Cold Feathers

Chapter 1

School was a breeze afterwards. The living were so predictable. The homeworks were so easy.

" You look a lot paler today, Syaoran-kun. Daijoubu?" Sakura asked.

That was the hard part, you can imagine. Even as an angel I could not hide everything. I shrugged at her.
" It's nothing." I answered.

A long time after school ended and I made my way to my apartment. It was hard to clean up the blood and the body, and certainly all the damage caused by the demons. I managed though. Death has its advantages. It's hard to get tired when you're dead.

On my way I met Sakura's mother, Nadeshiko. She smiled at me in a sad way. I smiled back at her.
" Still here?" I asked. " You don't trust me?"
" Oh, it's not that I don't trust you, Syaoran-kun." She answered. " I merely wish to protect my daughter and son from other...troubles, I suppose."
" You know I can handle this one, right?" I smirked.
" Of course. You're the only one." She smiled. " But I'm worried about you."
" Don't be." I answered. " I can handle this."
" Are you sure?" She asked.

I smiled at her again. " Positive."
" Just remember one thing," This time she was very serious. " You're not alone."
" Of course." I answered.

Nadeshiko nodded and disappeared. I entered the building and went up the stairs, not wanting to take the elevator. I opened the door.

Things were like always, everything was in order. I locked the door behind me and threw my bookbag over the couch. I finished my homework already. I don't need to practice martial arts anymore. Quite frankly, I don't need to eat either. Which meant I had nothing to do.

I was content with that. Death helps with it. Having nothing to do is kind of like yoga. Only you don't have to do stretches. I sat cross-legged on the bed and closed my eyes. I didn't need to sleep; I already was. But clearing my mind of all thoughts I was able to pass the time.

After doing that for around two hours, it was five thirty. I was able to think clearly once more and proceeded a plan. I knew the demons will attack Touya at around eight while he's getting home from Yukito's, and I had to find a way to disguise myself as a living human.

I decided to settle Touya's first, since his was more immediate. So I glanced at the clock again. Five thirty-two. Perhaps at around seven forty-five I'll make a start of a drizzle. I'll hurry it up to a thunderstorm in no time. Touya won't be able to go home then. He'll stay at Yukito's.

I still have around two hours. Now my problem.

No tanning lotion here. I didn't feel like going out and buying one. But then do I have a choice?

So I moved my legs and got off the bed. I went out and bought a lotion. When I came back it was almost six.

Around two hours, still. Not much time really passed. I sat down and decided to try the lotion on. Hopefully it wouldn't streak or give me an orange color. Then they'll get suspicious.



When I made the rain I already put on the lotion and I didn't look orange or streaky, thankfully. I looked rather natural, courtesy to the company that made the tanning lotion. Now I can go out without people thinking I'm an albino who dyed my hair brown and wore contacts.

I stretched. My wings came out. I suddenly noted that I won't be able to fly tonight in the rain. Groaning, I folded them.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

" Moshi moshi?"
" Syaoran-kun, do you sense it?"

I was apt to laugh. It was Sakura, of course, and she had sensed my rain and was asking if I sensed it. Of course I repressed the urg.

" Ano...iie," I answered. " What do you mean?"
" There's something about the rain."

I knew this was bad. I knew this was really bad. What could I say?
" Oh, you mean the rain. I guess it's one of Eriol's old tricks again." I answered. " He's-"

I was about to say that we had a bet that if Eriol made a rain that will trap Touya at Yukito's, well...I didn't think about the reward yet because Sakura interrupted.

" Eriol called too. He was very curious."

I sighed. I guess it was back to old times.

" I'll meet you outside."



The situation was, more or less, ridiculous, because there I was, in my robes, holding a sword that will soon rust in the rain, checking out what I created.

Perfect. I thought to myself. Not only do I have to stand here in the rain, I'm a perfect target for demons. Well...not me, but Sakura and the others.

I was right. Sakura and Eriol appeared in the rain. Touya was safe with Yukito. We were not.

I was not too worried though. I could handle the demons. They did not expect me to be so powerful that I would arrive back as an angel. So while Sakura and Eriol were busy being puzzled, I was thinking about some other things.



There were reasons why mortals invented the haunted house. It does exist. But it wasn't because ghosts actually were evil and want to kill people. It was more of because they want to have fun. And it is fun watching people scream.

So while their backs were turned, I made a disappearing act. Not to scare them, not to test them, like Eriol does to us, but simply because I didn't feel like telling them where I'm off to or what happened to me. Let them figure it out.

I decided to go off to check on the demons. I knew they might have their eye on Sakura, now that she was out in the open. I decided not to let my presence be known, so I covered my aura.

The rain that I created, apparently gave them a hard time. I was mighty pleased with this. It wasn't that they couldn't find Sakura-that was easy enough. It was that they couldn't catch her, and they knew it. Just like me. But I was the one who created the rain. I repressed the laughter and turned around.

Wait.

