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     1.4 +Cardcaptor Nadeshiko
     1.5 +Chapter 7
     1.6 +by 
     1.7 +Amazoness Duo
     1.8 +and
     1.9 +G.P.
    1.10 +amazonessduo@hotmail.com
    1.11 +pearsong1954@yahoo.com
    1.12 +
    1.13 +
    1.14 +I.
    1.15 +“Nadeshiko?”
    1.16 +
    1.17 +A breeze stirred the branches of the little tree, leaves vibrating merrily, beckoning the young
    1.18 +girl’s attention. One day she was nearly frantic with excitement while talking to a classmate
    1.19 +about all the different leaves on that very tree. But her friend laughed, saying they all looked
    1.20 +the same to her. It seemed incomprehensible to the silver-haired child that someone really
    1.21 +couldn’t see how each leaf had a life, a personality, and, as fall crept closer, a death all its
    1.22 +own. For Nadeshiko, leaves were like rocks and cats and clouds and people: all thrumming with
    1.23 +life, their own little life, yet connected to one another by shimmering threads. Only slowly was
    1.24 +she realizing that many people, perhaps most people, did not, or could not, see this.
    1.25 +
    1.26 +“Nadeshiko?”
    1.27 +
    1.28 +It was sort of like numbers, she mused. That thought reminded her of the math homework, and
    1.29 +mentally she reconstructed her actions from that morning to ensure the assignment had been placed
    1.30 +in her school bag. At first, she had done dreadfully at arithmetic, staring at the paper filled
    1.31 +with columns of numbers in utter bafflement. Her father, though patient as always, had nearly
    1.32 +despaired of her ever learning even the basics of the subject. One day, he told her earnestly
    1.33 +that she wasn’t listening to what the numbers told her. This was intriguing, and she took note.
    1.34 +For days she focused with a frightening singularity, skipping meals, conversations, and sleep to
    1.35 +gaze at the numbers carefully etched onto paper.
    1.36 +
    1.37 +“Amamiya Nadeshiko.”
    1.38 +
    1.39 +Finally, sitting bleary-eyed at her desk early one morning, she heard a faint whispering. It was
    1.40 +3. 3 was the boldest number, the first to break the long silence. Enthralled, excited, but
    1.41 +careful not to frighten her new numerical friend, Nadeshiko smiled, listened, and eventually fell
    1.42 +into a merry conversation. Her parents found her that morning, chattering excitedly to a piece of
    1.43 +paper. In a panic they nearly rushed her to the hospital. But when she came to everything seemed
    1.44 +all right, or at least as all right as can be with such an unusual child. From that time on
    1.45 +Nadeshiko’s grades in mathematics improved, one might even say soared, and it became her favorite
    1.46 +subject. Once she even approached a teacher, asking apprehensively if it was cheating when the
    1.47 +numbers told her the answers. 
    1.48 +
    1.49 +“Amamiya Na-de-shi-ko.”
    1.50 +
    1.51 +So, maybe other people were like she once was with numbers, and that explained why they could not
    1.52 +see that leaves and trees and bugs were all so different. Maybe that explained why most people
    1.53 +did not stare at a burning fire for hours, or sit under a starry sky all night and wonder in
    1.54 +astonishment why the stars were suddenly extinguished, only to realize it was now dawn. Maybe…
    1.55 +
    1.56 +A light tap on the head from a rolled up workbook caused Nadeshiko to blink in puzzlement. She
    1.57 +looked up, and saw the exasperated teacher above her, looking in anticipation for a response.
    1.58 +Nadeshiko’s mind raced to put the situation into some sort of order and context. Desperately she
    1.59 +glanced over at her cousin for help. Sonomi, blushing for her, silently mouthed the word.
    1.60 +Nadeshiko squinted, trying to understand, her own lips moving in a futile attempt to follow. The
    1.61 +voice from above spoke evenly, 
    1.62 +
    1.63 +“I believe Sonomi chan is trying to tell you the word, ‘present.’”
    1.64 +
    1.65 +Nadeshiko slowly digested this, and then, in a Eureka moment nearly jumped out of her chair with
    1.66 +excitement shouting,
    1.67 +
    1.68 +“Oh, gomenesai, present, present!”  
    1.69 +  
    1.70 +The giggles around the class were quickly suppressed by the teacher’s glare. Unflustered, the
    1.71 +instructor continued the roll call with, “Amamiya Sonomi?”
    1.72 +
    1.73 +“Present.” The girl with the strangely cut red hair glanced at her cousin in relief. As the roll
    1.74 +call wound through the rest of the class, Nadeshiko smiled at her cousin and formed a silent
    1.75 +thank you with her lips. Sonomi rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help smiling back. As the roll call
    1.76 +ended, the teacher paused and announced,
    1.77 +
    1.78 +“Today, I am going to introduce you to a new classmate. She is not from Japan, so I want you to
    1.79 +treat her with special consideration. Please, enter.”
