Author's Note: Umm...I have NO idea what to tell you this time. ^_^ Just read. Oh, and one more thing...I am SO dedicating this chapter to CreatiStar! She's the best. Thank you for being so worried about me! :) You go, girl!
AAAAAAIIIIIIIIYYYYYYAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT MY LITTLE REVIEWERS CORNER!! THAT I USUALLY PUT IN HERE!!!!!!!
...Ehem...^.^a...why don't we get on with this...okay, SilverAngel ^_^ I just love you. Did you all know she thanked me for being a writer? That's just so...kawaii!! *sniffle* ^.^ Thanks!
Kei-chan...I'm happy you find my poor dub fic good, I do try. And those translations from CardCaptor Sakura...you're right... they're bad. But the dubs of those that I've heard are different and don't sound so bad. ^_^ But that's just my opinion. I'm sorry to say I won't be writing Eriol into my fic. ^_^a...truth be told...I would have absolutely no idea what to do with him in this story, it's too much on it's way, the story too developed. It wouldn't fit. Maybe, maybe, if I write another Cardcaptor fic, I'll put him in, but only if I can find a good place for him. I'm glad you like what I've done with my characters. ^_^ Thanks for that. And you know what? I just might take you up on your offer, I sure would like to see those episodes...I really do prefer subs over dubs...:p dubs just sound REALLY bad sometimes. Also, I'd love to keep in touch with you, but I should warn you, I never have time for anything, and I'm really lazy with e-mails. ^.^ So...you be the judge. I don't want to disappoint you.
Thank you a.n.g.e.l. !_! *sniffle* she's like what I've done with Rage. That meant a lot.
Don't even worry about it CreatiStar, I'm not angry with you over your name...why would I be? *genuinely confused* it's your name, you can do what you like with it. Though...I do like CreatiStar better! ^_^ Toronto Trek went VERY well. Saw the anime NightWalker for the first time...damn...I love that show. And I also saw Master of Mosquiton. Hi~larious!! ^_^ But... the ending pissed me off. *grr* If you haven't seen it then I won't spoil it by telling you why. *mumble* *mumble* I thank you again for worrying about me ^_^ You rock. Oh, about Saiyan Pain...um...I hate to say this...but there's probably a 95% chance I'll trash it. :( I just don't see anything happening with it. (plus I think it's really bad :P) But! If I do get a picture in my head for that fic, I might consider doing something with it. *really big grin* THANK you for reading it. I appreciate it.
I would also like to thank everyone. You all rock and I love all your reviews. ^.^ Thank you!
On a last note...I'm very sorry about the lack of romance in this fic. You don't know how much because I LOVE romance fics, but, I can't seem to write it very well. :( I know you're all angry that Sakura and Li seem like they're never going to get together, but please, please be patient. It will happen, I've got the whole thing planned out in my head, I just haven't gotten there yet. I'm really sorry.
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptors, nor do I claim to. I am not getting paid for this so please do not sue me.
Warning: Rage, Love, Famine, War, Disease, Death, Hate, Insanity, Despair, Fear and Magic belong to ME. I will list the other Forgotten as they appear in the chapters. ^_^ So keep an eye on this paragraph.
Cardcaptors: Accepted-Ch.26
"You...WHAT?!?" Kero asked incredulously. Sakura looked at him worriedly...if his eyes got any bigger in his head, Sakura thought they just might fall out.
Rage gave kero an infinitely patient expression and said again, "I have come to join you."
"No!" Li said suddenly, unexpectedly, making several heads turn in his direction. He ignored them. "This has got to be some sort of trick! You can't trust him." Li continued, a queer look in his eyes.
Love eyed him with what almost looked like pity, but wasn't of course, and said just loud enough for Li and Rage to hear, "What Insanity did to you was inexcusable, but you mustn't blame Rage for your little problems."
Li remained stubbornly silent.
Sakura didn't know what Love had said to Li, but she knew that he needed some reassurance right about now, "Guys, I have something to tell all of you." she said hesitantly. She looked at Rage for permission. He shrugged his shoulders indicating there wasn't really a choice now. She looked to Yue next. He gave her an encouraging expression. Looking at the rest of them, Sakura saw she had their complete attention. Taking a deep breath, Sakura said, "Rage...isn't our enemy," Sakura winced at that completely vague, STUPID, sentence.
