Chapter 9- Hidden Depths
Jo-chan
Disclaimers: Standard CCS disclaimers apply. I do NOT own these characters, CLAMP takes all the credit save for my story and the characters I created.
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"I can't believe Tomoyo-chan invited us to stay at the Snow Halcyon for New Year," muttered Touya incredulously as he zipped his baggage close. Yukito, who was sprawled on his bed, half-asleep chuckled. "Well, Tomoyo-san is a very generous young lady," said Yukito pushing himself up to a sitting position the moment a knock sounded on the door.
"ONIICHAN! Hurry up packing!" shouted Sakura from the opposite side of the door. Touya sighed while Yukito shrugged and looked at the dismal state Touya's bedroom was in from the frenzied packing. "All right, all right! Hold your horses Kaijou!" answered Touya back and angry footsteps were heard.
"I AM NOT A MONSTER!" screamed Sakura while Fujitaka intervened.
"Maa, maa futari-tomo(All right you two), why don't we just finish our packing? I hate to keep Sonomi-kun waiting," said Fujitaka with a smile. "Tsukishiro-san, your bag is downstairs right?" asked Fujitaka as he stuck his head inside his son's bedroom. "Hai!" said Yukito with a smile.
Giving his bag a final inspection, Touya sat back down on his bed and sighed. "I can't believe it, New Year with Sakura and that Chinese brat together..."
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"Snow Halcyon is not just a ski-resort but a health spa as well. It has two restaurants, for formal dinning and the fast food type. But unfortunately, it doesn't have any TV, VCD or radio, it's the ultimate get-away from technology and a rest house," narrated Tomoyo as they came in view of the famous mountain resort after 9 hours of traveling in a bus.
"WOW..." breathed everyone as they got a full glimpse of the resort's main building. It seemed like a five-star hotel in the middle of the wilderness but it was made of glass and the abundance of windows made the resort seem bright and vibrant.
Li Kaede, who was sitting wedged between Sakura and Syaoran hugged his angel in delight. "Wai! Wai! Wai! I've never been to a place like this!" exclaimed Kaede, his cherubic face flushed with excitement. Syaoran scowled at his overly affectionate cousin while Touya grinned smugly at Syaoran's predicament. // Hah! Take that you brat!//
"Say Touya-kun, how was it working with Kanezuka Scarlet? Does she have any attitude problems? I would like to know your opinion if it would be a wise choice if we made her the image model for my spring fashion collection?" Sonomi asked Touya who flushed slightly.
"U--Um, yeah! She's cool," replied Touya before losing track of the conversation as he recalled his time in Tokyo, working with Scarlet. Scarlet was of course, amazingly beautiful and yet so mysterious. Maybe he thinks that way because of his powers, other people would not have noticed the subdued, carefully hidden aura of power Scarlet possessed. Maybe he was imagining it, maybe not but there was something about Kanezuka Scarlet that hints of immense will and power.
"I like the picture you took of her Touya-san!" commented Chiharu, holding up the front page picture Touya took of Scarlet in the magazine. (Note: Scarlet looks a lot like Umi except her hair color is black and her eyes are ice-blue and slanted and smaller) Yukito gazed at the picture and agreed. "She looks very beautiful in the picture you took Touya."
Blushing slightly at the praise, Touya muttered, "Yeah, thanks."
"Kaede-chan, we're here!" squealed Sakura, as excited as the five-year old kid she held on her lap. Grumpily, Kaede tugged on the long lock of hair on the side of Sakura's face. "I'm not a -chan!" stated Kaede while Syaoran smirked. "Yes, you're a -chan! You're a kid!" said Syaoran arrogantly.
Kaede stuck his lower lip out as Sakura sweat-dropped. "Well, Sakura is my girlfriend not yours!" retorted Kaede as an anger spark appeared on Syaoran's head. "Why you little--" began Syaoran moving forward to snatch Kaede away from Sakura.
Meilin whacked the two boys on the head from the seat behind them. Yuichi laughed as he watched Meilin reprimand the two from the back. "Shame on you two! Is that the way two Li-clan future leaders act?" asked Meilin sternly as she grabbed a hold on the ears of the two boys. She gave a hard twist. "Now behave all right?" she asked.
"Itai!(Ouch) YES! YES!" chorused the two boys as Meilin released their reddened ears and grinned smugly. She said to a dot-eyed Sakura, "That's how you take care of two headstrong Li's!"
"Hoe!" exclaimed Sakura as Kaede immediately turned his face to hide in her chest. "Wah! Auntie Meilin is such a scary witch!" wailed Kaede, hugging Sakura tighter. Flustered, Syaoran tried to snatch Kaede away from Sakura. "Oi! Let her go you brat!"
Red-faced with anger, an SD-headed Meilin loomed over the five-year old. "Who are you calling a witch you troll!" snapped Meilin angrily. "Syaoran- sama, Meilin-sama, Kaede-sama, please quiet down, everyone's looking at us," pleaded Wei as the three Li's simultaneously turned their heads to see everyone in the bus staring at them strangely.
"I'll go back to my seat now, ohohohoho!" exclaimed Meilin as she sat back down beside a grinning Yuichi. Kaede pouted slightly but turned to the crowd and made big puppy-dog eyes as he said, "Sakura's my girlfriend you know..."
"Awww..." chorused the occupants of the bus as Kaede smiled and kissed Sakura on the cheek. Hiding his face from the onlookers, he made a face at Syaoran and stuck his tongue out at his red-faced cousin. "Beh!"
"We're here now you guys," said a smiling Tomoyo as she taped the entire events. Sweat-dropping, Sakura gave a big sigh as she said, "Yokatta (Thank goodness)...."
**************
Grumbling, Kero-chan and Suppi were left inside the huge room that Eriol and Nakuru are sharing at Snow Halcyon. They were left with dozens of sweets courtesy of Sakura and a sympathetic Fujitaka while Eriol left a pile of books and comics for the two guardians' enjoyment.
"Aw man! No TV! This is completely primitive! What can a cool guy like me do except rot in a place like this?" moaned Kero-chan, hanging his head even as he stuffed his mouth with chocolate marshmallows.
Suppi held up a thick paperback. "You can try reading," suggested Suppi as he reclined on the bed with a copy of "Faith of the Fallen". A blue line appeared across Kero-chan's face. "Gah! I can't believe I'm staying with such a boring guy for the rest of the afternoon!" shouted Kero-chan flying in circles and falling in a heap at the bed.
"Suit yourself," said Suppi, shrugging as he sniffed disdainfully at the gluttonous Sun guardian. "You really should try cutting down the sweets Cerberos," added Suppi wryly as Kero-chan's stomach was bulged once again from his over-eating.
"Who cares?" asked Kero-chan as he flew over to a stack of manga comics. "Oh cool, Eriol has the complete collection of the Slamdunk manga and the Kenshin Kaden!" exclaimed Kero-chan in ecstasy. "Wai! Now all I need is a good snack and a perfect position..." muttered Kero-chan, grabbing the stack and flying over to the refrigerator.
"Can you get me an iced coffee Cerberos? I promise not to tell the ending of the manga!" called out Suppi while Kero-chan grumbled. "All right, fine!"
Humming a bit, Suppi rolled on the bed lazily, shifting a few pages on the book. He lifted his head, worried about Kero-chan's sudden silence. "Daijoubu (Are you all right) Cerberos?" asked Suppi. Kero-chan suddenly dropped the pile of comics as he gazed at what was inside the refrigerator in silence.
"Weird flower," said Kero-chan, gazing at the ominous-looking black orchid. Flying over to Sakura's Sun Guardian, Suppi peered inside the refrigerator as well. There was a certain allure that the black orchid had, drawing the eye and making one fall into a silent reverie of darkness and sleep.
Suppi suddenly snapped back to reality just in time to see a nearly invisible black mist coming out of the flower. "Oi! Oi! Cerberos! Get a hold of yourself! This is a trick of the dark--!" cried out Suppi, shaking Kero-chan fiercely. "Huh?" muttered Kero-chan, his eyes going back to normal.
