Hello!
I'm back and I'm so sorry for the delay. I guess I shouldn't be really making excuses, but it's true!
1. I lost my internet for about three weeks
2. I had to go on the net from public places and they didn't allow me to load it on...library rules -.-;;
3. School is back on.
4. It's the beginning of the year and at the moment, we are starting all our major charity works. It's fun, hard, time consuming, but extremely rewarding ^^
And that's it. Anyway, pleaase Review and feel free to drop me an email at any time!
I don't own Card Captor Sakura.
WARNING : This contains slight shonen-ai (boy/boy)
*******
It was a new day and a new morning, but beautiful as the day before and the one before that. The holidays were quickly approaching, in fact, only days away. Soon, it would be Christmas and they would have a wonderful winter holiday. Sakura opened her bright green eyes to stare into the white ceiling of her room, eyes filled with tears and pain. For a moment, she stayed just like that, not wanting to wake her guardian before she was calm enough for it. When she was able to shake away the pains from the visions that haunted her nights and even days after, she released the breath she had realise she had been holding. Moving quietly, she got out of her bed, her movement not so coordinated, with the lack of real sleep fogging her brain. But soon enough, her cheerleading skills took over and she found herself stretching as she walked into the bathroom, starting the shower up. She knew that she had to go to school, after all, it was a Tuesday! After her shower, she found herself rushing. As it usually was with the hot water running, she had forgotten the time. Running down the stairs in her uniform, she almost crashed into her brother, who caught her just in time and offered her a smile, but no teasing. Surprised, Sakura asked, "No teasing?" Touya looked at her for a moment and smirked. "Yuki tells me that I shouldn't tease you. I think it was more of Yue, but hey, I better listen to them." Before Sakura could say anything more, he was gone, down the corridor and into his room, far away from her.
With surprise still on her face and in her thoughts, she rushed to the kitchen, grabbed her lunch, a toast and ran out. Her roller blades were upstairs, and she couldn't be bothered to get them, meaning she had to walk to school. But it was a beautiful day, enough to be walking in the morning. There were beautiful sakura blossoms all around her and on the street, falling around her and making a picture of beauty all on it's own. She smiled dreamily as she walked to school, her body walking with just a thought and her mind in a trance of sorts, taking in the power in each petal and the beauty that accompanied it. And so she walked, until she reached her school and noticing the time, rushed in, running to her locker and getting all her books just in time was probably all out of pure luck. OR interference of time by one of her beloved cards. Sakura knew which one it was and silently, in her mind she thanked the cards. It was good to know that they cared as much as she did.
"Sakura!" Tomoyo exclaimed as she watched the clock above the black board and smiled at her best friend. "You are just in time. The bell should go…just about now." And true to her words, just as she finished saying her sentence, the bell rang, causing the honey brown haired teen to sigh in relief. "How did everything go yesterday and the day before?" Tomoyo asked as the Card Mistress sat down with a huge sigh. "Perfect…" Before she could get another word out, Syaoran rushed into the classroom, just before the teacher and sunk into his chair, causing the two girls to turn to see him. "You're usually never late. What happened, Syaoran-san?" With a sigh, he buried his face in his arms. "Research. I found a book that explains the things you need and I translated all of it for you. I know you might be talented with everything, but I had a feeling that reading a lot of Latin would do you no good. Besides, it helped me study, but I think I'm just about worn out." Sakura gave Syaoran's bowed head a little pat and managed to say without laughing. "Poor Syaoran!" Tomoyo giggled until the teacher walked into the room, his presence causing the students to turn around to face the front and perhaps sit up a little more.
And class started. First was homeroom, of course, then science (with a female teacher Sakura disliked), Math (which Sakura despaired in), English (which Sakura adored, unlike Syaoran, who already has three or four languages in his head), Home Economics (which Tomoyo and Rika adored) and then History (in which most students fell asleep). When classes were finally finished, Sakura, Tomoyo, Syaoran and Eriol found themselves at a nearby café, talking about nothing much, but having fun nonetheless, when the conversation turned a little more interesting.
"What are you doing on Saturday, Sakura-san?" Eriol asked, his dark blue eyes shining behind his glasses. "I don't know. I think I have the time, because I normally do all my assignments then, but I did them all. What about you guys?" She asked the rest, boredom in her bright green eyes. "Well, I saw an ad for a Winter Festival at the Tsuki Shrine. I was wondering if you could come." Sakura thought for a moment and smiled brightly. "Of course! I would love to come. What about you two?" Eriol shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I believe I wouldn't be able to make it." His face had a mysterious smile that intrigued Sakura, but something she couldn't understand, so she simply smiled at him and turned to Syaoran for his answer, not knowing that Eriol was scheming once again. "I could come." Syaoran said, not waiting for the question. He had a feeling that he had to go, that something will happen again. He was sure that it wasn't too dangerous for the Card Mistress to handle, but it was dangerous enough. As all the 'incidents' seemed to be. "Great! I guess we can meet all together at my house then. It's close to the Shrine and in the middle for the two of you." Tomoyo squealed at the aspect of having another chance to film her beloved Sakura, and Syaoran just nodded. "I think I better get going, sorry to leave so suddenly, but it's my turn to make dinner." Sakura said as she stood up, pulling her bag up with her, smiling at them with apology heavy in her eyes.
