"The spread is very volatile."

The dark room was silent for a while, before he replied.
"Understandable, considering.  And?"

The old man was silent; perhaps weighing his words; perhaps
aiming not to say anything more.  That had always irked him.

"It's unlike you to come here; especially for you to be so
conversational."  His tone was probably more wry than the words
deserved.

"I was curious how you are planning on acting."

He sighed.  "To be honest, I really don't see why.  Your actions
-- or lack thereof -- are already predetermined, aren't they?"

"Perhaps."  A pause again.  "Do you really understand the
gravity of the situation?"

"Yes, in fact, we do," he barked, angry now.  The senile old
coot had never appreciated his mind; never realized what he
could truly do.  "Nothing has happened yet that hasn't been
planned for.  Nothing has happened that we could not handle."

"Yet," the old man clarified, suddenly sounding very tired.
"Always yet."  He paused, seemingly reluctant in his next words.
"She will be called, soon.  Is she ready?"

"She will have to be," he said coldly.  "Perhaps you should know
more than anyone how futile it is to try and prepare one for
this."  The old man looked slightly shaken at this, and he
smiled.  "You seem to be rather compassionate about this one.
Isn't that against your position?"

The bushy white eyebrows ridged into a frown.  "That is where
you are wrong.  I care for you all.  I care for us all."

Hanged Man raised an eyebrow.  "Do you fear change so much?"

Temperance shook his head.  "I fear what will happen if we do
not."

+ + +

Arcana
   started by Scott Schimmel
Chapter Fifty: Before the Dawn
   by Erin Ellis

+ + +

"Aunt Francine?  I'm back!"

World rose, unsure what to do.  Of course Chris was back; he was
emitting so much power that he might as well been using a beacon
shining at him saying 'Yes, I am Arcana!'  Fortune was still
mumbling; she doubted the girl could be either stopped or hidden
in the half a moment before Chris entered the kitchen.  World
sighed, running a hand through her dark hair.  She couldn't hide
him anymore; couldn't hide either of them.

"Aunt Francine?"  He paused in the doorway, confusion plain on
his face.  "Who are you?" Chris said sternly, blue eyes
flashing.

"Chris... I didn't want to have to do this."  She stepped
forward, quickly closing the distance between them before the
boy had a chance to fall back.  She put a hand to his forehead,
and Chris's eyes widened then shut, the boy falling into her
open arms.  This wouldn't last very long, but for now... perhaps
it would give her enough time to make arrangements...

+ + +

"What are you doing here?"

Tetsuya and Hotaru whirled around, both looking incredibly
guilty.  "Natsu."

"Natsu-chan, can we--"

"I thought you cared about me," she addressed the boy, ignoring
her erstwhile friend.  "I thought you wanted to keep my
confidences, to help me out.  Instead you're here with her."

The blue-haired boy seemed lost, or confused.  "Hotaru was just
telling me what happened--"

"Oh, so you couldn't believe what I told you?  I'm not
trustworthy enough?  Needed to ask little miss perfect here what
-really- happened?"

"It's not like that--"

"Don't tell me what it's like!  I have two eyes, I can see.  It
makes a lot of sense, actually.  Of course, you'd like Hotaru;
everybody would.  She's nice, she's kind, she's concerned, and
she's always got a smile and good word for everyone.  Me?  All
I've got is foul words, little confidence, and a criminal
record.  She's the magical girl heroine from the comic books.
I'm the pathetic side character.  Well, maybe I don't want to be
in your quest anymore!"

"Natsu-chan," the brunette pleaded again.  Why wouldn't she shut
up?

Tetsuya held up a hand to silence her, stepping forward.
"Natsu.  You're-- you need to calm down.  Listen to me."  He put
his hands on her shoulders, gripping her firmly but tenderly.
Her heart was racing.  It was liquid excitement to be in his
arms, but her rage at seeing Hotaru -- at seeing him with Hotaru
-- was burning at her will, at her common sense.  She could
almost feel self-control slipping through her grasp like broken
glass; so many shards too small to hold on to, the harder she
clung to them the more pain she felt.

