Chapter 5

Her eyes opened to greet an unwelcome glare of light. It was morning. What happened? She was lying in a bed, and the sunlight was pouring into the room through the huge windows, shining down on her face. Her wings had vanished.

Mentally she tried to recall the last events. That's right… I was awakened, by that boy… Could it be Clow she had seen? That would've been impossible, yet even then; she could feel this person's power in the same room. Clow's magic. She wasn't supposed to have been awakened; wasn't supposed to have landed anywhere. And only Clow could have shattered the shield around me. So who was this person?

She got up into a sitting position to find herself staring at the boy himself. He had dark hair and wore a pair of glasses, just like Clow. "C… Clow?" she asked with a shaking voice. Her eyes were searching his, searching, for an answer.

"Iie," he said. "I'm not Clow."

But how could that be? She thought. Not when she could feel him so strongly from this boy. Again she cupped his face in her hands. She could definitely feel him. Stroking his face, she asked, "Who are you then?"

"Hiragizawa Eriol. I was known as Clow in my previous life." Understanding dawned on her as he said this, and she relaxed, her hands dropping from his face onto her lap. But there's still something wrong. She strained to remember what else was missing. I was awakened, by this boy, Eriol… then… then I saw…

"Ohaiyo! Daijoubu ka? You slept through last night after we found you," said a bright and chirpy voice. She turned to look at the girl. She had honey-coloured hair, and eyes like emeralds. This one… this one possess the Clow cards. Behind her walked in a man dressed in white, and a majestic lion. Yue and Cerberus, her once companions. Now she remembered. He had rejected her… he, Yue.

The girl sat on the bed beside her. "Onamae wa nan desu ka?" she asked. "Watashi wa Kinomoto Sakura desu," she added after a moment of silence.

But the silence went on.

"I… I guess you don't want to tell us who you are yet," the girl said. "But that's ok, you can tell us later when you get to know us better."

In her mind, she had barely heard the question. What was it again? Her name. No, she wasn't going to tell them. Not till she finds out why everything was so strange. Clow-sama… where are you?

*~*~*~*~*

Sakura looked in disappointment at the lovely being in front of her. She was hoping she would be able to make friends with her. The being did not awake after they brought her back the previous evening. Maybe she's just hungry. Sakura brightened at the idea. They could all have breakfast together! Perhaps that would clear up some of the hostile air.

"Do you want some breakfast? Tomoyo-chan made us a delicious cake," she smiled, "I can bring some up for you."

"I don't eat," she said.

"Hoe?" Sakura said in surprise. Before she got any further though, she felt Eriol's hand tap her shoulder.

"Come with me, I've something to talk to you about."

Obediently Sakura followed him into the next room. Tomoyo had made things easy for them when they decided to stay over the previous night. She had let all have adjoining rooms so that they could get around more easily (in her huge house). Sitting in the leather chair beside the fireplace, Eriol called in Syaoran and Kaho as well.

"Sakura-san, who do you think this being is?" he asked her.

Sakura thought for a second. There sure was something mysterious about this girl, especially how her eyes seemed to be clouded. And how she gave off a magic aura, one she only felt when around Eriol. "I don't know."

"She obeys my commands even though she doesn't know me, but she seems to know who Clow is. She also doesn't eat." Eriol paused for a moment, his words beginning to sink in. "On her chest she bears a rare gem that only the guardians created by Clow have. And the way her wings were folded when we found her…"

"Is she, made by Clow then?" said Syaoran.

"I think so. She's definitely dropping heavy clues on who she is even if she hasn't revealed her name or where she's come from. The being in there," he said pointing to the next room "is a guardian."

"HOEEE!!! How can that be?! There are only two guardians created by Clow, and the other two are by you!" exclaimed Sakura.

Eriol sighed. "Sadly, I don't know all the answers there are. I don't know who this girl is or where she's from. My memory does not recall Clow ever making a third guardian. Perhaps, we could get Yue to help. She seemed to have been in close relation with him."

"Demo… Yue-san might not like the idea," said Sakura.

"We have to try Sakura. We won't be able to find out more about her if we don't," said Syaoran.

Reluctantly Sakura agreed. She never really liked asking favours of her moon guardian. He'd always seemed so quiet and reserved she hated disturbing him. In her heart she knew he was in longing though, longing after the late Clow. "I'll talk to him then, after breakfast." She left the room and rushed down to the dining area where Tomoyo was setting the table while the other three friends continued talking. "Ohaiyo" she said greeting her friend.

"Ohaiyo Sakura-chan. How is the she?" said Tomoyo as she laid out the plates on the table.

"Hoe? Oh the girl! She hasn't spoken much, and she didn't want to eat anything."

"Soka… Anou, what did Hiragizawa-kun say about her?"

"He thinks we should try letting Yue-san talk to her."

"Then by all means, ask Yue-san," Tomoyo said with an encouraging smile.

