Sweatdrops appeared around the room.
"Oh right... gomen(sorry)! Hurry up then!"
"Fine!"
***************
"It's been a long time... Sakura-san," greeted Eriol as Sakura walked inside the dining room.
"Eriol-kun! Ohayo!" cried Sakura as she ran into his arms, both of them hugging each other, taking strength and comfort from each other's presence.
Inside his protective embrace, Sakura felt tears pricking her eyes. A few slid down her cheeks, tears of pain, anger and heartache. Eriol patted Sakura's back as he leaned in close to whisper, "It's all right. Everything will be okay for sure."
Smiling through her tears, Sakura nodded as she said, "I hope."
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Sakura-chan!" greeted Tomoyo who sat in the chair adjacent to Eriol's huge chair, calmly drinking a cup of tea. Tomoyo was also wearing her school uniform.
"Ohayo Kinomoto-san! Did the salve work?" asked Meilin who sat beside Syaoran who was looked briefly at Sakura then coolly averted his eyes. Meilin, who also didn't know Eriol was watching the two of them curiously. Sakura turned red when she realized that she was still hugging Eriol.
Sakura felt hurt and anger building up inside her. Syaoran just can't predict that she doesn't exist! "Ohayo Tomoyo-chan, Meilin-chan! Hai(yes), the salve worked great! The wound is almost okay now," said Sakura, smiling brightly, determinedly cheerful. Sakura took a seat next to Tomoyo.
"So, why did you call us here Eriol-kun?" asked Tomoyo as she looked at the pain in her friend's eyes worriedly.
Smiling tiredly, Eriol answered, "I'm sure everybody is now aware that we are facing an unknown adversary..."
Everybody nodded tautly, neither of them wanting to volunteer any information about the first battle.
Eriol looked from one stressed face to another and immediately concluded that the very worst has come to pass. He looked at Syaoran's face and then shifted his gaze to Sakura. He sighed deeply. Tomoyo heard it and acknowledged his suspicions with a slight nod.
"Sou ka(I see)... as bad as that?" he murmured before going back to the topic at hand. He began his story then, looking ten times wearier as he said, "A week ago, Kaho vanished..."
"What?" exclaimed Sakura and Syaoran at the same time. They looked at each other quickly and then quickly looked away. Tomoyo clenched her hands tightly in her lap and Meilin looked troubled. Yue was unperturbed as usual while Kero-chan nodded his head, having already heard the story when Eriol called.
"We had to wait a week because Eriol wanted to see if Mizuki-san will come back," added Nakuru while Spinel nodded his agreement.
"Eriol-kun, why didn't you know? I mean-- couldn't you tell the future?" asked Sakura.
"Iie(no). Before Kaho disappeared, my power for seeing the future vanished. I think that the Dark Forces blocked my magic off from seeing the future," explained Eriol wearily.
"Masaka(I can't believe it)!" exclaimed Syaoran as the ramifications of what Eriol has said sank in.
"If our enemy has that much power..." whispered Sakura and Kero-chan nodded tensely as he continued his Mistress' statement, "To block Eriol's power and at the same time attack Sakura, then how can we ever beat something as powerful as that?"
A drawn silence reigned over the room. Sakura looked down, clenching her hands. Eriol looked down at his tea gloomily as well. Syaoran gazed at Sakura's distressed face worriedly before looking away quickly.
Yue broke the silence by saying, "Nevertheless, despite the odds, we should never give up."
Ruby Moon began bouncing around. "Hai! Hai! Hai! For once, Yue is good at something! We're all together now, I'm sure we'll win!" said Ruby Moon.
Both Kero-chan and Suppi sighed as identical sweatdrops appeared on their heads.
Tomoyo smiled. "That's right! With Sakura-chan and Eriol-kun working together, I'm sure it'll be okay!" said Tomoyo as Meilin laughed and exclaimed, "Ohohoho! Of course, with my darling Syaoran, Kinomoto-san and Hiiragizawa-kun will have nothing to worry about!"