"Thank goodness you're back... oh no!" began Suppi before the black orchid suddenly an overpowering attack of black air, scented with the fragrance of a beautiful orchid with the hint of death.
"SUPPI!"
"CERBEROS!"
The two guardian's magical circle came out, but then the lines of their magic circle was traced with black as they transformed into their true forms. Gasping for air, the two guardians slowly collapsed, reverting back to their false forms as black mist enveloped them.
Everything was then engulfed in darkness and the sweet, haunting scent of a black orchid.
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"The resort's gym is truly impressive," remarked Eriol with pleasure as he surveyed the various facilities around the spacious and luxurious gym.
Smiling, Tomoyo watched the lively scene her friends made in the once silent gym, Sakura and Meilin were both wearing leotards, dancing to the tune of "Girlfriend" working on their gymnastics routine gracefully. Chiharu and Yamazaki were playing darts with Yuichi and Claudette, making jokes at the badly aimed shots.
Near where Sakura and Meilin were dancing, Syaoran and Kaede were wrestling fiercely on the floor mat with Kaede's teeth firmly clamped on Syaoran's arm, his small hands pulling at Syaoran's badly tousled hair. "OW! LET ME GO BRAT!" shouted Syaoran, rolling on the mat to shake Kaede's grip off him. "MpffSakura'sMpff-- my--mpff, girlfriend!" said Kaede through gritted teeth as Sakura dashed over to the two combatants quickly.
"Hey you two! Stop it!" pleaded Sakura, stopping a feet away from the rolling and tangled bodies. Sighing, Meilin joined Sakura as she watched her two cousins. "Leave them be, they're just like that. Even when Kaede was very young, he really looked up to Syaoran and tried to match up with him in every way. This time I guess this means you..." explained Meilin with a sweat-drop as Kaede pulled on Syaoran's hair hard.
"Hoe?" asked Sakura, a huge question mark appearing on top of her head. Snorting, Touya joined his sister as he watched the one-sided wrestling match with obvious relish. "Hah! How'd want to be like that brat? The kid's deluded pretty badly," commented Touya while Fujitaka said with a smile, "It's not nice to call Syaoran-san brat Touya."
"Would you rather have the Singapore guy, Hsin-kun to be your future brother-in-law?" teased Yukito, looking at the forlorn young man standing by a rack of shinais and bokkens (Japanese wooden swords). Tomoyo looked over her shoulder and indeed saw the new student looking lost and sad. With a smile, she excused herself from the happy group and headed over to Hsin.
"Konnichiwa!" she greeted with a smile as Hsin looked up at her and smiled back. His silver-green eyes lit up and for a moment, even Tomoyo had to admit that he was extremely good-looking. She couldn't help smiling more brightly at the nice guy aura Hsin almost always exuded. "Hello Tomoyo- san," he said almost shyly before turning to look around the gym.
"This is a wonderful resort, the facilities are excellent as well," added Hsin with a smile that slowly became more relaxed at the bright company of Tomoyo. "Do you like kendo Hsin-kun?" asked Tomoyo, noticing the fact that the young man was appraising the collection of shinais and bokkens with an almost reverent awe.
"Oh yeah, I took lessons in martial arts which included sword training back in Singapore. We never used wooden swords so it was scary at first. But the wooden swords here in Japan are pretty good as well," narrated Hsin with a reminiscent smile.
"Would you like a match?" offered Tomoyo, smiling at the growing ease in Hsin's features. Hsin's eyes widened as he appraised the beautiful young lady standing in front of him. He stuttered a bit as he replied, "T--Tomoyo- san?"
With a graceful turn of her wrist, Tomoyo now held a bokken in her hands with practiced grace. She shrugged a bit as her eyes twinkled up at Hsin's dumbfounded expression. "C'mon, it'll be fun! No gears all right? I don't like the heavy protection," said Tomoyo making a face at the vests, padding and headgear she usually had to wear.
Hesitantly, Hsin took a bokken and stepped forward to face Tomoyo who was standing a few feet away. Tomoyo eased herself into a fighting stance and her smiling face became a mask of imperturbable concentration. Hsin took a deep breath and got into his own fighting stance.
"Tomoyo-chan loves kenjitsu (sword fighting)," Sakura told a surprised Meilin with a smile as she moved to stand between the combatants. She held her hand up to signify the pause before battle and felt the battle kenki of the two radiate strongly. Even Syaoran and Kaede paused in their wrestling match, turning to look at Tomoyo and Hsin.
"They're pretty good," observed Syaoran from the way they held their bokkens and the relaxation in their posture. Kaede dropped his chin on Syaoran's head and said, "I feel such sadness from those two and at the same time, the strength of will to move on."
An astonished Eriol moved to stand beside the growing number of people who were eagerly anticipating the match. Sonomi stood beside Fujitaka, looking at her serene daughter proudly. "I told her to take self-defense lessons long ago but she insisted on kenjitsu. I never realized how much she loved to dance with the blade," said Sonomi.
"Dance with the blade?" asked Naoko as she gazed hard at the two opponents. It was a side of Tomoyo neither of her classmates except Sakura had seen before and all of them were fascinated. For most of her classmates, Tomoyo was almost always the perfect lady with a weird fixation on her best friend. But this time, Tomoyo suddenly seemed to be something more, a person who has hidden depths and talents.
"It means to become one with the blade/sword or to feel the sword you hold so closely in your hand that you become one with it," explained Eriol who was also staring at Tomoyo's poised and graceful countenance who had the aura of a striking crane.
Sakura took a deep breath, held up her hand and with a flourish, dropped it back down as she commanded, "Begin!"
The two opponents immediately burst into action. Both were wearing white sweaters, Hsin's sweater only a hue lighter but they moved so fast and their swords clashed so rapidly that to an untrained eye, it was all a flash of white blur.
Twisting, jumping, evading thrusts, it was an intricate dance of master swordsmanship. Tomoyo suddenly thrust her sword towards Hsin's chest but he blocked deftly and parried swiftly and countered back with a strike towards Tomoyo's side. They exchanged more blows before Hsin turned and twisted deftly, catching Tomoyo off guard and aimed the bokken at her back.
He grinned, knowing the match was over. "Gotcha," said Hsin with a wide grin. Tomoyo smiled back over her shoulder and in a move that was so fast and unexpected, she turned and knocked Hsin's bokken away from his hands with her own sword with such force, the wooden weapons flew a few feet away.
Tomoyo smiled her crescent-eyed smile. "Iie (no), stalemate," she corrected and then turned to face the amazed young man.
Hsin, with eyes still reflecting wonder and exhilaration, he turned to face Tomoyo. On the same count, they exchanged smiles of respect before they bowed to each other with the same grace and precision.
"Game match!" announced Sakura with a giggle before all their classmates clapped at the wonderful exhibition.
"Sugoi Tomoyo-san, Hsin-kun!" yelled their classmates and Tomoyo and Hsin smiled and blushed in pleasure. Eriol and Yuichi were clapping enthusiastically, even Claudette was giving Hsin flirtatious smiles. Yamazaki was whistling between his fingers and Sakura and Kaede were bouncing around in excitement. "Amazing Tomoyo-oneechan!" yelled Kaede as he ran over to hug Tomoyo.
Tomoyo hugged him back and smiled. "Arigato Kaede-san," said Tomoyo before she walked over to the bokkens that were thrown away in their match. Hsin joined her as they picked up their weapons, he looked at Tomoyo with a warm gaze bordering on awe. "You were amazing Tomoyo-san," complimented Hsin and Tomoyo blushed slightly.
"Arigato... it's actually the first time I've ever fought with someone aside from my sensei and in front of other people too," replied Tomoyo as she flipped her hair over her back. "You were really good with the sword too," added Tomoyo as they both turned to gaze at the gym buzzing with renewed energy. Chiharu and Rikka were trying out some gymnastics stunts with Sakura supervising them. Meilin and Syaoran were running through their martial arts stances with Kaede imitating them perfectly from behind.
