Hey Hey! Thanks for coming here to read. Chapter 5 is up! Yaaay! Ahaha, what am I saying here. XD

Anyway, more antics from Kuro and Fye here with the appearance of the Mokonas! Read on. They're gonna have some kind of Sports Day! )

Tsubameminoru: Hey, i forgot to reply to one of ur Q in the first review...Rie is pronounced as Rii...you get it? Haha, not so good with phonetics. XP

And to the anonymous reviewer, thanks for the love! ) I'll keep trying my best!

Smiles to all of you!

Well, alright, enough from me, on with the story!!! XP

Disclaimer: I own none of those fantastic people created by Clamp and Yuu Watase...what I do own is my own group of wacky, grumpy and silly kids. XD

CHAPTER V

It was a cold Monday morning in the month of November. Winter was fast approaching and the students were all lazy in bed. The wake-up gong rang for the second time and with a louder pitch. Ever since the weather had change, most students preferred to stay in bed, warm and comfortable, and where their drowsiness could be cured. The Junior Year I students were the hardest to awaken so the Team Masters and Team Mistresses had each taken a duty to rouse the Junior Year I students. Tasuki and Kurogane had to bang and shake every little asleep rascal in the Boys' Wing while Nuriko and Tomoyo did the Girls' Wing. Fye, on the other hand, was to patrol around the Main Hall area in case anyone escaped back to their rooms.

Tasuki roared a yawn as he knocked on the door of Room 3157. "Wake up!" he said sleepily as he let out another yawn.

Kurogane was on the floor below Tasuki and he was wide-awake with no signs of drowsiness. As usual, he was strict and alert. He banged on a door for a few seconds and waited. When no one answered, he unlocked the door with a key and stormed inside. To his fury, he discovered all four of the bedroom doors closed and there were no noise except for the dreamy snores behind them. He opened the first one quietly but grumpily. Slowly, he walked to the bed. He glared at the sleeping being. Kurogane pulled the blanket off the sleeping body and roared him awake.

Tasuki, just above Kurogane, heard the grumpy man's roar as well and had an almost heart attack. Not that he wasn't used to it already. He knocked lazily on all the doors down the hall and walked back to the one he had started on. He invaded those who did not respond to his wake up call with the same key Kurogane had used to open the poor unfortunate and sleeping souls. The only difference was the orange jewel on it. Kurogane's had a sapphire blue one instead.

These keys were not ordinary. They opened almost every door in the Academy and the owner's room. They were so special that only the Team Masters and Mistresses had the privilege of owning those keys. The other teachers only had keys that could open the doors to their room and to the classroom in which they teach.

Room 2827 were encountering some problems. Most of its students had been awoken by Tasuki. Only one room remains to contain a sleeper. None of the boys dared wake up the boy inside. Caederye was grumpy enough when he was awake much less when he was asleep. Tasuki opened the door to Room 2827 and popped his head in. He yawned again. "What are you all doing, standing around?" he asked irritably. "Go on. Get to the Eating Room!" he ordered.

The group of boys looked at each other. One of them spoke up. "Sir, Caederye hasn't woken up yet. And we don't dare…"

Tasuki heaved a sigh. He knew why most of them, no, all of them had a fear for that particular teenager. He beckoned for them to leave and strode up to Caederye's room. He knocked but there was no answer. He knocked on it harder and a little louder. Still there was no answer. Irritated, Tasuki banged the door open. He gasped. There was nobody there for him to awaken.

Room 1369 was the noisiest room in the Girls' Wing and Nuriko found no need to barge in on the students behind that door. However, as she patrolled that corridor, the noise was getting louder and louder. She unlocked the door with a yawn. "Mo…what's all that noise?" she asked.

The girls stopped their screaming and looked at the Team Mistress. A small, little blue kitten jumped onto Nuriko suddenly with a purr of fear. Nuriko caught it and held it up high while staring at it. The kitten blinked at her. "Meow," it cried.

Suddenly, a brown puppy ran towards the Team Mistress causing her to almost fall. She quickly caught hold of the door with one hand and the other still carrying the little kitten. The puppy sat and looked up at the kitten with playful eyes. Nuriko looked at the kitten again. She was numb with surprise. "Whose does this belong to?" she asked.

Hariette timidly put up her hand. "You?" asked Nuriko surprisingly. "From my team?"

Hariette gave a timid laugh. Nuriko heaved a sigh. "And the dog?" she asked.

