HI! I'm back again...sorry for taking so long, hehe, i'm a very bad procrastinator. But, YAY!!! Thank you soo much for all your reviews...sniff, i think i'm going to cry. I love them soo much! lol, okay, dramatic person on the loose.
Oh! I have new thank yous to give out. So here goes
Thank you to vale-aqua andLayla. Man, you guys are awesome! Thanks for your reviews and contagious spirit. lol, i'll be sure to keep updating as fast as possible. -
Chapter 7-Worries
Rain poured down upon the streets of England as two winged figures floated in quiet conversation.
"Never have I seen Master Eriol so vulnerable." Spinel whispered in an awed sort of way. His facial expression was slightly downfallen at the pain his master was obviously in.
"Yes, but Tomoyo seems to have the ability to soothe that for him. He was never so close with Kaho. They were more like correspondents in an elaborate scheme, and shared a friendly bond. That's probably why he gave her his blessing to get married to that foreigner so readily. But it doesn't seem as if he will let go of Tomoyo so easily." The serious, yet fond tone in Ruby Moon's voice was a far cry from her usual attitude. Ruby's face suddenly broke into a smile as the thought of being able to dress up Tomoyo came into her mind, making her look more like her usual self. So leaving the two to get their rest, they exited the room.
It wasn't 'till the entire day had passed that Eriol woke up. (A/N: I know I talk about them waking up, a lot, but they sleep quite a bit of times too. Gomen-sorry-if it gets trite.) The rain was coming down as hard as ever and the lightning flashes made its pelting nature even more distinguished. He felt the assuring warmth of Tomoyo's body and sighed in contentment. Thunder boomed and the girl buried her head deeper into his shirt, unconsciously. His stomach jolted at the endearing quality of it. There had been no bad dreams for him, as all were warded off by Tomoyo's purple aura. His mind calmed though his heart beat faster as he breathed in her soft scent of plum.
'I wish life could always be this way.' he thought
"Tomoyo." He whispered, his low voice was tinted with content. Eriol was supported by, a mound of soft pillows as Tomoyo was cushioned on top of him. Her head rested beneath his as his arms were placed around her, hugging her tight. The blanket covered their bodies in light of the cool atmosphere, and the rain had let up to a rhythmic patter.
Yet it could not last, for Kuroikumo was still out their bidding his time and judging by how fast he had blown all of them away, it was not going to be an easy fight. There was actually a good chance that they might lose their life in the battle. Eriol's face suddenly turned pale.
'What if Tomoyo was killed?' Eriol thought. His hands felt clammy at the horror of such a thought. Instinctively Tomoyo hugged him tighter. Her cold hand came around his neck as he shivered at the feeling. 'No! He would not let her die. He himself would die before she did.' It was here that Eriol finally realized, 'I…I love her.' But the joy of his small confession was ill lived as reality sunk in. 'I can't tell her yet. I won't push her into making a decision when she has so much else on her mind. And Kuroikumo is still to be defeated…demo, it hurts.' He touched her face softly before falling asleep once more.
The Next Day
Morning rose with the light of a new day as two pairs of eyes opened.
"Ohayoo (Morning)." Eriol said softly.
"Ohayoo." Tomoyo smiled and stretched. "Tabemashoo! Onaka ga sukimashita! Kinoo watashitachi wa tabemasen deshita." (A/N: means: Let's eat! I am hungry. We didn't eat yesterday.)
"Hai (Yes)!" He smiled and gave his usual probing stare. Getting up Eriol reached for his glasses and motioned toward Tomoyo.
"Ah, you finally look like the Hiiragizawa-kun, Tomoeda shoogakkoo gonensei I remember." (A/N: means: Tomoeda Elementary fifth grade student) Her face lit up at the memory. "Mou, where did you put my camera Eriol? I haven't seen it since we left Japan." He just smirked at her and walked out the door. He could hear the laughter of Tomoyo as he proceeded downstairs as she mused "Same old Hiiragizawa-kun." He smiled and entered the kitchen.
"Ruby Moon! You hapless cross-dresser, come back here. I'll make sure you cannot use your fingers for anymore evil ever again!" Spinel grumbled as he sped toward his bouncing partner.
"Suppi-chan, you don't mean that do you? Eriol-sama, tell Suppi my chocolate fudge is good. Onegai(please)? You're too boring Suppi, you're much more interesting when you've eaten some sugar." Ruby pleaded as she held out her plate of slightly burnt brownies.
