Cessation
Izzy Girl II "I breathed enough to learn the trick" Memory is not always a useful thing. The passage of time creates memories, both pleasureable and painful. The former are usually stored in a warm, cozy corner of the mind for handy retrieval. The latter, though usually blocked out and hidden with fervor, serve a purpose unlike their desirable siblings, in that they often teach one lessons in suffering, tolerance and other such important things in life. Then, there are those lukewarm memories. The cloudy, murky water in which useless and useful information meshes and creatres a swamp of half-formed "maybes". Useless. Tomoya Daidouji had a fondness for her happy memories that much exceeded the normal human attatchment. Once, a time that seemed a lost a lifetime before, she would faithfully carry a video camera over her shoulder, intent on recording anything and everything that brought joy to her life so that she could reflect on it later, and always keep those moments and those people near and dear to her aging heart. She wasn't exactly sure when she decided that she would film her classmate Sakura Kinomoto, but it was obvious to her that the other girl's cheerful, energetic optimism brought her joy like nothing else. Even the happiest of memories can turn bitter. Somewhere in her vast basement, Tomoyo had tucked away her camera, her multitudes of tapes containing endless amounts of Sakura footage and every single flambouyant costume she had ever sewn for her closest friend. Now, instead of editing her never-ending documentary on "The Mistress of the Cards", or working on her lastest design idea, Tomoyo sat cross legged across from her good friend, Syaoran Li, a thin piece of orange paper clenched between her fore and middle finger. Her massive river of flowing, violet hair was drawn up in a tight bun on the top of her head and she was wearing a tightfitting gi. Her closed eyes, furrowed brow and sweat beaded on her forehead added to the illusion. This was most definitely not the same Tomoyo Daidouji of memory. No, things change. Sometimes, at a pin drop and sometimes at the mercy of a tsunami. The only sure variable was that when things change, people change with them. "Red flame, I call upon the spirit of fire elemental..." Tomoyo flciked her hand, sending the slip of paper spiralling towards Syaoran with surprisingly accuracy. It burst into flame in midair, but the chinese boy still caught it with realitive ease, the flame difusing at his touch. Tomoyo watched helplessly as Syaoran sighed and dropped the charred scroll onto the ground beside him. She smiled weakly, "That was slightly less horrible than last time. I'm afraid I'm not getting much better at this..." Syaoran's expression shifted from neutral to slightly stressed. He opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Meiling as she stood up pointedly and strode towards the center of the room, stopping in front of where Tomoyo was seated. "You don't be ridiculous!" she began, "You don't have any in-born magical powers, and I saw Syao-chan hesitate before he caught that one. You ARE getting better. You should be PROUD of yourself Tomo! Not even *I* could do something like that, and I've been attempting this stuff since I was just a kid!" It was an encouragement, but somehow, Meiling's smug tone downplayed it and caused her to sound like she was simply talking about how great she was. Not that Meiling knew any other way to talk. It was somewhat of a relief that Meiling, of all people, never changed in a grave manner. Although she didn't escape the trauma of Sakura's mysterious death completely, she was still the same loud, brash, egotistical girl who popped up randomly at Syaoran's house during summer break so many years before. It was very important to her that she support Tomoyo. Since Sakura's death, the two had grown infinietely closer. Meiling felt as if she owed Tomoyo some sort of debt for supporting her in times before, even when the two didn't know each other very well. Now Tomoyo smiled up at the chinese girl gratefully, a silent conversation in it's self. Meiling grinned, satisfyed and plopped herself down between Tomoyo and Syaoran, forming a semi-circle of sorts. She turned to her cousin, still grinning and asked: "Isn't she doing great?" Syaoran shrugged uncomfortably. "Yes..." he answered truthfully. It wasn't her that he was worried about. He did not consider himself an especially excellent teacher and he had never even considered attempting to teach someone without magical talent. He was amazed that Tomoyo could do what she could. The only possible explaination was that somewhere, in her