Chapter 3: 'Enter Keroberos'
Kinomoto Castle
"Discuss? Discuss about what?" Sakura asked confused.
Everyone else was pretty clueless too.
"What's this about Kaho?" Touya asked worriedly.
Kaho took Rin form Touya's arms and set her down. Rin stared curiously at her mother.
"Why don't you go outside and play, honey?"
Rin's face brightened up.
"Thanks Mommy! I promise I'll be good!"
She skipped outside toward the garden without wasting a single moment. Kaho smiled at her daughter. She looked back to find everyone staring at her expectantly.
Kaho took a large box out of the travelling bag that was attached to her side.
Sakura eyed it curiously.
It looked like it contained a big book.
Did Kaho get me a book? I mean, I love books. But what's all this commotion about?
The box was red and had an image of a large golden lion carved on it with designs of the sun, moon and stars surrounding it.
It looks absolutely breath-taking! Sakura thought. It's probably a really special book!
Kaho pushed it towards her. But her expression didn't seem to show that she was giving her a present. Kaho looked serious- very serious. She gulped.
"Listen carefully, Sakura. You must open the lock on this box. Do not be alarmed by what's to happen afterward."
Touya cut in in front of Sakura before she could receive the box.
"Wait Kaho. What is this thing? And what do you mean by 'Do not be alarmed'? What's inside?" He pointed an accusatory finger at the box.
He loved his wife dearly. But Kaho was an extremely clever woman. She was a priestess, and she had plenty of tricks up her sleeve. Sometimes, it was difficult to rely on her. Especially for someone like Touya. He was extremely cautious when it came to matters concerning Sakura.
Fujitaka looked at the couple worriedly.
Kaho smirked. "My, My. Touya. Do you not trust me, my dear?" She taunted with artificial hurt in her voice.
"Not when you're gonna talk to me like that." He hated it when she did that.
Sakura put a hand in front of Touya.
"Relax, Touya. If what's inside is too dangerous for me, why would she want me open it?"
Touya glared at both of them, and backed down when he felt defeated.
"But why does Sakura have to open it? Is there any particular reason?" Fujitaka began with his hand on his chin, asking the real questions after observing the situation.
Kaho looked toward the king, still holding the box.
"It's because only she can open it. Not you, not me. Just her."
Fujitaka nodded with understanding.
Touya looked at his wife like she just said the most ridiculous thing ever.
Sakura was still confused as ever.
Kaho took a deep breath.
"After Nadeshiko died…" She didn't want to bring it up. But this was necessary.
"Sakura became the most powerful magician in this kingdom."
It sort of made sense. The royal family had magic, and Sakura inherited a large share from her mother. As it was mostly the females in the Kinomoto family, who inherit the magical powers.
"But she is still learning!" Touya added agitatedly. Her magic was stronger than his, but he always felt the need that she needed more protection than himself.
"Yes. And this is going to be part of her learning." Kaho spoke with a harder tone. She was tired of arguing. She moved towards Sakura and pushed the metallic box into her hands.
Sakura's eyes widened.
"Sakura, please."
The fate of the kingdom depends on you now.
There was lost look in Sakura's eyes.
Kinomoto Kingdom Garden
"Ow" Little Rin moaned in pain.
She tripped and bruised her knee. And her orange dress tore a bit.
Mommy and Daddy are not gonna be happy... She realized after taking a look at her minuscule wound.
A large shadow moved over her.
Her tiny body shivered.
Touya always told her not to wander off too far from the garden.
This is bad...
Right in front for her landed a large dragon-like creature.
It was twice as large as a horse. And it had two heads. Its body was covered with scales from head to toe. It bore its fangs out and looked down at Rin's helpless figure.
Tears streamed down Rin's face. She was too scared to move. And she was hurt, too.
Mommy…
The two headed serpent took a step forward. Rin's sobs were becoming more and more audible.
Help…
She closed her eyes and gripped the grass under her tightly.
Somebody…anybody…
"Hey!"
Rin looked up.
"Get away from her you beast!"
