Warning: There are spoilers for chapitres that haven't been published in English yet. Also, so far as I can tell, the CCS participation that I have going here isn't exactly canon, but I liked the idea.
This is the first of three connected one-shots. It's a bit of an experiment with a different style of writing, and I hope it turned out well.
And she says oh She shuts out the night
I can't take no more
Her tears like diamonds on the floor
And her diamonds bring me down
Cause I can't help her now
She's down in it
She tried her best but now she can't win it
Hard to see them on the ground
Her diamonds falling down
Tries to close her eyes
If she can find daylight
She'll be alright
She'll be alright
Just not tonight
-Rob Thomas, "Her Diamonds"
Kinomoto Sakura feels it immediately, the magic that explodes from nothing. It is as though someone snuck up behind her and screamed in her ear. She can't help the startled yelp, anymore than she can help stumbling over thin air. It comes from Penguin Park, of course. The park always seems to attract the supernatural, or at least it has since her Cardcaptor days.
Tomoyo will be disappointed to miss this, and Syaoran will be angry to know she is going to investigate on her own, but it can't be helped. Sakura fully expects that Syaoran will appear soon anyway. There is no way he can miss that burst of power.
It is nearly sunset, so the area is empty. "Release," she says, and, "Jump." She takes to the trees feeling safer about the upcoming confrontation if she is positioned above him, or her, or them. She hasn't the faintest idea what is going on, and she is alone. She will take whatever advantage she can.
Sakura leaps easily from tree to tree, not as skilled or stealthy as her boyfriend, but well enough. She moves unerringly in the direction she feels the magical presence (presences? She can't tell, there is something strange or wrong, or both, something she is not yet experienced enough to analyze).
.
There is a clearing in the woods where a strange group of four and a white creature are gathered.
"Someone's coming," says the large, intimidating man with eyes the color of blood.
"Someone powerful," adds the other adult lightly. He appears perfectly harmless if one overlooks the tension coiled in his body and the smile that does not reach his eyes.
The boy holds the unconscious princess close to his heart, and his expression is grim, his eyes determined as he scans the area for the approaching threat.
It is upon this scene that Sakura emerges. Her gaze, as always, is drawn first and foremost to her most precious person. "Syaoran?" she says in surprise. She didn't think he would arrive before her, and she hardly notices the others jerking in shock, or the way her name is spoken by a lithe, blond man she has never seen in her life.
She leaps lightly from her high position in the tree to the ground, and is puzzled by the beginnings of a worried shout from Syaoran, and a "Hyuu, Sakura-chan is so cool," from the blond man. And then she notices the girl that Syaoran carries looks very familiar, and the feeling of wrongness intensifies.
"What's going on?" she asks. Her star staff is still out, the tension in the air almost palpable.
"S-Sakura…-san," Syaoran stutters, looking desperately at his companions.
She takes a step back, eyes narrowed, staff held in front of her defensively. His appearance might be the same, but the say he holds himself, the way he speaks, his attitude. It confirms that this boy before her is not her Syaoran.
"You're not Syaoran-kun," she says lowly. "Who are you?" Those words, it seems, and the desire behind them become a trigger.
She dreams.
In her arms she cradles a baby boy. So much like his father, she thinks.
They love him and train him and prepare him as best they can, and they let him go too early (far, far too early, and sometimes Sakura hates hitsuzen, but they give him a choice and he goes).
In her arms she cradles a baby boy, and he is so much like her father and his other half.
They love him and protect him, teach him everything he needs to know about living on his own, and they don't let him go quite so early, but still it's too early, they think.
There is pain in the future for all of them. Agony, blood, betrayal, despair, hatred, sacrifice, and it's too sad for words, the things her son(s) and his companions will go through.
Never before has Sakura dreamed while awake, and with so little effort. Dazed by the intensity of her visions, she doesn't know how long she stares into the distance. She does notice the makeshift 'family's' puzzled and concerned expressions, and can't find the strength within her to reassure them because it takes everything she has to keep the tears in her eyes from falling.
Something small and white with large ears surprises her by hopping onto her shoulder. "Hoe," she murmurs weakly.
"Is Sakura-chan all right?" it asks sadly, reaching out a small hand to pat her cheek gently.
"Yes," she says, conjuring up a faint smile. "I will be. Definitely."
"Yay," the creature cheers, instantly happy. "I'm Mokona Modoki. Let's be friends."
