CardCaptor Sakura Remastered III Episode 4 (10)

The numbers seemed as if they were mocking her even as she tried to study. It just didn’t seem to want to work out the way she wanted it to. Maybe if she -- Sakura suddenly felt a hand slip beneath her arm and firmly place itself between her hand and her Clow cards. “No cheating.”

“Tomo-chan.” Sakura moaned, hand moving away from the cards as Tomoyo talked to her, “Your going to do fine. Just remember what you learned, and the little lessons I taught you about making the equations work and it’ll come out OK in the end.”

“Too bad there’s no time for a refresher.” Sakura lamented. At that Tomoyo smirked at the thought of Sakura‘s request, “I don’t think it’s an appropriate place to “refresh” your memory now -- no privacy.”

“I know.” Sakura smiles, remembering how Tomoyo played a rather naughty learning game with her to help her with her math. As she thought about Tomoyo’s antics she started to remember bits and pieces of the equations -- along with face flushing, red cheeked moments. Sakura sighs deeply, face glowing red, as she starts to work on her practice equations again, getting them right. “There you go. I told you you could do it if you remembered my lessons.” (and to bring the point home, Tomoyo runs a finger up and down Sakura’s back, treading up and down her spine sending shivers as she gently pushes enough so her touch could be felt through the cloth of the school uniform). “Tomo-chan.”

“Why is Sakura’s face all red?” (Chiharu)

* * * * * *

For the first time, Meilin had brought her blade to school. She didn’t think she could, but after seeing Keiko & Rebecca with their weapons (safely held in their tesseract jewels, occasionally out during study period for them to polish the blades) she decided to bring her’s to class. The blade was long, yet strong and sturdy. It was straight as an iron bar, and fashioned after the long swords of European knights. The area of grip was long so she could have a firm grip on the blade, with her name etched into the blade in Chinese on one side, and a runespell that made the blade indestructible etched on the opposite blade side. On the blade’s sheathe (propped against her desk) was two runes joined as one. One symbolized Meilin, the other Xai.

Originally, the blade’s twin runes were to symbolize Meilin/Li, but after she finally came to the conclusion that they would never be one, she threw away the rune she had made for him and started a long standing bitter hatred of him. She never speaks about him much, and though she knows that it was meant to be -- that didn’t make her want to think about him anymore now than she wanted to when she knew that they were going to split into their own directions and there was nothing she could do about it. She had done her studying with Xai so she didn’t need to do it now, and all she could think of was Xai so she mindlessly polished the blade as she let her thoughts wander.
The cool reflected surface showed her worried face, and it concerned her that she was so focused--- quickly she sheathed her blade again rather than stare are her own worried expression for another minute. “You OK?” Meilin didn’t answer, she merely set the blade/sheathe against her broach and stored it away. Her thoughts were spinning --

* * * * * *

The Shining Star Judgement Command HQ
Xai held her paperwork firmly as she presented it, and waited for it to be filed. She was happy when she realized that she could finish her paperwork a few days earlier than planned and join Meilin ahead of schedule. She couldn’t contain her joy when she made the announcement to her, face beaming with joy as she told her the good news. She was now abit more somber but mostly from deep thoughts, still she’d be happy again once she was with Meilin.

The disk she dictated all her reports on for the last few months was finished. Four months of solid work and information on several different missions, all completed. They weren’t incredibly hard, or very difficult to complete, but they were important nevertheless.

One involved a Darkling plot to overthrown the Government of the Shining Star (since in about 65% of the Earths in the omniverse, Hong Kong (Shining Star) was a free and independent nation.)
Another involved a strange form of child porn which involved tapping into the memories of young Normal girls when they wandered the scape while they slept, using what they retrieved (the girls’ memories of bathing, or undressing, or their first sexual experimentation), and selling these underaged “memories” on a memory black market.

Yet another was a frustrated writer’s strange plan to take existing works of fiction and “patent” them in dimensions where the original authors never did these works and take all the credit for them. For example, the guilty would travel to a dimension where J.K. Rowlings never wrote Harry Potter and release the series under the guilty’s own name for profit purposes. But as she left the Command Center, her reports filed and her request for temporary transfer granted, her thoughts were only on one thing. Meilin. “Got your leave?” Xai didn’t need to turn to know who was speaking to her from behind. “Of course I did. I finished my workload for the year and things are quiet for the time being --” (turns) “-- figured I’d take advantage of the slow period and take some time off out of country. Anyway, someone’s waiting for me so we can spend Christmas together and I already sent our presents to each other ahead of me to Nippon.”

“I’m sure she’ll be happy with what you got her -- you OK?” he asked, running a hand over her head flattening out his hair, a thing he usually only does when he’s nervous about something. “Sure I’m up for a talk --” Xai announced, picking up on her male counterpart’s nervousness. “Let’s grab a bite while I wait for the transport I asked for to pick me up for the trip to catch my flight.”

* * * * * *

The older male stared at her, his black Judgement uniform seeming a little tight as he wiggled in his chair abit. His hair was pressed firm against his head, his nervous habit getting the better of him. “Usually I’m the one who can’t think of a word to say, but today your downright silent. I’ll take it that isn’t a good sign of things to come, is it?”
Xai only shrugs in her own defense, a slight smirk on her face as she absentmindedly sips on her drink while she nibbles at her food. “Your not yourself lately. What’s up?”

“What makes you think something’s up?” He reels back abit, as if bitten, then leans forward again motioning her with a come hither look to come forward abit. “Other than the fact that Meilin is usually scolding you about wolfing down your food, only today you don’t seem all that hungry? And the fact that your usually doing most of the talking but today your about as lively as an oil painting? Is that qualifying as a sign that something’s up?”

“I guess---” (Xai sighs as she picks up the pace a little eating wise) “I’m not being like this on purpose--- I just don’t know what to say today. Usually you’re the one with the problems, but today you seem to want to help me with my--- well, with me. It‘s like I‘m the one who needs the help today.”

“Maybe you do. Any problems I can pointlessly muddle through like a half-ass amateur?”

“No, not at all---” (picks up pace) “---and I‘m not just saying that to hide anything.”

“Your trying to dunk a pickle into your soda. Is that normal?” Xai stops herself, looking at her hand, her face turning into a sheepish smiley grin. “---uh boy---”

“Is the wedding off?” he asked tepidly, “No. No it’s not off---” (Xai wolfs down the pickle and sighs) “---it’s still set for April. That’s not the problem--- the bachelorette party is on--- I even got a “Filly” film that’ll make for one helluva interesting tale -- I just can’t stop, you know, remembering.” For a second he didn’t understand, but as he remembers he begins to frown. “You know she doesn’t like it when you do that. It’s painful and don‘t you mean “Stag“ film?”

“It was more painful for her than for me. And I should have---”

“You can’t blame yourself for something that was uncon---”

“I should have known!” (Xai slams her fist down, bringing the chatter to the room to a dead halt) “You saw the signs, she saw the signs, the only one who didn’t see the signs was ME! And for my ignorance in that everyone has the potential for good over evil? Meilin paid the price for my Pollyanna ways!”

“She’s fine. Your fine. Everyone---”

“I’M NOT FUCKING FINE!!” Xai lowers her head suddenly as she realizes she’s shouting, she goes back to drinking her drink and eating quietly. “I don’t feel fine. I feel like shit when---”

“It’s not you---”

“It might as well have been my fault.” Xai repeated, eyes narrowing as she spoke “It’s the first anniversary. The day we get married. She wanted it to be defiant. Say to the world that nothing was going to tear us apart. She’s so strong---”

“Your strong too.”

“I don’t feel strong.” Xai laments, finishing her meal. “Thanks for lunch. I feel better now. I have to go, my transport will be here soon---” as she stands up to leave, he watches her walk towards the door, suddenly he yells out one word, “Liar!”, and the room falls silent. All eyes turn towards her as she stops, and looks back at him. Seconds later, with a defeated sigh, she turns back to the doorway out. “Yeah.” It takes a whole minute for the room to go back to it’s own concerns, leaving him sitting at the table chewing quietly and pondering---

“And I mean filly.” (Xai was back in the room, standing next to him) “Uh--- what’s a filly film?” he asked, to which she leaned down and, “It’s when a young Palominian girl goes through her coming of age ceremony at 20 year cycles old. She’s paired up with her first love and they take a camera (so her family can vicariously live through her moment) and go into the woods to have their first sexual encounter. The film is saved for the bachelor and/or bachelorette party--- probably mostly to embarrass the hell out of the one getting married I suppose. You see--- I sorta had a crush on my female best friend and she did the ceremony with me because it was her time and we borrowed my auntie‘s toys and we wanted to emulate the Goddess Night rituals and it got kinda kinky and---”

“Alright! Alright! I get the point! Did I need that much exposition for a simple question?” (looks at Xai with a severe expression) “And aren’t you late for your transport? Why are you here making me---”

“Oh, sorry. I‘ll--- uh---- go now---” (already out the door as she yells her apologies). It takes him a full minute to recover, requiring another long drink (and a second soda) to calm him down. “Glad I’m on the guest list for the party.”

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, back in Nippon
Sakura, head spinning from the test earlier, stops upon a strange sight. Meilin was sitting beneath a tree, in her hand a glowing disc projecting a holographic image. That image was of herself and the woman Sakura saw in the photo Meilin showed a few days earlier hugging while in a lying position in bed. The taller woman was leaning into Meilin, the bottom of her short--- ?--- the word escaped Sakura’s mind but it was on the tip of her tongue--- well, that part of her face was resting on Meilin’s head and they both looked content in each other’s arms. Meilin, suddenly noticing Sakura, quickly snaps off the image and stashes the device into her bag. “She’s beautiful.” Sakura remarks as she draws near. “She’s Palominian--- right?”

“Yeah--- she’s the greatest.” Meilin whispers, feeling a bit of angst for hiding what was one of their happy moments, almost as if she was ashamed--- she quickly retrieves the small disc and turns it on again, showing it to Sakura. “We took this while on vacation several months ago. Xai bought this new hover camera and we wanted to try it out so we took some intimate photos--- this is---” (closes imager again, putting it back into her bag) “---the only one I can look at in public. The rest are--- well--- adult in nature.”

“I understand.” Sakura smiles, sweatdropping abit as she thinks of all the images Tomoyo took of them that she couldn’t show to anyone either. Quickly recovering, she motioned towards the bag. “Xai’s her name, right?”

“Xai Shar. Her basic family name.”

“Basic?” Sakura asks, siting down next to Meilin (on her invitation as she motions for the brown haired girl to sit next to her) “Palominians have basic and personal names. Xai already confided in me her personal name--- but I’m not supposed to tell anyone. It’s her secret family name.”

“I see.” Sakura nods, fidgeting abit as she notices Meilin was feeling rather awkward about her talking about Xai. “Are you OK? We could change the---”

“No. No. I’m fine.” (Meilin sighs) “She finished her work early so she’s getting transferred today so we can spend time together. I can’t wait to see her. I know it’s only been a few days since we were last--- well, together--- and the holosuite projector is great but--- I miss being with her in a truly physical sense.”
Sakura nods her head, having experienced the same feelings when Tomoyo was on a business trip for her slowly growing Anime company. “It’s hard when the one you love is so far away, even for a little while--- isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Yeah--- that’s it exactly---” Meilin leans back, watching the clouds roll by--- only to notice Sakura staring at her intently. “What?”

