The Tides Turn
Sakura Avalon dodged an attack and soared on her wand into the air. "He's too fast Li!" She called out to her companion on the ground.
Li Showrun ran towards her on the ground. He looked up in worry as the card went after her. He had tried to get it's attention, but it was no use. "Sakura watch out!" He called out.
Sakura heard his call and did a nose dive. She dodged the attack. She pulled up at the last minute and landed on her feet. Li ran up to her. "Are you okay?" He asked almost out of breath.
She nodded and saw the card turn and make it's way towards them for another pass. She turned to Li. "We have to get out of here!"
Li watched the card approach, then shook his head. "We can't have this unknown card running loose. We have to capture it!" He looked Sakura right in the eye. "I'll lead it away. You have to come from behind and capture it."
Sakura opened her mouth to object but Li placed two fingers on her lips. "Don't worry about me. You take to the air now."
She smiled and kissed him passionatly on the lips. He smiled and took off. The card whizzed by Sakura in hot pursuit while she called Fly and went into the air. She saw the card run after Li as she followed it. It resembled a woman, but was dressed in all black. She had blue jewels all around her chest. She had an interesting headress on that had several spikes. If Sakura had to guess she'd say it was.....
"The Dark Card!!" Kero exclaimed besides her.
Well, whatever it was, it was now after a fleeing Li, and Sakura wasn't going to let Li get hurt. Li juked right and left avoiding it's attacks while the card was slowly closing the distance. Sakura raced in and got right behind it.
Now the only problem was to capture it. "Return to your power confined! Dark Card!" Wind blew violently as the card returned to it's original form. Sakura flew down and landed next to a crouched Li. He was out of breath and panting. "Are you okay?"
He looked up and smiled. "As long as I have you, I am." He kissed her.
She broke the kiss and blushed. The card was rewarded to Li. "Here." He handed it to her. "You earned it." She smiled and took the card.
"Hey! Sakura!!" Sakura turned around to see Madison appraoching waving her camera. Sakura rolled her eyes. Same old Madison. She finally reached where Sakura and Li were seated. "That was great teamwork you two! You guys really make a great team."
Sakura blushed. "As long as Li is here to protect me." She looked over at him and he blushed madly.
"Always, my little cherry blossom." He pecked her on the cheek. He turned to see Madison still recording. "Will you ever change?"
Madison laughed, but held the camera right where it was, right on Sakura and Li. "Nope." She replied with a smile.
Sakura sighed, then broke out with a huge grin. "Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't we celebrate? Say the pizza parlor?"
Li smiled. "I'm up for that."
Madison nodded her agreement. "Let's do it!"
Kero finally piped up after being quiet through all the mushy stuff. "How about the ice cream parlor next? I hear they carry pudding now?" He closed his eyes and picked his lips. Then he rubbed his stomach. "Mmmmm. Chocolate pudding."
Sakura giggled and Li laughed along with Madison. "Okay Kero. Only for you." Kero cheered as the rest of the gang got up and started out towards the pizza parlor.
After the pizza and ice cream, Kero decided he was sleepy and flew off towards Sakura's house. Madison said the same and said good bye as she went home. It was dark now, Sakura didn't want to leave Li's side. She felt so good around him. As if nothing in the world could break them apart. She always felt so safe in his presense.
Li and Sakura decided to take a walk on the beach. They walked hand in hand along the shore. "Li?"
Li looked up. "Hm?"
Sakura thought a moment before asking. "Do you think there's anything in the world that could break us up? I mean..."
Li cut her off. "No way. I would never stop loving you. Nothing in this world can change that. And if anything tried to break us up or hurt you, you know I'd be right there to protect you."
She smiled and he gave her a kiss on the cheek. Her expression changed from happy to worried. "Always?" He frowned. "You'll always be there? No matter what?"
He looked deep into her eyes. He used his hand to lift up her chin. "Always. Now what's wrong?"
Sakura sighed and stared at the ground. "I have a feeling something's going to happen. I don't know what, or when, but I know it's going to change our lives forever."
Li didn't like the sound of this. Something really must have her spooked. "Sakura." He said. She looked up. "No matter where or how far, I will always protect you. I promise. There's no way I'd let anything happen to you."
Sakura felt strength in his words and allher worried evaporated. "You're right. Come on. Let's go." She started to leave.
