4th chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own ccs. That, is obvious.
*sigh.... I know this doesn't have to do anything with any of you probably, but one of my friends just died. We weren't close. She was a freshman, and my brother's ex too. Her name was Elissa Horton. 4/22/04, she was found hanging from her neck on the hammock she had recently installed in her room. It hanged from the ceiling. Your brain can only last 2 minutes without oxygen. She was up there for 10 minutes before her sister walked in and found her. She was rushed to the hospital. They declared her brain dead. We visited her the next day. I think people didn't realize she was just as good as dead. When we saw her. She was on the hospital bed, staring straight at the ceiling. Many people came. There was lots of crying.
The weird thing was.... There were tears, coming down her cheeks. When your brain dead, your brain cant process anything, and it like you're an empty shell. But tears kept trickling down her cheeks as we watched her and cried.
It is now 4/24/04. Elissa was only alive because of the life supports that were forcing her to breathe. There was already no hope for her, even though everyone wished for a miracle. They planned to unplug her from the machines today at 2. At 10:30 am, they performed to last test on her, giving them a peace of mind, knowing they have done everything they possible could to save her. During the test, her heart failed and she died at 10:45 am.
These things happen to us sometime in our lives. Elissa Horton was the most cheerful girl. Everyone recalls a story where her smile had brightened his or her days. When she had comforted them, her smile was always there. She was smart, pretty, and the most loving girl. She is now my angel.
I dedicate everything I'm writing to her.
R.I.P. Elissa Horton. Always to be in our hearts and never forgotten.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The day was warm, yet breezy. Sakura and Hiko were walking up the steep slopes of the mountain. Hiko held Sakura's hand, helping her up. Sakura sighed. They had walked all night and morning. They had taken intervals of breaks, but the climb was taking its toll on her. It was getting harder and harder to hold in her aura. She knew the soldier was searching for her. He was still whiles away, but was slowing catching up.
* Sakura's POV *
I knew I was weak at the moment. Yesterday I had used magic. A strong one at that.
I frowned.
Except I had no clue what I did. I had remember yelling ::xiao shi:: ... whatever that meant! I was sure it was mandarin.
I glanced at Hiko. He had been helpful lately. But something about him made me uneasy....
I shook it off.
All day we climbed slopes. I knew we needed to get out of the mountain. There was something that haunted it. The mountain was cold. It did not like intruders. I could feel it.
Suddenly, the sky turned dark.
I halted.
Magic!
I grabbed the key that hung around my neck.
"I call upon the key of Clow. Release!"
The key lengthened and my staff appeared before me. It was made out of Larwood, wood that was as hard as metal. (A/n: sorry, I know that's not her real staff, but somehow, the card captor mistress, holding a bright pink staff, is unsuiting for the mood in my story. Almost makes me have a mental image in my head. I could fall off my chair. Forgive me ^^ ') It broadened out and the front and a silvery orb was embedded in the wood.
I lifted it into the air. The wind that was starting to blow hard, started to surround her. Thunder struck at her. Her staff in hand, she grabbed a card out from her pocket and yelled "JUMP!"
The thunder crashed into the place between two trees where I stood. I grabbed another card.
"THUNDER!"
Thunder clashed against thunder. It was even.
I looked frantically around. Where was Hiko? He must be frightened to death!
Yet I saw him stand 10 feet away. His face was calm.
He stepped forward and yelled ::LING:: Thunder came crashing down, mixed with my thunder magic, and hurled itself upon the enemy.
Blinding light expanded and Sakura covered her eyes.
A few seconds later, she opened them, hearing nothing, and feeling something warm press it self against her whole body. The sky had yet again cleared and the sun was out again. Its rays even brighter than before.
I turned to Hiko and looked at him.
'He is actually handsome'
I mentally smacked myself and a frown formed on my face.
* Hiko POV *
I saw her frown.
I gazed at her for a moment before walking towards Sakura.
Her emerald eyes widened as she began taking steps backwards, away from me.
