Cardcaptor Nadeshiko

 Chapter 7

 by 

 Amazoness Duo

 and

 G.P.

 amazonessduo@hotmail.com

 pearsong1954@yahoo.com

 

 

 I.

 “Nadeshiko?”

 

 A breeze stirred the branches of the little tree, leaves vibrating merrily, beckoning the young

 girl’s attention. One day she was nearly frantic with excitement while talking to a classmate

 about all the different leaves on that very tree. But her friend laughed, saying they all looked

 the same to her. It seemed incomprehensible to the silver-haired child that someone really

 couldn’t see how each leaf had a life, a personality, and, as fall crept closer, a death all its

 own. For Nadeshiko, leaves were like rocks and cats and clouds and people: all thrumming with

 life, their own little life, yet connected to one another by shimmering threads. Only slowly was

 she realizing that many people, perhaps most people, did not, or could not, see this.

 

 “Nadeshiko?”

 

 It was sort of like numbers, she mused. That thought reminded her of the math homework, and

 mentally she reconstructed her actions from that morning to ensure the assignment had been placed

 in her school bag. At first, she had done dreadfully at arithmetic, staring at the paper filled

 with columns of numbers in utter bafflement. Her father, though patient as always, had nearly

 despaired of her ever learning even the basics of the subject. One day, he told her earnestly

 that she wasn’t listening to what the numbers told her. This was intriguing, and she took note.

 For days she focused with a frightening singularity, skipping meals, conversations, and sleep to

 gaze at the numbers carefully etched onto paper.

 

 “Amamiya Nadeshiko.”

 

 Finally, sitting bleary-eyed at her desk early one morning, she heard a faint whispering. It was

 3. 3 was the boldest number, the first to break the long silence. Enthralled, excited, but

 careful not to frighten her new numerical friend, Nadeshiko smiled, listened, and eventually fell

 into a merry conversation. Her parents found her that morning, chattering excitedly to a piece of

 paper. In a panic they nearly rushed her to the hospital. But when she came to everything seemed

 all right, or at least as all right as can be with such an unusual child. From that time on

 Nadeshiko’s grades in mathematics improved, one might even say soared, and it became her favorite

 subject. Once she even approached a teacher, asking apprehensively if it was cheating when the

 numbers told her the answers. 

 

 “Amamiya Na-de-shi-ko.”

 

 So, maybe other people were like she once was with numbers, and that explained why they could not

 see that leaves and trees and bugs were all so different. Maybe that explained why most people

 did not stare at a burning fire for hours, or sit under a starry sky all night and wonder in

 astonishment why the stars were suddenly extinguished, only to realize it was now dawn. Maybe…

 

 A light tap on the head from a rolled up workbook caused Nadeshiko to blink in puzzlement. She

 looked up, and saw the exasperated teacher above her, looking in anticipation for a response.

 Nadeshiko’s mind raced to put the situation into some sort of order and context. Desperately she

 glanced over at her cousin for help. Sonomi, blushing for her, silently mouthed the word.

 Nadeshiko squinted, trying to understand, her own lips moving in a futile attempt to follow. The

 voice from above spoke evenly, 

 

 “I believe Sonomi chan is trying to tell you the word, ‘present.’”

 

 Nadeshiko slowly digested this, and then, in a Eureka moment nearly jumped out of her chair with

 excitement shouting,

 

 “Oh, gomenesai, present, present!”  

   

 The giggles around the class were quickly suppressed by the teacher’s glare. Unflustered, the

 instructor continued the roll call with, “Amamiya Sonomi?”

 

 “Present.” The girl with the strangely cut red hair glanced at her cousin in relief. As the roll

 call wound through the rest of the class, Nadeshiko smiled at her cousin and formed a silent

 thank you with her lips. Sonomi rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help smiling back. As the roll call

 ended, the teacher paused and announced,

 

 “Today, I am going to introduce you to a new classmate. She is not from Japan, so I want you to

 treat her with special consideration. Please, enter.”

