Sakura: Knight of the Clow: Ten
The white haired young man returned to the museum, dropping down to the roof of the building on wings of silver-white. Robes that had once been tattered were pristine, now, and his eyes had lost the wild look they had once had.
"Ho, Yue," the voice rumbled as the great cat stepped from the shadows.
"Keroberos," Yue nodded regally to the golden lion as he reported, "the Fight card has been defeated, just as we expected."
"Don't start celebrating yet," Keroberos cautioned him gruffly, "there are still many more cards for her to catch, not to mention..."
"Understood," Yue nodded, "but at least we are finally regaining our strength of old, with each card that she captures and returns to the book."
"I just wish that she could find them quicker," Keroberos rumbled deep in his throat, "I think she relies on as much luck as skill."
"What are you suggesting?" Yue recognized that tone of voice.
Keroberos shrugged, "Just that she might need a guide of some sort..."
"We can't," Yue shook his head, "our Master would not be pleased in our interfering so blatantly in the Knight's path."
"Oh, I don't know," Keroberos sounded amused as he said, "I remember the Master himself bending the rules on occasion."
"Point," Yue nodded. He looked over at the lion thoughtfully a moment, "So what, exactly, were you planning?"
Keroberos just smiled a toothy grin.
The morning sun gave Tomoyo a headache as she rushed into the newspaper offices, carrying the computer disks containing her story and Yukito's photos. "Hey Tomoyo," Rika looked cheerful as the brown haired girl walked by, "the boss wants to see you."
"Thanks," Tomoyo nodded as the black haired woman detoured towards the office.
Yukito looked over at her, his blonde hair falling into those gentle eyes. "You want me along?" he asked her curiously.
"I don't think it's Knight related," Tomoyo smiled slightly as she admitted, "I think another story I wrote just went off."
"Well, good luck," Yukito waved before taking the photo disk and heading off to upload the latest set of Knight images.
Tomoyo slowed as she neared the office, feeling a flash of irritation as she met the secretary's twinkling eyes. Mei-Lin smiled, her black hair in twin ponytails as she efficiently dealt with a caller. Putting the phone down she said, "Looks like the Chief is annoyed with you."
"I'm not surprised," Tomoyo answered dryly, "considering I helped break a negative story about one of our best advertisers." Privately she added, 'Not to mention my mother's company.'
"Go on in," Mei-Lin said before adding with a sympathetic smile, "and you'd better be wearing your flack jacket."
"Thanks," Tomoyo had to smile back as she went inside.
Kaho Mitsuki looked up as Tomoyo came in, her eyes flashing angrily as the brown haired woman tossed yesterday's paper down on the desk. "Care to explain?" she demanded.
The headline read, "Fraud at highest levels of Daidouji Manufacturing' and just below it in large text was, 'Top executives implicated!' The paragraphs below spelled out what Tomoyo and several other investigative reporters had pieced together, along with police statements and other information.
"I thought it was pretty clear, actually," Tomoyo answered mildly.
"I have just spent the whole morning having my ear chewed off," Kaho scowled, "not to mention getting complaints from several of our other advertisers."
"If my mother has been one of the ones chewing," Tomoyo said harshly, "then maybe she should be spending more time cleaning her own house."
Kaho smiled wryly, "Actually, she was one of the few that wasn't."
Tomoyo gave a little smile, "I didn't think so." Seriously she said, "I am not going to edit my stories to keep our advertisers happy, ma'am. I'd sooner quit."
"And I wouldn't ask you to," Kaho replied. She slapped her hand down on the paper again loudly, startling the younger woman as she growled out, "But next time warn me when you're doing something this big!"
"Yes, ma'am," Tomoyo said sheepishly.
Kaho sat back with a sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose as if she had a headache. "Anything new on the Knight story?" she asked.
"More footage of her in action," Tomoyo answered promptly, "but I'm sorry to say we don't have anything else on her."
With a thoughtful look Kaho commented, "Why do I get the feeling you know more about this than you're telling?"
"Have to protect my sources, ma'am," Tomoyo answered crisply. 'I wonder what she'd say if I told her my source is the Knight herself?' she thought.
"All right," Kaho conceded. She looked at Tomoyo a few moments longer, almost as if she wanted to say something else, then simply said, "You'd better get back to work."
