Draft 1, now also published in a separate book.

"My date of expiration has reached." Clow looked outside his window, watching as snow danced through the sky, paining a beautiful yet bleak picture on the horizon.

"Explain to me Clow. What does this mean?" looking up towards the source of the voice, Clow was greeted with the sight of a man with hair as white as the snow outside.

Seeing his gigantic white wings, the old magician couldn't help but think of how he looked like a guardian angel, ready to take him away to the afterlife.

"It means just like how I said it, Yue. I will leave this world today." Clow said as calmly as he could, smiling while he did so.

"That's a joke I really can't laugh at." The furry beast standing beside yue spoke up, the red jewel on his head reflecting a bit of the light from outside, making it shine slightly.

"Unfortunately, it's not a joke." Clow spoke up once more, causing Yue's face to be filled with despair.

"Why?" He immediately asks, a whirlwind of savage emotions seeming to take place within the being.

"My lifespan is over." The magician replied calmly.

"Lifespan?!"

The magician continued smiling as the two creatures started spewing out an exaggerated thousand and one reasons on how they didn't believe his words.

"Even then, an end comes equally to any living thing." Clow tried reasoning with the two creatures. "That is why I must prepare for it."

"Prepare for what?"

"Preparations for the person that will cherish you after I pass away."

Yue looked up at Clow as soon as he heard his answer.

"I don't want another master." He said, slightly coldly.

"Then you should decide... wether or not that person is suited for being the master."

"Nobody is suited for it!" The angel-like person snapped, grief evident in his voice at the thought of losing his master.

Completely unaffected by what Yue had just said, Clow carried on with his speech. "I guess it's unfair for just Yue to decide. I will have Kerberos decide on who the candidate should be."

"Are you serious? The yellow beast asked, slightly unsure of his master's decisions.

Clow only smiled.

Yue, Kerberos, and the Clow Cards are beings that I have created with all of my power and heart.

That is why.

I want them to spend their time happily under a new master after I pass away.

That is my last wish.
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Yue, Kerberos, and the Clow Cards are beings that I have created with all of my power and heart.

That is why.

I want them to spend their time happily under a new master after I pass away.

That is my last wish.

A Wish? What wish?

I blinked open my eyes slowly, grabbing by glasses from the small table behind me and putting them on. A few seconds later, I slowly started to make out the blurry blobs of colors around me.

Blinking my eyes a few more times, the sight of my surroundings sharpened, allowing me to see where I was.

As usual, the old grandfather's clock stood at a corner of the room, it's pendant swinging slowly from side to side. On another wall of the room was a study table and it's chair. An old fashioned lamp sat quietly at the side of the table. Beside the lamp was a pile of drawings. On them laid a pencil, one that seemed to be dangerously near the edge of the table, threatening to fall down at any given second.

I stretched a little and sat up, realizing that I was in my bed.

The wish, whatever it was, had been just a dream.

Pushing the blanket off myself in one swift motion, I yawned slightly. Vaguely hearing the chimes of the Big Ben in the distance. The grandfather's clock in my room decided to join in the chorus, chiming alongside the old clock.

I looked up at the antique, realizing that it was already nine o'clock in the morning.

"It's nine o'clock already? Why didn't anyone wake me up?"

Frantically jumping off the bed, I rushed in the direction of the bathroom, combing my bluish-black hair and bushing my teeth within two minutes flat. When I was finally satisfied, I ran down the stairs into the dining room, sitting down to a typical English breakfast.

"Mom? Why didn't you wake me up? I'm sorry for oversleeping so much..."

I bowed my head a little, looking towards my mother. Her gold-brown hair had been tied into a bun, and she looked as beautiful as ever with the purple dress she was wearing.

"Eriol, do you know what day it is today?" She gave me a warm smile. Her beautiful eyes twinkling with what I inferred as excitement.

I thought about it for a moment.

Well, it was no where near Christmas and I do not think that it is mom's anniversary either. New year was months ago...

I shook my head slowly, still pondering the question.

"It's your birthday of course!" She bent down slightly, producing a small parcel that I haven't seen earlier alongside a single card. Excitement rushed through my veins as I remembered the date, realizing that it was indeed my special day.

"Thanks mom!" I opened up the gift slowly to be greeted with a round piece of metal. Mother must have noticed my puzzled look as she explained more about the gift.

"It's a pocket watch." She reached out her hands, gently taking hold of the piece of metal and showing me how it worked. I watched her in awe as she returned me the gift after her demonstration.

I rubbed the shiny surface of the little watch, placing it in my pocket and taking a look at the card I had been given.

It was a tradition for my mom to give me a random gift and a birthday card every year. I would only get one card every year, especially since my parents no longer had any connections with their respective families. As such, I treasured every card that they gave me, keeping them all in a large brown envelope that sat among the books on a bookshelf in my room.

I had eight of them in total, this being my eighth birthday.

"Could I have a pet next year?" I asked my mother like I always did. "Surely I would be old enough then?"

My mother gave me a disapproving look like she always did whenever I asked that question.

"Eriol, you know how your father feels about pets." She stroked my hair slightly. However, despite her efforts to keep me cheerful, I still felt a bit of myself wither inside when I heard her answer.

"When is Ms Fernsby coming by?" I asked my mother as I started on my breakfast, slicing the bacon in half. I wanted to change the topic, preferably as soon as possible.

"She's not coming by today. You've the day off. I'm just glad that I managed to convince your father to give you one."

