Cessation
Izzy Girl III "Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn..." Yue watched from the rooftops as Syaoran Li darted about, narrowly dodging the jutting outbursts of rubble that pursued him. After a moment, he turned his head in disdain, unable to watch anymore. "I have a bad feeling." he muttered, crossing his arms across his chest. "When do you not have a bad feeling." Keroberos sighed from beside him, still watching the battle intently, "I take it you are not impressed with the Li boy's skills?" Yue's expression changed subtly. VERY subtly. Unless one had been acquainted with the Gaurdian for some odd hundred years, it would be impossible to tell. "My premonition has nothing to do with the Li boy." he said calmly. "Then what does it have to do with?" Kero wondered, his tone slightly exasperated. "Everything but." Yue replied simply, "The cards, for one, my human host, Yukito, and Clow himself." These worries were perhaps all a given. With no way to properally seal the cards, they were essentially helpless. Eriol, or as Yue referred to him, Clow, had reappeared after four years only to reveal that he also had no power over the situation, and to make matters worse, the body in which the Moon gaurdian dwelt had begun to grow restless. "What is this about Yukito?" "I think that he wishes to seperate himself from me..." Keroberos was silent a moment before saying: "Wouldn't that... destroy you both?" "Maybe." Another stretch of silence. The battle waged below them. "Well..." Kero cleared his throat huskily and shifted on his haunches, "Clan boy down there doesn't look too comfortable. Shall we intervene?" Yue didn't answer aloud. Instead, he slowly rose to his feet. * * * Syaoran had paused momentarily, gasping for breath, to regard the sky. It was mid morning, that's to say it was almost noon, and the sky was at it's finest shade of indigo. It would appear cloudless, but if one was to shift their head slightly, it was impossible to miss the storm building in the distance. "Shit!" Syaoran exclaimed quite suddenly, "Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!" Feeling profoundly relieved in his careless use of profanity, the chinese boy hastily drew his sword and began digging around in his pocket for something useful. He found himself staring at the Watery, ironically enough. He clucthed it tightly between his fore and middle finger, half afraid it would turn on him and break free that very moment. He furrowed his brow as he stared at the elemental card. There was something important... something he felt as if he should remember on the principles of decency. His memory of Sakura's epic battle with the Earthy card was somewhat sketchy, but there was a fragment here and there, of something Kero had said. Syaoran pushed aside the hesitations carelessly and flipped the card. He trust the blunt side of his sword forwards, feeling the flow of power flood outwards from the Watery, tearing a piece of that power away from him. He stumbled backwards, placing a hand over his heart as he caught his breath. The Watery's liquid figure unfolded gracefully, all turqouise and cerulean. It paused, hovering above Syaoran's head and regarding the boy with ocean-eyes as if it were confused. Suddenly, Syaoran was reminded of Eriol's face-off with the Firery. This very thought caused the Captor to become nervous. He glared back at the card with a commanding expression. 'You ARE mine.' The Watery's expression did not change, but it ceased to stare at him in defience. Instead, it turned it's attention to the accumulation of Earth building where there once was a café. The screaming people has long since cleared out, much to Syaoran's relief, and for the most part he was confident that not one of them would attempt anything stupid like calling the police of fire department. The last thing he needed were a lot of adults in rubber suits asking uncomfortable questions. He was also not certain on the legalistics of carrying around a sword at his age. Syaoran crouched on his heels, supporting himself on his sword. The Watery would do it's work, or it wouldn't. Until then, he could allow himself at least a moment of rest. Sure enough, tendrils of flowing, sea-colored water crawled through the air and across the forming Earth dragon's body. As they wrapped themselves around the beast it howled in anger. Syaoran stood up again, hopeful. The tower of rock began to tumble away at the tip of it's 'nose', all the while writhing and screaming as the Watery drew it tighter. It was rather sudden when the entire monster collapsed with a roar of protest. The