rlm@2: Cardcaptor Nadeshiko
rlm@2: Chapter Zero
rlm@2: by G.P. and the Amazoness Duo
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: On Sonomi’s tenth birthday it rained hard all day. Mother cancelled the party, leaving her 
rlm@2: daughter with the dreary prospect of being cooped up indoors. Like most girls her age Sonomi 
rlm@2: was active and easily bored, so being shut in by the weather left her edgy and irritable.
rlm@2:  Frustrated, she prowled the house like a restless animal, looking at the birthday decorations
rlm@2:  with a pitiful disappointment. Surprised by a knock at the front door, she was opened it and 
rlm@2: heard the rushing roar of the heavy rain. There stood her cousin Nadeshiko, drenched by the 
rlm@2: downpour, smiling sweetly as always. Stunned, Sonomi silently ushered her in, then frantically 
rlm@2: began yelling for her mother to bring all the towels in the house, and quickly. Her mother rushed
rlm@2:  to the hallway, spied the dripping wet girl, shook her head and laughed,
rlm@2: “Oh, my goodness! Nadeshiko-chan, you look like something that the cat dragged in.”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi blurted out indignantly, “Mother, it’s not funny. She could get pneumonia or something!”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Mother regarded her worried daughter with a smile. Then, as mothers ever have, she began to bring
rlm@2:  order out of chaos, “Sonomi-chan, get the big red blanket from the hall closet. Nadeshiko-chan, 
rlm@2: lets get you out of those wet clothes and into a hot bath right away. I guess you can wear some 
rlm@2: of Sonomi-chan’s clothing”.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Nadeshiko chimed in brightly, as if all the bedlam concerned her not in the least, “Thank you, 
rlm@2: Oka-sama, but I brought clothes for the party I can change into afterwards.” Smiling proudly, she
rlm@2:  held forth a large package carefully wrapped in plastic.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi’s mother smiled indulgently, “All right dear. Let’s get you in the tub straight away. 
rlm@2: Sonomi darling, please get me that blanket.”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Suddenly remembering her appointed task, the red-haired girl leapt up the stairs and hurried to 
rlm@2: the hall closet. Her birthday forgotten, she felt a sickening knot in her stomach as she fretted
rlm@2:  about her precious cousin. Grabbing the heavy woolen blanket, she dashed to the bathroom. 
rlm@2: Entering, she heard the sound of running water, and her mother’s voice calling out, “Sonomi-chan,
rlm@2:  please get that blanket around Nadeshiko right away.”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi stepped over a heap of damp clothing, and then saw the girl hugging herself for warmth, 
rlm@2: naked and shivering in the cold, October air. She looked like some bedraggled fairy, her long, 
rlm@2: silver-gray hair a wet and stringy shawl draped over her slender body. Sonomi quickly wrapped her
rlm@2:  up and hugged her tightly, as if to give her own warmth to the trembling girl. Looking at her 
rlm@2: cousin with glistening, grateful eyes, Nadeshiko spoke in her whispery, musical lilt, “Thank you,
rlm@2:  Sonomi-chan.” Burying her head in her cousin’s chest, she waited patiently for the bath to fill.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Later that afternoon, the willowy girl sat on a chair by the window, staring out at the dark, 
rlm@2: ragged clouds scudding across the steel gray sky. Enraptured by the jagged lightning illuminating
rlm@2:  the thunderclouds, Nadeshiko listened eagerly for the distant rumbling and booming to follow. 
rlm@2: Clapping her hands in delight, she ooh'ed and ahh'ed with each brilliant burst of light like a 
rlm@2: fireworks display at a festival. Simple things intrigued her, and this showy display of Nature 
rlm@2: filled her with an indescribable joy. For the odd nine year-old, the world was an endlessly 
rlm@2: fascinating place. Sometimes, she would sit still and quiet for hours, watching an ant laboring 
rlm@2: mightily with an enormous crumb, or a delicate spider weaving her web with silent dedication. 
