I can't believe I've been working on this for over a year...and to show for it all I have is five chapters... well, four full chapters and one prologue... but...

That's just sad.

when the world cries – ch.v: Moscow - Firetemptress

He was in pain and she wanted to take it all away from him...

but she couldn't get to him.

Her heart seemed to shatter when he looked up at her with pained amber eyes.

The gold that once was there was gone. He was pale. His eyes dull and agonized.

He no longer looked calm, but rather pained.

Don't look so sad, Syaoran... it hurts... it hurts...

His mouth was moving. He was saying something - no, yelling something.

Sa... kur... a...

Syaoran... why do you look so pained?

Sa...

It hurts...

-kur...

It hurts.

a.

He needs help. Someone help him...

Sakura.

Sakura!

"SAKURA!"

Her eyes snapped open. She found her vision was blurred so she blinked rapidly to clear it. A pair of worried amber eyes were staring down at her. Those same amber eyes that looked at her with such pain in her dream...

"Syaoran?"

She felt breathless.

She was panting, she realized.

"Nani?"

"You were having a bad dream..."

He was leaning over her, brows creased.

"...You were crying."

She blinked in surprised as she raised a hand and tenderly pressed her fingertips against her cheek. She felt the dampness. Indeed, she had been crying. Sakura flushed as she stumbled for words.

"I..." What was she supposed to say? Sakura fell silent as she looked down at her hands. They were clenching the material of her pants.

They - her and Syaoran - had fallen asleep together on the couch in his dorm room. Morning light was streaming in through the window. She wondered how early, or late, it was.

"Was it the same dream?" he asked lightly.

She gnawed at her bottom lip. "In a way... but it was kind of different this time..."

"How so?"

"I..." She looked away. "I can't... explain it..."

He didn't pry.

They sat there in silence for a while.

Syaoran glanced at the clock before standing up. Sakura followed him with her eyes. "We'll be leaving soon."

"Please Tomoyo-chan, you and Li Gaki Number Two need to stay here!"

Sakura and Syaoran strolled into the girl's dorm to find Kero currently in the process of persuading Tomoyo and Meiling that they need to stay there in Japan and not come with them to Russia.

Tomoyo looked calm and Meiling openly defiant.

"As long as there's been trouble, Tomoyo and I have always been there, too! You can't just leave us here!"

"Well this is different!" Kero retorted. He looked up at Sakura and Syaoran. "Tell them they can't come!"

"You can't come," Syaoran said simply.

Meiling flared up. "If you think it's because we'll get in the way, I swear we won't -"

"Meiling, you know it's not that," Sakura intervened sheepishly. "It's just that... what if we can't protect you and Tomoyo if you two get in trouble?"

"Kero-chan and Yue-san can watch us," Tomoyo suggested with a smile.

"And Nakuru and Suppi-chan," Meiling added. She paused, looking thoughtful before adding as an after-thought: "And four-eyes."

Eriol, who had been silently staring out the window, turned around and raised an eyebrow before smiling that smile of his. "Nakuru, Spinel Sun and myself won't be coming along."

Sakura blinked. "How come?"

"We have some things we need to take care of... some research that I will need their help with," Eriol murmured, hands clasped behind his back. He noticed how Sakura's expression fell so he added: "Don't worry. We will take you half-way there."

"Ne... how are we getting to Russia?" Meiling asked with a finger pressed against her chin.

"We as in everyone but Li Gaki Number Two and Tomoyo-chan," Kero huffed. "Being stuck with one gaki is bad enough, you know."

Syaoran eyed him. "Care to repeat yourself, stuffed animal?"

Kero puffed his chest out. "Yeah -"

Sakura plucked Kero from the air and stuffed him in her pocket, ignoring his outraged protests. She was looking at Eriol expectantly.

"There is... a faster way to get to Russia; a gatekeeper that can get you there in a matter of seconds."

"Ahh, the Gatekeeper," Kero mused thoughtfully as he stuck his head out from Sakura's pocket.

"What's the Gatekeeper?" Sakura asked in confusion.

"The Gatekeeper is someone who guards all the doors of the universe," Kero explained in his all-knowing tone. His tiny paws were crossed, and his eyes closed. "He guards doors that lead to alternate dimensions; other worlds outside of Earth; doors that lead to other parts of the Earth..."

"Wow..." Sakura breathed, eyes wide. "That must be a lot of doors to guard then."

Eriol chuckled. "No, it is just one gate that he guards."

"Then how is it possible to get to so many different worlds through just one door?"

He merely smiled. "It is better to see for yourself than for me to explain."

So, basically, they would have to wait and see.

"Well... then how will we get to this Gatekeeper?" Meiling questioned after a moment's silence.

"Now getting to the Gatekeeper is somewhat more difficult," Eriol said. "...But then again, so long as you know the right people, then it's not that hard."

"So you know someone who can take us there?" Syaoran inquired.

Eriol looked positively pleasant. "Of course."

They caught a taxi from the university, and from there Eriol gave instructions to the driver. He was sitting in the front while Syaoran remained cramped in the back with Tomoyo, Sakura and Meiling. He was pressed up against the door with Sakura squashed next to him, and Tomoyo sandwiched between her and Meiling. It was amazing that they were even able to fit in there in the first place.

"Eriol, how long is this ride going to take?" Sakura asked uncomfortably as she shifted to make herself more comfortable, and at the same time, somehow make room for the others.

Sapphire eyes glanced at the rear view window. They twinkled in amusement. "An hour and a half."

He heard a chorus of groans.

It wasn't that long later that Sakura found herself sitting on Syaoran's lap. Tomoyo and Meiling insisted, saying it'd give them more space. Sakura and Syaoran protested at first but then gave in with their faces red. The Card Mistress sat stiffly. One would think that after sleeping together (with their clothes on, mind you) a couple of times, they'd be comfortable with her sitting on his lap.

"You can relax, you know," Syaoran murmured as he pressed his hand lightly against her arm. She looked at him from over her shoulder and smiled, relaxing.

They hadn't really gotten much sleep last night, now that she thought about it. And it was going to be a long drive considering city traffic... Sakura shifted around on Syaoran's lap so she was leaning on him with her back to Meiling and Tomoyo. She rested her head on his shoulder and curled up against him. He didn't complain. He was tired, too. He brought an arm around her waist and left it there. Meiling and Tomoyo exchanged glances and smiles as the Card Mistress and the Li boy drifted off to sleep.

"You think they'd be a couple with the way they act towards each other," Meiling murmured to Tomoyo.

