MMG 16: Void
(It's an Eriol moment at last!)
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"Come in. The tea's just about ready." Fujitaka welcomed as he opened the door. Eriol didn't need to ask how the man knew that he was already there though he didn't ring the doorbell. He was really his half; that much he understood upon seeing Sakura's father. He felt it.
When they finally settled in the living room, Fujitaka explained about the riddle. He repeated all that he said to Yelan… and some other facts.
"Sakura found the Clow book in our basement. When more things came back to me, all those memories, I searched through our basement. That was when I found two more magical things. One was the bell that I gave Mizuki Kaho. The other is…" He looked straight at Eriol's eyes.
"A negative card. The card that is more powerful than all the positive cards combined: The Void." He paused to sip some tea then continued. "But, quite surprisingly, when I found it, it was in its normal card form. It didn't change or rampaged. I figured that I should give it to you since you have Clow's powers and most of his memories. You even have your own guardians" He smiled then added 'very cute guardians' when he remembered the hyperactive Nakuru.
He took a rectangular card from his pocket and slid it across the table to Eriol. "Here it is" The teenage mage took it and looked at it with interest. On the card was a picture of a little girl with gray hair and cold eyes. She has the saddest expression on her face.
"I don't need to do anything? The most powerful card doesn't need to be sealed?" he asked incredulously. It was too good to be true. It was near impossible, in his own terms.
"That's why I'm giving it to you. No memories about it have come to me yet. I do not have powers to strain it until then. Nobody knows when it will show its true power" Fujitaka explained.
Eriol just nodded, finally understanding why he is here.
"Do you… think I could go to Syaoran's? I think I could help" he asked hesitantly. At that time, he looked like a little boy asking his father of what he should do. He was at ease asking Kinomoto-san even though they had just met.
Wait… Before Fujitaka could answer, Eriol asked another question. "Have we met before?"
"I'm glad you remember a little. I thought you forgot about me completely…" His smile widened. "That would be harsh since I always go to your house when you were younger. I just left you when you were about eight years old."
(A/n: I'm soooo loving this!)
Eriol also smiled, somehow happy that he finally found his long lost guardian. So… Sakura's father is that man in black! (Remember that man in black in episode 9?) No wonder he felt so comfortable with him.
"My first memories of Clow came to me when you were born. That was why I was given the task of sustaining your needs even if I live in Japan. That's also the reason why I can't stay with you at your house. I also had a family to take care of." he stated.
He sighed a little nostalgically then looked at Eriol again. "Anyway, I think you should first go to your house and think about the riddle by yourself. My daughter and your other friends still needs their time to think"
The young reincarnation nodded with a sad smile. He was happy that there is some light now to the things he didn't know earlier but… it hurts to think that his friends hate him so much that they wouldn't want to see him even though they know he could help greatly.
"Thank you for the tea, Kinomoto-san" he said then stood up. He needs to read in his library quick! Now, more than ever, he needs his quiet time.
"Your welcome. Just come here if you need anything else."
…
"I can't think of anything!" Syaoran exclaimed, obviously irritated that he cannot think of an answer.
"Let's do this one by one. Maybe using its phrase would make it easier to understand" Tomoyo suggested just to ease the tension on each of the persons inside the room. All of them were pretty much annoyed with Clow Reed for making such a complex riddle.
'To think that… that Hiiragizawa is the reincarnation of Clow Reed! Just another reason to hate that Liar…' Even though she is highly angry inside, she didn't show it much since everyone was already mad.
Sakura nodded enthusiastically. As long as there is hope, she would try to be as positive as possible. "The first sentence… a single wish of love would be granted by a tear; a tear not of joy but of sorrow. Tomoyo-chan, Syaoran-kun, what do you think about that sentence?"
"Hmmm… that means the person that would grant the wish, which is most likely the maiden, would not be happy about the wish. Or something to that extent" Tomoyo mused out loud.
"Who would be sad if I live?" Syaoran asked the two girls. It was the only thing he could think of that would connect to Tomoyo's idea.
"Syaoran-kun! No one would be sad if you live! Don't think about that!" Sakura cried out, shocked to hear his question. Syaoran-kun is so nice… who could hate him? (A/N: My, my; what naive thoughts you have, Sakura-chan!)
"Well, there ought to be someone. That is our only clue on the riddle." Syaoran whispered. He was kind of glad that Sakura thinks like that. At least someone really thinks that he should live no matter what.
"Hmmm…" Tomoyo was thinking again. There should be some other clue. "Maybe it's like this: the person would encounter a problem about something that is related to Li-kun so she, since it would definitely be a girl, would not be happy about Li-kun's wish." She explained. She then frowned and said, "But then… it would mean that the clue is useless to us"
"It's okay… let's just think about the other sentences. At least we know that the girl we need is someone who is non-magical and kind. That would narrow our search" Sakura encouraged positively.
Syaoran decided to think positively too. He needed to stop his stupid anger before it makes him completely useless. He needs to think clearly. "Okay. We're also sure that that girl will help us make a card. That card would be made using the clueless ness of a child's heart, untainted feelings of a confused love and the emptiness of heartbreak. First, clueless ness of a child's heart. What could it be?"
Clueless ness… that's Sakura's most known trait. "Oh yeah!" Tomoyo suddenly perked up, a brilliant idea coming to her. "Clueless ness is what symbolizes Sakura best while the untainted feelings of a confused heart symbolizes Syaoran… don't you think so?"
Sakura smiled brightly, excited about the idea. They're getting closer to the answer. "Now that you say it, it does connect to the riddle. But what about the heartbreak part?"
Silence ensued. Who feels the emptiness of heartbreak?
…
The next day…
…
Ring!