Sakura looked at her best friend. Somehow Tomoyo always had a way of making things seem a lot easier than they really were. It was good in a way; it stopped Sakura from worrying so much. Tomoyo then disappeared to the kitchen and returned with the gorgeous cake Sakura had mentioned. It was huge, possibly the width of a beach ball and topped with cream and fresh chilled strawberries.

Sakura giggled. "I'm sure Kero-chan will gulp down half of that in the blink of an eye."

"I think so too," said Tomoyo as she laughed along with Sakura. Taking up the cake knife, Tomoyo sliced through the cream-coated layers of the cake and served them on the plates. She didn't bother to cut up the remainder though after the plates had been filled. She simply carried the dish with the remaining chunk of cake over to Kero's seat and served it on the table. It wasn't long before the hungry teenagers with Nakuru, Kaho and the two sun guardians were making their way down to the dining table.

*~*~*~*~*

Yue was in the room, in the being's room. Why he decided to stay there he didn't know, even if Yukito was asking for his share of the cake as well. He looked out the window at the sky that had been dark as the night the previous day. There was something odd about the way this being came through the Earth's atmosphere. He felt her gaze on him. He didn't move his position though, nor did he turn to look at her. He felt uncomfortable.

"Are… are you really Yue?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered without looking at her. She was silent after that though, and Yue felt the room grow stiff with its lack of activity. It wasn't helping with the uncomfortable feeling either. Do I know her? He certainly could not remember himself to have known her. Then how does she know me? He continued staring out the window, but his attention wasn't on the clouds anymore. It had drifted to other matters. Matters of his heart. Was it possible that Clow created her for him and later erased her from his memory? The idea seemed quite possible. Behind him he heard a stifled sob. It wasn't loud. In fact, if he hadn't been listening closely he doubted he would've been able to hear it at all. Slightly frustrated, he finally turned to look at her.

The being was sitting in a foetal position on the bed, her knees drawn up against her body, her face hidden by them. Her long hair was spread out on the sheets in a disarray, her body shaking at the onslaught of her silent cries of distress. Quietly, Yue walked over to the bedside. Looking at the being reminded her of how his heart was still in mourning with the loss of the only one he'd ever treasured. He bent down and brushed the silken strands of hair from the side of her face to reveal her tear-stained cheek. The being lifted her head from her knees to look at him. There was no doubt in the look she gave him; she was utterly surprised.

"What is you name?" Yue asked, trying his best not to sound as distant as he usually did.

The being looked thoughtfully at him for a moment, her piercing blue eyes searching his. Yue felt as if she was trying to help him remember who she was, but he couldn't. "Seika," she said finally, after accepting that he didn't know her. "My name is Seika."

Yue was trying to think. He felt an astonishing sense of guiltiness that try as he might, he could not remember this girl. Seika. He looked at her face. Such a delicate outline… and her features… there was definitely something 'Clow' about them. But her lower lip was beginning to tremble and she turned away from his inquisitive gaze. A fresh set of tears streamed down her face, as she made no attempt to wipe them away. Feeling at a loss of what to do, Yue sat down beside her. Tentatively, he raised his hand and wiped away the wetness of her face. He wasn't used to such contact, not with strangers anyway. This girl seemed different though. The sight of her distraught seemed to be pulling strings in his heart he never knew he possessed. He knew he wasn't attracted to her the way she was to him, but he felt sympathy for her. She must have had lost a lot…

Seika closed her eyes as Yue continued stroking his thumb over her cheeks, her heart near the brink of bursting with the emotions she was feeling. Her past, her lost, her journey… and what she found, they were all spinning in her head. Where was her master, her creator, when she needed him most? She had never meant to arrive anywhere, much less be found by anyone. Yet her much thought about worries seemed to dispel in that instant when she saw Yue. Or at least, whom I thought was Yue. Painfully, even if she tried to deny it, she knew this was not the Yue she knew. He wasn't the same being she had spent her life with. He doesn't know me at all. She opened her eyes to come to face with a concerned-looking Yue, his hand now resting on her cheek. But how could it be? Not when he looks so much like him…

Their eyes locked. Cold empty grey against a longing and searching blue. Deeper, and deeper, Seika felt she was being drawn to believe this was really Yue… the one she'd given her heart to long ago. Can it be that deep down inside he knows me? She had to find out. She drew closer to him, her face now barely inches away from his, and he was making no attempt to withdraw. Closer… closer… closer…

"WHO WANTS THE LEFTOVER CAKE?!!!" yelled Nakuru as she burst into the room. "Areh?" she looked in surprise at the awkward looking figures sitting on the bed. "WhoOpS!" she said hastily with an embarrassed look written all over her face. "Looks like I just interrupted an intimate moment…" She giggled as she rushed out of the room, muttering something like 'sumimasen'.

Yue stood up. "I'm sorry," he said "I didn't know what I was doing." He looked positively flustered.

"No it's my fault. Gomen nasai."

"I hope you are able to tell us about you're past soon. I have to go now," said Yue as he left the room hastily, leaving Seika alone to her thoughts again.

