A/N: Just a quickie; Syaoran's arrived in Tomoeda. Next chapter will deal with bigger problems. Much bigger problems, that giggle and say "HOEEE?" and start with a big fat letter 'S'. You have been warned.


Saturday 9th June, 1998

Hi Klao! I'm on the aeroplane!

Goodness! Have you flown before?

Never! It's so amazing! When we rose above the cloud-level I just couldn't take my eyes off the window; all I can see is a carpet of clouds, going on for ever and ever. It's just incredible! It's like a whole other world!

It sounds truly enchanting. I do wish I had the chance to see some of these technological miracles.

I just can't sit still. I'm glad Wei is so patient; Mother would have given me an earful by now if she'd come instead. But everything's just so new and amazing, when we took off it was like nothing I'd ever felt before. You just feel this huge, solid, metal box lift into the air, and you think 'How does it stay in the air? Why doesn't it fall?' As soon as we get to Tomoeda I'm going to find the local library and read up on aeroplanes. I just can't imagine how something that weighs so many tons could possibly fly.

You do have a thirst for knowledge, don't you? An admirable trait. Be sure to tell me what you find out; I'm a little curious myself.

I will. Oh Klao, it's all just so unreal. It hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm on my way to Japan to be a Cardcaptor! And these seats are so comfy, and flight attendants come round all the time to offer me drinks and food. Mother got us business-class tickets. They must have been so expensive; I never imagined travelling like this. She just seems to arrange these things with no trouble at all.

I didn't bring much hand-luggage; just a bottle of water, a book of the Ching Dynasty and you. Wei let me sit at the window. I haven't touched my book; I've been too busy looking out the window. Seeing Hong Kong just drop away below us was something I won't forget for a while.

I can imagine. This is a wonderful experience, Syaoran. Were you sad to say goodbye to your family?

Well. Yes, of course. I've never really been away from them before. I don't see Mother a lot anyway, of course, but… I suppose I'll miss Shao and Chun and Cho and Shu. They kind of annoy me but they've always been around, and… yeah. I'll miss them.

Did you see Mei Ling today?

Yeah. She came to the airport to see me off with my sisters. It was weird… she was acting like she did that time we talked by the lake, you know, normal. Sort of… well, nice, maybe. She wished me luck and everything. Then just as Wai and I were about to go through to the departure lounge she rushed at me and threw her arms around me, wailing "Oh, Syaoran! Don't forget me! Write to me every day! I'll never stop thinking about you!" It was so embarrassing. I guess people don't really change, after all.

That depends what you mean by change. Perhaps her 'normal' side, as you call it, is just as much a part of her personality as the rest of her, only you don't see it so often. But anyhow. When do you get to Tokyo?

In about half an hour. The flight was only ninety minutes anyway. It's pretty amazing how far you can travel in such a short amount of time. And then we just need to get our luggage, check out, and take the metro to Tomoeda. I'm really looking forward to taking the metro. There's nothing like that in Hong kong. We have to change lines a couple of times before we get there. Then, it's just a five-minute walk to our house.

Is it all ready for you? With furniture, and so on?

I suppose it must be. I'm quite looking forward to seeing it. I'll miss my room, but I can make this new one my own just as easily. I settle quite quickly.

Well, it sounds like everything's been sorted out very nicely for you. Once you've settled in, how are you going to go about your task?

Well, I don't really have a plan. Mother hasn't really given me any clues, she's just prepared me for opposition. Opposition… I wonder what I'll come up against? I can't help being a bit… apprehensive. There's a powerful Sorcerer lurking in Tomoeda, who may or may not have control over the Cards. I'm not sure if I'll be much of a match for him, wherever he is.

I'm sure that whatever the challenge, you'll prove equal to it.

I hope so. Anyhow, before I do anything I'll want to thoroughly explore the town, find any places of interest, any suspicious areas, find out about any odd goings on. I want to take a full stock of everything. I need to know the territory. Everything is important; from rumours of strange occurrences to checking out things like blind alleys and loop roads, to make sure I never get boxed in if it comes to a fight.