 

 A transfer student was big news anytime, but one from abroad was a banner headline. The eyes of

 the entire class fell on the slowly opening door as their new classmate emerged. The girl walked

 in steadily, seemingly unaware of the curious, measuring stares that greeted her. She was tall

 and slender, brown eyes humbly downcast. But what most caught the class’s attention, and even

 caused a few gasps of surprise, was her hair. Straight, jet-black, and falling loose nearly to

 her knees, the lustrous hair gave her the look of a Heian-era court beauty, a mysterious visitor

 from another time and place. She stopped in front of the teacher and bowed low, her long hair

 trailing on the floor. Writing her name on the chalkboard in a lovely script, the new girl turned

 to face the class, then bowed and spoke in a feathery, lilting accent,

 

 “Ohayo Gozaimasu. My name is Li Ieran. I am from Hong Kong. Please help me to be a worthy student

 at your school.”

 

 The hush gave way to a universal “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh” as the class gazed in wonder. Suddenly, a voice

 rang out,

 

 “Oh, Hello! You’re the girl from last night! I never had a chance to thank you.”

 

 All eyes swung towards Nadeshiko, who was out of her seat hopping excitedly. Ieran bowed again,

 her impassive face giving way to a reluctant smile. “It is utterly improper for me to smile like

 this,” the Chinese girl thought to herself, “but she commands my smile as the sun commands

 warmth.” Still bowing she spoke in her whispery voice,

 

 “It is I who am in your debt, and only my thanks, not yours, are seemly and proper.”

 

 The bewildered teacher finally restored order and settled Nadeshiko down, placing the new student

 in a seat behind the excitable Amamiya girl. In this tumultuous storm of curiosity, amidst the

 whispers, peeks and stolen glances, no one, not even the teacher, got much work done that

 morning.

 

 During lunch, after casting glances at the mysterious girl from Hong Kong, the students drifted

 away to their regular eating spots. All alone now , Ieran unwrapped her obentou. She was curious

 about the strange Japanese meal prepared by her guardian, Wei. Sensing a presence, she glanced up

 into the face of the Card Captor leaning over her, staring curiously at the little silk-wrapped

 package. Startled and speechless, the Chinese girl could only stare back as the pale apparition

 spoke in a giggly voice,

 

 “I’m sorry, Ieran-chan. I just wondered what was in there. I’ve never seen a Chinese obentou

 before. Would you like to eat with us? With Sonomi-chan and me?”

 

 Ieran spied the girl possessed by The Sword the night before. As if embarrassed by her friend’s

 eccentricities, the red-haired girl blushed slightly, blue eyes averted. The girl from Hong Kong

 felt a blush of her own growing, a trickily tickling of the neck and ears. Japan was a much

 stranger place than she had ever expected, and this situation literally left her at a loss for

 words.

 

 Last night was odd enough. The Card Captor was not what she expected: just a silly, pretty little

 girl. Yet that little girl stopped The Sword with no more than a glance. Ieran forced herself to

 quickly work through the possibilities. Now she casually approaches me, her rival for the Cards.

 Surely she knows I wield power? Perhaps she is contemptuous of me? That thought burned a little,

 but didn’t seem to fit with the Card Captor’s beatific smile. There was no hint of condescension

 or arrogance on that gentle face. Nor did the girl from Hong Kong, long trained in the subtle

 arts, sense guile or hidden motive. It was as if the Card Captor was genuinely interested in her.

 In near desperation, Ieran focused her inner eye on the smiling figure to discern the

 silvery-haired girl’s true motives. To her surprise, she sensed curiosity, and concern that the

 new girl might have to eat lunch all alone. Somewhat stunned, she whispered shyly,

 

 “Yes.Yes, I would like to eat with you. Thank you.”

  

 Delighted, Nadeshiko took the girl’s hand and walked her out of the building into the dazzling

 sunlight. Sonomi, frowning, followed the pair to a grassy spot beneath the trees in the

 schoolyard. Soon they were spread out beneath the gently swaying branches, Nadeshiko merrily

 chattering away. Finally Sonomi broke in and said quietly,

 

 “Nadeshiko-chan, I don’t think Ieran-san knows our names yet. We’ve never been properly

 introduced.”