family line, there was a magician. Not a very strong one. Whatever was in the girl's blood was extremely weak, but there was magic none the less. Meiling nodded in approval, but wasn't done her questioning period. "So, I heard you caught three element cards last night, Syao-chan?" Tomoyo shook her head slowly, "Not Syaoran. Eriol did it. Right?" She flashed a large-eyed indigo glance at the boy across from her. Syaoran sighed and nodded. He most certainly did not want to talk about Eriol, but by the way Meiling's eyebrow shot up abruptly at the name, she obviously wasn't going to let that one go. "Eriol? You mean Clow? CLOW REED showed up and caught you three of the most powerful cards? Just like that?" Syaoran nodded again. Meiling stared blankly for a second, then her face slowly shifted into anger mode. "Well, where the HELL has he been before this!?" Syaoran shrugged, this only enraged her further. "Doesn't he think that we need some help here? I mean, you and Touya can just barely seal the cards! No one can use the key! The gaurdians are even helpless to do anything! Why..." "The cards he sealed weren't even secure." Tomoyo interrupted. Meiling stopped mid sentance and stared at her friend wordlessly for a few moments before finally sputtering: "W-w-what!?" "The seal isn't very strong." Syaoran explained, "The cards aren't yeilding to their master." Meiling frowned, "And... exactly what horrible thing does THAT mean?" "One of two." Syaoran held up two fingers as if to cement his statement, "Either the cards changed compltely when Sakura converted them, meaning the star cards don't recognize Eri... Clow Reed as their creator, or two." One of the fingers folded down across his palm, "Eriol and Clow Reed have become seperate personalities within the same mind. Meaning although Eriol sealed the cards, Clow Reed had nothing to do with it." Tomoyo and Meiling both gave Syaoran confused glances. "How do your figure that second one?" Meiling gaped. Syaoran blushed and looked at the floor, "I... I pieced together seperate comments. He said he was going insane." Tomoyo gave her friend a sever gaze for a few moments before she stood up and clapped her hands cheerfully, closing the subject abruptly. She was mirrored by Meiling, who stretched, the doubled over groaning. "Man, I'm starving. What do you guys say to changing out of these stuffy gis and grabbing some fast food?" Tomoyo and Syaoran were only too hasty to agree * * * "Teach me magic." Syaoran gave Tomoyo a wavering glance. She stood serenly, her deep violet hair fluttering in the slight breeze and looking decidedly morbid in her black skirts. The funeral had been long over, but Tomoyo refused to leave her friend's grave and Syaoran wasn't about to let her be alone. The two sat side by side, like protective gargoyles, observing the final resting place of Sakura Kinomoto. It was quite sudden that Tomoyo had gotten to her feet, bursting with vicious reslove, and demanded that Syaoran teach her magic. "Tomoyo..." he said softly, not wanting to upset her further, "You have no inborn magical abilities. I can't..." "You don't know that." she replied firmly, "The least we could do is try." Syaoran shook his head, "I told you Tomoyo. If you don't have any magical blood, there's nothing I can do." Tomoyo's glassy eyes misted and she took a deep, shuddering breath. She turned her back to her friend and when she spoke again, her voice was rock solid. "Syaoran, I have to do this." Syaoran was thrown off gaurd by her determintation. He tipped his head and asked: "Why?" She turned to face him again, tears streaming down her pale face, "Because... Sakura's gone! I can't just DO NOTHING." she choked, but continued, "The... the cards dissapeared... who knows what will happen now. You can't do everything on your own. I just want to help...." * * * Meiling snorted over her chocolate milkshake as Tomoyo giggled quietly at her own joke. After the fit calmed down, both girls shot glances at the ever stotic Syaoran. Tomoyo raised her eyebrow, "Come now, Syaoran, you aren't so mature that you're not allowed to have a sense of humour!" she scolded. Meiling laughed again and nudged her cousin roughly, "Tomoyo, I don't think it has anything to do with maturity. Syao-chan never did have a sense of humour. Isn't that right." Syaoran blushed and shrunk in his seat. 