Elle raised her hand up a little. Nuriko closed her eyes for a few seconds with the puppy's eyes looking up at her expectantly. "Well? Take him off my feet!" she ordered.

Elle quickly obeyed the order and carried her pet away from the Team Mistress. Nuriko beckoned to Alexis and dropped the kitten in her arms. "Take it to Fye," she said, shaking her head. Kids these days, messing with magic.

"The rest of you, off to the Eating Room. Hurry, hurry!" she said shrilly.

Alexis left before her friends and rushed to find Fye about the blue kitten. "Oh Banana, your owner sure got you a big problem," she said to it. It mewed in return.

That morning, Hariette had been practising for E&C class but somehow she had gotten the spell wrong and thus, her kitten remained a victim after Hariette's many attempts at the spell. Banana was the name Alexis had given to the kitten. It was not the kitten's given name. Alexis and Elle called it with different names, to the annoyance of Hariette. Still, the kitten answered to whatever names it was called. Then, Alexis spotted her Team Master leaping towards Kurogane who was pulling a student by his collars.

" Off you go now! You lazy bum," scolded Kurogane as he pushed the boy forward. The boy muttered a word of thanks and shuffled his feet towards the opposite direction of the Eating Room. Fye caught hold of the boy's sleeve and turned him to the correct direction. The boy waved his thanks and shuffled away.

"I had better keep an eye on that boy. He could be sneaking around at night," said Kurogane as he folded his arms.

"Hyuu…Kuro-wanwan is so caring," said Fye cheekily.

"Stop calling me all those stupid names!" shouted Kurogane.

"Kuro-rin is so serious!" cried a high little voice.

Fye laughed. Kurogane, on the other hand, looked suspicious. Suddenly, a small, white and round creature jumped up and landed on Kurogane's face. It had a red jewel on its forehead and looked rather like a white bun. "Kuro-rin missed Mokona, ya?" it said as it hugged Kurogane's face.

Alexis greeted the two Team Masters and held out the blue kitten. "Fye-san. Nuriko asked me to hand it to you. It's Hariette's. She was practising a spell on her kitten but she got the spell wrong," explained Alexis as she tried not to laugh at Kurogane. Fye was not trying at all as he rolled with laughter at Kurogane.

"White manjuu, get off me! I do not miss you!" hollered Kurogane at the creature called Mokona. He pulled the creature away from his face with all his might.

"Kuro-pon is so shy!" it exclaimed. It jumped off Kurogane's face and bounded away, laughing.

"I'll get you, you white ball!" shouted Kurogane as he chased Mokona.

"Bye bye Fye!" cried the creature as it leapt away from them.

"Stop moving!" ordered Kurogane.

Fye laughed and waved them goodbye. Then, he took the blue kitten from Alexis' hands. He smiled at the pet. "My, Miss Eisenstaedt is very talented, isn't she? Ask her to get it back from me during lunch."

Alexis nodded in reply and headed off to the Eating Room. Fye's voice called out to her. "Oh, and Alexis. Starting this Saturday, there'll be a practice for you and your two friends every week."

Alexis heaved a sigh. She was dreading Christmas this year. Fye had chosen Amiboshi, Elle and her to perform during the yearly Xmas Ball. She was getting nervous and there was no way out of it. She smiled. At least Elle had agreed to help her out.

Hariette plopped herself onto the long bench at her team's table and pulled out her E&C book from her bag onto the table. She flipped to the page she had been reading early that morning. She just couldn't figure out her mistake in that spell. Just then, Plont arrived with full consciousness and no signs of drowsiness. "Good morning," he said.

Hariette was so engrossed in her book that she did not hear the greeting. A senior sitting opposite of her was arguing with a little yellow creature while buttering her toast. She smiled at her teammate. Sakura held out her buttered toast. "Eat. You'll feel terrible later in this weather if you don't," she said as she offered the buttered toast.

"Sakura, how come you don't butter toast for me?" asked the little Keroberos.

Hariette laughed. She took it and thanked her senior and went back to her book. Plont lifted the cover of the book to see what she was reading. "E&C?" he asked. "You having a problem?"

"Yeah, I can't seem to get that spell correct. I've been trying all weekend and this morning too."

"Oh, is it that colour spell?"

She nodded her head. "Hey Sakura, can you do that spell?"

Sakura lifted her head from her bowl of cereal. "Iro de Kawaru?"

