|
rlm@2
|
1 Cardcaptor Nadeshiko
|
|
rlm@2
|
2 Chapter 4
|
|
rlm@2
|
3 by
|
|
rlm@2
|
4 Amazoness Duo
|
|
rlm@2
|
5 and
|
|
rlm@2
|
6 G.P.
|
|
rlm@2
|
7 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
|
|
rlm@2
|
8 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
|
|
rlm@2
|
9
|
|
rlm@2
|
10 I.
|
|
rlm@2
|
11 Nadeshiko sat huddled by the windowsill, intent on the rays of sunshine filtering through the
|
|
rlm@2
|
12 glass. With emerald eyes, she scrutinized the delicate crystal swan cradled in her hands. Suddenly, the light caught a new facet of the beveled wing, showering the tatami mat with a
|
|
rlm@2
|
13 fiery rainbow of color. The little girl let out a shrieking squeal of delight at this latest
|
|
rlm@2
|
14 display. Fascinated by the morning’s little light show, she remained oblivious to the
|
|
rlm@2
|
15 footsteps growing louder on the stairs. Nor did she notice the gentle rapping on the door
|
|
rlm@2
|
16 that soon became a frantic pounding. Not even the worried voice of the old man could rouse
|
|
rlm@2
|
17 her,
|
|
rlm@2
|
18
|
|
rlm@2
|
19 "Miss? Little Miss? Are you all right? Please open the door. I’ll have to break it down if...,
|
|
rlm@2
|
20 oh, oh, it’s not locked. Forgive me, Miss, but I am opening the door now. Oh, I hope she is
|
|
rlm@2
|
21 all right. I hope she is all right."
|
|
rlm@2
|
22
|
|
rlm@2
|
23
|
|
rlm@2
|
24 Through wars, typhoons, and earthquakes, the old man had served three generations of
|
|
rlm@2
|
25 Amamiyas, but rarely had he known such fear. Peering into the enormous sunroom of the
|
|
rlm@2
|
26 family's summer cottage, he saw the little girl curled up into a ball by the shimmering
|
|
rlm@2
|
27 picture window. She was utterly still and motionless, and his heart sank. Tottering over
|
|
rlm@2
|
28 as quickly as his ancient legs would go, he reached with a trembling hand and gently touched
|
|
rlm@2
|
29 her shoulder. In a halting whisper he asked,
|
|
rlm@2
|
30
|
|
rlm@2
|
31
|
|
rlm@2
|
32 "Nadeshiko-sama, are you all right?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
33
|
|
rlm@2
|
34
|
|
rlm@2
|
35 Reacting to the tentative touch, the little girl suddenly whirled around, all smiles. In
|
|
rlm@2
|
36 a cheery, sing-song voice she replied,
|
|
rlm@2
|
37
|
|
rlm@2
|
38
|
|
rlm@2
|
39 "Hai, ojiisan. Look at all the colors! Aren't they beautiful? Where do they come from? Are
|
|
rlm@2
|
40 the colors inside the crystal? How do they get out? How do they all fit in? Does the sunlight
|
|
rlm@2
|
41 unlock them somehow? I have to ask grandfather, but he won't be back until tomorrow. I know!
|
|
rlm@2
|
42 I'll ask Teddy-chan. He knows lots of things."
|
|
rlm@2
|
43
|
|
rlm@2
|
44
|
|
rlm@2
|
45 Clutching the crystal swan, the girl dashed down the hallway to her room, silvery hair
|
|
rlm@2
|
46 trailing like the wisps of a little cloud. The old man slumped to the floor, letting out a
|
|
rlm@2
|
47 slow, relieved breath. Smiling at last, he thought, "I hope her imaginary friend has better
|
|
rlm@2
|
48 nerves than I."