Father! He actually got me a 'gift' besides writing in mom's yearly card!

"Is he coming down to wish me a happy birthday?" I asked eagerly, feeling the sinking feeling from earlier return as my mother sighed slightly. I could already guess her answer as I looked down slightly, hearing the words that my mother had repeated nearly every special day.

"You know that your father is busy. He has tons of work to do. Perhaps you would see him another day."

I sighed, a feeling contradictory to the occasion arousing within me.

"I understand..." I mumbled sadly before finishing up my breakfast and running back up to my room.
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Placing my new birthday card together with all of my old ones, I stuffed the envelope back onto the bookshelf.

Sitting down on the old chair that came together with the study table, I cleared the table slightly, pushing all of my notes and stationary to one side. Leaning my head on the wooden table, I started pondering about my father.

Why was he so distant to me?

Why does there seem to be a wall between us?

I guess I should be glad that I've gotten the day off... still, I was hoping that father would wish me a happy birthday.

Sometimes, I felt as though I didn't belong in this family. Looking through old paintings, I had found out that my father had black hair, his eye color matching that of his hair.

Mum has golden-brown hair, and my father's the color of soot.

However, I had blueish-black hair.

None of the old paintings that I had seen had any other relatives, making me wonder at times where I had gotten my unique hair color.

Perhaps I would never know.

I sighed once more, a sudden craving for sweets arousing within myself. Wanting to distract myself from that desire, I realized that I was subconsciously lifting up a pencil and drawing a picture. Letting my imagination do the work, I drew a little cat with untrusting eyes, giving its tail a little twist. Still thinking that the drawing was missing something, I decided to look out of my window in hopes of finding some inspiration. Just then, I saw a blue butterfly flying past my window. After giving it some thought, I gave the cat a simplified version of the butterfly's wings.

Finally satisfied, I grabbed a few nearby color pencils and colored the cat-like creature mainly a dark blue, coloring its wings, eyes and the interior of its ears a lighter shade of blue instead. Giving the drawing a few final touches, I looked down at the completed piece of work, wondering yet again why I had drawn it in the first place.
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I woke up the next morning to find out that it was just past one o'clock in the morning. Tossing and turning around in bed, I attempted to drift back into the world of dreams. Outside, I could hear the sounds of nightlife around me. Every now and then, I would hear the sound of a car or a chariot driving by, adding in to the sounds of the night. About thirty minutes later, I finally gave up on going to sleep. Walking over to the study table, I picked up the picture that I had drawn earlier, wishing that I could have a friend. I had been homeschooled by Ms Fernsby since I was young. Learning art, piano, English, Japanese, Math, Science, Literature and many other subjects from her. Although it had been nice not having to travel all the way to a school every morning, it meant that I wouldn't have a friend, and I never had a single one my entire life.

What must it be like? To have a friend?

I may have read many books about friendships, how magical it could be. However, I had never experienced it in my entire life. I didn't even have a pet, my father claiming that it'll mess up my mind and fill it with nonsense.

Although I seldom saw my father, I knew quite a lot about him from the stories that mom would tell me. About how he was a hardworking guy that loved nothing more than his family and focusing on his work.

Due to that, I was wondering how my parents had gotten into a relationship in the first place.

Right then, I wished that I could have someone beside me, someone that I could talk to. It really was quite lonely, sitting on your own in the wee hours of the morning. I felt somewhat empty inside as I closed my eyes, imagining how much fun having a friend must be.

It was then when I felt a strange warmth within myself. Sensing a bright light around me, I opened my eyes slowly to see a pool of light in front of me. The light seemed to be alive, twirling and winding around itself as it took on the weird shape of a creature with pointy ears and some kind of wings.

I gazed up in awe as the light subsided, leaving a dark blue cat in its place. I gasped as I realized what the creature looked like.

"You..."

The creature opened its eyes slowly, looking around in confusion before finally spotting me.

"Hello? I guess?"

"It speaks!" I backed up a little, even though I felt surprisingly unafraid of the weird cat. Waves of curiosity washed over me as I looked up at the bundle of dark blue fur. "Who are you?"

"I..." the creature's eyes seemed to widen in some sort of realization. "I don't know..." it flew down slowly, landing in my outstretched hands.

"Where am I?"

"You're in London." I answered slowly, hoping not to startle the creature too much.

"London? What's a London?"

"It's a place. The capital of England."

"England?"

The poor creature seemed to be utterly confused.

"Who are you anyway?" It questioned, flattening one of its ears while the other perked up with interest.

"My name is Eriol." I answered the creature. "What's yours?"

"Well... I don't seem to have one... I don't even know what I am..." the creature looked at itself, flapping his wings a little as though it was testing them out.

"What about I name you... Mary?"

"Mary? I'm a male..."

"Oops. Sorry." I scratched my head a little.

"What about Tom? Wait... that doesn't match. Sunny? Beta? Peter? No... they all don't match..." it was then I noticed the curl in its tail.

Its just like how I drew it...

Twisted into a spiral.

A spiral? That's it!

"Well, your tail is twisted, just like a spiral. What about the name Spinel? It sounds similar to spiral but has a more unique twist to it. Now that I think about it, it also happens to be the name of a kind of mineral."

"Spinel? That's fine by me. By the way, would you be my owner, Master Eriol? I don't exactly know where I came from, but something tells me that I could trust you." Spinel flew onto my pillow, curling up on it.