The man moved in between the serpent and Rin, with his hands stretched out each side.
Rin looked up at him but couldn't see his face.
She noticed the hair though. It was brown and messy.
"Back off if you know what's good for you!" Syaoran threatened.
The serpent growled. It stomped on the ground with loud thud and roared at Syaoran.
"Alright buddy, so you wanna fight?" Syaoran took his stance and slowly drew out his sword.
Rin, still sitting on the ground, not letting go of the grass between her fingers, stopped sobbing, to stare at the two.
The serpent charged at Syaoran with a headbutt.
Syaoran grabbed its head with one hand, used its momentum to effectively flip his body and land perfectly on the creature's back.
"There ya go!" A victorious grin spread across his face.
Rin smiled baring her teeth out, her face still wet with tears though. She found the feat quite funny.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the final blow!" Syaoran exclaimed, trying to sound as comical as possible.
The serpent wriggled its scale-clad body fiercely trying to shake Syaoran off its back. Syaoran held on tightly though.
When the creature was about to bend its body to drop the irritant, Syaoran brought his legs down, still holding onto one of the serpent's necks. He used the creature's momentum against it and flipped it, causing it end up on the ground, upside down.
To this, Rin laughed out heartily. She felt like she was watching one of those street shows in the villages.
"Bravo! Bravo!" She clapped and cheered.
Syaoran got his footing and bowed at his young audience.
"Thank you! You're too kind!."
He looked back at the two-headed serpent, who was still upside down, trying to make sense of what just happened. Syaoran placed his sword on the base of both of its necks. The creature's eyes widened and it stopped struggling.
It looked up at Syaoran with its dark yellow eyes, helplessly. Syaoran stared back and pushed his sword harder. His eyes showed no mercy.
The young princess gazed upon the scene, still sitting, with her mouth wide open.
After moments of starring at each other, Syaoran moved his eyes away. He moved his sword away too. The serpent slowly got back to its up-right position. Its head hung low, and this time, it looked much less intimidating. It brought its eyes up towards Syaoran. The helplessness, still lingering in them.
Syaoran looked at it indifferently.
"Get out... And don't come back." Syaoran pointed at the opposite direction, signaling the creature to get lost.
The serpent walked away slowly.
Rin couldn't help but feel sorry for the creature. When it pulled up that puppy-dog face, she found that it looked quite cute.
She got up slowly, forgetting that she had hurt her knee.
Syaoran felt a tug on his shirt. He withdrew his sword to look down at the little girl.
"Thank you, mister! You just saved my life!"
"Don't mention it kid." Syaoran didn't know this was the prince's daughter. He smiled and patted the girl on the head.
Right at that moment, his sword started to shake lightly in its scabbard.
Syaoran quickly grabbed it with his hand. It stopped.
He looked at it from the side.
What the heck was that?
"I'm Rin. What's your name?" His thoughts were interrupted.
"Oh… umm, you can call me Syaoran. I mean… my name's Syaoran." He tried to put himself together.
Rin giggled.
"You're funny!"
Back At The Kinomoto Castle
A bright light illuminated the whole place.
"What the heck is going on Kaho?!" Touya screamed out.
He grabbed onto his aged father to support him. He couldn't see a damn thing.
Sakura had opened the latch on the box. She was now wondering if it was a good decision.
Oh my god what's happening! I can't see a thing!
An unknown energy filled up her whole being. She felt like she was choking.
Oh no…
Sakura grabbed her throat. The feeling was going up towards her head. It wasn't painful. It just felt as if something was violating her- violating her deep inside her heart.
Sakura didn't know when but she ended up on her knees. Her hands were on her head this time.
HELP!
Kaho stood there.
Just a little longer. Hang in there, Sakura. You can do it! I believe in you…
The blinding light slowly dispersed.
Touya kept Fujitaka from falling over. He looked up at Sakura. She was on her knees trying to catch her breath.
"Sakura!"
He was going to look at Kaho when something caught his eye.
What on earth is that?
