rlm@0: Cardcaptor Nadeshiko
rlm@0: Chapter 1
rlm@0: by G.P. and Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: pearsong1954@yahoo.com
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Spring came all in a rush that year, brusquely chasing away winter's chill. Nadeshiko was drawn 
rlm@0: to the burgeoning sunshine like all the plants and animals that bloomed and stirred after a long 
rlm@0: hibernation. The park near her house was closed for construction, but an indulgent mother 
rlm@0: cheerfully ferried the girl and her cousin to the nearby park at Tomoeda. Stopping in a crowded 
rlm@0: lot, Nadeshiko's mother bustled the children to the edge of the just-green grass. Sitting on her 
rlm@0: heels, she earnestly looked at her daughter as she spoke,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Nadeshiko-chan, I want you to stay in the park, and be careful. Please don't wander around, and 
rlm@0: stick by Sonomi-chan, OK? Nadeshiko-chan?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: But the girl was already lost in the budding branches and twittering birds. Her emerald eyes 
rlm@0: sparkled in wonder as she clasped her hands and hopped excitedly. A little zephyr teasingly 
rlm@0: tossed her long, silvery hair, as if inviting the beautiful child to come and play. With a sigh, 
rlm@0: her mother smiled and looked at her daughter's companion.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Born nine months before her flighty cousin, Sonomi's height and serious manner made her seem more
rlm@0: mature than her 10 years.  Wearing her reddish-auburn hair in two long, practical pigtails, and 
rlm@0: dressed in a pretty white skirt with a frilly, long-sleeve mint-green blouse, she looked 
rlm@0: perfectly attired for the cool, spring day. Nadeshiko's mother placed her hand on the girl's 
rlm@0: shoulder and gazed into her sky-blue eyes. With a pleading smile, she said,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Please try and watch out for her, Sonomi-chan."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi bowed quickly and answered, "Hai."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The Amamiya woman stood and said,  "Il be back at three o'clock to pick you up. Oh, and here's 
rlm@0: some money for lunch. They have a nice little stand that sells snacks over by the playground. 
rlm@0: Have a fun time!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As the older woman waved and walked away, Sonomi bowed, but her daughter was already running 
rlm@0: towards the bushes, quickly followed by her nearly frantic cousin. Poised to enter the car, she 
rlm@0: watched them from a distance. Her precious daughter, growing up so fast! With a smile and a 
rlm@0: sigh, she started the engine and drove away.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko tilted back her head and stared at the sky. She began to twirl about; arms spread 
rlm@0: wide, giggling, slowly gaining speed as the dancing dizziness took her. Laughing, she collapsed 
rlm@0: in a heap as the shimmering world tilted and spun. Lying back in the grass, shading her eyes 
rlm@0: from the dazzling sun, she slowly regained her equilibrium. Puffy white clouds hovered in the 
rlm@0: turquoise sky, drifting gently on some unseen breeze. The little girl loved simple things. Each 
rlm@0: leaf and pebble, every grain of sand and drop of briny water at the beach was a world of it's 
rlm@0: own. She could stare for hours at droplets trickling down a rainy-day window, or fat, white 
rlm@0: snowflakes silently falling. Boredom was an alien emotion she had never experienced, for there 
rlm@0: was always something to catch and teasingly hold her attention. Closing her eyes, feeling the 
rlm@0: world swirling about in the inner darkness, she heard a voice softly calling,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Nadeshiko-chan, you shouldn't spin around like that. You'll make yourself sick."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Her eyelashes fluttered, and a slightly tilting Sonomi filled her vision. Sonomi-chan! For a 
rlm@0: moment she lay there, gazing at the solemnly beautiful girl sitting by her side. She felt 
rlm@0: ice-blue eyes regarding her with loving care and concern. Smiling, she reached out and lightly 
rlm@0: took one of the swaying pigtails in her hand. Fascinated, she traced the contours of the 
rlm@0: twisting braids with her fingers, her eyes following the terra-cotta curves of the girl's 
rlm@0: lustrous hair. In a whispery voice she asked,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Sonomi-chan, can you show me how to braid my hair like this? It's so pretty."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi blinked in momentary confusion. Feeling her hair in the hand of the gorgeous girl left 
rlm@0: her breathless and blushing. She felt a flash of irritation at herself for being so surprised at 
rlm@0: her cousin's sudden change of topic. She was often blindsided by the strange girl's erratic 
rlm@0: thoughts and actions. With an inner sigh, she conceded the impossibility of sticking to the 
rlm@0: original topic. Rather than continuing her lecture on the dangers of dizziness, she let herself 
rlm@0: go with the unpredictable flow. She was also aware of the crimson-hot blush spreading across her 
rlm@0: cheeks as she answered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Thank you, Nadeshiko-chan. I'd love to show you how to braid your hair someday."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: For a while Nadeshiko was silent, lost in contemplation. Then she sat up, gazing at Sonomi. Her 
