Chloe woke the next morning, full of energy. Though she had slept in until
ten o'clock. Bliss, she thought. She looked at the dress hung up in
Syaorans sisters' wardrobe, which would be where she would stay for now. It
had been what she had found in the box at the Elgins.
The box in the room with no door. The box that had been in that room before she had arrived at the house. The Box that had had her name written on it. She had found an old diary in there also. And a letter. A letter from her mother, written to her, before she had been born. It did explain a few things, and gave a major hint of where to find her parents.
She tucked the letter away and hid the diary in her bag, dressed and left the room. There was still snow on the ground outside, which was usual for Hong Kong. It never snowed here, usually it was warm compared to English winters.
"Li-Kun?" she called down the hall but received no reply. She walked into the lounge but no-one was there. "Hiiragizawa-Kun? Meiling-Chan?"
Chloe looked around in confusion. Where was everyone? She walked into the kitchen and saw a note on the counter and a selection of fruits beside it. she picked the note up and read it.
Chloe,
Hope you had a good sleep. We've all gone out food shopping and decided to leave you in bed because you looked to peaceful. Meilings promised to bring back all your favourites, I'll make sure she does. We'll be back in the afternoon most likely. I sorted some fruits out because I know how much you like them for breakfast. Enjoy the quiet while you can.
Syaoran, Meiling and Eriol.
Chloe smiled and picked up a piece of fruit, which she ate while smiling at the letter. He really has changed, she thought, I wonder if Sakuras still in town. And wandered over to the phone and began to dial in the number Sakura had told her to call if she needed to talk.
The phone rang a few times until a voice sounded down the other end of the phone
"Moshi-Moshi! Sakura Speaking"
"Sakura-San it's Chloe. I was wondering if you we're still in town."
"Chloe-Chan good to hear from you! Yes I am, why?"
"I thought we could. talk. Will you meet me?"
"Of course"
"I'll see you in town then. Kero-Chan will know where to go."
"He will?"
"Yes after I say meet me in the café on the water front."
Sakura chuckled at the other end of the line.
"Okay then at 12. And we can have some food." Sakura said
"Perfect I'll see you then Ja Ne!"
"Ja Ne Chloe-Chan" Sakura said and then both girls hung up.
* * * * *
Chloe stepped out of the side street and onto the main street in Hong Kong City centre. A small smile played across her face. She had a whole hour of shopping to kill before she met with Sakura. She loved Hong Kong centre, there were so many cool shops, but first things first she'd have to go to a card shop, she needed to send a postcard to the girls back in England at the bar.
She really missed them, more than she was letting on. She smiled as she looked at everyone walking round in coats but all she wore was a light jacket. It had been colder in England. They seamed to stare at her in amazed she wasn't cold.
After the card shop she ambled down the main street going in the occasional shop, and pausing out side the "Magic Box" for a few minutes to look at the tarot cards. If she had continued with he divination she could have moved onto them, even though they were easier that a deck of playing cards.
She closed her eyes as she pulled herself away from the shop. She really wanted to continue, so last night before going to the Elgins, she had picked up the pack of cards in Syaorans lounge window and had kept them in her pocket ever since.
Occasionally she would slip her had into the pocket and just rest it on the deck for a few minutes. This sort of ritual she had done ever since she had began to use the cards for divination purposes.
She carried on down the street toward the water front café. She was ten minutes early still but if Sakura had come early she'd be waiting. If Sakura wasn't there it gave her chance to sit and have something to drink before they met.
As she turned the corner to waterfront road she collided with someone. She started to fall back, she flung her hand out for something to stabilise her. She had hardly lent back before a hand grasped her wrist and pulled her upright, and then the hand moved to her shoulders to make sure she was stable. The touch of this person was firm but not too firm that it was painful, it was more they were some how firm but gentle at the same time.
She looked up onto the persons' face, taking in some of the details. Bright golden brown eyes and hair. Young. Couldn't have been much older than she was. She somehow knew the face. It was most certainly stunning.
