Ok, we're back. I really hope that you guys out there are liking this so far. I know it's kind of slow, but bear with me. It gets better! We see Sakura and Syaoran for the first time in this chapter, too. So read on!



Chapter 3: Explanation



Tomoyo checked to make sure that her kimono was on properly, and her maid assured her that it was perfect. The light purple color went very well with the images of pinkish white cherry blossoms that covered it. Her dark hair was up with two braided loops that went to her shoulders on both sides.

When she felt she was ready, she picked up her camcorder and made her way downstairs. She saw that Seta-san was already there, looking around at the pictures in the entryway. He seemed a little funny with that look on his face, almost like he was in awe of his surroundings.

He must have heard her coming down the stairs, because he looked up when she was about halfway down. His face changed, but she couldn't read it. He just stood there as she came down. When she got to the bottom, he moved over to meet her, with that smile on his face again.

They bowed to each other. "You look nice." she said, smiling.

"As do you, Daidouji-san."

She felt her face warm a bit, "Would you like a ride to the festival, it'll be starting soon."

He put his hand behind his head and laughed, "Sure, if it's not too much trouble."

The car ride was a bit strange to Tomoyo. Seta-san's eyes were wide open the whole trip, and he was gripping the seat as if he were afraid he would fall out. "Aren't we going a bit fast?" he asked nervously.

Tomoyo tried not to laugh, "No, this is how fast we always go." He tried to smile but he still held the seat.

Once they got to the festival he seemed more relaxed. "Uh...Thank you for the ride," he sounded like he wasn't so sure that he shouldn't have walked.

"It was nothing," she replied.

They both stood there for a few moments before they both started to speak at the same time, "Would you..../Perhaps this...." They both stopped and smiled at each other. "You go first," Tomoyo insisted.

"Well, I thought that perhaps this might be a good time for me to try and explain who I am," he was scratching the back of his head again.

"Lets find Sakura-chan and Li-kun first! Then you can introduce yourself to all of us!" she hoped he wouldn't mind waiting a little longer.

"Umm...you're sure I wont be imposing? I don't want to ruin all your fun." he said.

"I'm sure, now let's go find them."

They walked into the festival. She glanced at him occasionally as she searched for Sakura-chan and Li-kun. He had the same look on his face as he did when he was looking at the pictures in the entryway to her house. Almost like he was a little overwhelmed.

Then he stopped, squinting a bit. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

He smiled again at her, and then pointed, "Is that your friend over there?" She followed his finger, straight to Sakura-chan. She arched an eyebrow.

"How did you know that was her?"

He scratched his head, "Well, she was in several of those pictures in your house, and you spoke like she was someone important to you. So I suppose I just kind of guessed."

Tomoyo smiled, he was able to tell that Sakura meant so much to her just from the few times she had mentioned her name. "Let's go then!" she took out her camcorder, which he just stared blankly at, and made her way over to Sakura.

Tomoyo tried to sneak up on Sakura, like she always does. But strangely, Sakura, who was seated at a small table by herself, seemed to stiffen a little as she got closer. The Card Mistress suddenly looked around, straight at Tomoyo. The dark haired girl frowned a little as she turned her recorder off. "You never notice me when I'm sneaking like that!"

Seta-san smiled a little, "I think I might have given you away, Daidouji- san. Sorry about that." Tomoyo was confused at that statement. He hadn't made any loud sounds or anything.

"Hello, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura was smiling at her as she stood.

"Hello Sakura-chan!"

Sakura turned to Tomoyo's companion, "Hello, my name is Kinomoto Sakura."

Seta-san bowed, "I am Seta Soujiro. Pleased to meet you Kinomoto-san."

"Where is Li-kun?" Tomoyo asked, looking around.

Sakura pointed over to a cotton candy booth with a huge line, "I told him that I didn't want it that bad, but he went anyway."

Tomoyo giggled, "That sounds like Li-kun." When she turned around, she saw Seta-san and Sakura looking at each other.

Seta-san spoke first, "I haven't seen anyone else in this city who has an energy like yours."

She nodded back, "Yours is what gave you and Tomoyo-chan away."

Tomoyo wasn't sure she quite understood what was going on. Seta-san spoke again, "You must be Li-san?" He then looked past Tomoyo. She turned to see Li standing there with two cotton candies and a scowl on his face.

"Who are you?" Li asked fairly briskly.

Seta-san smiled and put up his hands, "Don't be angry, I sensed your ki. I was just talking to your friend Kinomoto-san about how strong hers is."

Li didn't exactly look surprised, Tomoyo thought, but he did seem a bit confused. And still hostile.

There was an uncomfortable silence as the two stared at each other. Hoping to break the ice between the two, Tomoyo spoke up, "Sakura-chan, Li-kun, Seta-san saved me this afternoon from a group of bullies!" Li did look surprised at that, and Sakura's eyes lit up, as she bowed.

"Thank you for protecting Tomoyo-chan!" she said happily.

He bowed back uncomfortably, "It really was nothing. I was happy to do it."

Tomoyo smiled, "I asked Seta-san to tell us about himself." She turned to him, "Would you tell us now?"

He scratched his head, "I'd be happy to, but you may find my story a little hard to believe."

They all sat down. Sakura shared some of her cotton candy with Tomoyo and Li eyed Seta-san suspiciously as he started to speak.

Tomoyo stared in wonder as he told his unlikely story. He had been a swordsman during the years after the Meiji revolution. He seemed reluctant to tell much more than that about his background, but none argued. He continued saying that he met a wandering swordsman, named Himura-san, who had made a vow never to kill anyone, and fought with a reverse bladed sword. He believed that to make up for the sins of his past that he must fight to protect the weak, because they can't always fight for themselves. This man had made Seta-san believe that he too could leave his past behind and wander, defending those who could not defend themselves, and Seta-san, too, vowed never to kill.

Then, through some sort of powerful energy that he could not begin to explain, he was thrown through time, and that he had been trying to figure out where he was until he came across Tomoyo (he called her Daidouji-san of course). And that was pretty much it.

They all stared at him for a few seconds. Then he smiled and said, "I know it's an odd story. I wouldn't blame you if you don't believe me."

Tomoyo was surprised. How could all this be true? It all seemed so unbelievable. But then again, she was friends with Sakura, the Mistress of the Cards. And it would explain why he had been acting so strangely all this time.

"I believe you," she said, "After all, you saved me from those men, I owe it to you to believe your story."

He smiled at her, but not quite the way he had been smiling before. She couldn't quite explain it, but she smiled back.



Okay guys, those chapters have been more of an introduction than anything else. Now the good stuff coming up. PLEASE review and tell me what you think so far!