"Tomoyo, you were wonderful darling! Yu-kun, you stood against my daughter rather magnificently as well. Anyway, I'll be heading up to the sauna room, you and your friends can join me if you want," exclaimed Sonomi as she bent her head slightly kiss her daughter on the cheek.
"Sure Okaasan! But I think it would be a better idea if we go down and ski a bit at the mountain while it's still afternoon," answered Tomoyo as she smiled up her mother. Sonomi pouted a bit before she relented. "All right, be careful my dear," said Sonomi before walking away, Touya, Yukito, and Fujitaka following after her.
"Oi Kaiju! Don't get into trouble!" shouted Touya at the last minute from across the gym, making Sakura's classmates all turn around and look in surprise at the electrical sparks passing from the siblings. "Idiot!" yelled Sakura back as she turned and stomped away from her widely grinning brother. Kaede covered his mouth with his hands, swallowing his laughter.
Tomoyo turned to smile at her classmates. "Wanna ski?" she invited and a loud chorus of "Yes!" answered her question.
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"It's so beautiful here," sighed Sakura as she paused before the downward slope ahead of her. She watched Syaoran, Eriol, Yuichi, Hsin and Yamazaki try out the new snowboards while the rest of their classmates opted for skis. Even Meilin was trying out the snowboard, making their classmates look on in fascination at the brave Chinese girl.
Tomoyo who was filming Sakura's reactions smiled before she clicked off her camcorder and grabbed her camera. She took a picture of Sakura with the background of a snow-capped mountain before she answered, "Yes, it's definitely lovely. Will you be trying out the snowboard later Sakura-chan? I want to make a documentary of Sakura-chan's first try on the snowboard!"
Sakura sweat-dropped and Kaede giggled before he ambled towards Sakura and Tomoyo awkwardly on his skis. "Sakura-tenshi, Tomoyo-oneechan, am I doing well on skis? It's my first try," said Kaede as he smiled shyly before he turned to gaze at his older cousins who were trying out the snowboards. Sakura bent down and hugged Kaede tenderly. "Hai! You're awesome!" declared Sakura emphatically.
Sakura turned to look at Tomoyo, "Ano-- I'm a little scared to try out the snowboard," admitted Sakura just as Meilin and Yuichi zipped past their slope, flailing their arms to maintain their balance.
"WHOA!" yelled Meilin and Yuichi before knocking each other down on the next hill. "Hey, you hit me!" yelped Yuichi when Meilin used him to cushion her fall. Meilin only flashed her typical grin.
Eriol as always managed to snowboard successfully on his first try. He shrugged as he passed by Tomoyo, Sakura and Kaede. "Just balancing," he said as he sped down smoothly onto the next slopes and hills. Claudette followed gracefully behind him, her raven hair flowing in the wind as she also rode on a snowboard.
Syaoran and Yamazaki trailed after them a little awkwardly but growing more confident with each meter covered. Rikka, Chiharu and the other girls downhill were clapping.
"Please try snowboarding Sakura-chan?" pleaded Tomoyo with puppy-dog eyes. Sakura sweat-dropped before she answered weakly, "Later... maybe... you can help me?"
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Sakura and her friends were having a snow fight when Kaede suddenly cried out. "IIE!" squealed Kaede as he covered his head, his small face contorted with sudden pain.
"Kaede-chan!" exclaimed Sakura as she bolted over to the child's side. She scooped him in her arms, trying to avoid his thrashing elbows and knees. "Syaoran-kun, help me!" said Sakura as their games abruptly ended and everyone was looking at Kaede worriedly.
Syaoran stepped in front of them to prevent their classmates from stepping to close at Kaede. He held his hands and shrugged as he tried to explain Kaede's behavior. "Kaede throws tantrums like this back in Hong Kong. Sakura and I will take a walk with him until he calms down a bit," explained Syaoran as he helped Sakura stand up and took Kaede from her arms. Sakura tried to flash a reassuring grin as she followed after Syaoran.
They walked until they reached a safe distance away from prying eyes. Eriol appeared at their side a short while later and Meilin, Yuichi and Tomoyo followed next. Syaoran was sitting on a large rock, his long arms cradling the whimpering boy. Sakura was gently smoothing back Kaede's hair, murmuring words of comfort.
"-- I can't feel their hearts..." whispered Kaede as he buried his face in Syaoran's jacket.
"He's an empath. He's very sensitive to his surroundings and can 'see' what others think and feel," said Syaoran as Kaede slowly calmed down. Kaede sat up and pushed away from Syaoran's hold with a scowl. "I'm fine," he said, sniffing as he wiped his tears away with the back of his hand.
"What did you sense Kaede-kun, that caused you pain?" asked Sakura as she leaned down, her green eyes on level with Kaede's wet, stormy gaze.
Kaede's lower lip trembled slightly as he answered, his voice hoarse. "Hate. Kill. And destroy."
A loud roar suddenly ripped through the silence and then there were screams.
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"Monsters!" screamed Chiharu as everyone was fleeing in panic. Yamazaki grabbed Chiharu and pulled her away from a lion and panther with wings. A blast of fire barely missed the couple who ducked and rolled away.
"An attack in broad daylight?" asked Tomoyo disbelief as she gazed at Cerberos and Spinel Sun who are out of control. Their eyes were blank and dark and they flew over and attacked indiscriminately.
"What will we do?" asked Sakura in agony, holding her star wand as she watched Cerberos and Spinel Sun attacking her friends. Everyone's weapons were transformed and they were trying to think of a way to face their adversary.
Eriol gave a tight nod and said, "Defeat them. We have no choice, many will get hurt if we don't stop them. They're probably here to take Kaede away when they failed the first time." Syaoran faced Meilin and Yuichi and ordered, "Protect Kaede. We can't afford to let him fall in the hands of the enemy." Meilin and Yuichi nodded grimly.
"DARK, take form and envelop! Spread darkness!" commanded Sakura as an expanding darkness swallowed her classmates and placed them in another dimension. Dark Cerberos and Spinel looked around in sudden confusion at the loss of their prey. Cerberos roared when he noticed Sakura, Eriol and Syaoran who were standing with their weapons drawn out.
"Kero-chan! Please snap out of it," pleaded Sakura as tears began to run down her cheeks. "Spinel, what have they done to you?" said Eriol softly as he faced his guardian.
"Kill!" roared Cerberos and Spinel at the same time as they charged towards their Masters.
"The Dark Forces are stupid--" began Syaoran as he stepped back to let Sakura and Eriol battle their guardians.
Both Card Masters mirrored the same attack and defense. Before Cerberos or Spinel's fire can touch them, Sakura and Eriol has commanded Shield. "Earthy! Freeze!" shouted Sakura as she threw her cards up and released her power. Tree vines sprang up from the ground and enveloped Cerberos. He was powerless against the magic of his own Mistress.
"--because they don't know that a Guardian, no matter how strong, can never defeat his Master because their power is from the power of their Master," finished Syaoran as Cerberos was enveloped ice and Spinel Sun was engulfed by HORDE, attacked by THUNDER and then collapsed when SAND buried him under it's weight.
Black smoke with the scent of orchids began to drift up from Cerberos and Spinel's trapped bodies. Their magic circles came out and the black lines began to disappear as Cerberos and Spinel began to change back into their false forms.
"Forces of darkness, reveal your true form and be reborn again, under the name of SAKURA, your new mistress!" commanded Sakura as the darkness gave one final wail before transforming into a SAKURA card. Spinel Sun and Cerberos collapsed, returning to their false forms.
Sakura caught the card deftly and turned it to see a picture of a black orchid, its black depths having hints of red. Grey mist was the orchid's background. The black orchid was encircled by a picture of a golden collar. "ENCHANTMENT," Sakura said aloud as she carefully placed the new card into a separate holder. She then ran over to Cerberos who was slowly waking up.