The amethyst eyed girl smiled. "Sakura-chan and Li-kun aren't like other couples in love."

"I know. But honestly, they could at least just get the 'I love you's' over with. They did it once, I'm sure they can do it again."

Tomoyo was recording the sleeping duo.

She laughed lightly. "True. But things are different now... They're older, and I suppose they realize that they don't necessarily need to rush into things. They have their whole lives to say how they feel... and I guess... actions are better than words at the moment."

Silence seemed to settle in the cab. Eriol turned his gaze to the window, sharing the same thoughts as the two murmuring girls in the back.

"They have their whole lives to say how they feel."

...Do they honestly? This wasn't just capturing cards like Sakura and Syaoran did when they were younger. This didn't require one's most 'important' feeling to be sacrificed. It was so much more than that. They were gambling lives. It was a touchy topic that no one wanted to talk about. They were aware of the heavy risks and the prices at stake, but no one dared to bring it up. It was there like a gray cloud, but never touched; never talked about.

For a moment Tomoyo lowered her camera and held it on her lap as that uncomfortable and foreshadowing silence settled in on them. But then she lifted it up and turned her video recorder on Meiling, shattering the unspoken tension.

"You know, Mission Get Sakura With Syaoran is pretty much accomplished," Tomoyo mused. Meiling looked at her and the cam recorder with a raised eyebrow. "I think it's about time we started a new mission."

"And what's that?" Meiling asked, blinking.

Tomoyo went starry-eyed. "Get Meiling With a Boy."

She scoffed. "I think not."

"And why not?"

She crossed her arms defiantly and raised her nose haughtily into the air. "No guy is good enough for Li Meiling."

Tomoyo laughed. "But there has to be someone good enough for Meiling. You didn't meet anyone in Hong Kong?"

The amber eyed girl looked thoughtful. "Well... there was this one guy..."

Tomoyo zoomed in on her face, capturing that wistful expression Meiling subconsciously wore. Tomoyo didn't say anything. She waited for Meiling to continue, which she did:

"I always thought he was perfect, and though he tried to act like Mr. Tough Guy, I knew there was a gentler side to him," Meiling reflected softly. She was staring out the window. Tomoyo already knew who she was talking about without needing to hear any names. "And... I suppose I was foolish and naive to believe I would be with him; that I would be the one he would always show his gentler side to..." Meiling closed her eyes. "But he met someone, someone who brought out the best in him, y'know? It hurt, yeah, but... I loved him enough to let him go. And though it's not the best kind of love, it's the best kind of love I can give."

Tomoyo smiled gently as she turned off her cam recorder and rest it on her lap. She always found Meiling to be a very brave person.

The Li girl sighed and then looked at Tomoyo. "...Were you recording all of that, Tomoyo?"

She tilted her head innocently. "But of course."

"..." Meiling's brow twitched. She attempted to snatch the video camera but Tomoyo held it at arm's length. "Daidouji! Delete that at once!"

Eriol turned around with a finger pressed to his lips. "Hush, or you'll wake the lovebirds."

The girls froze and glanced at the sleeping Sakura and Syaoran.

They looked at each other and settled down.

"Hey, Tomoyo-chan?"

"Hm?" she glanced at Meiling questioningly.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Do you think you'll end up with someone? Y'know, married and with kids?"

She looked startled and taken aback by Meiling's question. But she seemed to compose herself as she turned the question over in her head. Could she honestly see herself in love with someone, in love with that person enough to want to get married and spend the rest of her life with him? The answer?

"I honestly don't know. The thought is pleasing, yes, but I don't really know."

Meiling accepted the answer. She couldn't see Tomoyo with just any kind of guy. Every guy who approached Tomoyo seemed too plain and bland and average for her. No one compared to Tomoyo. She was different. She was unique. She was her own person and Meiling wondered if there was anyone like her out there in the world... Her eyes fell on the back of Eriol's head. So far, he, the four-eyes of a half-reincarnation of the dead Clow Reed, seemed to reach the standards necessary for Tomoyo. They were both so much a like that their personalities were uncanny. They compared to each other just as much as they contrasted each other.

While Eriol was twisted and demented, Tomoyo was also. While Eriol wreaked havoc and tried to kill Sakura and the others a few years back during the converting of the cards, Tomoyo was gentle, sweet - angelic. If the devil had a face it would be the face of Hiiragizawa Eriol. But then again, they were so much a like that it was hard to see them together. First off, that would mean the end of the world as they know it. Secondly, they were individual people who liked to do their own thing. If there was anything going on romantically between Eriol and Tomoyo, could they be together? And besides, Eriol had the mentality of an aged and dead sorcerer. Was someone like Clow Reed even capable of loving?

No matter how much the two were so alike, Meiling couldn't wrap her mind around the possibility of the two being together. Who knows what would become of the world if little Eriol and Tomoyo look-alike kids were running amuck? She'd kill herself before she let something like that happen.

Well, there goes Mission E+T - a failure before it even began.

Sakura jerked awake as the taxi came to a sudden stop. Syaoran stirred into consciousness. An hour and a half of sleep found them pulling up in front of a mansion. If they had been awake for the ride they would have realized they were in the outskirts of Tokyo, in the more rural areas. The mansion they had stopped at was on top of a secluded hill. Woods of trees were scattered on the hill with the road they followed disappearing into the groves of trees. Eriol paid the driver and thanked him for his services. The group piled out and took their duffle bags out from the trunk. The driver drove off.

No one said anything. They followed Eriol as he walked up the porch and knocked on the front door. There was a moment of silence where all they could hear was the chirping of unseen birds, and then the sound of someone unlocking the door from the other side reached their curious ears. They (excluding Eriol) stared and waited expectantly to see who was opening the door-

"Mizuki-sensei?" Sakura blurted out, eyes wide in wonder.

Kaho smiled. She didn't look surprised to see them.

The last time Sakura, Syaoran, Meiling and Tomoyo had seen Kaho was in primary school, during the card capturing days.

"Ah, Eriol-sama!" Nakuru popped up out of nowhere as she peered at them from over Kaho's shoulders. "Took you long enough! ...Not that I'm surprised or anything."

"My apologies. It was traffic." Eriol bowed. He straightened himself and looked inquiringly at his guardian and at Kaho. "Well, are we going to be let in?"

"Oh! Of course," Kaho quickly moved to the side, ushering Nakuru with her to allow the other's entrance.

They filed in just as Eriol's guardian went off rambling:

"Yue's here, Sakura-chan. He's been here all morning. He's so boring. I mean, yes, he's gorgeous, but he needs to lighten up some. He totally ruined the happy-go atmosphere of this place with his Prince Icy attitude."

