Notes: Words in < > are spoken in English. Words in _ _ are emphasized. Words in * * are sound effects. [Begin Chapter 18] * * * The sun was lazily setting on the horizon, the last rays filtering through the drawn curtains of the living room. The light flowed into the lightly furnished room, casting eerie shadows among the little animal figurines and other decors. If one would stare at the dark shapes too long, the shadowy forms would seem to move as if alive. The sole occupant of the room, the notorious young rogue who called himself Joker, paid them no mind. He was used to the darkness all his life even before his Awakening, before he took on the mantle of The Fool. *Flip.* *Flip.* *Flip.* It had been a while since Hotaru and Natsu left for Natsu's residence, leaving Usono Ishido in Hotaru's house. They reasoned that, since the incident of past week, anyone who was after him would not consider searching her place. Right after returning to the waking world, Hotaru revealed the confrontation she had last night with Miyuki at the school festival. After they managed to calm Natsu down, the two girls decided to leave and look for help. The Firefly had shown wisdom in convincing Natsu not to storm the Tower Reversed on her own, but instead to look for possible avenues of protection before figuring out what to do next. He was cynical about this idea, but let them do as they wish, since there was no other option for the moment. Hopefully they had gained a brief respite from the machinations of both the Queen of Pentacles' ambition and the manipulations of the Council. To pass the time, he decided to do a reading. *Flip.* *Flip.* Ishido calmed himself, focusing all his attention to the cards. The Voices of the Council were unusually silent ever since they drove Harlequin away from him. Ishido knew that this was only temporary; Harlequin was bound to return any time now. But as long as Harlequin left him alone at the moment, he could do this without disturbance. He shuffled the cards thoroughly. To those not of the Arcana, they would immediately assume that the Reading was just another outdated superstition. It is quite understandable to dismiss the Tarot as a card "game" that was merely an odd diversion, something to pass the time and maybe to Fool gullible people with. If they only knew the truth. *Flip.* Gathering the cards face down in the layout atop the coffee table, Ishido passed his hands over them once, concentrating on the Question. He forced himself to block out all outside sensation, until there was nothing that existed in his mind but the Statement he directed at the deck. Finally satisfied with the preparations, he turned over a card. High Priestess. "Interesting..." Joker mused, looking over the other cards one by one in the layout. "A new development of mysterious circumstances; hidden potential awaiting a suitable catalyst, a sign of inaction. I wonder..." * * * ARCANA started by Scott Schimmel Chapter Eighteen: The Royal Council, Court Of Profound Apocrypha continued by Signus Megido * * * The two friends quietly walked down the quiet sidewalk, the setting sun at their backs. "So," Hotaru finally asked, breaking the silence. "What are you going to do now?" "I should be the one asking you that," Natsu replied. "You know what I meant. What about you thinking now?" Natsu paused. "What do you mean, Hotaru?" "Well..." Hotaru pursed her lips. "After all that's happened, you must be pretty upset by now..." "Umm... not really." Natsu thought for a moment. "Was it a good idea to just leave Joker -- I mean, Ishido -- alone at your house?" "It's all right, Natsu," Hotaru replied. "He insisted on staying. He can take care of himself." Natsu boggled at that statement. "What? You trust him even after all that has happened? What if your mother gets home and finds him there?" She placed a hand over Hotaru's forehead. "Are you sure you're all right? You didn't catch a bad fever or something, did you?" Hotaru giggled at her friend's attempt of lightheartedness, pulling the hand away. "No, nothing's wrong with me... other that becoming a Trump of the Arcana..." Natsu noticed Hotaru trailing off, and saw the sadness in her friend's eyes. "It must be hard on you... your new-found friends turning against you and all that..." "I know, Natsu. I just don't understand... Why did Miyuki..." Hotaru choked on the words. She felt Natsu's strong, athletic hands hold onto her shoulders, which felt fragile by comparison. "Hotaru... Hotaru, look at me." Natsu shook her several times for emphasis. "Hotaru. Come on, look at me. Now." Letting only a small sob escape her lips, Hotaru did so, looking right into the deep eyes of her childhood friend. "Natsu...?" "That's better..." Natsu grinned, although her eyes remained serious. "Now, listen to me, Hotaru... No matter what happens, no matter who they are, or what they can do, I'll always be here. I'll always be here to help you. I won't betray you, and I won't leave you. You can always rely on me. Remember that." "B-but Natsu..." Hotaru protested. "I know," Natsu cut her off. "And frankly, I don't care. Look, I know I'm not one of you... one of those weirdo creeps hanging around with you, or like those crazed psychos after you. I may not be able to do that time stopping trick, or pull knives out of thin air, or weird stuff like that... Heck, I'll probably be as effective as a pincushion in a fight with one of the Arcana. But