rlm@0: cousin looked away, blushing again, unable to voice the feelings she barely understood. Nadeshiko
rlm@0: stood and suddenly started singing to herself, beaming down at Sonomi. She teetered for a few 
rlm@0: halting steps, giggling at her fading dizziness. Sonomi shot up to steady her, and was suddenly 
rlm@0: hugged by her cousin. The slender body embraced her tightly, nearly overwhelming her in a storm 
rlm@0: of scented, silvery hair. Again she heard the soft, feathery voice,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I love you, Sonomi-chan."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi was dumbstruck. Nadeshiko baffled her, enchanted her, and set her heart racing. Around 
rlm@0: the girl her emotions were always in a whirl, robbing her of speech and reason. All she could do 
rlm@0: was hug back with a fierce, mysterious affection. Finally, Nadeshiko laughed in a high-pitched 
rlm@0: trill, then dashed away like some nymph in the forest. Sonomi breathlessly watched her go, shook 
rlm@0: off the odd urge to cry, and then sprinted off to make sure she was all right.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: All that day they played in the park. The spring sun warmed them, and the buds and blossoms, 
rlm@0: shaking off the shackles of winter, cheered them with the news that all life comes ‘round again. 
rlm@0: They nibbled little crackers and snacks, and Nadeshiko bought a sweet potato from a broken-down 
rlm@0: looking truck. Sonomi frowningly said they might get ill from such unlady-like fare, but accepted
rlm@0: the steaming portion of sweetness from her cousin, secretly reveling in the illicit treat. 
rlm@0: Finally, they wandered to an open field bordered with sakura trees. The cherry blossoms were in 
rlm@0: early bloom, floating over the grassy expanse like pink and white clouds. Nadeshiko squealed in 
rlm@0: delight and ran to greet her favorite flowers. Sonomi trailed along behind, half watching a group
rlm@0:  of older boys playing baseball at the far end of the field. One of them, large and muscular, 
rlm@0: swung hard and knocked himself down, laughing all the while. But the next pitch he pulverized, 
rlm@0: the ball leaping off his bat, rocketing past the outfield, towards the sakura trees, and, Sonomi 
rlm@0: realized in horror, right at Nadeshiko-chan.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko stopped running as soon as she reached the first tree. She looked up at the sky, 
rlm@0: dappled sunlight scattered by thousands of sakura blossoms waving gently in the breeze. Reaching 
rlm@0: up with delicate fingers, she touched a satiny flower, felt the hard, rough branch and a slick, 
rlm@0: shimmering green leaf. Overflowing with indescribable joy, eyes drinking in the quivering beauty,
rlm@0: she smiled. She felt her body melting away, her ephemeral frame vaporizing in a spray of light. 
rlm@0: For an instant she saw with the eyes of the tree, old eyes that had watched a hundred thousand 
rlm@0: sunsets and millions of stars spinning in the black satin sky. She saw the world of trees, where 
rlm@0: time meanders in a slow and steady flow, where people and birds and bugs chatter and eat and 
rlm@0: pass away in an instant. And then, she saw the ball, a streak of white lightning blazing straight
rlm@0: at her, at the flowers and buds and branches, at the fragile flesh and bone of her pale, 
rlm@0: porcelain face. She heard a thin scream, wailing from far away, calling a name, her name? But 
rlm@0: she stood still, entranced by the dipping arc of the ball as it sailed towards her, gathering 
rlm@0: speed in descent, whispering of pain and disfigurement and dark, seductive death. As the white 
rlm@0: blur approached, crashing through the twigs and leaves, sending up a shower of pretty, pink 
rlm@0: sakura blossoms, she felt a sudden pressure on her arm and shoulder, a jarring shove knocking 
rlm@0: her off balance. Her eyes followed the slow-motion flight of the ball as she fell, it's course 
rlm@0: straight and true even as it's target tilted away. The ball struck, cushioned by her thick, 
rlm@0: silken hair, glancing off the side of her head. In a flash her vision grayed and faded, and the 
rlm@0: blackness took her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi exploded in a desperate sprint, a fatal race against the streaking ball. As she strained 
rlm@0: every muscles and sinew, she saw Nadeshiko transfixed, watching the sky. She screamed her name 
rlm@0: even as her lungs gasped for air, but the girl ignored her. Panic and fear were swallowed in a 
rlm@0: longing for speed as all thoughts and feelings gave way to a singularity of instinct. As 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko filled her vision she leapt like a panther for the kill, outstretched fingers clawing 
rlm@0: at the innocent girl. Her momentum shoved her cousin back with a sudden snap, but too late, as 
rlm@0: the ball hit her head with a sickening thud. The two tumbled to the ground together, but Sonomi 
rlm@0: quickly sprang back up and knelt by Nadeshiko's side. Her eyes closed, the girl lay still as 
rlm@0: death in the sweet, spring grass. Sonomi felt an icy dread gripping her chest as she stared at 
rlm@0: the broken doll figure splayed in the grass, silvery hair spread like a fan, framing the 
rlm@0: beautiful, lifeless face. The unthinkable tore at her self-control like some frenzied animal. 