"I have to go anyway, likewise, I have to make dinner as well." Eriol said, smiling brightly at the heiress of Clow Reeds and at the beautiful violet haired girl and at his descendent. "I have to go as well." Tomoyo and Syaoran said at the same time, offering each other a smile and also got up. They paid for their drinks and got out of the café, separating as they found their ways the opposite of each other. Sakura and Tomoyo went one way, while Eriol and Syaoran walked their own way. Slowly, Sakura and Tomoyo walked, towards their homes, talking about nothing too much, but more or less about their love lives and those of others, mostly on Syaoran's actually, when Sakura smiled wickedly and asked her best friend for her crush. Tomoyo blushed bright red and shook her head. "I don't have anyone." But even Sakura, the gullible Sakura shook her head and crossed her arms, stopping and leaning against the wall at the side of the path. Tomoyo looked at her, blushing as red as a beetroot. "Tomoyo, you forget that I could sense other's emotions now. I can tell you that I feel lovesickness from you in waves! Just like my brother!" Tomoyo blushed even redder, if that was even possible and finally lifted her face to see her best friend's face. "Then you must know who it is too." Tomoyo said, blushing. "Not really, I have my guesses, but I don't pry into your thoughts. But, I think it's time you came over. We have serious talking to do." With that, ignoring Tomoyo's complaints, Sakura grabbed her arm and dragged her best friend to her house.
****
"So, we're well fed, dressed in our pajamas, is warm and nice and comfortable, so girl, talk to me." Sakura said as she grabbed her teddy bear, having chased Kero out of the room with a Gameboy. "Well, this is embarrassing, but I think I have a crush on Hiiragazawa-kun." Sakura smiled and squealed. "I have been right then! I mean, I was so bored in Math one day, I spent the whole lesson looking at you stealing looks at Eriol and Eriol stealing looks to you!" At the last statement, Tomoyo looked at her friend sharply. "What did you just say?" Tomoyo's eyes were wide as saucers as she tried to digest what had just been told to her by her best friend. "Oh, jus tthat Eriol was stealing looks at you. Of course, as a Sorceress, I'm not supposed to be stealing into other's minds to see their feelings, so I don't do that, but with my powers, it's impossible to block out all the emotions that are floating around the room. And one of them happened to be from Eriol and it happened to be strong attraction." She paused for the dramatic affect and nearly fell into a fit of laughter at the look on her best friend's face and continued. "To you. I can tell you that for sure. Any more than that, I wouldn't dare say,"
Tomoyo blushed tomato red as she looked at her best friend. Her hands went to cover her cheeks, trying to perhaps see if she was starting to glow. "Wow! That's so good! But are you sure, Sakura? I mean, you're not just telling me that to make me feel better, are you? Oh, tell me you're telling the truth, Sakura-chan!" She smiled and nodded. "The very truth. By the way, I think it's about time you and Eriol talked about your problems. After all, Syaoran and Meiling is happy together, ready to get married as soon as they turn eighteen, we have Yukito and my brother happily doing their thing and then well, Yue and me. And everyone at school seem to be quite happy with their own loves, so it's about time, Miss Tomoyo, the one that made most of those matches happen, to get her go at the spotlight of love." Tomoyo simply stared. Was this Sakura-chan, the girl she had known ever since they were young? She had changed so much! From the bright happy girl that was basically clueless about most things that went on, Sakura had changed to a young woman who was aware of her surroundings and one that was confident and had control over things. It didn't take the violet haired girl to notice what had changed her best friend so much. The Cards. And the Magic she possessed. The cards gave her that confidence, the control and the magic gave her the awareness. Sakura had become a powerful and beautiful girl with the world in her hands.
"Um…what are you planning? And what have you done with the sweet innocent naïve girl I used to know and love?" Tomoyo said in a teasing manner, her eyes filled with mischief. "You mean you don't love me anymore?" Sakura asked, her eyes quickly filling with fake tears. "Well, I wouldn't know. I mean, what happened to my age old friend that used to believe every lie that was ever told on this planet and was so naïve that she didn't know why all the boys were asking her out?" Sakura pouted. "I wasn't that naïve!" Tomoyo gave her the 'yeah-right-you-weren't-just-admit-it.' Look. Sakura sighed defeatly for a moment before she found herself able to talk again. "Fine. I was naïve. I admit it now. But I'm all un-naïve now, as much as I could be with my powers and I want to help my bestest friend in her quest for love. So, will you let me help?" Tomoyo eyed her in a suspicious way. "In what way? I mean, you're not going to ring Eriol-kun up or something and tell him. Or even send him a psychic message or something, are you?" Sakura shook her head venomously. "Of course not! I would never do that. I just was thinking about sending Eriol-kun a nice e-mail telling him of your undying love." Tomoyo almost fell off the bed at that statement.
