Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny ❯ Return to Japan ( Chapter 7 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Reisuji 
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Martial Arts / Mecha / Romance | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 05.07.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 710 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Martial Arts / Mecha / Romance | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 05.07.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 710 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: The fic is the only thing that's mine; characters aren't, unfortunately. All rights to these amazing ANIMEs belong to Clamp, Kodansha, Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, yadda yadda yadda, so don't waste your time trying to sue me. Your 'corporate boogeyman' won't be getting anything valuable from me anyway, except for a bunch of lousy grades, some leftover cookie crumbs, a Pentel point 5 ball pen, and some crumpled research papers.
Syaoran: Oi!
Rei-chan: *staring off in space with a stupid smile on her face*
Syaoran: OI!!!
Rei-chan: *drool comes out of mouth*
Syaoran: *shakes his head*
Author's Notes: I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *cries*
Ahem. *clears throat* Sorry about that. I just got carried away with your touching reviews. *sniffles* Anyway, as a thank you, here's the chapter that you've all been begging me for.
Oh, and before I forget, you guys should check out the minor revisions my sister did in chapter six. ^_^
*dan da dan dan dan*
DESTINY by rei-chan (and my lil sis tsukinoko, who edited some parts of this story. arigato!)
Chapter Seven: Return to Japan
The flight to Japan was uneventful, except for Duo's loud complaints about the competence of the pilot and the sucky in-flight service. It didn't help that Syaoran was almost on the edge of his seat in nervousness, and had almost gutted one of the flight attendants with his sword when the poor woman tapped him on the shoulder to serve his meal.
At long last, all four of them; Heero, Duo, and Syaoran were in the Arrivals section, each carrying their own piece of luggage. Wei had left the three of them minutes ago to hail a cab for them.
At the moment Duo was nagging at his stoic partner about his poor taste in clothes.
"..I mean, c'mon, man! Spandex? And that tank top! Don't you have any other clothes with you? I swear, one of these days I am gonna sneak into your closet and change all of your goddamn tank tops to mesh shirts."
"Urusai."
Syaoran shook his head as he turned his attention away from the two boys. Craning his neck, he started searching for any signs of Wei when he heard a melodic voice call out his name.
"Li-kun!"
Surprised, he turned to look for his caller. A girl with long, violet-black hair was smiling and waving cheerfully at him a few feet away. Waving back, he called out.
"Daidouji!"
Daidouji Tomoyo's eyes were twinkling brightly as Syaoran almost ran towards her with Heero and Duo in tow. "Hisashiburi ne, Li-kun."(1) She softly greeted as the trio approached her.
Syaoran shook his head as he tried to hide the glad smile on his face as he leaned forward to give his friend a gentle hug. "Sou desu ne, Daidouji-chan." he agreed as he took a step back. "Demo, what are you doing here?" he inquired.
Tomoyo just shrugged one shoulder daintily at him before replying. "Picking you up, what else?" She told him simply.
The amber-eyed boy blushed in embarrassment. "You didn't have to, you know."
"I know. We just thought that it would be nice if we came, that's all."
Syaoran cocked his head to one side. "We?" he repeated, raising one eyebrow at the girl as Tomoyo giggled softly.
"We wanted to surprise you." A soft, familiar voice said from behind him. Syaoran immediately spun around and find himself face to face with Hiiragizawa Eriol. The English boy gave him a slight bow in greeting. "Syaoran."(2)
"Eriol. Hello." Syaoran nodded at his friend. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Duo hopping from foot to foot, all the while eyeing both his friends curiously. The guy in the green tank top was just standing stiffly to one side.
"Guys, I'd like to introduce Duo Maxwell and Hee--uh, ah..." he looked helplessly at the boy standing quietly behind him.
"Li Raiu no da."(3)
Syaoran glanced at Heero in surprise. Even Duo swung his head around to look at his friend in amazement.
Tomoyo cocked her head to one side, eyeing Heero with new interest.
The only one not surprised in the least was Eriol.
"Li Raiu...Your cousin, Li-kun?" The long-haired girl asked.
For the second time that day, Syaoran was at a loss for words. "Ano-" he hedged.
"Kare no wa gookyodai."(4) Eriol's soft voice filled in for him as the English boy turned piercing eyes at the Perfect Soldier. Heero took a sudden step back as a wave of something magical caressed his skin.
"Oh--!" Tomoyo was saying as she clasped her hands in front of her and bowed a few times to Heero. She turned her attention to Syaoran and fixed him with a reproaching look, "You didn't tell us--" she glanced sideways at Eriol, who was smiling, "You didn't tell ME that you had a brother." she immediately corrected herself.