“You seem so mature, Meilin. I mean, well I mean that I’m not implying you weren’t mature before! I mean---” (Sakura looked nervous as if she said something wrong) “It’s alright. I guess the first time we met I was abit of a child, becoming so jealous and then taking that jealousy out on you all the time.” (sighs) “But I guess after I met Xai and then--- well, I grew up a lot since then. I’m a changed woman now.”

“Really?“ Sakura said quietly, “I miss the old Meilin.”

“Eh? Why?”

“You were always on my back--- but you were also so very energetic. When you came back I thought it was the old Meilin but--- it’s as if you’ve grown and some of that energy is gone.”

“It happens when---” (stops herself) “When what?” Sakura prodded. For the longest time she didn’t speak, until finally she frowned and tagged Sakura on the shoulder with a slight punch, “Nothing! Don’t get all mushy with me! It’s disgusting!” Sakura smiles, nodding her head. “There’s the spunk I remember.”

“Well don’t get used to it. I like being mature. Just because I don’t ride on your back like SOME people I know, it doesn’t mean I’m not going to be hard on you tonight when we go after Fight! You better be ready Kinomoto, because I don’t want you slacking when we capture Fight!”

“I promise I’ll be ready.” Sakura promised, fists raised in a defensive stance. “Good, Sakura!” (picks up her stuff) “I have to get ready, Xai’s flight is coming soon. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Right---” (watches Meilin walk off) “---bye.” (leans against the tree that Meilin was leaning against earlier, watching the fluffy white clouds lazily roll by in the sky) “What did she mean---”

“Mean by what?”

“ACk!” Sakura nearly jumps out of her skin, jumping forward in shock. “You scared me, Tomo-chan!”

“I’m sorry!” Tomoyo apologies, sitting next to Sakura, “I didn’t mean to scare you. What’s wrong though? You seemed so deep in thought I almost didn’t want to disturb you. (But I know your hungry so I bought lunch).”

“Thank you!” (starts eating as Tomoyo sits patiently nearby, waiting for an answer as she starts to eat her own lunch) “So? What were you so deep in thought about?”

“Meilin.” Sakura reflects, “Does she seem more mature these days?”

Tomoyo smiles, “Growing up tends to do that to you. Even you’ve matured and become more adult-like in the past few years!”

“Me? An adult?” Sakura smirks at the thought, “I don’t feel very mature. Sometimes I feel like I’m not growing very much while your blossoming into womanhood---”

“Your blossoming too.” (Tomoyo whispers as she leans on Sakura’s shoulder) “You don’t know how lucky I am to be able to watch my precious Sakura blossom into womanhood, and be there with her so we can both reach that point of our lives together. It’s something I thought could never happen to a girl like me.”

“I’m glad we could be together--- forever---”

“Forever.”
The two stop, and watch the clouds, letting the moment sink in. As they watch, Tomoyo reaches out and takes one of Sakura’s hands, holding it tight as she wraps her other arm around Sakura’s waist, drawing her close. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world to be in love with you.”

“I’m lucky that we could be so close, and that you love me as well.” Moments pass, and Sakura’s stomach growls. “---”

“Back to eating?” Tomoyo chides gently, passing Sakura her food and playfully feeding her a bite by hand, pushing the morsel into her mouth and savoring her lip’s touch on her fingers. “Have to keep my brave Card Captor’s strength up. Tonight?”

“Let’s get Fight tonight then.” The two go back to eating, occasionally bringing a bite of their food to the other’s mouth to playfully feed each other.

Neko Industrial Park
Formerly the location of King Penguin Park
Nighttime

Nina was fussy and not in a talkative mood with Sakura, that is until she saw Sakura’s new costume. “Don‘t tell me, let me guess… santa’s naughty elf came early this year.” Nina whispered, suppressing the urge to laugh.
Sakura was decked in fur from head to foot, mostly. She wore a red outfit with white trim, a short red skirt with white fur frills, sleeveless top (again with the same white fur frills on her collar and so forth, long red gloves and hip hugging boots, and to top it off she wore a little red santa cap. “Santa’s naughty elves’ going to have it out? Sounds like a que‘ kinky Spice Channel pay-per-view event if you ask me.” Keiko remarking, looking Sakura up and down as she did. Sakura was blushing quite visibly, but Tomoyo was pleased with her new design. “I decided since Fight was going with a Christmas theme this year I’d match it with a Christmas theme for Sakura-chan.

“Tomo-chan.” Sakura sweatdropped, feeling a little awkward in her costume. “Well I for one am pleased with how it turned out.” Tomoyo announced happily, to which Nina chipped in “Me too, Tomoyo, me too!” (walks over to Sakura gloating) “She’s just the CWUTIEIEST WITTLE WHELF!!” (Nina was now thoroughly enjoying herself at Sakura’s expense!) “I didn’t know Fight could change her appearance.” Tina thought out loud. “Why the sudden change of clothes, and why a Christmas motif?”

“I dunno.” (Kero) “Fight never changed her clothes for anything or anyone, and thank god her clothes was magically maintained and cleaned between changes from card to human or she’d had been impossible to be around! She’s kinda stuck on her old clothes so I can’t figure out why she changed -- clothes that is.”

“Maybe she’s finally getting into the holiday spirit?” Sakura put out, tugging abit on her skirt, to which Kero scoffed. “Nah. Fight’s the kind of girl who’d give Scrooge AND all the Ghosts of Christmas past, present AND future nightmares. She’s not into any holidays, just fighting and beating up people to test herself often, and that kinda makes her a bit of a killjoy during holidays like Christmas. Still, why the change…”
Suddenly Sakura snaps her head about, her attention focused. “I sense something nearby, something close that is approaching in this direction.”

“Is it Fight?” Tomoyo asked, her camera trained on Sakura as she raised her staff and closed her eyes to focus, “Feels like it. But I have to get closer…” Sakura whispered, her attention focused on seeking out the source of her feelings, until she quickly snaps her arm out and quietly says “This way!”
Before anyone can react she’s already in motion, moving fast with Tomoyo behind her followed by the others. “Wait up!” Nina gasped, lagging behind as everyone chased after Sakura, “It’s too close to Christmas for me to run like this! Shopping takes it out of me every year and my stamina’s screwed!”

As they all round the corner they run right into Sakura -- staring awkwardly as a young couple walking in the park. The female, who had a passing resemblance to Fight, wore a long overcoat to keep warm as she cuddled next to her young man. She looked at Sakura strangely, and said “W-wh-what’s wrong? Why are you staring at m-me?”

After a quick apology, Sakura ran on with the others following. “False alarm!” Sakura gasped, as she suddenly comes to a dead halt--- “I don’t get it. I feel Fight now -- but the feeling is behind us now.”

“Where that young couple is?” Tomoyo asked, pulling Sakura up so she could lean on Tomoyo to catch her breath. “It wasn’t them though, was it?”

“I don’t know.” Sakura rasped, catching her breath. “Can’t be.” Kero announced, “Fight is never the talkative type, and she’s about as warm and cuddly as a sharp object, while that young woman seemed very warm to that guy. Can’t imagine Fight being that cuddly to anyone.”

“Why not?” Eve asks with a questioning glance towards Kero, “She could fall in love.”

“She’s too obsessed with fighting to do anything of the sort.” Kero countered, “She can’t enjoy the holidays, she’s a dreadful cloud over everyone else’s enjoyment, and she’s not the most sociable card I ever spent time with. She’s just a total killjoy, I don’t see how that loving young woman could be our Fight.”

Nina looked about confused, “Anyway, is someone going to magically appear behind us or is this just a false alarm?”

“Nope. It‘s not a false alarm.”
Everyone turns, coming face to face with Rebecca. “I don’t know if this is a good thing or not, but I don’t think Meilin’s coming.”

“But she came last time when Fight was around,” Sakura assured her, “Maybe she went to New King Penguin Park?” Sakura pondered, to which Rebecca only shook her head. “Nope. I think she’d rather be with her pony-girl than here.”

“Or we could have just stopped at the hotel and hurried over.”
The new voice was deeper, stronger. As they all turned to the new voice they saw Meilin, walking side by side with a tall Palominian woman (dressed in the black uniform of the Judgements) come towards them. Meilin wore black also, but it was adorned with little things that reminded Sakura so much of Meilin’s old costume. Nina sighed, ‘Thank god she changed clothes! If her costume was as kinky as the Anime made it look she’d be an embarrassment to work with -- walking panty shot all the way.’

Xai turns her attention squarely on Sakura, “Sakura, isn’t it?“ (she nods her head) “Is she here? Fight, I mean.”

Sakura shook her head in the negative. “I sensed something before, but it wasn’t her.”

“Let me be the judge of that.” Xai turns, raises her head, and sniffs the air abit. As she paces in a tight circle she continues to sniff the air as if looking for a scent. “Nice show there, Meilin. I thought you were marrying a pony, not a dog…” (Xai turns and glares at Rebecca, silencing her) “It’s a simple Palominian trait. I have a very good sense of smell, even to an extent into the mystical range of smells.”

“Really? Can you smell Fight’s scent?” (Kerberos) “She doesn’t bathe too often so I figure she must have some scent!”

“I mean her power. It gives off an electrical scent. The kind you smell when the air‘s filled with static electricity.” Xai shakes her head. “More like there’s two scents though in this case, one human scent covering over the electrical energy -- did you happen to see any coup --?” (they were already running, leaving the two behind) “Hey!”

“Don’t run away without us! Hey!!” (Meilin frowns, stomping her foot) “I hate it when she does that!” Quickly she goes into a dead sprint, with Xai close behind. “She’s always running off and not thinking things through! Hard headed! I thought she grew out of it!”

“Maybe she needs more time!” Xai remarked, her pace steady and neck to neck with Meilin’s.

* * * * * *

Sakura reached Fight first, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. The male she was with was shocked, but tried to get between the two. Sakura, however, still charged from the run, swung her arm out expecting an attack from Fight. Big mistake. Her staff strikes the male in the head knocking him over.
For long seconds nothing, both stand there in shock. Everything happened so fast that neither had a chance to recover from the quickness of the confrontation. Fight shakes suddenly, and from her twisting lips her voice brings forth a horrified shriek.

Quickly Sakura braces herself, steadying herself for an attack -- that doesn’t happen. Fight drops to her knees, scooping him into her arms crying. As Nina & Tina check on him… (Nina - Are you sure?, Tina - I have sufficent medical knowledge to apply first aid… I used to be a naughty nurse once.)
Fight kneels there with him in her arms shivering and crying. “I’m sorry!!” Sakura blurts out in a panic, quickly kneeling down, “I’m sorry! I didn’t---” Fight wouldn’t stop shaking, she didn’t want to look at Sakura though -- she only wanted her to go away. “Fight, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to --”

Fight gently puts him into Tina’s care (Nina - How come you get to take care of him?!), looking at Sakura, her eyes teary as she stands. Her fists clench and unclench, her breath ragged, her stance strong but waivering. She closes her eyes and raises her head as if looking into the night sky -- then she speaks.

* * * * * *

All she ever knew was how to fight.
Violence was an artform to her.
She could speak, but never wanted to. She only wanted to fight.
One night she ran into someone she couldn’t beat--- and he wasn’t going to let her off with only a warning. He and a couple of his friends were her targets. They played dirty and brought her down hard, using devices that shot out wire that clipped into her, and sent thousands of volts of electricity through her body. She was too numb to feel anything, but not numb enough in her senses to know when they dragged her into the brush and raped her. That’s when he came.

