Previously--- The vision. A figure in shadows, wearing a cape and sitting on the roof of the Daidouji estates. He was watching her. Sakura looks up, noticing for the first time Lunaris in the sky above. “But it’s night---” “Lunaris sometimes appears in people’s visions regardless of time.” Sakura looks around, but no one. The voice was coming from everywhere and yet nowhere. “Sakura--- it’s not time yet---” (the voice calls to her) “---we’ll talk again soon. Sakura--- Sakura--- Sak---” (silence) “Sakura?” “Who are---” Sakura’s eyes lazily drift open, coming face to face with a wide eyed and curious Rena staring at her from in front of her desk. “ACK!” “I know the colonization period of the 21st Century is a tad dry and boring but still---” (Rena smiles as she rests her head on Sakura’s desk, looking at her sideways. “Have a nice nap?” “I-I’M SORRY!!!” “ACK!” (Keiko jumps back with a start, waking out of her own stupor to come crashing to the floor in an awkward way) “---ouch---” “Well I’m glad someone over there had worst falls than that in her life--- still---” (a smile creeps across Rena’s face) “---that was worth it. Thanks, Sakura.” (stops) “You have practice today?” “No---” “Then cuddle and snooze at home please, thanks.” (walks back to the board) “And that goes double for you, Miss blades!” “---oh shove it---” Keiko hisses as she pulls herself back into her chair. The day was nearly done, and they were going to the party for the cast members of the play next. Misho was holding it at a room in the huge Convention Center she built in downtown Tokyo, and went through a lot of trouble to make it a hot ticket event. Still--- Suddenly Sakura noticed Rena was next to her again, “I’m awake!” Rena leans over and whispers to her, “I noticed how beautiful you are when your sleeping. So very very cute--- Nina doesn‘t know anything. Snoozer indeed. Your so very---” (Rena reaches a hand out, but stops) “---I’m jealous.” (with that Rena retreats without another word said, leaving Sakura confused.) ----- “I’m so embarrassed!!” “I’m sorry,” Tomoyo said in a comforting manner, “I tried to wake you up.” “But I had that dream again, and then Rena said---” (stops, blushing) “--she said she I was beautiful and she was jealous of me---?” “Rena said that to you?” Tomoyo asked, her face filled with curiosity. “Why?” “I don’t know---” (class had dismissed and the two were walking to the party) “---but I have this strange feeling---” “Uh oh.” Tomoyo stops, looking a little concerned, “When you feel like that something is going to happen. Is there a card nearby?” “I don’t know--- I can’t explain it but--- something is coming. I don‘t know what it is but---” “Give it time then.” (Tomoyo takes Sakura’s hand as she steps past her) “It’ll come to you.” Suddenly Sakura stops, her head looking upwards, “Rena?!” Sitting perched in a tree, Rena watches as the two draws near, dropping down in front of them as they draw close. She reaches into a pocket and withdraws two things, a Seeker, and a wristband with a jewel setting. “Got something for you, Tomoyo. Merry Christmas.” “Thanks.” Tomoyo accepts gracefully, her expression turning curious as Rena pushes the Seeker sphere towards her. “Your Seeker?” “Yours. It took me awhile but I found another Seeker, it’s yours. Figure it’ll come in handy.” “---why thank you---” Tomoyo whispers, bowing as she accepts the mystical object. “How do I take it home? In my bag?” “Tap it to the crystal on the wristband. It’s a storage device, it’ll hold anything you want in it.” “How practical!” Tomoyo gleefully remarks, tapping the sphere onto the wristband where it’s enveloped in a field of light and swallowed into the jewel setting. “How do I---” “Tap the jewel and think of what you want, and it’ll come out. Easy as th---?” (Sakura’s hand grasps Rena’s arm) “---?