Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction of Cardcator Sakura, and the characters belong to CLAMP, you can probably tell the difference betweeen my original characters, relationships, and the plot from the original CLAMP ones. Enjoy reading!
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
"There will come a time when you believe that everything is finished, that will be the beginning." -Anon
"Sakura!"
Why is this voice that's calling out to me so familliar? Sakura stared off into the distance, sakura petals falling everywhere. Who... is that? There was a tall figure, his chestnut brown hair swaying with the wind. She reached out her hand but then everything turned dark and everything crumpled away, and she realized that she was falling.
"Sakura!" Kero exclaimed, shaking Sakura.
Sakura opened her eyes, a dream...? But that was no ordinary dream, for sure. "Kero-chan, is there something wrong?"
"I should be the one asking you that, were you having some sort of nightmare? I heard you whimpering in your sleep." Kero replied, his brows creased. Nothing strange has happened lately, and he wished that it would stay that way. Plus, he didn't want to see his mistress and friend, Sakura, hurt. But he knew that something bad was bound to happen soon.
"Oh, it was nothing. Sorry for bothering you, Kero-chan." Sakura smiled sadly.
"Well, if there's anything on your mind, if you want to, you can always tell me, you know? And it doesn't have to be me, either. I know that something has been bothering you these past few days, so don't just keep it to yourself okay?" Kero-chan said, patting Sakura's head.
Sakura blinked. Kero-chan could be really motivational and encouraging at times, despite his normal 'rough-like' attitude. But this is something that she just wants to keep to herself if anything. I mean, it's not like they'll be able to do anything about it even if I tell them. Nothing will be able to change the fact that there's nothing I can do, that nothing will change the fact that he's still very far away from me.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Most people around Sakura's age would be going out and enjoying the last few days of summer vacation, but Sakura wasn't most people. As usual, she forgot to do her summer homework and was doing it last-minute and was running around the house in panic, not knowing what she should do with all the homework piled up on her desk.
"HOOOOOOEEEEE!" Sakura cried, "Not again! And I told myself that I would do my homework in time this year, too!"
"What's this? The kaijou is already in a foul mood and it's still early in the morning." Touya said, nose in the air, smirking at Sakura.
"Not now, onii-chan!" Sakura in her pink-striped pajamas, and sheets of paper in her hands, replied. "This is terrible!"
"Hmm, that's quite a lot, Sakura-san. Unlike before, when you were still in elementary. If you don't mind, would you help her out, Touya-kun?" Fujitaka said, emerging from the kitchen.
"Otou-san! It's fine, I think I'll be okay..." said Sakura, waving her hands in front of her. She was clearly lying.
"Sure, I can help you out..." Touya bent down to face Sakura, then he held out five fingers in front of her. "In exchange for five chores."
Sakura sweat-dropped, "Hoe..."
That evening...
"Phew, I managed to finish all of them!" said Sakura plopping down on her bed. Then her eyes focused on a gray teddy bear on top of her drawer. She sat up and walked down to the living room to make dinner, she remembered that it was her duty tonight. And Touya was kind enough to lessen the amount of chores to three.
"Oh, Sakura-san, I was just about to call you." Fujitaka said, tray in hand.
"Huh?" Sakura looked at the table full of delicious looking food and then she looked up only to see Yukito sitting next to Touya, "Yukito-san!"
"Good evening, Sakura-san." Yukito smiled. "Touya invited me because he said that you were having a feast tonight."
Oh right, she forgot that her father was going to make a feast tonight!
"Well then, now that everybody's gathered together, let's eat." Fujitaka said, putting down the tray and taking a seat.
Everyone nodded, "Ittadakimasu!"
xoxoxoxoxoxox
The morning sunlight seeped into Sakura's room as birds chirpping and the sound of trees being swayed away by the fresh morning air could be heard in the distance.
Ring, Ring! Sakura's alarm clock rang.