He was jogging and came to her rescue. She watched, while one of her captors held her nude body, as he took a harsh beating and was dropped next to her to watch. She couldn’t bear to look, but she had to -- and he was still only concerned for her. He fought for her. Not for the love of fighting, or the desire to find worthy opponents to beat -- but he wanted to come to her aid. Be her -- what was it? Knight in shining armor? She thought the notion of such a thing was an absurd thing. Whenever Kero and the others would watch a story about brave male knights saving hapless females thanks to the Toon card’s shows, she would storm off in a huff. The idea of women needing me to save them was absurd. She didn’t need anyone -- until then.

When she saw how much he suffered for her, and still only cared about her safety -- she knew she found something better than fighting --

* * * * * *

“I can help!”
Sakura brings Fight’s attention back to the real world, holding out her staff. “I’m glad you found someone to be happy with. I don’t want you to lose that. Here. Let me help you.” Sakura raises the staff upwards, holding it tight. “Clow Card give your power unto me -- and be --” A flash of light obscures Sakura’s vision and then nothing. The impact slams into her hard, sending her flying across the grass to land under a tree, blood flowing from her nose. “SAKURA!!!” Tomoyo screams, quickly rushing over to where she laid, picking her up gingerly in her arms. As she turns to stare as Fight, the two notice she was the one who landed the blow. Fight, teeth clenched, lowered her hand, slightly bloodied by the impact, and frowns. She wasn’t done with her story yet.

* * * * * *

As they turned her over on her back, holding her down, they turned her head towards her savior. So she could watch as one of her assailants flipped him over, and violated him. He was the first one to rape her, so she couldn’t believe what he was doing -- let alone how much sadistic pleasure he took in hitting him and -- goddess, it shook Fight to the core of her being. She’s done a great many things to her opponents, but she’s never been so -- evil to them when they were down. This, this affront was unforgivable.
What they did to her she could understand. They were only males, that she could grasp (them doing it to her) but to him? The thought disgusted her.

In front of her shocked, disbelieving eyes she watched this -- and it sank into her mind. They were nothing more than animals. Horrid, vicious animals that walked upright like men. And that sickened her and made her very very angry. She wanted to do horrible things to them. Things only she could do. It took her time to heal from her wounds, but she could crawl to him -- take him home -- and they would heal together -- but when she healed she came back for them -- the first one she found assaulting a young girl the same age as Mistress Sakura when she was first sealed by her.

Her rage boiled over, and Fight did more than “fight” him -- she obliterated him. How different, she once mused, than how she treated her savior. Her hands, which could break bone and flesh, were gentle as the caressing touch of a light breeze against her lover’s body -- her limbs which could deliver steel hard blows, now soothed and comforted. Her body which could withstand the most concentrated attacks, melted like butter to his touch as she made love to him -- and each confirming to the other that they were still whole entities, if not both human than at least whole enough to survive the worst man can do and come out intact, or close to that. But the man beneath her was not her lover.

She saved her gentlest smiles, comforting touch, and her love for him. This thing beneath her, this animal -- he meant nothing to her. Her rage and anger made her murderous in her rage, and she utterly destroyed him to the point of it being near barbarous what she did to him. But she wasn’t done. She wanted them all -- and she nearly had them -- except for the man who first raped her -- then violated the man she calls her darling beloved.
She wanted to kill him. Beat him. For her lover. For herself. For everyone who suffered because of him. And for that she needed her power -- and wasn’t going to give it up easily, not even to her former mistress.

* * * * * *

Fight steps back slowly watching for any movements, until she reached him, and picked him up. Before anyone could move she was off, running like crazy to get away. But right now everyone was more focused on Sakura than Fight -- but still -- as Tomoyo tended to Sakura, tears flowing down her face as she fussed and cared for her beloved? Well, when they left that night to capture Fight they all knew that it wasn’t going to be easy -- the situation had only gotten a lot more complicated. And they didn’t like that one bit.

CardCaptor Sakura Remastered III Episode 3 (10)

Homeroom went smooth, it was afterwards during Keiko’s first period “study hall” which wasn’t going to well. “Why aren’t you teaching anything?” (Meilin)

Keiko stared dully at Meilin, “Don’t want to.”

Meilin - “Is this a tactic so people---”

Keiko - “Don’t want to.”

Meilin - “Are you holding back your deepest---”

Keiko - “What part of “Don’t want to.” do you not understand. I. Don‘t. Want. To.”

Meilin - “Are you feeling OK?”

Keiko - “Don’t want to.”

“That’s one too many “Don’t want to”’s dear.” (Rebecca)

Keiko - “No, it’s not. I DON’T WANT TO FEEL OK! There! Happy?” (to accentuate
her point, Keiko rolls over in her chair to stare listlessly in the opposite direction of Meilin.)

“Speaking of things that don‘t want to be done, any progress on the “getting Nina beat up so she and Tina get over Nina’s moody blues period plot?” Rebecca asked.

Keiko doesn’t even bother giving the voicer of the question a look. “It’s your stupid plan, you go get the crap kicked out of you by Fight to get Nina beat up so she can stop moping over the absent Eliza. Dummy.”

“Bitch. You were excited about it yesterday.” (Rebecca)

“I was not. I was not. And, if I didn’t say this enough It. Was Not.” (turns to look back at Meilin & Rena) “It’s your dumb idea, you don’t need me to hold your hand.”

“What about---” (Rebecca stops, notices that Tomoyo/Sakura were nearly sitting on top of each other studying) “---never mind.”

Meilin huffs her breath, “I’ll do it then! I got beat up by Fight once and I want a rematch!”
Keiko turns, blinks a few times, then turns back. “Xai’s going to be pissed if I let her future bride get the stupid kicked out of her--- again. So I guess I’m in.” (stops) “By the way, how is Xai anyway? Is she all maniac depressed about being apart from you for so long?”

Meilin grows silent, turning back to her studies without giving an answer.

Her thoughts wander---

* * * * * *

That morning.

The hotel room was very nice.

Having an expense account that was bottomless helped a lot. She never worried about money anymore, she had other things to worry about. Mostly Xai’s bruised feelings.

The room came with three meals a day (good ones though she ate lunch in school which the hotel supplied for her as well), a large bed, nice bathroom, a huge closet, and best of all--- a full room setting holosystem which allowed her to use the entire room as one huge
holochamber. Usually reserved for couples or guests with wild sex fantasies, it’s sometimes also used by business saavy people, Judgements and Guardians while out of their own country of origin to keep in touch with loved ones (it’s like never leaving the loved one behind--- if you had a personal holochamber room in your house which was becoming a fad since the technology became easier to install and purchase in the late 90’s).

Xai was gracious, and as good a lover as always, but she was distracted when Meilin woke up.
She sat on the edge of the bed, listlessly kicking her strange shaped feet, still naked her strong muscular form rippled abit as she sat there staring at her four fingered hands, and lamenting the same thing she laments on and off again.

Meilin didn’t need to say anything, she’s done a lot of growing up since she was younger. She simply curls up next to Xai and lets her speak on her own good time. Seconds later---

“I guess it’s an acquired taste.” she whispers quietly. “I heard humans sometimes have a passion for--- well--- people like me because they have some sort of inner desire for--- uh--- what is word--- beastie-ality? Something like that---” (Meilin edges closer, drawing
Xin’s head onto her shoulder) “---I heard stories about families ostracizing their children for marrying--- outside their species--- bad stories--- you don’t want me do you? We could always just stay---” (Meilin firmly places her fingers on Xai’s lips to shush her) “I’m too
stubborn to listen to what others want. Remember?”

“I do---” (Xai goes back to leaning on Meilin for support) “---you definitely are not the arrogant little girl I received as a pupil those years ago. The years have matured you, made you better--- stronger--- while it made me weaker--- uncertain--- old---” (before Meilin could stop her she continued) “---I’m old, Meilin. I have the body of a 20-ish woman but I feel inside my age. You shouldn’t marry an old mare like me--- it‘s not right---”

“Your only 214.”

At that Xai laughs, rubbing her short snout against Meilin’s shoulder. “In Palominian terms it still means I’m 42 human years old---” (closes eyes for a second) “---does that make me a dirty old---” (once again Meilin gently shushes her with her fingers on Xai’s lips) “---I’m old,
Meilin, I can’t help being what I am! A dirty spent up old mare jumping a girl’s bones that’s barely half her age just so she feels young again! I have stamina and energy, but that’s nothing compared to a mare 100 years younger than me. I feel so---”

Xai shakes her head to avoid Meilin’s fingers, pulling away. “NO! Look at me! I’m scarred emotionally from years of duty and--- other things, I’m recovering from an addiction to pain killers and it’s only thanks to you I crawled out of that pit, and hell I can’t even reproduce anymore because I screwed that up when I was your age and a booze swilling whore! I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!!” (Meilin only reaches out and pulls her back in, knowing Xai’s resistance was about wasted away and she would go back to resting her head on Meilin’s shoulder because they couldn’t stop being with each other, still that didn‘t stop a few errant tears from rolling down Xai‘s face) “---why didn’t we meet when I was younger? It could have been so different---”

“I’m here now.”

She always says that. And it always works. Xai smiles abit, and pulls Meilin back onto the bed kissing her passionately. Sometimes Xai can be the happiest woman on the planet.
Sometimes she can come apart as if she was worthless, if only to herself.
But she never let Meilin down once in all the years they’ve been together.
And Meilin? She never regretted the day she bent down on one knee, and proposed marriage to her mentor. The happiest day of her life. She didn’t think much of him anymore after that--- she had Xai, that was enough for her.

“Xai’s fine.” Meilin finally whispered, her eyes focused on her work.
Keiko let the topic drop and didn’t mention it again.

* * * * * *

Math work was making Sakura’s head spin, so Tomoyo was helping her crunch the numbers.
As they went through the equations and the statistics, they occasionally exchanged touches and brief smiles as they worked. “Got it now, Sakura?”

“I think,” (blushes) “But I guess I won’t know until the test!”

“It’ll be too late by then if your waiting for a mathematical miracle.” Tomoyo chides her, running a finger along the back of Sakura’s hand. “How’s the Christmas shopping going with you, by the way, making any progress?”

“I’m almost done. Just need a few more things to buy for everyone. How is your shopping?”

“Done. I might pick up a few extra odds and ends before Christmas but I’m done already.”

Sakura sweatdrops, but Tomoyo picks up on it right away and smiles, “It’s alright. I’m just a quicker shopper than you. You’ll find the right gifts in time, I know you will.”

“Thanks.” (sighs) “I’m still confused though---”

“About Christmas--- or about Nina?”

“Both. But Nina mostly---” (rests head against Tomoyo’s shoulder) “---why are they having problems? Eliza’s been gone for a few years now… but she hasn’t gotten over it yet.“

“I can emphasis. If you suddenly left me I would be emotionally devastated for a long long time, so I can completely understand how Nina feels when this time of year rolls around for her. Maybe Nina‘s just not ready to surrender her feelings about Eliza yet. And you remember what Keiko said--- Nina will get over it soon enough with a little help from us.“

“Maybe, but I wish they’d find a way…”

“We haven’t found a way yet.”

At that Sakura stops even pretending to work, turning to Tomoyo suddenly, “Your not---”

“No. I just mean one day we’d want our special day to come--- not yet, but one day.”