Hariette nodded again. "Hmm…that one. We learnt that too when we were in your year…well, you just need to…hmmm, I was bad with that spell too," said Sakura with a grin.

Hariette stared at her. "O-Kay…thanks."

Sakura smiled. "Why don't you ask Fye-san?"

"I did but he asked me to practise first. Practise a lot first."

Sakura giggled. "Fye is, somehow a bit strange."

They were interrupted by Kurogane's shouting. They turned around to find Team Water's Master chasing a bouncing white ball-like creature. "Come back here with my takoyaki! You white meat bun!" shouted Kurogane after Mokona.

A similar black creature with a blue jewel instead that sat near the Headmistress was bouncing on the table, cheering Mokona on. "Chita! Go White Mokona! Go! Go!" cheered the black Mokona.

Kurogane stopped short near Yuuko-san's side of the table. He turned and prepared to lunge at the black creature. "I'll get you too!"

The black Mokona jumped away. "Chita! Kuro-moo is so energetic to chase two Mokonas!"

The two Mokonas leapt away out of the Eating Room laughing with the Team Master at their tail. The students all laughed at the teacher. "The Headmistress doesn't seem to care about the commotion they make, does she?" asked Hariette.

Sakura took a deep breath from her hysterical laughing. "Well, it's not that she doesn't care. It's just unnecessary for her to stop them. There are certain things that are unnecessary for her to prevent," explained the green-eyed girl.

Yuuko-san sat at the front table in the middle seat, eating and listening to the chatters in the Eating Room. On her right was Watanuki, scooping his porridge grumpily. At the end of her table was Kurogane sitting with the White Mokona and the Black one as well. Kurogane had just returned a few minutes ago, clutching the two Mokonas. Next to Kurogane was Fye D. Flowright as always. She smiled. It was interesting to watch Mokona and the mage team up against Kurogane. The three of them get along very well. She looked outside a nearby window. It was truly getting chillier. It was no surprise since it was the end of Vonbrm already. Still, this year is colder than before. She had devised a plan last night. She took a sip from her cup of coffee and stood up from her chair. She cleared her throat but no one was paying attention. The Headmistress was not one to scream and shout so she tapped the person's shoulder sitting on her left.

Tasuki felt the tap and looked up to find the Headmistress smiling expectantly. He grunted. "You never call me unless you want something done," he complained.

Then, " OY! YOU PUNKS! LISTEN UP!" he ordered.

Nuriko, sitting next to him, pulled his ear with one hand and said," Is that how you talk to the students?"

Instantly, every head turned towards the Teachers' Table. Their Headmistress smiled. "Considering the weather's been so bitter this year, I know it is hard for you to be up and about. Therefore, I've decided to raise the stakes this year and bring forth the Inter-team Duel Competition."

She waited for her words to sink in. The murmurs started to arise again. Duel? With weapons? Wasn't that dangerous? The thoughts of safety were on the majority of the students' thoughts. The teachers however looked surprised at the Headmistress' sudden decision. She was known to make her own decisions without consulting others but she could have at least informed them first. "I trust your PE teacher has been teaching you a lot," she continued as she looked at Kurogane.

The man stared at her with much annoyance. "Hyuu…Kuro-pon is this week's star!" said Fye happily.

Kurogane glared at him. "You're in it as well."

Fye smiled wistfully. That was true. PE lessons were divided among certain teachers such as Kuro-tan, Fye and Tasuki. PE was actually a class where the students were taught the ways to duel, the ways to deal with a weapon. Overall, however, Kuro-rin was in charge of that class.

"The duel will be held this Friday at nine sharp in the morning. Classes will be cancelled. The location will be at the Arena," announced Yuuko with a mysterious smile.

"Each win will award your team ten points. The winning team…will obviously be the winners. The points each team accumulates during the competition will also be added into your total team points," explained the Headmistress as she twirled a strand of her long black hair,

It was going to be a fun week. She wondered what that charming young man would do.

It was announced to the students that the two periods before lunch everyday had been cancelled to accommodate duel practices for all five teams. Therefore, when it was time, they were shooed to the Arena with each team going to different corners. "Kuro-roo! Good luck!" cried Fye from a corner of the Arena with the White Mokona in his arms.

Kurogane stiffened in anger at the nickname. His team was just at the opposite corner. He shouted to the mage," Stop calling me with animal names! I have a name!"

