Too Good
Sakura was late once again for school and rollerblading her heart out. She got to school and changed into her shoes. Madison met her at her locker. "Hey Sakura! Ready for another round against Meilin?" She asked.
Sakura groaned. Ever since Meilin had started coming to school, she had always been in some kind of personnal battle against Sakura. Wanting to beat her in everything. Of course, she couldn't. Sakura was better at her in everything they competed in. Sakura didn't do it on purpose she just did her best.
She didn't know why Meilin tried so hard, but Sakura tried not to provoke her. "I really don't understand it, Madison." Sakura told her best friend.
Madison laughed. "Really Sakura. I didn't know you could be so blind."
Sakura frowned as she closed her locker. "What do you mean?"
Madison shook her head. "She wants to be better than you so Li will like her instead."
Sakura shook her head. "But I'm not even sure Li likes me the way I like him."
"Of course he does!" Madison assured her.
They arrived to class and Li and Meilin entered a little while later. Sakura greeted them and blushed as Li said hi back, also blushing. Meilin glared at her and stuck her nose up in the air. Sakura sighed.
During P.E., Sakura got ready for gymnastics. Meilin glared at her the whole time. Sakura ran to the vault and did a flip with a twist. She landed it perfectly. Madison on the side gave her an applause. Meilin growled. 'How dare she think she's better than me!' Meilin thought.
Meilin got ready for her turn and ran at the vault. 'I'll show her.'
Meilin jump and tried a double flip with a twist. She completed the twist, but on the landing, fell to her knees.
"Nice try Meilin!" Meilin heard Madison yell. She looked up and glared at Sakura. Sakura sweatdropped.
After class, Sakura came up to Meilin. "That was a good try Meilin. I would never have attempted to something like that! A little more practice and you'll get it!" She said.
Meilin hissed at her. "Watch it, Avalon! One of these days!" With that she walked out of the girls locker room.
Sakura frowned. "What is with her? I'm just trying to be friendly."
Madison shook her head. "I told you. She wants to impress Li. But you keep doing it instead."
Sakura blushed at the thought that Li was impressed by her.
After school, Madison walked home with Sakura as usual. "Do you think Meilin will ever give up?" Sakura asked.
"Not until Li puts a ring on her finger." Madison replied. Sakura looked down at the ground. Madison added. "Which he won't. He only likes you." Sakura looked up with a smile. She blushed and looked away. She gasped. Madison followed her gaze and saw Li approaching with Meilin hanging off him.
He walked over to Sakura and Madison. "Hey you guys." He greeted.
"Hi Li!" Madison said.
"Hi." Sakura whispered blushing.
Li looked at Sakura. "Sakura. I was wondering if I could borrow you're notes for Japanese class."
Sakura nodded and smiled. Li always did have problems with his Japanese, seeing as it wasn't his first language. "Sure." She opened her backpack and took out the notes. She handed them to Li. "Here."
He took them and their hands brushed up against each other. They both blushed and turned their heads away. "Thanks." He said.
Meilin glared at Sakura. "Come on, Li. We should get going home."
Li shook his head. "Oh yeah. Thanks again Sakura." He said as he turned away. Meilin gave one last growl towards Sakura and followed Li away.
Sakura just shook her head. She was glad Meilin wasn't good at anything. If she was, it would boost her ego even more.
A dark figure watched the card mistress talking to the clow descendant. She turned to her servant. "You must make sure you get close to clow mistress. Get her to trust you before you make a move."
Her servant nodded and pointed to the girl latching on to the boy. "What about her. She's close enough to the card mistress, but not too close where she would suspect anything."
The figure nodded. "Yes do that. But you have to make the switch when she isn't around the boy, or he might sispect something."
Her servant nodded and bowed as she left the room. The card mistress would soon meet her doom.
The following morning, Li showered, got dressed, and got ready for school. He opened the door only to see Meilin at his door smiling. He sighed. 'When will she ever learn?' Li thought.
"Ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah." He mumbled as he walked out and closed the door. They started walking when Meilin stopped. Li didn't notice and kept going.
"Hey! Li wait!" She called from behind. "My shoe's come untied!"
He sighed and stopped, but didn't turn to face her.
Meilin mumbled some curses under her breath as she tied her shoes. All of a sudden she felt hands come from behind her and grab her behind a tree. Something hit her head and everything went black.
Li stood there for a while and finally turned around. "Hurry up Meil....." He didn't see her. "Meilin?" He asked. He looked around and couldn't find her. "Meilin!"
Li walked back some and saw Meilin come out of from behind a tree. "Right here!" She called. "Sorry!"
He sighed and turned back around. "Let's go then."
Meilin smiled and followed Li. Today was going to be fun.
At school, Sakura was late again and had to rollarblade like a maniac to make it to school on time. She met Madison at class. Madison shook her head and laughed as Sakura approached breathing heavily. "Somethings never change."
Sakura took a deep breath and sat at her desk. Meilin came in too with Li, but Saklura was surprised to see her walking next to Li instead of latching onto him.
Sakura waved to them both, and surprisingly, Meilin said hi like a normal human being.
Sakura was shocked to say the least. Madison and her exchanged looks and thought. 'Then again. Sometimes people do change'
During P.E., the teacher chose to have the children run track. Sakura was relieved. She knew Meilin wouldn't do something as dumb as try to race her. Last time she did, Meilin ended up being carried to the finish line by Li. That was when they had captured the Loop card.
Surprisingly, Sakura saw Meilin beside her and Li at the starting line.
"Meilin your not...." Sakura started.
"May the best runner win." Meilin said.
Li and Sakura exchanged glances. 'Here we go again' They thought.
The whistle blew and Sakura, Li and Meilin started running with the rest of the group. Sakura and Li started to get a lead on the rest of class, just like last time, but while runnning, Sakura saw Meilin right there besides them.
Sakura frowned. 'Maybe she's been practicing' She thought.
At the end of the lap, Meilin pulled ahead and Sakura was shocked that she beat both her and Li.