rlm@0: She trembled, tears falling freely, dotting Nadeshiko's creamy white ice-cream dress like little 
rlm@0: raindrops. She was oblivious to the breathless voice behind her, 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "No. Oh, no."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The teenage boy in the baseball uniform knelt on the other side of the fallen girl, concern 
rlm@0: etched in his face. He reached out and took the girl's slender wrist, feeling for a pulse. The 
rlm@0: relief poured out in his gentle voice,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "She's alive. Thank goodness. I was so afraid. My, my house is right over there. Let's take her 
rlm@0: there, OK?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi, still in shock, nodded as the sempai easily lifted the stricken girl, carefully cradling 
rlm@0: her head in his large arms. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko slowly awoke in shadowy darkness, with only a thin trickle of sunlight eking past the 
rlm@0: drawn shades of an unfamiliar room. Fragments of dreams lingered as her eyes focused on the dimly
rlm@0: lit ceiling. She scanned the unfamiliar space, and then heard the music again. The music from her
rlm@0: dreams, the music she had followed while she slept. Slept? Why was she sleeping in a funny room 
rlm@0: like this? But the music called to her again, and she sat up, listening. She stood, a bit 
rlm@0: unsteady at first, and then tiptoed to the door. The music was behind there, behind that door. 
rlm@0: Curious, she opened it a crack, and heard the music swell. It was some sort of dance music, a 
rlm@0: Western waltz, maybe. Her eyes were already used to the darkness, and she carefully crept down 
rlm@0: the creaking stairs. Awareness of a headache slowly came, but in her fascination with the 
rlm@0: alluring music she ignored it. Finally, she reached the basement floor, and found herself in the 
rlm@0: middle of a library. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: There were all manner of books packed on the shelves, most of them very old looking, with titles 
rlm@0: in languages she could not read. She followed the delightfully cheery music, looking for a radio 
rlm@0: or phonograph. But there were only books. Finally, she paused, puzzled, and simply listened to 
rlm@0: the wonderful tune. She smiled. And then she began to dance.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Holding the scalloped hem of her dress, she slowly began to twirl and step to the music. She 
rlm@0: was, at times, something of a clumsy girl, and wondered if that explained the bump on her head 
rlm@0: that she felt just now. But she danced with an easy grace, and was charming to behold. Her mother
rlm@0: had enrolled her in dance class at an early age, and if she lacked the burning desire and 
rlm@0: ambition of the other girls, her natural beauty and poise had quickly won over the instructors. 
rlm@0: The Russian woman told her mother that the girl had the natural talent to be a professional 
rlm@0: ballerina, and that in the old country she would have been boarded at one of the great ballet 
rlm@0: schools and molded properly. But Nadeshiko was too easily distracted, and her sweetness too 
rlm@0: potent for the teachers to apply the harsh discipline needed to bend her to their will. Yet when 
rlm@0: she danced, the other students watched, some in awe and some in envy, for she seemed to them 
rlm@0: like some fugitive from the realms of Faerie.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: So she danced, green eyes sparkling, hair loose and free, bare feet tracing deft patterns on the 
rlm@0: dusty floor. The magic buried deep inside of her awoke, and shone forth like a blazing beacon of 
rlm@0: pure, white light. In the cramped spaces of the dark basement she leapt and spun, a shimmering 
rlm@0: whirlwind of pirouettes and swirls. Then her motions slowed, fingers tracing slow circles in the 
rlm@0: air, timidly tip-toeing like a fawn in the deep forest. Gyrating, gliding with light-footed ease,
rlm@0: she danced for the music whose source she could not see. But she was seen, and watched with 
rlm@0: surprise, delight, and yearning. Suddenly leaping high, then descending airily, her dress 
rlm@0: ruffling like gossamer in the wind, she was startled by a thudding sound on the ground by her 
rlm@0: tiny feet. The music stopped, and so did her dance. Curious, she bent over and picked the book 
rlm@0: up. It was an odd volume, ancient by it's look, heavy, and thick with dust. She brushed it off, 
rlm@0: and saw the image of a winged, golden lion on the back, and strange moons and a sun on the front.