I put my hands up.
"No need to flee your highness,"
Her eyes bugged out.
", I have no intentions to hurt you."
Her eyes immediately looked more trusting at me.
I groaned inwardly. She was too innocent still. She could be tricked easily.
I grabbed her hand and started running.
"We need to get off the mountain" I explained to her. She nodded; we tore through the last slope and entered... my home village.
^^^^^^^^^^ A young man appeared behind a tree once the two had left. His eyes were confused and amazed. He knew the Kinomotos possessed magic, but it was stronger than he imagined. And that man, the one the princess called "Hiko". Xiao Lang had searched through him memory for an inkling of who this man could be.
Something about him unnerved Xiao Lang.
He began running in the direction they had went, but in a slower pace.
^^^^^^^^^^
* Hiko POV *
We had entered my home. Sakura, exhausted, had fallen onto the bed on the side. I entered the kitchen, and got water from the well, on the side. I approached her and handed her a mug.
I sat down next to her, and said "I will tell you about the legend."
Sakura looked at me confused.
I started speaking again.
"It is a legend, as well as a prophet. Back then, when Clow Reed was still alive and the most powerful magician in the world, he created the Clow cards, which you, the clow mistress now possess."
Sakura nodded.
"However," I said," This was not the only form of magic he made. The Clow Cards are powers put into cards, to seal them, for they have minds of their own. When they were made, he realized they were too dangerous, so he sealed them, and thus you have the Clow Cards.
However, one of the other magic things he made was, the Zi. In manderin, Zi, means words. With these words, you only need to say them, and instantly it will happen. You, have already said the word for disappear, xiao shi. It can teleport you, for a certain distance.
It was made so that it would be more efficient. More efficient than the Clow cards. It is faster, and more powerful. This was the height of Clow Reeds magic. He created the Zi, and after wards, it drained his magic so much, he was rendered useless. He knew this would happen. He could see the future. In the world, balance is everything. If something comes in, something must go out. The Zi came to existence; Clow Reeds life was the price to pay. He became ill and 3 days later, he died.
Before he died though, he made a prediction. No it was not a prediction. It was a prophet, for he looked into the future. He said those who wished for the balance of powers would control these words. If there is good, there must be evil. Those whose fates were bound to intertwine each other would control the words, and together, they would save mankind. "
I took a breath.
Sakura looked wondrously at me and asked, "Who are those two?"
I fell off the bed. She pulled me back up.
"Well... since you can use them, obviously one of them is you!"
Sakura looked confused.
"Then you must be the other one for you can use the words too!" she said logically.
I shook my head. "That my dear is where you are wrong. The two that can use them, and PROTECT the world and SAVE them, are the zi users. They aren't from the zhao clan though, the clan that Clow Reed entrusted the words too. Some of us have learned to master them with great difficulty, such as myself. I have been sent to find the Zi users, and to train them to use the Zi."
"So you meeting me at the bar wasn't coincidence." Sakura said slowly.
"Im sorry, when I found you, I thought making it an accident of bumping into you the best. I needed to see if you were really she, if you were really capable of the Zi words. That night when pr- I mean, the soldier came after us, you said one of the words without ever being taught it. That's when I figured out truly you were one of the Zi users."
^^^^^^^^^ * Xiao Lang POV *
I heard everything that man had said. So he was from the Zhao clan. The Zhao clan was powerful as well, almost as powerful as the Li's. Once, the two had been friends. Because of a man from each clan had fought over Aleya, a beautiful woman from a village, one of the Li men were killed, and the clans had clashed and now, were not on speaking terms. They acknowledged each other, but had no friendly feelings. I felt anger building up inside of me, cursing that man- Hiko – for being so close to the princess...
My eyes widened. Did I just detect a bit of jealousy...?
'NO WAY' I thought grimly, all princesses were stuck up and complete airheads. This one might be the card mistress, but she was surely no different. I had to MARRY her too.
A Hand touched my shoulder.