"That's funny," Tory started, "I'm not completely in on this yet, but I thought he was the bad guy?" he asked, jerking his chin in Rage's direction.
Trying again, Sakura said, "There's something all of you don't know about Rage...and Clow Reed."
If anyone hadn't been listening before...they were now.
Kero flew towards her, "What has this got to do with Clow Reed?"
"Well...everything, if you think about it." Love replied. When Kero glared at him he grinned.
"Okay...I think everyone should sit down." Sakura started, doing just that. When everyone but Rage, Love, and Yue were seated, Sakura continued, "You didn't know about this Kero, but Rage and Clow Reed were...um...friends, I'm not sure I can use that term. Anyways...Rage had never betrayed Clow Reed in the first place, he'd stayed on and helped Clow Reed secretly in trying to defeat the rest of the Forgotten..."
As Sakura related the tale for the card captor group, with occasional
interruptions from Rage and Yue, there were varying degrees of emotion
from everyone. Tory knew just how important Clow Reed was, Madison had
explained practically the entire history of the cards to him, and he knew
how powerful Rage was, he'd seen that first hand, so he knew that if Rage
joined with Sakura, that would definitely be a point in their favour. Not
to mention the fact that he wouldn't have to worry
about Rage coming after his sister anymore. In his opinion...this was
a good thing.
Madison's expression was carefully controlled, but she was excited on the inside. She wouldn't admit this when Kero and Li were around, but she kind of likes Rage. Besides, if they had Rage actively fighting with them, Sakura would be better protected against the Forgotten...not that Kero and Li weren't adequate protection...it's just that...well...face it, if Kero can't transform yet, he's pretty much useless when it comes to physical and Magical strength. And Li...Madison glanced nervously at him, as if he could read her thoughts...Li just wasn't in the Forgotten's league.
Li's face was also controlled, though, unlike Madison, the emotions
bursting inside him were not ones of happiness. He was furious. To even
THINK about letting one of the Forgotten...TWO of them to boot, into the
group, two sources that could easily turn on Sakura. Li's gaze turned inward,
tracing down paths only he could see. He remembered the images that Insanity
had sent him...the terrible images of Sakura dead or dying...what if those
actually were visions about the future?
What if...by letting these two into the group...it sealed Sakura's
fate? With effort, Li pulled out of his trance and made an effort to listen
to what was going on. He would do his best to try and talk Sakura out of
even thinking about letting those two in, but, if she DID decide it was
best...he wouldn't argue with her. As much as he wanted to protect her,
he couldn't tell her what to do, that would be the same as controlling
her...and he would never do that to her.
As Kero listened to Sakura tell her tale, he just kept getting more and more shocked. Especially when YUE backed up her story...he had KNOWN. Like Li, he didn't particularly trust Rage, but if Clow Reed had trusted him...Kero didn't know what to think anymore. Sure, it had become obvious lately that Rage didn't seem to be posing a threat to Sakura, that he actually seemed to HELP her sometimes, but why, exactly, was that so? Was it because he'd actually been on Clow Reed's side before? Or was there something else...?
Love watched everyone else with a critical eye. He knew exactly what their responses would be...they wouldn't want Rage, or him for that matter, anywhere near them with a ten foot pole. However, with the support of Sakura and Yue on Rage's side...they might just get lucky. Love hoped they did except Rage and himself, because he knew that Rage would fight, not literally, them if they didn't. Besides, he wanted Rage to actually get something HE wanted for once. Love shrugged mentally and grinned. Sure, he'd mentioned before that he'd go where Rage did, but this wasn't ENTIRELY about him...though most of it was. Love could admit that he wasn't exactly what you'd call a violent person. In fact, he avoided violence whenever he could. When the other Forgotten had split, Love had gone off alone, no plans to destroy Clow Reed or take over the world...he just wanted to settle back and enjoy life. Heh, Love mused, must be in my nature. So, that was exactly what he'd done. He had disapproved of what the others had planned to do, it was pointless, really. Why kill so many when everyone could get along? Geez, I'm starting to sound like a pacifist, Love snorted. Rage glanced questioningly at him and Love grinned back and rolled his eyes. Rage turned his attention back to the others.
