Mirra's Trilogy 3

Mirra’s Trilogy 3 : A Christmas Tale
Christmas was almost here.
Days passed after their trip to go skiing on Hikaru’s birthday, and her wish.
Mirra followed suit, changing her appearance to be what she would be if she was 14.
Briefly she had a regret pang, thinking back to the pain Hikaru went through for her growth. But to that she only smiled and scolded Mirra gently for her concerns, telling her that the pain slid into the back of her mind once she felt Mirra holding her tight and comforting her.

Still, it didn’t ease Mirra’s visions. She began to have worst “visions” than before. Now she was being punished by Mimic & Hikaru, and she couldn’t stop dreaming it no matter what Hikaru said. She wanted to listen to Hikaru’s comforting words, and block out the thoughts that plagued her nights, but she couldn’t--- and she didn’t know why.

It was now the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, December the 24th. Hikaru was wide awake, thinking back to her phone call earlier that day…

* * * * * *

Flashback
“Huh?”
Umi asked over the phone as they talked, “You want to ask me something?” (silence, almost as if Umi’s mind was racking over the ideas she was having as she pondered the request) “Anything special?”

“It’s important.” Hikaru said firmly, “I was hoping you’d hear me out and---”

“Of course. Of course. Besides which it’d be great because I’d like to spend time with my little Hikaru-chan before Christmas. Come over tomorrow, I already did my shopping and mama is going to be out doing her last second shopping with aunties Hikaru, Fuu & Presea so we’ll have the house to ourselves. I’ll see you tomorrow morning bright and early?”

“That’d be great. Thank you, papa---”

“Anything for my little girl. I mean my precious, all growing up and…” (stops, breath hanging as if waiting for Hikaru’s next words.) “…uh… there is something though… you’re bringing Mirra, right?”

“Umi-papa? Of course I am, why?”

Umi‘s voice fell silent for a second, then “Something happened a few days ago.”

“Umi-papa---?”

* * * * * *

She carefully peels back the blankets to reveal her chest, a few finger of her left hand gently poking her more mature breasts. She had been getting used to her bigger body for the past few weeks, but almost came to a lament after allowing a few seconds of prodding to pass. “My breasts are bigger and nobody notices.”
A few seconds pass before a thin smile etches across her lips, the blankets pulled back up to her neck. “Silly me. Worrying about people not staring at my chest. What a ridiculous thought to have.”

Suddenly Mirra cries out softly, her hands clenching as she rolls onto her face, hands gripping the bedding tight. She was having another night vision, and it wasn’t a good one. Slowly, gently, Hikaru pries Mirra’s fingers open and pulls the shivering girl into her arms, holding her tight. She was sweating, and her mouth moved without a word coming forth but Hikaru knew what was happening all the same. “Oh Mirra, little Mirra-chan.”

She was having another tormenting vision, and there was nothing Hikaru could do to stop it. All she could do was hold onto her and comfort her until the dream ran it’s course, but she didn’t like feeling so powerless all the same. She wanted to do something, but didn’t know what to do. She fell back asleep a few minutes after Mirra, both clung together as they slumbered.

Mirra knew that she was invited to go with Hikaru to her home to speak to Umi, but Hikaru didn’t want to wake Mirra up so fast after her night vision. She left the girl lying in bed, sleeping contently. The door to Sakura’s “lab” swung open, and Hikaru almost felt as if she was still unwanted in this place even though Sakura made it a point to make Hikaru feel right at home there, free to use the kitchen whenever the urge to cook for herself and Mirra came over her.

She wanted to feel welcome and all, but still she couldn’t quite shake the thought of a small indignant individual waving his fist at her and yelling “You STYU-PID GHIRL!” (thick accent) “GET OUT OF MY SEHCRET LAHBHORATHORY!!” (she stops as she looks down, feeling a tingle race up her spine at the sight of the not so happy Kerberos) “Good morning, Kero.”

Mirra introduced her to Kero once she knew about Mirra’s powers, and moved into the house. They got along rather well, and for him to frown at her like that--- “Feed me.” Kero growled, sitting at the table in that worrisome “indignant” posture that Hikaru was so worried about a few seconds ago. ‘Oh.’ Hikaru thought to herself, the weight from her shoulders lifting abit, ‘He‘s hungry.’. And with that she started to cook, sparring Kero a brief glance over her shoulder as she did. “Didn‘t get breakfast yet?”

