Okay. Here we go … this piece of fanfiction is going to be … well, dodgy is the only word springing to mind. It's kind of hard to put into words why I'm going to struggle with this fic and, believe me, I've tried, but apparently I can't be eloquent if my life depended on it so, here it is: I first got interested in the Cardcaptor Sakura universe a few years ago when I saw one of the English-dubbed episodes. But, due to circumstances, I couldn't catch all of those when they aired and, at the time, didn't have the inclination to record them or anything. Anyway, they stopped airing the episodes and I lost interest and, before you ask, I don't think they even had the movies in Britain … did they? Huh. Something to look into … point is, most of the factual stuff I'm going to try to stuff into this fic is based on what I've managed to pick up reading the fanfiction on here, and God only knows how accurate that is.
So, basically, I don't know all of the Cards (Is it 'firey' or 'fiery'?). I don't know the incantations (really do need to look into those). I don't know most of the actual plot (Did Touya really die? Darn …). I'm going to try to use the Japanese names (because it doesn't make a itty bit of difference to me either way), and a few Japanese words I've learnt through reading the fanfiction here (I'll just make it harder for myself, shall I?), but I'd appreciate someone correcting me (especially on the 'kun' and 'chan' and 'san' bits). I also don't have a bloody clue about how the Li Clan works (and I should stop before I start sounding too bitter.)
Maybe now you've caught on to why this is going to end up killing me. But, anyway, I'd really appreciate any comments, suggestions, criticism or whatever from you guys.
Oh, yeah, and this'll be S+S. Yup, I can only fuzzily remember what Syaoran and Sakura look like, but I've gotten quite partial to that coupling. Not so partial to E+T but I haven't read as many fics that give them the limelight so I guess that's to be expected. But, yes, E+T will be featured … if I remember to include Eriol at all. Heh.
Quite frankly, I'm dreading this and maybe I shouldn't even be writing this considering all of the bad stuff, but my Muse is amazingly persistent and so, here we go … *groan* Someone pass me the prozac …
When Darkness Falls: Prologue
She was going too fast to make the turn. She knew that, but she couldn't stop. If she stopped then she'd die, it was as simple as that. So she continued onwards, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she burst forward, her muscles on fire as her roller blades hit the pavement in a staccato rhythm.
The sharp turn-off was growing closer at an alarming rate and she squinted at the narrow gap between two rows of white picket fencing, squinting as the sunlight glinted off of the glossy surface. If she could just make it around that corner, then she'd be only a block away from home … from Kero … from the Cards … from safety.
But it wasn't to be. Kinomoto Sakura cried out in pain, horror and desperation as her blades twisted out from beneath her and she went skidding past her route to safety, the gravel gouging deeply into her soft thigh and knee.
She whimpered as she tore off her roller blades, fumbling with the last catch as she stared helplessly back the way she'd come, gasping in horror as the first of them skidded around the far corner.
It snarled at her, inch long fangs dripping saliva onto the gravel under it's huge, dinner-plate sized paws. Sleek black fur rippled as the canine hunkered down to the ground, preparing to strike, it's piercing golden orbs locking onto hers in a mocking challenge. She could see the pendant form of her Sealing Wand dangling by its chain from one of the creature's incisors. Sakura swallowed and, shaking, closed her jade eyes, waiting for the inevitable, waiting for those gleaming daggers to sink into her tender throat.
The pain never came and Sakura tentatively opened her glistening eyes. "Hoe?"
A soft, tinkling, child-like laugh answered her and she frowned in confusion, focusing her gaze on the small girl who stood by the beast, her tiny hand resting on it's shoulder. The girl, despite her otherworldly beauty, couldn't have been older than five, and the top of her head only just brushed the huge canine's lower jaw.
But the girl was beautiful: her black dress emphasised a delicate face of milky pale skin which was framed by poker straight waves of the most pure black reaching down to her waist. Her eyes were wide, almost too big for her face as they stared unblinkingly at Sakura, twin pools of depthless cobalt. She'd be a heartbreaker when she was older.
"Are you scared?" The girl asked, and even her voice was stunning.
Sakura glanced from the girl to the beast by her side and the girl laughed. "You don't need to worry about Raiyu. He won't bite … not unless I tell him to, anyway." A wicked smirk spread across the girl's face for a split second before it was gone as fast as it came, shattering the illusion of an innocent child. Sakura blinked in confusion, suddenly very much aware of the rivulets of crimson rolling down her leg.
"Who are you?" Sakura finally asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you want from me?"
This time it was the girl's turn to blink. "Don't you know?" She asked with genuine confusion, interlaced with the subtle edge of mockery. Slowly Sakura shook her head and the girl's face twisted with rage. Then she opened her mouth and shrieked wordlessly. The scream was shrill and angry and it slammed into Sakura with an almost tangible force, knocking her backwards.
Seeing this, the girl stopped and smirked. "It doesn't matter anyway. You're too weak to stop me … you're all too weak to stop me, and no one will save you. Not even your precious little wolf." She sneered, her voice dripping in sarcasm. "Because my time is coming, and the Gates of Hell are opening to grant me passage."
She turned then, her hair fanning out behind her like a velvet cloak. The canine turned with her and, moving almost against her will, Sakura staggered to her feet. "Who are you?" She called again, her voice desperate.
The girl turned again, expression boastful as she lowered the shields hiding her aura and let the darkness of her soul pour out into the world. Sakura gasped breathlessly as the power rolled into her, knocking her off of her feet and drawing the breath from her lungs until she was choking, clutching at her throat. The world seemed to grow dark around her and thunder boomed overhead.
"I'm – " She fell silent, frowning petulantly. "It's time for you to wake up now. And then …" She giggled, suddenly full of childish innocence as she drew her aura back into herself, watching as Sakura drew in lungfuls of precious air.
The auburn-haired teenager frowned as she lay there, gasping like a fish out of water. This is just a dream? But how - ?
But the girl wasn't finished. "And then you die." She stated happily, pressing her finger to her lips in a 'ssh'ing gesture. "Don't tell."