Sakura saw Li's mouth hit the floor and noticed she had the same look on her face.
During thier cool down lap, Sakura ran up to Meilin. "Have you been practicing or something?" She asked.
Meilin simply smiled sinisterly at her and ran up to where Li was running. Sakura frowned. 'What is up with her?'
Back in the classrrom, Sakura sat in her seat and got ready for her favorite class: Music. She got out her recorder and pulled out her music sheets.
Meilin and Li came in and took thier seats. Sakura turned to Madison next to her. "I wonder if she's been practicing her instrument too?"
Madison shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows?"
Sakura got up for her test and played her song. She happened to glance at Li once and smiled. She forgot about the recorder and went flat. She blushed madly with embarrassment and quickly finished her song. She went back to her seat. Avioding everyone's looks.
Meilin was next and played the same song. This time though she added in parts and changed the ending to a beautiful credenzo at the end. Again SAkura was shocked. 'Something must be wrong here. Meilin's not that good.' Sakura thought.
She turned around to face Li. He nodded thinking the same thing.
At lunch, Li excused himself from Meilin and went over behind school. Sakura was there waiting.
She turned to see him approaching. "I'm glad you came." She said with a worried expression on her face.
Li blushed, but remembered the situation. "Something's not right here."
Sakura nodded. "What could it be?"
Li thought for a moment. "I don't know. But I do know that's not Meilin. She can't run and she can't play the recorder like that."
Sakura nodded. "It's like she's someone else." Then she gasped. "You don't think it's another Clow Card do you?"
Li shook his head. "I would think the Mirror card, but you caught that one already. Same goes for the Illusion. I do sense magic in her, which should've been a warning from the start."
Sakura remembered. "That's right. Kero said she didn't have any magic at all, which is very rare in your family."
Li nodded. "I think we should do some investigating tonight. So she doesn't see anything." Sakura agreed. Then Li added. "Bring the stuffed doll, too."
Sakura chuckled. "You know Kero doesn't like it when you call him that."
Li kept a straight face and replied. "Then don't tell him. Meet at the park at ten."
Sakura nodded and Li left. He couldn't be gone too long or Meilin might notice something.
Whatever was going on, Sakura was sure they'd find out together.
The figure watched all this on a black energy screen in front of her. 'So the cardcaptors have caught on. We'll have to have a surprise waiting for them at their little meeting.' She thought with a smile.
Sakura told Madison about the meeting and she had insisted on coming. Kero flew above Sakura's head. They made it to the park at five past ten.
Li was already there. He smiled as they approached. "Even as a cardcaptor you can't be on time." He was dressed in his green battle robe.(The one he looks so cute in!!!)
Sakura blushed. "It's not my fault. Madison had to make adjustments on this new costume."
Li looked at it. It was a green top, with gold trimmings. It had short sleeves and matched the green skirt that went half way down her thigh. "It looks good on you. I like the color."
Sakura blushed. Madison smiled. "I thought I'd make her an outfit that matched yours!"
Now Li blushed. "Now back to the matter at hand. We can exchange fashion tips later."
Sakura nodded. "Where do we start?"
"I think the more imprtant question is where do you finish!" A voice out of nowhere said.
Sakura and Li immediatly went back to back and looked around. "Who's there?!" Sakura yelled into the night.
"Show yourself!" Li yelled.
Madison stepped back and started video recording. Kero flew over to the two and looked around.
"As you wish." The voice said.
Kero saw a shadow turn into a figure. "Over there!" He yelled pointing.
Sakura and Li turned to see....Meilin?
"Meilin! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked.
"Thats' not Mielin!" Yelled Li. "She has magic!"
Meilin smirked. "Very good, boy! But I'm afraid it's too late for you." She raised her hands and a wind began to blow. It blew Madison towards Sakura and Li. Kero was holding onto Sakura's shoulder against the wind. The wind died down and Sakura looked around. "Is everyone alright?"
Everyone was. "But not for long!" Meilin yelled. Her hand came up and lines came up around them forming a cube around them.
"What is this?!" Li yelled. He took out his sword and struck at the boundary. He was met with an electrical shock. He flew back and landed on Sakura and Madison.
Kero flew up and looked carefully at it. "It's a cage formed from magic!" He concluded.
Li got up and helped the girls to their feet. "Well let's see if magic can break it!" Li's sword started to glow. "Lightning!"
"No don't!" Kero yelled. But it was too late. The blast hit the wall and bounced back, hitting Li in the chest. He fell to the ground.
"Li!" Sakura yelled as she ran to his side.
He was semi-conscious. All he could do was smile and reply. "Don't worry about me."
Sakura got mad. She put Li into the care of Madison and took out her key. "Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the Lon, the force ignite. Release!!" Her key turned into a staff. She took out her cards.
"Stop Sakura!" Kero yelled.
She looked at him with a frown. "What?"
"You can't use magic or it will bounce back." He replied.
"Then how am I supposed to get us out of here?"
"You can't!" Meilin yelled. She snapped he fingers and a high pitched noise erupted in Sakura's head. She screamed out in pain and covered her ears. Madison was doing the same. The noise qiuckly drove Kero to unconsciousness, followed by Madison. Li was already out. The last thing Sakura remembered was Meilin approaching them smiling. She opened her mouth, but Sakura couldn't capture what she said. Soon Blackness consumed her world and she fell to the ground beside's her friends.
Meilin watched as the card mistress passed out and smiled. "Soon card mistress, all your petals will be plucked, one by one."
She deactivated the magic cage and felt the presence of her master. She turned around and bowed. "All is as you commanded."
The figure smiled. "Good. Bring them to my layer and be sure to take thier weapons away from them."
"Yes, my mistess." The figure disappeared. "Soon, Cherry Blossom. Soon."
Sakura awoke with a gentle voice calling her name. "Sakura. Sakura wake up."
