#DID SYAORAN GO BACK UNDER?

[completeoveranalysis]

[4]

Lava Lamp leaps back but not soon enough to avoid Syaoran blasting him with the magic. 

And he uses a wind attack - ie, he uses Fai’s magic to attack with the element that was associated with Fai in Hanshin. 

Is that detail fun or painful we just don’t know!

OH OK. That hit was so serious that both Fai and Kurogane not only noticed it in the middle of their fight but Fai YELLS IN CONCERN. 

(Also, can Fai feel his own magic as Syaoran uses it to try kill his son? Or is the magic dead to Fai as well now?)

THAT’S WHAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW.

[meimi-haneoka]

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Special Chapter: Comments and Analysis

WELCOME BACK, CCS FAAAAAAAAAAAANSSS!!!!!

Oh my god 3 months went already by from that December 1st and chapter 80, didn't they?? Feels like yesterday 🙈But we're finally here, finally ready for the release of the definitive, last SPECIAL CHAPTER of Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card!!!! After this, no more CCS for at least a while!!

Why do you see me so euphoric?? WELL, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE VERY GOOD REASON 😂 But let's not jump the gun and let's introduce this post properly: this time around, I won't be posting pictures to "illustrate" the analysis/commentary, because this special chapter was treated differently from the other ones. It didn't get, in fact, a free release on CLAMP's Youtube channel, in any language, and wasn't even uploaded for digital purchase on Comic Days like all the rest of the chapters. The only way to obtain it was via the April issue of Nakayoshi, either with the physical or digital version. Since it is clear to me their intention to keep this gem of a special chapter away from the internet jungle, and since lately I used only the screenshots from Youtube to illustrate my analysis, this time around I won't be posting anything (aside from the color page, which was released by the official account themselves).

AND! I won't be mixing analysis and summary, because I have already conveniently prepared some screenshots with a detailed summary of the chapter for the people who were curious to know, but didn't get to see the chapter yet or did see it but couldn't read Japanese. I have already posted these screenshots on my Twitter account, and I'll put them here too under the cut (please don't repost them around or in other social media), so you can immediately get a broad view on the content of the chapter (I don't have to point out translation mistakes, haha 😅), and then, afterwards, I'll write my commentary. And there is SO MUCH to say!!

But before starting, we can't break the tradition right at the LAST ROUND of our chapter commentaries, right?? So off we go, with the GIF OF THE MONTH!!

Yes, I think this is the GIF that can represent this chapter the most. 😂

The Color Page

This special chapter is composed of 33 pages, and of course I can't avoid starting my commentary precisely from the color page!!

I admit it, I hoped for a color spread with the four main characters of Clear Card (hence, including Kaito and Akiho too), but since the other two appeared with their own color page just in chapter 79, we'll gladly take this single color page with SyaoSaku too!! ❤️ The JP text reads "We've been together till now, and we will always be! Featuring a long-awaited special chapter!!" Syaosaku look absolutely adorable....and so, so happy!! Looking at us, from a wreath made of cherry blossoms, of course dressed in their image colors pink and green, in a "pair look"...I think their shiny smiles conquered the hearts of the entire fandom (saw many comments about it) and it is certainly a perfect introduction to a chapter that is, indeed, completely made of this happy, leisurely, warm atmosphere. I feel like it tastes even better, after all the anxiety they made us go through, right? I'm pretty sure that was CLAMP's goal all along, giving us this little reward after all the hard situations they've put their characters through. This color page looks like Sakura and Syaoran are saying "goodbye" to us, holding their hands in a lover's hold, but seeing them so cute and happy definitely soothes the sad feeling 🥲 Until we meet again...hopefully!

Letters From Around The World

But it's when the chapter starts that we get our first surprise: the time skip is of one entire year!!! We left our little heroes at the end of the first year of Tomoeda Middle school, ready to go in spring break and then start the second year...here, Sakura says she's in her spring break of the next year, ready to become a 9th grader!!! I almost couldn't believe they actually went that far, I knew from CLAMP's podcast that there was a timeskip, but I expected just some months! Although....I have to say the characters don't look that different, Mokona said she made them a tiny bit older and she kept true to that, because it's barely visible! 🤭 But if you compare them with how they looked at the middle of the story, of course the difference is visible.

I was so happy to see that the chapter started right away with a letter from Akiho: a letter or a videocall was definitely among the type of content I wanted to see in this chapter, because of course I still was quite preoccupied about the difficult journey Akiho and Kaito embarked on, so I wanted to see how they were faring. The amount of letters Sakura accumulated over the span of this year tells me that they moved around quite a lot, and she had always something to share with her "long-distance sister" 🤭 Kero praising Akiho's skills and even feeling some sort of "reverence" for her insane talent to find all the crazy and rare books was so funny and nice!! 😂Sakura is adorable, feeling all proud about the talent of her "sister" 🤭 Loved that they actually mentioned the place where Akiho and Kaito are currently at!! (cause they didn't reveal where they'd go first, in chapter 80, and I guess we'll never know). I appreciated SO SO much that they let us see that Akiho didn't drop, but actually continued to practice her sewing skills like she was doing before everything went down the drain with the Alice in Clockland play: moreover, finding out later that this skill is also helping her greatly with the true ambition of her life made me incredibly satisfied. How cute of her to send outfits for Kero and Suppy, even from far away??

I was quite surprised to find out that Akiho sends all the rare books to Eriol, and then laughed my as* off at Kero saying he's selling them off (the way Kero phrases it in JP makes it look a QUITE shady activity 😂). This shows there's a continued collaboration between the "group" in England and YunaAki, and it's very nice. They're not only "taking" support from Eriol, Akiho also does return the favor, providing Eriol with the books he needs.

And then....got really emotional to know that Kaito wrote a letter to Sakura, back when they left one year ago 🥲 I DID feel like some kind of acknowledgement or apology from Kaito to Sakura was missing from chapter 80 (but honestly, with everything they had to explain, where they could fit that?) and so this little mention completely fixed that sense of "he made a mess and barely managed to apologize to Akiho before leaving". Kaito isn't an ass*ole so of course he would've done something like that, and a letter seems perfect for an introvert boy of few words like him. I imagine the letter wasn't really long either. The little moon on the sealing wax...❤️The fact that Sakura is storing that single letter together with Akiho's letters in a specific box makes me almost cry. She cares for those two so, so much! 😭 Sakura wishes to receive more letters from Kaito and I really hope he will open up to her along the way, because he could benefit ENORMOUSLY from her advices and perspective! Also THANK YOU CLAMP for giving us a little "still" of those two next to eachother from the moment when they were leaving Tomoeda, with the suitcases and all 🥲that last faraway shot of all four of them together in chapter 80 was so great, but I wanted to see them like this too!

The SyaoSaku Date

Aaaaaand then we get to the long awaited, craved, coveted SYAOSAKU DATE!!! 🤣 I can't count how many people I've seen wishing for this....to be honest I was going to be ok with any kind of sweet moment between the two, but gotta admit that a carefree afternoon watching a stage play and then taking refreshment at a café gives this sense of normal, complete fun that was missing a bit for them. They are dressed in a very fancy way (loved that Sakura isn't wearing her usual long one-pieces but something different, with puff shorts! A sign of her growing up?) and even though they're not exactly wearing a "pair look" (too corny, maybe?), they are well matching eachother's outfits. And of course we find out that Tomoyo made Sakura's cute outfit and even the decorations on Syaoran's collar! The fact she was the one asking Syaoran to wear them at the date is kinda funny, like some sort of guidance into looking like a couple, thanks to the matching decorations! Tomoyo really takes care of everything....yes....everything. 🥲 The mention of Sakura's wedding dress of course made me go "OH MY GOD" and made me realize that if Tomoyo is already mentioning that.......we aren't *that* far away from that day (I always imagined SyaoSaku marrying early, since they're soulmates and got together so young!! 😆). Truly an emotional, sweet moment that was reinforced by Tomoyo's tender expression in the flashback. Her resolution to devote herself to learn to design even normal everyday outfits, or date outfits, everything that could accompany her dear Sakura everyday, reminded me that Tomoyo found her very own way to be with Sakura, and she's perfectly content with that. Tomoyo's happiness is seeing Sakura happy, and she will do anything to achieve that. ✨

Syaoran and Kaito's Friendship

And then my blushy blushy Sakura changes topic and suddenly throws me on the floor in a fit of laughter, because seeing Syaoran's confused look while he was trying to make sense of the pictures Kaito sent him on his phone WAS HONESTLY PRICELESS. 😆 My god, how long have I wished to see them like this? Moving their timid steps into a friendship (since their girlfriends are like sisters and Sakura literally saved Kaito's derriere), being their awkward dorky selves...they surprisingly get along so well and Syaoran doesn't seem to hold resentment towards him, which is GREAT for me!! He's learning from Sakura to just let go of hard feelings, when you've found out the person who acted in an oppositive way was just in a very desperate situation and had actually no ill intentions. And that makes me incredibly happy. Kaito needs all the support he can get, to make the right decisions in his life, and I can totally see him finding a particular connection with Syaoran, due to how they're both moon boys, who would give their life for the person they love. I think precisely for this, precisely because Syaoran can understand to a degree Kaito's situation and behavior, he wouldn't feel judged and would feel more free to establish a connection with him. I was k*lled with laughter and endearment when I saw that Syaoran felt confused, but still tried to understand Kaito's peculiar way of communicating with him 😂 And guess what? I think he doesn't realize it, but he's totally starting to get it! 😂The way our wolfie boy snaps that picture IMMEDIATELY as the cat passes by, and how he only framed the ear, really shows how in the end he's speaking "the same language" as Kaito 😂 Seeing Sakura so excitedly think to herself that the two became such good friends made me scream "SAME SAKURA-CHAN, SAME!!!" 😂 All in all, seeing these two having such a relaxed, comfortable date talking about their friends and stuff that happened lately made me completely feel that one year that elapsed, and now they act totally like a couple that's been dating for quite some time. 😊 Ooooh thank you sensei, really. Thank you so much for this scene. 🙏

The Moon Is Really Beautiful, Right?

BUT! The real reason why CLAMP will always have my heart and my gratitude is hidden in the next scene. 😂

Oh my god, the screams I've belted out when I saw them. And when I've read THAT. But let's go in order, let's go in order and not jump the gun! We're in Germany, Akiho and Kaito now seem to be living in an apartment in a nice building! They're still talking in keigo, and still calling eachother "Akiho-san" and "Kaito-san". 😊

Kaito SMILES genuinely at the picture Syaoran sent him!! And answers, to an observant Akiho, that he's having fun!! 😭HIM! The one who couldn't understand what was fun in interacting with others!!! He looks honestly so radiant and happy, a sign that his mental recovery is going strong. And that he's slowly expanding his "trusted people" network. 🥲🙏Also, he looks younger than ever!!! 😂

It made me INCREDIBLY HAPPY to see that Akiho didn't drop the "hobby" she had started in chapter 26 (ages ago!!), remember this scene?

I remember how much I loved to know she had started learning how to do this, because together with my friends, at the time, we all thought this could easily become her aspiration in life......and guess what?? CLAMP confirmed she wants to take on a job revolving around books and book repairing!! This is all canon!! T___T oh my happy tears.... There's a sense of pride in seeing that this journey for Akiho isn't only revolving around finding the cure for Kaito's shortened lifespan (which hurt his body terribly) and restarting his "stopped time", or finding Momo and the Alice in Clockland book, but she's also got the mental resolution to do something for herself, for what she wants to do in life, something that is completely disconnected from Kaito. Again, I cannot reiterate enough how this girl doesn't have an unhealthy codependent relationship with Kaito, and she's completely capable of thinking about her own future, aspirations and wishes. She wants him with her, and she could never live happily without him, but the love of her life isn't the only thing that exists for her. It is incredibly satisfying to see her working hard for her own future, where she'll be able to contribute (especially financially) to their livelihood. I can see Kaito helping her and assisting her with that. The other day I was dreaming away with my friends about Kaito and Akiho managing a "book cafè" together somewhere, how impossibly sweet that would be?

Seeing this volitive, ambitious, strong-willed Akiho once again filled my heart immensely. And I wasn't the only one, apparently.....

Oh god, you have no idea of the SHRIEKS I belted out when I saw Kaito saying "the moon is really beautiful, right?" in full daylight. Like. It is absolutely unmistakable at this point what kind of love he feels for her, and while I always knew, I'm sure the character took his own sweet time and personal introspection to reach that conclusion. If you remember, I've always said it and reiterated it at the end of chapter 80: Kaito won't understand things overnight, it will take a long time. And one year, at that age, is enough of a long time to come to terms with one's feelings and understanding what exactly they mean. They lived all that time together as two "equals", no more butler/boss bullsh*t, so they had even more opportunities to see eachother's true colors. And Kaito couldn't help but fall even more in love with Akiho, to the point that seeing her working so excitedly for her future made him gently overflow with that feeling....and said that sweet quote of Natsume Soseki that we all know, by now, what it means. I think the mere fact that what made his heart explode was seeing her so independent and strong, is a good sign that Kaito's love for her is the healthy and supportive kind, too. He doesn't love her and feels attracted to her soul because she's a weaker, younger, malleable being that he can dominate (as a toxic relationship would portray), but at the contrary, because she's free and strong and wonderful on her own. The more he sees her shining, the more that feeling grows. Throughout this scene, he looks at her and talks to her in such an intensely sweet way, you can totally see he's smitten with her.

The most popular reply to someone who confesses with "the moon is beautiful" is the equivalent of "I could die for you/I can die happy now", in Japanese. And Kaito had been unconsciously replying that way, with his actions, the whole damn time during the serialization of Clear Card. But since he took it way too literally, things were really heading to tragedy. Nobody wanted him to die for real, and yet, subconsciously, that was the only way he had found to give outlet to an enormous amount of feels that he couldn't express (because it wasn't appropriate, and nobody would ever love him, and he only caused her pain, and he had to let go of Akiho anyway at the end of it).

So considering all of THAT, this "I love you very much" he said now (he added とても, "very", like Akiho did ❤️) in this way, makes me think even more "yes, you finally understood what was the best way to convey it!" and therefore, it represents another character development for our moon boy. 🥲

There's debate over whether he had already understood what Akiho had meant, in chapter 48. I stand firmly by my convinction that, even if he was informed of the Japanese folklore tale around it, he quickly dismissed it as "no, she's meaning it literally for the moon", since he couldn't really believe that anyone would ever take interest in him, and was sure he would've always been alone. Otherwise, if he really understood and believed that Akiho was in love with him, I don't think he could've ever said that "I thought you didn't need me to be happy". It doesn't make sense. But everything that happened at the fake moon, and all her angry tears, and all her resolution to find a way to cure him, made him finally see that she really meant it in that way. ❤️So his own acceptance and introspection could finally start, and....it brought to this. ❤️ If you want to know more about the popular phrase "the moon is beautiful, right?", I invite you to check my first Clear Card Trivia post, focused on the literary and musical references portrayed throughout this story!

