Yes, yes, yet *another* story. And when I should be getting on with my other fanfiction and my schoolwork, I started another story. Great.

Anyway, hope you guys like it, kay? Just review it whether you think it is crap or stuff.

The Tarot and Sakura Cards. By: XiaoBai

--

It had occurred to Sakura that she would have to appoint her successor soon.

And she'll have to choose between her son and daughter.

" I'll say we choose Ari-chan." Sakura had argued.

" Well, I still think Shinru is better." Syaoran deadpanned.

Keroberos sighed. It is always like that; Sakura insisting her daughter to be the Mistress of the Sakura Cards while that gaki of a husband wanted his son to be the Master. And then, they will always end the discussion with-

" Eriol! What do you think?" Sakura and Syaoran asked at the same time.

And then, Eriol will sigh and said that maybe they should wait until the kids are older then decided the successor.

The meeting always consisted the same people. Sakura, the Mistress of the Cards; Syaoran, the Master of the Cards and Husband of the Mistress; Eriol, the former maker and Master of the Cards and lastly, Keroberos, the great Sun Guardian Beast of the Sacred Sakura Book.

Yet, today, another person had joined their Magic Council.

Yue, the Moon Guardian of the Sacred Sakura Book and also the Judgment maker had been pulled over to the meeting by his brother Keroberos and was now sullenly listening to the arguing going about him.

Yue calmly waited until everyone had settle down before speaking up, " Mistress," and after a look from Sakura, " I mean, Sakura-san, I was thinking...why don't we have two sets of cards for them to deal with. One of the children will go after the Sakura Cards, while the other will capture the Tarot-- "

Kero's round head bobbed up, " What?! The Tarot Cards?! The *TAROT* cards?!"

Yue looked coldly at his magical brother and raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow, " Well, is there anything wrong with *Tarot* cards?"

Sakura nodded too and turned to look at Kero, who gritted his teeth and yelled, " Of course THERE is a big problem! The Tarot Cards are difficult to handle as they are *totally* different from the Sakura Cards! *And* besides that, each of the cards had a completely different personality--"

" Well, that does sound familiar enough." Eriol said, raising his eyebrows up and down, " I mean, Clow created the Cards when he got an inspiration from the Tarot Cards."

" More like *jealousy*." Syaoran muttered. Eriol glared at Syaoran and Sakura giggled. Syaoran frowned playfully and said, " Sakura, how old are you? I mean, you are 28 and you *giggled*."

Sakura stuck out her tongue at Syaoran, which makes him frowned even more. Yue sighed and cleared his throat, loudly.

" As I was talking here, before I was *rudely* interrupted by my idiotic brother (Kero: Hey! I resent that!), I was thinking about this set of Tarot Cards I found in the basement of Fujitaka-san's bookshelf. It comes completely in a book, but there is no sign of the guardian, yet." Yue added as and afterthought.

" Magic was transmitting from it, of course. This means that either Ari or Shinru can unlock it and.....uh....free the cards." Yue continued abruptly.

" Do you know how many cards are there?" Sakura asked. Yue considered for a moment before answering, " I'm not certain about the number of the Cards, but I know that there is the Major and the Minor Arcane. And then, there is also the Element Cards.

Sakura sighed and then said, " Okay, then it is settle then. Ari gets Sakura Cards and Shinru gets the Tarot Cards."

"But--" Syaoran started to say, but Sakura interrupted him, " Syao-kun, I let Shinru-chan get the Tarot Cards because Kero-chan says that it is more difficult to catch than a Sakura Card. A Sakura Card is tamer because I capture them before. And, besides that," At this, Sakura cocked an eyebrow at her husband, " I thought you have really high expectation of Shinru. Surely you don't think he can't handle the Tarot Cards? Well, in that case, I'll get Ari-chan--"

" All right!" Syaoran cried, throwing his hands up, but not in anger. He looped his arm around Sakura's waist and grumbled, " I just simply can't win you...."

--

-- It was a typical morning in the Li residence in the small suburban town Tomoeda.

10-year old Ari smiled happily at her father and mother as she bounded down the stairs for breakfast.

Ari had gotten her looks mostly from her father. She had the same slightly curly brown hair of her father and that frown that could wither a flower but she had her mother's emerald eyes and angelic smile.

And, she also got her father's promptness.

" Ohayo, Ari-chan." Sakura greeted, carrying a tray of steaming breakfast to the table.

Ari smiled brightly, " Ohayo, kaasan! Ohayo, tousan!"

" Where's Kero-chan?" Sakura asked, putting the tray down and setting a cup of coffee in front of Syaoran.