At that Sakura smiles again, which only widens as Tomoyo gently cups one of her cheeks with her hand, “One of these days, Sakura-chan, one of these days---”

“I’m glad.”

Tomoyo smiles. “What’s that equation answer again?”

Sakura nearly faints into her book. “---Tomo-chan---”

“Test is tomorrow, Sakura-chan, have to be ready---” (leans over and kisses her forehead) “We’ll have all Christmas vacation to plan our happily ever after--- and longer still to plan that special day.”

Sakura nods once, and goes back to her studies, smiling a bit even when the answers eluded her. At least when it came to her and Tomoyo, the answers were clear and nothing eluded her--- if only this mathwork was as easy as their love for each other. Sigh.

* * * * * *

PE wasn’t going very well either.
“Come on!” Meilin goaded, pounding her chest with an open hand, “Let’s go Sensei! I’m ready!”

“----” Keiko just stared, not even certain how this came up, “But it’s gymnastics---”

“Let’s fight! I need the practice and you need to stop moping about!”

“I’m not moping!” Keiko retorted.

Meilin - “Come on! Let’s go! Come on! I’m ready! I’m ready!”

Rebecca sighs as she leans against the wall, watching Meilin/Keiko, to her side she senses somebody. “Hey, Jack.”

Jack, looking abit confused, pointed over at the two. “What’s with those two?”

“What?” (Rebecca turns to look) “You mean Keiko and “Spongebob” who won’t stop yelling “I’m ready! I’m ready!”?”

“---uh--- yeah.” (Jack)

“Meilin’s got a bug up her panties and she’s trying to goad Keiko into a fight.”

Jack - “Where’s Sakura & Tomoyo?”

Rebecca - “Oh, them? Well---”

* * * * * *

The room didn’t want to stop spinning.
“You OK, Tomoyo?!? You over rotated on the cartwheel! You OK? Tomo---” (Tomoyo raises two shaky fingers to Sakura’s lips, smiling as the room spun) “Hold me.”
Sakura nods, lying down on the bed to take her dark haired love into her arms, holding her tight--- Tomoyo smiles, resting her head against Sakura’s shoulders, her thoughts only on one thing. “So this is what the inside of a washing machine feels like.”

“She didn’t think that.”

* * * * * *

Rebecca huffs her breath.
“She COULD be thinking it! I just know they’re cuddling by now, that’s for sure! (That was a kind of a nasty spill she took!) And Sakura? She practically threw a hissy fit because of it! I mean, damn, I never seen someone explode like that--- well, except for Keiko.”

“Alright already!” Keiko finally snapped, her arms coming up defensively as she takes a few steps back from Meilin. “Alright, spunk girl, give it to me.”

Without waiting for another word, Meilin lashes out, charging forward fists flying, only for her blows to be batted away by Keiko without her even putting much effort into it.

“She’s doing it again.” Rebecca sighs as she (and the rest of the class) watches the fight unfold. “She’s doing what?”

“Lashing out too much. Keiko’s going to do the same thing Fight did and wear her down.”

“Rope-a-dope?”

“Yeah. Watch---”

Meilin moves forward, lashing out with fists and feet, rotating her moves to keep Keiko thinking, but all Keiko does is continue to batter away each strike without even noticing. But just as quickly as her defenses went up, Keiko lashes out. As Meilin moves in to take a
strong swing, Keiko falls back, reaching out quickly to grab Meilin’s exposed arm as she swings and misses, yanking the girl in and slamming her leg into Meilin’s side bringing her down. Her other leg whips around quickly, slamming into Meilin’s backside dropping her face
first into the flooring, stunned and injured.

“Yeah. That was fun.” Keiko sighs, shaking off the dust and walking away.

As the others gather around her, she pulls herself to her feet and shakes off the other students, “I’m fine! I’m FINE!! Get away from me!!” (a thin trickle of blood seeps out of her nose, another from her mouth where she bit her own lip in shock) “Damn it---” (with a final
huff of anger, Meilin storms out of PE wiping the blood from her face, eyes blazing.)

“Guess the little girl isn’t as good as she thinks.” Rebecca remarks, motioning for the teacher to get the class back under control. As she does, Jack turns towards the exit where Keiko & Meilin walked out, “Guess not.”

To Be Continued

Meilin was still pouting that night, still dressed in her schoolgirl uniform as Xai set out their dinner. The food each was eating was real (prepared using a replicator), but the food the holo-version of the other was eating was fake. Only the food in front of the real Meilin/Xai where they were (Nippon or the Shining Star) was real, and vice versa (Xai’s food was real but Meilin’s was fake from her viewpoint).

Xai however was more concerned about Meilin than the details of dinner. She wanted to check Meilin over again, she felt so inadequate from the distance they were apart. Meilin, noticing Xai’s worried expression, managed a meek smile, reaching over from her place near
Xai to touch her hand.

The touch felt warm to her as if Meilin was there in that room and not a holograph of the real thing which was miles away. But, in a sense at least, it was Meilin touching her hand. Since the holo chamber was sending realtime info, it meant as she touched Xai’s hand, her
holographic counterpart reaching out touched the real Meilin’s hand through the long distance away. It was as if they were still close despite the distance.

“I’m sorry---” she whispers.

“Why?”

“I wish I could have been there for you.”

“You‘ll be here once the paperwork is done. Then we can spend Christmas and a lot of time here catching Clow cards together -- darling.” (reaches up to touch Xai’s cheek, her fingers rubbing the woman’s small snout and strong face) “Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are in candle light?“

“---more times than I deserve to hear that--- thank you--- beloved--- I---”
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, from Meilin’s side of the room.
‘I told the front desk not to let anyone up to my room.’ Meilin thought to herself in a slight annoyance as she stood up, “Be right back, darling.” (‘Who could it be?’ Meilin groused to herself in her thoughts as she walked over to the door.)

As Meilin opens the door she finds herself face to face with the Judgement liaison of Nippon, the energetic and rather chipper fellow bursts into the room, his face just beaming with excitement. “I got a bead on that item you requested! It took awhile but I should have one for you by tomorrow, here’s the storage broach you wanted---” (hands off a crystal broach in the shape of a dragon) “---same storage capacity as a standard crystal tesseract, so you can store quite abit in here and it’s easy to hide as well. Your first report is expected
in a week so please make sure to drop off your paperwork as soon as you can.” (regards Xai, blushes) “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company. I’ll speak---”

“It’s alright, you can speak freely. She‘s my mentor Xai Shar, the---”

“Sorry--- didn‘t mean to interrupt.” (looks at Xai, bowing to her) “I didn’t know you had company.” (turns to leave, again pointing at the broach) “It’s impervious to a great many things so it won‘t break easily, but keep a good hand on it nevertheless. Well, I’ll have a
file on what card captures have been reported by Lt. Kotobuki to date, and be sure to look it over before you start assisting with the captures. I also heard there’s a card in the industrial park where King Penguin Park used to be? I’ll have a file for that area ready for
you also by tomorrow.” (steps backwards towards the door) “---I’ll be on my way.”

As he opens the door one of hotel’s security is already there. “I’m sorry, 11th Judgement! He said you were waiting---”

“That’s OK. He was just leaving.”

“That’s right. I’ll be going. And don’t worry, I didn’t see a thing.”

“Huh?”

“Your companion I mean.”

“Yes---” Meilin smiles, blushing, “---well, it’s because---”

“I know how you feel.” (he whispers to her) “I always wanted to bone a pony girl myself.”

Meilin face faults, her teeth clenching together as she nearly shoves him out the door. “Never say that to me again…“ she hisses, eyes narrowing, “Or so help me I’ll KILL you!“ (as the security guard hustles the shocked man the the elevator, Meilin takes a few
seconds to calm down, her anger still raging after what he said to her) “What did he say?”

She quickly shuts the door, her face glowing abit red as she hastily heads back to the table, her voice shaking a little as she speaks, “N--n-nothing. Nothing at all. Let’s eat---”

“He said something bad didn’t he?”

“Don’t be silly.” (smiles as she returns to the table) “He just surprised me, that’s all.”

“I‘m old but I‘m not that old yet, precious--- I know what he said---”

“Eat your dinner, darling, it’s getting cold.” Meilin countered.

Xai Shar - “Well I guess I should be tickled pink that I’m a pony girl in his eyes. At least he can’t tell an old---”
Meilin slams a hand down on the table shocking Xai suddenly, “Stop it! Just--- stop it---” (a few tears flow down her cheek) “I don’t care how fucking old you are--- I don’t care if we’re
different! I just want to love you--- why can’t anyone understand that? Why can’t you understand that?! I don’t care if your old, or worn out, or another species! I don’t give a damn about any of that! I-Love-You. I---” (Xai moves forward, taking the shivering girl into
her arms, holding her tight as she cries, her body shaking with each pained sob) “I’m sorry--- I’m sorry--- I didn’t mean---” Xai closes her eyes, her own teeth clenched. “To hell with it.” With great flair she pulls Meilin into her arms, holding the young woman in her strong
grip, “Tonight I’m going to love you like a young philly and I’m not going to give a damn anymore how old I am! I’m going to be your wild young pony girl and love you forever and nothing’s going to stop me! Nothing!”

“Maybe dinner?” Meilin meekly asks, her stomach grumbling suddenly.

Xai turns red. “Oh--- yeah---” (she quickly tosses Meilin into the bed and grabs the trays) “Dinner in bed and a movie on pay-per-view!! (Sometime tame for the meal and something naughty later!)”

“Now that’s the frisky lover I know and care about---” (suddenly her voice grows weak) “You know what? He never did this for me.”

“Huh?”

“Li. We never had this kind of love---” (cuddles closer to Xai) “---who cares! I have you and your all that matters to me! That and our love and---” (stomach growls) “---uh---”

“Dinner?”

“Dinner.” (blushes) “Let’s eat.”

* * * * * *

Sakura sighs contently, her muscles relaxing as Tomoyo rubs into her shoulders and back hard, relaxing her muscles and nerves. She was just too tense from studying so Tomoyo wanted to do something to help her unwind from the stress. Of course she remembers the first time she tried this--- she was all sensitive and yelping, and Tomoyo had a hard
time sitting on Sakura’s bottom section because she kept wiggling under Tomoyo’s hands and her massaging. In the end they opted for a warm bath instead of a massage to unwind that first time, but later she got into it. One massage at a time.

“Are we going to catch Fight tomorrow?”

“Your math test is tomorrow, Sakura-chan, I just want you to be relaxed--- your well being means so much to me.”

“Thank you---” (sighs) “---I hope you like what I got you for Christmas.”

“I know I will.” (stops her work, flipping Sakura over onto her back) “I was hesitant to ask, but did you do any shopping for our guests?”

“Yeah. Tina helped me with Nina’s gift and vice versa.”

“I had the same help---” (rolls over to lie down next to Sakura) “---Nina is still a little moody over her feelings but when she and Tina’s together it’s as if Eliza never existed to her. I know it seems a bit harsh to say, but in this case maybe it’s for the best.“

Sakura turns suddenly, eyes wide, “About -- I mean about… I…”

“Oh, Sakura-chan---” (rolls to her side and stares into Sakura’s eyes) “---don’t be so pouty! We’ll have our day, one day. One day we’ll marry and it’ll be a special day we’ll never forget.”

“Yeah.“ Sakura nods in agreement, “I see.”

