It's been so long... like ages... and my head had been dry out of ideas, squeezed like a lemon. Why I'm a lemon-head without juice! (:) And so many reviewers :') I'm so happy... and it even got into a C2! Thank you so much everyone! I apologize it's so short... ha ha... and it's just as horrible and awfully dumb. But at least longer than the one before!
Special SPECIAL thanks to:
Adam-Cannon Ha! I updated! It's your turn! MH Oh yay you were! Illusions of Myth Special and loving hugs to you dear frwend! Thank you so much! Ashieyu-san Super duuper thanks to you! You enjoyed my story so far, reviewed, AND put my story in a C2! Bubbles be with you! Insanity Team! (A.k.a. Violet) Actually... (lol) I don't know what she looks like. OO;; Oh my gosh! How can I not know what she LOOKS LIKE? And she's my main character! Well basically, I planned that she'd look like me. Grins Cuz I based her on ME! And what do I look like? OO;; Oh my gosh! I don't know what I look like! (rushes to mirror...) He he, don't worry, I promise I'll describe her in another chapter... when I figure out what I look like. (stares at mirror...)
In the incandescent moonlight, beams of lucent light streaming into the cave, I saw her stand outside with the mournful expression pressed onto her face.
The curve of an angelic figure, and the glow of a silent dove, her amethyst eyes mere glittering gems of over-flowing sadness.
A small, delicate, and pale hand placed on her knee uttering a sigh in its place. Ebony hair with the scent of lilacs, the wind enjoyed grappling and pulling it along its path to the north.
"Tomoyo…" I could catch the faint whisper in the air.
As though a response to the wind's voice, she stood up subtly.
"Sakura-chan?" Her eyes wide, but when she turned around… only disappointment glimmered in them.
"Hi." I rubbed my fingers together.
"Hello Mika-chan." Her voice not bitter but the words sounded regretful.
"What are you… doing out here?" My toes had suddenly grown something fascinating, for she and I were both gazing at them as time lapsed.
The thrill of silence broke, "I just wanted to enjoy the scenery. This place looks nothing like home." And she took a step aside so that I could see it.
True.
The world where Sakura had been entrapped in was a dreary, droning, and colorless world. Only mist, grayness, and thundering thoughts roamed the rolling and ugly plains.
"Do you think this place was once a happy earth like ours?" I took a seat on a rock.
"There is a moon, there must be a sun." She took the rock opposite to me, "I dearly hope Sakura is safe."
Looking at the faded mountains where Sakura was somewhere bound in chains, I doubted it. But I could not let my new friend lose hope now, I had to encourage her; just like what Sakura would do! That… is what she would do, wasn't it?
"Yes. I hope so too." Sadly, my eyes fell to the inside of the cave where the rest slept, "And I hope our journey will be safe as well."
Another time of silence, how boring it was to be sitting there, wondering what Tomoyo was thinking, wondering what was happening to Sakura, wondering what she would do. Rumination is most boring.
"Tomoyo, do think… they like me? Do you like me?" My voice quivered.
Astonished, but in a gentle way, she lifted her head to look right into my eyes.
"Yes! Of course they like you!" A pause, then more silently, "I like you. You're very nice and you'll lead us to Sakura-chan."
No!
"No, is it only because I will lead you to your most beloved? What if I can't? And Li-kun, Kerobus, and Yue all hate me! I can't ever be like Sakura; I won't be able to make you all happy. But I really want to, I really wish to!"
My head buried in my hands, a few sobs erupted within me.
A soothing hand touched my shoulder, "Mika, that is not true. I like you for who you are. Even if you are not able to bring me back to Sakura, or save her, or if she were still here and we met you… I would still like you. And Li-kun is just a little tense around those he doesn't know. He is a very nice person so please trust him. Kero-chan and Yue, their master is trapped; give them time and soon their friendship will open up. Mika, I trust in you. I know you will bring us all to Sakura."
An inner strength burst inside me, and sprouted out into my lungs.
"I'm so happy I met you Tomoyo!"
She smiled back at me, warmly and full-heartedly, "I am also very glad to have met you."
A small embrace and then peace settled.
-
Sometimes… when I was small. I used to like the plays at the schools.
The curtains would open, revealing a story of romance, adventure, songs, and cheesy quotes. But all the same… they were magic to me.
Like everything else, I was enchanted by the thrilling voice of the singers and the glittering costumes and brave heroes.