Slowly, everyone relaxed. Sakura looked up and smiled. "That's right! As long as we never give up, we'll be okay for sure!" said Sakura.
"It's nice to see a smile on your beautiful face once more Sakura-san," said Eriol gently as Sakura looked down blushing.
Anger sparks appeared on Syaoran's head. He looked away and drank the nearest drink to his hand which happened to be a mug of scalding hot, black coffee. He choked, his face turning violently red.
"Ara(Oh)? You drank my sugarless, no cream coffee? I thought you Chinese hate coffee and drink only tea... was it still too hot?" asked Suppi looking at the frozen, red Syaoran who was petrified solid by the sheer caffeine content.
"Demo(but)... I was able to seal a dark force into a Sakura-card. What does it mean Eriol-kun? Can I call upon it like my other cards?" asked Sakura as she handed the Scorch card over to Eriol.
Eriol took it and looked at the picture of the black fire. He seemed to recall something and then said, "Yes, the function of this card is now similar to your Sakura-card. Your magic strengthens every time you overcome and seal dark forces like these..."
"So does it mean that if we defeat other dark forces, we have the power to seal it too?" asked Syaoran.
"Aa(yes), as long as you have the ability to do so," answered Eriol.
"But Eriol, I don't feel comfortable facing opponents I don't know!" complained Kero.
"Gomen nasai(I'm sorry) Cerberos but aside from me, Kaho is the only person I know who can predict--" Eriol broke off and seemed to lose himself in his thoughts.
"Is there something wrong Eriol?" asked Tomoyo worriedly.
It took a few moments for Eriol to answer, "Yes, I just remembered one of Clow Reed's memories. He has a friend in Kyoto, also the guardian of a powerful shrine there. He has the same power as Kaho."
"In Kyoto you say? I remember Clow saying something about his friend Aki Nagasaki who takes care of the Tsunan Shrine," informed Yue.
"Yes, that's him! Maybe we can learn more things about the enemy if we visit him in Kyoto this weekend," exclaimed Eriol.
"Hoe?! This weekend?" asked Sakura as her eyes became dots. // Oh no! I've got to practice for my upcoming gymnastics competition! //
"Is there something wrong Sakura-chan?" asked Meilin.
"Iie(No)! Nande mo nai(nothing at all)!" replied Sakura waving her hands frantically.
"All right then, we're going to Kyoto this weekend!"
"HAI!"
***************
"Good morning class!" greeted Terada-sensei as he walked inside the classroom followed by two tall guys.
"Ohayo(Morning)!" answered the class. Sakura was smiling animatedly this morning and her cheerfulness seemed to rub off on her other classmates. Claudette's gaiety also added to the classroom's atmosphere.
Tomoyo and Meilin were also smiling, but mostly out of relief at Sakura's obvious coping with the situation. They gave each other conspiratorial smiles when Eriol and an unknown guy stood before the class with Terada-sensei.
"Class, we have two new students today. Hiiragizawa Eriol-kun has been your classmate in fifth grade before he transferred back to England. This is Yu Hsin-kun, from Singapore. Please help them out, they are a week late and would have to catch up with the lessons," introduced Terada-sensei.
Eriol smiled at the looks of surprise and recognition on everyone's faces. Hsin, a tall, handsome guys with black hair with a style similar to Syaoran's but less messy and he had bright green eyes like Sakura. He smiled and he looked like Fujima of Slamdunk.
The girls giggled and even Sakura couldn't take her eyes off him. There was a strange quality in his eyes that was attractive and compelling. Syaoran's eyes were like that but his eyes had fierceness and determination etched in their depths. Hsin's eyes were like Yukito's, kind and warm-hearted, hinting at some hidden sadness.
"Hiiragizawa-kun, take the seat in front of Daidouji. Yu-kun, why don't you take the seat in front of Kinomoto? She's the girl with green ribbons in her hair," instructed Terada-sensei as he proceeded to write today's lessons on the board.