 

 Nadeshiko stopped and stared straight ahead, as if she were replaying all the previous morning’s

 events in her head. With a trilling laugh she quickly arose and bowed, her long, silver gray hair

 cascading as she did,

 

 “Gomenesai, Ieran-chan. My name is Amamiya Nadeshiko, and this is my cousin and best friend,

 Amamiya Sonomi. We are very happy to meet you.”

  

 Introductions dispensed with, Nadeshiko returned to her running commentary on the weather, lunch,

 school, and various stars she saw last night. This latter finally gave Ieran an opening, and she

 asked in a quiet voice,

 

 “Um, Nadeshiko-san, may I ask you something? Something in private?”

 

 At this, Sonomi stopped short and looked at the Chinese girl with surprise. She felt a twinge of

 irritation, but Nadeshiko only laughed and said, “Sonomi knows all of my secrets anyway, because

 she knows me so well. What did you want to ask?”

 

 Ieran shifted uncomfortably and spoke in a halting whisper, “About last night. About the, the

 Card.”

 

 Nadeshiko brightened, “Oh, you mean the Clow Cards? Do you know about them?”

 

 Ieran looked open-mouthed at the girls. Nadeshiko casually mentioned the Cards in the same way

 she talked about rice balls and sunsets. Sonomi seemed equally nonplussed. Barely suppressing a

 triumphant smile, the red-haired girl said simply, “I already know about them.”

 

 Ieran’s mind raced for an explanation. How many others knew about the Cards? And just who was

 this Sonomi to the Card Captor? Judging from last night, she seemed quite close, perhaps a

 beloved servant? Calling upon all her training, Ieran presented a placid smile as she buzzed

 inside with questions. Her mind fell on a fact and anchored itself as she spoke,

 

 “Ah, I see. Nadeshiko-san, you mentioned ‘Cards.’ Do you, I mean, have you encountered more Cards

 than The Sword?”

 

 Nadeshiko’s eyes brightened as she gushed, “Oh, yes, I have met Wood, Fly, Jump, and the

 wonderful Flower! They are all my friends now.” 

 

 Ieran held a frozen smile on her face as she groped for a reply, but no words came. How was it

 possible that this frail, flighty creature had gathered up so many of the Cards? But had she

 really? With forced calm Ieran asked, “Nadeshiko-san, when you say they are your friends, does

 that mean you have captured them? Have you sealed them all?”

 

 Nadeshiko nibbled thoughtfully on a rice ball as she replied, “Sealing. Well, that’s what

 Teddychan calls it. But I don’t think I capture them so much as make them my friends.”

 

 Sonomi sighed as she brushed away a stray rice grain from her cousin’s cheek, “She makes friends

 with everybody and everything, from the meanest bully in school to the grossest bugs in the

 woods.”

 

 Ieran smiled at the gentle figure and believed she could befriend anyone and anything. Suddenly

 puzzled, she asked, “Who is Teddychan? Does he know about the Cards?”

 

 At the thought of her funny flying companion, Nadeshiko giggled, “Oh, yes, he knows a lot of

 things about them. His real name is Kero…Kerobero…Kerobus…his real name is hard to say, so I call

 him Teddychan, because he looks just like a cute little teddy bear.”

 

 “Do you mean Kereberous?” Ieran asked in astonishment.

 

 “Yes, that’s it! Do you know him, too?” Nadeshiko leapt to her feet in excitement.

 

 “No, no I don’t,” The startled Ieran replied. “I’ve only read of him, and heard of him. But I

 don’t think he could be the same one. The Kereberous I know of is a large and powerful magical

 beast.”

 

 Ieran grew thoughtful again and asked, “Nadeshiko-san, I would very much like to meet your friend

 Teddy-chan someday.”

 

 Nadeshiko leaned over and said with a grin, “Would you like to come to my home tonight and meet

 him? You could stay for dinner. My mother is a very good cook.”

 

 Ieran looked up, again at an utter loss for what to say. Surely an invitation to the House of a

 Card Captor could not be made so lightly? Schooled in the ways of duplicity and suspicion that

 governed the shadow world of Hong Kong, Ieran wondered if all this was some elaborate trap, some

 great design set in motion to lure her in. But the green eyes that beheld her were empty of

 artifice or malice. And besides, the Chinese mage thought to herself, I need to know more about

 her, and how better to know the tiger than visit her den? She stood up and bowed deeply, speaking

 in a distant and formal tone,

 

 “Thank you for your kind offer, Nadeshiko-san. It would be an honour beyond my humble worth to be

 the guest of your illustrious House.”

