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1 Cardcaptor Nadeshiko
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2 Chapter 7
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3 by
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4 Amazoness Duo
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5 and
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6 G.P.
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7 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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8 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
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9
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10
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11 I.
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12 “Nadeshiko?”
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13
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14 A breeze stirred the branches of the little tree, leaves vibrating merrily, beckoning the young
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15 girl’s attention. One day she was nearly frantic with excitement while talking to a classmate
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16 about all the different leaves on that very tree. But her friend laughed, saying they all looked
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17 the same to her. It seemed incomprehensible to the silver-haired child that someone really
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18 couldn’t see how each leaf had a life, a personality, and, as fall crept closer, a death all its
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19 own. For Nadeshiko, leaves were like rocks and cats and clouds and people: all thrumming with
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20 life, their own little life, yet connected to one another by shimmering threads. Only slowly was
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21 she realizing that many people, perhaps most people, did not, or could not, see this.
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22
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23 “Nadeshiko?”
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24
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25 It was sort of like numbers, she mused. That thought reminded her of the math homework, and
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26 mentally she reconstructed her actions from that morning to ensure the assignment had been placed
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27 in her school bag. At first, she had done dreadfully at arithmetic, staring at the paper filled
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28 with columns of numbers in utter bafflement. Her father, though patient as always, had nearly
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29 despaired of her ever learning even the basics of the subject. One day, he told her earnestly
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30 that she wasn’t listening to what the numbers told her. This was intriguing, and she took note.
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31 For days she focused with a frightening singularity, skipping meals, conversations, and sleep to
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32 gaze at the numbers carefully etched onto paper.
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33
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34 “Amamiya Nadeshiko.”
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35
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36 Finally, sitting bleary-eyed at her desk early one morning, she heard a faint whispering. It was
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37 3. 3 was the boldest number, the first to break the long silence. Enthralled, excited, but
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38 careful not to frighten her new numerical friend, Nadeshiko smiled, listened, and eventually fell
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39 into a merry conversation. Her parents found her that morning, chattering excitedly to a piece of
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40 paper. In a panic they nearly rushed her to the hospital. But when she came to everything seemed
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41 all right, or at least as all right as can be with such an unusual child. From that time on
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42 Nadeshiko’s grades in mathematics improved, one might even say soared, and it became her favorite
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43 subject. Once she even approached a teacher, asking apprehensively if it was cheating when the
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44 numbers told her the answers.
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45
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46 “Amamiya Na-de-shi-ko.”
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47
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48 So, maybe other people were like she once was with numbers, and that explained why they could not
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49 see that leaves and trees and bugs were all so different. Maybe that explained why most people
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50 did not stare at a burning fire for hours, or sit under a starry sky all night and wonder in
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51 astonishment why the stars were suddenly extinguished, only to realize it was now dawn. Maybe…
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52
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53 A light tap on the head from a rolled up workbook caused Nadeshiko to blink in puzzlement. She
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54 looked up, and saw the exasperated teacher above her, looking in anticipation for a response.
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55 Nadeshiko’s mind raced to put the situation into some sort of order and context. Desperately she
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56 glanced over at her cousin for help. Sonomi, blushing for her, silently mouthed the word.
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57 Nadeshiko squinted, trying to understand, her own lips moving in a futile attempt to follow. The
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58 voice from above spoke evenly,
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59
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60 “I believe Sonomi chan is trying to tell you the word, ‘present.’”
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61
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62 Nadeshiko slowly digested this, and then, in a Eureka moment nearly jumped out of her chair with
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63 excitement shouting,
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64
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65 “Oh, gomenesai, present, present!”
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66
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67 The giggles around the class were quickly suppressed by the teacher’s glare. Unflustered, the
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68 instructor continued the roll call with, “Amamiya Sonomi?”
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69
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70 “Present.” The girl with the strangely cut red hair glanced at her cousin in relief. As the roll
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71 call wound through the rest of the class, Nadeshiko smiled at her cousin and formed a silent
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72 thank you with her lips. Sonomi rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help smiling back. As the roll call
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73 ended, the teacher paused and announced,
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74
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75 “Today, I am going to introduce you to a new classmate. She is not from Japan, so I want you to
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76 treat her with special consideration. Please, enter.”
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77
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78 A transfer student was big news anytime, but one from abroad was a banner headline. The eyes of
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79 the entire class fell on the slowly opening door as their new classmate emerged. The girl walked
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80 in steadily, seemingly unaware of the curious, measuring stares that greeted her. She was tall
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81 and slender, brown eyes humbly downcast. But what most caught the class’s attention, and even
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82 caused a few gasps of surprise, was her hair. Straight, jet-black, and falling loose nearly to
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83 her knees, the lustrous hair gave her the look of a Heian-era court beauty, a mysterious visitor
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84 from another time and place. She stopped in front of the teacher and bowed low, her long hair
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85 trailing on the floor. Writing her name on the chalkboard in a lovely script, the new girl turned
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86 to face the class, then bowed and spoke in a feathery, lilting accent,
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87
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88 “Ohayo Gozaimasu. My name is Li Ieran. I am from Hong Kong. Please help me to be a worthy student
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89 at your school.”
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90
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91 The hush gave way to a universal “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh” as the class gazed in wonder. Suddenly, a voice
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92 rang out,
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93
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94 “Oh, Hello! You’re the girl from last night! I never had a chance to thank you.”