Sakura bit back a laugh.

"I think Clow Reed lost all sense of humor when he created Yue," Nakuru continued. She was chewing a bubble gum just as rapidly as she was talking. "Or maybe it was all just wasted on Kero-chan. But then again, he did a poor job on Kero, too -"

"Oi! I AM here you know!" Kero came flying out of Sakura's duffle bag.

Nakuru blinked at him. "Oh..." And then a light bulb clicked on somewhere in her head as she snatched Kero from the air and skipped off with him. "Oh now I get to have fun with you and Suppi-chan!"

"Saaaaaaaave me, Saaaakura!" Kero called out to his Mistress. Sakura smiled apologetically and waved him off.

"Sorry, Kero-chan!"

They went into the living room and true to Nakuru's word, there was Yue. He was standing by the tall window with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked up as soon as they entered. There was tea on the table, already made for its expected guests. Kaho urged them to sit down.

"They won't be staying for very long, Kaho," Eriol said.

"I know. But at least let them have tea before they go. They'll need the extra warmth."

"Mizuki-sensei, I didn't know you lived here now," Sakura said as she looked around the room in wonder. Several filled bookcases lined the walls, along with several tall windows that ran from the floor and reached to the very ceiling.

"You don't have to call me Mizuki-sensei," Kaho insisted, smiling. "I am no longer your teacher. I haven't been for a while."

Sakura blushed somewhat. "Old habit."

She nodded in understanding, and then:

"This," Kaho gestured around, "is only a temporary stay until things are settled."

Meaning, while whatever threat was threatening the world, Kaho would be staying in Japan. After it was gone, she'd go back to England, and so would Eriol and Nakuru and Spinel Sun.

"Kaho will be taking you to the Gatekeeper," Eriol explained, even though they probably figured it out for themselves. But an understanding look dawned upon Sakura's face, so at least Eriol was sure everyone knew now.

"Then shouldn't we go now?" Syaoran asked. "We are wasting time here."

"It will not take you all week to find the card," Eriol assured. "And even then, I would not worry much."

"Still." Syaoran stood up calmly, expression blank. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get this over with. I don't want to spend too much time in Russia."

Li Syaoran hates cold climates.

And Russia is all about cold climates.

"I suggest you change first. You'd freeze to death the moment you arrived there in the clothes you are wearing now," Kaho said lightly; playfully.

Ah, right...

They were standing in front of a wardrobe (think like Chronicles of Narnia wardrobe, hehe), all dressed in snow-gear... and dying. It was too warm in Tokyo to wear clothes fit for the snow. The clothes they were wearing had been designed by Tomoyo herself, something she made a year or so ago but never had anyone to put them on. And by chance they just happened to be the perfect size for everyone. No one complained about what they were wearing because it wasn't as 'bad' as they thought the outfits would be. On the contrary, as Tomoyo grew, her designing matured.

The clothes they wore were comfortable enough and smooth enough to move around in with ease. The pants nor the jackets were too thick that they'd deter any movement, but they weren't too thin that they'd freeze to death. They were all supplied with goggles and boots as well. It looked as if they were going skiing or snow boarding, but they were expecting a lot of snow in Russia. After all, it snowed all year round in Russia - snow every day. No one really knew why this was so. They supposed it was because of global warming (warning?).

"Um... Why're we standing in front of a wardrobe?" Meiling asked skeptically. She felt like she was in some twisted version of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

There was no answer to her question. Kaho fished out a key. It was an old-looking key, long, like something that would fit into the lock on the wardrobe (of course). It was hanging on the chain around her neck. She inserted the key into the hole and turned it. There was a satisfying click as she withdrew the key and opened the doors. Meiling went dot-eyed as she stared at the many coats hanging in the wardrobe.

God. I'll die of a heart attack if this thing takes us to Narnia.

"This will take you to the Gatekeeper," Kaho explained. "Just go straight, and do not change direction. If you make any sudden turns, you will wander forever and never find a way out."

Sakura and Meiling exchanged looks. They gulped loudly.

"Is it just me or does this remind me of a certain lion and witch and a wardrobe?" Kero muttered as he popped up between Meiling and Sakura. He had finally been able to escape the evil clutches of Nakuru-spawn before she could get him into a tutu. Meiling glanced at him and was about to voice her agreement when she remembered that her and the stuffed animal aren't supposed to agree on things and instead kept silent.

Something suddenly hit Sakura as she turned to Eriol. "Eriol-kun? How will we know where the card is at? Moscow isn't all that small, I think..."

"I would tell you where it is if I knew its exact location." Eriol looked at the wardrobe thoughtfully. "But I don't. All I can say is for you to rely on your instincts. It will guide you to it."

...Though they couldn't help but wonder if he really would tell them where it is if he knew.

"Well, let's go," Syaoran urged. He was standing in front of the open wardrobe with one foot inside.

Sakura nodded and followed him in.

Yue went after her, and then Tomoyo, and Meiling, and last Kero.

The doors shut behind them just as they heard Nakuru yelling in dismay: "Wait, Kero-chan! Your tutu...!"

"Just keep going straight," Syaoran murmured to himself and the others as he pushed his way through the coats. There was a lot of them; too much that it seemed like they'd never find an end.

They kept going and pushing and going and pushing...

And on and on...

and on...

It was at the point that Meiling was 100 convinced they were going to find a lamppost waiting for them at the end. She was even more convinced when they saw a white light at the end. Well, she supposed Narnia wouldn't be that bad...

But she didn't feel any snow-filled trees as they reached the growing light. She didn't feel any icy air or hear snow crunch beneath her feet. She, and the others, were surprised though when they stumbled out of another wardrobe and found themselves in a pitch-white world. Right, left, and straight it was a world of never ending white.

"Keep going straight," Syaoran repeated. He walked straight on, with the others following.

Their footsteps echoed off the ground and faded into the distance. At one point Sakura glanced over her shoulder. She couldn't see the wardrobe any longer. And for a while all they did was walk and all they saw was whiteness. It became unnerving not knowing if they were heading straight and in the right direction. The girls looked anxious. Yue and Syaoran looked calm and passive. Kero was in his false form, perched on Sakura's head, looking just as anxious as the girls.

"What if we might have accidentally made a turn somewhere earlier?" Sakura voiced all their worries.

"Even if we did, there's nothing we can do now. We just have to keep on walking," Syaoran said calmly. But his brows creased. He was worried to.

And they did.

