| Chapter Four: She had slept on his shoulder the entire plane ride. And he had watched her, noticed that the lines on her young face followed her into her dreams. She slept chasing devils and being chased by their demons. He knew then, was reminded once more, that of all of them she needed to rest. Have one good night's sleep without seeing Sakura in her dreams. Now he sat in the backseat of a long car, the Chinese landscape flying by as he was driven to Xiao Lang's house. Beside him Tomoyo was pointing out things to him, acting as if nothing had occurred between them. Which was fine. He bowed his head against the scenery at his side. So long as she didn't disappear out of his life. He could take, just barely, not being able to touch her. But to never see here again, never hear her voice… He would be left as devastated as Xiao Lang. Nakuru was sticking her finger into Spinel Sun's cage, poking him and then quickly pulling back as he swiped at her. Eriol watched them for a little while, a small smile curving his lips. Carefree and innocent. He had been that once. "Look, there it is!" Tomoyo whispered excitedly. Eriol looked up, finally seeing the house. And he cocked his head, rethinking. It wasn't a house so much as a mansion. Large, sprawling. With perfect white pillars in the front and grand doors. Like something he had had so long ago. Standing out in the front, in the shade was Xiao Lang, auburn locks tossed by a gentle breeze. He turned his head, eyes catching on the car as it slowed to a stop in front and he had taken all of one step down when a black blur came from the doors, passing him by. "They're here!" Nakuru opened the door, coming out and she came face to face with Meilin who screeched to a halt before her. Meilin looked up at her, Nakuru being taller by several inches and then she looked at Spinel Sun in the cage, blinking wide eyes. Tomoyo also stepped out of the car, a smile widening on her face and Meilin instantly sidestepped passed Nakuru, throwing her arms around Tomoyo. "Tomoyo-chan!" she cried cheerfully, long black hair waving behind her as she flung herself. Tomoyo caught her, laughing and the girls embraced, Meilin jumping up and down happily. "It has been so long! How are you? How is your mother? How is Japan?" Syaoran finally came up and he nodded at Nakuru, bending down to look at Spinel Sun in the cage. "You can let him out. It's almost cruel keeping a Guardian in a cage," he said and he lifted his hand, unlocking the cage. Spinel Sun sprang out, hopping onto his shoulder and seating himself there quite comfortably. Eriol came forward, laden with bags. "How are you, Xiao Lang?" he asked, and it was strange using his name like that. In the past he would probably never have used his name, quite content with calling him his descendant. Which he was, Eriol being half of Clow Reed's reincarnation. Syaoran glanced at him and nodded. "Good, actually," he replied and Eriol felt somehow that even though they had never gotten along Xiao Lang did not hold him responsible for anything. In fact, it almost seemed as if Xiao Lang were trying to get along with him, perhaps correct old wrongs. Not for the first time did Eriol understand that Sakura's death had matured him before his time. Syaoran reached out, taking a few of the bags. "The plane ride was all right?" he asked, glancing at Tomoyo as she finally managed to pry Meilin's grip from her neck. Tomoyo nodded and linked one arm through his, smiling sweetly. "It was fine. Although I do feel the slightest bit jet-lagged," she answered. Syaoran straightened, motioning with his head. "Then, come on. I'll show you all around and get you settled in. The house is a mess, all the decorations are lying around for tomorrow but I'm sure you'll be able to sleep through the noise." Together the group climbed the stairs, entering the house. "He looks fine to me," Eriol said quietly, leaning into Tomoyo as they stood inside the large room the main festivities would be held. His dark eyes shifted from Xiao Lang to Meilin who was shrieking orders at a poor person setting up tables. Not too far away Xiao Lang was with another person, looking over several forms and then pointing toward the large windows across the south wall. He lowered the papers and motioned, indicating the beige curtains and shaking his head. Tomoyo nodded solemnly. "But appearances can be deceiving," she murmured and she kept her gaze straight ahead, locked on Syaoran as Eriol glanced at her. After a slight pause he said, "I'm sure," and leaned back on his heels, hands lifting to slide into his pockets. Tomoyo looked at him then, quickly, and frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked in confusion but he merely shrugged, eyes darting toward Meilin as the girl skipped over to Xiao Lang. Tomoyo turned back, also looking on as Meilin hopped to a stop beside Syaoran and wrapped her arms around his waist cheerfully. Absentmindedly, Syaoran wound an arm around her shoulders and then looked at her, seemingly asking her opinion about the windows. She shook her head and Syaoran nodded, satisfied, throwing an, 'I told you so' glance at the man. "They look happy," Eriol said softly. "Happy to be together." Tomoyo shook her head distractedly. "He didn't sound it on the phone," she whispered. "He sounded…off." Syaoran turned away, handing back the papers to the man who quickly shuffled off and he pulled Meilin close, speaking to her almost intimately. She leaned into him, nodding and when she bowed her head he dropped a small kiss on her forehead, his hand intertwining with hers. Tomoyo stared for all of a second before turning away from them, looking back toward the way she and Eriol had come in. Her lips trembled the slightest bit and she tightened them into a firm line, long hair falling down the sides of her face. Eriol looked at her, reaching a hand out and touching her elbow. "You knew you would see this when you came here," he said to her quietly. Tomoyo nodded, lips bloodless. "I know. I thought I was prepared. But I spent so long with the notion of Sakura-chan and Li-kun that it almost…makes me sick to see him with Meilin." And she looked at him quickly, almost panicking. "Not that I hate Meilin-chan because I don't, not at all." Eriol nodded in understanding, all attention on her. She shook her head. "Even at their wedding…it hurt to see them