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95
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96 All eyes swung towards Nadeshiko, who was out of her seat hopping excitedly. Ieran bowed again,
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97 her impassive face giving way to a reluctant smile. “It is utterly improper for me to smile like
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98 this,” the Chinese girl thought to herself, “but she commands my smile as the sun commands
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99 warmth.” Still bowing she spoke in her whispery voice,
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100
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101 “It is I who am in your debt, and only my thanks, not yours, are seemly and proper.”
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102
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103 The bewildered teacher finally restored order and settled Nadeshiko down, placing the new student
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104 in a seat behind the excitable Amamiya girl. In this tumultuous storm of curiosity, amidst the
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105 whispers, peeks and stolen glances, no one, not even the teacher, got much work done that
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106 morning.
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107
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108 During lunch, after casting glances at the mysterious girl from Hong Kong, the students drifted
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109 away to their regular eating spots. All alone now , Ieran unwrapped her obentou. She was curious
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110 about the strange Japanese meal prepared by her guardian, Wei. Sensing a presence, she glanced up
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111 into the face of the Card Captor leaning over her, staring curiously at the little silk-wrapped
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112 package. Startled and speechless, the Chinese girl could only stare back as the pale apparition
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113 spoke in a giggly voice,
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114
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115 “I’m sorry, Ieran-chan. I just wondered what was in there. I’ve never seen a Chinese obentou
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116 before. Would you like to eat with us? With Sonomi-chan and me?”
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117
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118 Ieran spied the girl possessed by The Sword the night before. As if embarrassed by her friend’s
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119 eccentricities, the red-haired girl blushed slightly, blue eyes averted. The girl from Hong Kong
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120 felt a blush of her own growing, a trickily tickling of the neck and ears. Japan was a much
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121 stranger place than she had ever expected, and this situation literally left her at a loss for
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122 words.
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123
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124 Last night was odd enough. The Card Captor was not what she expected: just a silly, pretty little
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125 girl. Yet that little girl stopped The Sword with no more than a glance. Ieran forced herself to
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126 quickly work through the possibilities. Now she casually approaches me, her rival for the Cards.
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127 Surely she knows I wield power? Perhaps she is contemptuous of me? That thought burned a little,
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128 but didn’t seem to fit with the Card Captor’s beatific smile. There was no hint of condescension
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129 or arrogance on that gentle face. Nor did the girl from Hong Kong, long trained in the subtle
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130 arts, sense guile or hidden motive. It was as if the Card Captor was genuinely interested in her.
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131 In near desperation, Ieran focused her inner eye on the smiling figure to discern the
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132 silvery-haired girl’s true motives. To her surprise, she sensed curiosity, and concern that the
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133 new girl might have to eat lunch all alone. Somewhat stunned, she whispered shyly,
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134
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135 “Yes.Yes, I would like to eat with you. Thank you.”
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136
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137 Delighted, Nadeshiko took the girl’s hand and walked her out of the building into the dazzling
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138 sunlight. Sonomi, frowning, followed the pair to a grassy spot beneath the trees in the
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139 schoolyard. Soon they were spread out beneath the gently swaying branches, Nadeshiko merrily
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140 chattering away. Finally Sonomi broke in and said quietly,
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141
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142 “Nadeshiko-chan, I don’t think Ieran-san knows our names yet. We’ve never been properly
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143 introduced.”
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144
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145 Nadeshiko stopped and stared straight ahead, as if she were replaying all the previous morning’s
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146 events in her head. With a trilling laugh she quickly arose and bowed, her long, silver gray hair
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147 cascading as she did,
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148
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149 “Gomenesai, Ieran-chan. My name is Amamiya Nadeshiko, and this is my cousin and best friend,
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150 Amamiya Sonomi. We are very happy to meet you.”
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151
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152 Introductions dispensed with, Nadeshiko returned to her running commentary on the weather, lunch,
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153 school, and various stars she saw last night. This latter finally gave Ieran an opening, and she
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154 asked in a quiet voice,
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155
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156 “Um, Nadeshiko-san, may I ask you something? Something in private?”
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157
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158 At this, Sonomi stopped short and looked at the Chinese girl with surprise. She felt a twinge of
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159 irritation, but Nadeshiko only laughed and said, “Sonomi knows all of my secrets anyway, because
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160 she knows me so well. What did you want to ask?”
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161
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162 Ieran shifted uncomfortably and spoke in a halting whisper, “About last night. About the, the
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163 Card.”
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164
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165 Nadeshiko brightened, “Oh, you mean the Clow Cards? Do you know about them?”
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166
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167 Ieran looked open-mouthed at the girls. Nadeshiko casually mentioned the Cards in the same way
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168 she talked about rice balls and sunsets. Sonomi seemed equally nonplussed. Barely suppressing a
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169 triumphant smile, the red-haired girl said simply, “I already know about them.”
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170
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171 Ieran’s mind raced for an explanation. How many others knew about the Cards? And just who was
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172 this Sonomi to the Card Captor? Judging from last night, she seemed quite close, perhaps a
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173 beloved servant? Calling upon all her training, Ieran presented a placid smile as she buzzed
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174 inside with questions. Her mind fell on a fact and anchored itself as she spoke,
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175
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176 “Ah, I see. Nadeshiko-san, you mentioned ‘Cards.’ Do you, I mean, have you encountered more Cards
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177 than The Sword?”