They kept walking

and walking...

and walking -

and walking

and

walking

a

nd

walk

ing

...until it seemed to Meiling that she'd scream of madness. She couldn't take it anymore. It was too white in there. She didn't know where she was. It felt like they've been walking forever. She wanted to go ba -

"Hey, look!"

Everyone looked up to where Sakura pointed. They could see something up ahead... something... finally they were getting somewhere...

They all broke into a run, except for Kero and Yue. Kero clung to Sakura's hood while Yue flew (Yue's too graceful to run).

The speck or dot or whatever it was they saw up ahead started to grow closer, bigger - much, much bigger as they approached. First they saw a building - or temple - and then they saw a fountain in front of it, and then a pavement that ran from the building and through the grass. There were a few trees on either side of the complex, and then much more behind the building. The place looked deserted, but more welcoming than anything else in that white world they had been walking aimlessly through.

And as they drew nearer they realized the place wasn't as deserted as they thought it was. A woman was there. A tall woman. She looked as if she'd been waiting for them... Well, the person looked like a woman from afar. They weren't too sure of the person's gender as they approached and got closer and were close enough to determine their physical appearance. He or she was tall, yes, but the person's stature looked masculine (and semi-feminine, if possible). Their face was the most feminine feature - soft and gentle and beautiful looking... and long black hair pulled back in a loose pony tail. And their eyes... they were gold... a beautiful golden color that reminded them of a cat's eyes.

But there was something else strange about this person. They looked neither good nor evil; trustworthy nor untrustworthy. She or he was somewhere in-between good and evil; if there was such a thing.

The person held their arms apart and smiled.

"Welcome. I am the Gatekeeper."

The group stared dumbfounded (besides Yue. Yue was too composed and gorgeous to look dumbfounded).

And since Eriol and Kero referred to the Gatekeeper as male earlier, it was safe to assume the Gatekeeper was, indeed, male.

"Ano..." Sakura was rendered speechless. The man was positively beautiful. But she composed herself enough to bow. "I am Kinomoto Sakura."

"Card Mistress, you needn't bow to me," the Gatekeeper assured with a gentle smile. Sakura blinked as she suddenly felt a fingertip lift her chin up. She realized the Gatekeeper was standing right in front of her. She stood up straight and found herself blushing from his intense gaze and bright eyes. "And I already know who you are, Card Mistress, and your companions: Daidouji Tomoyo, Li Meiling and Li Syaoran, Yue and Keroberos... Guardian of the Moon and Guardian of the Seal."

He smiled at Sakura before taking a step back and observing the group.

"I know what it is you all seek for..." The Gatekeeper took a few steps to the side and stopped in front of Syaoran. Golden eyes bore into amber ones. "Normally something would have to be given to me in return, but I do not want anything." He leaned in towards Syaoran. Something flickered in those bright eyes, making them burn brighter, fiercer. He leaned in so his lips were right next to Syaoran's ear. And to him the Gatekeeper murmured, "I only have a request - that you do not give in to your demons."

Syaoran opened his mouth to say something, but what he didn't know, so he closed it and simply stared at the Gatekeeper as he straightened himself, still smiling.

"Once you are done with your business I will come to you," the Gatekeeper said.

It was then they noticed a pair of heavy oaken doors behind the Gatekeeper. Was it always there, standing behind him unnoticed? No... they hadn't seen it earlier. So when did it get there? The Gatekeeper reached into his sleeve and pulled out a silver key. He inserted it into the keyhole and turned it once, twice, thrice, and then click. He pulled the key out and the doors swung open automatically. Cold air whipped harshly at them.

"Do not let rage blind you," the Gatekeeper murmured softly. But whether he murmured or shouted they didn't know. It sounded as clear as if he were saying it into their ear.

One by one they filed in to the door - first Kero, now in his full form, Keroberos, and then Tomoyo and Meiling. Syaoran followed after. Sakura lingered at the door as she glanced at the Gatekeeper from over her shoulder. He smiled encouragingly. She smiled back. Yue stood behind her and pressed his palm lightly against her back, urging her to go forward. She did, and her Guardian followed right after. The huge oaken doors slowly shut behind them.

Sakura couldn't really describe the sensation she felt after stepping through the door. It felt like... as if the world or time sighed, and she seemed to sigh, too, though she wasn't sure whether she sighed or not. But the world - or was it time? - sighed, and in one smooth second - or was it a minute, or an hour? - she found herself blinking. They were no longer in the realm of the Gatekeeper, but rather in Moscow, Russia. How did she know this? Because there was snow beneath her feet, and snow all around them; snow that had long since piled on buildings and buried them, and snow that drifted leisurely from the gray sky.

Well they weren't exactly standing in Moscow. They could see the city up ahead from a hill they stood on.

"Shall we go?" Sakura looked at the others.

They carried on without another word, but then -

"Wait!"

They stopped and turned around to see Tomoyo digging through her duffle bag. She beamed when she found what she was looking for and whipped out her video camera. She turned it on and held it up before waving at the others. "Okay, carry on!"

"It'll take us too long if we walk," Syaoran commented. "Let's fly."

Sakura nodded in agreement as she summoned her Seventh Star staff. She tapped the butt of the staff on the snow twice and wings suddenly sprouted from the ends. She hopped on, with Syaoran behind her. Tomoyo and Meiling clambered on to Keroberos and the group took off flying. From where they were airborne they could see that Moscow was a very much abandoned city as people claimed it to be. No one knew the exact reason for it being abandoned - everyone supposed it was because of the constant snow, even during the spring and summer seasons. No one even remembered when the snow kept coming or what happened to the people of Moscow. Everyone just concluded they left the city and moved somewhere else.

But before the city had been abandoned, factories were added and built there, extending the place further out. It was said they were shut down before the citizens left Moscow, but no one really knows anymore. Anything involved in the past was forgotten, just like world war three. Maybe someone intentionally erased history, Sakura contemplated thoughtfully, though it sounded very unlikely and impossible. It was hard to erase history... but somehow... somehow everyone forgot... no one knew... it's as if it never happened.

But Eriol said it happened - and why would he lie to them? He may have the twisted mind of a dead sorcerer, but he was far from a liar. He may not tell them some facts but he never told them lies. Sakura trusted everything Eriol tells them.

So what had happened in the past exactly... to make it forgotten?

"- Sakura! Watch out!"

She snapped out of her musings in time to dodge something coming right at her and Syaoran. Sakura looked over her shoulder, but whatever it was, was well out of sight.

"What was that?"

"An arrow." Yue hovered next to them. His eyes was trained on something below.