whatever it takes, I'll do anything to help you. I'll be strong for you. Why? Because you're my friend, Hotaru. My dearest friend. Don't you get it now? I won't let them do whatever they want with you." Images of Arisa and Sumire flashed in Hotaru's mind. She recalled the hatred the Knight of Blades had for her best friend Sumire... ...A friend that Arisa claimed betrayed her. Would her friendship with Natsu end up the same way? Miyuki and the other members of the Council Arcana welcomed her, taught her the truth -- some of it -- of the Arcana, guided her in her path as the Magician... ...And now Fortune would have killed her, if she hadn't been saved by, of all people, one of the Council's enemies. And the psycho who tried to kill her before was now in hiding. And in her house, of all places. Everything had become so confusing... "Hotaru?" Natsu asked, breaking the introspective daze she was in. "Hotaru, are you alright? You spaced out on me for a moment there..." "I..." Returning to reality, Hotaru pulled herself away from Natsu's grip. "I felt dizzy there for a while. It's just that I felt like I was in a comic story for girls." She looked towards Natsu, who seemed hurt when she moved away from her. "Natsu, thank you. Thank you for everything. For being strong for me. For wanting to be my protector." "Well, I, uh..." Natsu nervously scratched her head. "It was a spur of the moment thing, you know? You looked kinda depressed, so I said all that mushy stuff like the ones you like to read so much in those romance comics of yours..." She was totally unprepared when Hotaru suddenly glomped her. "Whoof!" Natsu doubled over, almost losing her balance in supporting both herself and a clinging Hotaru. "H-hey now, don't take this personally..." "I know, Natsu," Hotaru cooed. "Don't feel left out. You're my best friend too, and you'll always be..." "Hey there!" Tetsuya called out as he jogged towards them, interrupting the tender scene. "Where have you been? I was looking all over for you, Hotaru." The two girls quickly disentangled themselves and looked away, Hotaru blushing despite herself. Natsu quickly stepped forward in a protective posture. "You won't take Hotaru!" "What?" Tetsuya raised his hands up in confusion. "Hey, Natsu... Hotaru... What's all this about?" "Keep your distance," Natsu warned, going into a fighting ready stance. "And none of your magic tricks." "It's all right, Natsu," Hotaru patted Natsu's shoulder, then stepped forward. "He's all right." Natsu sighed, slumping her shoulders in defeat. "You're too trusting," she muttered under her breath. Tetsuya lowered his hands, still confused. "Did something happen during the festival yesterday? What's going on?" "Where were you, anyway?" Hotaru asked. "I was babysitting Hanako the whole time," Tetsuya explained. "You wouldn't believe how much ice cream the kid could put away..." Hotaru could see the sincerity in his eyes. "All right, I'll tell you what happened..." * * * The youngest member of the Council Arcana returned to the Tower Reversed. "Hello there, Hanako," Sokana Miyuki greeted the Page of Pentacles as she entered the main hall, welcoming the brief distraction from her dilemma. "How was your day today?" Hanako made a disgusted face. "Well, we didn't have school today 'cause of the festival yesterday, so Tetsuya and I..." As Hanako rattled on and on about the minute details of the things she did for the day (or rather, the things she made Tetsuya do with her for the day), with Miyuki quietly nodding at some parts in understanding, Yasuragi Sumire entered the hall. She carried a tray full of sandwiches and a clear jar of orange juice. At a certain angle, an observer could almost spot the slight smile playing on her lips before she assumed her usual indifference. "Here's the -- oh, you're back early," Sumire spoke. "Where's Tetsuya?" Hanako broke off her conversation with Miyuki as she spotted the tray. "Tetsuya went off to go check on Hotaru... Wai! Sandwiches! And here I was getting hungry too..." No sooner had Sumire barely laid the tray on the table then Hanako was immediately besieging it. Miyuki shook her head in amazement. "At this rate, the Page of Pentacles will be the one who will ruin the Council." "How so, Miyuki-chan?" Sumire asked, taking out her deck of cards as she settled on her assigned seat on the table. Miyuki's lips briefly quirked into a slight smile before she replied. "Hanako here will eat us out of house and home." The Ace of Blades nearly poured the rest of the juice on the floor. Catching herself, she quietly chuckled while she poured herself a glass. "Now I've heard everything... Even Fortune showing her sense of humor." "Whatcha' doin'?" Hanako paused between mouthfuls to ask Sumire. "I am performing a Reading of the Tarot," Sumire crisply answered. "Isn't that hustlin' or something?" Hanako curiously asked. "While I was still livin' on the street, I once saw this guy do the same thing..." "It is _not_ the same thing," Sumire interrupted. "To us, the Tarot has power. Unlike those charlatans, we can weave magic with the cards. We see more in these cards than what they can ever even begin to hope to experience." Hanako looked confused. "But I thought only Miyuki-chan could do stuff like that?" "Hanako," Sumire continued while she gritted her teeth, "the Tarot manifests its powers in different forms for all of us. However, there are some certain abilities that