This Calls For A Meeting

Sakura panted as she and Tomoyo walked the many steps to Athena's temple. She was tired and sweaty, her clothes were beginning to stick to her like second skin, and her legs were burning from non-stop climbing. Glancing at her cousin, Sakura saw Tomoyo in the same state of fatigue, though she didn't show half as much as her. Shun however didn't look anywhere near as tired as Sakura felt. He kept going as if he was just strolling through the park. On his head amist the downy soft green hair was Kero. The Saint and the Guardian Beast seemed deeply engrossed about several things Shun hearded about sorcery, what was myth and what was fact.

So far the four had passed eight temples, the Houses of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio, with the Sagittarius Temple not too far ahead. It was strange, each time Sakura passed through these temples she felt a cold stabbing sensation shoot through her body and an unusual scense of dread and sarrow creeped into her heart as they walked to each temple of the zodiac. It felt like something inside her was dying and grew stronger with each temple they passed. Sakura couldn't help but wonder where all of these negative emotions were coming from.

It was almost ironic that it was Tomoyo who voiced her concerns, "Shun-kun, why were all the temples we passed so empty?" She looked at the looming House of Sagittarius. "They look like someone could live in them, but nobody was in them. I was expecting Athena-sama to have guards in them or something."

Shun stopped walking up the steps and grew quiet for a moment; his head hung, his shoulders slumped, and his eyes lowered to the ground sadly. He was practically radiating sorrow. When he spoke it was a low whisper. "There used to be people who lived in these temples. The Gold Saints of Athena. They were the twelve guardian Saints that protected this muntain. There were thirteen really, since the Gemini temple had twins."

"Where are they?" Sakura suddenly had a sinking feeling.

Shun bit his lower lip. "... They... they all.. died."

"... What happened to them?" Kero asked.

Shun looked up to the entrance to the ninth temple. He wondered if it was okay to tell them about what happened to the Gold Saints and the sad, shady story they left. He and his friends all helped kill five of them. What would they think... what would they say? It wasn't until he saw Sakura's intensely imploring look did he say anything. "... Just before the Holy Wars started, half died in in-Santuary battles when an imposter tried to take over by posing as the Holy Father, Pope Shion, after he murdered him... the other half died trying to save Athena when Hades tried to take over the world using something called the Greatest Eclipse." It was a short and vastly edited version of what happened, but it was the truth non the less. They didn't need to know all the details and he didn't want to go into them.

Sakura frowned deeply. She had a feeling there was more to the story than that, but she also know it was probably hard for Shun to say just what he had so she didn't push for more. Well, at least she had some inkling as to where these horrible feeling were coming from. Hopefully there were no lingering ghosts around.

"Well... shall we continue on?" Shun forced a smile and continued into the Sagittarius temple without looking to see if he was being followed.

Tomoyo and Sakura glanced at each other, their spirits lower than they were a few moments ago, and hurried after the chain master.

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Saori paced her throne room anxiously. She could scense Shun's cosmos growing nearer and nearer with each passing moment. That meant she'd get to meet with Kinomoto Sakura any minute now. She didn't know why she was nervous. Maybe it was the massive waves of unusual cosmos that was radiating off the sorceress? She didn't know. All she knew was that her brother, Ares, wanted her for something. She seriously doubted that something was to sit down with her to have tea and cakes while having a friendly chat about their day. No, whatever it was Saori was willing to bet her grandfather's company it wouldn't bode well for the world.

Ares was, according to Sanctuary's historic reports and her own personal knowledge on gods, known to be a very hostile, self-centered, and cunning god who never bothered with mortals unless they were at war with each other.

The few Silver and Bronze Saints that had ever been allowed to be close to Athena watched her try to wear a trench into the stone floor before she finally sat down. Shaina leaned heavily against the wall next to Marin and gave a small sigh. "Wanna tell me who this Sakura girl is?"