"We can work this out," he was saying, inanely, but he looked so
earnest.  "Let me help you."  She could see him shooing Hotaru
away behind his back, like she was some crazy person who
wouldn't notice.  That angered her, though Hotaru's farther
proximity did make her feel better.  Maybe he did care.  Maybe
she did.  Maybe they could...

Something flew quite quickly through her field of vision, and
Tetsuya had pushed her back, staring the direction it had come
from.  Natsu staggered backwards a few steps, quickly recovering
her balance, but not her sympathetic humor.

"What was that?  Are you okay?" he called to her, glancing back
at the sky, turning back to Hotaru.  "Did it try to hurt you?"

"I'm fine," Hotaru nodded, her oh-so-cute face in its familiar
expression of frightened confusion.  "Natsu-chan?"

Natsu scowled, a burning sensation rising in her stomach.  She
couldn't take her pity-- couldn't take Her.  Couldn't take them.
"Don't be so familiar with me.  Just leave me alone, both of
you.  It's not like you need me, anyway," she added bitterly,
turning and walking away.

"Natsu!"  Tetsuya grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around.
Automatically, Natsu struck out, punching the pretty boy across
the face.  He sprawled to the pavement, a wounded look across
his features.

The blonde deflated, fists falling to her sides.  "I..."  How
could she even explain?  She didn't understand herself.  There
was too much, it was too intense.  The old Natsu would have gone
to the old Hotaru and worked everything out.

But that was then.  Now, she fled.

+ + +

It had been close for a few moments, but in total, she had made
a lot of progress.  In fact, she might be ready for the next
step.

/I can't believe he did that.  I can't believe I did that.  I
thought he cared for me!  I thought I cared for--  I-- I
thought.../

Yes, finally, it was time.  Softly, gently, intimately, he
began.

+ + +

World lounged on a settee, but was anything but relaxed.
Victory performed a better approximation of the emotion, leaning
against a black marble pillar, arms crossed.

"Well?  This meeting ever going to get started?" Victory
drawled, casual tones belying the impatient expression on her
face.

The dark-haired woman frowned, blindfolded eyes unconsciously
moving to her bare wrist.  "The King of Blades said he was going
to be here," she muttered.

"Well, obviously, he couldn't make it.  So why don't you say
what you have to say, and lets get this over with.  Some of us
actually do have things to do."

"I'm sorry, I forgot about your oh-so-busy schedule,
chauffeuring your master around.  I was hoping that you would
make yourself useful, and bring the King."

The blonde's mouth twisted in a cruel smile.  "Sorry for you.
My relationship with Rusty seems to be the same as yours with
Will."

World stiffened.  "I have no relationship with Will."

"Exactly," Victory smirked.  "Rather sad, isn't it?"

"What are you getting at?"

Victory looked at the woman, that same condescending expression
on her face.  "All of us have our little secrets, Frannie.  You
can hide things from your husband, but you can't hide them from
me.  Never forget that I'm a Trump, and more than that, I'm a
higher ranked Trump than you.  I knew before we even arrived
that you had a powerful Trump in the house, and you probably
don't even want to know how long I've known about you.  I've
been wondering for years when you might finally think about
telling me."

Lips pressed firmly together, World tossed her head, unwilling
to allow any other physical indication that Victory's knowledge
had shocked her.  "Well, kudos for you.  I'll tell Will to fill
up with the expensive gas next time."  Chariot's expression at
that was almost worth her secret being in danger.  "Are you
planning on blackmailing me now?  Over Will?  Please.  He's
definitely not worth it."  Hopefully she would take the bait;
Will knowing she was World would be a big hassle, and a danger
for the others.

"Why are you married to him?" Victory challenged.

"Why do you serve him?" World countered.

"I... I don't 'serve' him.  Make no mistake, I chose him.  -I-
found him, -I- induced him to rebuild me, I made sure he would
be one to take me to where the others were, to introduce me to
so many other Trumps.  I knew the right people and the right
places to get back my power, to regain my true place."

She was blustering.  World had won.  "You love him," she said,
an amused smile toying at her lips.

The girl looked enraged.  "What are you talking about?  That's
ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous is one of the most powerful Trumps, defeated
by a man.  Funny, since I didn't even think you had a heart."

"Will and I are closer than you'll ever be," Victory swore,
expression dangerous.

