The Second Generation 12
I haven't done a chapter yet, so it's my turn. It's me Sakura. Last time, the day went by pretty relaxed. Meeko was unsure of what she should do for Shinji, since he was weak. It was love I knew that, demo I don't think she did. I told about a time when Syaoran was ill and how I went to his house to check up on him. She brought him some honey milk, and quickly left out of embarrassment. When she got home though, Shinji appeared at the door a little later, bearing a bouquet of roses. I thought I was cute and remembered how Syaoran had given me a single Sakura blossom as a thank you. After that, he started going out and became a couple. I just hope my daughter discovers her feelings and tells Shinji before something happens.
Akiko sat in her room, organizing her footage, and making her own first outfits, when Eriol came in. Things were still tense between them, so it was of no surprise to Eriol, that when he entered his daughter's bedroom, she looked up at him, paid him no attention, and went back to sewing.
Eriol sighed and walked into the room. "Akiko…"
"Why didn't you help me?" She asked coldly, meeting his calm blue stare with an ice-cold stare of her own.
Eriol looked down at the ground. "I can't interfere. You kids have to do this on your own." He tried to explain his situation.
"So if Meeko and Makoto and Shinji hadn't been there or unable to get me out, you wouldn't have lifted a finger to help me?"
Eriol closed his eyes, not wanted to answer, even though Akiko somehow already knew the answer. Akiko growled. "And you say you love me."
Eriol frowned. "Of course I do, but you have to over come this on your own." He sat next to her. He saw her start to sob, and wrapped an arm around her. "Hey, hey it's okay."
Akiko shook her head, burying her head in his chest. "It won't be okay. I can't do it without you…you or mommy. I need help." She sobbed again, grabbing a part of Eriol's shirt.
Eriol pulled away and took out something. "I think this will be able to help you." He handed it to her.
Akiko frowned and looked at what he had given her. It was a key, with a small paddle on the end. On the paddle was the symbol of the sun. She gasped. "What is this?"
"I made you a staff of your own. You call it forth and you can fight, as well as call out your cards." Eriol explained. It had taken a lot of energy, but had made a duplicate of the key he himself still wore around his neck. He smiled. "It will help you, but only if you believe in its powers and your own."
Akiko smiled and hugged her father. "I do, and I will, you can count on me."
Eriol chuckled. "I know I can, but I have to be alive to see it, and your choking me." Akiko smiled sheepishly and let her father go. Eriol massaged his throat. "You get that strength from your mother." Akiko blushed.
Eriol looked at the clock on her dresser. "You better hurry, or you're going to be late."
Akiko saw the time and gasped. "Gotta go!" She grabbed her backpack, already dressed in her uniform, and sped out of her room, and out of the mansion.
At school, Makoto and Meeko were already there. They took their seats, but were surprised to see their substitute teacher not there yet. She was always there before everyone. Meeko frowned. Something's not right here.
Makoto nodded. I sense something.
The door slide open and Shinji came through. He smiled at Meeko, making her blush. He took his seat and Meeko turned to face him. She whispered. "Do you sense anything?"
Shinji looked solemnly at her and nodded. Meeko nodded in return. "Keep your senses open." She whispered again, before turning back towards the front.
Akiko arrived. "Ohayo minna!" She greeted.
Meeko smiled. "Ohayo gozaimas!" Makoto and Shinji also said hi. Akiko took her seat behind Makoto. She always loved her spot. Even though they were cousins, though distant, she loved Makoto…always so strong and gentle at the same time. (Inherited from Syaoran) She would never tell him though for fear that he didn't feel the same way. So she stayed quiet and watched Meeko and Shinji grow closer, wishing she and Makoto were like that. (Okay everyone happy? I'm getting M+A together like dozens of you requested.)
Just then, all four Cardcaptor stiffened as they felt something. The door slide open, but it wasn't their substitute teacher that came through, but their real teacher. Makoto's mouth fell open. I thought I got rid of her!
Meeko glared at him. Makoto hush!
The teacher came in went to the front of class. "Class, I have fully recovered and have returned." She took one glance at Makoto and smiled. Makoto glared at her. Why do I feel something from her?
I feel it too. Weird.
Shinji frowned at the situation. He didn't know the teacher they had wasn't the real one, but why did this one make him feel so uneasy? There was something about her that didn't seem right.
The teacher shuffled her papers and looked up at the class. "We have a new exchange student." Hearing this the cardcaptors exchanged glances. This was not good. "Come in please."