And LOL, I couldn't help but noticing several things in how this scene played out: first, he immediately "runs away" blabbering about the breakfast being ready, a very similar way to how he "ran away" in chapter 52 when Akiho could see right through him and was trying to express her support and feelings to him. This is definitely an indication (taking into consideration also how he acted when he was little) that the reason why Kaito walked away back then, slamming the door, had a sprinkle of embarrassment embedded in it, too. Yeah. I mean, look at the face he's making here, just before he notices, puzzled, that his hand is shaking:

He's smiling so tenderly, among the pain he's feeling because of his poor health. He even laughs! He's happy he heard that! But he just couldn't stay hearing any longer, back then. Now, in this scene of the special chapter, he literally throws "the bomb" and runs away without hearing her answer or reaction 😂😂😂this is definitely embarrassment, and I'd like to think there's even a hint of teasing streak that I've always seen between the lines in his personality. It came out particularly with Syaoran and Momo, but Akiho isn't excluded from this dynamic! 😂

And excuse me, but Akiho's reaction literally made me roll on the floor laughing!! 😂The poor girl is probably so used to live abroad, and Japanese folklore isn't probably coming up immediately in her mind anymore, despite it's a phrase SHE used HERSELF back then! 😂Or maybe it's because she didn't really expect it from him, and so she took a moment to connect the dots. Either way, it was extremely funny! And I can't absolutely avoid pointing out how our girl isn't blushing like mad anymore, but just slightly.... I mean. It must have been quite clear to her too, by now, that her feelings were in some kind "reciprocated", be it for what Sakura said back at the fake moon, his decision to go back to her, and his decision to reveal his true name, hence giving her his most vulnerable part of himself... This isn't a shock for her, and she probably waited patiently, patiently, for him to finally say something like this. So maybe, more than embarrassed, she's surprised that the day finally came! 🥲 Goodness. This really puts all my worries to rest, Akiho will truly be happy. And it makes total sense that CLAMP made him say this now, and not at the end of chapter 80. As I said, more time was needed. This entire scene leaves me with a sweet, soft, comfortable feeling, and it's totally how I've always imagined their relationship to be. Also....no more of that "he loves her as a daughter/sister" crap, not canon-wise at least. 😊

One last thing I have to point out about this scene, which curiously reconnects everything together, is that recently CLAMP have announced the themes to which their upcoming exhibition will revolve around: among them, there's LOVE (of course!), and among the decorations surrounding the featured character on the key visual (Sakura, for now, but there's at least another one coming!) there are a couple of birds too. Birds are, in this sense, a symbol of love in CLAMP's language. I couldn't really help but noticing all the birds flying outside the window next to Akiho, the moment Kaito says that "the moon is really beautiful, right?". Basically, CLAMP were trying to scream it all over the place, however they could. 😂

"Momo-san?!"

It was so nice to see Yukito and Kero-chan gossiping about Touya right in his face, with the complete intention to tease him 😂in that sense, Yukito really seems like a sweet and harmless character, but don't be fooled! His teasing power is over 9000!! 😂Touya's killing glare made me crack up! He's so done for, now that both Kero and Yukito can tease him in the open! 😂😂😂

But please, please, let me scream about MOMO!!! Oh my god I would've never accepted a special chapter that didn't feature her!! Aaaaahhh I'm so glad to see that she's fine 🥲 The conversation between her and Sakura made clear to me that she isn't that free to move how I imagined her to be. Certainly, she decides where to go and who the book stays with (and when to leave), but the impartiality imposed on her role doesn't allow her to act freely like she wants, unless she pays a price. And she decided to pay a price, not to see Akiho and Kaito, but to go and thank Sakura herself first. Because, as her "those kids" suggests, she of course still feels some kind of maternal instinct towards them, and as any mother would do, she wants to thank Sakura from the bottom of her heart for having helped and saved those two. Even her body language (the position of her hands) portrays that. And excuse me, but I A B S O L U T E L Y loved how CLAMP clarified once and for all, addressing directly the complaints of their own fandom, that Sakura wasn't forcingly dragged into a matter that wasn't related to her. Everything she did, she decided to do it because she felt it touched her personally. From the moment she became Akiho's friend and came to care for her, everything that happened and everything that she was involved with was related to her too. This wasn't "somebody else's business" anymore. Because Akiho is one of her most beloved friends, no matter how "fast" that happened. Some relationships bloom almost immediately, because the connection is just that strong. And so, this turned into just another expression of "your happiness is my happiness", with Sakura acting according to what her heart suggested. As Kaito is Akiho's most beloved person, Sakura couldn't help but care for him too, because doing so would've made her friend happy, in a wonderful "circulation of love".

Special mention for the scene with pregnant Lilie, oh my god I didn't really expect this either. How long ago I wrote that Tumblr post about cosmos flowers and the origin of Akiho's name? A couple of weeks ago? It's like CLAMP answered my curiosity, with this scene. I still keep my interpretation in my heart, but I also love the logic "it is a flower that keeps the same name in many countries". Of course. "Wherever you'll go, you'll always be your unique self". (And now I want to cry, mama's heart is so big😭) The way Lilie keeps her hands over her womb made me tear up. The ring isn't there anymore, a sign that she probably already gave it to Momo (understandably, since once Akiho would be born, she wouldn't really have much time left). The baby bump isn't that noticeable, probably because she's at the beginning of her pregnancy. Who knows if she kept seeing little Kaito while she was pregnant. 🥲Who knows if in the scene where she's telling him about how wonderful it is to have something you love, especially a person, she was already pregnant with Akiho. 🥲

Momo and Sakura's final words made me understand that Momo cannot go back to Akiho and Kaito till the circumstances and the moment is right. Whether it depends on Akiho's wish, or the right cosmic arrangement, it's surely not in the short term. Especially considering the limited scope of Momo's agency. It cannot come from Momo (unless she pays a huge price), it needs to come from them, strongly enough. I also want to think that, again as an acquired mother figure, Momo wants those two to find their own way, identity and figure out their relationship on their own, without her interference. I'm sure she's keeping an eye on them from faraway, though. 🥲Even though this still feels bittersweet because I wanted to see them reuniting in canon so badly, it gave me lots of hope for the future. Momo is just waiting for the right moment, and she'll be ready to embrace them when the time is right. Maybe, who knows, we'll see that reunion in another series or in a special publication in the future?

The End

And then....the final scene 🥲NOW it is finally clear what Ohkawa meant in that one Twitter Space, when she mentioned that there was a reason why they never featured Sakura's birthday!!! THEY NEEDED TO KEEP THE EXCLUSIVITY FOR THIS!! 😂 I'm so glad they did, really...it's so sweet to see her reaching 14 years old (the "standard age" of many shoujo heroines! 😂) and seeing Syaoran giving her a present, with that strikingly sweet smile full of love...but most importantly....the breathtaking final double spread 🥲🥲🥲🥲 The way she pulls his hand close to her chest, to her heart, while saying that Syaoran will be forever and ever her most important and special person.....really, this chapter is meant to k*ll us all with feels!🥲and I love how CLAMP keep finding ways to portray their physical displays of affection without resorting to the classic, most wanted (but also probably considered not appropriate yet) "kiss". The very final page is a direct parallel of a page from chapter one, where Sakura was going to school alone and looked back down the street to admire the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Now, she's not alone anymore, but actually hugging the love of her life on her special day! Really, what a wonderful and fulfilling way to give the final touch to this amazing story! 🥲 Her very last line also contributed to this. Sakura leaves us again, 24 years after the first ending, with words of positivity for the future, and love for her important people. This wraps everything up nicely, but it still keeps things quite "open-ended", hopefully in the eventuality to return to this wonderful series in the future. Sakura is growing up, as CLAMP wished, and it might be possible to see her dealing with more "grown-up" situations, magic and non-magic wise. But one thing is for sure, her relationship with her loved ones will always take top priority. ❤️

Well well well, we came to the end of this looooooong commentary for this special chapter too. I can't help but thank once again all of you who followed my posts all these years, and commented with your POVs on the story.

As I've said multiple times, Cardcaptor Sakura gave me so much ever since I was a kid, and this sequel was no exception. This special chapter, in particular, overflowed with things I wanted to see, and I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking so. I once again want to congratulate CLAMP for wrapping everything up nicely, and thank them from the bottom of my heart for these almost 8 years of emotional journey. 🙏

See you around with my other tumblr posts, and let's look forward to the release of volume 16 on April 1st, and hopefully, news about the anime sequel of Clear Card!!

[serialadoptersbracket]

Round 3, Match 31: Sojiro Sakura vs. Kurogane and Fai D’Flourite

Submitted kids:

Sojiro Sakura: Futaba Sakura, Akira Kurusu/Ren Amamiya, and the rest of the phantom thieves tbh

Kurogane and Fai D’Flourite: Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Chun'yan, a bunch of one off characters, Sakura and Syaoran a second time (it makes sense in context)

Propaganda under the cut!

Sojiro Sakura:

1. “He's the Hierophant confidant which is already the dad arcana. He has one legitimately adopted daughter (Futaba) and then the moment he hears about a troubled teenager from a customer at his Café he's like "guess I have to take this guy in. Ugh what a pain. Of course I'm doing it." And then when said troubled teenager brings his loud friends over and then his artist friend who doesn't eat a lot and his polite nerd friend and his very polite socialite friend and his murderous bestie Sojiro acts like they're all pests and pretends they don't see him insisting on feeding them all and making them all coffee to taste and stocking up on soft drinks for the one who doesn't like coffee and refusing payment and setting them up with a campervan for their crime road trip and generally being a dad. "This is such a hassle" he says as a token protest as he packs them lunch boxes and threatens cops on their behalf”

2. “He was so cold to the mc in the beginning but really warmed up to him and even protected him from the police and the rest of the team”

3. “Futaba is his best friend's daughter, who he adopted after her mother was murdered by a government conspiracy. Akiren is a random kid who he agreed to take in after he was put on probation, who he lets live in the attic of his cafe. His entire character arc is learning to be a better dad to these wayward troubled children, and in the end, he actually cries when Akiren has to leave to go back to his parents.”

Kurogane and Fai D’Flourite:

1. “These fuckers can't help themself they're just 2 married husbands that adopt every child they see. kurogane starts out a power hungry ninja who gets sent away for killing too much and he drops that shit so quick the moment there is a child. He just starts watching out for the two kids in their group and being homoerotic with Fai. meanwhile Fai joins the group with a very specific agenda that's been like, his entire reason to live for centuries and he ends up deciding to give up on that to save his kids. he literally lets his eye get ripped out in an attempt to get syaoran back. like 90% of their conversations and bonding is about the kids and their wellbeing and both of them calling out the other for being cringe fail and accidentally adopting them while frantically denying they've done the same (then turning around and putting their coat around Sakura or Syaoran because they are getting cold). theyre just slow burn found familynur honour”

2. “#these two did not go through literal hell and back for each other and their found family to lose #traumatised magician/samurai soulmates sweep. please. #Kurogane and Shanks both lost an arm protecting someone in their found family”

3. “#i would say it actually doesn't make all that much sense in context but.”

[yingjiaoyue]

Thinking about possessed Syaoron AU.

Take place during end of revenge of the Spider Queen

Ayu sit on dirty dark alley. Someone like her shouldn't sit in place like that after all but here we go. The spider venom start to take control of her. Unlike other she still have control of her body thanks to her necklace. But she can feel it didn't last long as she start to get weak.

""Fucking shit" She curse under her breath. She hides there for while as spider Quenn ask everyone to celebrate her his success to take over the world and make it her kindom. Ayu didn't expect her new year would end up like this.

"Syaoron..." Ayu wonder where Syaoron is when all this happened. It's been 2 whole months since Syaoron went missing. Her mind still thinking of the night what happend to Syaoron. Part of her still feeling guilty for not able to help Syaoron after all Syaoron did to her during Bull Clone attack.

Then Ayu hear something. She try to take a look as her body get weak. It's was the Monkie Kid and his gang come to save the day. Ayu lean at one of the wall try support her body. She then see glowing looking liquid got spay. Ayo froze. That's suppose to be the antidote?!? She watch as everyone turn back to normal. "Shit shit shit!" She curse in her mind. She shouldn't hide there! Now she too far to reach the antidote! But then the fight happened and all Ayu could do is watch. Just watch.

Short story, the kid and his gang win. But Ayu still in that alley. She take a look at sky as her body almost give up. She fall on her knees and can't move. The venom start to get the best of her. "Huh... pretty" She said closing her eyes ready to fully give up.

But then she feel strong blow of cold wind. Someone walking toward her and Ayu can't belive the person standing in front of her. "Syaoron...?" Syaoron smile while putting something in Ayu's hand. It's was small bottle full with antidote. Ayu's eyes widened as feeling greaful wash over her. She raised her head to look at Syaoron once more. She can see Syaoron eyes and it wasn't purple she know. It's blue. She hated that.

"Syaoron wait!"

He disappeared again carried by the cold wind, leaving Ayu alone again.

(sorry if all this getting annoying to you)

👀!!! POSSESSED SYAORAN AU?!? PLUS TOXICROSE?!? HECK YEH IM EATING THIS UP!!

(Don’t apologize, it’s fine! ^^)

[zponds]

(Credit goes to JWBtheUncanny on Deviantart)

Sakura's Bubblefied classmates

That's right guys, It's Meiling Li, Rika Sasaki, Chiharu Mihara & Naoko Yanagisawa from Cardcaptor Sakura, Your probably wondering how did these girls become Bubbloids, Well there is a Story to this.

During the Event of the Axis, While the Cardcaptors where turned evil and when the heroes Reversed the Inversion Spell, the Cardcaptors where reverted back, but only one was never reverted back, Tomoyo Daidouji along with Suite PreCure, Go Princess PreCure, Sabertooth and Carnage. While the Ultimate War was coming to it's Doomsday mark, Tomoyo was not heard from after the events of Axis until the Doomsday clock started ticking, While she with Sakura was looking around she encounters Suihou and the rest of her Bubbloid Race... The way they are made of reminds her of her and Sakura's Bubbloid forms, Taking one of them with her she plans to use the Bubbloids abilities to some what save the Human race, While in secret Tomoyo uses one of the Bubbloids's plasma samples to reverse-engineer it into a serum so she can use it to Transform normal humans into Bubbloids in hopes of saving the human race (The Serum has no effect on humans that are male, Only on Females), While Tomoyo and Sakura wheir in there Bubble Forms (Sakura was under hypnosis at this point) They injected the Bubbloid Serum in there systems some They can Make more Bubbloids in there Bubble Forms, Meiling Li wonders where some of her Classmates have been disappearing so she goes investigating, Unfortunately for Meiling, She discovers that Sakura was not herself until she discovers that Tomoyo has Sakura under her control, Meiling confronts her of what the heck is going on, Tomoyo explains why she's turning every girl in the area into Bubbloids, Meiling shocked that Tomoyo has gone insane refuses to be part of her plans of Changing part of the Human Race and plans to inform Syaoran Li and Cero, But Tomoyo was expecting that and was prepared, using a Blow-Dart on Meiling filling her with the Bubbloid Serum, Tomoyo reveals that who ever gets turned into Bubbloids, They become very loyal servents only to Sakura and Tomoyo, Tomoyo wonders if the Becoming a Bubbloid is temporary like there Bubble Forms or is it permanent, It mattered not to her and Sakura when she Frees her from her control, Sakura believing that tomoyo is right about Turning the girls into Bubbloids to Save them wonders where they will go, Tomoyo believes that Cure Mermaid with her Mermaid Empire will be a more fitting home for the Bubblois Race, Where She can teach them how to control there new abilities.