So... what was he doing with Rage, then, if he hated violence so much? Well...there's the obvious reason, of course. He loved him. And then, there was the fact that Rage was...different...from the other cards. Love actually felt that he could relate to Rage in some way or another, though he hasn't exactly figured out which way that is, yet. However, all of this started way back in a tavern centuries before, the first time he'd met Rage.
~`~Flashback~`~
He remembered it vividly, how could one forget the day you'd first set
your eyes on your soulmate...he hoped Rage never found out that's how he
thought of him. It had been a very nice, dreary, rainy day. Love grimaced.
Okay...so it hadn't been a particularly nice day outside that day...but
what happened later made up for that. He had been carousing, as usual,
in the town's local tavern. You'd think that would be a good thing. Normally,
it would have been...except that, this time, he had
given up on carousing for good. He'd just had a nice encounter with
a buxom red head and felt satisfied after their lovemaking...but that didn't
last long. He felt satisfaction...but he also felt remarkably empty. He's
felt like slamming his fist down upon the counter of the tavern in sheer
frustration...and he would have, too...if he hadn't been sure he wouldn't
have broken it. Again, after countless centuries and countless women, he'd
missed out on love again. He remembered wanting to laugh hysterically then...him,
the Love card, unable to find the one person on the entire planet whom
was meant to love him. Well...that was fine. It had been too long, too
much, he couldn't take this endless search any longer. He was going to
give up.
He didn't know exactly what would become of himself, maybe he'd find a way to ease his terrible loneliness by finally figuring out how to kill himself. Anyways, he didn't know what would become of him, but he knew what was going to happen to him right now...he had a plan. A few dozen bottles of liquor, and he'd be pleasantly drunk, and blissfully numb. Maybe...if he was drunk enough, he'd be unable to feel the vast emptiness that was eating at his soul.
As he went to raise his hand to call the tavern owner over to pour him
a shot, he sensed something he hadn't sensed in a long time. Freezing,
his arm half raised, Love was filled with a feeling of dread. No...not
here...not now. I've tried so hard to avoid them! There was another
card here, just outside. He fervently hoped he/she wouldn't come in here.
He knew he could hold his own against another card, but he had no desire
to do so...couldn't they damn well leave him alone in his own
depression?! But apparently, whatever sort of God, Fate, whatever the
hell you wanted to call it, up there wasn't listening to his pleas. He
heard the door open behind him and felt the card enter the tavern and pause.
Love hunched down in his robes, hoping to go unnoticed. He hid his energy from the other card but had the feeling that he'd already been sensed; he sensed the card after all. Well, that was fine. Love casually placed his hand on his short sword though he didn't really know how to use it; he'd never been interested in weapons. At least the other would have a difficult time locating him.
After looking around the tavern for what seemed like an interminable amount of time, the card moved forward. He didn't sit at one of the tables, he ignored the whores that beckoned to him and sent him sultry glances, and came right over to the bar and sat down next to Love. Coincidence? Don't be a fool. He motioned for the tavern owner, but didn't say a word. After receiving a glass of God knows what, he just sat there, not saying a word. The situation remained like that for what seemed like hours and Love couldn't take it anymore, he never was one for quiet.
Very casually, Love turned his head in the direction of the other, hoping his slight movement would go unnoticed...he couldn't be that lucky, of course. As soon as he turned, he found himself staring into the bluest eyes he'd ever seen in his life, not to mention the coldest, though he didn't particularly care about cold at the moment. The next thing he noticed was the long, white hair. Love always was a sucker for long hair...and this was LONG...as long as his if he thought about it. Then, he took in the stranger's face, took in the delicate features, the arched eyebrows...he looked like a fine piece of china. However, as Love's attention turned back to the other's eyes, and as he learned later on in time, appearances could be deceiving.