'Why is it that girls always know how to make me feel like a cursed idiot.' He glanced around the tiny outdoor cafe self-conciously, but the dining area was populated in only patches. He attempted to defend himself anyways, "I, uh..." "I remember Sakura could make you laugh." Meiling said pointedly, then aquiring a look as if she wanted to slap herself. An impending doom of silence enveloped the small gathering, and Meiling poked her salad listlessly with the tip of her porcelin chopsticks looking as if she wanted to apologize, but wasn't quite sure how to do it. Syaoran shot concerned looks in Tomoyo's direction, but the girl, who's wavy hair now flowed freely down her back, remained reserved. She placed her chopsticks beside her plate gently and sighed. "It's alright... maybe... sometimes maybe we should talk about Sakura..." Meiling dropped her chopsticks, lips quivering, "No. No, we shouldn't... I'm sorry I said anything, just forget it." "No, Meiling. It's been two years..." "Two years too long..." Syaoran muttered, turning his head away from the girls. They both shot him curious looks. Meiling retrieved her chopsticks and continued eating. Tomoyo stared at the blank wallspace, as if the cherrywood tiling held the answers of the universe. "So...." Meiling coughed awkwardly, having gained control of her quivering lip, "Have you guys seen that new movie?" Tomoyo blinked, her blank face becoming suddenly livid. She leaned towards Meiling, eyes glistening with intrest, "Which movie?" Meiling shrugged and shifted uncomfortably, "Uh, um... y'know... the one with the guy..." Syaoran rolled his head around to face her, his mouth twisted in a wry half grin, "You don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about, do you?" Meiling glared defensively, "I do too. It's with the GUY! You know." Tomoyo nodded gravely, "Oh yes, the GUY. Everyone knows about the guy." Syaoran sighed, "In that case, I still don't feel excluded from your teeny-bopper click of guy worshippers, whatever you intended me to think." Tomoyo gaspaed mock dramatically, "Why Syaoran, why do you think us so.... duplicious!" Syaoran rolled his eyes. Meiling's answer to that particular gesture was to stick out her tounge and say: "At least WE know what we're talking about! EVERYONE knows who the GUY is!" "You mean the GUY in that new movie?" All three heads snapped up and to the left. Yukito smiled down at the younger kids warmly, but when he opened his eyes, they were plainly troubled. He gracefully pulled a chair from a neighbouring table and took a seat to Syaoran's left, between the chinese boy and his cousin. Syaoran cursed inwardly as he felt the visious blush creeping up his cheeks. Even after so many years, he was slightly ashamed that the magical resonace about Yukito's being still affected him in a way which suggested he held affection for the older boy. He cleared his throat and made as if to question Yukito on his sudden apperance, but Meiling beat him to it. "I'm supposing this means something absolutely disruptive to the enjoyment of my milkshake." she grated, glaring at the fair-haired induvidual next to her as if it was his fault. Yukito nodded somberly, glancing around him distractedly. VERY distractedly considering he was seated at a table crowded with a five course lunch. Thinking of the lunch, Syaoran eyed the food disdainfully. Girls ate like starving water yaks, then had the nerve to call boys pigs... He shrugged the thought away and gave Meiling a dissaproving gaze. He then turned all his attention to Yukito. "She meant to ask you why you are here, Yukito-san." There was the cursed blush again. Yukito bit his lip and looked away quickly before looking at Tomoyo, Meiling and Syaoran again. He leaned towards the center of the table and the three teens leaned with him. When he spoke, it was a barely audible, and plainly terrifyed whisper. "Something is building..." he muttered, "Can't you feel it in the air?" No reply. Yukito sighed and bit his lip again. "Yuki, stop dancing around the subject, we're old enough..." The glassed boy cut Meiling off abruptly, "Kero, Ruby and Spinel are unable to transform to their borrowed forms, and..." he paused as his entire boy twitched rather violently, "... and Yue... I think Yue is having a hard time holding on..." he shivered and leaned back in his chair, "I... I just think something is coming... something... I..." "Syaoran did say he saw Eriol..." Tomoyo suggested softly, "He trapped Kero and Yue in their..." she stopped herself short and let out a soft sigh, "But no, that can't be right..." She shot a meaningful look towards Syaoran, though what exactly it meant was lost on the brown haired boy, who simply nodded as if he understood, then resumed studying his older friend. Yukito had changed as much as anyone in the two years, having become aware of Yue, an entire seperate persona and PERSON, residing within him. He had retained his childish innocence