Chapter 10: Shadows of the Past

Clow's expression did not change, nor did he say anything. He nodded to the book and silently made his way to the door.

Kerberos started to voice his opinion when Clow put a finger to his lips. He mouthed one word. Read.

Without another gesture or word, he left the room.

Kerberos and Yue looked at his retreating back, and then the book with the words.

The present:

"So… did you read it?" Sakura prompted.

Kero nodded grimly. "Yeah… we both did… and we almost wished we hadn't."

Kero looked around. Both Spinel and Sakura were focused intently on his story. He continued.

"It was shortly 3 years after he had created his first set of cards. Clow frequently traveled in those days, to learn more of the ways of the world and to study the various balances of nature. It was along the way that he discovered fragmented news in the magic community… that clan Zeneiya had reappeared.

"Disheartened by the news, he sought to seek them out. He had heard the rumors, yet thought them to be greatly exaggerated. He also hoped that he could reach through to them… to help them learn from past error. He basically wanted to help.

"Shortly there after, he discovered their encampment. They were located within a mountainous region whose exact location is still known only to those who were present. Even knowing their reputation, and approaching carefully, he wasn't aware that he had been tracked by them.

"It was deeply set into twilight when he became aware of their presence… a time much too late. Without word or subtle gesture, they overwhelmed him by numbers, in which he let himself be captured. He after all, had set out to meet with them only… so why would he think things amiss?

"Unfortunately, they already knew his identity. As light dawned on the subject, Clow discovered that he was their original target, and his cards the means to their return. Aghast, he attempted to reason with them… however…

"…When a diplomatic proceeding didn't work, all hell broke loose. He managed to escape his bonds, but could not escape their encampment short of aid. Lacking the support of Yue and me, it was impossible to drive them back without retaliating. Out of pure necessity, he was forced to use his magical powers in ways he had never intended…"

Kero lowered his eyes to the floor. He continued with a note of sadness.

"When the light returned the next day, he was horrified. The entirety of clan Zeneiya… at least fifty-five people, lay dead around him. It is impossible to imagine how horribly it pained him. He had always upheld the sanctity of life… and now fate had forced him to take it from others. It also had left him with a reminder…

"Sometime during the conflict, he received a wound that could only have been wrought by a cruel magic. A terrible affliction that left him numb with pain… but as he gazed into the lightless eyes around him, he could not summon the strength to heal himself."

Kero paused at this point. When he continued, his voice began to waver.

"It's… because of this wound that Clow Reed… would die early."

Sakura placed her hand over her mouth.

"That's horrible…" She whispered through her fingers. "I never would have imagined that such a thing could have happened… he was so nice when I met him."

Kero nodded.

"He was always nice… quiet… and he kept to himself. He enjoyed life… We never could have imagined how tormented he really was."

Kero took a breath before sighing heavily.

"In Clow's notes, Yue and I found a passage that described his inner thoughts and feelings. It read like this:

'I can not frown, or I'll grimace. I can not speak loud, or I'll cry out. If I let slip my sufferings…I'll lose those I care for most. My house has become my prison, yet watch as I make it paradise… for all those I hold dear, I'll only give to them what they are used to. Such is my penance for my sins…'

"And such is the way of things."

He looked up. A determined and resolute atmosphere hung over him.

"That is why I think Eriol chose to give himself up. Because he's plagued with Clow's memories, he still believes he has a debt to fulfill… or something like that. Either way, he didn't want to send Sakura against people like the Zeneiya… if that's who these hunters truly are."

"Which is probably why he decided to send me here as a warning should he have failed." Spinel added. "He didn't want such monsters to attack Sakura unaware…"

Sakura had been listening closely to both Kero and Spinel, when something didn't fit in. She had to ask.

"Spinel… if Eriol didn't send you… he couldn't have since the broken staff is with you… and you were magically sealed in the crate… something you were unable to do from the inside… then that means…"

She thought about it for a moment before her thoughts converged on the only explanation.

"Then that means Miss Akizuki is alright as well?"

Spinel nodded.

Sakura sighed in relief.

"So she's safe as well…" Her head snapped up. "Or is she? She couldn't come as fast as you, yes… but shouldn't she be here by now?" Sakura finished with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Don't tell me there's more to this…"

Spinel sighed.

"It is true that Ruby wanted to be delayed… for purposes of not leading a trail directly here, but in truth, she couldn't come quickly if she wanted to."

Sakura frowned.

"Why's that?"

Spinel spoke his next words dryly.

"That's because the suns make their own light…" He motioned towards Kero and himself. "…and the moons reflect a light supplied from another source." He sighed heavily. "In short, with Eriol… dead, she's completely powerless!"

Sakura gasped.

"Powerless?" She thought of Yukito before the cards surfaced. "But Yue had powers… he had lots of powers when he challenged me the first time!"

"And that was a long time after Clow's death." She swallowed. "So how could she have none?"

Spinel opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Kero.

"That's right! If Yue had all those powers for those many years, how could she simply have none?"

