I don't own a thing except for the plot. Everything else is owned by the
ladies of CLAMP and J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 2.
Yilen Li, current regent of the Li clan, was happy. Her son had returned to her and his sisters after completing his mission in Japan. Even if the old men couldn't see it. Xiao Lang and his Ying Fa had been keeping in close contact by her direct intervention, She would be damned if she was going to let the elders keep them apart simply because they were too arrogant to see just *how* the Li clan was going to keep the Clow Cards.
She let a ghost of a smile grace her beautiful lips at that. "Clow Cards" indeed. The elders refused to call them by their proper name out of spite. *She* happened to like "Sakura Cards".
She would never understand how men so old could have so little wisdom. They were constantly hounding her only son for his perceived failure. One had even gone so far as to sate he should have kidnapped the Card Mistress and brought her back to Hong Kong.
She let her smile grow as she remembered her son reply to that. "Soon, honored elder, there will be no need for a kidnapping." She was convinced that most of them thought he was going to go back and steal them the moment they gave him the chance. As if they would do him any good now.
Xiao Lang, like all members of the Li clan, was blood of Clow Reed and as such could use the Clow Cards. Sakura was the new mistress, the cards changed to feed off her magic, as such only one of the blood of Sakura could use them now. How is it that the elders couldn't see that?
Her musings were broken, however, by a rather interesting sight. An owl was fluttering outside one of the windows of the Li estate, almost seeming to knock. With a flick of her fan and the offending window was gone, allowing the tired bird to drop off its burden before looking for a perch to rest.
Yilen grabbed the letter as if fell, something about this setup nagging at the back of her head. Something important. The letter was addressed to "The Head of the Li Clan". Rasing an elegant brow in surprise she opened and read the letter, once done she read it two more times to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
After a moments thought she headed to the phone for the first of many calls. The elders would have to be told, and then manipulated into doing what she wanted but it could be done.
She was Yilen Li, she would not be denied.
*******
Brian Garrison had known this day would come. He had been called up by the Li clan and his duty was clear. As the most powerful member of a retainer family of the clan he had not chouse but to go where he was bid and do as he was told.
He would have had to even if it had not been traditional and his family's honor had not also been at stake. His life had been saved by the future head of the clan, Li Xiao Lang. It was the one and only time he had ever been abroad, and away from his beloved Virginia, and he had proved himself incompetent of keeping himself out of danger.
It had been humiliating to say the lest.
He was the heir to the Garrison clan's magic. Magic that stretched all the way back to England and Stone Hinge. And yet in his youth he had to be saved by a boy a year his junior.
But he had learned and grown sense that day. His magic rivaled even that of Xiao Lang now. And that had his father worried. As his grate grandmother spun tails of dark evils in the land of wizards. Others of power were found, they too by Xiao Lang. With the Clow Mistress and the half reincarnation of Clow Reed, both also only a year younger them himself, only added to his clans fear.
With only Brian and Xiao Lang alive in the same generation there was far to much power to not require a grate evil, or for one of them to become that evil. With the addition of both Clow Reed's half reincarnation and the new Card Mistress the idea that something dark was coming had become more of an inevitability then a shadow on the horizon that they could hope wouldn't fall squarely on their heads.
But what could require that much magical might? *That* was the question that plagued Brian's father. And it was a question whose answer Brian wasn't very keen in finding. He maybe the greatest Shaman in a thousand years but that didn't mean we was itching to fight something that could kill him in a duel of magic.
But now here he was, sitting on a plan heading for Hong Kong. Summoned by a single word from Li Yilen. 'Come.'
A command given to a dog, and he was in the air. It was insulting. His clan was the strongest magic users in North America, and yet were the Li's bid them go, they went. So had it been for as long as any could remember. And he was no exception it seemed.
What was done is done however, and his thoughts turned form what he could not change to what he must do. He would obey as was expected, but his obedience would be to Xiao Lang and Xiao Lang only. It was scant comfort but it would sting the regent of the Li clan for her impertinence for commanding him.
Xiao Lang had saved his life, and as such he owed no loyalty out side of that debt. Brain shivered a bit then as he realized who else such a ploy would put him under the beck and call of. His Master's fiancée, Li Meiling.
Maybe it would be a good idea to just obey everything Yilen told him... 'Shit! She is a Li and Xiao Lang's bride to be, no matter what I do I'm stuck beholden to her... God I just hope she isn't like I remember her. Please God don't let her be like I remember her!'