That was when what Love was doing finally sunk in...he was appraising a GUY. Sure, the Greeks have this thing about boys loving boys, but that was in Greece...which he definitely was NOT in. Love's first reaction was to be disgusted with himself...but...he couldn't seem to make himself feel that way in front of the staring stranger. There was just...something about him...something in those fathomless, ice blue eyes of his. It took Love a little while to understand that, when he looked into those eyes, he felt...like there was something to live for. That there was actually something, someONE in this cold, lonely world, that he felt a connection to.
When he realized the other was looking quizzically at him, Love pulled his hazel eyes away quickly, embarrassed, though he did a hell of a job to hide the fact. Turning his face down, he stared at the wood of the counter he was leaning on. After a short silence, the stranger asked, "Why are you hiding from me?"
It took a moment for Love to get over the sheer huskiness in the stranger's
voice, a voice that seemed to reach inside him and trigger something, to
understand what had been said. Then he fought off another blush of embarrassment,
that's twice today...very unusual, as he realized the man meant his energy.
Trying to appear nonchalant, Love shrugged. Then, turning on the charm
that had gotten him out of so many scrapes before, he grinned and said,
"Didn't see any reason to alert you to my
presence."
Nadda...no expression on that beautiful face, in those amazing eyes...the guy didn't even blink! The famous Love charm...had failed. To say that Love was disappointed would be an understatement.
There was another pause, and then, "I don't recall seeing you before. Why is that?"
Love didn't know what to say. Why was this one being so...conversational? Usually, if he encountered another of his kind, they tried to do one of two things; one, they tried to get him to join their cause, or, when one failed, there was always two...try to kill him. So far, Love had been pretty lucky in escaping both one and two. So what was with this one? The fact that Love didn't understand the stranger just made him more cautious...never trust the unknown.
"I would have remembered you if you'd ever been present with any of the others when Clow Reed was teaching us." the stranger went on. "But I don't think I've ever seen you before." he commented, apparently indifferent.
Love found himself staring again, but not because of the handsome one's beauty this time, but because love simply couldn't believe one person, not even a card, could be as aloof as this guy. "I...didn't want to be around the others." Love found himself saying, though he didn't know why. He hadn't MEANT to say that...it just...slipped out.
The stranger arched an eyebrow. He seemed amused, though Love couldn't think why, "You don't happen to know Famine, do you?" he asked out of the blue.
Love realized it was rude to stare...but he was doing it again. He DID know Famine...well...he knew OF him, but he'd be damned if he let THAT slip out.
The stranger didn't seem to notice Love's silence. "What do you have against us, the others?" he asked.
Love frowned. It took a lot to annoy him...but he was becoming annoyed.
"Look...why does it matter? Are you here for a reason? Or is there something
you want?" he asked, coming straight to the point. He wanted to smack himself
for cutting the conversation short...who the hell would want to cut any
chance to be with HIM short?!...but all this seemingly random talk with
a complete stranger was making him nervous. Normally, he wouldn't think
twice about engaging a stranger in inane
conversation if the mood struck him...but THIS stranger was a card.
That made all the difference.
The stranger blinked, and Love couldn't help but feel a spike of triumph that he had been able to momentarily surprise the unshakable one. Ha! Take that! Before he could stop himself, he let a grin slip. The stranger blinked again and said nothing. Love visibly shrugged, showing the stranger's indifference didn't mean one thing or another to him. Now that Love knew the stranger wasn't completely unshakable...it relieved some of the nervousness.
After taking a sip from his glass, eying Love over the rim the entire time, the stranger asked, "What do you call yourself?"
Love shrugged again. "Love," he immediately glared, or tried to, at the stranger, "Look...it's not like I CHOSE that name." he said defensively. The stranger smirked, no doubt amused again. Love found himself staring at his lips...hoping against hope that this one would smile...the full thing never came. Disappointed, Love asked, "So...which one are you?"
"My name is Rage."
Love jerked his chin in Rage's direction. "Nice name. Better than 'Love.' " he snorted.
There was a moment of silence where Love became decidedly nervous again. After all...when Rage stares at you like that...you don't NOT get nervous. When Rage spoke next, what he said took Love by surprise, "Are you always like this?"