"Uh, it's because..."
"He didn't know it that time. If he had he would have told you." It was Heero who spoke again. Duo was now gaping at him in astonishment. Even Syaoran looked a bit surprised at his brother's sudden defense.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah. That was what I wanted to say." The amber-eyed boy murmured.
Eriol motioned with his head at the approaching Wei. "Shall we go? We have a lot of business to attend to." He threw Tomoyo a meaningful look, which she responded to with a too-bright smile.
"Saa, minna! Ikuzo!"(5)
~ 0 ~
"Where exactly are you guys taking me?" A frazzled, blindfolded Kinomoto Sakura asked for the fifth time as she was dragged along by her friends, Rika, Naoko, Chiharu, and Yamazaki.
Rika and Naoko were giggling as Yamazaki responded. "To take you to see one of the wonders of the Shakatak Tribe in South Africa."
"The what?"
The chinky-eyed boy whipped his head around to stare at Sakura in surprise. "Seriously, didn't your archaeologist father teach you anything?" At Sakura's negative reply, Yamazaki held up one finger and said. "The Shakatak Tribe is the most dangerous tribe in Africa. As you all know I went on vacation a few weeks ago, and happened to come across a wild boar. The beast was ready to kill me, until a brave and fearless Shakatakian warrior came and saved me."
"A brave and fearless what?" Rika whispered loudly to Chiharu.
"Shut up Rika." He admonished. He cleared his throat. "As I was saying, the brave and fearless Shakatakian warrior came and saved me from the ferocious wild boar. As a token of my gratitude I gave him a box of Pocky. He was overwhe--"
"Pocky??" Naoko interrupted, incredulous.
Yamazaki continued on, pointedly ignoring Naoko's later outburst. "The brave and fearless Shakatakian warrior was so overwhelmed by my gratefulness that he immediately took me to see the leader of their tribe." At this point Yamazaki paused dramatically.
"Just get on with it, dimwit!" Chiharu hissed through gritted teeth as she bonked her cousin on the head.
"Ow, Chiharu! I'm getting there, don't worry." He massaged his head sourly. "Anyway, Sakura-chan, they took me to the leader of their tribe right? There I regaled them all with my stories of bravery and valor! The leader, King Karapachias III, was so amused by me that he gave me--" He produced a long broomstick from...somewhere and held it proudly in front of him. "This!"
Rika, Chiharu, and Naoko all face-faulted.
"Uhm, what's that?" Sakura asked. She raised her hands in front of her, attempting to feel the object Yamazaki was yapping on about.
Yamazaki grabbed her hand and let her touch the 'wonder of the Shakatakian tribe'. "Feel it, Sakura-chan. Notice the fine grain of this object? This is really an archaeological prize!" he crowed.
The auburn-haired girl ran her hands along the 'object's' length doubtfully.
Yamazaki was saying. "King Karapachias III told me that in order for this object's power to manifest itself, I have to show it to a blindfolded, brown-haired and green-eyed girl whose name starts with an 'S'."
"So that the object can manifest its power, huh?" Chiharu said dryly.
"I don't know," Sakura suddenly murmured, more to herself than to her friends as she lightly rake her nails at the broomstick, "it feels just like an ordinary broomstick to me." Slowly she grabbed the edge of the broom and gave it a squeeze. "Can I take off my blindfold now, Yamazaki-kun?"
The chinky-eyed boy shook his head mournfully. "I'm afraid you can't, Sakura-chan." he told her. "King Karapachias III told me that the brown-haired, green-eyed girl whose name starts with the letter 'S' should not look at the object until all the people in the room have seen it, or else she'll go blind."
Sakura shrugged as she raised a hand to the scarf's knot at the nape of her neck. "So? You guys have seen it already." she pointed out as she struggled to undo her blindfold. Yamazaki's hand snaked up and grabbed hers.
"Not everyone who has to BE here have seen it, Sakura-chan."
"Hoe?"
The sounds of car doors slamming shut and voices could be heard from outside. A moment later, the apartment doors flew open, and a whole entourage of people walked in, laden with various luggage.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked in confusion as Rika, Chiharu, and Naoko all burst into excited giggles. "Why are there--"
Her blindfold was suddenly removed. The auburn-hired girl blinked a few times before her eyes came to focus on the face of the boy she had not seen in four months. She gasped.
Li Syaoran was staring at her in confusion, a light blush tinging his cheeks. Tomoyo was beaming like a proud mother behind him.
"Hhhhooooooeeeee!!!"