*~*~*~*~*

What was I thinking? Yue cursed himself silently. That girl, the mysterious being had just given him a test of his loyalty to Clow, and he'd nearly lost. If not for Nakuru coming in just in time and saving him… he didn't want to think about it. He walked swiftly, his head bowed in thought as he turned round the bends of the corridor on autopilot. He had no idea where he was going, nor did he care. All he needed at the moment was some time away from her. Turning round his hundredth bend without the aid of his sight, he found himself suddenly bumped off track by…

"Sakura-sama!"

"Yue-san! I've been looking all over for you!" she said worriedly.

"Gomen," he said, not looking at her. "I didn't think you'd be looking for me, Sakura-sama. I'm sorry." But he wasn't about to reveal where he was either.

Sakura shook her head. "You don't need to be sorry for anything." She smiled reassuringly. "Demo, Yue-san," her voice suddenly becoming insecure "I need you to do me a favour." She paused.

"Nan da?"

"I uh… need you to find out more about the being."

Yue felt himself stiffen. He certainly did not want to be near her again on such short notice. Not when he still felt some sort of 'sympathy' for her. But as he looked down at his young mistress, his felt his heart warm up to her. She was his friend, and even so, she rarely ever asked him for anything. I guess I'll take on the job then. "Sakura-sama I'll…"

"You don't need to do it if you don't want to!" Sakura interrupted him quickly.

Yue smiled slightly at her concerned outburst. He certainly did like his mistress… 'a lot', quoted from Clow. She knew he would have to follow her commands even if he didn't want to. It was a rule. Yet she always asked him whether he wanted to do it. He bent down to face her. Did Clow always know that I would finally accept her as my mistress? He didn't even need to think about the answer. "Sakura-sama," he said gently as he lifted her chin to face him, "I'll do it, there's no need to worry."

"You will?" she asked in surprise, her emerald eyes beaming excitedly. Yue nodded in agreement. "Yokata!" she sighed in relief.

As he straightened himself, Yue wondered if he should tell her the being's name. No, then she would ask you how you found out. That was definitely a bad idea. He would leave it till later when he gathered more information for her. Then I'll tell her.

*~*~*~*~*

Tomoyo sat on her bed, the covers creasing beneath her weight. She sighed. A few days ago she did manage to talk with her mother. As usual, Sonomi's career made it difficult for Tomoyo to have much free time with her. But whatever she had said that night did affect Tomoyo. She closed her eyes as she recalled the words her mother told her.

"You take after me so much, my darling Tomoyo. It's true that I did like Nadeshiko when I was young, just like the way you were attracted to Sakura-chan. And I was infuriated when she married Kinomoto-san (thank goodness you don't take after me about that part); I still fell in love again. I loved your father very much Tomoyo, and I still do even though he's away. At that point of time when I was so upset over Nadeshiko's marriage, he approached me. He comforted me. I soon found myself on hyper-drive whenever he was around. It wasn't long before we got married, and I had you. I'm not surprised you've found someone else, Tomoyo. I always knew you would."

"Demo, Kaa-san, why do I feel so confused? I wasn't like that with Sakura-chan. Iie, I was focused and in control of myself. So why? Why am I feeling this way towards him?"

"You're growing up Tomoyo. Things aren't as simple as they were before. In fact, they get more complicated as you grow up. I went through the same thing with your father at that time, and I reacted the same way as you. But I managed to get over it, and I'm sure you will too. Just believe in yourself Tomoyo, you can do it. And remember, Kaa-san will always be behind you all the way, even if I can't be with you all the time."

She remembered the kiss on her forehead her mother left with her that night. 'Just believe in yourself Tomoyo, you can do it', her words still lingering in her head.

"What do I do now?" she whispered to herself. It was becoming more and more difficult to sort out her feelings. Her heart seemed clouded with a million other worries. What if he doesn't like me? What if he rejects me? What if… what if… She was beginning to hate those two words.

*~*~*~*~*

Translations
Onamae wa nan desu ka: what is your name
Watashi wa Kinomoto Sakura desu: my name is Sakura Kinomoto
Demo: but
Areh: surprised expression like 'hoe'
Nan da: what is it

Scribbles
XD I'm sorry~! I'M SORRY! I know all you E&T fans out there are dying for them to get together... demo... I have other plans for them :) you'll just have to wait and see. Remember, the longer you wait, the better the reward? Yeah so I hope you'll be mighty satisfied when I finally decide its Valentines day. Anyway, how do you guys find the new character so far? I've actually got some drawings of her, but I cant very well post it on fanfiction.net now can I? Hmm... maybe I should make a site for the story then... _ but I shouldn't be getting my hopes too high. So, umm... maybe if you guys are interested (like real you are), I could just put in the URLs for the pics in the next chapter. You could send me your replies in the reviews or mail... @_@ but I doubt I'd get any requests for them 6^_^ so anyway, remember to review and I sincerely hope you liked this chapter.