Normally, Love would have grinned, shrugged that off, and replied, 'Yes.' But for some reason, coming from him, it seemed to matter. Bristling, Love asked, "Like what?" before Rage could answer Love plowed on, "What about you? Are YOU always like THAT?"
Rage's eyes became hooded, "Like what?" he asked quietly.
Love gestured in his general direction, "Like...like...that! If they had a prize for Ice Prince, you'd win it. What are you? Made out of stone?"
Rage didn't even take the time to think before he replied, "At least I don't act like a grinning jackanapes."
Okay...Love was officially annoyed. Standing up straight, he moved away from the counter. "I don't have to stand here and be insulted by the likes of you. Especially since YOU don't have any emotions to speak of."
Love moved to leave, but Rage had also straightened, and now had him by the wrist, the fabric of his robes between them. Momentarily surprised, Love did nothing. Then, realizing Rage was restraining him, Love's temper snapped, "Take your hand off me." he snarled. He moved his free hand and grasped Rage's bare hand.
A moment later, Love was staggering back, a look of complete shock on his face. Rage's face was just as surprised. "What...?" Rage began, but Love shook his head mutely, almost frantically, and raced out of the tavern.
As Love walked quickly through various abandoned alleyways, the only thought running through his mind was...What the HELL?
He was an idiot, a stupid idiot. He should have realized that touching Rage would have sent SOME sort of sensation through him...his Powers did work by way of touch and close contact. But...he just hadn't been thinking...anger does that. But still, even if he had been thinking, he never would have expected the emotions that came through to him from the brief link between them.
The first thing he had felt was desire...pure and simple. Never had it been so strong, so intense. Love had wanted to melt then and there. But that wasn't all...that wasn't why he RAN. Desire, he could have handled...maybe...but it was the other thing...that other something he'd felt come through the link.
Love had been right when he'd first felt the presence of a card and
assumed they'd try and do him harm. Rage did want to harm him, he felt
that, but not the way Love had expected. Rage didn't want to take a dagger,
or use a spell, and kill him quickly or right away...it was like...he planned
on waiting for something first. It felt like he was waiting for someone.
And underneath all that...there had been this insane loyalty, this complete
devotion to the one who wanted Love harmed through
Rage...but that loyalty wasn't for one of THEM...it wasn't for a card.
That, above anything else, scared Love. Rage didn't seem the type to take orders from mortals, no matter who they were. Which meant whoever he was listening to was very powerful...more powerful, than us?
As Love furiously pondered who it could possibly be, who was after him, he failed to notice the shadow following him. Nor did he notice the white mist creeping up about his feet. He did, however, notice, when someone appeared behind him. Whether it was blind luck or he had actually sensed the card, Love ducked out of the way quickly, drawing his sword. He wasn't surprised to see two ice blues eyes staring back at him.
Eying Rage warily, Love asked, "Oh, it's you, is it?" Rage stepped toward him in what Love thought was a decidedly predator way, and Love lost some of his bravado. "What do you want?" he asked cautiously.
Continuing his slow march, Rage replied, "Why did you leave so suddenly? What happened?" when Love refused to answer, just kept stepping back, the walls on either side of the alley became coated with a layer of ice. Shivering, Love looked into Rage's eyes and found that same ice reflected there. "You saw something, didn't you?" Rage asked ominously. "When you touched me, you saw something." that time it wasn't a question. Drawing a blade that looked like the ice on the walls, Rage continued to advance upon Love, "You obviously saw something important, or you wouldn't have fled. And I'll bet what you saw is something I don't want known. Pity."
Knowing without a doubt that Rage planned to kill him, Love did the only thing he could...he attacked. Bringing his sword down, he attempted to slash Rage in two. Rage's sword came up and blocked his own. Within seconds, Rage had him disarmed...Love knew he was bad, but he didn't think he was that bad...and Love was forced back into a wall. Seeing his foe completely at his mercy, Rage drew his sword arm back and then plunged forward.
Love didn't know if luck was a part of it again, but he managed to move just in time. Not only that, but he was able to get a grip on Rage's sword, surprising him. Using that to his advantage, Love wrenched the sword from Rage's grasp and flung it behind him somewhere. His small victory was short lived. Before he could blink, Rage had him pinned against the wall, his hips against Love's, his one hand pinning both of his, and the other around his throat, steadily applying pressure.