"You can't possibly imagine how much I'm crying over that,"
World deadpanned.  "Go ahead, he's all yours.  Such a
distraction is unecessary.  You were right to use him; he seems
to have a knack for attracting Arcana.  But other than that?"
World chuckled, more sure than before.

Frustrated, Victory spun on her heel and disappeared.  Taking
off her blindfold, Francine could faintly hear an engine tooling
down the street.  Such a hothead would never truly succeed in
her goals.  She almost truly did deserve someone like Will.  It
did worry her what could have kept Rusty from the meeting
though.  It had to have been something -- or someone -- very
important.

There was no time to worry about that now, however.  Chris would
wake soon, and with Victory aware of her secret and angry with
her, it could be dangerous for both of them.  She would need
outside aid.

Sighing, she re-tied her blindfold, and began to Look.

+ + +

Rustom Cutterson Date-Smith noticed her through the frosted
glass before he even entered the room.  Silently opening the
door, she was the only thing he saw; while he was aware of the
rest of his Court and Hermit arranged around his office, his
eyes were immediately drawn to her, like water in the desert.

"Bronwyn Date-Smith," she said pleasantly.  "Pleased to meet you
all."

"You kept the name," Rusty said, moving into the room proper.

The Queen of Blades turned, a familiar smile on her face.
"Would have been too much of a bother to change my business
cards.  It's been a while, Rusty."

"That it has," he nodded.  She hadn't changed incredibly much in
the past five years; perhaps one or two strands of gray working
their way into the cropped auburn hair, maybe a crease or two
framing her green eyes and full lips.  Still--  "Hope your trip
was all right."

"Rather short notice for a meeting; you wouldn't believe how
much the plane ticket cost.  Otherwise, things went smoothly.
The reason for this meeting is a lot more notable a problem than
any turbulence."  Bronwyn fell silent, taking a chair by his
Ace, who gave her a guarded look.  He realized he really didn't
know the other two at all.

"Let's get this party started, then," Rusty said, choosing to
remain standing.  He thought better that way.  "I'm Attorney
Ru--"

"Rustom Cutterson Date-Smith, if I remember correctly," the girl
with the closed expression said.  "You were Natsu Forrester's
lawyer.  I was there as one of Forrester's... acquaintances."
She stood, bowing slightly.  "Yasuragi Sumire.  Ace of Blades."
Probably was part of Komatane's group.  Could be useful.

"Shinjo Arisa, Knight," the long-haired girl wearing leather and
an ugly scar stated from behind his desk.  "What's all this
about?  You send us weapons, leave us with the old man," she
forked her thumb at Hermit, "and summon us here.  What's going
on?"

"You needed to be tested and prepared.  Your high school battles
are all fine and good, but we've got bigger and better fish to
fry than the Queen of Pentacles, or a single Trump."

"What's that supposed to mean?" his Knight asked, expression
foul.  This one would have to be taught some manners.

"What -is- your plan, Rusty?  I know you wouldn't call us all
unless it was something pretty big."  The Queen's words were
reserved, but he could tell she was itching to know.

"It is big.  Quite a few stories tall, if I remember correctly.
Our objective is the Tower."

"The Tower Reversed?  What is important there?"  His Ace was
detail-oriented, if a little frosty.  Good.

He shook his head.  "No, the Tower.  We're going to release his
Shackles-- and soon, before any more Trumps show up to throw a
wrench in things."  He smirked, continuing.  "The ensuing
shakeup will change everything.  I plan on ending up on top."

"You do know that all four Kings have been drawn.  Arcana will
be drawn to the Tower in droves."  Rusty frowned at this, giving
his Queen a piercing look.  "Come on, you didn't really think
that Japan was the only place Arcana were active, did you?" she
said, exasperatedly.

The King of Blades flared his nostrils.  "Thank you for letting
me know of that pertinent piece of knowledge so far in advance,
my lady."  Damn... but couldn't be helped.  Wasn't really
unexpected, anyway.  He continued, thinking aloud.  "The
Pentacles are our allies, and the Cups our rivals.  So then, the
King of Wands is finally back in play?  Even more reason to act
quickly."  He clapped his hands, calling the others to
attention.  "Make whatever arrangements you need to.  We act in
a week's time."