"Hai!" said both guys as they proceeded over to their assigned seats.
For the rest of the day, the girls in class I-A were smiling ecstatically with the arrival of two new good-looking transfer students.
***************
"Ano(Um)... excuse me..." said Hsin as he looked behind him and faced Sakura.
Sakura blinked and looked up from her work in Japanese. She found herself looking into a pair of bright silver-green eyes. She could feel herself blushing as the eyes that looked into her own looked back with the same fascination.
"You have the most beautiful eyes," blurted out Hsin and then blushed slightly as he said, "Sorry. Um, I just wanted to ask the meaning of this word," said Hsin as he pointed at a particular word written on the page.
Without really thinking about it, Sakura said it aloud, reading the text, "I love you."
Hsin blushed and stammered, "Thanks."
Sakura's eyes widened when she realized what she just said. "HOE!" She frantically waved her hands in negation at the curious faces of her classmates that were watching her with Hsin. "Iie(No)! I was just translating it from his work!"
Syaoran's face seemed indifferent and yet there were anger sparks on his head. He huffed angrily and Claudette caught his eye to smile sweetly at him. He just arched a brow and turned to look outside the window. Looking intrigued, Eriol adjusted his glasses and smiled slyly. Tomoyo giggled as she held her mini video cam under her desk, filming everything.
"GAH! It's really nothing! Honest!" exclaimed Sakura, extremely flustered. Hsin also nodded up and down vigorously, his face as red as a tomato.
The girls looked at Sakura suspiciously while the guys looked at Hsin threateningly. Their teacher Morisato-sensei called their attention, effectively bringing a halt to their inquisition.
"Whew" muttured Sakura, not noticing the way Hsin kept glancing back at her and blushing.
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On the weekend.....
"Yawn... I can't believe we have to get up this early on a Sunday!" moaned Meilin as she rubbed her arms, trying to keep warm in the chilly air. She and the others were waiting for the 6 AM train for Kyoto.
"Well you brats should have just stayed home then," mocked Kero-chan with a snicker inside Sakura's knapsack.
"Shut up Kero-chan!" scolded Sakura as Yukito smiled and slipped an apple inside the knapsack, much to Kero-chan's delight. Yukito was carrying a huge bag full of food and snacks, courtesy of Fujitaka and Touya's cooking.
They were all there at the platform of the train station. For once, Sakura wasn't late because of Yukito's patient efforts. They were all dressed casually and Tomoyo was filming Sakura who wore another travel outfit she created. Sakura was wearing a simple green twin set and white skirt. She was wearing white knee socks and green suede shoes.
Tomoyo was holding her video cam and surprisingly, she also had a camera around her neck. Syaoran and Meilin stood nearby, looking sleepy.
Eriol stood beside Nakuru when Tomoyo walked up and called him, standing a few feet away. "Eriol-kun!" called Tomoyo cheerfully.
The moment Eriol turned to look at her, Tomoyo shot a picture of him. Surprised, Eriol could only stare at Tomoyo as she smiled and said, "Photojournalism is my newest hobby!"
Eriol smiled and watched Tomoyo walk away, filming a flustered Sakura and taking pictures of a protesting Syaoran.
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"We're here finally!" exclaimed Sakura as they stopped before a huge shrine.
After taking the train to Kyoto, they took a cab at the train station and asked the driver to take them to Tsunan Shrine.
"Tsunan Shrine looks a lot like the Tsukimine Shrine," observed Syaoran as they walked inside warily.
They walked around a bit, and slowly entered the largest building. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy and Sakura moved closer to Yukito.
"Hoe... I hate dark places," whispered Sakura, her eyes opened wide.
"Stupid, there are no ghosts in daylight!" said Syaoran, not looking back at Sakura.
"Oh yeah? What makes you so sure about that?" retorted Sakura angrily, immediately forgetting her fear.