The ringing of the telephone broke the silence that was surrounding the Hiiragizawa manor. The usual cheery guardian rushed to the phone. Maybe this time, Touya will really call her?
No such luck. Again. "Hello? This is Sakura. Can I talk to Eriol-kun?"
But then again, someone related to Touya is on the phone again. Why won't Touya-kun call?!
"Sakura-chan! I'll call master Eriol. Just wait a minute, sister-in-law"
She ran to the library, fully aware that he is still there. He had said that he wouldn't want anyone to disturb him while he is reading. But Sakura-chan is a special case, she knew. He would be delighted to hear that the card mistress isn't angry with him.
She carefully knocked on the door. "Eriol-sama? Sorry to disturb you but Sakura-chan is on the phone"
"What?!"
"Eriol-sama, if you would just open this door then you would hear me clearly. Sakura-chan is on the phone!"
He opened the door with a slightly shocked face. "Nakuru, the 'what' I uttered earlier was that of shock, of someone unbelieving; not that of someone not understanding."
"Oh…"
He smiled understandingly and patted her head. (Kawaii!!!) He walked to the phone and slowly took it. He was nervous as to why the card mistress called. "Hello? Eriol speaking"
"Eriol-kun! I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me…" there was a relieved sigh from her. Huh? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
"Of course not, Sakura-chan. I thought you were the ones that wouldn't talk to me. I'm glad you called" He smiled and knew that she was smiling too. "Why did you call?"
"Can you go here in the penguin park? I really wanted to talk to you but we can't talk at Syaoran's place since…"
"I know. He can't forgive me… yet. I'll be there in five minutes"
"Thanks. Bye!"
…
"Eriol-kun!" Sakura was happy that he did show up. She really wanted to talk to him.
"Good afternoon Sakura-chan" he greeted with a smile. "What do you wan to talk about?"
As they settled on the swing, Sakura said her worries. "I just discovered that my father also has powers…"
Eriol nodded. "Your father called me and explained everything. I wanted to talk to you about the riddle but Kinomoto-san said that I should let you have your space"
Sakura looked at the skies sadly. "I'm afraid that we won't be able to answer the riddle that Clow Reed gave. What would happen to Syaoran-kun?"
"Sakura-chan… you're our optimistic and cute card mistress. You can't give up yet. I'll help you" He placed his hand inside his pocket and took out a Clow Card. "Your father gave me this. It's The Void. I think this card will help us somehow. But I'm still researching on how it should be used."
"The Void… I don't like the aura it emits," she shivered when she felt the cold aura that contrasts to the warm ones her own card emits. "Wait! The prophesy said that the Li heir would die before all the cards are captured…"
"Don't worry. I think the last card is the one that would save Li. He wouldn't die if we haven't even thought about the riddle. Solving the riddle is a double edged sword"
Sakura frowned. Double-edged sword?
"I think I need to go home now. I can feel Yelan-sama's aura nearby"
"Oh, right! She did say that she would bring me, Tomoyo and Syaoran to an Elder that is here in Japan"
Sadness made its way to his eyes when he heard the name of the amethyst-eyed little lady that is very dear to his heart.
Seeing this, Sakura stood up and placed a hand on his shoulders. "Tomoyo-chan said that time heals everything. She is a very compassionate person, you know that. She'll talk to you eventually"
Eriol smiled, comforted by her words. He took another rectangular thing from his pocket. But this time, it was not a Clow card. It was a letter in an elegant white envelope. "Please give this to Tomoyo."
Sakura nodded. They bid goodbye to each other then went their different paths.
…
Sakura, Syaoran and Tomoyo were sitting in a black car, on their way to the elder.
"Tomoyo-chan…" Sakura whispered. She didn't like to be heard by Syaoran since she knew he wouldn't want to know what she would say. Tomoyo looked at her curiously, wondering why she was whispering.
"Tomoyo-chan, someone wants to give you this letter" She took the letter and handed it discreetly.
The Daidouji heiress slowly opened the letter. She was inwardly admiring the elegant white envelope that has some beautiful designs. It looked like a formal invitation from a well-known company.
…
Daidouji Tomoyo-san,
I'm sorry. That's what I want to say most.
I know you wouldn't want to read this because you are still angry but please read the whole letter. I don't want to lie anymore. I will say everything.
The reason why Sakura said that she likes me is only because I told her to. I know you may know this by now. After all, you are Tomoeda's greatest observant. You realized it, didn't you? You stopped match making us and, instead, match made her and Syaoran.
It is a known fact by now that I am Clow reed's reincarnation. I'm really sorry that I didn't tell you about it… but I had to keep it a secret. You are the best friend of the card mistress, the main person I needed to observe. I didn't do anything bad to the three of you, right? I was just observing, telling myself that I would just help when I am needed.
I only knew my power after the first day of class this year. It was still confusing back then.
Thank you because you were always by my side. The days I spent with you were the most beautiful days I have experienced. Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
Eriol Hiiragizawa
Clow Reed reincarnate
Admiring Gentleman
…
??!!
Tears were falling from her amethyst eyes. She knew that she cannot hate him. He is just so special to her. But… how many lies have he said?
He is Clow Reed's reincarnation… and he is also the secret admirer that was writing to her. It hurts to know that the person she trusted the most was the person who lied this much to her.
'Just when I thought I was falling for him…'
…
Yatsi-chan: I'm updating again! I'm finding it so weird that I am actually updating this much. Oh, thank you again to AngelEmCuti and 'tGiveUpJustYet! You're such great people! Luv yah!
Random things: (Don't read this… it's a waste of time)
If I were a Greek goddess or something to that extent, I would definitely be the goddess of… (though I'm really tempted to say wisdom since I'm totally in-love with Athena) I'll be the goddess of Laziness or… writer's block. That's how much of a legend I am when it comes to being lazy!