Kaho waited a few moments then picked up her phone, dialing a familiar number. "Hello?" Sonomi Daidouji asked crisply.
"It's Kaho," she answered, "I just got done talking to your wayward daughter."
"I don't know if I should be proud or furious over what she's done," Sonomi sounded frustrated. "Why didn't she come to me with the information," she growled, "instead of going to the papers with it?"
"She is a reporter," Kaho answered mildly.
"You know something?" Sonomi asked, picking up something in Kaho's tone of voice.
"Just that she didn't seem terribly happy with you when we were talking," Kaho related. She paused a moment, "Is there more to this estrangement between you two than you've told me?"
Sonomi sounded pained, "There is a great deal of bad blood between us, more than I can go into in a few minutes." She sighed, "We can talk about it when you come over tonight."
"I'm coming over?" Kaho asked with a slight smile.
"I hope you will," Sonomi said warmly, "I'm planning to have my cook make us something then I'm going to give her and the maid staff the night off."
"Planning something interesting?" Kaho felt herself beginning to smile.
"Oh yes," Sonomi purred.
"Then how can I say no?" Kaho laughed. More seriously she continued, "And maybe we can talk about you and Tomoyo a bit, too."
"I'll try," Sonomi agreed.
They talked a little while longer then disconnected, each returning to their work. Kaho studied the paper a moment, her thoughts turning to one of her best reporters. "Tomoyo knows more about the Knight than she's telling,' she mused, 'but what?'
The first possibility that came to mind was that Tomoyo was the Knight herself, and it wasn't one that Kaho dismissed out of hand. Writing about your own escapades wasn't that hard, and she knew Yukito was good enough of a friend to help her pull it off...
"Nah," Kaho chuckled to herself as she picked up another call.
To be continued...
Sakura, Knight of the Clow: Interlude
Windy felt a fierce joy as she raced forward, arms outstretched. The young woman's eyes met hers, long reddish brown hair flowing along with the rough woolen cloak she wore, then the ancient staff appeared and Windy tried to flee, though she knew it was too late. Those hateful words rang out as the girl struck, the binding enchantment was triggered and she was sealed away, trapped in a place that was far too limiting to one such as her.
The mistresses changed as the years wet by but Windy dealt with them coldly. They had her obedience, such as it was, but never willingly. At the command of women of so many types and styles she fought against the beasts of the darkness, the creatures that hunted humanity. Letting her rage free Windy ripped into them, as she might have wished to do to her human captors.
Windy wasn't quite sure when she became aware of the little girl, the latest in her line. The child had snuck the Clow Cards out from her mother's room, playing with them out in the back yard of their house, and she looked with wonder at the images on the cards. Windy gazed up at that face and was oddly touched, somehow, by the kindness that seemed to radiate from her.
'Who is she?' Windy wondered.
"Sakura!" the child's smiling mother picked her and the two cards up, gently scolding her little girl for playing with the cards so openly.
"The cards are lonely," Sakura explained cheerfully as they went inside.
Windy felt a moment of pure shock, wondering at the powerful sensitivity of the little girl. From within her card Windy could almost feel the child's aura, the sense of mystical power and empathy that almost seemed to swirl around her. 'Could she be the next mistress?' Windy thought, feeling oddly pleased by the fleeting idea.
Night after night they went out, she and the older woman who was called Nadesico, battling against those that would threaten the peace. Oddly Windy found herself devoting more of her efforts to the fighting, trying to protect the one whom Sakura seemed to value. She didn't examine her motives, in truth she didn't want to think about it. But in the end... her efforts were in vain.
The ogre they faced was massive, towering over the two of them, and despite her best efforts it broke free of her grip to attack. Nadesico managed to slay the ogre with the sword concealed in the staff, but her injuries were too great. Windy carried her home, carrying her on the breeze even as she faced the horrified anger of her husband and eldest son. She felt the depth of their grief, and even more so the honest confusion of poor Sakura.
The next few years were quiet for Windy, remaining in her Clow Card as Sakura went to school, graduated university and traveled abroad. The only times she was called forth was, surprisingly, when Sakura wanted some company. Surrounded by strangers in a place unfamiliar to her Sakura seemed to find comfort in talking with Windy.