Suddenly, a figure slowly rose from sitting in front of the fire. Shadows played upon the stranger, as the fire concealed his identity.
"HOE! A ghost!" screamed Sakura in fright.
Alert, everyone waited for the stranger to introduce himself.
"What ghost? I'm just the cool and handsome guardian of the Tsunan Shrine," answered the figure as he began to slowly walk towards them.
A sweatdrop appeared on everyone's heads. Meilin sighed as she whispered to Tomoyo sarcastically, "And modest too no doubt..." She looked back at the figure who was still walking slowly towards them. "If you're a good-looking as you say you are, why don't you show yourself then?" challenged Meilin.
"Hahaha! Walking slowly adds more suspense," informed the guy. "Besides, I already know who you guys are, I saw you in my vision," he finished as he began to step forward into the light slowly.
"So you're Aki Nagasaki then?" asked Syaoran, not liking his arrogant attitude.
The guy slowly stepped forward, revealing first the fact that he was wearing a red and white shrine apparel. His bright orange hair gleamed brightly as he slowly lifted his head to face them.
He looks like Tasuki (from his orange hairdo and his pointed fang) and his face was like Tamahome (masculine and handsome with dark eyes). He smiled arrogantly, noticing the stunned looks on everybody's faces.
"Yo! I'm Aki Yuichi, the son of the late Aki Nagasaki and I'm the current guardian of the Tsunan Shrine...."
TBC
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Author's Notes:
Wai! New characters galore! Please R&R! For comments, suggestions, please email me at hino_no_miko@edsamail.com.ph. By the way, please help me anyone, who can set up a website! Arigato! Next chapter, a team battle and a new love interest! Ja!
OMAKE ~*
"YAMAZAKI'S 'YOUR NAME: CHARACTER DEFINITION AND ANALYSIS'"
Sometime in the school day before their trip to Kyoto. Inside their classroom.
Hsin was talking to the others and he was already well-liked by their classmates. He was nice, confident and gentlemanly. He smiles a lot and readily helps anyone.
"What does your name mean Sakura-san?" he asked curiously. "And you too Li-kun?"
"My name means Cherry Blossom," answered Sakura.
"Little Wolf," muttered Syaoran.
Yamazaki suddenly popped out of nowhere, his index finger held up. His face was in his Chichiri mode as he turned to his gullible audience.
"You know, aside from that, your name also has a different character analysis..." he said.
"Hoe?" asked Sakura.
"......" reacted Syaoran.
"What is it?" asked Tomoyo curiously.
"Well, they say that according to studies, the first letter of your first name reveals your sexual identity ..." stated Yamazaki solemnly.
"Sexual identity? HOE!" exclaimed Sakura. Syaoran was turning red again.
"Ohohohoho, how interesting!" said Meilin. Eriol looked on with extreme interest as well. Chiharu sighed and placed her hand on her forehead but in spite of that, she was also listening.
"Well, if not right now, then at least in the future!" said Yamazaki defensively as he also added, "It is quite true for your personality too..."
"So how does it go Yamazaki-kun?" asked Tomoyo holding her video camera out.
"Well, Kinomoto-san, Li-kun, your names both begin in S right? Well, here it goes--"
-S-
You are secretive, self-contained, and shy. You are very
sexy, sensual, and passionate, but you do not let on to
this. Only in intimate privacy will this part of your nature
reveal itself. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, you
are an expert. You know all the little tricks of the trade,
can play any role or any game, and take your love life very
seriously. You don't fool around. You have the patience to
wait for the right person to come along.
"YAMERO(stop!)" shouted both Sakura and Syaoran, looking red enough to explode.
Yamazaki shrugged, "I was done with it anyway..."
Everyone was giggling at them and even Eriol was chuckling. "True, true," whispered Tomoyo as she leaned towards Eriol. Meilin heard it and began laughing. "Ohohohohoho, it sounds just like Syaoran! I can't wait for him to grow up!"
"Ohohohohohohohoho...." *pointy fox ears*
OWARI