|
|
rlm@2
|
49
|
|
rlm@2
|
50 Except that this particular imaginary friend was anything but. Teddy-chan, or Kereberous, as he
|
|
rlm@2
|
51 preferred, spun the top and watched with glee as it zipped across the floor. Hovering in the
|
|
rlm@2
|
52 air like a hummingbird, he followed the spinning toy on its journey across the parquet floor.
|
|
rlm@2
|
53 When the breathless girl burst through the door, He jumped in surprise, then smiled with
|
|
rlm@2
|
54 satisfaction at the thought, "The legendary Cardcaptor. And I found her."
|
|
rlm@2
|
55
|
|
rlm@2
|
56 Standing before him, catching her breath after running down the lengthy hallway, the girl
|
|
rlm@2
|
57 suddenly burst out,
|
|
rlm@2
|
58 "Teddy-chan, what makes the colors in my swan?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
59
|
|
rlm@2
|
60 Then, remembering her manners, she suddenly dipped a bow before continuing, "Ohayo,
|
|
rlm@2
|
61 Teddy-chan. Do you know what makes the colors happen when the sunlight is on my swan? I was
|
|
rlm@2
|
62 going to ask grandfather, but he won't be back until tomorrow. Do you know?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
63
|
|
rlm@2
|
64
|
|
rlm@2
|
65 Folding his arms and bowing his head with thoughtful concern, the Seal Beast called upon
|
|
rlm@2
|
66 his ageless wisdom to answer his eager pupil,
|
|
rlm@2
|
67
|
|
rlm@2
|
68 "Colors, yes, of course, of course. The colors happen because, well, it is hard to explain
|
|
rlm@2
|
69 exactly why the colors happen the way they do. Perhaps you could show me which colors you
|
|
rlm@2
|
70 mean?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
71
|
|
rlm@2
|
72 The little girl gleefully produced the sparkling crystal, and shifted it in the morning light
|
|
rlm@2
|
73 streaming through her window. Suddenly, a dazzling blue-green ray flashed forth, lighting up
|
|
rlm@2
|
74 the wall in a tiny rainbow. Teddy gaped in wonder as Nadeshiko giggled in delight.
|
|
rlm@2
|
75
|
|
rlm@2
|
76 "How, how did you...what is that?" He stared in amazement. At first, the girl had seemed
|
|
rlm@2
|
77 the unlikeliest of Card Captors. Had he not seen the capricious Flower obey her without
|
|
rlm@2
|
78 hesitation, he would never have believed it. No one would pick her out of a crowd as the
|
|
rlm@2
|
79 successor to the fearsome Clow Reed. His memories of the great magician were vague and dark,
|
|
rlm@2
|
80 much like the man himself. He remembered a quiet and reserved figure who could command with a
|
|
rlm@2
|
81 glance, and force submission with the slightest of gestures. One by one, the mightiest of Hong
|
|
rlm@2
|
82 Kong had challenged him, and in the end all had failed. His power seemed without limit, and in
|
|
rlm@2
|
83 the end it twisted his soul and he became fell and frightful. Hazier still were the Beast’s
|
|
rlm@2
|
84 feelings for his master. Sometimes at night he lay awake and the memories took him, memories
|
|
rlm@2
|
85 of fear, love, and awe. And now, bringing him more confusion was this girl.
|
|
rlm@2
|
86
|
|
rlm@2
|
87
|
|
rlm@2
|
88 Guarding the Cards for so long, he had nearly forgotten his purpose, the last command of his
|
|
rlm@2
|
89 Master. Though every sign pointed to her, he still could not shed his doubts that something had
|
|
rlm@2
|
90 gone wrong, and that this girl, though obviously connected to the Cards, was not the one. But
|
|
rlm@2
|
91 he had made his choice, and would stick it out to the bitter end. And bitter it would be should
|
|
rlm@2
|
92 she fail. Shaking off these hidden doubts, the fluttering beast returned to his learned lecture,
|
|
rlm@2
|
93
|
|
rlm@2
|
94 "This magical light is a mystery, and hard to explain. But as you gather more Cards, and
|
|
rlm@2
|
95 more power, it will all become clear to you."