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178
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179 Nadeshiko’s eyes brightened as she gushed, “Oh, yes, I have met Wood, Fly, Jump, and the
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180 wonderful Flower! They are all my friends now.”
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181
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182 Ieran held a frozen smile on her face as she groped for a reply, but no words came. How was it
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183 possible that this frail, flighty creature had gathered up so many of the Cards? But had she
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184 really? With forced calm Ieran asked, “Nadeshiko-san, when you say they are your friends, does
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185 that mean you have captured them? Have you sealed them all?”
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186
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187 Nadeshiko nibbled thoughtfully on a rice ball as she replied, “Sealing. Well, that’s what
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188 Teddychan calls it. But I don’t think I capture them so much as make them my friends.”
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189
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190 Sonomi sighed as she brushed away a stray rice grain from her cousin’s cheek, “She makes friends
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191 with everybody and everything, from the meanest bully in school to the grossest bugs in the
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192 woods.”
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193
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194 Ieran smiled at the gentle figure and believed she could befriend anyone and anything. Suddenly
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195 puzzled, she asked, “Who is Teddychan? Does he know about the Cards?”
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196
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197 At the thought of her funny flying companion, Nadeshiko giggled, “Oh, yes, he knows a lot of
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198 things about them. His real name is Kero…Kerobero…Kerobus…his real name is hard to say, so I call
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199 him Teddychan, because he looks just like a cute little teddy bear.”
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200
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201 “Do you mean Kereberous?” Ieran asked in astonishment.
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202
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203 “Yes, that’s it! Do you know him, too?” Nadeshiko leapt to her feet in excitement.
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204
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205 “No, no I don’t,” The startled Ieran replied. “I’ve only read of him, and heard of him. But I
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206 don’t think he could be the same one. The Kereberous I know of is a large and powerful magical
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207 beast.”
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208
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209 Ieran grew thoughtful again and asked, “Nadeshiko-san, I would very much like to meet your friend
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210 Teddy-chan someday.”
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211
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212 Nadeshiko leaned over and said with a grin, “Would you like to come to my home tonight and meet
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213 him? You could stay for dinner. My mother is a very good cook.”
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214
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215 Ieran looked up, again at an utter loss for what to say. Surely an invitation to the House of a
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216 Card Captor could not be made so lightly? Schooled in the ways of duplicity and suspicion that
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217 governed the shadow world of Hong Kong, Ieran wondered if all this was some elaborate trap, some
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218 great design set in motion to lure her in. But the green eyes that beheld her were empty of
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219 artifice or malice. And besides, the Chinese mage thought to herself, I need to know more about
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220 her, and how better to know the tiger than visit her den? She stood up and bowed deeply, speaking
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221 in a distant and formal tone,
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222
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223 “Thank you for your kind offer, Nadeshiko-san. It would be an honour beyond my humble worth to be
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224 the guest of your illustrious House.”
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225
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226 Ieran gasped as the girl fell into her arms and hugged her. Her body tensed, and then softened as
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227 the silver-haired girl held her. Wrapped in those gentle arms, a burning blush consumed her as
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228 her breath fled away. Robbed of speech yet again, she could only stand and tremble in that
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229 fragrant embrace. Finally Nadeshiko released her, leaving Ieran delirious and unsteady, her mind
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230 awhirl.
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231
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232
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233 II.
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234 Ieran worried all the way to the Amamiya residence. Determined to strike a commanding presence,
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235 the girl fussed all afternoon to find just the right outfit for this momentous meeting.
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236 Contemplating a closet full of garments, she realized how out of her element she was. Nervousness
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237 was something she scornfully left to opponents, but this time it infected her. The apprehension
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238 made her angry, which only led to further imbalance and blindness. She was even short with Wei
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239 when he warned her they would be late, an unforgivable display of weakness on her part. Trained
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240 in the shadowy ways of Hong Kong, she knew something of power, and was being groomed for greater
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241 things. Staring out at the unfamiliar landscape as Wei drove through the sheets of rain, she
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242 recalled overhearing the praise of an illustrious Great Uncle: “She’s young, but a fast
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243 learner.” That caused a momentary flush of pride, which she ruthlessly suppressed with a frown.
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244 Yes, she thought, there I knew names and rank, powers and flaws, tendencies and the direction of
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245 things. Knowledge is power. But here is only this troubling ignorance, ignorance both broad and
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246 embarrassingly deep. The people and customs of this island were strange, though none more so than
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247 the weird girl whose home she was heading towards.
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248
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249 Nadeshiko. She spoke the name silently, like a prayer. For countless decades the Cards lay
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250 hidden, and now some silly little girl captures five of them. Five! It seemed ridiculous, yet she
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251 did not doubt the girl spoke truly. Despite her incredulity, Ieran remembered that most basic
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252 lesson of all her magical training: “Things are not as they seem.” So, too, it must be with her.
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253 She seemed a pretty, though inconsequential female. Yet, if she had captured so many Clow Cards,
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254 she must wield significant power. If this power exists, Ieran thought to herself, it is my
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rlm@0
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255 weakness not to have seen it. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly into little clenched fists as
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rlm@0
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256 she vowed, “This time I will see it.” So intent was she on this inner resolution that as soon as
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rlm@0
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257 the car stopped she leapt out into the storm, leaving her coat and umbrella behind.