Ari giggled and said, " He still snoring away in his drawer."

Syaoran was already sitting by the table, all dressed up for work and reading the newspaper. He lifted his head from the paper and grinned at Ari.

" So, my cute little daughter is now starting her fourth year." Syaoran said, patting Ari's head. Ari smiled and nodded. Then she raised her wrist and glanced at her watch.

" About time now...." She muttered, reaching for the toast with her other hand, " three, two, one--"

" HOLY SHIT! I'M LATE!!"

From the second storey, there came a yell that is very similar to Sakura's 'HOE!!" whenever she is late.

There was a series of loud crashes and thumps before a haggard looking boy came running down the stair.

10-year old Shinru (He was born a month earlier than Ari) came panting into the kitchen and flopped down onto the chair, grabbing a piece of toast and crapping it into his mouth.

Shinru got his looks from both his mother and father. He got his father's fierce eyes and terrible frown while he got that short natural overlapping hairstyle from his mother.

And, he got his mother's lateness.

Sakura frowned at Shinru, "Mind your language here, young man!"

" Oha-gag!" Shinru began but choked on his bread. Syaoran sighed and thumped him on his back. Ari giggled while Sakura looked rather embarrassed.

Syaoran lifted an eyebrow at Sakura and asked, " Ne, Sakura, you used to be late, right?"

Sakura's face flushed, pouted and slapped Syaoran playfully on the arm. Ari and Shinru looked at each other and shivered. They were still not used to the flirting their parents are doing.

Finally, after Shinru managed to jumped into his shoes and tying them up at record-breaking speed, Ari and Shinru waved goodbye to their mum and dad and set off for school.

After they left, Sakura handed Syaoran's working bag to him and kissed his cheek. Syaoran is working in the Daijouji Toy Company and he is the manager there, thanks to Tomoyo.

" Be careful out there, Syao-kun. And drive properly!" Sakura said. Syaoran grinned and nodded, " So you going to the Daijouji's later?"

Sakura nodded, " Tomoyo-chan got me a job as her secretary. But she told me that I could get there later. She said she is going to have breakfast at Eriol-kun's house. With Nakuru and Spinel too." Sakura added as an after thought.

" Speaking of which," Syaoran said, putting on his shoes, " Why don't you drop Kero off at Eriol's. He can go play with Nakuru and Spinel."

Sakura laughed and opened the door, " No. He said he'll be staying at home to oversee the house *and* the food. Well, part of that, but it is also mostly to oversee the opening of the Tarot Cards."

" Ah." Syaoran nodded and then kissed Sakura again, " Okay, I got to go now. If I'm late, Tomoyo's mum will kill me!"

Sakura laughed again and waved as Syaoran make a run for his car.

--

--

Shinru sighed as he opened the door and entered the house. Ari had cheerleading practice on the *first* day of schooling so he have to go home himself. Sighing, he chucked his bag in his bedroom and went to find Kero.

" Kero! You prat! Where are you?" Shinru yelled. When there is no answer, Shinru sighed once more and concentrated on Kero's aura.

" In the study..." He muttered and made his way to the room.



" Kero?" Shinru said, opening the door slowly. He walked in and saw Kero sitting quietly on the floor with a closed book set in front of him.

" Kero?" Shinru asked again. Kero looked up and waved him over. Shinru walked towards the little guardian and sat down beside the book.

" Try and open the book, Shinru. I can't open it." Kero said, pushing the book towards Shinru. Shinru lifted the book, blew the dust from it and coughed.

The cover of the book was of a fresh navy colour. It was made up of leather and was lined with gold.

/Expensive leather. / Shinru thought to himself as he looked at the book closer.

" It says.... 'The Tarot Book'" Then he frowned in thought, " What the hell is that?" He wondered. Kero was still silently watching Shinru.

The words 'The Tarot Book' was craved onto the leather and painted with gold. Shinru turned the book over and saw a terribly elaborate drawing of two different flowers. One is an amethyst orchid and the other is a black lily. Shinru stared at the flowers for a few minutes then turned back the book and his fingers curled over the edge of the cover.

Kero, seeing Shinru's hesitation, encouraged him lightly, " Go on, and open it."

Shinru nodded and pulled open the cover slowly, and saw a deck of cards set in a hole that is cut in the book.

/Kinda like Okaasan's Sakura Book. / He thought to himself as he picked up a card. The back design of the card was somewhat like the design of the Clow Card and the only difference between the Tarot and the Clow card is the colour.

Shinru turned the navy card over and stared at the picture on the card.

It shows a woman in elaborate yellow robes and she was holding a fan in one hand and a sun in the other.

" It is an element card....." Kero said, obviously awed. Shinru nodded and his eyes trailed down to the bottom of the picture.

" The..The Wind." Shinru squinted in the dark and he managed to make out the words. Kero's eyes widened as a breeze began to pick up followed by a great surge of wind and magic.

" No--!" Kero yelled in the loud wind. Shinru shut his eyes tight as the cards began flying everywhere, some hitting him on the face. He managed to grab two of the cards before they flew off and held on tightly until the wind subsided.

Kero stared at the three cards in Shinru's hand and groaned, " No. Not again! I was thinking of examining the cards before setting them free--" Shinru stared at Kero and began to frown, " You what?" his voice had the dangerous calmness just like Sakura's and he was frowning like Syaoran, " What are you thinking of, Kero?"

Kero started to sweat, " uh..you see--" but before he could finish his sentence, a bright ray of light shot from the book and then a small figure began to appear. Shinru stared, rather nervously as the light began to dim. The creature that appeared floated down and opened its eyes.

" Greetings!" She said. The being resembled a cat, except for the fact that there is a jewel in the middle of her forehead. Her fur was purplish white and her eyes were the colour of dark amethyst. She had a long tail, which curled at the end and there is a ribbon tied to her neck that looked strangely like an orchid. And lastly, she had a pair of white bat wings neatly folded at her back.

Kero raised and eyebrow and stepped forward, " So, I assume that you are the guardian of the Tarot Book."

The creature frowned a little and then said, " The correct definition for it is The Great Tarot Book."

Shinru had snapped out of his trance and was staring at the little being now. She was the same size as Kero, though her expression reminded him of Spinel. Chuckling a little, he decided to ask.

" What is your name?"

The creature blinked and turned towards Shinru, " I am Rindora, the Guardian Beast of the Tarot Seal."

Shinru nodded and turned the book over. /Strange. The two flowers are still there. /

" I thought, once you are out of the book, your symbol shouldn't be there." Shinru said, pointing at the flowers. Rindora blinked again and smiled for the first time. " My symbol is in the inside of the book. It is already gone, so there is no use looking for it anyway."

Then she proceeded to take the book and open it. " Well, I assume you people hadn't heard of the Great Tarot Cards, so let me--" She froze at the sight of the empty book.

Kero sighed, " Well, thanks for the offer, but the cards are gone, Rinda, save for these three cards."

Shinru glanced at Kero and chuckled, " Rinda. Well, that is a good name."

Rindora flared and flew right into Kero's face, " Where are the cards and *don't* call me *that*!"

Kero stuck out his tongue at Rindora and took the three cards from Shinru, " The other cards are gone when *he*" He shoved an accusing thumb at Shinru, " activated one of the Element cards."

Rindora grabbed at the cards and stared at it. " Oh shit," She muttered, " We only have The Wind, The Chariot and The Ace of Wands!" She rolled her eyes, " As if that will help...." She sighed and looked at Shinru, " Well, I have to appoint a CardCaptor then."

She began to float. " What's your name?"

" Li Shinru." Shinru responded.

" Stand up."

Shinru was confused, but he stood up and stared as the big glowing magic symbol of the Tarot Card appeared underneath him.

" Repeat after me. Oh Pendant which hides the power of the Darkness,"

" Oh Pendant which hides the power of the Darkness." Shinru followed.

" Reveal your true self to me!"

" Reveal your true self to me!" Shinru continued, closing his eyes.

" I, Li Shinru command thee--"

" I, Li Shinru command thee--" Shinru said. Then opening his eyes, he cried, " RELEASE!"

Gust of magical waves began blowing around as a small sun pendant appeared and started growing longer.

" Go on, grab it!" Rindora yelled.

Shinru pushed his way through and reached out. His fingers came in contact with the pendant and he grabbed it.

There was a burst of light as the pendant turned into a long golden rod with elaborate cravings on it. Rindora beamed and said proudly, " Well, here is our new Cardcaptor, Shinru!"

Kero, who was standing at the side and witnessing the born of another Cardcaptor, smiled happily at the happy face of Shinru.

/He looked just like his mother when she was first made one. /

-- -- Oh yeah! First chapter done. Now, guys, brace yourselves for a long, long story cause I'm going to cover the capturing of the Sakura and the newest Tarot cards!!

Anyway, hope you like it. In the next chapter, I'm going to put in the born of the Sakura Cards Cardcaptor! And then, there is the first capture of the Tarot Cards.

So stay tuned!!