Disclaimer: Sadly (T_T), I do not own Card Captor Sakura or any of its characters, demo, I do own Yurina, Jarin, Emerald Star, the Mysterious Being (known by another name which I don't wish to reveal yet) and Sojin the Dragon. ^___^ If you wish to use any of them, ask me first in your review or email me at darkrubymoon@hotmail.com.
MM: I really should update more now that school's over.
Sojin: Hai, you should.
MM: *glares at Sojin* You aren't even supposed to be here! *pulls mallet out
Sojin: *eyes mallet* I'm going! *disappears
MM: *sighs* Anyway, gomen for not updating for so long!! I'm gonna work hard on this fic *and* try and update every so often!!! Now on with the fic!!!
*Stress/Emphasizing*
-Thoughts-
"Speaking"
Telepathy
"Jarin..."
"Yeah?"
"...Do you think...Will my mother ever come back? Will my father ever wake up again?"
"......I can't really answer those questions......"
Yurina stopped walking, gazing over the water's edge towards the horizon. They had driven to the beach, and they were walking over the sand barefoot. Now the sun was sinking, and the sky becoming dark.
Jarin halted, turning around to look at her. "Yurina, I'm sure they'll both be okay one day." he stated.
"What if they never return?" she stated without looking at him. Her delicate green eyes turned into a shade of amethyst blue for a second. Jarin sighed; he knew her eyes changed color when she was in doubt for too long. "Sometimes you just need to keep on believing. You shouldn't give up yet."
"I've been believing for three years......How much longer must I wait?" She finally looked at him, her eyes still their amethyst blue shade. "It's been almost half a decade, and I don't think I can stand it any longer..."
Jarin took a breath and went over to her. Before he could do anything, she wrapped her arms around him and cried into his shirt, soaking it with her tears. He placed his arms around her, running his fingers threw her hair gently. "Shh...It's alright..." he whispered gently to her as she began to calm down. "Ready to go?" She nodded and let him guide her over to the car. She grabbed a tissue and dried her eyes as he put himself in the driver's seat.
"Jarin...?"
"Yeah?"
"...Never mind...It's just a silly thought."
Jarin nodded, and turned the car onto the road.
A smirk grew onto the shadow's face as he watched the two young sorcerers drive away. He jumped off the pole, completing two airborne somersaults before landing, one knee on the ground. He stood up slowly, his black hair fanning around him in the night breeze. His piercing jade eyes searched the dark surroundings around him, and he stepped forward. His lips moved as he breathed one word.
"Jade."
In an instant, a young woman appeared. She possessed eyes the color of gray jade streaked with green; her hair was a deep green and held up in a high ponytail; two curled strands hung over each ear in the front. Her skin was a pale creamy white color, making her stand out against the darkness slightly. She wore a dress with a V-cut that went all the way to her navel. Her long sleeves stopped at her elbows and from there on flowed down in long bell sleeves. The dress was black with a imperial jade-colored trim bordering the V-cut and the bell sleeves were also colored imperial jade.* Her dress stopped at her ankles, showing her black high-heeled sandals. On both sides of the dress were thigh-high slits that were also trimmed in imperial jade. Around her neck she wore a thin silver necklace with a circular light apple green jade pendant, and within the center of it was a single Chinese symbol in sterling silver that meant "longevity."** One part of the jade pendant was of a lighter, almost colorless shade in the shape of a crescent. That crescent was made of silver. She wore matching jade earrings that hung down. In her right hand she held a long silver staff. The top of the staff spread out like the branches of a palm, and floating in the center was a black orb. Her eyes flickered over the shadow that had called upon her. Her long nails were painted dark green, as was the eye shadow on her eyelids. Black mascara lined her eyes, and black lipstick colored her lips. In the center of her forehead lay a single fragment in the shape of a crescent. It was made of light apple green jade.
"Welcome, Jade..." The shadow's smirk grew even bigger. "It was nice of you to appear, and so elegantly--"
"Shut up and shove it..." She seemed to talk without moving her lips. Her voice was as cold as the winter wind. "Why have you summoned me?"
"I have summoned you for a special task."
"......"
"Your task is to..." He began to tell her about the task; how she must approach the targets and what she must do when it is time. She listened, her face staying expressionless. When he was done, he asked, "Any questions?" She continued staying in her stoned position. "Alright...Then I guess I will see you soon." He disappeared, leaving her there with the darkness.
"Hmpf...What a fool..." She moved slightly, and in an instant she was gone. In her place stood the insignia of Clow Reed, engraved into the ground.
Eriol placed his napkin on the table, sitting back in his chair. "Tomoyo-san, that was a great dinner."
"Your welcome, Eriol-kun." Tomoyo put her fork down and smiled at Yurina. "It was nice of you to join us."
"Arigatou, Tomoyo-san. It was only because you invited me." Yurina returned the smile, her eyes back to their light apple green. But deep inside that genki demeanor, the wound inflicted on her from three years ago burned ferociously. She kept it hidden; not wishing to worry her father's reincarnated creator and his wife. She looked up as Nakuru came in with a tray of sweets.
"Dessert time!" she cried, and she laid out different sweets in front of them. She then put the tray down and sat in her spot next to Tomoyo. "Pick what you want and enjoy!!! Specially made by Tomoyo-chan!"
Tomoyo giggled, "Now, Nakuru-chan."
Yurina whined, "Oh...They all look so good..." She finally settled on a slice of strawberry cheesecake. Jarin chose a slice of key lime pie; Eriol had taken a vanilla-and-chocolate marbled slice of cake covered in frosting. Tomoyo and Nakuru both had slices of raspberry cheesecake.