Sakura opened her eyes and instantly felt her head throbbing. Then she remembered what happened. She looked around and found Li looking worriedly over her. She smiled and tried to sit up. The pain in her head got worse and she started to fall back down. Li grabbed her and helped her up.
"Thanks." She said.
He smiled. "No problem."
"Where are we?" She asked looking around.
"We're in a holding ceel of somekind and our weapons have been taken away." He replied.
The pain subsided and Sakura slowly stood up. Li put a arm hand under her arm and helped her steady yourself. She found Madison not too far away and was surprised to see Meilin in the corner sitting.
"Meilin! Is it you?" She asked.
"Yes it's me! Why are you so worried anyway?" She crossed her arms.
Sakura smiled. "Well, at least we know it's the real you." Li even laughed at that. Meilin just glared at Sakura more.
Madison got up and walked towards them. "Now what are we going to do?"
Sakura looked around again. "Where's Kero?"
Li sighed. "They must be holding him somewhere else."
Sakura walked to the bars of the cell and yanked on them. "We have to get out of here and get our weapons back."
"But how?" Madison inquired. "I only have my spare camera. They took my video capera away."
Li smiled and looked at Meilin pouting in the corner. "I know how."
The fake Meilin was sent to the cell to check on the prisoners. When she got there only Meilin was up. The others were still unconscious. She walked up to the bars and smiled. "Like your living quarters?"
Meilin pouted some more and glared at her double. "If you don't mind I have to use the lady's room!" She whined.
The double rolled her eyes. "Too bad!"
Meilin started to whine more. "But I have to go nooowwwww!!!!!" Emphasizing on the last part.
The double covered her ears against the noise. "Alright! Alright! Just stop that noise!" The double took out the key and opened the door. "Now get out!"
Meilin didn't move. "I can't! Thanks to you, my ankle hurts!"
The double shook her head. "Too bad now get out!"
"I can't." Meilin whined again.
The double covered her ears again. She came in and started going towards Meilin. She stepped over Li.
When she did, his leg came up and tripped her. Sakura jumped up and held down her arms, while Li held down her leags. "Now!" Li yelled.
Madison came over and raised her camera above her head. She closed her eyes and swung in down. The camera hit the double on the head and it stopped moving.
Madison looked sadly at her camera which now had a big dent in it. "Now I have to get a new one."
Li got up and took the keys from the double. "Let's go!"
The others nodded their agreement and started out.
"That was good acting Meilin." Sakura said.
"Who said it was acting!? I have to go!!" She replied.
Li and the others rolled their eyes. "Later! Right now we have to get our weapons back!"
Li and the gang went down the hallway and started searching for thier weapons. Sakura stopped. "Li I sense a magical disturbance over there." She said pointing.
Li nodded his agreement. "I sense it too. Let's go!" He started in that direction.
They heard shouting and hid behind a boulder.
"Soon your little cherry blossom will be all whithered, leaving you having to choose a new cardcaptor. Me!" One voice said.
"No! You leave Sakura alone!" Another noice said.
Sakura recognized the second voice. She leaned forward. "That's Kero." She whispered into Li's ear.
He nodded and motioned to the far left. "Our weapons are over there."
He crawled over by them, trying to stay out of sight of thier captor. Sakura and the others followed him. Meilin looked at the treasure chest the weapons were in. The box was glowing on the pedastol it was on. She reached up and tried to get it.
"No wait!" Li tried to warn her. But it was too late. Her hand wasn't even close when she hit a force field.
It shocked her and she pulled back her hand. "Oww!" She yelped.
"What was that!?" The figure said.
"Shoot!" Li said coming out of hiding. Sakura by his side.
The figure looked at them and smiled. This was the first time Sakura got a good looked at her. She wore a white robe with red roses on it. Her hair was dark black and she had it pulled back into a bun with two sticks. On her back was a sword that matched her hair. It's handle was all black except for a red stone in the middle of it. "So, you've escaped."
"That's right! And we're going to take you down!" Li said.
"How without your weapons?!" She shoot back.
Li growled and charged at her. His right foot came up in a roundhouse kick, but she deflected it. He followed up with a chop with his left. She also blocked it. He continued to fight her, but she blocked each attack followed by an attack of her own, which Li block.
Madison ran up to Sakura's side who was watching the battle, unable to do anything. Madison suddenly shouted and pointed towards the wall. "There he is!"
Sakura saw on the wall, little Kero was chained to the wall. She ran over and looked at the lock.
"I have to undo this lock!" Sakura said.
Madison reached into her hair and pulled out a hairpin. "Here."
Sakura took the pin and worked on the lock.
Meilin watched the battle and wanted to help, but didn't want to get in the way. (Surprising huh?) Suddenly, hands came from behind her and wrapped around her body. She immediatly ran her elbow back and hit her attacker. She whipped around and saw herself.
"So you're my double?" She said to her twin. "Ha! I would never wear rags like that!"
He double sneared and tried to kick her in the stomach. Meilin caught the blow and twisted. Her double flipped and fell to the ground. "Is that all you got? I really don't see how they couldv'e possibly mistaken you for me."
Her double got mad and attacked again.
Meanwhile, Li was starting to tire from his battle with this witch. "Sakura find a way to get our weapons!" He yelled and he dodged another punch to the face. He came back with an upper cut to her stomach. He was rewarded with her yelp in pain.
His second of overconvindence cost him, because she retaliated with a blow to his chest. He went flying and hit the wall. She came up and put one hand on his throat. She began lifting him up the wall, while choking him.
Sakura watched in horror as Li was getting the breath strangled out of him.
"Sakura! Pay attention!" Kero yelled.
She turned back and gave a frustrated sigh. "I can't get it!"
Madison took the pin. "Here. I'll try. You get your weapons back."
Sakura nodded and ran over to the chest. It still sat where they had left it. The glow remained the same. Sakura went up and tried touching it. She got a shock. 'How to get it open?' She thought. Then she remembered. "Li! I need the key!"
Li was holding the womans hands trying to loosen her choke hold on him, as his feet dangled above the ground. He heard Sakura yell to him and smiled. He looked at the woman right in the eye and head-butted her.
