Introduction

A year has passed since Li fell prey to the Evil Card, and he's trying to cope with the effects. With his dark side closer to the surface, he can get angry very quickly – a fact that everyone notices.

Since he moved back to Readington, Sakura has been the rock in his life, the only person able to keep him balanced. But when an argument gets out of hand, Li makes a drastic decision…to walk out of her life forever.

Another year passes, and Sakura is once again under threat from evil forces. But without Li to protect her, is this the end for the 16 year old Card Mistress?

The scars of the past come back to haunt them…

Chapter One; Effects Of Evil

"Go, Li, go!" Sakura stood with the other cheerleaders, and cheered as Li ran by with the football. He waved, and winked cheekily at her, easily dodging the player from the opposite team who'd tried to tackle him for the ball. Smiling, he booted the ball into the goal, and laughed as the goalie missed yet again.

Sakura smiled as the 15 year old boy did a victory dance. Li seemed to come alive when he played football – perhaps that was why he was captain of the team. Although it was probably just because he was the best player. With his super-fast reflexes, he was unbeatable.

His celebration over, Li sped up the field, catching up with another player and stealing the ball away from him. Quickly passing to Jake, another player on the Readington High football team, he stood back for a moment to catch his breath. The score was 13 – 1 to Readington – and Li had scored 12 of the goals for their side.

"Watch out Li!" Sakura called as an opposing player ran for the ball, knocking down Li as he passed.

"Aaah!" The player stopped for a second, a smirk on his tanned face.

"You know, for a Captain of the football team, you really don't watch where you're going, do you?" Laughing, he ran on, turning back to make a face. Li felt the now familiar waves of anger coursing through him as he watched, but restrained himself.

"Grrr….aaah!" Li tried to get to his feet, growling in rage, but had to fall back to the floor as his ankle gave way beneath him.

"Woah, easy there Li. Let me have a look at that ankle." The coach bent over his injured player, and pursed his lips.

"Sorry, Li. Looks like you've twisted it. You'll have to sit this one out, I'm afraid."

"No!" Li was horrified. "You can't, Coach! It's the last game of the season! The final! I have to play!"

"I really am sorry Li. But if you try and play on, you might damage the ankle further. Then you won't be able to play next season either. Zachary! Take Li to the First Aid Room. Max! You're on!" Scowling, Li allowed himself to be led off by Zachary. But he made sure to memorise the cheating boy's face.

"We still won. Because of your twelve goals, the other team couldn't catch up." Sakura walked Li out of the First Aid Room, chattering happily. He strode silently with her, his ankle heavily bandaged.

"Which of course means that we won the cup, so we'll go up a division…" Her voice died away as she realised he wasn't listening, and she sighed.

"I'm sorry you missed the rest of the match, Li. It was really horrible of that guy to do what he did to you. But it's over now. You have to…"

"Hold on a minute." Li stopped her, and limped off into the alley by the school. Curious, Sakura waited, wondering what he was doing.

Tony Slipford dawdled down the alley by the High School, heading home. His team-mates had asked him if he wanted to go bowling, but Tony just wanted to go home and lie in front of the TV.

He smiled, thinking of the boy he'd tripped up. That idiot had been too talented for his own good – he'd deserved what he got. He was probably teacher's pet anyway, a regular loser. Most football captains were, he'd found.

"Going somewhere?" Tony froze at the sound of the voice coming from behind him. It was cold, without mercy. Slowly, he turned, and saw it was the kid he'd fouled. He was about to relax, when he noticed how the other boy's eyes burned with anger, and how he seemed taunt, ready for action.

"What's it to you?" Tony smirked, walking away. >No-one can intimidate Tony Slipford.> He suddenly jerked in shock as strong hands shoved him in the back, sending him sprawling to the floor. Twisting his head, he saw the kid bending over him, a dangerous glint in his eye.

"I don't like it when people don't listen to me. Come to think of it, I don't much like it when they trip me up, either." Tony gulped as the boy yanked him up by the scruff of his neck and thrust him hard into the wall. Taking his chance, he ran off down the alley, fear lending him speed. >It doesn't matter anyway. With his damaged ankle, he won't be able to catch me up.> he thought.

Li watched as Tony dashed away, slowly shaking his head in contempt. >Does he really think he can escape me? With my training?> Laughing, he jumped into the air and onto the fence, allowing his weight to transfer to his undamaged ankle. Then, with a cruel bark of laughter, he set off in pursuit.

Sakura waited impatiently outside the entrance to the alley. Where was he? Come to think of it, why'd Li gone down there anyway? Peeking round the corner, she saw a figure running in the distance, with another silhouette closely following up above. Guessing what was going on, Sakura took off down the alley, trying urgently to catch up. If that was the boy she thought he was, he'd better hope that Li never caught up with him.

Tony stopped running, his breath coming in short gasps. Glancing behind him, he was relieved to see that the kid hadn't followed him. For some reason, Tony had been really freaked out by him. He turned to walk on, and cried out in shock as the kid leapt for him, pushing him into the wall.

"Hel…mmmph!" Tony struggled to call for help, but was stopped by the fierce hand on his mouth. Smiling disturbingly, the kid leaned forward, and whispered in Tony's ear;

"So, how do you like it when you're the defenceless one?" Tony's eyes widened in horror as the kid pulled back a fist, clearly intending to hit him, and tried to wriggle free, but the boy's grip stayed firm.

"Li! Stop!" Panting, Sakura ran up to the pair, barrelling hard into Li. Tony stared at her, frozen with shock, until Sakura waved an arm at him and called out,

"Get going! You think holding a guy like this is easy?" Frightened, he took off down the alley, leaving Sakura alone with Li.

"What do you think you were doing?" Sakura said angrily as she got off her boyfriend.

"You've trained in martial arts all your life! It wouldn't have been a fair fight!" Li scowled up at her.

"You think I really cared whether it was a fair fight or not? He tripped me up!"

Sakura sighed. Too many times had things like this happened. Ever since Li had been possessed by the Evil Card, he lost his temper easily. And when he did, he was ruthless.

"Li, just calm down. You're angry over nothing."

"Oh, nothing? I missed playing in the most important game of the season! Because of him!" Li turned to gaze after the departing kid, trying to decide whether he could catch him up now. Sakura laid a comforting hand on his arm, attempting to cool his temper, and he whirled round, catching her in the face.

"Ohhh!" Sakura backed away, holding her hand to her cheek. Li's eyes widened, and he pulled Sakura close to him, amber eyes filling with tears.

"I'm sorry Sakura, I never meant to…oh God…."

"It's okay, Li…"

"No, it isn't! Oh, man…." He took her head in his hands, and kissed her forehead.

"Don't make me angry, Sakura. Please don't make me angry. I don't want to hurt you, but sometimes I can't help myself…"

"I know, Li. I know."