Sakura scooped Cerberos into her arms and gave a happy sob when her sun guardian suddenly muttered, "Is it breakfast already?"
Inside DARK, Sakura, Eriol and Syaoran never heard the furious battle happening outside that Yuichi, Meilin and Tomoyo were fighting furiously. Vicious monsters had attacked their small group as soon as night has fallen.
*************
"Stay with Kaede!" screamed Meilin as she knocked down a snarling, sharp- toothed monster.
"Go back Meilin!" shouted Yuichi as he began to steer Meilin away from the monsters, his Holy Fire, keeping them away. Meilin aimed a punch and a kick at a monster that tried to jump at them. "I'll fight with you," said Meilin through gritted teeth as she turned, her hands flying to unwind her ribbon from her hair. Underneath her ribbon was a long, thin and sharp wire. She snapped her ribbon like a whip and it cut through the line of monsters in a circle.
"Sugoi Meilin-obaachan!" squealed Kaede as he looked up at his cousin. Tomoyo was using the ski sticks as a weapon, ready to ward away any monster that would come to close.
"There's too many," gasped Yuichi, panting as he pulled out another sealing paper. Three monsters suddenly jumped on him before he can summon fire. "YUICHI!" screamed Meilin as she tried to reach Yuichi who was flat on his back, with monsters surrounding him.
Ice spikes erupted from the ground in a blazing trail as monsters that stood on its path got impaled on its jagged edges. Hail began to fall down, sharp and piercing but amazingly, it never fell on Yuichi, Meilin, Kaede or Tomoyo.
"Awesome power," said Kaede as he closed his eyes, wincing as he clutched his torn shoulder. He shivered a bit before he relaxed, drawing a sigh of relief. "We're saved," he announced as the attack swiftly destroyed the monsters.
Slowly, Tomoyo released the ski stick dripping with leftover monster entrails. Sweat beaded her brow despite the coldness of the snow, she clutched Kaede tighter in her free arm and then hugged him with both arms. "Is it Sakura? Her Snow?" asked Tomoyo panting.
Kaede raised his head to gaze at the shadows beyond the forest. A small silvery light glinted and he shook his head solemnly. "It's not Sakura. It's someone else..." he stated before the blanket of darkness suddenly disappeared and Sakura, Eriol and Syaoran stood in front of them, the Card Masters holding their guardians.
The voices of the classmates began again and it was as if nothing happened, except for the fact that it was already evening instead of afternoon. Yamazaki's voice wondering why time flew so fast rose above the chatter.
"Everything's normal," said Tomoyo with a sigh of relief as she slumped against the tree.
"Not quite," said Sakura as she gazed up at the hill, her eyes unwavering from the vision.
Syaoran turned in time to see a slender female up by the sloping hills, watching them before turning away. Her long black hair flowed in the wind. "Did you see her?" asked Syaoran as the aura of power left the moment the girl disappeared. Eriol gave a tight nod.
"I noticed the aura of magic she had, even from this distance. She is very powerful," said Eriol grimly as Sakura still gazed at the place where the girl has stood.
"There's something about her that is familiar... only I can't tell whether or not she's a friend or foe," added Sakura before moving closer to Syaoran's side and holding Kero-chan tighter.
Everything suddenly seemed so complicated and things are now never as they seem.
************
Everyone was now gathered at the main room of Snow Halcyon. The lights were glittering and the curtains pulled back to reveal a majestic view of snow- capped mountains from the room enclosed in glass. A small band was playing music, but most of its songs were for easy listening as the guests enjoyed appetizers and meals from the buffet table.
"Thank you for the meal," said Sakura cheerfully as she set her chopsticks down. A sweat-drop appeared on her forehead when she realized that she was the only one who had just finished eating. Everyone has been watching her and waiting for her to eat her fill. "Hoe..." stammered Sakura, turning red.
"Kaiju," muttered Touya beneath his breath as he turned to gaze out the windows. A young lady, dressed in a black and dark gray ski outfit sped down the mountain slopes, her raven hair flying behind her. He gazed at the small figure, his jaw dropping open. // What the hell?! //
Sonomi tapped her knife against her wineglass loudly, catching everyone's attention. "Ehem. Excuse me, minna-san but in 10 minutes, it will be the start of a New Year," announced Sonomi, flashing a huge smile at everyone's excited faces.
Naoko who was sitting beside earlier suddenly grabbed Eriol's hand in excitement. "Give a speech Hiiragizawa-kun," urged Naoko, her eyes shining brightly. Eriol turned red and Sonomi, who overheard everything agreed.
"How about a special number from the young people? Just to help the minutes pass faster," said Sonomi with a huge grin, her eyes lingering on her quiet daughter.
The teenagers began to call out their friends' names. "A song from Tomoyo- san!" "Speech from Hiiragizawa-kun!" "Touya-san play the piano!" "Li-kun and Sakura-chan's dance!" "HOE!" squealed Sakura as the rest of their group flushed nervously at the mention of their names.
Chants and good-natured jokes circulated until Eriol finally stood up, looking a little harassed as he fixed his tie. "I'd like to play the piano, there's this American song I want to share with you."
Everyone clapped enthusiastically as Eriol walked over to the piano and sat down, running his nimble fingers over the keys experimentally. The opening notes of "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time With You," began to play, the melody soft, relaxing and profoundly stirring.
Claudette gasped at recognizing the song and she stood up and walked over to the piano. She stopped beside Eriol and began to sing the lyrics.
Can this be true, tell me can this be real How can I put into words what I feel My life was complete, I thought I was whole Why do I feel like I'm losing control?
Eriol looked surprised at finding Claudette sitting beside him on the piano, her head tilted close to his. Her voice was clear and beautiful but not as enchanting as Tomoyo's. He smiled, wondering why he chose to play this song.
Never thought that love could feel like this How you changed my world with just one kiss How can it be, you're right here with me There's an angel, there's a miracle...
Your love is like a river, peaceful and deep Your soul is like secret that never could keep When I look into your eyes I know that its true God must have spent a little more time on you
Eriol found himself looking at Tomoyo's face. Even as he played the piano, he found himself thinking only of the way Tomoyo has always been there for him. He suddenly realized why he chose to play this song. It was for HER.
"Happy New Year everyone!" shouted Tomoyo the moment fireworks began to light up the mountain sky. The shouts of joy drowned out the song but still, Eriol kept playing. He didn't know why but he felt the need to pour the confusing emotions he felt inside into the song.
People began kissing each other, while some couples shared a special New Year's kiss.
Sakura and Syaoran stood facing each other amidst the celebration, holding hands. Syaoran bent his head and brushed his lips softly against Sakura's mouth. He was about to give her a bigger kiss when Kaede burst in between them, kissing Sakura enthusiastically. "Happy New Year Sakura-tenshi!" yelled Kaede as he gave Sakura wet kisses all over her face, scowling at his older cousin.
Syaoran sighed, grimaced but then smiled at the expression on Sakura's face. Resigned, he turned to put an arm over Sakura's slim shoulders. "Happy New Year Syaoran," whispered Sakura as she rested her head against his shoulder, secure in his presence.
"Aa," said Syaoran, letting the peace of the moment sink into his being.
Of hidden depths and new beginnings.
TBC
***********
Author's Notes: Gomen nasai minna-san for such a late update! Whew! Been really busy with college and the new anime I learned to love! I'm now a campus journalist so it's not that easy for me to write long chapters like the previous chapters in "The Shadowed Prophecy". But please, don't worry, or murder me in your minds, I PROMISE TO FINISH THIS STORY! Right now, the end is very far away and more chapters will come. It's not that easy to produce a twelve page chapter you know! *wink* No matter how long I will continue Sakura and Syaoran's story. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Email me at joan_g1014@yahoo.com for comments and suggestions or if you want to be my beta-reader. =) Ja matta ne!