all of us share. The reading of the Tarot is one of these gifts. Miyuki-chan here is more adept in working the ways of the Tarot, because as Dame Fortune she can command the very threads that govern Fate and Destiny. In fact, she has no need of the Tarot deck as a focus to predict the future; the visions come to her when needed." "Sumire, even you flatter me," Miyuki smiled, hiding the darkness creeping on her face. "I think too much of Tetsuya's influence is rubbing off on you." "Not as much as Keisuke..." Sumire muttered under her breath. "I do not deserve any adulation, not from you or anyone else," Miyuki pointed out, having overheard Sumire's retort. "You will understand when the time comes." "Miyuki... " Hanako peered closely. "It doesn't seem any different," she finally declared. The Ace of Blades grumbled, gathering the cards back in the deck. "I can't do this today," she said. "Too many distractions." "Perhaps you should teach Hanako here how to read the cards instead, Sumire," Miyuki said with a slight smile. Sumire frowned, and began to open her mouth to protest when Hanako quickly interposed herself right in front of Sumire's face without warning. "You'll teach me, Onee-chan?" she asked, her eyes almost looking like they were sparkling in the light, which was quite a feat considering the soft steady glow that illuminated the main hall. Miyuki smiled in response to Sumire's silent plea. "I'll go make some tea..." she excused herself, and left Sumire to her fate. Trapped, Sumire groaned. "Oh, fine..." * * * After narrating the events of yesterday and today (omitting the location where Joker was currently in hiding) to their self-proclaimed guardian and protector, the two friends continued on their way towards Natsu's place. The sun had already set minutes ago, and the stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky. "I don't believe this..." Tetsuya muttered as he mulled over what he just learned while he walked three steps behind them. "Why would Miyuki do such a thing? And Keisuke becoming allies with Sumire's archenemy? Everything's becoming too surreal for words." "Well then." Natsu tossed back her blonde hair, looking back with her usual cocky grin leveled towards him. "You didn't have to follow us around if you had other things to do, you know. We won't be getting in the way with your _important_ activities. You do have a valuable schedule to keep, right?" "Are you sure?" Tetsuya asked, inwardly admiring her spunk. "I'm doing this for the good of the both of you, not because I enjoy hanging around you girls! You know that you need my help. You should be grateful that I would gladly set aside my other plans to follow you two." "Oh, my heart aches at such a selfless display of chivalry," Natsu teased. "I may weep openly, Mister Bodyguard." Tetsuya frowned. "Do you always think so little of me, Natsu? Am I such a low person to you?" Natsu shrugged. "You said it, not I, right, Hotaru?" Hotaru giggled in response. Tetsuya almost looked flustered for a moment. "Hey!" "Give him a chance, Natsu," Hotaru softly spoke between giggles. "You both know you that like each other." It was Natsu's turn to blush. "What are you talking about?" both she and Tetsuya exclaimed at the same time. Hotaru playfully mock-cringed at their glares. "Well, you two seemed to like to argue a lot..." "Hotaru..." Natsu began. "I have no interest in arrogant, self-centered, and insensitive idiots." "Hey! I resent that!" Tetsuya complained. "And besides," Natsu continued as a smirk grew on her face, "You know very well that he's not my type at all." "Then what is your type, Natsu?" Tetsuya quickly switched gears to hide his embarrassment. Before Natsu could answer, he took a theatrical step back, gasping in mock shock. "Oh my, I didn't realize..." It was Hotaru's turn to be flustered. "W-what are y-you implying, Tetsuya?" Tetsuya grinned. "Oh, you know..." He held up his left hand, crossing the fingers together and winked. "You two seem to be very, *very* close..." To the surprise of everyone, Natsu grinned back. "Oh? Took you this long to notice?" Without warning, she slipped an arm around Hotaru's waist. "C'mere..." "..." Tetsuya, for once, was speechless. Both he and Hotaru were very surprised as Natsu slowly pulled her closer. Shocked by her friend's sudden bold advances, Hotaru was paralyzed. She could feel Natsu's breath tickle her skin, giving her goosebumps. The whole scene was surreal, the two young girls standing there in public in the early evening, Tetsuya frozen a few steps away as he stared at them. Time itself seemed to slow down... ...when the sudden honking of a loud horn broke the spell. The three turned around at the same time to see a strange jeep heading towards them, slowing to a stop as it got closer to the curb. None of them could identify the make and model of the yellow and green vehicle, which seemed to be a weird hybrid of a desert buggy, a WW2-era military jeep, and the Moon Rover. The blond-haired young man seated on the passenger side of the jeep looked familiar. "" The red-haired driver barked in English to his companion. "" The blond boy on the passenger side elbowed the older man, cutting off the rest of his remark. "" he called out to them with a smirk that mirrored Natsu's usual expression. "" "Hey, Chris!" Natsu happily waved back, accidentally dropping Hotaru on the pavement as she did so. "Ow! Natsu!" Hotaru