He stopped, finished, finally sat.  His Court looked puzzled;
Bronwyn looked like he had grown a third head.  No, this
wouldn't do at all.  They would have to be a lot tighter, a lot
more understanding if they wanted to defeat Tower.  This would
not be an easy week.  But if all went well, the payoff would be
more than worth it.

"Hermit, if you have a minute.  Ladies, I'll be seeing you here
tomorrow at noon; be dressed to spar.  I advise you tie up all
loose ends; you may not be seeing your friends for a while."
The Ace looked somewhat shaken; the Knight continued to look
slightly annoyed.  "Take care of them, would you Bronwyn?"

"Whatever you say, my lord."  He did not like her tone of voice,
but then they were gone.

"So, you've told them?" he asked Hermit.

"They know enough," the old monk said mildly.

"What about the girl?"

Hermit paused, face creasing.  "They are her allies... her
friends.  It may be tough for them to obey, even through the
Bond."

"Hm."  Rusty looked at the wall, past it.  "Are you sure you're
not just being sympathetic due to your connection to her?"

The monk made no response.  "I only act when necessary, to give
advice and aid."

"Whatever works," Rusty laughed.  "Just another thing to work
around.  I asked for a challenge."

The old man got to his feet, balancing with his staff.  "I would
offer you good luck, but..."

"No need for luck," the King shook off.  "Thanks for the help."

Hermit shook his head.  Tapping his staff to the floor, he
disappeared.

"Definitely a challenge," the King trailed.

+ + +

/What's happened?  You seem troubled./

Why did he go with her?  Why did she go with him?  Why did no
one come for me?

It hurts.  I hate her.  I hate her so much.

Why do I hate her?

I'm so lonely.

It hurts...

/She's abandoned you?  But she believed in you, or so she said./

But she was wrong to believe.  I was wrong.  I'm a murderer.  I
betrayed her trust in me.  I betrayed all of their trust.  I'm
no better than her lying, psycho boyfriend.

/No.  You weren't wrong.  You're not evil./

I am.  I ripped open a girl's torso.  I've seen the pictures.
She...

Oh God.

/Move on.  You were pardoned./

No one believes me.

/Doesn't she believe you?  Doesn't she believe in you?/

...

I don't know.

I don't think she does.

I don't believe in me.

/You should./

Why?

/I do./

/I can help you believe in you too./

/I can give you the power to destroy her./

Power?

but...

D... destroy?  Isn't that a little harsh?

/No more than she's done to you.  Not physical violence.  But to
make her life miserable, to give her the same pain you've been
feeling for so long... don't you think that's more than fair?/

/Don't you think, as a 'friend', she deserves to know?/

/Don't you think, as a friend, you ought to show her?/

...

I...

I could...

+ + +

A glorious expression bloomed over the High Priestess' face.
She had taken to it even faster than expected.  Soon, it would
start channeling her power.  Soon, they would be able to destroy
the Magician.

High Priestess laughed, and swept out of the room.  The only
other moving item in the chamber was a silver dagger, pinning
the card of The Devil to a smiling picture of Natsu.

+ + +

"Henry."

"Francine."

She swallowed, unable to break or read her stoic companion; even
here in her world, forced into his human guise, Hanged Man
showed no emotion.  "I would like your help.  Please tell me
about the Emperor and Empress."

"Who says I know anything about them?"

"You know more than I," World bit.  "You always have.  I'm sure
Hierophant told you."

The man spat.  "Hierophant has told me nothing.  I don't even
know where he is.  Even you should know that."

"Many Arcana move beyond my Sight nowadays.  You should know
that very well."  She maintained her scowl, waiting for some,
any reaction.  There was none.  Finally, she sighed, splaying
her arms.  "We've gotten off to a bad start," she wheedled.
"Several bad starts.  We can start over, and we'll both
benefit."

He sneered.  Gods, but she resented the smug bastard.

"I can give you...  Of course, the aid of my Sight.  I can also
sway the-- the Kings," she added, reluctant to reveal her
nephew.  "Bring them to our side.  And--"  She frowned, as he
continued to look unimpressed.  "And Trumps as well.  I hold
Fortune," she said, rashly playing her trump card.  "With that,
our-- your power could not be stopped."  She lunged for him,
desperate.  With a look of disdain, he threw her off of him.