"It would be my pleasure." I answered, smiling at my newfound friend. It felt nice to finally have someone whom I could talk to. Someone that wasn't my mother. Still, I wondered what made the little creature appear so suddenly in my room.
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"You sure are up early this morning, Eriol." Mom remarked, apparently having heard the sound of my noisy footsteps clashing into the wooden ground as I ran down the staircase. "Breakfast would be ready in five minutes."

"Ok mom." I smiled. "By the way, I would like you to meet Spinel."

"Spinel? Who's that?" My mother turned around, her eyes widening a little as she covered her mouth slightly with one of her hands. "Oh dear... what's that thing?"

"Spinel isn't a thing mother. He's a friend." I insisted.

"Eriol... you would have to get this friend of yours out of the house before your father senses it. If he does, this is going to result in quite a big deal of trouble." 

"But mother, how is father going to know about Spinel if he's cooped up doing work all day?" I questioned, scratching Spinel behind the ears.

"Trust me. He has his ways..." She trailed off as a shadow loomed over the staircase.

"Eriol. What is that thing doing in our house?" A deep voice reverberated throughout the dining room. I looked up to see him standing on the staircase, his look of disapproval sending waves of newfound fear down my spine.

Father...

"Spinel is not a thing..." I insisted, refusing to look my father in the eye.

"Hmmm... so you say." He walked down the last few steps of the staircase, giving the little blue cat a menacing glare.

"What... what are you planning on doing?" I grabbed Spinel, holding him close to myself.

"Hand him over." My father reached out one of his hands towards me.

"No." I protested, squeezing Spinel even more in the process.

"Eriol... can't breathe..." the cat gasped. Alarmed, I released my grip a little, allowing it to take in some oxygen.

"You will hand over that creature. This is my house and you will have to play by the rules." My father spoke up once more. I had forgotten that he was there till he said that.

Hoping to get some support from my mother, I glanced at her to realize that she was looking down, realization dawned upon me that she was unable to help me in my predicament.

"I'm keeping Spinel." I raised my voice a little. I may have only known him for a few hours. However, I already couldn't bear the thought of being separated from him.

"Spinel is no normal creature. He shouldn't have the right to exist. If you're so insistent on keeping him, leave. Only then would you find out what I am talking about. I'm not housing a creature like that in my house. I'll give you a day to make your decision." He walked away, climbing back up the stairs to be called by my mother.

"You can't do this Sairus! He's only eight years old!" She cried out to my father.

"Well, he would have to learn sooner or later. When he was born, I already knew that this was going to happen." He turned around slightly, saying those few words before resuming his climb back up to the study.
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"That... that's a..." Ms Fernsby gave Spinel a weird look. "That's a weird thing... Well, at least it's cute..."

"You do not call me cute, you hear me?" Spinel huffed, slightly insulted.

"It speaks..." the teacher squeaked, leaning her weight on the piano behind her. The unfortunate few notes that she had hit letting out a sound equivalent to that of a dying crow's.

"Spinel's not a thing." I grew frustrated, wondering why no one could understand that simple fact.

"Of... of course." Ms Fernsby answered immediately. "Umm... would you mind putting away that creature for a second. It is about time we started with your lessons."

I turned my head towards Spinel, contemplating my decisions before finally giving in to Ms Fernsby's demands. Asking Spinel to sit on the sofa, I picked a random book from a nearby shelf and handed it over to him to keep him busy.

Rushing back towards Ms Fernsby, I sat down in front of the piano and mentally prepared myself for the first lesson of the day.

It wasn't anything new, actually. We would always start and end the day with a piano lesson, filling in the gaps with all the rest of the different subjects that I've been tasked to learn.

Still, I wasn't able to concentrate at all today, especially since the thought of having to leave Spinel behind was on my head the entire day. How could I leave him behind? He already felt as though he was a part of me, one that made me whole. Why wouldn't anyone understand that?

Before I knew it, the day was over. I was back in my room, lying down on my bed with Spinel beside me.

"Are you ok Master? You seem down." Spinel commented, still reading the book that I had brought him at the start of the day.

"Yea. I'm fine." I lied. I didn't want Spinel to worry about me.

"No you're not." Spinel shut his book, looking up at me.

I sighed. One day with Spinel had already shown me that it was near impossible to keep anything from that cat.

"Spinel I... I don't want you to leave." I admitted. "You're my very first friend and I..." I stopped for a while, realizing that there was something warm running down my face. "I just don't want you to leave."

Quickly, I wiped away my tears, not wanting to make Spinel any more alarmed then he already seemed.

"Eriol..." Spinel tried calming me down. "It's not your fault. We could try reasoning with him tomorrow."

"It's no use Spinel. Father... he never changes his mind. At least, that's according to my mother. I don't know him well. You know what, I'm leaving." I grabbed a bag from nearby, starting to pack it with the stuff I would need.

"Are you sure about this Eriol?" Spinel flew in front of me, trying to tug the heavy bag away to no avail.

"I'm sure Spinel." I pulled the bag closer towards myself and continued packing. Spinel's book, a first aid kit, some money and a lot of other stuff went into the bag, the interior of it getting more and more crowded by the second.

When I was finally satisfied with the items that I had packed, I zipped up the bag, swinging it over my shoulder. As I grabbed the handle of the door, I felt as though something was pulling me back. Turning around to give my room one last look, I caught sight of the brown envelope sticking out between the books of my bookshelf. Moonlight illuminated the envelope, making it seem magical for a second. I stared at it for a moment, wondering if I should bring it along. Who knew that by just looking at that brown parcel, so many emotions would start churning within me. As I looked at the envelope, guilt, insecurity and the love I had towards my family seemed to anchor me to the room, rendering it near impossible to leave. My mind struggled, seemingly trying to be free itself from the bounds of the room.