The two roll back onto their backs, pondering. Then Tomoyo laughs, causing Sakura to sweat drop, “What’s wrong?”

“We’re so worried about their love! We should let them find their way themselves, remember? They’ll find their happily ever after -- we did, didn‘t we Sakura?”

“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

“Guess?!“ Tomoyo mock growls, “You mean you know!“ (playfully whacks Sakura with one of the pillows) “Besides which, right now the only love I should be thinking of us yours---”

“---Tomo-chan---”

“Let’s go get something to eat!”

“---” (sweatdrops) “---Tomo-chan!”

Tomoyo pulls Sakura out of bed without another word, bumping heads with her gently to make her smile again, drawing her out. “I’ll make your favorite treat if you’re a good girl.”

Sakura nods her head and allows herself to be led out.

In the hallway they run into Umi, in her pajamas, holding a glass of water.

“Thirsty?” Tomoyo asks as she and Sakura stop to let Umi pass.

“Had water in the kitchen. It’s for the bed.”

“You mean Gaia?”

“The bed.”

Seconds later---

Gaia - “---?---” (feels something wet splash the bed covering)

Umi - “Don’t you ever water the bed? It‘s always so thirsty!”

“Water the---?” (looks down at the moss covering and blinks) “---it’s thirsty?”

“You are so clueless sometimes.“ Umi growls, “It draws enough moisture out of me so it must be thirsty.” (draws the sheets down and crawls into bed) “And maybe if you’re a good little girl I’ll give you a tall drink of me to sate your palette before bed--- want to draw a little moisture yourself?”

“I’m thirsty?”

“Just hurry and take off your clothes, Gaia, right now.”

“Oh. Ok.”

To Be Continued

CardCaptor Sakura Remastered III Episode 2 (10)

Four more days before the Christmas break begins.

“STOP SAYING IT!!”

Nina looks about in a huff, her fist clenched and her teeth grinding together.

“Say what?” Sakura, in her school uniform (this happened on the way to school) asked, her face filled with genuine curiosity. Tomoyo was off to one side, silent, simply content to let Nina fume as she recorded the entire thing for posterity’s sake.

“You know what I mean! The minute it latched onto my card case you said it! It’s been moving everytime you say it! Everytime the word comes out of your mouth it moves! Doesn’t that give you the slightest hint---” (Nina stops, a shiver coming down her spine as if something
was close---) “---don’t---”

“The Move ca---” (it vanishes again)

“I SAID NOT TO SAY IT!!!” (Nina stomps down hard and storms off in a huff) “I GIVE UP! YOU CAPTURE THE DAMN THING AND GET ME MY CARDS BACK!!”

“But it’s almost time for school!”

“And whose fault is it someone keeps yelling “Move”! “Move!” “Mo---”” (pok) (Nina, in her haste, runs right into Move, stunning herself temporarily as she walks face first into her own card case and knocking Move off it’s stride, sending it warbling through the air as
Nina tries to recover. Sakura, with Tomoyo close behind, is on it before it can recover though. “Clow Card, return to your power confined, MOVE CARD!!” (it’s quickly captured, Nina’s card case falling into Tina’s open hand as the card is sealed) “Here--- uh--- Nina? That looks painful---” (pries Nina’s hands from her face) “Should I service you now?”

“Well we have to go! Bye, Nina!”

“---wait!! I---” (Nina huffs and pouts) “---I hate them.”

* * * * * *

“Please stop, Nina, if you don’t stop moving I can’t fix this.“

“It hurts, alright? I--- ouch!! Tina!!”

“Sorry, my bad.” she apologies, trying to get Nina’s head to stop bobbing about as she tries to fix the damage. The card case hit her at an odd angle and gave her a gash on her face, a small cut but it hurt all the same to Nina. “There, it’ll take a few seconds and it’ll be good as
100% new.”

“Sorry.” Nina apologied, “I can’t help it! Ouch!”

The two were sitting in the dining area of the underground monitoring base beneath Sakura’s school, and Nina wasn’t in a good mood right now. “I can’t believe she ditched on us!”

Tina - “Didn’t you want to ditch her in the first place? That’s what you said this morning.“

“Late, schmate! She made it on time and class is only now just starting!” (Nina wiggles her head abit as Tina finishes the job) “Still stings a little.”

“It’ll take awhile for it to go away.” (kisses the injury) “If you wish I’ll service you right now, anything to make you smile again mistress.“ (Nina reaches up and traces a pattern on Tina’s face) “Just being with you makes me smile, silly.”

“Nina?” (the commsystem)

“Argh--- what is it?”

“You better get in here. Something’s up in Sakura’s class.”

The two exchange glances before heading out the door.

* * * * * *

The times. They were achanging.
Since the original telling of this episode things had changed between Nina and Eliza.
They have not been an item for a few years now.
As of Remastered III, this new retelling, Eliza has been replaced by the new girl in Nina’s life… Tina, her sexdroid female lover.

But this is Sakura’s classroom, as events are unfolding.
“Maybe we should plan our Christmas shopping during Keiko’s lame period.” Rebecca sighs.

“It’s NOT a lame period! I just don’t have anything to teach---”

“Hence why it’s the lame period---” (?) “---what’s Mr. Terada writing?”

“Class? May I have your attention---?” (waits for a few seconds before speaking again) “I have an announcement to make. A student some of you might remember from a few years ago is transferring back to our class and I want you all to make her feel welcome.”

“Student?” Sakura whispers, confused. “Who could be transferring here at this time of year?”

“Kind of late for a transfer student---” Tomoyo whispers back.

“Come on in, Meilin---”

Keiko nearly falls out of her seat.

Meilin passes everyone and walks right to the back.

“Meilin!” (Sakura jumps out of her seat) “It’s good to see you again! I---” (Meilin walks right past her and to Keiko) “Sempai! I missed you!!” (grabs Keiko and hugs her to her disbelief) “…what the…?”

Meilin - “Sempai? Your blushing! Are you embarrassed? Is she bothering you?”
Meilin’s voice suddenly dims as her eyes change their direction, glaring directly at Rebecca.
Rebecca looks over at the two in surprise, “Never thought she was the type---”

* * * * * *

Keiko’s free period
Keiko, obviously, wasn’t in a good mood.
“What are you DOING?!?” she demanded, trying to push Meilin away as she did.

“I came here to help you catch the Clow cards!” she announced, without missing a beat.

“I don’t remember ASKING for assistance!” (Keiko sighs heavily as she shifts about in her chair) “And besides which you can’t---”

Meilin - “Can’t what?”

“Help me catch something even I can’t catch!” Keiko hisses beneath her breath, her face scrunching up as she talks, “Don’t make me be so damn obvious to you!”

Meilin - “You need the help, and I felt a visit wasn’t out of the question especially---”

“Don’t you have duties back in the Shining Star?” Keiko irritably told Meilin, “Why aren’t you tending to your duties? Get off my back and go home!”

Meilin - “It’s time. Remember? You promised---”

Keiko‘s eyes widen abit, “Oh no! No, no, no! Not getting me hooked into that! No way!”

Meanwhile, over at another part of the class---

“What are those two carrying on about? They’ve been up there at the front rattling on in whispers for the past two minutes!” Rebecca remarks, watching the two talk. “You’d think she’d actually like one of her mistresses showing up.”

“Mistress?” (Sakura asked, confused)

“She’s making that up.” (Nina, who showed up after Keiko’s class started) “Keiko’s not the type to keep a mistress--- Eve would kill her if she did.”

“Well they’re going on about something! Tomoyo! Don’t you think---“ (looks at Tomoyo who only has eyes for Sakura and vice versa) “---never mind. Look, Keiko nearly slashed one of the students for getting to close to them, remember? She’s awfully wound up about
something and it isn’t just that her prize “pupil” (heaven forbid she actually has a prize anything, let alone a pupil) has shown up at the least appropriate moment to hassle her--- oh, wait, here they come.”

Meilin, holding onto Keiko, walks her back ot the others. “It’s settled. I’m staying to help, and we’re going to have a party on New Years’ to celebrate!”

“Celebrate?”

“My spring time wedding of course!”

“----”

“---say what---” (Rebecca)

“Stop it.” Keiko warned, noticing the confused glances between the two, “You’re reading way too much into this without even asking what’s up.”

“That’s great---” (Sakura) “---who are you marrying?”

“My sempai!”

Everyone looks over at Keiko, who gives them all a dirty look and motions to her blade, “HER OTHER SEMPAI!! (get your minds out of the gutters!!) Meilin stop being so vague!”

“Aw! Don’t be modest!” Nina remarks in an oily voice, “Polygamy suits yo---” (stops as Keiko draws her blade) “---never mind.”

“Who---” (Meilin hands Tomoyo a photo, causing her to smile) “---oh she’s very beautiful! You must be a lucky girl to have won your heart.”

Meilin nods her head gently, “I‘m even luckier to have won her heart!”

“She’s cute! You‘ll be happy together!” (Sakura)

“I think she’s great! Good for you!” (Nina)

“She’s marrying a horse-girl?” (Rebecca says as she looks over the picture)

“THAT’S IT!!!” (Meilin jumps on top of Rebecca beating her down with her fists)

“WAIT! I---ouch! Ow! Ow! Stop it! Ow! Ow! Ow!! Cut it---ou! Ow! Ow!”

Keiko nods her head. “Anti climatic. She’s marrying her mentor who she’s been under for a few years now back at the Shining Star.”

Rebecca looks up, her mouth as of yet unwilling to stay shut. “Oh, that figures she’s been under her for years. Does pony-girl yell “giddyap” and whip Meilin during sex--- Ow!! Ow!! Stop--- ow!! Stop it you… OUCH!!”

“----idiot, keep your mouth shut and you won‘t get hurt---” (Keiko)

“Is this legal? (the marriage, not Meilin kicking the heck out of ‘becky here.)” (Nina)

Keiko shrugs her shoulders, “I guess. Palominians don’t have strange marriage rules like---” (stops, sighs) “---well, they’re open about marriage. So I guess a human/Palominian marriage isn’t out of the question.”

Nina suddenly becomes rather morose and trudges off, leaving Sakura confused. “What’s wrong? Isn’t she happy for---?”

“Damn I knew I shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s that time of year after all.” (Keiko)

Sakura can only shake her head in confusion, “What time of year?”
(Tomoyo asks, drawing closer to Sakura to draw her close)

“Oh, yeah, that’s right. You don’t know---“ Keiko leans back in her chair, putting her thoughts together. “Nina would have married Eliza about now if the two stuck together, so everytime Christmas comes around Nina becomes majorly depressive over the breakup, even if she’s got a hot new girl in her bed to replace her old Amazonian lover.”

Silence reigns afterwards… sorta (Rebecca is still being beaten on by Meilin).

Tomoyo - “Can’t we do something to help her?”

“It’s best in situations like this to not interfere, Tomoyo.” (smiles as she pokes Tomoyo’s cheek, watching the two (Tomoyo/Sakura) cuddle a little closer as she speaks) “I know you two want to do something nice for her, but it’s best to let her resolve this on her own. She usually tires out near Christmas and becomes cheery again by default so it’ll come to a resolution within a few days----” (stops) “----and you can get off of Rebecca now.”

“She’s rude!” Meilin spits out, sitting back in her chair in a huff as Keiko pulls Rebecca back into her chair, “You dead yet, “Rude-na?”

“Shut up!” (Rebecca pushes Keiko away as she stablizes herself in her chair, collapsing into her desk) “I’m not in the mood.”