|
|
rlm@2
|
96
|
|
rlm@2
|
97 With wide eyes the girl stared at him, smiling in delight. Suddenly she grabbed him, squeezing
|
|
rlm@2
|
98 the little creature frantically as she sang out,
|
|
rlm@2
|
99
|
|
rlm@2
|
100 Oh, thank you, Teddy-chan! I can’t wait to have more friends. I love Jump and Flower so much!
|
|
rlm@2
|
101 When do you think we can find more Cards? Where do you think they are?
|
|
rlm@2
|
102
|
|
rlm@2
|
103 Squirming away, the blushing, exasperated Beast of the Seal struggled to maintain his cool,
|
|
rlm@2
|
104
|
|
rlm@2
|
105 “I don’t know where they are. They, they have their own minds, and some of them are a bit, well,
|
|
rlm@2
|
106 erratic. But they won't all be as easy to find and capture as Jump.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
107
|
|
rlm@2
|
108 Nadeshiko gazed earnestly at the ruffled Teddy-chan,
|
|
rlm@2
|
109
|
|
rlm@2
|
110 “That’s all right. I know we can find them if we try our hardest.” The girl rose and walked
|
|
rlm@2
|
111 lightly to the window that overlooked the forest encircling the lake. Lost in thought she
|
|
rlm@2
|
112 whispered to herself,
|
|
rlm@2
|
113
|
|
rlm@2
|
114 “I wonder if there are any in there?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
115
|
|
rlm@2
|
116
|
|
rlm@2
|
117 II.
|
|
rlm@2
|
118 Nadeshiko sat on the grass and arranged the folds of her voluminous blue satin dress. It was a
|
|
rlm@2
|
119 gift from her grandfather, and Teddy said that a Card Captor should be properly attired so as to
|
|
rlm@2
|
120 impress the Cards with her grandeur. This was the grandest thing she could think of wearing,
|
|
rlm@2
|
121 though it made walking through the tight undergrowth of the forest a little difficult. Finally
|
|
rlm@2
|
122 satisfied, she unpacked her o-bento. The chef had made it for her, delighted by the oohs and
|
|
rlm@2
|
123 ahhs of his appreciative audience of one. She nibbled the cold, sticky rice with her chopsticks
|
|
rlm@2
|
124 and listened to the distant rumble of a summer thunderstorm. But here it was sunny and bright; a
|
|
rlm@2
|
125 hot, humid, lazy summer day that lulled the senses. Crunching on a pink, pickled radish, she
|
|
rlm@2
|
126 thought of all the cards that might lie in wait inside the woods. So eager to begin looking that
|
|
rlm@2
|
127 she rose before dawn, then slipped out of the summer mansion with only the chef knowing she was
|
|
rlm@2
|
128 awake. Even Teddy-chan snored through it all, she thought with a giggle.
|
|
rlm@2
|
129
|
|
rlm@2
|
130 Nadeshiko yawned and stretched, running her fingers through the green blades of grass in the
|
|
rlm@2
|
131 little dale. All that morning and much of the afternoon she searched the woods with no sign of
|
|
rlm@2
|
132 the cards. The forest was so much larger than she remembered from walks with her mother and
|
|
rlm@2
|
133 grandfather. It was also hard to get one's bearings. There were so many wonderful trees! Each
|
|
rlm@2
|
134 one looked and somehow felt different, and yet it seemed like she was seeing the same trees
|
|
rlm@2
|
135 while walking about. This was an odd puzzle, but it really didn't matter. Here was a beautiful
|
|
rlm@2
|
136 day, and she was eating a yummy lunch on the soft, soft, grass. That she was hopelessly lost
|
|
rlm@2
|
137 never occurred to her, and even if it had, the thought would have left her placidly unconcerned.
