Since it's Christmas I want to hear from anyone who drops off and reads here what I should do with Askinstoo's endless spams?
Leave them be, or delete them? Post here your opinion on the topic.
I'll give it some days to see if anyone has an opinion on this one.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
One more and Merry Christmas!
Sorry I was abit late on one (one day) but I'm all caught up now.
I might drop in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas on Monday, but in case I forget or something everyone please have a Merry Christmas! Take care and thanks for dropping by to visit on this holiday season!
I might drop in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas on Monday, but in case I forget or something everyone please have a Merry Christmas! Take care and thanks for dropping by to visit on this holiday season!
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.
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.
CardCaptor Sakura Remastered Christmas Tale 1 (2)
Nina sat there sullenly, eyes darkened abit as she stared blankly. It was almost Christmas, but as the days drew closer and closer Nina became more and more quiet. Strange, because as Keiko said herself, Nina used to be quite loud and boisterous during the holiday season, only now she was anything but.
At Tomoyo’s insistance she signed the whole group up for the traditional Christmas Eve parade to herald the flight of Santa Claus on that one special night of the year. Because this was the Realm of Dreams it became the most active on holidays like this, especially on this night when Santa took his yearly flight across the Earthian airspace. To the residents of the Realm this was one of the most important “days” of the dreaming, and they celebrated it’s coming in the Waking World yearly like clockwork.
However it wasn’t the greatest holiday to all who lived or visited the realm.
Be it Normals who struggled with problems in the Waking World, or residents of the realm who remembered that they were refuges of dead worlds that they were slowly losing touch with as their memories faded. Christmas wasn’t a special thing to all, and Nina seemed to be the latest to fall into this discomfort zone.
“Just because I’m depressed doesn’t mean you can forget my gifts.” Nina silently said at those watching her, “Get out there and shop, you slow lazy people…” (silence) “…and don’t touch my lights, I made it just right and I like it the way it is. Go buy your own decorations if you think you can do better than me, who won five years in a row in my local neighborhood Christmas lighting contests back home… so bite me.”
The topic of Nina was becoming a more and more uncomfortable thing to talk about it seemed, but yet that was the topic as Sakura poured the hot chocolate in her private kitchen. “Ever since Nina and Eliza broke it off she’s been getting slowly worst.”
Tomoyo nods her head slowly, “She’s trying the hardest with her new lover Tina, but I have a feeling she’s still crippled by her indecision after Eliza left her. She doesn’t feel that anyone can love her so it…” (sighs) “…it poisons her heart a little every day.”
“We can’t let that happen!“ Sakura blurts out, fist pounding into her open hand, “We have top make this the best Christmas for the ever!“
At this Tomoyo smiles, “Sakura can be so spirited when it comes to these things, especially when it involves love.”
“It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed since that girl came into our lives way back when.“ Kero noted, taking a sip of his chocolate as he spoke, “When it all began she was just a visitor helping us with capturing the cards, but now it’s almost as if she’s another member of the family the way she’s gotten so close to us…” (sighs) “…and once again that bastard Syaoran had to mess everything up. If it wasn’t tearing out Tomoyo’s heart by stealing Sakura away it’s this bastardly thing he did with Eliza. How sick of him.” (snarls) “Dammit why the hell does he always have to do this to us! If it was me I‘d never have done that! It wasn‘t fair to Nina or Eliza, dammit, it wasn‘t fair!!”
“Oh Kero.“ Tomoyo sighs, gracing him with her warming smile, “You’re always the gentleman.“ Tomoyo felt a great leap of pride watching Kero and Sakura, the way they began to see Nina as no longer an interloper or a pain as they now see her as family was heartwarming. And family was exactly what they were now, a large family.
Now the family just had to figure out how to make the newest member of it feel loved at a time she felt the worst.
* * * * * *
The words didn’t seem to want to come out, but Nina struggled to say it all the same.
“I miss her… something… and it makes me feel like crap for doing so.“
“R-r-really?“ Sakura asked.
Tomoyo nods her head in agreement, “I felt that way when I thought I lost you to Syaoran Li, so horrible that I missed you when I thought you would never feel for the me way I felt for you… I can relate to how Nina’s feelings right now.“
Sakura - “Really? W-why?“
Nina - “Because I have Tina now, yet I’m so hung up on Eliza that I feel like I’m hurting her. Depriving her of the love she so deserves by not dedicating myself to her fully. I’m just afraid if she knew how I felt she’d do something noble or rash and it’d all get messy.“
Sakura nodded, her body feeling warm as Tomoyo hugged her. She wanted to turn away from Nina‘s pained expression, but kept staring straight ahead. "I wish I could have done anything for you, Nina…” Tina said quietly, “-- to spare you -- but I am only a SexGirl and you are my master so I, well, your stuck with me until I am sold or returned to my manufacturer.“
She was cut off when Nina put her hand on her mouth. "No offense but that’s killing the moment we’re building here, let’s not talk about your issues with being “property”… OK?“
“Sorry.“ Tina responded, her voice muffled by Nina’s hand. “I don’t mind. I’m only your belonging after…“ (Nina kisses her to silence her then pulls back) "No -- you’re right though, in your own special way, I needed to hear that out of you. I loved every minute I shared with Eliza but it’s our lives now, and that’s the memories I need to build on no matter how much it hurts to push the past away from me.“ (Nina taps Tina on the head) “Now no more about this property stuff out of you! You know how much I hate being called your “owner”! You’re my lover, my mistress, and my fiancee, not my property! OK?“
“Are you my father too? Sometimes during sex you cry out “Who‘s your da--” (silenced again) “Please don‘t bring up everything we do in bed together…” (Nina sighs) “Speaking of which…” (turns to face Sakura and Tomoyo) “What the hell are YOU two doing in here anyway! Don‘t you have your own family to torture with your psuedo Dr. Phil psychobabble?!?”
Sakura - “Did she say she’s a sexgirl?” (points at Tina)
Nina sighs again, giving Sakura a severe look. “You’re extremely slow, aren’t you.”
(Sakura looks bitter but doesn’t attempt to correct her).
“Well for your information…” (Nina begins) “Tina is a BioOrganic SexModel female Cyberroid unit built for sexual pleasures. She knows about -- how to put it in terms you can grasp… oh, right, she knows rubbing and licking and fingering and sextoys and… why are you staring at me like your head’s about to explode from embarrassment? How did your father explain about the birds and the bees BEFORE you and Tomoyo got vertical anyway?”
Sakura blushed and smiled. "Well... Actually Tomoyo taught me."
Nina - “As with a great many things it seems Tomoyo teaches you EVERYTHING…. You two can go away anytime now, by the way, don’t let me keep you here a moment’s longer than necessary.”
* * * * * *
Nina’s lips stopped half an inch away from Tina‘s, her face sweating slightly as she prolonged the wait for it, the anticipation. Finally she pushed forward briskly kissing her, Tina letting out a small satisfied moan in response as she draws her mistress closer. As they broke the kiss Nina whispers into Tina‘s ears “Goddess I love you.”
In response Tina holds Nina tight, and whispers “I love you too… mistress.”
They made love until day turned to night, and they went to dinner in Sakura’s Lab.
Tonight, according to the “action chart” that listed who was cooking when, Sakura was the cook for the evening meal and she did her best job, so much so that even Nina had no complaints about her cooking that night (which she rarely did in anycase, complain I mean). After that Nina took Tina back to bed and they watched TV for awhile before crawling back under the sheets turning to each other for comfort. They would fall asleep soon, yes, and they would do it in each other’s arms--- but not now as they reached out and drew each other together for another kiss before they made love once again.
* * * * * *
Sakura hefted her backpack as she and Tomoyo walked hand in hand away from the Daidouji Estates. Nina was behind her with Tina in tow. Today, in their opinion, was a good day. The sun was up, it was abit cool but warm enough for a picnic, and the snow was just deep enough for a snowball fight after lunch. Nice thing to do since they had finally gotten their Christmas shopping done and only a few days remained to get any final gifts before the big day would come. Suddenly a voice called out, and they stopped when they heard someone call their names. Turning around they saw Rebecca Summers and her companion Trinity walk up.
Sakura smiled and waved, "Hi, what's up?" The two stopped and looked at them for a second, then Rebecca asked, "Are you two alright? I heard Nina was becoming a killjoy for the holidays and I thought she was driving you to despair right about now.“
Sakura smiled and looked at Tomoyo, the two exchanging nods and positive signs. Nina, however, was too far gone to care what Rebecca thought so she didn‘t justify her remarks with a reply. "Nina’s fine, she’s fine. She’s been working some things out, but it‘s nothing we can‘t help her with.“ (Nina - “Please don’t.“)
At that Rena and Trinity smiled and made varying sounds of acknowledgement. Trinity smiled at them, "So you two are going for a picky-nicky, huh?" Sakura and Tomoyo looked at her slightly surprised. "You... you mean you knew?" Tomoyo asked. Rebecca rolled her eyes and tapped the basket with a free hand, “She’s elfin, not from Alpha Centauri. Even she went on “picky-nicky”s from one time or another. Give us a break.“ (Rebecca changes the subject) “So Nina, are you over your Amazonian obsession, or did you get Tina from Amazon-dot-com… get it? Amazon-dot-com because then she’d be that kind of girl with…”
Nina - “Please stop.”
"Well---” Sakura blushes, face turning bright red at the thought, “I think the only people who don't know that they’re marrying is---“
“Me.“ Nina said blandly, “Sakura is a failure at law as well as math it seems.“
Sakura - “Phwee?”
Rebecca, catching on, continued the topic. “Oh, right, totally forgot about that. My bad.“
Tomoyo nodded. “Don’t blame you. The circumstances of Nina‘s particular situation are not widely known. It‘s a law from her own timeline that is restricting her, though in true I‘m sure there‘s no reason to worry about that here.“
“Who’d think a Realm of Dreams would possibly have any limitations, eh?“ Rena agreed, nodding her head at Tomoyo’s remark, “Anyway Nina can be awfully frightening when she’s in a bad mood, so getting on her case about her new lovelife may not be the best of things since we don‘t want to irk her. Speaking of irks I heard Keiko told me that she heard you two walked in on them making love once---“
Sakura and Tomoyo were blushing bright red, the memory of the incident so emblazoned in memory that it made them turn cherry red everytime they even came near to thinking of it. Nina shook it off without comment, "Don't sweat it, you two have nothing to be embarrassed about. Sometimes I forget to lock the door when Tina tempts me… sigh.“
The other girls all nodded in agreement and made similar comforting remarks, mostly to not think of Nina’s string of bedpartners in bed.
Sakura and Tomoyo both smile at them, "Thanks guys…” Sakura says first, “We were a little nervous about it. I mean--- it was an accident and all but--- how would you react?"
“Badly, but that‘s just me.“ Rebecca sighed. “Walking in on the sight of Nina lying beneath Tina and --- well, since it seems Nina is addicted to that kind of love it’s not something I foster in terms of an actual thought to have now, I -- ouch.“
Nina - “Don’t talk about “that” kind of love.“
After a while the foursome broke apart and began heading in different directions.
As they walked to New King Penguin Park, the two were quiet for a while. Then Sakura looked over at Tomoyo. "That was... awkward. Thinking about Nina and Eliza." Tomoyo nods her head. "Imagine how they feel talking about us.“ (stops as she realized she said something bad) “I mean I’m sure Nina doesn’t talk about us as much as Adri says she does, and I’m sure she had no idea that, well I'm sorry…" Sakura smiles and shakes her head, realizing she must have had an angry look on her face.
"Don't be sorry. Nina’s having a bad year what with Eliza leaving her as she did. At least Rebecca, who used to hate you for hiding Fly from her, is coming around to being rather nice… either that or she‘s still scamming on how to steal Fly from you." Tomoyo thinks about that for a second before continuing, “Maybe Trinity finally talked her out of it.“
As they enter the park, Tomoyo leans against Sakura's shoulder. "I guess it could have been worse." She smiled and looked at Sakura's face. "We might have walked in and the two might have tried to lure us into bed." Sakura shudders and goes into complete shock in front of Tomoyo before blurting out “Don’t say that!!“ Tomoyo smirks at her reaction, "I don't know. They were both looking rather cozy together and you know how inspired I was with you for the weeks after we saw that. Nina‘s taste does stir some interesting things in your loins when the moment hits you full on.“
“Don't say that, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura cries out, Tomoyo relenting to drop the subject.
“If we ever need “inspiration” again I guess we can peek in on them doing it… if it doesn’t do more harm than good that is since it does seem to scar you abit when you see Tina‘s…”
When they arrived at the huge King Penguin slide, where they were going to picnic, they spotted Misho NamoCatCat (in a huff) who was sitting on the highest point of the slide. Misho didn’t even notice they were below, she simply sat there and pouted, her tail whipping about in a mad frenzy as she fumed silently.