Thinking it a villager, I tried to push the hand off. It was strangely icy and I looked around at it. It was a man, made of ice! And that was the last thing I saw, before my vision clouded and my whole body...covered with ice.
^^^^^^^^^^
* Sakura POV *
I felt a chill, and a strangely chilly aura. It was strong. I got off the bed. Hiko had just explained Clow's prophecy to me, and we both ran outside. It was cold, compared to just an hour ago, when it had been warm.
I gasped.
The soldier that had been following us, was frozen solid, a thick layer of ice around him. He was kneeling, his head turned around, a mild surprise on him face.
Hiko, who was next to me, snorted. "Weakling..."
I gazed surprised at him, but at once, launched myself at the iceman that was next to the soldier. I took out my staff.
"I call upon the key of Clow, RELEASE!"
"FIREY!"
My clow card pelted the iceman with flames. It was useless though. Every time a bit was melted away, it grew right back. I needed something big, so it could get rid of the whole thing at once, or else it would continue to re-grow.
"THAT WONT WORK!" Hiko yelled, "YOU NEED THE ZI WORDS!"
I used jump to avoid the shards of ice that were being pelted at me.
"HOW IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSE TO DO THAT?!"
I ran. I looked back at Hiko frantically. In the pause, the iceman flung a shard. I tried to avoid it, but it cut my cheek slightly. Blood started dripping down.
"Zi words are suppose to be learned yourself. I am only here to tell you about the legend and prophecy. All I can say is, the words come from your heart, use your emotions to feed it!" Hiko yelled.
I knew he could have destroyed the iceman with his Zi words, but he was trying to teach me!
'Use my emotions to feed it.'
I felt warmth in my heart. My mouth began to form a word....
::HUO::
Fire burst from my hand, and engulfed the iceman. It screamed an unnatural scream, and melted. The heat had reached the soldier too, and the ice around him melted too.
The soldier sputtered, and glared at Hiko.
"Ni zai zhe li gai she me!"
"ni bu yao guan." Hiko said calmly.
I didn't understand a word.
Hiko said loudly," Your guard is terrible, I expected more from a Li."
'Li...?'
My face turned nasty, "Is your name Li Xiao Lang?"
He turned and looked at me. His messy brown hair blew to and fro, and his intense amber eyes looked straight into mine.
"That's right..." He said slowly.
I started to stomp away. I felt him grab my hand.
"Wait"
I slipped. The place where the iceman just was, was still wet. I fell down...on top of Li. I struggled to get up, as he did too. Our faces were too close for comfort to each other. I tried to get up again, and fell again, this time, our lips crashed into each other. I felt dizzy. Slowly, I felt his kissing me. My eyes bugged. I was frozen solid this time instead of him.
I yelped, and jumped up. Staring at Li.
Hiko came and stood next to me, he put his hand on my shoulder and glared at Li.
"What did you do that for?" I nearly spat at him. He was the man I was suppose to be wed to. He was the end of my freedom!
Hiko slowly put one arm around my waist. I was so mad, I didn't notice.
Li looked at me with a face of mixed emotions. He turned and started walking away.
I gave Hiko a strange look. I had finally noticed one arm was around my waist and the other holding my shoulder.
"What are yo-"
I was cut off when I felt his lips on mine. His lips massaged mine, and I didn't respond to it either, though I was very surprised, and felt myself liking it, just like Li's....
'WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!?!?!?'
^^^^^^^^^^
* Xiao Lang POV *
I walked away from Sakura, who was being held my Hiko. I knew Hiko liked her, though he didn't show it at all. It was the way he looked at her, that made me realize. But why was I jealous then? Why did I kiss her even though I was against the marriage? I saw her emerald eyes before me.
I brushed my hand through my unruly hair.
'Do I love the clow mistress?'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Holy shit! This was really long. Maybe cuz I was really sad about Elissa, so I kept writing and writing... for her. Even people that didn't know her, and people who barely know her, went to see her, before she died. She was loved by everyone.
I love you elissa.