|
|
rlm@2
|
138 Full after eating only half of the delicious o-bento, the girl carefully re-wrapped it and then
|
|
rlm@2
|
139 curled up in the shade of a massive oak tree. Sleep came swiftly, and as she drowsed the
|
|
rlm@2
|
140 afternoon away, squirrels and birds peered in silent amazement at the strange little sleeping
|
|
rlm@2
|
141 beauty.
|
|
rlm@2
|
142
|
|
rlm@2
|
143 All was not silent at the Amamiya summer mansion. After the disappearance of little
|
|
rlm@2
|
144 Nadeshiko-sama became known, the household was in chaos. The tearful chef only knew she had
|
|
rlm@2
|
145 taken her o-bento dressed in a beautiful blue outfit that was entirely inappropriate for out of
|
|
rlm@2
|
146 doors. But a thorough search of the massive mansion had turned up nothing, and the searchers
|
|
rlm@2
|
147 reluctantly expanded their scope to include the grounds and lake. With fear and trepedation they
|
|
rlm@2
|
148 phoned Amamiya-sama, who rushed to the mansion. Stepping out of his limousine, he quickly took
|
|
rlm@2
|
149 charge of the frantic servants and organized search parties to find his missing granddaughter.
|
|
rlm@2
|
150 In his wake was a stunned-looking Sonomi, who had insisted on accompanying him when she
|
|
rlm@2
|
151 discovered his reason for leaving the family's long-planned Sunday dinner. As the large bearded
|
|
rlm@2
|
152 man grimly set the gardeners to dragging the lake, Sonomi slipped away and rushed to the room
|
|
rlm@2
|
153 her cousin had been staying. Bursting through the door, she found a nervous Seal Beast peering
|
|
rlm@2
|
154 out the window. Without pause she demanded frantically,
|
|
rlm@2
|
155
|
|
rlm@2
|
156 "Where is she?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
157
|
|
rlm@2
|
158 Teddy-chan spun about in surprise, then slumped to the ground,
|
|
rlm@2
|
159
|
|
rlm@2
|
160 "I don't know."
|
|
rlm@2
|
161
|
|
rlm@2
|
162 Sonomi snapped back angrily,
|
|
rlm@2
|
163
|
|
rlm@2
|
164 "What do you mean, you don't know? I thought you were her guardian or something?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
165
|
|
rlm@2
|
166 Teddy looked to the side, avoiding the ice-blue eyes of the furious child. In a quiet voice he
|
|
rlm@2
|
167 replied,
|
|
rlm@2
|
168
|
|
rlm@2
|
169 "She left while I was asleep. I heard the chef telling them she got her lunch before it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
170 light. But nobody knows where she went. I heard someone say that with the lake she may have..."
|
|
rlm@2
|
171 The words died in his throat.
|
|
rlm@2
|
172
|
|
rlm@2
|
173 Sonomi dropped to the floor, her anger giving way to despair. For several minutes she sat on the
|
|
rlm@2
|
174 floor, trying not to sob. Finally, she blinked her eyes and spoke to the Seal Beast in a
|
|
rlm@2
|
175 carefully measured tone,
|
|
rlm@2
|
176
|
|
rlm@2
|
177 "Nadeshiko-chan would never go swimming all by herself, so she didn’t drown in the lake. She
|
|
rlm@2
|
178 must be somewhere else. Did she give you any clue? Did she say anything at all about where she
|
|
rlm@2
|
179 might be?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
180
|
|
rlm@2
|
181 Looking up in surprise, Teddy chan suddenly grew thoughtful. He spoke slowly, struggling to
|
|
rlm@2
|
182 remember every detail,
|
|
rlm@2
|
183
|
|
rlm@2
|
184 "Last night she was talking about the cards, asking me where they might be. Oh, yes, she said
|
|
rlm@2
|
185 something about wondering where they might be while she was looking out the window."