Chloe just stood there. This boys arms on hers, someone she barely knew, or so she thought. He smiled at her.
"Chloe?"
"Yes?" Chloe replied almost breathless, "how do you-?"
"You mean you don't to say you don't remember me?" the boy replied his voice gentle. Something hit Chloe suddenly. They had both been speaking fluent English. No one she knew in Hong Kong spoke English, except Eriol- kun of course. "Its Rhys"
Chloe mouth opened in shock but she quickly closed it again.
"Oh Gosh I haven't seen you since."
"We were five." He finished for her.
"I kind of have to dash now I'm meeting someone you see-"
"We'll see each other soon then. If you want to." He told her
"I'd love to it would be brilliant to catch up."
"It's a deal then he said and place a piece of paper into her hand, then taking the same hand in his kissed it, passed a small, but none the less stunning smile at her, and began to walk away.
Chloe turned to watch him leave but he stopped a few meters away and turned around.
"I understand now." He said, "What you said to me the day I moved away."
Chloe smiled. Only for the first time in ages it was a natural smile. It hadn't been forced like she had been doing so much lately. She lowered her eyes and began to turn.
"And Chloe" he called. Her head spun to face him, and caught his look, sincere, and gentle. "Your hair looks nice like that". Then he turned and continued to walk away. Chloe ran her fingers through her hair without realising she had done so.
"Thank you" she whispered, and began to remember his face when he was five and comparing it to now. She turned around and walked toward the café she was meeting Sakura in almost as if in a daze. Today was going to turn to a dream.
* * * * *
Chloe sat down on a table in the café stirring her orange juice round with her straw. Staring into what would have been space if the ceiling hadn't had been in the way.
"Chloe-chan?" Sakura asked cautiously from the other side of the table, "are you okay?"
"Fine. Yes. Umm Hmm." Chloe replied as though in a daydream, until Kero- chan bit her from under the table "Ouch!" Chloe yelped and then smiled nervously as the whole café turned to see what was wrong.
"You've been like that since we met are you sure everything's fine, I mean what happened before you met me?"
"And the stuffed animal." Chloe said almost sounding a tad bitter.
"Watch it little girl!" Kero growled from the safety of sackers bag.
"You've never called him that before" Sakura said looking worried as though maybe Chloe had been possessed by something.
"Well he's never bitten me before"
"Gomen" she heard Kero whisper from Sakuras bag.
"I'm sorry too Kero-chan I shouldn't have called you that it was rude." Told him and then turned to Sakura. "What I called you for was.well I." Chloe stuttered as though she couldn't find the right words.
Sakura just looked on, knowing that sometimes word were harder to find than you originally thought.
"I wanted to know why you and Li-Kun didn't get together" Chloe splurged out. Sakura blinked a few times and then smiled.
"When you left," she began and Chloe already had a horrible feeling it wasn't going to turn out well "well Syaoran-Kun became, upset I guess. You know how he doesn't get along with his sisters." Chloe nodded but didn't interject anything letting the older girl continue. "Well I guess he had always thought of you as the sister he always wanted but never had. And he spent most of his time missing you. You mean a lot to him Chloe"
"As do you." Chloe said rushing her words a little." There's something I need to tell you. But you have to promise not to tell Syaoran-Kun" Sakura nodded and Chloe continued, "you mean more to Syaoran that he or you can ever imagine. He loves you but can never really admit it, he's one of those guys I suppose. And its important he is with the one he loves"
Sakura looked at Chloe for a second. Chloe hoped that Sakura was getting what she was hinting at because she didn't have the heart to say it out loud.
"Chloe-Chan? Are you in love with Syaoran-Kun?" Chloe nodded.
"For a time I was, but I think I realised something today. Before I got here, I bumped into someone" Literally, Chloe added mentally. "I hadn't seen him since I was five, but its astonishing how alike he and Syaoran-Kun look. And I've been thinking, maybe all the time I thought I loved Syaoran- Kun, maybe it wasn't him I really loved. Maybe I had been confusing Syaoran- Kun with someone else. Do you understand?" Sakura nodded.