[lilover131]

Clear Card Chapter 72 Analysis

Sorry for the delay y’all! Still dealing with some real life stuff, but I’m in a much better place emotionally! I’ll try to make sure I’m not so late next month!

In this chapter, not a lot actually physically happened, but we DID get answers, some of which I’m not sure how I feel about. Enjoy my “gif of the month” above (trademark from Cinzia. Hahahaha) and my thoughts below under the cut! I apologize again in advance for the crappy red page screenshots from youtube. I currently have no way to get good quality English scans, so this is how it’s gotta be for now! 

The color spread is GORGEOUS as always, but has a rather lonely and somber feeling to it. Sakura has an expression like she is empty and missing something, and maybe the ‘jewels’ in front of her represent the memories she has lost as a result of the timeline change. Beautiful, sparkling memories, and she absentmindedly reaches towards one with such a gentle looking cradle. The crystal she reaches for reminds me quite a bit actually of the crystals that actually showed memories in Clockland. I could be overthinking it, but honestly when you’ve read CLAMP mangas as long as I have, you find yourself doing it a lot. Hahahaha.

 The chapter itself starts off with Lilie and Sakura meeting in the dream world, right where we left off in the last chapter. Sakura remarks about how Lilie looks just like Akiho, and Lilie seems overjoyed by this. But of course she would be, she’s her mother! However, the tone shifts not long after when Sakura asks her if she knows Akiho, and the look on Lilie’s face is so painful. She’s clearly saddened to never know her own daughter, and to know in this timeline that she’s not even her daughter at all anymore must be heartwrenching. To make matters worse, this version of Lilie is still only a child, so it must have been so difficult for her growing up just knowing everything that would happen after. She probably had to grow up faster than most children, and especially with so much pressure from her clan on top of things!

Lilie explains that she had tried many times before to talk with Sakura directly, but she seemed to get mixed up in her premonitions instead and was unable to say anything. Flashes of dreams Sakura has had in the past show, such as the beginning where her key was being pulled, the dream with the dragon, and all of these were apparently intended to never have a cloaked figure at all. Every dream with a Cloaked Figure appearance was literally just Lilie trying to talk to Sakura. LOL. 

 We then finally get an answer to a big question, and that is regarding the Cloaked Figure Syaoran. Turns out Sakura was having a dream of Kaito pretending to be Syaoran, and Lilie got mixed up in this one too, so it blended together to make what we saw as Cloaked Figure Syaoran. I’m glad we have answers, but I’m also somewhat…frustrated? It feels awfully anticlimactic in the end and turned out to be a Lilie oopsie, but I’m also frustrated cuz’ I made like a BAJILLION THEORIES ABOUT THIS AND ALL OF THEM ARE WROOOONNGGGGG!!!! -huffs- I give up. Clearly trying to theorize about CLAMP series is futile and they will always, always trick you.

 -deep breath-

 I was kinda hoping for a slight Syaoran brainwashing for funsies and drama, but alas it seems that is not the sort of story CLAMP is going for, and that is all right. I have seen plenty of amazing Syaoran moments in Clear Card (WHICH WE GET TO SEE ANIMATED NOOOWW), so I really can’t complain.

 Lilie also clears up another question we’ve had by stating the cards Sakura made in the previous timeline no longer exist, but her connection to the Sakura cards are stronger than ever. She also mentions that the power of the forbidden magic can only rewrite history so far back and cannot go beyond the time the caster was born (aka Kaito). Because of this, there are parts of Lilie’s past he could not rewrite due to her being older than him. This is also why Lilie is reaching out to her at this age, since this is a time before Kaito is born and could not be touched by the magic.

 She tells Sakura that she has a message for her, and when asked if she’s able to see the future, she advises that she can, and even the future beyond her death. Sakura, being the caring person she is, seems worried about her. Surely she’s heard stories from Eriol about how tough it was for Clow to always see the future, and he never wanted that for Sakura. She asks Lilie if it hurts to always know what is to come, and Lilie, although seeming sad about it, has a absolutely beautiful response. “The things I can do…and the things I can’t…make me the person I am”.

 Honestly, what a wonderful thing to say. I feel like this can really be taken to heart for nearly all situations in life. You are you. Do what you can, and don’t distress over what you cannot. You are still you, and these are all pieces of the puzzle that makes you.

 Lilie then gets to brass tax and tells her exactly what she needs to hear. She tells her straight up that her memories and life have been rewritten. Sakura is obviously very surprised by this, and Lilie goes on to state that Kaito even mislead Momo into thinking his intention was to swap Sakura and Akiho (now I feel much less bad for thinking the same, considering even Momo was fooled, but it also confirms that this is exactly what CLAMP wanted us to believe). He deceived Momo so she would not know his true intention was to take on the artifact himself, because clearly she would’ve absolutely smacked the shit out of him and talked him out of it. Because Momo believed he intended to switch the girls, she tried to give hints to his ‘motives’, but because she too was deceived, she was off the mark in her warnings. Lilie even calls him an idiot basically in a whisper, and I just find this hilarious. He’s just going to be marked ‘idiot’ for eternity. But one thing Momo said still reigns true even though she was wrong about his intentions, and that is the question of “What is Happiness to you?”. Lilie tells her that her answer and the ‘other Alice by her side’, are one in the same. And we all know very well what this is about. Obviously happiness to Sakura and Akiho is to have the ones they love by their side, and dammit that includes Kaito!! Lilie confirms this by stating that what happiness could there possibly be in a world where the people you hold dear are gone (I’M LOOKING AT YOU KAITO).

 It's at this moment that the dream starts to break, and Lilie advises that she likely will not remember the conversation they had after she wakes due to the forbidden magic being able to reach her, however Lilie is safe due to existing in a time it cannot touch. Before Sakura is kicked out of the dream, Lilie tells her she believes in her, and goes on to elaborate the both of them, which includes Akiho.

 With that, Sakura wakes up in Syaoran’s arms, and he is clearly very worried about her. But one very interesting and telling thing is how Syaoran responds to her here. Sakura says “huh..?” and he says “Don’t you ‘huh’ me!”, which very much reminds me of the somewhat snarky Syaoran we knew and loved from the original series. 

Cinzia very graciously confirmed that the Japanese speech isn’t much different here, and that it has the same tone. So what this tells me is that Syaoran never actually changed at all. The version we have seen of him in Clear Card so far was him essentially constantly worried and trying his best to protect Sakura. But in this timeline, where none of this has happened, he is far more at ease and can be his true self, like Yue once spoke of. He mentioned Syaoran was always honest in his feelings and how he expressed them, and he has been hiding that. This is a flash of Syaoran’s true real self!! So to all the people who said they didn’t like Syaoran the way he is now and how he’s changed, I leave you with this.

 Sakura says she had a dream about someone who looked like Akiho, and even Syaoran teases her a bit and says something about a “sister complex”, and honestly I find that really funny. Syaoran legit thinks Sakura is just dreaming about her own twin sister. Hahahaha. But he quickly realizes this is different and that she might’ve had a premonition. Sakura states she can’t remember, but she  does remember that whatever it was that was said to her was important, not just for her, but for everyone. She seems determined, so I’m sure she’ll figure it out.

 The chapter ends there, and I think in the next chapter, it will likely have a lot more Akiho, perhaps something to do with the watch she’s been left by Kaito, and I think this will help trigger Sakura breaking through the forbidden magic. What happens from there, I have no idea…but it should be fun!

 Until next time!

[sakuraswordly]

Connect to this

Sonic, Punch and Gilgamesh are the same. Because they are Punch. Or as my research, Sonic, Punch and Gilgamesh are not actually alike....they're technically the same. I designed Punch a long time ago and even created her own personality, but when I compared it, I found that her personality and demeanour were the same, even her body language.(Announce9 #: design analysis part 1 and part 2) The year 2023's results were considered a success for Sonic, making me more certain that they are the same and that it was the right decision to choose Sonic. I'm very thankful to you for the hard work of the Sonic team. Because Sonic's work is considered very good, I revealed that in fact, I brought Sonic to study in the first place because I was studying Mesopotamia and was checking to see if Gilgamesh really had a personality similar to Sonic and Punch. Or this is a really coincidence?(Seems that way) As my research so far I chose Gilgamesh from Type-Moon because I really sure that he's similar to the real King Gilgamesh from Epic the most.(Also, I don't believe every story in the epic of Gilgamesh for someone who wants to know. I felt like this wasn't right if the real King Gilgamesh would do that. That doesn't make sense.) That's why I need to put history or even their owner not only because they don't know about this even other cultures but because I tried to find the truth in history world that garden Babylon or even King Gilgamesh or King Arthur real in this world? I felt like these two kings did connect somehow.

Sonic: As much as I try to look like I have things under my control, everyone still worries about me as always..........Hey Syaoran...

Syaoran: Hmm?

Sonic: Do you still remember when Bandit captured me and you jumped to protect me when I couldn't walk?

Syaoran: Yes, I do remember.

Sonic: I was different back then. My whole life I have liked to do things by myself. I don't like having anyone else busy, even Tails. And I knew I would be alone.

Syaoran: And that is why Shadow is always so violent towards you.

Sonic: I'm a selfish that don't like to listen to my friends. But in that room, when you rescued me and took the damage from me and even called like I was part of your friends. The story is even more shocking than that. Velvet gave me the title, "Sonic Crowe". You guys even treat me like I am a part of this family. At that time with fight Exeller, when you shout, you're not going to abandon someone you love, it just....shattered the wall that I'd built up around me.

Syaoran: I mean.....I can't let you die at that time, sorry.

Sonic: To be honest…because until that moment, I'd seen you as a means to an end. I thought of you as a way to be strong and to obtain Excalibur. But after that time when Bandit captured me and you jumped to protect me, one time became two and before I knew it, you'd call me your family. It didn't matter that we were different. You cared for me as you would any other people. Before then, I'd never even dreamed I could have my "real family" on my own.

Syaoran: Sonic...................*Smile*

Sonic: I didn't want any of my friends to die because of my power. But I also didn't want to live if it meant you would all die in my place.....But then I realized...I'd only think of myself the entire time. Amy was right all along...

Syaoran: I know you can walk your path alone and it must be hard sometimes. But I swear I'll be there with you. Until the very end. This time I'll never let you go, I'll always take your hand no matter whether we are gone or go on a new adventure.

Sonic: Thanks......no....thank you...it's such a strange feeling. I know that we've still got plenty of fighting up ahead. And it's for me and Punch.

Syaoran: You're worth fighting for. That's why I don't regret if this path is wrong.

Sonic: And as always, I believe in you, Syaoran.

----------------------------------------------

Punch: Danny...Homura....I'm not like the rest of you.

Danny; Of course you are! But No! You're not! I'm serious. Back when we first met. I think maybe then I did think we were different. But I now I know that isn't true! You and I are alike in more ways than you know. You made me think of this and made me to accept my ghost form too.

Homura: Everyone has their own pain that can be hard for other people to understand. I get that you must have a lot circling around the head of yours. And that's okay, I am not like you. But regardless of all that, I'm......we're here for you, Punch. You're not alone.

Punch: Homura I.......

Danny: That goes for me too. We all want to be there for you. If you lose your way and can't find your dad and mom, I will guide them to you.

Punch: Umm.....but the earth's so big to find you know.

Danny: But they still stay on Earth and never vanish right? Even though the earth's so big the earth still has a place to return to unlike the universe, right?

Homura: I agree with this one. I can think of this place as home now because of you, Punch. I mean....that's what friends are supposed to do, right? I learned a lot from Madoka.

Danny: I'll always be with you, Punch. Remember, even we're not here in front of your eyes. You're not alone.

----------------------------------------------

Gilgamesh: I need to protect Mesopotamian Civilization for the next generation to continue my work, which will happen immediately I must exist.

Peter: Gil....why are you care so much about this country?

Gilgamesh: Because....they're my treas---

Peter: Because Amy...hasn't it?

Gilgamesh: Heh. I can't hide from you can't I.

Peter: *Smile*

Gilgamesh: Amy did tell me once...palm tree is all the memories we've made around that tree. ........I took her advice even though she was a little corny. So yeah....that's why I call this place Uruk "home". This place...this country...this earth is the place where I made my first best friend and no one can replace him.

Peter: Really.....I don't know, but Amy, she sounds pretty great.

Gilgamesh: Of course....she really is.

Fate/Extra CCC SG 3: Home: Uruk “Ah, right. If I answer as a person, I suppose it would be my city, Uruk.”

Why do you need home?

It provides us with a sense of belonging, comfort, security, and stability. It is where we create memories with our loved ones, learn important life skills, and express our style. The importance of home in our lives cannot be overstated. It is an essential aspect of our well-being and a source of comfort and joy.

Sonic: But I'll never forget the most important places.

Chris: Really?!

Sonic: Yes, of course. You can always trust me from now on, Chris.

Princess Elise: Sonic, if you leave here to go on another adventure.....remember this place?

Sonic: Definitely.

Danny: Punch, if everything is over, will you still remember this place with everyone here?

Punch: Definitely, I'll never forget them.

Even Sonic did say this once, but home and friendship were different to them. From the beginning Sonic, Punch and Gilgamesh never had a place to call "home" or a place to return. They're like a star that doesn't need a "home" for them to shine....but...

They are okay to be alone….but because they learn so much about this "earth" place. They still need someone very special for them to travel together. And when Peter said "I know you can walk your path alone and it must be hard sometimes. When you need a reason to keep going I'll remind you. And if you want to be the star in the sky. I can be your earth". They need someone to guide them back to "home", the earth, the place where the memories can be shared together.

Gilgamesh: Still.....if that's true......then it's all the more reason I have to do this......but.....I can't tell them......there's no way I could.....I can't let them die because of me again.......Punch.....what am I supposed to do?

"Many times....I let them go even if that meant saving their freedom"

Syaoran, Peter, Danny and Homura: "But this time I won't let them be alone!"

What does took in my hand mean? phrase. If you take something or someone in hand, you take control or responsibility over them, especially in order to improve them.

Take my hand = reach out and clasp your hand with mine. Hold my hand = take my hand and continue to hold onto it.

"Home" is also the place to listen with your heart: Feel the emotions of the speaker. go through things that we observe and feel Including the intentions and desires behind those words. Even though he might not have said it directly. Why are hugs so important?: It builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication. Because hugs, it helps in healing some negative feelings such as loneliness, isolation, and anger.

Sonic: But when you reached out to me and gently took my hand, I felt the warmth I'd never known before. That's the "love" I never thought I would discover by myself. You make me understand human emotion and this "love"......even I fall in love with Velvet....but still....

Syaoran: ...........you won't have to worry about that for much longer.

Sonic: You think so.......?

Syaoran: Sonic....I......

Sonic: No. You can tell me when we defeat Exeller. Okay?

Syaoran: *Soft Laugh*Yeah. Okay.

Sonic always lets their hand go even his friends every time he saves them but this time Sonic can't let his hand go from Syaoran because Syaoran will always take his hand and save him no matter where he goes. Syaoran knew where to find Sonic even though he didn't fast as much as Sonic. This is an unbreakable bond. Even Tails can guess where Sonic went but when danger comes Tails can't protect him fast like Syaoran. The same way for Danny and Punch as well, Danny knew where Punch went even when she got lost, and Danny knew where to find her even without ghost form. The same way for Peter and Enkidu with Gilgamesh, they love him. They know him. And they respect him. And that knowledge that he'll be okay works out, just like they knew it would. Watch the change in their expressions and body language as he stand back up and smiles at them.

