Chapter 7
Keroberos, Yue, Syaoran and Tomoyo began looking for Sakura right away. Syaoran was wearing his ceremonial robes and Tomoyo had her video camera at the ready. Both were riding on Keroberos who thought he could sense where Sakura was. "Keroberos," said Yue in a serious tone. How exactly did this happen? Both you and Sakura should have been able to sense the oncoming danger." A look of despair crossed Syaoran's face. "It's my fault." he said. "Yea, that's kindda the impression I got too." Keroberos teased. When Syaoran did not fight back, Keroberos decided that this was probably not the time. "Hey don't worry about it kid. I'm sure what ever you did wasn't intentional."
In an isolated part of the forest, the mad placed Sakura next to a tree, her hands and feet tied. The man got out a magic staff and used the end to draw a circle around Sakura, as well as four lined that went from the border of the circle, straight towards her. Sakura struggled to get free, but to no effect. Thoughts of her friends began to race through her mind. Kero, and the cards. Yukito, and Yue. Toya, and Tomoyo. A fire emanated from the man's staff and a circle of flames surrounded Sakura, proceeding towards her along the lines. "Syaoran." she muttered. She passed out.
As the flames proceeded towards Sakura, the others flew in over head. "There she is!" said Tomoyo. Syaoran wasted no time. He jumped into the flames, grabbed Sakura, and brought her back to the others. The man turned to run, but Keroberos stopped him. "Where do you think you're going?" Keroberos said. "Keroberos," said Syaoran as he readied his sword. "Allow me." There was a fire in his eyes that burned brighter than the flames he had rescued Sakura from. "Ha! You think you can beat me?" the man laughed. "Fat chance kid." Syaoran raced towards the man and swung his sword. The man blocked it with his staff. "What's wrong kid?" the man teased. "You mad 'cuz I took your little girlfriend?" Syaoran swung his sword again, this time breaking the man's staff in two. The man was worried now. "Sakura!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "She's alright, thank goodness." "P-please, d-don't hurt me." the man pleaded. Syaoran lowered his sword and said "Don't EVER come near Sakura again." The man got up and ran. "This isn't over kid." the man declared as he left. "Not by a long shot."
Syaoran walked over to Sakura and the others. "How is she?" he asked. "She's fine." replied Tomoyo. "She's just resting now." Syaoran bent down to Sakura. "Sakura," he said, now holding her in his arms. "I-I don't know if you can hear me now, but. Sakura I am so sorry. I didn't mean it, any of it. But because of me. Sakura." "S-Syaoran." Sakura had woken up. "I'm sorry too."
The man who had kidnapped Sakura ran into a dark room. Then an older man in black robes walked in. "Honzo, has the Cardcaptor been taken care of?" he asked. Honzo bent down on one knee and answered, "No master Atashi. I was about to, but this kid got in my way and broke my…" "So you're saying you were defeated by a couple of children?!" Atashi interrupted. "I don't think I need to remind you what's at stake here. That girl is the only one who can stop my plans. Next time, you are not to return until Clow Reed's Cardcaptor is eliminated. Her, and anyone else who gets in our way. Children or not." Honzo got up and said, "Yes Master Atashi. I won't fail you again.
The next day, Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Kero, and Yue went back to the place that Honzo had taken Sakura the night before. "I feel a strong presence this circle." said Kero. "This pattern. Who ever this was knew what he was doing. If the kid hadn't saved Sakura when he did, not only would she have disappeared, but so would anything connected to her magic. That includes me, Yue, and the cards." "All the more reason to protect her." said a voice from behind. "Toya, what are you doing here?" asked Sakura. "I was about to ask you the same question." said Toya, looking at Yue. "We came here to try to find clues as to the identity of who ever whoever is after Sakura." Yue told him. That's right, thought Sakura, Toya knew all along about Kero, Yue and the cards. He even gave his magic to Yue, because mine wasn't strong enough to keep him from disappearing.
Behind the bushes, Honzo watched the group closely. "If Master Atashi wants these kids gone that's just fine with me." he said, starring at Syaoran. "I'm gonna enjoy watching that kid suffer. And once he's out of the way, the Cardcaptor will be easy." Syaoran walked up to the tree in the center of the circle, Sakura following close behind. "The magic seems strongest here at this tree." He pointed out. Kero told them it was because that was where the spell would have finished. Then, Tomoyo pointed out that it was time for lunch and that they should go get something to eat. Yue transformed back into Yukito and they all got ready to leave. Sakura left the circle and joined the others, but when Syaoran tried to follow her, something stopped him. "Syaoran, what's wrong? Sakura asked. Syaoran began to pound on the invisible wall which blocked his way. Then, Yukito noticed that the tree behind Syaoran had been somehow set on fire once more. As one would expect from burning ash, a thick, black smoke emanated from the fire, making it difficult for Syaoran to breathe. Syaoran tried to get out his sword, but for some reason his magic was not working. This did, however, give Sakura an idea. Sakura got out her star key and a SAKURA CARD and began to recite the RELEASE spell. "Key which hides the power of the stars, show your true form before me. I, Sakura, command you under our contract. RELEASE! SWORD!" Using THE SWORD card, Sakura was able to cut through the invisible wall. Then, Sakura used THE WATERY card to put out the fire. The danger gone, Sakura turned her attention to Syaoran. "Syaoran, are you alright?" she asked. Although he told her he was, Sakura knew he was lying when he collapsed into her arms. "Syaoran!" Sakura said as she caught him. "You're not alright right. You have to take it easy." "Hey kid, don't push yourself and set a bad example for my sister." Said Toya in a somewhat mean voice. "Toya be nice!" Sakura scolded. "Come on," said Yukito, "let's get you home."
Sakura helped Syaoran home while the rest followed them a few steps back. Tomoyo was having a ball filming the two of them. "Why are you filming?" Toya asked her "I can't miss 'Sakura Play's Nurse'." she answered. Toya looked confused. "It really is hard to find Sakura anything but adorable." said Yukito. Toya went back to staring at Sakura and Syaoran. "Shut up Yuki." Toya growled.
They turned the corner and same up to Syaoran's house. "I can walk on my own." Syaoran told Sakura. "I know." Sakura replied. Sakura helped Syaoran into his house and straight into his room. Tomoyo ran to Syaoran's bedroom window to continue filming, the others following her. Syaoran sat down on his bed. "Can I get you anything?" Sakura asked him. Syaoran shook his head. "Syaoran," Sakura continued. "As much as I hate to admit it, Toya's right. Don't push your self too hard. I don't know who is behind all this, but I do know that I can't do this with out you." Just then, something caught Sakura, Syaoran, Kero, and Yukito's attention. It was the same presence they had felt around the tree. Kero tried going through the open window, but another invisible wall prevented it. Syaoran told Sakura to get THE SWORD card ready while he went to get Wei. Sakura got out the star key and said her spell as Syaoran left the room, but when she finished the spell, the key would nut turn into a wand.