After contemplating for what seemed like an eternity, an eternity that would not have been more than a few seconds, I rushed back to the bookshelf and grabbed the envelope off, running out of my room with it.

As I ran blindly through the many rooms of my house, Spinel by my side, I couldn't help but feel sad. Sad that I was leaving my home, my family and a huge portion of my childhood. Wave upon wave of regret and guilt washed over me as I ran out of the door on my own for the first time. Making me unable to look back at my house for the last time, unable to do so in the fear of becoming a scaredy-cat at the last moment.
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Rubbing my eyes and stretching a bit, I opened them to look around at my surroundings. Something had been tickling me in my slumber, making me wake up to find out what it was.

I looked up, realizing that I was below a canopy of pink leaves... no. Not leaves. Petals...

I was under a cherry blossom tree. But, how did I get here?

Standing up slowly, I admired the view of the pink petals slowly falling to the ground. I could feel a smile slowly appearing on my face as I enjoyed taking in the sight of the beautiful pink petals. It was then I heard a voice. Curious, I peeped behind the tree trunk to see a man sitting down on the ground alongside an angel and another yellow creature that I couldn't make out. The yellow creature looked like a lion with wings. However, it didn't have a mane despite the fact that it seemed to be a male. The angel beside the creature seemed to be in a good mood, despite the frown that I could see on his face. I stared at the ordinary-looking man for a while. Looking at his weird choice of clothing and braided hair. Something about him seemed to give off an aura of power, an aura of strength and mystery. Still, I couldn't shake off the fact that he looked like an older version of me.

He had blue hair and glasses, just like I did. Something about the way he talked... reminded me of me.

Could I be related to this man somehow?

In my small family of three, I often felt as though I didn't belong. What if... what if I really didn't? I was a Hiiragizawa, due to my father's Japanese origin. However, was I really a part of this family? Could this man, could this man be my real father?

A force seemed to pull me towards the man, beckoning me to approach him. I walked a little closer, slightly captivated by him.

As I continued walking blindly towards the mysterious man, I felt my foot push again something. Snapping me out of his spell. Looking down, a little key was in my line of sight. Something was asking me to pick it up, to take a closer look at it. Listening to my inner voice, I did just that, a different voice sounding in my head as soon as I did so. This new voice sounded strikingly similar to the mysterious man's, making me listen intently to whatever it had to say.

The key which hides the powers of the dark
Show your true form to me
I, Eriol, command you under our contract
Release!

I stared at the key.

Eriol... that was my name...

Shaking aside my line of thoughts, I decided to observe the strange key. It seemed to resemble a sun, a sun that didn't seem to be too proportionate due to its large center.

I wonder that I could unlock with this key.

"Master? Master?! Eriol!"

I jolted upright, realizing that the cherry blossom tree was gone. Instead, I was greeted with the sight of blurry brick walls and an extremely worried Spinel.

It was just a dream.

Calming myself down a bit, I moved myself into a better position, putting on my glasses to improve my blurry vision.

"Master! Are you alright? You were talking in your sleep." Spinel asked worriedly, landing on my outstretched hand.

"I'm fine Spinel. I had a weird dream that's all."

"Do you mind telling me what you dreamt about?" Spinel settled down in hand as though he already knew the answer. Seemingly waiting for story time to begin.

"Well, I dreamt that..." I stopped, realizing that there was something in my other hand. Lifting it up, I opened my clenched fist to reveal a key. The very same key that I had seen in my dream.

"It's... it's the key from my dream..." I lifted it up to let Spinel have a closer look at it.

"That's..." Spinel closed the distance between itself and the key. "That is no ordinary key. I sense immerse power from it." He tapped the key lightly with one of his paws. Just then, his stomach rumbled, making him try desperately to cover up the noise. Seeing his actions made it hard for me to hold back my laughter as I tried my best to keep the outburst in a silent giggle.

"Someone must be hungry. Why don't we go get something to eat?" I asked Spinel, only to realize how empty I was myself.

"That's a great idea." Spinel landed on my shoulder as I stood up slowly. I had slept with my bag on my shoulders throughout the entire night. Or what was left of the night after me and Spinel found a 'cozy' alleyway to sleep in.

It was then when I suddenly realized that society wouldn't exactly be trilled at the sight of a flying cat.

"Spinel? Would you mind hiding in my bag while I find some breakfast? I have a feeling that the people of London wouldn't be too excited to be able to see a flying cat..."

"It's ok. I understand." Spinel instantly unzipped my red-colored bag, flying in before zipping it up again from the inside.

Smiling slightly despite my predicament, I headed out into the streets in the hunt for a filling breakfast.
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It was late in the afternoon.

The streets of London seemed deserted as I walked down them. No one besides myself and the birds of the air seemed to be around the area.

I guess it wasn't too surprising. Lunch hour was over long ago and it was still a while till the end of the day.

I let Spinel fly beside me as we continued our journey down the streets, searching for something to do.

"Master, what's that shop selling?" Spinel asked once more.

I couldn't help but smile. That cat sure was curious. I guess he had all rights to be, however. Especially since he practically appeared here out of no where.