Even Windy herself was startled when one day the wind elemental began to talk to Sakura, speaking the first words that she had used in... many, many centuries. Reaching out instinctively to Sakura's loneliness she sought to give her comfort, even as her own loneliness was soothed by the young woman's warmth and caring.
As the University faded to academic life Sakura began to venture forth as the champion of the Clow cards and Windy was filled with fear. The death of Nadesico haunted her, but she gained confidence in working beside Sakura, seeing the young woman's strength and capability. Using just Windy and Fly they battled against the monsters that haunted the night, even as Windy felt her own emotions... beginning to change and deepen.
"Oh my lady," Windy murmured, her ghostly form flowing around as she gazed down at Sakura, sleeping peacefully in her bed. Slipping free of the Card wasn't too difficult, at least for short periods of time, and more and more she was drawn to do this.
Sakura had grown from child to woman before her very eyes, and what had once been merely a protective emotion in Windy had grown to something more powerful. This beautiful woman was the purpose for whom Windy existed, the one she valued and fought to protect, even though she didn't even fully understand why.
Windy reached out with her hand, stroking Sakura's bare cheek as she smiled fondly. 'Is this the feeling Clow Reed told us of,' she mused, 'is this love?' She didn't know, but Windy did know that whatever Sakura asked of her she would grant, whatever Sakura needed she would have.
Whatever the cost.
Windy dissolved, the tendrils of her form swirling to pour into her waiting Clow Card. Softly she whispered, "Sleep well, Sakura, I will watch over you," then she was gone.
Windy could almost feel Sakura leap up to dodge a strike, nearly dancing in the air. From the currents that were carried on the night air she could tell that the thing that opposed them was big, nearly as tall as three men, it's body bulky and almost rocky in appearance.
Still safely sealed in her card Windy could sense other mortals out there, observing. 'Sakura, be careful,' Windy thought grimly.
Distracted a moment by the new arrivals Sakura turned in surprise, what could have been a fatal mistake. A backhand blow from the creature sent her flying away, hammering her right into a brick wall nearby the two newspaper reporters, where she slid limply to the ground.
Windy nearly exploded from the card, but she restrained herself as she watched with fury as one of the mortals cried out in alarm. She so wanted to join the battle, but she also knew that the choice had to be Sakura's. Instead she watched, simmering with emotions.
"No," the black haired woman murmured as she ran towards where she lay. "Sakura?" the stranger quickly recognized her.
"Hooee?" Sakura blinked up at her dazedly.
"Sakura, are you all right?" Yukito cried out as he ran over.
'I know him,' Windy realized as she sensed the boy, a familiar aura that had lingered in Sakura's life, 'he is the one with Toya. How did he get here?'
Sakura shook her head, the motion shaking Windy lightly as the girl tried to clear away some of the cobwebs. "I'm fine," she used Tomoyo's hand to pull herself up, swaying just a bit. The creature ran at them again and Sakura shoved the others backwards with a cry, "Get behind me!"
A heavily muscled arm came down at them, cutting through the air with a weight that nearly made Windy wince only to be blocked by that odd, bird designed staff. They stood there frozen for a moment, the creature straining to crush Sakura and the others, then the slim brown haired heaved with her shoulders to send the monster staggering away.
"I didn't want to use this," Sakura drew Windy from beneath her cloak, "but you leave me with no choice." Windy's heart sang as she held still for a second, the black clad figure oddly meditative, then she was tossed up into the air.
"Windy card!" Sakura brought her bird designed staff down onto the card, light flaring brightly as she continued, "Become the chain of punishment and bind my enemy. Windy!"
With an eagerness only matched by her anger Windy was freed, soaring up in a cloud of mist and swirling air currents. She took a moment to study the two mortals that had dared interfere with her mistress, the black haired woman and Yukito. She paused, giving them a regal glance, a slight smile appearing on her face as she gazed at Sakura. Then she turned, swooping down on the creature and binding it with her substance, forming bonds of solid air.
Even as Windy struck she knew Sakura was on the move. Right behind Windy she ran at the creature, grabbing the base of her staff and twisting it slightly. With a steely hiss she drew forth a silvery blade, the bird's head on the handle becoming the sword's hilt, even as she leapt gracefully. A single downward stroke of the weapon, a burst of black blood, and it was over.