|
|
rlm@2
|
186
|
|
rlm@2
|
187 Revelation spread across both their faces as they simultaniously sprang up and ran to the
|
|
rlm@2
|
188 massive picture window. The vast forest spread out before them, a fiery red carpet of trees lit
|
|
rlm@2
|
189 by the westering sun. The girl and the diminutive Seal Beast looked at each other and nodded.
|
|
rlm@2
|
190 Sonomi whispered,
|
|
rlm@2
|
191
|
|
rlm@2
|
192 "It’ll be dark soon, so I’ll go find a flashlight. We can't tell them why she went there, so
|
|
rlm@2
|
193 make sure nobody sees us."
|
|
rlm@2
|
194
|
|
rlm@2
|
195 With that, the girl dashed out the door. In a few minutes she returned, flashlight in hand. In
|
|
rlm@2
|
196 stealthy silence, the two slipped out of the house and vanished into the woods.
|
|
rlm@2
|
197
|
|
rlm@2
|
198 III.
|
|
rlm@2
|
199
|
|
rlm@2
|
200 Still as a statue, the little girl sat bathed in moonlight. It helped when her eyes were closed,
|
|
rlm@2
|
201 so she was oblivious to the little cloud of fireflies dancing about her head. There was no doubt
|
|
rlm@2
|
202 that a Clow Card was nearby. It was sort of like being hungry before the big New Year's dinner.
|
|
rlm@2
|
203 Even if you weren’t allowed in the kitchen, you could sense the delicacies being prepared. In
|
|
rlm@2
|
204 the same way she knew the Clow card was nearby, it's scent wafting in from the forest. She could
|
|
rlm@2
|
205 feel it watching her, hesitant but interested. At first, she had pursued it through the
|
|
rlm@2
|
206 impenetrable forest, but the mysterious card always stayed a step ahead. Laughing quietly to
|
|
rlm@2
|
207 herself, she wished she had Sonomi's speed so she could run and catch it. But with all the trees
|
|
rlm@2
|
208 everywhere, such speed probably wouldn't be very useful, anyway. For the same reason, she had
|
|
rlm@2
|
209 rejected the idea of using Jump. So she resolved to simply sit and wait, and let the card come
|
|
rlm@2
|
210 to her when it wanted to. It was like meeting someone new at school. At first, they would be
|
|
rlm@2
|
211 shy and hesitant, even if they wanted to be friends. She was certain the card would like to meet
|
|
rlm@2
|
212 her, but perhaps it was afraid, too. So, instead of chasing and scaring it away, she sat down in
|
|
rlm@2
|
213 the little clearing and waited. She was a surprisingly patient girl, and could be very good at
|
|
rlm@2
|
214 waiting when she wanted to.
|
|
rlm@2
|
215
|
|
rlm@2
|
216 Further away in the forest, Sonomi was also sitting. But unlike her cousin, she was not waiting
|
|
rlm@2
|
217 patiently, but thinking frantically. All that kept a river of tears from flowing was her
|
|
rlm@2
|
218 desperate resolution to find Nadeshiko. She willed herself not to cry. Crying would be an
|
|
rlm@2
|
219 admission of defeat and an acknowledgement that something terrible had happened to her beautiful
|
|
rlm@2
|
220 cousin, and neither possibility was acceptable. So instead, she sat deep in thought, puzzling
|
|
rlm@2
|
221 out the girl’s disappearance. Finally she looked up at the hovering Seal Beast and asked,
|
|
rlm@2
|
222
|
|
rlm@2
|
223 “Where is the Clow Card?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
224
|
|
rlm@2
|
225 The fluttering creature, startled by the sudden break in the silence, gave her a curious look,
|
|
rlm@2
|
226 “Eh?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
227
|
|
rlm@2
|
228 She repeated herself patiently, “Do you know where the Clow Card is that she is looking for?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
229
|
|
rlm@2
|
230 Shaking his head, Teddy-chan scanned the dark woods and answered,
|
|
rlm@2
|
231
|
|
rlm@2
|
232 “My powers are diminished in this form, but it seems to be over there somewhere.” He gestured
|
|
rlm@2
|
233 towards the Northeast with a little paw. “But even if she is following it, she could be
|
|
rlm@2
|
234 anywhere.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
235
|
|
rlm@2
|
236 Sonomi frowned as she stood, dusting off the leaves from her skirt. With a quick breath and a
|
|
rlm@2
|
237 smile, she faced the flying creature and said, “No, she isn’t anywhere. She has to be somewhere.
