Final Judgment
I watch the archery tournament with a critical eye. It's actually closer than Kinomoto and Daidouji think – these two are very evenly matched.
That is, until Mizuki-sensei flies wide. Very wide. I don't think she knew she was capable of going so wide. It's like a sudden surprise when you stare at result, or learn something new…
Like how I must step aside to let Kinomoto become the Card Mistress.
~*~
My brooding continues as I feel the Earth rumbling. I watch Kinomoto call out her key, choose Fly, tell me to watch over everyone…then I realize. She's about to fly at Earthy without a second glance.
"Be…be careful."
"Oh? Hai!" she's off without a second glance. I sneak a glance at that teacher. She's masked herself with the spirit of the trees, to keep her shrine safe. Very slowly and very cautiously, I form the idea of the Chinese wheel in my head. Wood-Fire-Earth-Metal-Water. Wood-Fire-Earth-Metal-Water. Wood-Fire-Earth-Metal-Water…
She's moving fast; the damn spirit has spotted her, I suppose. I press the wheel on her subconscious thoughts. With my luck, she'll 'think' of a solution fast, and the teacher won't realize.
I feel her summoning Woody, and I relax. So far, everything is okay…
Wait a minute…I start mentally ticking off cards. This is the last one. Then… My gaze falls upon Tsukishiro-san. Looking up, I can see that teacher nodding slightly. I freeze.
Kinomoto will never be able to fight against Yueh.
~*~
"Not even able to catch all the cards yourself?" I stand, waiting for Yueh to start the judgment.
Frozen shards make their way towards me. Watch, dive, fake injury…I jump back up and take out my sword.
'Time!'
'Fool, that card obeys me!' I smirk and watch as Yueh's eyes open in surprise as the spirit overtakes him and his seal on them. When Time completely stops, I walk over and touch the guardian on the forehead. He comes back and immediately tries to throw me down. I twist it and place my sword on his neck.
"Listen. This is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I'm going to release Time. I'm going to let it take me. You are going to defeat me. And then you will forget that this conversation ever took place. It's regular speech, but I place just a tab of mesmer in my voice. Yueh looks at me quizzically.
"After this is over, I am going to figure out your true motive," he leaves another statement hanging, one I can't answer, "but why? Why sacrifice what is clearly within your grasp?"
I shake my head and strike Time again. As the blackness takes over my mind, Yueh's voice echoes in my head.
Why?
~*~
"Yokata!" my head begins to spin as Kinomoto whirls me round and round and round. Suddenly my region of the body commonly used for sitting is introduced to the hard stone floor. Wincing, I look up to see Kinomoto, furiously apologizing. I say nothing, but I cannot help but smile.
As she wanders over to Kerberos (after all this time, he deserves the name), Daidouji comes over to me.
"I was wondering…why would Li-kun hide his strength from Sakura-chan?" I jump.
"How…how do you know?" In response, she simply plays back a file…of me, fighting Snow with my ofudas.
"And then I noticed. Why would Li-kun only smile for Sakura-chan?" I turn red and look at the ground.
"And you must then be protecting Sakura-chan…and so I wondered. Could Li-kun like Sakura-chan?" I sputter.
"Na-nani? Iie! Ii-e." Daidouji simply gives me that smug I-know-you-are-lying-and-I-also-know-something-else Look.
But honestly, really. I couldn't actually like Kinomoto.
I mean, come on.
Hontou.
Oh my god.
I do.
~*~
AN: And that basically finishes Syaoran's explanations. Next Nadeshiko's Cut, which comes after the arrival of Eriol. In the meanwhile, seems like someone sped pretty fast through the denial process…
I'm so happy! I'm on the favourite author list of Semmerie. Go check her out! Her stories are really interesting and funny!
Oh yeah, feel free at any time to drop me an e-mail too. And review and whatnot. You review me, I will review you.
Until next time,
Wichy ^____^
