Hey guys, I'm back! I'm SOOOOOOO SORRY I didn't post sooner, but we had this assignment in English to write a short story, and it took up all of my time and stuff. But to make up for it, I have a nice surprise in this chappie for everyone…tee hee…
I wont tell you who the chapter title refers to…and the little excerpt is from that song by Clay Aiken…I really like the lyrics, they're awesome…oh where was I?
Anyway, more plot stuff is discussed, and I make way for fluff by splittin up Chihiro and Haku from Syaoran and Sakura…and where did Aiden go? Oh blah, just get on to reading already!
Disclaimer: hehe…thanks to cettie-girl for this awesome disclaimer : silent H has earned the right to own CCS and Spirited Away... *sees angry lawyers approaching* erm... or at least the right to use them in a fanfic? *they back off*
*/ lalala /* = flashback
'lalala'-thinking
* * * with italics- Dreaming
~ ~ ~ - in Gnimaerd (either Ananda or Aiden)
"lalala"-out loud
if hearts were unbreakable
then I could just tell you where I stand
Chapter 16: A Matter of Heart"That joy in existence without which the universe would fall apart and collapse…" Chihiro repeated softly. She closed her eyes and thought hard. Syaoran stood panting in the doorway, looking slightly sheepish, but triumphant all the same. Sakura's eyes were wide, and Kohaku looked surprised as well.
Sakura said, "But what does it mean then?"
Syaoran replied, "I don't know…I just remembered learning about Ananda a long time ago. Remember what Zeniba asked us? How weird her question sounded…she must have known too."
"That doesn't answer my question, though."
Chihiro said quietly, "Don't you see? It makes perfect sense now that you think about it. 'Ananda' put in plain terms must be joy…and if it's gone then the world will end."
"Of course," Haku said suddenly. "All of the things going on in your world, and in the Spirit World. Something must be happening--"
"To her…" Syaoran finished. They all sat, excitement coursing through their veins at the discovery. Syaoran said to Aiden, "You knew, didn't you? Why can't you guys just tell us things like that? Why do there always have to be tests?"
Aiden said lightly, "Well, you are right. And don't go asking me why…I don't know half of things that go on around…well, anyway…" His face darkened. "But this is important. Ananda is dying, and it's about time for me to start answering questions. So fire away."
As Syaoran plopped down into his seat with raised eyebrows, Chihiro spoke first. "All right then…what is it with these necklaces? When do they glow, or is it really random?"
Before Aiden could answer, Syaoran interrupted, "Sakura, I forgot to tell you. I don't think you noticed, but your necklace was glowing when you spoke to the Light and Dark cards."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Syaoran!"
"Sorry Chihiro."
Aiden said, "It's alright. But I'm sorry to say I don't know much about them. I was only given orders to give them to you guys, not information. All I know is that they have something to do with curing Ananda."
"Curing?" Haku said.
"Yes." Aiden said. "Chihiro…have you noticed how she started to become…more irritable?"
Chihiro said slowly, "Yes…I did. When she visited us in our dreams…I went to hug her, but she pulled away."
He said heavily, "Well, that's a part of it."
"Wait a minute," Sakura said, "Just what exactly is happening to her? Is she really…dying?"
Aiden looked at the ground for a few moments. Chihiro suddenly felt a wave of empathy for Aiden; so remote from them. She knew that he and Ananda must be very good friends…as old as the hills…
Aiden said, "It's a long story."
"We have time." Syaoran said sardonically.
Aiden managed a grin and said at last, "I don't know how much I am allowed to tell you…but here it goes.
"In the beginning, Ananda didn't have a physical form. But then she gained one. That was before I was…er…born. So, for a time, it was good. What happened next…well, stuff happened, and Ananda started to die. It was very slow, so that I didn't notice until recently, and neither did the…I mean…you see how your own world has been consumed by greed for money, and you've had violence and terrible wars. In the spirit world, there is greed also. There are some demons, but in both worlds things used to be peaceful.
"It all connects, in the end." Aiden finished, somewhat lamely.
Haku said, "Is that it? You've left us a couple of big holes in that one."
"You'll have to fill them in yourself." Aiden replied.
Chihiro said softly, "Ananda is dying…and the world is dying with her."
