Standard disclaimers apply—Card Captor Sakura and all affiliated with do not belong to me. They belong to the people who made them, and I am NOT one of them. Dammit.

Note: This is my first Card Captors story, so please review kindly! Send me constructive criticism, no flames allowed! If you no like what I write, there's no need to flame me in a nasty manner. If you give respect, that is more often than not what you will receive. J

Summary: The Fiery card reflects on a past love and his current position as one of Sakura's cards.

Warnings: Minor swearing, angst, AU, maybe some OOC-ness floating around, some violence, etc…

Brightly Burning

By: The Sadistic Cow

Eurynome69@hotmail.com OR eurynome@christismybitch.com

Fiery watched through lidded eyes as Sakura slept, the sheets pulled up to her chin as she snuggled deeper into their warmth. Snow fell softly outside, misting up the window until hardly anything could be seen, and the room was a little chillier than it should have been. The heating system was failing, and in the morning someone was supposed to come and fix it. Until then, however, Sakura would have to suffer with the cooler temperature of the house.

The Clow card didn't like that. His amber eyes flashed as he left his card, appearing above Sakura's bed in a blaze of flame. He could feel the other's eyes on him; none of them trusted him. They thought since he had such a nasty temper and despised being captured and having his freedom stolen from him, he would hurt their mistress. 'On the contrary,' he thought with an inward sneer at the others as they watched him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. 'I am the only one with the power to aid Sakura in this particular plight.'

Ever since he had been captured by the young girl, Fiery had been watching her closely, analyzing her personality and intents. After being called upon her several times to do battle and capture another of his 'family', Fiery had deemed Sakura to be worthy of his servitude. She was honest, caring, loving, playful, and many things that the card liked in a master, or mistress. In fact, she reminded him of someone he had known long ago, before he had been trapped in the Clow Book and then accidentally released when Sakura called out Windy's name.

Setting his hands out before him, palms flat, Fiery let a gentle stream of flames encircle both the ceiling and the floor, adding heat to the chilly room. He could still feel the others watching him; Watery tense and ready to spring forth of he should so much as let a spark touch Sakura. Fiery snorted disdainfully to himself as he rolled his eyes at them. 'What single-minded peons…after all this time we've worked together and they still don't trust me. How pathetic.'

He allowed himself to drift in the air, being careful not to let any of his flame touch Sakura or her belongings. Despite knowing that she was the one who took his freedom from him, he cared for her. 'More than I should,' he added mentally, frowning slightly. His eyes traveled about the room before landing once more on Sakura's face, where they softened slightly. 'She reminds me so much of San…'

Shaking his head roughly, Fiery berated himself at the thought. 'No! You can't think of her! She is…long dead, and nothing can bring her back. Best not to dwell in the past…' His eyes still watched Sakura as she lay sleeping peacefully, and he couldn't stop the flow of memories as they came at him, hard and unforgiving. 'But it is so hard…'

He blinked slowly, then jumped in surprise as Sakura mumbled something in her sleep, turning over and snuggling deeper into the warmth. Fiery felt his heart melt a little at the sight of her, curled up into a little ball, a tiny smile on her face. 'That face…the button nose…her eyes…she looks so like San…'

Floating down closer to his mistress, Fiery couldn't help but analyze every aspect of her features; staring at them and making comparisons as the other cards slowly came forth and watched him, canting their heads in confusion. He didn't pay them any mind, only continued to float just inches above Sakura, eyes roaming over her face.

'San was kind. She always wished to help people, and hated to see anyone hurt. Just like Sakura. They even look alike, although how that came to be is unknown.' Fiery frowned, cocking his head to the side. 'But San's hair is…was…red. A flaming red that none could match. Her eyes were as blue as the crashing ocean, face as cool and pale as milk, and her smile…' He closed his eyes, remembering as a smile of his own crossed his lips. 'Her smile could outshine the sun.'

Fiery sighed, blinking quickly as he felt hot liquid stinging at his eyes. He wiped at them, and was surprised to find tears on his hand. He swallowed. 'I…am crying. But…I haven't cried since…since…' The Clow card drew in a sharp breath, hands clenching into fists as he pulled away from Sakura's sleeping form as quickly as he could without waking her. His eyes blazed, sparkling with tears as he pulled away and into the corner of the ceiling where he floated, wrapping his wings around him as though they were a shield.

His face contorted in pain as he finished the thought, shuddering in remembrance. 'I haven't cried since she burned to death.' He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the memories, though they came at him relentlessly anyway. The flames, the screaming, the sirens…Fiery hissed. He had to get away from there. He needed to think.

Snapping his wings open, Fiery abruptly came face to face with Watery, who gave him an unreadable stare that made him grimace. "What do you want?" he snapped, quietly so he wouldn't disturb Sakura or Kero.

Watery kept her stare neutral. "What bothers you?" she growled back, just as softly.

"That," the fire element card ground out, "is none of your business." With that said, Fiery unfolded his wings all the way and pushed past Watery, who grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?"

"That is also none of your business," Fiery hissed. "But I will return." Watery opened her mouth to protest when Windy spoke up, her voice gentle in the tense room.

"Let him go, sister," she said, opening her eyes slightly from where she floated on the other side of the room, next to Sakura's bed. Her eyes locked with Fiery's in an unreadable look. "I believe him."

Watery growled, not letting go of Fiery's arm. "But—"

"Trust him, Watery," Wood added, from where she sat at the foot of Sakura's bed, keeping watch over her mistress. Her eyes were soft and gentle as they gazed at the two. "If he says he will return, then so he shall. Allow him some time to himself." Watery snarled quietly, turning back to glare at Fiery.

"If you don't come back, I will hunt you down and destroy you," she finally said, letting go of his arm and moving aside to let him pass. Fiery nodded.

"Very well, but there will be no need," he grunted, flying past her and to the window. It opened, and he vanished out into the night.

To be continued…

Ok, I just wanna know…should I finish this? What do you guys think? For this one I thrive on reviews, because I don't really know how I'm doing.