Marin stared at the door patiently. "I don't know much about her personally, but from what Shiryu told us, she's a young sorceress who unfurtunately caught the eye of Ares."

"A sorceress?" the green haired Amazon asked skepically, her raising eyebrow went unseen due to her mask.

Marin nodded. "I know what you're thinking because I'm thinking it too." She herself found that little tid-bit of information hard to believe. She'd only ever seen cosmos pull off what regular people would called the paranormal or a 'natural' phenomena most of her life. The only magic she ever witnessed were crappy illusions and slight of hand tricks. "But we have four Saints who can testify to what they saw her do. We can't say anything until she gets here."

"You can't seriously believe all that stuff?" Unicorn Jabu asked as he, Hydra Ichi, and Wolf Nachi walked over. "What they're saying about her doing some kind of hocus-pocus is all rubbish."

Nachi agreed. "If anything, I bet she manipulated her cosmos to make it look like magic."

"Or maybe she has phychic powers." Ichi added. "Some strong Saints have powers like that."

Shaina nodded. "They have a point."

"All good arguements," Marin shrugged. "But like I said, we won't know until she gets here and shows us."

"Well I for one hope she's the real deal." Cameleon June said, making her presence known. "I've never seen real magic before and I think it's kinda cool."

Jabu clicked his tongue and shoved his hands in his pockets irritably. "Well, I for one wish she'd hurry up. I got better things to do today than wait around for little Miss. Magic." He took a secret glance towards Saori.

"Like oggle Saori-san?" Ichi smirked. He caught that look the Unicorn gave their goddess just now.

"Shut it or I'll introduce you to my fist!" Jabu threatened, raising said fist, making Ichi flinch back.

June's hand curled around Jabu's. "Cut it out, chidren." she said in such a sweetly patient-like tone that promised great pain if they didn't stop. June then turned her head towards the entrance. "I can sense Shun's right outside the door."

It hadn't been a moment later after June said that the large double doors to the opened. Andromeda Shun stepped into the room followed by two young teenage women. Shun lead the two to where Athena sat on her throne-like chair and where Ikki, Shiryu, and Hyoga stood. All the Saint's that dotted around the room moved in for a closer look at the pair.

In the eyes of the Saints, they looked like your average modern girls-next-door. They could both easily be called attractive by most of the present male Saints, seeing as some of them found themselves blushing. The only three female Saints were more curious about the pair than anything else.

"Saori-san," Shun greeted. "Kinomoto Sakura to Daidouji Tomoyo o goshokai itashi-mass. Girls," He then looked to the pair staring at Saori. "Kochira wa Kido Saori-san dess, but she is also Athena."

The two cousins bowed respectfully. "Kon-nichi wa, Athena-sama!"

Saori smiled. "Kon-nichi wa, it's nice to finally meet you both. Please, call me Saori."

Everyone in the room looked at Shun when he suddenly yelped in pain, his hands flying up to the top of his head. Hovering just above Shun's head was a small yellow cat creature with wings holding a lock of long green hair as it gave another sharp tug. Hyoga, who stood not too far away, bristled at the rough treatmeant of his boyfriend's lovely hair.

"You didn't introduce me! What am I, invisable?!" it asked, annoyance clearly in its voice. "I do exist, don't I?"

"Gomen nasai! I sort of forgot you were there." Shun said as he took back his hair and rubbed at the abused spot on his head.

Sakura scowled. "Don't do that to him, Kero-chan!"

"We're talking to a goddess, Sakura! What do I have to do to get attention?" he asked indignantly.

Saori watched the brunette and flying cat glare at each other for a moment before clearing her throat, gainning both their attention. Both human and cat immediatly looked embarrassed. "Uh, it's okay, really." She looked up at the cat dubbed 'Kero-chan'. She thought he was cute. "Now then, what's your name?"

Kero puffed out his tiny chest. "I am Keroberos, Guardian Beast of the Seal, milady goddess." He bowed at the waist.