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rlm@0
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258
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rlm@0
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259 The blast of wet wind slapped her awake. Wei had dashed out with an umbrella, but his efforts
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rlm@0
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260 were mocked by a gale that blasted her carefully coiffed hair. With a little shriek she ran the
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rlm@0
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261 long distance from the driveway to the front door, Wei following, the useless umbrella turned
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rlm@0
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262 inside out. Rapping on the door, the manservant tried his best to shield the girl, but with
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rlm@0
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263 little success. The door opened, and a startled older servant stared at the pair for a second
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rlm@0
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264 before bidding them enter. Wei sheparded his young charge into the hallway then entered himself.
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rlm@0
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265 Uncertain what to do, he bowed and stood motionless, waiting. Ieran, wet and disheveled, looked
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rlm@0
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266 up expectantly. Flustered, the older servant of the house stared at the pair, finally blurting
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rlm@0
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267 out, “Let us go to Amamiya-sama.”
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268
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rlm@0
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269 With fuss and concern, the girl was ushered into a warm kitchen, redolent of spices and simmering
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rlm@0
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270 sauces. A pretty woman glanced at her, put down a mixing bowl, and instructed an assistant to
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rlm@0
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271 continue with the cooking. Wiping her hands on a white apron, she approached Ieran with a smile,
|
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rlm@0
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272 bowing as she spoke,
|
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rlm@0
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273
|
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rlm@0
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274 “You must be Ieran-chan? My daughter told me that you would be joining us for supper. I am
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rlm@0
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275 honored to have you as our guest.”
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rlm@0
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276
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rlm@0
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277 When Ieran bowed in reply, a little trickle of water spattered onto the floor, and the woman
|
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rlm@0
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278 gasped,
|
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rlm@0
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279
|
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rlm@0
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280 “Oh, you poor thing! I’ve been in the kitchen so long I didn’t know it was raining. Come along;
|
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rlm@0
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281 let’s dry you off before you catch yourself a death of a cold.”
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rlm@0
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282
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rlm@0
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283 Wrapping the sopping wet girl in a kitchen towel, she bustled the child out through the dinning
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rlm@0
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284 room down a long hallway. Cooed and comforted, Ieran felt a curious twinge, an inexpressible
|
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rlm@0
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285 longing for her own mother so far, far away. Stopping at a door, the woman knocked and spoke
|
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rlm@0
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286 rather loudly as she opened it,
|
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rlm@0
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287
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rlm@0
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288 “Nadeshiko-chan? Nadeshiko-chan?”
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rlm@0
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289
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rlm@0
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290 To her horror, Ieran saw the Card Captor: her rival, her enemy, who knew what. Far worse, the
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rlm@0
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291 Card Captor saw her. What an absurd sight I must be, she thought in a panic. Desperately trying
|
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rlm@0
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292 to straighten out her sopping wet blue silk cheongsam, she waited with dread for the mocking
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rlm@0
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293 glance and stinging remark. Instead, she was again wrapped in those gentle arms as the giggling
|
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rlm@0
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294 girl embraced her, hugging her tightly. It was the woman’s voice she heard first,
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rlm@0
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295
|
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rlm@0
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296 “Nadeshiko-chan, your friend got wet in the rain. Would you please help her dry off and find some
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rlm@0
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297 clothes? I’ll have Maid come by in a bit and try to dry out her outfit. Such a shame; it’s a very
|
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rlm@0
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298 pretty dress.”
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rlm@0
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299
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rlm@0
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300 Ieran looked up, and saw the loving eyes of the woman as she slowly pried away the clinging,
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rlm@0
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301 still excited silver haired girl. Again, she repeated her instructions, and slow realization
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rlm@0
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302 crept over Nadeshiko’s fair features. Filled with concern, she hugged Ieran one last time, then
|
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rlm@0
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303 skittered out of the room in a frantic search for a blanket or a towel. With a bemused sigh, the
|
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rlm@0
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304 woman guided the Chinese girl to an adjacent bathroom and said,
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rlm@0
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305
|
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rlm@0
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306 “You can change in here, dear. There are towels on the rack; I’ll find you something in
|
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rlm@0
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307 Nadeshiko’s closet. You’re close to the same size, I think.”
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rlm@0
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308
|
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rlm@0
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309 The door closed, and Ieran saw a bedraggled sight in the mirror. It made her want to cry. She
|
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rlm@0
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310 remembered the English phrase from school, “from the sublime to the ridiculous.” Grimacing, she
|
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rlm@0
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311 peeled off her clothes, and dried herself with the fluffy pink towels. The room was toasty warm,
|
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rlm@0
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312 which made things a little better. Outside, the door opened and shut, and she heard muffled
|
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rlm@0
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313 voices. The excited one was Nadeshiko, the calm and reassuring one belonged to her mother.
|
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rlm@0
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314 Another was familiar, but she could not place it. Curious, she peeked out of the bathroom.
|
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rlm@0
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315
|
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rlm@0
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316 “It’s all right, Nadeshiko-chan, your friend is fine now. We already have towels, thank you. Now,
|
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rlm@0
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317 let’s see if we can find something nice for her to wear. Sonomi-chan, what do you think of this
|
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rlm@0
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318 one?”