Watery seemed to hold a smug smile on it's expressionless face as it returned to it's master, a blanket of thick dust spreading forth from the point of collapse. Syaoran straightened and broke into a run, clearing the space between himself and the broken centre of the café quickly. He was confident, yet still warily held his sword in one hand. He began to clear away debris searching for what he expected would be the human form of the Earthy card. He found her, slung over a small, circular coffee table, obviously unconcious. She was beautiful, as were most of the mature cards, pale and almost transparent. Her hair arched up in the shape of a horseshoe, jewels and beads hanging from strings a little past her chin. Her dress was sculpted from rock and hugged her body suggestively, but despite it, she seemed fragile. Certainly not the cause of the sensless destruction that surrounded them. Syaoran was suddenly aware of footsteps behind him. He spun quickly to see Keroberos and Yue sifting their way through the clouds of dust, folded wings making them seem mythical and extrodinairy. The young captor placed a hand on his hip and frowned. "You two are a little late." He remakred, deadpan. He didn't mean it as sarcasm, he was being quite frank. Had the gaurdian's been there even a few minutes earlier, it would've made his life a great deal easier. "There were… more pressing matters to attend to." Kero coughed and glanced nervously at Yue. The moon gaurdian closed his indigo eyes and sighed, expression unchanging. "Kero wanted to test you, I think. And I agreed with him." Kero grunted loudly and shot an accusatory glance at his companion, "Yes. Well. This conversation was carried on in between the actual text as usual, wasn't it Yue? I most certainly did not want to test him. I believe in Li's skills. It's a wonder where you get these ideas." "You said: 'I take it you're not impressed with the Li boys skills'. How else am I supposed to take that?" Syaoran rolled his eyes. The two did this often, able to carry on for hours about the most senseless things. They bickered in the calm, affectionate sort of manner that only old friends perfectly comfortable with each other were able to do. Even though the current subject of debate was himself, Syaoran had no intrest in their interchange, so turned his back on them once more, lifting his sword above the Earthy. "By the power Clow Reed…" he stopped himself. That wasn't the right incantation anymore, was it? "By the power if the Kinomoto Star, I command you to return to your power confined Earthy!" Syaoran always spoke these words softly, barely an audiable whisper, especially compared to the desperate shout Sakura had used during her time. What was the point? The cards got the point. The Earthy's eyes flickered open in shock as she was drawn into a whirlpool at the tip of Syaoran's blade. They were bright green, the captor noticed, and it complimented the dull browns of her skin and dress. Yue and Kero had ceased their arguing and their attention was now intently focused on Syaoran as he gripped the card tightly between his fingers. The three held their breath and waited. Exactly eight seconds later, the card shuddered violently and breath was released, not in sighs of relief, but in groans of fustration. "It just doesn't make sense!" Kero complained while transforming back into his disguised form. His voice shifted from deep to squeaky during his speech, but neither Yue nor Syaoran were the type to laugh at such things. "If a card is defeated, BESTED, by a human, it will kneel to it's master, even if that master isn't a pure-blood or selected heir of Clow... which Syaoran IS..." Syaoran placed the Earthy inside the folds of his robed uneasily, "It hasn't been making sense for the past two years..." he muttered bitterly. "Yes, but we haven't had any specific problems until the night wonderboy showed up and caught you those elements... if only we could..." "I'll go talk to him." Kero tipped his head and Yue narrowed his eyes, "What makes you think you can find him, boy?" Syaoran gave the angelic gaurdian an equally narrow glare, "We need answers, right? I'll get them." And that was that. Syaoran stormed off angrily with no intent on returning until he cleared some air.
Are you sure? Of course I'm sure? I'm tired of this, aren't you? Yes. Very. Then... But! What? What if... That's impossible. But what if... No. It can't. But shouldn't we talk to Kero? I did. And? He understands. Shouldn't we talk to To-ya? He'll understand. What makes you so sure you know him so well? Because you do. ... I'm scared.
