Chapter 45: The Silence of Darkness

Release date: June 10th, 2003

Word count: 26,141  

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Thoughts: I love how the chapter opens up with the flashback of Eron just before he received Ruichi's power. It reminds us why he got himself in this situation in the first place.

Eron's blatant comment during Shing's Kaitou Magician exhibit about the subject being like the artist's own flesh and blood and the masterpiece his own child is a reference that won't make sense for years to come. 

Does anyone else remember Syaoran going missing after he discovered the letter? Sakura briefly thinks he returned to Hong Kong but she pushed that thought aside after reassuring herself that Syaoran would never do that. Wish-chan, you're killing us with the foreshadowing. At least this time he was only at the Li estate near Eitoukou.

It's too bad that CLAMP made Nadeshiko super young when she met Fujitaka. Developing a love story between a 14-year-old and 17-year-old sounds next to impossible so I appreciate the way that Ryuuren sees Nadeshiko as an annoying teenager when she pokes around his home for the first time.

Ryuuren commenting on how he only uses two rooms in the whole mansion so he doesn't clean the rest reminds me of how CCS:CC Syaoran doesn't do much with his apartment space either.

Hmm, at this point I thought there were only three hovering dark forces but that hazy Eriol scene informs us that it's five. The Wave, The Riddle and The Magician come to mind. I don't remember if Fake!Mikai was The Fantasy or something else all together. 

Chapter 44: Like a Child

Release date: February 26th, 2003

Word count: 19,245

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Thoughts: I discovered New Trials a couple of months after this chapter was posted so this marked the end of my first NT binging and the beginning of NT waiting. 

The Li Council voting to remove Syaoran as the Chosen One if he doesn't return to Hong Kong is huge -- and we don't even know what fully happened in Voice of a Wolf. I wonder if Wish-chan is holding off on writing that fic because it necessarily means killing off a dog.

This is the first time Sakura visits the orphanage and low and behold, CCS:CC Sakura is also planning on visiting children to read to them! Not only are the similarities continuing, but they're happening at a nice pace with my NT re-read.

Oh, it's Subaru's introduction. He calls Sakura a witch and by Harry Potter standards, he's actually on the nose. 

Sakura finally gets some background information about pre-Dark Ones Erika and Eron thanks to Yuri's shared history with them. I'm glad Yuri mentioned that she was adopted because I was wondering about her situation too.

I used to be miffed that Subaru crashed S&S's date, but now I can enjoy the comedic effect of it all.

Aquariums are fun. I'm glad that Wish-chan predicted that NT-CC coincidence too. 

“I want you to kiss the grouchy ‘nii-san” ~ We are all Subaru in this moment.

I'm glad that S&S got to have dinner alone in a fancy restaurant in Tokyo. I recently came back from vacation and we went to the Moscow aquarium and had a couple of fancy dinners so this chapter is well timed with my life.

Syaoran explaining Sakura's Star Analogy is one of my favourite examples of CCS and NT blending together seamlessly. And seeing it all come together in Arc 4 is great. In the mean time, this scene can be revisited because I made it into an appendix.

With The Wave triggering so many earthquakes, I'm surprised that The Dark Ones let it become so chaotic. No wonder Sakura only waited until now to confront Eron.

Fanart spotlight: Since this is Subaru's introductory chapter, it only makes sense to use this sketch by Wish-chan. He was such a brat and then we grew to love him to pieces. Thanks to eagle-eyed Wish-chan, he'll get to live on in CCS:CC.

Chapter 43: Not a Perfect World

Release date: December 27th, 2002

Word count: 16,941

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Thoughts: On the Updates page prior to the release of this chapter, Wish-chan made a special page for the art submitted by the fans. I wish there was a way to retrieve that old Geocities page!

I remembered that Kai loses his necklace, but reading the scene about the thugs beating him up was like experiencing it for the first time because I never retained any of the details. You have to wonder what kind of life Dark Forces lead when the thug who stole the locket commented that he knew someone who would be interested in having it.