Disclaimer: I don't own ccs. That, is obvious.
*sigh.... I know this doesn't have to do anything with any of you probably, but one of my friends just died. We weren't close. She was a freshman, and my brother's ex too. Her name was Elissa Horton. 4/22/04, she was found hanging from her neck on the hammock she had recently installed in her room. It hanged from the ceiling. Your brain can only last 2 minutes without oxygen. She was up there for 10 minutes before her sister walked in and found her. She was rushed to the hospital. They declared her brain dead. We visited her the next day. I think people didn't realize she was just as good as dead. When we saw her. She was on the hospital bed, staring straight at the ceiling. Many people came. There was lots of crying.
The weird thing was.... There were tears, coming down her cheeks. When your brain dead, your brain cant process anything, and it like you're an empty shell. But tears kept trickling down her cheeks as we watched her and cried.
It is now 4/24/04. Elissa was only alive because of the life supports that were forcing her to breathe. There was already no hope for her, even though everyone wished for a miracle. They planned to unplug her from the machines today at 2. At 10:30 am, they performed to last test on her, giving them a peace of mind, knowing they have done everything they possible could to save her. During the test, her heart failed and she died at 10:45 am.
These things happen to us sometime in our lives. Elissa Horton was the most cheerful girl. Everyone recalls a story where her smile had brightened his or her days. When she had comforted them, her smile was always there. She was smart, pretty, and the most loving girl. She is now my angel.
I dedicate everything I'm writing to her.
R.I.P. Elissa Horton. Always to be in our hearts and never forgotten.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The day was warm, yet breezy. Sakura and Hiko were walking up the steep slopes of the mountain. Hiko held Sakura's hand, helping her up. Sakura sighed. They had walked all night and morning. They had taken intervals of breaks, but the climb was taking its toll on her. It was getting harder and harder to hold in her aura. She knew the soldier was searching for her. He was still whiles away, but was slowing catching up.
* Sakura's POV *
I knew I was weak at the moment. Yesterday I had used magic. A strong one at that.
I frowned.
Except I had no clue what I did. I had remember yelling ::xiao shi:: ... whatever that meant! I was sure it was mandarin.
I glanced at Hiko. He had been helpful lately. But something about him made me uneasy....
I shook it off.
All day we climbed slopes. I knew we needed to get out of the mountain. There was something that haunted it. The mountain was cold. It did not like intruders. I could feel it.
Suddenly, the sky turned dark.
I halted.
Magic!
I grabbed the key that hung around my neck.
"I call upon the key of Clow. Release!"
The key lengthened and my staff appeared before me. It was made out of Larwood, wood that was as hard as metal. (A/n: sorry, I know that's not her real staff, but somehow, the card captor mistress, holding a bright pink staff, is unsuiting for the mood in my story. Almost makes me have a mental image in my head. I could fall off my chair. Forgive me ^^ ') It broadened out and the front and a silvery orb was embedded in the wood.
I lifted it into the air. The wind that was starting to blow hard, started to surround her. Thunder struck at her. Her staff in hand, she grabbed a card out from her pocket and yelled "JUMP!"
The thunder crashed into the place between two trees where I stood. I grabbed another card.
"THUNDER!"
Thunder clashed against thunder. It was even.
I looked frantically around. Where was Hiko? He must be frightened to death!
Yet I saw him stand 10 feet away. His face was calm.
He stepped forward and yelled ::LING:: Thunder came crashing down, mixed with my thunder magic, and hurled itself upon the enemy.
Blinding light expanded and Sakura covered her eyes.
A few seconds later, she opened them, hearing nothing, and feeling something warm press it self against her whole body. The sky had yet again cleared and the sun was out again. Its rays even brighter than before.
I turned to Hiko and looked at him.
'He is actually handsome'
I mentally smacked myself and a frown formed on my face.
* Hiko POV *
I saw her frown.
I gazed at her for a moment before walking towards Sakura.
Her emerald eyes widened as she began taking steps backwards, away from me.
