A.N: Yay! My RP character comes in this chapter! Save for about three other main characters, we've got the main cast! YAY!

Of course, there are again numerous cuts (sorry!) and changes (sorry again!) to the original story of the RP.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original characters (Kero, Sakura, Tomoyo, Li etc), or the original plotline. As this was originally a role-play on GaiaOnline, the characters and some of the storyline and words belong in a way to their creators, through I've made many changes, they are still essentially the same!

Many thanks to those creators, including Hiryu-chan (the owner of CCS: The Next Generation).

Chapter Eight: Familiar Faces

"Am I early?" Natsumi asked stepping into the house.

"Nah, Kaan-kun and Noda-kun are already here. You didn't have to bring cola! You, of all people know my brother drinks about sixty bottles daily…and he doesn't even live here!" Kimika said as she placed Natsumi's carton of cola bottles on the kitchen counter. Natsumi laughed.

"Why do you think I brought it? This will be the one carton your brother's off limits too!" Natsumi said as she pranced up the stairs, Kimika next to her. Kimika led her to her bedroom and opened her door. On the floor, the two boys were in deep battle, cautious and moody, glaring at each other as they pushed the buttons on Kimika's Playstation2.

Ever since Kimika and Natsumi had taken Noda in that Golden week, they and Kaan were all close and firm friends. It was now an average weekend and Natsumi had decided to chuck a sleepover for her friends.

Kero sat on a bedside next the TV so he could see what was going on. Kimika could see he was just itching to join in. Kimika then heard the doorbell ring and ran down the steps to answer.

"Li-san!" She yelled in surprise.

'There he goes showing up randomly again…'

If it weren't for his mother, he certainly wouldn't be here. He knew without a doubt, that he most defiantly hated Waihashi Kimika. She was annoying, impulsive, and she had his cards. What was to like?

Of course his mother had thought differently…

. -.

"Kyo-chan, why don't you go over and make friends with Kimika-chan? No sense being mad at her for nothing" Sakura said sweetly, running her fingertips through his hair. He pushed them off his head and re-ruffled it.

"I don't like her"

"Because she's the new Cardcaptor. She agreed to let you be one too, so relax. She wants to be friends. You need friends"

"I have plenty of friends"

"You can never have enough friends. I just reckon it would be a good idea to be friends with her. It would be good for you."

.-.

His mother could con him into anything by making him feel pathetic. So now he was here.

"I was wondering if I could…come in?" He said, glaring at her.

Kimika was curious to why he'd suddenly turned up. She dismissed it as something Sakura had made him do.

"Well, I'm having a party with my friends, your welcome to join us if you'd like" Kimika said smiling and opening the screen door to let him inside. He looked hesitant, but then walked in. He bent down to take off his shoes but Kimika shook her head.

"Don't bother. This house gets dirty anyways, I figure. My parents don't really care if anyone comes in with or without their shoes. Then again, they spent seven years in Australia" Kimika said sighing and leading him up the stairs to her room.

It was a whole new experience. It made him feel kinda nervous, like he had something to prove to these people. Just the fact he didn't need to take his shoes off made him feel queasy.

'I came here to attempt to talk normally to her…now I'm involved in a party? Thank Mother, you really know how to make a guy feel great!' Kyo thought, rolling his eyes.

"You invited Li-san?" Natsumi asked, blinking in surprise. Kimika sent over signals that he had been invited on the spot and Natsumi nodded.

"It's nice to see you, Li-san," she said as he slid by her and sat next to the guys on the floor, picking up an extra controller.

'He's ignoring me…the cutest boy in Tomoeda is ignoring me…'

"Yeah," said Kimika, "Last minute change." Kimika said settling on her bed to watch the guys in their bloody televised fun. She rolled her eyes.

"Oh my god, was that the doorbell again? Takeo! Mum! Dad! Why can't you guys answer the door?" Kimika said as she walked slowly down the stairs, hoping it was something important, so she wouldn't feel down that she'd torn herself away from her friends.

Selling cookies. Reiko felt degraded. If only she hadn't been so caught up in her mother's excitement of wanting her to join an extra-curricular club...she might not have signed up for Guides. Reiko sighed. If only her mother wasn't so energetic. Reiko glanced down at the bag in front of her, stuffed with the stupid choc chip cookies and sighed again.
"Well here goes..." Reiko said as she rang the doorbell to Kimika's house.

Kimika opened the door and saw a girl with a blue printed bag.
"Hi" Hiryu said. She had never seen this girl but she looked like she was her age.