There's one demon that was alone. It was a rather powerful one, not as powerful as I am, but more powerful than Sakura or Eriol. If he somehow catches them alone, well, they're done for.

I drew my sword and with one stroke killed him. No blood. He was just a soul. And that soul shriveled and faded away.

One demon down. But this one was new. Which meant...

What?

Leaving their sanctuary, I escaped to my apartment. Father was waiting there.

" Syaoran, are you alright?" He asked.
" Hi Dad." I smiled. " What are you doing here?"
" Wondering what you're doing here." He answered. " Don't you want to come home?"
" I still have work to do."
" You know you lost her. She'll never be yours."
" I don't want her. Sure, I love her, but I know. I just want her to enjoy life a little longer."
" Do you want me to stay?" Father asked. " It's been such a long time."

I looked into my father's eyes. The one person who understood me. I went over and sighed.
" I probably would, but," I searched for understanding. " Just a little longer. I can handle this. Then we'll spend eternity together."

Father nodded at me silently and knelt down. He wrapped his arms around me. I rested against him. He promised of safety.
" Call me when you need me, my child." He said softly.

I nodded against his shoulder. " Yes Daddy."



" Where in the world were you?" Sakura cried. " I was worried sick about you!"

She was, I could tell, and that was the sweet thing about her. She worries about others before she worries about herself. She'll bring doom on herself this way, but Nadeshiko will be there to help her and her brother. I'll just handle this. This last adventure. This last battle. Perhaps I'll hold her staff with her as she summoned the cards for the last time. And then when it's all over, I'll leave, never to return. Should I bid her farewell? Should I leave without saying goodbye?

" Are you alright?" She finally asked. Her worried eyes bore down on my own. I met them steadily.
" Hai, I'm alright." I answered. " What do you mean?"

" Hoe?" Sakura blinked after a moment. " Don't you remember last night, and the rain?"
" Iie." I pretended to be confused. " What are you talking about?"

Sakura looked at Eriol. They were so puzzled.



It was late that night. Outside the night was fresh and cool. I decided to stretch my wings a bit and catch some air.

As I was flying I met Rachel, another powerful sorceress who was sadly killed and transformed into an angel. Angels like us don't just become angels for nothing. People don't just die and become angels. There are selections. I'm not even sure how they're selected; I just know that Eriol will not be an angel and I'm not too sure about Sakura.

Rachel was doing the same thing; catching some air. We hovered in front of the moon to greet each other.

" Syaoran!" She looked dismayed. " What happened?"
" I got killed. What do you think?" I laughed. She looked unhappy.
" You're too young." She scolded.
" Well, you were young, too. Thirty two, perhaps?"
" But you're only ten."
" It's alright." I answered. " Life would have been tough anyway, without support."

Rachel hesitated. " Then why are you still here? Don't tell me you're going to...the demons!"

I smiled. She sighed.

" Syaoran, dear child!" She rolled her eyes. " You'll work yourself to shreds. Why not go with the others and have some peace?"
" What are you still doing here?"
" Looking after Clow Reed."
" Well, I'm looking after my love, like you." I answered. " The difference, of course, is that I'm only needed for the demons. Don't worry, I won't be long."
" Well, since Sakura and Eriol are together, we can find a chance to work together." She smiled and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. " You're only a child. You need someone to take care of you."
" Really!" I laughed. " Come along, before someone down there sees the ' man on the moon'. Where are you dwelling right now?"
" Oh, I'm just wandering. You still have that apartment, right?"
" Of course. Come along. I need something to do. We can fly in through the window; no one will notice us if we're invisible."



" Moshi moshi?" The day was a Saturday. The phone rang and Rachel was the one that picked it up. She told me it was a very confused Eriol.

I sighed. I was putting on the tanning lotion so I could go to the library. I don't have any pigment in my skin at all, just like I don't have cells anymore, so the lotion wears off quickly.

Half golden, half white, I went to pick up the phone.

" Syaoran, who's at your house?" Sakura asked.

I thought quickly. " A friend of mine. She just came from...Russia." I winked at Rachel, who grimaced.
" Oh." Sakura took it. I smiled. That way, Sakura wouldn't ask Eriol if he knew anyone like Rachel, since she's ' from Russia'. Good plan.
" Are you going to the library?" She asked. " Eriol's going there too, along with Tomoyo. Oni-chan will be there though...but this is an emergency."

I wasn't that concerned with Touya. If he still treats me like a bastard after that day before I died I'll call him evil. I was more concerned with this so called ' emergency'. There was no immediate danger for miles around, so what could Sakura be talking about?

" Hai, I'll be there. Just let me...get ready." I hung up and started wiping the lotion on my arms.



I love the library. I love it even more when I go there alone and there is no one there that I know. Because if there is someone there, I'll be expected to chat with them, and the library simply isn't the place for that. I'm the type of person that likes quiet and peacefulness. I guess that remained even in death.