Announce10

I study petroleum as hard as possible to find the truth of Mesopotamian even mechanics. I finally see my comic can save people that I can't reach them. That's why this year will focas on Syaoran, Peter, Punch and Gilgamesh more as promised. Hope that my Windows 8 will hang on or age much longer.

Did King Arthur fight the Vikings? The Viking raiding and settling of England took place between the 9th and 10th centuries. This predates the stories of King Arthur created by Geoffrey of Monmouth, which inspired most of what we now think of as Arthurian Legend. So the short answer is No. The Viking presence in England was finally ended in 1066 when an English army under King Harold defeated the last great Viking king, Harald Hardrada of Norway, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, near York. The vikings were from Denmark and Norway(the swedes went east to Rusland) but before that the danes went to England together with the germans, they were known as the angles-saxons. They were from the Holstein area, which have been a part of the Denmark in a few periods of history.

But the Vikings didn’t come until the 700’s, and King Arthur lived in the 500’s. How could King Arthur fight the Vikings when they didn’t overlap? True but if King Arthur did live in 700’s or more than that and never had a fight with Vikings. This should be interesting as an alternative timeline. The same as I wrote about Marie Curie. Even if this is not Marie Curie you know but can connect to real life. Even though I made up a story that was not true, but remember this. I can bridge reality. I tried to study Leonardo da Vinci as well so he will appear someday in Tsubasa of Phantasia. (And will add meditation too)So my talent for drawing and story was similar to the Geological time scale.(Well I need this to study petroleum too so don't mind if my comic will be style idea like this)

Geologic time is, in effect, that segment of Earth history that is represented by and recorded in the planet's rock strata. The geologic time scale is the “calendar” for events in Earth history.

P.S. I can't let A.I. copy my art. Because if A.I. can, I would not be able to discover the truth in history and study geological time. You have to study the rock and its structure. Texture and structure are the techniques that I learned from petroleum and I used to find Sonic's true personality.

Don't be surprised why I have to practice drawing in detail because they or those in petroleum taught me that.

NASA also used the same study method as well.

[yououui]

What are we moments prompt "accidentally referencing them as "my" for KuroFai IT'S SO GOOD

It wasn’t very often Fai needed rescuing. Well, not since he stopped letting himself walk into dangerous situations with a death wish strapped to his back. No, now that he wanted to live, he fought back. And when someone tried to take on one of the most powerful wizards across the multiverse, it was usually a bad idea.

But every now and then, he’d lose the upper hand. Such as right now, when he was bound by chains by this world’s Seishirou—figures—and held above an ominous magic circle. Hands trapped behind his back and a gag in his mouth so he couldn’t even bother the man that had rudely abducted him, he rolled his eyes in annoyance and waited for the others to find him, which they did swiftly.

“—And then, his magic will be mine, and I will be the most powerful being in existence!” Seishirou finished his overly long villain speech with a flourish, pointing to Fai and the glowing magic circle under him that threatened to leech his magic away.

“You done?” Kurogane asked with a raised brow. “Good. Now let him go and maybe I won’t kill you.”

Seishirou smirked. “As if I would ever give up such valuable material.”

Maybe referring to Fai in such a dehumanizing way upset Kurogane more than Fai’s actual capture, because the ninja bristled and held out his blade, the tip pointed threateningly at Seishirou. He glared at the man with eyes full of hate.

“I’ll say it one more time and if you don’t listen, your head’ll be rolling on the floor,” Kurogane said lowly. “Hand over my mage, now.”

Kurogane didn’t even realize what he said until he noticed Fai’s cheeks flare so bright pink, they were practically glowing in the dimly lit lair. Syaoran stayed silent, but his eyes went wide, staring into space as he tried desperately to keep from gaping at Kurogane in surprise. From the safety of his coat pocket, Mokona giggled. Seishirou quirked a brow and smiled, amused.

“I mean—he—our—” Kurogane looked at Syaoran, who was still adamantly avoiding eye contact, his free hand flailing embarrassingly. He rolled his eyes and took firm hold of his sword with both hands. “Screw it.”

A wave of energy burst from his blade towards Seishirou, though the annoyingly smug bastard leapt out of the way at the last second. As soon as he landed, however, two fingers burning with powerful magic pressed into his back.

“Thanks for the opening, Kuro-sama,” Fai said from behind Seishirou with a gleeful grin. The sounds of the empty chains rattling echoed around the lair along with Seishirou’s stammering exclamations of shock.

Kurogane frowned at him as Seishirou floundered to make sense of what just happened. “If you could free yourself the whole time, why’d you wait for us?”

“It’s so much more fun to do things as a team, don’t you think?” Fai chirped. “Besides, I wanted to see how long it would take for you to come to my rescue.”

With an angry yell at being ignored, Seishirou turned to face Fai. He was immediately hit by a spell that knocked him out cold and he crumpled to the floor pathetically.

“How disappointing,” Fai said as he stepped over Seishirou and approached his group. “I remember him being a lot tougher. This version of him has been slacking.”

“Let’s just get out of here,” Kurogane said while turning his back to the others to walk out. 

“That’s right!” Mokona said, bursting from Syaoran’s pocket. “We can leave now since Kurogane has his mage!”

Kurogane stopped, his shoulders raising in embarrassment before he whipped around to glare at her with cheeks tinged red. “Don’t say stupid things!” He barked over his shoulder. He stomped his way up the stairs and out of the lair, huffing and puffing the whole way.

Syaoran glanced nervously at Fai before scurrying behind Kurogane, and Fai just gave them an exasperated smile as he followed behind. He would have to let Kurogane know later that he didn’t really mind being referred to as his. For now though, he’d enjoy teasing the ninja and the view of his adorable blush.

[ellayuki]

24052022 - Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle

just how far we’d travel (both you and I know)

Tsubasa Chronicle Month - Day 24 - Fairytales

~

Fai has never hated anything in his long adult life, as he does their current predicament.

If it were only the princess falling under the enchantment, he thinks he’d have understood this whole thing better. As it is, with both Sakura and Kurogane dead to the world with no apparent cure in sight, Fai thinks the universe (their current one, at least) is mocking him.

All the stories he’d heard or read about in his youth mention the spellcaster’s defeat, a mother’s love, a lover’s tears. Syaoran mentions something about a confession of true feelings. Maybe a counterspell, even.

But nothing works, and Mokona’s being surprisingly unhelpful, giggling herself silly in some corner or other almost daily. Fai, for possibly the first time since they’ve all started travelling together, thinks he understands Kurogane’s annoyance with the little white bun. “Mokona,” he says, and maybe his voice is a bit sharper than he normally would use with her, but it’s been almost a fortnight already, and he's at his wit's end. 

Mokona falls off the window sill in her mirth. "Sorry, sorry, it's just-" She starts, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. "It's just-"

Syaoran picks her up, hands more gentle than the tightness of his shoulders would suggest. "Just what?"

Mokona giggles some more, and Fai feels his magic gathering under the skin of his palms. "It's just that, it's like in one of Yuuko's fairytale books! But this is so much funnier!"

Fai looks from her to the cots where Kurogane and Sakura have been… sleeping, for lack of a better way to describe their unconscious state, and then back to Mokona. "What is?" 

"You know? Usually? It's just the girl that falls under a witch's spell, and the prince wakes her up! But now!" She laughs, and laughs, and Fai wonders if he can teleport all of them off-world fast enough, because he's this close to sending a blastwave of ice everywhere. "Kuropon is asleep, too! That means Kuropon's a princess, too!"

And… Fai would normally have a ball, with the image Mokona's words paint in his head. Normally. 

"You said the prince saves the girl," Syaoran drags Fai's attention back to the matter at hand. "Any specific way he does that?"

Mokona jumps then, bounces up on Syaoran's shoulder, then over to Fai's head, before landing just next to Kurogane's pillow. Fai grits his teeth, braces himself. 

And, "True Love's Kiss!" Mokona chirps, wicked delight colouring her every word. "That's always the cure!"

…and such is Fai's life, he thinks, closing his eyes against the wave of exasperation and annoyance. Of all the spells you had to fall under, you foolish ninja, he thinks grumpily in Kurogane's direction. Why did it have to be this one??

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Syaoran going beet red, his hands waving aimlessly and comically in front of him. "Ki-ki-kiss??!?" He looks and sounds like he’s a hair’s breadth away from either fainting or shaking entirely apart. Fai’s afraid to know which one’s the likeliest right now. 

He takes a deep breath, steps close to Kurogane’s bed. “Are you sure?” he asks Mokona, though his eyes are fixed on the unconscious ninja. At Mokona’s confirmation, he sits down. Alright, then. “You better wake up,” he mutters, and leans in.

(It’s another month and three more worlds before Syaoran and Sakura can look each other in the eyes again without blushing their heads off.

It’s a hell of a lot longer than that for Fai to get the taste of Kurogane’s mouth out of his system.) 

[twststoryteller]

Cardcaptor Sakura! Reader

Sakura Kinomoto! Female! Reader

Will change some lore of Sakura and the Reader won’t have 100% of Sakura’s personality

Reader is a teen and being a teen means having angst

Reader in her world is acknowledged as the strongest magician

Reader is at Night Raven College because Eriol Hiiragizawa thought it would help her improve both magic way and personally

Not the best explanation but Clow and Crowley knew each other

Syaoran is the Reader’s childhood friend but not a love interest

Syaoran will be isekai too at Royal Sword Academy

Yuuken is here because why not

Let us begin our tale~

You slowly awoke to the muffled noise of people talking. You then heard something in front of me move and you slowly opened my eyes to see a boy with forest green hair and yellow eyes. He also was wearing glasses and had a black three clover under his left eye.

“A girl?” Another boy with orange hair and green eyes with a red diamond under his right eye peered over the green-haired boy.

“OH! You must be Clow Reed’s recommended student!” An older man came over as the green-haired guy helped you down the coffin.

“Clow Reed?”

“A recommended student?”

“Is she the only girl attending?” Many whispered.

“Yes, I’m [Reader] Kinomoto,” You bowed and turned to the green-haired boy. “Thank you for helping me,”

“Ah, no worries,” The green-haired boy waved off your thanks. “I’m Trey Clover, Vice-dorm leader of Heartslabyul and a third year student,”

“And I’m Cater Diamond, also a third year student and resident of Heartslabyul, you can call me Cay-kun or Cater-senpai!” Cater interrupted. You bowed to the two third year students.

“And I am your headmaster Dire Crowley, welcome to Night Raven College, I have high hopes for you!” Headmaster Crowley looked around and mumbled, you probably did not meant to here that but Crowley was standing near you, “It seems like we are missing someone,” He turned back to you and the others, “Anyway, Kinomoto-san head over to that mirror over there to get sorted to your dorm,” And with that, Crowlay walked away to find the missing student.

“Well, Kinomoto-chan, this way to the mirror!” Cater followed by Trey led you to the mirror that will sort you to your dorm.

“IS THAT A GIRL?”

“Wow, she sticks out like sore thumb,”

“She’s pretty cute,”

“Is the school changing to a co-ed?”

“But there doesn’t seem to be any other girls,”

“Didn’t you hear? She’s Clow Reed’s recommended student,”

“Clow Reed?”

“What!? But she looks really delicate,”

You can hear the many whispers of the other students. You recalled the conversation between you and Eriol Hiiragizawa, Clow reed’s reincarnation, about Night Raven College.

“Have you decided on what high school you will be attending, [Reader]-chan?” Eriol asked.

“Not yet,” You replied.

“Then can I recommend you one?”

“Sure?”

“There is this school in another dimension but we can say that you went to study abroad. It is called Night Raven College,”

“Night… Raven…College” You repeated the school’s name, you paused at the last word. With your average english ability, you know that college means post secondary school, a school after high school. “But aren't colleges post secondary school?”

“That dimension follow the British education system, they call high school college,”

“Oh”

“The college is a normal secondary school plus magic. I worry about your magic growth and I hope that you attending that school will help slow your exponential growth,”

“But going to another dimension is very far, Eriol,”

“Do not worry, Li-san will attend their sister school, Royal Sword Academy,”

“Why is Syaoran going to a different school than me?”

“Royal Sword has a sword training curriculum,” You humed. You thought over Eriol’s suggestion and then thought back to Syaoran’s concern about how fast your magic was developing.

“I think I will accept,”

“Alright” Eriol smiled and you can see his relief.

In front of you was a large mirror and in that mirror was a mask entity that had details about the eye holes.

“State your name.” The mirror bellowed.

“I’m [Reader] Kinomoto,”

“[Reader]...The nature of your soul is.........Diasomnia.”

“DIASOMNIA!?”

“That poor girl,”

“Oh, it looks like Kinomoto-san will be joining us,”

“What luck, there will be a cute girl at our dorm,”

“Diasomnia?” You repeated in a mumble.

“DIASOMNIA!?” Cater yelled in surprise. You turned to Cater in confusion. Trey, noticing your confusion, explained about the dorm.

“Diasomnia was founded on the elegance of the Thorn Witch,”

“And the dorm’s architecture is built in a gothic style which makes the atmosphere gloomy and creepy,” Cater added.

“If you want more information, why not ask your vice-dorm leader,” You turn to look at the new voice only to get a face full of an upside down boy with black hair and pink highlights, he also had red eyes that shine with mischief. You also noticed his sharp fangs when he smiled at you when you took in his appearance. Trey and Cater flinch in surprised.

“I’m Lilia Vanrouge, the vice-dorm leader of Diasomnia,” As Lilia introduced himself, he turned right side up and bowed when his feet touched the ground. “I’m also a third year student, though,” Lilia eyed the entrance to the mirror room. “You will have to meet the Dorm leader later at the dorm,”

“I am [Reader] Kinomoto” You bowed in respect. “It is nice to meet you, Vanrouge-senpai,”

“My~ What a respectful young girl~” Lilia grabbed your right hand and gave it a kiss. You, Trey, and Cater stared in surprise.

“I assumed Draconia-san’s notice got lost again,” Trey was the first to recover. Lilia turned to look at Trey and nodded, he let’s go your hand.

“Yes, it seem so,”

“We're done with orientation and dorm assignments? All right, new students—let me be clear. At Heartslabyul House, I am the law. Break the rules, and it's off with your head!” Red-haired boy stated. Interrupting the surrounding conversation, everyone turned to look at the red headed boy.

“It seems that the orientation is coming to a closed,” Lilia turned his head to look at Trey and Cater, “Trey-san, Cater-kun, good day,” He turned to you, “[Reader]-chan, follow me or not” He shrugged and slowly walked away to head presumably to the new Diasomnia students. You stared at Lilia back in confusion.

“Vanrouge-san is…. Quite eccentric,” You commented. Cater grinned while Trey shrugged.

“Well, see you later, [Reader]-chan!” Cate waved.

“Yeah, see you later, [Reader]-san,” You nodded to the two then walked towards where Lilia headed. Cater and trey head towards the red hoar boy from earlier.

“*Yawn* Well, that ceremony was as boring as ever. I'm going back to the dorm. If you're in Savanaclaw House, follow me.” A boy with lion ears said. You watched his ears twitch and his tail flicked as he talked. It reminds you of Kero, who was in your luggage, and you realized that you could have brought him with you as no one would freak out at a small talking lion who looked like a plush keychain.

“New students! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement.