--- oh but don‘t put loose candies in there because I did that once and I‘m still randomly pulling gummy bears out of my storage crystal clinging onto other stuff (they’re still edible too) and--- what are you doing?!” “Rena--- about earlier. What did you mean?” “About what?” Rena asked with genuine interest, and a tad bit of confusion. “When you said you thought I was beautiful, and was jealous.” “But I didn’t say---” (stops, face flushes slightly) “---I was down with Misho preparing for the party so I asked Catherine to sit in my class for me---” (a slight irked expression passes over Rena’s face) “Did she take my form? That---” (?) “---what was she---” “Phwee?” “Uh--- nothing. Never mind.” (Rena backs away, waving at the two) “Better hurry before the party starts without us! Come on!” “But Ren---” “She’s gone.” Tomoyo notices, watching her speed off. “What was that all about?” “---I don’t know---” ----- As the two walk away hand-in-hand, on top of one of the school buildings Catherine watches, her hands clenched together as if she was wringing them, watching as Sakura & Tomoyo walked away. “---goddess I am jealous--- aw man---” Behind her, unknown to her, someone else watches. “What are you up to, Catherine?” ------------------------------------------------------------ “If I knew this was going to be a cake party I’d have not skipped lunch.” Keiko grumbles slightly, poking the table as she sat there staring at the others. “We are going to get some cakes over here eventually, right? This is a cake party after all--- cake-u, cake-u, cake-u!” “Make up your mind whether you want cake or not you hypocrite!” Misho hisses under her breath, leaning back in her spot on the huge table. On this table there was Sakura, Tomoyo, Nina & Eliza, Keiko, Rena & Misho. (Both Eve & Trinity were on another table with Naoko, Chiharu & Rika). “All I’m saying is that if we’re going to have a cake party--- be nice if there was cake, that’s all.” “Patience oh psychotic one. Patience.” Rena groaned, scanning the huge room for a traveling cake cart, “It’ll be here before you can say “hypoglycemic coma”.” Everyone - “Hypoglycemic coma.” “---not funny---” ----- Meanwhile--- The Shining Star International Spaceport (The Dream Continent of Hong Kong) “I wish it would snow.” Xai Shar muttered beneath her breath. It was cold, but not enough to keep the flights grounded--- she hated that. Outside the viewing windows she could see several of the the huge aircraft lumbering into the sky, and coming down for landing right next to the stellar capable crafts as they did their take offs and landings in turn. She didn’t feel at all comfortable with this, but she knew there was no point in arguing with her once she made up her mind. She was going, and that was that. So, with that thought out, she turned to face her companion. “I’d have to say I’m a little surprised your going so soon after your promotion.” Xai Shar (the 5th Judgment of the Shining Star) remarked, her long hair cascading down her back as she shook her head back and forth, her Palominian features (animorphic horse/human female features) sweating slightly as she regarded her companion. “You’re the youngest girl I’ve seen rise to the rank of 11th Judgment. It takes some ages to rise the ranks but you’ve done it remarkably fast for one so young.” Silence, her companion seemed too intent on her ticket to notice. She only noded her head at Xai Shar’s remarks. “And what of your mentor? The one you told me about? Will she be there?” “Yes. She‘s always been there--- in Nippon.” “And this boy--- I mean man you told me about? Isn’t he leaving also for---” “He is.” She quickly responded, cutting the conversation on him short. Xai nods her head, pushing the topic of “him” aside. “Will you be gone long?” “Not long. Not until I help Sempai recapture those annoying cards and returned home again.” “Well, whatever possessed you to do this I wish you the best--- so long, Meilin.” Meilin smiles, her Judgment uniform feeling very comfortable as she gives her companion a hug goodbye. “Think Sempai will be surprised I’m visiting?” “Before or after you tell her the good news?” “She might be a little disagreeable---” (smirks) “---but this time I’m not taking no for an answer! Before next year is out I‘m going to be a married woman and she---” (smiles) “---you know the rest.” Ten minutes later her flight leaves, destination - Tokyo. ------ Back in Nippon (Tokyo)--- “Cake before I fall asleep or start craving real food already!” Keiko sighed in boredom. “Shut up, you’re only making it worst.” “It’s your party, Misho--- make it come faster!” Nina was grumbling now. “Shut up, you’re only making it worst.” “Sorry to keep you waiting.” “Shut up, you’re only making it--- oh. Never mind---” (Misho looks over, and nearly falls over) “WHAT?!? YOU???” “Toya?!” “H-H-” (Misho was speechless, for once) “What are you doing here---?” “Working.” “A-A--- HOW?!?” “How many times do you fire him only to rehire him again?” Keiko remarks sharply. “I’m not doing this!! What’s going on?!?” (takes the cake from Toya anyway despite her anger) “Sheesh. The guy really does work everywhere---” Nina sarcastically remarks as she pokes her cake abit before eating it, “Doesn’t Yuki pull his weight in their relationship or is Toya doing all the work?” “Let’s eat.” Tomoyo quickly shifts the subject, noting Toya’s peeved expression at Nina, “It looks delicious!” “It is.” Misho (coming back to Terrra) remarks, sticking another bite into her mouth. “It’s absolutely divine!” Sakura pines, her face glowing radiantly as she and Tomoyo smile at each other, taking a bit of their cakes and feeding the other watching their faces as they chewed and relished the tastes of the other‘s food. Keiko takes another bite and swallows hard, “Try not to jump each other while at the table please.” Inspired, Nina suddenly jumps up from her spot and dashes over to Eliza’s table, jumping into place to swap cakes with her and do the romantic thing Sakura/Tomoyo were doing. Toya looked peeved x2, Rena couldn’t care less, and Misho just wanted another cake (grabbing one from the huge tray Toya bought) when suddenly, “That really does look good.” At the sound of the voice, both Rena & Keiko sigh irritably. “The walking 8-ball.” “Ms. Mitsuki!” Sakura suddenly freaks a little, noticing she was watching the two from behind them for a little while now. Seconds later another person came into view, Catherine, she borrows Sakura for a second and puts Ms. Mitsuki down on their table while she talks with her. Keiko grabs her seconds later and walks off with her to stop her from staring at Tomoyo. Obviously Rena and Keiko aren’t tickled pink by this, but Tomoyo watches with some interest as the two talk quietly over at another table. “You know why Keiko & Rena are here, and you know in a sense why I’m here--- have you ever wondered why Nina’s here though?” “Orders?” “Eventually however, with all this support your getting from the Judgments and a Raven you’d think Command would give Nina the option to opt out of her mission and go back on leave again. She was on offtime when she was called in for the job after all, you’d think she’d want to return to that.” Sakura - “Maybe they didn’t call her back?” Catherine - “Maybe they did and she wanted to stay here.” Sakura - “Did Nina tell you that?” Catherine - “No. Nina doesn’t like talking to me. She keeps her distance from me.” (suddenly Catherine grows a little distant, her thoughts wandering) “Only five people to date have made cards linked to magical forces. One connected to mystical items called “Millennium Items”, Clow Reed of course and his Clow Cards, the person who forged the first mystical set of Tarot cards, a distant relative of Misho NamoCatCat whose ancestor created crystal cards capable of entrapping necromancy beings (Rubicon cards), and---” (Catheirne stops) “---well, the art is a very rare one in consideration of all the mystical artifacts forged over the ages.” Sakura - “Are you---” (at this Catherine returns to reality) Catherine - “I was involved somewhat with Misho’s family legacy, the Rubicon cards. She still carries some to this very day as a matter of fact. Nina plays the game that is related to the Millennium Items, while you collect Clow Cards. So in a sense I’m partially linked to the chain of magic that is related to cards. And so is Misho, Nina, Keiko, Rena--- all of us here who have joined you have some connection to card magic in one form or another it seems. And there’s even a few you haven’t met