Friends from the Sky

The Cosmic Ring

It was very dusty and dry, which is unheard of in Japan. Normally, no matter how hot it gets, the sea cradling the islands softens the air with moistened breeze. Global warming apparently decided to speed up its progress this year. The weather had dramatically changed from crisp and cool to smoldering hot, and Japan was not the only one.

Sakura had invited him for ice cream, but while usually he would give anything to catch even a glimpse of her, this time Syaoran declined the offer. Several days ago the Japanese government sent him a letter detailing some problems with his visa. Syaoran now had to decide if he should pack up and return to Hong Kong and avoid the fiasco that was sure to come, or if he should try to deal with the said fiasco. Neither option was very appealing; for one thing, if he wanted to return to Hong Kong, obviously some things had to be left behind, not just Sakura. The furniture, the apartment, plus some belongings he earned in Japan, and he was not looking forward to deciding what to discard and what to bring with him. On the other hand, dealing with an incompetent governmental department was never an enjoyable affair to begin with. When he moved to Japan his mother was able to carry the brunt of the burden. Syaoran merely had to mentally prepare himself to face the challenges that were sure to come with living alone in a foreign land, without friend or family. This time Syaoran would have to take care of things himself.

" Of course there's no reason for me to stay." Syaoran chewed on the watermelon while eyeing the envelope. He had inserted its contents back in to be tidy. " But leaving is complicated." He wiped the juices off his chin with a napkin.

" You may just bring some photos with you." His sister suggested. " And whatever you brought there with you. The furniture you can leave behind."

" Well, obviously I can leave behind the furniture." Syaoran replied. " But there are some things they won't allow on the airplane anymore, baggage or no baggage. The sword I can hide, but they won't even allow nail clippers. What am I going to do with the knives? Sell them? I can't shrink those. And the scythe, Heaven knows why you made me bring that—you know how strange it acts normally. It was pure luck no one said anything when I first came here. Plus, they cut down the amount of stuff you're allowed to bring. I can only bring two suitcases and one carry-on, and those suitcases have to be twenty-three kilograms or less. The carry-on can't be too big either. I won't be able to stuff all of my magical items, let alone photos."

One of his sisters said something but the static in the phone hid her words. Syaoran adjusted the phone. " Huh? Can you say that again? I can't hear you."

" I said maybe you can combine with a Japanese friend."

" What do you mean? Drag Sakura or Tomoyo with me to Hong Kong just so I could carry my stuff?"

" Why not? We'll pay the ticket, as thanks. That way you can bring four suitcases."

" That still doesn't solve the problem of sharp objects."

" Maybe you can use magic."

" How the blazes can I use magic? Fly there like a bird? I don't have that power."

" Well, Sakura does, doesn't she?"

" And wear her out so that if anyone pops up to attack her, she won't have any reserves left."

The girls started talking at the same time. Yelan's voice quieted them.

" Xiao Lang, it sounds like you shall have to remain in Japan until the current policies level off a little."

" That could take years, Niang."

" Not necessarily."

" Yes necessarily." Syaoran sighed, thinking. " I do want to go home, you know." He admitted despondently. " At least for the holidays, or something. At the rate the airport securities are going, things will only get worse. I can't go home and you can't come here."

His sisters were silent. It was not like their little brother to admit something like this. It was a weakness they did not really want to consider; that their brother was in need of family support, and they were too far away to give it.

" Maybe you can ask one of Sakura's guardians to help you." Yelan suggested. " The Japanese are getting increasingly hostile against the Chinese ever since that disastrous visit between the two prime ministers and the meddling of the American Secretary of State. I'm actually quite surprised Tomoeda treated you so kindly, given the current propaganda reputed to be sweeping the country. I am very anxious to get you home as well. The idea of you alone there makes all of us feel ill at ease."

" We should never have sent him after the Clow Cards." One of his sisters muttered sulkily. " At least not alone, at any rate. And it's so ridiculous. Clow already knew who was the master. We should have known first hand and just allowed that Kinomoto girl to finish her destiny."

" That visa nonsense shows that the folks there are already beginning to abuse the Chinese residents." Another remarked.

" We have to get you out of there before they arrest you or something!"

" He's just a kid. Can they do that?"

" Never underestimate how low a government can get. They want to get back at China for ruining their chances in the Asian Alliance."

" They don't even consider themselves Asian, what are they complaining about?"