Clearly she wasn’t in a good mood, and neither of them wanted to disturb her. However, at that moment as they were about to retreat, she looked down at them and huffed her breath. "What are you two up to?" Sakura smiled at her. "We're just going to--- ahhh---“ (thinks of how Trinity put it for a second) “We’re going to “picky-nicky” here and then go build a snowfort. Want to hang out with us for abit?"
Misho nods her head miserably and slides off the top of King Penguin to join them. As she nimbly hit’s the ground, her tail still swinging fiercely, she passes them and sits down on a nice bench near the slide and motions for them to join her. "Alright, you were right and I was wrong, happy Tomoyo? They were going to make me move the dance to Sunday, just as you thought. That means I need to end the dance in time so everyone can catch their breaths before they head over to the damn parade that is happening on the same night!" Tomoyo nodded her head as Misho passed her by, "Well at least they didn’t make you pay extra for it." To which Misho looked at her with a rather grim expression on her face. "No, not yet anyway. I'm actually wondering if they did it just to charge me extra for the space I’m renting for the dance. Damn Convention Center is so full of jackals and hyenas I wonder if they came from the pits of the Realm of Nightmares!” Misho began fuming, her fists balling up as she did, “I wonder if it’s even worth it to tell the Edenina Better Business Bureau about this!!"
Tomoyo passes some food to Misho (she brought enough for four people) as they begin to eat. "I think if you just let things play out with the Convention Center people it’ll all turn out for the best soon enough." She playfully kissed Sakura's cheek, then started to eat her lunch as Sakura began on the food Tomoyo set before her. Misho suddenly whips out a calculator and starts on it. "The logistics of it is right on mind you, but what they’re charging me is like they’re double billing me for stuff I already paid for. Here, want to look at the mess I‘m stuck with! Here!“
“Oh I hate math!" Sakura explodes, to which Tomoyo offers to take the calculator herself. "Well in that case I’ll get it over with fast alright?" Sakura sighed and Tomoyo began crunching the numbers Misho had written down earlier. A few minutes later she gives the notes back with a few handwritten notes of her own.
"I’ll be damned.“ Misho whistles in admiration as she looks at the papers. “She balanced it AND pointed the errors out in less than five minutes! That’s some math skill you have.“
"It’s a little thing for someone who runs her own animation studio. Do you want anything else to eat?" Tomoyo offers, to which Misho shakes her head no and picks up all the notes, putting them back into a pouch she had slung over her shoulder. After a minute, she reached into her pouch and took out the flier for the dance. It was modified to show the new date on it. “I already e-mailed everyone whose going to tell them the change, and had this special delivered to the rest. You two were last on my list and I was going to drop it off---” She jumps when she feels someone tap her on the shoulder. Misho spins about and finds Captain Lazarus smiling down at her. "You OK, Misho? That was quite a jump… sorry if I spooked you. My bad.”
"Yeah, no problem…” Misho sighs, “You only shaved 2 years off my lifespan but I have 700 or so years so I’m good to go, so to speak. What can I do for you today, Mr. Captain-man.” Jack sits down next to her, giving Tomoyo & Sakura a healthy greeting (which they return) before taking out a data pad and showing it to her. "If I wanted this job done as soon as possible, can it be done?" Misho looked it over, at first casually then with an increasing degree of seriousness. Finally she nods her head, and carefully pushes the pad back into Jack’s hand. "Consider it done." Jack taps Misho on the shoulder and thanks her, “Hey, no problem Mr. Captain-man. See you around.“
Suddenly, a thought came to Misho. “Do you two have your dresses?”
"No problem.” Tomoyo answers, “I just finished Sakura’s dress last night." At that, a memory flashes into Sakura’s head
* * * * * *
Sakura’s Flashback from several days ago…
Christmas was coming, everything was hectic, and yet Tomoyo‘s work seemed to be never done, especially when it involves Sakura.
As Sakura’s prodding, Tomoyo shakes her head, "Don't worry about it. I think I have the perfect idea for a dress for you. I‘ll have it done in two days." Sakura held up her hand. "Don't worry about me! You need a dress for the dance!"
At that Tomoyo’s smile broadens considerably as she nods her head. "Alright. I'll remember Sakura. Don‘t worry!" They both kissed and hugged. "This is going to be perfect. My best design yet!" Tomoyo whispers in Sakura's ear. Sakura smiled and whispers back. "I can‘t wait." Tomoyo presses closer, running her hand down Sakura's back. Sakura smiled and kissed the nape of Tomoyo's neck. She gasps slightly and closes her eyes. Sakura starts kissing Tomoyo’s collar bone when she feels Tomoyo's hand squeeze her butt and…
* * * * * *
“I also made a dress for Nina and Tina to wear.” Tomoyo mutters in a half daze, quickly opening her eyes looking at Sakura in abit of a surprise. "Oh I'm sorry. Are you alright Sakura?" Sakura nods her head vigorously. "I'm fine, you just startled me is all. In fact I'm feeling a little bit better than fine."
“I’m not.” Misho remarks blandly, standing up. “I really do have better things to do than watch you two making out.” (she walks off) “At least go inside of King Penguin and use the little control device Nina put in for a privacy shield! I heard she sometimes does it with Eliza -- well she USED to do it with Eliza but now I guess it’s Tina… in there---” (Misho makes a sound like she was about to hack up a furball) “Whatever. The happiness of overtly frisky naughty people ain‘t my concern. No, no it‘s not.”
* * * * * *
Kero stuck his head out of the kitchen just then. "Hey, can I have some more?"
Sakura sighed and nodded. "Alright, but this is it until dinner alright?"
Kero, with Cloud in tow, marched into the kitchen and she grabbed some cookies and poured the two some chocolate milk. As they sat down to eat, Sakura watched them and smiled. The two were hitting it off rather nicely for a pair who did nothing but argue about who was beating who at video games.
Maybe what Mirra said about them having “feelings” for each other really was true, just maybe. Or maybe they were just refueling for another grudge match of video games. Either way, as long as they were at peace now that was all that mattered. Cloud ate two fisted, a cookie in each hand as she bit from alternating hands, drank (from her straw) and chewed (repeat). Kero was more a nibble chew munch and then drink kind of being, he didn’t take on both cookies at once. It was then that Umi walked in and spied the two. “So how is the hopeless lovebirds anyway?” Kero scowled, “Is that anyway to speak of Sakura?”
“I didn’t mean Mistress, I meant you and Cloud.” Umi shot back, causing Kero to fume and glow bright red from the comment. “---none of your business---”
* * * * * *
With now only hours left before the Christmas dance…
Nina - “How did I let you talk me into this cliché moment anyway.“
Sakura was nervous, while Nina seemed more smarmy and irritated by suddenly being “invited“ to dance when she totally meant to ditch the dance. Sakura, of course, would hear nothing of it. Tomoyo had worked for four days straight on the dresses, and Sakura worried that she was overworking herself so soon after the incident on the ice. But, as Sonomi pointed out, Tomoyo worked best under pressure.
She worked diligently on their dresses until at last Saturday rolled about and they were done. Sakura didn’t have much to do on Saturday, or Sunday for that matter, but feed Kero and Cloud. They didn‘t mind the extra food while Sakura was in her nervous mode, and Kero did everything he could to avoid Sakura‘s pointed questions.
She knew that Kero helped Tomoyo with the dress making this time out and he knew exactly what the dress looked like, but he was totally bribe proof no matter how much Sakura stuffed him full in an attempt to get him to spill. Tomoyo had strictly forbidden Sakura to look at it early, and she forbid Kero from revealing that information with some sort of warning that made Kero obey without question. What that was Sakura didn‘t know, but it had to be something potent to keep Kero quiet. Nina didn’t mind the not knowing thing, but Sakura was chomping at the bit over the whole thing. In fact, she took so much precautions that she “borrowed” (with Keiko’s help) four huge containment cylinders from Judgement HQ to store the completed dresses until it was time for the dance.
Still, the strongly locked and secured cylinders didn’t keep Sakura from pondering all day as to their contents. All day Sunday left Sakura imagining the contents of the cylinder with her name on it (printed in bright neon letters on the display screen of the cylinder’s lock mechanism) which sat in their bedroom. She even tried (right now) to drag Nina into the room to unlock the cylinders, which she refused.
As for the contents of the cylinders? She asked Tomoyo for even the slightest hint before bed on Saturday night, and even promises of extra cuddles did nothing to dissuade Tomoyo from keeping the dresses a secret. "Believe me, it suits you."
Finally, on the last day, Sakura had just had to take her word for it. It was better than pushing her luck with Tomoyo’s patience anyway. However, finally, Sakura got ahold of the datakey Keiko left with Nina (half anyway which unlocked Sakura/Tomoyo‘s cases while Tomoyo held the ones for Nina/Tina), finally managed to “talk” the accompanying second half out of Nina by bothering her all these hours in her room until she finally threw the key at Sakura in a fit and stormed off in a huff. Locking the two pieces together to open the cylinder…
* * * * * *
Nina sighed, taking the two pieces of her key (she picked Tomoyo’s pocket that day) and clicks them together, looking about to see if anyone saw. As Nina walked over to her cylinder, she held up the key halfheartedely pondering itbefore clicking it into the lock and opening the case without further ado. As she slowly peered through the cylinder door just a bit, she saw the dress and her eyes went wide.
It was the most beautiful thing Tomoyo had even made for her. Reaching into the cylinder she drew the dress out and laid it on the bed. The material was bright green (a complimentary matching green to her own hair that Tomoyo picked up once out on a trip to the Gold Isle to pick up fresh materials). The dress was cut low in the front and back, naughty as all heck, but obviously not showing too much of Nina’s cleavage all the same. Long gloves and boots accompined the dress (‘she knows me so well.‘ Nina thought as she put the gloves on and tried them out for size. The bottom half was in three layers, with a silver edge running along the hems of the entire dress (’There‘s tesseract pouches in this…’ Nina remarked, checking the hidden pockets. ‘Man does she really know me well.’ she whistled).
Running her fingers across the soft material Nina whistled again in deep admiration, and remembered that the material was the same type used in Judgment and Alliance Officer uniforms (Keiko told her about the cloth once when Tomoyo first bought the various colored materials during that trip along with a few other things). She also noticed that there were matching shoes in the box and some nude elfin silk stockings and an emerald head band. "Damn you, Tomoyo, you really do think of everything!" She smiled and set everything out on the bed with the dress. Nina suddenly began to realize just why Sakura was so hot on seeing her dress, so she decided to quickly take the gloves off and jump into the shower fast to get all thoughts of the new dress out of her fevered mind.
Tossing her uniform clothes on the floor she ran to the bath room. Starting the shower she waited a few seconds until it was warm then jumped in. As the water ran down her body Nina scrubbed herself clean from head to toe, amazed how quickly the water warmed (faster than back at her old home). Then, as she started to rinse off, she sighed abit miserably.
Unbidden, memories of Eliza creeped back into her mind. She didn’t want to think of her, but it just happened without her meaning to. It bummed her out. Quickly shutting off the shower she dried off and went back to bed, not even bothering to dress as she went.
As she hit the bed with a huff she rolled over, eyes narrowed as he fingers unconsciously slid between her legs tracing slow circles through the small tuft of pubic hair she had. “Haven’t had it shaved in awhile either.“ she grumbled, wondering if it was time to have Tina do it for the first time. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as her hand slid just a bit lower... then she shook her head and stopped. There’d be time enough for that in Tina’s arms, maybe then she’d stop thinking about Eliza… again. Just the thought of it made her shiver abit, followed by yet another sigh.
One hand automatically runs through her short hair, she couldn't do much with her short hair but then again she never felt like doing anything with it before now. Slowly getting up she reached over for her hair dryer and comb to see if she tease her short hair, utilizing a few tricks Adri (the doc) taught her on the times they talked together. When she finished she had managed to make her hair look a little livelier than usual, slipping her headband on as she regarded her clothes once again. At last she felt like it was time to put on the dress… even if it looked like a sexual turn on that’ll totally make her forget about the dance and want to lock herself in her room all night.
“I guess I better wear a bodysuit underneath this or it won’t last an hour unstained.”
To Be Concluded
At Tomoyo’s insistance she signed the whole group up for the traditional Christmas Eve parade to herald the flight of Santa Claus on that one special night of the year. Because this was the Realm of Dreams it became the most active on holidays like this, especially on this night when Santa took his yearly flight across the Earthian airspace. To the residents of the Realm this was one of the most important “days” of the dreaming, and they celebrated it’s coming in the Waking World yearly like clockwork.
However it wasn’t the greatest holiday to all who lived or visited the realm.
Be it Normals who struggled with problems in the Waking World, or residents of the realm who remembered that they were refuges of dead worlds that they were slowly losing touch with as their memories faded. Christmas wasn’t a special thing to all, and Nina seemed to be the latest to fall into this discomfort zone.