I turned my head around to be greeted with the words 'Mr Relish's Sweet Shoppe'. Walking closer to the sweet shop, I looked through the window to find a variety of sweets. From sugar mice to Wilko Mints, the sweet shop seemed to be short on nothing when it came to those tasty treats.

"This shop sells sweets." I answered Spinel's question. "They are delicious treats that live up to their name. I would get one, but I'm afraid that we would use up the money I've got too quickly." I remembered my sudden craving for sweets just a day ago.

Great, now I'm really craving for some candy...

"Too bad. I would like to try one." Spinel looked through the window himself, seemingly mesmerized by the various shapes and colors of the different sweets.

"Me too." I answered, suddenly feeling a warmth from inside of me. I gasped as I started glowing, wondering what was wrong with myself.

"Master!" Spinel called out to me. However, his voice seemed distant as the light around me grew brighter. Soon, I couldn't see anything but the white light surrounding me. Panicking, I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to get blinded by its glow. I breathed deeply, hearing nothing but the sound of my racing heart. The light subsided soon enough, the warmth dying down together with it as soon as I managed to get my emotions under control.

Darkness.

I slowly opened one eye, looking around at my surroundings. Seeing that the light was really gone, I opened my other eye as well, looking around in a daze.

"What happened?" I asked an equally confused Spinel.

"I don't know master. But I have a feeling that you were the one that created those two cards in your hand."

"Cards?" I blinked, bringing my hand to eye level. To my surprise, there really were two cards in my hand. I took a closer look at them, reading the fine print at the bottom of the cards.

"The longing and the worry?" I continued staring at the two cards, confused.

"It looks as though you've used magic." Spinel flew over to observe the two cards.

"Magic... I've magic..."

I thought about it for a moment. It made sense. Especially since Spinel and the key I've got both appeared out of nowhere. Now that I think of it, they most likely appeared due to my own, unknown powers. Deciding that this was definitely a special occasion, I concluded that it was only right for me to buy a treat from the sweet stall in the end. Well, it was a reason to celebrate after all.

"I think I'll get a sweet after all Spinel. We could share it between ourselves." I opened the zip of my bag, allowing the black cat to fly in.

"Why the sudden change?" He asked as he flew into the bag, peeping his head out slightly.

"Because its a special occasion." I smiled,seeing Spinel's head retreating back into the bag. After zipping it up and swinging it back onto my shoulder, I entered the sweet shop.

I looked around in awe at the large selection of sweets. It seemed even more colorful than the exterior of the shop. Many different jars of sweets sat on the shelves quietly. Each one was filled with its own different type of sugary joy. The variety of different shapes, colors and sizes made me slightly dizzy just looking at them as I wondered which one to get. Looking around, I could already spot a few gumdrops, chocolate limes and even cream sugar crystals in the mix of treats.

"What could I get for you young man?" I turned around to see the jolly shop owner refilling a few of the jars with the sugar mice I had seen earlier.

Spotting a couple of rock candies near the shop owner, I decided to pick one up for myself.

"How much for one rock?" I asked, pointing at the jar filled with the long pieces of candy.

"98 pence a piece." He answered. Picking one out of its jar.

"I'll take one." I answered, counting out the money and giving it in change for the sweet.

"Thanks!" I called out to the shop owner as I left the shop, waving to him slightly.

"So that's a sweet." A blur of dark blue flew in font of me as I exited the shop, making me jump in surprise.

"Spinel! You scared me!" I complained, breaking the treat in half and giving one part of the candy to Spinel. I watched as Spinel licked the treat slowly, seemingly judging how it tasted.

"It's good!" Spinel flapped his wings happily, taking a few more bites from his treat.

Suddenly, something within Spinel seemed to snap.

"It's too good..." Spinel moaned, suddenly finishing the sweet whole and starting a happy jig.

"Sweets are good! Sweets are good!"

Alarm rushed through me. Something seemed to be wrong with Spinel. Even though he had tremendously enjoyed the piece of toast that we shared for breakfast, he didn't go nearly as crazy as this.

Could he be having a sugar rush?

"Spinel? Are you alright?" I asked the cat, only to be ignored as he continued his little dance.

"Sweets are good! Sweets are good! NEED MORE!" He rushed towards me, making me back away in alarm. As I shielded my face from his sudden attack, I felt a rush of wind, making my blue hair fly backwards slightly. When I next looked at my hand. I found my half of the rock candy missing. Instinctively looking upwards, I was just in time to see Spinel gulping down my half in one big bite.

"Need more!" He shot a red beam of power upwards. Making more and more alarm rush though me by the second. Luckily, the intense beam spared everything in its wake, having been shot straight towards the sky. Uneasiness aroused in me as Spinel flew at rocket speed towards the door of the sweet shop.

Instinctively, my hand reached out and grabbed him.

Just in time.

"Need more!" He struggled to wiggle free from my grasp. I tightened my hold on him in response, trying my best to pull him away from the shop.

For such a little creature, he sure held a tremendous amount of power.

"Spinel! What's gotten into you?" I pulled harder, realizing that he was nearly dragging me along with him.

If only I had more strength.

I felt tingles of energy, no. Magic. Rushing up my body at that request.

Filled with the newfound energy, I was able to yank Spinel towards myself, his struggling growing more vigorous at the potential loss of his treats.

I didn't give in, holding on even tighter. Soon enough, his struggling grew weaker and weaker until he was finally fast asleep in my arms.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I looked up to see a shimmering mess of magic. The silvery light slowly shaped itself into a card, the energy materializing in front of me. Grabbing the card as it floated down, I read the words on it.