As dorm leader of Octavinelle House, I am honored to have the opportunity to support

you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience.” A boy with glasses congratulated the new students. You instantly can tell he is shady.

“Hey, does anyone know where the Headmaster went? He disappeared midway through the ceremony…” A handsome boy asked. You noted that he looks like a fairytale prince.

“Some Headmaster he is.” A voice said from a floating table. You tilted your head in curiosity but Lilia waved to you so you continued to head towards Lilia.

“Maybe he had a tummy ache?” A boy with red eyes questioned. His enthusiasm reminds you of Tomoyo.

“I most certainly did not!” Crowlay came in holding a cat that reminds you of Spinel Sun minus the flames out of their ears and pitch forked tail.

“Ah, speak of the devil.” The red-haired boy spoke.

“If you must know, I was searching for the new student who'd failed to show up for orientation.” Crowley explained then turned to the black-haired boy who sticked out as he was the only one not wearing a robe. “You are the only one who has yet to be assigned a dorm. Step up to the Dark Mirror, and be quick about it. I'll watch your weasel.”

“Grrrrr!” The cat struggled. The black-haired boy walked up to the mirror.

“State your name.” The mirror bellowed.

“I’m Yuuken Enma…”

[completeoveranalysis]

[1]

Warning! This post contains spoilers up to the Acid Tokyo Arc of Tsubasa. Please skip this if you have not read that far.

~

So here’s something fun! I don’t think I ever put this splash page in the initial liveblog of this chapter. I don’t think I knew back then just how JUICY these splash pages were going to get.

I… OOPS. Wait, no, that’s false. I did look at this image, I just never tagged it correctly. It’s been missing from the catalogue from the very beginning.

Seven years.

The fun things you learn by double checking! Time to redo some PDFs I guess.

But anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was the splash text, which was missing from the version I was looking at back then.

“No matter how close, no matter how distant, I’ll yearn for your memories, in a far away world.”

And sure, back then if I’d read this it would have seemed pretty straight forward. It’s just Syaoran being determined in wanting to get the feathers back right?

EXCEPT OOPS IT’S ALSO THE INTERNAL CLONE PROGRAMMING. RIGHT THERE. JUST UNDER THE SURFACE.

No matter what he actually feels or wants to do THE PROGRAMMING WILL ENSURE HE WILL CONSTANTLY BE YEARNING FOR THE MEMORIES, AND WILL IN FACT DO LITERALLY ANYTHING TO GET THEM.

HOW N I C E OF CLAMP TO PUT THAT THERE FOR US TO FIND.

[meimi-haneoka]

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Chapter 70: Comments + JP-ENG translation differences

CCS FANS!

It's here, finally!! My post for this chapter took so long and I'm sorry for it but man....the mess they made with the releases AND the content of the chapter certain didn't help with the writing and posting of this commentary!! 😅 I haven't been able to focus for most of today and yesterday, took some time to elaborate....man, I KNEW chapter 70 was going to be special because it's a round number and because it's going to be (at this point almost certainly) the last chapter of volume 14, but was I prepared for this storm of feels? No, I really wasn’t. I think no matter how much I would’ve tried to prepare myself, I would still be in the mess I am right now. 😂 After all, I love Kaito very much. And I think I can say with confidence I wasn’t the only one, I pretty much saw everyone around me being completely shocked by what happened, as it was mostly unexpected (some people knew and actually believed in this outcome till the very end, and my love and greatest appreciation goes to them – you know who you are) Therefore, you’ll forgive me if this post will be particularly long, but I feel like I need to analyze a lot of things and I would like to include them in my analysis of the script and translation. This chapter has been focused on Kaito for a good half of it, but due to the magnitude of the revelations, it felt like it's mostly about him. It's ok, these things needed to be addressed at some point. This month we had few translation mistakes, but quite annoying, especially about a translation that ended up suggesting an incorrect interpretation of what happened in the chapter, so I definitely suggest to check it out! Let’s start with the usual tradition that I hope to include till the very end, the gif of the month!

And now, follow me under the cut to find out why chapter 70 shocked everyone!

The Color page

What a pretty Sakura in kimono!! Yes, she’s sad, probably the saddest and melancholic she’s ever been in the color pages of Cardcaptor Sakura, but she looks...so mature, so grown up, I can’t help but think about how beautiful she looks. I know this color page made many people worry when it appeared online before the actual chapter was released, but in the end we found out that the sadness of this chapter isn’t directed at her at all. The JP text here says “Exchange, the Card that was born out of Sakura's wish. With the [magic] that is here, one story ends and begins”

The Two Alice

Sakura opens her eyes. We’re back to the play, the real play. It’s the moment of the meeting between the Red Queen and Alice, and……..Akiho and Sakura switched roles. Sakura is now playing the role of the Red Queen, wearing a cute dress that honestly it’s really reminding of a more classic Red Queen, while Akiho is Alice, wearing a very Alice-like outfit too. Can you recognize these two outfits? Yes, they are the costumes Tomoyo originally worked on, before changing her mind and re-doing them completely:

When Tomoyo made Sakura and Akiho try them on, they were still pretty much in tacking stage, while we can see that now they have “colored” parts and details/accessories added, but they’re the very same outfits. The lines they say are those we know well by now, Sakura says she’s the Queen of this land and Akiho asks her name, to which Sakura replies “They call me the Red Queen”.

The font, something we became used to check in the last 5/6 chapters, is indeed that used when Akiho and Sakura speak in their roles of the play. Akiho makes a curtsy and introduces herself as “Alice in Clockland”. And here we get the second surprise of the chapter: Syaoran, behind the curtains, is voicing the Cat, exactly like he intended to do initially. The Cat welcomes Alice to this land, and she realizes the one who’s talking is her beloved cat from her home – and here we get our first little translation difference:

ENG: Didn’t you promise me you’d come with me to the world I wanted to show you? JP: I did promise to escort you to the world I wanted to show you.

In all the instances where we’ve seen the kids reharsing or talking about the play, we always got only to the point when Alice meets the Red Queen. Even in the play itself (the first time around), the story was pretty much interrupted by Kaito sending them all into the *real* Clockland. Now we finally find out how the story continues. The Cat asks Alice if she met the Red Queen and what she thought about her. Akiho replies “She looks like me”. Choir comes back on stage, singing again the iconic song that was composed by Yamazaki:

JP: This is the story that Alice chooses (for herself). A story for Alice. The [Cat] guides her, and her wish is waiting for her at the end of the road. The wish Alice had forgotten is waiting for her. Remember, Alice.

I wanted to put the JP as the ENG changed/omitted some words, but nothing serious.

Alice asks the Red Queen if she’s always been in this land. The Queen replies that maybe yes, maybe not, she can’t really remember anything aside from her name being the Red Queen and the name of this land. She can’t even remember why she became Queen in the first place. Alice reiterates that they’re very similar. So she tells the Queen something. An anecdote from her own family. They’re 3 people in her family, but at their table there’s always a fourth chair. She always wondered who that chair was for, and why they never put it away. So she wondered if that chair was meant for someone very dear to them. The Cat, projected on the curtain and with Syaoran’s voice, tells Akiho to touch the person she’s thinking she wants to touch right now...because when she does, she’ll remember something she forgot. And so Alice touches the Queen’s hands.

The scene here is really beautiful, loaded with emotion, and a huge callback to this other scene here that happened precisely during the reharsals of the play:

Alice finally remembers. She wasn’t born as an only child, but had a twin. That twin sister disappeared to another world, and with her all the memories she and her parents had of her. Here there’s a small difference between the ENG and the JP: the ENG says not all of their memories disappeared, while the JP uses a different word that got a slightly different meaning - 想い, which means “thought” and even more often “feelings”. So the memories of the lost sister disappeared, but the FEELINGS survived the loss. Remember this. Remember it well, I’m telling you now, as I suspect this play will also work as a parallel with another situation.

That’s the reason why they never removed the 4th chair. For the other “Alice” that had disappeared. The Red Queen finally understands, shocked. Alice says:

JP: Guided by the Cat, I’ve come to take you back home. You, the other “Alice”.

On the top of the school building, Kaito observes from afar the play coming to its final moments. Momo is with him, in her full form. She asks him how he’s feeling right now. Kaito answers “I suppose I’m relieved...because the Exchange Card was created”. But pay attention to his face and the background of that panel. There’s the usual “smoke effect” they use when the character is distressed or *not* having happy thoughts. Kaito seems indeed relieved here at first glance, but if you look at him better, there’s a streak of sadness to his expression. And what’s that “I suppose I’m relieved”? He’s not even sure himself of what he’s feeling right now.

Momo frowns at him after hearing his reply. She *knows* there’s something he’s not saying. She continues saying that the Card has indeed changed things. First of all, by Sakura’s wish, the Card changed her role with that of Akiho, making her the Red Queen.

I gave you all of me

And then, finally, Kaito’s wish. In a shocking revelation, we find out that Kaito’s wish and intended use of the Exchange Card was NOT what everyone thought. Kaito says it himself: he wished to exchange his own magic artifact -the pocket watch that we learned to identify him with- for the artifact inside Akiho’s body -the infamous book that is currently hosting magic from a multitude of books that her Clan forced her to record on herself. And thanks to Exchange, that swap succeeded. Kaito is once again using “ore” as a pronoun here, while still talking in keigo. He will keep using it freely till the end of the chapter. A sign that at this point he doesn’t have to pretend to be the perfect and polite butler anymore, but he still holds lots of respect for Momo, hence the use of keigo. The panel where he explains his intended exchange takes an entire page, and the fact they used a portrayal of Akiho when she started travelling with Kaito (the outfit is the same of the flashback featured in chapter 39) makes things even more bittersweet. This has always been his goal all along. Taking onto himself what he mistakenly caused to be engraved into her when they both were just small children. But more on this later, at the end of the post.

Momo points out that Kaito’s watch is all broken, and Akiho doesn’t have magic (remember this well, she STILL doesn’t have magic! Cause giving her magic was never Kaito’s goal to begin with) so she won’t be able to use it. Kaito comments “There’s no reason for her to use it, right? Because with the Transparent Cards that Sakura-san had created, along with all I could give of me, I was able to activate the forbidden magic of the Book of Time, which you watch over”. Momo keeps frowning at him, while he says so.

The infamous play is finally over, everyone in the audience is clapping their hands enthusiastically. Sakura and Akiho go backstage where Naoko, Chiharu and Tomoyo await to congratulate them! Chiharu even says she teared up a little when the two Alice made it back home! We see that Yamazaki is still his usual self, praising/teasing Syaoran over his meowing skills (to which he yells that it's not true), and Naoko joins the kids in congratulating the girls, saying how happy she is that she casted Sakura and Akiho as Alice and the Red Queen. Then, nonchalantly, she delivers the second surprise of this chapter:

JP: You’re twins, and it shows!

BOOM. Kaito explains that inside Momo’s book it is possible to record the events of someone’s life, and with the use of the Forbidden Magic, it is also possible to rewrite them. Therefore, he wished to record the memories of Akiho and Sakura into that book, and then change them to make them twins born on the same day, who spent their life together. In the beginning, I thought Kaito changed to a very deep level the events that happened in Akiho’s and Sakura’s life, but thanks to a follower on Twitter I’ve actually re-read better the JP text and it seems Kaito changed only the memories of the people. Sure, that also brought substantial, concrete changes to their reality (I suppose Akiho lives with Sakura and so there surely will be a bed for her, all her stuff etc) to accomodate Akiho into the “new” version of their lives. The ENG translation in this sense is quite deceiving because Kaito talks about rewriting the lives, but in the JP it’s clearly written 記憶, “memories”. I’m not sure to what level we should consider this change to take place (like, did Nadeshiko actually gave birth to both of them or it’s just a collective hallucination the forbidden spell put all of them under?), but I’m sure we’ll understand better with next chapters. We can clearly see how everything else in Sakura’s life seems to be exactly as it was before, Kero and Suppy are still there, Nakuru too, even her relationship with Syaoran seems to be still the same (for a small detail at the very end of the chapter, that I will point out later, but you can stop freaking out about that). The only difference is that Akiho has been included in Sakura’s family. Kaito observes that’s something else that successfully changed.

Momo points out that every successful “rewriting” leads to some kind of discrepancy. However, Kaito answers that thanks to this change, Akiho won’t be harassed by the Clan and the Association anymore, and she would be protected by the Kinomoto family and all their kin.

(I know, I’ll leave my comments for last, as I said).

Momo asks the question. She always asks the questions.

JP: What about you?

For how formidable he can be, Momo hints that it’s impossible for him to deal with the huge amount of magics that were written onto Akiho (just imagine how magically battered her body was), especially in the state he’s in now.

And that’s when it happens. We all more or less imagined that we might end up seeing a tragedy happening in front of our eyes, but being this CCS, we probably didn’t believe it 100%.

The Seal of D.

Kaito doesn’t reply to Momo’s question, but keeps his usual enigmatic smile, that at this point is more a weak smile of acceptance of his destiny. A book appears under him, the huge book that used to spread at Akiho’s feet whenever the artifact was going to overcome her.

The effect Mokona sensei used on these pages, like blots of ink, looks actually like it’s blood. It’s terrifying to see that in CCS.

A flashback. The Association headquarters. There are both representatives of the Association and of the Squids Clan.

Kaito looks like a child, a teenager at best. He really looks like he’s the same age as Syaoran, or one year older. And yet, the ENG translation stubbornly keeps making the same mistake over and over again.

Because Kaito IS A MAN in their heads, even when he’s clearly a kid. Below the JP version which stays more true to the original meaning: JP: Letting this magician travel along with the artifact… is too dangerous. If he uses time magic, he might exploit the magic artifact. Let’s cast the “Seal of D” on him. There’s a sealing spell that can be casted only on magicians of rank D. If you engrave this spell onto your body, we’ll let you travel (with her).

Alright, on top of being already emotionally compromised by the sheer cruelty of this scene, there are also two mistakes in the ENG translation that make me see red. The first, as I said, is the use of the word “man” instead of “magician”, which is the word used in the JP version. It doesn’t make sense to use “man”, since Kaito here is a kid, because this is a flashback of when he offered himself to go travelling with Akiho. The ENG translation criminally contributes to the misconception that Kaito was already an adult when he decided to accompany Akiho, when in fact it’s not true. Do you find it hard to believe that a teenager could escort a little child around the world? Then how do you believe that a ten years old could live all alone in a foreign country? Come on folks, these people have magic. Moreover, I’ve seen some fans genuinely confused due to this mistake, and they had to re-read twice to understand exactly who the members of the Association were talking about in that moment.

Not only that, but they also translated the fact that Kaito could’ve exploited the artifact with “suppose he uses the artifact for evil?”, paradoxically making them look like they’re wary of Kaito using the artifact for evil!! THEM! THE SOURCE OF ALL EVIL OF THIS STORY! Like, this is completely ridiculous. Of course they wouldn’t give a damn about that, they don’t have morals, they were only worried about Kaito misusing the artifact however he wanted, and not in their interest.

My grievances with the translation aside, I would like to bring attention to the use of the word 封鎖 fuusa, which can be meaning “block, seal-off, lockdown, sequestration”. I wanted to point it out because it might be useful to guess what will happen to Kaito after a couple of pages.

Kaito agrees without hesitation to that demand.

To my bafflement, the members of the Association and the Clan ask Kaito if he knows what he’s agreeing to. Because not even someone with the level of magic he’s got can remove that spell. And if he dares doing anything to the artifact, that spell will be put into execution at once. And when it activates, he won’t be able to come back.

Here it is!

“Omae wa mou modorenai”. The phrase Sakura kept hearing from an ominous voice in her dreams. I’m positive this is the final source of that phrase, because in fandom we’ve been wondering for years who could’ve used “omae” while talking to Sakura, since there aren’t many characters that use that kind of pronoun for “you”. And it totally makes sense that the Association uses that with a younger member. Turns out, the “warning” wasn’t directed at Sakura at all, but actually at young Kaito. Sakura, thanks to her magic power, has been hearing the warning that hinted at Kaito’s destiny this whole time.

And now, the scene that tore apart the heart of so many fans.

JP: “I...am glad I was able to successfully complete a magic I’ve sincerely wanted to use for the first time”

Kaito uses a particular verb here, 編み終えられて, which caught my attention and literally translates to “finishing knitting, weaving”. The verb 編む amu, “knitting”, gets associated a lot with creating magic spells. I’m not really sure if it’s a use of that verb that only CLAMP makes in this sense, or if it’s common to refer to the creation of magic spells as if you were knitting a sweater, but I think it’s kinda...warm? Cute? In this specific case I get really emotional about it, because I can’t help but feel that the magic Kaito created was like a warm blanket he knitted for Akiho with all of his love, to protect her, cherish her and give her the happy life she deserved when he'd be gone. I know, I’m probably projecting on a simple verb but I don’t think I’m far from the truth.

Anyway, with these last words, the Seal of D. activates on Yuna D. Kaito, engulfing him.

Momo, the only one who is able to witness his departure, can’t contain her emotions anymore. A tear mixed with anger, frustration and sorrow appears at the corner of her eyes, and she yells with all that she’s got “This...blockhead!!!”.

It’s like Momo’s shriek reaches Sakura’s ears. She turns around towards the top of the school building, with a strange feeling. Syaoran immediately noticed her unrest, and rushes to her side to ask what’s happening (I told you, this is the most evident proof they still have the same relationship. He does that all the time with his girl). Sakura answers…

JP: I...thought I felt something...but now it’s gone.

In front of Sakura, the top of the school building is empty.

And just like that, the chapter (and probably volume 14) ends.

Alright, now that the technical part with the analysis of the text/translation is over, let me express my feelings on this chapter.

Oh, I have so much to say. So much. Starting from the fact that yes, I’m not ashamed to admit it, this chapter made me cry. Like, real tears, not figuratively. Yes, I love Kaito just that much. My general feeling he was a good person all along has been confirmed at last, but also the heartbreaking smile he embraced his “end” with, that really did it for me. I always knew Kaito was a kind soul. I was sure of that. I was just scared that his self-loathing, his desperate situation while being driven to a corner would have lead him to a dark place, where he might have crossed what’s morally considered acceptable. When Exchange appeared, I fell into CLAMP’s trap. And I really have to commend them, because they were able to lead the fans to think something for 70 chapters (alright, a bit less) while in the end it turned out to be something completely different, and everything STILL makes perfect sense.

But let’s start from the beginning. The play finally got to its conclusion, one way or another. We finally witnessed the whole story for how it was intended by Naoko, and it was a simple, but cute story with a happy ending. And we found out that this is basically a reality where everything seems to be exactly like before, but the memories of the characters have been rewritten to accomodate for Akiho becoming Sakura’s twin sister. Certainly the memories weren’t the only thing that was changed, as I was saying above, but it probably doesn’t entail a complete rewriting of history like the ENG translation suggested? Therefore, it’s a less drastic change that will be easier to rewind? We’ll see with next chapters, especially I’m curious to know if Sakura still got her problem with the rampant powers.

Akiho becomes Sakura’s twin sister, then. I’m pretty sure nothing changed about her, we’ll still see her with her passion for books, her singing skills, her friends are all still there, her best friend actually became her sister, now she’s got a lovely family who can protect her (how is Touya going to interact with her? I...suspect he won’t tease her), but most importantly, she doesn’t have that ticking bomb of an artifact that was about to annihilate her soul. And, she stays magicless. Kaito never wanted to give magic to Akiho. He never showed any sign of it, not with words, nor with his actions.

On one side, I’m glad to see this development just as a “what if”, provided that...it goes back to normal, in the end. Because I always envisioned Akiho’s family to be Kaito and Momo, and I always wanted to see them living together as a funny household, with Momo finally dropping her secrecy and walking around in all her glory while spoiling Akiho with love and scolding Kaito till kingdom come 😂I think Akiho would be very happy. They are her most beloved people, after all. Sure, the idea of the Kinomoto family adopting her is sweet and all, but who has always been by her side? It was Momo and Kaito. Momo, in particular, I feel like she deserves her quality time with Akiho, after watching over her ever since she was born, in complete secrecy. Unable to reply to all the lovely chats Akiho had with her, thinking she was just a plushie.

Oh, don’t get me started on Momo in this chapter. How I sympathized with her. I always have, but in this chapter we finally see her losing all composure and crying her tears for how UNFAIR everything is. Once again she's the spokeperson of a good chunk of the fandom. Kaito’s goal was noble and all, but it was at the cost of his life (?) and he ended up sacrificing himself without even acknowledging why he did all of this. Her angry “insult”, わからずや literally means “someone who doesn’t understand and listens to reason, no matter how much you try to persuade them”. And for Momo that is a huge failure, in itself. She witnessed another tragedy happening. Still, I remind you she left some help behind, precisely at Kinomoto’s home (probably something that would stay even after the activation of the forbidden magic) so she’ll probably be waiting for the girls to realize it.

And then, Kaito. My beloved Kaito.

I know many people might be shocked at this turn of events, as they didn’t see it coming. CLAMP have carefully laid down a pretty game with us, where they tricked us on purpose into believing that Kaito had ill intentions till the very end. But at the same time, carefully leaving all the hints that he actually was a kind soul and he wouldn’t have hurted Sakura to give Akiho the happiness she deserved. It all clicks perfectly. One of the simplest hints is that he always spoke very politely of Sakura, using keigo and praising her skills multiple times (not only hers, but Syaoran’s too), while for the Association he always had a spiteful speech pattern. He hated them, for what they’ve done to Akiho. Kaito ensured that the forbidden spell would’ve influenced Sakura’s life at the minimum, so she would still have all of her friends, her most beloved person, her family, her happy memories. The only different thing is that now she’s got a sister (I still have to wrap my head around this, even though I’m pretty sure it’ll be momentary. It’s too big a change to keep it permanent).

As I said previously, I’ve wavered multiple times on the way he would’ve brought to completion his plan, while I never had a doubt about what his goal was. Never. I never even thought he wanted to give magic to Akiho, as he unfortunately knows very well how magic can lead to unhappiness. It certainly did, in their case. I knew Kaito had a kind soul, because kind people seem to be the ones who suffer the most. And Kaito suffered too. A lot. Not only physically, due to the time rewinds. He’s grown up completely alone, never experiencing love from anyone. Feeding on energy bars, till Lilie tried to make him change habits. Lilie planted a seed in him that bloomed only now. It’s just that, it didn’t bloom in the correct way. We will certainly learn what’s behind his persistence in not understanding that he did all of this for Akiho because he cared for her, cherished her. And so he should’ve asked her what kind of happiness she wanted. Is it fear? Did he purposely keep himself distanced from her, forcefully stopped his hand that everytime was going towards her, because he knew that he soon would be gone? I’ve theorized about that many times, here. What’s the point of creating a connection with someone if you know you’re gonna leave them? Moreover, would he deserve creating that connection with the very person he contributed to condemn to a tragic destiny? Kaito’s self-loathing goes to those lengths and way beyond. But in that last page, before he disappears engulfed by the book, he looks so….satisfied with the result he achieved. He *really* gave all of himself to ensure that Akiho would have a happy ending. He villainized himself in the eyes of her friends, dispelled all the attacks from the Association along the years, suffered the consequences of the time rewindings on himself, all while knowing that he was carrying upon himself a horrible curse. Touch the “artifact” and we seal you off forever. When I found out, I was livid. I kept saying “I should’ve known, they are stupid but *not* that stupid”. They imposed a curse like that on such a young boy. For Kaito to accept it without a second thought, it either means he was so disillusioned with life that he didn’t care about dying, or that he wanted to make things right at all costs. Judging by the word used in the JP version, Kaito might not be exactly dead in this moment, but just sealed off somewhere. Since the book appeared at his feet, he might have been sealed inside the artifact itself. I’m just picturing what would’ve happened if Kaito tried to remove the artifact while it was still inside Akiho….and I shiver, because she would’ve absorbed him, sealing him and all his power inside herself. Such huge power would’ve annihilated her soul at once, destroying all that Akiho was. Exactly what I’ve imagined as a “bad ending” in one of my angsty moments.

But the problem is, how do you reach him there? And how do you bring him back, while he’s harboring in himself all those damn magic spells? Because he deserves another chance. Another chance at life where he can experience happiness too.

The fact he thought of taking into himself the artifact that was engraved in Akiho because of what he said is honestly so heart-wrenching. He took full responsability for a thing that wasn’t even really his fault. And also goes to show the lenghts he would go for her.

Ironically, the fact he was sealed off might be precisely the thing that’s saving him, for the moment, because those spells will certainly kill him for the state he’s in right now. But while being sealed, maybe they won’t have effect on him. This is going to be a tough task, for Akiho. Yes, because I know she will remember at some point and will go out there to save him. And that’s why we have our wonderful heroine Sakura with her, whom for the first time might get to use her immense power not to play with a deck of cards but actually to save someone’s life. The bar has been raised quite a bit, right?

Kaito’s idea to exchange the book with his pocket watch was very clever. But also...it left with Akiho an object that will certainly lead her back to him. The watch will be “the chair” of the “Two Alice” play. An object left behind by someone dear. Whose watch it is? Why does she have it with her? Why is it all broken? Akiho used to associate that watch so much to Kaito, she recognized that it must have been something very important to him, so I’m CERTAIN that it will trigger a memory in her. Ohkawa in one of her Spaces at the end of December said clearly that Akiho will work very hard in the finale of Clear Card, and honestly I can’t wait to see it. She’s been accused by the fandom of literally doing “nothing” for the whole series, so the time has come for her to show what she’s capable of. Without magic. Heh, when Kaito said “she won’t need to use it (that watch), right?” my heart squeezed because he was so resigned to the fact that she would forget about him and go on with her life….little does he know, that watch is going to lead her back to him.

The final scene with Sakura feeling a glimpse of something before it disappeared was another smack to my face. It’s really worthy of the most tragic scenes, when someone can feel that someone else is gone.

I think next chapter we might get a glimpse of the life of Sakura and Akiho as sisters, and I’m very curious about that...curious to see if Akiho knows that her sister got magical powers, how Akiho interacts in the new family….for me it’s like witnessing a temporary AU. But as I said, I want things to go back to normal because somehow I feel that’s the right thing for both girls. Hopefully the discrepancies Momo mentioned will start showing up right away, so we can move to the final big task quicker. And then it’s hopefully icha-icha time for everyone, as Mokona sensei wished.

Well well, this post has been infinite and I DEFINITELY didn't say everything I wanted to say over the big revelation of this chapter, but I can create another post for that. So, a quick reminder of the dates for the next chapter, chapter 71: March 1st, on CLAMP's Youtube channel (digital, JP and other languages) March 3rd, on Nakayoshi (paper and digital, JP)

As you can see, I can only give you these two dates as the situation with the digital releases of the ENG and JP version is still very chaotic. We'll see if anything changes till March.

As usual I await your asks in my inbox!!

[serialadoptersbracket]

Round 4, Match 16: Kurogane and Fai D’Flourite vs. Iroh

Submitted kids:

Kurogane and Fai D’Flourite: Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Chun'yan, a bunch of one off characters, Sakura and Syaoran a second time (it makes sense in context)

Iroh: Gaang

Propaganda under the cut!

Kurogane and Fai D’Flourite:

1. “These fuckers can't help themself they're just 2 married husbands that adopt every child they see. kurogane starts out a power hungry ninja who gets sent away for killing too much and he drops that shit so quick the moment there is a child. He just starts watching out for the two kids in their group and being homoerotic with Fai. meanwhile Fai joins the group with a very specific agenda that's been like, his entire reason to live for centuries and he ends up deciding to give up or that to save his kids. he literally lets his eye get ripped out in an attempt to get syaoran back. like 90% of their conversations and bonding is about the kids and their wellbeing and both of them calling out the other for being cringe fail and accidentally adopting them while frantically denying they've done the same (then turning around and putting their coat around Sakura or Syaoran because they are getting cold). theyre just slow burn found familynur honour”

2. “#these two did not go through literal hell and back for each other and their found family to lose #traumatised magician/samurai soulmates sweep. please. #Kurogane and Shanks both lost an arm protecting someone in their found family”

3. “#i would say it actually doesn't make all that much sense in context but.”

No propaganda has been submitted for Iroh

[into-the-daniverse]

Under Control | Drago, Jamil, and Camia

In which, about a month or so after Jamil and Camia meet, Jamil’s mother decides to send him away to the Sea Palace to study with his grandfather’s cousin, Drago Fortunado, but Drago is far more interested in Camia and her family’s magic than Jamil’s lack thereof.

I wanted to explore the time period of Jamil and Camia as teenagers a little more, around the end of the most traumatic years of their lives, but it ended up being in Drago’s POV instead, and... he is very mean. I am going to hug them both in my mind now.

CW: Emotional/mental abuse Title: Under Control by Ben Caplan 4.1k words

Drago Fortunado D’Oria considered himself to be a simple man. He had his job—as the Original Scholar overseeing the collection of all knowledge of magic, he was never looking for things to do—and he had his estate, and he needed little else. Sure, his estate was no match for the size of the D’Oria property in Venterre, but Drago was happy with what he had. And he was happy with his work, and he looked for no distractions.

So, when the daughter of his cousin, Eugenio Matteo II, wrote to him saying she was sending her oldest son to study with him at the Sea Palace, he was far from thrilled, considering it to be a waste of his time.

That was, until he saw the girl who had come with Eugenio’s grandson, as his servant.

Drago had sent a younger scholar to meet the boy, and bring him to the Próti Vivliothíki, where Drago was mulling over a few scrolls. His work never stopped, after all. It had been a decade, almost eleven years, actually, since the Zhu-Jin family supposedly brought Syaoran’s prophecy to light, yet, they had erased all evidence that the child ever existed six years prior, and the child hadn’t been seen in just as long.

Well, all the evidence they could get their hands on, Drago mused. The Palace had every record of every event if one only knew where to look.

That being said, he was engrossed in his research in his own study when the scholar returned with his cousin’s grandson. It wasn’t until he heard someone clearing their throat, and a small, “sir?” spoken in Venterrean that he thought to look up.

“Yes?”

The boy in front of him stood taller once he realized he had Drago’s attention, hands clasped behind his back. “Drago Fortunado D’Oria?”

Drago set his glasses down on his desk. “Are you Chiara’s son?”

The boy nodded, and after a moment’s pause, gave Drago a quick bow. “Jamil Alfonso, sir.”

With a hum, Drago looked him over. He was dressed simply, but the cream-colored kurta he wore stood out against his dark skin, even darker hair tied behind him over his shoulders. And then there were those green eyes. Alfonsa Giada Baroni, Eugenio’s wife, was the only other person he knew in the family who had such eyes. Drago hated them.

“Your mother already told me why she sent you here, Jamil, but I’d like to hear it from your own mouth.”

Jamil’s cheeks darkened, and he glanced at the papers on Drago’s desk, as if expecting to see the letter from his mother there, but he stood tall and answered. “I got into a fight at my previous school in Prakra.”

“You started the fight.”

“I—” The boy looked like he wanted to argue, but he swallowed it. “Yes. I did. And before I left for the holiday I had apologized to Amar—the boy I fought with—and we made peace. But that wasn’t good enough for my mother. She had me pulled from the school and sent me away… from Prakra.”

“Mhm.” Drago tapped his pen on the desk and watched as Jamil’s eyes followed it. “So, she sent you away to learn your lesson. To learn discipline.”

“Well, yes. That’s what she told me.”

Drago sighed, leaning forward. “I’m only going to ask you this once; do I look like the kind of man with time to discipline unruly children?”

Jamil’s eyes searched his face for a moment. Those annoying, gleaming green eyes that Drago didn’t like any more in his head than Alfonsa’s. “No, sir.”

“No.” Gesturing to the study around them, he let Jamil take a look at the dozens of books, artifacts, and scrolls he had placed, all magical in nature. “Do you know what I do here, Jamil?”

“Jiji… Uh, my grandfather said once that you study magic. All magic.”

Drago was sure his cousin had used much more colorful language when describing his position to Jamil, but that didn’t matter to him. “I’m sure you know how important magic is to our family. My grandfather, the first Eugenio, wouldn’t have been able to expand the vineyards to the size they are now without his magic. My cousin, your grandfather, wouldn’t be able to keep them up without the family’s magic coursing through the very soil under their feet. Without magic, and the knowledge we have of it, the D’Oria would be a fraction of its size. Without magic, many of our family would be useless.

“Your mother was born, seemingly, without magic. She came here when she was young, a bit older than you now, but still young, to learn something, any kind of magic that would make her useful to the rest of the family. After a few years of trial and error, it ended up working for her; she found a very useful branch of magic that led her to your father and the business they’ve made in Prakra. If she hadn’t found that magic, she would still be in Venterre, at the bottom of the chain as the youngest daughter, helping with the harvests like the rest of them do.”

Drago could see that Jamil was starting to follow where he was leading, and he leaned forward even more, voice dropping.

“Without magic, there is no chance for you to make yourself useful to the family, to her, specifically. You are a smart boy; I know this is nothing you haven’t heard before or figured out already on your own. Chiara was never one to mince words, even when she was small, and I would not expect you, as her child, to be spared from that. And so, again, I want you to tell me why your mother sent you here.”

Jamil’s shoulders sagged, just slightly, his eyes not looking right at Drago anymore. “She sent me away… In hopes that I could learn something to make myself useful.”

“That’s right.” Drago nodded, sitting back. “And I will not waste my time teaching you, if there is anything worthwhile in you, you will have to discover it yourself. That’s what the library is for.”

In truth he thought it was odd, as he could feel magic in the air around Jamil, strong magic, but it didn’t feel like it was coming from him entirely. Before he could probe with his own magic further, he was almost knocked flat against his chair by the most hate-filled energy he had felt in years, and that was when he noticed, for the first time, the girl standing behind Jamil.

She was dressed similarly to Jamil, though her kurta was brown, in stark contrast to her pale skin, and her head was covered by a dark, tattered scarf. There was a horrible looking scar that ran from the right side of her forehead, across her nose, onto her left cheek, and it couldn’t have been more than a few months old. Her dark brown eyes were narrowed, staring right at him as if she intended to kill him, or at the very least to try.

And the magic he felt radiating in the room around them wasn’t coming from Jamil, it was coming from her alone, and it was old, powerful, and familiar.

Familiar, and thought to be lost, over 40 years ago.

Drago had met Fabien Corin Baudelaire exactly once, shortly before his passing. His grandfather’s cousin, his mentor, Davide Feliciano D’Oria, had introduced them. Drago remembered being intimidated, but also in awe of the magic rolling off the older man in waves. He was still a teen, not much older than Jamil was, but he still knew just how powerful the man was.

Fabien held no seat in the Scholars, but they still regarded him with such high respect that his death was mourned at the Sea Palace for days, especially upon realizing that none of his current descendants had inherited his magic. It was considered a horrible loss, and Eugenio, Drago’s grandfather, had tried for years to find anything in the world similar, but to no avail.

His was magic that could have brought kingdoms to the ground, and he had, at least once. In his younger years, towards the end of the Vesuvian-Prakran wars, he led a charge at the behest of the current Count of Vesuvia, and won. Anyone who saw him stalk the battlefield, bright blue flames pouring from his mouth, reported the terror that he caused. And when he won, he only left more terror in his wake, settling his family in a higher position of Vesuvia’s court, and working with the Count to embellish the Coliseum beyond what it already was.

The magic that seemed to blanket the girl felt exactly the same as Fabien’s, albeit a bit weaker.

Drago had heard from Sydney that the latest head of the Baudelaire, Bénédict, had a child who inherited Fabien’s magic, and he had thrown them into the Coliseum to use the magic for money, as if they were lacking in it. Sydney had seen some matches, and after witnessing her first real match, where Fabien’s blue flames had killed the opponent, went to approach Bénédict with an offer to take her off his hands. But that same night, she had escaped from Vesuvia.

And now, she was here, anyway.

Back in the present, Drago nodded towards her, speaking to Jamil. “Who is your friend?”

Jamil glanced over his shoulder, perking up just the smallest bit when he made eye contact with the girl. “Cami… uh, Camia, sir.”

“She’s not from Prakra, is she?”

“Um—”

She answered in Venterrean, eyes cold. “No.”

Drago turned his attention to her completely. “No, that’s right. You couldn’t be.” He watched her as he continued to speak, watched as her hands started to clench into fists, glowing blue sparks just barely visible at her fingertips. “You’re from Vesuvia. The young miss Baudelaire, isn’t it?”

She froze, the sparks fizzling out in her hands. “How do you know that?”

“I knew your great-grandfather.” He watched her face go even paler as he added, “and I know your father.”

“My…” She looked around the study, as if she expected him to jump out from the walls.

“Don’t worry,” Drago said, standing up from his desk. “He doesn’t know you’re here. And I will keep it that way. I don’t much care for his… crassness at the best of times.” He walked around, standing in front of his desk, keeping his eyes on Camia as he moved. “But, perhaps, while you’re here, you would allow me to ask you a few questions about your magic.”

She hesitated, looking at Jamil. “Questions?”

“Yes, you see, your magic is very special. I spent years studying it after your great-grandfather’s death. I could even teach you things about it I’m sure your father never did. But there is always more to know, and I would appreciate any help you would be willing to give.”

Before she could answer, Jamil stepped between them. “I’m… I’m sorry, sir, but it’s been a long day for both of us.” He took a step back, and Drago didn’t miss the way Camia reached out to hold onto the hem of his kurta. “Would we be able to rest for the rest of the day, and begin everything tomorrow?”

“Hm.” Drago looked them both over. “Alright. I will have someone escort you to my estate, and I will meet you both for dinner. Tomorrow, you start your own research, Jamil.”

“Yes, sir.”

Then they were both gone, and Drago was alone in his study again. He glanced at the papers about the Zhu-Jin he still had spread across the desk and sighed, putting them all away. Syaoran’s prophecy wasn’t going anywhere, and neither were the Zhu-Jin. For the moment, he had something much more interesting to devote his attention to.

However, getting Camia to cooperate was harder than he thought it would be. Not because of her, but because of Jamil.

A week went by, and at every turn he saw the two of them, practically attached at the hip. Jamil would insist she had to follow him wherever he went while he studied, and the two of them disappeared for hours each day. Drago did not have the time or effort to waste to search for them, so he just busied himself with other things while he watched and waited for the moment to speak with her.

At the end of the following week, he managed to catch her in one of the hallways outside the library, Jamil nowhere to be found.

“Miss Baudelaire,” Drago said, standing next to her, the mid-afternoon sun warm on the marbled floors around them.

She looked up at him, eyebrows furrowed, head still covered by a scarf. “Please don’t call me that,” she said, in crisp Vesuvian.

He responded in kind. “Very well. How are you enjoying the library, Camia?”

“It’s…” She glanced away from him. “Fine. I’m not the one being forced to research magic.” He didn’t miss the bitterness laced in her tone, but he decidedly didn’t care about it. She didn’t understand family matters; it wasn’t her place to try.

“No, you are not. Have you given any thought to what I said the other day?”

“About my magic? About you helping me understand it better, and me helping you as well?”

“Exactly.”

“I…” She rubbed her arm nervously. “I don’t know. I don’t even like my magic. All it does is hurt people.”

Drago scoffed. “I would hardly call everything your great-grandfather did with that magic just hurting people. Do you have any idea what all he accomplished with that magic?”

“Yes.” Her voice was sharp when she answered him. “He fought in wars. He killed people.”

“So did you, from what I’ve been told.”

Eyes wide, her mouth snapped shut.

A sneer pulled at Drago’s lips. “Yes, I know everything about your time in the Coliseum, little Champion. I can only assume Jamil doesn’t, and neither do his parents. I very much doubt Chiara would have let you near him if she knew, no, she would have sent you back to Vesuvia in a heartbeat.

“And it would do you well to remember that so could I, if I wanted to.” He snapped his fingers, sparks flickering in the air. “I do not like your father any more than you do, but you do still belong to him, and he has put out a hefty reward for your return. Safe, or otherwise.”

Drago stepped closer to Camia, and she backed up until she hit the wall. “I am giving you a chance to cooperate, to do something worthwhile aside from rotting under the stones of that wretched Coliseum, and it would be in your best interest to at least entertain the thought.”

She was trembling, but she held his gaze, that same murderous intent from a week ago washing over him in waves. “I won’t let anyone else use my magic. Especially not you.” Her anger was causing her magic to peek out, eyes lighting blue instead of dark brown, small licks of fire escaping her mouth. “Now, leave me alone.”

“You foolish, insolent, child—” Running a hand down the side of his face, Drago reached out to grab her shoulder, but his hand was slapped away.

Jamil was next to them both, anger thrumming in the air around them, and his hand was still up from where it had hit Drago’s. “She said to leave her alone,” Jamil’s eyes flashed, looking very much—infuriatingly so—like his grandmother, and he positioned himself between Drago and Camia, taking her hand in his. “Sir.”

Patience running dangerously thin, Drago opened his mouth to say something biting, but was cut off by a furious yell of his own name.

“Drago!”

The voice booming through the hallway had Drago bracing himself immediately, knowing without even seeing, who it was.

Eugenio Matteo D’Oria II stormed towards them like a man thirty years younger, sleeves of his dark kimono billowing behind him, as was his long grey, almost white, hair. Once he reached Drago, he pushed his back to the wall, separating him from Jamil and Camia.

“Get away from my grandson,” Eugenio growled in the language of the Scholars, and Drago tried not to let it show, but he had never seen his cousin so furious, and he was a bit startled by it.

“Matteo, what a lovely surprise.”

“I told you I didn’t want you anywhere near my family—”

“You should have told that to your daughter, she sent him here—”

“Jiji—” Jamil interrupted, looking wide-eyed at his grandfather. “Jiji, what—”

“Get your things, Jamil, you and your friend are coming with me back to Venterre,” Eugenio said in Venterrean, eyes fixed on Drago.

Jamil and Camia exchanged a glance, still holding tight to each other’s hand. “But—”

Without tearing his gaze away, Eugenio’s voice deepened. “Now.”

The children turned and ran down the hallway, and Eugenio didn’t back away from Drago until they were gone. Once they were out of earshot, Eugenio started tearing into Drago, speaking the Scholar’s language again.

“How dare you? You think you can threaten my grandson, his friend, just because my impossible daughter sent him here? He is just a child, he doesn’t need your warped, twisted views of the world that magic is the only way to survive.”

Drago chose to ignore him. “His friend. Do you even know who that child is?”

Eugenio’s face darkened. “I know she is a child. Not something for you to study.”

“Study?” Drago wanted to laugh, but the look on his cousin’s face kept it in his throat. “Matteo—”

“Don’t fuck with me, Drago, you scab of existence.” Eugenio stepped closer to him, nostrils flaring. “I know exactly what you do here, what goes on underneath these marble floors, under this entire city. Don’t forget Davide taught us both for a few years. I know what he was doing, and I know you are no better.”

That irked Drago, and against his better judgement, he pushed back against his cousin. “I am worlds better than he was, and better than you are. That’s why he chose me to be his successor.”

“He chose you because you were just as spineless, just as lacking in morals, just as wicked as he was. I didn’t want anything to do with it, and I still don’t. Neither of you understood anything about our family outside of this—” Eugenio gestured around them, throwing his arms out wide. “—because you think magic, and hoarding it from others, is all there is to the world!

“You and Davide—and Chiara, for that matter—are all wrong. You never worked in the vineyards a day in your miserable life, or you would know that it takes much more than magic to succeed in this family, and that my grandson doesn’t need it to be a worthwhile part of the family. And that girl, that child, no matter who she is, deserves to know the same.”

“She deserves nothing,” Drago hissed, feeling his own magic pulse through his veins. “Just like your useless grandson deserves nothing, like you deserve nothing of what has been given to you. You wouldn’t be anywhere near where you are now if not for me, if not for Davide, our grandfather would have failed all those years ago without magic and Davide’s connection here, to this place.”

“You forget who you are speaking to, cousin.” Eugenio stood tall, taller than before. “I am still the head of the house of D’Oria, and as long as I continue to be so you will not so much as look at my grandson, or his friend, or I will make sure it is the last thing you do, magic and Scholars be damned to hell.”

Not for the first time, Drago thought about telling Eugenio the truth, that Chiara wasn’t his daughter, and Jamil wasn’t his grandson. That the reason Alfonsa had treated Chiara the way she did, that she felt the need to study at the Palace in the first place, was because Alfonsa had cheated on him over 30 years ago now and took her own frustrations with herself out on her daughter.

He wanted Eugenio to hurt, to feel a part of his world crumble beneath him. He thought he was so much higher, so much more important that Drago, but he was wrong. Drago wanted him to see it. But, in the end, it wasn’t worth the drama it would cause. He had already dealt with that headache, and it was for purely selfish reasons that he didn’t want to go through it again.

So, instead, he just collected himself.

“I overstepped. I apologize, Matteo.”

Eugenio did not accept his apology, but he did not continue to argue, and he left with Jamil and Camia within the hour, leaving with a caravan back towards Venterre. Drago watched them leave from his study in the library, the caravan like ants on the desert. He settled back at his desk, but not before throwing a small tantrum over his cousin in the privacy of the study.

After he calmed down, barely a few hours later, a familiar ship docked at the Palace, and a too-familiar face met Drago in his study. Most of the rest of the Palace, of the world even, knew him as Syd—Captain, even. But to Drago he was always, and only, Sydney.

Drago knew he was there before he even knocked at the door, the whispers proceeding him wherever he went only serving to irritate Drago further. But he still answered when the knock came, standing even, walking around his desk, to greet him.

Back from a long job Drago had sent him on, Sydney smelled of the sea, the distance he had traveled, and underneath it all, as always, magnolias. He had left his coat somewhere else, at least, as Drago would have killed him if he dripped anything on the rug in his study.