“Sakura won’t wake up until 9AM, and Tomoyo is going shopping so she told me to wait for Sakura to wake up! Wait for Sakura! What a thing to say to me!” Kero grumbled indignantly. “I’ll make you a few pancakes as I make Mirra and myself breakfast. Is that OK?”

“Melted butter and syrup on mine, Hikaru!”

She nodded her head as she worked, “Ok. Ok. I’ll get to work little Kero---” her apron quickly tied on tight as she started prepping for pancakes. The apron was a gift from Tomoyo, and was a rather fanciful yet risque apron, often making Hikaru blush to put on such a “stimulating” thing. It was a pink apron, with a mostly naked Makoto (except for an apron) kissing a naked Ami while holding a pan in her free hand (flipping pancakes) with the words “Service Given Pipping Hot!”. Nina thought the Sailor Mercury/Jupiter apron was cute, and also very accurate. After all, Nina once said…
Suddenly she felt a presence near her. She turned to speak to Kero but found herself staring into Tomoyo’s beautiful eyes instead. “To-tomoyo-chan!” Hikaru spat out, surprised. But as she watched, she noticed Tomoyo’s smile only grow wider as she watched Hikaru cook. “Good morning, Hikaru-chan. Your pan’s ready for batter now.”

“Oh!” she gasped, reaching over and pouring batter into the readied pan to let it cook. “I thought Kero said you were going Christmas shopping today?”

“I only have a few things to get.” Tomoyo responds as she takes a seat on the table, “Sakura is going to meet me at New King Penguin Park and we’re going to have lunch at the outdoor eatery that opened there. It’ll help Sakura unwind from the events of the past few weeks.”

“Would you like some breakfast?” Hikaru offered, to which Tomoyo replied “I’ll make myself something after you, just keep the stove on.” (sighs) “Sakura’s been rather stressed after losing Fight that time in the park, and then the zoo incident. I’m glad she’s taking today to relax… maybe later we’ll…” (sighs) “…What’s your plans with Mirra going to be like?”

“We’re seeing Umi-papa today.”

“Huh?” (looks at Hikaru) “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, I just…” (Hikaru flips pancake onto plate, smiling) “…breakfast is done, Kero. Hold on a second.”

“Wahoo! Pancakes! Pancakes!”

“It’s almost ready --- annnnddddd here you go.” (Hikaru plops plate down in front of him) “Just the way you like it.”

“Yah!!”

As she goes back to making pancakes she feels Tomoyo near her, prodding her. “What’s wrong, Hikaru?”

“I’m… I’m…” (Hikaru leans her head back, taking a deep breath as she calms herself) “I’m going to ask Umi-papa to let me stay with Mirra-chan… forever.”

Tomoyo - “Forever?”

“Uh-huh.” Hikaru blushes at the thought of it, her face turning abit red. “Uh, are you angry with me?”

“No. Not at all.” (Tomoyo smiles) “Just as long as you two make each other happy, like Sakura-chan makes me happy, that should be all that counts.”

“I know. Mirra often says how she wants to be just like Sakura-chan one day.” Tomoyo confided in her, “Brave as her, beautiful as her, falling in love with the right woman like her --- I keep telling her she’s already brave, and beautiful, and more--- but you know Mirra.“ (Tomoyo pats Hikaru on the shoulder) “I hope you two have it easier than we did before I knew how Sakura truly felt about me.”

“Phwee?”

“Better be careful, your pancake is ready.” Tomoyo deflected, motioning as Hikaru quickly flips it onto the plate. Through the corner of her eye she notices Tomoyo leaving the kitchen, “I’ll be back to cook my breakfast in a few minutes.” and said nothing else as she walked out.

True to her word, she returned. But during that time she left Hikaru to ponder their talk by herself, and when she came back she said not a word about Hikaru and Mirra’s plans but went right to work. “Sakura’s up so I invited her to breakfast with me in bed.” she says with a smile, working on breakfast as Hikaru leaves the room, cart of food/drink ahead of her, pushing it along to their bedroom.