"Nice try.  You chose allegiance to your cause long ago, and I
to mine."

World's face reddened, the air around her going black and
cloudy.  "You would fault me for something that happened nearly
twenty years ago?" she spluttered.

Hanged Man stood impassively, all calmness against her loss of
control.  "You kept secrets from me.  Why should I not keep
secrets from you?"

"Damn you," she scowled, reaching out.  The air around him
turned a sharp chartreuse, clenching around him.  She got to her
feet, tightening the poisonous aura around him.  "Maybe I just
should have done this then; finished you off and saved myself
some trouble."  He stared at her, struggling to breathe.  She
looked at him sadly.  "I never really wanted to hurt you, you
know."

"And that is your weakness."

In a flash of silver, a wire was around her neck, biting into
her skin.  Almost instantly she released him, knowing his wire
was only millimeters from her aorta.  She had lost, completely.
Even here, in her own world, everything was falling apart;
figuratively, and, as always, the environment echoing her
emotions, literally.  The sky was dark and roiling, the ground
shook and fell away into nothing.

Unbidden but almost welcome, tears began streaming down her
face.  She'd never be able to protect them now... Natsu...
Chris.  She turned to him, waiting for the final tug.  "I just
wanted to help my family."

Hanged Man stared down at her, abruptly releasing the tension of
his wire and returning it to his hand.  She collapsed to the
ground, a pathetic figure, kimono wetted by tears and blood.
"So do I."

+ + +

Keisuke paused.  His King had ordered him to go and find his
friend, convince them to join the Cups.  That was all fine and
good, he supposed.  Really, it was the same proposition as he'd
had with Maki so long ago... unite everyone for peace.

But... under what banner?

"I'm a tool.  I'm just a tool."  A tool and a coward.  He really
hadn't left the Tower Reversed's dreamspace since they'd moved
there.  The Cups spent so much more time away from others, not
interfering...  That part he could get behind.  But he missed
human contact.  How would his friends react to his sudden
reappearance?  His family?  How was his brother holding up
alone?  Had his parents returned after his... accident?  He
wanted to know, but...

"Such a coward..."

He couldn't avoid them all, he couldn't disobey his King.  So,
in the peculiarly intimate way his new powers were, Keisuke
reached out.  Like peeling open a field, but not -- it was
carving clearance from the realm of dreams.  And then he was--

+ + +

"You didn't tell him about our guest?"

I LEFT HIM.  NOW WE WILL SEE IF HE IS A TRUE MEMBER OF OUR COURT
OR NOT.  IF HE TOO IS FOUND UNWORTHY, WE CAN ELIMINATE THEM
BOTH.

The Queen of Cups smiled.  "Very convenient, my lord."

+ + +

--awake and stumbling, the ground in the real world obviously
not the same height as its dream equivalent.  The Tower Reversed
was dusty and unused.  Had it really been all that long since
any one had physically been in the Tower?

"Not really.  Probably other forces have to do with the
conditions of the Chambers.  Tower's health, for instance."

"Wha-- Tetsuya?"  Of all of the people to run into...

The pretty boy looked up dully, an ice pack held to his face.
"You."

Keisuke took a step forward, uncertain of what to do or how to
act.  "Um," he stalled eloquently.

"We thought you were dead.  Didn't move for days.  I-- Hotaru
went to go see you almost every day.  The papers said you'd
disappeared.  No leads.  No clues.  Just nothing."  Tetsuya's
voice was a freshly healed wound: smooth, but bleeding beneath
the surface; his face impassive and cold.

"Then my powers were gone.  And I was the Knight of Wands.
Wonder how that could have happened," he stated, not asked.

"I--  It just sort of--"

"I never said you could speak!"  He exploded, a scalding cold
now.  "How could you do that to me?  Do you have any idea how
much that hurt?"  He stood, stalking closer with each word.
Keisuke found himself retreating, tripping over a chair.  "Not
just physically, not just because you stole my powers.  But
because after all that effort, all that trauma, you just come
back.  No excuse, no apology, not even a hello."  The word was
punctuated by the Knight throwing down his bag of ice at the
table.  "You bitched at me about responsibility-- who the hell
are you to talk?"