 

 Ieran gasped as the girl fell into her arms and hugged her. Her body tensed, and then softened as

 the silver-haired girl held her. Wrapped in those gentle arms, a burning blush consumed her as

 her breath fled away. Robbed of speech yet again, she could only stand and tremble in that

 fragrant embrace. Finally Nadeshiko released her, leaving Ieran delirious and unsteady, her mind

 awhirl.

 

 

 II.

 Ieran worried all the way to the Amamiya residence. Determined to strike a commanding presence,

 the girl fussed all afternoon to find just the right outfit for this momentous meeting.

 Contemplating a closet full of garments, she realized how out of her element she was. Nervousness

 was something she scornfully left to opponents, but this time it infected her. The apprehension

 made her angry, which only led to further imbalance and blindness. She was even short with Wei

 when he warned her they would be late, an unforgivable display of weakness on her part. Trained

 in the shadowy ways of Hong Kong, she knew something of power, and was being groomed for greater

 things. Staring out at the unfamiliar landscape as Wei drove through the sheets of rain, she

 recalled  overhearing the praise of an illustrious Great Uncle: “She’s young, but a fast

 learner.” That caused a momentary flush of pride, which she ruthlessly suppressed with a frown.

 Yes, she thought, there I knew names and rank, powers and flaws, tendencies and the direction of

 things.  Knowledge is power. But here is only this troubling ignorance, ignorance both broad and

 embarrassingly deep. The people and customs of this island were strange, though none more so than

 the weird girl whose home she was heading towards. 

 

 Nadeshiko. She spoke the name silently, like a prayer. For countless decades the Cards lay

 hidden, and now some silly little girl captures five of them. Five! It seemed ridiculous, yet she

 did not doubt the girl spoke truly. Despite her incredulity, Ieran remembered that most basic

 lesson of all her magical training: “Things are not as they seem.” So, too, it must be with her.

 She seemed a pretty, though inconsequential female. Yet, if she had captured so many Clow Cards,

 she must wield significant power. If this power exists, Ieran thought to herself, it is my

 weakness not to have seen it. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly into little clenched fists as

 she vowed, “This time I will see it.” So intent was she on this inner resolution that as soon as

 the car stopped she leapt out into the storm, leaving her coat and umbrella behind. 

 

 The blast of wet wind slapped her awake. Wei had dashed out with an umbrella, but his efforts

 were mocked by a gale that blasted her carefully coiffed hair. With a little shriek she ran the

 long distance from the driveway to the front door, Wei following, the useless umbrella turned

 inside out. Rapping on the door, the manservant tried his best to shield the girl, but with

 little success. The door opened, and a startled older servant stared at the pair for a second

 before bidding them enter. Wei sheparded his young charge into the hallway then entered himself.

 Uncertain what to do, he bowed and stood motionless, waiting. Ieran, wet and disheveled, looked

 up expectantly. Flustered, the older servant of the house stared at the pair, finally blurting

 out, “Let us go to Amamiya-sama.”

 

 With fuss and concern, the girl was ushered into a warm kitchen, redolent of spices and simmering

 sauces. A pretty woman glanced at her, put down a mixing bowl, and instructed an assistant to

 continue with the cooking. Wiping her hands on a white apron, she approached Ieran with a smile,

 bowing as she spoke,

 

 “You must be Ieran-chan? My daughter told me that you would be joining us for supper. I am

 honored to have you as our guest.”

 

 When Ieran bowed in reply, a little trickle of water spattered onto the floor, and the woman

 gasped,

 

 “Oh, you poor thing! I’ve been in the kitchen so long I didn’t know it was raining. Come along;

 let’s dry you off before you catch yourself a death of a cold.”

 

 Wrapping the sopping wet girl in a kitchen towel, she bustled the child out through the dinning

 room down a long hallway. Cooed and comforted, Ieran felt a curious twinge, an inexpressible

 longing for her own mother so far, far away. Stopping at a door, the woman knocked and spoke

 rather loudly as she opened it,

 

 “Nadeshiko-chan? Nadeshiko-chan?”