|
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rlm@0
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319
|
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rlm@0
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320 Sonomi, Ieran thought, Sonmi. Oh, yes, the girl with the sword. She watched her solemnly
|
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rlm@0
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321 comparing two garments, one mint green with dark pine needles, the other sky blue, dotted with
|
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rlm@0
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322 black and white cranes. Looking up, the red-haired girl spoke, “The blue, I think.” Ieran
|
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rlm@0
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323 vanished inside as she saw them turning to the door. Wrapped in a long, pink towel, she sat on a
|
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rlm@0
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324 chair and waited expectantly. Hearing a knock on the door, she answered, “Come in,” and Nadeshiko
|
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rlm@0
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325 bustled in, her face lit with both concern and joy,
|
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rlm@0
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326
|
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rlm@0
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327 “Hello again! How are you? Are you OK?” The silver-haired girl gushed, staring at the still damp
|
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rlm@0
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328 figure.
|
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rlm@0
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329
|
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rlm@0
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330 Ieran nodded, unable to look away from the curious and concerned Nadeshiko. The girl with the
|
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rlm@0
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331 oddly cut red-hair stepped into the room, holding the beautiful blue garment she had selected,
|
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rlm@0
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332 and handed it to Ieran,
|
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rlm@0
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333
|
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rlm@0
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334 “Here, you can wear this. It’s a little thin, so there’s a comforter in the bedroom you can wrap
|
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rlm@0
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335 up in while you dry.” Holding it up, she smiled at the Chinese girl’s curious look,
|
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rlm@0
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336
|
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rlm@0
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337 “It’s called a yukata.”
|
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rlm@0
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338
|
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rlm@0
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339 Ieran frowned, feeling foolish for not knowing more about Japanese customs,
|
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rlm@0
|
340
|
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rlm@0
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341 “Thank you, Sonomi-san,” she said formally, “when the two of you leave I shall change.”
|
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rlm@0
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342
|
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rlm@0
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343 Nadeshiko, not catching the hint, was gently dragged away by her cousin. As the door shut, Ieran
|
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rlm@0
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344 sat down, gazing at the lovely blue fabric. Shaking her head and smiling ruefully, she dressed
|
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rlm@0
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345 herself, tied back her long, wet hair with a red ribbon, and opened the door.
|
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rlm@0
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346
|
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rlm@0
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347 III.
|
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rlm@0
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348 Ieran sat on the bed, huddled in her comforter, listening to rain lash the windows, watching the
|
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rlm@0
|
349 two cousins carefully. Nadeshiko was bubbly, effervescent, and seemed quite the chatterbox.
|
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rlm@0
|
350 Later, the Chinese girl would realize that this first impression was only partially on the mark.
|
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rlm@0
|
351 She certainly was bubbly and effervescent; genki, as the Japanese would say. But though she was
|
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rlm@0
|
352 merrily chattering away tonight, at other times Nadeshiko could be silent for hours, her
|
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rlm@0
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353 attention absorbed by the slightest of trifles: a star, a stone, or a tree. Sonomi, on the other
|
|
rlm@0
|
354 hand, was usually quiet, unless she was mad. But most of all, Ieran watched Sonomi watching
|
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rlm@0
|
355 Nadeshiko, and smiled at what she saw.
|
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rlm@0
|
356
|
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rlm@0
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357 Eventually, her poise recovered, Ieran subtly steered the conversation towards her true interest:
|
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rlm@0
|
358 The Cards. As she did, Nadeshiko jumped to her feet, her look serious and concerned,
|
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rlm@0
|
359
|
|
rlm@0
|
360 “Oh…that…that reminds me…magic…something, someone I was supposed to….” For a long minute she
|
|
rlm@0
|
361 stood still, inwardly seeking the answer to her half-asked question. Then, leaping to the closet
|
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rlm@0
|
362 door, she blurted out, “Teddy-Chan!” Sliding the door open, she bent down and unclasped the brass
|
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rlm@0
|
363 lock of a black lacquer chest. As she opened the door, a yellow blur zipped out, gasping and
|
|
rlm@0
|
364 coughing,
|
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rlm@0
|
365
|
|
rlm@0
|
366 “I thought I was going to die!”
|
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rlm@0
|
367
|
|
rlm@0
|
368 The tiny creature hovered in the air, wings beating furiously, breathing heavily. Nadeshiko
|
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rlm@0
|
369 fussed and apologized, while Sonomi looked away in irritation,
|
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rlm@0
|
370
|
|
rlm@0
|
371 “You can spare us the dramatics. The box isn’t air tight, you know.”
|
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rlm@0
|
372
|
|
rlm@0
|
373 The little creature glowered at Sonomi, and spluttered, “Well, it was, it was certainly dark, and
|
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rlm@0
|
374 stuffy, and…well, how would YOU like to be locked in some stupid box, forgotten and abandoned,
|
|
rlm@0
|
375 and…and…”
|
|
rlm@0
|
376
|
|
rlm@0
|
377 The two combatants glared at each other, teeth clenched, growling like cats before a fight.
|
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rlm@0
|
378 Suddenly, Keroberus noticed the girl wrapped in the comforter staring at him in open-mouthed
|
|
rlm@0
|
379 amazement. The yellow creature looked to the right, then the left, and stared at Ieran with a
|
|
rlm@0
|
380 gulp. Then, as if transforming into a stuffed animal, he fell to the floor with a clatter, and a
|
|
rlm@0
|
381 stifled groan.
|
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rlm@0
|
382
|
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rlm@0
|
383 Sonomi stared, and then laughed at the sight, while Nadeshiko rushed up and comforted the
|
|
rlm@0
|
384 stricken warrior,
|
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rlm@0
|
385
|
|
rlm@0
|
386 “It’s all right, Teddy-chan, she’s a friend!”