Kero's round ears perked when he heard someone say, "He looks more like a stuffed animal than a beast."

"Who said that?!" Kero roared as he scanned the small crowd of Saints. "Who called me a stuffed animal?!" There was only a few things in the world that really irked Kero, but out of all of them, the worst thing was being called a 'stuffed animal'. It made his blood boil over everytime some said that taboo phrase.

Sakura sighed in exasperation while Tomoyo gave a light laugh.

"I did," Kero shot a glare at a dusty haired boy in a purple short sleeved muscle shirt that had a black stripe across his chest and black pant. "Unicorn Jabu."

"Take it back!" Kero demanded.

Jabu scuffed. "Why? That's what you look like."

The only thing stopping Kero from storming over to the boy was Sakura's hands that were now wrapped around him. The cocky grin was beginning to make Kero see red. "Oi, gaki, I'm your senior by over two hundred years! How dare you talk to me like that!"

Jabu lifted an eyebrow at the statement. "Really, because you look more like some child's plaything, baka neko-chan."

Kero was steaming. "Disrespectful, snot-nosed little punk." he then started thrashing, trying to get out of Sakura's hold. "Lemme at 'em! I gonna teach the little mule how to show his elders some respect!"

"Kero-chan calm down or I'll put you on a diet!"

Kero suddenly froze and looked at Sakura in horror. Seeing the serious look in her eye made the little guardian sigh in defeat. "Fine, you win. Just keep that 'My Little Pony' reject away from me and I won't do anything."

Several Saints snorted at the jab while Jabu scowled, trying to resist the urge to use his Unicorn Gallop on the little creature.

"I think we should save all this childish bickering for another time." Saori said, immediatly gaining everyone's attention. "Sakura-san, I need to know why Ares is after you. Do you have any Idea at all?"

Sakura shook her hear. "No, I don't, Athena-sama. I didn't even know you or he was real until last night." Saori sat back in her chair, a frown marring her pretty face.

"It all just came out of nowhere." Tomoyo added. "We just got to Athens yesterday afternoon."

"Ares had to have planned this." Everyone turned to Shaina. "Think about it, there's no way this is coincidence. Athena's visions, Sakura's arrival, and then an attack on Sakura."

Marin crossed her arms. "I agree, but the question remains, what does he want with her."

"It could be the Sakura Cards he's after." Kero suggested as he flew out of Sakura's hands.

Saori raised and eyebrow. "What are the Sakura Cards?"

At the question, Sakura fished out of her purse a pink and gold book with her name writen across the top in bold gold letters. Opening it, Sakura revealed a deck of cards with a magic seal on them inside. "These are the Sakura Cards." Kero looked at the the cards. The deck flashed once before they lifted up out of their neat stack and encircled their master, hovering in mid-air. "These fifty-three magic cards each holds an immense amount of magic power in them. My creator, a man named Clow Reed, created them with the purpose of helping him, however, the powers in these cards are almost wildly free spirited and aren't easy to control. Seperated, some can cause thousands worth in property damage.

"Together however, especially the four elemental cards, they can cause world wide chaos; tornados, eartquakes, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, and any other natrual disaster you can think of. If they put their minds to it, they could cause a second Ice Age. They can be very distructive when unsealed and masterless."

The Saints stared at the flying cat in disbelief. There was no way such small things like cards could cause as much devistation as little guardian was implying.

Kero noted their unbelieving looks and crossed his arms. "Almost four years ago, one of the cards that went unsealed for months, The Nothing, now called The Hope, nearly wipped our hometown and everyone in it off the face of the planet in less than two hours. That particualar card has the power to completely erase everything and everyone from existance. No body, no soul, and no chance to have an after life. But now it also has the power to recreate, so long as its master has hope in them."

"How?" Shiryu asked. "How can such a power like that exist in the world without anyone noticing it?" he asked the one question that everyone was now thinking.