Sakura squinted. There was something standing in front of Moscow - a person, Sakura concluded.

"Do you think the person's an... enemy?"

"Well if they attacked, they must be," Keroberos muttered. Fire was already gathering in his mouth, licking out from the gaps between his fangs.

"Kero-chan, don't -" Sakura started, but he released the ball of fire before he could take any warning into consideration. It went flying straight at their attacker. They all watched as the figure stood there, and then jumped suddenly as if realizing what was coming at them. The fireball crashed on the ground next to them and it appeared the person's coat caught on fire because whoever it was, was running around shouting and hollering inaudible words with a small ball of fire clinging to them.

Sakura and them settled on the ground just in time to see their attacker stop, drop and roll. They all ran over - Syaoran ahead with his sword drawn. The man was muttering something in a foreign language, Russian, they supposed. As soon as he extinguished the fire caught on the hem of his coat, the man stood up and dusted himself of any snow that stuck to him. He lifted his head up when noticing them and asked something in that same foreign language. When all he received was blank and hostile stares, he cleared his throat and switched to something they would understand:

"What is your problem attacking me like that!"

Keroberos stepped up boldly. "Excuse me? You attacked us first!"

"What? I did no such thing!"

"The arrow...?" Sakura trailed off.

"..Ooh that. Yeah. I was trying to get your attention. I didn't hurt anyone, I hope?"

Sakura sighed and lowered her staff down, concluding this man was no enemy. "No, you didn't. And I hope Kero-chan didn't hurt you...?"

He beamed. "Dmitri. My name's Dmitri. And no, your... creature did not hurt me."

Dmitri looked to be their age with dark brown eyes and short black hair - or, well, short black hair that they couldn't see and didn't know he had at the moment because of the fur hat he wore (so let's keep this between you and me). He was wearing a gray coat that crossed and buttoned to the other side of his chest, and shin-length boots. A piece of his coat looked as if it were chewed off (but they knew it was because Keroberos had caught it on fire).

Keroberos' fur seemed to stand on end at being called a 'creature.' He was about to retort something when Syaoran intervened: "And who are you exactly? We believed this city was abandoned."

"Ahh, yeah, Moscow's abandoned," Dmitri reassured, glancing at the dead city over his shoulder. "But I don't come from here, if that's what you were thinking. I was sent here."

Syaoran eyed him warily. "By who?"

Instead of answering his question, Dmitri went off rambling: "- Well not necessarily sent here - more of I was requested to come here. That old fart Clow Reed or his reincarnation or whatever asked me to come here because he knows I've been doing some scavenging around Moscow and that I've sensed some strange things around here -"

"Wait, you mean Eriol?" Sakura blinked.

"Yeah, him," Dmitri nodded thoughtfully. "So as I was saying, I sensed some strange things around here and I went to investigate it -"

It was then Syaoran noticed something different about this Dmitri - not so much as different compared to them, but different compared to a normal person.

"You're a sorcerer."

Dmitri paused, startled by his 'accusation,' before waving his hand dismissively. "Yeah, I am. So anyway..."

"I never realized there were other sorcerers..." Sakura commented out loud in wonder. She knew there were others besides herself, Eriol and Syaoran and members of the Li Clan, but she never expected to meet any... not while she was away from home, anyway.

Dmitri looked impatient. "Look, do you wanna hear what I have to say or not?"

Sakura smiled apologetically. "Gomen. Carry on."

"...So yeah, I went to investigate but... I couldn't really find anything. I called ol' Eriol up and he told me to just leave it be. I assume he knows what it is. Then he called me up not too long ago and told me he was sending down some people to take care of it and that he'd like for me to show you! So, here I am!" And Dmitri beamed proudly.

They blinked at him.

"And I don't think I quite got your names yet."

"I'm Kinomoto Sakura."

"Ahh, you must be the Card Mistress Eriol told me of."

"Keroberos." The Guardian of the Seal puffed his chest out proudly, expecting some kind of recognition from the Russian teenager, but he merely blinked. "-Guardian of the Seal? Y'know... the Clow Book?"

A light bulb clicked somewhere in his head. "Ahh, so the icy fellow over there must be Yue..."

"This is Li Syaoran, and his cousin, Meiling," Sakura said, gesturing at Syaoran and Meiling. "And this is To -"

Dmitri slid right up to Tomoyo and took her hands in his. "And who is this gorgeous angel?"

Tomoyo blinked in surprise, obviously taken aback. "Pardon?"

"Never in all my life have I met such a beautiful lady." Dmitri removed his hat (confirming his black hair) and swept forward in a gallant bow. He took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her palm. "And what is the name of this beauty?"

Tomoyo had momentarily lowered her camera in absolute astonishment. But no worries, Meiling took it and picked up where she left off.

"I'm... Daidouji Tomoyo..."

"Ah, such a lovely name for such a lovely lady." Dmitri stood up straight and smiled a charming smile. "I offer you my services, Tomoyo."

She blinked and then smiled. "It's not necessary."

"But I insist!"

"Well..." Tomoyo laughed lightly. "Thank you then."

"And what a lovely laugh you have!" Dmitri praised enthusiastically.

Meiling was recording all of it, all the meanwhile stifling her laugh.

This was priceless.

"Tomoyo-chan has had many admirers..." Sakura commented with a finger to her chin. An amused smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "But none of them as open as this one."

"I pity her," Syaoran murmured.

Sakura giggled. "Personally, I think she's enjoying it."

Tomoyo linked her arm around Dmitri's as they walked into Moscow.

"Now, Dmitri... have you ever considered... modeling...?"

It was fascinating – Sakura and Tomoyo thought – hearing about other sorcerers besides their knowledge of the Li Clan, Clow Reed, Eriol, and Sakura herself. They were subconsciously aware of the fact that they couldn't be the only living sorcerers left in the world, but they never dwelled on such a thought before. And here was Dmitri – living proof that there were others like them, others outside of Asia (even though Russia is technically part of Asia) – out there in the European and Western worlds…

The others – meaning Meiling, Syaoran, Yue and Keroberos – weren't that interested to hear much from Dmitri, nor were they fascinated by the very idea of other magical wielders. Meiling and Keroberos listened though, mostly because they had nothing better to do, and Yue and Syaoran looked disinterested by Dmitri, and by Moscow itself.