* * * * * *

Mirra was just waking up when Hikaru presented breakfast. As they busied themselves to eating, she could feel Mirra’s nervousness. “Don’t be so tense. Umi-papa is excited that we’re visiting.”

“She doesn’t know yet, does she---”

“I know it might seem like a scary thing to ask,” she started, taking another bite of her pancake as she did, “but I won’t relent on this. I want to be with you, and I want her blessings --- I just want to know that I have her blessings and she is happy for us --- but if I have to, I’ll stay with you without her blessings.”

“Hikaru-chan!” Mirra protested, but Hikaru only waved her down gently with her free hand, “Our happiness is important. But Umi-papa will understand, you’ll see.”
For a second Mirra didn’t know what to say, her stomach feeling the cold shivers from Hikaru’s words, but a soothing hug and a gentle smile soothed her feelings if only for awhile. Those feelings returned the minute the huge gates of the mansion where Umi lived opened, and they walked through.

The house was as large as Tomoyo-mama’s, but had it’s own ambiance and style to it. In the front of the house was a beautiful fountain upon which three statues (one of Umi surrounded by a water effect with nighttime illumination, one of Hikaru with a special fire display which came on at night, and one of Fuu standing on a base surrounded by green crystals which were illuminated at night) stood.

The first thing Presea said about the display when she first saw it was “Planning to turn your house into a Las Vegas Casino?” (They haven’t gotten along very well after that, and it’s only the fact that Hikaru and Presea are a happy couple that makes Umi act sociable while the two are together near her). The maid shows the two up to her old room where they sit on the bed waiting for Umi to come out of her office--- where she was hiding with the case of butterflies in her stomach (or so the maid said).

The room was rather beautiful, and resembled the rooms in the Daidouji Residence greatly. One thing did catch her eye that was different though, a costume. “This an old costume from Halloween?” Mirra asked, picking up the costume and feeling a strange sense of recognition from it. “That? No. Tomoyo-chan is teaching me to make costumes. That’s something I was doing in school for extra credit before I moved in with you --- speaking of which I should move my designs into our room when I move.”

“Tomoyo-mama?” Mirra gasped, looking at the costume in hand. “W-why?”

“I figure my brave future Card Captor might want her first costume the day she starts being the Mistress of the Cards. Though I didn’t think you’d turn out to be a Clow Card too.”

“Costume?” Mirra choked, thinking about all the times Sakura-papa looked so nervous when presented with a new costume. “But H-h-hikaru-chan---”

“I won’t get carried away.” she announced, bringing a sense of relief to Mirra, “Still I want my precious to be prepared for anything. So I’m making a few costumes and you better open your bag quickly.”

“Tomoyo-mama.” Mirra rasped, head lowered, “What are you teaching her?!” but then a thought hits her. ‘Open my bag?’ She quickly does, but before she can ask why there’s a knock at the door, to which Hikaru responds. There, at the door as it opened, was Umi, her breath ragged as she looked about the room. “Ran… all the… way up…” (looks again) “That thing… isn’t in… here is…”

“Mokona’s at Auntie’ Hikaru’s.” Hikaru answers honestly. “Oh…” Umi wheezes, “…good…” (her breath eases as she stands upright, straightening her clothes) “Ahem. Ah well then…” her eyes falls on Mirra, and her mouth slides into a smile making Mirra shiver abit. “Mirra-chan! It’s been awhile hasn‘t it.” (face blanks) “Well, it’s been awhile. How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Well then--- nothing like some Christmas cake to make for conversation! I have some downstairs so we can get going and---” (before Mirra could respond she was already being motioned out the door with Hikaru following, her bag left on the bed where---) “---?---”

A few seconds later, a little head pokes out. And a not too enchanted Kero heaves himself out of the opening in the bag. “Cake---? Cake??” he mutters, his temper flaring as he begins to wail and throw his fist about in a tantrum. “I WANT CAKE TOO!!”

“ME TOO!”

“YEAH! WE WANT CAKE!! WE WANT CAKE!! WE---?”
He turns around suddenly, coming face to face with a little girl (about a head and shoulder shorter than Mirra) wearing a strange head gear, eyes shut as she waves her little fists up and down wailing “WE WANT CAKE!! WE WANT CAKE!!”

“---?----”

Suddenly she stops and opens her eyes, staring at Kero for a few seconds. Silence reigns as they both look at each other before she screams “CAKE!!”
Kero leaps into the air, shocked, as he begins fluttering in circles, with her running in the opposite direction (shocked by Kero’s sudden move) “AGH! Monster!”

“Cake! Cake!”

Kero - “Monster! Monster!”

“Cake! Cake!”

Kero - “Mon---” Kero suddenly stops, and looks down at the form running about. A few seconds later a deep, tired groan escapes his lips as he begins to lower himself down to face her at her eye level. “Cloud… Cloud… stop that… Cloud…”

“Cake! Cake!”

“CLOUD!!” Kero finally snaps, bringing Cloud to a dead halt, her little fists clenched as she looks up at Kero. “What?”

“What are you doing here?!”

“Cake!” she spits out, and with that she quickly runs back to the huge bed and jumps on it, bouncing on it a few times before falling dead asleep on it. “Nothing changed with you I see, no matter how “old“ you are.” Kero moans, watching her slumbering on the bed, her form going back to misty as she “vanishes” (until woken again by the announcement of “cake”).
“---sigh---”

* * * * * *

While the three sat outside, Umi showed the two a huge cake she bought (Christmas themed). With that, suddenly, Hikaru asked to bring two pieces of cake somewhere and left with them rather quickly. ‘Must want me to spend some time with her mom.’ Mirra thought out, smiling nervously as she and Umi waited for Hikaru to return.
This was, in theory, a good idea. But as far as good ideas go it wasn’t the most well conceived as tense minutes passed as the two sat quietly, rather uncertain what to say without their comfort barrier (Hikaru) between them.

Behind them a voice called out, “Tea party for two?”
Umi groaned and turned to address the speaker. “I thought you went shopping.”

“I did.” Presea announced, stepping into view with arms burdened with bags. “See? But I finished and they wrapped all the stuff there and now I’m home again. Hikaru wanted some alone time, I think she’s still not finished with my shopping yet.”

“Heaven forbid.” Umi sighs, waving her off. “Right now I have guests and don’t have time…”

“May I have some?” Presea asked, pointing at the cake. With a slight nudge she pushed her way into a free seat, without even waiting for Umi to answer, and moved to dig in. “This looks great--- ouch!” Presea yelps, pulling her arm back. “What was that for?”

“Wait for Little Hikaru before you dig in! And where are your manners?” (motions to Mirra) “Oh sorry.” (shakes hands with Mirra, who smiles yet sweatdrops slightly) “Hi. You look bigger than before, growing girl?”

“Hi.” she manages to say, abit uncertain about what to do next after such a pointed question. Umi, however, was already moving once she noticed Hikaru returning. “Let’s have some!”

“I’ll have some!” Hikaru called out, bringing a smile to Mirra’s lips as she sat back down and the two in unison took a bite. “Mmmmm---- delicious!” Hikaru sighed, the cake tasting so wonderful. Mirra was enjoying her piece as well, as was Umi & Presea (despite the fact that she wasn’t invited). “I love this cake. When I first treated Hikaru & Fuu to it I thought they were going to explode from happiness. Their first bite brought such a happy expression to their faces.”

“Yeah. Hikaru loves this cake.” Presea agreed, bringing a irked expression from Umi as Presea caught the girls’ attention. “She can’t get enough and sometimes I have to hide it so she makes me dinner because if she sees the cake first she wants to eat cake before dinner.”

“Haven’t you learned to cook yet?” Umi growled, eyes narrowed, her mood suddenly changing once she noticed the girls’ eyes on herself. “Uh--- sorry. Just had a bad thought.”

“Oh.” (Mirra) “Uh--- this is beautiful. Where did you get it?”

“The little bakery near New King Penguin Park. It’s been my favorite for years.” Umi sighed, lovely memories floating up to her mind’s eye--- She remembers all the happy times with Hikaru & Fuu. All the happy times.
The day Fuu got married to Ferio, how beautiful they were and how Umi agreed to take Fuu’s mother’s place and give Fuu away. She felt so proud of her.
The day Hikaru found a stray puppy in the park, lost and hungry, and called the little thing “Hikari” after her own dog she once had.
The day Fuu invited Umi up to her winter home and taught her how to snowboard along with Little Hikaru and Ferio, who was only getting into the sport when she arrived at the slopes for the first time.
The day Hikaru came running in, happily proclaiming how she and Presea were getting marr…

Umi face faults. Quickly she shakes it off and turns her attention squarely on Mirra (much to her dismay) “You’re in the cheerleading squad right? And a great athlete. Hikaru told me often about how you follow in your moth… I mean “father”’s footsteps… that’s right, isn’t it? “Father”, right?”

Mirra nods her head, “Sakura-papa? Uh-huh. But I’m not as good as she is.”

“So modest!” Umi prods, “Your growing up to be such a beautiful young woman (quicker than I thought you would grow up but I guess you all grow up fast around here.)”

“Thanks.” Mirra said nervously.

“I remember watching Hikaru and Fuu grow up, our friendship growing…” Umi said loftily, she was once again remembers the good times. Little Hikaru pouting because she hadn’t grown very tall while she and Fuu were growing and growing.
All the crashes and accidents Ferio had while learning to snowboard.
The day Fuu tried to sub at Hikaru’s school as PE teacher and was taken to the nurse’s office after she crashed into the horse while trying to demonstrate a simple jump.
The day back in Cephiro when Presea gave them their new Escudo weapons, and how she collapsed after giving all her energy and how Keiko gave back some of her spirit energy to Presea, using Hikaru as a conduit between the two she--- “AGH!!” Umi jumps up, fist banging the table. “THAT’S RIGHT!! KEIKO GOT YOU TWO TOGETHER!! THAT MEDDLESOME GOOD FOR NOTHING IS THE CAUSE OF THIS WITH HER “OH HOLD HER”, AND HER “HUG HER”, AND “OH YOU TWO ARE SO CUTE”!! GOD IT MAKES ME WANT TO VOMIT THINKING HOW SHE---” (stops, blushes) “---uh--- sorry--- too much sugar.”

“Obviously.” Presea remarks blandly, drawing a harsh expression from Umi to which she replies “Mind your blood sugar, dearie, it’s peaking again.”

“-----” Umi growls, only to drop her temper and return to her happy place. “Uh--- how’s the cake, Mirra-chan?”

“It’s great, thank you.” Mirra smiles, recovering herself from the shock, taking another bite. “Ummm---- Umi-papa? Why--- why don’t you like Presea?”
Silence. Umi turns to look at Hikaru, and yet can’t bring herself to speak. For a few seconds she just looks back and forth, a look of confusion, then irritation on her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean---”

“That’s OK. I---” (sighs as she sits back down) “---I guess I always thought Hikaru was cut out for a boyfriend. Maybe find a cute guy and she’d be his knight in shining armor instead of the other way around, and she’s ride off into the sunset with him clinging onto her and they’d live happily ever after.”

Presea frowned at the implications. “Was it so horrible that she fell in love with me?”

“It’s more like it might not have happened!” Umi spat out, turning her gaze onto Presea. “If Keiko didn’t interfere who knows who she might have ended up with! How things might have ended up for all of us! We might still have our families at this time of year to celebrate with! We might---” (gasps) “---be happier if she never took us here, and gave us a chance that we might never have had if we stood dead--- is that it?” Presea finished.
Umi collapses into her chair, the weight of an invisible burden pushing down on her as she leans forward onto the table. “I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t want to never see mama or papa ever again! I didn’t want it to happen like this!”

“But look at all the good that came from it!” Presea argued, taking her turn to stand up over Umi, “You two have a beautiful daughter, whose in love which a great woman. Fuu and Ferio are so happy together, and Hikaru is the happiest I ever seen her even back in Cephiro!” she lets a few seconds pass, as Hikaru leans forward to comfort Umi, before speaking again. “I wish each of you could have had everything you wanted, but isn’t it enough that you’re happy, and are like a family to each other? I know it would have been beautiful if each of you had family to spend Christmas with, but your family to each other--- can’t spending Christmas together make up for that? Can’t we have a happy Christmas together and be family to each other to make up for what we lost?”

For the longest time Umi does not say a word. She simply stares into the table head lowered. Finally, with a little help from Hikaru, she slowly stands up. She shakes aside the long strands of her hair from her face, and she stares Presea straight in the eye.
“You better not let that pest Mokona run rampant or so help me you’re going to become the black sheep of the family faster than I can say “fencing foil”!”
The two come together, their arms wrapping around tight as they embrace, Presea smiling abit as she hugs Umi. “Don’t you lie to me, Umi! I know you’re such a pushover whenever Hikaru brings Mokona over, you know that.”

“Only because I don’t have the heart to tell her what I’d like to do with her “friend” if I had half the chance to!”
Suddenly the phone in her pocket rings, quickly distrupting the moment as she takes it out and answers it. “Uh-huh. Yeah--- oh. Oh, great. Ok. Hold on a second---” (she turns to Hikaru & Mirra) “I’m sorry, but I got to take this.”
Hikaru looked disappointed for a second, but quickly smiles. “No problem. We’ll be in my room where I’ll be showing Mirra the… you-know-what.”

“Ok.” Umi replies, watching the two walk away hand in hand, realization setting in. “YOU TWO GOTTA STAY FOR DINNER!! MY TREAT!! HIKARU & FUU WILL BE THERE!!”

“OK! Thanks!”
Presea, one eye arched upward in surprise, looks at Umi with a skeptical gaze. “Guilty conscious?”

“You don’t get it, do you--- and you think your so smart.” she remarks with a bit of pride, going back to talking on the phone leaving Presea to ponder what she meant.

* * * * * *

The sight that greeted them when they got to the room stunned Mirra into silence.
She had wanted to know on the way up the stairs what Hikaru meant, but it wasn’t until they got to the door, and she opened it with a “See for yourself” that she got a good idea what was going on. In the bed, lying next to each other, was Kerberos and---

“Cloud?” Mirra whispered, leaning forward to look at the girl closely. It had to be Cloud. Last month Rain was captured so this had to be the Cloud. She was still the same old Cloud though. Nothing changed in that respect. Soon her inquiring mind turned to the other problem. “It’s this.” Hikaru motioned, leading Mirra to the closet where she found inside… “A “Treasure” Box?” Mirra asked, picking up the ornate miniature treasure chest and looking at it, a strangely familiar sense coming over her. “I know what’s wrong.” She announces, turning back only to come to a dead halt. “W-wh-what are you---?”

“Tomoyo-chan said I should record all your brave moments so we’d remember them forever.” Hikaru cheerfully announced, holding a camcorder (obviously a gift from Tomoyo) in her hand. ‘Tomoyo-mama! What are you teaching her?!?’ Mirra thinks as she blushes. Quickly recovering from the shock, she moves the box over to a table, and takes a few steps back. “There’s a Clow Card in there. I know which one it is too.”

“Uh…” (Hikaru) “…did you bring Sakura’s staff?”

“Actually…” Mirra holds her hand out, releasing a swarm of glass shards which gather near her hand, then fall outwards upwards and down to form the rough shape of the staff. “I’ve been practicing with my powers for awhile now.”
Slowly, as she grips her hand tight, the shards close together, melting into each other, to form a crystal clear replica of the staff itself. As Hikaru watches in amazement, the replica solidifies until it’s an exact copy of the original. “You never told me about that.” Hikaru whispered, only to feel Mirra’s free hand on her cheek, raising her face up to stare into her eyes. “I did it once before, a long time ago, remember? And I didn’t want to worry you if you thought I might have some foolish notion in my head.” she whispers. The two stand there, allowing the brief moment to pass as Hikaru relished the touch of Mirra’s hand, until she at last pulls away and walks over to the box. “Watch.”

She motions forward with the staff, and taps at the box, the bird’s head coming into contact with a strong force field around the box as it does. “See? It’s obviously Shield…” Tap. Tap. Tap. Mirra stops. “…did you do that?”

“No.” she responded in surprise, turning to look at the box. “Maybe it Shield?”
Mirra turns back to the box, hesitant, “Shield doesn’t usually make noises.”

Carefully she reaches out the staff head again, tapping the force field causing the field to flare up around the box again. “----”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“Is there--- maybe another card in the box?” Hikaru asked, to which Mirra could only reply “I wish we could ask Kero but once he’s sleeping it’s hard to wake him. There’s one way to find out though.”

She raises the staff high, the form becoming clear again as the glass form reshapes into the form of Sword, solidifying once again. Mirra briefly shudders as she takes hold of Sword. “Are you alright?” Hikaru asked, concern on her face. Mirra weakly nods “Yes. It’s just a little drain… ing to keep doing this.”
Mirra takes a swing with Sword, breaking the shield over the box and reverting it back to it’s original form. Once again another shift back to the first form, which staggers Mirra abit, almost sending her to her knees. Mirra quickly waves Hikaru off before she rushes forward. “It’s OK. It takes abit out of me… to shift this part of my soul… back and forth into different… forms…” she assures her, holding the staff out now. “Clow Card, return to your powers confined! Shield card!”

She jams the staff forward, as energy reaches out of the end and grabs Shield, converting it back into it’s card form. As it returns to her hand, Mirra stumbles to her knees, Hikaru racing up to catch her. “What’s wrong? Mirra-chan? What‘s…”

“It’s exhausting.” she gasped, allowing Hikaru to move her to the bed where Kero and Cloud were sleeping, laying her down on her side as she kneels next to her. “For Sakura-papa, the staff taps into it’s own power until it evolves again when sealing cards. Only when papa is converting cards into Star Cards will it draw upon her own power. But my mirror “staff” is an extension of my soul, so it automatically taps my spirit energy whenever I reshape it or mirror a power or ability. So, everytime I use a new power, or seal a card, it takes energy from me… tires me out. I‘ll get it back soon, but… I‘m just tired.”

“Mirra-chan.” Hikaru whispers, her hand gently caressing Mirra’s face as she lies on the bed, bringing a weak grin from her, “You’re just too good for me.” she sighed. Behind them, the box pops open and something comes out with a slight jingling chiming noise. Hikaru turns around quickly, moving to defend Mirra, but finds herself face to face with an odd sight, a small fairy, wings glowing , fluttering in front of her.

The small little female smiles, easing Hikaru’s tensions, as she lands on her shoulder. She was beautiful. She had long limbs which moved gracefully as she came to land upon Hikaru’s shoulder, the little fairy slowly walking up towards her face with graceful steps.
Her hand was small, and delicate looking, it’s touch soft as it reached up to touch Hikaru where Mirra touched her earlier. Hikaru took in a deep breath and felt her energy as she smiled at her gently. For long seconds the hand caressed her cheek, calming her, until she finally moved and kissed her before moving to Mirra.
The kiss was a soft peck, but it carried a great deal of soothing energy which filled Hikaru’s body and seemingly lifted a few weeks worth of burden and concern from her all at once.

Next, the little fairy moved towards Mirra. Mirra, feeling the presence, rolls over onto her back. Her eyes comes onto the little one as she touches down on her near her face. “I don’t remember you…” she whispers, to which the fairy nods her head. She walks up to Mirra’s face, touching Mirra’s lips, then moving her hands along the face. After long seconds she smiles, and with an unspoken understanding between herself and Mirra she lays herself down on Mirra‘s chest. Her eyes flutter abit, and then close shut.
Her body at first glows a little, then slowly sinks into Mirra’s, her tiny form vanishing as Mirra feels her body recover it’s strength bringing her back up to a sitting position. As she checks herself she feels a warm feeling course through her body. “Wh-what--- what was---”

“Hope… I think.” Mirra responds, smiling the same infectious smile that the little fairy smiled a minute before. “I heard Kero mention a card called Hope but never remembered that card. It must have been something unique to Sakura-papa alone.” (sighs) “She gave me new strength, and hope, something we’ll be needing in the days to come I think.”
Mirra didn’t say another word after that. She simply pulled the now inquisitive Hikaru into her arms and kissed her before the questions began, the two falling into the bed and cuddling without saying another word as Hikaru’s questions became forgotten for now.

Seconds later Mirra suddenly remembered the two slumbering forms next to her, and came up with a thought. A thought which became an idea. “I have an idea.”

“Ok--- let me get the camera and check the footage.”

“?!?” (Mirra nearly faints, which wouldn’t have made for much of an impact because she was already on her back) “Oh beautiful! The entire scene with Hope came out great! The auto zoom worked perfectly! Tomoyo-chan is going to be so happy to see this!”

“Tomoyo-mama is corrupting you!!” Mirra sighed, realizing that she and Sakura-papa were soon going to have more in common than they ever realized was possible.

* * * * * *

Back at the Daidouji estates
The holochamber beneath the house.

“That’s so beautiful!” Tomoyo cried, watching the scene between Hope and Mirra as the film slowly drew to a close. Mirra, sitting next to Sakura, was blushing bright red. “Tomoyo-mama, that‘s embarrassing!”

“I know the feeling.” Sakura whispers to her, the two sighing as the film progressed.
“This is my favorite part.” Hikaru points out as Mirra stands over Cloud and smiles. “Cloud, return your powers to me… and be free. Cloud card!”

“Why did you do that?!?” Kero complained from his perch on top of Cloud’s head, the young girl kicking her legs in the air as she watched. “Rain was sealed, why not Cloud here?”

“Rain bad! I’m good!” Cloud complained, kicking her feet more. Mirra smiled as she regarded the pair, “Because I remember when you were Big Kero,” Mirra began, edging towards the two, “And I remember Cloud said to me once when she was a big girl you and her would get married!”

“---Kero-chan---” Sakura whispered, her lips raising up into a big smile, which Kero quickly caught onto, “Oh NO! No you don’t! Don’t you dare start gloating at me! No! No! No!”
But the wide grin did not leave Sakura‘s lips for a second, “You never told me Cloud was your girlfriend! You big stud you!”

“Cloud is NOT my girlfriend!” Kero yelled at the top of his small lungs, “She’s a girl and she’s a friend but she’s not…”

Nina - “Did you know that denial is a river in Egypt?”

Eliza - “?”

“I heard that once! Bad pun!” Kero spat out, “Who told you that?”

Nina shrugged, “Makoto did. It’s her weak ass one liner she used on Ami once when she wouldn’t try out… mmp”

“You don’t want to hear that story.” Eliza jumps in, hand covering Nina’s mouth.
Tomoyo, in her chair, sighs as the scene changes. Her attention still focused on the film… “So why did she move into your room?” Nina asked, “Do you two have a secret naughty---”

“SHE’S A LITTLE KID, KOTOBUKI!!” Kero glared at the green haired girl (who managed to get Eliza’s hand off her mouth), his wings flapping furiously as he stared at her angrily. “GET YOUR SICK MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER!!!”

* * * * * *

That night, as Christmas drew close, everyone had a party and celebrated Christmas Eve. But that’s a story for Christmas Eve. It’s now 1AM, and for the first time in awhile both Mirra and Hikaru are sleeping comfortably. No more fears keeping them up, not while hope keeps their spirits strong within both of them.

“I know what you came here for.” Umi remarked, Hikaru’s thoughts floating back to when they were invited to eat dinner. “You want to stay with her, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry.” Hikaru whispered, kicking her feet nervously, “But I love her, I want to stay with Mirra-chan forever. I…”

“I’ll have your stuff sent over after Christmas.” Umi replied, kissing Hikaru on the forehead. “If your sure she’s the one for you then I won’t stand in your way… just don’t be too quick to grow up.”

“I won’t.”

Hikaru rolls over in her sleep, a small glass statue of an angel sits within a protective glass case on the nightstand. Her precious treasure amongst her trinkets and baubles which Shield was protecting. She still remembers when she got it. It was a day which seemed like forever. When she had only known Mirra for a few days. That day they were on a field trip and she tripped and fell down a few stairs which caused some of the students to laugh at her. She was still nursing her bruised knee and hurt feelings while everyone ate lunch when Mirra walked up to her. “Can I sit here, Hikaru? We can eat lunch together.”

“I’m not hungry.” she whispered, only to feel Mirra take one of her hands and place something cold in it. Inside her hand was a beautifully sculpted glass angel. “Mirra?”

“They were being mean to you, and I wanted to cheer you up, so… I hope it’s OK with you. It’s not much, but it’s…”

“It’s beautiful--- are you---” Mirra nods her head quickly, opening her lunch and offering to share. The two spent the entire lunch swapping food, talking, and laughing, and that’s how it all began for the two of them.

Upon reflection? It seemed to her that the angel was far more precious than she ever thought possible--- after seeing what Mirra could do--- she realized then and there that this was more than a gift to soothe her hurt feelings. It was a piece of her soul she gave her that day. Which she hoped one day to return in full to Mirra when their day finally came. One day. When they were ready. But for now--- they had all the time in the world.