Disclaimers: Standard CCS disclaimers apply. I do NOT own these characters, CLAMP takes all the credit save for my story and the characters I created.
****************
"I can't believe Tomoyo-chan invited us to stay at the Snow Halcyon for New Year," muttered Touya incredulously as he zipped his baggage close. Yukito, who was sprawled on his bed, half-asleep chuckled. "Well, Tomoyo-san is a very generous young lady," said Yukito pushing himself up to a sitting position the moment a knock sounded on the door.
"ONIICHAN! Hurry up packing!" shouted Sakura from the opposite side of the door. Touya sighed while Yukito shrugged and looked at the dismal state Touya's bedroom was in from the frenzied packing. "All right, all right! Hold your horses Kaijou!" answered Touya back and angry footsteps were heard.
"I AM NOT A MONSTER!" screamed Sakura while Fujitaka intervened.
"Maa, maa futari-tomo(All right you two), why don't we just finish our packing? I hate to keep Sonomi-kun waiting," said Fujitaka with a smile. "Tsukishiro-san, your bag is downstairs right?" asked Fujitaka as he stuck his head inside his son's bedroom. "Hai!" said Yukito with a smile.
Giving his bag a final inspection, Touya sat back down on his bed and sighed. "I can't believe it, New Year with Sakura and that Chinese brat together..."
****************
"Snow Halcyon is not just a ski-resort but a health spa as well. It has two restaurants, for formal dinning and the fast food type. But unfortunately, it doesn't have any TV, VCD or radio, it's the ultimate get-away from technology and a rest house," narrated Tomoyo as they came in view of the famous mountain resort after 9 hours of traveling in a bus.
"WOW..." breathed everyone as they got a full glimpse of the resort's main building. It seemed like a five-star hotel in the middle of the wilderness but it was made of glass and the abundance of windows made the resort seem bright and vibrant.
Li Kaede, who was sitting wedged between Sakura and Syaoran hugged his angel in delight. "Wai! Wai! Wai! I've never been to a place like this!" exclaimed Kaede, his cherubic face flushed with excitement. Syaoran scowled at his overly affectionate cousin while Touya grinned smugly at Syaoran's predicament. // Hah! Take that you brat!//
"Say Touya-kun, how was it working with Kanezuka Scarlet? Does she have any attitude problems? I would like to know your opinion if it would be a wise choice if we made her the image model for my spring fashion collection?" Sonomi asked Touya who flushed slightly.
"U--Um, yeah! She's cool," replied Touya before losing track of the conversation as he recalled his time in Tokyo, working with Scarlet. Scarlet was of course, amazingly beautiful and yet so mysterious. Maybe he thinks that way because of his powers, other people would not have noticed the subdued, carefully hidden aura of power Scarlet possessed. Maybe he was imagining it, maybe not but there was something about Kanezuka Scarlet that hints of immense will and power.
"I like the picture you took of her Touya-san!" commented Chiharu, holding up the front page picture Touya took of Scarlet in the magazine. (Note: Scarlet looks a lot like Umi except her hair color is black and her eyes are ice-blue and slanted and smaller) Yukito gazed at the picture and agreed. "She looks very beautiful in the picture you took Touya."
Blushing slightly at the praise, Touya muttered, "Yeah, thanks."
"Kaede-chan, we're here!" squealed Sakura, as excited as the five-year old kid she held on her lap. Grumpily, Kaede tugged on the long lock of hair on the side of Sakura's face. "I'm not a -chan!" stated Kaede while Syaoran smirked. "Yes, you're a -chan! You're a kid!" said Syaoran arrogantly.
Kaede stuck his lower lip out as Sakura sweat-dropped. "Well, Sakura is my girlfriend not yours!" retorted Kaede as an anger spark appeared on Syaoran's head. "Why you little--" began Syaoran moving forward to snatch Kaede away from Sakura.
Meilin whacked the two boys on the head from the seat behind them. Yuichi laughed as he watched Meilin reprimand the two from the back. "Shame on you two! Is that the way two Li-clan future leaders act?" asked Meilin sternly as she grabbed a hold on the ears of the two boys. She gave a hard twist. "Now behave all right?" she asked.
"Itai!(Ouch) YES! YES!" chorused the two boys as Meilin released their reddened ears and grinned smugly. She said to a dot-eyed Sakura, "That's how you take care of two headstrong Li's!"
"Hoe!" exclaimed Sakura as Kaede immediately turned his face to hide in her chest. "Wah! Auntie Meilin is such a scary witch!" wailed Kaede, hugging Sakura tighter. Flustered, Syaoran tried to snatch Kaede away from Sakura. "Oi! Let her go you brat!"
Red-faced with anger, an SD-headed Meilin loomed over the five-year old. "Who are you calling a witch you troll!" snapped Meilin angrily. "Syaoran- sama, Meilin-sama, Kaede-sama, please quiet down, everyone's looking at us," pleaded Wei as the three Li's simultaneously turned their heads to see everyone in the bus staring at them strangely.
"I'll go back to my seat now, ohohohoho!" exclaimed Meilin as she sat back down beside a grinning Yuichi. Kaede pouted slightly but turned to the crowd and made big puppy-dog eyes as he said, "Sakura's my girlfriend you know..."
"Awww..." chorused the occupants of the bus as Kaede smiled and kissed Sakura on the cheek. Hiding his face from the onlookers, he made a face at Syaoran and stuck his tongue out at his red-faced cousin. "Beh!"
"We're here now you guys," said a smiling Tomoyo as she taped the entire events. Sweat-dropping, Sakura gave a big sigh as she said, "Yokatta (Thank goodness)...."
**************
Grumbling, Kero-chan and Suppi were left inside the huge room that Eriol and Nakuru are sharing at Snow Halcyon. They were left with dozens of sweets courtesy of Sakura and a sympathetic Fujitaka while Eriol left a pile of books and comics for the two guardians' enjoyment.
"Aw man! No TV! This is completely primitive! What can a cool guy like me do except rot in a place like this?" moaned Kero-chan, hanging his head even as he stuffed his mouth with chocolate marshmallows.
Suppi held up a thick paperback. "You can try reading," suggested Suppi as he reclined on the bed with a copy of "Faith of the Fallen". A blue line appeared across Kero-chan's face. "Gah! I can't believe I'm staying with such a boring guy for the rest of the afternoon!" shouted Kero-chan flying in circles and falling in a heap at the bed.
"Suit yourself," said Suppi, shrugging as he sniffed disdainfully at the gluttonous Sun guardian. "You really should try cutting down the sweets Cerberos," added Suppi wryly as Kero-chan's stomach was bulged once again from his over-eating.
"Who cares?" asked Kero-chan as he flew over to a stack of manga comics. "Oh cool, Eriol has the complete collection of the Slamdunk manga and the Kenshin Kaden!" exclaimed Kero-chan in ecstasy. "Wai! Now all I need is a good snack and a perfect position..." muttered Kero-chan, grabbing the stack and flying over to the refrigerator.
"Can you get me an iced coffee Cerberos? I promise not to tell the ending of the manga!" called out Suppi while Kero-chan grumbled. "All right, fine!"
Humming a bit, Suppi rolled on the bed lazily, shifting a few pages on the book. He lifted his head, worried about Kero-chan's sudden silence. "Daijoubu (Are you all right) Cerberos?" asked Suppi. Kero-chan suddenly dropped the pile of comics as he gazed at what was inside the refrigerator in silence.
"Weird flower," said Kero-chan, gazing at the ominous-looking black orchid. Flying over to Sakura's Sun Guardian, Suppi peered inside the refrigerator as well. There was a certain allure that the black orchid had, drawing the eye and making one fall into a silent reverie of darkness and sleep.
Suppi suddenly snapped back to reality just in time to see a nearly invisible black mist coming out of the flower. "Oi! Oi! Cerberos! Get a hold of yourself! This is a trick of the dark--!" cried out Suppi, shaking Kero-chan fiercely. "Huh?" muttered Kero-chan, his eyes going back to normal.