|
|
rlm@0
|
387
|
|
rlm@0
|
388 As Kereberous blinked at her, then suspiciously shot a sidelong glance at the bundled up girl,
|
|
rlm@0
|
389 Nadeshiko spoke in a formal voice,
|
|
rlm@0
|
390
|
|
rlm@0
|
391 “Ieran-chan, this is my good friend Teddy-chan. He knows an awful lot about the Cards. When you
|
|
rlm@0
|
392 mentioned them I remembered he was hiding in there.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
393
|
|
rlm@0
|
394 Ieran stared at Teddy-chan, then at Nadeshiko as she blurted out,
|
|
rlm@0
|
395
|
|
rlm@0
|
396 “That is Kereberous?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
397
|
|
rlm@0
|
398 Folding his arms and assuming a dignified pose, he answered, “I am known by many names:
|
|
rlm@0
|
399 Kereberous, The Beast of the Seal, Servant of Clow Reed, and Guardian of the Cards, to name but a
|
|
rlm@0
|
400 few.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
401
|
|
rlm@0
|
402 Ieran pressed the comforter against her mouth as she stifled a giggle. With great control she
|
|
rlm@0
|
403 managed to ask,
|
|
rlm@0
|
404
|
|
rlm@0
|
405 “But are you not rather….diminutive to serve such a fearsome role?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
406
|
|
rlm@0
|
407 Fortunately, the irony was lost on the self-important Beast, “My size is of little concern,
|
|
rlm@0
|
408 though, eh-hem, my powers have waned somewhat since the release of the Cards.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
409
|
|
rlm@0
|
410 This made sense to the Chinese girl. The Guardian’s power would be linked to the Cards, and their
|
|
rlm@0
|
411 unleashing would be his undoing. Still, it was difficult to take such a flighty creature
|
|
rlm@0
|
412 seriously. In a challenging tone she asked him,
|
|
rlm@0
|
413
|
|
rlm@0
|
414 “If you are the Guardian, then shouldn’t you know where all the Cards are?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
415
|
|
rlm@0
|
416 At this, Kereberous seemed rather crestfallen. “Well,” He answered hesitantly, “I can sense when
|
|
rlm@0
|
417 they are close, but…”
|
|
rlm@0
|
418
|
|
rlm@0
|
419 Suddenly, Nadeshiko chirped up, “Oh, Teddy-chan is wonderful about the Cards! He was very helpful
|
|
rlm@0
|
420 with Jump, and Fly. He knows so very much about them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
421
|
|
rlm@0
|
422 “Eeeeehh, truly?” Ieran was having a difficult time with all this, but of course was too polite
|
|
rlm@0
|
423 to say so.
|
|
rlm@0
|
424
|
|
rlm@0
|
425 The conversation wound its way through the recent history of Clow Reed’s magical cards. Like the
|
|
rlm@0
|
426 girl herself, Nadeshiko’s narration was elliptical and eccentric, detouring into peculiar
|
|
rlm@0
|
427 thoughts and speculations before Sonomi gently put her back on track. Teddy-chan, as he was now
|
|
rlm@0
|
428 known, interjected modest (and not so modest) observations about his own contributions. Ieran, on
|
|
rlm@0
|
429 the whole, listened, an art she excelled at. Sonomi watched her with increasing interest, waiting
|
|
rlm@0
|
430 for her cousin to pause for breath before asking,
|
|
rlm@0
|
431
|
|
rlm@0
|
432 “Ieran-san, Nadeshiko has told you all about herself. But what about you? Why do you know about
|
|
rlm@0
|
433 the Cards, and what do you want with them?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
434
|
|
rlm@0
|
435 For a brief instant, this query caught the Chinese girl off guard. As she had been trained, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
436 used that instant well, weighing and calculating all the possibilities and implications of a
|
|
rlm@0
|
437 response. She settled for telling the truth, though not all of it. In a formal tone she made her
|
|
rlm@0
|
438 answer,
|
|
rlm@0
|
439
|
|
rlm@0
|
440 “My family claims descent from Clow Reed, creator of the Cards. As future head of the Li
|
|
rlm@0
|
441 Household, I have been designated to investigate the possibility that they have reemerged. As for
|
|
rlm@0
|
442 what I want, well, that is of little enough importance. As the Cards are the… (She paused, nearly
|
|
rlm@0
|
443 saying “property) responsibility of the Li, I am to ensure they are properly dealt with. As for
|
|
rlm@0
|
444 what I know, knowledge is a thing not lightly given. Some things I know, some I do not. But then,
|
|
rlm@0
|
445 not even having seen these cards, one can say little.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
446
|
|
rlm@0
|
447 Nadeshiko looked baffled at first, but then smiled, thinking to herself, such pretty words!
|
|
rlm@0
|
448 Teddy-chan just looked baffled. Sonomi looked at the two and rolled her eyes. As she had all her
|
|
rlm@0
|
449 life, Sonomi explained the subtleties of human conversation to her cousin,
|
|
rlm@0
|
450
|
|
rlm@0
|
451 “She wants to see the Cards.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
452
|
|
rlm@0
|
453 Ieran looked somewhat taken aback at such bluntness, but did not deny the statement. Nadeshiko,
|
|
rlm@0
|
454 smiling as realization dawned, jumped up and rushed to the drawer of her pink and white dresser.