A vein appeared on Spinel's head as he took a deep breath and shouted, "You ignorant twit, my name is Spinel!"
Eriol merely quirked an eyebrow and surveyed his destroyed kitchen. Just then Tomoyo appeared behind him. Spinel immediately flew to her.
"Thank goodness; a sane person. Daidouji-sama, please tell that…that…person that I don't like sweets." He pointed his tiny paw at Ruby. Ruby merely put her face right up against his paw and stuffed the fudge into his mouth. Laughing she jumped up and down shouting, "Eat some more Suppi-chan!"
Tomoyo was torn between amusement and pity. Eriol touched her shoulder and said, "Don't worry Tomoyo, they always do this, and deep down Spinel doesn't mind." She grinned and then pondered.
"Eriol, why isn't Ruby affected by sugar like Spinel Sun?" She cocked her head to the side. Eriol's throat lodged at the cute sight but masked it with a surprised look.
"Ruby doesn't seem hyper to you, Tomoyo?" She thought on this and laughed.
"You're right Eriol-kun. How silly of me. Ja (In that case), shall we clean up?" He nooded and they took up the brooms and mops and cleaned up the remains of Ruby and Spinel's mess.
Tomoyo made some miso soup and sukiyaki (A sort of noodles, vegetables, and meat dish) for them to eat. After settling down to eat, Tomoyo suddenly looked toward Eriol.
"Eriol, what happened to Sakura-chan and Li-kun?" It was true; neither of them had seen any signs of any of their crewmembers since they had landed in England. Eriol could only think of one reason they were not with the other two.
"I'm not sure Tomoyo, but I believe kuroikumo must have some part in whatever their fate is at the moment. I know he's after something."
"Yes, demo nan desu ka?" (A/N: means: but what is it?) Tomoyo asked.
"I am not sure, but he really wants it. Haven't you noticed anything unusual Tomoyo?" She shook her head no.
"Concentrate harder Daidouji-san." Spurred my the urgency in his voice she quickly nodded and complied with his demand. Closing her eyes she sent out waves of her aura. Nothing happened before a silent wind picked up and Tomoyo's warm colors were extinguished in one big explosion. Her eyes snapped open and she fell to the ground. Her eyes remained wide as sweat poured down her face. Breathing hard she tried to recover herself. Finally she looked up at Eriol.
"We're trapped." She managed to whisper. "Kuroikumo's aura annihilated my essence flare." (A/N: Essence Flair-the user must be a color mage in order to do this spell. A multi-colored aura with highly sensitive reception will span out from their body and pick up the slightest magic presence; like a bat uses echolocation to detect solid objects) "I can't get out past London's borders." She continued. A warning sign went off in Eriol's head as he picked Tomoyo off from the ground. They were completely cut off.
'What is it he could possibly want? Who is he really?'Eriol thought frantically. Nothing added up. He looked over at Tomoyo who was still trying to recover from the total deactivation of her colors.
"We'll get him Tomoyo. We can do it." He hugged her shoulders protectively, neither knowing they were being watched.
Meanwhile, somewhere far away…
"Eriol Hiiragizawa, I have no doubt that you and that color mage of yours could defeat me, but are you so sure. At the moment, I could defeat you without even breaking a sweat. Your mind is so clouded you won't even sense me. But then, what would be the fun in that?" The raspy voice of Kuroikumo resonated off the dense air that surrounded him. Dead trees lay strewn amongs the foggy mist, along the damp moss. Beyond the clearing in which he himself sat over a bubbling pit of marsh, nothing could be seen.
"I have only one weakness master mage, and my knowledge of it only makes me more deadly to you. Yet you will never see it, because you are too blind. I can hear your thoughts of apprehension. You know not what I am, and you ponder on who I really am. Yet you shouldn't dwell on such useless questions. Rest assured Hiiragizawa, I'd never give you information past my name and motive. Let hatred consume you when I reveal both to you. Come at me. Tomoyo will be mine." Swiftly he turned from the pit where he had been watching the two young sorecerors. "Nothing will stop me." His voice slowly faded away as the eternal night engulfed the marsh.
The words carried all the way to the house of Eriol Hiiragizawa himself. A chill went down both childrens' spines.
"Did you feel that Eriol?" Tomoyo whispered. He nodded in reply.