yet---” “Who?” “You’ll know when the time is right---” (Catherine goes distant again) “What do you know about Ravens, Sakura? The guardian class known as Ravens, I mean (not the bird).” “Not much. Only what Nina, or Keiko, or someone told me. They’re powerful, right? Like you?” “I’m only Neo level power. That’s strong, but there’s a few levels above mine to go. One other, who is with you but not obvious, is a Theta. There’s even stronger levels than that as well---” (Catherine smiles, reaching out to pass a hand through Sakura’s hair) “---I’m sorry I confused you while I was in Rena’s form. I didn’t mean to, but--- you truly are very beautiful.” ----- “What the hell are they talking about?” Rena grumbles beneath her breath, the Seeker flashing bright but showing nothing to her. Ms. Mitsuki was with Keiko and Eve at another table, and Misho went to another table leaving them alone to talk. “Even this can’t tap into their conversation.” (with a grunt she puts the Seeker back into place) “Catherine’s being super paranoid today.” “Can it listen in to conversations?” (Tomoyo) “Less of listening in, more like it taps the surface “thoughts” of the two talking. When people talk they tend to think out their words as well as speak them, the Seeker just grazes those top thoughts and relays them. It’s a very light and non-evasive technique so it normally would be beneath Catherine to protect against such a weak and low level reading--- but today she is for some reason.” “Maybe she just wants her privacy.” “And if she wanted that she could go to the girl’s bathroom to talk to Sakura--- and then we’d be at the door listening with water glasses.” (sighs irritably) “I guess what I’m really getting at is she’s taking far too many precautions for a simple little chat--- eh? Oh, great, it’s the walking 8-ball---” Rena sighs under her breath, “And they’re breaking up the talk. Well, so much for that.” “What’s wrong? You seem rather down.” (Tomoyo) “---?--- oh, yeah. Sakura’s getting all dosey-dorky with Ms. Mitsuki again. It’s a wonder nobody wrote a lemon with them doing---” (sighs irritably) “Sorry, it’s just that Kaho gets on my nerves. I keep telling Sakura to not get suckered in like that but she never listens!” “That’s Sakura for you.” “----and if I knew her like you did, Tomoyo, I’d actually know what that meant.” “Why are you giving Sakura advice?” For a few seconds silence reigns, but Rena eventually finds her voice. “Eh? Oh--- I’m one of the few with actual advice to give. Heaven forbid the person staying at your place can contribute something, but Nina’s about as useful in the advice dept. as a “Tickle-Me-Elmo”. That’s why.” “I thought you’d want the girl who snubbed you from being the hero to collect the Clow cards to fail at her task?” Rena sighs, leaning back in her spot. “Don’t read too much into it--- I‘m not that jealous of Sakura. Maybe--- I don‘t think so---” (staring up at the ceiling, Rena begins to loll her head back and forth) “---I just don’t like half-ass jobs. If it’s going to be done, even if I’m not the one doing it, it’s gotta be done right. Sure I could have done it better, but that‘s old news--- best not to go over it over and over again.” “So why do you worry about Sakura?” Tomoyo baits, to which Rena looks down at her irritated. “Go fish somewhere else. I have somebody already. It’s not like the first time around and it’ll never be that again after I had a say about---” (hisses) “---and you didn’t hear that from me.” “Hear what?” “----I honestly hate you at times----” ----- “Pick something.” (Misho) “Make up your mind.” (Toya) “But they all look so good---” (Sakura) “Recommend something.” (Misho) “Why?” (Toya) “Am I paying you to work for me or to sass me! Help her---” (Misho) “She can pick something.” (Toya) “I don’t have eternity plus one to wait for THAT!!” (Misho) “Then you pick something.” (Toya) “---but they all look so good---” (Misho, mouth drooling a little) Toya sighs irritably. Keiko walks up, makes a few selections, and sighs. “The walking eight ball is coming over.” “What?” (Misho/Sakura look back) “She’s with Catherine?” “The two make a