and niaviety, if only in outward mannerisms. His eyes, Syaoran noticed, were darker than he remembered. Yukito stood abruptly, still holding himself as if his thoughts caused him to be physically chilled. "I... had better be going..." he murmered distantly. He smiled and nodded a polite farewell and hurried off, melting into the crowd almost unnaturally. Syaoran, Tomoyo and Meiling stared at each other blankly. "Well..." Meiling heaved a quiet false-cough and had begun her second conversation un-lulling of the afternoon when, VERY suddenly, a huge column, for lack of better word, GROUND thrust up no more than ten feet from the cafe. Sidewalk and road split and crumbled, people screamed and the lunch party continued to stare, if only shifting the direction of their gaze. The huge tower of rock and dirt stood like a monolith in the center of the road, obscuring the sun and sky, and rivaling the height of the surrounding buildings. When the screaming had died down there was only stunned silence. Through the veil of quiet, all that could be heard was the grinding of Meiling's teeth. "How... random..." she commented through clenched teeth, "Indeed." Syaoran agreed, barely aware of the vicious twitch his left eye had adopted. "Well, you had better get to work, Syao-chan." Tomoyo smiled kindly and placed a hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned his head to face her, still twitching, and glared. "Don't take a fit." The dark haired girl scolded in an even tone, "You ARE the only one who can do it, after all." Syaoran started at those words, his carefully constructed irritation crumbling... * * * "So what are you going to do?" Why me?" "You're the only one left who can do anything." "What makes you say that?" "You're being the only one is what makes me say that." "What about you?" "..." "You can do something!" "Don't be so sure." "Hiiragizawa, I hate to say this, but I was really counting on you. What do you think..." "I think that I am going to dissapear for a while." ".... what?" "I'm going to dissapear." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "It means exactly that." "Why?" "... I'm just not myself anymore. My staying here would put others in danger." "You're leaving would endanger everyone even more so! You're the most powerful of any of us!" "Wow. That must have been difficult for you to say, Xiao Lang." "Not when it's the truth. The cards are dangerous now, they..." "What makes you think they'd obey even their own creator, then?" "How would you know unless you at least tried!" "I'm sorry. I can't do anything..." "You coward..." "... but remember, you can. With strength of resolve and purity of the heart. I believe in you Xiao Lang." "... thanks." "Was that sarcasm? How ungrateful the little wolf is today." "Shut up. Don't call me that." "I'm leaving soon, Xiao Lang. Our paths may never cross again. Don't you have any kind words to give me as parting gifts?" "For you? Never." * * * "Don't say that!" Syaoran snapped suddenly. Tomoyo looked slightly taken aback in the only way Tomoyo Daidouji knew how to look taken aback. She seemed on the verge of tears. Instantly, Syaoran reddened, both embarassed and regretful. "You insensitive p-pr... PIG!" Meiling barely contained the slurs dancing on her tounge, "Tomoyo was just trying to wish you good luck! You don't deserve any of it!" Meiling leapt from her seat and grabbed her cousin by the sruff of his neck, yanking him to his feet and sparing none for finesse or gentality. "Now draw your sword and seal that damn card." she growled threatengly, "Or I-I-I... I'll make you regreat the day your mother first laid eyes on my father's brother!" Syaoran wasn't sure whether to laugh at the stiff formality of the taunt, or sweat buckets at the dangerous glint in her dark eyes. Either way, he turned his back to her and fumbled for the lacoured orb, finely carved and decorated with a mess of silk tassels. He held it before him and chanted softly, tossing it in the air, and catching the hilt of his sword as the orb reconnected with his hands. As he did this, another explosion of earth erupted, this one so close that Syaoran, Meiling and Tomoyo were forced to their feet and most of the cafe chairs tipped simultaneously on their sides. Syaoran rolled as he hit the ground, and came up on one knee and one foot. He glanced up the thin structure that loomed before him, arcingly massive. Last time, when Sakura had fought the Earthy card, it was spontaneous and unpredictable with no set course or pattern. It attacked quickly and destructively. This... this was too percise. Too conincidently. Too calculated. As if... it had been planned.
