Disclaimer: I love CCS... but I don't own it. :( Oh, and I don't own Phantom of the Opera either.

Key:

- Dream State - , Flashback , ' thoughts ', " Dialogue "

---- A change in writing style/time/place/whatever (will notate in () which one if necessary)

Rating: T - for language

Summary: A new enemy is trying to break Sakura's spirit in order to weaken her enough to steal her cards from her. Everyone around her seems to be turning cruel... and the only solace she can find is in the arms of a man who doesn't want her.

Pairings: Syaoran/Sakura, Sakura/Eriol

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(Chapter 2: New... enemies?)

"Hey everyone... come and look here!" Tomoyo called over to Sakura and the others the next day at school. She was standing in front of the bulletin board just outside of the lunchroom and was pointing at a large black poster with the familiar picture of a white mask and red rose beneath it.

"It says here on this poster that the drama club is presenting Phantom of the Opera this year. Why don't we try out?" She bubbled enthusiastically as Sakura and the two boys perused the poster.

"I dunno Tomoyo... I'm not much of an actor." Syaoran muttered.

"Sure you are Syaoran! Don't you remember the wonderful job you did as the princess in Sleeping Beauty? Or the prince in that play that Naoko wrote?" Tomoyo prodded, her eyes shining like stars as she stared at him.

"Uh... well, I guess I could try out." He said compromisingly, never being one to say no to that, sometimes evil, smile of hers, which she beamed at him graciously at his acceptance.

"Sakura?"

"Yeah sure, why not?" She agreed, after all she just loved being on the stage.

"Eriol?"

"Wait a minute... why are you asking me?" Eriol asked in surprise, never before having been included in their activities before.

Tomoyo turned her sparkling eyes upon him. "Oh but Eriol, I'm so sure you would be absolutely perfect as the Phantom! You're already so dashing and mysterious. But if you don't want to try..." She started to tear up.

"No! No... the part of the phantom does sound too perfect for me. Of course I'll try out." He assured her, returning the smile to her face.

"Excellent." She beamed happily and lead the foursome to a table in the lunch area to sit. Syaoran sighed quietly at his weakness while Sakura babbled happily with Tomoyo and Eriol about what she would use for an audition piece. Eriol, for his part, was feeling very honored that he was being included in any of it.

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It was later in the afternoon, when school had finished for the day, that Sakura glanced around her warily. Feeling for the first time in years that something... just wasn't quite right.

"Syaoran... do you feel something... strange?" She asked quietly so that Tomoyo and Eriol couldn't hear her.

Syaoran looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded. "Yeah..." He replied, focusing his aura to try to figure out where the feeling was coming from.

Eriol's eyes diverted from Tomoyo for a moment and he paused in mid-step, almost causing her to bump into him.

"Eriol... is everything alright?" Tomoyo asked him curiously.

"I think, Tomoyo, that perhaps we should retire to my mansion temporarily. It would be safer for you there." He replied softly, taking her hand and pulling her gently, yet urgently, away.

Meanwhile Syaoran and Sakura didn't seem to even notice their absence intent on trying to find their new enemy.

Suddenly the forest to the right of them burst into flames, and the two of them turned toward it without a seconds pause.

Sakura removed the key from around her neck, calling forth her star staff from it's tiny form.

"Watery!" Sakura called, pulling out her card.

"Water come to my aid!" Syaoran said only a second after her, pulling out an ofuda and striking his sword against it, causing the power of water to come gushing out.

Their power combined quelled the flames before they got too far into the forest and a woman with bright red hair appeared nearby looking rather annoyed.

"So card mistress... we finally meet! Look upon the person who will become your ultimate demise!" She laughed insanely, gathering unconvinced raised eyebrows from both teenagers.

"So you don't believe me? Then die!" She cried out angrily, sending out columns of flame at them. Within seconds the fight was over, the redhead sitting on the concrete soaking wet.

"You haven't seen the last of me!" She wailed, disappearing in a blaze of fire.

Sakura and Syaoran exchanged amused glances.

"I wonder what that was all about..." Sakura laughed.

"Yeah." Syaoran agreed, unable to stop himself from grinning as well. That battle had gone extremely well. Perhaps too well.

"We shouldn't let down our guard though, just in case it turns out she's more powerfull than she looks." Syaoran admonished.

"Indeed." Eriol said, reappearing behind them with Tomoyo in tow who seemed to be still trying to figure out how they'd gotten to his mansion and back so fast.

"Well, see you guys tomorrow at the auditions!" Tomoyo said, turning to head to her house.

Eriol smiled after her then turned to the other two. "I must be going as well. See you tomorrow." He said then turned back in the direction he'd come from.

Sakura and Syaoran waved to the two of them then walked the rest of the way home.

After a while however, it seemed that as far as they walked, they weren't getting anywhere.

Sakura blinked as she recognized passing the same street they'd already been through.

"We seem to be walking in circles." Syaoran voiced, looking only vaguely annoyed.

"Yeah... I wonder if the woman is doing this." She agreed, drawing out her staff again.

"Can you get out of my maze alive?" Asked a disembodied... but clearly male voice.

"Guess not." Syaoran replied to Sakura, looking around as the familiar street vanished replaced by the walls of a labyrinth.

Once again with the help of a combination of both of their magic they easily found their way back to Tomoeda.

"Curse you card mistress." Muttered the voice before vanishing entirely.

Sakura sweat dropped, "Oh well, I did say I was getting bored..."

Syaoran grinned, "You should be more careful of what you wish for..."

----

rozu