Chapter 13: Sakura's Friends' Great Challenge

Tokyo, Japan

"I'm really starting to dislike this part of campus," remarked Syaoran.

"Maybe we need a new route to Sakura and Ami's class," agreed Heero.

A couple weeks after the fight with Charon, Heero and Syaoran were at the same junction on campus where the demon had attacked them, although this time they were both heading the same direction since both Ami and Sakura had class together. They had been casually walking along when they both suddenly felt a magical presence. They had stopped walking when they felt the presence, and a split-second later a giant orange box erected itself around and above them, trapping them inside.

"Key that Hides the Power of Space. Show Your True Self to Me. I, Heero Command You Under Contract. Release!" As Heero released his Clow Sword, Syaoran also took the pendant from around his neck and released his own sword. "Let's get out of here," said Heero.

Syaoran nodded at his cousin and both Li Clan leaders took a ready stance, facing the same wall. Simultaneously, both Heero and Syaoran slashed down on the wall, only to have their blades bounce harmlessly off the surface.

"Well that didn't work," commented Syaoran as he knocked the wall with his recently healed arm, thanks to the Heal Card's power. "Let's give magic a try. God of Lightning, Come Forth!" Bolts of lightning erupted from Syaoran's sword and impacted on the wall in front of him. The lightning bolts remained on the surface of the wall, trying to break through, but were eventually repelled away. Unfortunately for Heero and Syaoran, they were both directly in the return path of the lightning attack and were each hit directly in the chest, knocking them to the ground. "Sorry about that," apologized Syaoran as he and Heero got back up.

Heero just waved off the apology since he knew the result of Syaoran's attack was unintentional. "This thing must have a weak spot somewhere."

The two took a minute to carefully examine the box they were trapped in. "I don't see anywhere that might be a weakness," commented Syaoran.

"Neither do I," agreed Heero. "Too bad we can't get a look from the outside."

"Maybe Sakura can help us out," suggested Syaoran when he remembered Heero's telepathic connection with the Card Mistress.

"I've been trying to talk to her," answered Heero. "But it seems our connection is blocked. Her Through Card would probably be helpful right now."

"What about the Ghost Card?" Syaoran suggested. "It can move through walls."

Heero nodded and took out the Ghost Card. "Card Created by Clow. Discard Your Old Form and be Reborn, Under the Name Heero; Your New Master!" The Ghost Card glowed white as it changed from a Clow Card into a Heero Card. The new Ghost Card now replaced the old Glow Card picture with a picture of a transparent old man with an eerie glow surrounding him. Heero pulled out the Telepathy Card and released it along with his new Ghost Card. "Find us a weakness in this wall. Telepathy! Ghost!" When the two cards released, the Ghost Card went through the wall of the box trapping Heero and Syaoran, to look at the outside, while Telepathy stayed within the box to communicate whatever the Ghost Card found.

After a couple minutes of patient waiting, the Telepathy Card finally spoke. "There is a weak point here," said the Telepathy Card as it pointed to a bottom corner of the box. Heero nodded to his Clow Card and then recalled both Ghost and Telepathy. Heero then motioned for Syaoran to proceed with the attack, since they both knew Syaoran's lightning attack was probably the most practical attack for the situation.

"God of Lightning, Come Forth!" Syaoran's lightning attack impacted in the exact corner of the box and exploded. This time the bolts did not bounce back at Heero and Syaoran, but instead destroyed a very large section of the box.

"Return to Your True Form, Clow Card!" As Heero sealed the new Clow Card, the box surrounding Syaoran and himself turned into ribbons of energy and rematerialized as a Clow Card that floated over to Syaoran.

"The Trap Card," stated Syaoran as he handed the Card to his cousin after they both recalled their swords. Heero took the Clow Card to inspect it, but saw nothing her wasn't already expecting. The design of the Card was just like all the other unchanged Clow Cards and the front had a split picture with both Mist and Libra featured. Having both seen the Clow Card now, Heero placed it in his pocket and he and Syaoran resumed their walk to Sakura and Ami's classroom.

"You two are late!" scolded Sakura with a mock angry face and tone of voice when Heero and Syaoran finally walked up to where she and Ami were waiting.

"We've been waiting for like a whole three minutes!" added Ami to keep up the charade Sakura had started.

"Sorry honey," joked Heero as he pulled Sakura into a kiss to keep her from fake complaining anymore.

Syaoran followed Heero's lead and did the same with Ami. "Are we forgiven?"

Sakura and Ami looked at one another and giggled. "I guess so," Ami finally said as she kissed Syaoran again.

"So what took you guys so long anyway?" asked Sakura, who now had her back against Heero's chest with his arms wrapped around her waist. Instead of answering Sakura with words, Heero reached into his pocket and pulled out the newly captured Trap Card. Sakura shifted into an upright position, no longer leaning against Heero's chest, when Heero handed her the new Clow Card. "You two captured a Clow Card?"

"Hai," answered Syaoran.

"Are either of you hurt?" asked Ami, who remembered what had happened the last time Heero and Syaoran had fought an enemy alone together.

"Nothing serious," said Heero. "The Clow Card never attacked us; it just trapped us inside a box. The only damage we received was from the deflection of Li's lightning attack."

Sakura and Ami looked at Syaoran both to determine if Heero was being truthful and also because it sounded strange that they got hit by Syaoran's own attack. "We're fine," said Syaoran when he saw the girls looking at him. "Don't worry."

"You two always say you're fine," commented Sakura. "Even when you obviously aren't." Heero and Syaoran both looked at each other and shrugged. They both knew Sakura was right, so didn't really have any way to respond to her comment.

"Are you sure it's okay for the rest of us to go out tonight without you guys?" Ami asked Heero and Sakura to change the subject.

Sakura nodded her head to her friend. "Hai. You guys are going to an over eighteen club, and just because we are still seventeen doesn't mean the rest of you shouldn't be allowed to have fun without us. Besides, we won't be eighteen for another two months so it wouldn't be fair to everyone."

"We'll find something to do," added Heero.

"I have no doubt," responded Ami as she smiled at the couple.

The two couples casually made their way back to the dorms, where everyone else was already waiting. The five guys changed for soccer practice, while the girls found other things to occupy themselves with before meeting the guys, minus Heero, at the club they were going to that night. Having not finalized any plans, Heero and Sakura decided to meet back at the rooms and figure out how to spend their evening alone.

Author's Notes:

I know this section is a little short, and that is mainly due to the fact that I was having a serious problem deciding what to make happen in this chapter. Still haven't quite figured out all the details, but I can tell you this much; for the first time, neither Sakura nor Heero will be the focal point of the rest of the chapter. Anyway, I'm done with school for the summer, so I plan to try to write more, but sadly I've had a slight case of writer's block. I seem to think of ideas for my story best while I'm "paying attention" to my teachers' lectures. Haha. Anyway, hope you enjoy this short section, and I will try to have the next part up as soon as possible.