It's so touching to see how serious Kai takes his promise to Meilin to not fight anymore. I'm glad that she recognized his restraint even if he did have to fight to protect himself.

The Wave makes its comeback with earthquakes. Now I see why a number of people in the NT community compared The Swing with The Wave. I like how it's such a complex card that can cause chaos in multiple ways.

The scene where Kai and Miho get past their formalities is so sweet and important. Miho acknowledges him as a friend despite his rough exterior and he starts calling her Miho-hime.

Sakura catching The Age was so soul searching since she had to realize why she was reverted to five years old. Syaoran may have had no problem understanding why he turned twelve. It's so sad reading his silent promise of never leaving Sakura again when that's exactly what happens against his own will.

Fanart spotlight: This fanart of young Sakura remembering the past by Yahoo Group member CrazyViolin gives us a peak at a powerful moment in the Kinomoto siblings relationship. I really like how Wish-chan chose a preschool age to signify when Sakura realizes what it means to not have a mother.

Chapter 42: A Little Girl’s Dream

Release date: August 5th, 2002

Word count: 31,707

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Thoughts: The first kiss between Nadeshiko and Ryuuren that Sakura saw in her dreams may not have been the stuff that dreams are made of since he technically stole it, but it was still funny to read.

I completely forgot about the screening party until Kirei-chan brought it up in connection with the CC episode featuring the Nadeshiko Festival play (does it even have a name?!). I like how Wish-chan writes that Tomoyo's TV screen is almost as large as those at the movie theatres. And once again, Sakura hates seeing herself on screen: “Sakura-chan, what are you doing behind the couch?” Tomoyo asked, dragging her out. 

Heehee, slight continuity error. Sakura feels like it's been ages since she spent the night over at Tomoyo's but the last time was only the night before Touya came back to town.

Sakura tried her hand at luring Tomoyo into being interested in Eriol , but Tomoyo didn't take the bait. So many writers don't think twice about shipping E&T but Wish-chan never truly made it happen even if there are going to be some powerful E&T moments in the future.

I completely forgot that we delved deep in Tomoyo's psyche and witness a vulnerable side of her that she keeps under lock and key. It really makes the character well-rounded.

I don't remember this plot point of Kai going missing at all. I love that there are so many elements of NT stil have me mystified. 

The journalism sign up scene is endearing to me because of the fanart that I did for the Club prompt. Choosing different fonts to represent the signatures was fun.

There's a moment where Syaoran is reading Sakura's face and answering her without her saying anything. This moment reminded me of the cherry blossom festival scene in CC that S&S shared after Syaoran came late. I'm really looking forward to when the mind reading is going to start!

Chapter 41: Star-Crossed

Release date: July 14th, 2002

Word count: 28,142

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Thoughts: After intermission the show starts with Romeo and Juliet meeting in secret. This totally reminds me of Arc 4's S&S post reconciliation.

Even though Wish-chan couldn't write out the whole musical for obvious reasons, I'm grateful for the parts that were there. I actually took the time to weave together all of the Star-Crossed parts in one document to create an un-cut experience. 

More Arc 4 foreshadowing includes Eron's character professing his love and willingness to wait for Juliet's love in return, and the Friar advising Juliet to forget about Romeo.

Star-Crossed is an unbelievably beautiful story within the story that is NT. It's just as exhilarating to read it now as it was the first time. I just think that it's a shame that all of this hard work resulted in only one performance!!

How Kai managed to pluck those earrings from the twins' ears and plant them and the rest of the treasures on stage by switching them with the prop ones is beyond me. Too bad a magician never reveals his tricks.

The Fates asked Sakura if she wants to know if she'll defeat the dark ones or if she wants to know how things will work out with Syaoran.  It was 2002 for us readers. I guess she should have said yes because it's now 16 years later and we still don't have those answers!!

Wish-chan writes some horrifying scenes through out history to show Sakura that Fate is unchanging. The part with The Plague is just all too real with what's going to happen at the end of Arc 3.

The quality of writing has improved leaps and bounds. It hasn't even been three years since the Prologue, yet there's already so much more maturity in the text.