Through the door, came a girl, dressed in the school uniform. She had bright blue hair, with amazing green eyes. She came in with a sad smile, her gaze stopping on the cardcaptors, making them fidget with uneasiness. She went to the front of the class as Madoushi sensei, the teacher, wrote her name up on the board.
"Class, this is Madoushi Hitori." She introduced the girl, but the girl flinched as she said her name, like it was something that pained her.
Makoto gasped though. If her last name is…
Then she is Madoushi's daughter. Meeko finished for him.
Hitori, in Japanese, means alone… (I think, don't quote me on that). Hitori looked at Meeko and Makoto sadly, like she'd done something wrong. Meeko frowned. How can one girl, give off such sad emotions so strongly?
Makoto glared at the teacher, as she sat Hitori to Makoto's other side. Hitori refused to look up, not meeting Makoto's stare.
"You will respect her like any other classmate." Madoushi sensei said, looking at Makoto the whole time.
Akiko watched as Makoto went back to looking at Hitori, feeling a bit jealous. She wanted him to look at her like that. She sighed and looked at Meeko, who met her stare with worry. Meeko knew of Akiko's feelings for her brother, just like Makoto knew about her feelings for Shinji, and so understood her worry.
She knew Makoto liked Akiko back, but never told her. She would have to fix that, with some help from Shinji of course. She smiled evilly as a plan came to her head. She started writing a note and passed it behind her to Shinji. Shinji read it and smiled a reply:
Good plan. I'm in.
Meeko smiled and started to get through the details of her plan. Operation A+M was about to start. This week there was a school fair outside, to raise money for the annual camping trip at the end of the year. People would sell all kinds of things, giving the money to the school. There were tons of different foods that would be up for sale, and Meeko knew for a fact, Akiko was a great cook, and would get her to bake a cake. Not just any cake, demo…double chocolate cake…Makoto's favorite. (Taking after his father more and more, ne?)
The rest of the plan was already set in Meeko's mind. She just hoped Shinji would do his part later…
At lunch, Meeko sat with Makoto, Akiko, and Shinji. They sat underneath the same tree everyday. Meeko got up and gave Shinji a wink. "Uh, Akiko can you come with me?"
Akiko frowned. "Where?"
"To the bathroom." Meeko lied.
"You can't go by yourself?" Akiko replied, not really wanted to leave Makoto's side.
Meeko rolled her eyes and dragged Akiko to her feet. "Come on!" Akiko was dragged from the group, leaving Shinji to talk to Makoto.
"Are you going to enter the contest?" Shinji asked.
Makoto frowned. "What contest?"
Shinji chuckled at Makoto's naivety. (Also a Syaoran trait. Like father, like son, ne?) "The kissing contest. The winner of mile race, gets to kiss the winner from the Baking Competition."
Makoto was still lost. "Why would I want to?"
Shinji wasn't going to win this unless he went to extreme measures. "I dare you." He said. "I double dog dare you to enter that race."
Makoto's eyes widened. "You're on!" He shook Shinji's hand. He just hoped Meeko had such good of luck.
In the bathroom, Meeko washed her hands, and turned to Akiko. "So, what are you going to make for the baking competition?" She asked.
Akiko gasped. "I wasn't planning on entering."
Meeko's mouth fell to the floor in mock shock. "Nani? Doshte? (Why) You'd win in no time. You're the cook on campus."
Akiko blushes at the compliment. "Do you really think I'd win?"
Meeko nodded and smile. "Definitely."
Akiko smiled. "Okay! What should I make?"
Meeko pretended to think. "How 'bout a chocolate cake? Or a double chocolate cake?"
Akiko nodded. "It's already made." She winked and they left the bathroom giggling.
On the way home, Shinji took Makoto to Penguin's Park to go practice for the race, while Meeko and Akiko went to Akiko's house to make the cake.
Meeko and Akiko ran into the kitchen, taking out the ingredients that they would need. They worked all afternoon, making at cake, the icing, and decorations. When it was done, Akiko smiled and cut a piece. Both girls decided to make a practice one first, to make sure that the final one was perfect, without any glitches.
Akiko and Meeko took a bite…and wrinkled their noses. "What happened?" Akiko asked.
Meeko shrugged and put the piece down on the counter. "Something isn't right here." Just then she sensed it…A Clow Card.
Akiko sensed it too and got out the key her father had given her. Meeko gasped. "Where'd you get that?"
Akiko held it up. "Dad gave it to me. He said it'd help me." She held it out in her palm. "Key of Clow, your powers sealed tight. Lend me the power, lend me your might. Release!" (Corny…I know…I apologize now) The key turned into the large staff with the symbol of the sun on the end of it.
Meeko took out her key. "Key of Clow bestowed by right. Surrender the wand, surrender the light. Release!" Meeko's staff appeared before her, she clasped it and went back to back with Akiko. "It's around here somewhere."
Akiko nodded, stretching out her senses, trying to find it. "What card is it?"
"The Sweet." Meeko replied, scanning the room for the little card with small wings and a fluffy dress. She spotted it, right under the stove. "There!"
Akiko spun around and tried to hit it with her staff. She was mad. This Clow Card was going to ruin her cake! One she worked very hard on! She threw the staff forward, red fireballs coming out of it. One hit poor little sweet and she fell the ground.
Meeko pulled up her staff. "Return to the shape you were meant to be! Sweet!" Sweet turned back into a card, and it floated over to Akiko.
Meeko was shocked. "You didn't have to be so aggressive. It was a gentle card."
Akiko looked at her, her blue gaze making Meeko shrink back. "It didn't have to do what it did. Now I have to start all over."
Meeko nodded, and looked out of the window. "It's late…I'd better go. Good luck." Then she left.
Akiko sighed, looking at the Sweet. She hadn't meant to be mean, but something inside her broke. What was she becoming? A monster? She'd have to apologize to Meeko, when they saw each other again.
At the park, Shinji and Makoto were running around Penguin Park, training Makoto so he could win the race. Soon though, a boy from their school appeared. His name was Liwen, a very stuck up boy at school. "Is that the best you got?"
Makoto growled. "You wanna go up against me? Let's go! You and me!"
Liwen smirked. "You're gonna be sorry."
Shinji shook his head at the petty argument. Makoto and Liwen lined up and made ready to run. Shinji was about to turn his back on the race, when he sensed a Clow Card. He turned to Makoto, but saw he was only determined to show he was better. With his mind's eyes, Shinji saw Liwen's body start to glow green.
Shinji's eyes went wide… The Dash Card! He thought. The race started and Liwen quickly took the lead. Makoto wouldn't give up though; he went as fast as he could, trying to catch up to Liwen. Shinji watch them disappear around the bend, and took out his staff. He looked around trying to sense for the Dash Card.
It took him a while, but he found it hiding in the bushes, tied up, and trying to get free. Shinji stepped forward and slowly picked up Dash. It was shaking with fear. Shinji narrowed his eyes. Liwen did this. He probably found the animal and saw he could run faster with it in his possession. So he kept it unwillingly as a pet.
He saw Liwen coming around the corner, Makoto behind him. Liwen stopped as he past Shinji, seeing his prize in Shinji's arms. "You give that back." He said, not even out of breath.
Shinji held Dash closer. "What did you do to it?"
Liwen started to get mad. "That's none of your business. Now hand it over."
Makoto came and saw what was happening. He gasped, and Shinji nodded, confirming his silent question. "That's going to far Liwen!"
Liwen growled at Makoto and socked him in the stomach. "I don't need to hear that from a little kid like you!"
Makoto coughed, but slowly got up and held his stomach. "You can't treat any animals like that…they have feelings too."
Dash perked up at this, looking at the cardcaptor not as its enemy, but as its protector. Makoto didn't see it, but Shinji did. Dash was trying to help Makoto, giving him the speed he needed.
Liwen swung again, this time, with Dash's speed; Makoto dodged the blow, sending a quick jab to Liwen's side. Liwen grabbed his side, but tried to lash out at Makoto with his foot. Makoto saw it coming and caught it, twisting it, sending the unruly kid to the floor.
Liwen looked up in shock at how fast Makoto was, and got up only to run away, leaving Dash in Shinji's arms. Makoto turned to Dash and petted it. It purred and struggled out of the bonds. Makoto gently took Dash out of Shinji's arms and untied the ropes. Dash jumped out of Makoto's arms, and turned to it, waiting for something.
Makoto frowned, not understanding, but Shinji smiled. "He's letting you seal him."
Makoto gasped and looked at Dash. The little creature lowered his head in submission as Shinji got out his staff. "To thy true form! Dash Card!"
Dash turned into a card and floated over to Makoto. Makoto looked at it in wonder. I wonder if the girls had as much fun as we did…
In the darkness of the surrounding foliage, a pair of green eyes watched the whole situation unfold. She smiled as she saw the male cardcaptors capture Dash. They had shown teamwork when battling the combined Clow Cards the other night, put together by her mother. They now showed compassion, aiding a Clow Card, and not being merciless. The figure smiled. Perhaps her mother wouldn't win the fight after all.