~ 0 ~
While Tomoyo ran after the Card Mistress, Syaoran took the opportunity for introductions, then invited everyone up to his apartment for pizza. Tomoyo and a calmer Sakura showed up about fifteen minutes later.
At that moment, Duo and the rest of the gang were crowded in the living room debating on the validity of Yamazaki's theory on the origin of tsunamis.
"Ok, ok. So let me get this straight." Duo almost shouted amidst the chaos in the room as Yamazaki landed on the carpet with a steaming Chiharu on top, strangling him. "Tsunamis are caused when whales, uh, fart?"
From the floor, Yamazaki replied in a muffled voice. "Yes, Duo-san. The pressure of the whale's fart against the sea water causes the water to spurt forward to the shores in huge waves. Most scientists believe that earthquakes are the prime causes of tsunamis, but we all know that I know better than they do. Did you know--"
"Shut up, Yamazaki!" Chiharu growled as the rest of them laughed. Duo stared at the boy in amusement and utter disbelief as Chiharu bonked him over and over with a pillow, before a mischievous smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Ne, Yamazaki-kun?" he called out sweetly.
The highly imaginative boy looked up from the floor with a slightly dazed expression. "Hai?" he slurred as his cousin gave him another thwap on the head.
Duo smiled smugly as he pulled the pitcher of pineapple juice towards him. "Did you know that in America people believe..."
~ 0 ~
Syaoran shook his head in disbelief as he watched his friend Yamazaki drink pineapple juice through his nose while Duo cajoled him.
"Drinking liquid through your nose is one of the most full-proof ways of proving your manliness in America..."
Turning his attention back to the glasses he was drying, he commented. "Everyone seems to be getting along."
Eriol nodded his head as he turned on the dishwasher. Wiping his hands on a towel, he headed towards the counter and sat down in front of Syaoran. "It's really not that difficult to get along with Duo-san, Xiao Lang." Clow's reincarnation remarked. Eriol pulled one of the already dried glasses towards him and started running a finger over its rim.
Syaoran paused from his drying and watched the English boy's action for a few moments. "Eriol-san," he asked softly as he raised a hand to absently play with the chain of his tassel, "Pardon my asking but, why are you here?"
Eriol smiled that eery smile of his and replied in an amused voice. "Would you believe me if I tell you that I missed your company?" His descendant glared at him stonily. "Ieran and the Elders contacted me as soon as the Heir had arrived. We thought it would be best if I foresee his training with the Card Mistress."
"Sou ka."
"Uhm, Syaoran-kun?" An almost hesitant voice called from the door and both turned to find a blushing Sakura standing there, carrying an empty pitcher of juice. "Rika and I got thirsty, and since Duo-san and Yamazaki-kun spilled most of the juice in their nose drinking contest, I was wondering if we could have more?"
"Uhm, ah, s-su-sure." The Chinese boy stuttered as he leapt out of his seat to get the juice from the fridge. Sakura walked over to the counter and set the pitcher down, her face still flaming. Eriol's smile grew wider, and immediately beat a hasty retreat as Syaoran emerged from the refrigerator with a can of concentrated pineapple juice and a pitcher of water. He ambled clumsily towards the counter and carefully placed all of them down.
"You could have told me you were coming, you know." Sakura whispered as Syaoran quietly started punching holes on the juice can.
He blushed. "I-I wanted to surprise you." he admitted as he poured some of the juice in the pitcher of water. Only a trickle of the thick liquid drizzled out of the hole. Frowning, the amber-eyed boy tapped the underside of the can. "Kora."(5)he cursed to himself as he tilted the can a little bit more.
Sakura smiled at this. "Here, let me." she offered kindly as she made a move to take the can from Syaoran's hands. Their hands briefly touched, and both teens flushed as Syaoran almost dropped the can on the counter with a loud thump.(6)
Sakura licked her lips nervously as she wrung her hands in front on her. "A-Ano ne, Syaoran-kun..." she began softly.
"Aa?" The Chinese boy asked as he furiously punched too many holes on the can.
"Ah...I..I..wanted to tell you something..."
"Aa?"
The emerald-eyed girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Atashiwa...atashiwa..."
Duo stuck his head suddenly through the doorway. "Oi, Kinomoto-chan!" he called out cheerfully, an almost manic glint present in his amethyst eyes as Chiharu's hysterical shrieks of "I think he's drowning!" echoed from the living room. "Where's the juice?"
As the Card Mistress hurriedly grabbed the still unstirred juice from the table and ran out of the kitchen with her face flaming, Syaoran threw a death glare at the braided pilot.