"Y'see… I'm not really acquainted with ol' Reed's reincarnation," Dmitri was saying as he guided the group through the abandoned city. "But my family can be traced back to the World War III days – y'know, the days of the Forgotten War." Sakura and Tomoyo nodded. "So, my ancestors were familiar with Clow Reed – but so are all the other sorcerers. He was a famous guy, that Clow Reed. And anyway, my ancestors used to live here in Moscow, but there's no kept records about what happened, so for a while my family's been comin' down here tryin' to find clues about anything…"

"And that's when you felt something strange and wanted to investigate, but contacted Eriol instead?" Tomoyo finished off. She was (still) video taping (after getting her camera back from Meiling, that is).

Dmitri nodded.

"But how did you know Clow Reed was reincarnated?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Clow Reed's a famous fellow," Dmitri repeated, as if that explained everything. But it didn't, so he continued: "I've seen the reincarnation myself – or half of it, anyway, the half that goes by the name of Eriol. He has a habit of poppin' up, y'know? I think he takes it upon himself to let everyone know he's alive again. And word gets around sorcerers fast, especially when it comes to something like Clow Reed being reborn."

Aa… well that did make some sense.

"And it's good for sorcerers to stay in contact with other sorcerers, and know what others are out there," Dmitri said. "If you ever need help or you're in a fix and you don't know how to handle it, you can contact somebody. When it involves anything out of the ordinary, like feeling weird things, then we normally contact Eriol – always immediately."

To Syaoran, that didn't sound like a safe idea.

And when it concerned someone like a reincarnation of Clow Reed, aged sorcerers just kind of know when he's around – such as the Li Elders. They knew there was a reincarnation of Clow Reed – two halves out there somewhere. Now if only they could just find the other half…

"Have you ever met any other sorcerers?" Sakura asked curiously. Oh yes, she was fascinated by these other magical people out there in the world.

"Of course!" Dmitri puffed out his chest. "You should meet one of those western magicians – y'know, out there in the Americas and stuff. They're crazy."

"So I'm guessing you've seen a lot of the world?" Her emerald eyes were wide in amazement.

"Yup!"

"Sugoi…"

Syaoran scowled and looked around, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Personally, he just wanted to get out of Moscow as fast as possible. Although the others were talking, the rest of the city sounded like some eerie Ghost Town. There was absolutely no life. All buildings were abandoned. The factories that were built were left long ago never to be worked in again. It was rather dirty and dusty there, old soot getting caught in the wind, making it look like black snow was falling from the sky.

"Y'know, if we're not in any rush I think it'd be about time to take a rest," Dmitri suggested. "Maybe eat something."

Syaoran was about to protest when Sakura held her hands over her growling stomach. She looked at Syaoran meekly, and he sighed, nodding his approval.

"A rest will do."

They found an old abandoned shack and decided to stay there. It was cold and dingy, and the place itself was made of all wood, but they gathered some pieces of furnace and wooden boards and made a small fire at the center of the old rundown shack. Tomoyo poured them all hot chocolate (having brought a thermos of hot water for meals like this) and boiled a cup of instant ramen for everyone. Although it wasn't the healthiest choice for eating, it was the only thing they could bring. They weren't about to bring a whole kitchen with them just so they could prepare proper meals…

Dmitri was currently in the process of teaching Kero, Meiling and Tomoyo how to play a card game called speed, a game he learned while staying in America for a while. Yue was standing by the window, peering outside.

"The wind is picking up," the angel murmured. "There's going to be a blizzard."

"I guess we'll be stuck here for a while," Sakura said with a sigh, although she didn't mind. But, like Syaoran, she didn't want to be there any longer than they had to. Moscow was too cold for all of them. She took a sip of her hot chocolate. She was sitting by the fire.

Syaoran came over and draped a blanket around her shoulders (an extra provision they had packed for nights they'd have to spend sleeping), noticing how she was shivering lightly. Sakura smiled gratefully up at him as he sat down next to her.

She could recall other times where her and Syaoran sat by a fire.

Such as when they were younger and capturing the Clow Cards or converting them…

There was that time they went on a ski trip for school, and her and Syaoran were down in the lodge, the fire cackling in the hearth.

When they were stranded in the elevator and Syaoran lit one of this fire ofudas because it was dark in there…

That night when Sakura found Syaoran and Meiling being attacked by those shadow creatures, and they camped the night out at Sakura's house…

Yeah, they have a knack for being caught around the fire.

"I was thinking…" Syaoran started speaking, and Sakura glanced at him curiously.

He wasn't looking at her.

"…about what Eriol was saying… how these… Thirteen Cards drain you," he was mumbling, but she could hear him loud and clear, and she couldn't help but smile.

He was worried! How sweet.

"I'm fine, Syaoran," Sakura assured. He looked at her and she was smiling openly at him.

She was fine now.

But how much longer until she's not fine?

How much longer will it be before the cards start taking an effect?

How much longer will it be before her life's really in da -

Sakura lightly nudged him with her shoulder before leaning on him, her lips still tugged into a small smile. She knew what he was thinking about. "Really."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "You don't have to worry about me, silly."

He frowned somewhat, but sighed, finding some reassurance in her smile and words. Sakura didn't budge from her spot, even if she realized she was leaning on him. They both enjoyed any comfort they could give to the other. The Card Mistress closed her eyes as she felt herself still being sleepy. The nap in the taxi wasn't exactly the most satisfying and refreshing nap, nor did it compensate for the little sleep she got last night. At least while there was going to be a blizzard, she could sleep…

Syaoran brought an arm around her shoulders, tugging her close so her head was tucked beneath his chin. He let her sleep.

It was going to be a long time before the blizzard died down, he figured.

Syaoran picked up Sakura and carried her over to the wall where he sat down and set her beside him, pulling her back into his arms as he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He might as well get some rest, too.

"—What! You cheated!"

"Shh, Kero-chan!"

"Nani?"

Tomoyo pointed over to where Sakura and Syaoran were sleeping.

"Oh…" And Kero lowered his voice and returned back to glaring at the cards. He lost to Dmitri – again – in that western game of speed. And one thing the Almighty and Great Keroberos didn't like doing was losing.

"Rematch!"

"It's my turn to play, stuffed animal," Meiling interrupted, flicking him from his spot and gesturing for Dmitri to deal the cards.

"Kero-chan…" Tomoyo warned, noticing that look in Kero's eyes – the look he always made whenever he was angry enough to transform himself into his true form and light something on fire. "I don't think Sakura-chan would be too happy if you burnt this shack down."

He merely crossed his chubby paws and huffed, fluttering his tiny wings and joining his fellow Guardian by the window.

Yue was looking as serious as ever – nothing new there.

"I feel something strange," Yue murmured, never once tearing his gaze away from the window.

Kero sat at the sill, feet crossed Indian-style. "So you felt it, too?"

The angel nodded.

"Yeah…" Kero looked out the window. "And it doesn't feel like a card, either."

Syaoran awoke to silence, an uncomfortable pain in his neck and back, and warmth. He looked down at the auburn haired girl sleeping on him. Carefully, he moved her so she was leaning on the wall and then stood up, stretching, feeling sore all over his body. It never felt good sleeping while sitting, but at least he even got any sleep. The others were still sleeping – Kero muttering profanities beneath his breath as he slept on Tomoyo's pillow. Yue wasn't anywhere in sight.

There was no more blizzard. Syaoran figured he fell asleep before it began, and it was well over before he awoke. How long was he sleeping for, anyway? By the looks of it, it was sometime in the night.

He walked over to the door and pulled it open, a wisp of air flying through and leaking in flakes of snow. He stepped out and looked around. There was more snow piled around the city from the blizzard that took place while he slept, and tiny snowflakes fluttering from the sky as the aftermath settled in. Something caught his attention and he turned around slightly, lifting his gaze upwards to find Yue sitting perched on the ledge of the shack's roof.

The tiny shack they had chosen to take refuge in was on a tiny hill next to one of the old factories. If he just walked a bit forward he'd be on one of the levels of the factory – a balcony that had a good view of said factory.

For some reason, ever since the episode with Sorrow, Syaoran felt as if Yue was watching him. He didn't know why, but the Moon Guardian was keeping an eye on him. The Li boy walked over to the ledge of the balcony and leaned on the railing. The same black dust from earlier drifted downwards in thin sheets, although it was more prevalent and thick up ahead. It was dark, but the coats of soot made it look darker.

There was no sign of stars in Moscow; no sign of the moon.

It was a lightless night.

A silent, cold night.

Syaoran frowned as he stood up, hands on the rail. He could feel Yue's eyes boring through the back of his scull.

"Do you not trust me, Yue?"

He glanced at the silver-haired angel from over his shoulder.

"No," came his simple response.

"Aa…" Syaoran creased his brows, turning his gaze back to the scenery. "Why not? You've never distrusted me before in the past."

But the silent Guardian remained silent.

Syaoran didn't know why Yue didn't trust him – he's never given the angel a reason not to trust him.

He closed his eyes and wondered.

The shadows of Moscow seemed to come alive as the clouds shifted to reveal a glimpse of the moon. They glided across the snow, darted over roofs and along walls. Silently they moved, because shadows couldn't make a noise, even if they tried. There were no footsteps or streak marks on the snow to show that they were moving and they had been there. But they were there, and they were moving towards the little shack.

They started to gather around the shack and the balcony where the angel and the human sorcerer were at; some shadows gliding up the length of the balcony. The Guardian nor the boy gave any sign of noticing the shadows as they took form as dark creatures. And slowly they stepped and advanced, still not making even the slightest of footprints in the snow.

And one so dared to be bold as to leap over the balcony and attack the 'unsuspecting' boy, but the boy wasn't as unsuspecting as they thought. He lashed out a sword and sliced the creature in half. It seemed to vanquish into the night.

The other shadow demons saw it as their hint to attack as well, and they did in groups, some heading towards the shack, others making their way to he boy with the sword that mercilessly hacked them down.

Yue spread his wings and lifted himself into the air, ice shards gathering in the palm of his hand. With a flick of his wrist he sent the piercing ice shards, stabbing several demons and causing them to shudder and crumble to the ground.

Syaoran ducked as one leaped for his head, and he stabbed another that tried to slice him with claw-shaped hands. From his peripheral vision he noticed a swarm of shadows making their way towards the shack and he whipped out an ofuda and tossed it forward, slamming the flat of his blade against it as he called out:

"Kashin shourai!"

Fire whipped out, taking the shape of a dragon as it clashed through a line of demons and disintegrated them. He ran into the shack just as Yue flew to block the entrance from the advancing shadow demons, an arrow loaded to his bow. Syaoran roused the others.

"Stuffed Animal, get Meiling and Tomoyo somewhere safe," Syaoran instructed as he went over to shake Sakura awake. "And Dmitri… let's see just how useful you are."

Dmitri merely yawned and stretched his arms into the air. "Mm… What's goin' on anyway?"

"We're being attacked."

Sakura rubbed her eyes groggily to see Tomoyo and Meiling getting everything packed. She heard Syaoran say 'We're being attacked,' and asked almost immediately: "By what?"

"Shadow demons."

"Aa, those little rascals," Dmitri mused. He pulled out a short stick from the inside of his jacket. It looked the length of a forearm. He was inspecting it before tapping it against his thigh, and it suddenly expanded into a staff. Dmitri left the shack, to help Yue, Syaoran supposed.

Syaoran went out after him and Sakura stayed behind to help Tomoyo and Meiling get everything together. They ran out of the shack to find Yue, Dmitri and Syaoran fending off the creatures themselves. Tomoyo and Meiling clambered on to Keroberos' back.

"Take them somewhere high, Kero-chan," Sakura said, patting him on the head. "And watch them. We'll be fine."

He nodded his furry head and took flight.

Sakura summoned her (Seventh) Star Staff and went over to join the fight, almost instantly her staff turning into a sword.

Dmitri twirled his shaolin staff in an arc, bringing it down forcefully upon a creature, and then lashing it violently at a few others as he turned his whole body around. With expertise and grace, the staff seemed to come alive in his hands as he spun it around, the staff emitting a buzzing noise. He pressed the butt of it against the ground and jumped up, kicking a couple of the demons away from himself.

Yue loaded another arrow to his bow. A swarm of the pests were coming at him. Still looking as calm as ever, Yue released the arrow and it shot a thick, clear path through the demons – but that path was instantly covered up by more replacements. Yue's frown seemed to deepen at this as he lifted himself into the air, his wings beating against the icy winds of Russia.

Syaoran slid one foot forward as he smoothly crouched in a fighting position before swinging his sword in a downward arc, bringing it up and cutting his way through a shadow that had pounced at him. He came down and slashed at another, and then twirled around and hacked at two more. He lost count of how many he had gotten rid of by then, because it seemed no matter what he did, more just kept coming.

Sakura was in the same position, but she was fighting back-to-back with Syaoran. At one point she summoned the Light, but more simply came right back as soon as the light died down.

"What're we supposed to do?" Sakura asked from over her shoulder, swinging her sword horizontally to strike down a demon that jumped at her. "There's too many of them!"

"We have to get out of here," Syaoran said through gritted teeth, striking some down with a lightning ofuda. "…Somehow."