Suppi flipped to the next page of his book using his tail, not bothering with dessert until Yurina spoke up. "Suppi, why aren't you having dessert?"
"You know what happens..." he said in a bored tone.
"Oh! That reminds me!!" Yurina put her hand out and made a small plate appear. "I made this the other day for you. It's a cake containing no sugar at all! Yet it still tastes sweet!" She put it down near the dark blue cat. "Try it!"
Suppi looked at the plate. On top of it was a small cake, enough for one person...err...cat, in this case. He took a bit of it, eating it. Everyone waited and watched as he swallowed the piece of cake.
"......So?" Yurina broke the silence. Suppi just looked at her and nodded. "It is very good, actually. Arigatou, Yurina-san." he responded. She smiled and patted him on the head gently before finishing off her dessert. "Great dessert, Tomoyo-chan."
"Arigatou," she replied. "Jarin-kun, you'll be driving her home, right?" Jarin nodded. "Good. I hope you can join us tomorrow. We're doing some things, and I'm sure Jarin-kun would like to have you around."
"Honto?" Yurina piped.
"Hai."
"Oh, arigatou!" She smiled brightly, forgetting about the day's events for a moment.
Eriol stood up, "I'll be taking the dishes now." He started to take a few plates when Yurina lifted them out of his hands. "*I* shall take them."
"Demo--"
"Iie, I will gladly do the dishes." Yurina collected the rest of the dishes, taking them into the kitchen. She set them down in the sink and began to wash them, creating a tub of soapy dishes in sink water. Nakuru came in a few minutes later as she was washing them off, setting down a small box near her. "This is from Eriol-sama. He says you may need it someday."
"I will?" Yurina dried her hands off as shut off the water, letting her bell sleeves fall back into place. She had folded them up earlier so she wouldn't get them wet while cleaning the dishes. She took the box in her hand and opened it. Inside was a thin silver chain. She carefully lifted it out of the box, looking at it before her gaze went to Nakuru. "Demo, doushite?"
Nakuru only smiled, "You will need it in the future. Patience is a virtue. If you're patient, your question will be answered soon enough." With that, she turned on her heel and moved away, screaming out Suppi's name as she did so. Yurina giggled and walked into the living room. Jarin was standing by the large window, gazing over one of the many gardens on the Hiiragizawa Estate. She walked up behind him and wound her arms around him. She laid her head against his back, closing her eyes.
The sorcerers stayed in their position for a few minutes. Then, Jarin spoke up. "Are you ready?"
"Hai..." She kept her eyes shut, not moving at all.
"Alright......"
"......Arigatou, Jarin-kun, for today. I really enjoyed it."
"Demo --" He became quiet as Yurina placed a single finger on his lips. She had moved herself so she stood in front of him, obscuring his view partially. "Don't bring up the bad memories; just keep the good ones." she said quietly.
He searched her eyes, looking for any sign or hint of the day's events. Unsuccessfully finding none, he let out a breath and put his arms around her, pulling her into a light hug. "Do you want to go now?" he whispered gently. A single nod from her made him pull away and take her hand. Silently he led her to the car, forgetting about the exquisite gift altogether. -Besides,- he thought, -I have tomorrow to give it to her. After all, it'd be a better day when she has family and friends around her.- He went around and sat in the driver's seat, turning on the engine. Without a word to her, he drove out of the large circular driveway.
Yurina unlocked the door and opened it slightly, turning to wave at Jarin as he watched her go into the house. She heard the engine roar away as she closed the door. Her foot went forward as a man came up to her. "How were things here?"
"Fine, Miss Yurina." the man replied. He had short black hair with gray streaks in random spots. His eyes were a fading black tinted with what seemed to be pale amber. "But, there was one change in his condition."
"What?" She blinked, not at speaking in English, but for the sudden change of voice in the man.
"Before sunset, when I went up to check on his condition, he had shown some signs of consciousness."
"C-co-consciousness..." Color drained out of her face, despite her already pale complexion.
"Not only that, I fear that someone had come into the room earlier in the day while I was at another post. One side if his pillow was cut -- seemingly a type of knife made the cut, though I doubt that anyone could get in with the security we have around your father. I changed the pillow and put it aside, in case you wanted to see it."
"Please show me the pillow."
"This cut was only a few mere inches from his head..." The elderly man handed her the ruined pillow. They were standing by the window in Yue's bedroom, the glowing light of the almost full moon on them as Yurina examined the cut. "I believe someone is toying with us..."
"I agree," she said softly. "Someone did this deliberately..." Her eyes went up to the man. "Tighten the security around here; actually, tighten security around the whole estate." She turned on her heel to her comatose father as the man walked out of the room. Sitting on the side of the bed, she pushed some of his silvery locks away from his face.
Suddenly, her hand stopped at the side of his head. Light apple green turned into amethyst blue. A tinge of silver glowed around her hand as she moved it to one side of Yue's head. Her eyes narrowed, feeling an unfamiliar aura of magic in that area.
"So...This is the Moon Guardian of The Sakura and his daughter..."
Unbeknownst to the young woman, gray-green jade eyes peered out from atop the fireplace mantle. They were focused directly on the Moon Guardian and his daughter. "She will not be a challenge to me at all..." With that, the eyes faded until they were a part of the dark black walls in the room. Then, one word echoed through the room, though a puzzled Yurina, still in the room, never heard it.
"Star..."
*If you wish to know the different types/colors of jade I used in this chapter, please refer to this site:
**If you wish to know what the Chinese symbol in the jade pendant looks like, please refer to this site:
[gray-green jade = black stone]
[imperial jade = dark green stone (1st green stone)]
[light apple green jade = lightest green stone (3rd green stone)]