rlm@2: Oblivious to the stares and whispers that followed her peculiar behavior, she dwelt in a solitary
rlm@2:  world inhabited only by herself and the current object of her fascination. Thus it was to be 
rlm@2: expected that, enthralled by the crashing thunderstorm, she was quite unaware that her equally 
rlm@2: enthralled cousin was staring at her.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi perched on the edge of her bed, watching intently. Nadeshiko had changed into the outfit
rlm@2:  she had brought in the package, and now wore a frilly, flouncy dress of pure white taffeta that
rlm@2:  made her look like a fairy tale princess. This was no doubt her Mother's doing, as she 
rlm@2: invariably dressed the lovely child in the cutest manner possible, like some rare and precious 
rlm@2: doll. Her flowing hair, a curious shade of silvery-gray, was loosely tied with bows of light blue
rlm@2:  ribbon. She wore white shoes and lacey anklets, her crinoline crinkling as she swung her feet 
rlm@2: back and forth. Sonomi gazed at her with an aching heart, a longing she felt but did not 
rlm@2: understand. Yet the joy that bubbled up inside her was tinged with sadness, as if all her 
rlm@2: happiness rested on a perilously fragile foundation. It was more than a girl just turned ten 
rlm@2: could fathom, so she spoke out almost irritably, struggling to put her confused and distraught 
rlm@2: feelings into words,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “Nadeshiko-chan, why did you go out in the rain like that?”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Literally lost in the clouds, her cousin failed to respond. Sonomi sighed, and reflected on this 
rlm@2: craziest of birthdays. After a warm bath and hot tea, Nadeshiko had defied all Sonomi’s worries 
rlm@2: by appearing perfectly fine. Mother broke out the party hats, colorful napkins, and all the 
rlm@2: birthday regalia that had been consigned to the closet. At first it seemed quite foolish, this 
rlm@2: party of two, but Nadeshiko’s innocent enthusiasm soon swept away the birthday girl’s lingering 
rlm@2: inhibitions. After luncheon, Nadeshiko insisted on singing Happy Birthday in as rousing a chorus
rlm@2:  as she could manage with her gentle voice. Sonomi blushed during the song, and after when her 
rlm@2: cousin hugged her with delirious abandon. Now, clad in her birthday party best, the silver-haired
rlm@2:  girl seemed oblivious to Sonomi’s edgy concern. Clearing her throat, the auburn-haired girl 
rlm@2: spoke up in a voice loud enough to get her distracted cousin’s attention,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “Nadeshiko-chan!”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Startled, the girl turned around. Sonomi, unable to hide her gnawing worry, said,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “Nadeshiko-chan, why did you come like that in the rain? You could have gotten terribly sick.”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Tilting her head and smiling brightly, she replied, “Nadeshiko would have felt terrible if she 
rlm@2: had missed Sonomi-chan’s wonderful tenth birthday party.”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Exasperated, Sonomi declared, “But didn’t your parents tell you the party was cancelled? I can’t
rlm@2:  believe they let you go out in weather like this.”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “Oh, they told me the party was cancelled. But that would have made Sonomi-chan too sad on her 
rlm@2: special day. Sonomi-chan being sad would have been worse than any cold I could catch.” With that,
rlm@2:  she giggled conspiratorially and whispered, 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “Mother and Father didn’t know I was coming. But I left them a note for when they get back, so 
rlm@2: everything is all right.”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: As if that settled the matter, Nadeshiko went back to sky gazing, leaving Sonomi more perplexed 
rlm@2: than ever. But suddenly, the silver-haired girl leaped up, clasping her hands and blurting out, 
rlm@2: “Oh!”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi felt her heart racing as she exclaimed, “Nadeshiko-chan, what’s wrong?”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Nadeshiko bolted for the door and sang out, “I’ll be right back. Stay there, and no peeking!”
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: In no time she was back, holding two rather soggy presents wrapped in pink paper and bows. She 
rlm@2: bowed and smiled apologetically as she merrily offered the first one to her startled cousin,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Happy Birthday, Sonomi-chan!"
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi took the package, looked at it, then stared at Nadeshiko. Smiling, she shook her head and
rlm@2:  began to undo the ribbon. Thoughts of her crazy cousin gave way to a child's curiosity as she 
rlm@2: carefully undid the ribbons, then ran a finger through the seam of the paper. It was skillfully 
rlm@2: wrapped, which led her to believe that Nadeshiko's mother had done it. Finally the paper shook 
rlm@2: loose, revealing a scrapbook with a hand-written title, "Sonomi-Chan's Precious Memories." The 
rlm@2: script was labored and unsteady, as if her cousin had spent an inordinate amount of time trying 
rlm@2: to get it just right. The cover was gaily decorated with hand-drawn hearts and flowers, and odd 
rlm@2: little animals and faces. She opened it, and saw the blank pages had little marginal notes and 
rlm@2: drawings written in a familiar, childlike scrawl. She looked up and saw Nadeshiko's expectant 
rlm@2: face, and struggled to keep her own tears in check as she spoke,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Thank you so very much. It's beautiful."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: The silver-haired girl smiled with glee as she bounced up and down , "Open the other one! Open 
rlm@2: the other one!"
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi carefully placed the hand-made scrapbook on her desk. It was typical of Nadeshiko's 
rlm@2: presents. Despite a lack of skill or craft, her little gifts were imbued with an innocent love 
rlm@2: that deeply touched the heart. Sonomi took the next package, which was a small rectangle. 
rlm@2: Carefully opening it, she saw a box for a camera kit. With a puzzled glance at her cousin she 
rlm@2: asked, "What is it?"
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Nadeshiko could scarecely contain herself, "Open it, Sonomi-chan, open it!"