I put my hands up.
"No need to flee your highness,"
Her eyes bugged out.
", I have no intentions to hurt you."
Her eyes immediately looked more trusting at me.
I groaned inwardly. She was too innocent still. She could be tricked easily.
I grabbed her hand and started running.
"We need to get off the mountain" I explained to her. She nodded; we tore through the last slope and entered... my home village.
^^^^^^^^^^ A young man appeared behind a tree once the two had left. His eyes were confused and amazed. He knew the Kinomotos possessed magic, but it was stronger than he imagined. And that man, the one the princess called "Hiko". Xiao Lang had searched through him memory for an inkling of who this man could be.
Something about him unnerved Xiao Lang.
He began running in the direction they had went, but in a slower pace.
^^^^^^^^^^
* Hiko POV *
We had entered my home. Sakura, exhausted, had fallen onto the bed on the side. I entered the kitchen, and got water from the well, on the side. I approached her and handed her a mug.
I sat down next to her, and said "I will tell you about the legend."
Sakura looked at me confused.
I started speaking again.
"It is a legend, as well as a prophet. Back then, when Clow Reed was still alive and the most powerful magician in the world, he created the Clow cards, which you, the clow mistress now possess."
Sakura nodded.
"However," I said," This was not the only form of magic he made. The Clow Cards are powers put into cards, to seal them, for they have minds of their own. When they were made, he realized they were too dangerous, so he sealed them, and thus you have the Clow Cards.
However, one of the other magic things he made was, the Zi. In manderin, Zi, means words. With these words, you only need to say them, and instantly it will happen. You, have already said the word for disappear, xiao shi. It can teleport you, for a certain distance.
It was made so that it would be more efficient. More efficient than the Clow cards. It is faster, and more powerful. This was the height of Clow Reeds magic. He created the Zi, and after wards, it drained his magic so much, he was rendered useless. He knew this would happen. He could see the future. In the world, balance is everything. If something comes in, something must go out. The Zi came to existence; Clow Reeds life was the price to pay. He became ill and 3 days later, he died.
Before he died though, he made a prediction. No it was not a prediction. It was a prophet, for he looked into the future. He said those who wished for the balance of powers would control these words. If there is good, there must be evil. Those whose fates were bound to intertwine each other would control the words, and together, they would save mankind. "
I took a breath.
Sakura looked wondrously at me and asked, "Who are those two?"
I fell off the bed. She pulled me back up.
"Well... since you can use them, obviously one of them is you!"
Sakura looked confused.
"Then you must be the other one for you can use the words too!" she said logically.
I shook my head. "That my dear is where you are wrong. The two that can use them, and PROTECT the world and SAVE them, are the zi users. They aren't from the zhao clan though, the clan that Clow Reed entrusted the words too. Some of us have learned to master them with great difficulty, such as myself. I have been sent to find the Zi users, and to train them to use the Zi."
"So you meeting me at the bar wasn't coincidence." Sakura said slowly.
"Im sorry, when I found you, I thought making it an accident of bumping into you the best. I needed to see if you were really she, if you were really capable of the Zi words. That night when pr- I mean, the soldier came after us, you said one of the words without ever being taught it. That's when I figured out truly you were one of the Zi users."
^^^^^^^^^ * Xiao Lang POV *
I heard everything that man had said. So he was from the Zhao clan. The Zhao clan was powerful as well, almost as powerful as the Li's. Once, the two had been friends. Because of a man from each clan had fought over Aleya, a beautiful woman from a village, one of the Li men were killed, and the clans had clashed and now, were not on speaking terms. They acknowledged each other, but had no friendly feelings. I felt anger building up inside of me, cursing that man- Hiko – for being so close to the princess...
My eyes widened. Did I just detect a bit of jealousy...?
'NO WAY' I thought grimly, all princesses were stuck up and complete airheads. This one might be the card mistress, but she was surely no different. I had to MARRY her too.
A Hand touched my shoulder.