    1.80 +
    1.81 +A transfer student was big news anytime, but one from abroad was a banner headline. The eyes of
    1.82 +the entire class fell on the slowly opening door as their new classmate emerged. The girl walked
    1.83 +in steadily, seemingly unaware of the curious, measuring stares that greeted her. She was tall
    1.84 +and slender, brown eyes humbly downcast. But what most caught the class’s attention, and even
    1.85 +caused a few gasps of surprise, was her hair. Straight, jet-black, and falling loose nearly to
    1.86 +her knees, the lustrous hair gave her the look of a Heian-era court beauty, a mysterious visitor
    1.87 +from another time and place. She stopped in front of the teacher and bowed low, her long hair
    1.88 +trailing on the floor. Writing her name on the chalkboard in a lovely script, the new girl turned
    1.89 +to face the class, then bowed and spoke in a feathery, lilting accent,
    1.90 +
    1.91 +“Ohayo Gozaimasu. My name is Li Ieran. I am from Hong Kong. Please help me to be a worthy student
    1.92 +at your school.”
    1.93 +
    1.94 +The hush gave way to a universal “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh” as the class gazed in wonder. Suddenly, a voice
    1.95 +rang out,
    1.96 +
    1.97 +“Oh, Hello! You’re the girl from last night! I never had a chance to thank you.”
    1.98 +
    1.99 +All eyes swung towards Nadeshiko, who was out of her seat hopping excitedly. Ieran bowed again,
   1.100 +her impassive face giving way to a reluctant smile. “It is utterly improper for me to smile like
   1.101 +this,” the Chinese girl thought to herself, “but she commands my smile as the sun commands
   1.102 +warmth.” Still bowing she spoke in her whispery voice,
   1.103 +
   1.104 +“It is I who am in your debt, and only my thanks, not yours, are seemly and proper.”
   1.105 +
   1.106 +The bewildered teacher finally restored order and settled Nadeshiko down, placing the new student
   1.107 +in a seat behind the excitable Amamiya girl. In this tumultuous storm of curiosity, amidst the
   1.108 +whispers, peeks and stolen glances, no one, not even the teacher, got much work done that
   1.109 +morning.
   1.110 +
   1.111 +During lunch, after casting glances at the mysterious girl from Hong Kong, the students drifted
   1.112 +away to their regular eating spots. All alone now , Ieran unwrapped her obentou. She was curious
   1.113 +about the strange Japanese meal prepared by her guardian, Wei. Sensing a presence, she glanced up
   1.114 +into the face of the Card Captor leaning over her, staring curiously at the little silk-wrapped
   1.115 +package. Startled and speechless, the Chinese girl could only stare back as the pale apparition
   1.116 +spoke in a giggly voice,
   1.117 +
   1.118 +“I’m sorry, Ieran-chan. I just wondered what was in there. I’ve never seen a Chinese obentou
   1.119 +before. Would you like to eat with us? With Sonomi-chan and me?”
   1.120 +
   1.121 +Ieran spied the girl possessed by The Sword the night before. As if embarrassed by her friend’s
   1.122 +eccentricities, the red-haired girl blushed slightly, blue eyes averted. The girl from Hong Kong
   1.123 +felt a blush of her own growing, a trickily tickling of the neck and ears. Japan was a much
   1.124 +stranger place than she had ever expected, and this situation literally left her at a loss for
   1.125 +words.
   1.126 +
   1.127 +Last night was odd enough. The Card Captor was not what she expected: just a silly, pretty little
   1.128 +girl. Yet that little girl stopped The Sword with no more than a glance. Ieran forced herself to
   1.129 +quickly work through the possibilities. Now she casually approaches me, her rival for the Cards.
   1.130 +Surely she knows I wield power? Perhaps she is contemptuous of me? That thought burned a little,
   1.131 +but didn’t seem to fit with the Card Captor’s beatific smile. There was no hint of condescension
   1.132 +or arrogance on that gentle face. Nor did the girl from Hong Kong, long trained in the subtle
   1.133 +arts, sense guile or hidden motive. It was as if the Card Captor was genuinely interested in her.
   1.134 +In near desperation, Ieran focused her inner eye on the smiling figure to discern the
   1.135 +silvery-haired girl’s true motives. To her surprise, she sensed curiosity, and concern that the
   1.136 +new girl might have to eat lunch all alone. Somewhat stunned, she whispered shyly,
   1.137 +
   1.138 +“Yes.Yes, I would like to eat with you. Thank you.”
   1.139 + 
   1.140 +Delighted, Nadeshiko took the girl’s hand and walked her out of the building into the dazzling
   1.141 +sunlight. Sonomi, frowning, followed the pair to a grassy spot beneath the trees in the
   1.142 +schoolyard. Soon they were spread out beneath the gently swaying branches, Nadeshiko merrily
   1.143 +chattering away. Finally Sonomi broke in and said quietly,
   1.144 +
   1.145 +“Nadeshiko-chan, I don’t think Ieran-san knows our names yet. We’ve never been properly
   1.146 +introduced.”