Fye smiled mischievously. "Okay. Sorry, Big Puppy!"

Kurogane folded his arms with satisfaction. "That's bette-"

He stopped when he realized what the mage had called him. He turned around and chased Fye. Fye quickly ran away with the cheering White Mokona still in his arms. Suddenly, Fye spun around and threw his white ball friend directly at Kurogane's face and continued his run, laughing. Kurogane unstuck the Mokona and chased on. Nearby, Tomoyo, who had the middle of the Arena for her team laughed at the two "friends". She had heard from Fye that during a journey of theirs to another world, Fye had registered them at the City Hall and not knowing the writing system there, he drew pictures for their aliases.

In the middle of the Arena where Team Ice was having their practice, stood Caerie with her short hair braided and Eriol, his hair as messy as ever. "Those three must be great friends," giggled Caerie.

"Why do you say so?" asked Eriol, laughing as well.

"They get along so well that they don't hold back some words."

Eriol laughed. "Does that mean your brother and I will be best friends one day?" he asked.

The sixteen-year-old girl stopped laughing. "Maybe."

Their conversation ended when Tomoyo instructed them to do warm ups.

The Inter-Team Duel Competition wasn't all just about fighting with weapons or by kicking and punching. It had many categories such as a duel in Archery or Sword-Combat. A magic duel was also one of the many categories. The Archery Competition was a competition where its participants shoot at a target and not at each other, so it was a safer duel compared with the others.

Each student was required to participate in the Sword-Combat and another category. The Team Master or Team Mistress of each team will choose the second category for each student. Therefore, the first day was always important as the students would try out every category and the Team Master or Team Mistress would place them into the category that they would succeed in the best.

After one period of practising and warming up, it was time for them to try out the second category lists. Each team took turns at different corners where the category placements had been arranged. Nuriko led her team to the west corner where the archery range had been set. There, Yukito from Fye's Team stood next to the range, ready to help out. By then, the weather's temperature had surprisingly increased. The students started removing their scarves and jackets with their eyes half blinded by the sunlight's rays.

Watanuki and Yuuko stood at the side of the range, observing as Yukito took his position and demonstrated the shooting. Watanuki had things on his mind and he had never been afraid to tell them to the Headmistress, be it offensive or not. He breathed in and said," Yuuko-san, is it all right if we have the competition now, so soon? What with the Xmas Ball coming."

Yukito's arrow hit a bull's eye and received loud applauses. He bowed and stepped away, smiling encouragingly. Yuuko-san smiled, not answering him as she watched the first line of students from Nuriko's team took their bows and arrows and took position. Some of them struggled with the equipment as they tried to place the arrow and some pulled the strings of the bow so hard that the arrow escaped, hitting their neighbours. Nuriko shook her head as Yukito helped the troubled ones. At Nuriko's whistle, they fired the arrows at the targets that stood ten feet away. Some flew backwards while some overshot the target a thousand miles away. There was one that even flew up instead of forward and a few others that shot to the floor. The girl who was standing near the Headmistress and Watanuki somehow shot the arrow towards them. Yuuko and Watanuki's quick impulse pulled them away from the offending arrow.

The Team Earth girl bowed continuously in apologies towards the two superiors. Yuuko waved her away to continue with the second category placement. Finally, she answered," Well, I doubt there'll be much time after the holidays."

Watanuki gave her a puzzled but annoyed look. Her answer was not reassuring, but of course, the witch always had her way. "Don't worry so much, Watanuki-kun. I'm sure you can manage it very well," assured the Headmistress with an expectant smile as another arrow flew past their heads.

A boy from the middle of the line cowered in embarrassment before running to retrieve his arrow. Nuriko put her hands at her hips and yelled at them to be careful.

Hariette and Plont were the third batch to try out the archery range and they stood almost at the end of the line. Having watched the two arrows from the previous two groups almost killing her Headmistress and the Assistant, Hariette did not want to be the one from her group to repeat that accident. Hariette was no good with archery, even during PE lessons; she had never even managed to master placing the arrow between the strings of the bow. Plont, on the other hand, looked extremely confident, thought Hariette as she glanced at him standing next to her, already the bow and arrow in place and taking aim. Yukito went to her and helped her with the arrow while teaching her how. Nuriko blew her green whistle once more and arrows shot into the air again. There were less direction errors of the arrows but sure enough as expected, one arrow strived to endanger the Headmistress' life yet again.