Touya Kinomoto had been pacing around his too-small bedroom since eight PM. Every so often he would glance out the window, then look at his hands, as if there were some connection there he was just missing because he was too stupid to understand. This felt different. Richer. Fuller. Emptier. He blinked, and suddenly the color of his wall was more vibrant, but when he blinked again it was the same off-white it had been all along. He breathed deeply in an attempt to regain some of his lost breath, but only succeeded in realizing how thick and ot the air was. It tasted of spice and smelled warm, but all he wanted was cool, fresh air. Finally, it was too much. He threw himself at his window and savagely ripped it open, thrusting his head out into the night anf breathing deeply. The air outside was cooler, but it tasted more. It was like spice and cake and rice and pretty-smelling purfume and aged wine. There were whispers on the wind and they talked together, to each other. Gossiping, joking, laughing, crying. Even worse, he could hear his mother. He hadn't heard her voice, a soft and melodious tune that caressed his ears during his sleep, in over four years. Why now? Why... "Touya." The familiar voice jerked Touya out of his repose. He looked up only to be met by the cold eyes of the gaurdian Yue and gasped. "Help me with him." Touya drew his head inside the window and obidiently reached out to catch the dark figure handed to him, no questions asked. When he brought the thin body into the light, he nearly crumpled on sight, discovering that it was Yukito. He looked up at Yue, then back at Yuki, mouth hanging open in disbelief. "How…" "No questions." Touya nodded sombely and laid Yukito gently atop the covers on his bed. The pale boy looked absolutely fragile while sleeping, his soft silver-brown hair falling messily over his eyes and under his glasses. His mouth was slightly ajar and he was drooling. Touya smiled tenderly and decided to make a point of not noticing the weakness and limp in Yue's posture as the gaurdian made his way across the room and opened the door quietly, exiting the room. He simply crawled into bed beside Yukito and curled up around the smaller boy protectively. No questions asked.
Izzy Girl III "Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn..." Yue watched from the rooftops as Syaoran Li darted about, narrowly dodging the jutting outbursts of rubble that pursued him. After a moment, he turned his head in disdain, unable to watch anymore. "I have a bad feeling." he muttered, crossing his arms across his chest. "When do you not have a bad feeling." Keroberos sighed from beside him, still watching the battle intently, "I take it you are not impressed with the Li boy's skills?" Yue's expression changed subtly. VERY subtly. Unless one had been acquainted with the Gaurdian for some odd hundred years, it would be impossible to tell. "My premonition has nothing to do with the Li boy." he said calmly. "Then what does it have to do with?" Kero wondered, his tone slightly exasperated. "Everything but." Yue replied simply, "The cards, for one, my human host, Yukito, and Clow himself." These worries were perhaps all a given. With no way to properally seal the cards, they were essentially helpless. Eriol, or as Yue referred to him, Clow, had reappeared after four years only to reveal that he also had no power over the situation, and to make matters worse, the body in which the Moon gaurdian dwelt had begun to grow restless. "What is this about Yukito?" "I think that he wishes to seperate himself from me..." Keroberos was silent a moment before saying: "Wouldn't that... destroy you both?" "Maybe." Another stretch of silence. The battle waged below them. "Well..." Kero cleared his throat huskily and shifted on his haunches, "Clan boy down there doesn't look too comfortable. Shall we intervene?" Yue didn't answer aloud. Instead, he slowly rose to his feet. * * * Syaoran had paused momentarily, gasping for breath, to regard the sky. It was mid morning, that's to say it was almost noon, and the sky was at it's finest shade of indigo. It would appear cloudless, but if one was to shift their head slightly, it was impossible to miss the storm building in the distance. "Shit!" Syaoran exclaimed quite suddenly, "Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!" Feeling profoundly relieved in his careless use of profanity, the chinese boy hastily drew his sword and began digging around in his pocket for something useful. He found himself staring at the Watery, ironically