“Just because I’m depressed doesn’t mean you can forget my gifts.” Nina silently said at those watching her, “Get out there and shop, you slow lazy people…” (silence) “…and don’t touch my lights, I made it just right and I like it the way it is. Go buy your own decorations if you think you can do better than me, who won five years in a row in my local neighborhood Christmas lighting contests back home… so bite me.”
The topic of Nina was becoming a more and more uncomfortable thing to talk about it seemed, but yet that was the topic as Sakura poured the hot chocolate in her private kitchen. “Ever since Nina and Eliza broke it off she’s been getting slowly worst.”
Tomoyo nods her head slowly, “She’s trying the hardest with her new lover Tina, but I have a feeling she’s still crippled by her indecision after Eliza left her. She doesn’t feel that anyone can love her so it…” (sighs) “…it poisons her heart a little every day.”
“We can’t let that happen!“ Sakura blurts out, fist pounding into her open hand, “We have top make this the best Christmas for the ever!“
At this Tomoyo smiles, “Sakura can be so spirited when it comes to these things, especially when it involves love.”
“It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed since that girl came into our lives way back when.“ Kero noted, taking a sip of his chocolate as he spoke, “When it all began she was just a visitor helping us with capturing the cards, but now it’s almost as if she’s another member of the family the way she’s gotten so close to us…” (sighs) “…and once again that bastard Syaoran had to mess everything up. If it wasn’t tearing out Tomoyo’s heart by stealing Sakura away it’s this bastardly thing he did with Eliza. How sick of him.” (snarls) “Dammit why the hell does he always have to do this to us! If it was me I‘d never have done that! It wasn‘t fair to Nina or Eliza, dammit, it wasn‘t fair!!”
“Oh Kero.“ Tomoyo sighs, gracing him with her warming smile, “You’re always the gentleman.“ Tomoyo felt a great leap of pride watching Kero and Sakura, the way they began to see Nina as no longer an interloper or a pain as they now see her as family was heartwarming. And family was exactly what they were now, a large family.
Now the family just had to figure out how to make the newest member of it feel loved at a time she felt the worst.
* * * * * *
The words didn’t seem to want to come out, but Nina struggled to say it all the same.
“I miss her… something… and it makes me feel like crap for doing so.“
“R-r-really?“ Sakura asked.
Tomoyo nods her head in agreement, “I felt that way when I thought I lost you to Syaoran Li, so horrible that I missed you when I thought you would never feel for the me way I felt for you… I can relate to how Nina’s feelings right now.“
Sakura - “Really? W-why?“
Nina - “Because I have Tina now, yet I’m so hung up on Eliza that I feel like I’m hurting her. Depriving her of the love she so deserves by not dedicating myself to her fully. I’m just afraid if she knew how I felt she’d do something noble or rash and it’d all get messy.“
Sakura nodded, her body feeling warm as Tomoyo hugged her. She wanted to turn away from Nina‘s pained expression, but kept staring straight ahead. "I wish I could have done anything for you, Nina…” Tina said quietly, “-- to spare you -- but I am only a SexGirl and you are my master so I, well, your stuck with me until I am sold or returned to my manufacturer.“
She was cut off when Nina put her hand on her mouth. "No offense but that’s killing the moment we’re building here, let’s not talk about your issues with being “property”… OK?“
“Sorry.“ Tina responded, her voice muffled by Nina’s hand. “I don’t mind. I’m only your belonging after…“ (Nina kisses her to silence her then pulls back) "No -- you’re right though, in your own special way, I needed to hear that out of you. I loved every minute I shared with Eliza but it’s our lives now, and that’s the memories I need to build on no matter how much it hurts to push the past away from me.“ (Nina taps Tina on the head) “Now no more about this property stuff out of you! You know how much I hate being called your “owner”! You’re my lover, my mistress, and my fiancee, not my property! OK?“
“Are you my father too? Sometimes during sex you cry out “Who‘s your da--” (silenced again) “Please don‘t bring up everything we do in bed together…” (Nina sighs) “Speaking of which…” (turns to face Sakura and Tomoyo) “What the hell are YOU two doing in here anyway! Don‘t you have your own family to torture with your psuedo Dr. Phil psychobabble?!?”
Sakura - “Did she say she’s a sexgirl?” (points at Tina)
Nina sighs again, giving Sakura a severe look. “You’re extremely slow, aren’t you.”
(Sakura looks bitter but doesn’t attempt to correct her).
“Well for your information…” (Nina begins) “Tina is a BioOrganic SexModel female Cyberroid unit built for sexual pleasures. She knows about -- how to put it in terms you can grasp… oh, right, she knows rubbing and licking and fingering and sextoys and… why are you staring at me like your head’s about to explode from embarrassment? How did your father explain about the birds and the bees BEFORE you and Tomoyo got vertical anyway?”
Sakura blushed and smiled. "Well... Actually Tomoyo taught me."
Nina - “As with a great many things it seems Tomoyo teaches you EVERYTHING…. You two can go away anytime now, by the way, don’t let me keep you here a moment’s longer than necessary.”
* * * * * *
Nina’s lips stopped half an inch away from Tina‘s, her face sweating slightly as she prolonged the wait for it, the anticipation. Finally she pushed forward briskly kissing her, Tina letting out a small satisfied moan in response as she draws her mistress closer. As they broke the kiss Nina whispers into Tina‘s ears “Goddess I love you.”
In response Tina holds Nina tight, and whispers “I love you too… mistress.”
They made love until day turned to night, and they went to dinner in Sakura’s Lab.
Tonight, according to the “action chart” that listed who was cooking when, Sakura was the cook for the evening meal and she did her best job, so much so that even Nina had no complaints about her cooking that night (which she rarely did in anycase, complain I mean). After that Nina took Tina back to bed and they watched TV for awhile before crawling back under the sheets turning to each other for comfort. They would fall asleep soon, yes, and they would do it in each other’s arms--- but not now as they reached out and drew each other together for another kiss before they made love once again.
* * * * * *
Sakura hefted her backpack as she and Tomoyo walked hand in hand away from the Daidouji Estates. Nina was behind her with Tina in tow. Today, in their opinion, was a good day. The sun was up, it was abit cool but warm enough for a picnic, and the snow was just deep enough for a snowball fight after lunch. Nice thing to do since they had finally gotten their Christmas shopping done and only a few days remained to get any final gifts before the big day would come. Suddenly a voice called out, and they stopped when they heard someone call their names. Turning around they saw Rebecca Summers and her companion Trinity walk up.
Sakura smiled and waved, "Hi, what's up?" The two stopped and looked at them for a second, then Rebecca asked, "Are you two alright? I heard Nina was becoming a killjoy for the holidays and I thought she was driving you to despair right about now.“
Sakura smiled and looked at Tomoyo, the two exchanging nods and positive signs. Nina, however, was too far gone to care what Rebecca thought so she didn‘t justify her remarks with a reply. "Nina’s fine, she’s fine. She’s been working some things out, but it‘s nothing we can‘t help her with.“ (Nina - “Please don’t.“)
At that Rena and Trinity smiled and made varying sounds of acknowledgement. Trinity smiled at them, "So you two are going for a picky-nicky, huh?" Sakura and Tomoyo looked at her slightly surprised. "You... you mean you knew?" Tomoyo asked. Rebecca rolled her eyes and tapped the basket with a free hand, “She’s elfin, not from Alpha Centauri. Even she went on “picky-nicky”s from one time or another. Give us a break.“ (Rebecca changes the subject) “So Nina, are you over your Amazonian obsession, or did you get Tina from Amazon-dot-com… get it? Amazon-dot-com because then she’d be that kind of girl with…”
Nina - “Please stop.”
"Well---” Sakura blushes, face turning bright red at the thought, “I think the only people who don't know that they’re marrying is---“
“Me.“ Nina said blandly, “Sakura is a failure at law as well as math it seems.“
Sakura - “Phwee?”
Rebecca, catching on, continued the topic. “Oh, right, totally forgot about that. My bad.“
Tomoyo nodded. “Don’t blame you. The circumstances of Nina‘s particular situation are not widely known. It‘s a law from her own timeline that is restricting her, though in true I‘m sure there‘s no reason to worry about that here.“
“Who’d think a Realm of Dreams would possibly have any limitations, eh?“ Rena agreed, nodding her head at Tomoyo’s remark, “Anyway Nina can be awfully frightening when she’s in a bad mood, so getting on her case about her new lovelife may not be the best of things since we don‘t want to irk her. Speaking of irks I heard Keiko told me that she heard you two walked in on them making love once---“
Sakura and Tomoyo were blushing bright red, the memory of the incident so emblazoned in memory that it made them turn cherry red everytime they even came near to thinking of it. Nina shook it off without comment, "Don't sweat it, you two have nothing to be embarrassed about. Sometimes I forget to lock the door when Tina tempts me… sigh.“
The other girls all nodded in agreement and made similar comforting remarks, mostly to not think of Nina’s string of bedpartners in bed.
Sakura and Tomoyo both smile at them, "Thanks guys…” Sakura says first, “We were a little nervous about it. I mean--- it was an accident and all but--- how would you react?"
“Badly, but that‘s just me.“ Rebecca sighed. “Walking in on the sight of Nina lying beneath Tina and --- well, since it seems Nina is addicted to that kind of love it’s not something I foster in terms of an actual thought to have now, I -- ouch.“
Nina - “Don’t talk about “that” kind of love.“
After a while the foursome broke apart and began heading in different directions.
As they walked to New King Penguin Park, the two were quiet for a while. Then Sakura looked over at Tomoyo. "That was... awkward. Thinking about Nina and Eliza." Tomoyo nods her head. "Imagine how they feel talking about us.“ (stops as she realized she said something bad) “I mean I’m sure Nina doesn’t talk about us as much as Adri says she does, and I’m sure she had no idea that, well I'm sorry…" Sakura smiles and shakes her head, realizing she must have had an angry look on her face.
"Don't be sorry. Nina’s having a bad year what with Eliza leaving her as she did. At least Rebecca, who used to hate you for hiding Fly from her, is coming around to being rather nice… either that or she‘s still scamming on how to steal Fly from you." Tomoyo thinks about that for a second before continuing, “Maybe Trinity finally talked her out of it.“
As they enter the park, Tomoyo leans against Sakura's shoulder. "I guess it could have been worse." She smiled and looked at Sakura's face. "We might have walked in and the two might have tried to lure us into bed." Sakura shudders and goes into complete shock in front of Tomoyo before blurting out “Don’t say that!!“ Tomoyo smirks at her reaction, "I don't know. They were both looking rather cozy together and you know how inspired I was with you for the weeks after we saw that. Nina‘s taste does stir some interesting things in your loins when the moment hits you full on.“
“Don't say that, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura cries out, Tomoyo relenting to drop the subject.
“If we ever need “inspiration” again I guess we can peek in on them doing it… if it doesn’t do more harm than good that is since it does seem to scar you abit when you see Tina‘s…”
When they arrived at the huge King Penguin slide, where they were going to picnic, they spotted Misho NamoCatCat (in a huff) who was sitting on the highest point of the slide. Misho didn’t even notice they were below, she simply sat there and pouted, her tail whipping about in a mad frenzy as she fumed silently.
Clearly she wasn’t in a good mood, and neither of them wanted to disturb her. However, at that moment as they were about to retreat, she looked down at them and huffed her breath. "What are you two up to?" Sakura smiled at her. "We're just going to--- ahhh---“ (thinks of how Trinity put it for a second) “We’re going to “picky-nicky” here and then go build a snowfort. Want to hang out with us for abit?"
Misho nods her head miserably and slides off the top of King Penguin to join them. As she nimbly hit’s the ground, her tail still swinging fiercely, she passes them and sits down on a nice bench near the slide and motions for them to join her. "Alright, you were right and I was wrong, happy Tomoyo? They were going to make me move the dance to Sunday, just as you thought. That means I need to end the dance in time so everyone can catch their breaths before they head over to the damn parade that is happening on the same night!" Tomoyo nodded her head as Misho passed her by, "Well at least they didn’t make you pay extra for it." To which Misho looked at her with a rather grim expression on her face. "No, not yet anyway. I'm actually wondering if they did it just to charge me extra for the space I’m renting for the dance. Damn Convention Center is so full of jackals and hyenas I wonder if they came from the pits of the Realm of Nightmares!” Misho began fuming, her fists balling up as she did, “I wonder if it’s even worth it to tell the Edenina Better Business Bureau about this!!"
Tomoyo passes some food to Misho (she brought enough for four people) as they begin to eat. "I think if you just let things play out with the Convention Center people it’ll all turn out for the best soon enough." She playfully kissed Sakura's cheek, then started to eat her lunch as Sakura began on the food Tomoyo set before her. Misho suddenly whips out a calculator and starts on it. "The logistics of it is right on mind you, but what they’re charging me is like they’re double billing me for stuff I already paid for. Here, want to look at the mess I‘m stuck with! Here!“
“Oh I hate math!" Sakura explodes, to which Tomoyo offers to take the calculator herself. "Well in that case I’ll get it over with fast alright?" Sakura sighed and Tomoyo began crunching the numbers Misho had written down earlier. A few minutes later she gives the notes back with a few handwritten notes of her own.