"Sakura." Li said. She stopped and turned around. "I love you. And I always will."
She smiled, "I know. And I will always love you. Forever."
He smiled back and ran up to catch up to her. Whatever was in the future could wait. Li knew he would be there for her. No matter what. This he would sware. He took her hand and walked her home.
That night, Sakura had a strange dream. She saw Li standing off in the distance. He was in his battle robe and he was motioning for her. "Come here my love. Come to me."
Sakura smiled and started towards him.
Kero was a sleep when he felt cold air on his back. He opened his eyes and looked around. He saw Sakura still in her nightie, walking out of the window. "Sakura?"
She didn't respond. Without a word she jumped out of the window. "Sakura!!" Kero flew out of the window after her. She landed softly on the floor and started walking towards the beach. "Sakura stop!" Kero tried to talk to her but wasn't getting through. Sakura just stared straight ahead and kept walking. As if she were in a trance.
Sakura walked towards Li and he smiled. "We must go to the end. There you will find your destiny." Li started walking away and Sakura followed him. She trusted Li with her life.
Li was at the beach. The sky was dark and a chilly wind blew. Li watched as the normal tides that came in and brought water, were instead going out. The tide was turning. Li noticed something on the floor.
Li bent down and picked up a cherry blossom. It was still pink with color. As soon as he handled it, it wilted.
Li woke up in his bed. The sheets stuck to his body with sweat. 'What was that all about?' Li thought. Then he stopped breathing. The wilted cherry blossom. Sakura. Something was terribly wrong. Sakura was in trouble. Li had to get to her right away.
He jumped out of bed and grabbed his battle robe. He threw it on and started out the door. Li would not let Sakura come to harm. He got to the bottom floor of his appartment and started to run. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he had to get there and fast.
Sakura kept walking towards the beach, despite Kero's several attempts to stop her. She just wasn't listening. They got to the beach and Kero saw a figure standing on the shore. "Come to me." Kero could here him say.
Sakura walked towards him. "No! Sakura stop! It's a trap! Sakura you have to stop!" Kero tried in vein to stop her. With his small form he couldn't stop her. She walked up to the figure.
Kero growled and glared at the figure. "Who are you! What have you done to Sakura!" He demanded.
The figure laughed. "Oh, look. A little pest!" He brought up his hand and a blast of black energy hit Kero. He flew back and everything went black.
Sakura followed Li to the beech where he started to walk on the water, out into the ocean. "Follow me. It's safe. I'm here. You must come to me." He held out his hand.
Sakura smiled and started out across the ocean. She was amazed to see that she didn't go into the water, but on top of it. She held out her hand in front of her. "Li. I'm coming." She continued to walk out into the middle of the ocean.
The figure watched as the card mistress walked willingly to him. Now only one last thing to be done. He held out his hands and chanted the magical words.
"Colder than ice
Darker than night
Open the portal
Give me the true sight!"
In front of him a black swirling mass of energy started to form. The winds picked up as the portal opened bigger and bigger. The figure smiled. He turned to the appraoching card mistress. "Come to me." He said.
"Come to me." Li said. Behind him a black hole opened up. He stood besides it. "Go into it. Walk into to the darkness." He said.
Sakura stopped. Something wasn't right. Sakura stared at Li. Something was definatly not right.
Li ran until he found himself at the beach again. He saw Sakura standing on the edge of somekind of portal. It was black and purple energy all swirling together. He saw a figure next to her. He was holding out his hand to her. She had her hand out to him as well, but was looking straight ahead as if in a trance.
"Sakura no!!!" He ran towards her. He had to stop her. The figure saw him coming and attacked with a mass of dark energy. Li attack and jumped to the left. "Ha!" Is that the best you can do!"
The figure got mad and attacked again with two more dark energy balls. Li dodged the first one, but had to deflect the second one with his sword. Before he knew it, the figure charged at him with his own sword. Li blocked a virtical slice that would've opened him up from shoulder to hip.
The figure pressed down with all his weight. Li held up the best he could but couldn't hold it any longer. He was pushed down onto his knees, where the figure gave him a grueling backslap. The blow sent Li wheeling to the right and he hit the sand hard. His sword landed a little ways away.