Especially the heroes.
I sometimes danced as I went home, tripping over my shoelaces.
I sometimes sang when I was alone, ending in a parched and untuneful blare.
But many of the times, I would draw a sword stick from my belt trousers and battle against the fierce and hard force tree, or climb over terrains of great heights stairs and chairs to enter a cave alley and find the beautiful princess dolly chained by a gigantic and fire-breathing dragon Barney doll. And with my mighty sword did I strike down the fearsome monster, perhaps a heroic dash and thrust and scar, but nevertheless had I, the brave warrior, freed the princess of Tooba!
And so on.
I continued to dream on, imagining scenes of battle and valor, but knowing never would the day come when I would be able to do such a thing.
And yet here I stand… with a key in my palm and a cape trailing with the wind.
I will be a hero.
A hero I have always dreamed of…
A smile in Tomoyo's direction, I step down into the terrains.
Should my step be secure or unsure?
Would Sakura's be sure or insecure?
Well, one thing was for sure:
Mika's was secure.
-
"Do you think we're going the right way?" There was a grunt from Li-kun.
It must have been an hour already, for we had been tramping together over hills toward the mountains, but they were only diminishing further down.
"Tired?" I turned around to face them.
Yes. They were.
Tired from head to toe… weariness drowning them and me.
We sat down heavily, and then I felt a little tug at my consciousness… and…
Blackness came worming in.
I screamed in agony.
"Mika! What's wrong?" Tomoyo shrieked with frantic worry.
There was a firm grasp on my hand, to vivacious to be Tomoyo's.
The memories… flooding into my brain, and more screams.
Bitter taste of alcohol… do you remember it? You took a sip of it once from that girl's room…
There was a foul taste in my mouth, burning my tongue.
Remember that girl screaming in her room? Do you remember what happened to her?
"No! No! No! No!" I wanted to cover my eyes to prevent from seeing it again… but my eyes were already closed.
She was right there...
The terrorized scream.
And…
"Mika!"
My eyes blasted open from the sound of my name.
Misty gray again, and I saw two faces once more.
"What's wrong with you?" A stern voice… the one who had called me.
"Nothing." I sat up, rubbing my eyes.
"But you suddenly screamed, are you alright?" Tomoyo helped me up.
"Yes… I just… remembered something." I frowned, the images flickering in my head. Why had they been so scary? I used to remember them before… but not as close-up and real as it had been this time.
"Someone dying?" The golden figure came toward me.
I nodded, "The girl in my foster home. I witnessed her death…" Shuddering, "Kind of a gruesome death too."
"Let's just keep going." I turned around to step on, but a cold and icy voice stopped me.
"I don't think we should. We're not getting anywhere." It was Yue.
I didn't know what to do, he was right, but I couldn't see any other way.
When we heard a twinkle… the sound of a bell and charm, a mysterious twinkle that sounded more than a twinkle. Like the sound of snow touching the ground mingled with that of icicles being drummed on.
Perhaps it was a voice?
Whatever it was, it captivated us as we stood still and strained our ears to listen for it.
It came closer… and closer… and closer… until…
"Boo."
I screamed.
I vaulted back and held the key up for protection.
A giggle like a little girl but enthralled with a mysterious charisma.
Lowering my hand, I had the glimpse of the mystical creature in my grasp.
A tiny little thing, with the wings of a butterfly and an eerie purple kindling its pale skin, with every little beat of the wings, a twinkle heard.
"What's this?" Kero looked up amazedly.
"A fairy." Yue answered simply, giving the creature a cold side-glance.
Tomoyo clasped her camera on it quickly and delightedly, "Oh a fairy! It's like we're in a story tale!"
Li-kun gripped his sword, glaring at it menacingly, "What does this little thing want?"
Beating its wings rapidly, it twirled and leaped in the sky vainly, then came back down. I brought out my fingers, and it touched them lightly.
"Could you tell us how to get to the mountains?"
The fairy looked at me bewilderingly, as though it said, 'Why in the world would you want to go there?'
"Our friend is captured, we must find her."
The fairy withdrew its hand, but with warmness and nodded.
It slowly began to flutter away, when it looked behind to see that we were not following her, she tugged at my hand.
"You want us to follow you?"
Nod.
"She wants us to follow her!"
And so we were led to Sakura by a fairy.
At least to the mountains… our journey was just beginning.