   1.147 +
   1.148 +Nadeshiko stopped and stared straight ahead, as if she were replaying all the previous morning’s
   1.149 +events in her head. With a trilling laugh she quickly arose and bowed, her long, silver gray hair
   1.150 +cascading as she did,
   1.151 +
   1.152 +“Gomenesai, Ieran-chan. My name is Amamiya Nadeshiko, and this is my cousin and best friend,
   1.153 +Amamiya Sonomi. We are very happy to meet you.”
   1.154 + 
   1.155 +Introductions dispensed with, Nadeshiko returned to her running commentary on the weather, lunch,
   1.156 +school, and various stars she saw last night. This latter finally gave Ieran an opening, and she
   1.157 +asked in a quiet voice,
   1.158 +
   1.159 +“Um, Nadeshiko-san, may I ask you something? Something in private?”
   1.160 +
   1.161 +At this, Sonomi stopped short and looked at the Chinese girl with surprise. She felt a twinge of
   1.162 +irritation, but Nadeshiko only laughed and said, “Sonomi knows all of my secrets anyway, because
   1.163 +she knows me so well. What did you want to ask?”
   1.164 +
   1.165 +Ieran shifted uncomfortably and spoke in a halting whisper, “About last night. About the, the
   1.166 +Card.”
   1.167 +
   1.168 +Nadeshiko brightened, “Oh, you mean the Clow Cards? Do you know about them?”
   1.169 +
   1.170 +Ieran looked open-mouthed at the girls. Nadeshiko casually mentioned the Cards in the same way
   1.171 +she talked about rice balls and sunsets. Sonomi seemed equally nonplussed. Barely suppressing a
   1.172 +triumphant smile, the red-haired girl said simply, “I already know about them.”
   1.173 +
   1.174 +Ieran’s mind raced for an explanation. How many others knew about the Cards? And just who was
   1.175 +this Sonomi to the Card Captor? Judging from last night, she seemed quite close, perhaps a
   1.176 +beloved servant? Calling upon all her training, Ieran presented a placid smile as she buzzed
   1.177 +inside with questions. Her mind fell on a fact and anchored itself as she spoke,
   1.178 +
   1.179 +“Ah, I see. Nadeshiko-san, you mentioned ‘Cards.’ Do you, I mean, have you encountered more Cards
   1.180 +than The Sword?”
   1.181 +
   1.182 +Nadeshiko’s eyes brightened as she gushed, “Oh, yes, I have met Wood, Fly, Jump, and the
   1.183 +wonderful Flower! They are all my friends now.” 
   1.184 +
   1.185 +Ieran held a frozen smile on her face as she groped for a reply, but no words came. How was it
   1.186 +possible that this frail, flighty creature had gathered up so many of the Cards? But had she
   1.187 +really? With forced calm Ieran asked, “Nadeshiko-san, when you say they are your friends, does
   1.188 +that mean you have captured them? Have you sealed them all?”
   1.189 +
   1.190 +Nadeshiko nibbled thoughtfully on a rice ball as she replied, “Sealing. Well, that’s what
   1.191 +Teddychan calls it. But I don’t think I capture them so much as make them my friends.”
   1.192 +
   1.193 +Sonomi sighed as she brushed away a stray rice grain from her cousin’s cheek, “She makes friends
   1.194 +with everybody and everything, from the meanest bully in school to the grossest bugs in the
   1.195 +woods.”
   1.196 +
   1.197 +Ieran smiled at the gentle figure and believed she could befriend anyone and anything. Suddenly
   1.198 +puzzled, she asked, “Who is Teddychan? Does he know about the Cards?”
   1.199 +
   1.200 +At the thought of her funny flying companion, Nadeshiko giggled, “Oh, yes, he knows a lot of
   1.201 +things about them. His real name is Kero…Kerobero…Kerobus…his real name is hard to say, so I call
   1.202 +him Teddychan, because he looks just like a cute little teddy bear.”
   1.203 +
   1.204 +“Do you mean Kereberous?” Ieran asked in astonishment.
   1.205 +
   1.206 +“Yes, that’s it! Do you know him, too?” Nadeshiko leapt to her feet in excitement.
   1.207 +
   1.208 +“No, no I don’t,” The startled Ieran replied. “I’ve only read of him, and heard of him. But I
   1.209 +don’t think he could be the same one. The Kereberous I know of is a large and powerful magical
   1.210 +beast.”
   1.211 +
   1.212 +Ieran grew thoughtful again and asked, “Nadeshiko-san, I would very much like to meet your friend
   1.213 +Teddy-chan someday.”
   1.214 +
   1.215 +Nadeshiko leaned over and said with a grin, “Would you like to come to my home tonight and meet
   1.216 +him? You could stay for dinner. My mother is a very good cook.”
   1.217 +
   1.218 +Ieran looked up, again at an utter loss for what to say. Surely an invitation to the House of a
   1.219 +Card Captor could not be made so lightly? Schooled in the ways of duplicity and suspicion that
   1.220 +governed the shadow world of Hong Kong, Ieran wondered if all this was some elaborate trap, some
   1.221 +great design set in motion to lure her in. But the green eyes that beheld her were empty of
   1.222 +artifice or malice. And besides, the Chinese mage thought to herself, I need to know more about
   1.223 +her, and how better to know the tiger than visit her den? She stood up and bowed deeply, speaking
   1.224 +in a distant and formal tone,
   1.225 +
   1.226 +“Thank you for your kind offer, Nadeshiko-san. It would be an honour beyond my humble worth to be
   1.227 +the guest of your illustrious House.”