|
|
rlm@2
|
238 But we’ll never know just where by sitting here. She must be following the card, and if it’s
|
|
rlm@2
|
239 that’s where it is, then she is, too. Let’s go.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
240
|
|
rlm@2
|
241 With that, they plunged into the forest. After a few moments, Teddy-chan stopped and pulled a
|
|
rlm@2
|
242 small strip of blue fabric from a bramble bush. Holding it out to Sonomi he asked, “What’s this?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
243
|
|
rlm@2
|
244 Sonomi took the fabric and turned it over in her hands. It was made of sleek satin, colored a
|
|
rlm@2
|
245 vibrant cobalt-blue. The girl instantly broke out in a broad grin and exclaimed, “That’s
|
|
rlm@2
|
246 Nadeshiko’s! It’s from a dress grandfather gave her for Christmas, I’m sure of it! And this
|
|
rlm@2
|
247 break in the trees looks like some sort trail. She must have gone this way.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
248
|
|
rlm@2
|
249 The Seal Beast smiled and nodded, and they both rushed down the pathway. As they walked,
|
|
rlm@2
|
250 Sonomi’s flashlight illuminated other scraps of Nadeshiko’s dress. Following these inadvertent
|
|
rlm@2
|
251 little signposts, they eventually came to edge of a clearing. There they stopped, both staring
|
|
rlm@2
|
252 open-mouthed at the moonlit scene before them.
|
|
rlm@2
|
253
|
|
rlm@2
|
254 At the other end of the little dale, perhaps a hundred feet away, Nadeshiko sat in her tattered
|
|
rlm@2
|
255 dress. In front of her stood Flower. The strange woman was fidgety, shifting back and forth as
|
|
rlm@2
|
256 if standing still was unbearable. Practically entwined with her was another woman, all clad in
|
|
rlm@2
|
257 green, luminous and shimmering, gently swaying in the breeze that rustled through the branches
|
|
rlm@2
|
258 above them. Nadeshiko’s musical laughter carried over the field like a bell. When the shock of
|
|
rlm@2
|
259 this sight wore off, Sonomi let out a shout mingled with relief and exultation and began to run.
|
|
rlm@2
|
260 The green-tinged woman was startled, and seemed ready to bolt, but Flower hugged her tightly,
|
|
rlm@2
|
261 soothing her with reassuring caresses. Nadeshiko turned about, smiled as she rose, and leapt
|
|
rlm@2
|
262 into the arms of her onrushing cousin.
|
|
rlm@2
|
263
|
|
rlm@2
|
264 The two girls embraced in joy and relief. After several minutes they separated, and Sonomi gazed
|
|
rlm@2
|
265 at her cousin in horror. The pretty face was bruised and scratched, a trickle of blood on her
|
|
rlm@2
|
266 pale, slender neck. The silvery-gray hair was in disarray, entangled with twigs and leaves. Her
|
|
rlm@2
|
267 dress was torn and ripped, and one shoe was missing. Trembling fearfully, Sonomi somehow managed
|
|
rlm@2
|
268 to whisper,
|
|
rlm@2
|
269
|
|
rlm@2
|
270 “Nadeshiko-chan, are, are you all right?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
271
|
|
rlm@2
|
272 Holding her cousin’s hands, the disheveled girl smiled and burst out enthusiastically,
|
|
rlm@2
|
273
|
|
rlm@2
|
274 “Hai! I feel wonderful. I just knew that Wood-sama was here somewhere, and that she was afraid.
