1Chapter 5
Teamwork, Kita thought, it's just as much my fault as it is hers, yeah right, she kept telling herself. As far as she was concerned, it was all Meilin's fault. She hadn't been the one stupid enough to break down the door, so why should she have to help the obnoxious brat fix it?
"How come you think you're better than me?" Meilin asked as they stood silently in the open doorway, looking into Kita's room. "You aren't wealthier than me, you don't dress any better than me, you haven't accomplished and amazing feats, so how come you, a girl with nothing, acts like she is better than me, who likewise, has nothing?"
Kita glared at Meilin, trying to determine if the girl was mocking her or not. "I don't think I'm better, I'm just much more mature than you are, and what do you mean, you have nothing? Look all around us, aren't you related to Miss Li, isn't all this, in some part, yours?"
"I almost wish I could say it is, but I am also glad that it isn't. Since Miss Li is still alive, none of this is mine, not even the dust on the mantlepiece belongs to me. But you know, I am kind of glad it doesn't, Miss Li has to keep up an impeccable appearance. Everyone in town knows who she is, and they make it their business to know as much of her business as they can get their ears or eyes on. I don't want or need that kind of attention, and even though whenever you see her, she is flawless to the 'T', I know otherwise."
Kita stared at Meilin some more, the girl stood perfectly still, her eyes looked as though they were staring into the room, but Kita thought perhaps they were someplace else. The girl from the city began to wonder if the bubbly, bouncy Meilin that she had met the previous afternoon had been a fake, a mask for the serious, brooding young woman who spoke to her now.
"Well, all I know is that you should stop your yapping and help me get this door fixed. You did happen to break it, if you do recall."
Zima had long since returned from retrieving the town psychic by the time the girls found a way to get along and get the door put back in place. They trudged down the stairs back to the dining room, disheveled hair and all, to inform Miss Li of the completion of their task.
"Meilin, Miss Kinomoto, I would like to introduce you to Miss Elda, the town psychic." Funaho said softly as the two sat down on either side of the low table.
Kita noticed right away how pretty Elda was. She had long blonde hair with short bangs. Her large, kind amber eyes shifted from one end of the table to the other, smiling at Kita, then Funaho, then Meilin. She wore a very filly pink dress that was cut quite low, with ribbons and frills billowing out around and behind her. Her hands were folded neatly around her porcelain tea cup, she hadn't downed a drop of it.
"It is in my understanding, Miss Li, that you would like me to meet with both Meilin and Miss Kinomoto alone as well. Am I correct?" Elda had a very soft, kind voice, slightly higher in pitch than Funaho's. She reminded Kita of some sort of dainty little flower in her pink dress.
"Yes Elda, if you would not mind, I would like you to meet with Meilin after we are finished with business, and then Miss Kinomoto."
Funaho and Elda rose from their seats and left the dining room and turned up the flight of stairs in front of the main entrance. Zima took Elda's seat once she had left the room and looked back and forth from Kita and Meilin. He sported the same long black coat and dark glasses as he did the day before.
"I hear you girl's had a bit of a disagreement this morning." Zima smiled.
"Please, not from you too, Zima," Meilin groaned.
"I only meant to tease. Elda told me all about it on our drive back to the manor. She also told me something very peculiar about the both of you girls, but I'll let her tell you herself." Zima smiled again, but mischievously this time.
Before Kita knew it, she was being escorted by Elda up the main flight of stairs to a small dark room on the top floor. It smelled of incense and light perfume, and was quite warm. It made Kita want to curl up on the floor and take a quick nap.
"I am sorry Kita, but no napping is allowed," Elda laughed softly at Kita's surprise. "You must remember, I am a psychic. Now, I have some very important things to tell you."
Kita stared at Elda as the psychic sat quietly for a moment, her eyes closed, her hands folded in her lap. When she opened her eyes and spoke, it made Kita uneasy, her eyes were hard and filled with power, and her voice was distant and darker somehow.
"Kita Kinomoto, do you know of the powers that flow through your veins? Passed to you from long ago by those who are no more. Soon, very soon, you will know, and soon you will show your potential, and your purpose. There are those who you are destined to meet, for now they sleep, locked from the sun forged by your family blood. But soon, they awake, and you must decide what fate will have in store. There is a friend by your side, but now your feelings hide, masked in anger and hate. Keep her near, and keep her dear for soon both of your paths will be clear. Although they may diverge and doubt will emerge the bond you forge now will determine if you meet on the other side of the darkness." Elda closed her eyes for a moment and let her words sink in to Kita. The city girl had begun to bob slightly to the psychic's words as they had become more melodious. She didn't understand what was being said very well, but it was easy for her to remember.
"Kinomoto," Elda took Kita's face in between her smooth pale hands. "Heed my words and follow your heart. Satins and silks may sparkle and dance, but blood and love are everlasting. You will meet me soon, very soon, but until then," Elda kissed Kita softly on the forehead then sat back on her pillow. When she opened her eyes again, they were soft, and the power had been drained out of them.
"I am terribly sorry, but how long have we been sitting here?" Elda said in her soft voice.
Kita glanced at her watch and didn't understand how the past hour had slipped away so quickly..