"Sakura! You have to get up, you're going to be late for the first day of school!" Kero called out.
"Just five... more minutes..." Sakura muttered and turned her back to Kero. "Wait, did you just say first day of school?!" Sakura exclaimed as she quickly sat up.
"HOOOOEEEEE! I'm going to be late! I was used to sleeping in because it was summer vacation..." Sakura exclaimed in horror.
"Well, you better hurry up!" Kero said, helping her get the things she need, "Since when did the great Cerberus-sama turn into a servant...?" Kero muttered.
Sakura grabbed her bag and headed downstairs, "See you later, Kero-chan!"
Kero waved, "Bye!"
"Ah, Sakura-san, there you are. Ohayougozaimasu, here, I made your favorite pancakes for you." Fujitaka said, putting down a plate of a scrumptious-looking 3 layered pancake covered in maple syrup.
"Ahh! Ohayou. Thank you, otou-san!" Sakura sat down and clasped her hands together, "Ittadakimasu!" Sakura quickly gobbled down the pancakes.
"Oh, by the way, where's onii-chan?" Sakura said looking around.
"He already left, just a few minutes ago." Fujitaka smiled.
"Oh, okay... thanks for the food! It was really delicious!" Sakura said glancing at the clock, time's running out! "I've gotta go, otou-san! Bye!" Sakura said. Sakura stopped and looked at her mother's portrait before exiting the door, Nadeshiko was wearing a green chiffon dress with white trims this time. "Ittekimasu, okaa-san," Sakura smiled.
Fujitaka also smiled then waved, "Take care, Sakura-san!"
"I will!"
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Yesterday... in Hong Kong...
"Ne, Syao-kun, aren't you supposed to be in Japan right now? School for Saku-chan and Tomo-chan starts tommorow." A girl with long chestnut brown hair and amber eyes, approached Syaoran, who was sitting in his desk staring at the window.
"Don't bother him, Rei." Meilin came up from behind and continued, "He's thinking of a way on how to make a grand entrance."
"Eh? But that 'transferring in the middle of the semester' method is so overused now, Mei-chan!" Rei groaned and plopped down the chair next to Syaoran.
"Rei, what do you want?" Syaoran finally spoke and faced the two.
"He wasn't even listening, was he?" Meilin sighed.
"Well, I don't know about you two, but I'm going to pay Saku-chan and Tomo-chan a little visit!" Rei declared as she stood up and placed her hands on her hips.
At this, Syaoran scowled. He wasn't planning on going back to Japan any time soon, but Rei, his cousin, was always urging him to go. Besides, the clan had already approved of it anyway. And now he's made up his mind, "I'm going back to Japan next week."
"Eh?!" They both exclaimed simultaneously.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Back in Japan... current time...
"Good morning, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura panted. The bell rang, swiftly she sat down her desk, she barely made it!
"Oh, Good morning, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo smiled. She and Sakura got to be seatmates again, this year. Which was, of course a win-win for both of them.
"Everyone, please take your seats, I'm about to start homeroom!" Terada-sensei said. He moved to Tomoeda Middle School just this year, hmm... I wonder why?
Sakura looked out the window and her eyes widened, she was sure that she felt a presence just now. But it was no ordinary presence... something about it was... dark? That's it, like a dark aura of some sort. But what could it be?
After a while, the bell rang and it was finally lunchtime. Sakura went outside near the school entrance and tried to feel for the aura again. But, it was gone. Then, she felt as if someone was watching her, and as she turned around a black figure suddenly moved and then disappeared. What was that?
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"Well, I'll be ahead of you! Tonight, I'll be leaving for Japan!" Rei responded.
"Well, yeah, since that's what they told you to do. Sheesh, are they that worried about the cards? Sakura will be just fine by herself! Probably..." Meilin sweat-dropped.
Rei turned to Syaoran, "Well, I'm only going to be an observer, but if anything goes wrong, I'll be there to aid Saku-chan, so I'll make sure your dear Sakura is safe, yeah?"