Izzy Girl II "I breathed enough to learn the trick" Memory is not always a useful thing. The passage of time creates memories, both pleasureable and painful. The former are usually stored in a warm, cozy corner of the mind for handy retrieval. The latter, though usually blocked out and hidden with fervor, serve a purpose unlike their desirable siblings, in that they often teach one lessons in suffering, tolerance and other such important things in life. Then, there are those lukewarm memories. The cloudy, murky water in which useless and useful information meshes and creatres a swamp of half-formed "maybes". Useless. Tomoya Daidouji had a fondness for her happy memories that much exceeded the normal human attatchment. Once, a time that seemed a lost a lifetime before, she would faithfully carry a video camera over her shoulder, intent on recording anything and everything that brought joy to her life so that she could reflect on it later, and always keep those moments and those people near and dear to her aging heart. She wasn't exactly sure when she decided that she would film her classmate Sakura Kinomoto, but it was obvious to her that the other girl's cheerful, energetic optimism brought her joy like nothing else. Even the happiest of memories can turn bitter. Somewhere in her vast basement, Tomoyo had tucked away her camera, her multitudes of tapes containing endless amounts of Sakura footage and every single flambouyant costume she had ever sewn for her closest friend. Now, instead of editing her never-ending documentary on "The Mistress of the Cards", or working on her lastest design idea, Tomoyo sat cross legged across from her good friend, Syaoran Li, a thin piece of orange paper clenched between her fore and middle finger. Her massive river of flowing, violet hair was drawn up in a tight bun on the top of her head and she was wearing a tightfitting gi. Her closed eyes, furrowed brow and sweat beaded on her forehead added to the illusion. This was most definitely not the same Tomoyo Daidouji of memory. No, things change. Sometimes, at a pin drop and sometimes at the mercy of a tsunami. The only sure variable was that when things change, people change with them. "Red flame, I call upon the spirit of fire elemental..." Tomoyo flciked her hand, sending the slip of paper spiralling towards Syaoran with surprisingly accuracy. It burst into flame in midair, but the chinese boy still caught it with realitive ease, the flame difusing at his touch. Tomoyo watched helplessly as Syaoran sighed and dropped the charred scroll onto the ground beside him. She smiled weakly, "That was slightly less horrible than last time. I'm afraid I'm not getting much better at this..." Syaoran's expression shifted from neutral to slightly stressed. He opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Meiling as she stood up pointedly and strode towards the center of the room, stopping in front of where Tomoyo was seated. "You don't be ridiculous!" she began, "You don't have any in-born magical powers, and I saw Syao-chan hesitate before he caught that one. You ARE getting better. You should be PROUD of yourself Tomo! Not even *I* could do something like that, and I've been attempting this stuff since I was just a kid!" It was an encouragement, but somehow, Meiling's smug tone downplayed it and caused her to sound like she was simply talking about how great she was. Not that Meiling knew any other way to talk. It was somewhat of a relief that Meiling, of all people, never changed in a grave manner. Although she didn't escape the trauma of Sakura's mysterious death completely, she was still the same loud, brash, egotistical girl who popped up randomly at Syaoran's house during summer break so many years before. It was very important to her that she support Tomoyo. Since Sakura's death, the two had grown infinietely closer. Meiling felt as if she owed Tomoyo some sort of debt for supporting her in times before, even when the two didn't know each other very well. Now Tomoyo smiled up at the chinese girl gratefully, a silent conversation in it's self. Meiling grinned, satisfyed and plopped herself down between Tomoyo and Syaoran, forming a semi-circle of sorts. She turned to her cousin, still grinning and asked: "Isn't she doing great?" Syaoran shrugged uncomfortably. "Yes..." he answered truthfully. It wasn't her that he was worried about. He did not consider himself an especially excellent teacher and he had never even considered attempting to teach someone without magical talent. He was amazed that Tomoyo could do what she could. The only possible explaination was that somewhere, in her family