"So I'm after killing the wrong boy am I?" a cold voice came from behind them. Chloe spun to see who it was but almost wished she hadn't.
"Not you again" she said.
"Not pleased to see me?" he asked his eyes flickering with red.
"I thought I left you in England."
"What can I say." He said shrugging, suddenly his voice turned deadly "You'll never be rid of me" Chloe and Sakura stood, ready to fight if they had to. Chloe noticed the liquid red blade appear in his hand. This wasn't good.
* * * * *
Syaoran walked down Hong Kong waterfront carrying some of the shopping bags, Meiling and Eriol, walking beside him. Meiling was teasing Syaoran, because of something that had happened when they were children and telling Eriol all about it. Eriol chuckled. And eventually so did Syaoran.
It all seamed peaceful today. It was quite cold for Hong Kong though. The peacefulness was broken by screams from the café and many of the patrons went running out.
"What happened?" Syaoran demanded from a girl running their direction. "
"Some guy started attacking these two girls with a knife or sword or something, get out of here!" she said desperately before running off as quickly as possible. The trio exchanged glances and then Syaoran magicked his sword up, and Eriol, summoned his staff, Meiling ran on ahead slightly ready to kick the persons head off their shoulders.
When they reached the door way a boy with dark head ran out past them and then a girl bashed into Syaoran. Syaoran got a quick glance of her and she ran after the dark haired boy not stopping when she called back
"Look After Sakura-Chan!"
The three saw a large group of people beginning to form and then a yellow stuffed toy flew in front of her eyes and yelled at them.
"Well don't just stand there! Call an paramedic or something!" Kero shouted at them and them flew off in the direction the boy had run and the girl who had taken up chase.
Syaoran ran forward and pushed his way through the crowd.
"Kinomoto!" she gasped in shock, and ran forward and gathered her into his arms and carried her out of the café. And looked the Eriol and placed her in his arms. Syaorans eyes narrowed in the direction where the boy had run, with Chloe and Kero in pursuit.
"Get her back to my house and Look after her" he instructed his voice deathly and low and then took off after the attacker of the girl he loved.
* * * * *
Chloes lungs burned as she ran after the boy, he wasn't getting away with anything this time. He couldn't follow her around and hurt the ones she loved; she still owed him an ass kicking for what he had done to Kitty and Marcus. He feet pounded against the floor as she kept the distance between herself and the attacker, slowly closing in.
She swiftly dodged the shoppers in the street. She turned the corner sharply down into an alleyway. She saw her attacker jump over the six foot wall and could hear Cerbeross' wings behind her.
"Cerberos give me a lift!" she called and he swooped down and flew just in front of her, and with a quick jump onto Cerbeross' back and then again, was propelled easily over the wall. She landed cat like and continued running after the boy. "Follow him!" she called to Cerberos "you'll be quicker than me, don't lose him!"
And so Cerberos flew up and over the buildings following the attacker. Chloes jacket fluttered from the breeze as she ran. She jumped over the split bin contents that had been knocked over to slow her down, but as she touched down her ankle gave way and she ended up flat on her front, only just managing to keep her head from smashing against the floor.
"Are you okay!" a voice called from behind and a second later a pair of trainers came into her view.
"I'm fine." She said and pulled herself to her feet, panting heavily. "Cerberos is on the chase I hope" she told him and winced as a pain shot through her wrist.
A few minutes later Cerberos landed beside them and turned back into Kero- Chan shaking his head. "I lost him. He just vanished literally, he was running and then just faded away."
"Thank you for trying though Kero-Chan" Chloe said as Syaoran helped her to her feet. "He'll appear again. But just when. We'll have to be on our guard. We don't know who this guy is yet or what he wants"
The trio walked off to catch a taxi back to Syaorans to look after Sakura. On the rooftops above them a figure stood red eyes blazing, and a smirk playing across his face. Only one word escaped his thin lips.