Plont's arrow hit a bull's eye perfectly while Hariette's darted a few feet away from her. Hariette swiped her blond locks off her forehead in relief. Sure she did not even hit the target but she was glad it was not worse. Plont grinned at her. She laughed, "You're good."

He shrugged. "I had training."

Her expression turned puzzled. "Training?"

He froze and managed a small smile. "I meant practice. The word "training" seems to add a more serious touch to my interest, that's all."

She giggled. "I see."

He breathed out with relief. How could he have let that slipped?

At the sound of the gong, they were dismissed for lunch. The weather had turned surprisingly hot and it was a relief to get out of the hot sun. Students whispered about the mysterious weather change. It was strange enough when the chilly winds blew through Aien early of Vonbrm since winter only came at the earliest, mid Vonbrm.

Their Headmistress was standing near the audience seats with Watanuki by her side holding up and umbrella for her. The two little girls were as usual, teasing Watanuki who as usual, looked annoyed. The students who passed them heard him complaining about having to hold an umbrella even with the overtop roof above their heads. They also heard the Headmistress explaining to him about skin cancer whatever that was. Truly, the Headmistress still surprise them to no end with all the weird things she speaks about.

Yuuko paid little attention to the whispering students. She was gazing into the blue sky with the white cotton candy clouds and the blazing orange sun plastered on it. That morning, it was dark and the clouds had all stuck to one another making it difficult to even see a trace of the sky. How the weather had changed, thought Yuuko. Next to her, Watanuki continued his list of complaints with no realization that she was not listening though she heard his voice going on and on. She stared at the cottony clouds for a long time before Watanuki shouted into her ear. "All the students have gone in. Let's go before we become burnt, roasted ducks."

The five Team Masters and Team Mistresses gathered by her side, following her gaze to the sky. "Watanuki-kun, go to the Eating Room with Maru and Moro. We have an urge to become burnt, roasted ducks," said Yuuko with a smile.

Watanuki rolled his eyes ignorantly and took the two little girls' hands. "Burnt roasted ducks! Well, go ahead! Be burnt but then who has to do all her work and attend to her like a slave? Me, that's who! Otherwise I wouldn't care!" complained Watanuki as he led the girls away with them cheering on about ducks to him.

"The weather's gone cuckoo I tell you," said Tasuki as he wiped off the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve.

"You should be alright with hot since you have a fire fan," teased Nuriko.

"Just because I can make the fan spout out fire doesn't mean I can stand heat and melt snow!" argued Tasuki.

"Someone's doing this," said Kurogane with suspicion.

"Of course it's not!" said Tasuki, taking out a small knife from his pocket. He had worn a long sleeve shirt that morning when it was cold but now it was just unbearable to continue wearing it in the heat.

He bit the upper length of his sleeve and held out the knife to Nuriko. "Can't you help me?" he asked impatiently.

Nuriko shook her head. "You're going to spoil a good shirt," she said as she took the knife from his hand and started slicing the cloth slowly.

"Never liked this shirt anyway," said Tasuki as he held out the other sleeve after Nuriko finished slicing the first.

Nuriko sliced away the second sleeve and placed them together on the floor. She stood up and gripped the knife tightly. Tasuki was straightening a crease on his shirt and glad with the absence of the long and starchy sleeves. He turned around still examining the crease and said, "Thanks Nuriko!"

"Your welcome," said Nuriko through her gritted teeth as she approached him menacingly.

Fye who was standing next to Tasuki saw her with the knife and tapped at Tasuki's shoulder. "Where did you get this lovely shirt?" he asked with a grin.

"I gave him that shirt for Christmas," snarled Nuriko as she held up the knife higher.

Tasuki gave a yelp of surprise when he looked up and ran as fast as he could. "What's your problem now?" he shouted at her.

"You said you loved that shirt and then now you asked me to cut off its sleeves?" she screamed back in fury.

"Well, it looks better now."

"What did you say? Stop running away and face me like a man!"

"I'll burn you if you don't stop chasing me!"

"Is that a threat?"

"Nuriko! I'm sorry! Don't kill me!" cried Tasuki.

The two friends continued their squabble, running round the Arena while the Headmistress and their colleagues looked on at their running figures. Fye then turned his attention back at his superior. "You know the cause of it?" he asked.

Yuuko coughed a small laugh. "About their disagreement?" she asked.

Tomoyo shook her head. "The weather; all the strange things that's been happening in Aien recently."