Sakura heard her name being called and stopped folowing Li into the water. She turned towards shore and saw Li standing there. Li? Another one? She turned back towards the other one and saw his eyes weren't the beautiful auburn, brown they usually were. They were black.
"You're not Li!" She shouted at the imposter. All of a sudden her surroundings changed and she saw Li battling with a dark man. She was in her nightie and there was a fierce wind about. She looked and saw she was right next to some kind of vortex. She quickly moved away from it.
Li got up and quickly whiped some blood from his nose. He reached for his sword, but a foot kicked it away. The figure kicked Li in the stomach and sent him back down towards the ground again. He got up to see Sakura moving away from the vortex. "Sakura!!" He called out.
The figure turned around and Li whipped both legs out in a scissor kick. He caught the man's legs and pulled him to the ground. The man fell hard and Li got up and ran. He ran over to Sakura.
Sakura saw him coming. "Li!" She called out and started towards him.
"Sakur...Ahhh!!!" Li yelled in pain and fell to the ground.
"Li!" Sakura called. She saw the man behind Li was up again and was holding out one hand. She fell to her knees besides Li. "Li! Talk to me."
He opened one eye, the other was swollen shut because it was black and blue, and smiled. "I said I'd always protect you." He crocked.
The figure came over and grabbed Sakura around the waist. "You're coming with me!" He pulled her away from Li and started towards the portal.
"No!" Sakura sceamed and she tried to get free.
Li got one of his legs and held on. The man answered with a swift kick with his other leg right to Li's face. Li let go and cluntched his face in pain.
"Li! NO! Help me!!!" Sakura called out.
Li tried to get up but couldn't. "Sakura! No!" He held out his hand.
The figure laughed. "See you around kiddies!" He said as he neared the portal. Sakura stomped on his toe and he let go of her for a second. She ran to Li, but he caught her again, this time by the hair. "Li! I love you!" she screamed.
"Sakura!!!" He yelled as the figure laughed and threw her into the portal. "NO!!!!!!" Li got up on his feet but fell to his knees.
The figure laughed. "Until we meet again." He said and jumped intot he portal.
Li crawled to the portal and watched in horror as it closed in front of his eyes. "SAKURA!!!!!!"
Sakura Avalon dodged an attack and soared on her wand into the air. "He's too fast Li!" She called out to her companion on the ground.
Li Showrun ran towards her on the ground. He looked up in worry as the card went after her. He had tried to get it's attention, but it was no use. "Sakura watch out!" He called out.
Sakura heard his call and did a nose dive. She dodged the attack. She pulled up at the last minute and landed on her feet. Li ran up to her. "Are you okay?" He asked almost out of breath.
She nodded and saw the card turn and make it's way towards them for another pass. She turned to Li. "We have to get out of here!"
Li watched the card approach, then shook his head. "We can't have this unknown card running loose. We have to capture it!" He looked Sakura right in the eye. "I'll lead it away. You have to come from behind and capture it."
Sakura opened her mouth to object but Li placed two fingers on her lips. "Don't worry about me. You take to the air now."
She smiled and kissed him passionatly on the lips. He smiled and took off. The card whizzed by Sakura in hot pursuit while she called Fly and went into the air. She saw the card run after Li as she followed it. It resembled a woman, but was dressed in all black. She had blue jewels all around her chest. She had an interesting headress on that had several spikes. If Sakura had to guess she'd say it was.....
"The Dark Card!!" Kero exclaimed besides her.
Well, whatever it was, it was now after a fleeing Li, and Sakura wasn't going to let Li get hurt. Li juked right and left avoiding it's attacks while the card was slowly closing the distance. Sakura raced in and got right behind it.
Now the only problem was to capture it. "Return to your power confined! Dark Card!" Wind blew violently as the card returned to it's original form. Sakura flew down and landed next to a crouched Li. He was out of breath and panting. "Are you okay?"
He looked up and smiled. "As long as I have you, I am." He kissed her.
She broke the kiss and blushed. The card was rewarded to Li. "Here." He handed it to her. "You earned it." She smiled and took the card.
"Hey! Sakura!!" Sakura turned around to see Madison appraoching waving her camera. Sakura rolled her eyes. Same old Madison. She finally reached where Sakura and Li were seated. "That was great teamwork you two! You guys really make a great team."