The Windy released her ghostly bonds, flowing free of the now dead creature. The previous guardians of Clow had all been good warriors, but few could have won the victory so very quickly. She frowned, seeing the blood that splattered Sakura and swept towards her mistress. Windy swirled about Sakura and the muck that had splattered the cloak and black clothing was simply gone, carried up and away by invisible hands.
Sakura smiled in gratitude and Windy felt her heart soar once again. 'For you,' Windy thought as she reached out a gentle hand to stroke along the side of Sakura's face, 'I would do anything.' With that Windy reluctantly returned to her card, the paper falling to settle into Sakura's hands once more.
Resting by Sakura's heart Windy was lulled to sleep, even as she felt the other mortals nearby. They traveled on, going farther and farther from the battle, as she listened to them talk. 'Do not harm my lady,' Windy directed her thoughts to them as she rested, 'or you will answer to me.'
To be continued...
Notes: More than one fan has suggested a chapter from the point of view of a Clow Card, so I thought I'd get into the relationship between Windy and Sakura. Part of this appeared in Chapter Two, but I hope I've revised the material enough to keep it interesting.
Sakura: Knight of the Clow: Eleven
Sakura Kinomoto raised her battle staff even as she fought back a smile at the situation. Behind her Yukito snapped away with his camera while Mei-lin tried her best not to laugh. "I may not be able to publish these pics," Yukito chuckled as the blonde man got a very good shot, "but it'll sure make great blackmail material."
"Stop laughing," Tomoyo growled, "and stop this crazy thing!"
Flower beamed, the graceful woman in a full gown firmly holding the struggling Tomoyo in her arms as she smoothly twirled them around, dancing across the rooftop. Dozens of different types of flowers flowed from the woman to flutter down around the city hall, decoratig the normally severe looking building in lovely colors.
'And to think, this started out so simply,' Sakura thought.
When the first witnesses told about the odd events around city hall Sakura had raced to the scene, soon met by Tomoyo, Yukito and Mei-lin. Using the Fly to reach the roof while the others took the elevator they had confronted the cheerfully dancing Flower. Emerging from the stairs Tomoyo had come face to face with Flower who had casually taken Tomoyo by the hand and began to dance.
"Can you capture Flower with Tomoyo so near?" Mei-lin asked, her black hair fallinng down her back in a ponytail.
"Not sure," Sakura answered, "but I have an idea."
Not letting herself thing about it too much Sakura stepped forward, extending a hand towards Flower in an obvious invitation. Flower laughed softly as she gently released Tomoyo, the dark haired girl stagering a bit as Flower took Sakura in her arms. The heady scent of Flower washed over her as they danced, the taller woman looking down at her tenderly, and it was almost with regret that Sakura brought it to an end.
Tapping Flower akwardly with the staff that she still carried Sakura cried, "Flower Card! Return to the form you were created to be! Flower!"
With a smile as welcoming as ever Flower seemed to waver, her form swirling into flowers that congregated at the point of Sakura's staff. A shinig card of light formed, blazing in the twuilight before falling into her hands as a beautifully illustrated paper card.
"Are you all right?" Sakura slid the card aay into the latest costume that Tomoyo had designed for her, a black and silver number that almost looked like something a prince might wear/
"Just a bit dizzy," Tomoyo admitted sheepishly, smiling gratefully as Sakura gently took her by the arm to steady her.
The sound of sirens off in the distance made Yukito quickly out his camera away. "We'd better get going," he reminded them, "or we'll end up trying to answer a lot of complicated questions."
"Right," Sakura used Fly, white wings unfolding from her back as she took the surprised Tomoyo into her arms. With a single sweep of her wings they were gone even as Yukito and Mei-lin raced for the stairs.
"I'm glad the rooftop door was unlockewd," Yukito sighed as they ran down the stairs.
"Yukito," Mei-lin asked thoughtfully, "what kind of relationship do Sakura and Tomoyo have?"
"They're friends," Yukito answered.
"And?" Mei-lin raised an eyebrow.
"And that's all I'm going to say," Yukito answered firmly, "Tomoyo's a friend of mine."
"That tells me a lot right there," Mei-lin stopped him on the ground floor, both of them taking a moment to catch their breaths. Looking much more composed they walked out of the lobby, nodding to the remaining evening staff before slipping outside.