"Clow didn't want just anyone getting their grubby, unworthy hands on them unless they were chosen. He placed a seal on them, containing their powers until the seal was broken by the card's future master."

June then asked. "You said their master is chosen, who chooses their master."

"I do." Kero stated planely. "I select the candidates and train them. Then they are jugded by my brother, Yue, to see of they are fit to have the cards. If they pass the Final Jugdement, they keep the cards and we become their guardians. If they fail, they and everyone else who knows go back to a previous normal life without memories of the cards."

The room was silent as verious thoughts went through the minds of the Saints. After a moment, Saori spoke, "If what you say about these cards are true, then it would be their powers he would want."

Tomoyo nodded to that. "But, I'm not sure he would be able to take them." Everyone with the exception of Kero looked at her questioningly. "The cards are bound to Sakura-chan's life like Kero-chan's and Yue-san's. If the worst happens to her than the cards would disappear, ne, Kero-chan?"

Kero nodded.

"He might try mind control." Ikki suggested. "It's not all that hard. If Gemini Saga and I could do it, what's to stop him? Some gods have that ability. He'd have full control of her and she has full control over her cards."

The Phoenix's words left troubling thoughts in Sakura's mind. The possibilities of someone forcing their way into her mind to control her and her powers to hurt others scared her out of her wits.

Saori looked at Sakura and said, "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. I won't let Ares touch you." she assured. "...You're looking a bit worn out, Sakura-san. Maybe you should rest a bit." Saori stated, eyeing the girl's sagging shoulders. "We'll talk more later today after you've had a small nap. June," the goddess called to the Cameleon Saint. "Would you mind showing her to one of the guest bed chamers here in my temple?"

"Not at all, Lady Athena." She then took Sakura's shoulders and guided her towards the door. "This way, Miss. Sakura." She then looked over her shoulder. "C'mon, Miss. Tomoyo."

Tomoyo nodded and stepped forward but then noticed Kero wasn't following them. "Aren't you coming?" she asked.

Kero flashed her a grin. "Don't worry, I'll be right behind you soon. I'm going to talk to Lady Athena for a bit. I'll catch up." He then waved her off towards the door.

"Okay." Tomoyo then followed Juna and Sakura out the door.

When the door shut with an dull slam, Kero looked to all the Saints and their goddess. His bodied then glowed and the Seal of Sakura appeared on the ground under him. Most of the Saints and Saori tensed, the only ones who had an idea of what the flying fuzzball was doing was Shun, Shiryu, Hyoga, and Ikki. Kero's wings grew wide and large as they folded around him for a moment. When they opened again Keroberos stood proudly in his magestic true form before the mistical warriors and the lady goddess. Slitted eyes the color of molten gold took in their expected reactions that wasn't anything new to him; all were shocked, some awed, and most were impressed.

Wolf Nachi approuched some what cautiously. "What happened to you?"

Keroberos turned his head to look at the young Saint. "This is my true form." he explained in his deep bariton voice before pointly looking at Jabu. "It's a vast far cry from my stuffed animal form, wouldn't you agree?" he asked grining, showing off two rows of sharp, inch long white fangs.

Shaina coughed, thankful that her mask hid her slack jawed expression earlier. "So why'd you transformed now?"

"I saw that most of you, like some other people I know, do not take me seriously enough while in my false body. This form tends to drive the point of my words home with greater ease." the lion stated rather bluntly. "Now then, I'd like to speak with you surrounding the matter of Sakura's protection." He started in a business-like tone with demanded attention from everyone in the room.

Saori nodded, sitting up a bit straiter in her chair. "Yes, I wanted to address this topic with one of you."

Keroberos sat down on his hunches, his long tail encircling his paws, his wings glowing gold before fading from existance, making him appear more like a regular maneless lion. "I understand you want to grant her some kind of protection against Ares should he decide to try to hurt or kidnap her."

"Yes, outside Sanctuary walls, Ares has a better chance a stealing her away." Saori stated. "Given how crowded the city gets this time of year, nobody would notice her absence until it was too late."