Yuuko looked to the sky, stalling for time as she considered whether to explain everything to them or not. Fye looked away and said," This is the work of magic, you know it."

Yuuko smiled. "The time will come for you to understand. I do not know it fully myself."

"All I can say is that this term will be a shorter one," she continued.

Hariette stifled a yawn as she marched next to Elle to the Eating Room. A boy from Elle's team was walking next to her as well. He had been trying to make her laugh by telling jokes and making weird faces. He had told her another joke and was looking at her expectantly to laugh. Elle noticed and asked with the slightest surprise," Oh, was I suppose to laugh?"

The boy sighed. "Elle, you don't get the meaning of jokes, do you?"

Elle looked at him kindly. "No, I just don't get the meaning of your jokes."

Hariette giggled at her comment and gave another yawn. The boy laughed too and added his comment. "You're cruel."

Elle lifted an eyebrow. "Am I?"

They reached the Eating Room, greeted by the smell of the delicious food. The boy left and the two friends hurried to a round table near the window. Hariette tucked her scarf into her bag. Elle smoothed her hair and bunched them together so she could tie them. Hariette thought for a while before taking out a small wooden box. It was made from the bark of an oak tree a hundred years ago. It had been in her family for a long time, passed down from generation to generation. A large sun was carved on the front with ancient characters surrounding it as the border. On the back of it was a message; a message carved in ancient characters as well. Hariette did not know the meaning of the characters but she had been told that it carried a very important meaning. Her fingers felt the carvings, calling for it to give her the strength and power. She lifted the cover and there, in the box, was a deck of cards. It looked old and most of it was burnt at the edges. She smiled, feeling a surge of warmth running from her fingertips. Just then Caederye and his sister, and Plont sat themselves at the table, removing the extra clothing, except for Caederye who had not even bothered bundling himself up that morning. He took out his Ancient Language dictionary and flipped to the page he had folded. Hariette bit part of her lip, considering.

She got up, took the wooden box containing the cards and went to sit next to Caederye who shifted away when he saw her approaching the seat near him. Hariette turned over the box on her palm and started shuffling the cards. "Caederye?" she said, still shuffling the cards.

He nodded lazily with his eyes still on the book. "Can you help me out with my Divination practice?" she asked.

Caederye turned the page of his book. "I don't take Divination," he answered sombrely.

"That's okay. You don't have to teach me. Just let me read your fortune with my cards? I need to practise it."

Caederye just nodded with a frown and said," Do as you like."

Hariette grinned. She glanced around her table. Her other three friends at the table were discussing about the competition, none of whom paid any attention to them both. She breathed in and laid the cards on the table between Caederye and her. Caederye was not paying attention but it didn't matter to her. "Place them back together as a deck again and put it on my palm, "instructed Hariette, holding out her hand.

The black-haired teen flickered his green eyes to the table for a second, swept the cards together with one hand and handed the messy pile of cards back to her. She took it, rolling her eyes and neatened the deck. "Take five cards without looking at them," she directed as she held them out like a fan.

He turned over a page in his dictionary, still reading and felt for a card in front of his book. He pulled it and laid the card face down on the table. He did the same for the other four cards. Hariette looked at him with unblinking eyes, staring with a mysterious smile. "Good," she said.

She let her blue sapphire eyes blink and wander to the five cards that were arranged in a line. She sighed long and took a deep breath as she held the first card on her left. "This card will show the inner you versus the exterior you," she said as she flipped the card.

It showed a white dove carrying a branch of leaves in its beak at the upper part of the card and a black brick wall with black skies overhead accompanied by lightning at the bottom part. Hariette giggled. Caerie and the others had turned their attention towards them and were laughing with her too. The card's message was crystal clear. Caederye put down the dictionary, wondering about their sudden outburst of giggles. He stared at the card. He got the meaning too but just grunted. "Well, it means that you are actually very gentle at heart and cares a lot about others even though on the outside, you are often mistaken as a person with a temper, impatience and unfriendliness," explained Hariette.

Caederye's reply was," I do have a temper. I am impatient. And I am unfriendly."

"Of course," answered Hariette with a patient smile.

She turned over the second card. "This will show you your Guardian Star, the one destined to protect you."

It was an illustration of a white robed angel dancing with the stars in the dark blue canvas sky. The angel's wings were white and yet somehow, they shone in gold. "Your Guardian is one that possesses the blessings of the stars," stammered Hariette, her eyes were full of disbelief and fear.

