Disclaimer: We do not own CCS, but I wish I did, I could really use the money.
Sorry for the wait but here is chapter one. It is mostly just to introduce the kids. R&R and let me know how you liked it.
Chapter 1: Family
"NO!" Sakura shot up from her bed her emerald green eyes darting around the room. The darkness was gone and so was the voice, she was back in her bedroom.
Panting and dripping in sweat Sakura found herself unable to shake off the effects of the dream.
"Sakura what's wrong?" Sakura's husband put his hands around her shoulders trying to calm her down. His amber brown eyes were full of worry as he stared at the shaking form of his wife. The familiar and comforting touch calmed Sakura's body but not her mind. Sakura turned and buried her face in his shirt.
"Syaoran I just had a horrible dream and…"
"Relax it was just a dream." Syaoran reassured her while gently stroking her hair.
"No, this felt different. It felt more like a premonition than a dream; the tree, the wolves, and then that horrible laugh."
Shaoran listened while Sakura explained the details of her dream. Sakura had been having prophetic dreams since long before they met, and the fact that this one had such a deep affect on her worried him.
"Do you have any idea what the dream could mean?" He asked her. She shook her head indicating she did not.
She had stopped crying and was now calm enough to start thinking logically again. The more she thought about it the more sure she became of just what or rather whom the creatures in her dream had been symbolizing.
"Well, we can't do anything about it tonight so go back to sleep and we'll try to figure it out in the morning." Syaoran said wiping the last of her tears away with his shirt.
"I'm sorry; I must be such a bother sometimes." Sakura shied with frustration at her own weaknesses.
"Don't be silly." Syaoran said while tilting her chin up so she was looking at him in the eye. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me and you are never a bother." Shoran said placing a genital kiss on her lips.
Sakura lifted her head and giggled a little. Her frustration was gone; after all there was no point in worrying about what she could not deal with tonight.
"What's so funny?" Shaoran asked bemused by her sudden change in mood.
"I got your shirt all wet. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Syaoran said taking off the shirt that was now damp with Sakura's tears.
"It's late so let's get back to sleep." Syaoran said while closing his eyes preparing for sleep.
"I don't think I can get back to sleep now." Sakura said looking at him.
She was wide awake and was going to need a way to relieve the rest of her stress if she was ever going to find sleep again tonight.
She smiled while running her finger along the length of Syaoran's arm. "Are you sure you want to go to bed? If you stay up with me we can play a little game instead." Sakura said in a seductive voice while leaning in closer.
"You know what; I think I'm wide awake now." Syaoran said with a sly grin before turning off the light.
Sakura awoke the next day to the usual morning noises. She and Syaoran lived in a three-story manner that had more rooms than they really needed. The size of the house did not stop the ear piercing screaming from disturbing her sleep every morning. Who needed an alarm clock when she had kids who inherited her sleeping habits?
The familiar voices of her family rang out through the house.
"Why didn't you wake us up Kero?"
"I tried three times you said you would get up in a minuet." The frustrated guardian beast replied.
"Oh yeah and you believed us."
Keroberous, guardian beast of the Sakura cards, just sighed as he watched two girls run about the house preparing for school with their brother already in the living room waiting to leave.
Kero could see a little of both his mistress and her husband in all three of their kids. The small winged beast just hovered while he watched the rerun of every morning played out by the children he had watched over from birth.
Sagwa, age twelve, the oldest, was a mirror image of her mother, with long golden-brown hair down to her waist and bright emerald green eyes. Sagwa was always trying to prove how responsible she was to her parents but her morning ritual was not helping her case. Shang, age eleven, the middle child had hazel green eyes and his father's messy chocolate hair. Shang normally had a pleasant disposition but he could match his father's infamous scowl perfectly when angry.
Shegwa, age ten, the youngest of the three had wavy chocolate colored hair that fell slightly passed her shoulders, and amber colored eyes like her fathers. Despite the fact that her appearance reflected more of her father, Shegwa displayed the same cheery disposition of her mother.
"Do you three have your lunches and books?" Syaoran asked his children after emerging from the kitchen.
Since he was always the first one up Syaoran was usually the one who made the kids their lunch and breakfast. In return, Sakura always made dinner.
