Vanilla Skies
Chapter Three: Snowflakes
Understanding destiny is something that I've been trying to do for years, I guess. With all that I've seen and what I've been through, it only seems right to venture down that route. My wanting to understand hasn't been totally useless, but it hasn't been helpful either. There are some things best left alone, in some respects, so I am stuck waiting for that one right moment.
I came back to Tokyo to help Sakura for a lot of reasons. I saw myself in the path she was heading down. I saw the anger and the pain, and at that moment I knew I could not allow someone with dreams like her to lose it all when she still had a chance. She has her whole life in front of her, no matter how badly Li-san had hurt her. She still has that glimmer of a flame in her eyes, regardless of what she says. My past is nothing more than a broken one, there is no hope in that direction. Sometimes I think I am nothing more than a lifeless body at the most.
I've lost hope.
I've lost love.
I've lost the ability to dream.
But for Sakura-imouto, I am willing to push my demons aside and help. Maybe one day, I'll be able to smile again. One day.
**
"I'm going to go out and buy you some soup, Tomoyo-san."
She looked up to see Usagi standing at the door, jacket in hand. She gave the older woman a small smile and a nod. "Arigato, I think I could use some broth. Although I can't guarantee keeping it inside me very long."
Usagi chuckled. "It'll be good for you. I'll be back soon."
Tomoyo waited until she heard the click of the downstairs door. "You can come out, Suppi-chan."
"Must you call me that? It's bad enough when that insolent brat calls me that."
She giggled. "I think Ruby Moon hit the nickname thing right on. Suppi-chan's so *kawaii*. It could have been worse, ne?"
He flew up to the bed and landed right next to Tomoyo. "You *are* all right, dear?"
She nodded. "I'm still a little dizzy. Tsukino-san has been taking very good care of me. Sakura-chan was right, the woman must be a great friend. I guess I really am pregnant."
"What?"
Suppi flew around in circles, landing onto of the bed with a solid thump. Tomoyo giggled. "Tsukino-san mentioned it as a possibility. But somehow, this might sound a little odd, but I can feel the baby's life."
"The next in line to Clow's magic. It makes sense that you're senses are heightening. It's no wonder Tsukino-san caught it. There's a lot of power in her though. Dangerous power."
Tomoyo shook her head, shifting her body into a sitting position. "She's harmless in our case, Suppi-chan. She came to help Sakura and she's accepted us as Sakura's friends. I may not be able to sense energy, but just from the way she looks it's pretty obvious that making her angry isn't such a good idea."
"I'm just amaze at the fact that the Card Mistress has gotten so much stronger. She's much more confident."
Tomoyo sighed. "She had no choice."
**
She was curious to know why old people had such a fascination with the dark and candlelit rooms. It seemed completely ridiculous to hold a meeting in a room where there wasn't *any* light and you could barely see the faces of anyone. She felt Eriol's grip on her arm tighten as they sat down. Then again this was Syaoran's family, the one and only great Li Clan.
"We are grateful you've accepted our invitation, Card Mistress."
"It wasn't like I had any choice," she countered, earning an amused chuckle from Eriol. She rolled her eyes, ass-kissing had never been her thing thanks to Touya-niichan.
"We are trying to be respectful here, Mistress."
I'm not stupid. "I understand that, Li-sama. As am I, but I must confess I'm a little annoyed to why you pulled me all the way back to Tokyo. I take it you screwed up along the way. What's really going on?"
There was a long sigh and she found her eyes wandering to Syaoran, who was shifting nervously in his seat. She shook her head. He's so kawaii sometimes, even if I still think he's a pompous bastard who stole my cards. She sighed. Oneechan's right. I need to lay off the coffee.
"The cards have been released," the elder finally spoke. "They as well as the guardians are out of control. Nights in Tokyo are no longer safe for people, the police have even established a curfew."
"And whose damn fault is that," Eriol muttered.
Kero-chan…
"What do you mean out of control?"
Syaoran spoke up from the corner. "If the book is open by anyone other than magical decent, the balance that had been maintained is disrupted and chaos starts. Think of an allergic reaction, that's how the cards react."
Her eyes widened. Rika… Syaoran catching her gaze, nodding sadly.
"Oh god… How?"
"We had placed the book in an exhibit. No one, but a few knew the true extent of power that the book held. So-"
"So this is lingo for we screwed up because we put it in a goddamn public area?"
Eriol chuckled again. "Calm down, Sakura-chan," he whispered. "You're in front of a bunch of old farts, remember?"
She took a deep breath. "Who released the cards?"
Please, oh please don't be…
"The book is trapped in the body of the girl," the elder continued as he had heard Sakura. She stood, eyes blazing and her hands trembling.
"Who released the goddamn cards?"
Syaoran spoke up, not meeting her angry gaze.
"The Book of Clow is trapped inside Sasaki Rika's body. Rika was the one who released the cards."
**
"Fancy meeting you here, Usa-chan."
Usagi turned, meeting the sad gaze of Nokoru who was standing in the shadows. She said nothing, gripping her grocery bags tighter. The wind blew her hair gently in her face and she sighed softly. He wasn't a threat to her.
Yet.
"I was wondering when you were going to pop out. Where are your body guards?"
"There's no need for this, Usa-"
She raised an eyebrow. "All right then, I'll walk away." She turned and began to head in the direction of the Hiiragizawa's house, but nearly stumbled instead as Nokoru reached out and grabbed her wrist. The grocery bag in her hand fell to the ground, the soup cans rolling onto the grass of the nearby lawn. Nokoru pulled her to his chest tightly, breathing heavily.
"I won't let you go, imouto. I always keep my promises."
In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. Don't make this harder than it all ready is…
"Except for one."
"Usa, you know I-"
She pulled out of his grasp. "Wanted to protect me? Sure, of course. You protected me by nearly letting my family die. You protected me by turning your back on me when I need you…," she choked back a sob. "You left me in my most vulnerable state. You and Ka-"
Usagi froze, her body stiffening. Energy… The Cards? Whirling around, she found herself looking at nothing but the darkened silence.
"Usa-chan what is it?"
Her eyes widened and her expression dimmed.
"Yue…"
**
Author's Notes and Other Fangled Things:
First off, I want to apologize for the posting length. I got rather busy with other fics that I need to finish. *cough* Wanders… I was going to update this earlier, but you know what happens… Anyhow, I guess I should clear up a few things.
In concerns to the Clow Book, think of it like Pandora's Box. It was created by magic and lots of power, so it was only made for those of magical decent not for humans or curiosity. Human energy, I guess you could call it, is polar opposite therefore setting off an "allergic reaction" like Syaoran called it.
So when Rika came into contact with the book (you'll find out in the next chapter how), she absorbed it as an reaction and kind of became part of the book. If anyone has seen the anime Shamanic Princess you'll know what I mean, but anyhow Rika and the book are one and the same. After she released the book, Kerberos and Yue are released to do as they please. And we all know how *angry* Yue was during the Final Judgment episodes and all… ^^;;
Secondly, Usagi's involvement with the CLAMP detectives will eventually be explained I promise. But for now, obviously she shared a close relationship with Nokoru who somehow betrayed it in the past.
Yes, Tomoyo is pregnant. Can you image having Eriol-kun as a father? X_X There will be S+S moments in the next chapter as promised, the story revolves around their relationship you know.
And that, dear readers is all I can think of at the moment. So review!
Disclaimer: *runs away from screeching lawyers* I won't do it! You can't make me!
Dedication: To my girls, Ani-chan, Oneechan, and Starlight-oneechan, I love you all! And oneechan, I give the go for ya. It'll be a partial AU.