"Hello, Mokona," she says, carefully shaking its hand with finger and thumb. "I'm Kinomoto Sakura."
"Saa, how rude of us not to introduce ourselves," says the blond with a charming grin. "I am Fai, and this guy in black is – "
"Kurogane," the other man growls, glaring menacingly at the mage.
"And you seem to recognize Syaoran," Fai continues easily.
Sakura glances up and really looks at the young man who will one day be her son. "Oh," she breathes. He was and wasn't the child she saw in her dream, and Sakura realizes that there is so much more to this than she had thought. There are not many people with the power to see the seal in his right eye, but she is one of them. Syaoran – her Syaoran – would recognize what it was immediately. Sakura didn't know its purpose for certain, but she could guess. She understands souls and hearts better than the tomes of magic she struggles to learn from, and she would know the feel of that magic anywhere.
None of the group really knows what to say to this Sakura who isn't the Sakura they know and love. And so, they wait for her to make her move, because there is something so knowing and so terribly heartbreaking in her emerald gaze. Sakura should never look so devastated, they think. It is painful to see her like that.
For the moment, Sakura is concentrated completely on Syaoran. "I know you," she whispers, tears clinging to her long lashes. The young archaeologist freezes when he feels her warm, smooth hand on his cheek. His face burns when she leans close and kisses his brow (above his right eye, both the ninja and the mage notice, but Kurogane doesn't know the true significance while Fai knows all too well).
"I love you both," Sakura whispers in his ear. "If you forget all else, please remember that you are loved." You will all three be my beloved sons, never mind I will give birth to only one of you.
He looks so flustered and terribly confused as she steps away, but she doesn't explain any further.
"Are you all right, Syaoran-kun?" Fai asks softly as Kurogane looks away with a scowl.
"Eh?" he questions.
"You're crying."
Syaoran carefully adjusts his hold on the princess and brings a hand to his face. "I…I don't know why," he whispers, his frown equal parts puzzled and sad. "And it is just my right eye that cries."
The group is disturbed by a shout, and they turn to see this world's Syaoran sprinting toward them, his sword in hand. Kurogane can tell immediately that the kid knows how to use it. "Sakura!" He skids to a halt at her side and takes up a defensive stance. "What is going on?" he demands, his hard gaze darting from person to person.
"Puu!" Mokona says cheerfully, as though completely ignorant of the tension. "Now there are two Syaoran-kuns and two Sakura-chans!"
Li lowers his sword slightly and stares at the strange creature. "Another stuffed animal?" he asks warily.
"Mokona is not a stuffed animal," the white creature says. "Mokona is Mokona!"
"At least he didn't bite you, Syaoran," Sakura murmurs softly, lacing her fingers through his in the hopes of calming him down and preventing him from doing something rash.
Li's expression gentles when he looks at Sakura, but the softness is lost when he returns his gaze to the strange group. He tries not to notice the girl who looks like Sakura because even if she isn't the one he loves, it's heart wrenching to see her so frail and helpless, and it doesn't take one of his power to feel that there is something wrong with her. He sees the seal in his double and knows in an instant its purpose. He sees the curse upon the tall, black-haired man.
(But only Sakura sees the curses that wend and weave around the blond like a noose, and she knows bits and pieces that will result. She has seen the strands of hitsuzen that lead to this moment, and she has glimpsed where they will lead from here.)
"You are very powerful," Syaoran says gravely to Fai.
Fai grins, and his mask does no waver. "So are you two," he replies cheerfully.
(Clow Reed's most important instruction, passed down and followed religiously by the Li clan, was to always shield their magic power, so that only a portion of their strength could be sensed. Syaoran had learned this as a child. Eriol had always known this. Sakura had been taught by Kero and Yue upon completing the Sakura Cards. There were many reasons for this that Clow chose not to impart to anyone, most revolving around this 'family' of world travelers. Their world was doubly protected by the Dimensional Witch's presence, her location well-hidden from the man who watched and manipulated the journey. It was, perhaps, the safest world in which the travelers could have landed, in terms of avoiding Fei Wang Reed's interference.)
"What is going on here?" Li demands again.
"Um," Syaoran says, still rather unnerved by meeting himself. "I'm Syaoran… This is Fai-san and Kurogane-san, and this is Sakura-hime. We are travelers from other worlds, searching for Sakura-hime's memories. They were turned into feathers and flew to different dimensions."