"Whatever..." Syaoran stood up and left the classroom.
"Gee, what's gotten into him? Oh, and I know why you've been asking Syaoran to go along with you... you secretly want them to get together again, don't you?" Meilin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Eh? So what? Well, that is true... but that's not the only reason! You see, if he comes with me, I'll have a personal guide!" Rei clasped her hands together.
"Really? I mean, I could go with you..." Meilin said.
"But, I figured the Elders woudn't allow it." Rei replied. "Besides, Syao-kun was ordered to come to Japan anyway, and he still hasn't yet. What's holding him back, I wonder."
"That's..." Meilin trailed off and looked outside the window. It was starting to rain, and by the second the rain was getting heavier and heavier.
"Oh no! I didn't bring my umbrella with me today! Do you mind if I can share with yours?" Rei asked.
Meilin also wanted Syaoran and Sakura to get together again. But she can't just ignore the fact that she once liked him as well. Syaoran deserves Sakura more than anything, she knows that. But, why-oh-why is she still feeling the slightest feeling of hurt and regret?
"Mei-chan?" Rei waved her hands in front of Meilin, snapping her back to reality. "I asked if I could share with your umbrella 'cause I didn't bring mine today."
"Oh, huh? Yeah, I don't mind at all."
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"Who's there?" Sakura asked, walking closer. With trembling hands, she reached her hand out and searched through the bushes. Only to be greeted by the sight of a girl with long chestnut brown hair and amber eyes, holding a pair of binoculars. She looked exactly liked Syaoran, but only a bit more... feminine?
Hesitantly, she asked, "S-Syaoran-kun...?"
Rei sweat-dropped, "Ahahaha! Just like dear Saku-chan to mistake me for Syao-kun! Well, it's not time for us to meet just yet, so I'm going to have to ask you to forget this for now, ohohohoho..." Rei slipped out an ofuda and chanted a spell. Then, Sakura lost conciousness and fell in Rei's arms.
"Sakura-chan!" A voice called, it was Tomoyo.
"Shoot, gotta go!" Rei carefully placed Sakura's body on the ground and fled before Tomoyo could see her.
Tomoyo looked around and saw Sakura sprawled on the ground, unconcious. "Sakura-chan! Who..."
Tomoyo immediately called the school nurse and they carried Sakura to the infirmary. "She's just unconcious, there aren't any bruises so don't worry about it. And she doesn't seem to have a fever, so she'll be fine by the time she wakes up again." The nurse reassured.
"Really? Well, okay.. thank you." Tomoyo glanced at Sakura, she just left the classroom earlier without saying a word to her. Could it be connected to the cards? Even if she didn't have powers, she could faintly sense a dark aura from earlier where she found Sakura. What's going to happen?
Rei stood by the infirmary doorway, she was also wearing a Tomoeda Middle School uniform. She eyed Tomoyo gripping Sakura's hand tightly. She must be in deep thought, and jeez, all this because I wiped her memory of earlier and that apparently caused her to loose consciousness.
Tomoyo thought that she saw someone standing by the doorway, but as she turned her head towards the door, the person was gone. She shook her head, maybe she was hallucinating. The last time she was this worried was when Sakura locked herself in her room for days when she learned that Syaoran was going back to Hong Kong. But this isn't the same as that time since that must've been very painful for Sakura. Even though she knew that it would've been very well Syaoran's fault, she knew that he had no choice as well. What happened that day, only Sakura knew, and perhaps her brother, since he was also there when it happened. But whatever it was, it left Sakura heartbroken for weeks. If not, then months.
"Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura opened her eyes and stared hard at Tomoyo, she had watery eyes and a queer expression, unlike her usual composed self.
"Sakura-chan! You've finally come to!" Tomoyo exclaimed, as she hugged Sakura tightly.