line, there was a magician. Not a very strong one. Whatever was in the girl's blood was extremely weak, but there was magic none the less. Meiling nodded in approval, but wasn't done her questioning period. "So, I heard you caught three element cards last night, Syao-chan?" Tomoyo shook her head slowly, "Not Syaoran. Eriol did it. Right?" She flashed a large-eyed indigo glance at the boy across from her. Syaoran sighed and nodded. He most certainly did not want to talk about Eriol, but by the way Meiling's eyebrow shot up abruptly at the name, she obviously wasn't going to let that one go. "Eriol? You mean Clow? CLOW REED showed up and caught you three of the most powerful cards? Just like that?" Syaoran nodded again. Meiling stared blankly for a second, then her face slowly shifted into anger mode. "Well, where the HELL has he been before this!?" Syaoran shrugged, this only enraged her further. "Doesn't he think that we need some help here? I mean, you and Touya can just barely seal the cards! No one can use the key! The gaurdians are even helpless to do anything! Why..." "The cards he sealed weren't even secure." Tomoyo interrupted. Meiling stopped mid sentance and stared at her friend wordlessly for a few moments before finally sputtering: "W-w-what!?" "The seal isn't very strong." Syaoran explained, "The cards aren't yeilding to their master." Meiling frowned, "And... exactly what horrible thing does THAT mean?" "One of two." Syaoran held up two fingers as if to cement his statement, "Either the cards changed compltely when Sakura converted them, meaning the star cards don't recognize Eri... Clow Reed as their creator, or two." One of the fingers folded down across his palm, "Eriol and Clow Reed have become seperate personalities within the same mind. Meaning although Eriol sealed the cards, Clow Reed had nothing to do with it." Tomoyo and Meiling both gave Syaoran confused glances. "How do your figure that second one?" Meiling gaped. Syaoran blushed and looked at the floor, "I... I pieced together seperate comments. He said he was going insane." Tomoyo gave her friend a sever gaze for a few moments before she stood up and clapped her hands cheerfully, closing the subject abruptly. She was mirrored by Meiling, who stretched, the doubled over groaning. "Man, I'm starving. What do you guys say to changing out of these stuffy gis and grabbing some fast food?" Tomoyo and Syaoran were only too hasty to agree * * * "Teach me magic." Syaoran gave Tomoyo a wavering glance. She stood serenly, her deep violet hair fluttering in the slight breeze and looking decidedly morbid in her black skirts. The funeral had been long over, but Tomoyo refused to leave her friend's grave and Syaoran wasn't about to let her be alone. The two sat side by side, like protective gargoyles, observing the final resting place of Sakura Kinomoto. It was quite sudden that Tomoyo had gotten to her feet, bursting with vicious reslove, and demanded that Syaoran teach her magic. "Tomoyo..." he said softly, not wanting to upset her further, "You have no inborn magical abilities. I can't..." "You don't know that." she replied firmly, "The least we could do is try." Syaoran shook his head, "I told you Tomoyo. If you don't have any magical blood, there's nothing I can do." Tomoyo's glassy eyes misted and she took a deep, shuddering breath. She turned her back to her friend and when she spoke again, her voice was rock solid. "Syaoran, I have to do this." Syaoran was thrown off gaurd by her determintation. He tipped his head and asked: "Why?" She turned to face him again, tears streaming down her pale face, "Because... Sakura's gone! I can't just DO NOTHING." she choked, but continued, "The... the cards dissapeared... who knows what will happen now. You can't do everything on your own. I just want to help...." * * * Meiling snorted over her chocolate milkshake as Tomoyo giggled quietly at her own joke. After the fit calmed down, both girls shot glances at the ever stotic Syaoran. Tomoyo raised her eyebrow, "Come now, Syaoran, you aren't so mature that you're not allowed to have a sense of humour!" she scolded. Meiling laughed again and nudged her cousin roughly, "Tomoyo, I don't think it has anything to do with maturity. Syao-chan never did have a sense of humour. Isn't that right." Syaoran blushed and shrunk in his seat. 