Sakura came out of the master bedroom still dressed in her nightgown, her short golden-brown hair in tangles.
"Good morning cherry blossom."
"Morning" Sakura replied with a yawn, soon followed by a giggle when she noticed the frilly pink apron Syaoran was warring.
Shegwa had used his apron as a potholder and managed to successfully light it on fire days earlier. This forced Syaoran to use Sakura's apron until he found time to buy himself a new one.
An agitated Shang waited for his sisters impatiently by the door.
"Would you two hurry up? I don't know what's wrong with you guys, the alarm goes off, you get up, its' not a hard concept."
"Stuff it, Mr. Look at me I'm punctual." Sagwa bit back at her brother.
"We're leaving now see you later mama, papa, and Kero." Shegwa yelled back as she followed her older brother and sister out the door.
"Those three remind me so much of you two it is scary." Kero said before greeting his mistress.
"Good morning Kero, I'm glad your up I need to talk to you."
"Your not pregnant again are you?" Kero asked with a petrified look on his face. He could not deal with any more kids running around in this house.
"NO I'M NOT! Don't jump to conclusions!" Sakura yelled sending her guardian beast crashing to the floor.
Sakura explained her dream and concerns to Kero over breakfast. Kero could not come up with an explanation either so he suggested getting more opinions.
"Syaoran and you are going to have lunch with the Hiiragizawas and the Raes today right?"
"Yes, just like we do every Friday." Syaoran answered
"We can talk to Eriol about the dream, good idea Kero." Sakura said.
"In the mean time would you do me a favor?" Kero nodded; of course he would do anything for Sakura.
"Follow the kids to school today and keep an eye on them. I'm sure the dream means something. Until I figure out what, watch everything they do and everyone they talk to." Sakura ordered her guardian.
"You got it Sakura." Kero said with a salute.
"Make sure no one sees you. I don't know how the kids would explain a flying plush toy to their friends." Syaoran said earning a glare from the guardian beast.
Kero flew out the window to Tomoeda elementary, the school the Li children attended. The school had changed little since Sakura herself had attended it so Kero knew his way around well.
Sagwa was in grade six, Shang was in grade five, and Shegwa was in grade four.
Kero flew to the window of Sagwa's class and peered inside. He spotted Sagwa at the board figuring a math problem, like her father Sagwa had a gift for math along with all the other subjects. She was also captain of the sixth grade volleyball team. Once the problem was successfully completed she went to sit back down next to her best friend Ling Rae.
Ling was the son of the Raes and always looked out for Sagwa, treating her as a sister. Satisfied that Sagwa was safe Kero flew off to check on the other two children.
Kero found Shang in gym class. The class was playing one on one in basketball and it was Shang's turn so Kero found a safe perch to watch the game from.
"Go Li!" a bunch of the girls from his class were yelling from the sidelines.
"Your going down Li." said Shang's opponent, a tall student with blond hair and brown eyes who Kero knew to be as one of Shang's many rivals.
Well trained in the martial arts and gifted in both academics and athletics the prideful Shang had plenty of rivals and never turned down a chance to show one of his competitors up. The teacher blew the whistle signaling for the boys to start. Winning the jump toss Shang ran circles around his opponent like he was no more than an annoying obstacle. After making his shot he went to sit down with a triumphant smirk on his face as his friends congratulated him. While the class specifically the girls all cheered.
"Leave it to Li Shang to humble any opponent" Shang's best friend Kaido said.
Kaido the son of the Hiiragizawas was Shang's best friend and partner in crime; the two had a habit of getting into trouble together.
Seeing that Shang was safe Kero flew off to find Shegwa.
He found her in art class trying to draw a picture of the school fountain. Shegwa may have her father's eye and hair color but her personality reflected more of Sakura. Shegwa was part of the cheer squad and always had a bright smile on her face, gifted in the arts. She had a playful disposition and unlike her two older siblings, Shegwa preferred to play than take care of any kind of responsibilities. A sudden bright flash of light sent Kero on full alert. He relaxed when he saw it was only Mirei and her ever-present camera.
"Mirei you scared me!" Shegwa said turning to personal paparazzi.