"Sakura! You can't do that do me. I mean, I know that I like him, but I don't know if that goes to love. In fact, I don't think I ever felt love like that towards anyone before. How am I supposed to know?" Sakura gave her an all knowing smile. "Our roles seemed to have switched, my dear friend. But anyway, answer these questions for me. Then I can tell you whether it's love or just like." Confused, Tomoyo nodded. "What are you thinking about now?" Tomoyo answered immediately, "Eriol." Without even showing an indication that she heard the answer, Sakura asked another question, quick as lightening. "Name a boy's name." "Eriol." Sakura didn't even smile as she asked the second question. "Who do you miss right now?" "Eriol." Sakura smirked slightly as she asked the next question. "Who has dark hair?" "Eriol." Sakura was fully evilly smirking as she asked the next question. "Who's the cutest guy on this planet?" "Eriol." Yup. There was no hesitation whatsoever as Tomoyo admitted that Eriol was the cutest guy in the planet. Now, that was good. "Who are you love with?" "Eriol." No hesitation there either. Sakura smiled brightly as she hugged her best friend.
"What?" Tomoyo asked, as if she had just snapped out of the trance. "Well, Doctor Sakura, the expert on love, or not, has decided that you, Miss Tomoyo is fully in love with Eriol Hiiragazawa." Tomoyo blushed bright red and ducked her head for a moment before coming back up again, curiosity shining in her eyes. "How did you know?" Sakura smiled. "Well, what I just did now, wasn't any magic or anything to do with my powers. I asked you the questions really quickly and in such a situation, the mind answers with the first thing that pops into the mind. I asked you all questions concerning boys and every answer came up as Eriol and then the last question was who you were in love with and the answer was Eriol. Now, you know. But that's only half of the work. Now, he has to know." She smiled almost evilly. "I like this!" Tomoyo's jaws dropped. "Alright, that's it. Where is my sweet best friend?" Sakura's smile was possibly as evil as Kero's was, when he was looking for sweets that had been hidden by Sakura or anyone else for that matter.
"She decided that being sweet is no fun without having her soulmate around. So she decided that she would be evil for the day." Tomoyo shook her head, trying to recover from the shock she received form her best friend over that ten minute or so period. "Well, I sure hope the surprises are over, Sakura, anymore and I would have a heart attack." Sakura looked worriedly at her friend. "I hope not. Anyway, I have a few ideas about how to get Eriol to know about your feelings. I was thinking that perhaps you could confess, or I could tell him for you or I could send a cute psychic dream or message thing." Tomoyo shook her head, sending waves of purple hair about the room. "No way! I will tell him all in good time when I feel that I'm ready." Sakura sighed a suffering sigh. But that could take ages? I know about the being ready thing. It took my brother years to even admit to himself that he had crush on his best friend, let alone telling him!"
Tomoyo nodded slightly. What Sakura said perhaps did make sense. How long would it take for her to gather up her courage? Weeks? Months? Years? It would be too long. It might be late. Tomoyo sighed. "What am I going to do Sakura?" Her best friend smiled at her, gently. "First of all, I think you and I should go for a nice make over shopping thing on Sunday, how about it? So, you can sleep over since the holidays begin on Friday. Saturday for the Festival and then our shopping trip. How about it?" Tomoyo just smiled and nodded. "Would love to." Sakura smiled brightly and enthusiastically jumped up and down on the bed. "Then we can go from there about your love problem." Tomoyo smiled and nodded. "And here I was thinking that I was always the match maker. But I think I have influenced you too much." With that being said, the two girls burst into laughter.
****
"Touya, can you and Yukito-san come to the Winter Festival, because Tomoyo and I were thinking about going and I was wondering you can come with us. After all, it'll be dark and all." Sakura knew that it being at night was only an excuse to make sure that her brother couldn't refuse, after all, the overprotectiveness would never leave her brother she was sure and he couldn't simply let her go out just with her friends on such a night, now could he? "I can Yuki and I can make it, can we?" Touya looked at his lover, who was quietly leaning against him, half asleep and content just to be there next to his lover. Yukito nodded slightly, to show that he could indeed make the date. "Good!" With that, Sakura kissed both of them on their cheeks and ran off, leaving two surprised men in her track. "Sakura-chan is very energetic today." Yukito commented as he snuggled closer to his lover, seeking warmth. Touya wrapped his arms tighter around his lover and read the book he had picked up from the bookstore on his way home.
