Ojamashimasu!

Yeah, I know, I know... I've said before that I won't start another story without finishing Pieces first, and that is why I am feeling very much ashamed of myself for breaking my literary ethics (shame on you, you horrible person! You are the reason I did this. And yes, I think we both know who you are.) But, guess what? Here I am, writing a Card Captor Sakura fanfic.

I dedicate this story for my good friend, Shelle (no, I won't care if you'd kill me for writing your name here. Besides, we aren't permitted to kill.) I love her to teeny-weeny itty-bitty pieces, enough for me to break my biggest rule in writing fictions. We have only known each other in the shortest of times, and that has been enough for me to feel like we've known each other since forever. I am an only female, so I've never had the privilege to have a real sister. High school cured me of that, however, and it gave me a wonderful "twin sister" in spirits. Unfortunately, we parted ways in the darkest of terms, she leaving me with a broken heart that only being separated from your beloved siblings could give. My self-esteem was crushed. I was depressed. I thought I wasn't worthy of being a friend. But God and life gives you so much blessing that sometimes we fail to see them. He sought it best to let me have a sister again. I am very thankful for you, Shelle, even though you might not know it. You were like the sister I never had, the sister that I lost, only if you would let me be. I love you in spirit, and I hope that this little thing pleases you even a bit.

Happy spiritual birthday!

Alright, enough with the sappy stuff, and on with the story!

Lots of love and chocolate!

Sada-chan
062105

Prologue

"No! Please, no!" the young shrine maiden pleaded with tears in her eyes. "Please don't take Yukito away from me!"

The gaping rift that was swirling in a mesmerizing blue and white spun even faster as she said this, sucking in more and more, tugging at her robes and her knee-length black hair. Yukito was fading away in the harsh light, his pale hands extending themselves towards her; an act of insufferable longing and loneliness.

Sakura stood up as best she could and dared the howling winds, reaching out blindly for her beloved's hands. Her slender fingers were aching to touch even the very tips of Yukito's fingers. Sakura's tears clouded her vision, her midnight hair billowing wildly around her. Only one word was able to form on her lips. "Yukito!" she wailed.

Behind her, Sakura's young attendant Tomoyo gripped hard onto one of the wooden pillars that were standing proudly about the ritual sanctum. Her eyes were shut tight, her jaw was clenched, but she could hear her friend's empty cries echoing around her. She opened one eye, her flaming red hair whipping at her milky face. Sakura was about to walk into the rift that the Four Guardians have opened. Panic rising within her, she held out her hand as far as she could without being eaten by the winds. "Sakura, no! Don't go in there!"

But Sakura was well being deaf. Walking numbly towards the spinning chasm, the voice of Tomoyo entered her thought and dissipated through the howling wind screaming at her. The force of the opened gateway tugged and pulled at her red priestess skirt, and at her white robes, as if begging her and coaxing her to come join her beloved inside.

Desperation finally seeping through, Tomoyo took a chance and let go of the pillar. A hundred or so forces began pulling at her all at once. She was very much overwhelmed, and she slammed to the floor hard. Reeling, Tomoyo felt like her hair was being ripped from her scalp by the sheer force at which the air was sucking her. She could feel her body sliding slowly towards the rift.

Crawling on all fours, Tomoyo inched her way very carefully towards her friend. She was not about to lose her! When Sakura was about a few feet away from the swirling doorway, Tomoyo gave a small cry of desperation, and lunged with all her strength for Sakura's feet.

Sakura fell forwards and she spun her head around, looking at her assailant. "Tomoyo! Let me go!" she shrieked, her jade eyes a mixture of fury and confusion.

Tomoyo's grip got even tighter. "No!" she shouted, ribbons of red hair flying around her delicate face. "You're not going to waste yourself by following master Yukito in there! You've got a long way to go, Sakura!" she answered, her voice as firm and steady as her grip.

Sakura's tears welled up and spilled from her eyes uncontrollably. "I can't go on without him, Tomoyo, I just can't! How could I do this without him?" she sobbed as the rift began to slow down its spinning and fade away.

"You can do this, Sakura! I'm here to help you!"

And that clinched it; the hole that took Yukito away was gone.

Hovering above the two of them, four grim faces locked their eyes on the dark-priestess. "Well done, miko," the Guardian with the long white hair spoke softly. He fluttered his glowing white wings slightly, causing one or two long feathers to fall gently. "You have passed the first part of the test."

Sakura sat up long enough for her sobs to die down. Tomoyo knelt sympathetically beside her. "Test?" the girl with the black hair sniffed.

The female Guardian with flowing candy hair nodded gingerly. "You submitted Clow Reed to the Guardians; you willingly endangered yourself to save your master; and you have brought forth a companion that would willingly endanger herself to save you," she smiled at Tomoyo as she enumerated the tests that Sakura had just passed.

The two priestesses stared helplessly at the magnificent powers that were gazing at them from above. Tomoyo had just but noticed that the sanctum was now dimly lit, unlike the pitch-black darkness it was engulfed in before. Now she could see that the room was huge; ancient but regally constructed. Pillars stood encircling a cleared chamber in the middle. Low shelves were decked around the room, and there were thousands of candles that stood atop them. Now the young attendant could see the candles being slowly lit one by one by some unknown force, making the ritual sanctum grow brighter and brighter.

"So this was all but part of the test?" Sakura asked the Four Guardians.

They all nodded in response.

She took a chance. "Then, does that mean," she started, her voice shaking. "Does that mean you'll give Yukito back?"

Sakura was met only with silence.

She bowed down her head and sobbed softly. She would never get to see Yukito again. If only she knew that partaking in this would result in her separation with her beloved, then she wouldn't have taken the candidate exam. Tomoyo could do nothing but be by her friend's side, stroking her hair and patting her back and shoulders. She wished that she could give Sakura as much support as she could, but what could she do at this time? They were at the mercy of the Guardians above them.

In the end, it was the regal yellow Guardian that spoke to her. "We cannot give you Clow Reed back, but that does not mean that you cannot be with him again," he spoke tenderly, almost purring.

The two maidens looked up at the strange and wise animal in confusion.

The yellow Guardian raised its magnificent head and spoke in an imperial voice. "Listen well, Kinomoto Sakura, the priestess of Clow Reed, for this shall be your final task."

Sakura snapped back into her old self as she was all eyes and ears in listening to what the Guardians had in store for her.

"There is only one way to prove yourself worthy to be the handmaiden of Clow," he said. "Now that Clow Reed has been taken into the heavens, you, priestess of Clow, are given one thousand and one years to go forth and search the world for your one true master... the one true Clow Reed!"

Footnote:
Miko – Shrine maiden; priestess; sorceress.

Grin.

Quite a bit of a twist, isn't it? Questions and violent reactions are always welcome, and I would gladly reply to them in the next chapter. I wouldn't mind if you people don't like this... after all, this is for my friend.

Shelle-chan, you do know that I won't update unless you review every chapter, right? Smirk. I know, I'm evil. And you can't do anything about it. Grins once more.

See you next chapter!

Sadame X
Defy your destiny.