 

 To her horror, Ieran saw the Card Captor: her rival, her enemy, who knew what. Far worse, the

 Card Captor saw her. What an absurd sight I must be, she thought in a panic. Desperately trying

 to straighten out her sopping wet blue silk cheongsam, she waited with dread for the mocking

 glance and stinging remark. Instead, she was again wrapped in those gentle arms as the giggling

 girl embraced her, hugging her tightly. It was the woman’s voice she heard first,

 

 “Nadeshiko-chan, your friend got wet in the rain. Would you please help her dry off and find some

 clothes? I’ll have Maid come by in a bit and try to dry out her outfit. Such a shame; it’s a very

 pretty dress.” 

 

 Ieran looked up, and saw the loving eyes of the woman as she slowly pried away the clinging,

 still excited silver haired girl. Again, she repeated her instructions, and slow realization

 crept over Nadeshiko’s fair features. Filled with concern, she hugged Ieran one last time, then

 skittered out of the room in a frantic search for a blanket or a towel. With a bemused sigh, the

 woman guided the Chinese girl to an adjacent bathroom and said,

 

 “You can change in here, dear. There are towels on the rack; I’ll find you something in

 Nadeshiko’s closet. You’re close to the same size, I think.”

 

 The door closed, and Ieran saw a bedraggled sight in the mirror. It made her want to cry. She

 remembered the English phrase from school, “from the sublime to the ridiculous.” Grimacing, she

 peeled off her clothes, and dried herself with the fluffy pink towels. The room was toasty warm,

 which made things a little better. Outside, the door opened and shut, and she heard muffled

 voices. The excited one was Nadeshiko, the calm and reassuring one belonged to her mother.

 Another was familiar, but she could not place it. Curious, she peeked out of the bathroom.

 

 “It’s all right, Nadeshiko-chan, your friend is fine now. We already have towels, thank you. Now,

 let’s see if we can find something nice for her to wear. Sonomi-chan, what do you think of this

 one?”

 

 Sonomi, Ieran thought, Sonmi. Oh, yes, the girl with the sword. She watched her solemnly

 comparing two garments, one mint green with dark pine needles, the other sky blue, dotted with

 black and white cranes. Looking up, the red-haired girl spoke, “The blue, I think.” Ieran

 vanished inside as she saw them turning to the door. Wrapped in a long, pink towel, she sat on a

 chair and waited expectantly. Hearing a knock on the door, she answered, “Come in,” and Nadeshiko

 bustled in, her face lit with both concern and joy,

 

 “Hello again! How are you? Are you OK?” The silver-haired girl gushed, staring at the still damp

 figure.

 

 Ieran nodded, unable to look away from the curious and concerned Nadeshiko. The girl with the

 oddly cut red-hair stepped into the room, holding the beautiful blue garment she had selected,

 and handed it to Ieran,

 

 “Here, you can wear this. It’s a little thin, so there’s a comforter in the bedroom you can wrap

 up in while you dry.” Holding it up, she smiled at the Chinese girl’s curious look,

 

 “It’s called a yukata.”

 

 Ieran frowned, feeling foolish for not knowing more about Japanese customs,

 

 “Thank you, Sonomi-san,” she said formally, “when the two of you leave I shall change.”

 

 Nadeshiko, not catching the hint, was gently dragged away by her cousin. As the door shut, Ieran

 sat down, gazing at the lovely blue fabric. Shaking her head and smiling ruefully, she dressed

 herself, tied back her long, wet hair with a red ribbon, and opened the door.

 

 III. 

 Ieran sat on the bed, huddled in her comforter, listening to rain lash the windows, watching the

 two cousins carefully. Nadeshiko was bubbly, effervescent, and seemed quite the chatterbox.

 Later, the Chinese girl would realize that this first impression was only partially on the mark.

 She certainly was bubbly and effervescent; genki, as the Japanese would say. But though she was

 merrily chattering away tonight, at other times Nadeshiko could be silent for hours, her

 attention absorbed by the slightest of trifles: a star, a stone, or a tree. Sonomi, on the other

 hand, was usually quiet, unless she was mad. But most of all, Ieran watched Sonomi watching

 Nadeshiko, and smiled at what she saw.