Not sure if she was supposed to be amazed or worried with this unusual side of Tomoyo, she asked, "What happened, Tomoyo-chan?"
"That should be my question, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo exclaimed, "You just suddenly left the classroom earlier without saying anything and didn't come back for a long time, so I got worried and decided to look for you, then I found you outside, near the school gates, unconcious. What exactly happened?"
"Oh, that... strange, I can't seem to recall any of those things... The last thing I remember is going outside because I felt a dark aura of some sort and I wanted to check it out," Sakura responded.
"That's.. all?" Regaining her composure, Tomoyo asked softly.
"Yeah. I'm sorry..."
"Well, that doesn't matter, at least you're safe. We should head back to class, the nurse told me that once you woke up, you would be fine since you didn't have any wounds nor a fever anyway," Tomoyo said as she helped Sakura up.
"Sorry for worrying you, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura smiled.
"Oh, it was nothing. I mean, what are friends for, right?" Tomoyo smiled back.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"You what?!" exclaimed Meilin through the phone.
"Look, it was a mistake, okay? I didn't mean for her to see me!" Rei replied.
"Then you could've done a better job at it!"
"Cut her some slack, Meilin." Syaoran told Meilin as he took the phone, "So, what happened afterwards?"
"Well... Tomo-san found her and carried her to the infirmary together with the nurse. The nurse said that she was fine and would be up and about when she finally regains conciousness."
Sighing, Syaoran replied, "Well, at least the worst didn't happen. Just be careful, don't use too much of your magic unless necessary. If you do that your powers might get-"
"Yeah, yeah. I know, I'll be careful..." Rei yawned, "I need to go get my beauty sleep..."
"Do you have everything under control?"
"Yup, I'll carry out the plan tommorow. I still don't know what it is, but I'm going to try to find it before Saku-san does, talk to you guys later!"
Rei ended the call and placed her phone on the desk, next to a picture. Rei took the picture and looked at it intently, there was a little girl with short black hair and black eyes, sitting next to another little girl who had long brown hair and amber eyes. They both looked so carefree and happy, sometimes she wished that she could just go back to those days. Innocent, blissful days...
xoxoxoxoxoxox
The next day...
Tomoyo and Sakura was walking to school together, when Sakura felt the dark aura again. Just like before, the aura was coming from the school gates. Then, a beam of light shot through the sky and the dark aura instantly disappeared.
"What was that?" Tomoyo asked.
"I don't know, but this time I won't let it get away!" Sakura said, gripping her star key.
"Won't let what get away?" A melodic voice emerged from behind them.
Surprised, Sakura and Tomoyo turned around to see who was talking and they were greeted by a girl holding a sword and was emanating a strong aura of light.
"Hello." Rei smiled, putting her sword away.
"Syaoran...?" They both looked at her quizzically.
Once again, Rei sweat-dropped, "Eh? Will everybody just stop mistaking me for that tweak?"
"So you're not..." Tomoyo continued. While Sakura just stood there, feeling a sense of dèjà vu.
"Of course not!" Grinning, Rei said, "My name is Li Reienji, It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Tomo-chan, Saku-chan!"
"Eh? How do you know our names?" Sakura asked. Reienji... now where have I heard that name before?
"Hmm... Syao-kun and Mei-chan always told me stories about you guys when they were still in Japan." Which is where he would be right now if he wasn't such a butthead.
"You know Syaoran-kun and Meilin-chan?" Sakura asked, everything was getting more and more confusing by the second.
"Are you cousins then?" Tomoyo asked.
"Well... I guess you could say that," Rei smiled. "I've been hiding for the past few days, so It's great to just walk around without worrying about who might see you..."
Then in the distance, the school bell rang.
"Welp, you guys better go ahead or you'll be late!" Rei started to walk off and waved her hand goodbye to them, "Catch you guys later!"
"Wait, Li-san!" Sakura called.
"Hmm?" Rei turned around, "Oh, you guys can just call me Rei."