'Why is it that girls always know how to make me feel like a cursed idiot.' He glanced around the tiny outdoor cafe self-conciously, but the dining area was populated in only patches. He attempted to defend himself anyways, "I, uh..." "I remember Sakura could make you laugh." Meiling said pointedly, then aquiring a look as if she wanted to slap herself. An impending doom of silence enveloped the small gathering, and Meiling poked her salad listlessly with the tip of her porcelin chopsticks looking as if she wanted to apologize, but wasn't quite sure how to do it. Syaoran shot concerned looks in Tomoyo's direction, but the girl, who's wavy hair now flowed freely down her back, remained reserved. She placed her chopsticks beside her plate gently and sighed. "It's alright... maybe... sometimes maybe we should talk about Sakura..." Meiling dropped her chopsticks, lips quivering, "No. No, we shouldn't... I'm sorry I said anything, just forget it." "No, Meiling. It's been two years..." "Two years too long..." Syaoran muttered, turning his head away from the girls. They both shot him curious looks. Meiling retrieved her chopsticks and continued eating. Tomoyo stared at the blank wallspace, as if the cherrywood tiling held the answers of the universe. "So...." Meiling coughed awkwardly, having gained control of her quivering lip, "Have you guys seen that new movie?" Tomoyo blinked, her blank face becoming suddenly livid. She leaned towards Meiling, eyes glistening with intrest, "Which movie?" Meiling shrugged and shifted uncomfortably, "Uh, um... y'know... the one with the guy..." Syaoran rolled his head around to face her, his mouth twisted in a wry half grin, "You don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about, do you?" Meiling glared defensively, "I do too. It's with the GUY! You know." Tomoyo nodded gravely, "Oh yes, the GUY. Everyone knows about the guy." Syaoran sighed, "In that case, I still don't feel excluded from your teeny-bopper click of guy worshippers, whatever you intended me to think." Tomoyo gaspaed mock dramatically, "Why Syaoran, why do you think us so.... duplicious!" Syaoran rolled his eyes. Meiling's answer to that particular gesture was to stick out her tounge and say: "At least WE know what we're talking about! EVERYONE knows who the GUY is!" "You mean the GUY in that new movie?" All three heads snapped up and to the left. Yukito smiled down at the younger kids warmly, but when he opened his eyes, they were plainly troubled. He gracefully pulled a chair from a neighbouring table and took a seat to Syaoran's left, between the chinese boy and his cousin. Syaoran cursed inwardly as he felt the visious blush creeping up his cheeks. Even after so many years, he was slightly ashamed that the magical resonace about Yukito's being still affected him in a way which suggested he held affection for the older boy. He cleared his throat and made as if to question Yukito on his sudden apperance, but Meiling beat him to it. "I'm supposing this means something absolutely disruptive to the enjoyment of my milkshake." she grated, glaring at the fair-haired induvidual next to her as if it was his fault. Yukito nodded somberly, glancing around him distractedly. VERY distractedly considering he was seated at a table crowded with a five course lunch. Thinking of the lunch, Syaoran eyed the food disdainfully. Girls ate like starving water yaks, then had the nerve to call boys pigs... He shrugged the thought away and gave Meiling a dissaproving gaze. He then turned all his attention to Yukito. "She meant to ask you why you are here, Yukito-san." There was the cursed blush again. Yukito bit his lip and looked away quickly before looking at Tomoyo, Meiling and Syaoran again. He leaned towards the center of the table and the three teens leaned with him. When he spoke, it was a barely audible, and plainly terrifyed whisper. "Something is building..." he muttered, "Can't you feel it in the air?" No reply. Yukito sighed and bit his lip again. "Yuki, stop dancing around the subject, we're old enough..." The glassed boy cut Meiling off abruptly, "Kero, Ruby and Spinel are unable to transform to their borrowed forms, and..." he paused as his entire boy twitched rather violently, "... and Yue... I think Yue is having a hard time holding on..." he shivered and leaned back in his chair, "I... I just think something is coming... something... I..." "Syaoran did say he saw Eriol..." Tomoyo suggested softly, "He trapped Kero and Yue in their..." she stopped herself short and let out a soft sigh, "But no, that can't be right..." She shot a meaningful look towards Syaoran, though what exactly it meant was lost on the brown haired boy, who simply nodded as if he understood, then resumed studying his older friend. Yukito had changed as much as anyone in the two years, having become aware of Yue, an entire seperate persona and PERSON, residing within him. He had retained his childish innocence and