A yellow teddy bear was floating midair, with its eyes closed. The box laid open, empty, on the ground. And the teddy-bear was hovering right above it. It had tiny white angelic wings and a small tail that looked like that of a lion's cub.
Touya rubbed his eyes.
I must be seeing things…
Hiragizawa Castle
The sound of hysteric laughter echoed throughout the dark room.
"Is that Keroberos!? Oh my god! He looks like a cute teddy-bear! Master, why didn't you make Spinel Sun like that?!" Ruby Moon shrieked.
Spinel Sun growled at his humanoid counterpart.
"That's his fake form, you congenital imbecile!"
The panther-like creature looked back at the glowing orb.
Nevertheless, seeing Keroberos in his fake form was something he never would have expected. Spinel Sun too found it quite… hilarious.
He grinned, showing his shiny white fangs. He didn't do that often.
"Priceless…" He muttered.
"Now, now, you two... Behave yourselves." The blue haired boy, sitting between the two otherworldly creatures, scolded, humorously.
In his hand, he shuffled a deck of cards casually.
"What will it be? Oh, what WILL it be" He asked himself excitedly, with a playful, yet dangerous-looking, smile across his handsome face.
He stopped shuffling.
Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon looked at their master expectantly.
He drew the first card.
He looked at it.
He smirked.
My favorite.
The floor below his chair started to glow. It had the same sun, moon and stars pattern that the mysterious box had.
He flipped the card around.
It was pink with golden borders.
On it, was a black and white sketch of a woman, with giant feathers covering her shoulders.
"THE WINDY" It read.
Kinomoto Castle
Touya glared at the teddy-bear like creature.
And it glared back as well with its button-like black eyes.
Sakura looked to and fro between the two, absolutely bewildered, and still on her knees on the floor.
For one moment I thought that Kaho got me a talking teddy-bear as a late birthday present.
Sakura sighed.
Fujitaka cleared his throat, demanding attention.
"So, what you're saying is that, YOU are the Guardian Beast of the Seal?"
Everyone looked towards the floating teddy.
He nodded and puffed his small yellow chest.
"That's me. The great Keroberos. In the flesh!"
"The Guardian Beast of… Clow Reed's… Clow Cards?" Fujitaka continued. For he couldn't digest the information that was being served to him.
Everyone here knew about Clow Reed. He was a powerful magician that ruled the lands hundreds of years ago. There was a legend that he created a deck a 52 magical cards by manifesting his amazing magical powers.
"That is absolutely correct!"
Keroberos looked back at Touya.
"Look here kid, if we're gonna work together, you're gonna have to listen to everything I say! I mean everything."
Everyone's eyes widened. Touya was boiling with anger.
"I ain't gonna work with you, you freakin' teddy! How could you even think that?!"
"What did you call me, kid?" Keroberos' veins started popping on his head.
"Who are ya callin' a kid, you god forsaken teddy?!"
"Both of you! Stop it this instant!"
Both of them looked at Kaho, who stayed silent the whole time.
"Keroberos." She looked at the flying doll-like creature and cleared her throat.
"With all due respect, Keroberos, you are mistaken. The person who opened the latch was this young girl right here." Kaho pointed at Sakura, who looked she fell straight from the sky.
Keroberos pointed at her expressionlessly.
"So… you're saying that… this little girl… is the chosen one?"
Everyone nodded.
The creature fell on the ground unconscious.
Kinomoto Castle Garden
The wind was blowing with unusual force all of a sudden.
Syaoran held tightly on to Rin, who was almost blown away.
"What's going on?!" Rin screamed. This was the second scare she was getting in one day.
"I don't know!" Syaoran shouted back. The noise from the wind made it difficult to hear.
I have to get her to safety.
He ran towards the castle, carrying Rin. He was going against the wind and it was almost impossible to take a step forward.
Damn. This is not good.
Kinomoto Castle Entrance
What's up with weather today? Yukito asked himself.
He was walking towards the castle to meet Kaho.
He looked up at the sky.
Something was definitely out of place.
"I have to get inside!"