" Girls, quiet." Yelan scolded. " Such comments only increase the risks for your little brother. Remember, governments eavesdrop phone conversations. On our side we will not face much consequence, but we might have given Xiao Lang a reason to be condemned. Xiao Lang, if you can convince one of Sakura's guardians to help you, it would be best if you return home as quickly as possible. At present China is gaining strength and it would not be wise for Japan to challenge her wrath, but in the past the Japanese government officials were never deterred by such conditions. Do you think you can convince Kerberus, or Yue, to help you fly home?"

The talk was making Syaoran lose his appetite, and wish that he had accepted the invitation to go for ice cream. He would much rather eat the sweet than listen to what ultimately sums up as a prediction of his doom. His sisters and mother have never been to Japan, so of course they would not know what opinions really were; but on the other hand, Syaoran never left Tomoeda much, so he did not know of Tomoeda was simply singular in its way. He would not be surprised if it were.

Setting aside his watermelon, unfinished, Syaoran thought. Kerberus was an obvious no. The stuffed animal will not help Syaoran if he could help it. In fact, Kero might actually refuse in hopes of Syaoran actually getting lynched. He might agree sulkily due to Sakura, but Syaoran had no intention of having to deal with an unwilling ally on a long journey in the air. Plus, Kero could do all sorts of things to make the boy miserable, and might drop him to his death. Sakura would have no way of knowing.

Yue, though, was not someone one asks for favors. He was just not approachable, and the idea of asking him for help made Syaoran feel uneasy. Syaoran was very daring when he had to be, but he did have a sense of self-preservation, and Yue just seemed like someone that might kill him for asking. Even if he did agree, flying with Yue would just be too strange. Plus, though Kero shows it more thoroughly, Syaoran had a distinct feeling Yue did not really like him. Syaoran could be daring and bold, but even he had his limits.

" I don't know." Syaoran sighed finally. " I guess I could try Yue."

His sisters were silent. Even they understood how intimidating Yue could be.

I guess if the limit is with Yue, I would have to push it. Syaoran thought despairingly to himself. He was not looking forward to the encounter. " But one thing…how is Yue supposed to carry all that stuff?" Maybe I won't have to push it after all.

" The photos we can use magic to portal it to your room."

" That still leaves a lot. That still leaves basically everything, actually."

" Some things you may leave with the Card Mistress for safekeeping. She seems like a good girl. The others, like the scythe and the knives, you can bring with you."

" It's still heavy."

" But Yue's been known to be an excellent flyer. And there are spells you can perform to make them lighter. The ones that respond to such spells, at any rate."

Syaoran sighed. Not as if there was much hope to begin with. He thought. " Alright. I guess I'll try Yue…"

" Good luck." His sisters blurted out.

" I need it." Syaoran sighed. " Alright, I'm hanging up."

" Goodbye Xiao Lang."

" Bye!" His sisters called.

Syaoran slammed the phone into its receiver, listening to its click, which rang like an omen. He leaned back, looking at the half-eaten watermelon. He started playing in his mind how he was supposed to ask Yue. Everythng he came up with seemed either rude or stupid or both. He swallowed, his throat dry, but he did not reach for the fruit. His stomach protested against his throat. He was nervous.

Syaoran cursed inwardly. This was going to be one hell of a trial.

oO

Nezha wished that Sun Wukong would stop behaving like a monkey and act like a respectable human for once. This of course, was a little unreasonable, given that Wukong was a monkey. But the monkey king and Buddha of combat sometimes gets to him, with his monkey laugh and monkey immaturity. Reaching enlightenment did not make Wukong any more human.

For sure, Wukong was rather fond of Nezha. But the reasons were less appealing. The buddha finds Nezha rather cute. Nezha was young, innocent and delicate-looking, and Wukong took to him sometimes as a cat would to a ball of string, or a crow would to a silvery, shiny coin.

They were both extremely good in combat, though Wukong was admittedly better. Several hundred years ago, when the monkey waged chaos across the heavens, the Jade Emperor chose Nezha to discipline the ape. Nezha lost and had to retreat. The emperor than chose Nezha's elder, the Erlang Deity, to deal with the monkey king, but even he needed outside help to defeat the troublemaker.

And now Wukong had centuries of practice to improve his skills against demons and deities' pets, which were usually formidable. Nezha long accepted he was no match for Wukong. But at times like these, when the monkey started toying with Nezha's hair and pulling at his fabric, Nezha longed to give the Buddha a beating. Too bad he might be the one beaten though.