winced. "Whoops, sorry Hotaru. " Chris Forrester chuckled at the sight of both Natsu's and Hotaru's equally flushed faces. "" "" Natsu growled. "" "We were just teasing him," Natsu explained, pointing at Tetsuya, who was helping the still-blushing Hotaru up from the ground. "It was just a joke. Honest." "Story of my life..." Tetsuya grumbled, overhearing the conversation. "Thank you, Tetsuya... Hello again, Chris," Hotaru waved in greeting. Tetsuya gave the newcomers a once-over. "Are they your cousins, Natsu?" "Oh, sorry..." Natsu managed to smirk as she turned to the others. "Tetsuya, he's my cousin Chris Forrester. Hotaru, the sleazy old bum driving the run-down junk pile is Chris' Uncle William." Will laughed out loudly. "Careful, my pretty little niece..." he mock-scolded her in Japanese, "this 'sleazy old bum' is also a very affluent businessman who owns this beauty," he punctuated by patting the jeep affectionately, "as well as several other successful companies around the world. By the way, this is Victory, my pride and joy." "Ignore the uneducated hopeless driver at the wheel," Natsu teased, causing Will to make faces at her in reply. "Hiya," Chris offered his hand in greeting, which Tetsuya shook. "How are you today, Hotaru?" "We're fine, thank you." Hotaru curtsied. "I'm Komatane Hotaru, and this is Koishikawa Tetsuya." "Hello there," Tetsuya added. "Pleased to meet'cha," Will leered forward. "" "Care for a lift?" Chris offered, elbowing his uncle back to his seat again. "Uncle Will is heading towards Natsu's place to pick up Mom and Aunt Francine." "What a coincidence, we were just going there. Sure, we'll go," Natsu agreed, then turned towards Hotaru. "Well?" Hotaru looked at the jeep, then at Natsu. "Okay," she nodded. "If it's all right with you, Natsu, Hotaru, I'll take a rain check on this ride," Tetsuya declined, walking away. "Be seeing you both tomorrow before school then." "Tetsuya..." Tetsuya flashed a grin. "I'm going to get some answers myself. Don't worry about me." He then turned towards the two occupants. "My apologies, it was a pleasure knowing you." "Same here, kid," Will replied. "Bye." As Hotaru clambered up after Natsu and squeezed in the back seat of the vehicle, she felt a slight tingle when she touched the side of the jeep. She shivered involuntarily at the sensation. "What's wrong, Hotaru?" Natsu asked. "I'm... not sure, Natsu," Hotaru replied. "I've never ridden a vehicle like this before, and it feels so weird." "Probably static," Will answered while starting up the motor. "I had Victory cleaned up just this morning, so it feels just like brand new." "Too bad it doesn't look anything like new," Natsu smirked. "Ow. You really are Francine's niece, aren't you, Natsu?" "Runs in the family, huh?" Natsu riposted. "Uncle Will here is so obsessed with Victory," Chris explained to Hotaru while the jeep slowly merged with the light early evening traffic. "Sometimes we think Auntie Francine got married to the jeep, not to him." "Well, in a way, you could say that..." Will drifted off. Hotaru pulled out an old tome which was wedged on the seat beside her. "Hmm, what's this?... 'Magick in Theory and Practice' by Aleister Crowley..." "Oh, that's my one of my Aunt's books," Chris explained. She a real enthusiast of the occult." "Now _there's_ an understatement if I've ever heard one," Will interjected. "Lemme tell ya, it's bad enough we've got an arcane library back home, but she's gotta insist on bringing along a couple or dozen whenever we go on trips..." Both Natsu and Hotaru shared a look, and nodded in silent agreement. The whole trip itself was mostly uneventful, although Hotaru felt that she was being watched the whole time. * * * Unnoticed by her, a pair of blue eyes reflected by the rearview mirror observed her... * * * Tetsuya watched the girls leave, the two friends riding away in Victory. "I wonder if it was such a good idea to let them go off on their own? Especially with that feeling... But they are Miss Forrester's family, so it should be okay. I guess." Hands in his pockets, the Knight of Cups headed off towards the campus to find the others. "Now to get some answers." * * * The two Arcana were finished with the instruction when Miyuki finally returned with the tea, and they were now in the practical application of the Tarot reading. The whole "teaching session" nearly brought Sumire to her wits' end. Hanako was proving to be an apt, if a bit boisterous, student. Her non-stop barrage of questions almost drove the older girl into a fit. Hanako was currently beginning on an advanced layout, with a haggard Sumire hovering over her like an irritated hawk. Miyuki sat on her chair, and quietly observed the proceedings with much amusement. Beside her were several china cups and the steaming pot of tea she brought with her. "No, no, no!" An exasperated Sumire yelled. "Don't shuffle it like that! You won't be able to make a proper reading if the actions are too mechanical." "Hey, it works for me," Hanako shrugged. "I don't see anything wrong with doing it that way." Miyuki she quietly sipped her tea, and grimaced at the taste. "...Bitter." Sumire finally raised her arms in frustration. "I give up... That is all for today's lesson, Hanako." She reached for the cards, but Hanako pulled them away from her. "Hey!" Hanako protested. "At least let me try one more time." "Fine. You may keep those cards for your own amusement," Sumire