rlm@0: The book was fastened with metallic clasp, and as she examined it more closely she realized that 
rlm@0: it was a western book, and the lion was actually on the front cover. But what could be in such a 
rlm@0: strange and marvelous volume? Why was it locked tight? Aching to know, her agile fingers 
rlm@0: carefully pried the clasp. At first resistent, it suddenly sprang open with a click that sounded 
rlm@0: distressingly loud in the quiet basement. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko gently opened the book and was amazed to find not pages, but a recessed hollow 
rlm@0: containing what looked like cards. She carefully placed the book on the floor, and took out the 
rlm@0: top card. It was so beautiful! On it was a young woman in a magical dress that looked just like 
rlm@0: a blossom. Her hair was worn in two twirly cones, with little spiral tresses dangling at the 
rlm@0: ends. She had flowers for earrings, and smiled beatifically, eyes closed, as petals rained down 
rlm@0: upon her. There were strange, petal-like symbols on her forehead and breast. The mysterious 
rlm@0: figure was bordered by a frame with the sun on top, two seven-pointed stars on each side, and a 
rlm@0: crescent moon at her feet. She was absolutely adorable, and Nadeshiko loved her at first sight. 
rlm@0: Her name was written in Romanic letters, in the English language that always baffled the girl at 
rlm@0: school. Nadeshiko struggled to remember the complex patterns of sound that the alien letters 
rlm@0: formed,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Teh...heh.....ee...The, The!  Foo...Row..." She struggled with the impossible "L" sound. 
rlm@0: Concentrating, her tongue feeling odd and thick, she tried again,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "The...Fo...low...her......Follow?....The Flower!" 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The excitment of discovery lit up her face, and in the same instant the card was lit with an 
rlm@0: equally sudden, oscillating white light. She felt the card fall, or leap, from her hand, and was 
rlm@0: momentarily blinded by the shatteringly brilliant light. Falling backwards in surprise and 
rlm@0: banging into a bookshelf, she barely kept on her feet. Painfully squinting her eyes, the room 
rlm@0: was illuminated in a soft, pale, glow. Gradually growing used to the brightness, she discerned 
rlm@0: the outline of a figure in front of her. At the same time she caught the unmistakable scent of 
rlm@0: flowers, hundreds of flowers mingled together, gardens and greenhouses and fields full of 
rlm@0: flowers. With a start, she recognized the outline of the figure before her as the beautiful 
rlm@0: young woman in the card. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Open-mouthed, she gasped as the woman slowly approached her. Regarding her with luminous, 
rlm@0: multi-hued eyes, the flowery creature dipped in a pretty little curtsey.  Not quite sure what 
rlm@0: else to do, Nadeshiko held the hem of her dress and offered her own curtsey in return. This 
rlm@0: brought a musical giggle from the woman, who smiled and leaned closer, regarding the barefoot 
rlm@0: girl with fascination. She reached out a hand, and gently ran her fingers through the long, 
rlm@0: silvery hair. Resting her palm on the girl’s cheek, Nadeshiko closed her eyes, nearly 
rlm@0: overwhelmed by the sweet scent of roses and lilies. Her eyes shot open as she felt a hand 
rlm@0: embrace her waist, pulling her closer as the music swelled. When the woman took her other hand 
rlm@0: and held her close, Nadeshiko blushed. This brought more giggles from the strange new 
rlm@0: acquaintance as she neatly stepped into the pace of the music. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And so they danced, Nadeshiko quickly falling into the rhythm of her taller partner. She had 
rlm@0: danced with other girls in her class, but never with someone like this. The two swept over the 
rlm@0: floor in a graceful arc, the girl following her partner step by step. At first, Nadeshiko 
rlm@0: labored to keep up, but she quickly gained familiarity with the pattern, and soon gave herself 
rlm@0: over to the motion and the music. There was a dreamy, unreal quality to the dance, and the girl 
rlm@0: was aware that as they spun and dipped, a flurry of flower petals were left in their wake. As 
rlm@0: the tempo picked up, they whirled about faster and faster, whipping up the air into a little 
rlm@0: cyclone. The books were shaken on the shelves, and Nadeshiko saw the cards in the mysterious 
rlm@0: book she had found thrown into the air, glowing and shimmering, spinning along with their dance. 