"I’ll be damned.“ Misho whistles in admiration as she looks at the papers. “She balanced it AND pointed the errors out in less than five minutes! That’s some math skill you have.“
"It’s a little thing for someone who runs her own animation studio. Do you want anything else to eat?" Tomoyo offers, to which Misho shakes her head no and picks up all the notes, putting them back into a pouch she had slung over her shoulder. After a minute, she reached into her pouch and took out the flier for the dance. It was modified to show the new date on it. “I already e-mailed everyone whose going to tell them the change, and had this special delivered to the rest. You two were last on my list and I was going to drop it off---” She jumps when she feels someone tap her on the shoulder. Misho spins about and finds Captain Lazarus smiling down at her. "You OK, Misho? That was quite a jump… sorry if I spooked you. My bad.”
"Yeah, no problem…” Misho sighs, “You only shaved 2 years off my lifespan but I have 700 or so years so I’m good to go, so to speak. What can I do for you today, Mr. Captain-man.” Jack sits down next to her, giving Tomoyo & Sakura a healthy greeting (which they return) before taking out a data pad and showing it to her. "If I wanted this job done as soon as possible, can it be done?" Misho looked it over, at first casually then with an increasing degree of seriousness. Finally she nods her head, and carefully pushes the pad back into Jack’s hand. "Consider it done." Jack taps Misho on the shoulder and thanks her, “Hey, no problem Mr. Captain-man. See you around.“
Suddenly, a thought came to Misho. “Do you two have your dresses?”
"No problem.” Tomoyo answers, “I just finished Sakura’s dress last night." At that, a memory flashes into Sakura’s head
* * * * * *
Sakura’s Flashback from several days ago…
Christmas was coming, everything was hectic, and yet Tomoyo‘s work seemed to be never done, especially when it involves Sakura.
As Sakura’s prodding, Tomoyo shakes her head, "Don't worry about it. I think I have the perfect idea for a dress for you. I‘ll have it done in two days." Sakura held up her hand. "Don't worry about me! You need a dress for the dance!"
At that Tomoyo’s smile broadens considerably as she nods her head. "Alright. I'll remember Sakura. Don‘t worry!" They both kissed and hugged. "This is going to be perfect. My best design yet!" Tomoyo whispers in Sakura's ear. Sakura smiled and whispers back. "I can‘t wait." Tomoyo presses closer, running her hand down Sakura's back. Sakura smiled and kissed the nape of Tomoyo's neck. She gasps slightly and closes her eyes. Sakura starts kissing Tomoyo’s collar bone when she feels Tomoyo's hand squeeze her butt and…
* * * * * *
“I also made a dress for Nina and Tina to wear.” Tomoyo mutters in a half daze, quickly opening her eyes looking at Sakura in abit of a surprise. "Oh I'm sorry. Are you alright Sakura?" Sakura nods her head vigorously. "I'm fine, you just startled me is all. In fact I'm feeling a little bit better than fine."
“I’m not.” Misho remarks blandly, standing up. “I really do have better things to do than watch you two making out.” (she walks off) “At least go inside of King Penguin and use the little control device Nina put in for a privacy shield! I heard she sometimes does it with Eliza -- well she USED to do it with Eliza but now I guess it’s Tina… in there---” (Misho makes a sound like she was about to hack up a furball) “Whatever. The happiness of overtly frisky naughty people ain‘t my concern. No, no it‘s not.”
* * * * * *
Kero stuck his head out of the kitchen just then. "Hey, can I have some more?"
Sakura sighed and nodded. "Alright, but this is it until dinner alright?"
Kero, with Cloud in tow, marched into the kitchen and she grabbed some cookies and poured the two some chocolate milk. As they sat down to eat, Sakura watched them and smiled. The two were hitting it off rather nicely for a pair who did nothing but argue about who was beating who at video games.
Maybe what Mirra said about them having “feelings” for each other really was true, just maybe. Or maybe they were just refueling for another grudge match of video games. Either way, as long as they were at peace now that was all that mattered. Cloud ate two fisted, a cookie in each hand as she bit from alternating hands, drank (from her straw) and chewed (repeat). Kero was more a nibble chew munch and then drink kind of being, he didn’t take on both cookies at once. It was then that Umi walked in and spied the two. “So how is the hopeless lovebirds anyway?” Kero scowled, “Is that anyway to speak of Sakura?”
“I didn’t mean Mistress, I meant you and Cloud.” Umi shot back, causing Kero to fume and glow bright red from the comment. “---none of your business---”
* * * * * *
With now only hours left before the Christmas dance…
Nina - “How did I let you talk me into this cliché moment anyway.“
Sakura was nervous, while Nina seemed more smarmy and irritated by suddenly being “invited“ to dance when she totally meant to ditch the dance. Sakura, of course, would hear nothing of it. Tomoyo had worked for four days straight on the dresses, and Sakura worried that she was overworking herself so soon after the incident on the ice. But, as Sonomi pointed out, Tomoyo worked best under pressure.
She worked diligently on their dresses until at last Saturday rolled about and they were done. Sakura didn’t have much to do on Saturday, or Sunday for that matter, but feed Kero and Cloud. They didn‘t mind the extra food while Sakura was in her nervous mode, and Kero did everything he could to avoid Sakura‘s pointed questions.
She knew that Kero helped Tomoyo with the dress making this time out and he knew exactly what the dress looked like, but he was totally bribe proof no matter how much Sakura stuffed him full in an attempt to get him to spill. Tomoyo had strictly forbidden Sakura to look at it early, and she forbid Kero from revealing that information with some sort of warning that made Kero obey without question. What that was Sakura didn‘t know, but it had to be something potent to keep Kero quiet. Nina didn’t mind the not knowing thing, but Sakura was chomping at the bit over the whole thing. In fact, she took so much precautions that she “borrowed” (with Keiko’s help) four huge containment cylinders from Judgement HQ to store the completed dresses until it was time for the dance.
Still, the strongly locked and secured cylinders didn’t keep Sakura from pondering all day as to their contents. All day Sunday left Sakura imagining the contents of the cylinder with her name on it (printed in bright neon letters on the display screen of the cylinder’s lock mechanism) which sat in their bedroom. She even tried (right now) to drag Nina into the room to unlock the cylinders, which she refused.
As for the contents of the cylinders? She asked Tomoyo for even the slightest hint before bed on Saturday night, and even promises of extra cuddles did nothing to dissuade Tomoyo from keeping the dresses a secret. "Believe me, it suits you."
Finally, on the last day, Sakura had just had to take her word for it. It was better than pushing her luck with Tomoyo’s patience anyway. However, finally, Sakura got ahold of the datakey Keiko left with Nina (half anyway which unlocked Sakura/Tomoyo‘s cases while Tomoyo held the ones for Nina/Tina), finally managed to “talk” the accompanying second half out of Nina by bothering her all these hours in her room until she finally threw the key at Sakura in a fit and stormed off in a huff. Locking the two pieces together to open the cylinder…
* * * * * *
Nina sighed, taking the two pieces of her key (she picked Tomoyo’s pocket that day) and clicks them together, looking about to see if anyone saw. As Nina walked over to her cylinder, she held up the key halfheartedely pondering itbefore clicking it into the lock and opening the case without further ado. As she slowly peered through the cylinder door just a bit, she saw the dress and her eyes went wide.
It was the most beautiful thing Tomoyo had even made for her. Reaching into the cylinder she drew the dress out and laid it on the bed. The material was bright green (a complimentary matching green to her own hair that Tomoyo picked up once out on a trip to the Gold Isle to pick up fresh materials). The dress was cut low in the front and back, naughty as all heck, but obviously not showing too much of Nina’s cleavage all the same. Long gloves and boots accompined the dress (‘she knows me so well.‘ Nina thought as she put the gloves on and tried them out for size. The bottom half was in three layers, with a silver edge running along the hems of the entire dress (’There‘s tesseract pouches in this…’ Nina remarked, checking the hidden pockets. ‘Man does she really know me well.’ she whistled).
Running her fingers across the soft material Nina whistled again in deep admiration, and remembered that the material was the same type used in Judgment and Alliance Officer uniforms (Keiko told her about the cloth once when Tomoyo first bought the various colored materials during that trip along with a few other things). She also noticed that there were matching shoes in the box and some nude elfin silk stockings and an emerald head band. "Damn you, Tomoyo, you really do think of everything!" She smiled and set everything out on the bed with the dress. Nina suddenly began to realize just why Sakura was so hot on seeing her dress, so she decided to quickly take the gloves off and jump into the shower fast to get all thoughts of the new dress out of her fevered mind.
Tossing her uniform clothes on the floor she ran to the bath room. Starting the shower she waited a few seconds until it was warm then jumped in. As the water ran down her body Nina scrubbed herself clean from head to toe, amazed how quickly the water warmed (faster than back at her old home). Then, as she started to rinse off, she sighed abit miserably.
Unbidden, memories of Eliza creeped back into her mind. She didn’t want to think of her, but it just happened without her meaning to. It bummed her out. Quickly shutting off the shower she dried off and went back to bed, not even bothering to dress as she went.
As she hit the bed with a huff she rolled over, eyes narrowed as he fingers unconsciously slid between her legs tracing slow circles through the small tuft of pubic hair she had. “Haven’t had it shaved in awhile either.“ she grumbled, wondering if it was time to have Tina do it for the first time. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as her hand slid just a bit lower... then she shook her head and stopped. There’d be time enough for that in Tina’s arms, maybe then she’d stop thinking about Eliza… again. Just the thought of it made her shiver abit, followed by yet another sigh.
One hand automatically runs through her short hair, she couldn't do much with her short hair but then again she never felt like doing anything with it before now. Slowly getting up she reached over for her hair dryer and comb to see if she tease her short hair, utilizing a few tricks Adri (the doc) taught her on the times they talked together. When she finished she had managed to make her hair look a little livelier than usual, slipping her headband on as she regarded her clothes once again. At last she felt like it was time to put on the dress… even if it looked like a sexual turn on that’ll totally make her forget about the dance and want to lock herself in her room all night.
“I guess I better wear a bodysuit underneath this or it won’t last an hour unstained.”
To Be Concluded
Monday, December 18, 2006
CardCaptor Sakura Remastered Episode 1-10 (10)
Tuesday December 19th
CardCaptor Sakura Remastered Episode 1-10 (10)
Battling runaway Clow cards that merged to form more complex threats was hard enough. Battling runaway Clow cards that merged with Darklings (nightmares) is worst! And that problem is only cranked up several notches when the Darkling in question is an Assassin Guilder Nightmare. But that was the problem facing Sakura when she went looking for Thunder but met the Assassin Guilder Shockwave.
When she first ran into him, in her neko outfit, she thought for certain he’d blast her. But while Thunder had no qualms over blasting Sakura, Shockwave did (as he, though a Nightmare, still followed the Guild’s list of rules called “The Code”, and one code, Code 8, forbade attacks against innocents and non-targets which Sakura clearly was) so Thunder simply convinced Shockwave to chase her away without hurting her, which seemed to work until
* * * * * *
Confronting the Card/Assassin mix in the park, filled with wide open spaces and no innocent bystanders was one thing, catching the card while splitting it from the Darkling was another. For five whole minutes Sakura leads Shockwave through the park dodging it’s Thunder generated electrical attacks, slowly trying to wear it out. Nina (using her gauntlets to trade firepower with Shockwave shot for shot) tried to pin it down for easier capture, but to no avail. “Nice synchronized jumping by the way---” she calls out as Sakura/Kero land near her, “---but you’d have an easier time running the charge out of the Energizer Bunny than a Darkling Assassin Droid.”
Nina looks about for Shockwave as Sakura draws close, “Those things run on necromancy and that doesn’t run out no matter how much he draws on it.”
Shockwave lands behind them, powering up. “Get ready to seal it, I’ll give you an opening.” Nina calls out as she spins on her heels towards Shockwave, lashing an arm out towards a nearby water tap (for fire trucks/water dragons) near Shockwave. “Heads up!“
The attack blasts the tap open and smothers Shockwave in water. Stunned and overwhelmed, the electrical attack Assassin begins to shut down. “NOW SAKURA! TAP THE WATER FLOW AND SEAL THE CARD!”
“Right! Clow card return to your power confined, THUNDER!”
As she runs forward and slams her staff down near the flow of water nothing happens, then energy surges out of the stream, collects about the staff head, and turns into a card. Thunder. Sealed and captured. “WOW!” Sakura stammers, catching the card with her free hand, “B-but--??”