   1.228 +
   1.229 +Ieran gasped as the girl fell into her arms and hugged her. Her body tensed, and then softened as
   1.230 +the silver-haired girl held her. Wrapped in those gentle arms, a burning blush consumed her as
   1.231 +her breath fled away. Robbed of speech yet again, she could only stand and tremble in that
   1.232 +fragrant embrace. Finally Nadeshiko released her, leaving Ieran delirious and unsteady, her mind
   1.233 +awhirl.
   1.234 +
   1.235 +
   1.236 +II.
   1.237 +Ieran worried all the way to the Amamiya residence. Determined to strike a commanding presence,
   1.238 +the girl fussed all afternoon to find just the right outfit for this momentous meeting.
   1.239 +Contemplating a closet full of garments, she realized how out of her element she was. Nervousness
   1.240 +was something she scornfully left to opponents, but this time it infected her. The apprehension
   1.241 +made her angry, which only led to further imbalance and blindness. She was even short with Wei
   1.242 +when he warned her they would be late, an unforgivable display of weakness on her part. Trained
   1.243 +in the shadowy ways of Hong Kong, she knew something of power, and was being groomed for greater
   1.244 +things. Staring out at the unfamiliar landscape as Wei drove through the sheets of rain, she
   1.245 +recalled  overhearing the praise of an illustrious Great Uncle: “She’s young, but a fast
   1.246 +learner.” That caused a momentary flush of pride, which she ruthlessly suppressed with a frown.
   1.247 +Yes, she thought, there I knew names and rank, powers and flaws, tendencies and the direction of
   1.248 +things.  Knowledge is power. But here is only this troubling ignorance, ignorance both broad and
   1.249 +embarrassingly deep. The people and customs of this island were strange, though none more so than
   1.250 +the weird girl whose home she was heading towards. 
   1.251 +
   1.252 +Nadeshiko. She spoke the name silently, like a prayer. For countless decades the Cards lay
   1.253 +hidden, and now some silly little girl captures five of them. Five! It seemed ridiculous, yet she
   1.254 +did not doubt the girl spoke truly. Despite her incredulity, Ieran remembered that most basic
   1.255 +lesson of all her magical training: “Things are not as they seem.” So, too, it must be with her.
   1.256 +She seemed a pretty, though inconsequential female. Yet, if she had captured so many Clow Cards,
   1.257 +she must wield significant power. If this power exists, Ieran thought to herself, it is my
   1.258 +weakness not to have seen it. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly into little clenched fists as
   1.259 +she vowed, “This time I will see it.” So intent was she on this inner resolution that as soon as
   1.260 +the car stopped she leapt out into the storm, leaving her coat and umbrella behind. 
   1.261 +
   1.262 +The blast of wet wind slapped her awake. Wei had dashed out with an umbrella, but his efforts
   1.263 +were mocked by a gale that blasted her carefully coiffed hair. With a little shriek she ran the
   1.264 +long distance from the driveway to the front door, Wei following, the useless umbrella turned
   1.265 +inside out. Rapping on the door, the manservant tried his best to shield the girl, but with
   1.266 +little success. The door opened, and a startled older servant stared at the pair for a second
   1.267 +before bidding them enter. Wei sheparded his young charge into the hallway then entered himself.
   1.268 +Uncertain what to do, he bowed and stood motionless, waiting. Ieran, wet and disheveled, looked
   1.269 +up expectantly. Flustered, the older servant of the house stared at the pair, finally blurting
   1.270 +out, “Let us go to Amamiya-sama.”
   1.271 +
   1.272 +With fuss and concern, the girl was ushered into a warm kitchen, redolent of spices and simmering
   1.273 +sauces. A pretty woman glanced at her, put down a mixing bowl, and instructed an assistant to
   1.274 +continue with the cooking. Wiping her hands on a white apron, she approached Ieran with a smile,
   1.275 +bowing as she spoke,
   1.276 +
   1.277 +“You must be Ieran-chan? My daughter told me that you would be joining us for supper. I am
   1.278 +honored to have you as our guest.”
   1.279 +
   1.280 +When Ieran bowed in reply, a little trickle of water spattered onto the floor, and the woman
   1.281 +gasped,
   1.282 +
   1.283 +“Oh, you poor thing! I’ve been in the kitchen so long I didn’t know it was raining. Come along;
   1.284 +let’s dry you off before you catch yourself a death of a cold.”
   1.285 +
   1.286 +Wrapping the sopping wet girl in a kitchen towel, she bustled the child out through the dinning
   1.287 +room down a long hallway. Cooed and comforted, Ieran felt a curious twinge, an inexpressible
   1.288 +longing for her own mother so far, far away. Stopping at a door, the woman knocked and spoke
   1.289 +rather loudly as she opened it,
   1.290 +
   1.291 +“Nadeshiko-chan? Nadeshiko-chan?”