 

 Eventually, her poise recovered, Ieran subtly steered the conversation towards her true interest:

 The Cards. As she did, Nadeshiko jumped to her feet, her look serious and concerned,

 

 “Oh…that…that reminds me…magic…something, someone I was supposed to….” For a long minute she

 stood still, inwardly seeking the answer to her half-asked question. Then, leaping to the closet

 door, she blurted out, “Teddy-Chan!” Sliding the door open, she bent down and unclasped the brass

 lock of a black lacquer chest. As she opened the door, a yellow blur zipped out, gasping and

 coughing,

 

 “I thought I was going to die!”

 

 The tiny creature hovered in the air, wings beating furiously, breathing heavily. Nadeshiko

 fussed and apologized, while Sonomi looked away in irritation,

 

 “You can spare us the dramatics. The box isn’t air tight, you know.”

 

 The little creature glowered at Sonomi, and spluttered, “Well, it was, it was certainly dark, and

 stuffy, and…well, how would YOU like to be locked in some stupid box, forgotten and abandoned,

 and…and…”

 

 The two combatants glared at each other, teeth clenched, growling like cats before a fight.

 Suddenly, Keroberus noticed the girl wrapped in the comforter staring at him in open-mouthed

 amazement. The yellow creature looked to the right, then the left, and stared at Ieran with a

 gulp. Then, as if transforming into a stuffed animal, he fell to the floor with a clatter, and a

 stifled groan.

 

 Sonomi stared, and then laughed at the sight, while Nadeshiko rushed up and comforted the

 stricken warrior,

 

 “It’s all right, Teddy-chan, she’s a friend!”

 

 As Kereberous blinked at her, then suspiciously shot a sidelong glance at the bundled up girl,

 Nadeshiko spoke in a formal voice,

 

 “Ieran-chan, this is my good friend Teddy-chan. He knows an awful lot about the Cards. When you

 mentioned them I remembered he was hiding in there.”

 

 Ieran stared at Teddy-chan, then at Nadeshiko as she blurted out,

 

 “That is Kereberous?”

 

  Folding his arms and assuming a dignified pose, he answered, “I am known by many names:

 Kereberous, The Beast of the Seal, Servant of Clow Reed, and Guardian of the Cards, to name but a

 few.”

 

 Ieran pressed the comforter against her mouth as she stifled a giggle. With great control she

 managed to ask,

 

 “But are you not rather….diminutive to serve such a fearsome role?”

 

 Fortunately, the irony was lost on the self-important Beast, “My size is of little concern,

 though, eh-hem, my powers have waned somewhat since the release of the Cards.”

 

 This made sense to the Chinese girl. The Guardian’s power would be linked to the Cards, and their

 unleashing would be his undoing. Still, it was difficult to take such a flighty creature

 seriously. In a challenging tone she asked him,

 

 “If you are the Guardian, then shouldn’t you know where all the Cards are?” 

 

 At this, Kereberous seemed rather crestfallen. “Well,” He answered hesitantly, “I can sense when

 they are close, but…”

 

 Suddenly, Nadeshiko chirped up, “Oh, Teddy-chan is wonderful about the Cards! He was very helpful

 with Jump, and Fly. He knows so very much about them. 

 

 “Eeeeehh, truly?” Ieran was having a difficult time with all this, but of course was too polite

 to say so.  

 

 The conversation wound its way through the recent history of Clow Reed’s magical cards. Like the

 girl herself, Nadeshiko’s narration was elliptical and eccentric, detouring into peculiar

 thoughts and speculations before Sonomi gently put her back on track. Teddy-chan, as he was now

 known, interjected modest (and not so modest) observations about his own contributions. Ieran, on

 the whole, listened, an art she excelled at. Sonomi watched her with increasing interest, waiting

 for her cousin to pause for breath before asking,

 

 “Ieran-san, Nadeshiko has told you all about herself. But what about you? Why do you know about

 the Cards, and what do you want with them?”