And with that last thought on his mind, the greatest shaman of his age fell into a restless slumber. A slumber disturbed by dreams of haughtily superior, red eyes.
*******
Eriol Hiiragizawa, half reincarnation of the grate sorcerer Clow Reed, had been summoned as well. While he wasn't technically part of the Li clan, his position as the brother of the women who founded it did weigh on his soul. As did his position as a friend to both Sakura and Li Syaoran.
'Even if Syaoran wouldn't see it that way.' He mused. His "cute little descendent" still didn't trust him because of the trials he had put his little cherry blossom through. Eriol knew it was more on a moral basis then any real lingering hate. His descendent knew that it had to be done or the cards would have died taking Yue and Kerberos with them.
But hurting the one he loves was not a good way to make a friendship. He grinned wickedly to himself. 'He should be a little grateful in my help in getting him and Sakura together though.'
And now he was sitting on a plane bound for Hong Kong. His magic was needed for something that Li Yilen had deemed necessary to call him all the way from England for, no doubt over the stringent objections of her youngest child.
He hadn't argued much with the summons though. His relationship with Kaho had been slipping over the past few years. It was his fault mostly he thought. He could not leave all of his past behind him as she had. A girl still plagued his thoughts no matter what he did to banish her.
A beautiful girl with amethyst eyes. In his memory she was only eleven, and that was four years past, but still he was hung up on her. Those eyes seemed to haunt him, and in the end they were responsible for how his relationship with the one he had thought was his soul mate had ended.
It was stupid of him he knew. How could a girl as beautiful as she had to have become not have a boy friend already? She was lost to him as he would most likely never see her again until Syaoran and Sakura's wedding.
And yet no matter what he did neither his heart nor his memories would let him free. Sighing the blue headed boy let himself slide off to sleep, to sleep and dreams of sparkling purple eyes and charcoal colored tresses.
*******
Li Syaoran, future head of the Li clan, new something was coming, something that would threaten all he held dear. He did not know what it was, nor was he sure when it would strike but he could feel it. It was almost as if the air itself was shying away from some grate evil that was just over the horizon.
His magic had grown greatly over the past four years he had been forced away from his beloved. He was most likely the most powerful man on the planet, with only his cherry blossom to truly rival him in power.
Why then did he have this chill running up and down his spine? What could possibly be strong enough for him to feel this irrational fear?
Sakura was safe, her guardians would see to that, and he was to be allowed to see her next month for summer brake, and more importantly, her birthday. April first had landed on a Sunday and such wasn't the first day of school this year. He would be tired and irritable on his fist day back but it would be worth it to see his Ying Fa's face he gave her his present.
Now he wasn't so sure. This *presence* what ever it was, make him feel uneasy. Her guardians could protect her, but he would feel much better if he was there to make sure of it himself. The elders wouldn't allow it though. He still wasn't sure how his mother had convinced them to let him go back this year in the first place.
All of this was running though his head and he and his cousin Meiling worked on there martial arts with Wie his man servient and the only real father figure either one of them had in their lives.
A pear of bright, emerald green, eyes flashed through his mind and he was almost knocked off balance but the training stand. As it was, only years of training, his reflexes and his grate skill kept him up right and back into his rhythm quickly. Both Meiling and Wei had seen his slip, and both suspected its cause as well.
There responses were different however. Meiling burst into a fit of giggles. She was after all, better at this then he and the fact the a *girl* had made him loose his focus so easily was quite funny in her opinion.
Wie just called it a day, smiled a bit under those truly outstanding mustachios and told his "Lord Syaoran" he needed to learn how to fight at his full skill even with distractions. A lessen he had been trying to teach the boy for nearly five years.
It was a lessen that hadn't even been needed until five years ago when Lady Kinomoto arrived in Lord Syaoran's life. Wei shook his head, not truly sure if what it was needed. He agreed with Lady Yilen's thoughts that Syaoran was destined sense birth to help and guide Sakura.
Now however his young pupil seemed to have much on his mind. Wei could feel the edges of the oppressive evil that seemed to be hanging like a cloud over both of his charges. If his own merger magic could sense it he didn't even want to think about what Syaoran was going though. For Wie knew, with out a doubt, that what ever this evil was, Lady Sakura was also going to end up right in the middle of it.