cute couple--- if Kaho didn’t have a sick twisted idea of her ideal mate.” “Still going on about that?” Rena grumbles, joining the four, “It’s bad enough to listen to you gripe about it at mission briefings, must you bitch about it in public?” “I’m just saying it’s dead wrong and---” (?) “---Sakura’s lost it.” “?” (looks down at Sakura’s clueless expression) “Whoops. Too much information.” “No kidding.” Keiko sighs as she tries to bring Sakura back to reality. Seconds later--- “There. Now that wasn’t so hard--- only took several tries---” Misho sighs irritably. “Let’s go---” “Your Sakura, right?” (she turns to the voice next to her) “Tomoyo asked me to look for you. Come on, she’s waiting.” (Sakura reaches out, grabbing the male’s hand and feeling a strange warmth from it) ‘!’ (Sakura blushes abit) “What’s wrong?” “N-n-nothing---” Seconds later, she confides her feelings to Tomoyo. “The same?” “It was the same feeling I had when I touched Catherine’s hand. That strange warmth--- who is--?” “We met him during the Fly incident, remember?” “Oh, right. Captain Lazarus--- what’s he---?” “He helped with the stage settings for the play and did the background imagery.” “Oh.” (smiles) “I thought those were really cute!” ----- “Getting a little too close are we, Jack?” Keiko remarks as she slides up next to him. “Just doing a favor for Tomoyo.” he remarks as he bites into a piece of cake. “Not bad.” “I think she copped a feel off of your power aura.” “It’s suppressed. She can’t do that.” “Oh, really. So why did she suddenly blank out for a second? I think she felt your aura and she was covering it up. She felt something touching you and it wasn’t a lolita crush on you either.” “Heaven forbid we go through the whole Yuki thing again---” “The point is---” Keiko leans forward abit to accentuate the point, “Just how much do we REALLY know about how sensitive her powers are? She might be able to detect a power level even if it’s being buried by technique. She seems very sensitive to mystical energy, even if the user is trying to bury that energy in her presence--- though only by touch it seems. She can’t read it by her sensory “touch”.” “For which we’re all grateful or she’d be reading more than she needs to know now.” Keiko moves away, but stops--- “What if she needs to know more than we’re giving her?” She moves away before he can question her further. “---sigh---” “So--- what were you two talking about?” (Catherine) Jack turns his head and stares at her as she sits down. “What were you talking about with Sakura?” “Not THAT if that’s what your wondering--- I can keep that under tight wraps.” “You’re not having---” Catherine stops, and smiles at Jack. “Don’t do that, Cathy, that’s the same look Mitsuki gives to weasel her way out of talking--- and I find it even more disturbing to see YOU do it!” “Sorry. It’s going to be awhile longer--- but she’s getting there.” “And where are you getting to?” “---I don’t know--- maybe I will soon.” Jack leans back, his thoughts racing--- ‘She’s right. It’s only a matter of time before all the cards are retrieved once again. But then---’ (sighs as he takes another bite) ‘---that’s when things are going to get touchy.’ ‘As Sakura seals each card she’s bringing about the triggering of Final Judgment--- but if she isn’t the one to be judged, having already been judged--- who will she judge in turn? I feel as if she’ll stand over someone in judgment--- but who? Nina? Keiko? Rena? Catherine? Maybe even myself?’ Jack’s eyes rove the scene before him as he bites into the cake again, finishing it off as he reaches for a new one. ‘Nervous as all heck, must explain my chewy-chewy mood today. Just can’t stop chewing---’ (sighs as hew chews again) ‘It didn’t go the way we thought it would when we visited her world--- everything went so horribly wrong. Even this fix might not last if the ramifications of what we did then come back to haunt us.’ ‘For one of us, our own time of judgment is coming--- then what?’ ----- “For the last time stop staring at me!” Rena grumbles, putting a few people between herself and Tomoyo, “Your reading too much into it! Stop it!” “Stop what?” “I’ll tell you later.” “OH NO YOU DON’T!!” Tomoyo laughs as she and Sakura walks off in one direction, leaving the others to stare at Rena. “What?!? Nothing happened!! Stop glaring at me!! (Go on Nina! They’re walking home so get going! Stop staring at me!!”) (Rena storms off in a huff with Trinity close behind, in a giggly mood.) As Nina and Eliza catches up to the two, the obvious question comes out. “What were you and Rena talking about anyway? She’s in a huff about it!” “Nothing much.” Tomoyo answers, and then she goes back to talking to Sakura. “Something much or she wouldn’t be in a bad mood---” Nina sighs. “Then, Sakura, what did you talk about with Cathy?” Sakura’s answer is about as vague as Tomoyo’s prodding of Rena. “---sorry I asked---” ---- Monday (December 16th) Four more days before the Christmas break begins. “STOP SAYING IT!!” Nina looks about in a huff, her fist clenched and her teeth grinding together. “Say what?” Sakura, in her school uniform (this happened on the way to school) asked, her face filled with genuine curiosity. Tomoyo was off to one side, silent, simply content to let Nina fume as she recorded the entire thing for posterity’s sake. “You know what I mean! The minute it latched onto my card case you said it! It’s been moving everytime you say it! Everytime the word comes out of your mouth it moves! Doesn’t that give you the slightest hint---” (Nina stops, a shiver coming down her spine as if something was close---) “---don’t---” “The Move ca---” (it vanishes again) “I SAID NOT TO SAY IT!!!” (Nina stomps down hard and storms off in a huff) “I GIVE UP! YOU CAPTURE THE DAMN THING AND GET ME MY CARDS BACK!!” “But it’s almost time for school!” “And whose fault is it someone keeps yelling “Move”! “Move!” “Mo---”” (pok) (Nina, in her haste, runs right into Move, stunning herself temporarily as she walks face first into her own card case and knocking Move off it’s stride, sending it warbling through the air as Nina tries to recover. Sakura, with Tomoyo close behind, is on it before it can recover though. “Clow Card, return to your power confined, MOVE CARD!!” (it’s quickly captured, Nina’s card case falling into Eliza’s open hand as the card is sealed) “Here--- uh--- Nina? That looks painful---” (pries Nina’s hands from her face) “---eeww---” “Well we have to go! Bye, Nina!” “---wait!! I---” (Nina huffs and pouts) “---I hate them.” ------ “Stop wiggling. Stop it, I can’t fix it if you don’t stop wiggling---” “It hurts, alright? I--- ouch!! Eliza!!” “Sorry!” she apologies, trying to get Nina’s head to stop bobbing about as she tries to fix the damage. The card case hit her at an odd angle and gave her a gash on her face, a small cut but it hurt all the same to Nina. “There, it’ll take a few seconds and it’ll be good as new--- Nina!” “I can’t help it! Ouch!” The two were sitting in the dining area of the underground monitoring base beneath Sakura’s school, and Nina wasn’t in a good mood right now. “I can’t believe she ditched on us!” “You were planning on ditching on her, remember? And she was late for school.” “Late, schmate! She made it on time and class is only now just starting!” (Nina wiggles her head abit as Eliza finishes the job) “Still stings a little.” “It’ll take awhile for it to go away.” (kisses the injury) “Want me to kiss it some more and make it all better? Maybe---” (fingers tracing across Nina’s chest) “---we’ll play “doctor”---” “Hmmm--- well, when you put it like that, I---” “Nina?” (the commsystem) “Argh--- what is it?” “You better get in here. Something’s up in Sakura’s class.” The two exchange glances before heading out the door. ------ “Maybe we should plan our Christmas shopping during Keiko’s lame period.” Rena sighs. “It’s NOT a lame period! I just don’t have anything to teach---” “Hence why it’s the lame period---” (?) “---what’s Mr. Terada writing?” “Class? May I have your attention---?” (waits for a few seconds before speaking again) “I have an announcement to make. A student some of you might remember from a few years ago is transferring back to our class and I want you all to make her feel welcome.” “Student?” Sakura whispers, confused. “Who could be transferring here at this time of year?” “Kind of late for a transfer student---” Tomoyo whispers back. “Come on in, Meilin---” Keiko nearly falls out of her seat. Meilin passes everyone and walks right to the back. “Meilin!” (Sakura jumps out of her seat) “It’s good to see you again! I---” (Meilin walks right past her and to Keiko) “Sempai! I missed you!!” (grabs Keiko and hugs her to her disbelief) “---?