“If your not in the mood, you shouldn’t have opened your yap like that.” Keiko retorted.

Rebecca - “Screw you, miss perfection!”

Silence reigns for a few seconds, then---

Rebecca - “What if we used the Fight card to force the issue?”

Eyes turns to Rebecca, looking at her. “If Nina takes a beating for Tina, she might finally get out of her funk and realize she’ll never do better than that good girl she’s got right now and stop moping over her and Eliza’s failed relationship. And, while we’re at it, Nina might be able to slip in her marriage proposal while in Tina’s arms and she’d be too distraught to say no… well, she won’t say no it’s just that people seem to frown majorly on women marrying their artificially created sexdolls… people are just weird that way.”

“Isn’t that interfering?” Tomoyo asks, “Didn’t you want to help her, or not?”

The trio exchange glances, then look back at Rebecca. “Fine, you know while that whole let’s get Nina pulverized in the name of love is a nice theory and all…. Ahhh… it loses a little credibility when we actually have to go through with it and get Nina beaten up in the name of love, and all that.”

(Keiko) “though a tad cliché and fatalistically Florence Nightengale-esque for Tina to be helpless against a battered Nina’s wish to marry, but there’s one problem… well TWO actually if you count the fact that there’s an anti marriage to sexdroid law on the books… there is the matter of the Fight card being on the loose. Somehow I don’t think it’s going to simply appear just because the plot demands it---” (Tomoyo catches newspaper thrown by Rena) “---what the--- girl in strange outfit beats up Darklings?” (reads on) “Girl in
strange outfit appearing within the Mega Neko Industrial Park stopped two Darklings from assaulting a young secretary on her way home from work.”

Rebecca - “Isn’t that industrial park---?”

Keiko - “It used to be where King Penguin Park was? Yes.”

“Looks like she’s going back to her old haunts.” Rebecca smiles, pleased with herself.

“No problem. She’s still wearing the same outfit as before---” (Keiko stops as she’s handed the paper while Tomoyo/Sakura look on) “---that’s very appropriate.”

“What is she---?”

It was Fight all right, dressed up like---- a female St. Nick? (minus the beard and tighter clothes)

“Yeah. I thought it was a gag too but I matched it up and it fits.” (smiles at Meilin) “Looks like it’s memory lane for you. Didn’t she beat you on your first date? Bet she gave you weird tastes in sex af---!!” (dodges attack) “Cut it out! I’m just kidd--- stop it!! Hey!! Stop!! Keiko!!”

Keiko leans back into her chair and sighs, “I’m not involved. You two work it out yourselves.”

“KEI--ow!! Get off me!! (again!!)”

Keiko - “Grasshopper has big mouth, little brain.”

“I’ll grasshop--- ouch!! Stop it!! Stop it!! I didn’t know you were into S&M--- ouch!! Stop!!”

“Hi!” (Ms. Mitsuki) “I’ll be subbing for Cath---erine and--- I’ll---?? I didn’t see that coming.”

Keiko - “With Rebecca nobody ever sees the beatings coming. Not even Rebecca.”

“I HEARD TH--- ouch!! Ow!! Stop it!! Ow!!”

* * * * * *

One of Sakura’s happy moments inspired her.

She remembers waking up the morning after she and Tomoyo first made love, staring into the camera lens of one of Tomoyo’s cameras (wielded by the scantily clad Tomoyo herself). “?”

“Smile. I want to get this all for the camera.”

“Tomo-chan.” Sakura sweat drops, looking into the lens, “Why are you---”

“I wanted to film you while you were sleeping. You looked so beautiful lying there so contently. You just woke up, and I was filming you so… well I can‘t resist.”

Sakura smiles abit, reaching a hand up to touch Tomoyo’s cheek, “You made me so happy. I…”

“Hush.” (Tomoyo touches Sakura’s cheek) “I know we promised to wait, but I love you… I wanted to make your birthday special… and maybe…”

“I already decided that we’ll never part, nothing is going to change that. Nothing.”

Tomoyo nods her head, slowly pulling the camera to one side only for Sakura to stop her, “Wh--?”

“Keep filming please, Tomo-chan. I’m getting used to the camera filming our special moments.”

“Really?” (Sakura nods her head) “Ok---” (a warm smile creeps across Tomoyo’s features) “I’ll get the tripod and you take your undies off again!”

“---Tomo-chan---”

The idea of the camera to break the ice made Sakura think---

* * * * * *

Nina felt something stirring at her feet, she rolls over discontently grumbling. “Go ‘way, Kwero, ’m n’t ‘ungry rig’ nu‘---”
Though it was 6AM in the morning (a personal record for Sakura in terms of waking up), Nina was still half asleep. However that didn’t dim her senses enough that she couldn’t feel someone moving on the bed towards her. Silence. The movement seemed heavier than Kerberos, and it was moving up the bed.

“’etter nut bwe u’ gin’ Yuko!’ Go way’!”

Still nothing. Couldn’t be Miyuko, she’d be asking silly questions right about now--- silence.

“’Tina, kut it owt‘---”

“?”

“Liet e’ get hup ‘irst b’fore we ‘o ‘gain---”

“Huh?”

Nina opens her weary eyes, and stares right into Tina’s eyes as she stares from her side of the bed (wide awake being full of spunk and energy as she always was, though she was sporting a full head of “morning hair” that needed to be put under control ASAP)
“I’m right here -- what was that about me?”

“?” Nina sighs, slowly looking up towards the ceiling, and into the lens of a camera filming her. Bleary eyed she rolls to her side again and begins to nudge Tina, “---ake’ up Tina, de head hirit of Allen Fund h’s com’ to hock us---”

“Uh… I don’t think Allen Fund’s dead spirit has come to haunt us, Nina.” Tina remarked, turning to look at Sakura. “Good morning, Sakura.”

“Morning!”

“---ah damn---” (Nina rolls over onto her stomach and covers her head with her pillow) “Hit’s toot’ hoon to gwet ou mai lust goo’ herbe--- go ‘way!” (still sleepy so she’s muttering)

“I thought you’d want to record your happy moments, maybe---”

“Sakura?” (Tina) “This might not be the best of times to be doing that.”

“---mmph---”

Sakura - “Maybe you’d like to tell someone how you really---” (?) “---feel and tell her how
much you---”

“MMPPH!!!” (Nina rolls onto her back, her eyes bleary and yet angry looking. “---moh’ on a mumen---” (Nina rolls onto her side, her hand reaching over towards the nightstand, fumbling open a drawer which she sticks her hand into, pulling out something as her finger jam down on the button hard, her hand waving it menacingly (sorta) before her)
“---muhve oven, I’m gonnu whill her---”

“The saber blade’s in the recharger, dear, you put it there last night… but Nina, precious, as much as I love you I don‘t want you to kill Sakura in an angry rage.”

“---su’ that’s whine it’s buzzin’--- thought it was mae---” (turns off device and drops it back into the drawer, pulling a gun from the drawer.) “---cwhip--- clwhip---”

“No Nina, please don‘t shoot Sakura either. Uh…“ (turns back towards Sakura) “Better leave before she regains enough sense to kill you. She wants a recharged ammo clip.”

Sakura didn’t need anymore prodding, and was out the door without being asked twice.

* * * * * *

On the way out Sakura runs right into someone as she‘s closing the door, “Mistress? I---?” (Light looks into the camera lens as Sakura holds it up defensively) “---?---does Mistress Tomoyo know your using her camera?”

“I only borrowed it -- she has several of them so I thought to borrow one.” (sighs as she looks at Light, lowering the camera abit) “I thought I could foster some warm feelings the way Tomoyo did when she filmed us in bed -- guess it only works if the one doing the filming
is the one you love.”

Light shrugs, “I guess. Got a minute, Mistress?”

“What’s wrong?”

Light fidgits abit, pulling on her maid’s uniform a little before speaking, “I was thinking of getting a gift of affection for Fuu--- but what does she like? I mean--- we’ve been her lovers (myself and Dark being the “we“) for months now yet--- I don’t feel that I know
her well enough yet. It’s confusing, I want to make her happy--- but I don‘t know how to best go about this--- I love her dearly---”

“You both make her happy by loving her so.”

“But I want to get something nice. Like the gifts you and Mistress Tomoyo exchange. I want to give Fuu something from my heart to express my feelings--- but I don’t know what--- I feel so--- awkward.”

“Maybe Dark knows?”

“She’s confused too. She wanted me to ask you---”

Sakura holds up the camera again, filming Light as she talks. “Maybe Tomo-chan? She knows far better gifts than I do.”

“Gifts for who?”

Sakura’s eyes widen, her breath catches abit--- “Tomo-chan?”

“I’ll take that.” (her hands nimbly retrieve the camera) “Got any good shots?”

“Well, I--- I mean I---”

“Sakura---” (pokes her lightly on the cheek with two fingers from her free hand) “---maybe it would have worked better if you gave Tina the camera---” (rewinds film, watching it through the vid screen attachment on the camera) “---oh, they were both sleeping--- I---?”
(stops, looks up) “You’ve been around. Is this footage of Umi/Gaia in bed? Umi looks rather confused that you’re in there.”

Sakura looks rather flustered by her earlier “filming“ incident, blushing as Tomoyo stops the tape. “I made a mistake--- walked into the wrong door!”

“I’ll say.“ (Umi walks past the two, motioning for the kitchen) “Anyone else want breakfast since we’re all up early? Mistress‘ woke us up.“

“I’m sorry!!”

“Don’t be---” (Umi smiles as she walks past) “Gaia wants a camera now for Christmas. Think she wants to make our own happy videos---” (smile turns abit mischievous) “---oh the possibilities---”

Inside the kitchen Umi sets out bowls and pours cereal (one of the few things she can make on her own without supervision) “I heard you’re playing match maker, Mistress, but maybe making Nina homo--homa--” (“Homicidal?” (Tomoyo)) “---that word--- maybe that isn’t the way to go--- and why did you walk in on us in bed?” Umi remarks as she shifts through the fridge (“Sorry!” (Sakura apologies again)), pulling a bottle out opening it, quickly swigging down a drink of the contents. “Soda that tastes like cranberries but not too intensely like cranberries. What will people think of next?”

“Soda that makes people in the waking world lose weight?” (Tomoyo)

“I don’t believe in stuff like that…” (Umi) “…if that was true I’d be rich from selling my own brand of weight loss fluids.” (Tomoyo leans over, showing the image to Sakura as they share the memory of what Sakura saw a few minutes ago. The image on the camera’s vid screen shows Umi/Gaia, cuddled into each other’s arms, lying on a soft looking “bed” of vines and soft moss which wrapped around the two like a blanket) “I never knew Gaia could make such a cute bed! Is that real plants?”

“Yeah. She’s the green thumb of the house---” (smiles) “---though I’m always a little dehydrated in the morning. Her bed keeps wanting to tap a little of my moisture. I like it when we sleep on my bed every other day--- my water bed, heh-heh---” (sighs) “---though sex is a little hard on it though. All that swaying and rocking, first time we tried making love on it almost made Gaia motion sick! Poor thing---”

Tomoyo - “Guess she’s not used to it like you are.”

“Comes from formerly being made of water I suppose---” (looks over at Sakura) “---what’s wrong, Mistress? You seem sad---”

Sakura looks as if she was ready to cry, “I really botched it this morning--- I‘m sorry everyone!”