Spinel retaliated in his drab voice. "Yet if what you read was indeed true, then Clow would have had many years to prepare for those times. Eriol didn't have any time at all… not to mention that there was a tremendous amount of energy sealed within the cards and their book… in which the both of you resided until Sakura's time."

Kero's face looked blank. "Oh yeah…" He started scratching his head in an embarrassed manner with a hint of red splashed on his cheeks. "I… I guess I overlooked that part… hehe…"

"In any regards…" Continued Spinel. "We can expect her to arrive later on. Since she has no powers to speak of… except enough of a reserve to keep her from fading out of existence… she won't give herself anyway frivolously."

Spinel flew into the air to hover at eye level with Sakura.

"Now, with what we know we need to ready ourselves. I suggest you contact anyone who might be able to provide assistance. We'll need all the help we can get."

Sakura nodded.

"I'm on it."

She grabbed Kero and started to dash from the room.

"Sorry Kero… but I'll need your help with the details…" She looked back to Spinel over her shoulder. "Spinel! Recover however you can. The refrigerator should have something that you can eat without getting hyper…"

Sakura allowed herself a bit of a grin at the image of the sugar-high 'Suppie'. However, her face fell quickly into one reinforced with resolve. She couldn't afford emotion at the moment… something she only knew too well.

With that in mind, she asked herself, Now who do I call first?

1 hour later:

Sakura held the phone tight to her ear as she scribbled notes with her free hand. She kept nodding her head as though she were listening to a song.

With one more nod she scratched off the last note and put the pencil down on her desk.

"Ok… ok, thanks Touya… make sure he knows everything. Don't spare any details… right? Good… good. Gotcha, right then. Thanks… I'll let you know when I hear from the others. Bye."

She hung up the phone and pushed her chair out. When she stood, she pulled her hair back into a restraining ponytail. She then crossed the room to the VTRM (Video Telephone Recording Monitor) on the wall.

She punched a few buttons and waited.

A small digital text message flashed on the display. 'Signal error. Cannot locate trace.'

Sakura pressed another button and placed the machine in re-send mode. She then let out a sigh and collapsed backwards on her bed. She sprawled out and closed her eyes.

If only such a thing really provided all the safety and comfort it projects… then my life might just be savable…

She yawned and giggled at the thought. She wondered how she could possibly be silly at a time like this. No matter how things could be, it didn't change the hard truth… Eriol was dead. Worse still… his killers were not only searching her out as well, they were hunting her.

She stretched again.

It was nice to be out of that dress… even if it was a dress worthy of its memories. She smiled. But on the comfort level…? She much preferred the gray sweat pants… the silky white long sleeve shirt… the baggy black wool hooded sweatshirt… and the big fluffy white slippers. All in all… an outfit high on the comfort chart.

She smiled again. Tomoyo would have loved the chance to take a videotape now…

Sakura sighed again, and her smile faded. What was worse than the threat was that of the unknown. An unknown in her future…

She closed her eyes and yawned again. It was so terrible… Even though she slept some last night, she was still tired. And the extended sessions on the phone didn't exactly help matters. She wallowed in the darkness she had created. It was gentle and peaceful… she could fall asleep right now. It's just too bad that doing so would be counter produc…tive? She closed her eyes tighter.

Maybe I can-

"Sakura!"

She opened her eyes.

Kero flew into the room and hovered above her bed.

"What are you doing in bed?" He looked anxious. "Now's not the time for a nap!"

Sakura started to respond. "Actually, I think-"

Kero grabbed her hand and started to lead her out of the room.

"You can tell us in the other room. Let's go!"

Sakura yawned. She wasn't sure why he was so intent on dragging her to the living room, but she thought that her idea had a lot of merit. She shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

"Kero… about my idea-"

Kero waved her off and said impatiently. "Yeah, yeah."

"Look what we're doing!"

Sakura looked at the mess of wires and towers that used to be her and Tomoyo's desktop computers. She looked confused.

"What? I don't see-"

Kero snapped his paw impatiently and pointed at the screen.

"We're accessing Eriol's computer systems that he set up at his house in England! Spinel and he already did an involved research on the various artifacts that were stolen and what possible powers they could have." He looked smug. "All we need to do is download the data and we're already a step ahead."

Sakura nodded meekly. She wasn't sure if she really understood…

"Wait…" She suddenly seemed to realize something. "What if they trace this download? Then they'll know exactly where to look…"

Spinel was the first to speak this time.

"I wouldn't worry about that. Our computers were deep enough beneath the house that they wouldn't have found it unless they completely demolished the place… but since they simply left, we shouldn't need to worry."

He seemed so sure… It still worried her.

"But…"

Something just didn't feel right.

Beep- -Beep-

"Ah! Look look!" Kero looked happy. "The download's started!"

Sakura watched as the progress bar climbed.

She hoped that this would work.

A/N: Thanks to my growing number of fans for pushing this release up a few days.

Just remember, you are the ones driving this operation. (That should make some of you proud.)