The Second Generation 7
Sh…Shinji…h…here. I'm…uh…kinda nervous, so…bear with…me. I was introduced last time, when M…Me…Meeko and her brother went to school. My dad, Yukito, felt the cards get scattered and so came back to his hometown and see if Sakura and Syaoran knew anything about it. At school, I came in as an exchange student, and what luck! They sat me behind Me…Me…Meeko! Something about her makes me nervous. Anyway, M…Me…she and I along with Akiko and Makoto were walking home when the Windy Card attacked. It's supposed to be a gentle card, which makes me wonder why it attacked so violently. Dad thinks it's because someone influenced it. Well, who ever influenced it better look out, because it almost got M…Meek…My friend killed!!! I saved her, but in the process let out my deepest secret. I had inherited my father's wings and so used them to fly up and save…her. When I say "her" you know who I mean. I want to tell her, but I'm nervous. The next day…gets even worst. So read on…
Shinji took his seat behind Meeko and tried his best not to blush. Meeko smiled at him, then turned and started taking notes on the lesson. Shinji knew she was still upset over yesterday. Her brother had filled her in on the details of her rescue and it didn't suit well with her. Shinji would have to fix that. He hated to see her sad, even though she was trying her best to hide it. He wrote down the notes, but on the side, on another piece of paper, he wrote a note to Meeko and passed it to her.
Makoto frowned as he saw the note passed. He frowned. What's it about? He asked his sister.
She frowned at the note. He wants to meet me this afternoon, after school, to talk.
Makoto nodded. Maybe he wants to apologize. Makoto sure hoped so. Because as much as Shinji was their friend, if he hurt Meeko in any way, he'd find himself at the sharp end of Makoto's sword. Makoto was very protective of his sister. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her. But he would give them the time they needed.
After school, the four friends walked, Meeko, Makoto, Shinji and Akiko, home all in silence. Makoto suddenly grabbed Akiko's hand and stopped her. He looked forward at his sister, who was walking next to Shinji, her head down. "We're…uh…we're going to stop by the toy store to pick up some things…you guys go on without us."
Meeko turned, as well as Shinji and frowned. Akiko looked at Makoto. "We are?" Makoto squeezed her hand. "Oh! We are. See ya!" Then they turned down a different path and started off.
Meeko played with her foot in the dirt, not knowing what to say. Shinji pointed to the park. "Can we go talk?"
She nodded, but did not raise her head. They went over to the park and stood in a small clearing. They were silent for the first few minutes.
Little did they know, but someone was watching them from afar. It was the woman from the night before!! She was back, and she didn't like the children being so close to the card she was trying to capture. She felt the card nearby and came to get it.
Now it was close to them, she would just have to make sure they put up a good fight, for she knew the key to making them hostile. Where the card was gentle, she could make it ruthless. She did it with Windy, and she would do it with this card.
Meeko stood on the soft green grass, unsure of what to do. Shinji twiddled his fingers. When he had asked Meeko to come here, he thought the surroundings would calm his nerves. The air was calm and a soft breeze blew through Meeko's long hair. She looked beautiful standing there with the light dancing across her amber locks. Shinji shook his head. He would have to tell her. He couldn't keep it a secret anymore.
"Me…Meeko…" He started.
She turned to him and gazed at him wither dark amber eyes. This cut Shinji off from what he was going to say. Why did she have to inherit her father's deadly eyes? Shinji thought.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked. Shinji looked at her, and saw the pain she held within her soul…through her eyes he could see sadness and mistrust.
He looked down, unable to meet her gaze any longer. "I was told I couldn't. I wasn't to let anyone know about them…" Meaning the wings. "Father said I couldn't let anyone know until the right time comes…" He told her.
She frowned, not understanding what he was saying. "And the right time would be when I'm hurtling through the sky, threatening to hit the ground at any moment?" She asked coldly.
Shinji finally looked up and met her stare. "No, it wasn't that. Too see you hurt…I just couldn't bear it. I had to save you. Even if father didn't approve." He replied honestly.
Meeko's eyes went round in surprise. Here was her best friend, saying he would give up his greatest secret, just to see that she was safe. She smiled. "You could've said something. You can trust us."