Chapter 2.
Yilen Li, current regent of the Li clan, was happy. Her son had returned to her and his sisters after completing his mission in Japan. Even if the old men couldn't see it. Xiao Lang and his Ying Fa had been keeping in close contact by her direct intervention, She would be damned if she was going to let the elders keep them apart simply because they were too arrogant to see just *how* the Li clan was going to keep the Clow Cards.
She let a ghost of a smile grace her beautiful lips at that. "Clow Cards" indeed. The elders refused to call them by their proper name out of spite. *She* happened to like "Sakura Cards".
She would never understand how men so old could have so little wisdom. They were constantly hounding her only son for his perceived failure. One had even gone so far as to sate he should have kidnapped the Card Mistress and brought her back to Hong Kong.
She let her smile grow as she remembered her son reply to that. "Soon, honored elder, there will be no need for a kidnapping." She was convinced that most of them thought he was going to go back and steal them the moment they gave him the chance. As if they would do him any good now.
Xiao Lang, like all members of the Li clan, was blood of Clow Reed and as such could use the Clow Cards. Sakura was the new mistress, the cards changed to feed off her magic, as such only one of the blood of Sakura could use them now. How is it that the elders couldn't see that?
Her musings were broken, however, by a rather interesting sight. An owl was fluttering outside one of the windows of the Li estate, almost seeming to knock. With a flick of her fan and the offending window was gone, allowing the tired bird to drop off its burden before looking for a perch to rest.
Yilen grabbed the letter as if fell, something about this setup nagging at the back of her head. Something important. The letter was addressed to "The Head of the Li Clan". Rasing an elegant brow in surprise she opened and read the letter, once done she read it two more times to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
After a moments thought she headed to the phone for the first of many calls. The elders would have to be told, and then manipulated into doing what she wanted but it could be done.
She was Yilen Li, she would not be denied.
*******
Brian Garrison had known this day would come. He had been called up by the Li clan and his duty was clear. As the most powerful member of a retainer family of the clan he had not chouse but to go where he was bid and do as he was told.
He would have had to even if it had not been traditional and his family's honor had not also been at stake. His life had been saved by the future head of the clan, Li Xiao Lang. It was the one and only time he had ever been abroad, and away from his beloved Virginia, and he had proved himself incompetent of keeping himself out of danger.
It had been humiliating to say the lest.
He was the heir to the Garrison clan's magic. Magic that stretched all the way back to England and Stone Hinge. And yet in his youth he had to be saved by a boy a year his junior.
But he had learned and grown sense that day. His magic rivaled even that of Xiao Lang now. And that had his father worried. As his grate grandmother spun tails of dark evils in the land of wizards. Others of power were found, they too by Xiao Lang. With the Clow Mistress and the half reincarnation of Clow Reed, both also only a year younger them himself, only added to his clans fear.
With only Brian and Xiao Lang alive in the same generation there was far to much power to not require a grate evil, or for one of them to become that evil. With the addition of both Clow Reed's half reincarnation and the new Card Mistress the idea that something dark was coming had become more of an inevitability then a shadow on the horizon that they could hope wouldn't fall squarely on their heads.
But what could require that much magical might? *That* was the question that plagued Brian's father. And it was a question whose answer Brian wasn't very keen in finding. He maybe the greatest Shaman in a thousand years but that didn't mean we was itching to fight something that could kill him in a duel of magic.
But now here he was, sitting on a plan heading for Hong Kong. Summoned by a single word from Li Yilen. 'Come.'
A command given to a dog, and he was in the air. It was insulting. His clan was the strongest magic users in North America, and yet were the Li's bid them go, they went. So had it been for as long as any could remember. And he was no exception it seemed.
What was done is done however, and his thoughts turned form what he could not change to what he must do. He would obey as was expected, but his obedience would be to Xiao Lang and Xiao Lang only. It was scant comfort but it would sting the regent of the Li clan for her impertinence for commanding him.
Xiao Lang had saved his life, and as such he owed no loyalty out side of that debt. Brain shivered a bit then as he realized who else such a ploy would put him under the beck and call of. His Master's fiancée, Li Meiling.
Maybe it would be a good idea to just obey everything Yilen told him... 'Shit! She is a Li and Xiao Lang's bride to be, no matter what I do I'm stuck beholden to her... God I just hope she isn't like I remember her. Please God don't let her be like I remember her!'