"Snow bunny's coming here often, isn't he?" Kero asked as he looked at his Mistress, at the way she was silently calling towards the cards with her powers. "He has every reason to. He has his boyfriend in this house. Besides, father is still away on that business trip. And I'm kind of worried actually. He hasn't left us alone for so long before." Kero had to agree. It was the first time Fujitaka had left the two on their own for more than three days. In fact, this trip was two weeks. "I want to send a card over to make sure that everything is going fine. I don't want to know anything else other than the fact that he's fine. But I feel that it would be wrong because I would be trying to spy on him, of sorts." Kero looked at his worried mistress. He could see her dilemma. "Send Shadow. She can make sure that your father is alive and healthy. That's all you want to know, right? Since he couldn't give you a number to check upon him with, right?" Sakura nodded. Her father hadn't called for about three days and she was starting get really worried. Since he was going to switch hotels every once awhile, he hadn't been able to tell them about number they could contact him with, especially since he was overseas.
Frowning slightly, worried, Sakura pulled out her Shadow card and quickly changed it to pink with a mere touch and sent it towards her father, where she was sure her father was. "Shadow, please just make sure that he's fine. I don't want to know any more than that. Just make sure that there is nothing wrong." With that, she waved her byes to Shadow, who bowed slightly and flew out into the night, quickly mixing with the darkness that was the night. "I hope he's alright." Sakura whispered after the card, sensing her movements more than seeing it. Kero just laid his small paw on her shoulder. "Come on Sakura, he's your father, he would be fine and besides, your magic naturally prevents mishap from happening to those around good magicians. You are a very good sorceress. People around would keep their youth for longer and they would survive through the time a whole lot better than others. I can assure you of that." Sakura turned to face her guardian, confused.
"You mean my magic affects them even when I hadn't cast any spells? They have natural protection?" Kero nodded. "See, I don't know why, but Clow was the first one to realise that people like his mother or father or those he loved and cherished lived abut twice most people and looked about twenty at fifty and stuff. It was strange, but I think it was decided like that by the fates to make sure that the magician, who is powerful and uses their powers for good, would have companionship and wouldn't turn the other way out of pain in loss of a close person." Sakura nodded her understanding, even as she reached for the small collection of magical books that had been given by Clow Reeds. Her hands moved quickly through the stack of them, finding the one she had wanted, the one that was personally made for just herself to read.
'Dearest Sakura, I'm sure that you are already starting to notice the affects of your power to those around yourself. They will be less frequent to disease and even the most common flu would bypass them. I can't tell you a definite reason for such things happening, but I can explain a little in ways that may sound strange. I have researched and found that the love you feel for them becomes a spell. Though you didn't specifically cast it, it would come to affect them all the same. They would be stronger than others against the age of time and also the dangers that affect most humans. They would almost be immortal as long as your love and powers are strong. And Sakura, my dear Sakura, you are strong. And your love is even stronger, perhaps. Those with magic would probably live about the same time as you. And I can tell you that you have a very long life in front of you, especially since you have the absolute power of the Stars. And by the time you have figured this out, there would be someone trying to cause trouble for you. I have foreseen it. I know who it is and I pray that you would forgive him. He's doing it for your own good. He suffers for what he is probably doing for you, as I suffer.'
Sakura pulled her eyes off the book, and looked at her guardian. "There is a clue of sorts about the person that is causing all these troubles. Clow-san left me a message for most important days of my life. Ever since I have found this book, I kept getting messages for the days I have something to ask. It's as if he went through my whole life and wrote a little message for each of the dates when I needed help." Kero's eyes seemed far away, a bit into the past and even more into the painful or sorrowful memories. Sakura could feel the strength of his sorrow in his voice as he spoke. "Clow did go through your whole life. He knew everything about you. About your favourite colours and about your preferences to everything. He knew your favourite food a hundred or so years before you were even born. When he turned three hundred, he had a dream, a trance that showed him the future. You. He saw you in his vision and he knew that he had to be there for you. He decided that you would be perfect as his daughter. So, he created the cards for you, created their forms to be beautiful and filled with soul, spirit and also the ability to love. He also made Yue and I. He placed souls into the two of us, trying to make sure that we would be happy. And he went through your life, about the questions you would ask. Of course, it wasn't always going to be perfectly right, as the readings of the future can't always be perfect, but he decided to write to you about the most certain ones. Such as the ones in this book. At his death bed he found out that you and Yue shared a soul and he was so happy. I saw him cry for the first time. The tears of joy. He promised Yue that he would be happy, as I would be with you. We hadn't really understood then. We were both upset and slowly sealing ourselves into the books. But you were there for us from the moment we had been created, Sakura. Two hundred years ago."