As much as Love might have enjoyed being pinned by someone as...um...warm ( ^.^) as Rage...now was not the time. He never did go in for that machocist shit.
Feeling that steel band Rage calls a hand tighten further around his
throat, cutting off Love's air supply, Love did the only thing left to
him...he opened his mouth...of course, if he wanted to live, that probably
wasn't such a good idea. Gasping, he got out, "I-I didn't see anything!
I swear!" Rage didn't blink or let up. "Look!...my Power doesn't work that
way. I can't SEE anything! I can only...can only...FEEL." Love's voice
trailed off as the edges of his vision began to turn grey. Trying one
last, desperate gamble, Love whispered, "You're right, I felt something
I probably shouldn't have. Whoever you're working for, I don't care. It
could be Clow Reed and I wouldn't care," he felt Rage start, "I don't want
any part in this war between them, us, and whoever the damn hell else is
in it." expelling the last of his energy, Love breathed, "I don't want
a war."
Just when blissful oblivion was in Love's grasp, that steel band around his throat loosened, and then was gone altogether. The hand holding his wrists was removed also and Love would have slumped to the ground if Rage hadn't been quick enough to catch him, his arms going around Love's waist. Love made no effort to support himself...if he was going to die, he'd be very happy if it was in Rage's arms. However, when it became apparent he was breathing and that black void was receding, Love frowned...apparently...he wasn't dying.
Lifting his head from a warm shoulder, he tilted his face back and stared up at Rage, blinking slowly, the lack of oxygen still affecting him. "Why?" he asked simply.
Rage shrugged, him being the uncomfortable one this time. "That last thing you said." he looked away, something flickering in the depths of his eyes and Love damned him for not being able to see what it was. "Out of everything you could have said to save your life, you chose that. You said it with such feeling that..." he trailed off.
Love blinked. "You believed me." he whispered, though not because he was being strangled this time.
Rage shrugged again, but said nothing. Then, "Can you walk?"
Hiding his face in Rage's shoulder again, Love grinned wickedly, knowing Rage couldn't see him. "My legs are wobbly." they weren't, of course.
That was when Love first heard one of Rage's heartfelt sighs, as if the world were after him. Transferring his arm from Love's waist to his shoulders, which was NOT an improvement in Love's opinion, he began walking forward. After a little while, Rage asked, grudgingly, Love could tell, "Are you all right?"
Love pretended to consider. Then, grinning, he said, "I think I need a whiskey. My throat's killing me." Rage stumbled. Love laughed, though it hurt, "You'll buy, of course!"
~`~End Flashback~`~
After that, they'd gone back to the same tavern and sat down for drinks. Rage bought. Love grinned, they'd ended up talking for hours. Sure, their friendship had started off rocky, but Love never would have traded that day for anything.
Realizing Sakura had finished her little story, Love waited to see what
the verdict would be.
~
Finished, Sakura sat stiffly, wondering what was going through everyone's minds.
Madison was the first to speak, "Well! I think it's wonderful!" she exclaimed, smiling.
Li shot her a sour look, though nothing near his usual glare...he wasn't actually angry with Madison, after all. He looked at Sakura. "This whole fiasco with Clow Reed could have been some elaborate hoax, Sakura. He might have been lying to Clow Reed the entire time to gain his trust so it would be easy to betray him. But things didn't quite go as planned, did they?" Li asked, this last directed at Rage.
Angry at being called a traitor, Rage took a menacing step in Li's direction. Li stood up, relishing a fight. Love stepped between them however, and placed a restraining hand on Rage's chest. Rage seemed to settle down, but Love was glaring like there was no tomorrow. Surprised at the anger showing in the normally carefree card, Li faltered, uncertain.
Love stared Li down before saying very quietly, "That was low."
Sakura glanced between the cards and Li nervously. Just when things were going so well something had to go screw it up. Sakura reached out and tugged on Li's shirt, "Li, sit down. Please?" she asked quietly.