   1.292 +
   1.293 +To her horror, Ieran saw the Card Captor: her rival, her enemy, who knew what. Far worse, the
   1.294 +Card Captor saw her. What an absurd sight I must be, she thought in a panic. Desperately trying
   1.295 +to straighten out her sopping wet blue silk cheongsam, she waited with dread for the mocking
   1.296 +glance and stinging remark. Instead, she was again wrapped in those gentle arms as the giggling
   1.297 +girl embraced her, hugging her tightly. It was the woman’s voice she heard first,
   1.298 +
   1.299 +“Nadeshiko-chan, your friend got wet in the rain. Would you please help her dry off and find some
   1.300 +clothes? I’ll have Maid come by in a bit and try to dry out her outfit. Such a shame; it’s a very
   1.301 +pretty dress.” 
   1.302 +
   1.303 +Ieran looked up, and saw the loving eyes of the woman as she slowly pried away the clinging,
   1.304 +still excited silver haired girl. Again, she repeated her instructions, and slow realization
   1.305 +crept over Nadeshiko’s fair features. Filled with concern, she hugged Ieran one last time, then
   1.306 +skittered out of the room in a frantic search for a blanket or a towel. With a bemused sigh, the
   1.307 +woman guided the Chinese girl to an adjacent bathroom and said,
   1.308 +
   1.309 +“You can change in here, dear. There are towels on the rack; I’ll find you something in
   1.310 +Nadeshiko’s closet. You’re close to the same size, I think.”
   1.311 +
   1.312 +The door closed, and Ieran saw a bedraggled sight in the mirror. It made her want to cry. She
   1.313 +remembered the English phrase from school, “from the sublime to the ridiculous.” Grimacing, she
   1.314 +peeled off her clothes, and dried herself with the fluffy pink towels. The room was toasty warm,
   1.315 +which made things a little better. Outside, the door opened and shut, and she heard muffled
   1.316 +voices. The excited one was Nadeshiko, the calm and reassuring one belonged to her mother.
   1.317 +Another was familiar, but she could not place it. Curious, she peeked out of the bathroom.
   1.318 +
   1.319 +“It’s all right, Nadeshiko-chan, your friend is fine now. We already have towels, thank you. Now,
   1.320 +let’s see if we can find something nice for her to wear. Sonomi-chan, what do you think of this
   1.321 +one?”
   1.322 +
   1.323 +Sonomi, Ieran thought, Sonmi. Oh, yes, the girl with the sword. She watched her solemnly
   1.324 +comparing two garments, one mint green with dark pine needles, the other sky blue, dotted with
   1.325 +black and white cranes. Looking up, the red-haired girl spoke, “The blue, I think.” Ieran
   1.326 +vanished inside as she saw them turning to the door. Wrapped in a long, pink towel, she sat on a
   1.327 +chair and waited expectantly. Hearing a knock on the door, she answered, “Come in,” and Nadeshiko
   1.328 +bustled in, her face lit with both concern and joy,
   1.329 +
   1.330 +“Hello again! How are you? Are you OK?” The silver-haired girl gushed, staring at the still damp
   1.331 +figure.
   1.332 +
   1.333 +Ieran nodded, unable to look away from the curious and concerned Nadeshiko. The girl with the
   1.334 +oddly cut red-hair stepped into the room, holding the beautiful blue garment she had selected,
   1.335 +and handed it to Ieran,
   1.336 +
   1.337 +“Here, you can wear this. It’s a little thin, so there’s a comforter in the bedroom you can wrap
   1.338 +up in while you dry.” Holding it up, she smiled at the Chinese girl’s curious look,
   1.339 +
   1.340 +“It’s called a yukata.”
   1.341 +
   1.342 +Ieran frowned, feeling foolish for not knowing more about Japanese customs,
   1.343 +
   1.344 +“Thank you, Sonomi-san,” she said formally, “when the two of you leave I shall change.”
   1.345 +
   1.346 +Nadeshiko, not catching the hint, was gently dragged away by her cousin. As the door shut, Ieran
   1.347 +sat down, gazing at the lovely blue fabric. Shaking her head and smiling ruefully, she dressed
   1.348 +herself, tied back her long, wet hair with a red ribbon, and opened the door.
   1.349 +
   1.350 +III. 
   1.351 +Ieran sat on the bed, huddled in her comforter, listening to rain lash the windows, watching the
   1.352 +two cousins carefully. Nadeshiko was bubbly, effervescent, and seemed quite the chatterbox.
   1.353 +Later, the Chinese girl would realize that this first impression was only partially on the mark.
   1.354 +She certainly was bubbly and effervescent; genki, as the Japanese would say. But though she was
   1.355 +merrily chattering away tonight, at other times Nadeshiko could be silent for hours, her
   1.356 +attention absorbed by the slightest of trifles: a star, a stone, or a tree. Sonomi, on the other
   1.357 +hand, was usually quiet, unless she was mad. But most of all, Ieran watched Sonomi watching
   1.358 +Nadeshiko, and smiled at what she saw.