Shinji opened his mouth in shock. "No, I know that, I trust you guys with my life, I…"
Meeko giggled. "I'm not sure if I would even trust my life to Makoto." She teased.
He smiled and laughed with her. "You know what I mean."
She nodded, but then stopped. Shinji looked around. They both sensed it…a Clow Card was nearby.
Meeko took out her key and acted fast. "Key of Clow, bestowed by right. Surrender the wand, surrender the light. Release!" Her key became a staff, and she gasped it, getting ready for the coming confrontation.
Shinji took out his weapon too. It was a small staff, which he turned into a large staff, about a foot taller than he was, chanting an ancient language. Meeko was again surprised, but pushed the thoughts away and stretched out her senses. "It's around here somewhere."
Shinji and Meeko went back to back. They would have to hold out until Makoto got to them, for he too surely felt the disturbance.
The attack came swift and painful. Shinji was knocked from the side, and thrown into the trunk of a tree. He fell to the floor a bit dazed.
"Shinji-kun!" Meeko ran to him and, but hit a barrier. Suddenly, a purple-hued shield, formed around Meeko. She was trapped on all sides, so she tried to hit the shield with her staff…no good.
"Meeko!" Shinji cried and used his staff to get to his feet, his head spinning in pain. He stumbled over to Meeko, heavily leaning on his staff. "Meeko." He whispered as he placed a hand on hers, yet never touching it.
"It's the Shield Card. Another gentle card…supposedly." He said. Why were the cards acting like this? He didn't get it. He hit the shield many times, but still couldn't get in.
Meeko looked sadly at Shinji, then her eyes went wide. She motioned to her throat, and started screaming, but Shinji couldn't hear any of it. Then he saw what she was explained. Her throat…she couldn't breathe. She was running out of air.
Horror immediately occupied Shinji's expression, and he made more attempts to get Meeko out. No good. He tried to calm himself and focus on the problem. He had to get through the shield…but nothing was strong enough.
"Shinji! Meeko!!" Makoto's voice was heard, and Shinji turned to see Makoto and Akiko running towards them.
Makoto looked at the situation and looked to Shinji for an explanation. "The Shield Card!" Shinji said, and Makoto got the message.
He took out his key. "Upon this key, I place a spell. Show me your powers, within the sword do dwell." The key became a sword and Makoto held it in both hands. Meeko moved to the farthest side of the shield, though it was only about three feet wide. Makoto struck the shield, with little luck.
"We need help!" Shinji said. They needed the adults, but they were too far away to help.
"I got it!" Akiko exclaimed and took out a cell phone. She dialed the number and handed the phone to Makoto. He held it and looked desperately at his sister. Finally after three rings someone answered. "Hello?"
"Dad! It's me Makoto!"
"Makoto? What's wrong?"
"A Clow Card's got Meeko!"
"Where are you?"
"At the park!"
"We're on our way!" Then Syaoran hung up and Makoto shoved the phone back at Akiko. "They're coming." He told everyone.
"We need something strong enough to break it. But what?" Shinji thought out loud.
Just then Syaoran and Yukito came running towards them. "Meeko!" Syaoran exclaimed and took out his sword. He struck the shield, but had about as much luck as Shinji and Makoto.
"Where's mom?" Makoto asked.
"She went with Nakuru out to the city to do shopping. I called them, and they're on their way."
"It's the Shield Card." Yue said, not transformed.
Shinji nodded. "But how do we break it! She's running out of air!"
"We need the Sword Card." Syaoran said.
"But where do we find it?" Makoto asked.
"We have to look in any stores that would carry broaches." Syaoran explained. "It should be in one of them."
Shinji nodded. Yue stepped forward. "Syaoran and I will check out the West part of town. You and Makoto take the East side." Both children nodded.
"What about me? I want to help to." Akiko said.
Syaoran smiled and kneeled down. "I need you to watch Meeko. Guard her." He said.
Akiko nodded and stood next to Meeko, on the outside of the shield. "No one will get her…I promise."
Syaoran nodded. "Let's move."
Makoto and Shinji took off to the left, and Syaoran and Yukito took off to the right. Meeko looked out to her brother and Shinji leaving. "Please save me, Shinji." She whispered, but no one could hear her.