"Then the best way to prevent that is to keep her in Sanctuary." Shaina interjected.

Marin shook her head. "But there's another problem. Sakura and Tomoyo didn't come to Athens alone, they're here with friends and classmates, if I'm not mistake. That would complicate a few things if they began to wonder where she and Tomoyo keep disappearing to."

"Then might I suggest having a few Saints trail us?" Kero asked.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. We'd be in near constent contact with them and if something like last night happens again, we'd be there to help." Hyoga said.

Saori thought for a moment, then agreed, "Yes, that is a good course of action."

Keroberos nodded. "There is also one other thing I wish to discuss. Last night two of Sakura's friends were brain washed into attacking her because of those ... cloths... they wore. May I ask what happened to those metal monstrosities?"

"Not long after the cloths were brought in, they simply died." Saori informed. The look on the lion's face gave the impression he would be raising an eyebrow at her if he had any. "When a cloth loses its power, it essentially dies and becomes nothing more than a suit of pretty armor."

Kero gave an irratated and frustated sigh, blowing out a tiny puff of dark smoke. "I had wanted to examine those cloths. I wanted to find out how they turned two normal kids into bloodthirsty warmonggers."

The room once again grew quiet. Kero theb stood up on all fours. "Athena-sama, I have a request to make."

"What is it?" Saori asked curiously.

"I need to get in contact with several people and inform them of the situation at hand."

Athena blinked. "Who, might I ask, are these people?" she wasn't all too sure if she could except that kind of request. Opening Sanctuary's doors to strangers.

"The first is Hiragizawa Eriol and his guardians from England. Eriol is a young but powerful sorcerer who, in his own eccentric way, helps and trains Sakura." Saori nodded to that. "The second is another sorcerer from Hong Kong named Li Syaoran. He is head of the Li Can and his knowledge in the magical arts is second to Eirol's... and he is also Sakura's boyfriend." he said the last part grudgingly.

"The Li Clan?" Andromeda Shun asked as if something suddenly dawned on him, then turned to Saori. "The Graude Foundation has had dealings with that clan's business in the stock exchange, Li Enterprises."

That surprised Saori greatly along with several other Saints in the room who knew something of both businesses.

"I even met Li Syaoran not too long ago." Shun laughed to himself. "I never would have thought he was a sorcerer. He came across as the serious down-to-earth type who would sooner sell his company than believe in magic."

Kero shrugged. "Maybe, but the Kid's Clan on his mother's side all have magic in their blood. They are also the descendents of my creator. Now," he got serious again. "The last person I'd like to callis a young man named Tsukishiro Yukito."

"And who is he?" Saori asked.

"He is the mortal vessel for Yue, my brother and Sakura's Moon Guardian."

Athena nodded in acceptance of each of these names. They each carried a connection to Sakura and they were each weilded magic that may prove useful. "I will see what we can do to contact them and bring them here."

A court nod was all Athena recieved in gratitued. "Well then, we should countinue our meeting another time, peraphaps? For now we have much to think on and do, and I wish to find Sakura. If you'll excues me?"

"You are excuesed, Keroberos."

Kero bowed his massive head to Athena and her Saints before turning and walking towards the door, which glowed golden and opened with a creak. Kero disappeared around the corner as the door closed behind him.

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YATTA! Chapter ten: COMPLETED! Wow, another long chap! Heh, my chapters will start to get longer since the scenes will be extended. If you're still waiting on the plot twist, don't worry, it's coming soon. Also, many of you a are most likely wondering 'where is Seiya', right? Well, he's still in a coma, but you'll see him sooner or later. It depends on how I can get to him. I,m wait'en on some reviews here, so send 'em. Peace out!

Japanese 101

... To ... O Goshokai Itashi-mass: May I introduce ... and ...

Kochira Wa... Dess: This is ...

Kon-nichi Wa: Good afternoon