"What did I do?" Duo asked in bewilderment as his comrade's brother pointedly turned his back at him.
~ 0 ~
'Li Raiu no da.'
Heero shook his head as he stared emotionlessly out the veranda overlooking the peaceful streets of Tomoeda. 'I still can't believe I said that.' he quietly told himself as he leaned forward on his perch.
"Said what, Raiu?" A voice asked him from the doorway. In a flash the Wing pilot had his gun out and aimed at a completely unfazed Hiiragizawa Eriol.
"What are you doing here?" He asked the English boy tightly as Eriol closed the door behind him and took a step towards the veranda.
"Looking for you."
Heero's arm wavered slightly as the dark-haired boy advanced one more step. With shaking fingers the Perfect Soldier released the safety latch on his pistol. "Why?" he managed to growl calmly despite the loud pounding of his heart as the unfamiliar energy coming from the boy washed over him in waves.
Eriol chose not to answer this question. Stopping just a few feet away from the older boy, he asked quietly, "Do you know who I am?" His dark eyes were fixed on Heero's own Prussian ones.
Heero was surprised when he heard himself answer almost automatically. "You're Clow Reed."
"Very good." Eriol complimented him, smiling in a rather alarming sort of way. Without warning, Heero felt a very strong power permeating the air around him. His own magic responded to this power enthusiastically, and the Perfect Soldier could almost touch the green aura that he was giving out. His gun fell from his hand. "The power of Thunder is not an easy element to control, Raiu. Even your father found it difficult to control his power. But you WILL succeed. Just cast all your doubts away..."
Heero had taken to wearing the tassel given to him by the Elders around his neck simply because he had seen Syaoran sporting the same thing, only in a different color. Now the chain seemed to burn through his skin, and try as he may to keep his expression blank, he couldn't help but wince.
"The Card Mistress will help you harness the full potential of your power, Li Raiu." Clow Reed's reincarnation informed him, the corners of his mouth lifting up into a small smile as he watched the future heir of the Li clan submit himself to ancient power around him. "Consider this upcoming battle as another one of your missions. You cannot fail."
Instantly the force surrounding Heero Yuy was gone.
And so was Eriol.
~ 0 ~
"Where are you heading out to, Syaoran-sama?" Wei called out from the kitchen as Syaoran brushed past him, coat in hand.
"School. To enroll." He replied as he headed for the living room. His coat suddenly dropped from his hand to the floor, and he cursed loudly as he picked it up while walking, immediately colliding with someone.
"Ow!" Syaoran exclaimed as he tried to regain his balance. Muttering to himself, he looked up at the person he bumped into.
And found himself staring up at Li Raiu's clear blue eyes for the first time .
"G-gomen ne." Syaoran gulped.
Heero didn't seem to hear his apology. Side-stepping his brother, the Perfect Soldier went on along his way, walking with machine-like precision. Syaoran shrugged and headed to the living room, where Sakura and Tomoyo sat waiting for him.
The words were so soft that Syaoran almost missed his brother's reminder. "Stay alert."
~ 0 ~
"He's your brother?"
Sakura wanted to confirm as she stopped walking to stare at the amber-eyed boy. Syaoran blushed as Sakura's emerald gaze focused on him, but managed a nod and a meek "Hai."
"And he has magic."
Another nod.
"And your clan Elders requests me to help train him by using the Sakura Cards."
"Aa."
"And he has a gun."
"Aa." Syaoran grabbed the Card Mistress's hand, ignoring the tingle that travelled through his spine as he turned urgent eyes at the girl he loves. "Will you do it, Sakura-chan?" he asked her, the slightest hint of pleading in his voice as he watched Sakura bite her lip nervously as she thought of her answer.
Finally, she sighed. "I'll do it." she replied. Syaoran grinned.
"Arigato."
As the Chinese boy was whisked inside the admission's office, Tomoyo leaned towards her best friend and commented cheerfully. "The things you do for love, ne?"
Kinomoto Sakura just blushed and nodded.
TBC
==YATTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all the characters are in place! *dances around in her pink underwear* I can't wait to start on chapter eight!!!
FOOTNOTES:
1. Hmm...I'm not too sure, but I think this translates to: "Long time, no see, Li-kun."
2. This had to happen, guys! I needed to make it seem like Eriol and Syaoran are already in first-name basis to get that 'ancestor-descendant' feel.
3. It's a masculine but sort of impolite way to say, "I am Li Raiu." I couldn't very well let Heero say "Atashi wa Li Raiu" could I? Besides, we all know he's a sometimes bastard. ^-^
4. Translates to: "His brother." You're probably wondering how Eriol knew about Heero's and Syaoran's relationship. He IS Clow Reed's reincarnation, after all.