   1.359 +
   1.360 +Eventually, her poise recovered, Ieran subtly steered the conversation towards her true interest:
   1.361 +The Cards. As she did, Nadeshiko jumped to her feet, her look serious and concerned,
   1.362 +
   1.363 +“Oh…that…that reminds me…magic…something, someone I was supposed to….” For a long minute she
   1.364 +stood still, inwardly seeking the answer to her half-asked question. Then, leaping to the closet
   1.365 +door, she blurted out, “Teddy-Chan!” Sliding the door open, she bent down and unclasped the brass
   1.366 +lock of a black lacquer chest. As she opened the door, a yellow blur zipped out, gasping and
   1.367 +coughing,
   1.368 +
   1.369 +“I thought I was going to die!”
   1.370 +
   1.371 +The tiny creature hovered in the air, wings beating furiously, breathing heavily. Nadeshiko
   1.372 +fussed and apologized, while Sonomi looked away in irritation,
   1.373 +
   1.374 +“You can spare us the dramatics. The box isn’t air tight, you know.”
   1.375 +
   1.376 +The little creature glowered at Sonomi, and spluttered, “Well, it was, it was certainly dark, and
   1.377 +stuffy, and…well, how would YOU like to be locked in some stupid box, forgotten and abandoned,
   1.378 +and…and…”
   1.379 +
   1.380 +The two combatants glared at each other, teeth clenched, growling like cats before a fight.
   1.381 +Suddenly, Keroberus noticed the girl wrapped in the comforter staring at him in open-mouthed
   1.382 +amazement. The yellow creature looked to the right, then the left, and stared at Ieran with a
   1.383 +gulp. Then, as if transforming into a stuffed animal, he fell to the floor with a clatter, and a
   1.384 +stifled groan.
   1.385 +
   1.386 +Sonomi stared, and then laughed at the sight, while Nadeshiko rushed up and comforted the
   1.387 +stricken warrior,
   1.388 +
   1.389 +“It’s all right, Teddy-chan, she’s a friend!”
   1.390 +
   1.391 +As Kereberous blinked at her, then suspiciously shot a sidelong glance at the bundled up girl,
   1.392 +Nadeshiko spoke in a formal voice,
   1.393 +
   1.394 +“Ieran-chan, this is my good friend Teddy-chan. He knows an awful lot about the Cards. When you
   1.395 +mentioned them I remembered he was hiding in there.”
   1.396 +
   1.397 +Ieran stared at Teddy-chan, then at Nadeshiko as she blurted out,
   1.398 +
   1.399 +“That is Kereberous?”
   1.400 +
   1.401 + Folding his arms and assuming a dignified pose, he answered, “I am known by many names:
   1.402 +Kereberous, The Beast of the Seal, Servant of Clow Reed, and Guardian of the Cards, to name but a
   1.403 +few.”
   1.404 +
   1.405 +Ieran pressed the comforter against her mouth as she stifled a giggle. With great control she
   1.406 +managed to ask,
   1.407 +
   1.408 +“But are you not rather….diminutive to serve such a fearsome role?”
   1.409 +
   1.410 +Fortunately, the irony was lost on the self-important Beast, “My size is of little concern,
   1.411 +though, eh-hem, my powers have waned somewhat since the release of the Cards.”
   1.412 +
   1.413 +This made sense to the Chinese girl. The Guardian’s power would be linked to the Cards, and their
   1.414 +unleashing would be his undoing. Still, it was difficult to take such a flighty creature
   1.415 +seriously. In a challenging tone she asked him,
   1.416 +
   1.417 +“If you are the Guardian, then shouldn’t you know where all the Cards are?” 
   1.418 +
   1.419 +At this, Kereberous seemed rather crestfallen. “Well,” He answered hesitantly, “I can sense when
   1.420 +they are close, but…”
   1.421 +
   1.422 +Suddenly, Nadeshiko chirped up, “Oh, Teddy-chan is wonderful about the Cards! He was very helpful
   1.423 +with Jump, and Fly. He knows so very much about them. 
   1.424 +
   1.425 +“Eeeeehh, truly?” Ieran was having a difficult time with all this, but of course was too polite
   1.426 +to say so.  
   1.427 +
   1.428 +The conversation wound its way through the recent history of Clow Reed’s magical cards. Like the
   1.429 +girl herself, Nadeshiko’s narration was elliptical and eccentric, detouring into peculiar
   1.430 +thoughts and speculations before Sonomi gently put her back on track. Teddy-chan, as he was now
   1.431 +known, interjected modest (and not so modest) observations about his own contributions. Ieran, on
   1.432 +the whole, listened, an art she excelled at. Sonomi watched her with increasing interest, waiting
   1.433 +for her cousin to pause for breath before asking,
   1.434 +
   1.435 +“Ieran-san, Nadeshiko has told you all about herself. But what about you? Why do you know about
   1.436 +the Cards, and what do you want with them?”