"Tetsuya," he began, no words to follow it.  The name echoed
hollowly, and Keisuke knew he was in a field.  "Hey, what are
you--"

Obviously, Tetsuya was a quicker study to the Knight of Wands
than Keisuke had been, as his field seemed to be concentrated in
a thin band around Keisuke's neck.  The bishounen didn't speak,
will concentrated on the field.  A vein bulged in his forehead,
and his whole body shook with tension.  There was no way he
could maintain the field for long.  Of course, there was only so
long one could go without air...

"What do you want from me?" the baseball player gasped.  He
could escape, but to dip into the world of dreams was the
cowards way out.  He owed this to Tetsuya.  He wouldn't run
away.

Silence.  His vision began going hazy.

Tetsuya dropped the field.  "The truth, for once.  An
explanation.  I'm sick and tired of being jerked around because
people think I'm lazy or stupid or don't care.  I'm sick of
being passed over, sick of 'I'll explain later', sick of people
thinking I'm not good enough.  What of that can you do for me?"

"I'm not sure I can change all that," Keisuke began, joking
weakly.  The blue-haired boy's expression was definitely in no
mood for jokes, and Keisuke dropped the humor.  "The truth is is
that the King of Cups approached me, asking-- no, -telling- me
that I was a member of his Court.  They said you were unf--
unavailable for their plans."  Discretion being the better part
of valor, Keisuke decided to gloss over how the Cups had found
Tetsuya unworthy.

"Why?  What plans?"

"No idea.  We-- they want to-- we -did- take the Tower Reversed.
I met Tower.  We-- the Cups are to protect the Shackles binding
Tower's power... something to do with an old conflict between
the Trumps and the Suits.  I don't know the specifics.  They
keep me in the dark about so much.  I'm just hired muscle-- like
their bouncer or something," he said bitterly.

Tetsuya made a noise; of contempt or sympathy, Keisuke couldn't
determine.  "Why are you -here-?"

"I'm--"  The tall boy broke off, looking away.  He continued,
very quietly, not looking for a reaction.  "I knew you had been
hurt, because of me.  I couldn't save you in time, but someone--
something-- I don't know what-- could.  I was-- I -am- ashamed.
The King asked me to find the old gang, see if they would fight
for Tower Reversed.  So I'm here."

"I was a surprise, was I?  Not all that excited about seeing the
one you replaced?"

"No!"  He was quiet for a beat.  "...yes.  Not like that.  I
failed you.  How could I face you?  All I wanted was to help
everyone.  Instead I messed everything up, as usual."

Tetsuya was silent for a long while.  Then, he punched Keisuke
in the shoulder, very, very hard.  Then he turned, gathering his
things.

"Sumire and Arisa went to Izumo, looking for a cure for you.
Never heard from them again.  Hotaru spends all her time with
Joker, avoiding the others.  Hanako is still with the Pentacles.
No one knows where Miyuki is.  Everyone's gone.  It's over."

"It doesn't have to be," Keisuke said eventually.  "If you--
They may not have the best of methods, but their intentions--"

"Do not speak to me about the Court of Cups right now," Tetsuya
said, eyes aquamarine pebbles.  A beat, and he backed down.
"I'll think about it."

"Tetsuya," Keisuke began again.  They exchanged a long look,
then the Knight of Wands went up the stairs and shut the door.

"Thank you."

+ + +

Will Forrester took another look at his wife, "Hey, Frannie,
feeling cold?"

The blonde looked up, unconsciously fingering the turtleneck she
wore.  "Oh, I was just in the mood for wearing this shirt;
didn't even notice," she said, almost nervously.

"Didn't notice?"  Will sidled up to his wife, running his hands
up her sides and hooking beneath her shirt.  "You mean, you
weren't feeling a little... hot?"

"Mmm... not until right now," she purred, resting her arms
around his shoulders.  Damn, he'd almost hoped she wouldn't play
along.  Wife-sex was always such a chore.  Well, if you're going
to do something, do it right.  Besides...