Sakura blushed. "As long as Li is here to protect me." She looked over at him and he blushed madly.
"Always, my little cherry blossom." He pecked her on the cheek. He turned to see Madison still recording. "Will you ever change?"
Madison laughed, but held the camera right where it was, right on Sakura and Li. "Nope." She replied with a smile.
Sakura sighed, then broke out with a huge grin. "Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't we celebrate? Say the pizza parlor?"
Li smiled. "I'm up for that."
Madison nodded her agreement. "Let's do it!"
Kero finally piped up after being quiet through all the mushy stuff. "How about the ice cream parlor next? I hear they carry pudding now?" He closed his eyes and picked his lips. Then he rubbed his stomach. "Mmmmm. Chocolate pudding."
Sakura giggled and Li laughed along with Madison. "Okay Kero. Only for you." Kero cheered as the rest of the gang got up and started out towards the pizza parlor.
After the pizza and ice cream, Kero decided he was sleepy and flew off towards Sakura's house. Madison said the same and said good bye as she went home. It was dark now, Sakura didn't want to leave Li's side. She felt so good around him. As if nothing in the world could break them apart. She always felt so safe in his presense.
Li and Sakura decided to take a walk on the beach. They walked hand in hand along the shore. "Li?"
Li looked up. "Hm?"
Sakura thought a moment before asking. "Do you think there's anything in the world that could break us up? I mean..."
Li cut her off. "No way. I would never stop loving you. Nothing in this world can change that. And if anything tried to break us up or hurt you, you know I'd be right there to protect you."
She smiled and he gave her a kiss on the cheek. Her expression changed from happy to worried. "Always?" He frowned. "You'll always be there? No matter what?"
He looked deep into her eyes. He used his hand to lift up her chin. "Always. Now what's wrong?"
Sakura sighed and stared at the ground. "I have a feeling something's going to happen. I don't know what, or when, but I know it's going to change our lives forever."
Li didn't like the sound of this. Something really must have her spooked. "Sakura." He said. She looked up. "No matter where or how far, I will always protect you. I promise. There's no way I'd let anything happen to you."
Sakura felt strength in his words and allher worried evaporated. "You're right. Come on. Let's go." She started to leave.
"Sakura." Li said. She stopped and turned around. "I love you. And I always will."
She smiled, "I know. And I will always love you. Forever."
He smiled back and ran up to catch up to her. Whatever was in the future could wait. Li knew he would be there for her. No matter what. This he would sware. He took her hand and walked her home.
That night, Sakura had a strange dream. She saw Li standing off in the distance. He was in his battle robe and he was motioning for her. "Come here my love. Come to me."
Sakura smiled and started towards him.
Kero was a sleep when he felt cold air on his back. He opened his eyes and looked around. He saw Sakura still in her nightie, walking out of the window. "Sakura?"
She didn't respond. Without a word she jumped out of the window. "Sakura!!" Kero flew out of the window after her. She landed softly on the floor and started walking towards the beach. "Sakura stop!" Kero tried to talk to her but wasn't getting through. Sakura just stared straight ahead and kept walking. As if she were in a trance.
Sakura walked towards Li and he smiled. "We must go to the end. There you will find your destiny." Li started walking away and Sakura followed him. She trusted Li with her life.
Li was at the beach. The sky was dark and a chilly wind blew. Li watched as the normal tides that came in and brought water, were instead going out. The tide was turning. Li noticed something on the floor.
Li bent down and picked up a cherry blossom. It was still pink with color. As soon as he handled it, it wilted.
Li woke up in his bed. The sheets stuck to his body with sweat. 'What was that all about?' Li thought. Then he stopped breathing. The wilted cherry blossom. Sakura. Something was terribly wrong. Sakura was in trouble. Li had to get to her right away.
He jumped out of bed and grabbed his battle robe. He threw it on and started out the door. Li would not let Sakura come to harm. He got to the bottom floor of his appartment and started to run. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he had to get there and fast.
Sakura kept walking towards the beach, despite Kero's several attempts to stop her. She just wasn't listening. They got to the beach and Kero saw a figure standing on the shore. "Come to me." Kero could here him say.
Sakura walked towards him. "No! Sakura stop! It's a trap! Sakura you have to stop!" Kero tried in vein to stop her. With his small form he couldn't stop her. She walked up to the figure.