   1.437 +
   1.438 +For a brief instant, this query caught the Chinese girl off guard. As she had been trained, she
   1.439 +used that instant well, weighing and calculating all the possibilities and implications of a
   1.440 +response. She settled for telling the truth, though not all of it. In a formal tone she made her
   1.441 +answer, 
   1.442 +
   1.443 +“My family claims descent from Clow Reed, creator of the Cards. As future head of the Li
   1.444 +Household, I have been designated to investigate the possibility that they have reemerged. As for
   1.445 +what I want, well, that is of little enough importance. As the Cards are the… (She paused, nearly
   1.446 +saying “property) responsibility of the Li, I am to ensure they are properly dealt with. As for
   1.447 +what I know, knowledge is a thing not lightly given. Some things I know, some I do not. But then,
   1.448 +not even having seen these cards, one can say little.”
   1.449 +
   1.450 +Nadeshiko looked baffled at first, but then smiled, thinking to herself, such pretty words!
   1.451 +Teddy-chan just looked baffled. Sonomi looked at the two and rolled her eyes. As she had all her
   1.452 +life, Sonomi explained the subtleties of human conversation to her cousin,
   1.453 +
   1.454 +“She wants to see the Cards.”
   1.455 +
   1.456 +Ieran looked somewhat taken aback at such bluntness, but did not deny the statement. Nadeshiko,
   1.457 +smiling as realization dawned, jumped up and rushed to the drawer of her pink and white dresser.
   1.458 +Excitedly she babbled,
   1.459 +
   1.460 +“Teddy-chan says I must always keep them safe, so I put them in my very most special drawer. I
   1.461 +used to keep my very most special rocks here, but they seemed so unhappy to be in the dark all
   1.462 +the time that I let them play in the garden, with beetle san and cicada san and ant san and, oh,
   1.463 +here they are!” 
   1.464 +
   1.465 +With a flourish she held them up. Ieran could barely conceal her interest as she gazed at the
   1.466 +Cards. Wood, Jump, Fly, Flower, Sword. Catching her breath, she felt their magic pulse and throb.
   1.467 +She didn’t need her magical finder to know they were real. Seeing Nadeshiko’s flowery signature
   1.468 +inspired her with awe, and not a little jealousy. Still, at least they had been sealed. But aside
   1.469 +from Sword, they were among the less aggressive Cards. In a reverent whisper she asked,
   1.470 +
   1.471 +“Are these all?”
   1.472 +
   1.473 +“All that I have, yes. Teddy-chan says there are many more, and that they must be gathered up
   1.474 +before they cause everybody problems.” Nadeshiko was all too familiar with causing problems,
   1.475 +being for many years a sweet one for family and friends. 
   1.476 +
   1.477 +Problems, thought Ieran. What a word for this looming apocalypse. Still entranced by a sight that
   1.478 +had lain hidden hundreds of years, the Chinese girl muttered,
   1.479 +
   1.480 +“He’s quite right. They must be gathered and sealed quickly.” She looked up at the newly met trio
   1.481 +with analytic eyes. It seemed almost preposterous that these three could have been responsible
   1.482 +for sealing five of the legendary Clow Cards. But here they were, unmistakably real, and
   1.483 +unmistakably sealed. Her mind sifted through the legends and theories of the mysterious and
   1.484 +frightening Clow Reed. Her eyes fixed on the winged creature, hovering by Nadeshiko’s side.
   1.485 +Ieran’s voice was sharp and curt,
   1.486 +
   1.487 +“You have chosen her, have you not? This is an irrevocable decision, yes?”
   1.488 +
   1.489 +The hovering figure was taken aback, but managed a grave nod.
   1.490 +
   1.491 +“Have you told her of the dangers involved?”
   1.492 +
   1.493 +Teddy-chan shifted nervously in the air as he answered, “Well, yes, sort of, I mean, I don’t know
   1.494 +if she quite understands it all.”
   1.495 +
   1.496 +At this, Sonomi jumped in, aggressively querying the newcomer, “What dangers are you talking
   1.497 +about?”        
   1.498 +
   1.499 +
   1.500 +Ieran slyly watched the silver haired girl as she spoke, “The Cards hold incalculable power, and
   1.501 +pose dire risks for all who would face them.”
   1.502 +
   1.503 +Nadeshiko’s expression was sweetly blank. Either she’s fearless or a fool, thought the
   1.504 +black-haired girl. But Sonomi’s response was short and sharp,
   1.505 +
   1.506 +“What risks? What do you mean?”
   1.507 +
   1.508 +Ieran gazed at the intense blue eyes regarding her with barely concealed hostility. Here was a
   1.509 +lever to gauge the Card Captor’s strength. This Sonomi would not allow her beloved one to enter
   1.510 +danger lightly. Ieran replied in an even tone,
   1.511 +
   1.512 +“I mean what I say. This is a perilous thing, to capture these Cards. I do not know all there is
   1.513 +about them. No one does. But I do know this is a deadly serious business.” Now she turned the
   1.514 +tables by asking, “You, Sonomi, you care for her. Will you let her face such dangers?”