'Struggle.'

Smiling a little, I pocketed the card. Continuing my walk down the empty streets with a sleeping Spinel in my hands.

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It was a cold night.

Freezing winds blew into the small alleyway, chilling my bones to their core. I shivered slightly, curling myself into a tighter ball around Spinel.

The little creature didn't seem affected, having me to rely on for warmth.

I sneezed a little. Rubbing my nose with one of my hands.

Curling back up once more, I concentrated on the sounds of the rain as it fell from the sky. Having my back pressed right beside the nearest building helped me avoid most of the rain, even though it wasn't exactly that effective.

I wished that I was home. However, I knew that I would never be able to return to that cozy place.

Never again.

I sneezed once more, wishing that I had something to warm me up. I could hear the nightlife just outside the alleyway. The rain having no effect on the bustling activities that took place every night in London. It wasn't that late at night, so I guessed that it was only reasonable for quite a number of activities to still be taking place.

Still, it wasn't the best thing for someone who was trying to sleep in the cold.

"Hello? Is there anyone in here?" I heard a voice coming from the entrance of the alleyway. Looking towards the direction of the sound, I saw a silhouette of a female with long hair, the light behind her making her look like an angel.

As she walked closer, I started making out a few more of her features. Realizing that she had long, brown hair and honey-colored eyes. The women was holding a black umbrella, shielding her from most of the wind and rain. Something about her seemed weird, almost as though she had something that most others didn't have. However, I couldn't place a finger on it.

"What are you doing here?" She squatted down, closing the gap between us.

"I...I'm here because..." I stopped for a while, rethinking my answer. "Why do you have to know anyway?"

We stared at each other for a while, neither of us saying anything. Meanwhile, Spinel was still fast asleep, in his own world of dreams.

"Well... you may catch a cold if you continue staying out here in the rain." She spoke up, breaking the silence. "I'll invite you to come over to my house. If that's ok with you. However, I don't think you are going to agree with my suggestion, looking at your aura."

"My... aura?" I looked up at the young women, wondering how she could detect something like that. She seemed to look even more confused than I am, almost as though she had expected me to know that she could do just that.

"You couldn't sense my magic?" She seemed concerned, worried even. Her realization just puzzled me all the more, making me wonder how she even came to the conclusion that I should be able to sense magic.

"Not exactly. I just knew that you are an oddball. Why does that matter anyway?"

Something clicked within me. Making me wonder how I haven't thought of it before.

"You must have magic too. To be able to detect something like that." I sneezed once more, remembering about the rain. I had forgotten about it earlier while talking to the mysterious lady.

"Yes... yes I do." She confessed. Her eyes a little dazed as she looked up to the full moon.

It was miraculously visible, even with the thick clouds in the sky.

"I'll come with you." I answered carefully. Although I didn't know much  about this weird person. Something told me that I could trust her. Besides, now that I was thinking logically, it was better than staying in a deserted and damp alleyway.

She didn't answer, the sigh of relief she had let out being answer enough.

"Follow me." She finally replied, waiting patiently as I picked up my stuff. While I did so, I placed Spinel in my bag, acutely aware that the women was watching me as I did so. When I was done, she beckoned me to enter the shelter her umbrella provided, shielding us both from the rain as we walked down the road.

"Would you mind telling me your name?" She asked politely. I contemplated my choices for a while, finally deciding to tell her.

"Eriol."

She nodded at my answer. "It's understandable that you wouldn't tell me your surname yet. My name is Kaho Mizuki. You can just call me Kaho."

I nodded slightly as the two of us continued the journey towards Kaho's home.
————————

I was sitting on the sofa, a sleeping Spinel on my lap. I petted the creature gently. Recapping the past hour in my head.

I had followed Kaho home, taking a shower, not one from the rain of course, as soon as I had reached her house.

She lived in quite a big house. So big, it seemed like a mansion. Well, maybe it really was one.

The house seemed to stir up some kind of emotions in me. A sense of déjà vu arousing from deep within myself as I stepped through the door not too long ago. As soon as I walked into the house, it felt as though I was returning home. Returning after years and years of being apart from it.

"Do you want something to eat Eriol?" Kaho walked into the room, carrying a plate of scones.

"Yes please." I answered, picking up one of the biscuit-like cakes.

She smiled slightly, picking up one of the scones herself. "I assume that you made that dark blue cat using your magic?" She asked, noticing Spinel who had been sleeping through all the nighttime action.

"Spinel? Well... I guess I may have made him out of magic. I didn't mean to... he just appeared out of nowhere." I explained. "For some weird reason, he seems to go crazy eating sweets. I wonder if it's because I happened to have a longing for them when he appeared."

"Maybe." Kaho answered, taking a bite from her scone. "By the way, do you happen to know off your origin?"

"My... origin?" I blinked. "Well, I came from my parents... right? Don't we all? I mean, Spinel didn't but..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say. "How about your origins?" I changed the topic. "You seem to have a Japanese name."

"You're right. I live in a shrine somewhere in Japan. However, I came here to further my studies." She bit into her scone once more, reminding me that I haven't even taken a bite.

"By yourself?"

She nodded.

"Surely it must be lonely to be here on your own."

"I guess. But it isn't too bad."

The conversation reminded me about the time I longed for a friend. The time I had before I knew Spinel. I longed to do something for her. No one deserved to be alone. No matter how bad someone could be, no one deserved it.