Nina smiled at her own ingenuity, “When I hit Shockwave with the water from the tap it shut down, but it also gave Thunder an illusion of escape. Water is a great conductor for electricity, and Thunder figured to use the water as a sort of water cable to “link” itself into the water system and escape out of your reach. Problem is it trapped itself by condensing itself tight for the trip back along the water, so all you had to do was stand at the tap and let Thunder come to you. Simple as that. You got it, right?”
“I don’t get it.” Sakura laments. Nina frowned, “You’re the ill-will of the Japanese Public School system, aren’t you.“ (sighs) “Well, did you get it? Please tell me you got it.”
* * * * * *
Tomoyo - “Let’s watch it again! You‘re so beautiful when your in action!!”
Kero - “I think I’m a stud in this video, don’t you think? I love it! It‘s my best work yet!”
Back at the Daidouji Estate, Tomoyo rewinds the capture again as Nina continues to stock her new shelves. She arranged a “sleepover” of sorts to get Sakura/Tomoyo to help her and Eliza with what she’s been dreading all this time. Moving in. She finally relented, realizing this was no longer just an “extended” sleepover until the cards were caught, but a full on mission she had to stick through. So she called for her own and Eliza’s stuff to be brought from Citadel City to Tokyo so she could move in with Eliza into the mansion.
“Is it almost done?” Eliza asked.
“The books and stuff is done, but we’ll have to unpack the clothes and boring stuff ourselves tomorrow ‘liza. Still, I got the important stuff put away so that’s good.”
“Right…” (Eliza looks at vid playing on huge screen as she finishes her work) “…she is cute in that cat outfit. Not my type though but she’s cute.”
“Glad you approve.” Nina smirks, finishing her own tasks and closing the custom storage cabinet doors (with a huge display set up for her comic collection (newest issues) on the front of the cabinet). “Nice to see that we got the fun stuff done tonight. That leaves the bags of clothes and I don’t want strangers prodding my unmentionables, or my toys.”
“---” Sakura frowns at the thought of Nina’s “toys”, but suddenly cheers up again. “I have to go to town tomorrow, want to come along Tomoyo?”
“I can’t. I’m just finishing the first new DVD (held it back to put a few more captures on it) and I want to get it done for Mirra-chan tomorrow. She’s going to LOVE these new adventures!” (blushes just thinking about it) “They’re your greatest yet!”
Sakura - “Aw come on! Your embarrassing me!”
“Come on then, bedtime kids so let‘s call it a night.” Nina announces, “See you tomorrow, Kero.” (Kero says his goodnights and leaves as Nina motions towards the large bed) “Ok, you know you want to so everyone in and we’ll call it a day.” (Sakura/Tomoyo take a futon on the floor as Nina rolls into bed) “There’s plenty of room up here! Don’t be all shy and stuff! I promise I don’t grope while I’m sleeping… maybe while YOU are sleeping but never while I‘m sleeping!”
Eliza - “She’s right. She does all her groping while pretending to be asleep.”
Neither Sakura nor Tomoyo budge from their floor space. “Fine. Computer, lights.” (lights dim) “How’d you do that?” Tomoyo asks. “I replaced the light switch with a switch/computer link switch. I can either do it manually or vocally now. Try it.”
“Computer--- lights?” (lights come on) “Cool! Computer, lights!” (lights turn off)
“Let’s go to sleep.” Nina sighs, rolling to her side to get comfortable, “This is why I didn’t let Kero stay, by the way, he’d be playing with the vocal commands of the lights all night.” Sakura shudders at the thought of Kero sitting up all night ordering the lights on and off and bothering everyone to the point of insanity. But tomorrow she had a surprise for Tomoyo. All she had to do was pick it up. For days she’s been planning it. Designing it on paper, drawing it (but never liking the outcome) until she finally picked on using a design Tomoyo used for one of her first costumes (which was also the costume she dressed the doll she gave Sakura when she was 11) and change it’s color scheme to a sensual blue color.
She then went to a tailor in town and commissioned him to make a costume, her first costume to give to Tomoyo to wear in Card Captoring.
After all the costumes Tomoyo made for her, she wanted to make a costume in return. The night she gives the costume she planned on wearing the costume Tomoyo made for her those years ago (redesigned and made for her more mature body) as a sign of her love. As she opened her eyes briefly to watch Tomoyo slumbering quietly next to her, she could hardly contain her excitement.
Tomorrow she’d get the costume, and present it to Tomoyo. She only hoped Tomoyo would like her gift. That worried Sakura. But she was excited anyway because it’d be the first time she could present Tomoyo with a costume to wear.
She woke up bright and early (even for her) and was on her way to town right after breakfast. But NOT before Nina showed off the new holochamber built overnight by “little people”. She didn’t go into details, part of the labor contract, but she said it’s quality work in a very short space of time. And how was it done, Sakura asked? Magic. Sakura didn’t ask again after awhile since Nina would just repeat the word “Magic” every time she asked, and Sakura eventually gave up trying to find out.
* * * * * *
“It’s ready, here--- take a look.” as he takes the costume out to show Sakura she takes a deep breath and holds it for a second. It was everything she hoped it would be, and more, made out to Tomoyo’s specifications and an alternating shade of deep royal blue to compliment the original costume Tomoyo made for Sakura. “I’ll take it. How much---”
“A woman named Kotobuki paid for it with her credit chip. She said she’d charge it on her expense account as ‘work related expenses’.”
Nina? She paid for it? “Guess I owe her an apology.” Sakura lamented as she waited for the costume to be wrapped and boxed. “Probably have to be called Snoozer forever after this--- sigh.”
“You don’t look like a Ham-ham to me---” (stops) “---and I should stop talking and keep wrapping. Right. Sorry.”
“Hey Sakura.”
“?” (turns around) “Oh, Keiko isn’t it? Hi. And you are Kei--“ (nods) “What are---”
“Need some new gloves---” (holds up hands) “---these are worn down, but I like my gloves custom made so I ordered some through here. Are they ready yet?”
“Just about. Let me finish this young lady’s order and I’ll be right with you.”
Keiko takes a seat near a large display case of glasses. “I didn’t know you did eyeglasses.”
“Some clients prefer custom sunglasses or reading glasses to go with their new clothes.”
* * * * * *
I wonder what Keiko would say if I told her Nina paid for Tomoyo’s costume?
She’d probably laugh it off. She and Nina don’t seem to get along very well. Then again with Nina’s attitude I can see why it’s easy to dislike her. Still, sometimes she can act so callous and then do something completely unexpected and nice five seconds later. She’s a mystery to me. I just wish she’d stop calling me Snoozer already.
“Deep thoughts?” Keiko asks as she leans back in her chair, staring listlessly at the ceiling, “Something naughty for your love and joy?”
“Uh? No, it’s a costume. She made so many for me I…” (blinks) “Well I thought…” (stops) “?”
“Thought what?” Keiko pried.
“I thought I’d return the favor.” Sakura admitted, staring at the wall. “Do you feel something?”
“I feel bored, is that a something?”
“I mean---” (looks at wall intently) “---I thought I saw something moving.”
“Oh. The light plays tricks on the eyes. But if you doubt me unseal your staff and come here because---” (stomps foot down) “---something’s been clinging to my shadow and I think it’s a card!” (Keiko quickly jumps back, unsheathing her sword from her back as she does, taking a jumping leap and slashing darkness as it moves out of her way). “Damn!” Shadow slips back, then lunges forward knocking Keiko onto her back, noticing Sakura as it does. As Sakura stares right at Shadow she feels a chill across her body, and a tinge of something inside of her--- with a slight hiss it backs away from her as she struggles to wrest her key free from beneath her clothes, slipping beneath the display case. Seconds later the case tips over towards Keiko. “Keiko! Watch it!”
The case falls towards her but she didn’t want to move, her eyes slightly wider than normal. Quickly as it started falling though the case is quickly stopped as a creature bounds into it and catches it mid fall. The creature, a huge lizard thing like a velociraptor with cybernetic things on it’s head and shoulders, gingerly lifts the case back into place as Sakura rushes it. “CLOW CARD RETURN TO YOUR POWER CONFINED, CLOW CARD!!” (she slams the staff down near it--- and nothing happens.)
“?” (The huge creature looks at Sakura oddly, then it merely lumbers back behind the counter) “Keiko run! I can’t seal it! Keiko I---” (it comes back out with her box and hands it to her) “Have a nice day, do come by my shop again.”
Keiko - “Sakura, that’s the tailor--- he’s a Galerian.”
“Oh---” (Sakura blushes a deep shade of red) “---I didn’t know that.”
* * * * * *
I’M SO EMBARRASSED!!!
Last time this happened I tried to seal a Palominian (a horse/human hybrid) at the mall! It was so terrible! I rushed at the poor girl screaming “CLOW CARD RETURN TO YOUR POWRS CONFINED! HORSE CARD!” (and I looked like such a doofus in front of everyone!!) She took it in stride though and wasn’t offended, but still SO EMBARRASSING!! Days like this I feel like crawling into bed and not coming out for a year (at least).
* * * * * *
“Shadow?”
The gang was in Sakura’s kitchen waiting for her to make dinner, Tomoyo being the one speaking at this moment as Sakura cooked the last of the meal before serving the plates to everyone. “And something else. I felt--- cold near it. Not like Shadow before but something else merged with Shadow--- gave me the shakes being near it. It made me feel---”
“Fear?” Kero asked, filling in the blank as Sakura said “Yeah. I guess.”
“Figures.” Kero remarked as he picked up where Sakura opened, “Shadow & Fear. Fear is a failed card Clow Reed made that he had to get rid of. He wanted to use it for--- well, less than ideal uses, but it got out of hand once and he didn’t want to use it anymore. Alone, Fear is a weak card since it’s a generalized effect with no form. But with Shadow it’s powerful because Shadow acts like it’s body, and gives Fear a wider range of movement and the ability to strike down anyone with it‘s power. The only reason Keiko could probably be in it’s vicinity for so long was her stronger resistance to it’s effects (being one of those nifty Judgment people and all).”
Sakura - “She did seem paralyzed by the falling case.”
“Keiko has a fear of mutilation.” Nina remarks as she takes her plate, “Comes from all the mutilations she’s seen done on innocent people. So the card lucked out tossing that glass case into her because she panicked.”
“How do you know that?”
“I read her file, Tomoyo. She no doubt read my file when I took this assignment, so I read her file in turn and there’s some mention of it on her psych records.”
Tomoyo - “Oh. Aren’t psych records supposed to be---”
“Like I said, she read my files so I read her’s.” Nina admitted.
“Oh.” Eliza picks up the pace, “Regardless of that, we have to figure out where Shadow/Fear will strike next. Maybe they’ll camp out and wait for something to happen?”
Nina picks it up and runs with it. “Then they’ll camp out at that theatre since there’s a big event there tomorrow night and lines for opening day tickets were murder (good thing I got there when I did or I never have gotten tickets!) It’s a cute musical and I’m taking Mirra-chan & Hikaru along with Eliza and myself tomorrow. Speaking of which why aren’t you two going? Everyone is going to be there it seems---” (looks at Sakura/Tomoyo) “We’ll catch the card tonight.” Tomoyo responds, “Tomorrow we’re spending out day alone and don’t want to be disturbed.”
“Oh, right.” Nina smirks as she whacks her head, “Silly me. Your private time. That’s right. Not even a must see social event can drag you two away from the loud bed shaking violently during sexual inter--” (Sakura swings and misses Nina’s head) “---whatever---”
* * * * * *
“What is this?” Tomoyo asks as Sakura hands her the box inside their room. “I’d like you to wear this tonight, and let me pick an old costume to wear with it--- that is, if you don’t mind---- I mean, don’t open it yet! I---” (blushes) “---I’m embarrassed but I wanted to give you a special costume to wear, and I didn’t know what to do so I--- well I was inspired by that special costume you made me when--- and I just thought--- well---”
“It’s beautiful.” Tomoyo sighs as she admires it, leaning over and kissing Sakura’s cheek while walking on could nine (emotions wise). “I’m going to treasure wearing the special costume you gave me.”
“Tomo-chan.”
“I’m going to treasure even more taking it off for you tomorrow, slowly, with musical complimenting each move as I perform for you---”
“---” (blushes) “---can we talk about that tomorrow? I don’t want to get excited just yet---”
“Sure.” (Tomoyo kisses Sakura again) “I’ll put this and your costume in the van, and we’ll change outside the theatre. Maybe with the doors cracked abit for the brave to come and see us in our splendor.”
“Tomoyo!”
“Just kidding, Sakura-chan, just kidding. I’ll go get ready.” Tomoyo grabs her camera on the way out, giggling as she does, leaving Sakura alone in the room. “Maybe I should wear something other than my teddy-bear panties tonight.”