"Wherever Sakura and Li are, I hope they are okay." Tomoyo too nodded her head. Things were definitely not going good.
Tomoeda"It's been three days Li. Where are Tomoyo-chan and Eriol-kun? Shouldn't they be in Tomoeda with us?" Sakura asked, worry almost bringing tears to her eyes.
"Don't worry Sakura. Though I hate to say it, that ancestor of mine can more then take care of himself; and we can't forget that Tomoyo's powers have appeared, so she's not exactly vulnerable either." He told her matter of factly.
"I know, but I can't feel their presence. It makes me think they don't exist anymore." She was still greatly worried. Two of her best friends were missing. Who could blame her? Li couldn't stand the depression in Sakura's façade. Then all of sudden he smiled.
"Hey, Sakura-chan. We were near London when Kuroikumo struck right?" Sakura nodded for him to continue. "Maybe they washed ashore." Sakura's face lit up in realization.
"You're right Li, let's go!" He nodded as Sakura began her chant. "Oh key of the stars, with powers burning bright, reveal the staff, and shine your light. Release! Move Card, release and dispel. Move." Sakura shouted. "Take us to London England!" Sakura and Li could feel themselves being transported before they hit some kind of barrier and were forced back to Tomoeda, Japan.
"Nani!" exclaimed Sakura. "What happened, why were we forced back?" She looked over at Li who had a look of disgust on his face.
"We've been shut out. Kuso (Damn it)! Who does that bastard think he is anyway? It all makes sense. That son of a bitch boxed in Eriol and Tomoyo, which is why we couldn't sense them. Shit! What the heck could he possibly want?" Li ranted to no one in particular. Sakura came up to him and patted him on the back.
"They'll be okay, I know they will." She seemed to be trying to stay optimistic, but Li still seemed grim. All of a sudden, a storm broke out and Sakura and Li immediately looked up into the sky. As expected, it wasn't long before the face of Kuroikumo appeared, as the two children looked at him with loathing.
"What do you want you thieving wisp of nothing. Who the heck do you think you are dealing with?" Li shouted at the cloud. Kuroikumo merely stared at him, eyes a gleam.
"Your arrogance is inept compared to me, Li Syaoron. I know exactly who and what you think you are, you and your cardmistress. Do not take me lightly for at the moment I have no quarrel with you. All I wish is for you not to interfere while I take care of your two other friends. You have no power against me, insignificant idiot. For my own powers far exceed that of yours and the little cherry blossom." At this Li scowled extra hard and shielded himself in front of Sakura. "Hmm. You think your measely body can protect her. You are even more ignorant than I thought. But I admire you courage. I take my leave here, for I have business elsewhere. I'll give you a warning, but it is up to you to heed it." With his words, a spasm of pain erupted within Sakura and she fell to the ground in tears.
"Sakura!" Li shouted. "You…" But he was unable to say any more and dropped to Sakura's side as Kuroikumo left laughing. As soon as the skies cleared, Li felt a barrier being raised around Tomoeda. 'Great.' he thought 'Not only is Sakura's life in danger, as well as Eriol's and Tomoyo's, but now we're all sitting ducks in the eyes of Kuroikumo. Damn him! I swear Eriol, you two better defeat him or else we don't stand a chance; and you know how much I hate it when I can't protect my friends…or you Sakura.' His face returned to Sakura as he carried her into his apartment.
Back to Eriol and TomoyoFor the past hour, the two trapped in London had sat, stood, and paced around the living room of the Hiiragizawa manor. Yet so far, neither had come up with a solid train of thought. So many things were rushing through their minds that it was hard to concentrate.
Eriol was deep in thought on the motive of Kuroikumo and his powers. Yet he couldn't fully keep his mind on it, for Tomoyo sat right next to him with the same half contemplation look on her face as him. 'Wonder what she's thinking about?' he wondered.
Little did he know, Tomoyo was in turn thinking about him. Though she had been first wondering about Sakura and Li, her thoughts trained back to him; or more to the point, his dream. 'How can I protect him against something that he described so vividly? Makes me think his dream was not a dream at all, perhaps a vision of what is yet to come. No, no, no. That can't come true. Argh! Kuroikumo, you will not get away so easily.' A new fire burned within Tomoyo as she turned to Eriol.
"Train me." She told him abruptly.
Okie dokie...lol...next chapter should be a little more action packed...stay tuned and take a seat next to the lovely review button. -