Kero growled and glared at the figure. "Who are you! What have you done to Sakura!" He demanded.
The figure laughed. "Oh, look. A little pest!" He brought up his hand and a blast of black energy hit Kero. He flew back and everything went black.
Sakura followed Li to the beech where he started to walk on the water, out into the ocean. "Follow me. It's safe. I'm here. You must come to me." He held out his hand.
Sakura smiled and started out across the ocean. She was amazed to see that she didn't go into the water, but on top of it. She held out her hand in front of her. "Li. I'm coming." She continued to walk out into the middle of the ocean.
The figure watched as the card mistress walked willingly to him. Now only one last thing to be done. He held out his hands and chanted the magical words.
"Colder than ice
Darker than night
Open the portal
Give me the true sight!"
In front of him a black swirling mass of energy started to form. The winds picked up as the portal opened bigger and bigger. The figure smiled. He turned to the appraoching card mistress. "Come to me." He said.
"Come to me." Li said. Behind him a black hole opened up. He stood besides it. "Go into it. Walk into to the darkness." He said.
Sakura stopped. Something wasn't right. Sakura stared at Li. Something was definatly not right.
Li ran until he found himself at the beach again. He saw Sakura standing on the edge of somekind of portal. It was black and purple energy all swirling together. He saw a figure next to her. He was holding out his hand to her. She had her hand out to him as well, but was looking straight ahead as if in a trance.
"Sakura no!!!" He ran towards her. He had to stop her. The figure saw him coming and attacked with a mass of dark energy. Li attack and jumped to the left. "Ha!" Is that the best you can do!"
The figure got mad and attacked again with two more dark energy balls. Li dodged the first one, but had to deflect the second one with his sword. Before he knew it, the figure charged at him with his own sword. Li blocked a virtical slice that would've opened him up from shoulder to hip.
The figure pressed down with all his weight. Li held up the best he could but couldn't hold it any longer. He was pushed down onto his knees, where the figure gave him a grueling backslap. The blow sent Li wheeling to the right and he hit the sand hard. His sword landed a little ways away.
Sakura heard her name being called and stopped folowing Li into the water. She turned towards shore and saw Li standing there. Li? Another one? She turned back towards the other one and saw his eyes weren't the beautiful auburn, brown they usually were. They were black.
"You're not Li!" She shouted at the imposter. All of a sudden her surroundings changed and she saw Li battling with a dark man. She was in her nightie and there was a fierce wind about. She looked and saw she was right next to some kind of vortex. She quickly moved away from it.
Li got up and quickly whiped some blood from his nose. He reached for his sword, but a foot kicked it away. The figure kicked Li in the stomach and sent him back down towards the ground again. He got up to see Sakura moving away from the vortex. "Sakura!!" He called out.
The figure turned around and Li whipped both legs out in a scissor kick. He caught the man's legs and pulled him to the ground. The man fell hard and Li got up and ran. He ran over to Sakura.
Sakura saw him coming. "Li!" She called out and started towards him.
"Sakur...Ahhh!!!" Li yelled in pain and fell to the ground.
"Li!" Sakura called. She saw the man behind Li was up again and was holding out one hand. She fell to her knees besides Li. "Li! Talk to me."
He opened one eye, the other was swollen shut because it was black and blue, and smiled. "I said I'd always protect you." He crocked.
The figure came over and grabbed Sakura around the waist. "You're coming with me!" He pulled her away from Li and started towards the portal.
"No!" Sakura sceamed and she tried to get free.
Li got one of his legs and held on. The man answered with a swift kick with his other leg right to Li's face. Li let go and cluntched his face in pain.
"Li! NO! Help me!!!" Sakura called out.
Li tried to get up but couldn't. "Sakura! No!" He held out his hand.
The figure laughed. "See you around kiddies!" He said as he neared the portal. Sakura stomped on his toe and he let go of her for a second. She ran to Li, but he caught her again, this time by the hair. "Li! I love you!" she screamed.
"Sakura!!!" He yelled as the figure laughed and threw her into the portal. "NO!!!!!!" Li got up on his feet but fell to his knees.
The figure laughed. "Until we meet again." He said and jumped intot he portal.
Li crawled to the portal and watched in horror as it closed in front of his eyes. "SAKURA!!!!!!"