"Soon"
* * * * *
The box in the room with no door. The box that had been in that room before she had arrived at the house. The Box that had had her name written on it. She had found an old diary in there also. And a letter. A letter from her mother, written to her, before she had been born. It did explain a few things, and gave a major hint of where to find her parents.
She tucked the letter away and hid the diary in her bag, dressed and left the room. There was still snow on the ground outside, which was usual for Hong Kong. It never snowed here, usually it was warm compared to English winters.
"Li-Kun?" she called down the hall but received no reply. She walked into the lounge but no-one was there. "Hiiragizawa-Kun? Meiling-Chan?"
Chloe looked around in confusion. Where was everyone? She walked into the kitchen and saw a note on the counter and a selection of fruits beside it. she picked the note up and read it.
Chloe,
Hope you had a good sleep. We've all gone out food shopping and decided to leave you in bed because you looked to peaceful. Meilings promised to bring back all your favourites, I'll make sure she does. We'll be back in the afternoon most likely. I sorted some fruits out because I know how much you like them for breakfast. Enjoy the quiet while you can.
Syaoran, Meiling and Eriol.
Chloe smiled and picked up a piece of fruit, which she ate while smiling at the letter. He really has changed, she thought, I wonder if Sakuras still in town. And wandered over to the phone and began to dial in the number Sakura had told her to call if she needed to talk.
The phone rang a few times until a voice sounded down the other end of the phone
"Moshi-Moshi! Sakura Speaking"
"Sakura-San it's Chloe. I was wondering if you we're still in town."
"Chloe-Chan good to hear from you! Yes I am, why?"
"I thought we could. talk. Will you meet me?"
"Of course"
"I'll see you in town then. Kero-Chan will know where to go."
"He will?"
"Yes after I say meet me in the café on the water front."
Sakura chuckled at the other end of the line.
"Okay then at 12. And we can have some food." Sakura said
"Perfect I'll see you then Ja Ne!"
"Ja Ne Chloe-Chan" Sakura said and then both girls hung up.
* * * * *
Chloe stepped out of the side street and onto the main street in Hong Kong City centre. A small smile played across her face. She had a whole hour of shopping to kill before she met with Sakura. She loved Hong Kong centre, there were so many cool shops, but first things first she'd have to go to a card shop, she needed to send a postcard to the girls back in England at the bar.
She really missed them, more than she was letting on. She smiled as she looked at everyone walking round in coats but all she wore was a light jacket. It had been colder in England. They seamed to stare at her in amazed she wasn't cold.
After the card shop she ambled down the main street going in the occasional shop, and pausing out side the "Magic Box" for a few minutes to look at the tarot cards. If she had continued with he divination she could have moved onto them, even though they were easier that a deck of playing cards.
She closed her eyes as she pulled herself away from the shop. She really wanted to continue, so last night before going to the Elgins, she had picked up the pack of cards in Syaorans lounge window and had kept them in her pocket ever since.
Occasionally she would slip her had into the pocket and just rest it on the deck for a few minutes. This sort of ritual she had done ever since she had began to use the cards for divination purposes.
She carried on down the street toward the water front café. She was ten minutes early still but if Sakura had come early she'd be waiting. If Sakura wasn't there it gave her chance to sit and have something to drink before they met.
As she turned the corner to waterfront road she collided with someone. She started to fall back, she flung her hand out for something to stabilise her. She had hardly lent back before a hand grasped her wrist and pulled her upright, and then the hand moved to her shoulders to make sure she was stable. The touch of this person was firm but not too firm that it was painful, it was more they were some how firm but gentle at the same time.
She looked up onto the persons' face, taking in some of the details. Bright golden brown eyes and hair. Young. Couldn't have been much older than she was. She somehow knew the face. It was most certainly stunning.
Chloe just stood there. This boys arms on hers, someone she barely knew, or so she thought. He smiled at her.