'Looks friendly enough…'

Kyo had been sitting there quietly for the most part, mumbling about why his army wouldn't move. Then Kimika left to go answer the door. That's when he felt a slightly familiar presence. Standing quick, he dashed down the steps to not only accompany Kimika but also see who it is at the front door. Once he had made it down stairs he stood behind Kimika, peeking over her right shoulder to see a slightly younger girl. He instantly recognised her.

"Heeey!" He said smiling and sneaking out from behind Kimika, "I remember you!" Due to his mother's constant talking he could easily remember the face of the daughter of his mother's best friend. He hadn't seen her in a few years, but she looked like a smaller copy of the former, except her hair was down to her knees. The girl glanced at him in surprise and blinked.

"Kyo-chan! How weird to see you here!"

Natsumi looked out and down the window, trying to see who was standing outside. It appeared Li knew the girl from the conversation. She peered down the stairs, but didn't remember seeing the dark purple-headed girl before.'A friend of Li-san?' Natsumi bent closer towards the stairs to take a closer look at the girl. She had a dark blue bag, in which seemed by the shape to contain Guide cookies. Natsumi figured that the girl was probably selling the cookies, and would have had no idea that Li-san was here. Kimika blinked.

'I wonder if they know each other well. Of course, it would seem so' Thought Kimika, looking at the two. She leaned on the door. She smiled after thinking for a bit.

'He actually seems normal…happy and energetic. They must know each other pretty well then'
"I figure you guys know each other?" asked Kimika looking at the girl and then back at the happy Kyo.

Kyo nodded towards Kimika

"Of course...this is my mother's best friend's daughter" He tired to think of the girls name but was at a loss for several moments, then snapped his fingers as if it were the symbolization of a light bulb appearing over his head as he remembered the girl's name.

"Reiko! That's it!" Kyo feeling happy that he could recall it. He hadn't thought of her in such a long time. Then his smile faded. A vibe, a presence. He motioned to Kimika and she nodded that she felt it too. He looked up and saw the others come down the stairs. He gave a look of urgency to Kimika.

"Hey, guys, why don't you all go back upstairs while Kyo and I run down the road to the shops for some more snacks? Reiko, your welcome to join us upstairs…" Kimika said quickly, pulling the slim girl in and rushing out the door with Kyo.

"Li-san…did you feel it? We have to go and find that magical presence." Kimika said looking over towards him. "Are you with me?"

Kimika had gone serious like she always did when it came to the cards and magical presences. She was totally oblivious to the fact that the daughter of Tomoyo had snuck out of the house and was watching from behind a tree.

"I'm with you" Kyo said, reaching into his pocket and the shrunk down version of his father's sword, hanging like a keyring from his belt.

"Key of Li, erupt!" Kyo yelled, his sword growing to its normal size. Kimika in turn released the Star Wand.

"I call upon The Fly Card! Help us search the sky! Fly Card!" Kimika yelled as the two white wings sprouted from the end of her wand.

"Jump on! It's not the safest thing yet, this is only the second time I've used this!" Kimika said, swinging a leg over the wand. Kyo looked hesitant but then swung his leg over too.

"Maybe you should install seatbelts!"

Kimika thought she saw what looked like flash of silver near the Tomoeda Nature Forest She blinked. Something was defiantly moving…the trees?

"Hey, Li-san, do you see something weird about those trees?" Kimika asked, glancing back at the boy behind her. He held a serious expression.

"We should check it out…"

"The trees are moving!" Kimika cried when they got up from their dodgy landing. "They're coming towards us!"

"Calm down…I'll use the Jump card to find the source tree…it has to be one of these…" Kyo said. Before Kimika could say anymore he was gone.

'Great. I'm all alone and I think these trees want to cut ME down…' Kimika thought frowning. Then she saw the longhaired, silver dressed woman, standing a few metres away. Kimika gasped.

'She's back!' Kimika heard peals of laughter vibrating through the trees.

"You're easily amused, Kimika-chan. Now, don't be impulsive, the Wood card is being deliberately evasive. Don't be afraid, it's only toying with you. It's a strong card but you can do it. Kyo-chan was right about finding the source, but he wasn't thinking properly. Close your eyes and imagine you were the Wood itself. Single it out with your thoughts. Then use the Fly and the Windy to get rid of the distracting trees. Then get Li-chan to use the jump to get on top. I think you know the rest"

Kimika heard the woman's advise. She knew Kero had said not to trust her, but her help couldn't go wrong, could it? Kimika closed her eyes. Her mind made a mental picture of the forwarding trees, searching for its commander.

'Just like in that army game the guys were playing in my room…' She searched for the source.

'That tree!' Kimika thought opening her eyes again. Using the Fly and the Windy she created a powerful windstorm. The trees retreated, save for the one tree.