|
|
rlm@2
|
275 That’s why I asked Flower-sama to talk with her, to let her know that I just wanted to be
|
|
rlm@2
|
276 friends. Isn’t she beautiful, Sonomi-chan? Oh, I’m so sorry, I haven’t introduced you.
|
|
rlm@2
|
277 Sonomi-chan, this is my wonderful new friend Wood-sama. Wood-sama, this is my very best friend
|
|
rlm@2
|
278 and cousin, Sonomi-chan.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
279
|
|
rlm@2
|
280 The auburn-haired girl looked slightly flustered as she bowed. Flower leaned over and giggled as
|
|
rlm@2
|
281 she whispered something in Wood’s ear. Wood blushed as she bowed, eyeing Sonomi curiously. A
|
|
rlm@2
|
282 little coughing fit interrupted the proceedings, and Nadeshiko quickly added,
|
|
rlm@2
|
283
|
|
rlm@2
|
284 “Oh, and this is Teddy-chan, the Beast of the Seal, who is also my friend.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
285
|
|
rlm@2
|
286 “Long time, no see,” The flying figure announced in a suave voice. Flower curtsied and again
|
|
rlm@2
|
287 whispered into Wood’s ear, reducing them both to giggles as they regarded the diminutive
|
|
rlm@2
|
288 guardian. Teddy ignored this possible affront to his dignity as Sonomi, still looking at the
|
|
rlm@2
|
289 battered Nadeshiko, spoke up,
|
|
rlm@2
|
290
|
|
rlm@2
|
291 “We should get home. Everyone is very worried.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
292
|
|
rlm@2
|
293 Nadeshiko placed her pointer finger to her cheek, trying to figure out just why anyone had cause
|
|
rlm@2
|
294 to worry. Speaking with authority, Teddy addressed the silver-haired girl,
|
|
rlm@2
|
295
|
|
rlm@2
|
296 “Nadeshiko-chan, there is something that still needs to be done. Do you have your staff?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
297
|
|
rlm@2
|
298 The girl brightened, nodding her head enthusiastically as she answered, “Hai.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
299
|
|
rlm@2
|
300 Stepping forward, straightening out the remnants of her cobalt-blue dress, she bowed to the
|
|
rlm@2
|
301 verdant woman and spoke,
|
|
rlm@2
|
302
|
|
rlm@2
|
303 “Wood-sama, if I may?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
304
|
|
rlm@2
|
305 Wood took a tentative step forward. She looked carefully at the little girl and smiled. Crossing
|
|
rlm@2
|
306 her folded hands on her breast and closing her eyes, she waited. Nadeshiko glanced at the Seal
|
|
rlm@2
|
307 Beast, who nodded, and then carefully touched the woman’s forehead with her staff as she spoke
|
|
rlm@2
|
308 the chant,
|
|
rlm@2
|
309
|
|
rlm@2
|
310 “Clow Card, return to your true form.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
311
|
|
rlm@2
|
312 The light burst forth, swirling, and eddying around The Wood. As if she had turned to liquid,
|
|
rlm@2
|
313 she flowed into a shimmering card that appeared out of nowhere. The card dropped to the grass,
|
|
rlm@2
|
314 and Nadeshiko picked it up. As she did, Sonomi heard Teddy mutter to himself,
|
|
rlm@2
|
315
|
|
rlm@2
|
316 “They won’t all be this easy.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
317
|
|
rlm@2
|
318 IV.
|
|
rlm@2
|
319
|
|
rlm@2
|
320 For punishment, the cousins were confined to their room for the weekend. It wasn’t much of a
|
|
rlm@2
|
321 punishment, as the pair chatted and played the days away as if at a slumber party. After a long,
|
|
rlm@2
|
322 soaking bath, Nadeshiko looked as good as new, save for a few scratches and a bruised shoulder.