"Umm, Rei-chan, is Meilin-chan and Syaoran-kun doing well..?" Sakura asked, hesitantly.
Rei smiled, "Yeah, they are." Then she turned around again and disappeared in the woods.
"She's really a Li..." Sakura said.
"You were suspecting her? Well, the Li's do have a thing for creeping up behind you without you noticing at all," They both giggled.
"Oh yeah, we're going to be late, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura exclaimed. And together, they zoomed off inside the building.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"What's her plan, Syaoran?" Meilin asked while she and Syaoran were doing their daily sparring in Syaoran's courtyard.
"Honestly, I don't know, the only thing that she told me was that she was going to make work easier for Sakura." Syaoran replied.
After a series of punches, Syaoran did a sidekick which Meilin instantly blocked, and after that, she did a roundhouse kick and swiftly pinned Syaoran to the ground.
"You've improved."
"No, you're just losing your touch. What's wrong with you these days? It's like you're not taking things very seriously at all." Meilin paused and grumbled, "It's kind of insulting."
"Eh?" Syaoran looked up at the slightly pale Meilin. "Wait, Meilin are you ok-" Before Syaoran could even finish his sentence, Meilin collapsed into his arms, her breathing was uneven.
"Meilin?" Syaoran shaked Meilin, but from the looks of it, she had lost conciousness. "Meilin? Meilin!"
"..."
xoxoxoxoxoxox
"Rei-chan is very mysterious, isn't she?" Tomoyo commented, it was lunchtime and they were sitting outside, eating.
Chomping down her favorite fried shrimp that her father had prepared for her, she replied, "Yeah, and the fact that she knows Syaoran-kun and Meilin-chan is even more confusing."
"Well she did say that they were cousins, although she was being quite hesitant about it..."
"Syaoran-kun and Meilin-chan didn't mention anything about her before though..."
"They didn't? Well that's kind of rude." Rei spoke from behind them, eating a bag of chips.
"Hoe... Rei-chan! What are you doing there?" Sakura exclaimed.
"Actually, I've been sitting here the entire time. I was already here even before you two came. Ohohohoho..." Rei responded.
"Really?" Tomoyo asked, star-eyed. "Can you teach me how to do that, Rei-chan? I would love to be able to record Sakura-chan as close as possible without being noticed!"
"Sure! All it takes is for you to be dead silent and have very less movement," Rei smiled. Sure enough, Tomoyo was crazy about recording Sakura just like Meilin said. Is it wrong to think that I actually want to wear some of her costumes?
Meanwhile, Sakura sweat-dropped, "Hoe..."
I don't know what's going to happen. But whatever it may be, I'll fight till the end. And make sure that this world is free from any destruction that this darkness may set free. And whatever it may be, I'll fight till the end. Because I know that you'll always be here with me.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Taira Murasaki: (February 5, 2018)
Konnichiwa, everyone! Thank you for reading the first chapter of my Cardcaptor Sakura fanfiction: The Dark card Arc!
What if Sakura and Syaoran didn't seperate in the best terms and Sakura never got to reply to Syaoran's feelings? Miss those days when our dear Syaoran-kun was still blushing and scowling all the time, and those cute and fluffy SyaoSaku moments? Then, you'll find that right here! Only a little bit more matured-like because, they're probably 14 year olds now! I'm just guessing. (Edit: I wrote this before Clear Card came out so hopefully eveyone will understand OwO) And I'll also be adding new characters and new relationships as you can see.
Ne, ne? So what do you guys think? R+R please! (^3^) I would like to hear some of your comments and suggestions!
What do you guys think about Rei-chan? Is she cute? Annoying? Mysterious and confusing? And what is her relationship with Meilin and Syaoran? You'll find out soon, hehehe. Again, thank you so much for reading and please come back for more! Chapter 2 will be up around the first week of March.
Arigatougozaimasu!