"Chloe?"
"Yes?" Chloe replied almost breathless, "how do you-?"
"You mean you don't to say you don't remember me?" the boy replied his voice gentle. Something hit Chloe suddenly. They had both been speaking fluent English. No one she knew in Hong Kong spoke English, except Eriol- kun of course. "Its Rhys"
Chloe mouth opened in shock but she quickly closed it again.
"Oh Gosh I haven't seen you since."
"We were five." He finished for her.
"I kind of have to dash now I'm meeting someone you see-"
"We'll see each other soon then. If you want to." He told her
"I'd love to it would be brilliant to catch up."
"It's a deal then he said and place a piece of paper into her hand, then taking the same hand in his kissed it, passed a small, but none the less stunning smile at her, and began to walk away.
Chloe turned to watch him leave but he stopped a few meters away and turned around.
"I understand now." He said, "What you said to me the day I moved away."
Chloe smiled. Only for the first time in ages it was a natural smile. It hadn't been forced like she had been doing so much lately. She lowered her eyes and began to turn.
"And Chloe" he called. Her head spun to face him, and caught his look, sincere, and gentle. "Your hair looks nice like that". Then he turned and continued to walk away. Chloe ran her fingers through her hair without realising she had done so.
"Thank you" she whispered, and began to remember his face when he was five and comparing it to now. She turned around and walked toward the café she was meeting Sakura in almost as if in a daze. Today was going to turn to a dream.
* * * * *
Chloe sat down on a table in the café stirring her orange juice round with her straw. Staring into what would have been space if the ceiling hadn't had been in the way.
"Chloe-chan?" Sakura asked cautiously from the other side of the table, "are you okay?"
"Fine. Yes. Umm Hmm." Chloe replied as though in a daydream, until Kero- chan bit her from under the table "Ouch!" Chloe yelped and then smiled nervously as the whole café turned to see what was wrong.
"You've been like that since we met are you sure everything's fine, I mean what happened before you met me?"
"And the stuffed animal." Chloe said almost sounding a tad bitter.
"Watch it little girl!" Kero growled from the safety of sackers bag.
"You've never called him that before" Sakura said looking worried as though maybe Chloe had been possessed by something.
"Well he's never bitten me before"
"Gomen" she heard Kero whisper from Sakuras bag.
"I'm sorry too Kero-chan I shouldn't have called you that it was rude." Told him and then turned to Sakura. "What I called you for was.well I." Chloe stuttered as though she couldn't find the right words.
Sakura just looked on, knowing that sometimes word were harder to find than you originally thought.
"I wanted to know why you and Li-Kun didn't get together" Chloe splurged out. Sakura blinked a few times and then smiled.
"When you left," she began and Chloe already had a horrible feeling it wasn't going to turn out well "well Syaoran-Kun became, upset I guess. You know how he doesn't get along with his sisters." Chloe nodded but didn't interject anything letting the older girl continue. "Well I guess he had always thought of you as the sister he always wanted but never had. And he spent most of his time missing you. You mean a lot to him Chloe"
"As do you." Chloe said rushing her words a little." There's something I need to tell you. But you have to promise not to tell Syaoran-Kun" Sakura nodded and Chloe continued, "you mean more to Syaoran that he or you can ever imagine. He loves you but can never really admit it, he's one of those guys I suppose. And its important he is with the one he loves"
Sakura looked at Chloe for a second. Chloe hoped that Sakura was getting what she was hinting at because she didn't have the heart to say it out loud.
"Chloe-Chan? Are you in love with Syaoran-Kun?" Chloe nodded.
"For a time I was, but I think I realised something today. Before I got here, I bumped into someone" Literally, Chloe added mentally. "I hadn't seen him since I was five, but its astonishing how alike he and Syaoran-Kun look. And I've been thinking, maybe all the time I thought I loved Syaoran- Kun, maybe it wasn't him I really loved. Maybe I had been confusing Syaoran- Kun with someone else. Do you understand?" Sakura nodded.