|
|
rlm@0
|
455 Excitedly she babbled,
|
|
rlm@0
|
456
|
|
rlm@0
|
457 “Teddy-chan says I must always keep them safe, so I put them in my very most special drawer. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
458 used to keep my very most special rocks here, but they seemed so unhappy to be in the dark all
|
|
rlm@0
|
459 the time that I let them play in the garden, with beetle san and cicada san and ant san and, oh,
|
|
rlm@0
|
460 here they are!”
|
|
rlm@0
|
461
|
|
rlm@0
|
462 With a flourish she held them up. Ieran could barely conceal her interest as she gazed at the
|
|
rlm@0
|
463 Cards. Wood, Jump, Fly, Flower, Sword. Catching her breath, she felt their magic pulse and throb.
|
|
rlm@0
|
464 She didn’t need her magical finder to know they were real. Seeing Nadeshiko’s flowery signature
|
|
rlm@0
|
465 inspired her with awe, and not a little jealousy. Still, at least they had been sealed. But aside
|
|
rlm@0
|
466 from Sword, they were among the less aggressive Cards. In a reverent whisper she asked,
|
|
rlm@0
|
467
|
|
rlm@0
|
468 “Are these all?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
469
|
|
rlm@0
|
470 “All that I have, yes. Teddy-chan says there are many more, and that they must be gathered up
|
|
rlm@0
|
471 before they cause everybody problems.” Nadeshiko was all too familiar with causing problems,
|
|
rlm@0
|
472 being for many years a sweet one for family and friends.
|
|
rlm@0
|
473
|
|
rlm@0
|
474 Problems, thought Ieran. What a word for this looming apocalypse. Still entranced by a sight that
|
|
rlm@0
|
475 had lain hidden hundreds of years, the Chinese girl muttered,
|
|
rlm@0
|
476
|
|
rlm@0
|
477 “He’s quite right. They must be gathered and sealed quickly.” She looked up at the newly met trio
|
|
rlm@0
|
478 with analytic eyes. It seemed almost preposterous that these three could have been responsible
|
|
rlm@0
|
479 for sealing five of the legendary Clow Cards. But here they were, unmistakably real, and
|
|
rlm@0
|
480 unmistakably sealed. Her mind sifted through the legends and theories of the mysterious and
|
|
rlm@0
|
481 frightening Clow Reed. Her eyes fixed on the winged creature, hovering by Nadeshiko’s side.
|
|
rlm@0
|
482 Ieran’s voice was sharp and curt,
|
|
rlm@0
|
483
|
|
rlm@0
|
484 “You have chosen her, have you not? This is an irrevocable decision, yes?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
485
|
|
rlm@0
|
486 The hovering figure was taken aback, but managed a grave nod.
|
|
rlm@0
|
487
|
|
rlm@0
|
488 “Have you told her of the dangers involved?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
489
|
|
rlm@0
|
490 Teddy-chan shifted nervously in the air as he answered, “Well, yes, sort of, I mean, I don’t know
|
|
rlm@0
|
491 if she quite understands it all.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
492
|
|
rlm@0
|
493 At this, Sonomi jumped in, aggressively querying the newcomer, “What dangers are you talking
|
|
rlm@0
|
494 about?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
495
|
|
rlm@0
|
496
|
|
rlm@0
|
497 Ieran slyly watched the silver haired girl as she spoke, “The Cards hold incalculable power, and
|
|
rlm@0
|
498 pose dire risks for all who would face them.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
499
|
|
rlm@0
|
500 Nadeshiko’s expression was sweetly blank. Either she’s fearless or a fool, thought the
|
|
rlm@0
|
501 black-haired girl. But Sonomi’s response was short and sharp,
|
|
rlm@0
|
502
|
|
rlm@0
|
503 “What risks? What do you mean?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
504
|
|
rlm@0
|
505 Ieran gazed at the intense blue eyes regarding her with barely concealed hostility. Here was a
|
|
rlm@0
|
506 lever to gauge the Card Captor’s strength. This Sonomi would not allow her beloved one to enter
|
|
rlm@0
|
507 danger lightly. Ieran replied in an even tone,
|
|
rlm@0
|
508
|
|
rlm@0
|
509 “I mean what I say. This is a perilous thing, to capture these Cards. I do not know all there is
|
|
rlm@0
|
510 about them. No one does. But I do know this is a deadly serious business.” Now she turned the
|
|
rlm@0
|
511 tables by asking, “You, Sonomi, you care for her. Will you let her face such dangers?”
|
|
rlm@0
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512
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rlm@0
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513 The athletic girl slumped her shoulders and sighed,
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rlm@0
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514
|
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rlm@0
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515 “I don’t like any of this, but I can’t tell her what to do. Nobody can. All I can do is be with
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|
rlm@0
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516 her.”
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rlm@0
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517
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|
rlm@0
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518 If this strong-willed girl cannot control her, surely no one can, thought Ieran.