She staggered back and he fell to the floor. He got up and took out the keys. "Here Sakura! Catch!" He through the keys towards her.
Sakura saw the keys go flying, but unfortunaly, so did the woman. She started at them and Sakura saw her chance. She did a cart-wheel, double back-flip with a twist, caught the keys, and came down with a kick to the women as she ran towards her.
Sakura's kick hit it's mark. It got the woman in the chest, and she fell down. Sakura landed on her and back handspringed to the chest. She waved the key over the chest and the force field wavered and disappeared. She used the key and opened the lock. She grabbed her key and cards, along with Li's sword.
"Li! Here!" She yelled and threw his sword to him. He jumped and caught it. Still in the air he took it out of it's sheath and landed in a crouch.
Sakura took out her key. "Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the Lon, the force ignite. Release!" Her key turned into a wand and she took out her cards. "Sword! Release and Dispell!"
The sword card came and Sakura grabbed the sword and ran to Li's side. Now it was a fair fight.
"Very well." The woman said. "Have it your way." She took her sword from it's sheath. The red stone glowed. "I'd much rather destroy you myself anyways."
Meilin was still in her battle with her double. She had to admit, it was a very good fighter. But still, not as good as the original. Meilin knew how to fight dirty. Meilin dodged a blow to her head and threw her hand up. She grabbed a hunk of the girl's hair and yanked down hard. The girls screamed and Meilin shut her up with a chop to her throat. She girl fell to the ground putting her hand to her throat.
Her double glared at her, Meilin just smiled. "Ready for round two?"
Her double answered by getting to her feet and charging at Meilin.
The woman started the fight with a slice at Li's head. He dodged the blow and brought up his sword. He brought it down towards her head, but she parried the blow.
Sakura joined the fray by slicing at the woman's back. The woman pushed up with her sword and Li's blow was pushed to the side. The woman raised her sword until it was behind her and blocked Sakura's blow.
The woman followed up with a roundhouse kick to Sakura's chest. (And you knew that one hurt her) Li's got mad and jabbed with his sword, but the woman parried again. As they fought Sakura saw the red stone on the woman's sword glowing.
"Li! The stone!" She called out.
Li nodded as he blocked another of the woman's slashes. Now the question wasn't what to do, it was how.
Madison hurried with the lock with the pin, but so far was having no luck.
"You gotta hurry Madison!" Kero urged her.
"I'm trying!" She told him.
Meilin ducked under her double's kick and smiled to herself. 'This is almost as much fun as fighting the fight card.' Meilin thought. 'Except I know my weaknesses.'
Meilin jumped back and swung her legs out. Each connecting with her double's jaw. Meilin landed on her feet. 'I can never block ground based attacks'
Sakura tried slashing the woman again, but was again met with steel. "We have to destroy the stone!" She told Li as she ran to his side.
The woman slashed virtically at Li and Sakura causing them to jump in opposite directions. Li to the left and Sakura to the right. "Get ready!" Li yelled.
The woman's slash came down, but hit the ground instead. Li came forward and hit her sword with his. He pushed down with all his strength keeping the sword at bay. "Now!!" He said.
The woman was still trying to get her sword up when Sakura came and made a slash with her sword. The sword hit the stone dead center and it shattered.
The woman screamed out and kicked Sakura away. Sakura hit the wall and was dazed.
"Sakura! No!" Li said. The woman used this moment of distraction and brought her hand across Li's face with a devistating blow. He lost his control and the woman regained her sword. But with the stone destroy she didn't have enough power now.
She turned towards Sakura. "You!" She yelled and started walking towards Sakura, sword raised. Sakura looked up in horror when the sword came down and......
Cliffhanger!! No!!
Sike! Just kidding! Scared you didn't I?
The sword stopped in midair as the woman screamed. Li stood behind her with his sword lodged in the middle of her back. (Gory I know) Li pulled his sword out and the woman dropped her sword. She looked down to see the sword had gone all the way through and she had a wound on her stomach!!
She closed her eyes and breathed heavily. Li stood there ready to attack again if she moved. Sakura just stood there frozen.
Meilin hit her double with a strong kick to the throat and her double went down, permanently. Meilin then turned her attention to the woman. The woman opened her eyes and stared out into space. "Maybe that's why you were chosen and not me." Then she fell dead on the floor.
Her body soon vanished and with it her creation, Meilin's clone.
Li ran over to Sakura who hugged and thanked him.
Li blushed. "Don't mention it."
Li helped Sakura up and walked over to the blacken mark the woman's body left on the floor. "I wonder who she was. I never heard her name. Did you?" Sakura asked.
Li shook his head. "No. And I don't ever rememeber ever seeing her either."
Sakura looked up at Li. "You know we make a great team."
Li nodded and smiled. "We do, don't we."
That's when Meilin came over and latched her arms around Li's neck. Li sighed and Sakura giggled. "She's back." They said in unison.
"I did it!" They heard Madison exclaim. She undid the lock and Kero was finally set free of the chains. They both came over to join the others.
Meilin frown at them. "Why didn't you just use the key?" She asked.
Madison and Kero looked at each other and grimaced. Sakura started laughing and was soon joined by everyone else.
The next day at school, Sakura, Madison, Li , and Meilin were back in music class. Sakura played her instrument, this time a different song. She played it perfectly. She smiled as she took her seat. Meilin stuck her nose up in the air as she took her turn up at the front of the class. Sakura sweatdropped.
Meilin played her song, but unfornunally for her, she wasn't as good as her double. She hit many of flats and sharps along the way. Sakura and Li let out a sigh of relief. Things were finally back to normal.
That day at lunch, Li and Meilin joined Sakura and Madison to eat. "So how did you know my double was a fake?" Meilin asked.
Li nervously laughed. "Um...she was just ....too good." Sakura, Madison, and Li satretd laughing.
Meilin on the other hand just glared at them. "And what's that supposed to mean!"
