Cardcaptor
Sakura
Parallel
Fates
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. It rightfully belongs to CLAMP, Kodansha, and other licensees.
Disclaimer 1: All new characters in this fan fiction are rightfully mine. I created them! Anyone steals them will get a whooping!
Disclaimer 2: No profit is accumulated while on this venture. My boredom seeks to fuel me.
Author's Note: There is some significance with the new names that have appeared in this chapter. Firstly, Sayuri translates into water lily, whilst Jinshon translates into strong bear. His surname isn't of any importance; it's usually just a surname.
Chapter 2: Most Unlikely Welcome/ Surprises
The afternoon was spent walking around the local grocery stores and picking out the list that both siblings were granted from their father. After a couple of hours doing so, the two strolled down the avenues as they headed for the car parked a fair distance away. Touya looked down at his sister as she rolled down beside him on her skates.
"Why do you still hang around that brat?" spitefully asked Touya as he carried the majority of groceries towards his car.
Sakura immediately pouted in retaliation toward her brother's malice, inwardly sighing frustratingly.
"I mean, he isn't that important, is he?" Touya continued with an arrogant tone.
"Onii-chan!" reacted Sakura in defence, continuing to skate upon the floor beneath her. "Syaoran is important… to me! Can't you accept that?"
Touya looked away from his sister towards the distance ahead of them. A silence fell upon the two siblings as the tension grew slowly underneath their temperaments. They continued to travel towards the blue Honda. Touya lowered his eyes in concern, yet still with an amount of spite directed towards the boy that was Syaoran.
"Even till the end of time, I will not accept it," he answered nonchalantly. "But for you…"
Sakura's head turned towards her brother, now listening intently to his words despite his malevolent attitude towards Syaoran. Touya, too, turned to his sister, gazing over her with a warm glow.
"… If that's how you feel about it…" he continued. "… I'll try."
Sakura gently smiled up at her brother whom attempted to ignore the warm reception he was given.
"There's the car," he stated, breaking away from the caring atmosphere that enveloped them. "Come on, Otou-san's probably waiting."
The two reached the Honda and packed the groceries into the boot of the car.
The ride home was a quiet one, but not an uncomfortable one, as both siblings began to converse over many other things during the trip. As soon as the sun started to set, Sakura and Touya reached home with enough time to prepare dinner. Fujitaka greeted them as they began transferring the groceries from Touya's car into the house. As soon as the groceries were placed into the kitchen for easier storage, Touya bid his farewell to his family as he departed from his old home. Both Fujitaka and Sakura waved goodbye to their relative as he drove away into the distance.
"He still always tries to take care of things," commented Fujitaka.
"Hai," agreed Sakura. "A little too much."
Fukitaka chuckled softly beside Sakura before entering his home. "Touya-kun just tries his best," he remarked calmly.
Sakura could not help but smile at her father as she continued to stand outside the house. Many things had changed over time whilst she was growing up. A great change was her brother deciding to move house. It was not long after he graduated from university that he made this life-altering decision. Plans were to move out of his family home and move in with Yukito at his home. The both of them begun permanent jobs as pharmacists nearby Seijou High, and still to this day still maintain their trade. They were both joint partners of the pharmacy, and both enjoyed their company there as the long-budding friends they were.
Hours had passed on during the day as both Sakura and Fujitaka cooked and enjoyed their large meals. The night fleeted away before them and both father and daughter bid their goodnights to the end of a busy day. Sakura walked into her bedroom as she sighed lethargically. The little creature floated towards her tired face, suspending his small body in the air.
"So…" began Kero-chan, floating before her. "… where's-my-cake?"
Sakura gazed up at Kero-chan from her lethargy, sweetly smiling at the little guardian. "Here you go," she replied, handing a small plate of cheesecake upon her desk.
"Yosh!" exclaimed Kero-chan, diving in delight. "Cheesecake!"