The car was parked not far away in the safety of an alley, Sakura and Tomoyo waiting for them. "What took you so long?" Tomoyo asked, having recovered her usual poise.
"Next time Sakura flies one of us down," Yukito griped good-naturedly, "and you get to run down four flights of stairs."
"I'm really sorry," Sakura said earnestly, "but I can only carry one at a time."
Mei-lin gave Yukito a frown before smiling at Sakura, "It's all right, Sakura."
"Sorry to drag you out for this one, Yukito," Tomoyo made a face, "it looks like we're not going to be able to do a story on this."
Yukito chuckled softly, "Yeah, but these pics of you dancing with Flower are almost worth it. You looked adorable."
Mei-lin found herself smiling at the disgusted look on the reporter's face. The four of them climbed into Tomoyo's car and headed off, avoiding any of the police forces. "I wonder who's going to have to clean up all the flowers?" Sakura fretted.
"Probably city workers," Tomoyo answered, shaking her head. They had nearly had to swim outside the building, the flowers had been so deep around the city hall. She smiled slightly as she addressed the group, "Do you want to grab something to eat?"
"Yes," Yukito instantly answered and both Sakura and Tomoyo laughed.
Mei-lin chuckled, having heard some of the stories about Yukito's legendary appetite. "Thank you for inviting me along," she added.
"Glad to have you," Sakura turned to smile at the woman in the back seat. Facing front Sakura asked, "Has your boss calmed down now that a week has passed after your latest scoop?"
Tomoyo smiled wryly as she admitted, "Kaho Mitsuki is still annoyed that I didn't at least run it by her before we went to press."
"How did you slip tha by her, anyway?" Mei-lin asked curiously. "Normally the chief is pretty on the ball."
"The version she saw wasn't the final one," Tomoyo admitted, "though that wasn't intentional. I got full confirmation on certain bits of vital information right before our deadline, so I had to put it in at the last moment."
Sakura looked over at Tomoyo gently, "I hope that it didn't make things too difficult between you and your mother."
'Oh ho,' Mei-lin leaned forward, listening intently. 'I was wondering why the Chief was calling up Sonomi Daidouji so often,' she thought.
"Considering my mother and I don't talk much anyway," Tomoyo said quietly, "it's not too much of a loss."
"Are we there yet?" Yukito asked impishly.
Relieved to have an excuse to leave the serious conversation Tomoyo smiled, "We'll be there soon, trust me."
"Where are we going anyway?" Mei-lin asked as they turned a corner.
Sakura recognized the route and smiled slightly, "The Rose, I think." As Tomoyo nodded her agreement Sakura cotinnued, "We had dinner there once, the food is lovely."
"Toya and I have, too," Yukito agreed cheerfully.
'Well isn't that interesting,' Mei-lin fought back a flash of annoyance at the idea of Sakura and Tomoyo going out together. She was a bit surprised at the feeling, honestly, considering that she barely knew Sakura but still...
"Here we go," Tomoyo pulled up in front of the resturant, the four getting out to walk towards the front doors.
"Miss Tomoyo," Jim smiled brightly as the four of them walked inside, "and Yukito-chan! Good to see you all."
"I take it they're regulars here?" Mei-lin asked Sakura softly as the greeter talked to the two people cheerfully.
"Certainly looks like it," Sakura agreed.
"We'll find out a table in a moment," Jim said cheerfully, turning to hit a conceled call button on the front counter. A few moments a waitress arrived and they talked together softly. Jim turned back to them, "How about table six, a window seat?"
"Sounds good," Yukito said, the delicious smells from the kitchen already wafting over them.
Mei-lin took in her surroundings the way she was trained to, eyes sweeping the room. A casual style dominated, mostly single sex couples sitting at the tables. The seats themselves looked intended for romantic moments, cozily placed near to each other. 'And Tomoyo took Sakura here to dinner?' she mused, "I wonder if it was a date?'
Sakura stepped forward to pull out a chair for Tomoyo, "Would you care to sit?"
"I'd love to," Tomoyo smiled up at her happily.
Feeling a moment of whimsy Mei-lin quickly pulled out Yukito's chair, "Here you go."
Yukito blinked at her then began to laugh as he sat down. "You're a doll," he waved limply, camping it up a moment before they all shared a laugh.
To be continued...