   1.515 +
   1.516 +The athletic girl slumped her shoulders and sighed, 
   1.517 +
   1.518 +“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
   1.519 +her.”
   1.520 +
   1.521 +If this strong-willed girl cannot control her, surely no one can, thought Ieran. 
   1.522 +
   1.523 +At that moment, there was a knock on the door. The maid’s voice, “The manservant of Li-san has
   1.524 +arrived to take her home”.
   1.525 +
   1.526 +With hugs and goodbyes from Nadeshiko, and a stiff formal bow from a worried Sonomi, Ieran left
   1.527 +the Amamiya mansion. The sky was crystal clear after the rain, stars blazing in the newly washed
   1.528 +sky. On the way home, Ieran suddenly asked the old servant,
   1.529 +
   1.530 +“Wei, please stop at that little park we passed before, the one with the lake.”
   1.531 +
   1.532 +“Yes, Ieran-sama.” He did not protest that the night was late, since tomorrow was not a school
   1.533 +day. He had learned long ago that, even as her appointed guardian, with so strong-willed a child
   1.534 +he must pick his battles carefully.  As he pulled over to the curb, she asked him to wait, in a
   1.535 +tone that meant she wished to be alone. 
   1.536 +
   1.537 +Walking through the empty park, leaves laden with fresh rainwater, Ieran delighted in the wetness
   1.538 +all around her. She loved parks, the little swath of green in the busy, noisy city. She saw a
   1.539 +couple together, close together, sitting on one of the park benches. This caused her to blush.
   1.540 +Walking a little faster, clutching the white sweater Nadeshiko’s mother had given her. Finally
   1.541 +she came to the lake, spring fed, she sensed, laced with the recent rains, but calm and placid
   1.542 +now. It was a very good lake. Slipping off the sweater and hanging it on a nearby tree, she
   1.543 +stooped down, gazing at the reflection of a thousand thousand lights. Crossing her arms on her
   1.544 +breast, she felt the chill air through the delicate yukata. With a deep breath, she began.
   1.545 +
   1.546 +She willed her mind to stillness, as still as the black sky that held the dancing stars, as still
   1.547 +as the lake before her. Kneeling gracefully at the edge of earth, air, and water, she softly
   1.548 +chanted a call for Vision. And Vision came, shimmering on the dark water. She opened her eyes and
   1.549 +saw three figures, battered, shaken, pressed against a gray stone wall. In the center was
   1.550 +Nadeshiko, gripping a magical staff, illuminated by some unearthly light. Shielding the glowing
   1.551 +girl was the one with curious hair, Sonomi. Bruised and bloodied, blue eyes defiant, she braced
   1.552 +herself for what was to come. And by their side Ieran saw herself, clad in her finest robes, the
   1.553 +robes of a water mage passed down through generations uncounted. Her face was dirty, and she saw
   1.554 +the dreaded Fear in her eyes as she concentrated on a spell. A teasing little breeze rippled the
   1.555 +surface of the waters, and the vision fled.
   1.556 +
   1.557 +She knelt for a long time, eyes fixed on the water. She had learned in her few years not to force
   1.558 +the images, not to over analyze or think about them too much. It was like seeing for a brief
   1.559 +moment 2 or 3 pieces from a massive jigsaw puzzle, the sort her mother loved to assemble on rainy
   1.560 +nights. There was no way to know the entire picture from those few pieces. All you could do was
   1.561 +remember the fragments, and hope they would give you some little guidance when the time was
   1.562 +right. Ieran rose, and straightened out the delicate summer kimono. It was wet at the knees, but
   1.563 +happily not dirty, for she had been careful to kneel on the grass. It would be a shame to ruin
   1.564 +such a pretty thing. For a moment she thought of the yukata’s owner, another pretty thing.
   1.565 +Flowing, silvery hair, green, green eyes, enchanting smile…  Ieran blushed to be so close to her,
   1.566 +even in such an indirect manner. Well, the yukata gives me a reason to go back, to see her again,
   1.567 +she thought happily. She slipped on the white sweater and began to walk
   1.568 +
   1.569 +Strolling towards the car, she gazed at the stars and begged their blessing. She was grateful for
   1.570 +having come so far in so short a time. She had seen the Cards, and the girl who captured them.
   1.571 +She had met the Seal Beast, though his diminutive form made her smile even now. And she had been
   1.572 +given a glimpse of a future, her future, seemingly entwined with that of the one who had captured
   1.573 +five of the legendary Cards. It was a strange vision, in a strange country, but good to have for
   1.574 +all that. Approaching the car, the ever vigilant Wei leapt out and opened the door. She bowed and
   1.575 +smiled a greeting and then slipped into the back seat. In the warm and cozy car the utterly
   1.576 +exhausted Ieran fell asleep, and when they arrived home the old man carried her off to bed.
   1.577 +Uncertain what to do with the drowsing girl, he tucked her in, yukata and all. That night she
   1.578 +dreamt of three black and white cranes, soaring together through a limitless blue sky. But when
   1.579 +she awoke the storm had come again, and the thunder rasped out a warning that all dreams must
   1.580 +end.
   1.581 \ No newline at end of file