Hello dear readers! I'm sure after the last chapter, you're dying to find out what happens next! How does everyone feel about Sakura's feather being taken in by accident into the heart of the young cardcaptor? We'll find out in this chapter as they desperately seek a way to reverse it!
DISCLAIMER: I am just a fan writing about Tsubasa and Cardcaptors.
CHAPTER NINE
Everyone gathered back at the Avalon household. Li gently set Sakura down on the couch to rest.
"This doesn't make any sense," said Kurogane. "The feathers belong to the princess. How come it ended up in this one?"
"On the contrary," began Fai. "They both may be from different worlds, but one fact remains the same. She is Sakura. They share the same soul. The feather, being a piece of her heart, recognized Sakura's soul."
"So now what? Is that feather stuck in the other one forever?"
Li held his hand above Sakura's chest and closed his eyes in concentration. "I can sense a foreign power in her. It probably is the feather."
"See? Mokona was right!" it said.
"Unfortunately my magic isn't strong enough to take it out of her."
"There has to be some way!" shouted Syaoran. "Sakura needs that feather...I'm going to give it back to her...whatever it takes!"
"You heard him, kid." Kurogane said. "Even he can't remove it. So how do you intend to get it back?"
"I will get it back...I'll do whatever it takes..."
It was around 9:30PM that night. Cardcaptor Sakura finally opened her eyes to find Li faithfully by her side.
"Nnnn...Li?" she said in a tired voice.
"It's good to see your awake," he smiled with closed eyes. "How do you feel?"
She gasped and shot up. "No! No, no, no!" she felt pain inside her chest, and put her hand there, gripping it in pain. Tears were falling from her eyes. "No...just stop it...it's not mine! Stop..."
Li quickly put his hands on her shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "Sakura, calm down!"
She started panting, catching her breath. "It...it's not mine. It doesn't belong to me." she then looked up at him. "Li, her feather...it..."
"I already know..." he told her. "You've taken Sakura's feather inside you. And I...don't have enough power to remove it..."
She gasped with wide eyes and then she started crying. Li brought her close, so she cried on his shoulder. "I wanted to return it to her...but I've taken what doesn't belong to me...and now I can't give it back."
It was now 10:30PM, everyone was in the kitchen. They decided they should try contacting Yuuko again. So Mokona shot a beam of light from it's jewel, an image appeared.
"Ahhh...so I finally get to meet you," Yuuko said. "Li Showron and Sakura Avalon."
They both were a little shocked she knew who they were.
"There's something important we need done," said Li.
"I wish it never happened," Cardcaptor Sakura looked down with a sad expression.
"I see. One of you has a wish." she then looked over at Syaoran. "Apparently the feather has been aquired by the wrong Sakura, and you want me to remove it from her."
Syaoran nodded. "Yes."
"That is the wish you want granted?"
He then looked down and gripped the princess' hand tightly. "Please...give Sakura back her feather..."
"I'm sorry, but I cannot grant you that wish."
They all looked at her and gasped. Kurogane muttered to himself, "What's this witch trying to pull..."
"There's nothing you have that you could pay with," Yuuko told him. "And even if you did...I still wouldn't be able to grant that wish. I cannot remove the princess' feather from this Sakura, because even though the memory doesn't belong to her, it still recognized Sakura's soul. Therefore, when it went inside of her, it already dissolved as apart of her. Attempting to remove it would be extremely harmful..."
"There has to be some way!" Syaoran said passionately. "I'll do anything!"
"Be careful when you say those words, Syaoran." Yuuko warned. "To say that one would do 'anything' literally means 'anything' and that can lead down a dangerous path. A path upon which can lead to losing all control, you may even yourself being the one to hurt the one you're trying to save."
"Still, she needs her feather back, she's growing weaker and..." suddenly he felt pain in his right eye again and he covered it with his hand. Everyone stared at him with surprised faces.
"Oh! What's wrong with Syaoran?" Mokona said, worried.
"He'll be alright, Mokona." Yuuko assured.
"Please...you must...return..."
"Syaoran..." the princess put her hands on his shoulder.
"Come on, let's go." said Li.
The light from Mokona's jewel shut off, Yuuko's image disappearing. Everyone left the room.
"Hold on just a little longer, Syaoran..." Fai said quietly to himself. Kurogane noticed and narrowed his eyes.
Both Syaoran and the princess were alone in the living room, sitting on the couch.
"I'm sorry, Princess..." Syaoran said sadly. "I just wish there was a way I could give it back to you."