As the thoughts continued raging through me, I felt a familiar warmth flooding through me. Kaho must have sensed it too, as she looked at me with an expression of understanding.

The warmth intensified, the glow that I knew all too well by now overwhelming my senses. The next I could see, I found another female standing by us. Her hair was brown, although it was a lot darker than Kaho's. The color matched her eyes, them being a slightly lighter shade of her hair. Looking down at my hand, I saw a new card. One with an infinity loop and two yin-yang symbols within the two holes. The words at the bottom read 'Balance', making me confused. What has this got to do with balance?

"Where am I?" The new female looked around, confused. Her speech snapped me out of my daze, making me forget about the new card temporarily, putting it away into my bag.

Meanwhile, Spinel wiggled slightly in my lap, finally waking up and realizing the two newcomers. "Eriol? Where are we and who are these two people?"

"Well... the female holding a scone is Kaho and the other female is... umm... Ruby." I said the first name that came to my head.

"So. I'm Ruby? I certainly didn't know that." The newly named being commented.

"Are you sure that that's her name Eriol?" Spinel hissed into my ear.

"I'm sure. I'm the one that created her after all." I answered.

"You what?!" Spinel whisper-shouted. "Then again, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised..."

I gestured Ruby to sit down while listening to Spinel. The new being seemed to still be confused, looking around the wide room in awe.

I looked at Kaho, realizing that she was smiling. For some weird reason, I had I feeling that she was thanking me for making her a friend.
—————————

"The king can't move five steps in a row!" Spinel protested, pushing the piece back into its place on the playing board.

"Urgh. Fine." Ruby picked up one of her pawns instead, moving it two steps forward.

"You can't do that! Pawns are only supposed to move one step!" Spinel tried pushing the piece back into its place.

"But pawns are able to move two steps the first time they move!" Ruby insisted, placing the piece back where she had put it.

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is!"

I sighed. Ruby and Spinel had been bricking over how chess was played for the past one hour. With both being beginners, neither of them knew the rules well, thus starting an argument between the two.

Still, it felt nearly surreal that they got together so well after only meeting yesterday night.

Then again, that description would fit that of my own and Kaho's.

The two of us were walking into Kaho's library, her claiming that she had something important to show me. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I was greeted with the sight of the magnificent library. Shelves upon shelves of books were arranged in neat rows. On each shelf sat many old books of all kinds. Each one unique in their own special way. However, they all had one thing in common. The fact that they were so old, they looked as though they would turn into dust with a single touch. In front of the shelves, there was a table with a single book on it. The cover of the book portrayed a circle with a sun in the middle, a smaller moon rotating around it. I watched silently as Kaho picked up the old book, flipping through its pages.

"Do you know what this is?" She showed me a picture from the book. I gasped. The picture portrayed a staff with a sun at one end of it. To make matters even more mysterious, it looked somewhat like the key I had in my pocket. Pulling out the said object, I showed it to Kaho.

"It kind of looks like this key."

She smiled. "The staff in the book is Clow Reed's magic wand. He was a famous magician, or sorcerer, that lived in this world long ago. Before he passed away, he gave my ancestors this house and the moon bells."

She produced a weird-looking metal piece.

It didn't look like a bell. However, something told me that it was indeed a bell. I could feel great power emitting from the magical artifact, making me stare at it in awe.

"These bells are a part of Clow's final wish. His wish for someone to take care of his two guardians and the Clow Cards that he had created."

My breathing escalated as I remembered the dream I had not too long ago.

Yue, Kerberos, and the Clow Cards are beings that I have created with all of my power and heart.

That is why.

I want them to spend their time happily under a new master after I pass away.

That is my last wish.

I blinked, shaking my head. I remembered the man with braided blue hair. The man that appeared twice in my dreams. Could that man be Clow Reed? The famous magician Kaho was talking about?

"Do... do you happen to have a picture of that magician?" I enquired. Kaho nodded, turning the page to reveal the exact person that had appeared in my dreams.

"Just like my dreams..." I voiced my thoughts out softly, rubbing the page with the picture of the magician. The picture was faded, worn out from the generations. However, the person in the picture was unmistakably him. There was no doubt about it. I clenched my first slightly, the action reminding me of the cold, metal piece in my hand.

The key!

I opened my fist, looking at the tiny key in my palm, I remembered the words from the dream. Itching to try them out and see what happens, I held out the piece of metal in front of me, saying the verse for the first time.

"Key that hides the power of the dark" I started, watching as the key started glowing.

"Show your true form to me" the glow became brighter, seemingly feeding on my words.

"I, Eriol, command you under our contract" I paused a while, calming myself slightly.

"Release!" I finished the verse, watching as the key grew into the staff portrayed in the book. Grabbing the newly formed staff, I looked at Kaho to see her smiling silently.

I smiled back, feeling the familiar warmth rising within me once more. As it subsided, I was greeted with a card named 'Hope'. On it was two hearts above a dove holding an olive branch.

What does peace have to do with all this?

I shrugged, placing the card back into my pocket at I admired the transformed key.

Realization struck me that I was currently wielding the wand of Clow Reed, one of the greatest magicians of all time. The realization just made the feeling of holding the staff even more magical than it already was.

Now that I think about it, why would I, of all people, be able to transform Clow's wand?

I had to be related to Clow in some way.

What way, I still didn't know. However, I knew that Clow was definitely a part of me.

Just then, I heard the sound of something crashing from upstairs, jolting me from my thoughts.

