Chapter III

"This Meeting will officially start."

Syaoran was in deep thought before they had said this. While waiting for the elders of the Li Clan to speak, he was thinking and fighting his inter battles, which he seemed to do a lot in the last few weeks, with everything that had happened. He left Sakura, which Daidouji had told him how she had been training non-stop (And refusing to being taped and dressed up), barely speaking to her, and locking herself in her room. He lived with the fear that Sakura probably would never speak to her again. Now this important meeting his mother insisted him to go to, with the Elders, and other important magic clans, to find out the destiny of the so called "Shinpan".

Finally, to drag him out of his thoughts, a weary looking elder, with gray hair that stood out his elegant burgundy robe spoke, making his voice ring all over the stylishly decorated circular room.

"Today, we have gathered here, to search and protect a diamond. The true name of this object is unknown, for the real name is so ancient, it has been forgotten. We have decided to rename it "Shinpan", which means "secret master" in Japanese, for history leads us to believe that it is there, it was greedily hidden."

'Here they go again.' Syaoran thought bored, as he taped his fingers on the wooden table. The aged man sitting next to him in the round table coughed, and sternly looked down on him. Syaoran immediately stopped and tired to focus on what the elder was saying.

"For all of those who do not know of the disaster that occurred centuries ago, the historian on my left, the much known Kong An Shi will explain it to everyone here present."

A distinctive middle aged man stood up. He was very scrawny, with a long thin beard, tiny black eyes, and a long rough nose. His clothes were old, however intact. It was a traditional Chinese suit, in a deep blue shade, with shinny black shoes of the same design. He took out a large, old looking book from a bag, and started reading in an indifferent voice:

"Tang Jing Shuo was once the greatest emperor of China. He ruled with intelligence, integrity, kindness, and wisdom, making him very popular among the nation, ruling for many years. Until one day, the country was invaded by evil spirits sent from the south. These demons destroyed villages, frightening the people and feeding on their pure souls. Tang decided to take matters in his own hands and called upon his trustful advisor, Clow Reed."

Syaoran's ears perked up at this. He never heard much about Clow, and he never heard about him working with royalty.

"Clow provided him with powerful magic, a few spells, and the diamond in question, that Clow found in a excavation in his early age. The cause of the excavation was of a mine accident in which, unknown to Clow, the workers had dug so deep in their avaricious hunger for treasure, they stole the diamond from Satan himself, who created the rock collapse that buried them alive."

Most of the present winced as Kong told that; but Syaoran was paying special attention to what he said. This could be important. His ancestor had something to do with this remarkable matter. He wanted to know what this person that created the Clow Cards had to do with this unknown force.

"Emperor Tang attached this diamond on a magical scepter that Clow gave him, giving him power beyond belief. Once the spirits were chased away, Clow asked him to give the diamond back, for he had no use for it now. But the Emperor refused, and used the diamond power to threaten Clow, so when Clow didn't give up, the emperor drove him away into a far land. Afterwards, Clow focused his energy creating cards with special and powerful magic, for no common magic would be able to destroy it. That is how the first Clow cards were created."

Syaoran was impressed; he never knew half of what this historian knew, even though he studied a great deal of the history of China and his ancestors throughout his life.

"But not even then he was defeated, so Clow made more and more cards, until he became very weak to do so. However, the emperor too, was drained, for the diamond had worn out his body, until finally he passed away under the influence of the diamond. With that, Clow took the diamond, along with casting a spell on it, for he knew, that he as well would fall under the power of the diamond. The spell regards that there will person meant to find it, who would rule with its supremacy, either for good or evil, for Clow predicted that both forces will compete to obtain its eternal power. Only he had the knowledge of the controller, and he predicated that around this time, the resting power would be awoken. And just like he predicted, he too died under the influence of the Shinpan."

Kong closed the book and sat again in his seat, while the people were muttering and whispering with worry. Syaoran wasn't that troubled, for he thought that Shinpan was nothing more than a exaggeration, because the historian had told it like Shinpan was really dangerous.

The Elder that had spoken before stood up, and started to talk in a loud, imposing voice making everyone in the room quiet again.

"Now that everyone is aware of the situation we are in, I must inform you that I have a sorcerer in the next room, trying to trace down Shinpan, because now, on the 500th year of the Dragon, it would be awoken." He ignored that everyone had stirred up again, and talked again "Once Shinpan is found, we will need a group of people to obtain it and find out who the real owner is."

The crowed started to discuss again, quarrelling who would be the indicated to go. However, as loud as they spoke, everyone still managed to hear a small voice say "I offer to go."

Everyone shushed and all heads turned at the source of the voice, who was no other than Syaoran, which had stood up and had a determined look on his face.

"That is very brave of you, Li Lang Xiao of the Li Clan, but you are still young, therefore you cannot go alone."

"Than I will accompany him" 

Syaoran looked at the person who spoke. It was a well built man, a lot older than him. He had his long silver hair in a braid, with a pale face that stood out his intense russet eyes. He wore a black, traditional Chinese suit with a gold trim, and carried a gold necklace around his neck.

"Splendid, Xu Bai Nuan, superior of the Xu clan." Said the elder, obviously delighted.

"I will go too."

The woman that spoke seemed a year or two older than him. She was tall, slim, with ruby knee-length hair tied in a ponytail, peach colored skin, and clear blue eyes. Despite that she didn't look Asian, she was wearing a traditional violet Chinese outfit, and had a long sword tied to her waist.

"Than you shall go as well, Liang Zhen Ning, of the Liang Clan." After a few seconds, the elder spoke again "If someone else offers to go, speak now"

No one said a word.

"Very well, than these are the people that will be in charge of the mission to recover the Shinpan and bring it to its rightful owner."

Everyone cheered and applauded at the brave warriors that would depart on the mission. Xu and Liang bowed down, obviously pleased with themselves, for if they brought it to it's owner, it would bring honor to their Clan.

Syaoran just rolled his eyes 'They didn't have to make such a big deal about it' he thought. 'They're just hoping that they will be the owners'. He snorted at that 'Like one of them is going to own Shinpan'.

Just then, a maid had come into the room and whispered something in the elder's ear. The elder stood up, and announced in a deep voice "Someone has activated the Shinpan"

There was a dead silence in the room. Everyone, even Syaoran was quiet. Seeing that all eyes were laid on him, he continued "It has been found in Japan, in a small town very close to Tokyo; in Tomoeda". He paused, and then added "It has been found by the card mistress" All the present gasped, because no one suspected that she would find it. Syaoran had a bewildered face as he thought in shock.

Sakura is destined to own Shinpan?