That card existed with two other cards. One, whose jurisdiction was the Sun and the other, the Moon. But never, had anyone drew out this card or the other two for that matter. It was impossible. The second cards that the others drew were always the more common ones. They had always only determined the gender of their Guardian or the distance between them. She felt fear because it meant that her task would not be easy. It would not, thought Hariette. Caederye stared at her, not knowing the significance of the card she had just read.

Even so, she was getting more amused with each card she flipped. Besides, the fourth and the last card were the ones she anticipated most.

"This shows your past," said Hariette.

The third card showed a graveyard with a figure dressed in black, supposedly weeping in front of the graves. "You had a terrible childhood, losing your loved ones," Hariette's voice grew soft with sympathy. She peeked at Caederye timidly.

"And your present," she murmured excitedly as she flipped the fourth card, holding her breath.

The others who were watching them gave a horrified gasp. Caederye glanced over his book and his eyes went wide with surprise for a few seconds before peering at Hariette's face. Were his eyes deceiving him or was the girl before him smiling with an air of triumphant? He quickly withdrew his eyes to face the jumble of words that seemed a blur to him at that moment. Hariette cleared her throat and Caederye noticed her smile wiped away. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Your present shows that death will be in your pathway," she whispered.

"And this will be your future," she continued softly.

Caerie breathed a sigh of relief at the card. It showed a palace shining in gold with the sun lighting the building with its yellow rays. Hariette was puzzled. Was she doing it all wrong? How could one card show death and another show life? "Well, nothing to worry about then. It seems that you will be living in eternal glory and power in your future," she said with an effort to sound cheery in her voice. Caederye did not reply though inside, he was convinced the girl's reading was already wrong from the start, after seeing the card that supposedly showed his future.

The blue-eyed girl shuffled all the cards again and held them out in a fan shape once more, the illustrations facing her. "Pick a card and don't look at it," she ordered. This one would not be wrong, at least.

He idly pulled one out and slapped it on the wooden table. "This means that your last card here will warn you of the identity of your destroyer," she whispered again.

She held her breath as her fingers pressed on the last card before turning it over. Her eyes widened at the sight of the card. Amusement, bewilderedness and ease flooded her mind. Her body was rigid. There, on the table, was the same card she had flipped earlier. It was the second card. The one who would bring death to Caederye was the same one who would guard and protect him. It was the card with the Guardian of the Stars.

No, it cannot be, thought Hariette. But, she had never failed in producing an accurate reading. They were always truer than true. Should she warn him though? Her sapphire eyes flickered to the young adult. He was not paying attention.

Caederye could not be bothered with the card that was to "warn" him considering how assured he was that the readings must be wrong. The last card proved his theory even more.

Caerie and the others were not keen followers of card reading and they were confused with how Caederye's reading had turned out. Caerie, being the gentler one, laid a comforting hand on Hariette's shoulder. "It's okay. Maybe you weren't concentrating enough with all the noise around you," consoled Caerie.

"Yeah, I guess so," replied Hariette with a forced smile.

"Thanks, Caederye,"said Hariette again before returning to her seat next to Elle.

Caederye stared at her venomously in reply. The tall girl did not notice and was looking at her cards again. She was lost in her thoughts. Was there someone else?

Then, she had a thought. She ran out with the cards and hid in a small corner near the hall. Quickly, she gathered the cards with the Alphabets. They were rarely used and were hardly drawn during the tarot readings. However, they were great sources for names.

She closed her eyes, cards cupped in her both her hands and praying. "O Cards of the Sun, grant me your Sight, I ask of you. Reveal to me the Adversary of the one whose Destiny you have just foretold," whispered Hariette, her eyes clinched shut in concentration.

She opened her blue eyes and slowly a faint orange light surrounded the cards. A card floated into the air and laid itself faced down onto the cold stone floor. Another and another followed suit, until six cards were lined up horizontally. The light slowly faded into the air. The fifteen-year-old blond breathed heavily. It was not her name. Her hand trembled as it reached out to the first Letter. Slowly, she turned over each card. Fear rose in her as each card was revealed.

"No," she gasped.

For there it was each letter in one card. It was spelt "ALEXIS".

A/N: Heys! Thanks for reading this far! So, so, i do hope you'll review please. They'll be greatly loved and appreciated. ) Advance thanks! Have a nice day and God Bless!