You're very thorough.

I have to be. Know your enemy. And if this Sorcerer has been living in Tomoeda and Tokyo for a while, he'll know the area much better than me, and that gives him an advantage. I can't let him have that edge.

Alright. But aside from your Cardcaptoring duties – and they are very important, of course – do try to… enjoy yourself a little, won't you?

Enjoy myself? Klao, I've never been more excited in my life!

Just as long as you don't get dragged down with responsibility. I'm sure that's not what your Mother wanted when she assigned this role to you.

Your guess is as good as mine! I have no idea what she's thinking. She's like a closed book. The only person who I get the impression understands a little about her is Wei.

Oh, the flight attendant has just come over with a trolley. I feel a little hungry… Wai's asking me if I want something. I'd better go. Ill write later, Klao!

I'll look forward to it. Enjoy the rest of the flight, and the metro!

I will! See you later!

Saturday 9th June, 1998 (later)

What a day.

Indeed. You're in the house, I assume?

Yep. It's ten past nine, Wei and I have just quickly rustled up a meal and now I'm in my room. It didn't take very long to unpack; my clothes are in the wardrobe, The Rashinban and element summons are in a decorated box on the table by my bed, the I Ching silk is hanging on the back of my door. I stacked the attic books in a chest at the end of my bed.

The house is nice. It's not very big, but there's just me and Wei, so there's no need for anything grand. Neither of us is fussy. There's a little porch that leads into the living room, which is quite spacious considering the size of the house, and a kitchen leading off from that. Then upstairs there's the bedrooms and a bathroom. We also have quite a nice garden. Nothing like the land we have at home, of course, but quiet space enough for me to meditate and practice martial arts. There's just one thing that strikes me as odd, though; the house has three bedrooms, and there's only Wei and I here. I'm sure Mother could have found us a two-bedroomed house if she'd wanted to; she a way of getting what she wants.

She might have a reason for it. She may even be coming to visit sometime, and that's why she's chosen to have an extra bedroom.

I hadn't thought of that! Maybe she is!

Do you like Tomoeda?

I haven't had much chance to see it yet. The flight got in at about six o' clock, and our luggage was last to come out, so it took a while waiting for it. I was a little worried that they'd lost it; imagine if they'd sent my robes, element summons and Rashinban to the wrong place! It would have been a disaster. But thankfully they came out in the end. Then we had to take the metro, and that took a while too, because we changed in the wrong place once and had to double back. I think it'll take me some time to get used to Tokyo.

The metro is pretty cool though. Everything seems so clean and shiny in Tokyo! The metro is all chrome and sleek. I remember once when Miss La Tien told us about the time she went to London and had to go on the Underground. It didn't sound very nice. But the metro was kind of fun; only it was about the time when everyone was coming home from work, so it was quite crowded.

We finally got here at just past eight o' clock. It's a nice evening, quite balmy and mild, but I'm not going to go out tonight. I'll save my exploring for tomorrow; I want to know where everything is before I start venturing out at night.

That sounds very sensible.

I want to get a good night's sleep, too. I'm tired after all that travelling. I'll read a little more of my Ching Dynasty book, and then I think I'll go to bed. Got to be ready for anything tomorrow.

Good idea. I'll let you get on. Good luck with your exploring tomorrow!

Thanks, Klao. 'Night!

Sunday 10th June, 1998

Hi, Klao.

Hello! How does Tomoeda look by daylight, then?

I've been out exploring pretty much all of today. Tomoeda is very quaint; all quiet streets and neat houses and avenues of Sakura trees. I have to admit, it's a very nice place.

But there's an undercurrent of magic wherever I go. Everywhere I went I could feel it, like a hum, a buzz, a glow. Everything is charged. It's Clow magic; it must be. The whole town is steeped in it.

I explored as thoroughly as I could. I found a park not far from our new house; it's a nice open place, with a playground and a big slide in the shape of a penguin. There's a small zoo not far from it. Further into the town I found the main shopping centre; not a really big one like the ones in Hong Kong that you can get lost in, but not too small either. Just right. And I found the library-

Oh, yes? Did you find a book on aeroplanes?