---” “Sempai? Your blushing! Are you embarrassed? Is she bothering you?” (glaring at Rena) Rena looks over at the two in surprise, “Never thought she was the type---” ----- Keiko’s free period Keiko, obviously, wasn’t in a good mood. “What are you DOING?!?” “I came here to help you catch the Clow cards!” “I don’t remember ASKING for assistance!” (Keiko sighs heavily as she shifts about in her chair) “And besides which you can’t---” “Can’t what?” “Help me catch something even I can’t catch!” Keiko hisses beneath her breath, her face scrunching up as she talks, “Don’t make me be so damn obvious to you!” “You need the help, and I felt a visit wasn’t out of the question especially---” “Don’t you have duties back in the Shining Star?” Keiko irritably told Meilin, “Why aren’t you tending to your duties? Get off my back and go home!” “It’s time. Remember? You promised---” Keiko‘s eyes widen abit, “Oh no! No, no, no! Not getting me hooked into that!” Meanwhile, over at another part of the class--- “What are those two carrying on about? They’ve been up there at the front rattling on in whispers for the past two minutes!” Rena remarks, watching the two talk. “You’d think she’d actually like one of her mistresses showing up.” “Mistress?” (Sakura) “She’s making that up.” (Nina, who showed up after Keiko’s class started) “Keiko’s not the type to keep a mistress--- Eve would kill her if she did.” “Well they’re going on about something! Tomoyo! Don’t you think---“ (looks at Tomoyo who only has eyes for Sakura and vice versa) “---never mind. Look, Keiko nearly slashed one of the students for getting to close to them, remember? She’s awfully wound up about something and it isn’t just that her prize “pupil” (heaven forbid she actually has a prize anything, let alone a pupil) has shown up at the least appropriate moment to hassle her--- oh, wait, here they come.” Meilin, holding onto Keiko, walks her back ot the others. “It’s settled. I’m staying to help, and we’re going to have a party on New Years’ to celebrate!” “Celebrate?” “My spring time wedding of course!” “----” “---say what---” (Rena) “That’s great---” (Sakura) “---who are you marrying?” “My sempai!” Everyone looks over at Keiko, who gives them all a dirty look and motions to her blade, “HER OTHER SEMPAI!! (get your minds out of the gutters!!) Meilin stop being so vague!” “Aw! Don’t be modest! Polygamy suits yo---” (stops as Keiko draws her blade) “---never mind.” “Who---” (Meilin hands Tomoyo a photo, causing her to smile) “---oh she’s very beautiful! You must be a lucky girl to have won your heart.” “I‘m even luckier to have won her heart!” “She’s cute! You‘ll be happy together!” (Sakura) “I think she’s great! Good for you!” (Nina) “She’s marrying a horse-girl?” (Rena) “THAT’S IT!!!” (Meilin jumps on top of Rena beating her down with her fists) “WAIT! I---ouch! Ow! Ow! Stop it! Ow! Ow! Ow!! Cut it---ou! Ow! Ow!” Keiko nods her head. “Anti climatic. She’s marrying her mentor who she’s been under for a few years now back at the Shining Star.” Rena looks up, her mouth as of yet unwilling to stay shut. “Oh, that figures she’s been under her for years. Does pony-girl yell “giddyap” and whip Meilin during sex--- Ow!! Ow!! Stop--- ow!!” “----idiot, keep your mouth shut and you won‘t get hurt---” (Keiko) “Is this legal? (the marriage, not Meilin kicking the heck out of Rena)” (Nina) “I guess. Palominians don’t have strange marriage rules like---” (stops, sighs) “---well, they’re open about marriage. So I guess a human/Palominian marriage isn’t out of the question.” Nina suddenly becomes rather morose and trudges off, leaving Sakura confused. “What’s wrong? Isn’t