The sorceress gasped, a grateful smile coming to her face. "I have to see him. To thank him." She whispered, even as the opened card, Shadow, bowed slightly to her and vanished into the shadows to do the job Sakura had called her to do. Kero watched as Sakura's eyes closed against the gentle light of her room and went deep into her mind, a card floating into her hand. Kero gasped as he saw the card she was holding and swore. That was not good. Not good at all! But he knew that she wouldn't wake from the trance she had placed herself in and quickly rushed out of the room, just hoping that she had enough powers. He flied as fast as he could down the stairs and burst into the lounge room, his form already his real form, with feathers flying as he entered. Yue was there from the moment he was in the lounge room, standing up, alert and ready for anything. "She's gone." Was the only thing Cereberus could say. "I noticed. She shouldn't have. With the cards she doesn't have enough power." Yue commented, worry in his eyes, but he wouldn't allow it past that. It wasn't the way he was. "What's happening?" Touya asked as he stood up, his face containing the worry he would never let his 'kaijuu' of a sister know about.
"Her room?" Yue asked quietly, his face expressionless, but all in the room could see or at least feel the worry in his tensed form and his violet colored eyes. The two winged beings quickly got rid of their snow white wings, knowing very well that it would only get in their way if they allowed them to be around. Yue shifted his robe slightly to make sure that it was easy to move in them and turned to face the two, watching as they more or less ran up, with Kero ahead of them all. He was worried, yes, but he had never ran before. And he didn't feel that he could start. He gently floated up the stairs and landed in front of her room, walking quietly into it to find her sitting there, the pinky glow strongly around her, the Return card in her hand.
"She used Return. To see our Master?" Yue asked, knowing well already. She had told him of her plans to do so sometime, but he hadn't thought that it would be so soon. "Yes. Touya, can you open the windows? We need the lights from the stars in her room." Was the only thing Kero would say aloud as he paid his attention to the face of his mistress. She looked serene. Not in pain or in any trouble at least. "I think I have a memory of her visit, so I thought she would soon, but this is not a good time." Kero commented as he gently pushed Sakura towards the window, where the stars could easily give her the power she would need. "But that memory was rather strange, wasn't it? She had been so curious, but also so confused. Seeing it then had been so strange, the woman that was supposed to be our future Mistress, seeming to be but a child and looking even more lost than any other sorcerer or sorceresses that had come to see the master before." Kero had to agree. But he wondered, if it would be different should he see the memory again. Since he knew her better, would she be more focused and know what she was capable of? He easily answered with a yes.
Sakura's eyes fluttered as they moved, seeing something only she could see. "Is there anything we could do?" Touya asked, watching with worry the emotions on his sister's face. "Nothing. All we can do is make sure that she doesn't run out of power." Yue said quietly, sitting himself on her bed, watching her face, with Kero next to him and Touya leaning against the window. Her lips curled up into a gentle smile.
"Sakura-san! I have been waiting for you." It was a gentle voice, far too gentle to belong to someone that hadn't felt the love for a child before. Sakura looked around herself, quickly noticing that it was the Reeds mansion, the house they had filmed the movie in. Eriol's house. She frowned slightly at that, but she quickly found herself smiling as she saw Cereberus, purring quietly next to the gentleman sitting on a bench connected to the fountain. "Sakura-san, come and seat with me. You have many questions for me, do you not?" She smiled. She couldn't help it. He was so nice, so gentle and so caring that it touched her heart. He contained so much love for her that she was afraid he would burst with it. "Clow-sama." She responded as she sat down next to him, wanting to hug him for some reason, treat him like the father she had back in the future, for some reason, the smile seemed to be common among the two of them. Fujitaka and Clow Reeds had the same smiles.
"I'm not going to ask you why you are here, Sakura-san. I already know. You are here to ask me about what is happening?" She nodded only slightly. That wasn't all of the reasons she had turned back the time for herself. She had done so for many reasons. "I actually came to thank you more than to ask you questions, Clow-sama. You have done some much for me. Many wonderful things. You made sure that I would be the happiest I could be and there are not enough words in this world to thank you with. You gave me a best friend and a good companion, the love of my life and wonderful gifts that are beyond words. Thank you, Clow-sama. Thank you for being so wonderful." She stood up and bowed to him in a formal thanks and for a reason that was unknown to even herself, she threw herself into his arms, forgetting about Cereberus or Yue for that matter. Clow, though his eyes went wide in a pleasant surprise, wrapped his arms around her and hugged close to him, feeling all the hard work was nothing, a single word from her had been enough payment for him. To see her, to meet the person he had loved for two centuries, as a daughter he could never really have in the time he was in. He chose to secure the future of a child that had the potential to be great. The world's best.
"You are most welcome. It had been my greatest pleasure to do what I could do for you, Sakura-san. I saw you in the future and knew that you were a wonderful person. Someone who would be good for the world. And someone with unlimited power. I knew that you had to be trained, but I had no means. So, I chose to do so with the help of the Clow cards and through of course, Yue and Cereberus. But may I ask, who is this, 'love of your life?' I don't believe I have really foreseen that part." Sakura smiled a mysterious smile and shook her head, still in his arms, but sitting next to him, looking like a close father and daughter, enjoying a day out in the gardens. "No, Clow-sama. I cannot tell you of that. It is a secret. It is a part of the future you will not be able to foreseen. The gods have decided it to be that way. But I can tell you that I should thank you for him. That's as far as I would go." She gave him a sly wink, which caused him to roar in laughter. "You are just as I had seen you. Someone that was sweet and gentle, yet someone strong and someone that knew how to stand up for herself in ways that could not be perceived by most. A strong sorceress with the right attitude."
She felt herself blush. It was strange, meeting the person that had given her the gift of her greatest treasures, her soulmate and most of all, love that was always around her even when she was far from those that loved her. His love had carried on into her time, to be there with her when she needed it. "Now, the questions, dear Sakura-san. Fire away." She smiled brightly. It was strange, to hear him talking as she talked with her friends. But it didn't take her long to know that he probably picked the habit up from listening to her talking with her friends when he looked into her future. "I have all but three questions for you. One has been answered. It was why you did all these wonderful things for me, but you already told me. And I thank you. Second is, what is happening to Tokyo at the moment? Why are we getting attacked and why is the person actually forcing me to change cards and why does every one of his spells contain pain and sorrow?"
Clow's eyes widened slightly, but Sakura couldn't catch the emotions. The older and more experienced magician was hiding it well. Better than anyone else had been able to do in front of her before. Even her soulmate, without the bond had trouble hiding feelings from her. "I cannot fully answer that question for you just yet, Sakura-san. But you shall find out soon. Very soon, in fact. It's only a matter of time. The person is someone that loves you dearly. He would be greatly hurt to find out that you had hatred or even dislike towards him. But he is doing what he is doing for you. I know that at the moment, with putting you and the ones you love in danger, he doesn't seem to be doing you good, he is. It causes him pain to cast each of the spells. I hope you can understand him when you find out who he is." Sakura nodded, her mind already thinking over the possible people the mysterious person could be. There were only a several people she felt the strange likeness towards and there were even less that contained even the smallest trace of power. She sighed as she prepared herself to ask the next question.
"And last of all, Clow-sama, who is the Black Witch? And why does she want to do me harm?" His face was pained as he looked at her. The pain hurt her as well, more than she could ever express in words. He opened his mouth and closed it several times, trying to explain to the beautiful girl in front of her, so unstained, about the dark being known as Black Witch. "She's an enemy of mine. She has been an enemy to any powerful enough sorcerers in the world. She wanted to be the best in the world, but she never achieved that. So she thought that when the technology came to the people, it would change the way people looked at magic and there would be no one else with the power other than her. So, she made a pact with the dark side, asking for immortality in exchange for two sorceresses that carried the powers of the stars. The darkness took over them and she became immortal and stained with darkness for forever. She had killed two beings that was almost heavenly in their innocence. The two women had been so loving and innocent and powerful, but she captured them using ways they could not imagine. Also, they had no help. There was a third one. She was a friend of mine. And I took her into my care, protecting her when Black Witch came to see the third Star."
He paused, trying to shake away the painful memory he found that clung to him even in the future. He allowed himself a slight sigh before he started up again. "She called all of the ones blessed with the power of the Stars, Star. She wanted to kill my friend and I stopped her. I injured her greatly, so that she could not exist in a body for longer than ten years. Though her soul was immortal, her body would die every ten years. She would have to find a new body, one that has died before, or she was going to have to be reborn. She hated me for it. She tried to kill me and failed, but she came closer than any other had in the past. That is probably the reason the two guardians did not remember about her. They forgot the painful pasts. Ones they could forget, it was forgotten. But you must know, that she will try to kill you as well. But also know that you are strong, so extremely strong that she, would not be able to stand up against you. You are the one that would end her immortality, if you wanted to. She wants you dead for two reasons. One, because you are my heiress and two because you possess the power of the Stars. It is understood between the sorceresses and sorcerers and she had wanted the power and having not received it, her anger turned to those that had the gift. Be careful. She is no easy foe."
Sakura's face was pale by the time he had finished. It broke his heart to see her expression in such a way, but he offered her a smile. "But you have Yue and Cereberus. And friends hidden in places you would not know of. There will be people that will help you. Trust me." She smiled slightly at him, attempting the bright smile that was always there on her face, but at least managing a slightly sad, but happy also smile. He smiled back, tightening his arms around her and hugged her close, feeling her getting weaker and weaker with the time. He still had things to tell her though.
"There are few more things I have to tell you about yourself and your surroundings. You will have noticed that you have other powers glowing in you. First you were able to sense emotions, than move things with your mind, freeze the time for objects and even people, but there was also something more as well. You will get others. And slowly, they will get harder and harder to control. Soon enough, you should be able to do all the things you need to do without the cards. The cards were supposed to be your friends and of course, they were supposed to be a guide of sorts. They were not tools for your magic. You should be able to do all the things the cards do. Control elements, or change the size of something, or even, you should be able to create things out of the thin air and so on. You can do that all, Sakura-san. Don't stop learning. There is a lifetime of studying ahead of you. Studying that you will enjoy. I guarantee it." She nodded. She was already enjoying it, she was sure that it would get even more interesting as the time went on. She was sure.
"You better go. Can't you feel your magic draining from you, Sakura-san?" He asked in a worried voice, noticing that she was getting paler and her aura weaker. "No, I didn't, Clow-sama. I was too happy to be here to even notice that perhaps time was running out on me. I better go. Thank you for everything, Clow-sama." She gave him another hug, burying her face into his chest and just glad that if she wanted to, she could go back to see him again. Magic gave her so many things she desired, she had no other choice but to thank it for all the wonderful things it did for her. Smiling, she went to Cereberus and hugged him as well, ignoring the glare he had shot her before her arms were around him. When she kissed his forehead, he closed his eyes and purred, the glare quickly forgotten. "See you in the future, Kero-chan." She whispered and got up, looking over to the cold Moon guardian she had grown to know and love well. She went over him to slowly and smiled at him. He looked down at her, indifferent, when she threw herself towards him, her arms going around his neck and her lips firmly against his own. The gasp was quickly ignored as her warm kiss broke the first piece of his iced over heart.
Satisfied, she smiled and walked back to Clow, giving him a sly wink. "I hope to see you again, Clow-sama." She hugged him the final time before she allowed herself to drift out of the time, to go back to her own time.
***
"Sakura?" It was the voice of someone she knew well and loved. She sighed as she buried herself closer towards the warmth of that person. There was a sigh and another call of her name. She ignored it. The person was warm and she didn't want to move or wake up or anything else the person wanted her to do. But the persistence woke her up, after ten minutes or so anyway.
"What is it?" She asked groggily, noticing the pure white hair that could only come from her Moon guardian and the way his arms were gently wrapped around her and the way she was covered nice and warmly in the blankets, while he was outside of it, mostly likely because he was worried about the appropriateness of the situation. "Sakura-sama, you must wake up. It is after all, Thursday morning and even with all your powers, you must attend school. It is wonderful that Yukito is practically living in your house and allow me more time with you, but you mustn't forget about school just because of that either." Sakura grumbled slightly as she got out of the warm embrace and shivered slightly as her skin first went the winter. Quickly, she jumped back into the bed and into his arms, snuggling again to get rid of the slight coldness that had reached her skin. "But it's cold outside." She whispered as her eyes closed again. There hadn't been enough stars out after the Return card to give her enough energy and she was still far too tired.
"But you are a sorceress, Sakura-sama. You can use your magic to warm the room up." She shot a small glare at her soulmate. Must he have reasons for everything? But it was true. She had to admit that, after all, she was a powerful sorceress with a packet of the strongest and the one and only of magical cards in her hands. Her mind went into the trance as she summoned the Firery card and asked for him to warm up the room. It happened instantly and when she got out of the bed again, it was pleasantly warm. "Thank you!" She said as she happily bounced into the bathroom, noticing her guardian frowning at his wrinkled clothing. "Firery, can you straighten up Yue's clothes for me, please?" The card was quick to do as his Mistress had wished. Yue thanked the card as Sakura came out in her school uniform. "Yue-san, please go and it breakfast in Yukito's form. I know you like strawberries and tea and all, but Touya-san didn't have anyone with him last night." Yue nodded and changed to Yukito, who smiled gratefully at the girl he adored.
"Thank you, Sakura-san. It's very considerate of you." She just smiled and went about packing her bags. Everything had been perfect for a few days, with the Return card, she had learnt so much and knew more than before, understanding more about the world of magic than she had before. Shadow had come back with good news and her father had rang the day after, saying that he had been caught up with his work and that he didn't even have enough time to ring them. And he would be back on Tuesday. And she had that wonderful weekend planned with Tomoyo-san. It was all perfect.
***
Time always goes faster when you are having fun right? Well, she was having the most fun in the world with her best friend, her brother and his lover, and one sorcerer-warrior of the Li clan with her. She clapped in delight as another soft toy joined the stack that was quickly growing with Yukito quickly shooting away at the goals and with her brother shooting for the diamond star necklace that had caught her eyes. It was strange that they were having such events in the Winter Festival, but it made it even more fun. Usually, it was always cheap little toys, cute, but not diamond Tiffany necklaces. Tomoyo had, with her expert eyes, determined that they were real and worth Touya making an effort. And for now, they were just waiting until their hope went into the finals. After all, it was a competition. And Yukito was going for a cute little winged cat that had caught Yukito and Yue's attention as a possible present for the Card Mistress. Syaoran, on the other hand was busy fishing gold fish out for Tomoyo, as she had asked him if it was possible to get some fish for her tank. After all, with the sheer size of her tank, she needed a lot of gold fish to fill it up. But, Syaoran was having no trouble what so ever.