5. "Ok, everyone! Let's go!"
6. I think this means "Damn."
7. I think this sort of reminds me of a scene in The VOID Card movie...*winks*
==Like it? Hate it? Let me know!
Syaoran: Oi!
Rei-chan: *staring off in space with a stupid smile on her face*
Syaoran: OI!!!
Rei-chan: *drool comes out of mouth*
Syaoran: *shakes his head*
Author's Notes: I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *cries*
Ahem. *clears throat* Sorry about that. I just got carried away with your touching reviews. *sniffles* Anyway, as a thank you, here's the chapter that you've all been begging me for.
Oh, and before I forget, you guys should check out the minor revisions my sister did in chapter six. ^_^
*dan da dan dan dan*
DESTINY by rei-chan (and my lil sis tsukinoko, who edited some parts of this story. arigato!)
Chapter Seven: Return to Japan
The flight to Japan was uneventful, except for Duo's loud complaints about the competence of the pilot and the sucky in-flight service. It didn't help that Syaoran was almost on the edge of his seat in nervousness, and had almost gutted one of the flight attendants with his sword when the poor woman tapped him on the shoulder to serve his meal.
At long last, all four of them; Heero, Duo, and Syaoran were in the Arrivals section, each carrying their own piece of luggage. Wei had left the three of them minutes ago to hail a cab for them.
At the moment Duo was nagging at his stoic partner about his poor taste in clothes.
"..I mean, c'mon, man! Spandex? And that tank top! Don't you have any other clothes with you? I swear, one of these days I am gonna sneak into your closet and change all of your goddamn tank tops to mesh shirts."
"Urusai."
Syaoran shook his head as he turned his attention away from the two boys. Craning his neck, he started searching for any signs of Wei when he heard a melodic voice call out his name.
"Li-kun!"
Surprised, he turned to look for his caller. A girl with long, violet-black hair was smiling and waving cheerfully at him a few feet away. Waving back, he called out.
"Daidouji!"
Daidouji Tomoyo's eyes were twinkling brightly as Syaoran almost ran towards her with Heero and Duo in tow. "Hisashiburi ne, Li-kun."(1) She softly greeted as the trio approached her.
Syaoran shook his head as he tried to hide the glad smile on his face as he leaned forward to give his friend a gentle hug. "Sou desu ne, Daidouji-chan." he agreed as he took a step back. "Demo, what are you doing here?" he inquired.
Tomoyo just shrugged one shoulder daintily at him before replying. "Picking you up, what else?" She told him simply.
The amber-eyed boy blushed in embarrassment. "You didn't have to, you know."
"I know. We just thought that it would be nice if we came, that's all."
Syaoran cocked his head to one side. "We?" he repeated, raising one eyebrow at the girl as Tomoyo giggled softly.
"We wanted to surprise you." A soft, familiar voice said from behind him. Syaoran immediately spun around and find himself face to face with Hiiragizawa Eriol. The English boy gave him a slight bow in greeting. "Syaoran."(2)
"Eriol. Hello." Syaoran nodded at his friend. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Duo hopping from foot to foot, all the while eyeing both his friends curiously. The guy in the green tank top was just standing stiffly to one side.
"Guys, I'd like to introduce Duo Maxwell and Hee--uh, ah..." he looked helplessly at the boy standing quietly behind him.
"Li Raiu no da."(3)
Syaoran glanced at Heero in surprise. Even Duo swung his head around to look at his friend in amazement.
Tomoyo cocked her head to one side, eyeing Heero with new interest.
The only one not surprised in the least was Eriol.
"Li Raiu...Your cousin, Li-kun?" The long-haired girl asked.
For the second time that day, Syaoran was at a loss for words. "Ano-" he hedged.
"Kare no wa gookyodai."(4) Eriol's soft voice filled in for him as the English boy turned piercing eyes at the Perfect Soldier. Heero took a sudden step back as a wave of something magical caressed his skin.
"Oh--!" Tomoyo was saying as she clasped her hands in front of her and bowed a few times to Heero. She turned her attention to Syaoran and fixed him with a reproaching look, "You didn't tell us--" she glanced sideways at Eriol, who was smiling, "You didn't tell ME that you had a brother." she immediately corrected herself.
"Uh, it's because..."
"He didn't know it that time. If he had he would have told you." It was Heero who spoke again. Duo was now gaping at him in astonishment. Even Syaoran looked a bit surprised at his brother's sudden defense.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah. That was what I wanted to say." The amber-eyed boy murmured.