* * * * * *
Getting into the theatre (using fake ids) wasn’t the hard part. Finding a place to make a stand that wasn’t closed in on all sides by seats was a problem. As the lights come on in the theatre, Nina takes stock of the situation as she surveys the surroundings. “We’ll take the stage, it’s roomy and open for easy combat and the entire room is set to give Shadow a surprise. Here---” Nina hands out goggles to everyone, “They’ll block out the surprise when it hits so keep them on.” (puts on her visor) “Now let’s get on stage.”
As the curtain rises Sakura steps on it looking abit confused. “What is this?”
Nina - “Oh, right, welcome to the Ham-ham Clubhouse! They’re doing Hamtaro the Musical tomorrow and I got tickets for it.”
Sakura - “Hamtaro?! Not again with the Hamster reference.” Sakura laments, to which Nina remarks. “Look on the bright side…” (pointing up to the top of a staircase/slide setup above them) “…they saved a place of honor for you up there.”
Tomoyo, catching Sakura‘s expression, quickly said “Sakura, that’s where Snoozer sleeps.”
“----” Sakura’s face squinches up as Tomoyo takes her to one side to calm her down.
Kero - “Your never going to ease up on that Snoozer thing, aintcha’.”
Nina - “Your never going to ease up on the hentai Sakura thing, aintcha’.”
Before another word can be spoken a strange hush comes over the theatre. “It’s Shadow.” Kero whispers agitated, looking about for some sign of movement. “Now?”
“Not yet.” (Nina draws a scanner from her pouch as she looks about) “It’s not completely in yet. I want the rat in the trap before I spring it.” As the silence grows as the shadows about the theatre seemingly begin to move about, riling Kero’s already frayed nerves. “No to be a pest about this but I think Shadow is on the move regardless of whether it’s entirely in or not. Nina we have to…”
“Hold it, hold it.” Nina whispers, “Sakura? Up front because it’s showtime.”
“Right.” (holds key out) “Key of the star, with powers burning bright, reveal the staff and shine your light--- release.” As the staff grows in Sakura’s hand the shadows move closer towards the stage. “Remember, Sakura, you have to reveal Shadow’s physical form before you can catch it.”
“I remember, Kero, I remember.” (looks about at the approaching shadows) “That’s easier said than done though, can we do it yet?”
Nina - “Not yet, just a little more.”
Sakura reaches backwards towards Tomoyo, motioning for her. “Tomoyo? Stay close and…” Before Sakura can utter another word a flash of dark catches her eye and her vision goes dark as she’s knocked backwards into the floor. “SAKURA-CHAN!!”
* * * * * *
For a minute she can’t feel anything, but slowly the world begins to brighten as her senses return. “Get her up! Come on! We need her to seal the card! Sakura!!”
As her senses return she looks up into the rafters above, head spinning, “I… I’m OK, I…”
“Sakura! You had us worried! Come on, we---” Tomoyo’s face pops into view. Decaying, dying, she was like death hovering over her, her precious Tomoyo, and Sakura couldn’t stop shaking at the sight. Tomoyo reaches to touch her--- and Sakura freaks. “EYYYAAAHHHHHH!!!!!”
* * * * * *
Sakura couldn’t move.
She was petrified to where she laid, shivering like a small kitten.
The Tomoyo thing grabbed her and she screamed again.
“Sakura! What’s wrong?! Sakura??”
“LET ME GO!! I WANT TOMOYO BACK!! GIVE HER BACK!!”
Tomoyo couldn’t see what Sakura was seeing so she was confused, “What are you… Sakura-chan! I’m right here--!”
“TOMOYO!! TOMO-CHAN!! NOO!! TOMO-CHAN!!”
Sakura screamed, frantic, trying to push Tomoyo away, scared at what she was seeing in her mind’s eye. Suddenly inspiration hits Nina.
“Tell her to close her eyes!” Nina screamed. “W-wh---”
“Close Sakura’s eyes!!” Nina yelled, to which Tomoyo quickly covers Sakura’s eyes and holds her tightly to herself, “Don’t open your eyes, don’t open your eyes please.”
After long seconds Sakura calmed, her body still shivering in Tomoyo’s arms, “It’s me, Sakura, don’t look…” (Sakura tries to open her eyes) “PLEASE DON’T! Don’t look… please… keep your eyes closed… listen to my voice…”
“We need her soon!” Nina growled, “I don’t know…” (eyes narrow, one of her hands quickly pulling her mini commlink from her vest) “It’s in. Shield Sakura’s eyes tight!!”
Tomoyo pushes Sakura down and holds her tight as Nina raises one hand into the air, and points her commlink towards the lights, “Clap off… click on…” quickly she taps her link three times. POOF!! POOF!! POOF!! Powerful lights suddenly come on, filling the room with a blinding light. The light, so strong it kills all dark spaces, reveals Shadow’s presence and traps it in the seating area where it tries to hide beneath the seats.
“Lights too bright for that!!” Nina yells out, “You can’t hide anywhere!! Not even under the seats!” Shadow was trapped.
* * * * * *
“I’m afraid… I’m afraid… Tomo-chan? Please… don’t let go…” Sakura whined, her voice cracking from her fear, “Don’t be dead… don’t be dead…”
“I’m right here, Sakura, I’m right here.” Tomoyo whispered, gingerly pulling her top open to press Sakura against her bare breasts, “Hear that? It’s my heart. Focus on that sound. Just on that sound, and the warmth of my body, nothing else but that OK?”
“Tomo-chan---” Sakura croaked, “…gigh--gahh--- gasp-gasp…” (breath slows) “…so soft… so strong too… each beat.”
“Just letting you know I’m alive, Sakura-chan. Hold onto that thought and don’t let it go.” Tomoyo looks up at Shadow, thankful Sakura’s eyes were closed. Tomoyo’s face darkens, her eyes narrow and her teeth clench, her anger at Shadow burning. In it’s pain Shadow suddenly swings wildly, throwing shards of darkness in random directions, hitting nothing. But one shard hits Tomoyo in the face full on. Before Nina can react however, Tomoyo motions for her to not speak. In her mind’s eye she feels Shadow ripping at her, trying to make her see her fears. But to that Tomoyo opens her mind, and shares her pain.
Every frightening thought, every bad “sleep vision” (since they were already in a place of dreams dreaming is a “waking” thing), everything that scared Tomoyo. And it all focused about her mother, Sakura, and now Mirra-chan. The three most precious people in her life.
Every thought that made her shake, every vision that frightened her, everything she shared with Shadow. And in the back of everyone’s minds they heard something… Shadow screaming in terror. With that Tomoyo holds up Sakura’s hands (staff held tight), “Seal it.”
“Clow card return to your power confined--- SHADOW & FEAR CARDS!!”
As the tendrils reach out, Shadow does something strange-- it jumps towards the tendrils as if wanting capture. Desperately seeking the silence of being sealed and the sanity of being under Sakura’s mastery once again. Fear didn’t want it, but what Fear wanted was as immaterial as it was. It had no choice in the matter, what Shadow wanted is what Shadow got. And what Shadow wanted to do at that moment was flee from Tomoyo’s pain and hide itself so she couldn’t reach it through Fear’s power, and make it feel what Fear has been dishing out for days now. But Fear wanted to be free--- at any cost. Sealed, the card returns to Sakura/Tomoyo’s hand. On it the image of Shadow. “Where’s Fear?” Tomoyo asked. “Gone.” (Everyone turns to Kero) “I felt it as Sakura caught it. It wanted so badly to be free it cast itself into nothingness rather than be sealed again.” (Kero turns and stares into the bright light surrounding them like a passageway to heaven itself) “Guess it “went into the light” so to speak.”
As the lights dim back to normal glow Tomoyo cradles Sakura in her arms and whispers softly to her, keeping Sakura’s head close to her chest as she gently cradles her.
In a few minutes the effect of Fear’s power will be gone and Sakura can open her eyes. But for now, she was content just to remain there--- in the arms of the woman she loved--- and that was good enough for Tomoyo.
* * * * * *
The next evening (at the musical)
“I don’t know.” Nina remarked as she returned to the seats with food for everyone, “We’re just through the first part and already I’m a tad disappointed.”
“Why?” Mirra-chan asked, to which Nina replied indignantly “Well this IS a Realm of Dreams. I figured we’d see real Ham-hams, and not people in ham-ham get-ups. I felt a tad disappointed by that. Where‘s the spectacle, where‘s the grandeur, where‘s the ham-hams I know and love? So disappointing.”
Hikaru - “I like the costumes, and the make-up looks well done.”
Mirra - “I agree with Hikaru, Nina-chan, it’s nice.”
“Nina-chan, eh?” (Nina smiles, ribbing Mirra-chan lightly as she sips from her soda) “Your not getting a crush on me, are you? I‘ll break your heart.”
“No. Your too old for me.”
“----” Nina sips from her own soda, sweat dropping. “I only call a few special people that, including Hikaru because…” (she blushes, only to get a warm hug from Hikaru) “…she knows why.” Nina smirks, leaning over towards Eliza, “Looks like Tomoyo’s dream might come true after all.”
“Your reading too much into this.” Eliza remarks, to which Nina grumbles. “I’m not! They look so cuddly next to each other!” (glances back at the two as they play their PSPs and the promotional Hamtaro game that was given out on opening night.) “At least she doesn’t have a Toya fixation, which is kinda weird because he’s technically her half brother since her mom’s his sister and that makes any boinking between them incest and whatever.” (Eliza shuts Nina’s mouth with her free hand as the lights dim and come up) “And that’s enough out of you, the next act is starting in 2.”
As the girl’s put their games away both share a secret whisper, well--- not so secret because Nina catches a glimpse of it as she turns for her soda (set into the drink holder on the Stadium style theater seats the theater sported) “---say what you want, but this ham-ham knows love when she sees it!”
Eliza - “Your talking Ham-ham now.”
Nina - “It’s appropriate!” (sighs) “Not like we’re in the middle of the mall and I start going on about everything’s tickity-poo or something. I wish we could show Snoozer this when she gets home---” Eliza smiles, points at her wetware band around the back of her head (the red light flashing) and smiles) “Who said we can’t show it to her when we get home?”
“Eliza, you’re a genius!”
* * * * * *
Holochamber 00 (beneath the Daidouji Estates)
Theater mode (the next day)
Tomoyo munches on the popcorn as she watches with Mirra-chan. It was the first intermission. “It’s a nice show. I like the costumes, it’s very inventive. And the acting is pretty good too.”
Mirra - “Yeah. I like them too. Where’s Sakura-papa though?” Tomoyo looks around, “Nina said she had a surprise and wanted Sakura’s help--- oh, the second act is starting, hope she returns soon.” As the curtains rise the second act begins. The ham-ham’s voices can be heard (scene from Episode 2).
Boss (outside) - “Everyone inside! My place is your place-- come on in.” (as Boss steps in he face faults in shock) “What the---?!?” (the other six ham hams look inside)
Tomoyo - “----” (sweat drops)
There, on the table, tucked into a giant sock, was Sakura & Snoozer (prop) both fast asleep. Though in Sakura’s case a small amount of sedative might have been involved in making her nap believable. Nina sits back down in her chair smiling “And next time she’ll be programmed in and we’ll use the holo-generator to create REAL Ham-hams for the musical! That’s going to look so cool!!” Tomoyo leans back in her chair, and takes a long drink from her soda, “She’s going to be so angry when she wakes up---” (sighs) “---she does look sorta like Snoozer though--- must be her cuteness in sleep.”
Nina sighs, “She‘ll be up in a minute. It was a light sedative and boss is--- oh, he‘s picking her up and it‘s about to wear off---”
Tomoyo - “Somebody fade us out please--- before she wakes up.” Fade to black. “Thank you.”
“The Shadows, the Cardcaptors and… the Snoozers? (Oh my!)”
End of Remastered the First
CardCaptor Sakura Remastered Episode 1-10 (10)
Battling runaway Clow cards that merged to form more complex threats was hard enough. Battling runaway Clow cards that merged with Darklings (nightmares) is worst! And that problem is only cranked up several notches when the Darkling in question is an Assassin Guilder Nightmare. But that was the problem facing Sakura when she went looking for Thunder but met the Assassin Guilder Shockwave.
When she first ran into him, in her neko outfit, she thought for certain he’d blast her. But while Thunder had no qualms over blasting Sakura, Shockwave did (as he, though a Nightmare, still followed the Guild’s list of rules called “The Code”, and one code, Code 8, forbade attacks against innocents and non-targets which Sakura clearly was) so Thunder simply convinced Shockwave to chase her away without hurting her, which seemed to work until
* * * * * *
Confronting the Card/Assassin mix in the park, filled with wide open spaces and no innocent bystanders was one thing, catching the card while splitting it from the Darkling was another. For five whole minutes Sakura leads Shockwave through the park dodging it’s Thunder generated electrical attacks, slowly trying to wear it out. Nina (using her gauntlets to trade firepower with Shockwave shot for shot) tried to pin it down for easier capture, but to no avail. “Nice synchronized jumping by the way---” she calls out as Sakura/Kero land near her, “---but you’d have an easier time running the charge out of the Energizer Bunny than a Darkling Assassin Droid.”