rlm@0: Finally, the cards burst through the ceiling in a blaze of light, slipping through the wooden 
rlm@0: surface like pebbles dropped in a lake. Astonished, concerned, and breathless from the waltz, 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko spoke in a panicky whisper, “Please stop.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: In an instant, Flower flowed like liquid back into her card as Nadeshiko watched in stunned 
rlm@0: silence. Dizzy from all the twirling and spinning, the girl picked up the card in one hand, and 
rlm@0: felt her throbbing head with the other. Suddenly, a high-pitched voice shrieked out behind her, 
rlm@0: and the already disoriented girl leapt into the air,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “The Cards!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko quickly bowed her apologies, “Gomenesai, I, Umm, it was all my fault. I didn’t know 
rlm@0: that the dancing would scatter them so.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: But as she peeked to see the feet of the owner of the voice, there was nothing but empty floor. 
rlm@0: Puzzled, she raised her eyes higher, and finally saw a small, winged little creature, paws on 
rlm@0: his cheek, staring dumbstruck at the now empty book on the floor. Nadeshiko stood up and stared 
rlm@0: in turn. Despite it’s obvious distress, the little animal was irresistibly kawaii, and with a 
rlm@0: delighted squeel the girl grabbed the creature and smothered it in a giggling hug. Squirming away
rlm@0: from the demonstrative stranger, the furry animal shot back in an accusatory tone,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Who are you? Where did the Cards go? How did they get free?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Giggling, Nadeshiko bowed and answered brightly, “I’m Amamiya Nadeshiko.” Then, clasping her 
rlm@0: hands behind her back, she leaned forward and continued, “I’m so very sorry if I lost your cards.
rlm@0: I guess it happened when Flower and I were dancing. She’s such an amazing dancer, and I guess we 
rlm@0: set too fast a pace. “
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The furry creature regarded her with a suspicious gaze and asked, “How did Flower get free. Did 
rlm@0: you see who did it?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko tilted her head, placing her fingertip on her cheek as she tried to remember, “Well, I 
rlm@0: don’t really know. I first saw her appear after I said her name written on the card.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Wings beating faster, the hovering animal looked at her in disbelief, “You set her free? But you 
rlm@0: aren’t the Card Captor. You can’t be.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko smiled and replied, “I don’t know what that is, a Card Captor, I mean. If I see that 
rlm@0: person, I’ll be happy to tell you.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You spoke Flower’s name,” the creature asked. The girl smilingly nodded her assent. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “And then she appeared.” Again, the smile and the nod. The little animal continued to regard her,
rlm@0: as if measuring her against some hidden standard. Finally, he asked,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You opened the book.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Still smiling, she replied, “The Book.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: He nodded.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “THE Book.” She stated definitively. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Again, he nodded. With a puzzled look she asked, 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What book is that?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: After his dizziness cleared, the animal squeeked angrily, “Baka! The Clow Book! The book with 
rlm@0: all the cards in it.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nadeshiko’s expression brightened, “Oh, THAT book! Yes, I opened it. That’s where I saw the 
rlm@0: Flower card. I wonder what other cards were in there.” She stood lost in this new thought. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: He gazed at her wonderingly, thinking to himself, “Is she the one? How can it possibly be her? 
rlm@0: Something about all this seems so wrong. But she says she opened the Book, and summoned The 
rlm@0: Flower.  And she sent her back; I saw that with my own eyes. How could she possibly do that 
rlm@0: unless…” Finally, he spoke up in a rolling, portentous voice,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Yes, now I see. I can see that you are indeed the Card Captor of legend. I am the Beast of the 
rlm@0: Seal, Kereberous the Golden, Guardian of the Cards, and for 300 years my vision has never failed.
rlm@0: Even now, the challenge of the Cards calls to us. Come, Card Captor, for our work begins!”  
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kereberous struck an awesome pose, a formidable combination of determination, will, and hearty 
rlm@0: good fellowship. In response, Nadeshiko replied,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I wonder if there were any other flowers in there. Oh, or maybe other pretty things, like cute 
rlm@0: little netsuke, or maybe some yummy food cards!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kereberous stared in disbelief at the girl, oblivious to everything he had said. Holding a paw 
rlm@0: to his bowed head he released an exasperated sigh. As he was about to speak again, a desperate 
rlm@0: scream rose from the floor above, “Nadeshiko-chan? Nadeshiko-chan! Where are you?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The girl looked up at the ceiling and whispered, “Sonomi-chan?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: