The Sorcerers' Tournament.
Authoress: Princess Lalaith.
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, they're property of Clamp. I do own this story and the characters of: Amelia, Michel, Daeron, and Seer.
Chapter 1.- Believe.
"7 years, 7 years have passed since you promised to return, but you never did. You must think I was a fool because I believed you would come back, because I still believe one day we'll be back together. I still remember the day you left me for the second time. It was so hard for me to say good bye. We had just captured the Void Card, and it had turned to "Hope". And I finally had the courage to tell you I loved you. And you said you loved me too. We were together all that day, and you left the next morning, I gave you a hand-made teddy bear, it was white with pink wings, you said you would name it Sakura. Mmm… the teddy bear you gave me, I named it Shaoran. Tomoyo once told me that if you give a hand-made teddy bear to the person you love, and that person names the teddy after yourself, your love will last forever. I want to believe that's true, I really want to believe it is; that each time you see that bear you remember me, that you still love me. I want to believe that one day we'll meet again, and we'll be together forever, and live happily ever after, like in all fairy-tales. That's what I want to believe, that's what I believe."
"¡Breakfast!" a voice called from the kitchen.
"¡Coming!" Sakura replied.
Sakura Kinomoto, 19 years old. Leader of the Cheerleaders. She just finished High school. With emerald-green eyes and auburn hair, mid-back length, always pulled back in two pigtails; she's really a beautiful little woman, many men have asked her out but she always refuses. She's also a Sorceress, the Mistress of the Sakura Cards. She lives with her guardians in an apartment. Her mother died when she was three, her father a year ago, and her brother got married a couple of years ago.
"Good morning Kero." Sakura greeted as she arrived to the kitchen. "Ohayo Yukito."
"Hello Sakura." Both of them chorused.
Kero, who's full name is Kerberos, the Beast of the Seal, the Solar Guardian of the Sakura Cards. Yukito Tsukishiro, is a Professor in the Seijou High School, his true form is Yue, the Moon Guardian of the Sakura Cards.
"Tomoyo called a few minutes ago." Kero said. "She said you have to model the new Collection today at two o'clock."
Tomoyo Daidouji, daughter of Sonomi Daidouji, the owner of the "Daidouji Toy Company"; cousin and best friend of Sakura. She had waist-length black-gray hair, and she used to have it lose, amethyst eyes, and a privileged voice. She was model, the same as Sakura of the "Niji" Company, she also designed some of the outfits Sakura and herself used to model. Her passion was designing and videotaping her best friend.
"I know." Sakura said calmly as she began eating. "Are you coming Yukito?"
"Sure Sakura." Yukito answered. "Are your brother and Seika coming?"
"Seika said they would." Sakura answered.
Touya Kinomoto, 26 years old, Sakura's older brother, with black hair and brown eyes. He has the power to see, hear, talk to, and control all kind of ghosts, and spirits, very much like a Shaman; he works in "Niji" the Company where Sakura and Tomoyo model, he is a Finance Assessor. His wife is Seika, red hair and light-brown eyes, she's a priestess, she has a few abilities, like: telepathy, telekinesis, and sometimes she's able to see a person's future just by touching him or her; she works as a Secretary in the Daidouji Toy Company.
"I better go get a shower." Sakura said as she headed to the bathroom. "If Tomoyo calls tell her I'll be ready by eleven o'clock."
Yukito nodded as he put on an apron and started cleaning the kitchen with Kero's help.
.--.
A Few hours later.
"Ok." a woman said. "Go, now!"
Music started as Sakura stepped through the curtain to the stage. A man was describing the outfit she was wearing as she walked by the stage, posed, turned, posed again, and then walked back through the curtain. There where many photographers. It was a huge event.
"You did very well Cherry." her companions told her.
Cherry, that's how the people called her, it was her stage name. As Violet was Tomoyo's name. They were two of the best models in all the country.
When the Fashion Show was over Touya, Yukito and Seika went back-stage with Sakura and Tomoyo to congratulate them.
"You were great Tomoyo, Sakura." Yukito told them.
"As always." Kero murmured popping his head from Yukito's bag. Then he added. "Do you have any candy?"
"You'll never change Kero." Sakura murmured.
"Here, take these." Tomoyo said offering him some candy.
"Weeee!" Kero murmured happily.
"Congratulations Sakura." Touya and Seika said at the same time.
And just as Seika hugged Sakura, she had a vision.
"Are you all right honey?" Touya asked.
Seika looked at Sakura for a few seconds before speaking.
"It's about to begin." Seika said with a cold tone. "You'll see him again. It's your destiny."
"What?" Sakura asked confused. "Who?"
"Secrets will be revealed." Seika continued. "The Shadow is already falling, the first to lose will be the weakest ones. Just the strongest will be able to survive."
No one seemed to understand until…
"The Tournament is about to begin." Seika ended before she fainted.
Touya immediately grabbed her and lay her on a sofa.
"What did all that meant?" Sakura asked to everyone around her.
No one knew the answer.
"I suggest we go back home and investigate." Yukito suggested.
The rest accepted the idea.
.--.
A Few minutes later.
They arrived to Sakura's apartment. Yukito went to prepare tea, as Sakura went to her bedroom, when she went back to the living room she was carrying about seven books.
"These are books about Magic, History of Magic, Great Wizards, Witches and Sorcerers, and Everything related to the topic." Sakura explained letting the books on a desk.
Just then the bell rang.
"I'll go get it." Tomoyo offered.
In the door stood a man.
"I have a letter for Miss Kinomoto Sakura." the man said.
"Yes." Tomoyo said, "I'm her cousin."
"Fine." the man said. "I need your signature here, please."
Tomoyo signed where she was told.
"Thank you." the man said as she gave Tomoyo an envelope.
"Who was?" Touya asked when Tomoyo was back to the living room.
"A messenger." Tomoyo answered. "He brought this for you Sakura." she handed her the envelope.
"To me?" Sakura asked as she took the envelope. She opened it and read in silence.
"What? What is it?" Tomoyo asked.
But Sakura stayed there, with the letter in her hands, in shock. Finally she gave the letter to Tomoyo.
"Read it." was all she could say.
So Tomoyo took the letter and read out loud:
Miss Kinomoto:
We're pleased to inform you you're one of the selected Wizards and Sorcerers to participate in the Tournament that will be held in three months. This is a special tournament that is held each 25 years, just the most powerful Witches, Wizards and Sorcerers are invited. You may bring up to three companions, all-paid. We expect your response in no more than two weeks since this letter gets to your hands. For sending an answer you'll just need to write your decision, and how many persons you'll be bringing, then sign. You'll immediately be added to our list of competitors, and some servants will pick you and your companions three days before the Tournament starts. We expect your answer soon.
"Do you think that's the Tournament Seika talked about?" Sakura asked.
"It may be…" Yukito murmured.
"You aren't going, are you?" Touya asked.
"Yes, I'm going." Sakura answered.
"What?!" Touya exclaimed. "You can't!"
"Yes I can, and I will." Sakura replied. "Touya, I'm old enough to take my own decisions. And don't worry, I'll take Yukito, Kero and Tomoyo with me."
"But what if they say your companions must have magic?" Tomoyo asked.
"The ring I gave you has enough magic to cover your aura." Sakura answered.
Tomoyo raised her right hand. In her index finger she had a ring, it was made of silver, and had a moon-shaped crystal in the middle. Sakura had made it with magic, only Tomoyo could use it. With it Tomoyo could summon the power of all the Cards related to the moon. There was a second ring Sakura had created, it had a sun-shaped crystal, and with it the owner could summon the power of any Card related to the Sun; but that ring, Sakura had it in a box, she hadn't give it to anyone, yet. The rings where special, they were created to be used by non-magical persons, and it would just respond with someone who's aura was related to the sun (in Tomoyo's case she was compatible with the moon). They hadn't yet found someone who was compatible to the sun. Still, there were some cards, that weren't related to the moon, nor to the sun, they were the Cards created by Sakura in those seven years: Hope, Communicate, Heal, Reveal, Mask, Freedom, Memory and Teleport.
"Fine, but I want you to communicate with us every day monster." Touya replied.
"I'm not a monster!" Sakura shouted.
"You need to answer." Tomoyo said as she handed the invitation back to Sakura.
Sakura nodded.
Tomoyo moved her hand and a gentle breeze levitated a pen to Sakura's hand.
"Thank you." Sakura murmured.
Sakura wrote rapidly her answer. It glowed and then disappeared.
After a couple of minutes Touya left with Seika (who had just awoken). Tomoyo was about to leave when she noticed Sakura stayed silent.
"Are you alright Sakura?" Tomoyo asked.
Sakura nodded, but didn't look to much convinced herself.
Tomoyo shook her head but left. They had decided that they would talk with Sonomi and ask her a couple of weeks of vacation for the day of the Tournament (Even though Sonomi didn't know of the magic her daughter and niece had).