niaviety, if only in outward mannerisms. His eyes, Syaoran noticed, were darker than he remembered. Yukito stood abruptly, still holding himself as if his thoughts caused him to be physically chilled. "I... had better be going..." he murmered distantly. He smiled and nodded a polite farewell and hurried off, melting into the crowd almost unnaturally. Syaoran, Tomoyo and Meiling stared at each other blankly. "Well..." Meiling heaved a quiet false-cough and had begun her second conversation un-lulling of the afternoon when, VERY suddenly, a huge column, for lack of better word, GROUND thrust up no more than ten feet from the cafe. Sidewalk and road split and crumbled, people screamed and the lunch party continued to stare, if only shifting the direction of their gaze. The huge tower of rock and dirt stood like a monolith in the center of the road, obscuring the sun and sky, and rivaling the height of the surrounding buildings. When the screaming had died down there was only stunned silence. Through the veil of quiet, all that could be heard was the grinding of Meiling's teeth. "How... random..." she commented through clenched teeth, "Indeed." Syaoran agreed, barely aware of the vicious twitch his left eye had adopted. "Well, you had better get to work, Syao-chan." Tomoyo smiled kindly and placed a hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned his head to face her, still twitching, and glared. "Don't take a fit." The dark haired girl scolded in an even tone, "You ARE the only one who can do it, after all." Syaoran started at those words, his carefully constructed irritation crumbling... * * * "So what are you going to do?" Why me?" "You're the only one left who can do anything." "What makes you say that?" "You're being the only one is what makes me say that." "What about you?" "..." "You can do something!" "Don't be so sure." "Hiiragizawa, I hate to say this, but I was really counting on you. What do you think..." "I think that I am going to dissapear for a while." ".... what?" "I'm going to dissapear." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "It means exactly that." "Why?" "... I'm just not myself anymore. My staying here would put others in danger." "You're leaving would endanger everyone even more so! You're the most powerful of any of us!" "Wow. That must have been difficult for you to say, Xiao Lang." "Not when it's the truth. The cards are dangerous now, they..." "What makes you think they'd obey even their own creator, then?" "How would you know unless you at least tried!" "I'm sorry. I can't do anything..." "You coward..." "... but remember, you can. With strength of resolve and purity of the heart. I believe in you Xiao Lang." "... thanks." "Was that sarcasm? How ungrateful the little wolf is today." "Shut up. Don't call me that." "I'm leaving soon, Xiao Lang. Our paths may never cross again. Don't you have any kind words to give me as parting gifts?" "For you? Never." * * * "Don't say that!" Syaoran snapped suddenly. Tomoyo looked slightly taken aback in the only way Tomoyo Daidouji knew how to look taken aback. She seemed on the verge of tears. Instantly, Syaoran reddened, both embarassed and regretful. "You insensitive p-pr... PIG!" Meiling barely contained the slurs dancing on her tounge, "Tomoyo was just trying to wish you good luck! You don't deserve any of it!" Meiling leapt from her seat and grabbed her cousin by the sruff of his neck, yanking him to his feet and sparing none for finesse or gentality. "Now draw your sword and seal that damn card." she growled threatengly, "Or I-I-I... I'll make you regreat the day your mother first laid eyes on my father's brother!" Syaoran wasn't sure whether to laugh at the stiff formality of the taunt, or sweat buckets at the dangerous glint in her dark eyes. Either way, he turned his back to her and fumbled for the lacoured orb, finely carved and decorated with a mess of silk tassels. He held it before him and chanted softly, tossing it in the air, and catching the hilt of his sword as the orb reconnected with his hands. As he did this, another explosion of earth erupted, this one so close that Syaoran, Meiling and Tomoyo were forced to their feet and most of the cafe chairs tipped simultaneously on their sides. Syaoran rolled as he hit the ground, and came up on one knee and one foot. He glanced up the thin structure that loomed before him, arcingly massive. Last time, when Sakura had fought the Earthy card, it was spontaneous and unpredictable with no set course or pattern. It attacked quickly and destructively. This... this was too percise. Too conincidently. Too calculated. As if... it had been planned.