Oh! I completely forgot! Damn. And it'll be closed now, too. Oh well.

Never mind. Go on.

I got a map of Tomoeda from the Town Hall – it has a clock and a tall bell tower, it's kind of neat – and tried to memorise all the main features of the town, and things like dead-end alleys and such. The park with the penguin slide in it has a lot of open ground and a few pavilions at one end; I think they must use it for festivals and things. There's a lake there too. And not far from the town centre there's an aquarium.

A well-equipped town. Sounds like you're taking stock very efficiently.

Definitely. I also found the school I'll be going to. It seems ok. Quite big, with good sports facilities from what I could see-

Your mother transferred you to a school here?

Yes. I forgot to tell you. And I hadn't really questioned it, but now I think about it, that's another thing that makes me suspect I'm here in Japan for a while. I mean, why not let Wei give me home lessons, like he did before we left?

Anyhow, the school looks ok. I suppose I won't mind going there.

I'm sure you'll make friends easily.

Friends? I'm not here to make friends, Klao. I'm here to find Keroberos, return the cards to the Clow book, and find out where the Sorcerer is who caused all this.

Yes. Well, I'm sure you'll do fine. It's a good pre-emptive thought, exploring the town so thoroughly.

Yes. I spent a while walking round the residential areas, too, on the lookout for anything amiss. And there was one place where I found something odd.

Odd?

Just an ordinary house on an ordinary street. Almost exactly the same as all the others; neat garden, polished wood sliding doors, little skylight in the roof – but there was such a surge of raw power radiating from it that it almost made me gasp out loud. It was all around. I must keep an eye on that house. The sorcerer could be there, or the Clow Cards, or both. The problem is getting in to check it out.

You're thinking of breaking into someone's house!

Well, I don't know. How am I supposed to investigate this magical aura if I can't get near it? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. I don't want to break into someone's house and I'd die of shame if I were caught and arrested, but what can I do? A Cardcaptor must take risks. I need to ensure the safety of this entire town, maybe even the whole of Tokyo, by getting those Cards back under seal. I don't really know what to do.

Syaoran, I beg you, don't break into this house. It will cause more trouble than it's worth.

But how am I supposed to find out where the magic is coming from?

A magician such as yourself should be open to all possibilities and study all options before he makes a decision. You must be patient. That way you can analyse all paths objectively, and decide which is best.

I… you're right. As usual. That's good advice, Klao.

Then take some more; leave this anomaly for tonight. Don't go back to the house. Sleep on the problem, mull it over for a while, make sure you examine all your options. Don't jump in headfirst.

But I'm starting my new school tomorrow. I won't have the full day to work this out.

Don't worry about it. A new solution may present itself. For now, I would advise you to do some calming exercises, and have an early night. You may need all your wits about you tomorrow.

Tomorrow? It's just a school. Nothing's going to happen there.

But you should be prepared in any occasion.

Yes, you're right, I should. I've worn my amulet everywhere since Mother put the spell on it for me; at least if I'm caught unawares, I'll have it to hand. I'm trying my best to do everything right. I hope I live up to her expectations.

You can only do your best. And you obviously are.

I am. I want so much to be worthy of the role of Cardcaptor, and make my family proud.

Oh, Wei's calling me for tea. I better go. I'll write soon, Klao, and fill you in on all the news.

Thank you! Speak to you soon, Syaoran. Good luck tomorrow at your new school.

Thanks Klao! Bye!


A/N: Alright, I know I promised Sakura to my hordes of faithful readers (er, two; thanks Peacewish and Cherry Lee ) but I decided to drag it out a little bit further. And maybe posting in smaller chapters will be a cunning method to gain me more reviews, mwaha mwaha mwaha! Professor Leibstraum.

Anyhow. We meet our lovely Sakura in the next chapter, but I'm telling you now, it's not all sunshine and roses. No-one ever said it was love at first sight, did they? Well then. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Rumms xxx