she happy for---?” “Damn I knew I shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s that time of year after all.” (Keiko) Sakura can only shake her head in confusion, “What time of year?” (Tomoyo asks, drawing closer to Sakura to draw her close) “Oh, yeah, that’s right. You don’t know---“ Keiko leans back in her chair, putting her thoughts together. “Nina’s been trying to get up the courage to propose to Eliza for a few years now, but Amazonians as a cultural usually think it’s a dirty thing for Amazonians to marry outside of their species and--- well--- Nina’s afraid. You see? Usually Amazonians only take non-Amazonians as--- well, as--- playmates, and they usually marry within their species. Only a few Amazonians ever married outside their species but they usually are--- well--- ostracized from their families after that.” “So---” “Eliza’s family already doesn’t like Nina. She’s afraid Eliza will reject her if she tries to propose marriage. That she‘s just a--- you know--- and Eliza might not be as serious about this relationship---” “---that’s sad----” Sakura whispers, looking sad for Nina. “Can’t we do something to help her?” “It’s best in situations like this to not interfere, Tomoyo.” (smiles as she pokes Tomoyo’s cheek, watching the two (Tomoyo/Sakura) cuddle a little closer as she speaks) “I know you two want to do something nice for her, but it’s best to let her resolve this on her own. She usually tries near Christmas so it’ll come to a resolution within a few days----” (stops) “----and you can get off of Rena now.” “She’s rude!” Meilin spits out, sitting back in her chair in a huff as Keiko pulls Rena back into her chair, “You dead yet, “Rude-na?” “Shut up!” (Rena sits up wearily, collapsing into her desk) “I’m not in the mood.” “If your not in the mood, you shouldn’t have opened your yap like that.” “Screw you, miss perfection!” Silence reigns for a few seconds, then--- “What if we used the Fight card to force the issue?” Eyes turns to Rena, looking at her. “If Nina takes a beating for Eliza, Nina might be able to slip in her marriage proposal while in Eliza’s arms and she’d be too distraught to say no.” “Isn’t that interfering?” Tomoyo asks, “Didn’t you want to help her, or not?” The trio exchange glances, then look back at Rena. “Nice in theory,” (Keiko) “though a tad cliché and fatalistically Florence Nightengale-esque for Eliza to be helpless against a battered Nina’s wish to marry, but there’s one problem. The Fight card is still on the loose. And it’s not going to simply appear just because the plot demands it---” (Tomoyo catches newspaper thrown by Rena) “---what the--- girl in strange outfit beats up Darklings?” (reads on) “Girl in strange outfit appearing within the Mega Neko Industrial Park stopped two Darklings from assaulting a young secretary on her way home from work.” “Isn’t that industrial park---?” “It used to be where King Penguin Park was? Yes.” “Looks like she’s going back to her old haunts.” Rena smiles, pleased with herself. “No problem. She’s still wearing the same outfit as before---” (Keiko stops as she’s handed the paper while Tomoyo/Sakura look on) “---that’s very appropriate.” “What is she---?” It was Fight all right, dressed up like---- a female St. Nick? (minus the beard and tighter clothes) “Yeah. I thought it was a gag too but I matched it up and it fits.” (smiles at Meilin) “Looks like it’s memory lane for you. Didn’t she beat you on your first date? Bet she gave you weird tastes in sex af---!!” (dodges attack) “Cut it out! I’m just kidd--- stop it!! Hey!! Stop!! Keiko!!” Keiko leans back into her chair and sighs, “I’m not involved. You two work it out yourselves.” “KEI--ow!! Get off me!! (again!!)” Keiko - “Grasshopper has big mouth, little brain.” “I’ll grasshop--- ouch!! Stop it!! Stop it!! I didn’t know you were into S&M--- ouch!! Stop!!” “Hi!” (Ms. Mitsuki) “I’ll be subbing for Cath---erine and--- I’ll---?? I didn’t see that coming.” Keiko - “With Rena nobody ever sees the beatings coming. Not even Rena.” “I HEARD TH--- ouch!! Ow!! Stop it!! Ow!!”
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