Sakura gently smiled upon the little guardian as he scoffed the delectable sweet. She waltzed herself towards her bed, falling upon the soft mattress below her form, the bed fashioned in her old white sheets and pink blanket. She began to wander in deep thought atop her bed with her short hair sprawled below her head, offering an extra layer of comfort above her pillow. She soon had withdrawn herself from the reality happening around her. She turned towards her book, opening its covers and looking upon the cards that were kept inside. She stared at them blankly as she picked them up from the book, flipping through each one in its full deck. Silence seemed to engulf everything around her, not a sound was heard or could be heard as she continued to contemplate over the events that circulated her mind.
Could it be possible? she began. Could there be more to this than I know? What is it telling me? Sakura's eyes began to feel heavy as her eyelids dropped over her line of vision. She yawned placidly and placed the cards back into their deck within her Sakura Book once more.
Lifting herself out of bed quickly, she stretched her limbs and turned towards Kero-chan whom had already finished his sweet meal. He rubbed his full stomach in circles with huge delight, a smile crossing his face in happiness.
"Now that was great cheesecake," he complimented.
"Glad you liked it," flatly replied Sakura by her bed.
Kero-chan glanced towards Sakura from the desk as he observed the concerns that rippled deep within her emerald eyes.
"Sakura, are you all right?" asked Kero-chan, floating to meet her face-to-face.
Sakura shook her head vigorously and smiled gently, out of thought. "I'm okay," she replied. "Tomoyo-chan asked for another night of magic with her new costume she made, that's all."
Kero-chan perked his head in curiosity. "Really?" he asked. "Do we need to be…?"
Sakura shook her head in reply before he finished his question. "Tomoyo-chan just wanted me to model, that's all. She, Syaoran, and I are heading for the park tomorrow."
"Well good luck on your practice." Kero-chan yawned widely as he stretched his little limbs in the air. "I'm pretty tired anyway. That cheesecake can make you pretty sleepy."
Sakura smiled as she watched her guardian glide over to his bed and slipping into his small covers.
"Oyasumi Sakura," he said as he drifted into sleep.
Sakura switched off the bedroom lights, yet turned on the lamp by her bedside. She gazed upon her desk as she witnessed the items that lay above its face in an organised fashion. Upon the many things that adorned her desk, her eyes met a portrait that stood the brightest of them all. It was an old photo, a family photo that was taken many years back when her mother, Nadeshiko, was still alive and well. She smiled upon it as she gazed at the image within the frame. Sakura had a hold of this particular family portrait for a few years, during the period of her life when her brother, Touya, was moving out into Yukito's humble abode. Fujitaka decided to clean and refurnish his old study, placing many things into boxes for future references. Sakura aided her father in his clean up and it was here they both stumbled across a small box filled with old photos of the family. Memories recollected and cherished, Fujitaka presented her with a family portrait that included everybody in the photo, including herself as a little baby.
Sakura picked up the frame and sat by her bedside as she stared upon the photo with content eyes, stroking the glass pane that concealed it within. She looked over to Kero-chan who slept soundly in his small quarters, mumbling on many sweets and foodstuffs in his sleep. She giggled as she placed the frame her bed-top in the dim-lit room.
"Oyasuminasai Kero-chan," said Sakura, tucking herself into bed.
The house had fallen quiet in the night, yet a bedroom light still glowed faintly through the blue curtains that shielded the world from within. Fujitaka sat upon the large double bed with a growing concern weighing upon his mind. His head lowered in thought procuring insight, yet he sighed and sat in silence as he watched the wind blowing gently against the blue draperies. A glimmer of light emerged beside him as a figure transpired on his bedside, with her wings spread across her and holding his hands within her own.
"What's the matter?" asked Nadeshiko with sad eyes.
Fujitaka returned her gesture as he clasped his hands over hers.
"Something doesn't feel right," he replied, turning his head towards his beloved wife. "I'm worried about Sakura-san." A hand rested upon his cheek as Nadeshiko peered into his eyes with the softness that she possessed.
She gently smiled and leaned in to lie upon her husband's shoulder in comfort. "You've noticed yourself too," she assumed.
Fujitaka gazed over at his wife with overwhelming eyes as she raised her head to look at him once more.
"Sakura-chan has some things on her mind," she continued. "Things that she needs to understand for herself."
Fujitaka, with unease shadowing over him, looked at Nadeshiko with concern. She only smiled at her husband as she rose from the bedside, kissing her husband goodnight upon his forehead.
"Don't worry," she quietly reassured. "Sakura-chan isn't alone." Nadeshiko floated above him as he followed her with his deep auburn eyes before she faded away in heavenly light. Her smile stayed with her as she disappeared with Fujitaka's thoughts questioning her last words of the night. For a mild silence, a slow moment, he smiled as he gazed above the room.
"Arigatou gozaimasu," he thanked before readying himself for the empty bed. Within the dimly lit room, Fujitaka quietly slept the night with no qualms. Nadeshiko appeared once more as she sat quietly beside his sleeping figure with a hand over his head, smiling down upon him.
The next day began like any ordinary day for everybody else. Unfortunately for Sakura, she had woken up late that day and rushed through the morning after a fast breakfast and dashing around the house before leaving for school. Sakura departed her father with a farewell, rushing down the street lanes as fast as her roller skates could take her. Cherry blossoms passed by as a whir of pink and blue mingling together in unison, yet opposing each other, almost clashing against one another. The rush of the wind raging by Sakura blew against her short-cropped hair as it wavered behind her, the petals falling past her in colours. Halfway through the lane, Sakura skidded herself to a halt, recalling a past reflection out of the blue.
"Wai!" she yelled, realising the thought. "I'm supposed to meet withOnii-chan!"
The conversations yesterday included many subjects, yet Touya had asked her over before school to insure that she would not be late for either. Taking off towards the pharmacy, she sped towards the markets at top speed. Once again, everything from the street, people, cars, and objects all became a blur. The myriad of colours whizzed by Sakura as she skated down the paths avoiding obstacles everywhere.
"H-O-E-E!!" yelled Sakura as she crashed into a walking bystander turning around the last bend.
Both girls landed in a heap beside each other, overwhelmed by the sudden accident that had occurred before them. Sakura, cringing under the pain that reverberated through her body, held her rear gently.
"Gomenasai," apologised Sakura, lifting her head towards the casualty. "I didn't see where I was… huh?"
The stranger beside her gingerly patted both her head and rear, also experiencing the same aches that Sakura had. She looked up towards Sakura as the both of them met eye to eye. Sakura skimmed over the stranger's appearance, noticing few things about her. Light hazel hair was disorderedly thrown around atop her head, giving off the bed-hair look. Her honey-coloured eyes stared back at her clumsy assailant, its yellow-orange glow brightening her face despite the pain. The casualty shook her head, composed herself towards Sakura as she rose and stood upon the gravel floor below them. Beside her, she picked up a small sky-blue shoulder bag, adorned with blue crystal beads that decorated its outer skin. Sakura watched her tower over her as she brushed her clothes from the fall. With an outstretched hand, the stranger offered Sakura a helping hand from the floor.
"Hoee?" asked a bewildered Sakura.
The stranger gently smiled upon her with a kind façade. "It's okay," she remarked calmly. "I should be more careful next time."
Sakura, confused, accepted her hand and was pulled up from the gravel paving below. She too dusted off her uniform and fixed up any discrepancies in front of the guest in question.
"Next time I'll watch where I'm going instead of the sky," she joked, chuckling softly.
Sakura realised the light nature the girl possessed and so smiled at her, returning her gesture with a handshake. "Gomenasai. I shouldn't have been skating that fast."
"No, no," reassured the girl. "It's my first time here and I don't know my way around very well. So, if I knew where I was going, we wouldn't have crashed into each other like that."
"Oh, you're new in Tomoeda?"
The girl nodded her head in reply.
"Well, it's great to meet you," greeted Sakura happily. "Maybe we could catch up sometime?"
"I would like that," agreed the girl. "A guide wouldn't hurt. I thought I wouldn't find anyone up to it." Sakura stood baffled by the girl's reception, yet the thought crossed her mind once more.
"Oh, I got to go," exclaimed Sakura in panic, shocking the company before her. "Maybe we'll bump into each other again, ne?"
"Hai, but not as rough, ne?" the girl replied jokingly.
Both of them giggled and soon bid their goodbyes to each other as Sakura's acquaintance jogged off down the lane. Turning towards her brother's pharmacy, a glint caught her eye below her on the concrete footpath, causing her to pick up the ornament laid upon the gravel pavement. She inspected the piece of jewellery closely, taking in the craftsmanship and detail it displayed. Its golden frame reflected against the rays of sunlight above her as it shone its golden sheen brightly. Sakura continued to gaze upon the small trinket, a locket of some sorts that was shaped like a heart. An inscription was found upon the golden metal, catching her eye as she read its engraved word.
"Sa… yuri," she softly read. She looked up towards the lane as she turned behind her to find the girl already gone from sight. Sakura sighed inwardly as she placed the golden locket inside her suitcase for safekeeping in hopes of finding and returning it to its rightful owner.
Sakura continued around the curb and reached the pharmacy in time. The store itself was a mediocre-housed building and not something to talk about. Yet, Sakura knew business was not difficult for her brother and Yukito as they had been growing prosperous since the start of their pharmacy. She skated into the store and stood by the counter patiently, looking around the store she had come to familiarise with. Glass shelves decked the walls and occupied many different medicines of new and old worlds, either traditional or manufactured. The pharmacy was filled with many types of remedies with the counter itself displaying a few available to customers. Sakura gazed upon the many bottles and boxes around her as she silently pronounced a few while she waited for her brother.
She knelt down below the counter, observing the variety of things displayed through its glass window, orderly placed in organised fashion. From behind, a familiar person arrived at the counter with a gentle smile on his face.
"Ohaiyou Sakura-chan," he happily addressed.
Sakura diverted her attention towards the top of the counter as she rose herself from below. Yukito smiled at her with a calm demeanour, adding warmth in his presence.
"Ohaiyou Yukito-san," replied Sakura. "Is Onii-chan here?"
"He's just out at the back. I'll go get him, ne?"
Sakura nodded in response as Yukito walked back into the back storeroom of the pharmacy. Soon, Touya emerged with his indifferent face.
"Well, I'm here," said Sakura evidently. "So what is it you have to tell me? I'm going to be late for school."
Touya disappeared below the counter as Sakura looked over in curiosity. Emerging from the counter, Touya placed a small package tied with simple string and covered with brown wrapping paper. It was a simple parcel that was almost the size of a book. He handed it to Sakura as she inspected the package curiously.
"Not tell, give," corrected Touya. "My week's pretty busy and I don't have the time to give this to Otou-san. Could you do me this one favour and give it to him?"
"Hai," answered Sakura as she gently placed the small package in her suitcase. "What's in it?"
"Beats me," he replied. "But you better give it to Otou-san."
Sakura pouted at his parental order, yet she smiled at him warmly. "Hai," she replied. She took a glimpse at her watch, observing the time and panicked at what she saw.
"I'm going to be late!" she yelled, skating outside of the store in haste. Shortly, she returned inside bidding quick farewells to both men before she fled the scene once again.
Touya sighed grumpily at her sister's lack of organization, yet Yukito smiled sincerely at his best friend.
"You put too much pressure on Sakura-chan," he stated.
Touya turned towards his best friend with an arrogant air. "Oi, if she were half as organised as she is now, she wouldn't have this over her," he remarked.
Yukito continued to smile as he walked towards the storeroom once again. Touya looked over at the empty door of the pharmacy as he rubbed his head with a smile on his face.
The school bell tolled with its chime ringing throughout the morning. The students rallied up into their respective classrooms, all seating themselves on their desks. The rooms echoed with many voices filled with conversation with slight resonance bounding through the halls. Classroom 12-B was no exception with its numerous students congregating around each other. Sakura ran through the halls towards the classroom, sliding the doors open as she finally reached the room.
"Ohaiyou!" she greeted with a grin on her face.
"OhaiyouSakura-chan," replied Tomoyo. "You made it just on time."
Sakura walked over to her seat next to Tomoyo and placed her case atop its wooden face. "Hai, I had to meet Onii-chan this morning," explained Sakura smiling at Tomoyo. She turned towards Syaoran with that bright smile, yet he did not turn to face her. Her smile faded away from her face as she stood gazing at his motionless figure.
Syaoran sat focused and grim on his desk with his head resting upon his hands in concentration. His face was taught under constant alertness as he stared off towards the front of the room. Sakura continued to stare at Syaoran's sudden grave behaviour as she placed her hand upon his arm.
"Syaoran?" she asked humbly as her touch and voice broke his serious stupor. "Is something wrong?"
Syaoran gazed up at Sakura. He smiled reassuringly, realising his recent behaviour and lifted a heavy weight off of Sakura's shoulders. In return, he held onto her hand upon his arm comforting her. She gently smiled at him, sighing silently to herself in repose. The students rushed to their seats as Terada-sensei entered the classroom, Sakura finding her seat next to Tomoyo.
"Sakura-chan," whispered Tomoyo quietly, catching the young teenager's attention. "I'm hoping you'll be able to try out that new outfit tonight."
Sakura nervously laughed under her breath as she nodded the notion to Tomoyo's delight. Tomoyo giggled quietly under her breath, excited about the events to unfold. Terada-sensei addressed the classroom of the upcoming events, news, and so forth continuing down the line of updates for the class. He then fixed up his tie and faced the class with an amiable look to his visage.
"Class, I have some great news," he announced. "Today we are introducing a new transfer student into our class for this year, and there may be more coming along soon as well, so be sure to note that we do not have a full class yet."
A transfer student? thought Sakura with her head hung towards the wooden desk in front of her.
The students of Class 12-B began to chatter, whisper, and mumble in the room of such sudden news as the echoes arose once again. The news caught everybody by surprise, except for one who sat there sternly. Syaoran endlessly stared solemnly in his own little world, unmoving and non-fazing. Sakura, catching attention of Syaoran again, anxiously gazed at him with concern forming inside of her like butterflies in one's stomach. Yet the tense feeling stretched further from within, almost hanging over her like a cloud. She felt tingles everywhere, and strangely, it felt familiar, a long-lost feeling she had not felt forever. A small trance seemed to overwhelm her with a mystical air surrounding her and smothering her, falling slowly.
"Sakura-chan?" came a whisper beside her, breaking her track of thought.
She turned towards Tomoyo who gazed at her with eyes filled with unease. Sakura slowly smiled at her best friend reassuring her of her well being, yet she still felt troubled over Syaoran, still seemingly trapped in his own mind.
Something's not right, he thought, his eyes focussed towards the front of the classroom.What is this?
"Now, now," hushed Terada-sensei waving his hands in motion. "Settle down. I'm sure you're all excited about this, but let me start by introducing our newest edition to the class." He turned towards the door beside him, signalling to the student waiting outside in the hall. The class watched in anticipation as he waltzed into the classroom.
He looked sensible, a young teenager with an aura about his being and presence. Yet, in such an intense air, his gaze was cordially inviting and calm. He stood before the students, a boy no taller than Syaoran, with his uniform suited up in top form.
Sakura felt a faint presence, not such that it struck her, but a gentle and kind impression had established itself. The room seemed to dim down in colour and sound as she gazed upon the youth before the room. A feeling down in the pit of her stomach echoed through her body. The atmosphere began to thicken once again. She looked towards the young teenager with a fiery yet warm aura surrounding his body.
Nani? she asked. What is this feeling?
Despite her prevailing and confusing thoughts, Terada-sensei wrote upon the blackboard behind him, presenting the youth's name on its surface.
"Let's all welcome Ji Jinshon to Seijou High," introduced Terada-sensei as he turned towards his class. "You may seat wherever you please."
Jinshon nodded his head in respect and walked towards an empty desk in the room. Sakura watched as he sat before her, taking up the seat with polite mannerism.
"Now class," began Terada-sensei. "I want you all to attempt the questions I've written earlier on the board. I'll return very soon."
The now high school teacher left the classroom, leaving the students to go on with the work given or indulge in the company of the new student. Jinshon began to set up what was needed for the day as a hand reached out towards him in a welcoming gesture.
"Ohaiyou gozaimasu," greeted Naoko before him. "Welcome to Seijou High."
Jinshon replied to the gesture as he shook hands with the teenage girl that sat a desk before him. "Domo arigatou," he replied. "It's nice to meet you."
Naoko was taken aback by the greeting, surprised at the given remark of the exchange student. "You speak Japanese fluently."
Jinshon answered with a smile. "This isn't my first time here in Japan."
"Were you born here?" asked Rika, including herself into the curious conversation.
"No," he answered. "My first visit was to Shinkowa, somewhere over to the north of Tokyo. I moved here a few years back living there. I only arrived here in Tomoeda a few days ago."
Both Rika and Naoko immersed themselves in the young man's story as they hung on every word. Despite the attention, Jinshon felt calm and collected. Intrigued with the barrage of questions, he spoke politely and granted the girls their fair share of answers. However, inner turmoil transpired beside him in the form of another student.
Syaoran's eyes pierced into Jinshon's presence, filled with distrust and distress. A strong aura emitted from within Jinshon that Syaoran could not comprehend. Conjuring his emotions, Syaoran sensed an inner strength of great proportions and a surge of magic that posed a threat to him, or at the very least, everything important to him. As Jinshon continued to mingle, Syaoran continued to glare imperviously towards this stranger.
Gazing at the back of Jinshon's head, Sakura's mind had come to terms with her intuition with one probable conclusion. Yet, she felt confused and lost. Jinshon's being reflected a force, or an impression that had completely vanished long ago. But at the same time, it was a warm and tender atmosphere that comforted her.
A Clow Card? she thought. No, that's not possible. It's different. She looked up at Jinshon again, watching him converse with the many curious students in the class. The magic emanating from him caught Sakura unawares as the answer became clear.
Eriol-san?Her thoughts confused her more. Her life, thus far, had not been filled with magical threats or suspicious events, nor was there any individual to hold any such abilities. Yet, a magical pull continued to well inside of her. She gazed towards Syaoran's desk witnessing his display of suspicion. She only began to wonder and question this enigmatic air surrounding her. The conversations ran wild as students began to acquaint themselves with the newcomer. Jinshon, with a calm smile, obliged answering the questions he received.
"So, what's Shinkowa like?" asked Chiharu happily.
"Shinkowa's a lot like this town actually," Jinshon answered. "Peaceful, quiet, friendly. There are a lot of things in common between the both of them. I really can't tell that I've even left."
"Just your average little town, ne?"
Jinshon nodded his head in reply.
"So…" began Takashi with his hand upon his chin. "Where do you really come from then, Ji-kun?"
Chiharu pouted at her boyfriend with a stern face. "Takashi-kun!" she harshly remarked. "You don't ask questions like that!"
"I was only curious."
Chiharu, out of her temperament, began shaking Takashi by the neck furiously. The restless scene gained attention from most of the classroom inhabitants, as they were fully aware of the reputation of the relationship. Yet, amongst such childish tyranny, Jinshon's head lowered gravely, catching Syaoran's eye.
"Now you two stop it," lightly ordered Rika. "Let Ji-kun answer."
Jinshon rose with a light impression upon his face. "Oh, well," he began as he regained his composure. "I was born in the provincial districts of Hong Kong. Not too far from the city–"
"Hoee?" spoke up a voice from behind as it interrupted Jinshon's reply. He turned his head towards the softness of the voice finally discovering the young teenager behind him.
"Ji-kun, this is Sakura," introduced Chiharu, her hands still wrapped around Takashi's neck.
For the moment, he gazed queerly before the young girl, the both of them staring obliviously into each other's eyes. Breaking the silence, Jinshon reached out his hand, urging the good handshake towards Sakura.
"Konnichiwa," he greeted with a gentle smile upon his face.
Sakura took his hand and shook timidly. "Konnichiwa," she slowly replied.
Jinshon smiled warmly, creating a comfortable atmosphere around the two of them. However, beside him, Syaoran watched their hands meet and shaking cordially with one another. An internal rage burned inside of him. It almost consumed him.
Something's definitely not right! he thought extraneously. He continued to stare at Jinshon with the smile that crept upon his face almost too often. Darkness followed upon him that Syaoran could not possibly begin to imagine. He was a threat. A threat to him, to everything he cherished.