"But you look so cute when you're concentrating on your art that I just had to take a picture."
Kero sweat dropped watching them. Mirei was the daughter of the Hiiragizawas and Shegwa's best friend. Mirei had an odd hobby of tacking pictures of her best friend Shegwa constantly.
"Kind of like watching Sakura and Tomoyo all over again isn't it?" A voice said from behind Kero causing him to jump up and turn.
"Souppy! What are you doing here?" Kero asked turning to the small black guardian beast.
"I could ask you the same thing." Spinel Sun answered "But to answer your question Kero, I was on my way to your place when I felt your presence and found you here. We have a video game tie to break, remember?"
"Actually I had forgotten." Kero said with a shrug. This response almost made Souppy Fall out of the tree.
"You forgot about our game! Now I know something is wrong." Souppy said finding a perch in the leaves with Kero.
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Kero asked trying not to look guilty.
"Why else would you be at the school, spying on the Li children."
"OK, pull up a leaf and I'll tell you all about it Souppy." Kero said lounging back against the leaves of the tree.
After explaining the situation to Souppy the two sun guardians followed the kids to the courtyard where they gathered for lunch everyday. Souppy agreed to help knowing any trouble that befell the Li family would inevitably cause Eriol to become involved.
"Shang, Kaido, over here!" Mirei called
"Hi Shegwa, Mirei, where are Sagwa and Ling?" Kaido asked
"We are right here. Sorry were late but Sagwa just couldn't leave without finishing the assignment."
"If I do it here I won't have to do it at home." Sagwa said.
Kero looked down at the group of kids sitting down having lunch.
Ling was the son of Meilin and her husband Yugi. Ling has his father's brown/blond hair and Meilin's ruby red eyes. Despite the fact that neither parent had any power Ling still inherited magic from the Li clan.
Mirei and Kaido were the son and daughter of Tomoyo and her husband Eriol. Both have black hair and amethyst eyes, and both inherited their father's powers.
Because their parents were such good friends the six children had practically grown up together and were totally inseparable.
"Isn't it nice that cousins can get along so well together?" Soupy said
"Cousins?" Kero asked.
"Well yeah Syaoran and Meilin are cousins and so are Sakura and Tomoyo. That makes them all related to each other." Souppy said
"Your trying to confuse me aren't you." Kero said looking at Souppy suspiciously.
Souppy rolled his eyes frustrated that his predecessor was so incompetent at times.
"I'm just trying to remind you that in one way or other both our masters are connected.
If the Lis are in danger than the people around them could be in danger too. If we're lucky Sakura's dream will turn out to be nothing." Souppy said
"Sakura is far too powerful for a dream that shook her up that badly to be nothing. So until she figures it out I will do everything I can to protect her and the people she loves." Kero announced a determined look on his small round face. Before Souppy could reply the pair suddenly found themselves scooped up inside a book bag.
"Help it's got me!" Kero yelled struggling.
When the bag opened Kero and Souppy came face to face with six pairs of familiar and accusing eyes.
"What are you two doing here?" Sagwa yelled tossing the stunned guardians on to the lawn.
They had snuck to a private place behind the school so no one would see them and wonder why they were scolding toys. Kero quickly tried to come up with a convincing lie
"We were just in the neighborhood and decided to drop by for lunch."
"That's right, lunch." Souppy quickly agreed in a not so convincing voice. The six grade schoolers looked at each other doubtfully.
"Well you shouldn't be here. What would you have done if somebody saw you?" Kaido scolded
"You were making a lot of noise up in that tree." Sagwa added
"Sorry we will be more careful from now on, I promise." Kero said using his paw to cross his heart.
"Just be glad we were the only ones who saw you." Sagwa said before they returned to their lunch with the two guardian beast joining them.
'That was close no need for the kids to worry too.' Kero thought to himself.
What Kero did not know was that someone else had seen them and was still watching them from a short distance away.
"So the card mistress sent Keroberous to protect her kids." A male voice said.
"Does that mean that the Lis have already sensed our presence?" a female asked
"Well the brats can be dealt with later. Right now all that maters is the Li clan's leader and matriarch, the little wolf and the cherry blossom Sakura and Syaoran Li."