" Great Sage," Nezha protested impatiently as the monkey hopped around. The monkey also called himself the Great Sage of the Heavens, and after the Jade Emperor made him the keeper of the peach garden, all the deities had taken to calling him that. " Great Sage, please, do desist from this childishness—"

This amused Wukong very much, given that Nezha was, in fact, a child. " Oh come, Third Prince, what with that son of a Jade Emperor content to while away this hour listening to his fairy daughters playing music, and you and I idle, without chores, surely one like you would be content to entertain yourself?"

Nezha mentally groaned. " With all due respect, Great Sage—"

" Ah, come, Third Prince," And the monkey grabbed his arm.

" Great Sage—"

" Just for a little while. The Emperor would never notice, and he does not need you anyway, remember?"

They tugged at each other, Nezha protesting, the Buddha of Combat insisting. Suddenly, Nezha heard a distinct clanging sound, and looked down. His cosmic ring had fallen off somehow during their scuffle. And it was rolling off the floor and falling off the—

" No!" Nezha cried, and dove for his ring. Wukong yelled. He was sensible enough to realize when the situation was bad. The cosmic ring was a special weapon that Nezha had ever since he was a child. One hit from it could break the toughest stone, and if it hits the ground from such a height, it may very well cause an earthquake. He dove for the ring as well to help. But before both gods' horrified eyes, the ring rolled along, as if strolling, and disappeared from view.

" Hehe," The monkey laughed sheepishly. " Maybe it will not hit anything important."

Nezha did not acknowledge him. With all the haste of one fearing for the world, he dove from the clouds after the ring, and into the mortal realm.

oO

" Gomen nasai, Kero-chan, but it was just too hot outside. The ice cream would have melted."

Kero was wailing. " But you promised me!"

Sakura sighed. " Gomen, but it's just too hot. Unless you want me to bring a cooler with me."

" You could have used magic!" Kero normally cautioned her to use her magic wisely, but at times like these he was beyond caring.

Sakura sighed. " Look it's not that bad. You don't even feel the heat that much. Syaoran-kun didn't go with us today, so he didn't get ice cream either."

" I don't care about the gaki!"

The girl sighed again. " Alright, you want to use magic? How about I use the Sweet Card and conjure you some?"

At this, Kero seemed to sober a little. " You'll wear yourself out. That's not a good way."

" Well, when Kero-chan needs sweets, he needs sweets, doesn't he?" Sakura began pulling out the card.

" You know what, I'll settle for cookies. Can you get me the cookies from downstairs? Onegai?" Kero pulled a ridiculously pleading expression.

" Hai, Kero-chan." Sakura sighed for what must have been the hundredth time.

Downstairs Touya was glaring at the wall while holding the phone to his ear. This normally implies that the speaker on the other side was Syaoran. Sakura paused, preparing to yell at her brother to hand over the phone, since Touya, if he had it his way, would block Syaoran's calls if their phone had such a function. But this time Syaoran was not calling for Sakura.

" What do you need to find Yukito for?" Touya's glare relaxed into a light and puzzled frown. Sakura, confused, moved closer to listen.

" He's not at his house?" That in itself was not odd. What was odd was that Syaoran would bother to find out. Unless it was not Syaoran. " Iie, he's not here. What do you need him for? What favor?"

Sakura hurriedly picked up another phone. She heard Syaoran's voice saying, " It is something only he will understand—"

" Syaoran-kun!"

She heard Touya growl a little. Syaoran's voice was hesitant. " Sakura."

" You should have come with us for ice-cream! Why didn't you come? It was fun."

Syaoran sounded very tired all of the sudden. " I'm sure it was." He sounded like he was humoring her.

Sakura blinked, getting concerned. " Syaoran, is everything okay over there?"

" Hai. Everything's fine." But he did not sound convincing.

" What do you need Yukito-san for?"

There was a long silence, as if Syaoran did not want to tell her. Worried, Sakura forgot that Touya was still on the line, since she forgot to tell him to mind his own business.

Syaoran forgot too. " I—the reason I didn't go for ice cream today was because I received a letter several days ago."

" From your family?"

" No. From Homeland Security. They said that there was something wrong with my visa and that if I don't correct it by next month I would have to leave the country."

" Kami-sama. Really? Did you get it corrected?"

" I called my family today." Syaoran hesitated.

" And?" Syaoran was never that talkative, but it seemed like Sakura was dragging the words out of him.