"Hey! You shouldn't react that way even though you lost the game!" I heard Spinel's voice.

"Why did you checkmate me then?!"

"How else would we end the game?"

"You could let me win you, for starters."

Another loud crash sounded from upstairs, making me sigh as I rushed upstairs to separate the two squabbling beings.
————————

I could feel the wind blowing through my midnight blue hair. Around me, I could see nothing but stars. I looked down to find nothing but air, realizing that I was walking among the stars.

Another dream?

"Eriol Hiiragizawa." I turned around. In front of me was a man with braided hair.

Clow Reed.

I bowed down slightly. It seemed only right to do so.

"You must be Clow Reed."

The man bowed his head slightly.

"I am."

I looked at Clow. For some reason, he always seemed to remind me of myself.

It was then realization dawned upon me.

"Am I... you?" I asked softly.

"You already know the answer." He smiled his signature smile. The same one I saw when he was telling his two guardians that he was going to leave the world.

"But... I don't feel like you. I mean, I know that I'm you but..."

I was confused. I was Clow. But then again, I wasn't.

"You are you. With a bit of my... inheritance." He explained. "My recantation with your own soul."

I nodded, understanding slightly. Just then, I remembered something.

"Your wish... I promise that I would help you with that."

His smile seemed to widen, if that was possible in the first place.

"Thank you. Eriol."
—————————

I woke up, looking around at reality. Grabbing my glasses from nearby, I put them on quickly. I was lying on the sofa of Kaho's house. Beside me was a book. I had most probably fallen asleep while reading it.

Looking to my left, I saw Spinel sleeping as well, a book over his head. Smiling quietly at the sight, I grabbed my bag from nearby and started looking through the brown envelope. I still remembered father giving me an envelope once, one that was addressed to Clow Reed the second. He had told me to give that letter to the said person if I ever found him.

Apparently, he was writing a letter to me.

I opened the envelope containing the letter, pulling out its contents.

Dear Eriol,

If you are reading this right now, I'm sure that you have found out your true identity. When you had been born into this family, I immediately realized who you actually were. I knew that someday, you would have to leave to fulfill your destiny.

However, I didn't want that to happen too soon. You are my son all the same and I loved you too much to let you go. Thus, I kept you away from the world, hoping that you wouldn't develop your powers too quickly. I myself kept away, afraid that you would pick up on my magical powers. However, every night, I would check up on you when you are asleep, afraid that your destiny would take you away from me. However, I knew that you would have to leave someday.

I'm sorry Eriol, even though I am not going to beg for your forgiveness. I have no rights to do so. Wherever you are reading this, I wish you well. Accomplish your journey and stay safe.

With best regards,
Sairus Hiiragizawa

PS: mom knows nothing about this.

PPS: I would always love you.

Father had known. He had known all along.

I placed the precious piece of paper back into its own envelope, putting the entire thing into the even bigger brown envelope that held all of the letters he had sent me.

Father... I wish I could see him...

I felt a warmth in my pocket, reaching into it to feel something metallic.

The key.

"Release!" I said softly, turning the key into the magic staff it was.

"Hope!" I pulled out the card by instinct. The card glowed, a magical symbol appearing on the floor.

Clow's, no. My magic circle.

The circle of magic glowed, being replaced by some kind of image. I looked into it to see my father's study room, the said person sitting down on a chair while writing something.

Suddenly, father stiffened, looking straight at me through the magic circle.

"Eriol... you've learned." He smiled, the first smile I have seen coming from him in a while.

"I can't see you, my son. But I know that you're watching. Stay safe my son, stay safe..."

With that, the magic faded, leaving me staring at the floor once more.

Determination rushed through me.

I would accomplish Clow's last wish no matter what it took. I had to. For my father.

Dad, I love you too.
——————————
(Years later)

I smiled, looking down into the magic circle to see Sakura jumping straight into Syaoran's arms.

Those two were really meant for each other.

Clow's wish had been completed at long last. When it was, I tried returning home to see my father once again. However, I was greeted with nothing but a pile of ashes where my old house was.

I had cried. I remembered. Crying as I looked at the burnt down house. However, I felt something the next moment, looking up to see my dad's spirit looking down at me.

"Eriol, you did a good job my son."

I rubbed away my tears slightly.

"Dad..."

"Mom and I... we are safe. In a new, beautiful place."

"Dad... I'm sorry..."

"Shhhh. Son, you have nothing to be sorry about. Just remember that although we couldn't be with you physically, we will always be with you in spirit. Stay strong, my son. I will always love you."

I watched as my father's form faded away, wiping away the rest of my tears.

"Eriol..." Spinel flew over, having been silent throughout the entire exchange.

"I'm fine." I smiled. Dad had told me to stay strong. "Everything will be alright."

I snapped my attention back to the present, watching as everyone congratulated Sakura for capturing the sealed card. Maybe it was about time I visited them.

It was then I felt a presence above me. I smiled, knowing that it was my father, watching me as I continued to grow.

I will definitely be all right.

Trivia and others:
The storyline is different from the one in the manga. Thus, some facts wouldn't add up.

The Hope and balance cards were based on a scene in Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear card

Preview of the next chapter:

"let's make a date! Our ship shall sail!"

Hearing the flight's words, the rest of the clear cards crowded around it, interested to hear the idea.

They had been shipping Sakura and Syaoran for a long time now. Way too long. It was time for the cards to take action. Syaoran and Sakura sure have no idea what's going to hit them.