To jinx a Tarot deck
After she finally recovered from her reading, she was surprised to find that Syaoran was true to his word. He left the cards next to her pillow for her to find. She was glad that he had caught her when she collapsed.
She carefully got up and left her room, her cards inside her pouch that Fate had given her when she managed to use the Tarot without instructions. Her pendant was hanging around her neck as always, and she walked to the living room. She was a little surprised to find that Syaoran was still there. She gave Dark a look; to which he responded with a slight nod of his head for her to come over.
"Syaoran has been telling me some interesting things while you slept."
"Why is he still here?!"
"I need help using the Tarot cards properly. For some reason, they keep giving me the wrong readings!"
"Are you sure that you aren't misreading them?"
"A friend showed me how to do it, and I memorized each card's meaning. I'm just wanted to know why they give me fortunes that are way off!"
"Let me see your deck. Maybe there is something wrong with it…" said Rune.
She carefully examined the cards. To a normal eye, they looked to be in perfect condition, and there was nothing wrong with them. But Rune could see that they had gotten quite a bit of use, and that there was something wrong with the deck, not the reader!
"You were right…something is wrong with this deck. How often have you used these?"
"I've tried every time I could practice in private…which was quite often. I practically know the pattern by heart; I've used them so much!"
Rune took another look at the cards and found something irritating.
"You do realize some idiot put a jinx on these cards don't you?"
"That would explain a lot. But who would jinx a Tarot card deck? Isn't that like mixing 2 very different ingredients and getting a mess?"
"Pretty much. I can't think of any reason why someone would deliberately jinx a deck; that usually results in disaster befalling the one who cast it."
"I wonder if…nah couldn't be!"
"What?"
"Well, a friend of mine was a real skeptic and said that I'd never get any real fortunes from the cards anyway. I ignored him and we quit talking to each other after that…"
"Do you know how people get accurate or fairly accurate readings?" asked Rune.
"I heard it was how the reader cared for their deck and how much they actually believed in the Tarot cards."
"I'm surprised you got that one right…normally people say that it depends on luck. Most people don't believe, so when they try to read alone they get false readings. Some even make the mistake of trying to get a reading for themselves…which almost always results in their death."
"When you said almost, does that mean that someone tried and succeeded?"
"No, they got off on a technicality. They were lucky to have Fate as a friend."
"So, do you think you could help me get the jinx off the deck?" asked Syaoran.
"This jinx has been on them too long and has settled. If we try to remove it now, we'd be in for a visit from Death. He isn't the kind of person you can reason with easily…"
"So what can I do to get accurate readings again? Do I have to get rid of the deck?" asked Syaoran, with a worried look on his face.
"No, the jinx has permanently settled on this deck alone. If you get a new one, it shouldn't transfer to it. Why are you worried about this deck?" asked Rune.
"My best friend gave them to me when I was a kid. That's the only thing I have left to remind me of him…" answered Syaoran sadly.
"Sorry, didn't mean to stir up sad memories…" Rune said quietly.
"Hey Syaoran, can you still do a reading if you get a new deck? Or has it been too long since you tried?" asked Dark.
"I remember how to do the reading, but I have a very vague recollection of their meaning…"
"Well, I guess we could try my deck…but I don't know if that's a good idea, they changed a lot from the fight with Rath…"
"Are you talking about the cards that you used earlier?"
"Um, yes but like I said they've changed since…"
"It's worth a try isn't it sis? After all, if something goes wrong, you'll be in circle with him right?"
"Uh, Dark? When I say reading I mean a normal, not enhanced by ancient spirits, reading!" exclaimed Syaoran in shock.
"That would be easy to do…though it has been a while since I did a normal reading."
"So where and when should we begin?" asked Dark.
"How 'bout on the table? It could be a quick reading!" said Syaoran hopeful.
"That would be your best bet if you want a normal reading. We might as well try it with my deck, though I don't know what it'll do if I let someone else use it…" said Rune worried.
Relax little one. You'll know pretty quick whether or not he can handle the Tarot Cards.
"Shall we get started?" said Rune, who wasn't so worried.
She set out her Tarot Card deck and handed it to Syaoran. It started to glow a little, but it subsided quickly. She let out a sigh of relief…
"It looks like the cards will let you use them for a normal reading!"
"Rune, when you say changed, what do you mean?" asked Syaoran.
"I mean the picture, the name, and the fact that they now have a mind of their own."
"Thanks for the warning…"
Syaoran did better than Rune expected. He really did know what he was doing! He wasn't so shocked about the reading, but he was surprised that she doubted his word on the deck!
"That went better than I hoped! You really have used the cards before!"
"Like I said, I had plenty of time and practice with a jinxed deck. I was lucky if I ever got one that made any sense!" laughed Syaoran.
"So sis, do you think he should stay here or leave in the morning?" asked Dark.
"Well, I guess it would be alright if he stayed. It would be nice to have someone else do a reading every once in a while…"
"That's good; considering dad already gave his consent!" laughed Dark.
"WHAT! This had better not be another one of his schemes!" roared Rune.
"Trust me, this isn't his idea wasn't his!" said Dark.
Syaoran gave her a look that told her whose idea it really was.
"Dark, do you have a death wish or something?!" growled Rune.
"Hey! At least you can get along with this guy!"
"True…if you're lucky I won't kill you later…" growled Rune.
Syaoran had no idea that she would be that angry at Dark! He just hoped that he lived long enough to tell her the truth himself!
Syaoran had been living in the Niwa family for over a month, which most considered a miracle! (Suitors who went there had a 20:80 chance of surviving Rune's initial attack.)
The main reason Syaoran lived longer than the others is that he didn't enter her room without her permission. Her father thought that maybe his daughter would finally settle down.
Fate often talked to Syaoran in his dreams. It warned him about going to her room uninvited; and her usual response. He wouldn't have tried that anyway; he actually possessed a rare quality that many men lack, COMMON SENSE.
Rune was slowly starting to open up again after the many years of solitude since Rath/Krad's attack. Dark looked at this with a good deal of hope that Syaoran would save his sister. However, Syaoran did more than save her from herself; he also saved her from some of the other Hikari members!