"Thank goodness you're back... oh no!" began Suppi before the black orchid suddenly an overpowering attack of black air, scented with the fragrance of a beautiful orchid with the hint of death.
"SUPPI!"
"CERBEROS!"
The two guardian's magical circle came out, but then the lines of their magic circle was traced with black as they transformed into their true forms. Gasping for air, the two guardians slowly collapsed, reverting back to their false forms as black mist enveloped them.
Everything was then engulfed in darkness and the sweet, haunting scent of a black orchid.
****************
"The resort's gym is truly impressive," remarked Eriol with pleasure as he surveyed the various facilities around the spacious and luxurious gym.
Smiling, Tomoyo watched the lively scene her friends made in the once silent gym, Sakura and Meilin were both wearing leotards, dancing to the tune of "Girlfriend" working on their gymnastics routine gracefully. Chiharu and Yamazaki were playing darts with Yuichi and Claudette, making jokes at the badly aimed shots.
Near where Sakura and Meilin were dancing, Syaoran and Kaede were wrestling fiercely on the floor mat with Kaede's teeth firmly clamped on Syaoran's arm, his small hands pulling at Syaoran's badly tousled hair. "OW! LET ME GO BRAT!" shouted Syaoran, rolling on the mat to shake Kaede's grip off him. "MpffSakura'sMpff-- my--mpff, girlfriend!" said Kaede through gritted teeth as Sakura dashed over to the two combatants quickly.
"Hey you two! Stop it!" pleaded Sakura, stopping a feet away from the rolling and tangled bodies. Sighing, Meilin joined Sakura as she watched her two cousins. "Leave them be, they're just like that. Even when Kaede was very young, he really looked up to Syaoran and tried to match up with him in every way. This time I guess this means you..." explained Meilin with a sweat-drop as Kaede pulled on Syaoran's hair hard.
"Hoe?" asked Sakura, a huge question mark appearing on top of her head. Snorting, Touya joined his sister as he watched the one-sided wrestling match with obvious relish. "Hah! How'd want to be like that brat? The kid's deluded pretty badly," commented Touya while Fujitaka said with a smile, "It's not nice to call Syaoran-san brat Touya."
"Would you rather have the Singapore guy, Hsin-kun to be your future brother-in-law?" teased Yukito, looking at the forlorn young man standing by a rack of shinais and bokkens (Japanese wooden swords). Tomoyo looked over her shoulder and indeed saw the new student looking lost and sad. With a smile, she excused herself from the happy group and headed over to Hsin.
"Konnichiwa!" she greeted with a smile as Hsin looked up at her and smiled back. His silver-green eyes lit up and for a moment, even Tomoyo had to admit that he was extremely good-looking. She couldn't help smiling more brightly at the nice guy aura Hsin almost always exuded. "Hello Tomoyo- san," he said almost shyly before turning to look around the gym.
"This is a wonderful resort, the facilities are excellent as well," added Hsin with a smile that slowly became more relaxed at the bright company of Tomoyo. "Do you like kendo Hsin-kun?" asked Tomoyo, noticing the fact that the young man was appraising the collection of shinais and bokkens with an almost reverent awe.
"Oh yeah, I took lessons in martial arts which included sword training back in Singapore. We never used wooden swords so it was scary at first. But the wooden swords here in Japan are pretty good as well," narrated Hsin with a reminiscent smile.
"Would you like a match?" offered Tomoyo, smiling at the growing ease in Hsin's features. Hsin's eyes widened as he appraised the beautiful young lady standing in front of him. He stuttered a bit as he replied, "T--Tomoyo- san?"
With a graceful turn of her wrist, Tomoyo now held a bokken in her hands with practiced grace. She shrugged a bit as her eyes twinkled up at Hsin's dumbfounded expression. "C'mon, it'll be fun! No gears all right? I don't like the heavy protection," said Tomoyo making a face at the vests, padding and headgear she usually had to wear.
Hesitantly, Hsin took a bokken and stepped forward to face Tomoyo who was standing a few feet away. Tomoyo eased herself into a fighting stance and her smiling face became a mask of imperturbable concentration. Hsin took a deep breath and got into his own fighting stance.
"Tomoyo-chan loves kenjitsu (sword fighting)," Sakura told a surprised Meilin with a smile as she moved to stand between the combatants. She held her hand up to signify the pause before battle and felt the battle kenki of the two radiate strongly. Even Syaoran and Kaede paused in their wrestling match, turning to look at Tomoyo and Hsin.
"They're pretty good," observed Syaoran from the way they held their bokkens and the relaxation in their posture. Kaede dropped his chin on Syaoran's head and said, "I feel such sadness from those two and at the same time, the strength of will to move on."
An astonished Eriol moved to stand beside the growing number of people who were eagerly anticipating the match. Sonomi stood beside Fujitaka, looking at her serene daughter proudly. "I told her to take self-defense lessons long ago but she insisted on kenjitsu. I never realized how much she loved to dance with the blade," said Sonomi.
"Dance with the blade?" asked Naoko as she gazed hard at the two opponents. It was a side of Tomoyo neither of her classmates except Sakura had seen before and all of them were fascinated. For most of her classmates, Tomoyo was almost always the perfect lady with a weird fixation on her best friend. But this time, Tomoyo suddenly seemed to be something more, a person who has hidden depths and talents.
"It means to become one with the blade/sword or to feel the sword you hold so closely in your hand that you become one with it," explained Eriol who was also staring at Tomoyo's poised and graceful countenance who had the aura of a striking crane.
Sakura took a deep breath, held up her hand and with a flourish, dropped it back down as she commanded, "Begin!"
The two opponents immediately burst into action. Both were wearing white sweaters, Hsin's sweater only a hue lighter but they moved so fast and their swords clashed so rapidly that to an untrained eye, it was all a flash of white blur.
Twisting, jumping, evading thrusts, it was an intricate dance of master swordsmanship. Tomoyo suddenly thrust her sword towards Hsin's chest but he blocked deftly and parried swiftly and countered back with a strike towards Tomoyo's side. They exchanged more blows before Hsin turned and twisted deftly, catching Tomoyo off guard and aimed the bokken at her back.
He grinned, knowing the match was over. "Gotcha," said Hsin with a wide grin. Tomoyo smiled back over her shoulder and in a move that was so fast and unexpected, she turned and knocked Hsin's bokken away from his hands with her own sword with such force, the wooden weapons flew a few feet away.
Tomoyo smiled her crescent-eyed smile. "Iie (no), stalemate," she corrected and then turned to face the amazed young man.
Hsin, with eyes still reflecting wonder and exhilaration, he turned to face Tomoyo. On the same count, they exchanged smiles of respect before they bowed to each other with the same grace and precision.
"Game match!" announced Sakura with a giggle before all their classmates clapped at the wonderful exhibition.
"Sugoi Tomoyo-san, Hsin-kun!" yelled their classmates and Tomoyo and Hsin smiled and blushed in pleasure. Eriol and Yuichi were clapping enthusiastically, even Claudette was giving Hsin flirtatious smiles. Yamazaki was whistling between his fingers and Sakura and Kaede were bouncing around in excitement. "Amazing Tomoyo-oneechan!" yelled Kaede as he ran over to hug Tomoyo.
Tomoyo hugged him back and smiled. "Arigato Kaede-san," said Tomoyo before she walked over to the bokkens that were thrown away in their match. Hsin joined her as they picked up their weapons, he looked at Tomoyo with a warm gaze bordering on awe. "You were amazing Tomoyo-san," complimented Hsin and Tomoyo blushed slightly.
"Arigato... it's actually the first time I've ever fought with someone aside from my sensei and in front of other people too," replied Tomoyo as she flipped her hair over her back. "You were really good with the sword too," added Tomoyo as they both turned to gaze at the gym buzzing with renewed energy. Chiharu and Rikka were trying out some gymnastics stunts with Sakura supervising them. Meilin and Syaoran were running through their martial arts stances with Kaede imitating them perfectly from behind.