Glancing down at Sakura he hesitated, but he sat down. Glancing back at Rage and Love, Sakura said, "I don't think this is all some big hoax, Li. I was THERE, I saw an exchange between Rage and Clow Reed," she saw Rage's eyes narrow, and Sakura could practically read his thoughts, 'I knew she knew something.' "And I really don't think anything there was faked."
Yue nodded, "I can attest to this. I can guarantee Rage is not a traitor, nor is he untrustworthy. I have witnessed enough of Rage's actions to determine such."
With the unexpected support of Yue to Rage, Li found he had nothing to say.
Sakura glanced at Kero, who hadn't said anything the entire time. He looked troubled, but Sakura had the feeling that look had nothing to do with Rage and their current situation, which was odd. What was he thinking about? "Kero, what do you think?"
Kero started and looked around him, as if surprised to be here. Then,
looking from Sakura to Rage, to Yue and back again, he said slowly, "As
much as I don't like it, Rage would be a great asset to our quest. Yue's
complete faith in him has me perplexed, but Yue is seldom wrong. And then
there is Clow Reed..." Kero paused. Looking over everyone's heads, he said,
"If even Clow Reed trusted him, then I have no choice. Rage, welcome to
the team." before Sakura could jump to her feet
and do a dance, "Kero said menacingly, "If I ever find cause to doubt
you or your word, you'll never live to regret it."
Instead of displaying a show of temper, Rage simply nodded and said, "Of course, Kero Beros." even though everyone knew that in Kero's present form he didn't have a chance of taking on Rage.
Sakura waited a couple seconds, as if awaiting another outburst of some sort. When none were forthcoming, she threw her arms up in the air dramatically and fell back upon the grass with an audible sigh. "Finally!" she exclaimed gustily. Then, in the next breath, she started laughing, ecstatic that this was finally over. It wasn't long before Madison started, and then Love began laughing, more for the hell of it than anything else. Yue allowed himself another smile and a spreading of his wings. Li smiled slowly, glad that Sakura was happy, but he shared Kero's sentiments.
Kero didn't smile, he didn't laugh. He continued to stare at Rage, who
was staring right back somberly. Kero gave him a silent warning which was
acknowledged and returned. Kero turned away and headed for the two giggling
girls on the ground. Yue watched him with sad eyes.
~
"No..." Insanity stared with lifeless eyes at the cavern walls all around him, lost in a vision. He blinked and his eyes returned to their normal state. Snarling, he demanded, "Why will you not show me more!!" muttering, he began pacing the length of the cavern. "You show me four powerful forms...BUT. YOU. WILL. NOT. SHOW. ME. WHO. THEY. ARE!!!"
Flopping himself down in the only form of furniture in the cave, a ratted chair, Insanity chewed on a perfect, deadly fingernail. After breaking a piece of perfection off, he stared at it for a moment before glaring at it, as if to say, "Why did you break?" the nail, as if in response, grew back instantly to it's former glory. Insanity smiled triumphantly. Patting his nail like a he would a pet dog, Insanity cooed to it.
His change in mood didn't last long, however, as he remembered Sakura. "Damned woman." he snarled. He began pacing again. whimpering, he said, "I cannot see a way out...she will destroy me. The last power has been added, her protectors are complete." covering his grey face with worn hands, he pressed in on his temples. Parting his index fingers from the middle ones on both hands, he peeked through them and stared at the wall. "But, I have a few surprises for her, oh yes I do." he told the wall conspiritually. "If I have to go...at least one of them will go with me. And then...and then..." Insanity's eyes lost focus again and he smiled dreamily. "...and then," he whispered, "Nothing will be able to stop Magic."
To be continued...
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Well, well, aren't I just a bit evil? ;) I'm sorry this chapter wasn't longer, but I got as much done as I could...and can you believe I did this all in one sitting?!?!? For me, that's remarkable! Well...you all should be happy.
I must say, the tale where Love and Rage first met was completely
unexpected. I really had NO idea I was going to do that... in this
chapter or any, for that matter! It just...popped in my head. Also...what
did ya'll think of the last bit with Insanity? ~.^ He's up to something...and...my,
my...is that another card? O.O You all think about that...until then!!