However, when I went to the library this time, it wasn't for the sake of quietly reading a book. It was an emergency, to Sakura, anyway. She said she felt it. She felt a dark magic.

" So black it chokes the life out of light."

I wanted to laugh at her. I wanted to tell her that it already choked the life out of light. Sure, you may not think that I'm exactly a ' light' kind of person. But then, why am I an angel and not a demon?

" It's black." I answered her. " So black, it would choke the life out of light simply with its darkness. But where do you think it is?"
" Somewhere far...from Tomoeda." She looked at me, confused. Did I say something confusing? Somehow she was confused. The living are such simpletons.
" Somewhere to the south." Eriol agreed.

I paused. They were pointing to the demons. The problem was, the demons had increased. I knew this because of the one I had killed. They were gathering more demons.

Well, why?

" Well?" Kero hissed. " Aren't you going to say anything, gaki?"

Odd, I found, that the stuffed animal seemed to have forgotten my name. Perhaps I did feel a little pain then. It hurt. To be so insulted even in death. Perhaps if he had found my body, Kero would have spat on my grave and the stone that bears my name-

" There is some to the west." I answered. " South and west. If we don't guard the other two, we'll be surrounded."

That was what I thought. It was probably what the demons had planned. But as I said before, they never expected me to be here. That can change a lot of things.

" How do you know?" Touya asked. " Wait a minute."

I knew it. Touya was smarter than most people. He had this ability to think logically. And quite frankly, something isn't logical here.

" Remember a few days ago during lunch?"

It was only a few days? I thought it was a long time. Death could do that.
" You ran to Yukito..."
" Hai, and he started saying that someone was coming for him..." Yukito looked at Touya.

I got myself into quite a mess, I realized. I do not want them to know I am a ghost.
" Nani?" Sakura blinked.

I remained silent for a minute as Touya explained to her what happened.
" Syao-chan, do you know something we don't?" Eriol asked sternly. I met his eyes steadily and I think it frightened him, seeing a boy like me, so arrogant, meeting his eyes in a fearless, confident, almost amused manner.

Now you know how I felt when we speak to each other. I thought to myself. You thought yourself so wise. You thought me so weak and thickheaded. You never realized I was alone, poor excuse of a reincarnation. You never realized I was lonely. This was all a game to you. Should I play the game too? Should I make my own game, so that you too, are like puppets, moving at my command, breaking at my will?

" Well, it would be odd if I did, wouldn't it?" I answered. " I'm only a lost kid who has a little magic and makes a big show of it. What would I know? You're the reincarnation of Clow Reed."

Clow Reed didn't know everything either. He didn't know that Rachel was in love with him and was going to tell him before she was killed. He didn't think to take care of his descendants after he sealed the magic. Poor Clow Reed, one who lived purely for his craft so that he has no heart left to give to others. Even that magician had his flaws.

" Clow Reed never encountered something like this." Eriol answered. " He never encountered pure evil."
" What makes you think I ever did?"

If he thought that, however it made him, he was on the right track. I didn't encounter it long enough to break down. I was spared. One day, my family was gone, and I lived that sorrow for about twenty hours before it all ended for me.

" I don't know." Eriol answered. " I didn't. I'm just saying, I have a feeling that you know something. And you're not acting like yourself, Syaoran."
" Hai," Tomoyo agreed. " You're acting like Eriol."

I snorted and started laughing. This must have surprised them all, and for a moment I wondered why they were surprised. Isn't it natural that I should laugh at something funny? I'm only ten years old. Then I remembered I wasn't the type to laugh at all. I remembered that I was lonely and I couldn't find the humor in anything anymore.

Loneliness. Amazing how death cures that.

" How very kind of you, Mistress Daidouji," I snickered. " I act like Eriol? Well, wouldn't it be proper that a descendant acts like his ancestor? Proof through blood."
Eriol looked at me, bewildered. " Syaoran, something here isn't right."
" Nani? You mean about me, or about this emergency?" I asked. Then I smiled. " Alright. I'll relieve you of this torment. I do know something. In fact, I know everything. I know just how to deal with it, and you needn't worry. Then I'm going back. I don't need to waste my time, not that I don't have time to waste."
" What do you mean?" Sakura paled. " Back where?"
" Where do you think?" I answered. " Perhaps back to my apartment. Maybe back to China. Or maybe back to Hong Kong, or maybe even more specifically, back to the Li Mansion. Or perhaps there is something far broader that even you don't understand. Oops! I have to run. I'll see you guys around, for now."



It's funny when people are confused. Which was why, perhaps, Eriol often confused everyone around him.

I'll have to hand it to you, Eriol. I know now why you play the game. I'm almost tempted to keep playing it myself. But I'm not cruel. I will not threaten your dignity. Nor will I threaten anyone else's. My task here is to destroy the largest threat you'll ever encounter. Perhaps I'll sit back and make sure that you will not be killed. Perhaps I'll just relieve you of this battle completely. But I will not taunt you any longer. Because you see, unlike most people, I understand.