"Please don't overwork yourself, Syaoran." said the princess.
"There still has to be a way..." he put his hand over his eye again.
"Ah! Syaoran, you're eye!"
"I'm fine, Princess. Just ignore me."
"Please Syaoran..." she put both her hands on his to slowly pull it down from his eye. "If something's wrong, let me help you..."
Suddenly, Syaoran shoved her hand away with great force, and she pulled back in startlement. "Would you stop worrying about me? The only thing important is getting your feather back!"
Sakura pulled away some more, her eyes shaking in fear. He's never reacted to her like that before. A bit scared and hurt at the same time, she quickly ran out of the room.
"Sakura?" he had his hand out, but she already dashed out. It was then he had realized what he had done. This even startled himself. 'What's wrong? I'm not acting like myself. I lashed out at the princess.' he put his hands in his hands, feeling terrible.
Fai was close by and had observed the whole incident. "Just hang in there for awhile longer...it's not your fault you're this way..."
As Fai was about to leave, Kurogane grabbed Fai's arm. He was startled for a moment, but then he smiled with his typical smile, and said, "What is it Kurgie?"
"You know something," he said. "And it deals with the kid."
"What are you saying, Kurgs?"
"Just shut up and listen! I knew something was wrong with the kid ever since what I saw in Record Country."
Syaoran had kicked down the creature that was guarding the book of memories.
"You're not..."
He slammed his fist on the book of memories, retrieving the feather.
"...Syaoran."
"I don't know what you think I know, but you're obviously worried for Syaoran as much as the rest of us." Fai said. "I assure you he's fine, anyone would be stressed if they were in his situation."
"Don't lie to me, magician. Just tell me what's wrong with the kid!"
He still continued to smile that same smile. "Syaoran's perfectly healthy!"
The princess was in Sakura's room with Mokona, sitting upon the bed.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" Mokona asked.
"It's nothing," she replied stiffly.
"Nu-uh. Mokona senses it. Sakura feels really sad and worried. Is it because Sakura didn't get her feather back?"
She shook her head. "I'm...worried about Syaoran..."
"I don't think you should worry yourself too much it," Fai chimed in. He was standing in the door frame.
"Fai!" Mokona exclaimed joyfully, jumping onto his shoulder.
"Hello Mokona!" he smiled with closed eyes. He then entered the room and sat down with Sakura. "I was walking down the hallway and couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Mokona."
"I just...he won't let me help him..." she looked down. "I can tell something is wrong, but he tries to hide it. And it hurts, 'cause I know...that he isn't alright."
Fai slightly inhaled a gasp, but then smiled warmly. "He's just a little frustrated right now, but I'm certain that it'll all turn out well in the end. Perhaps not worrying about him is the best thing you can do for him. He probably just doesn't want to see you down or unhappy about anything, even if it's him you're worrying over."
"I know...but...I still wish I can help..." she sighed. "He doesn't seem to want me around..."
"Now that's not true. I can see why you would feel like that after what had just happened."
She looked at him. "You were there?"
Fai nodded. "I don't think Syaoran really wanted to lash out at you, but he's just really stressed right now. Naturally, anything could easily set him off and he just sort of snapped for a moment. But I assure you he'll be alright."
Sakura then smiled. "Yeah! Of course he will."
Morning was approaching. The sun was barely starting to rise. The birds were already awake, singing their song. The princess had fallen asleep in Sakura's bedroom. As her eyes awoke, she realized someone had pulled the blanket over her, making sure she was comfortable and relaxed. Mokona was sound asleep right next to her.
"Princess?" came a familiar voice.
"Huh?" she turned her head to see Syaoran standing in the door frame.
"Syaoran?" she said in a tired voice.
He smiled warmly. "You're awake. We're all waiting for you down stairs."
She sat up. "Waiting...for me?"
He nodded. "I think I've found a way to get your feather back, Princess."
She then looked down at Mokona, still sleeping. She was about to pick her up, but then Syaoran's hand stopped her. She then looked at him.
"Don't worry about her, she can sleep."
"But shouldn't we bring Mokona, too?"
He shook his head. "It'll be fine, Princess. I have this all under control."
He then picked her up and carried her in his arms. Sakura slightly blushed as they were walking down the hall. But she thought to herself as they went down the stairs, 'Why do I feel so strange? Is something bad going to happen? I don't know...I just feel like, there's something wrong...'
She looked up at Syaoran, seeing he had a face of determination.
"Ah, there's Sakura." Fai smiled with closed eyes.
"'Bout time you got here." Kurogane said a bit impatiently.
"It's Sakura!" Madison quickly ran over to them. Syaoran gently set her down, and Madison gripped both her hands. "Good morning, Princess Sakura. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Just a little tired." she smiled with closed eyes.
"I just finished working on a new costume for you and Sakura! It'll be adorable, you'll be matching perfectly with her!" she then jumped back in between Fai and Kurogane with her camera, laughing. "And I'll get it all on film!"
"Would you hurry up with this?" complained Meilin, lying down on the couch. "I'm getting bored!"
"What was it that you wanted us all here for?" Li asked, Sakura standing beside him.
"To return Sakura's feather."
Everyone just gasped and then looked at him like he was crazy.
"And how do you intend to do that, kid?" Kurogane said loudly. "That dang feather is stuck inside the other one!"
"Syaoran, you don't have any magic to remove it from her." Fai said, his expression showing fear.
"Even I can't get it out of her." said Li. "Have you found some method to remove it from this Sakura?"
"Syaoran, please..." the princess then looked over at Syaoran and then gasped. His head was lowered, his bangs covering his eyes. She could sense something different about him. "S-syaoran?"
"I will retrieve all of Sakura's feathers..."
Princess Sakura's eyes started to shake in fear.
He then lifted up his head, the shine in his eyes gone. "...without fail."
He took out FireSong and it flamed up. Everyone gasped in shock. Kurogane quickly took out Pale Blue Ice and jumped in front of Cardcaptor Sakura. Everyone also stood in front of the cardcaptor.
"What the heck are you doing, kid?" Kurogane narrowed his eyes at him. "Have you gone completely insane?"
"This isn't like you, Syaoran..." Fai said. "You're not yourself."
"Get out of my way NOW!" he yelled.
"I don't think so, kid." Kurogane got in front of everyone. "You want to fight me? Well go ahead and try..."
Kurogane slammed his sword, yelling "Dragon King Blade!", the blow threw Syaoran back.
"Syaoran!" Sakura yelled. She then knelt down beside him, checking for any injuries. A stream of blood was trickling down from his mouth. "Syaoran, you're bleeding!"
She reached her hand to try and wipe the blood off, but Syaoran quickly gripped her wrist and threw her hand back. He stared at her with cold, piercing eyes. "You...stay away from me. Get back, now!" he commanded. He got up, walking toward them. Sakura then ran over to him and grabbed his shoulders from behind. "Syaoran, please! Stop it!"
She was then tossed back. Syaoran then pulled Cardcaptor Sakura to him, and put his hand on her cheek. The young cardcaptor's eyes were shaking in fear as he brought the sword closer to her.
The princess' eyes were wide in fear, she then shut them tightly and screamed, "SYAORAN!"
Princess Sakura's eyes shot open. She found herself still on Sakura's bed, Mokona soundly asleep beside her. She turned her eyes to Syaoran standing beside the bed.
He smiled warmly at her and put his hand on hers. "You're awake. Are you feeling OK?"
"No!" she quickly sat up and then pulled away.
"Huh?" Syaoran blinked and stared at her, confused. "Sakura, what's wrong?"
"Please...don't take me downstairs..." she shut her eyes, tears streaming.
Syaoran pulled her closer and tried to calm her down, but she continued to struggle. Mokona was thrown off to the edge of the bed by all the comotion. "Ah! Sakura's screaming!" Mokona woke up. "Why is Sakura screaming!"
"Please stop...Syaoran, please don't kill her..." she then fell back asleep in the bed.
Syaoran's eyes widened in fear and startlement. "What?"
"Did Sakura have a nightmare?" Mokona asked. "Syaoran?"
'Please don't kill her...' those words repeated in his mind. He looked at his hands. 'I tried. to kill...the other Sakura?'
END A/N: I actually wasn't planning on a dream sequence at all, but it just sort of occured to me. Originally the scene was alot longer, but I decided it'd be best for it to be shorter, also some scenes were rearranged, like Yuuko being contacted, was going to happen after the dream, but I decided it would make the story alot more interesting if I had ended it with the dream sequence. I was almost planning on completely cutting the dream sequence, I wasn't sure if it fit well in the story at all and it wasn't part of my original plans for the plot, however, with "A Dangerous Mind" by Within Temptation stuck in my head, the song sort of inspired me for this idea.