shrugged, stomping out of the room. "Where are you going, Sumire?" Miyuki asked. "Out for a walk," Sumire replied sharply. Curious about Sumire's response, the Wheel of Fortune went to the Page of Pentacles' side. She observed the young former street urchin lay down the cards in the Cross pattern layout that Sumire taught her. Miyuki was amazed. "Very good, Hanako," she praised. "I'm very impressed by such quick progress. You've gone this far in such a short time. I am sure that you will make an excellent Tarot reader. Sumire taught you well." Hanako shrugged. "Hey, it's not so hard when I learned to listen." "Listen?" "Sure," Hanako nodded in reply. "When I think hard on the question I want answered, the cards tell me where to put them on the table." She then looked sheepish. "I just have no idea what they mean, though. Sumire didn't really explain it all to me that clearly." "Listening to the cards for advice, indeed," Miyuki mused to herself as she looked over the cards on the table. "The answer depends on how you state your question, not just what your question is," she expounded while she appraised the layout. "This is a... very interesting reading." "Could you help me figure this out?" Hanako asked. "I was thinking of why Hotaru-chan is in trouble..." "Why do you think Hotaru is any danger, Hanako?" Miyuki asked, intrigued. "I dunno... That just popped into my mind when I was thinking of a question." Miyuki quietly studied the Page of Pentacles. "Let me see..." Miyuki looked over the center of the cross formed by the cards. "The court is beset by competition. The desires of the individuals is at opposition with each other and with the whole." She traced a line to the two cards opposite each other, with the Chariot between them. "The association of tradition has become placid, stagnated by the lack of true guidance and leadership, since each member is mired in petty concerns. Any attempt of community with the group is quickly repressed." She pointed at the reversed Ace of Blades, placed right above the Five of Wands. "When newcomers enter the circle, instead of fostering growth and unity, they threaten to pull the union apart. Discipline is very easy to establish, but very difficult to enforce. The current team must take other factors into consideration." She finally stopped at the King of Pentacles. "The Council must not hesitate to seek a truce among extremes at the first opportunity, else the unstoppable flow of natural order will repeat itself. Remove the unpredictable pieces that could go out of control if need be. No matter how inevitable, tragedy can still be averted by proving your loyalty to your cause." As the last words left her lips, Miyuki paled when she realized what the cards were telling her. The order of the Council Arcana returned to her thoughts, now stronger than ever. KILL THE MAGICIAN. Did she do the right thing? She was sure of it. It was what she was ordered to do. But now... "Are you alright, Miyuki-chan?" Hanako peered up at her. Miyuki weakly smiled back, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I'm fine, Hanako. Interpreting your... unique reading was draining for me, but it's nothing serious." Hanako pouted. "Mou... I don't get it. What does it supposed to mean?" "I..." Miyuki was at a loss for words. "I'm not sure, Hanako." She turned around and shakily walked out of the room, leaving Hanako alone. "This is so depressing..." * * * The young child, heavily bundled from head to foot, timidly entered the hospice. Inside, many sick people lay on simple linen cots, all of them suffering from the Plague. The groaning pleas of the ill rose above the din of the huge room, whose walls were once white but were now soiled to a dark brown, heavily caked with the mud and grime of the passage of time and little care. Opening the pouch slung by the child's side, the young healer took out a small vial of glowing blue liquid. The child slowly walked towards the back door, where the water tank was located. A thin figure wrapped in bright rags was already waiting for the child at the other side of the door. The young healer sighed. "Have we not all agreed that my work must never be disturbed, or is it merely your base nature to interfere in the affairs of others, Fool?" "Hello, Page of Cups," Harlequin greeted the fellow Arcana, nonchalantly waving his knife at the healer as he toyed with the silver instrument of death. "How is the world of Dreams treating you?" The child frowned back. "Begone, foul miscreant," a muffled voice issued out from under the think folds of the scarf covering most of the youth's face, both the words and the tone of voice belying the speaker's uncommon advanced maturity. "Or speak up, if your purpose in coming here is that grave. I have a mission of outmost importance, and I would prefer that you and your ilk would not interfere, as per the agreement." "What else am I here for?" Harlequin grinned evilly. "My motives are of my own... For now, I have need of the services of a Page." "Then why not seek out Squire, or any of the other jacks?" The Page of Cups asked. "Surely they have more skills to offer than my meager abilities." "For none of them are versed in the arts of healing, O Page of Cups," Harlequin explained in a patronizing manner. "The Rebel Queen grows impatient as time passes." "The Mad One is the least of our concerns. What is more worrisome is the arrival of the other Arcana into the