together, to know that it would never be Sakura-chan to be there beside him. That it would never…be Sakura-chan who would be getting married." She swallowed painfully and then glanced over her shoulder towards the couple again, reluctantly. "Sakura-chan always wanted a marriage like the one her parents had. A union between two people who loved each other with all their hearts. She saw that union between herself and Syaoran." Eriol also glanced at Xiao Lang and Meilin, thoughtfully. At least they're moving on though, aren't they? He looked at Tomoyo out of the corner of his eye. Which is more than I can say for you… Tomoyo plastered a smile onto her face as Meilin caught sight of them and skipped over to them, hair fashioned in her usual twin-ponytail style. "Meilin-chan…" "What are you going to wear, Tomoyo-chan?" she asked excitedly. "I have an outfit but I'm not sure how it looks. Want to take a look with me?" "Of course," Tomoyo nodded quickly. Meilin linked an arm through hers. "Good, c'mon, let's go. Let's leave all the work to Syaoran." She glanced at him over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at him. "We're leaving." Syaoran's expression didn't waver in the least. "Don't let me find you in the kitchen," he warned. "Baka!" she countered as Tomoyo laughed and the two of them floated out of the room, leaving Eriol behind. Syaoran spared him a weary glance as he smiled wryly. "Is she always like that?" he asked his descendant, coming up to stand beside him. Xiao Lang nodded, looking just as tired. "Always," He stressed. "I feel sorry for you," Eriol said reassuringly and he studied him then, up close and personal. "Did you sleep last night? You look…quite drained." Xiao Lang shrugged absentmindedly. "I had my fill," he said simply. And when he glanced at Eriol to find him looking at him inquisitively, he added, "Usually three or four hours do it for me." Eriol arched his eyebrows. "That's not nearly enough," he murmured. "How long has it been since you had a normal night's sleep?" Xiao Lang took a long moment to answer, eyes blinking. "Not for a while now," he said at last, speaking softly, so low that even Eriol had a hard time hearing him. He turned to gaze out the windows, expelling a deep breath slowly and Eriol looked with him, only then seeing the cherry blossom tree directly outside the large windows. Eriol glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, lips parting. It was almost as if Xiao Lang knew what he wanted to ask. "My mother had them put up when I was young. And when she found out the new Card captor was a girl named Sakura she had more put up. Like she knew what would happen," he said quietly, staring at the pink petals and strong trunk. Eriol didn't say anything. Xiao Lang inhaled faintly, still in the same position. "I think my mother knows a lot more than she lets on," he said after a moment. "It always seemed like when I brought up…Sakura…she got this little light in her eye. Like she knew I saw her as more than just a rival." "From her own magic perhaps?" Eriol inquired. Xiao Lang smiled gently. "Mother's intuition," he corrected. And he looked at Eriol at last, turning his attention from the cherry blossom trees. "Come on, dinner should be ready soon. I want to stop by the kitchen and see if Meilin listened to me for once." Eriol smiled and followed behind his host, head bowing. The party was under way and Eriol looked around, feeling perfectly in place with what he wore but not with the strangers surrounding him. Tomoyo had slipped away seconds earlier, saying she would be getting a few drinks for him and herself and he wished she would return already. Off to the side Nakuru stood with Spinel Sun, a hand clamped over his snout as he sniffed towards small sweets and delicacies. And yet at the same time she was bent over, looking from one sweet to another, eyes wide. Eriol smiled and glanced toward the front of the room where Xiao Lang was drifting from person to person, welcoming everyone and acting the part of the good host. Meilin, at his side and dressed in a lovely dark piece, was smiling just as sweetly, conversing here and there. Tomoyo returned then, holding out a cup. "Here you go," she said, another cup in her hand. He nodded. "Arigato." And he took in her appearance in one quick glance, looking away as his face flushed the slightest bit. She always had looked enchanting in light colors and the white dress she wore set off her dark hair and eyes. He took a deep swallow of the drink, realizing a moment later it had alcohol in it. If nothing else he was glad he could hold his liquor. Xiao Lang finally wound around to them, and at a close glance Eriol noticed Meilin was holding onto his arm for dear life. "These people…" Meilin whispered, leaning close and confiding in them. Xiao Lang nodded in agreement, finger loosening his collar a bit. "Several Clan Leaders are here…" he murmured and he glanced at Meilin. "Did I invite them without realizing it?" "Your mother," Meilin mouthed inaudibly. And she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Xiao Lang nodded once more, opening his mouth to say something more when a bright light from the center of the room caused him to rear up and glance over his shoulder. Eriol and Tomoyo looked up as well, focusing when small shrieks rang out. In the middle of the large room, bright light was pulsing. Several people backed away, creating a circle around the light and lightning erupted from the ceiling, striking the floor and sending sparks flying. "Nani..?" Tomoyo whispered in confusion. She looked at Syaoran. "Light shows?" Syaoran shook his head slowly. A small disc of light appeared, lightening forking along its rim and from its center rose a figure, draped in long black robes, hood drawn. He held a long black staff in a gloved hand, stance already one of anger. Syaoran backed up a step, jaw clenching. "No…" Eriol frowned, unsure of what he felt. A strange familiarity was rising inside, as if he had encountered this person once before. He glanced at Xiao Lang, trying to gauge his reaction. Xiao Lang was paler than a ghost, lips parted. "It's him," he uttered faintly and he took hold of Meilin's hand, squeezing it tight. "It's the man who killed Sakura." |
| All images and works done/altered by ShiNoFuriko and TasogareBan. Please do not steal and always give credit to where it is due. |