Nina looks about for Shockwave as Sakura draws close, “Those things run on necromancy and that doesn’t run out no matter how much he draws on it.”
Shockwave lands behind them, powering up. “Get ready to seal it, I’ll give you an opening.” Nina calls out as she spins on her heels towards Shockwave, lashing an arm out towards a nearby water tap (for fire trucks/water dragons) near Shockwave. “Heads up!“
The attack blasts the tap open and smothers Shockwave in water. Stunned and overwhelmed, the electrical attack Assassin begins to shut down. “NOW SAKURA! TAP THE WATER FLOW AND SEAL THE CARD!”
“Right! Clow card return to your power confined, THUNDER!”
As she runs forward and slams her staff down near the flow of water nothing happens, then energy surges out of the stream, collects about the staff head, and turns into a card. Thunder. Sealed and captured. “WOW!” Sakura stammers, catching the card with her free hand, “B-but--??”
Nina smiled at her own ingenuity, “When I hit Shockwave with the water from the tap it shut down, but it also gave Thunder an illusion of escape. Water is a great conductor for electricity, and Thunder figured to use the water as a sort of water cable to “link” itself into the water system and escape out of your reach. Problem is it trapped itself by condensing itself tight for the trip back along the water, so all you had to do was stand at the tap and let Thunder come to you. Simple as that. You got it, right?”
“I don’t get it.” Sakura laments. Nina frowned, “You’re the ill-will of the Japanese Public School system, aren’t you.“ (sighs) “Well, did you get it? Please tell me you got it.”
* * * * * *
Tomoyo - “Let’s watch it again! You‘re so beautiful when your in action!!”
Kero - “I think I’m a stud in this video, don’t you think? I love it! It‘s my best work yet!”
Back at the Daidouji Estate, Tomoyo rewinds the capture again as Nina continues to stock her new shelves. She arranged a “sleepover” of sorts to get Sakura/Tomoyo to help her and Eliza with what she’s been dreading all this time. Moving in. She finally relented, realizing this was no longer just an “extended” sleepover until the cards were caught, but a full on mission she had to stick through. So she called for her own and Eliza’s stuff to be brought from Citadel City to Tokyo so she could move in with Eliza into the mansion.
“Is it almost done?” Eliza asked.
“The books and stuff is done, but we’ll have to unpack the clothes and boring stuff ourselves tomorrow ‘liza. Still, I got the important stuff put away so that’s good.”
“Right…” (Eliza looks at vid playing on huge screen as she finishes her work) “…she is cute in that cat outfit. Not my type though but she’s cute.”
“Glad you approve.” Nina smirks, finishing her own tasks and closing the custom storage cabinet doors (with a huge display set up for her comic collection (newest issues) on the front of the cabinet). “Nice to see that we got the fun stuff done tonight. That leaves the bags of clothes and I don’t want strangers prodding my unmentionables, or my toys.”
“---” Sakura frowns at the thought of Nina’s “toys”, but suddenly cheers up again. “I have to go to town tomorrow, want to come along Tomoyo?”
“I can’t. I’m just finishing the first new DVD (held it back to put a few more captures on it) and I want to get it done for Mirra-chan tomorrow. She’s going to LOVE these new adventures!” (blushes just thinking about it) “They’re your greatest yet!”
Sakura - “Aw come on! Your embarrassing me!”
“Come on then, bedtime kids so let‘s call it a night.” Nina announces, “See you tomorrow, Kero.” (Kero says his goodnights and leaves as Nina motions towards the large bed) “Ok, you know you want to so everyone in and we’ll call it a day.” (Sakura/Tomoyo take a futon on the floor as Nina rolls into bed) “There’s plenty of room up here! Don’t be all shy and stuff! I promise I don’t grope while I’m sleeping… maybe while YOU are sleeping but never while I‘m sleeping!”
Eliza - “She’s right. She does all her groping while pretending to be asleep.”
Neither Sakura nor Tomoyo budge from their floor space. “Fine. Computer, lights.” (lights dim) “How’d you do that?” Tomoyo asks. “I replaced the light switch with a switch/computer link switch. I can either do it manually or vocally now. Try it.”
“Computer--- lights?” (lights come on) “Cool! Computer, lights!” (lights turn off)
“Let’s go to sleep.” Nina sighs, rolling to her side to get comfortable, “This is why I didn’t let Kero stay, by the way, he’d be playing with the vocal commands of the lights all night.” Sakura shudders at the thought of Kero sitting up all night ordering the lights on and off and bothering everyone to the point of insanity. But tomorrow she had a surprise for Tomoyo. All she had to do was pick it up. For days she’s been planning it. Designing it on paper, drawing it (but never liking the outcome) until she finally picked on using a design Tomoyo used for one of her first costumes (which was also the costume she dressed the doll she gave Sakura when she was 11) and change it’s color scheme to a sensual blue color.
She then went to a tailor in town and commissioned him to make a costume, her first costume to give to Tomoyo to wear in Card Captoring.
After all the costumes Tomoyo made for her, she wanted to make a costume in return. The night she gives the costume she planned on wearing the costume Tomoyo made for her those years ago (redesigned and made for her more mature body) as a sign of her love. As she opened her eyes briefly to watch Tomoyo slumbering quietly next to her, she could hardly contain her excitement.
Tomorrow she’d get the costume, and present it to Tomoyo. She only hoped Tomoyo would like her gift. That worried Sakura. But she was excited anyway because it’d be the first time she could present Tomoyo with a costume to wear.
She woke up bright and early (even for her) and was on her way to town right after breakfast. But NOT before Nina showed off the new holochamber built overnight by “little people”. She didn’t go into details, part of the labor contract, but she said it’s quality work in a very short space of time. And how was it done, Sakura asked? Magic. Sakura didn’t ask again after awhile since Nina would just repeat the word “Magic” every time she asked, and Sakura eventually gave up trying to find out.
* * * * * *
“It’s ready, here--- take a look.” as he takes the costume out to show Sakura she takes a deep breath and holds it for a second. It was everything she hoped it would be, and more, made out to Tomoyo’s specifications and an alternating shade of deep royal blue to compliment the original costume Tomoyo made for Sakura. “I’ll take it. How much---”
“A woman named Kotobuki paid for it with her credit chip. She said she’d charge it on her expense account as ‘work related expenses’.”
Nina? She paid for it? “Guess I owe her an apology.” Sakura lamented as she waited for the costume to be wrapped and boxed. “Probably have to be called Snoozer forever after this--- sigh.”
“You don’t look like a Ham-ham to me---” (stops) “---and I should stop talking and keep wrapping. Right. Sorry.”
“Hey Sakura.”
“?” (turns around) “Oh, Keiko isn’t it? Hi. And you are Kei--“ (nods) “What are---”
“Need some new gloves---” (holds up hands) “---these are worn down, but I like my gloves custom made so I ordered some through here. Are they ready yet?”
“Just about. Let me finish this young lady’s order and I’ll be right with you.”
Keiko takes a seat near a large display case of glasses. “I didn’t know you did eyeglasses.”
“Some clients prefer custom sunglasses or reading glasses to go with their new clothes.”
* * * * * *
I wonder what Keiko would say if I told her Nina paid for Tomoyo’s costume?
She’d probably laugh it off. She and Nina don’t seem to get along very well. Then again with Nina’s attitude I can see why it’s easy to dislike her. Still, sometimes she can act so callous and then do something completely unexpected and nice five seconds later. She’s a mystery to me. I just wish she’d stop calling me Snoozer already.
“Deep thoughts?” Keiko asks as she leans back in her chair, staring listlessly at the ceiling, “Something naughty for your love and joy?”
“Uh? No, it’s a costume. She made so many for me I…” (blinks) “Well I thought…” (stops) “?”
“Thought what?” Keiko pried.
“I thought I’d return the favor.” Sakura admitted, staring at the wall. “Do you feel something?”
“I feel bored, is that a something?”
“I mean---” (looks at wall intently) “---I thought I saw something moving.”
“Oh. The light plays tricks on the eyes. But if you doubt me unseal your staff and come here because---” (stomps foot down) “---something’s been clinging to my shadow and I think it’s a card!” (Keiko quickly jumps back, unsheathing her sword from her back as she does, taking a jumping leap and slashing darkness as it moves out of her way). “Damn!” Shadow slips back, then lunges forward knocking Keiko onto her back, noticing Sakura as it does. As Sakura stares right at Shadow she feels a chill across her body, and a tinge of something inside of her--- with a slight hiss it backs away from her as she struggles to wrest her key free from beneath her clothes, slipping beneath the display case. Seconds later the case tips over towards Keiko. “Keiko! Watch it!”
The case falls towards her but she didn’t want to move, her eyes slightly wider than normal. Quickly as it started falling though the case is quickly stopped as a creature bounds into it and catches it mid fall. The creature, a huge lizard thing like a velociraptor with cybernetic things on it’s head and shoulders, gingerly lifts the case back into place as Sakura rushes it. “CLOW CARD RETURN TO YOUR POWER CONFINED, CLOW CARD!!” (she slams the staff down near it--- and nothing happens.)
“?” (The huge creature looks at Sakura oddly, then it merely lumbers back behind the counter) “Keiko run! I can’t seal it! Keiko I---” (it comes back out with her box and hands it to her) “Have a nice day, do come by my shop again.”
Keiko - “Sakura, that’s the tailor--- he’s a Galerian.”
“Oh---” (Sakura blushes a deep shade of red) “---I didn’t know that.”
* * * * * *
I’M SO EMBARRASSED!!!
Last time this happened I tried to seal a Palominian (a horse/human hybrid) at the mall! It was so terrible! I rushed at the poor girl screaming “CLOW CARD RETURN TO YOUR POWRS CONFINED! HORSE CARD!” (and I looked like such a doofus in front of everyone!!) She took it in stride though and wasn’t offended, but still SO EMBARRASSING!! Days like this I feel like crawling into bed and not coming out for a year (at least).
* * * * * *
“Shadow?”
The gang was in Sakura’s kitchen waiting for her to make dinner, Tomoyo being the one speaking at this moment as Sakura cooked the last of the meal before serving the plates to everyone. “And something else. I felt--- cold near it. Not like Shadow before but something else merged with Shadow--- gave me the shakes being near it. It made me feel---”
“Fear?” Kero asked, filling in the blank as Sakura said “Yeah. I guess.”
“Figures.” Kero remarked as he picked up where Sakura opened, “Shadow & Fear. Fear is a failed card Clow Reed made that he had to get rid of. He wanted to use it for--- well, less than ideal uses, but it got out of hand once and he didn’t want to use it anymore. Alone, Fear is a weak card since it’s a generalized effect with no form. But with Shadow it’s powerful because Shadow acts like it’s body, and gives Fear a wider range of movement and the ability to strike down anyone with it‘s power. The only reason Keiko could probably be in it’s vicinity for so long was her stronger resistance to it’s effects (being one of those nifty Judgment people and all).”
Sakura - “She did seem paralyzed by the falling case.”
“Keiko has a fear of mutilation.” Nina remarks as she takes her plate, “Comes from all the mutilations she’s seen done on innocent people. So the card lucked out tossing that glass case into her because she panicked.”
“How do you know that?”
“I read her file, Tomoyo. She no doubt read my file when I took this assignment, so I read her file in turn and there’s some mention of it on her psych records.”
Tomoyo - “Oh. Aren’t psych records supposed to be---”
“Like I said, she read my files so I read her’s.” Nina admitted.
“Oh.” Eliza picks up the pace, “Regardless of that, we have to figure out where Shadow/Fear will strike next. Maybe they’ll camp out and wait for something to happen?”
Nina picks it up and runs with it. “Then they’ll camp out at that theatre since there’s a big event there tomorrow night and lines for opening day tickets were murder (good thing I got there when I did or I never have gotten tickets!) It’s a cute musical and I’m taking Mirra-chan & Hikaru along with Eliza and myself tomorrow. Speaking of which why aren’t you two going? Everyone is going to be there it seems---” (looks at Sakura/Tomoyo) “We’ll catch the card tonight.” Tomoyo responds, “Tomorrow we’re spending out day alone and don’t want to be disturbed.”
“Oh, right.” Nina smirks as she whacks her head, “Silly me. Your private time. That’s right. Not even a must see social event can drag you two away from the loud bed shaking violently during sexual inter--” (Sakura swings and misses Nina’s head) “---whatever---”
* * * * * *
“What is this?” Tomoyo asks as Sakura hands her the box inside their room. “I’d like you to wear this tonight, and let me pick an old costume to wear with it--- that is, if you don’t mind---- I mean, don’t open it yet! I---” (blushes) “---I’m embarrassed but I wanted to give you a special costume to wear, and I didn’t know what to do so I--- well I was inspired by that special costume you made me when--- and I just thought--- well---”
“It’s beautiful.” Tomoyo sighs as she admires it, leaning over and kissing Sakura’s cheek while walking on could nine (emotions wise). “I’m going to treasure wearing the special costume you gave me.”