THE END
Sakura was late once again for school and rollerblading her heart out. She got to school and changed into her shoes. Madison met her at her locker. "Hey Sakura! Ready for another round against Meilin?" She asked.
Sakura groaned. Ever since Meilin had started coming to school, she had always been in some kind of personnal battle against Sakura. Wanting to beat her in everything. Of course, she couldn't. Sakura was better at her in everything they competed in. Sakura didn't do it on purpose she just did her best.
She didn't know why Meilin tried so hard, but Sakura tried not to provoke her. "I really don't understand it, Madison." Sakura told her best friend.
Madison laughed. "Really Sakura. I didn't know you could be so blind."
Sakura frowned as she closed her locker. "What do you mean?"
Madison shook her head. "She wants to be better than you so Li will like her instead."
Sakura shook her head. "But I'm not even sure Li likes me the way I like him."
"Of course he does!" Madison assured her.
They arrived to class and Li and Meilin entered a little while later. Sakura greeted them and blushed as Li said hi back, also blushing. Meilin glared at her and stuck her nose up in the air. Sakura sighed.
During P.E., Sakura got ready for gymnastics. Meilin glared at her the whole time. Sakura ran to the vault and did a flip with a twist. She landed it perfectly. Madison on the side gave her an applause. Meilin growled. 'How dare she think she's better than me!' Meilin thought.
Meilin got ready for her turn and ran at the vault. 'I'll show her.'
Meilin jump and tried a double flip with a twist. She completed the twist, but on the landing, fell to her knees.
"Nice try Meilin!" Meilin heard Madison yell. She looked up and glared at Sakura. Sakura sweatdropped.
After class, Sakura came up to Meilin. "That was a good try Meilin. I would never have attempted to something like that! A little more practice and you'll get it!" She said.
Meilin hissed at her. "Watch it, Avalon! One of these days!" With that she walked out of the girls locker room.
Sakura frowned. "What is with her? I'm just trying to be friendly."
Madison shook her head. "I told you. She wants to impress Li. But you keep doing it instead."
Sakura blushed at the thought that Li was impressed by her.
After school, Madison walked home with Sakura as usual. "Do you think Meilin will ever give up?" Sakura asked.
"Not until Li puts a ring on her finger." Madison replied. Sakura looked down at the ground. Madison added. "Which he won't. He only likes you." Sakura looked up with a smile. She blushed and looked away. She gasped. Madison followed her gaze and saw Li approaching with Meilin hanging off him.
He walked over to Sakura and Madison. "Hey you guys." He greeted.
"Hi Li!" Madison said.
"Hi." Sakura whispered blushing.
Li looked at Sakura. "Sakura. I was wondering if I could borrow you're notes for Japanese class."
Sakura nodded and smiled. Li always did have problems with his Japanese, seeing as it wasn't his first language. "Sure." She opened her backpack and took out the notes. She handed them to Li. "Here."
He took them and their hands brushed up against each other. They both blushed and turned their heads away. "Thanks." He said.
Meilin glared at Sakura. "Come on, Li. We should get going home."
Li shook his head. "Oh yeah. Thanks again Sakura." He said as he turned away. Meilin gave one last growl towards Sakura and followed Li away.
Sakura just shook her head. She was glad Meilin wasn't good at anything. If she was, it would boost her ego even more.
A dark figure watched the card mistress talking to the clow descendant. She turned to her servant. "You must make sure you get close to clow mistress. Get her to trust you before you make a move."
Her servant nodded and pointed to the girl latching on to the boy. "What about her. She's close enough to the card mistress, but not too close where she would suspect anything."
The figure nodded. "Yes do that. But you have to make the switch when she isn't around the boy, or he might sispect something."
Her servant nodded and bowed as she left the room. The card mistress would soon meet her doom.
The following morning, Li showered, got dressed, and got ready for school. He opened the door only to see Meilin at his door smiling. He sighed. 'When will she ever learn?' Li thought.
"Ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah." He mumbled as he walked out and closed the door. They started walking when Meilin stopped. Li didn't notice and kept going.
"Hey! Li wait!" She called from behind. "My shoe's come untied!"
He sighed and stopped, but didn't turn to face her.
Meilin mumbled some curses under her breath as she tied her shoes. All of a sudden she felt hands come from behind her and grab her behind a tree. Something hit her head and everything went black.
Li stood there for a while and finally turned around. "Hurry up Meil....." He didn't see her. "Meilin?" He asked. He looked around and couldn't find her. "Meilin!"
Li walked back some and saw Meilin come out of from behind a tree. "Right here!" She called. "Sorry!"
He sighed and turned back around. "Let's go then."
Meilin smiled and followed Li. Today was going to be fun.
At school, Sakura was late again and had to rollarblade like a maniac to make it to school on time. She met Madison at class. Madison shook her head and laughed as Sakura approached breathing heavily. "Somethings never change."
Sakura took a deep breath and sat at her desk. Meilin came in too with Li, but Saklura was surprised to see her walking next to Li instead of latching onto him.
Sakura waved to them both, and surprisingly, Meilin said hi like a normal human being.
Sakura was shocked to say the least. Madison and her exchanged looks and thought. 'Then again. Sometimes people do change'
During P.E., the teacher chose to have the children run track. Sakura was relieved. She knew Meilin wouldn't do something as dumb as try to race her. Last time she did, Meilin ended up being carried to the finish line by Li. That was when they had captured the Loop card.
Surprisingly, Sakura saw Meilin beside her and Li at the starting line.
"Meilin your not...." Sakura started.
"May the best runner win." Meilin said.
Li and Sakura exchanged glances. 'Here we go again' They thought.
The whistle blew and Sakura, Li and Meilin started running with the rest of the group. Sakura and Li started to get a lead on the rest of class, just like last time, but while runnning, Sakura saw Meilin right there besides them.
Sakura frowned. 'Maybe she's been practicing' She thought.
At the end of the lap, Meilin pulled ahead and Sakura was shocked that she beat both her and Li.
Sakura saw Li's mouth hit the floor and noticed she had the same look on her face.
During thier cool down lap, Sakura ran up to Meilin. "Have you been practicing or something?" She asked.
Meilin simply smiled sinisterly at her and ran up to where Li was running. Sakura frowned. 'What is up with her?'
Back in the classrrom, Sakura sat in her seat and got ready for her favorite class: Music. She got out her recorder and pulled out her music sheets.
Meilin and Li came in and took thier seats. Sakura turned to Madison next to her. "I wonder if she's been practicing her instrument too?"
Madison shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows?"
Sakura got up for her test and played her song. She happened to glance at Li once and smiled. She forgot about the recorder and went flat. She blushed madly with embarrassment and quickly finished her song. She went back to her seat. Avioding everyone's looks.
Meilin was next and played the same song. This time though she added in parts and changed the ending to a beautiful credenzo at the end. Again SAkura was shocked. 'Something must be wrong here. Meilin's not that good.' Sakura thought.
She turned around to face Li. He nodded thinking the same thing.
At lunch, Li excused himself from Meilin and went over behind school. Sakura was there waiting.
She turned to see him approaching. "I'm glad you came." She said with a worried expression on her face.
Li blushed, but remembered the situation. "Something's not right here."
Sakura nodded. "What could it be?"
Li thought for a moment. "I don't know. But I do know that's not Meilin. She can't run and she can't play the recorder like that."
Sakura nodded. "It's like she's someone else." Then she gasped. "You don't think it's another Clow Card do you?"
Li shook his head. "I would think the Mirror card, but you caught that one already. Same goes for the Illusion. I do sense magic in her, which should've been a warning from the start."
Sakura remembered. "That's right. Kero said she didn't have any magic at all, which is very rare in your family."
Li nodded. "I think we should do some investigating tonight. So she doesn't see anything." Sakura agreed. Then Li added. "Bring the stuffed doll, too."
Sakura chuckled. "You know Kero doesn't like it when you call him that."
Li kept a straight face and replied. "Then don't tell him. Meet at the park at ten."
Sakura nodded and Li left. He couldn't be gone too long or Meilin might notice something.
Whatever was going on, Sakura was sure they'd find out together.
The figure watched all this on a black energy screen in front of her. 'So the cardcaptors have caught on. We'll have to have a surprise waiting for them at their little meeting.' She thought with a smile.
Sakura told Madison about the meeting and she had insisted on coming. Kero flew above Sakura's head. They made it to the park at five past ten.
Li was already there. He smiled as they approached. "Even as a cardcaptor you can't be on time." He was dressed in his green battle robe.(The one he looks so cute in!!!)
Sakura blushed. "It's not my fault. Madison had to make adjustments on this new costume."
Li looked at it. It was a green top, with gold trimmings. It had short sleeves and matched the green skirt that went half way down her thigh. "It looks good on you. I like the color."
Sakura blushed. Madison smiled. "I thought I'd make her an outfit that matched yours!"
Now Li blushed. "Now back to the matter at hand. We can exchange fashion tips later."
Sakura nodded. "Where do we start?"
"I think the more imprtant question is where do you finish!" A voice out of nowhere said.
Sakura and Li immediatly went back to back and looked around. "Who's there?!" Sakura yelled into the night.
"Show yourself!" Li yelled.
Madison stepped back and started video recording. Kero flew over to the two and looked around.
"As you wish." The voice said.
Kero saw a shadow turn into a figure. "Over there!" He yelled pointing.
Sakura and Li turned to see....Meilin?
"Meilin! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked.
"Thats' not Mielin!" Yelled Li. "She has magic!"
Meilin smirked. "Very good, boy! But I'm afraid it's too late for you." She raised her hands and a wind began to blow. It blew Madison towards Sakura and Li. Kero was holding onto Sakura's shoulder against the wind. The wind died down and Sakura looked around. "Is everyone alright?"
Everyone was. "But not for long!" Meilin yelled. Her hand came up and lines came up around them forming a cube around them.
"What is this?!" Li yelled. He took out his sword and struck at the boundary. He was met with an electrical shock. He flew back and landed on Sakura and Madison.
Kero flew up and looked carefully at it. "It's a cage formed from magic!" He concluded.
Li got up and helped the girls to their feet. "Well let's see if magic can break it!" Li's sword started to glow. "Lightning!"
"No don't!" Kero yelled. But it was too late. The blast hit the wall and bounced back, hitting Li in the chest. He fell to the ground.
"Li!" Sakura yelled as she ran to his side.
He was semi-conscious. All he could do was smile and reply. "Don't worry about me."
Sakura got mad. She put Li into the care of Madison and took out her key. "Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the Lon, the force ignite. Release!!" Her key turned into a staff. She took out her cards.
"Stop Sakura!" Kero yelled.
She looked at him with a frown. "What?"
"You can't use magic or it will bounce back." He replied.
"Then how am I supposed to get us out of here?"
"You can't!" Meilin yelled. She snapped he fingers and a high pitched noise erupted in Sakura's head. She screamed out in pain and covered her ears. Madison was doing the same. The noise qiuckly drove Kero to unconsciousness, followed by Madison. Li was already out. The last thing Sakura remembered was Meilin approaching them smiling. She opened her mouth, but Sakura couldn't capture what she said. Soon Blackness consumed her world and she fell to the ground beside's her friends.
Meilin watched as the card mistress passed out and smiled. "Soon card mistress, all your petals will be plucked, one by one."
She deactivated the magic cage and felt the presence of her master. She turned around and bowed. "All is as you commanded."
The figure smiled. "Good. Bring them to my layer and be sure to take thier weapons away from them."
"Yes, my mistess." The figure disappeared. "Soon, Cherry Blossom. Soon."
Sakura awoke with a gentle voice calling her name. "Sakura. Sakura wake up."
Sakura opened her eyes and instantly felt her head throbbing. Then she remembered what happened. She looked around and found Li looking worriedly over her. She smiled and tried to sit up. The pain in her head got worse and she started to fall back down. Li grabbed her and helped her up.
"Thanks." She said.
He smiled. "No problem."
"Where are we?" She asked looking around.
"We're in a holding ceel of somekind and our weapons have been taken away." He replied.
The pain subsided and Sakura slowly stood up. Li put a arm hand under her arm and helped her steady yourself. She found Madison not too far away and was surprised to see Meilin in the corner sitting.
"Meilin! Is it you?" She asked.
"Yes it's me! Why are you so worried anyway?" She crossed her arms.
Sakura smiled. "Well, at least we know it's the real you." Li even laughed at that. Meilin just glared at Sakura more.
Madison got up and walked towards them. "Now what are we going to do?"
Sakura looked around again. "Where's Kero?"
Li sighed. "They must be holding him somewhere else."
Sakura walked to the bars of the cell and yanked on them. "We have to get out of here and get our weapons back."
"But how?" Madison inquired. "I only have my spare camera. They took my video capera away."
Li smiled and looked at Meilin pouting in the corner. "I know how."
The fake Meilin was sent to the cell to check on the prisoners. When she got there only Meilin was up. The others were still unconscious. She walked up to the bars and smiled. "Like your living quarters?"
Meilin pouted some more and glared at her double. "If you don't mind I have to use the lady's room!" She whined.
The double rolled her eyes. "Too bad!"
Meilin started to whine more. "But I have to go nooowwwww!!!!!" Emphasizing on the last part.
The double covered her ears against the noise. "Alright! Alright! Just stop that noise!" The double took out the key and opened the door. "Now get out!"
Meilin didn't move. "I can't! Thanks to you, my ankle hurts!"
The double shook her head. "Too bad now get out!"
"I can't." Meilin whined again.
The double covered her ears again. She came in and started going towards Meilin. She stepped over Li.
When she did, his leg came up and tripped her. Sakura jumped up and held down her arms, while Li held down her leags. "Now!" Li yelled.
Madison came over and raised her camera above her head. She closed her eyes and swung in down. The camera hit the double on the head and it stopped moving.
Madison looked sadly at her camera which now had a big dent in it. "Now I have to get a new one."
Li got up and took the keys from the double. "Let's go!"
The others nodded their agreement and started out.
"That was good acting Meilin." Sakura said.
"Who said it was acting!? I have to go!!" She replied.
Li and the others rolled their eyes. "Later! Right now we have to get our weapons back!"
Li and the gang went down the hallway and started searching for thier weapons. Sakura stopped. "Li I sense a magical disturbance over there." She said pointing.
Li nodded his agreement. "I sense it too. Let's go!" He started in that direction.
They heard shouting and hid behind a boulder.
"Soon your little cherry blossom will be all whithered, leaving you having to choose a new cardcaptor. Me!" One voice said.
"No! You leave Sakura alone!" Another noice said.
Sakura recognized the second voice. She leaned forward. "That's Kero." She whispered into Li's ear.
He nodded and motioned to the far left. "Our weapons are over there."
He crawled over by them, trying to stay out of sight of thier captor. Sakura and the others followed him. Meilin looked at the treasure chest the weapons were in. The box was glowing on the pedastol it was on. She reached up and tried to get it.
"No wait!" Li tried to warn her. But it was too late. Her hand wasn't even close when she hit a force field.
It shocked her and she pulled back her hand. "Oww!" She yelped.
"What was that!?" The figure said.
"Shoot!" Li said coming out of hiding. Sakura by his side.
The figure looked at them and smiled. This was the first time Sakura got a good looked at her. She wore a white robe with red roses on it. Her hair was dark black and she had it pulled back into a bun with two sticks. On her back was a sword that matched her hair. It's handle was all black except for a red stone in the middle of it. "So, you've escaped."
"That's right! And we're going to take you down!" Li said.
"How without your weapons?!" She shoot back.
Li growled and charged at her. His right foot came up in a roundhouse kick, but she deflected it. He followed up with a chop with his left. She also blocked it. He continued to fight her, but she blocked each attack followed by an attack of her own, which Li block.
Madison ran up to Sakura's side who was watching the battle, unable to do anything. Madison suddenly shouted and pointed towards the wall. "There he is!"
Sakura saw on the wall, little Kero was chained to the wall. She ran over and looked at the lock.
"I have to undo this lock!" Sakura said.
Madison reached into her hair and pulled out a hairpin. "Here."
Sakura took the pin and worked on the lock.
Meilin watched the battle and wanted to help, but didn't want to get in the way. (Surprising huh?) Suddenly, hands came from behind her and wrapped around her body. She immediatly ran her elbow back and hit her attacker. She whipped around and saw herself.
"So you're my double?" She said to her twin. "Ha! I would never wear rags like that!"
He double sneared and tried to kick her in the stomach. Meilin caught the blow and twisted. Her double flipped and fell to the ground. "Is that all you got? I really don't see how they couldv'e possibly mistaken you for me."
Her double got mad and attacked again.
Meanwhile, Li was starting to tire from his battle with this witch. "Sakura find a way to get our weapons!" He yelled and he dodged another punch to the face. He came back with an upper cut to her stomach. He was rewarded with her yelp in pain.
His second of overconvindence cost him, because she retaliated with a blow to his chest. He went flying and hit the wall. She came up and put one hand on his throat. She began lifting him up the wall, while choking him.
Sakura watched in horror as Li was getting the breath strangled out of him.
"Sakura! Pay attention!" Kero yelled.
She turned back and gave a frustrated sigh. "I can't get it!"
Madison took the pin. "Here. I'll try. You get your weapons back."
Sakura nodded and ran over to the chest. It still sat where they had left it. The glow remained the same. Sakura went up and tried touching it. She got a shock. 'How to get it open?' She thought. Then she remembered. "Li! I need the key!"
Li was holding the womans hands trying to loosen her choke hold on him, as his feet dangled above the ground. He heard Sakura yell to him and smiled. He looked at the woman right in the eye and head-butted her.