"Li-san! Jump on that one! Secure it!" Kimika yelled as Kyo came into site. He jumped to the top branches of the tree and slashed it with his sword, making it fall to the ground. Kimika stood with her legs apart and called to the Wood.

"The Wood Card, show me your true form! Return to your original form Clow Card! Wood!" Kimika shouted. The brown Wood female twisted and squirmed into the card and it floated into Kimika's right hand.

"Goodbye, Kimika-chan" Kimika looked up and yet again the 'Silver Lady' had disappeared. Li now stood next to her. She held the card out to him, but he bluntly refused.

"You did more then I did. I'll be sure to get the next one, be sure of that," Kyo said gravely. Kimika shook her head and slid it inside her pocket.

"If you say so…"

Kimika turned and realised that someone had been watching intently the whole time. Reiko looked a little puffed, but she held a smart looking digital video camera. When Reiko saw Kimika look at her, she moved switched the camera off and placed it in her bag.

"Ack!" Kimika said, frozen to the spot "Wha-What you saw..."
Kimika felt her throat muscles tighten. She felt speechless. Kimika held a worried look on her face.

'How can I explain this to her...but wait! Maybe all isn't lost!' Kimika thought, her mind racing.
"Did you say that her mother was Sakura's best friend?" asked Kimika turning to Kyo. "If so, that means she knows about them, right?"
Kimika turned her wand back into the key and tied it around her neck tucking it in her shirt hoping no one else were to come about this secret.

She had given a blank look as she saw the capturing sequence before her and to Kimika's face as she realised Reiko was still there. Reiko smiled.
'I finally get to see a Cardcapture, right in front of me...' Reiko thought but then she saw Kimika put her Star Key away and frowned.
"I won't tell anyone..." Reiko said holding her hand out to the people in front of her and smiling. "I'm Daidouji Rei. It's nice to see again, Li-san."

They walked back together, between them a couple of bags of snacks.

"Hey, how much for cookies? I bet Kero would love some…" Kimika said, handing over a $10 bill to Reiko. Reiko smiled and put two choc chip cookies inside the bag of snacks. Kyo frowned.

"If you ask me, that Kero is getting way fat"

"If we didn't ask you, I'd say I'll probably have to buy him a mini-treadmill soon"

Kimika smiled. She was always a little shy making new friends but this Reiko seemed to know all about these cards. Kimika was busy filling the snacks away allowing Li-san to talk to the girl, which they wouldn't have been able to do with the others around, since Kaan-kun and Noda-kun didn't know about the Clow cards.
"Thanks! For these, I mean" Kimika said taking the blue and red cookie box out of the plastic shopping bag. Reiko simply nodded.
"So, I guess you know all about the cards?" asked Kimika smiling.

Reiko nodded again.
"Yes...my mother's like obsessed with watching video tapes of Li-san's mother, Sakura-mama capturing the cards. It's pretty cool...I guess..." Reiko said, looking at Kimika closely, "So I gather you're the new Cardcaptor then? I already know by your face your one too Li-san..."

"Yeah I guess you can say that." Kimika smiled up at her proudly.

Hearing the two talk, he arched a brow confused by what Reiko had said, "Just what is that supposed to mean?" Referring to what Reiko had said about how she considered him a Cardcaptor or lack there of.

Reiko gave him a mysterious expression and laughed.

Kyo frowned at Reiko. Was she insulting him?

'Better change the subject before we start fighting…she still acts like she did when we were five…'

"Yeah…so where have you been hiding?" He tried to think back. "Mother said she hasn't seen Tomoyo-mama in some time..." Kyo said, trying to pry information from Reiko.

"Just wait until I tell her that I ran into you, she'll be so glad," Kyo added happily.

Rei smiled."I've been living overseas for a while...I suppose the only reason we moved back here was because Mother wanted to see your family..." Rei sighed, and then giggled.
"In response to your other question, you seem so...excuse me for saying this...full of yourself. Of course you want the cards. It's really nice to see you again." With that, Rei followed Kimika as she went upstairs to check on the others.
"Wow! How pretty!" Her face widened in delight as she set eyes upon the cookie devouring 'toy' Kero. Reaching into her bag and pulling out her camera, she squealed.
"Oh My God! Oh My God! Oh My God! I get to see him for real!" Reiko said delighted. Kaan and Noda started at her like she was crazy. Natsumi raised an eyebrow.

"Everyone," Kimika announced to the group with a grin, "This is Daidouji Reiko. She'll be joining us too"

I tried to make this chapter a bit longer and throw some random stuff in it. R & R!

… # Rei Ant # …