Eriol motioned with his head at the approaching Wei. "Shall we go? We have a lot of business to attend to." He threw Tomoyo a meaningful look, which she responded to with a too-bright smile.
"Saa, minna! Ikuzo!"(5)
~ 0 ~
"Where exactly are you guys taking me?" A frazzled, blindfolded Kinomoto Sakura asked for the fifth time as she was dragged along by her friends, Rika, Naoko, Chiharu, and Yamazaki.
Rika and Naoko were giggling as Yamazaki responded. "To take you to see one of the wonders of the Shakatak Tribe in South Africa."
"The what?"
The chinky-eyed boy whipped his head around to stare at Sakura in surprise. "Seriously, didn't your archaeologist father teach you anything?" At Sakura's negative reply, Yamazaki held up one finger and said. "The Shakatak Tribe is the most dangerous tribe in Africa. As you all know I went on vacation a few weeks ago, and happened to come across a wild boar. The beast was ready to kill me, until a brave and fearless Shakatakian warrior came and saved me."
"A brave and fearless what?" Rika whispered loudly to Chiharu.
"Shut up Rika." He admonished. He cleared his throat. "As I was saying, the brave and fearless Shakatakian warrior came and saved me from the ferocious wild boar. As a token of my gratitude I gave him a box of Pocky. He was overwhe--"
"Pocky??" Naoko interrupted, incredulous.
Yamazaki continued on, pointedly ignoring Naoko's later outburst. "The brave and fearless Shakatakian warrior was so overwhelmed by my gratefulness that he immediately took me to see the leader of their tribe." At this point Yamazaki paused dramatically.
"Just get on with it, dimwit!" Chiharu hissed through gritted teeth as she bonked her cousin on the head.
"Ow, Chiharu! I'm getting there, don't worry." He massaged his head sourly. "Anyway, Sakura-chan, they took me to the leader of their tribe right? There I regaled them all with my stories of bravery and valor! The leader, King Karapachias III, was so amused by me that he gave me--" He produced a long broomstick from...somewhere and held it proudly in front of him. "This!"
Rika, Chiharu, and Naoko all face-faulted.
"Uhm, what's that?" Sakura asked. She raised her hands in front of her, attempting to feel the object Yamazaki was yapping on about.
Yamazaki grabbed her hand and let her touch the 'wonder of the Shakatakian tribe'. "Feel it, Sakura-chan. Notice the fine grain of this object? This is really an archaeological prize!" he crowed.
The auburn-haired girl ran her hands along the 'object's' length doubtfully.
Yamazaki was saying. "King Karapachias III told me that in order for this object's power to manifest itself, I have to show it to a blindfolded, brown-haired and green-eyed girl whose name starts with an 'S'."
"So that the object can manifest its power, huh?" Chiharu said dryly.
"I don't know," Sakura suddenly murmured, more to herself than to her friends as she lightly rake her nails at the broomstick, "it feels just like an ordinary broomstick to me." Slowly she grabbed the edge of the broom and gave it a squeeze. "Can I take off my blindfold now, Yamazaki-kun?"
The chinky-eyed boy shook his head mournfully. "I'm afraid you can't, Sakura-chan." he told her. "King Karapachias III told me that the brown-haired, green-eyed girl whose name starts with the letter 'S' should not look at the object until all the people in the room have seen it, or else she'll go blind."
Sakura shrugged as she raised a hand to the scarf's knot at the nape of her neck. "So? You guys have seen it already." she pointed out as she struggled to undo her blindfold. Yamazaki's hand snaked up and grabbed hers.
"Not everyone who has to BE here have seen it, Sakura-chan."
"Hoe?"
The sounds of car doors slamming shut and voices could be heard from outside. A moment later, the apartment doors flew open, and a whole entourage of people walked in, laden with various luggage.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked in confusion as Rika, Chiharu, and Naoko all burst into excited giggles. "Why are there--"
Her blindfold was suddenly removed. The auburn-hired girl blinked a few times before her eyes came to focus on the face of the boy she had not seen in four months. She gasped.
Li Syaoran was staring at her in confusion, a light blush tinging his cheeks. Tomoyo was beaming like a proud mother behind him.
"Hhhhooooooeeeee!!!"
~ 0 ~
While Tomoyo ran after the Card Mistress, Syaoran took the opportunity for introductions, then invited everyone up to his apartment for pizza. Tomoyo and a calmer Sakura showed up about fifteen minutes later.
At that moment, Duo and the rest of the gang were crowded in the living room debating on the validity of Yamazaki's theory on the origin of tsunamis.