" We decided that, with the current events and all that, the best thing for me to do is to not do anything about the visa."

Sakura took a moment to understand what he meant. " You're leaving?"

Syaoran did not hesitate this time. " I need Yue's help to get me home. I have a lot of stuff that I have to take back, though I also have a lot of stuff I have to leave with you so I guess it's alright that I'm telling you this. But after that wreck in England, a lot of the important things aren't allowed on the planes anymore, so I was hoping Yue could be troubled to fly me to Hong Kong." He sounded timid as he went on.

Sakura was still trying to get over it. " You're leaving?" She repeated.

" Hiriingaziwa was lucky he missed it." Syaoran sighed.

" But can't you just deal with the visa?" Sakura protested. " Get the government to approve your visa. You can wait out the airline trouble."

" That can take years. And there was nothing wrong with my visa." Syaoran replied. " It's easier to correct something that exists, Sakura."

" It's that minister thing, isn't it?" Touya's voice startled both of them. " You're getting scared."

" Are you afraid that the government's going to hurt you?" Sakura cried in disbelief. " That will never happen! Besides, even if it does, you can live with us. We'll protect you."

Syaoran was somewhat insulted by Touya, but he could not help but admit that Touya was right. " Don't fool yourself, Sakura. You can't withstand the might of a government. Besides, I can name a few people who would have problems with that."

" Are they giving you trouble already?" Touya asked. He was genuinely concerned about the boy now. " Are you sure they were making stuff up about it?"

" I'm pretty sure. My oka-san applied for the visa for me. They were pretty thorough in making sure I won't get any problems, legally anyway. The letter came right after the incident. It can't be a coincidence."

" What happens if you prove that your visa's authentic?"

" I'm not sure that will happen." Syaoran replied. " Anyway, do you think Yue would agree to help me?"

Sakura hesitated. " I don't know." She still felt stunned. She could not believe something like this was happening.

" Daijoubu…I'll call his house again. Maybe he's home now." Syaoran hesitated. " Ja ne, Sakura."

oO

Nighttime did not cool the air, but the absence of the sun did make the weather more humid. Syaoran kicked at the stones as he walked. He had no idea where Yukito was. Several times he called the Tsukishiro residence, and no one answered. Was Yukito avoiding him or something? If so, Syaoran was even less willing to find him. It was hard enough to summon the courage to find Yukito and speak to Yue, but if Yue did not want to see him, that made the task all the more difficult.

The sky was very clear, and he could see some stars twinkling. The moon was crescent and dim. The air felt heavy around him, the heat trapped within it. Syaoran waited for a breeze, but when it came it was just as hot and heavy as the rest of the air.

He wondered if he dared call Yukito again. He wished he did not call Sakura. He had half-hoped that Sakura would be the one to answer the phone. She would have told him Yukito was not there before asking why he was looking for him. Unlike Touya. And telling her that…

Ugh. Syaoran grabbed his head. Why was I so stupid

He tossed his head up to look at the sky, perhaps for inspiration. A streak of gold caught his eye, and he heard a faint whizzing sound of an object slipping through the air, falling. He blinked, not sure what to make of it. Was it a meteor? If it was, it would save him the trouble of figuring out how to ask Yue for help…

Meteors aren't shaped like rings. Syaoran thought stupidly as it fell straight for him. Maybe it was a magical item of some kind. Tossed from Russia. He heard that sometimes magical arrows did that in the past, when they still existed. He held his hand out and caught the ring from the inside.

Whatever gravity had on the ring's acceleration and speed seemed to dissipate as Syaoran caught it. He realized it was made of some kind of golden metal. It was warm, and pulsed, as if it were alive. There was a strange aura coming from it, and the smell of…lotus blossoms.

This is bizarre. He thought. Wonder if this thing can fly me to Hong Kong.

There was a harsh yell from above him, and the sound of something spinning. He snapped his head up and cried out when he saw a flaming arrow shooting for him. Syaoran leaped to the side, but he was too slow. Agony pierced from his left leg to his entire being, flaming hot and burning. Another light shot toward him and he was certain he was doomed, but the hot flames suddenly halted above him, hovering. He heard a gasp, followed by the sound of clothes flapping, and a glint of metal from another direction.

Oh, right. Syaoran thought to himself as his grip on the ring and reality loosened. Lotus stalks. Nezha was made of lotus stalks. He had a ring, and spear, and fire wheels. Thought he would be an old man by now…