Thinking it a villager, I tried to push the hand off. It was strangely icy and I looked around at it. It was a man, made of ice! And that was the last thing I saw, before my vision clouded and my whole body...covered with ice.
^^^^^^^^^^
* Sakura POV *
I felt a chill, and a strangely chilly aura. It was strong. I got off the bed. Hiko had just explained Clow's prophecy to me, and we both ran outside. It was cold, compared to just an hour ago, when it had been warm.
I gasped.
The soldier that had been following us, was frozen solid, a thick layer of ice around him. He was kneeling, his head turned around, a mild surprise on him face.
Hiko, who was next to me, snorted. "Weakling..."
I gazed surprised at him, but at once, launched myself at the iceman that was next to the soldier. I took out my staff.
"I call upon the key of Clow, RELEASE!"
"FIREY!"
My clow card pelted the iceman with flames. It was useless though. Every time a bit was melted away, it grew right back. I needed something big, so it could get rid of the whole thing at once, or else it would continue to re-grow.
"THAT WONT WORK!" Hiko yelled, "YOU NEED THE ZI WORDS!"
I used jump to avoid the shards of ice that were being pelted at me.
"HOW IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSE TO DO THAT?!"
I ran. I looked back at Hiko frantically. In the pause, the iceman flung a shard. I tried to avoid it, but it cut my cheek slightly. Blood started dripping down.
"Zi words are suppose to be learned yourself. I am only here to tell you about the legend and prophecy. All I can say is, the words come from your heart, use your emotions to feed it!" Hiko yelled.
I knew he could have destroyed the iceman with his Zi words, but he was trying to teach me!
'Use my emotions to feed it.'
I felt warmth in my heart. My mouth began to form a word....
::HUO::
Fire burst from my hand, and engulfed the iceman. It screamed an unnatural scream, and melted. The heat had reached the soldier too, and the ice around him melted too.
The soldier sputtered, and glared at Hiko.
"Ni zai zhe li gai she me!"
"ni bu yao guan." Hiko said calmly.
I didn't understand a word.
Hiko said loudly," Your guard is terrible, I expected more from a Li."
'Li...?'
My face turned nasty, "Is your name Li Xiao Lang?"
He turned and looked at me. His messy brown hair blew to and fro, and his intense amber eyes looked straight into mine.
"That's right..." He said slowly.
I started to stomp away. I felt him grab my hand.
"Wait"
I slipped. The place where the iceman just was, was still wet. I fell down...on top of Li. I struggled to get up, as he did too. Our faces were too close for comfort to each other. I tried to get up again, and fell again, this time, our lips crashed into each other. I felt dizzy. Slowly, I felt his kissing me. My eyes bugged. I was frozen solid this time instead of him.
I yelped, and jumped up. Staring at Li.
Hiko came and stood next to me, he put his hand on my shoulder and glared at Li.
"What did you do that for?" I nearly spat at him. He was the man I was suppose to be wed to. He was the end of my freedom!
Hiko slowly put one arm around my waist. I was so mad, I didn't notice.
Li looked at me with a face of mixed emotions. He turned and started walking away.
I gave Hiko a strange look. I had finally noticed one arm was around my waist and the other holding my shoulder.
"What are yo-"
I was cut off when I felt his lips on mine. His lips massaged mine, and I didn't respond to it either, though I was very surprised, and felt myself liking it, just like Li's....
'WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!?!?!?'
^^^^^^^^^^
* Xiao Lang POV *
I walked away from Sakura, who was being held my Hiko. I knew Hiko liked her, though he didn't show it at all. It was the way he looked at her, that made me realize. But why was I jealous then? Why did I kiss her even though I was against the marriage? I saw her emerald eyes before me.
I brushed my hand through my unruly hair.
'Do I love the clow mistress?'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Holy shit! This was really long. Maybe cuz I was really sad about Elissa, so I kept writing and writing... for her. Even people that didn't know her, and people who barely know her, went to see her, before she died. She was loved by everyone.
I love you elissa.