And with that last thought on his mind, the greatest shaman of his age fell into a restless slumber. A slumber disturbed by dreams of haughtily superior, red eyes.
*******
Eriol Hiiragizawa, half reincarnation of the grate sorcerer Clow Reed, had been summoned as well. While he wasn't technically part of the Li clan, his position as the brother of the women who founded it did weigh on his soul. As did his position as a friend to both Sakura and Li Syaoran.
'Even if Syaoran wouldn't see it that way.' He mused. His "cute little descendent" still didn't trust him because of the trials he had put his little cherry blossom through. Eriol knew it was more on a moral basis then any real lingering hate. His descendent knew that it had to be done or the cards would have died taking Yue and Kerberos with them.
But hurting the one he loves was not a good way to make a friendship. He grinned wickedly to himself. 'He should be a little grateful in my help in getting him and Sakura together though.'
And now he was sitting on a plane bound for Hong Kong. His magic was needed for something that Li Yilen had deemed necessary to call him all the way from England for, no doubt over the stringent objections of her youngest child.
He hadn't argued much with the summons though. His relationship with Kaho had been slipping over the past few years. It was his fault mostly he thought. He could not leave all of his past behind him as she had. A girl still plagued his thoughts no matter what he did to banish her.
A beautiful girl with amethyst eyes. In his memory she was only eleven, and that was four years past, but still he was hung up on her. Those eyes seemed to haunt him, and in the end they were responsible for how his relationship with the one he had thought was his soul mate had ended.
It was stupid of him he knew. How could a girl as beautiful as she had to have become not have a boy friend already? She was lost to him as he would most likely never see her again until Syaoran and Sakura's wedding.
And yet no matter what he did neither his heart nor his memories would let him free. Sighing the blue headed boy let himself slide off to sleep, to sleep and dreams of sparkling purple eyes and charcoal colored tresses.
*******
Li Syaoran, future head of the Li clan, new something was coming, something that would threaten all he held dear. He did not know what it was, nor was he sure when it would strike but he could feel it. It was almost as if the air itself was shying away from some grate evil that was just over the horizon.
His magic had grown greatly over the past four years he had been forced away from his beloved. He was most likely the most powerful man on the planet, with only his cherry blossom to truly rival him in power.
Why then did he have this chill running up and down his spine? What could possibly be strong enough for him to feel this irrational fear?
Sakura was safe, her guardians would see to that, and he was to be allowed to see her next month for summer brake, and more importantly, her birthday. April first had landed on a Sunday and such wasn't the first day of school this year. He would be tired and irritable on his fist day back but it would be worth it to see his Ying Fa's face he gave her his present.
Now he wasn't so sure. This *presence* what ever it was, make him feel uneasy. Her guardians could protect her, but he would feel much better if he was there to make sure of it himself. The elders wouldn't allow it though. He still wasn't sure how his mother had convinced them to let him go back this year in the first place.
All of this was running though his head and he and his cousin Meiling worked on there martial arts with Wie his man servient and the only real father figure either one of them had in their lives.
A pear of bright, emerald green, eyes flashed through his mind and he was almost knocked off balance but the training stand. As it was, only years of training, his reflexes and his grate skill kept him up right and back into his rhythm quickly. Both Meiling and Wei had seen his slip, and both suspected its cause as well.
There responses were different however. Meiling burst into a fit of giggles. She was after all, better at this then he and the fact the a *girl* had made him loose his focus so easily was quite funny in her opinion.
Wie just called it a day, smiled a bit under those truly outstanding mustachios and told his "Lord Syaoran" he needed to learn how to fight at his full skill even with distractions. A lessen he had been trying to teach the boy for nearly five years.
It was a lessen that hadn't even been needed until five years ago when Lady Kinomoto arrived in Lord Syaoran's life. Wei shook his head, not truly sure if what it was needed. He agreed with Lady Yilen's thoughts that Syaoran was destined sense birth to help and guide Sakura.
Now however his young pupil seemed to have much on his mind. Wei could feel the edges of the oppressive evil that seemed to be hanging like a cloud over both of his charges. If his own merger magic could sense it he didn't even want to think about what Syaoran was going though. For Wie knew, with out a doubt, that what ever this evil was, Lady Sakura was also going to end up right in the middle of it.