"So I'm after killing the wrong boy am I?" a cold voice came from behind them. Chloe spun to see who it was but almost wished she hadn't.
"Not you again" she said.
"Not pleased to see me?" he asked his eyes flickering with red.
"I thought I left you in England."
"What can I say." He said shrugging, suddenly his voice turned deadly "You'll never be rid of me" Chloe and Sakura stood, ready to fight if they had to. Chloe noticed the liquid red blade appear in his hand. This wasn't good.
* * * * *
Syaoran walked down Hong Kong waterfront carrying some of the shopping bags, Meiling and Eriol, walking beside him. Meiling was teasing Syaoran, because of something that had happened when they were children and telling Eriol all about it. Eriol chuckled. And eventually so did Syaoran.
It all seamed peaceful today. It was quite cold for Hong Kong though. The peacefulness was broken by screams from the café and many of the patrons went running out.
"What happened?" Syaoran demanded from a girl running their direction. "
"Some guy started attacking these two girls with a knife or sword or something, get out of here!" she said desperately before running off as quickly as possible. The trio exchanged glances and then Syaoran magicked his sword up, and Eriol, summoned his staff, Meiling ran on ahead slightly ready to kick the persons head off their shoulders.
When they reached the door way a boy with dark head ran out past them and then a girl bashed into Syaoran. Syaoran got a quick glance of her and she ran after the dark haired boy not stopping when she called back
"Look After Sakura-Chan!"
The three saw a large group of people beginning to form and then a yellow stuffed toy flew in front of her eyes and yelled at them.
"Well don't just stand there! Call an paramedic or something!" Kero shouted at them and them flew off in the direction the boy had run and the girl who had taken up chase.
Syaoran ran forward and pushed his way through the crowd.
"Kinomoto!" she gasped in shock, and ran forward and gathered her into his arms and carried her out of the café. And looked the Eriol and placed her in his arms. Syaorans eyes narrowed in the direction where the boy had run, with Chloe and Kero in pursuit.
"Get her back to my house and Look after her" he instructed his voice deathly and low and then took off after the attacker of the girl he loved.
* * * * *
Chloes lungs burned as she ran after the boy, he wasn't getting away with anything this time. He couldn't follow her around and hurt the ones she loved; she still owed him an ass kicking for what he had done to Kitty and Marcus. He feet pounded against the floor as she kept the distance between herself and the attacker, slowly closing in.
She swiftly dodged the shoppers in the street. She turned the corner sharply down into an alleyway. She saw her attacker jump over the six foot wall and could hear Cerbeross' wings behind her.
"Cerberos give me a lift!" she called and he swooped down and flew just in front of her, and with a quick jump onto Cerbeross' back and then again, was propelled easily over the wall. She landed cat like and continued running after the boy. "Follow him!" she called to Cerberos "you'll be quicker than me, don't lose him!"
And so Cerberos flew up and over the buildings following the attacker. Chloes jacket fluttered from the breeze as she ran. She jumped over the split bin contents that had been knocked over to slow her down, but as she touched down her ankle gave way and she ended up flat on her front, only just managing to keep her head from smashing against the floor.
"Are you okay!" a voice called from behind and a second later a pair of trainers came into her view.
"I'm fine." She said and pulled herself to her feet, panting heavily. "Cerberos is on the chase I hope" she told him and winced as a pain shot through her wrist.
A few minutes later Cerberos landed beside them and turned back into Kero- Chan shaking his head. "I lost him. He just vanished literally, he was running and then just faded away."
"Thank you for trying though Kero-Chan" Chloe said as Syaoran helped her to her feet. "He'll appear again. But just when. We'll have to be on our guard. We don't know who this guy is yet or what he wants"
The trio walked off to catch a taxi back to Syaorans to look after Sakura. On the rooftops above them a figure stood red eyes blazing, and a smirk playing across his face. Only one word escaped his thin lips.
"Soon"
* * * * *