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rlm@0
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519
|
|
rlm@0
|
520 At that moment, there was a knock on the door. The maid’s voice, “The manservant of Li-san has
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rlm@0
|
521 arrived to take her home”.
|
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rlm@0
|
522
|
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rlm@0
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523 With hugs and goodbyes from Nadeshiko, and a stiff formal bow from a worried Sonomi, Ieran left
|
|
rlm@0
|
524 the Amamiya mansion. The sky was crystal clear after the rain, stars blazing in the newly washed
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rlm@0
|
525 sky. On the way home, Ieran suddenly asked the old servant,
|
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rlm@0
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526
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|
rlm@0
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527 “Wei, please stop at that little park we passed before, the one with the lake.”
|
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rlm@0
|
528
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rlm@0
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529 “Yes, Ieran-sama.” He did not protest that the night was late, since tomorrow was not a school
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rlm@0
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530 day. He had learned long ago that, even as her appointed guardian, with so strong-willed a child
|
|
rlm@0
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531 he must pick his battles carefully. As he pulled over to the curb, she asked him to wait, in a
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rlm@0
|
532 tone that meant she wished to be alone.
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|
rlm@0
|
533
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rlm@0
|
534 Walking through the empty park, leaves laden with fresh rainwater, Ieran delighted in the wetness
|
|
rlm@0
|
535 all around her. She loved parks, the little swath of green in the busy, noisy city. She saw a
|
|
rlm@0
|
536 couple together, close together, sitting on one of the park benches. This caused her to blush.
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rlm@0
|
537 Walking a little faster, clutching the white sweater Nadeshiko’s mother had given her. Finally
|
|
rlm@0
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538 she came to the lake, spring fed, she sensed, laced with the recent rains, but calm and placid
|
|
rlm@0
|
539 now. It was a very good lake. Slipping off the sweater and hanging it on a nearby tree, she
|
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rlm@0
|
540 stooped down, gazing at the reflection of a thousand thousand lights. Crossing her arms on her
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rlm@0
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541 breast, she felt the chill air through the delicate yukata. With a deep breath, she began.
|
|
rlm@0
|
542
|
|
rlm@0
|
543 She willed her mind to stillness, as still as the black sky that held the dancing stars, as still
|
|
rlm@0
|
544 as the lake before her. Kneeling gracefully at the edge of earth, air, and water, she softly
|
|
rlm@0
|
545 chanted a call for Vision. And Vision came, shimmering on the dark water. She opened her eyes and
|
|
rlm@0
|
546 saw three figures, battered, shaken, pressed against a gray stone wall. In the center was
|
|
rlm@0
|
547 Nadeshiko, gripping a magical staff, illuminated by some unearthly light. Shielding the glowing
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|
rlm@0
|
548 girl was the one with curious hair, Sonomi. Bruised and bloodied, blue eyes defiant, she braced
|
|
rlm@0
|
549 herself for what was to come. And by their side Ieran saw herself, clad in her finest robes, the
|
|
rlm@0
|
550 robes of a water mage passed down through generations uncounted. Her face was dirty, and she saw
|
|
rlm@0
|
551 the dreaded Fear in her eyes as she concentrated on a spell. A teasing little breeze rippled the
|
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rlm@0
|
552 surface of the waters, and the vision fled.
|
|
rlm@0
|
553
|
|
rlm@0
|
554 She knelt for a long time, eyes fixed on the water. She had learned in her few years not to force
|
|
rlm@0
|
555 the images, not to over analyze or think about them too much. It was like seeing for a brief
|
|
rlm@0
|
556 moment 2 or 3 pieces from a massive jigsaw puzzle, the sort her mother loved to assemble on rainy
|
|
rlm@0
|
557 nights. There was no way to know the entire picture from those few pieces. All you could do was
|
|
rlm@0
|
558 remember the fragments, and hope they would give you some little guidance when the time was
|
|
rlm@0
|
559 right. Ieran rose, and straightened out the delicate summer kimono. It was wet at the knees, but
|
|
rlm@0
|
560 happily not dirty, for she had been careful to kneel on the grass. It would be a shame to ruin
|
|
rlm@0
|
561 such a pretty thing. For a moment she thought of the yukata’s owner, another pretty thing.
|
|
rlm@0
|
562 Flowing, silvery hair, green, green eyes, enchanting smile… Ieran blushed to be so close to her,
|
|
rlm@0
|
563 even in such an indirect manner. Well, the yukata gives me a reason to go back, to see her again,
|
|
rlm@0
|
564 she thought happily. She slipped on the white sweater and began to walk
|
|
rlm@0
|
565
|
|
rlm@0
|
566 Strolling towards the car, she gazed at the stars and begged their blessing. She was grateful for
|
|
rlm@0
|
567 having come so far in so short a time. She had seen the Cards, and the girl who captured them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
568 She had met the Seal Beast, though his diminutive form made her smile even now. And she had been
|
|
rlm@0
|
569 given a glimpse of a future, her future, seemingly entwined with that of the one who had captured
|
|
rlm@0
|
570 five of the legendary Cards. It was a strange vision, in a strange country, but good to have for
|
|
rlm@0
|
571 all that. Approaching the car, the ever vigilant Wei leapt out and opened the door. She bowed and
|
|
rlm@0
|
572 smiled a greeting and then slipped into the back seat. In the warm and cozy car the utterly
|
|
rlm@0
|
573 exhausted Ieran fell asleep, and when they arrived home the old man carried her off to bed.
|
|
rlm@0
|
574 Uncertain what to do with the drowsing girl, he tucked her in, yukata and all. That night she
|
|
rlm@0
|
575 dreamt of three black and white cranes, soaring together through a limitless blue sky. But when
|
|
rlm@0
|
576 she awoke the storm had come again, and the thunder rasped out a warning that all dreams must
|
|
rlm@0
|
577 end. |