enough. He clucthed it tightly between his fore and middle finger, half afraid it would turn on him and break free that very moment. He furrowed his brow as he stared at the elemental card. There was something important... something he felt as if he should remember on the principles of decency. His memory of Sakura's epic battle with the Earthy card was somewhat sketchy, but there was a fragment here and there, of something Kero had said. Syaoran pushed aside the hesitations carelessly and flipped the card. He trust the blunt side of his sword forwards, feeling the flow of power flood outwards from the Watery, tearing a piece of that power away from him. He stumbled backwards, placing a hand over his heart as he caught his breath. The Watery's liquid figure unfolded gracefully, all turqouise and cerulean. It paused, hovering above Syaoran's head and regarding the boy with ocean-eyes as if it were confused. Suddenly, Syaoran was reminded of Eriol's face-off with the Firery. This very thought caused the Captor to become nervous. He glared back at the card with a commanding expression. 'You ARE mine.' The Watery's expression did not change, but it ceased to stare at him in defience. Instead, it turned it's attention to the accumulation of Earth building where there once was a café. The screaming people has long since cleared out, much to Syaoran's relief, and for the most part he was confident that not one of them would attempt anything stupid like calling the police of fire department. The last thing he needed were a lot of adults in rubber suits asking uncomfortable questions. He was also not certain on the legalistics of carrying around a sword at his age. Syaoran crouched on his heels, supporting himself on his sword. The Watery would do it's work, or it wouldn't. Until then, he could allow himself at least a moment of rest. Sure enough, tendrils of flowing, sea-colored water crawled through the air and across the forming Earth dragon's body. As they wrapped themselves around the beast it howled in anger. Syaoran stood up again, hopeful. The tower of rock began to tumble away at the tip of it's 'nose', all the while writhing and screaming as the Watery drew it tighter. It was rather sudden when the entire monster collapsed with a roar of protest. The Watery seemed to hold a smug smile on it's expressionless face as it returned to it's master, a blanket of thick dust spreading forth from the point of collapse. Syaoran straightened and broke into a run, clearing the space between himself and the broken centre of the café quickly. He was confident, yet still warily held his sword in one hand. He began to clear away debris searching for what he expected would be the human form of the Earthy card. He found her, slung over a small, circular coffee table, obviously unconcious. She was beautiful, as were most of the mature cards, pale and almost transparent. Her hair arched up in the shape of a horseshoe, jewels and beads hanging from strings a little past her chin. Her dress was sculpted from rock and hugged her body suggestively, but despite it, she seemed fragile. Certainly not the cause of the sensless destruction that surrounded them. Syaoran was suddenly aware of footsteps behind him. He spun quickly to see Keroberos and Yue sifting their way through the clouds of dust, folded wings making them seem mythical and extrodinairy. The young captor placed a hand on his hip and frowned. "You two are a little late." He remakred, deadpan. He didn't mean it as sarcasm, he was being quite frank. Had the gaurdian's been there even a few minutes earlier, it would've made his life a great deal easier. "There were… more pressing matters to attend to." Kero coughed and glanced nervously at Yue. The moon gaurdian closed his indigo eyes and sighed, expression unchanging. "Kero wanted to test you, I think. And I agreed with him." Kero grunted loudly and shot an accusatory glance at his companion, "Yes. Well. This conversation was carried on in between the actual text as usual, wasn't it Yue? I most certainly did not want to test him. I believe in Li's skills. It's a wonder where you get these ideas." "You said: 'I take it you're not impressed with the Li boys skills'. How else am I supposed to take that?" Syaoran rolled his eyes. The two did this often, able to carry on for hours about the most senseless things. They bickered in the calm, affectionate sort of manner that only old friends perfectly comfortable with each other were able to do. Even though the current subject of debate was himself, Syaoran had no