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: What on earth did she put in this box, Sonomi wondered. Cookies? Candies? Undoing the tape on the
rlm@2:  lid, she pulled out a cardboard liner wrapped around a small, black camera. Stunned, she gaped 
rlm@2: open-mouthed as Nadeshiko hopped up and down, her face alight with excitement, "Do you like it? 
rlm@2: Do you like it?" The girl asked eagerly.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "It's...it's wonderful," Sonomi stammered, "But how did you...it must have been so expensive."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Nadeshiko's grinned hugely, " I saved up all my birthday money, and the money grandfather gave me
rlm@2:  for Girl's Day. The man at the store said it was a very good camera. You can buy new lenses and 
rlm@2: everything."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Sonomi ran her finger over the cold metal trim and the bumpy black body of the amazing 
rlm@2: instrument. She had always been fascinated by photography, by the ability to capture a moment out
rlm@2:  of time forever. But this was too much. She couldn't accept such a costly gift. Yet one look at 
rlm@2: Nadeshiko's ecstatic face and she knew it would break her heart to refuse it. And that was 
rlm@2: something she could never, ever do. Carefully placing the camera down on the desk, she wrapped 
rlm@2: her arms around the long-haired girl. Hot tears ran down her cheeks as she hugged tightly, 
rlm@2: whispering thank-yous. Finally, reluctantly, she pulled back, wiping away the tears, and said,
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: "Well, the first picture should be of my most precious memory for my beautiful scrapbook. May I 
rlm@2: please take your picture, Nadeshiko-chan?"
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Her cousin bowed and answered in mock solemnity, "I would be honored to serve as the first 
rlm@2: subject of the future famous photographer, Amamiya Sonomi-sama."
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Giggling, the two girls examined the camera and began to read the complicated instructions.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: II. 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: On the way home in the car as her mother gently chastised her, Nadeshiko's mind wandered. Her 
rlm@2: walk in the rain was great fun, dodging from tree to tree, helping the poor little worms to keep
rlm@2:  from drowning, and dancing in the streams and rivers that gurgled down the storm drains. The 
rlm@2: warm bath and hot tea had felt so good, and the love of Sonomi's mother had washed over her like
rlm@2:  a gentle wave. The magnificent cake was so pretty, with curlicues of pink and green frosting 
rlm@2: around the edges, and little sugar decorations that looked like rosebuds. The look on Sonomi's 
rlm@2: face as she unwrapped her presents had been so adorable. Nadeshiko's heart beat faster at the 
rlm@2: thought of her precious cousin. She smiled, feeling the love swirl inside her heart. 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: And the pictures! Posing for the camera had been almost like dancing, gliding and moving like 
rlm@2: liquid, her body infused with light, shimmering and transparent. Sonomi-chan was so cutely 
rlm@2: flustered at first, but soon seemed determined to take the perfect shot. All that afternoon 
rlm@2: Nadeshiko posed while Sonomi fussed with the camera. Finally, Nadeshiko's worried, apologetic 
rlm@2: parents swept her away to home, where a comfy bed was waiting. By the time the car arrived at her
rlm@2:  house, Nadeshiko had slipped into the land of dreams. Her father carried her to bed as she 
rlm@2: danced with Sonomi under a purple moon.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: The days that followed her birthday were an agony of waiting for Sonomi. On the way home from 
rlm@2: school she stopped faithfully at the drugstore to see if her pictures were ready. Finally, on 
rlm@2: Friday, the clerk saw her coming and smilingly placed a neatly wrapped brown packet on the 
rlm@2: counter. Sonomi eagerly paid and ran home. At first she was crestfallen. Some of the shots were 
rlm@2: blurry, or washed out, too light or too dark. She frowned, realizing only a dedicated effort 
rlm@2: would bring the skill she needed to be a real photographer. But one came out just right: 
rlm@2: Nadeshiko standing, holding a straw hat on her head, framed by the gray storm clouds in the 
rlm@2: picture window. She looked carefree and natural, as if the camera did not even exist. Sonomi 
rlm@2: always felt self-conscious when pictures were taken, but not Nadeshiko. In a way, the picture was
rlm@2:  oddly disturbing, as if her cousin was blithely unaware of the furious storm that raged all 
rlm@2: about her. But the anxiety Sonomi felt was eased by the sheer beauty of the photograph. Nadeshiko
rlm@2:  looked like something from a storybook, a beautiful princess or a magical spirit. Sonomi felt a 
rlm@2: hot, crimson blush on her cheeks, but could not stop looking at the ethereal image. All that day 
rlm@2: she kept it with her, finally falling asleep under the covers, gazing at her beautiful cousin by 
rlm@2: flashlight. In the morning, worried about the picture being crumpled, she carefully placed it in 
rlm@2: her kawaii little scrapbook before going to school.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: 
rlm@2:  Then, and forever after, Nadeshiko would be her most precious memory.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: