Snow.
Chapter 3: Ying Fa and Xi Lang: Matchmakers extraordinaire.
T: It is true that the last chapter lagged slightly, unfortunately when you are setting the scene conversation and action must on occasion fall to the wayside. Yet things take a turn for the better here hopefully. One additional warning, I like the idea of Eriol and Mr. Kinimoto being two halves of one whole and all the baggage that plot carries (Eriol being older than he looks, the Kaho love story and Mr. K being able to see his wife) so much that I've put it in even though its Manga rather than anime. Forgive me if it aggravates or confuses you in any manner.
Anyway clamp own ccs and almost all the money I've earned since I discovered them!
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By the sparkly edge to Tomoyo's eyes and the briskness of her 'oh ho ho ho,' the plan was going without a hitch.
Yet Sakura could not but help feel that it was wrong to interfere in this manner with her brother's love life.
"What's wrong Kiddo?" Kero enquired as he floated up to eye level.
"If you know that two people care for one another very much, but know also that they are both too shy to admit anything, do you give them a helping hand?" She enquired.
She could see the puzzled look on Kero's face and sighed to herself, she would be one of the first to admit that she was slightly carefree when it came to certain matters, yet even she had seen eventually the feelings between her brother and his best friend.
"Your loveliness has never been greater! Such concern for the welfare of those you love deserves to be caught on film." Tomoyo remarked as she proceeded to tape Sakura's 'loveliness'.
Tomoyo's exuberance was a momentary distraction and once the camera had again been placed to one side Sakura had no more doubts in her minds.
She would do it! After all her brother had given up so much to ensure she was safe and protected, thus he deserved happiness.
As for Yukito…he would always hold a place in her heart and thus she would do anything to assure his happiness.
He had found hers after all.
Tomoyo caught onto some sign that she had set her determination and raising the camera again into her hands stated.
"This shall be a moment of triumph for you, Sakura and thus deserves a lovely outfit." This explained the bag at Tomoyo's side and embarrassed as usual by the exuberance her friend was showing, Sakura proceeded to change into the rather tame mass of bows and lace.
Their chosen venue for the day was a large shopping complex to which Touya was being lured under the premise of purchasing a birthday present for Sakura.
Once she had her subjects in sight she was given an unexpected, though pleasant, surprise in the form of her boyfriend.
Apparently Tomoyo had forewarned him that Sakura might need the mental support and thus he had taken the offer of spending more time with his beloved.
"That and it means I can meddle in the life of my dear 'Brother-in-law'"
Sakura smiled at the nickname and remarked,
"You are both as bad as one another." Before she caught him up in a kiss.
"So what's the plan of action for today?"
"I'm taking a leaf out of Eriol's book."
"You're going to trap them in a fairy tale?"
"No, no. I'm going to trap them in a lift."
"Ah" Syaoran replied, a wistful smile coming to his lips. "It is a rather deviously evil plan is it not, Ying Fa?"
"Yes, but it worked for us and so it can't but work for them." She replied.
The only problem now was how to get them alone in the lift on such a busy day.
Sleep would ensure that they weren't so troubled, yet Sleep would affect Touya also and thus mitigate the advantage it gave.
Perhaps a distraction was in order yet what?
Maybe Illusion held the key…
Diving into the nearest available cover Sakura grabbed for her wand and commanded,
"Illusion, form a distraction for the crowds."
The card blossomed into life and formed an intriguing display at the centre of the complex.
The crowds began to flock towards it, each member finding something intriguing in the display to catch their imagination.
Such an intrigue did it pose that Touya too was caught into its lure.
Thankfully Yukito had been pre-warned about the possibility of such a thing and did his best to distract his friend.
"To-ya, there is a candy store the next level up that Sakura has told me so much about.
"Could we go now while all the good candy is still there?" He enquired, blinking and tilting his head in the best blindingly cute naive act Touya had ever seen.
Though he was aware enough of the situation to realise that Sakura was behind the display, he could not refuse the plea in Yuki's eyes and with a nod of his companion into the lift.
Seeing her opportunity, Sakura tensed her shoulders and with careful thought reached for a card and commanded,
"Mist cease the mechanism in the lift so that it stops between floors." Then as an after thought "Be careful not to hurt my brother, or Yukito."
"How do we know if it is working?"
"Perhaps I can help in that regard." The pair turned at the sound of that voice and Sakura began to smile brightly.
"Eriol."
He was older now in appearance, the effects of his spell having begun to wear off.
"You look positively radiant, Sakura." He remarked as he bent to kiss her hand.
Obviously he was still the same impish Eriol who had so irked Syaoran the last he was in Japan and indeed was again troubling said descendent if the interesting shade of purple Li had gone was any judge.
"Why are you here?"
"Because I taught Yue well in my previous life and thus he informed me both of the difficulties his 'other self' was experiencing and of your plan to aid him.
"It was Tomoyo's idea and I do not see why you have to be a part of it.
"For situations much like this, Li, where Sakura's limited magical gift is perhaps not quite yet up to standard.
"But we are wondering rather away from things are we not?" With a gesture of his hands a translucent image of this inside of the elevator appeared.
Touya was lent against the doors a look of restrained anger clear upon his face.
Yukito sat upon the floor and was currently saying something.
"No sound, oh great magician?" Syaoran enquired.
"Something quickly fixed." Sakura remarked a she produced yet another card and commanded,
"Voice project the words of those whose image we see."
"…Bad things that happen are Sakura's fault, To-ya." Yukito concluded.
The other sighed and came to sit at Yukito's side.
"But this is, Yuki. I can tell."
"No matter what the cause we'll have to wait for someone to fix this thing."
"Then perhaps you might answer a few questions while we are waiting and I mean you, Yuki, not Yue."
To-ya…"
"No, I shan't be falling for that for a while to come,
"What the heck is going on, Yuki?"
It was an opening and as the three conspirators grouped closer to the image in hopes of a better view of the confession a figure flitted by them.
"To-ya, we may well be here for a very long time and as what I have to say may not be received in the best of lights I think it best to wait."
"Yuki." It was softer than usual and indeed Touya's eyes had softened also.
This was it then, the moment; for both men were closing together inch by inch and a conclusion to this whole thing seemed all but inevitable.
Fate had other ideas though, for but a breath away the lift began to move again, yet even this did not seem a deterrent for the long awaited kiss.
No, what put an end to all thoughts of romance for the moment at least was a screech of,
"TOUYA, DARLING, YOU'LL BE SAFE SOON."
As one both the occupants of the lift and those watching their activities enquired,
"Akizuki!" In varying forms of shock and barely concealed anger.
"Oh my." Eriol remarked as a smile spread onto his face.
This was going to be very amusing indeed.
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T: Mwhahaha! Probably but one more chapter left and that'll be a while as I'm still working on it.
RR