Li examines his look-alike, and then looks at Sakura curiously. Slowly his katana drops and returns to its form as an orb. "So you're another version of myself?"
Sakura gives him a look, and Fai watches their interaction curiously, knowing that Kurogane has not missed it either. This pair is so much more comfortable with each other and themselves. There is no awkwardness or blushing. In fact, they seem to know each other so well that there is no need for words. He wonders wistfully if their own Sakura and Syaoran will be like that someday.
Li Syaoran understands the message Sakura conveys with her eyes. He is no fool. If this is not his other self, then it must be a relative, or a replica of a relative. Half of a heart is sealed in this boy, using the magic of his family. My son? he asks in the slight arch of an eyebrow, the inquisitive glint in brown eyes.
Ours, says the upward twitch of a lip, the warmth and devotion in her gaze. But there was more she was not saying in the slight furrow of her brow, the sadness like an echo in her eyes.
He knows that now is not the time to ask. Sakura does not want these people to know.
"It's getting late. Why don't you stay with us for now?" Sakura offers.
"Oi. Manjuu," the ninja says suddenly, before anyone can respond to Sakura's suggestion. "Is there a feather here?"
Mokona hums and concentrates hard. "Mokona cannot tell," it says at last, ears drooping. "There is a lot of strange power here."
"I haven't seen or felt anything that might be a feather, but Eriol-kun can probably tell us if one is here or not."
It is nearly impossible to miss the glower on Li's face at that remark. The expression on a familiar face is unfamiliar and surreal to the world travelers.
"I bet that b – Hiiragizawa knew this would happen," he growls.
"Waa, other-Syaoran-san sounds just like Kuro-rin," Fai says laughingly.
"Enough with the stupid names!" Kurogane bellows, his hand twitching for his sword.
"Kuro-daddy is sooo scary," Mokona decides to join in one the fun.
Before the argument can degenerate from there, Li's cell phone rings. A tick beneath his left eye that has developed as a direct result of Hiiragizawa Eriol serves as a warning. "It's the devil," he says morosely. "Of course."
"Syaoran," Sakura says sternly.
Li flips open his phone and faces away from the group. "What."
Curiosity keeps the others silent, wondering just who can elicit such a response from the boy. Syaoran flushes, embarrassed and a little wistful as he sees how different his counterpart is.
"Greetings, my cute little descendent."
"I am not your cute little anything, Hiiragizawa, and like hell I descended from you," Li snarls. He is on edge from everything that has happened, and does not have the patience required to deal more or less calmly with this half of the reincarnation.
"Hoeee," Sakura sighs. "Those two."
"Ano…if you don't mind my asking, who is he talking to?" the young archaeologist asks hesitantly.
"That's our friend, Hiiragizawa Eriol-kun," Sakura explains.
"Don't even tell me you didn't see them coming. A little warning might have been nice!" Li shouts at that moment.
"Strange friendship," Kurogane mutters.
Fai giggles, but chooses not to explain why.
"Can he see the future?" Mokona asks curiously.
"Not anymore," Sakura explains, keeping a careful eye on her Syaoran. He always gets so upset whenever he interacts with the English sorcerer. Possibly because Eriol-kun deliberately baits him. "But he remembers."
The silence is drawn out as Li listens to what the other says.
"And why are you always safe on the other side of the world whenever you call to give us news?" Li demands, glaring at nothing.
Sakura sighs. Luckily, the conversation finishes a short time later.
"There is a feather hidden in this world," Li says as he snaps his cell phone shut. "It landed here before Sakura was born, and Hiiragizawa was waiting. He sealed away its power so no one could sense it, and hid it within the Tsukimine Shrine. We can show you where tomorrow."
"Why not right now?" Kurogane asks gruffly.
"You must be tired from all of your traveling, and this world is safe for you," Sakura says gently.
"The shrine is closed for the day, anyway," her boyfriend adds. "And I would prefer not to be arrested should our doubles be caught breaking in."
Sakura elbows him sharply, and he winces.
"You are all welcome to spend the night at my house. We might need to split you up though," Sakura muses. She doesn't notice how the group stiffens at the thought. "We don't have a lot of extra space with 'Tousan, 'Niisan, and Yukito-san around."
"My apartment isn't big enough either," Syaoran says. "But I don't think they would feel comfortable if we split them up." He sighs. "Daidouji-san has enough room to house them without problem. And she would be very upset should we neglect to involve her in this."