She staggered back and he fell to the floor. He got up and took out the keys. "Here Sakura! Catch!" He through the keys towards her.
Sakura saw the keys go flying, but unfortunaly, so did the woman. She started at them and Sakura saw her chance. She did a cart-wheel, double back-flip with a twist, caught the keys, and came down with a kick to the women as she ran towards her.
Sakura's kick hit it's mark. It got the woman in the chest, and she fell down. Sakura landed on her and back handspringed to the chest. She waved the key over the chest and the force field wavered and disappeared. She used the key and opened the lock. She grabbed her key and cards, along with Li's sword.
"Li! Here!" She yelled and threw his sword to him. He jumped and caught it. Still in the air he took it out of it's sheath and landed in a crouch.
Sakura took out her key. "Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the Lon, the force ignite. Release!" Her key turned into a wand and she took out her cards. "Sword! Release and Dispell!"
The sword card came and Sakura grabbed the sword and ran to Li's side. Now it was a fair fight.
"Very well." The woman said. "Have it your way." She took her sword from it's sheath. The red stone glowed. "I'd much rather destroy you myself anyways."
Meilin was still in her battle with her double. She had to admit, it was a very good fighter. But still, not as good as the original. Meilin knew how to fight dirty. Meilin dodged a blow to her head and threw her hand up. She grabbed a hunk of the girl's hair and yanked down hard. The girls screamed and Meilin shut her up with a chop to her throat. She girl fell to the ground putting her hand to her throat.
Her double glared at her, Meilin just smiled. "Ready for round two?"
Her double answered by getting to her feet and charging at Meilin.
The woman started the fight with a slice at Li's head. He dodged the blow and brought up his sword. He brought it down towards her head, but she parried the blow.
Sakura joined the fray by slicing at the woman's back. The woman pushed up with her sword and Li's blow was pushed to the side. The woman raised her sword until it was behind her and blocked Sakura's blow.
The woman followed up with a roundhouse kick to Sakura's chest. (And you knew that one hurt her) Li's got mad and jabbed with his sword, but the woman parried again. As they fought Sakura saw the red stone on the woman's sword glowing.
"Li! The stone!" She called out.
Li nodded as he blocked another of the woman's slashes. Now the question wasn't what to do, it was how.
Madison hurried with the lock with the pin, but so far was having no luck.
"You gotta hurry Madison!" Kero urged her.
"I'm trying!" She told him.
Meilin ducked under her double's kick and smiled to herself. 'This is almost as much fun as fighting the fight card.' Meilin thought. 'Except I know my weaknesses.'
Meilin jumped back and swung her legs out. Each connecting with her double's jaw. Meilin landed on her feet. 'I can never block ground based attacks'
Sakura tried slashing the woman again, but was again met with steel. "We have to destroy the stone!" She told Li as she ran to his side.
The woman slashed virtically at Li and Sakura causing them to jump in opposite directions. Li to the left and Sakura to the right. "Get ready!" Li yelled.
The woman's slash came down, but hit the ground instead. Li came forward and hit her sword with his. He pushed down with all his strength keeping the sword at bay. "Now!!" He said.
The woman was still trying to get her sword up when Sakura came and made a slash with her sword. The sword hit the stone dead center and it shattered.
The woman screamed out and kicked Sakura away. Sakura hit the wall and was dazed.
"Sakura! No!" Li said. The woman used this moment of distraction and brought her hand across Li's face with a devistating blow. He lost his control and the woman regained her sword. But with the stone destroy she didn't have enough power now.
She turned towards Sakura. "You!" She yelled and started walking towards Sakura, sword raised. Sakura looked up in horror when the sword came down and......
Cliffhanger!! No!!
Sike! Just kidding! Scared you didn't I?
The sword stopped in midair as the woman screamed. Li stood behind her with his sword lodged in the middle of her back. (Gory I know) Li pulled his sword out and the woman dropped her sword. She looked down to see the sword had gone all the way through and she had a wound on her stomach!!
She closed her eyes and breathed heavily. Li stood there ready to attack again if she moved. Sakura just stood there frozen.
Meilin hit her double with a strong kick to the throat and her double went down, permanently. Meilin then turned her attention to the woman. The woman opened her eyes and stared out into space. "Maybe that's why you were chosen and not me." Then she fell dead on the floor.
Her body soon vanished and with it her creation, Meilin's clone.
Li ran over to Sakura who hugged and thanked him.
Li blushed. "Don't mention it."
Li helped Sakura up and walked over to the blacken mark the woman's body left on the floor. "I wonder who she was. I never heard her name. Did you?" Sakura asked.
Li shook his head. "No. And I don't ever rememeber ever seeing her either."
Sakura looked up at Li. "You know we make a great team."
Li nodded and smiled. "We do, don't we."
That's when Meilin came over and latched her arms around Li's neck. Li sighed and Sakura giggled. "She's back." They said in unison.
"I did it!" They heard Madison exclaim. She undid the lock and Kero was finally set free of the chains. They both came over to join the others.
Meilin frown at them. "Why didn't you just use the key?" She asked.
Madison and Kero looked at each other and grimaced. Sakura started laughing and was soon joined by everyone else.
The next day at school, Sakura, Madison, Li , and Meilin were back in music class. Sakura played her instrument, this time a different song. She played it perfectly. She smiled as she took her seat. Meilin stuck her nose up in the air as she took her turn up at the front of the class. Sakura sweatdropped.
Meilin played her song, but unfornunally for her, she wasn't as good as her double. She hit many of flats and sharps along the way. Sakura and Li let out a sigh of relief. Things were finally back to normal.
That day at lunch, Li and Meilin joined Sakura and Madison to eat. "So how did you know my double was a fake?" Meilin asked.
Li nervously laughed. "Um...she was just ....too good." Sakura, Madison, and Li satretd laughing.
Meilin on the other hand just glared at them. "And what's that supposed to mean!"
THE END