"This is growing rather tiresome," Dmitri commented. He was standing on the ledge of the balcony, hacking down at whatever dared to come near him. "Let's see if I can do something about this…"

And, leaping down from the rail of the balcony, he spun his staff around, creating a clear circle among the swarm of creatures. He struck the butt of his staff against the ground, murmuring loud and clear:

"His heart is frozen…"

Syaoran and Sakura glanced curiously to see what Dmitri was doing, and Sakura's eyes widened in slight realization as she saw Dmitri's aura clinging close to his body before releasing and seeping into the ground, creating a symbol beneath him.

"He does not cry, they say. Fire cannot reach him. Lightning cannot breach him. The winds that move north, south, east and west: may they reach him. They give him my message."

The same symbol beneath Dmitri formed a couple of feet away from him. The shadow creatures seemed wary of his glowing seal because they cowered away from it, yet curiously drawn to see what was coming.

"They carry my message to him."

And just like when Nonna was summoned, something started to rise from the seal in the ground, something bigger than the fairy demon Eriol had summoned when Sakura witnessed her first summoning. She watched in apt fascination as it rose from the ground, slowly, as if waking up from some deep slumber. First its head, and then its shoulders, and then its front paws and it pulled the rest of its body out. The only thing that came close to looking like what Dmitri had summoned was saying it looked like Keroberos – but it was bigger, fiercer looking. It looked like some majestic white tiger – but bigger, deadlier, more beautiful. Streaks of icy blue stained its snow white fur. It blinked with shimmering pale blue eyes and it threw its great head back and roared, revealing two roars of razor sharp fangs.

A necklace decorated with feathers and fangs of other creatures dangled from its wide throat. It had a mane – kind of like a horse's mane – but it stuck up more. Its tail hung behind it, swaying slowly, hypnotically, dangerously. The seal beneath Dmitri and the beast disappeared, and Dmitri plucked his shaolin staff from the ground and approached the creature, grinning and patting it roughly against its side.

"I thought you weren't gonna show up for a sec!"

The beast tilted its head so it was looking at Dmitri. Sakura shouldn't have been surprised to hear it speak, because she has her own beast that can talk, and then there's Spinel Sun, but it still left her in wonder. "I wasn't about to."

Its voice was soft and gentle and rough and low at the same time.

"Think you can do me a favor and get rid of these little pests for us?" Dmitri asked, gesturing at said 'pests.'

The beast scanned around, noticing Yue, Sakura and Syaoran for the first time. "Which ones? The angel and the humans or the shadow demons?"

Sakura gulped visibly. She would've laughed nervously.

Dmitri laughed. "The shadow demons, duh."

"Still too lazy to do your own dirty business, I see," the beast drawled out disinterestedly.

"Ano… we'd be grateful if you helped us," Sakura said, holding her staff in front of her and bowing.

"Hm…" The beast closed its eyes, debating. "Fine. I'm in a nice mood."

Dmitri chuckled. "You know you were dying of boredom and you're more than glad to do something."

It let out a sound that Sakura supposed was a snort. It stretched and arched its back, its ears twitching and its tail still swaying with its own life.

"Who…?" Sakura started to ask Dmitri just as it took off in a run, pouncing on a group of shadow creatures and ripping them apart with teeth and claws.

Dmitri grinned. "That there's Kivak. He's from another world, and he calls himself Kivakalasomething, Guardian of the Southern Quadrant of some other dimension, or world, called Kalevala."

Kivak ran by, throwing himself into another swarm of shadow creatures.

He seemed to be everywhere at once – crushing, tearing, ripping and smashing the little demons.

"I summoned him once on accident, when I was younger," Dmitri was saying. "And since then we kept a contract."

The shadow creatures started to retreat.

"He's really useful in situations like these," Dmitri commented thoughtfully.

Indeed he is.

After Kivak chased them off, he returned back to the group.

Sakura was fidgeting nervously, and Kivak looked at her with an expression that made her feel that he was raising his eyebrow. "What is it, human?"

"Can I… ano…" Sakura looked down timidly, twiddling her thumbs. "Can I… pet you?"

Kivak looked genuinely surprised by her innocent request.

Dmitri laughed, and Syaoran would've laughed, but he didn't laugh… not around a lot of people, anyway. But Li Syaoran smirks – so he smirked, mostly from amusement. Yue merely quirked an eyebrow.

Kivak nodded all the same, and Sakura brightened immensely as she stroked his silky fur. Kero's fur was always too rough and mangled and sometimes she'd find knots – but Kivak's fur was smooth and it was obvious he kept himself well groomed.

"You're very pretty," Sakura complimented, smiling. "And your fur's really nice."

Kivak simply blinked at her.

This human child amused him.

"We should probably go find Keroberos and the others," Yue said, looking down at his Mistress.

She nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's."

Kivak decided he'd stick around.

It's been a while since anything interesting has happened, anyway.

Aaaanyways,

End Notes:

Concerning E+T: Yes, there was reference to it on Meiling's part, but it was just Meiling musing over the idea. It's not supposed to hint at any possibilities of E+T because I'm not even sure if I want to have E+T in this fic. I am a supporter of the couple, but I just don't know if pairing them up will be right for this fic. It's just that I've been juggling over the issues as to why in CCS there was never any obvious hints that it would be E+T (like how obvious it was with S+S), and it just makes sense that though they're perfect for each other, it seems that they're too perfect for each other.

But I'm still debating over it. I think I might have something for them.

Kaho: While writing the scene with Kaho... I had realized that I've never used Kaho in any of my fics... at least I don't think so... -scratches head-

Gatekeeper: I got the inspiration for him from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: Endless Nights. If you've read it and you remember the guy that looked like a girl (from the 'Desire' chapter), the Gatekeeper's s'posed to look somethin' like him. AND IF YOU'VE NEVER READ ANY OF THE SANDMAN COMIC SERIES THEN OMG I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU DO. So far all I've read is Endless Nights and another book with a collection of Neil Gaiman's short stories, but he's a fantabulous writer, and the illustrators that draws the comics for the Sandman series are fantabulous and wonderful also.

Moscow: I'm sure it sounds weird that the CCS cast is in Moscow, Russia of all places... but I wanted the cast to get around to being in other places besides Japan... because let's face it... not all problems are focused in simply Japan... so I wanted them to get out more... And I'm sure you could figure out from the previous chapter that they will be going to other countries besides being limited to Japan... And I think it's fun-er. :

Soooo yeah!

Don't forget to leave a review!

-FT