“Don’t take it too hard. Your heart was in the right place.” Tomoyo assures her.

“I guess, but I just want everyone to be happy.”

“I’m sure they’ll find their way.” Tomoyo remarks, setting breakfast before Sakura, “We just have to believe in them that’s all. Like they believe in us.”

“Really?” (Tomoyo nods as she pecks Sakura on the forehead) “Really. Eat your breakfast, dear.”

To Be Continued

CardCaptor Sakura Remastered III Episode 1 (10)

Previously…

The vision. A figure in shadows, wearing a cape and sitting on the roof of the Daidouji estates. He was watching her. Sakura looks up, noticing for the first time Lunaris in the sky above. “But it’s night---”

“Lunaris sometimes appears in people’s visions regardless of time.”

Sakura looks around, but no one. The voice was coming from everywhere and yet nowhere.

“Sakura -- it’s not time yet --” (the voice calls to her) “-- we’ll talk again soon. Sakura -- Sakura -- Sak --” (silence) “Sakura?”

“Who are --” Sakura’s eyes lazily drift open, coming face to face with a wide eyed and curious Rebecca staring at her from in front of her desk. “ACK!”

“I know the colonization period of the 21st Century is a tad dry and boring but still --” (Rebecca smiles as she rests her head on Sakura’s desk, looking at her sideways). “Have a nice nap?”

“I-I’M SORRY!!!”

“ACK!” (Keiko jumps back with a start, waking out of her own stupor to come crashing to the floor in an awkward way) “-- ouch --”

“Well I’m glad someone over there had worst falls than that in her life -- still --” (a smile creeps across Rebecca’s face) “-- that was worth it. Thanks, Sakura.” (stops) “You have practice today?”

“No --”

“Then cuddle and snooze at home please, thanks.” (walks back to the board) “And that goes double for you, Miss blades!”

“---oh shove it---” Keiko hisses as she pulls herself back into her chair.

The day was nearly done, and they were going to the party for the cast members of the play next.

Misho was holding it at a room in the huge Convention Center she built in downtown Tokyo, and went through a lot of trouble to make it a hot ticket event. Still -- Suddenly Sakura noticed Rebecca was next to her again, “I’m awake!”

Rebecca leans over and whispers to her, “I noticed how beautiful you are when your sleeping. So very very cute -- Nina doesn‘t know anything. Snoozer indeed. Your so very --” (Rebecca reaches a hand out, but stops) “-- I’m jealous.” (with that Rebecca retreats without another word said, leaving Sakura confused.)

* * * * * *

“I’m so embarrassed!!”

“I’m sorry,” Tomoyo said in a comforting manner, “I tried to wake you up.”

“But I had that dream again, and then Rebecca said --” (stops, blushing) “-- she said she I was beautiful and she was jealous of me --?”

“Rebecca said that to you?” Tomoyo asked, her face filled with curiosity. “Why? I thought she only wanted to steal Fly away from you, did she ever show that kind of feelings for you?”

“I don’t know --” (class had dismissed and the two were walking to the party) “-- but I have this strange feeling --”

“Uh oh.” Tomoyo stops, looking a little concerned, “When you feel like that something is going to happen. Is there a card nearby?”

“I don’t know -- I can’t explain it but -- something is coming. I don‘t know what it is but --”

“Give it time then.” (Tomoyo takes Sakura’s hand as she steps past her) “It’ll come to you.”

Suddenly Sakura stops, her head looking upwards, “Rebecca?!”

Sitting perched in a tree, Rebecca watches as the two draws near, dropping down in front of them as they draw close. She reaches into a pocket and withdraws two things, a Seeker, and a wristband with a jewel setting. “Got something for you, Tomoyo. Merry Christmas.”

“Thanks.” Tomoyo accepts gracefully, her expression turning curious as Rebecca pushes the Seeker sphere towards her. “Your Seeker?”

“Yours. It took me awhile but I found another Seeker, it’s yours. Figure it’ll come in handy.”

“-- why thank you --” Tomoyo whispers, bowing as she accepts the mystical object. “How do I take it home? In my bag?”

“Tap it to the crystal on the wristband. It’s a storage device, it’ll hold anything you want in it.” (smiles) “Figured it’d make losing this an unlikely event.”

“How practical!” Tomoyo gleefully remarks, tapping the sphere onto the wristband where it’s enveloped in a field of light and swallowed into the jewel setting. “How do I --”

“Tap the jewel and think of what you want, and it’ll come out. Easy as th --?” (Sakura’s hand grasps Rebecca’s arm) “-- ? -- oh but don‘t putting loose candies in there because I did that once and I‘m still randomly pulling gummy bears out of my storage crystal clinging onto other
stuff (they’re still edible too) and -- what are you doing?! I‘m not that entranced by you for holding back with Fly to be giving you gifts.”

Sakura looked very nervous as she struggled with her words, “Rebecca -- about earlier. What did you mean?”

“About what?” Rebecca asked with genuine interest, and a tad bit of confusion.

Sakura - “When you said you thought I was beautiful, and was jealous.”

Rebecca facefaulted briefly, “But I didn’t say --” (stops, face flushes slightly) “-- I was down with Misho preparing for the party so I asked Catherine to sit in my class for me, why didn‘t she sit in my… oh. She did.” (a slight irked expression passes over Rebecca’s face) “She took my form, didn’t she. Did she take my form? That --” (?) “-- what was she --”

“Phwee?”

“Uh--- nothing. Never mind.” (Rebecca backs away, waving at the two) “Better hurry before the party starts without us! Come on!”

“But Rebe---”

“She’s gone.” Tomoyo notices, watching her speed off. “What was that all about?”

“---I don’t know---”

* * * * * *

As the two walk away hand-in-hand, on top of one of the school buildings Catherine watches, her hands clenched together as if she was wringing them, watching as Sakura & Tomoyo walked away.

“---goddess I am jealous--- aw man---”

Behind her, unknown to her, someone else watches.

“What are you up to, Catherine?”

* * * * * *

“If I knew this was going to be a cake party I’d have not skipped lunch.” Keiko grumbles slightly, poking the table as she sat there staring at the others. “We are going to get some cakes over here eventually, right? This is a cake party after all--- cake-u, cake-u, cake-u!”

“Make up your mind whether you want cake or not you hypocrite!” Misho hisses under her breath, leaning back in her spot on the huge table. On this table there was Sakura, Tomoyo, Nina & Eliza, Keiko, Rebecca & Misho. (Both Eve & Trinity were on another table with Naoko, Chiharu & Rika).

Keiko noted the empty table with disdain, “All I’m saying is that if we’re going to have a cake party--- be nice if there was cake, that’s all. After all a cake party without cake is lame.”

“Patience oh psychotic one. Patience.” Rebecca groaned, scanning the huge room for a traveling cake cart, “It’ll be here before you can say “hypoglycemic coma”.”

Everyone - “Hypoglycemic coma.”

“---not funny---”

* * * * * *

Meanwhile--- The Shining Star International Spaceport

(The Dream Continent of Hong Kong)

“I wish it would snow.” Xai Shar muttered beneath her breath. It was cold, but not enough to keep the flights grounded--- she hated that.
Outside the viewing windows she could see several of the the huge aircraft lumbering into the sky, and coming down for landing right next to the stellar capable crafts as they did their take offs and landings in turn. She didn’t feel at all comfortable with this, but she knew there was no point in arguing with her once she made up her mind. She was going, and that was that.

So, with that thought out, she turned to face her companion. “I’d have to say I’m a little surprised your going so soon after your promotion.” Xai Shar (the 5th Judgment of the Shining Star) remarked, her long hair cascading down her back as she shook her head back and forth, her Palominian features (animorphic horse/human female features) sweating slightly as she regarded her companion. “You’re the youngest girl I’ve seen rise to the rank of 11th Judgment. It takes some ages to rise the ranks but you’ve done it remarkably fast for one so young.”

Silence, her companion seemed too intent on her ticket to notice. She only noded her head at Xai Shar’s remarks. “And what of your mentor? The one you told me about? Will she be there? The one who is…”

“Yes. She‘s always been there--- in Nippon.”

Xai Shar pressed the subject, “And this boy… I mean man you told me about? Isn’t he leaving also for…”

“He is.” She quickly responded, cutting the conversation on him short. Xai nods her head, pushing the topic of “him” aside. “Will you be gone long?”

“Not long. Not until I help Sempai recapture those annoying cards and returned home again.”

“Well, whatever possessed you to do this I wish you the best--- so long, Meilin.”

Meilin smiles, her Judgment uniform feeling very comfortable as she gives her companion a hug goodbye. “Think Sempai will be surprised I’m visiting?”

“Before or after you tell her the good news?”

“She might be a little disagreeable.” (smirks) “But this time I’m not taking no for an answer! Before next year is out I‘m going to be a married woman and she---” (smiles) “---you know the rest.”

Ten minutes later her flight leaves, destination - Tokyo.

* * * * * *

Back in Nippon (Tokyo)

“Cake before I fall asleep or start craving real food already!” Keiko sighed in boredom.

Misho - “Shut up, you’re only making it worst.”

“It’s your party, Misho--- make it come faster!” Nina was grumbling now.

Misho - “Shut up, you’re only making it worst.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Shut up, you’re only making it--- oh. Never mind---” (Misho looks over, and nearly falls over) “WHAT?!? YOU???”

Sakura facefaults herself now, “Toya?!”

“H-H-” (Misho was speechless, for once)

Tomoyo - “Hello there, Toya. Working?”

“Working.”

Misho - “A-A--- HOW?!?”

“How many times do you fire him only to rehire him again?” Keiko remarks sharply.

Misho - “I’m not doing this!! What’s going on?!?” (takes the cake from Toya anyway despite her anger) “Didn’t I fire you three weeks ago?!?”

“Sheesh. The guy really does work everywhere---” Nina sarcastically remarks as she pokes her cake abit before eating it, “Doesn’t Yuki pull his weight in their relationship or is Toya doing all the work?”

“Let’s eat.” Tomoyo quickly shifts the subject, noting Toya’s peeved expression at Nina, “All the cakes look very delicious!”

“It is.” Misho (coming back to Terrra) remarks, sticking another bite into her mouth. “But Nina’s got a point, I never see Yuki working ANYWHERE…”

“It’s absolutely divine!” Sakura pines, her face glowing radiantly as she and Tomoyo smile at each other, taking a bit of their cakes and feeding the other watching their faces as they chewed and relished the tastes of the other‘s food. Keiko takes another bite and swallows
hard, “Try not to jump each other while at the table please.”
Inspired, Nina suddenly jumps up from her spot and dashes over to Eliza’s table, jumping into place to swap cakes with her and do the romantic thing Sakura/Tomoyo were doing.

Toya looked peeved x2, Rena couldn’t care less, and Misho just wanted another cake (grabbing one from the huge tray Toya bought) when suddenly, “That really does look good.”

At the sound of the voice, both Rebecca & Keiko sigh irritably. “The walking 8-ball.”

“Ms. Mitsuki!” Sakura suddenly freaks a little, noticing she was watching the two from behind them for a little while now. Seconds later another person came into view, Catherine, she borrows Sakura for a second and puts Ms. Mitsuki down on their table while she talks with her. Keiko grabs her seconds later and walks off with her to stop her from staring at Tomoyo.