intrest in their interchange, so turned his back on them once more, lifting his sword above the Earthy. "By the power Clow Reed…" he stopped himself. That wasn't the right incantation anymore, was it? "By the power if the Kinomoto Star, I command you to return to your power confined Earthy!" Syaoran always spoke these words softly, barely an audiable whisper, especially compared to the desperate shout Sakura had used during her time. What was the point? The cards got the point. The Earthy's eyes flickered open in shock as she was drawn into a whirlpool at the tip of Syaoran's blade. They were bright green, the captor noticed, and it complimented the dull browns of her skin and dress. Yue and Kero had ceased their arguing and their attention was now intently focused on Syaoran as he gripped the card tightly between his fingers. The three held their breath and waited. Exactly eight seconds later, the card shuddered violently and breath was released, not in sighs of relief, but in groans of fustration. "It just doesn't make sense!" Kero complained while transforming back into his disguised form. His voice shifted from deep to squeaky during his speech, but neither Yue nor Syaoran were the type to laugh at such things. "If a card is defeated, BESTED, by a human, it will kneel to it's master, even if that master isn't a pure-blood or selected heir of Clow... which Syaoran IS..." Syaoran placed the Earthy inside the folds of his robed uneasily, "It hasn't been making sense for the past two years..." he muttered bitterly. "Yes, but we haven't had any specific problems until the night wonderboy showed up and caught you those elements... if only we could..." "I'll go talk to him." Kero tipped his head and Yue narrowed his eyes, "What makes you think you can find him, boy?" Syaoran gave the angelic gaurdian an equally narrow glare, "We need answers, right? I'll get them." And that was that. Syaoran stormed off angrily with no intent on returning until he cleared some air.
Are you sure? Of course I'm sure? I'm tired of this, aren't you? Yes. Very. Then... But! What? What if... That's impossible. But what if... No. It can't. But shouldn't we talk to Kero? I did. And? He understands. Shouldn't we talk to To-ya? He'll understand. What makes you so sure you know him so well? Because you do. ... I'm scared.
Touya Kinomoto had been pacing around his too-small bedroom since eight PM. Every so often he would glance out the window, then look at his hands, as if there were some connection there he was just missing because he was too stupid to understand. This felt different. Richer. Fuller. Emptier. He blinked, and suddenly the color of his wall was more vibrant, but when he blinked again it was the same off-white it had been all along. He breathed deeply in an attempt to regain some of his lost breath, but only succeeded in realizing how thick and ot the air was. It tasted of spice and smelled warm, but all he wanted was cool, fresh air. Finally, it was too much. He threw himself at his window and savagely ripped it open, thrusting his head out into the night anf breathing deeply. The air outside was cooler, but it tasted more. It was like spice and cake and rice and pretty-smelling purfume and aged wine. There were whispers on the wind and they talked together, to each other. Gossiping, joking, laughing, crying. Even worse, he could hear his mother. He hadn't heard her voice, a soft and melodious tune that caressed his ears during his sleep, in over four years. Why now? Why... "Touya." The familiar voice jerked Touya out of his repose. He looked up only to be met by the cold eyes of the gaurdian Yue and gasped. "Help me with him." Touya drew his head inside the window and obidiently reached out to catch the dark figure handed to him, no questions asked. When he brought the thin body into the light, he nearly crumpled on sight, discovering that it was Yukito. He looked up at Yue, then back at Yuki, mouth hanging open in disbelief. "How…" "No questions." Touya nodded sombely and laid Yukito gently atop the covers on his bed. The pale boy looked absolutely fragile while sleeping, his soft silver-brown hair falling messily over his eyes and under his glasses. His mouth was slightly ajar and he was drooling. Touya smiled tenderly and decided to make a point of not noticing the weakness and limp in Yue's posture as the gaurdian made his way across the room and opened the door quietly, exiting the room. He simply crawled into bed beside Yukito and curled up around the smaller boy protectively. No questions asked.