He dipped towards her for a kiss, then pulled away, drawing the
shirt over her head.  "Hey," shocked and concerned tone, now.
"What happened to your neck?"  He not-quite-gingerly touched the
bandage that wrapped around it, looking penitent as she winced
in response.

"Just an accident... it's so silly, you won't believe me."

"Try me," Will said, a comfortable grin on his face.

She sighed, sheepishly running a hand through her hair.  "Well,
I was trying to curl my hair, you know?  And I was getting the
back, and I dropped the iron and burned myself pretty badly."

"Aw, darlin', that's a shame.  Wonder if I can kiss it and make
it better," he said, giving the devilish grin that had made so
many females bow to his will.

"Mmm," she sighed as he took her close.  Hopefully this wouldn't
take too long.

Burn nothing.  She'd winced when he'd touched her front.  A
thin, narrow wound around the neck?  Unless his wife was getting
suicidal (and with a husband like him, he wasn't sure how anyone
could bear to leave the land of the living), there was only one
way she could get a wound like that, and he didn't like him.
Will didn't like him at all.

Victory was right -- something was going on with Francine.  And
he would found out what it was.  Even the wife was family.

+ + +

"She... I just don't understand anymore, Ishido!"  Hotaru cried
into the shoulder of her boyfriend, clinging to him as he had
once again fortuitously appeared after the disturbing instance
with Natsu and Tetsuya.  They'd made it to the park before she'd
broken down again.  "It's like everything is falling apart at
once."

"There, there," Ishido said, stroking a large hand over her
back.  His voice was deep, silky and soothing.  "It will only
get worse, my dear."

"What?"  Hotaru's head snapped up, peering into the boy's face.
As she watched, Joker's features melted away, becoming longer,
narrower, more delicate.  A pair of amber eyes burned into hers.
"Who-- who are you?"  She pushed away, but her hands found no
purchase on his black robes; the hand on her back was firm and
unyielding.  She tried to throw up a field, but one was already
in place.

"Do you really not know who I am?  I define you, much as you
define me.  And now that we have been drawn, our only purpose is
to hate and destroy each other."

The brunette shook her head, still trying to make sense of
things.  "But... but why?  Why must we fight?  I don't hate you-
- I barely know you."

"Really?" the man mused aloud.  He drew very close to her ear,
breath ice on her cheek.  "I took your dear Fool.  Now your
other dear one belongs to me."  A condescending smile grew on
his face as her shocked expression turned to hurt.  "Do you hate
me now?"

"High Priestess," Magician hissed.  He released her and she
jumped away, readying her magic.  "What have you done to Natsu?"

"I haven't done anything," the indigo-haired biseinen said
lightly, impressive at his full height.  "Perhaps you should
evaluate your treatment of her over the past few weeks.  It
seems you have driven her away, as it were."

Giving in to temptation, Hotaru let fly her power, a sizable
fireball blazing its way to the man.  Raising an arm, High
Priestess stood, and it-- fizzled, the magic evaporating into
harmless sparkles.  "What happened?" she almost cried.

"You can't hurt me like that.  If that's all you know about
using your powers, Magician, you aren't even worth fighting,"
High Priestess spat.  "You're a waste of my time after all.
Hopefully, your little friend -- Natsu, was it? -- will provide
a little more... amusement."

Hotaru blanched.  Ishido flatly refused to tell her anything
about his time with the High Priestess, but from just that fact,
from what little she could remember from saving him, from the
debauched, unstable flicker in the man's eyes at the words, she
knew it was not anything that she wanted Natsu-- that anyone
should have to be subjected to.  "Let her go," she said, words
sounding more fearful than commanding.  "Give her back."

He laughed like nails over a blackboard.  "You'll see her again,
soon.  Sooner than you would probably like," he grinned,
dropping the field.  Then he was gone.

+ + +

"Ace!"  The Page of Cups' face lit up at the sight of his
beloved.  "I hath missed thee," he said as she rushed up and
clutched his hands.

"And I thee," she said, moving close, resting her forehead
against his.

Healer blushed at the contact, sighing softly.  "How... how was
your task?"

The girl's expression twisted, rage and disgust warring for
dominance over her face.  "I...  I do not want to discuss it.
But it hath fired my thoughts..."