“Tomo-chan.”
“I’m going to treasure even more taking it off for you tomorrow, slowly, with musical complimenting each move as I perform for you---”
“---” (blushes) “---can we talk about that tomorrow? I don’t want to get excited just yet---”
“Sure.” (Tomoyo kisses Sakura again) “I’ll put this and your costume in the van, and we’ll change outside the theatre. Maybe with the doors cracked abit for the brave to come and see us in our splendor.”
“Tomoyo!”
“Just kidding, Sakura-chan, just kidding. I’ll go get ready.” Tomoyo grabs her camera on the way out, giggling as she does, leaving Sakura alone in the room. “Maybe I should wear something other than my teddy-bear panties tonight.”
* * * * * *
Getting into the theatre (using fake ids) wasn’t the hard part. Finding a place to make a stand that wasn’t closed in on all sides by seats was a problem. As the lights come on in the theatre, Nina takes stock of the situation as she surveys the surroundings. “We’ll take the stage, it’s roomy and open for easy combat and the entire room is set to give Shadow a surprise. Here---” Nina hands out goggles to everyone, “They’ll block out the surprise when it hits so keep them on.” (puts on her visor) “Now let’s get on stage.”
As the curtain rises Sakura steps on it looking abit confused. “What is this?”
Nina - “Oh, right, welcome to the Ham-ham Clubhouse! They’re doing Hamtaro the Musical tomorrow and I got tickets for it.”
Sakura - “Hamtaro?! Not again with the Hamster reference.” Sakura laments, to which Nina remarks. “Look on the bright side…” (pointing up to the top of a staircase/slide setup above them) “…they saved a place of honor for you up there.”
Tomoyo, catching Sakura‘s expression, quickly said “Sakura, that’s where Snoozer sleeps.”
“----” Sakura’s face squinches up as Tomoyo takes her to one side to calm her down.
Kero - “Your never going to ease up on that Snoozer thing, aintcha’.”
Nina - “Your never going to ease up on the hentai Sakura thing, aintcha’.”
Before another word can be spoken a strange hush comes over the theatre. “It’s Shadow.” Kero whispers agitated, looking about for some sign of movement. “Now?”
“Not yet.” (Nina draws a scanner from her pouch as she looks about) “It’s not completely in yet. I want the rat in the trap before I spring it.” As the silence grows as the shadows about the theatre seemingly begin to move about, riling Kero’s already frayed nerves. “No to be a pest about this but I think Shadow is on the move regardless of whether it’s entirely in or not. Nina we have to…”
“Hold it, hold it.” Nina whispers, “Sakura? Up front because it’s showtime.”
“Right.” (holds key out) “Key of the star, with powers burning bright, reveal the staff and shine your light--- release.” As the staff grows in Sakura’s hand the shadows move closer towards the stage. “Remember, Sakura, you have to reveal Shadow’s physical form before you can catch it.”
“I remember, Kero, I remember.” (looks about at the approaching shadows) “That’s easier said than done though, can we do it yet?”
Nina - “Not yet, just a little more.”
Sakura reaches backwards towards Tomoyo, motioning for her. “Tomoyo? Stay close and…” Before Sakura can utter another word a flash of dark catches her eye and her vision goes dark as she’s knocked backwards into the floor. “SAKURA-CHAN!!”
* * * * * *
For a minute she can’t feel anything, but slowly the world begins to brighten as her senses return. “Get her up! Come on! We need her to seal the card! Sakura!!”
As her senses return she looks up into the rafters above, head spinning, “I… I’m OK, I…”
“Sakura! You had us worried! Come on, we---” Tomoyo’s face pops into view. Decaying, dying, she was like death hovering over her, her precious Tomoyo, and Sakura couldn’t stop shaking at the sight. Tomoyo reaches to touch her--- and Sakura freaks. “EYYYAAAHHHHHH!!!!!”
* * * * * *
Sakura couldn’t move.
She was petrified to where she laid, shivering like a small kitten.
The Tomoyo thing grabbed her and she screamed again.
“Sakura! What’s wrong?! Sakura??”
“LET ME GO!! I WANT TOMOYO BACK!! GIVE HER BACK!!”
Tomoyo couldn’t see what Sakura was seeing so she was confused, “What are you… Sakura-chan! I’m right here--!”
“TOMOYO!! TOMO-CHAN!! NOO!! TOMO-CHAN!!”
Sakura screamed, frantic, trying to push Tomoyo away, scared at what she was seeing in her mind’s eye. Suddenly inspiration hits Nina.
“Tell her to close her eyes!” Nina screamed. “W-wh---”
“Close Sakura’s eyes!!” Nina yelled, to which Tomoyo quickly covers Sakura’s eyes and holds her tightly to herself, “Don’t open your eyes, don’t open your eyes please.”
After long seconds Sakura calmed, her body still shivering in Tomoyo’s arms, “It’s me, Sakura, don’t look…” (Sakura tries to open her eyes) “PLEASE DON’T! Don’t look… please… keep your eyes closed… listen to my voice…”
“We need her soon!” Nina growled, “I don’t know…” (eyes narrow, one of her hands quickly pulling her mini commlink from her vest) “It’s in. Shield Sakura’s eyes tight!!”
Tomoyo pushes Sakura down and holds her tight as Nina raises one hand into the air, and points her commlink towards the lights, “Clap off… click on…” quickly she taps her link three times. POOF!! POOF!! POOF!! Powerful lights suddenly come on, filling the room with a blinding light. The light, so strong it kills all dark spaces, reveals Shadow’s presence and traps it in the seating area where it tries to hide beneath the seats.
“Lights too bright for that!!” Nina yells out, “You can’t hide anywhere!! Not even under the seats!” Shadow was trapped.
* * * * * *
“I’m afraid… I’m afraid… Tomo-chan? Please… don’t let go…” Sakura whined, her voice cracking from her fear, “Don’t be dead… don’t be dead…”
“I’m right here, Sakura, I’m right here.” Tomoyo whispered, gingerly pulling her top open to press Sakura against her bare breasts, “Hear that? It’s my heart. Focus on that sound. Just on that sound, and the warmth of my body, nothing else but that OK?”
“Tomo-chan---” Sakura croaked, “…gigh--gahh--- gasp-gasp…” (breath slows) “…so soft… so strong too… each beat.”
“Just letting you know I’m alive, Sakura-chan. Hold onto that thought and don’t let it go.” Tomoyo looks up at Shadow, thankful Sakura’s eyes were closed. Tomoyo’s face darkens, her eyes narrow and her teeth clench, her anger at Shadow burning. In it’s pain Shadow suddenly swings wildly, throwing shards of darkness in random directions, hitting nothing. But one shard hits Tomoyo in the face full on. Before Nina can react however, Tomoyo motions for her to not speak. In her mind’s eye she feels Shadow ripping at her, trying to make her see her fears. But to that Tomoyo opens her mind, and shares her pain.
Every frightening thought, every bad “sleep vision” (since they were already in a place of dreams dreaming is a “waking” thing), everything that scared Tomoyo. And it all focused about her mother, Sakura, and now Mirra-chan. The three most precious people in her life.
Every thought that made her shake, every vision that frightened her, everything she shared with Shadow. And in the back of everyone’s minds they heard something… Shadow screaming in terror. With that Tomoyo holds up Sakura’s hands (staff held tight), “Seal it.”
“Clow card return to your power confined--- SHADOW & FEAR CARDS!!”
As the tendrils reach out, Shadow does something strange-- it jumps towards the tendrils as if wanting capture. Desperately seeking the silence of being sealed and the sanity of being under Sakura’s mastery once again. Fear didn’t want it, but what Fear wanted was as immaterial as it was. It had no choice in the matter, what Shadow wanted is what Shadow got. And what Shadow wanted to do at that moment was flee from Tomoyo’s pain and hide itself so she couldn’t reach it through Fear’s power, and make it feel what Fear has been dishing out for days now. But Fear wanted to be free--- at any cost. Sealed, the card returns to Sakura/Tomoyo’s hand. On it the image of Shadow. “Where’s Fear?” Tomoyo asked. “Gone.” (Everyone turns to Kero) “I felt it as Sakura caught it. It wanted so badly to be free it cast itself into nothingness rather than be sealed again.” (Kero turns and stares into the bright light surrounding them like a passageway to heaven itself) “Guess it “went into the light” so to speak.”
As the lights dim back to normal glow Tomoyo cradles Sakura in her arms and whispers softly to her, keeping Sakura’s head close to her chest as she gently cradles her.
In a few minutes the effect of Fear’s power will be gone and Sakura can open her eyes. But for now, she was content just to remain there--- in the arms of the woman she loved--- and that was good enough for Tomoyo.
* * * * * *
The next evening (at the musical)
“I don’t know.” Nina remarked as she returned to the seats with food for everyone, “We’re just through the first part and already I’m a tad disappointed.”
“Why?” Mirra-chan asked, to which Nina replied indignantly “Well this IS a Realm of Dreams. I figured we’d see real Ham-hams, and not people in ham-ham get-ups. I felt a tad disappointed by that. Where‘s the spectacle, where‘s the grandeur, where‘s the ham-hams I know and love? So disappointing.”
Hikaru - “I like the costumes, and the make-up looks well done.”
Mirra - “I agree with Hikaru, Nina-chan, it’s nice.”
“Nina-chan, eh?” (Nina smiles, ribbing Mirra-chan lightly as she sips from her soda) “Your not getting a crush on me, are you? I‘ll break your heart.”
“No. Your too old for me.”
“----” Nina sips from her own soda, sweat dropping. “I only call a few special people that, including Hikaru because…” (she blushes, only to get a warm hug from Hikaru) “…she knows why.” Nina smirks, leaning over towards Eliza, “Looks like Tomoyo’s dream might come true after all.”
“Your reading too much into this.” Eliza remarks, to which Nina grumbles. “I’m not! They look so cuddly next to each other!” (glances back at the two as they play their PSPs and the promotional Hamtaro game that was given out on opening night.) “At least she doesn’t have a Toya fixation, which is kinda weird because he’s technically her half brother since her mom’s his sister and that makes any boinking between them incest and whatever.” (Eliza shuts Nina’s mouth with her free hand as the lights dim and come up) “And that’s enough out of you, the next act is starting in 2.”
As the girl’s put their games away both share a secret whisper, well--- not so secret because Nina catches a glimpse of it as she turns for her soda (set into the drink holder on the Stadium style theater seats the theater sported) “---say what you want, but this ham-ham knows love when she sees it!”
Eliza - “Your talking Ham-ham now.”
Nina - “It’s appropriate!” (sighs) “Not like we’re in the middle of the mall and I start going on about everything’s tickity-poo or something. I wish we could show Snoozer this when she gets home---” Eliza smiles, points at her wetware band around the back of her head (the red light flashing) and smiles) “Who said we can’t show it to her when we get home?”
“Eliza, you’re a genius!”
* * * * * *
Holochamber 00 (beneath the Daidouji Estates)
Theater mode (the next day)
Tomoyo munches on the popcorn as she watches with Mirra-chan. It was the first intermission. “It’s a nice show. I like the costumes, it’s very inventive. And the acting is pretty good too.”
Mirra - “Yeah. I like them too. Where’s Sakura-papa though?” Tomoyo looks around, “Nina said she had a surprise and wanted Sakura’s help--- oh, the second act is starting, hope she returns soon.” As the curtains rise the second act begins. The ham-ham’s voices can be heard (scene from Episode 2).
Boss (outside) - “Everyone inside! My place is your place-- come on in.” (as Boss steps in he face faults in shock) “What the---?!?” (the other six ham hams look inside)
Tomoyo - “----” (sweat drops)
There, on the table, tucked into a giant sock, was Sakura & Snoozer (prop) both fast asleep. Though in Sakura’s case a small amount of sedative might have been involved in making her nap believable. Nina sits back down in her chair smiling “And next time she’ll be programmed in and we’ll use the holo-generator to create REAL Ham-hams for the musical! That’s going to look so cool!!” Tomoyo leans back in her chair, and takes a long drink from her soda, “She’s going to be so angry when she wakes up---” (sighs) “---she does look sorta like Snoozer though--- must be her cuteness in sleep.”
Nina sighs, “She‘ll be up in a minute. It was a light sedative and boss is--- oh, he‘s picking her up and it‘s about to wear off---”
Tomoyo - “Somebody fade us out please--- before she wakes up.” Fade to black. “Thank you.”
“The Shadows, the Cardcaptors and… the Snoozers? (Oh my!)”
End of Remastered the First
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