Spread. A conflict is regrettable, but inevitable in this situation," The Page of Cups sighed. "So what is it you really want with me, Harlequin? I do not believe this is a social call." Harlequin grinned. "Is it wrong for me to visit someone who won't run away screaming from my sight, or attempt to strike me down at the first opportunity?" "No more games, Fool. Speak now, or stand aside and let me complete my task." The knife glittered as Harlequin continued playing with it. "Do you know I can kill you where you stand without you realizing it?" "I also know that you need me more alive than dead. Ever since the Fall of the Council and the rise of the Rebel Courts, allies among the Arcana are few and far between. Besides, your idle threats have no bearing in my world." "Very well, then," Harlequin conceded. "I would much appreciate it if you swear no allegiances with either side." "That, I assure you, I will do." The Page of Cups' eyes gleamed in the shadows. "Not for you, but for the sake of the future. Like yourself, I have no need for sides to offer my services to unless opportunity necessitates it." There was a short pause. "You have my word. Would that suffice, Aimless One?" "Whatever..." Harlequin shrugged indifferently, then giggled. "'Aimless One', indeed. She was a blind and stupid Fool, leaping into the forefront without concern for her the consequences of her actions. Pity." "So do you, Harlequin. All Fools ultimately walk the same Path," the Page of Cups sighed. "What else do you require, Fool? Time grows short, even in fluid realities such as this Dream." Harlequin reached out with a hand. "Hand me one of your potions to ease the pain and quicken the healing of my wounds." The child handed him another vial. "Here. Now leave me be, you unprincipled scoundrel. Go to the wayward Firefly, whom you enjoy tormenting so much. I have taught you too much already on the ways of the Dream." "Fare thee well then, fickle Caregiver," Harlequin grinned, bowing to the young healer, before he stepped aside and vanished. The Page of Cups sighed, then proceeded to empty the glowing contents of the vial into the water supply. "Forgive me, but I have done the best that I could..." * * * Keisuke Shirosawa had seen a lot of things even before becoming Arcana. But even with all the experience, the sight of Hanako alone in the main hall intently studying something on the table took him by surprise. In front of her was a layout of a Tarot Reading, and right beside her were several cups and a steaming pot of tea. "Hanako?" The Page of Pentacles looked up. "Oh, hi, Keisuke-san! Sumire taught me how to make a Tarot Reading." "That's nice..." Keisuke grimaced as he took a sip of tea that he poured out for himself. "...Bitter." "Um... you said something?" "Nothing, nothing," he looked around. "Where are the others? I would have expected Miyuki or Sumire to be here with you." Hanako shrugged. "I dunno... Sumire felt tired, and left earlier, and Miyuki went out somewhere all of a sudden right after figuring out what my Tarot layout was supposed to mean." "Oh?" This piqued Keisuke's interest. "What's wrong?" "Well, I was thinking of Hotaru-chan while I was shuffling the cards, then they spoke to me..." "'They'? Who spoke to you?" "The cards, of course," Hanako replied matter-of-factly, not noticing Keisuke blanch. "When I thought of Hotaru-chan, I felt like she was in trouble, or something. Right after Miyuki checked out what I did, she seemed pale, as if she got sick or something... Then she left me here all of the sudden." She paused. "I think she was upset by what I did." Keisuke wiped the cold sweat on his brow. "I'm... I'm sure it wasn't your fault, Hanako." "This sucks..." Hanako groused. "Isn't there a second opinion?" Keisuke smiled. "Lucky for you, there is. The cards in a Tarot reading can be interpreted many ways, after all." "Want to give it a try, Keisuke-san?" Hanako asked hopefully. "Sure." Keisuke leaned forward to scrutinize the layout. He started at the Chariot, then proceeded to trace the Way in the exact opposite from Miyuki's direction. "There is a new player in the game. He is very dangerous because he is determined to win no matter what. Even his allies must stay wary of him." He traced a line towards the Empress, passing by the Four of Cups as he went. "The one person everyone seeks is a selfish and apathetic individual, content with living her own life and has no desire to be involved with the problems of her peers. There is no reward in pursuing her favor." He pointed at the reversed Two of Cups paired with the Page of Cups. "Dangerous attractions have arisen that could threaten the peace. But if they follow their heart, they will withstand the hidden storms. Beware of temptations; it is very easy to remove yourself from others and enjoy life as it goes by, but opportunity must not be allowed to pass. Instead, seize the initiative at the first opportunity." He went to the reversed Three of Cups. "In these times of chaos and anarchy, friendships will be sorely tested, but the bonds they share will only grow stronger when all the trials are behind them. They must trust and rely on each other, for only in purity and honesty will they be victorious in the end." Keisuke was trembling when he finished. He stumbled to his seat before looking over the Page of Pentacles, who stood there with an unreadable expression on her face. Does she know? He