 

 For a brief instant, this query caught the Chinese girl off guard. As she had been trained, she

 used that instant well, weighing and calculating all the possibilities and implications of a

 response. She settled for telling the truth, though not all of it. In a formal tone she made her

 answer, 

 

 “My family claims descent from Clow Reed, creator of the Cards. As future head of the Li

 Household, I have been designated to investigate the possibility that they have reemerged. As for

 what I want, well, that is of little enough importance. As the Cards are the… (She paused, nearly

 saying “property) responsibility of the Li, I am to ensure they are properly dealt with. As for

 what I know, knowledge is a thing not lightly given. Some things I know, some I do not. But then,

 not even having seen these cards, one can say little.”

 

 Nadeshiko looked baffled at first, but then smiled, thinking to herself, such pretty words!

 Teddy-chan just looked baffled. Sonomi looked at the two and rolled her eyes. As she had all her

 life, Sonomi explained the subtleties of human conversation to her cousin,

 

 “She wants to see the Cards.”

 

 Ieran looked somewhat taken aback at such bluntness, but did not deny the statement. Nadeshiko,

 smiling as realization dawned, jumped up and rushed to the drawer of her pink and white dresser.

 Excitedly she babbled,

 

 “Teddy-chan says I must always keep them safe, so I put them in my very most special drawer. I

 used to keep my very most special rocks here, but they seemed so unhappy to be in the dark all

 the time that I let them play in the garden, with beetle san and cicada san and ant san and, oh,

 here they are!” 

 

 With a flourish she held them up. Ieran could barely conceal her interest as she gazed at the

 Cards. Wood, Jump, Fly, Flower, Sword. Catching her breath, she felt their magic pulse and throb.

 She didn’t need her magical finder to know they were real. Seeing Nadeshiko’s flowery signature

 inspired her with awe, and not a little jealousy. Still, at least they had been sealed. But aside

 from Sword, they were among the less aggressive Cards. In a reverent whisper she asked,

 

 “Are these all?”

 

 “All that I have, yes. Teddy-chan says there are many more, and that they must be gathered up

 before they cause everybody problems.” Nadeshiko was all too familiar with causing problems,

 being for many years a sweet one for family and friends. 

 

 Problems, thought Ieran. What a word for this looming apocalypse. Still entranced by a sight that

 had lain hidden hundreds of years, the Chinese girl muttered,

 

 “He’s quite right. They must be gathered and sealed quickly.” She looked up at the newly met trio

 with analytic eyes. It seemed almost preposterous that these three could have been responsible

 for sealing five of the legendary Clow Cards. But here they were, unmistakably real, and

 unmistakably sealed. Her mind sifted through the legends and theories of the mysterious and

 frightening Clow Reed. Her eyes fixed on the winged creature, hovering by Nadeshiko’s side.

 Ieran’s voice was sharp and curt,

 

 “You have chosen her, have you not? This is an irrevocable decision, yes?”

 

 The hovering figure was taken aback, but managed a grave nod.

 

 “Have you told her of the dangers involved?”

 

 Teddy-chan shifted nervously in the air as he answered, “Well, yes, sort of, I mean, I don’t know

 if she quite understands it all.”

 

 At this, Sonomi jumped in, aggressively querying the newcomer, “What dangers are you talking

 about?”        

 

 

 Ieran slyly watched the silver haired girl as she spoke, “The Cards hold incalculable power, and

 pose dire risks for all who would face them.”

 

 Nadeshiko’s expression was sweetly blank. Either she’s fearless or a fool, thought the

 black-haired girl. But Sonomi’s response was short and sharp,

 

 “What risks? What do you mean?”

 

 Ieran gazed at the intense blue eyes regarding her with barely concealed hostility. Here was a

 lever to gauge the Card Captor’s strength. This Sonomi would not allow her beloved one to enter

 danger lightly. Ieran replied in an even tone,

 

 “I mean what I say. This is a perilous thing, to capture these Cards. I do not know all there is

 about them. No one does. But I do know this is a deadly serious business.” Now she turned the

 tables by asking, “You, Sonomi, you care for her. Will you let her face such dangers?”

 

 The athletic girl slumped her shoulders and sighed, 

 

 “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

 her.”