As Sydney walked towards him, a satisfied smile on his face, Drago watched him, arms crossed. Once he was close enough, he pulled his hand back and slapped him across the cheek.

Sydney did not even flinch, and just stared at him; eyebrow raised. “What was that for?”

Drago turned, walking back to sit down at his desk. “Alfonsa.”

He heard the smile in Sydney’s voice without even looking at him. “That was over 30 years ago, caro, have you not forgiven me yet? I feel like we go over this every five years or so.”

“I was reminded of it again.” Drago thought of green eyes and fought to unclench his jaw. “As for forgiving you… ask me again in 30 more years.”

“How cruel.”

“You’re truly heartbroken.”

“And if I was?”

Drago let out a dry laugh, absentmindedly shuffling papers. “You have no heart left to break. I would know, I took it from you myself.”

Sydney leaned against the desk, and his voice was low as he replied, “and there’s no one else I would have rather given it to.”

A huff escaped Drago. “Lying bastard.”

“To you, mio amato, never.”

“I imagine the job went well, or you wouldn’t have bothered coming back. We can discuss it later.” When Sydney didn’t move, Drago looked up at him, unamused. “If you continue to stand there, I will find a new job to send you away for.”

“At least give me the evening to look at you before you send me away again.”

“You won’t get the hour if you do not leave this moment.”

With a sigh, Sydney pushed away from the desk. “As you wish. I will see you for dinner?”

“Leave.”

There was still a smile on Sydney’s lips as he left, closing the door to Drago’s study behind him. Drago rested his head in his hands for a moment, allowing his anger from the day to settle.

He was not going to be discouraged. He had plenty of other loose ends to look into. There was the matter of Syaoran’s prophecy still to research, there was a town near Nopal with a barrier he had been trying to get around for years, and there was, as always, the matter of Ethari, and the secrets held by the demon it belonged to.

The Baudelaire girl, Fabien’s magic, could wait. It wasn’t like he didn’t know exactly where she would be. Eugenio may have thought he won, but Drago knew infinitely more than he did, knew that he was going to outlast his cousin one day, and when that day came, Eugenio’s protections would mean nothing.

He just had to be patient. And he would be, biding his time until he could get what he wanted, like he had countless times before.

[ccsthemovie2]

(I think it's a word over 500, but:)

"Speaking of Tsukishiro, how's he doing?", Eriol asks. Frying pan to fire to volcano.

"He's good," Touya says quickly, before Sakura can say anything. Yukito is not even in the ballpark of "good". Yesterday he called Touya and begged him to bike over and said it was important and when Touya showed up he was asleep, and stayed fast asleep right through to the next morning. He keeps trying to make appointments with doctors, and then falling asleep before he can call, or, when Touya calls for him, before he can make it out the door. Privately, Touya isn't sure how much good a doctor can do for him, but anything has to be better than this, right?

"Really? I'm glad to hear it." Ugh, how much has Sakura told him. Not that she doesn't have a right to talk to her friends, but, come on, would it kill her to least keep it between her and Tomoyo and the funny looking cat.

He's good, that's an obvious lie. Ruby has said Yukito could barely stand upright at school. Every inch of Touya Kinomoto is packed full of magic. Sooner or later, Eriol figures, either Sakura will be powerful enough to sustain him, or Yue will have to get over himself and just eat already. Touya can't actually do anything with his magic, so it's not like Yue, even weak as he is, will have to face much of a struggle to take it. (Aside from competition with Ruby, of course. There's something to that, right, articles and studies about animals being healthier if they need a bit of careful planning to get their food? Yes, so this works out nicely.)

Or maybe- oh, that's probably it. Yue's on to him, isn't he? He's just being stubborn as usual, figuring sooner or later Clow will appear via Eriol and save him. He can imagine how surprised, overjoyed, grateful Yue would be, if Eriol showed up and saved his life. He can imagine Yue's head resting on his neck as clearly as if he had kept Yue well-fed with magic a thousand times in his lifetime. It would be nice, in the short run, but it wouldn't be right, no. Clow is dead, and Yue needs to learn to live with that. If he knows what's good for him, he will take responsibility for his own life, and if he doesn't...

Ahh, well, maybe it's Clow's old sentimentality, maybe Eriol is just warming up to Sakura's moon guardian all on his own, but he can't bring himself around to the idea of letting Yue just die. He'd save him, if it came down to it. But, he tells himself sternly, only as an absolute last resort. He's just worrying because he misses Yue and wants to get to know him better all at once in that past-and-future way- it's worth a visit, soon. Yes, a nice little visit, and Yue will never even have to know it happened. Just to check in.

(sorry the formatting got weird when i copypasted lol!)

hiiii thanks for the ask!!!

if we talk about this convo we need to back up and talk about how it got here. this should give you some idea of how badly this needs to be under a cut for length lol.

so it all starts with the bit about how someone falling and being caught is something that happens a lot in ccs. how with eriol, it's purposeful, and with fujitaka (and i misremembered it but since found out she fell *on* him and not *caught* by him, which lolol i hope he broke a bone, but also its fine the fic's already marked canon divergent, or maybe the story gets misremembered, whatever, in any case), it's an echo of clowriol's intentional artificial-trustbuild-dangersaves but without the magic or purpose to back it up (just like fujitaka himself!), but it's a situation he quickly makes favorable to him, because it may be a blank slate but it's made of the same material.

this whole convo was part of one of the very first chunks written, but everything was going to go in a very different direction at first. (there's a lot of Cut Content from this fic, some that i just didn't like, some that wasn't connectable with the rest of the fic after it took the shape it took but might pop up somewhere else one day idk). in this particular bit i cut the later half of the conversation because i really didn't like what i'd written, but then even though the direction of the story changed the conversation was still going so it had to bounce somewhere else, so it bounced to yukito. here we are answering your ask 2 paragraphs in!

yukito, iirc in the anime, did catch her from a fall, (in the manga, which made way more sense for why she had to change her clothes and rest so much, he saved her from drowning, again iirc because who can trust a memory) and at a point where eriol still has some investment in making yuekito/sakura (ewwwww) happen, he's going to try and draw on that symbolism to nudge her in that direction, right?

so all this said, SPEAKING of yuekito. how are they doing.

bad, obviously. touya's freaking out. i imagine that part of what's stopping yukito from seeing a doctor is yue, though- he knows it wont help, and i dont think yukito has, like, person insides that will stand up to medical tests, and yue would pick up on yukito like, not wanting to be outed to the doctor as a magic construct because he, like, doesnt actually have a real heart that pulses, just a repeating heartbeat sound. doesn't for real have blood etc to test, just records of blood type (for personality reasons).

and also touya's a very like keep-ur-problems-not-everybodys-business type so hes like imagining sakura venting her fears to this weirdo and getting pissed off. but that didnt actually happen, eriol knew all on his own lolol. touya you have to say something nice should happen to sakura to make up for wrongly suspecting her now

and this bit on eriol's end is all wrong information and inaccurate conclusions and i was really worried ppl would take it at face value but i hope nobody did. in ccs we get moments where eriol wants sakura to take power, or to learn that power can be taken- his final battle with her, for example, where the answer to his light and dark puzzle is to use kero and yue's power, except that's not something she would ever Want to do or would even Occur to her to try. the power is gifted to her by kero and yue (and syaoran!) because they love her.

same concept, here- the answer to the 'yue is dying' puzzle is to eat touya's power, and he can't imagine the real reason why he won't just do that, and when he thinks about it too long it goes right to his ego- yue looovvvvesss clow, and by extension me. he wants meeeeeee to save him. he wants to neck kissy MY magic soo sooooo bad. but yue isn't considering any of that at all. he's thinking about yukito and what touya means to yukito and why that would make yukito hesitate to reach out, and that no way in hell will he just ambush his other self's crush down a dark alley and take his magic, even to save both their lives. he's a lot more selfless than clow and eriol ever realize. maybe- this is just a half formed thought right now, i dont know if im like certain about it, but- maybe they feel his devotion to clow was a form of selfishness, that he Wanted Love as a thing he could hold and own, whereas pretty much everybody else who meets him goes like YOU SELFLESS MAN YOU CANT JUST DIE FOR PPL YOU CARE ABOUT YOU GOTTA TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TOOOO

and there’s also that bit of teacherliness intrinsic to the three of them again: im doing this to teach him a lesson. im letting ruby do her thing without telling her what’s going on to help and encourage yue, etc.

anyway, that (in terms of fic weaving itself into canon) solidifies his decision to do uhmmmm a thing that creeps me out real bad in the anime (knocking yue out to have a moment with him, and oh, ding, there's another 'you fell but i caught you' moment!). eriol loves this manner of hanging out with people, you see it later in this fic, even:

It's important to say what's in your heart to the people you want to say it to, even if you have to make sure the other person never hears it. It's important for your own emotional freedom.

he loves to spend time with people exclusively on his terms, to the point where the other party never even knew he was there, because he knocked them out, or because he was just staring creepily at the outside of sakura's house while she did homework, etc etc etc.

tldr: it's all connected, aaaaaaaaa

[chibifoxwrites]

Since someone showed interest

During my rewrite for Cyber Heroine, it was originally going to be 100% based on the manga for Megaman NT Warrior with some occasional details from the anime and games thrown in. Some of the stuff stayed for the current, other stuff did not. Here were some ideas I had drafted:

The main cast were high school age, not elementary school.

Netto and her friends had drifted away come middle school but would get back together as friends during high school.

Netto was a loner and would spend her free time coding food, clothes, and toys for Net Navi’s, which is how she got income on the side. She is an unofficial intern at Sci-Labs since they double check her work.

The link was already in place thanks to X. Netto and Rockman have a betting pool as to when Yuuichiro was going to tell Netto that she used to have a twin.

70% of the twins using the mental link is just to share bud puns, jokes, and memes.

 Many of Netto’s classmates thought that her parents were divorced since Yuuichiro was never seen at home for more than a day or so.

It was known amongst Netto’s friends and peers that Rockman was modeled after Saito.

Netto and Rockman operated under the aliases of Aile and Vent, a famous hacker duo who operated like the Leverage team. Most of their crimes were giving back data stolen by major corporations to their rightful developers.

Multiple civilian Net Battlers actually fought against WWW if they were registered as B-rank or above, but only if they were near the attack site.

Many of the WWW attacks were actually targeting Netto, with those specifically being arranged by the Professor. Wily did not want anyone killed but hurt was fine.

To keep her cover, Netto had a wardrobe for her regular outfits and one for her Aile outfits.

Enzan and “Aile” had a Batman/Catwoman kind of relationship, where Enzan’s nickname was Mr. Official.

Rockman already had Style Change but had to undergo a trial for Saito Style.

Enzan was not their heir to a major corporation but the heir to a very old family involved in law enforcement, hence his involvement in police work at such a young age.

Enzan was jealous that another teenager, one that had better scores than him, was brought onto the force.

Netto and Enzan’s relationship was like that of Sakura and Syaoran.

When Rockman was first deleted, Blues would come over and watch Studio Ghibli and Disney films with Netto to just be there for her.

Mamoru was still the same age as when he first appeared in canon and raised by his aunt Tamako. He lived with her in the countryside when he wasn’t in the hospital. Netto would bring him books and games to keep him occupied. When Netto wasn’t around, he played with Serenade.

Serenade was VERY protective of Mamoru and would do anything to help Netto since she could make their NetOp laugh even when he was having a bad day.

Much of Rockman and Forte’s drama/rivalry was due to Netto. Forte wanted Netto to forsake humanity and be his friend/partner like when she was a kid, but Netto wanted to stay with Rockman and wouldn't turn against humanity.

Despite rejecting his offer, Forte would still come to Netto’s defense if she and Rockman were attacked.

Arcadia existed as a civilization of programs before it was attacked by a splinter cell in Sci-Labs led by Regal. Neo Arcadia was built by the remnants of the first attack.

The Four Guardians (Harpuia, Fefnir, Leviathan, Phantom) were condensed into small files and turned into the Element Programs, which Netto and Rockman stole back.

While operating as Aile in real life, Netto would use the Guardians.

Blues was made from data stolen from Arcadia and was created to be a prototype independent Net Navi that was the perfect soldier aka a Forte that only followed orders.

Laika and Netto were penpals as Laika stayed with the Hikari family when he was younger due to Sharro’s economy and his mother’s declining health. Yuuichiro and Laika’s mother were colleagues, so Laika stayed in Electopia until the economy got better and a permanent home could be found for him.

When the Cyber World and Real Worlds temporarily merged, Alia and Haruka had a girl’s day out.

Saito Style going out of control was due to repressed anger form both Netto and Rockman.

Netto has access to pop culture that didn't come about as planned because of the universe reboot so every once in a while, she makes a reference that nobody understands.

The cover for the illegal Net Battles was movie night, using movie from before the timeline reboot, hence Code 80s Dance Party.

When Double Soul activated, Netto got to keep chips of it like in the anime and people volunteered to try it with Rockman.

Dark Rockman was one of the multiple attempts of Yuuichiro trying to bring back Saito but deemed it a failure when it would not activate. He became a Darkloid due to the anger of being thrown away and abandoned.

Dark Rockman tried to force Netto to go Perfect Synchro with him. When she refused, he tried to kill Netto himself instead of having Shademan do it.

Netto was revealed as Aile during the Netopia Arc but was never formally arrested due to X being involved plus many people lobbying for her release.

Netto also had an identity crisis as to if she was really Hikari Netto or Aile Light due to past life memories.

The Netopia Arc had some real repercussions since the military technically abducted a citizen of another country under false pretenses, which is how X got properly introduced in person.

X, Zero, and Axl were merely mentioned until the Netopia Arc, where they actually showed up. Up until then, the only action they took was smiting opponents they knew ordinary Net Navis could not defeat.

Data Ghosts of the original Classic Robot Masters appeared to stop Nebula Grey.

There were only 3 Cyber Elves and they were larger than most Net Navis.

Cyber Elves had their own language and Netto would slip into it at times of high stress.

Forte was caught because he came to movie night and many were put under arrest for not reporting Forte’s whereabouts, including Blues, Searchman, and Tomohawkman.

X fist fought Duo to save the planet when it was found out that Slur rigged the entire trial.

Rockman got both of Gregar and Falzar’s data, not just Gregar.

Cache found a way to absorb the world like in the anime, not the Cybeasts like in the manga.

Trill was a prototype Net Navi for a Sci-Labs program that would allow Net Navis to have children of their own. He was created during the one year that Rockman was missing.

In the workshopped Ryuusei no Rockman spin-off of the series, Trill grew up to be the King of the Net Navis that fled Earth with the help of Duo when they became completely obsolete outside of basic functions and even helped Subaru return to Earth because it was what his older brother Rockman would want.

Subaru and Misora were main characters who came to the past to help stop Cache and were able to travel back in time thanks to Trill.

By the time Ryuusei no Rockman comes about, there is entire semester dedicated to the ‘Cyber Wars’ aka Netto and friends fighting crime. Subaru is an expert, has all the documentaries, and even fought Gonta for a replica of her headband.

Each college has at least one history degree path that covers history from before the universe reboot and is dedicated to finding the data and traces of it. Sharro has the leading university in the world concerning this subject and a statue of General Laika is in the lobby of the main building.

Cities, buildings, and other landmarks are named after Netto and her friends.