"Ok, ok. So let me get this straight." Duo almost shouted amidst the chaos in the room as Yamazaki landed on the carpet with a steaming Chiharu on top, strangling him. "Tsunamis are caused when whales, uh, fart?"
From the floor, Yamazaki replied in a muffled voice. "Yes, Duo-san. The pressure of the whale's fart against the sea water causes the water to spurt forward to the shores in huge waves. Most scientists believe that earthquakes are the prime causes of tsunamis, but we all know that I know better than they do. Did you know--"
"Shut up, Yamazaki!" Chiharu growled as the rest of them laughed. Duo stared at the boy in amusement and utter disbelief as Chiharu bonked him over and over with a pillow, before a mischievous smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Ne, Yamazaki-kun?" he called out sweetly.
The highly imaginative boy looked up from the floor with a slightly dazed expression. "Hai?" he slurred as his cousin gave him another thwap on the head.
Duo smiled smugly as he pulled the pitcher of pineapple juice towards him. "Did you know that in America people believe..."
~ 0 ~
Syaoran shook his head in disbelief as he watched his friend Yamazaki drink pineapple juice through his nose while Duo cajoled him.
"Drinking liquid through your nose is one of the most full-proof ways of proving your manliness in America..."
Turning his attention back to the glasses he was drying, he commented. "Everyone seems to be getting along."
Eriol nodded his head as he turned on the dishwasher. Wiping his hands on a towel, he headed towards the counter and sat down in front of Syaoran. "It's really not that difficult to get along with Duo-san, Xiao Lang." Clow's reincarnation remarked. Eriol pulled one of the already dried glasses towards him and started running a finger over its rim.
Syaoran paused from his drying and watched the English boy's action for a few moments. "Eriol-san," he asked softly as he raised a hand to absently play with the chain of his tassel, "Pardon my asking but, why are you here?"
Eriol smiled that eery smile of his and replied in an amused voice. "Would you believe me if I tell you that I missed your company?" His descendant glared at him stonily. "Ieran and the Elders contacted me as soon as the Heir had arrived. We thought it would be best if I foresee his training with the Card Mistress."
"Sou ka."
"Uhm, Syaoran-kun?" An almost hesitant voice called from the door and both turned to find a blushing Sakura standing there, carrying an empty pitcher of juice. "Rika and I got thirsty, and since Duo-san and Yamazaki-kun spilled most of the juice in their nose drinking contest, I was wondering if we could have more?"
"Uhm, ah, s-su-sure." The Chinese boy stuttered as he leapt out of his seat to get the juice from the fridge. Sakura walked over to the counter and set the pitcher down, her face still flaming. Eriol's smile grew wider, and immediately beat a hasty retreat as Syaoran emerged from the refrigerator with a can of concentrated pineapple juice and a pitcher of water. He ambled clumsily towards the counter and carefully placed all of them down.
"You could have told me you were coming, you know." Sakura whispered as Syaoran quietly started punching holes on the juice can.
He blushed. "I-I wanted to surprise you." he admitted as he poured some of the juice in the pitcher of water. Only a trickle of the thick liquid drizzled out of the hole. Frowning, the amber-eyed boy tapped the underside of the can. "Kora."(5)he cursed to himself as he tilted the can a little bit more.
Sakura smiled at this. "Here, let me." she offered kindly as she made a move to take the can from Syaoran's hands. Their hands briefly touched, and both teens flushed as Syaoran almost dropped the can on the counter with a loud thump.(6)
Sakura licked her lips nervously as she wrung her hands in front on her. "A-Ano ne, Syaoran-kun..." she began softly.
"Aa?" The Chinese boy asked as he furiously punched too many holes on the can.
"Ah...I..I..wanted to tell you something..."
"Aa?"
The emerald-eyed girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Atashiwa...atashiwa..."
Duo stuck his head suddenly through the doorway. "Oi, Kinomoto-chan!" he called out cheerfully, an almost manic glint present in his amethyst eyes as Chiharu's hysterical shrieks of "I think he's drowning!" echoed from the living room. "Where's the juice?"
As the Card Mistress hurriedly grabbed the still unstirred juice from the table and ran out of the kitchen with her face flaming, Syaoran threw a death glare at the braided pilot.
"What did I do?" Duo asked in bewilderment as his comrade's brother pointedly turned his back at him.
~ 0 ~
'Li Raiu no da.'
Heero shook his head as he stared emotionlessly out the veranda overlooking the peaceful streets of Tomoeda. 'I still can't believe I said that.' he quietly told himself as he leaned forward on his perch.