Syaoran asked, "But how? Is it her being angry, or feeling things she's not supposed to? Is she supposed to always be happy?"
"That's the basic idea." Aiden said. He sounded oddly distant all of a sudden, like he wasn't really paying attention. Then it was as if his thoughts reassembled, and Aiden said, "But again, I don't know much."
Haku said, "Or you just can't tell us."
"All right you guys!" Sakura said suddenly, standing up. "We have to do something. We gotta figure out what these necklaces have to do with Ananda…and how to make her happy again. That's how to make her better, isn't it? She has to become happy?" No one answered.
Syaoran quietly fingered Meracus. "This will be harder than it seems, if no one will guide us." He gave Aiden a tiny glare.
"Can I ask another question?" Sakura said. Aiden nodded, and she said, "In my dream…you mentioned orders from Up There…about the necklaces."
"Ah yes." Aiden said. He was silent for a while, while the others waited in expectation. Then, after quite a few minutes had passed, Chihiro got the feeling that silence was all they were going to get for now.
She said, "Aiden?"
He jumped as if waking up from a trance. "Sorry, I spaced out for a bit there," he said apologetically. "Anyway, about Up There…" Aiden stopped again, and winced slightly, as if he had just heard nails across a chalkboard. He stood up abruptly. "I have to go; Ananda wants to speak to me," he said shortly. "I should be back shortly." And with that Aiden was gone. He just disappeared.
Chihiro shouted, "Wait! Hold on!" but knew that he wouldn't hear her. He was probably already there.
Haku said, "Well now we have time to figure out how to heal Ananda."
"So where should we start?" Syaoran asked.
Sakura replied, "I think we should start with these necklaces. Aiden said that they might have something to do with curing Ananda." She took hers off and Chihiro followed suite. Sakura took them both and put them on the table in front of everybody. For a few moments, nobody said anything, and just stared at the two unassuming necklaces.
Chihiro said, "Well…now what?"
Haku answered, "Could I look at one of them?"
"Of course," Sakura said, handing over Chihiro's necklace to Haku. He took it and stared at it for a while. In the meantime, Syaoran started talking.
"Okay. So we have no idea how we're gonna cure Ananda, except that these necklaces are part of it. And Aiden didn't have time to explain anything else to us. Does anyone have any ideas as to what they might do?"
Chihiro shouted suddenly, "It's glowing!"
"We know they glow, Chihiro."
"No! I mean, it's glowing! The one in Haku's hand."
Heads snapped to Kohaku, who was staring at the pendant with slightly raised eyebrows. He looked surprised. "I didn't do anything to it. It just started glowing."
Sakura said excitedly, "Let me see it!" Haku held out the softly lit pendant and dropped it into her hand. To everyone's surprise, the light immediately went out, just like a light bulb. Sakura gave a 'HOE' of disappointment.
"What made it stop?"
Syaoran said, "I don't know. Give it here." He took the necklace, and once again, to everyone's ultimate shock, the stone lit up. It wasn't as bright as before, but it glowed, nonetheless.
"Why," Chihiro said slowly, "does it only light up for Syaoran and Haku? Sakura, give me your necklace." Sakura handed it over and Chihiro held it expectantly. She hoped it would light up. When it touched her hands, Chihiro grinned as the stone started to glow. But then it gave a quick flash, and went out. "What was that about?" she said.
They tried it on everyone. Chihiro's necklace worked for Haku and Syaoran, and Sakura's didn't work on anyone at all, except when it had lit up for a moment at Chihiro's touch. Sakura tried her magic on it, and Haku and Syaoran too, and Chihiro poked and prodded the stones, but nothing could explain it.
"This isn't helping much," Syaoran said at last.
Haku said, "Maybe if you guys could tell us when they lit up for you. All those random times."
"Okay." Chihiro said. "The first time was when I first saw the necklace. And then…I think when I said goodbye to Kamajii. And when Sakura took hers out they both did a glowing bit. I think that's it."
Sakura said then, "Mine lit up then, and then when Syaoran said it did. I didn't notice it then, though. I was too busy talking to the cards…" she trailed off.
"Is that all? Try and remember." Haku said.
That made Chihiro remember something else. She said abruptly, "Oh shit! The gifts! We left them at Zeniba's house! We have to go get them. She said they were important." She stood up and went to the door.
"But Chihiro, we can't just leave." Sakura said, exasperated. "We have to figure this out."
Chihiro said, "Well, how about two of us go and get the gifts, and the other two stay here and try to figure out stuff. And if Aiden comes back, you can tell him where they've gone."
Syaoran replied, "I don't think it's a good idea to split up. What about those things he said would come? The…scellywhatsists. They could be at Zeniba's house now."
Haku said, "The Scelestus."
"Yeah, them."
Chihiro said, "But it could be important. You know how in books the heroes always get advice or words of wisdom or stuff like that? Well, this might be ours."
Sakura said quietly, "We're heroes. People have to accomplish something first before they earn a title like that. What happens if we fail?" Sakura's words were greeted by silence.
"Well…this could help." Chihiro said. "So who's coming with me?"
"I'll come." Haku stood up. Chihiro felt her stomach flutter slightly.
"All right then," she said, hiding a smile. "We shouldn't take too long." Chihiro said to Sakura and Syaoran. She walked over to the door, slid it open, and groaned at the sight of no stairs.
"Stairs? Come out?" Chihiro said hesitantly. She waved an arm in the air in front of the door, and there was a whooshing sound. The stairs came up from the dazzling floor below and attached itself to the floor in the room. Chihiro turned and waved at Sakura and Syaoran, and stepped on the stairs. Haku followed behind her, and to her relief, the stairs decided not to move. Perhaps they were too lazy.
After they were gone, Syaoran said, "Wait…isn't Scelestus Latin for…wicked?"
- - -
"What is it, Ananda?"
"The train didn't come today." Ananda was standing in front of the Temple, Aiden facing her. A cold, harsh wind blew through the grounds, and it rattled the dead trees.
Aiden was silent for a moment. He knew that that would happen. Gnimaerd was dependent on Ananda, and if she died, it would die too. Aiden gazed sadly at her, thinking of how he might lose his only friend since the beginning of his creation. But he wouldn't let that happen. Then he said, "Why?"
She replied, "I don't know. I don't know. Why didn't it come?" Ananda suddenly sounded small, and frightened, like a real ten year old. Aiden was startled. Instead of angry, today she was…scared.
And then she started crying. Tears fell down from her gold eyes, streaking across Ananda's pale face. She cried without sound or movement, as if her eyes had only sprung a leak. She turned to Aiden, eyes moist, and he took a step back in shock. Ananda never cried. Never, never, never, never, never.
She whispered, "What's going to happen? Kaonashi, he…I feel different…and the flowers…" her voice dwindled into silence.
"I don't know either," Aiden said softly. "But we can fix it."
And they both heard the voice speak into their minds, vibrating on a different wavelength.
stop crying
Ananda closed her eyes.
Aiden…Aiden walked over and put his hand on Ananda's shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked at him, and he saw Depression in her. Things were bad. The voice said into his own mind, privately,
you cannot do much for her
no matter how much you---
Aiden said hastily, "I don't."
whatever you say
before you return to the four
stop by and pick up the gifts
they forgot them… and they must figure it out
Aiden sighed. He brusquely drew Ananda to him and hugged her tightly, though she seemed not to notice. And he returned to his House.
~ ~ ~
Sakura and Syaoran sat in the room, both silent. The two necklaces still lay on the table, both pendants dark.
"Syaoran," Sakura said suddenly, "where did you get that sword?"
He said, "Aiden gave it to me. When you guys were eating." He took it out of its sheath, and held it up to the light. Sakura's eyes widened at the glass and crystal, and made a silent motion as if to hold it. Syaoran held it out to her.
"What is it made of?" Sakura asked, holding it delicately. She ran a finger lightly down the edge of the blade, peering at the strange design etched in on it.
Syaoran said, "Diamond. Or at least, I think it is. Aiden wouldn't say. But if you strike it through the air…that's what it sounds like." Sakura looked at him questioningly. She waved the Meracus around, trying to listen to it. The only problem was that she wasn't doing it right…although the Sword card made Sakura a good swordfighter; she really didn't know much about how to hold one on her own. Syaoran itched to correct her. He stepped closer to Sakura and said, "Here, let me…"
Syaoran stood behind her and wound his arms around Sakura, putting his hands on hers and fixing her grip on Meracus. "You raise your arms like this, and then…" Syaoran moved her arms with his and brought the sword swishing down through the air with a zing. Sakura gave an 'oh' of surprise. She could feel her cheeks turning red as Syaoran moved with her through various thrusts and parries, though her mind felt incredibly clear.
After a few more moves Syaoran suddenly realized that he was holding Sakura, and he stepped back, mumbling and blushing profusely. He didn't notice her doing the same.
"It's beautiful." Sakura said. She held it out to him, handle first, and when he touched it, Syaoran felt a strange calmness break over him.
"Soweru," he said in a rush, despite the calm.
Sakura said, "What?"
"I mean…oh, forget it…" Syaoran decided not to bother with words, and he dropped Meracus as he grabbed Sakura around the waist and kissed her.
- - -
Chihiro and Haku were having trouble.
"What did the door look like, again?"
"I don't remember. But nothing looks like it could be it…"
"Well…let's try that one."
Haku raised an eyebrow. "Chihiro, although I don't remember what Zeniba's door looked like, I'm sure that those doors aren't it."
Chihiro was pointing at a pair of doors at the other end of the room. They were on the ground, which would mean that getting inside whatever room there was would be easy. But they looked like they were made of gold, and the doors seemed to be larger than any other door in the room.
Chihiro said, "I know…but I just want to…I don't know. Don't you feel like the doors are beckoning to you?"
Haku looked at her in surprise. "No…Chihiro!" Haku called after her, for Chihiro had just taken off for the doors, running across the expansive floor towards the golden doors at the end. He ran after her.
Chihiro knew that Haku could catch up to her, but still she kept running. A wave of curiosity had just swept her conscience away, and Chihiro just ran. Halfway there, Haku caught up. "Chihiro!" he panted as they ran, "We have to get the gifts!"
She shook her head. "I want to see what's inside." He gave up and followed her to the doors. When they got there, Chihiro stooped over, heaving breaths. Then she went up to them. "There's something written on them."
The doors read
Sirbil Xe"I have no idea what that means." Haku said. Chihiro, however, scrunched her eyes up in thought.
"You've probably never heard of Alice in Wonderland…" Chihiro mused, "But by now I think I should pay attention to anything written on anything. Only I don't know what this says either…" She frowned, thinking hard. "On the plaque the words were backwards. So maybe here they're backwards too. That would be 'Ex Libris' then. But what does that mean?"
Haku said, "Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe it's in some language of yours?"
Chihiro said, "It could be Latin. But I don't take Latin in school; Sakura does. And Syaoran might know some. But anyway…it doesn't sound harmful, does it?"
Kohaku frowned. Chihiro was being awfully lax lately. But despite himself, Haku was getting a bit curious to see what would be behind those doors. "We could take a peek…" Kohaku said slowly. So Chihiro dashed forward and opened the door.
- - -
Sakura's eyes widened as Syaoran grabbed her waist and then bent down and kissed her. For a moment, she just stared in shock at his closed eyes (hoe!), and then she closed hers too.
Very gently, Syaoran deepened the kiss and Sakura's arms relaxed and wrapped themselves around his neck. He could feel Sakura smiling and suddenly, so was he, and everything was okay. He had nothing to worry about.
Syaoran reluctantly disengaged himself from her, and they both stood there, panting slightly. For a moment Sakura forgot about everything that had been happening lately, and just enjoyed the warmth of his arms and the tingling sensation that was spreading from her face to her toes.
Syaoran stepped back slightly and she looked at him. He opened his mouth and started to say, "Sakura, I---" but Sakura put a finger on his lips and smiled at him. She didn't need to hear it, or say it. They both just knew.
So he kissed her again, and Sakura put her hand on the table to steady herself, her fingers brushing against one of the pendants. And a bright light enveloped them.
@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-@
so what did you guys think of the kiss? Was it good? Bad? Incredibly terrible? (I go with the latter…but all artists have to mutilate their own work.) And a note to all of those C+H shippers…well they wont exactly get together till later.
On another note…today I'm giving out candy! (Ok, so Hallowe'en is over. But it was only a few days ago!) I for one am in LOVE with Reeses! They're not kidding when they say you get lost in a reeses…hehe. So whatever candy you love, that's what you're getting…ok…I'm getting a bit too excited with this here.
Ja, and drop a review!
silent H =P