thought, fear gnawing in his heart as he thought of Miyuki that night, the look on her sightless face, holding that knife... Did she knew? Was all this some elaborate trap by the Council to expose the traitor in the ranks? Traitor. Traitor. Traitor. "No..." Keisuke took a deep breath. "No, I'm not." I'm not doing this to betray the Council. I'm not. I'm not. Not... "What did you say?" Hanako looked up at him. Keisuke weakly smiled down at her. "It's nothing, Hanako. I just remembered something... It's nothing important." "Um..." Hanako pursed her lips. "That is a different reading, but it's just as depressing as Miyuki's interpretation. I mean, you both make it sound like everything revolved around Hotaru-chan, and now she's in danger, or something..." She picked up the card at the ninth position. "Hey! You both forgot to use this one!" Keisuke snapped to attention. "What is it, Hanako?" Hanako turned the card over to him. "The Star..." Keisuke breathed, then sighed in relief. "The Wild Card," he added. "What does it all mean?" Hanako asked. "Never lose _Hope_..." Keisuke took another sip from his cup of tea to calm himself. "Odd, this tastes fine now..." * * * Unnoticed, Miyuki watched from the shadows, a neutral expression on her face. * * * The Queen of Pentacles sat on a table in a downtown cafe. Maki Kurayami checked her watch for the fourteenth time. "Where are they?" she grumbled, idly stirring her cooling cup of hot chocolate. In front of her atop the small coffee table was her Tarot deck, with the topmost card face up. The Chariot. The bells hanging at the entrance chimed. Maki looked up and saw a middle-aged gaijin stumble through the Victorian-style doors. "" The older man grinned widely, walking to her table with large, purposeful steps. "" he greeted her back. He leaned closer towards her cheek, but she roughly pushed him away. "" "" Maki pointed out as he took a seat opposite her. "" "" He explained, signaling for the waitress at the same time. "" "" "" Maki looked around. "" The man leaned back. "" The waitress arrived at the table with the menus. "Can I take your order?" She asked. He looked her over. "" The waitress blinked, not understanding the language. Maki sighed. "Hot chocolate, please," she told the confused girl. He grinned. "But I'll have some of that instead." Maki frowned at him as the waitress got his order. "Uncle, you are so shameless! I find it difficult to believe you are--" He held up a hand which silenced her. "You're right," he said, the humor gone from his face. "I'm not. I am what I am now because of an accident. But since I can't control my life anymore, might as well enjoy every moment of it." "Accident? Indeed..." Maki frowned as she pulled out a small manila envelope from a hidden lining in the folds of her pleated skirt. "" He opened the envelope and looked over the pictures. His eyes narrowed. "" "" He replaced the pictures, then threw them on the table towards her. "I refuse." Maki clenched her fists. "What?" "There are... extenuating circumstances," he added. "But the compensation is not enough if these people are the ones to be removed." "You dare defy me?" Maki asked in a calm, dangerous tone. "Do you have any idea what you just said? Do you realize that if it wasn't for me, you would never be able to set one foot in this country." He coolly looked back at her. "I don't need your help for that. I worked with my bare hands ever since I was half your age. You weren't even born yet when I first started my business. Even if I lose everything now, I can still start again from scratch." "Here's your order, sir." Maki turned around abruptly and viciously glared at the girl. Terrified, the waitress took a step back and slipped on the tiled marble floor. In a flash, the big man was on his feet, catching her as she fell with one arm as he caught the cup with the other. "Thank you, miss." The girl blushed and mumbled apologies as she scampered away. In turn, the red-haired man faced Maki. "" Maki stood up. "" She pointed to the parking lot outside. "" The older man gasped. "" "" "" "" Right after the sudden outburst, Maki's attitude radically changed. "I'll be going now, dear Uncle," she giggled as she walked away. "I expect to hear good results from you soon." * * * A hand clapped Keisuke's shoulder. "Keisuke-kun." Keisuke was snapped back to reality with the sound of Tetsuya's voice. "Huh?... What happened?" He instinctively slapped the hand away. "You froze on your seat all of a sudden, Keisuke-san," Hanako, standing beside Keisuke, explained. "And you stayed there until Tetsuya came here. I was getting so worried..." "Keisuke," Tetsuya added. "Is that a way to treat a friend? What's up with you?" "It's nothing..." Keisuke groggily shook his head. "I just feel tired." "No kidding... Hey, where's Miyuki?" Keisuke shrugged. "I don't know." Without warning, Tetsuya grabbed the lapels of Keisuke's school jacket. Keisuke was hauled out of his seat and forced to stand. "Don't give me that disaffected pretty boy crap! I know you know something, and you will tell me." "As opposed to you?" Keisuke calmly pried Tetsuya's hands away. "Look who's talking, playboy." "You..." Tetsuya shoved Keisuke back. Keisuke raised his arms to block, but Tetsuya stepped into his reach, and rammed his shoulder right at Keisuke's chest. "Tetsuya-kun! Keisuke-san!" Hanako shouted. "What are you--" Keisuke staggered back, his back slamming on the