"Said what, Raiu?" A voice asked him from the doorway. In a flash the Wing pilot had his gun out and aimed at a completely unfazed Hiiragizawa Eriol.
"What are you doing here?" He asked the English boy tightly as Eriol closed the door behind him and took a step towards the veranda.
"Looking for you."
Heero's arm wavered slightly as the dark-haired boy advanced one more step. With shaking fingers the Perfect Soldier released the safety latch on his pistol. "Why?" he managed to growl calmly despite the loud pounding of his heart as the unfamiliar energy coming from the boy washed over him in waves.
Eriol chose not to answer this question. Stopping just a few feet away from the older boy, he asked quietly, "Do you know who I am?" His dark eyes were fixed on Heero's own Prussian ones.
Heero was surprised when he heard himself answer almost automatically. "You're Clow Reed."
"Very good." Eriol complimented him, smiling in a rather alarming sort of way. Without warning, Heero felt a very strong power permeating the air around him. His own magic responded to this power enthusiastically, and the Perfect Soldier could almost touch the green aura that he was giving out. His gun fell from his hand. "The power of Thunder is not an easy element to control, Raiu. Even your father found it difficult to control his power. But you WILL succeed. Just cast all your doubts away..."
Heero had taken to wearing the tassel given to him by the Elders around his neck simply because he had seen Syaoran sporting the same thing, only in a different color. Now the chain seemed to burn through his skin, and try as he may to keep his expression blank, he couldn't help but wince.
"The Card Mistress will help you harness the full potential of your power, Li Raiu." Clow Reed's reincarnation informed him, the corners of his mouth lifting up into a small smile as he watched the future heir of the Li clan submit himself to ancient power around him. "Consider this upcoming battle as another one of your missions. You cannot fail."
Instantly the force surrounding Heero Yuy was gone.
And so was Eriol.
~ 0 ~
"Where are you heading out to, Syaoran-sama?" Wei called out from the kitchen as Syaoran brushed past him, coat in hand.
"School. To enroll." He replied as he headed for the living room. His coat suddenly dropped from his hand to the floor, and he cursed loudly as he picked it up while walking, immediately colliding with someone.
"Ow!" Syaoran exclaimed as he tried to regain his balance. Muttering to himself, he looked up at the person he bumped into.
And found himself staring up at Li Raiu's clear blue eyes for the first time .
"G-gomen ne." Syaoran gulped.
Heero didn't seem to hear his apology. Side-stepping his brother, the Perfect Soldier went on along his way, walking with machine-like precision. Syaoran shrugged and headed to the living room, where Sakura and Tomoyo sat waiting for him.
The words were so soft that Syaoran almost missed his brother's reminder. "Stay alert."
~ 0 ~
"He's your brother?"
Sakura wanted to confirm as she stopped walking to stare at the amber-eyed boy. Syaoran blushed as Sakura's emerald gaze focused on him, but managed a nod and a meek "Hai."
"And he has magic."
Another nod.
"And your clan Elders requests me to help train him by using the Sakura Cards."
"Aa."
"And he has a gun."
"Aa." Syaoran grabbed the Card Mistress's hand, ignoring the tingle that travelled through his spine as he turned urgent eyes at the girl he loves. "Will you do it, Sakura-chan?" he asked her, the slightest hint of pleading in his voice as he watched Sakura bite her lip nervously as she thought of her answer.
Finally, she sighed. "I'll do it." she replied. Syaoran grinned.
"Arigato."
As the Chinese boy was whisked inside the admission's office, Tomoyo leaned towards her best friend and commented cheerfully. "The things you do for love, ne?"
Kinomoto Sakura just blushed and nodded.
TBC
==YATTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all the characters are in place! *dances around in her pink underwear* I can't wait to start on chapter eight!!!
FOOTNOTES:
1. Hmm...I'm not too sure, but I think this translates to: "Long time, no see, Li-kun."
2. This had to happen, guys! I needed to make it seem like Eriol and Syaoran are already in first-name basis to get that 'ancestor-descendant' feel.
3. It's a masculine but sort of impolite way to say, "I am Li Raiu." I couldn't very well let Heero say "Atashi wa Li Raiu" could I? Besides, we all know he's a sometimes bastard. ^-^
4. Translates to: "His brother." You're probably wondering how Eriol knew about Heero's and Syaoran's relationship. He IS Clow Reed's reincarnation, after all.
5. "Ok, everyone! Let's go!"
6. I think this means "Damn."
7. I think this sort of reminds me of a scene in The VOID Card movie...*winks*
==Like it? Hate it? Let me know!