|
|
rlm@2
|
323 Reassured, Sonomi offered to comb out her tangled hair. Nadeshiko sat on the futon, facing away
|
|
rlm@2
|
324 from Sonomi who sat cross-legged behind her. It was difficult work, with many a tug and pull,
|
|
rlm@2
|
325 despite her gentle care. Through it all, Nadeshiko was silent, without so much as a whimper.
|
|
rlm@2
|
326 Working a particularly stubborn mat with her fingers, the auburn-haired girl said,
|
|
rlm@2
|
327
|
|
rlm@2
|
328 “Nadeshiko-chan, your hair is so fine and so long, this is almost impossible. Please don’t ever,
|
|
rlm@2
|
329 ever do that again.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
330
|
|
rlm@2
|
331 “Do what again, Sonomi-chan?” the girl asked.
|
|
rlm@2
|
332
|
|
rlm@2
|
333 Sonomi considered her answer carefully. She knew she wanted Nadeshiko to give up this crazy card
|
|
rlm@2
|
334 capturing. Never had she been so frightened as yesterday. But even if she wanted to control
|
|
rlm@2
|
335 Nadeshiko, she just couldn’t. It would be like caging a beautiful bird. You could make her safe
|
|
rlm@2
|
336 by taking away her freedom, but you couldn’t make her happy. And nothing meant more to
|
|
rlm@2
|
337 Sonomi-chan than her cousin’s happiness. With a reluctant little sigh, she replied softly,
|
|
rlm@2
|
338
|
|
rlm@2
|
339 “Don’t go running into the woods with your hair all loose. Let me put it up into braids or
|
|
rlm@2
|
340 something.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
341
|
|
rlm@2
|
342 “I’d like that, Sonomi-chan. I love when you do my hair.” The girl snuggled comfortably against
|
|
rlm@2
|
343 Sonomi’s legs as they sat on the futon. Sonomi found herself blushing as she added,
|
|
rlm@2
|
344
|
|
rlm@2
|
345 “And please don’t go after the cards without me. Please tell me before you go, because I want to
|
|
rlm@2
|
346 be with you.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
347
|
|
rlm@2
|
348 In her sweetly musical voice, the little Card Captor answered, “I’d like that. It’s nice to be
|
|
rlm@2
|
349 with Sonomi-chan.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
350
|
|
rlm@2
|
351 “Promise?” Sonomi asked.
|
|
rlm@2
|
352
|
|
rlm@2
|
353 “Hai, I promise.” The lilting voice replied.
|
|
rlm@2
|
354
|
|
rlm@2
|
355 Sonomi placed the comb and brush down and hugged her cousin, laying against her back, closing
|
|
rlm@2
|
356 her eyes and nestling her cheek in the girl’s sparkling, silvery hair. Still as a fawn in a
|
|
rlm@2
|
357 moonlit clearing, Nadeshiko whispered,
|
|
rlm@2
|
358
|
|
rlm@2
|
359 “I love you, Sonomi-chan.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
360
|
|
rlm@2
|
361 Sonomi caught her breath and opened her eyes. Trembling, her heart racing, she hugged the
|
|
rlm@2
|
362 slender form fiercely and closed her eyes. She was ecstatic, relieved, and uncertain. At long
|
|
rlm@2
|
363 last, she could cry.
|
|
rlm@2
|
364
|
|
rlm@2
|
365
|
|
rlm@2
|
366
|
|
rlm@2
|
367
|
|
rlm@2
|
368
|
|
rlm@2
|
369
|
|
rlm@2
|
370
|
|
rlm@2
|
371
|
|
rlm@2
|
372
|
|
rlm@2
|
373
|
|
rlm@2
|
374
|
|
rlm@2
|
375
|
|
rlm@2
|
376
|