stone wall. Tetsuya was upon him, pinning his arms back. He brought his face inches to Keisuke's, until they were both eye-to-eye with each other. Keisuke could feel Tetsuya's breath prickle his face. "Bastard, what do you plan to do?" Keisuke swore, his eyes narrowing. "Do you think you can just push me around like everyone else?" "You were with the Knight of Blades," Tetsuya spat back. "And you were the last one with the Wheel of Fortune. Tell me why she tried to kill the Magician." "Hotaru?" Hanako asked in a small voice, her eyes growing wide. "Why don't you ask her yourself, Knight of Cups?" Keisuke stoically asked in return. "I have no part in the plot to remove the Magician." Hanako gasped. "Miyuki is nowhere in the Tower Reversed," Tetsuya replied. "Now are you going to tell me everything, or do I have to force it out of you?" "What I know you already suspect," Keisuke spoke. "And even if I have the answers that you want to hear, what are you going to do about it? It's not as if you have what it takes..." "And do you?" Tetsuya demanded. Keisuke smiled wanly. "I never especially cared for you, Tetsuya. I've disliked your worldly, devil-may-care attitude ever since the beginning. So you can't move me, unlike your other conquests." Tetsuya frowned. "You..." he growled as he released his hold on Keisuke, and turned away. "I don't dig your faggoty habits either, Mister Popularity." Keisuke arranged his disheveled clothing. "Why did you change your mind? Did I say something that upset you?" He raised a hand and reached out to clap Tetsuya's shoulder. Tetsuya slapped the hand away. "Feh," he replied, his back still to Keisuke. "You're no help to me. There's nothing I can learn from you." Unseen by Keisuke, he was smiling as he spoke. The small humorless smile on Tetsuya's face was mirrored by Keisuke. "Truce, then?" "Whatever... Keisuke-kun," Tetsuya replied, walking away. After a moment, Keisuke left as well. "A honest fool who wears his heart on his sleeve, yet is also a smooth manipulative bastard..." he whispered. "I've always admired you for that... Tetsuya-kun..." * * * Hanako finally released the breath she was holding back. She then realized that she was alone. "Where is everybody?" * * * "" His eyes tracked her back appreciably as she headed out the door. "" He shook his head out of his reverie, berating himself for still feeling that way. "Idiot. " He sat back on the chair to hide his embarrassment, and picked up his cup of chocolate. "I guess I'll have to call the others now." He grimaced after taking a sip. "Ugh. Bitter..." The current holder of The Chariot cursed himself once again for getting into situations like these. It would have been better had the objectives remained strangers -- the better to alienate them from himself -- but he knew one of these targets, and by association he concluded that the others must be her friends. "" This would never have happened had he not succumbed to his weakness... The contents of the manila envelope were scattered on the table before him, lying over the Tarot cards Maki left on the table. On top of the Chariot card was the picture of Hotaru... * * * [end of chapter 18] ____________________ AUTHOR'S SKRIBULOUS: (Looks back) Mah gods! 'Tis [HUGE]! @_@ The Surreal Author strikes again! ^-^_v If you were wondering why the dialogue seems stilted, blame my shojo anime and manga binges this past few weeks. (Yes, this includes a FY OAV marathon and the whole run of SMStars. O_o) Damn sucky literal fansub/dub scripts... Chiho Saito is either a genius or just plain loony. Well, it takes one to know one, eh? X_X I'm not actually introducing new plotlines here. The Page of Cups was in my #7, and Maki mentioned bringing in the "big guns" many times in the past few chapters, now that Hotaru is a fully investitured Arcana and all that. -_-; Besides, it's been quite a while since we've seen a new Arcana introduced... In this case, I'm being literal with my own reinterpretation of the Chariot. (It's pretty obvious by the end who, or rather what, the Chariot is. ^_^;) And we finally have a "biseinen" chara, a rarity in anime fanfiction. Yay. ^^;;; In the original version, I originally intended the tarot readings as a "pad scene", and the Harlequin/Page of Cups meeting as the actual focus (hence the title), but the optional sequence became the focus of the chapter instead. -_-;;; Yes, the two interpretations are based on the same actual Tarot card reading. ...Aww, shoot, I wanted to add more scenes... But I'll leave it for the next authors to figure out. @_@ Thanks to Scott Schimmel, Delfina, Dayglo and Ian for last-second prereading of the original draft (the now-in-Limbo Arcana#14, version Signus), and a BIG THANK YOU to SD Ryukage for the MASSIVE prereading (oy...) of the current final version. Same goes to Ciara and Scott for the last-minute C&Cs and spellchecking. But if you still found any mistakes, it's all mine and not their fault. ^^;;; And finally a big thanks goes out for our beautiful Illyria for putting up with me and my self-depreciating insanity. Hey, you are reading this, right? Links that helped in the making of Arcana #18: http://www.luckymojo.com/altmagickfaq/taroref http://www.luckymojo.com/faqs/faq.a-tarot.9801 http://www.luckymojo.com/altmagickfaq/trtlyref Enjoy. -Mark Ranel M. Lambo, aka. Signus Megido/Skribulous, aka. MaRaMaLa, D' Fat Dragon Scribe http://hello.to/MaRaMaLa November 12, 2000