 

 If this strong-willed girl cannot control her, surely no one can, thought Ieran. 

 

 At that moment, there was a knock on the door. The maid’s voice, “The manservant of Li-san has

 arrived to take her home”.

 

 With hugs and goodbyes from Nadeshiko, and a stiff formal bow from a worried Sonomi, Ieran left

 the Amamiya mansion. The sky was crystal clear after the rain, stars blazing in the newly washed

 sky. On the way home, Ieran suddenly asked the old servant,

 

 “Wei, please stop at that little park we passed before, the one with the lake.”

 

 “Yes, Ieran-sama.” He did not protest that the night was late, since tomorrow was not a school

 day. He had learned long ago that, even as her appointed guardian, with so strong-willed a child

 he must pick his battles carefully.  As he pulled over to the curb, she asked him to wait, in a

 tone that meant she wished to be alone. 

 

 Walking through the empty park, leaves laden with fresh rainwater, Ieran delighted in the wetness

 all around her. She loved parks, the little swath of green in the busy, noisy city. She saw a

 couple together, close together, sitting on one of the park benches. This caused her to blush.

 Walking a little faster, clutching the white sweater Nadeshiko’s mother had given her. Finally

 she came to the lake, spring fed, she sensed, laced with the recent rains, but calm and placid

 now. It was a very good lake. Slipping off the sweater and hanging it on a nearby tree, she

 stooped down, gazing at the reflection of a thousand thousand lights. Crossing her arms on her

 breast, she felt the chill air through the delicate yukata. With a deep breath, she began.

 

 She willed her mind to stillness, as still as the black sky that held the dancing stars, as still

 as the lake before her. Kneeling gracefully at the edge of earth, air, and water, she softly

 chanted a call for Vision. And Vision came, shimmering on the dark water. She opened her eyes and

 saw three figures, battered, shaken, pressed against a gray stone wall. In the center was

 Nadeshiko, gripping a magical staff, illuminated by some unearthly light. Shielding the glowing

 girl was the one with curious hair, Sonomi. Bruised and bloodied, blue eyes defiant, she braced

 herself for what was to come. And by their side Ieran saw herself, clad in her finest robes, the

 robes of a water mage passed down through generations uncounted. Her face was dirty, and she saw

 the dreaded Fear in her eyes as she concentrated on a spell. A teasing little breeze rippled the

 surface of the waters, and the vision fled.

 

 She knelt for a long time, eyes fixed on the water. She had learned in her few years not to force

 the images, not to over analyze or think about them too much. It was like seeing for a brief

 moment 2 or 3 pieces from a massive jigsaw puzzle, the sort her mother loved to assemble on rainy

 nights. There was no way to know the entire picture from those few pieces. All you could do was

 remember the fragments, and hope they would give you some little guidance when the time was

 right. Ieran rose, and straightened out the delicate summer kimono. It was wet at the knees, but

 happily not dirty, for she had been careful to kneel on the grass. It would be a shame to ruin

 such a pretty thing. For a moment she thought of the yukata’s owner, another pretty thing.

 Flowing, silvery hair, green, green eyes, enchanting smile…  Ieran blushed to be so close to her,

 even in such an indirect manner. Well, the yukata gives me a reason to go back, to see her again,

 she thought happily. She slipped on the white sweater and began to walk

 

 Strolling towards the car, she gazed at the stars and begged their blessing. She was grateful for

 having come so far in so short a time. She had seen the Cards, and the girl who captured them.

 She had met the Seal Beast, though his diminutive form made her smile even now. And she had been

 given a glimpse of a future, her future, seemingly entwined with that of the one who had captured

 five of the legendary Cards. It was a strange vision, in a strange country, but good to have for

 all that. Approaching the car, the ever vigilant Wei leapt out and opened the door. She bowed and

 smiled a greeting and then slipped into the back seat. In the warm and cozy car the utterly

 exhausted Ieran fell asleep, and when they arrived home the old man carried her off to bed.

 Uncertain what to do with the drowsing girl, he tucked her in, yukata and all. That night she

 dreamt of three black and white cranes, soaring together through a limitless blue sky. But when

 she awoke the storm had come again, and the thunder rasped out a warning that all dreams must

 end.