Obviously Rebecca and Keiko aren’t tickled pink by this, but Tomoyo watches with some interest as the two talk quietly over at another table. “You know why Keiko & Rebecca are here, and you know in a sense why I’m here--- have you ever wondered why Nina’s here though?”

“Orders?”

Catherine - “Eventually however, with all this support your getting from the Judgments and a Raven you’d think Command would give Nina the option to opt out of her mission and go back on leave again. She was on offtime when she was called in for the job after all, you’d think
she’d want to return to that.”

Sakura - “Maybe they didn’t call her back?”

Catherine - “Maybe they did and she wanted to stay here.”

Sakura - “Did Nina tell you that?”

Catherine - “No. Nina doesn’t like talking to me. She keeps her distance from me.” (suddenly Catherine grows a little distant, her thoughts wandering) “The art of card related magic is actually quite a rarity. Despite the fact card battle games are a dime a dozen few people actually use cards for such purposes (it’s too impractical to many it seems). Clow Reed of course is an exception to the rule, him and his Clow Cards (which will become your Star Cards). Then there are the people who forged the first mystical set of Tarot cards, as well as a distant relative of Misho NamoCatCat whose ancestor created crystal cards capable of entrapping necromancy beings entitled Rubicon cards, as well as---” (Catheirne stops) “Sorry, I‘m rambling, well the art is a very rare one in consideration of all the mystical artifacts forged over the ages.”

Sakura - “Are you---” (at this Catherine returns to reality)

Catherine - “I was involved somewhat with Misho’s family legacy, the Rubicon cards. She still carries some to this very day as a matter of fact. So in a sense I’m partially linked to the chain of magic that is related to cards. And so is Misho, Keiko, Rebecca (and not just by the default of the Fly incident)--- all of us here who have joined you have some connection to card magic in one form or another it seems. And there’s even a few you haven’t met yet---”

“Who?”

“You’ll know when the time is right---” (Catherine goes distant again) “What do you know about Ravens, Sakura? The guardian class known as Ravens, I mean (not the bird).”

“Not much. Only what Nina, or Keiko, or someone told me. They’re powerful, right? Like you? Guardians of dreams?”

Catherine smiles abit, still distant in thought, “I’m only Neo level power. That’s strong, but there’s a few levels above mine to go. One other, who is with you but not obvious, is a
Theta. There’s even stronger levels than that as well---” (Catherine smiles, reaching out to pass a hand through Sakura’s hair) “---I’m sorry I confused you while I was in Rebecca’s form. I didn’t mean to, but--- you truly are very beautiful.”

* * * * * *

“What the hell are they talking about?” Rebecca grumbles beneath her breath, the Seeker flashing bright but showing nothing to her. Ms. Mitsuki was with Keiko and Eve at another table, and Misho went to another table leaving them alone to talk. “Even this can’t tap into
their conversation.” (with a grunt she puts the Seeker back into place) “Catherine’s being super paranoid today.”

“Can it listen in to conversations?” (Tomoyo)

“Less of listening in, more like it taps the surface “thoughts” of the two talking. When people talk they tend to think out their words as well as speak them, the Seeker just grazes those top thoughts and relays them. It’s a very light and non-evasive technique so it normally would be beneath Catherine to protect against such a weak and low level reading--- but today she is for some reason… and no, I can‘t scan Sakura because Catherine‘s paranoia is radiating outward to form a “dead zone“ of thoughts, making it hard to tap anyone around her.”

Tomoyo - “Maybe she just wants her privacy.”

“And if she wanted that she could go to the girl’s bathroom to talk to Sakura--- and then we’d be at the door listening with water glasses.” (Rebecca sighs irritably) “I guess what I’m really getting at is she’s taking far too many precautions for a simple little chat--- eh? Oh, great, it’s the walking 8-ball now coming in this direction---” Rebecca sighs under her breath, “And they’re breaking up the talk. Well, so much for that.”

“What’s wrong? You seem rather down.” (Tomoyo)

“---?--- oh, yeah. Sakura’s getting all dosey-dorky with Ms. Mitsuki again. It’s a wonder nobody wrote a lemon with them doing---” (sighs irritably) “Sorry, it’s just that Kaho gets on my nerves. I keep telling Sakura to not get suckered in like that but she never listens!”

“That’s Sakura for you.”

“----and if I knew her like you did, Tomoyo, I’d actually know what that meant.”

“Why are you giving Sakura advice?”

For a few seconds silence reigns, but Rebecca eventually finds her voice. “Eh? Oh--- I’m one of the few with actual advice to give. Heaven forbid the person staying at your place can contribute something, but Nina’s about as useful in the advice dept. as a “Tickle-Me-Elmo”.
That’s why.”

“I thought you’d want the girl who snubbed you from taking Fly so you could destroy it to fail at her task?”

Rebecca sighs, leaning back in her spot. “Don’t read too much into it, damn you. I‘m not that angry at Sakura for what she did. Maybe -- well maybe -- I just don‘t know --” (staring up at the ceiling, Rebecca begins to loll her head back and forth) “I just don’t like half-ass jobs, that‘s all. Lord knows one of these days I’ll be like Trinity and forgive Fly for what it did. Who knows. Anyway if it’s going to be done, even if I’m not the one doing it, it’s gotta be done right. Sure I could have done it better, but that‘s old news -- best not to go over it over and over again. Save me from becoming overtly bitter about it.”

“So why do you worry about Sakura?” Tomoyo baits, to which Rebecca looks down at her irritated. “Go fish somewhere else. I have somebody already, and I‘m still struggling over forgiving Sakura for her interference or not. Anyway she is so not my type…” (hisses) “And you didn’t hear that from me.”

“Hear what?” Tomoyo asked.
Rebecca frowned, “I honestly hate you at times.”

* * * * * *

“Pick something.” (Misho)

“Make up your mind.” (Toya)

“But they all look so good---” (Sakura)

“Recommend something.” (Misho)

“Why?” (Toya)

“Am I paying you to work for me or to sass me! Help her---” (Misho)

“She can pick something.” (Toya)

“I don’t have eternity plus one to wait for THAT!!” (Misho)

“Then you pick something.” (Toya)

“---but they all look so good---” (Misho, mouth drooling a little)

Toya sighs irritably.

Keiko walks up, makes a few selections, and sighs. “The walking eight ball is coming over.”

“What?” (Misho/Sakura look back) “She’s with Catherine?”

“The two make a cute couple--- if Kaho didn’t have a sick twisted idea of her ideal mate.”

“Still going on about that?” Rebecca grumbles, joining the four, “It’s bad enough to listen to you gripe about it at mission briefings, must you bitch about it in public?”

“I’m just saying it’s dead wrong and---” (?) “---Sakura’s lost it.”

“?” (looks down at Sakura’s clueless expression) “Whoops. Too much information.”

“No kidding.” Keiko sighs as she tries to bring Sakura back to reality.

Seconds later--- “There. Now that wasn’t so hard--- only took several tries---” Misho sighs irritably. “Let’s go---”

“Your Sakura, right?” (she turns to the voice next to her) “Tomoyo asked me to look for you. Come on, she’s waiting.” (Sakura reaches out, grabbing the male’s hand and feeling a strange warmth from it) ‘!’ (Sakura blushes abit) “What’s wrong?”

“N-n-nothing---”

Seconds later, she confides her feelings to Tomoyo.

“The same?”

“It was the same feeling I had when I touched Catherine’s hand. That strange warmth--- who is--?”

“We met him during the Fly incident, remember?” Tomoyo reminds Sakura.

“Oh, right. Captain Lazarus--- what’s he---?”

Tomoyo - “He helped with the stage settings for the play and did the background imagery.”

Sakura - “Oh.” (smiles) “I thought those were really cute!”

* * * * * *

“Getting a little too close are we, Jack?” Keiko remarks as she slides up next to him.

“Just doing a favor for Tomoyo.” he remarks as he bites into a piece of cake. “Not bad.”

“I think she copped a feel off of your power aura.”

“It’s suppressed, Keiko. She can’t do that.”

“Oh, really.” Keiko remarked, her attention turning back towards Sakura and Tomoyo, “So why did she suddenly blank out for a second? I think she felt your aura and she was covering it up. She felt something touching you and it wasn’t a lolita crush on you either.”

Jack shook his head, “Heaven forbid we go through the whole Yuki thing again.”

“The point is---” Keiko leans forward abit to accentuate the point, “Just how much do we REALLY know about how sensitive her powers are? She might be able to detect a power level even if it’s being buried by technique. She seems very sensitive to mystical energy, even if the user is trying to bury that energy in her presence--- though only by touch it seems. She can’t read it by her sensory “touch”.”

Jack - “For which we’re all grateful or she’d be reading more than she needs to know now.”
Keiko moves away, but stops--- “What if she needs to know more than we’re giving her?”
She moves away before he can question her further. “---sigh---”

“So--- what were you two talking about?” (Catherine)

Jack turns his head and stares at her as she sits down. “What were you talking about with Sakura?”

Catherine frowns at the question, “Not THAT if that’s what your wondering--- I can keep that under tight wraps.”

“You’re not having---”

Catherine stops, and smiles at Jack, to which he replies “Don’t do that, Cathy, that’s the same look Mitsuki gives to weasel her way out of talking--- and I find it even more disturbing to see YOU do it!”

“Sorry. It’s going to be awhile longer -- but she’s getting there.”

Jack - “And where are you getting to?”

Catherine shrugs, “I don’t know.”

Jack leans back, his thoughts racing---

‘I take it she means Sakura is getting to the point of recovering all the cards. She’s right. It’s only a matter of time before all the cards are retrieved once again. But then---’ (sighs as he takes another bite) ‘---that’s when things are going to get touchy.’

‘As Sakura seals each card she’s bringing about the triggering of Final Judgment -- but if she isn’t the one to be judged, having already been judged -- who will she judge in turn? I feel as if she’ll stand over someone in judgment -- but who? Nina? Keiko? Rebecca? Catherine? Maybe even myself?’ Jack’s eyes rove the scene before him as he bites into the cake again, finishing it off as he reaches for a new one. ‘Nervous as all heck, must explain my chewy-chewy mood today. Just can’t stop chewing --’ (sighs as hew chews again) ‘It didn’t go
the way we thought it would when we visited her world -- everything went so horribly wrong. Even this fix might not last if the ramifications of what we did then come back to haunt us.’

‘For one of us, our own time of judgment is coming -- then what?’

* * * * * *

“For the last time stop staring at me!” Rebecca grumbles, putting a few people between herself and Tomoyo, “Your reading too much into it! Stop it!”

Sakura steps between the two, “Stop what?”

Tomoyo - “I’ll tell you later.”

Rebecca - “OH NO YOU DON’T!!”

Tomoyo laughs as she and Sakura walks off in one direction, leaving the others to stare at Rebecca. “What?!? Nothing happened!! Stop glaring at me!! (Go on Nina! They’re walking home so get going! Stop staring at me!!”) (Rebecca storms off in a huff with Trinity close behind, in a giggly mood.)

As Nina and Eliza catches up to the two, the obvious question comes out. “What were you and Rebecca talking about anyway? She’s in a huff about it!”

“Nothing much.” Tomoyo answers, and then she goes back to talking to Sakura.

“Something much or she wouldn’t be in a bad mood---” Nina sighs. “Then, Sakura, what did you talk about with Cathy?”

Sakura’s answer is about as vague as Tomoyo’s prodding of Rebecca.

“---sorry I asked---”

To Be Continued