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Chapter 6 Everything Wrong~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Class has started, Eriol is already sitting on his appointed place in the classroom and so are the others but still the occupant of the vacant seat in front of him was nowhere to be found.
Where are you…TomoyoHe could see distress in Sakura's face and that worried him more, while Li was still looking at him the same way as he had when he first met him but there was really nothing he could do about that… nothing if he wanted his secret kept. He can't believe how that woman has gotten a hold of him just by knowing that, normally he'd just let her do as she wanted and let fate take its course wherever it wanted, that was what he had wanted it to do afterall, that was what he expected when he gave up half of his powers… that and to live a normal and peaceful life. But it seems fate is taking its course on farther than he had asked for.
::Why won't you tell us what you know:: Syaoran's psychic voice was even more desperate than when he had asked him questions this morning. Questions that he evaded as fast as they came to the point that he actually answered none.
::You are to be head of the Li clan… why do you insist on asking for my help. I'm just a boy now.:: the last words just came too fast for him to hold. Gwen's words were partly true… his memories of the cards, Keroberus… Yue… most were deteriorating if not gone already. He even doubted if he was just refusing to answer the questions Li was throwing at him or if it was because he no longer have the answers.
::Because I'm also just a boy… but unlike you I don't want to make that an excuse not to be able to protect the ones I care about::
Eriol didn't answer and he took it Syaoran didn't expect him to.
You're not the only one desperate for help…
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Class 7-A"Ga-ru, Gwen?" the teacher called for the second time but there was no response.
"Is she absent?…" the teacher thought aloud marking her attendance sheet.
"I think I saw her a while ago, Tsuzumi sensei… in the music room." One of the students voiced out gaining acknowledgement from another one who claimed to have also seen her.
"I see… It's odd of her to be skipping classes. Tell me if she comes in later okay, Izumi?"
"yes, sensei."
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Music Room
"kirameku kaze ga, toiki no you ni yabarakaku
kata wo tsutsumu yo
chiheisen no mukou kara
aruite kuru hito wo mitsumete'ru
koko ni kite"
"hikaru ishi wo hitotsu kette mita
koko ni kite"
"Very beautiful indeed, Tomoyo-chan." Gwen applauded levitating down from a tall bookshelf to near the other girl whose eyes seem to have lost their shine.
She came nearer until their noses almost touched staring at the other girl's blank eyes her hand caressed her face musing as she noted at how their features were almost the same.
"I wonder if Eriol was thinking of me when he made you…" she musingly backed away, eyes still fixed at her doll her fingers fiddling with its hair.
She waved her other hand and the piano started to play by itself, soft tunes of a lullaby soon filled the hollow room as she walked farther from her unmoving captive letting the lock of hair she had been fiddling with drop. A mocking grin plastered on her face still as she sat herself at a desk directly in front of the other girl as if daring her to make a move knowing she couldn't.
"Sing." She commanded.
A single word said and Tomoyo obeyed singing to what the haunted piano was playing to, a tune she knows all too well… the song she sang for her bestfriend, for Sakura. Gwen closed her eyes as if to enjoy the voice of her songbird laying her head arrest on her hands.
Tomoyo continued to sing, never failing to catch every tune. She continued to sing at the same pace even when tears found their way down her cheeks staining her ivory face. She continued to sing holding back more tears that threatened to pour out.
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Lunch BreakSakura excused herself as her friends surrounded her, all obviously concerned as to why Tomoyo was absent without any notice She told them reassuring words and made it all seem believable by flashing them her cheerful face. This façade of hers was becoming a really tiring habit. Smiling as if nothing was wrong… smiling as if she was certain Tomoyo was safe when she could feel it inside her that something IS wrong.
It was bad enough that her bestfriend had been in trouble all too many times because of her but now she couldn't find a way to even make certain of anything.
"Sakura…" Syaoran approached her uncertain of what to say or do.
"She's in trouble, Syaoran. I just know she is." Her voice cracked as soft sobs escaped her throat. "…and I don't know how to help her. I don't even know where to look for her!" Her next words were muffled in the boy's chest as he held her close giving what little comfort he could offer. He hated to see her cry, it was the only time in his whole life that he feels so helpless.
Eriol saw everything from afar with a saddened face… he wanted so much to help them but there was merely much left of his past memories to even formulate a spell.
Darkness is coming upon us too soon I'm afraid…
His face lit up just as soon… maybe there IS still a way.
"What's that?" Syaoran asked noticing a glow emanating from the girl's pocket.
He let go of her, handing her his hanky certainly not for the first time, which she willingly took drying her face then shakily reaching for her pockets with the other hand. Syaoran inched closer a little more just so no one else sees whatever it is that was glowing.
Sakura carefully put it out, "The Shadow!" the two chorused.
"Yes, you can order it to track down Tomoyo's shadow!" Li announced as fast as realization came to him.
Sakura smiled her real smile giving Syaoran a quick hug before they dashed to a more secluded place. On the way they passed Eriol but even Sakura was too overwhelmed to notice as they were also going so fast.
Everything will be alright Mistress Sakura…
Syaoran had noticed him eyeing them but purposely ignored him maybe he was being immature about this but Sakura considered him a very dear friend yet he acted like he wasn't even affected by anything that's happening.
"5 more minutes 'till the students start going back to class… let's hurry." Syaoran urged keeping an eye out for anyone who might come bursting out from the corner.
"Its still a bit bright but it has to do." She summoned the card and in an instant a frailly pool of merely visible shadow laid on the floor.
Shadow that dwells in the dark find a path that's leads to where a friend is in need…Without another word said the puddle of black started to move swiftly but careful enough not to move directly to where light sears through.
"Let's go… it'll find its way back to you later." Syaoran hissed feeling more uncomfortable since they're standing in front of the girl's comfort room.
Sakura giggled seeing his uneasy face.
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Music Room
"Look Tomoyo-chan… you're friend has come looking for you." Gwen taunted watching as the black puddle merged with her captive's shadow.
"Scram! You!" she exclaimed shooing shadow like she would a dog.
She snorted as she watched the pitiful thing knowing things would be far more interesting when it gets back…
"Stop crying Tomoyo-chan… you'll see them all soon enough besides we don't want them to see you like this." She pulled out a handkerchief and started wiping the other girl's face.
"We will always be pretty… prettier than anyone in this world."
Iie… Sakura would always always be the cutest…
"and how would you know that?… dolls don't know a thing about what's beautiful and what isn't." She abruptly took her hand back.
"Just wait… you'll see she isn't as pretty as Clow thought she is… as HE made you believe she is."
Let's see how beautiful she'd still be after tears are running through her cheery face… wait and see my dear, she won't be as pretty…I'm telling you she won't!