"Tomoyo, you were wonderful darling! Yu-kun, you stood against my daughter rather magnificently as well. Anyway, I'll be heading up to the sauna room, you and your friends can join me if you want," exclaimed Sonomi as she bent her head slightly kiss her daughter on the cheek.
"Sure Okaasan! But I think it would be a better idea if we go down and ski a bit at the mountain while it's still afternoon," answered Tomoyo as she smiled up her mother. Sonomi pouted a bit before she relented. "All right, be careful my dear," said Sonomi before walking away, Touya, Yukito, and Fujitaka following after her.
"Oi Kaiju! Don't get into trouble!" shouted Touya at the last minute from across the gym, making Sakura's classmates all turn around and look in surprise at the electrical sparks passing from the siblings. "Idiot!" yelled Sakura back as she turned and stomped away from her widely grinning brother. Kaede covered his mouth with his hands, swallowing his laughter.
Tomoyo turned to smile at her classmates. "Wanna ski?" she invited and a loud chorus of "Yes!" answered her question.
**************
"It's so beautiful here," sighed Sakura as she paused before the downward slope ahead of her. She watched Syaoran, Eriol, Yuichi, Hsin and Yamazaki try out the new snowboards while the rest of their classmates opted for skis. Even Meilin was trying out the snowboard, making their classmates look on in fascination at the brave Chinese girl.
Tomoyo who was filming Sakura's reactions smiled before she clicked off her camcorder and grabbed her camera. She took a picture of Sakura with the background of a snow-capped mountain before she answered, "Yes, it's definitely lovely. Will you be trying out the snowboard later Sakura-chan? I want to make a documentary of Sakura-chan's first try on the snowboard!"
Sakura sweat-dropped and Kaede giggled before he ambled towards Sakura and Tomoyo awkwardly on his skis. "Sakura-tenshi, Tomoyo-oneechan, am I doing well on skis? It's my first try," said Kaede as he smiled shyly before he turned to gaze at his older cousins who were trying out the snowboards. Sakura bent down and hugged Kaede tenderly. "Hai! You're awesome!" declared Sakura emphatically.
Sakura turned to look at Tomoyo, "Ano-- I'm a little scared to try out the snowboard," admitted Sakura just as Meilin and Yuichi zipped past their slope, flailing their arms to maintain their balance.
"WHOA!" yelled Meilin and Yuichi before knocking each other down on the next hill. "Hey, you hit me!" yelped Yuichi when Meilin used him to cushion her fall. Meilin only flashed her typical grin.
Eriol as always managed to snowboard successfully on his first try. He shrugged as he passed by Tomoyo, Sakura and Kaede. "Just balancing," he said as he sped down smoothly onto the next slopes and hills. Claudette followed gracefully behind him, her raven hair flowing in the wind as she also rode on a snowboard.
Syaoran and Yamazaki trailed after them a little awkwardly but growing more confident with each meter covered. Rikka, Chiharu and the other girls downhill were clapping.
"Please try snowboarding Sakura-chan?" pleaded Tomoyo with puppy-dog eyes. Sakura sweat-dropped before she answered weakly, "Later... maybe... you can help me?"
****************
Sakura and her friends were having a snow fight when Kaede suddenly cried out. "IIE!" squealed Kaede as he covered his head, his small face contorted with sudden pain.
"Kaede-chan!" exclaimed Sakura as she bolted over to the child's side. She scooped him in her arms, trying to avoid his thrashing elbows and knees. "Syaoran-kun, help me!" said Sakura as their games abruptly ended and everyone was looking at Kaede worriedly.
Syaoran stepped in front of them to prevent their classmates from stepping to close at Kaede. He held his hands and shrugged as he tried to explain Kaede's behavior. "Kaede throws tantrums like this back in Hong Kong. Sakura and I will take a walk with him until he calms down a bit," explained Syaoran as he helped Sakura stand up and took Kaede from her arms. Sakura tried to flash a reassuring grin as she followed after Syaoran.
They walked until they reached a safe distance away from prying eyes. Eriol appeared at their side a short while later and Meilin, Yuichi and Tomoyo followed next. Syaoran was sitting on a large rock, his long arms cradling the whimpering boy. Sakura was gently smoothing back Kaede's hair, murmuring words of comfort.
"-- I can't feel their hearts..." whispered Kaede as he buried his face in Syaoran's jacket.
"He's an empath. He's very sensitive to his surroundings and can 'see' what others think and feel," said Syaoran as Kaede slowly calmed down. Kaede sat up and pushed away from Syaoran's hold with a scowl. "I'm fine," he said, sniffing as he wiped his tears away with the back of his hand.
"What did you sense Kaede-kun, that caused you pain?" asked Sakura as she leaned down, her green eyes on level with Kaede's wet, stormy gaze.
Kaede's lower lip trembled slightly as he answered, his voice hoarse. "Hate. Kill. And destroy."
A loud roar suddenly ripped through the silence and then there were screams.
************
"Monsters!" screamed Chiharu as everyone was fleeing in panic. Yamazaki grabbed Chiharu and pulled her away from a lion and panther with wings. A blast of fire barely missed the couple who ducked and rolled away.
"An attack in broad daylight?" asked Tomoyo disbelief as she gazed at Cerberos and Spinel Sun who are out of control. Their eyes were blank and dark and they flew over and attacked indiscriminately.
"What will we do?" asked Sakura in agony, holding her star wand as she watched Cerberos and Spinel Sun attacking her friends. Everyone's weapons were transformed and they were trying to think of a way to face their adversary.
Eriol gave a tight nod and said, "Defeat them. We have no choice, many will get hurt if we don't stop them. They're probably here to take Kaede away when they failed the first time." Syaoran faced Meilin and Yuichi and ordered, "Protect Kaede. We can't afford to let him fall in the hands of the enemy." Meilin and Yuichi nodded grimly.
"DARK, take form and envelop! Spread darkness!" commanded Sakura as an expanding darkness swallowed her classmates and placed them in another dimension. Dark Cerberos and Spinel looked around in sudden confusion at the loss of their prey. Cerberos roared when he noticed Sakura, Eriol and Syaoran who were standing with their weapons drawn out.
"Kero-chan! Please snap out of it," pleaded Sakura as tears began to run down her cheeks. "Spinel, what have they done to you?" said Eriol softly as he faced his guardian.
"Kill!" roared Cerberos and Spinel at the same time as they charged towards their Masters.
"The Dark Forces are stupid--" began Syaoran as he stepped back to let Sakura and Eriol battle their guardians.
Both Card Masters mirrored the same attack and defense. Before Cerberos or Spinel's fire can touch them, Sakura and Eriol has commanded Shield. "Earthy! Freeze!" shouted Sakura as she threw her cards up and released her power. Tree vines sprang up from the ground and enveloped Cerberos. He was powerless against the magic of his own Mistress.
"--because they don't know that a Guardian, no matter how strong, can never defeat his Master because their power is from the power of their Master," finished Syaoran as Cerberos was enveloped ice and Spinel Sun was engulfed by HORDE, attacked by THUNDER and then collapsed when SAND buried him under it's weight.
Black smoke with the scent of orchids began to drift up from Cerberos and Spinel's trapped bodies. Their magic circles came out and the black lines began to disappear as Cerberos and Spinel began to change back into their false forms.
"Forces of darkness, reveal your true form and be reborn again, under the name of SAKURA, your new mistress!" commanded Sakura as the darkness gave one final wail before transforming into a SAKURA card. Spinel Sun and Cerberos collapsed, returning to their false forms.
Sakura caught the card deftly and turned it to see a picture of a black orchid, its black depths having hints of red. Grey mist was the orchid's background. The black orchid was encircled by a picture of a golden collar. "ENCHANTMENT," Sakura said aloud as she carefully placed the new card into a separate holder. She then ran over to Cerberos who was slowly waking up.