Both Syaoran and Sakura cringe at the thought of upsetting Daidouji Tomoyo. Sakura because Tomoyo is her best friend and she is too kind to want to upset her. Syaoran because he knows Tomoyo will ever so sweetly and effortlessly make his life a living hell.
"Her mother is away for the rest of the week, as well," Sakura says.
"You don't need to…" the Syaoran of Clow country begins to protest, but Fai innocently speaks over top of him.
"Thank you for your hospitality," he says cheerfully. He is not above a little manipulation or immoral conduct to get the group what they need, and this requires no manipulation at all.
The walk is comfortable, and Sakura and Syaoran listen with great interest as Fai, Mokona, and occasionally the other Syaoran describe their journey thus far. Kurogane relaxes as much as he is ever able to, though he does not cease to pay attention to their surroundings, always ready for an attack.
Eventually they arrive at Tomoyo's mansion and the travelers cannot help but be impressed. Before Sakura can ring the bell, the gate bursts open and a small orange creature flies directly at Sakura.
"Hey, Sakura!" it shouts cheerfully. "Guess who got the new high score on – " He stops mid-sentence upon noticing that Sakura has company and freezes. "Uh."
"Nice going, stuffed animal," Li sighs.
"Beat it, brat," Kero snaps right back.
"Not another one," Kurogane grumbles, shooting daggers at their own animated plush toy.
"What's going on?" asks a gentle, cultured voice, and Tomoyo steps into view.
"T-Tomoyo-hime!" The ninja actually stutters in his shock.
"I bet your pardon?" There is confusion in her violet eyes, and she looks at Kurogane as though he were a stranger. And he is a stranger, to this version of his princess, but it doesn't hurt any less.
There are introductions and explanations as the group is shown around the large house and the maids are instructed that the group will remain for dinner. There is plenty to eat and enough variety that everyone is happy. Kurogane has his traditional Nihon food and there are plenty of sweets for both Fai and Kero-chan.
Kero takes it upon himself to warn the dimension travelers that magic is kept hidden in this world, not-so-subtly looking at the mage and Mokona as he says this. Fai reassures them, tells them that he no longer uses his magic, and his smile is unnaturally bright.
Sakura, Syaoran, and Tomoyo explain more about how this world works, and a little bit about their own magic, since Syaoran's archaeologist counterpart seems interested. Clow is not mentioned because it is complicated, and Sakura knows that he is somehow entwined within this journey. She wants to know more from Eriol before saying anything they might later regret.
(Tomoyo 'happens' to have clothing ready, not only for the other Sakura and Syaoran, but also for their adult companions. Syaoran smells a rat. Times like this, he imagines what Daidouji and Hiiragizawa would be like as a couple and not just casual acquaintances that like to conspire together, and he thanks all the gods that they are not. Yet.)
Late that night when the guests are in bed, Sakura cannot keep the tears back any longer. Kero, in his true form, lies on the ground as she wraps her arms around his neck and sobs desolately into his fur. Syaoran is at her side, holding and supporting her as he waits for her to tell him what she dreamt. Tomoyo sits on Kero's other side and hums a soothing lullaby, gently stroking Sakura's hair.
Kurogane, unknown to them, watches from the other side of a nearly closed door. He had heard the soft noises from his room and come to investigate. He had seen earlier, the way the Sakura of this world had gone into a brief trance, the way she knew more than she should. It is not unlike his Tomoyo-hime, the dream-seer.
He is a ninja, a ruthless killer, but the scene causes his chest to tighten with foreign emotion, and he leaves them to their privacy. He meets the mage in the hallway outside their rooms.
"The future is not very happy, is it Kuro-tan?" Fai says softly.
Kurogane grunts and retreats to his room.
Sakura-hime still has not woken the next day, so Syaoran and Tomoyo remain to watch over her while Sakura leads the others to the shrine. Luckily no one who knows this world's Syaoran approaches them, and they retrieve the feather from its hiding spot.
It is anticlimactic, and the group is relieved. They have been through fight after fight and trap after trap, and just once it is nice not to need to lay their lives on the line for a feather.
Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, and Kero-chan see the group off as they continue their journey to other worlds. Sakura steps forward as they begin to disappear.
"Everything will definitely be all right," she says. "Please don't forget."
And then they are gone.