"I don't know why." Sakura murmured to herself. "But something in my heart tells me it's really important that I go to that Tournament. My destiny?"
Sakura was confused herself, but decided to relax, she still had three months before the Tournament was held.
.--.
Days later, when Tomoyo entered the apartment she almost got hit by a fire ball. She looked at her surroundings, it was obvious Sakura had used the Create Card, she was training with a few Sakura Cards in their true form, and she had Jump and Sword in herself.
"Dispel." Sakura ordered. Immediately all the magic around her disappeared, and everything returned to the common living room.
"Well that was awesome." Tomoyo murmured sitting down on the coach.
"Give me a minute." Sakura murmured. Then she called. "¡Bubbles!"
Five minutes later she was back, she had showered and changed of clothes.
"I'm finished." Tomoyo informed her.
"Really?" Sakura asked. "Let me see it."
Tomoyo opened a bag she was carrying and handed Sakura an outfit.
It was a long, sleeveless, Chinese-style dress that reached to her ankles, with slits that went to her upper thighs, it was of a crème color with pink outline, underneath it had pink pants that reached just down her knees, and light-pink fighting sandals. To finish her attire there was a white mask with a silver outline.
"It's beautiful Tomoyo!" Sakura exclaimed looking at the outfit.
"I'm really happy you decided to wear one of my outfits for your tournament." Tomoyo said with stars in her eyes.
"Well, I can guess that all competitors will be using Ceremonial Robes, so I want to use a special outfit too. And who could be better than you in making it?" Sakura said. "The mask, I'll use the "Mask" Card in it, that way I'll hide my true aura, it'll make things more interesting, no one will know who am I, not even if they've met me before."
"I also made a special bag in the sides of the robe." Tomoyo said. "There you can have your Sakura Cards."
"Thank you Tomoyo!" Sakura exclaimed hugging her friend.
"When are we leaving?" Tomoyo asked sitting down again.
"Well, according to what the letter said, they'll pick us up tomorrow at noon." Sakura answered. "We already have everything ready, no?"
"Yes. Everything's packed." Tomoyo answered. "I hope I'll be able to tape you when you compete."
"I'm sure you'll have the opportunity." Sakura said with a drop in her back.
Just then Sakura remembered something. She handed a white box to Tomoyo. Tomoyo took it and opened it.
"It's the Sun Ring." Tomoyo said looking at it.
"I want you to keep it." Sakura said. "I have a feeling we'll soon find the person that will use it, and until then I want you to keep it safe."
"You can trust me Sakura, it'll be safe." Tomoyo said as she put the box in her pocket.
"Do you want to stay for dinner?" Sakura asked.
"Sure." Tomoyo replied.
After dinner Tomoyo left and told Sakura she would arrive at ten o'clock so they had time to check everything.
.--.
That Night
Dream
It was a huge yard. And suddenly everything was in silence. Shadows started rising and covering the blue sky. A huge magic could be felt, and it was dark magic. In one side where some persons in robes and Ceremonial clothes. Then they noticed that the Dark Magic was coming from two creatures in the center of the yard: One seemed human, a man, but the second one seemed like some kind of monster, it looked like a female, with bat wings and really long nails. Just their presence was intimidating enough. But then in front of the dark creatures a light shone, three people where standing there…
End of Dream
Sakura woke up really dizzy and confused. She remember the shadows, the magic, even the fear she had felt.
"It seemed so real." Sakura murmured to herself. "I felt the dark magic, there were more wizards and sorcerers around the place, but that light. There were persons in that light, Sorcerers, three, but how they looked like, I couldn't see."
Sakura sighed, it had been years since she had had her last premonition-dream.
"This is so strange…" Sakura murmured. "But now I'm surer than ever that I must attend that Tournament."
And across the sea, three more persons had had the same dream. The three of them were Sorcerers, and the three of them had been invited to the Sorcerer's Tournament. They were really confused about what they had seen, and they weren't sure what it may mean. But they were sure of one thing: Something was about to happen, something big.
A new story begins!! I hope ou'll all like it. It's a bit different from other fics I've written previously of CCS, but the idea just crept into my mind one day and I had to write it. You have no idea of what's coming, believe me; but I hope you'll like it as much as I do.
By the way, this fic is dedicated to Michel (whether or not he ever reads it here). One of the best friends I've ever had, certainly my dearest male friend (what more can one wish?). I told you this fic would be dedicated to you, for enduring my endless hours of craziness in the cafeteria, back in highschool! I shall always remember it! Thanks!!