Sakura scooped Cerberos into her arms and gave a happy sob when her sun guardian suddenly muttered, "Is it breakfast already?"
Inside DARK, Sakura, Eriol and Syaoran never heard the furious battle happening outside that Yuichi, Meilin and Tomoyo were fighting furiously. Vicious monsters had attacked their small group as soon as night has fallen.
*************
"Stay with Kaede!" screamed Meilin as she knocked down a snarling, sharp- toothed monster.
"Go back Meilin!" shouted Yuichi as he began to steer Meilin away from the monsters, his Holy Fire, keeping them away. Meilin aimed a punch and a kick at a monster that tried to jump at them. "I'll fight with you," said Meilin through gritted teeth as she turned, her hands flying to unwind her ribbon from her hair. Underneath her ribbon was a long, thin and sharp wire. She snapped her ribbon like a whip and it cut through the line of monsters in a circle.
"Sugoi Meilin-obaachan!" squealed Kaede as he looked up at his cousin. Tomoyo was using the ski sticks as a weapon, ready to ward away any monster that would come to close.
"There's too many," gasped Yuichi, panting as he pulled out another sealing paper. Three monsters suddenly jumped on him before he can summon fire. "YUICHI!" screamed Meilin as she tried to reach Yuichi who was flat on his back, with monsters surrounding him.
Ice spikes erupted from the ground in a blazing trail as monsters that stood on its path got impaled on its jagged edges. Hail began to fall down, sharp and piercing but amazingly, it never fell on Yuichi, Meilin, Kaede or Tomoyo.
"Awesome power," said Kaede as he closed his eyes, wincing as he clutched his torn shoulder. He shivered a bit before he relaxed, drawing a sigh of relief. "We're saved," he announced as the attack swiftly destroyed the monsters.
Slowly, Tomoyo released the ski stick dripping with leftover monster entrails. Sweat beaded her brow despite the coldness of the snow, she clutched Kaede tighter in her free arm and then hugged him with both arms. "Is it Sakura? Her Snow?" asked Tomoyo panting.
Kaede raised his head to gaze at the shadows beyond the forest. A small silvery light glinted and he shook his head solemnly. "It's not Sakura. It's someone else..." he stated before the blanket of darkness suddenly disappeared and Sakura, Eriol and Syaoran stood in front of them, the Card Masters holding their guardians.
The voices of the classmates began again and it was as if nothing happened, except for the fact that it was already evening instead of afternoon. Yamazaki's voice wondering why time flew so fast rose above the chatter.
"Everything's normal," said Tomoyo with a sigh of relief as she slumped against the tree.
"Not quite," said Sakura as she gazed up at the hill, her eyes unwavering from the vision.
Syaoran turned in time to see a slender female up by the sloping hills, watching them before turning away. Her long black hair flowed in the wind. "Did you see her?" asked Syaoran as the aura of power left the moment the girl disappeared. Eriol gave a tight nod.
"I noticed the aura of magic she had, even from this distance. She is very powerful," said Eriol grimly as Sakura still gazed at the place where the girl has stood.
"There's something about her that is familiar... only I can't tell whether or not she's a friend or foe," added Sakura before moving closer to Syaoran's side and holding Kero-chan tighter.
Everything suddenly seemed so complicated and things are now never as they seem.
************
Everyone was now gathered at the main room of Snow Halcyon. The lights were glittering and the curtains pulled back to reveal a majestic view of snow- capped mountains from the room enclosed in glass. A small band was playing music, but most of its songs were for easy listening as the guests enjoyed appetizers and meals from the buffet table.
"Thank you for the meal," said Sakura cheerfully as she set her chopsticks down. A sweat-drop appeared on her forehead when she realized that she was the only one who had just finished eating. Everyone has been watching her and waiting for her to eat her fill. "Hoe..." stammered Sakura, turning red.
"Kaiju," muttered Touya beneath his breath as he turned to gaze out the windows. A young lady, dressed in a black and dark gray ski outfit sped down the mountain slopes, her raven hair flying behind her. He gazed at the small figure, his jaw dropping open. // What the hell?! //
Sonomi tapped her knife against her wineglass loudly, catching everyone's attention. "Ehem. Excuse me, minna-san but in 10 minutes, it will be the start of a New Year," announced Sonomi, flashing a huge smile at everyone's excited faces.
Naoko who was sitting beside earlier suddenly grabbed Eriol's hand in excitement. "Give a speech Hiiragizawa-kun," urged Naoko, her eyes shining brightly. Eriol turned red and Sonomi, who overheard everything agreed.
"How about a special number from the young people? Just to help the minutes pass faster," said Sonomi with a huge grin, her eyes lingering on her quiet daughter.
The teenagers began to call out their friends' names. "A song from Tomoyo- san!" "Speech from Hiiragizawa-kun!" "Touya-san play the piano!" "Li-kun and Sakura-chan's dance!" "HOE!" squealed Sakura as the rest of their group flushed nervously at the mention of their names.
Chants and good-natured jokes circulated until Eriol finally stood up, looking a little harassed as he fixed his tie. "I'd like to play the piano, there's this American song I want to share with you."
Everyone clapped enthusiastically as Eriol walked over to the piano and sat down, running his nimble fingers over the keys experimentally. The opening notes of "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time With You," began to play, the melody soft, relaxing and profoundly stirring.
Claudette gasped at recognizing the song and she stood up and walked over to the piano. She stopped beside Eriol and began to sing the lyrics.
Can this be true, tell me can this be real How can I put into words what I feel My life was complete, I thought I was whole Why do I feel like I'm losing control?
Eriol looked surprised at finding Claudette sitting beside him on the piano, her head tilted close to his. Her voice was clear and beautiful but not as enchanting as Tomoyo's. He smiled, wondering why he chose to play this song.
Never thought that love could feel like this How you changed my world with just one kiss How can it be, you're right here with me There's an angel, there's a miracle...
Your love is like a river, peaceful and deep Your soul is like secret that never could keep When I look into your eyes I know that its true God must have spent a little more time on you
Eriol found himself looking at Tomoyo's face. Even as he played the piano, he found himself thinking only of the way Tomoyo has always been there for him. He suddenly realized why he chose to play this song. It was for HER.
"Happy New Year everyone!" shouted Tomoyo the moment fireworks began to light up the mountain sky. The shouts of joy drowned out the song but still, Eriol kept playing. He didn't know why but he felt the need to pour the confusing emotions he felt inside into the song.
People began kissing each other, while some couples shared a special New Year's kiss.
Sakura and Syaoran stood facing each other amidst the celebration, holding hands. Syaoran bent his head and brushed his lips softly against Sakura's mouth. He was about to give her a bigger kiss when Kaede burst in between them, kissing Sakura enthusiastically. "Happy New Year Sakura-tenshi!" yelled Kaede as he gave Sakura wet kisses all over her face, scowling at his older cousin.
Syaoran sighed, grimaced but then smiled at the expression on Sakura's face. Resigned, he turned to put an arm over Sakura's slim shoulders. "Happy New Year Syaoran," whispered Sakura as she rested her head against his shoulder, secure in his presence.
"Aa," said Syaoran, letting the peace of the moment sink into his being.
Of hidden depths and new beginnings.
TBC
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Author's Notes: Gomen nasai minna-san for such a late update! Whew! Been really busy with college and the new anime I learned to love! I'm now a campus journalist so it's not that easy for me to write long chapters like the previous chapters in "The Shadowed Prophecy". But please, don't worry, or murder me in your minds, I PROMISE TO FINISH THIS STORY! Right now, the end is very far away and more chapters will come. It's not that easy to produce a twelve page chapter you know! *wink* No matter how long I will continue Sakura and Syaoran's story. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Email me at joan_g1014@yahoo.com for comments and suggestions or if you want to be my beta-reader. =) Ja matta ne!