"Mine as well.  As the other Suits awaken and come for the
Tower, our duties will become more and increasingly dangerous.
I... I hope that I may be with thee in our trials to come."

"Yes, about that.  We hath been separated for so long -- I don't
think that I could bear it if it were to happen again.  There is
a way that we could nevermore be separated.  Become The Lovers."

The Page paused.  "But... what of the cause?  What of our
Court?"

"What -of- our Court?  Do you not think that it is better to be
together forever than an ephemeral Bond to some unknown?"

He frowned, stepping backwards.  "Thou dost not mean to speak
against thy-- against our King," he clarified, frightened.  He
had lived for his King for so long, waiting for the others to
reawaken, waiting across space and time to be Called.  In his
darkest hour, he finally was.  He loved his Ace, more than words
could ever say.  But...  "I...  I am not sure that I may go
against him."

"You may have to," she shot.

"Ace," Healer said, wounded.  What a horrible position for her
to place him in.  She had to know how hard this was for him; she
had been asleep for so long, her bond to the King must have
weakened.  However, the Page had lived all his life in service --
to his vassal, to others less deserving of his services, but
always, ever in unflagging devotion to his King.

"I do not wish to hurt thee," she said gently, tentatively
stroking his hand.  "I wilt not pressure thee right now.  But
thou-- no, -we- may have to make a choice.  And I want to make
certain thou knows that my devotion is to thee."

Her gaze was intense, bright eyes peering into his.  Healer
couldn't meet it, dropping to his hands, to the darkness around
them.

+ + +

Though none could tell, the King of Cups smiled.

+ + +

"Hello there, son," the old man said.  He was sitting on a park
bench, smiling straight at him, and patting the seat next to
him.  "Do you have a minute?"

The boy frowned, walking only a little bit closer.  "Mama told
me never to talk to strangers," he said doubtfully.

"But you know who I am, don't you?" he said, friendly.  He
reached out a hand, and the boy took it gingerly.  It sparked,
and he drew back.

"You are--"

"Yes," Temperance interrupted, pleasant smile still on his lined
face.  "I know who you are as well, and its a pleasure to
finally meet you again.  I wanted to ask you about the cards,"
he said, giving him a meaningful look.

"My uncle says not to talk about them with people.  I could--"
He clapped his hands over his mouth, worried he'd already said
too much.

"Your uncle's words are wise.  I'm certain that he only has your
best interests in mind."  The old man looked up, seemingly
unfinished.  For an instant, Temperance looked older, so old as
to be ageless, sagging and infinitely tired.  He turned back to
him and was as before.  "I have little to give you, my lord.
Even what council I can give is limited in the time to come.
But do remember this: there are two sides to every story.  You
may not be told of all of them because your uncle, you, anyone,
may not know the opposite.  Time is drawing short, and a little
temperance in the decisions to come could mean the difference
between destruction and--"  He broke off, leaving the boy
hanging.

"What do you think I should do?" he asked, eyes wide.

"Oh, I could never instruct you.  Don't mind the words of an old
man.  It's been a long time, and I am tired... Tower and I are
so very tired...  Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if..."  He
trailed to a stop, smiling again, then standing.  "Well, you
don't need to be hearing this old man ramble on.  Please take my
advice into account.  When you need me, I will always be there."
He began shuffling off.

Emperor moved to say something, but Temperance was gone.

+ + +

tbc.

+ + +

[author's notes]

+ Ah, for April Fool's Day, no Ishido at all.  Who knew?
+ I -hate- English.  Spent an hour looking up the correct usage
of 'thee' and 'thou'.  Had to translate things into Japanese to
figure out what the object of the sentences was.  Probably still
is wrong.
+ Maybe I wrote Tetsuya too much like a woman.  Sorry, I'll try
to have more testosterone next time.  (guess those spam mails
could be good for something....)
+  Honestly?  I don't think I've ever spelled Rusty's name
correctly in any of the chapters I've ever written.  Insert
expletive here.
+ Curling irons hurt a whole lot.  Trust me.
+ One scene, eight times.  Hells yeah.
+ ...but there aren't any tarot cards...

eme 1.april.2002

+ + +

"Almost everything is prepared, sir."

"Good.  Just one more card must be played, then the real games
will begin."

+ + +