Tomoyo and Sakura was watching as the three boys caught the attention of the crowd and managed, to win in all of their separate events. She was surrounded by some amazing people. And the crowd watched, curious as all three men went to the two girls standing there, quietly watching and presented them with the gifts. Well, Syaoran handed Tomoyo a bag of gold fish, but her bodyguards, somewhere around, were holding the rest. "About fifty of them, I think." Syaoran commented as he handed her five of them. "The ladies in black took them." She smiled at him, gratitude shining in her violet eyes as she gave him a friendly hug, turning to watch with her camera as Sakura found herself with a cute little pink kitten with white wings on it's back and a silver and diamond star shining at her throat, matching almost with the beautiful kimono she wore of pale pink with silver stars. Tomoyo, without really noticing the fact, found herself also with a winged kitten, but purple in colour. She thanked Yukito who just smiled in return.
When they were happy with the gifts they had received, the group moved on, towards the food area, where there was a vacant seat, almost seeming to be just for them. It was isolate, from the crowd and a good place to eat, after all, they did have the cute little fluffy stuffed doll with them. Sakura smiled as her friend examined the winged kitten and found it good enough to be his little pillow. "Thank you Yukito-san, Yue-san and Touya!" She said to the two bodies and three souls sitting there, watching her every move. She was thankful that she knew such wonderful people and that she had their love. "It's a wonderful night. I hadn't thought that the skies would be so clear today, after all, yesterday had been a messy affair." It was Syaoran's point, who finally seemed to get along with the Card Mistress's brother, whether that was because Yue's other self's beau was Touya or not, Sakura could not tell, but she did see the grudging way in which he acquainted himself with her brother.
"When is the…" Sakura stopped as her senses flare up to warn her. There was a shock going through her system and just as it hit her, the electrical lights that had brightened the beautiful grounds up with their dancing lights were gone. She looked up, alarmed, the magic already guiding her towards a point that was so strong it threatened to knock her down with the sheer force and strength. She stood up, slowly, drawn, noticing that the others were following too, not caring that she might bring danger to them. Noticing that she was rather out of it all, in some kind of trance they could not follow her into. Even if they wished.
Her movements were slow, but cautious. "Yue, can you come out?" She asked, not even looking back over her shoulder, her voice so distant it was almost a strain to hear when she was so close. Yue changed, knowing that it was safe enough to in the woods they found themselves trekking through. Tomoyo's camera went rolling even as she relied on her friend to guide her. With one hand on Tomoyo's arm to guide and to protect her, Syaoran moved through the night darkened grounds and followed the steady pace of the card Mistress. Her steps were so sure, but also so slow and cautious that it warned his own heart to be careful. There was something waiting for them in the destination. He could feel it and his feelings never failed him.
Yue was in front of Touya, his other form's love drawing protectiveness over his Mistress's sister even as they walked. Strange, he knew also that it would hurt his Mistress should anything happen to the boy, but why was Yukito's emotions so strong? He sighed. Yukito didn't seem like a person to have such strong emotions before, kind of numb he had thought, but obviously, he had been wrong. "Stop." A silent command from his Mistress, surprising him, actually, even as he watched Kero change to Cereberus and stand to the right of Sakura, while he stood at the left. "There is some sort of a creature, an animal of some kind. It's afraid, but it's more dangerous than he would let on." That statement was confusing, but Yue was used to it, after all, it was the very same thing Clow Reeds used to do. But Sakura was still a little sharper than his former master. Clow was always very vague about everything.
Sakura moved forward, her right hand lighting up with a silvery pink light, instead of the usual wand that found it's place there. She quickly walked forward, walking through the little path in between the trees and lightened the small pond that was there with her light. The pond shone back at her, bright and unwavering as the light was reflected. For a moment, just for a moment, she lost herself in the beauty of the light. The magic that was so beautiful and so kind that it warmed her. Almost overwhelmed her. She sighed slightly as she had to tear her eyes away from the beautiful sight and face the beast that glowed with a strange dark light. It was filled with electricity, just as the card Thunder. The idea hit her even as the card came to her hands. Without chanting, without the motions she would have gone through before, she just released the card, changed it and did all the things that she was required to do, without uttering a single word and without moving at all. She just watched as the card opened to show a beast that was beautiful, powerful and gentle.
She watched, with anxiety in her eyes as the card fought and won. The Thunder quickly broke through the spell that had conjured the creature up and soon enough, the dark beast was gone, surprising the group. Sakura turned to Thunder and smiled at him. "It's been a long time, has it not, Thunder?" She asked as she crouched down to gently run a hand through his light fur. She could feel the great control that was there in the beast, the wonderful power that laced through him and the way he kept a great hold on every single one of the small bits of electricity that was in his whole body. She hugged him gently and thanked him. And he would have smiled and talked, if he could have. But his affection filled nuzzle was enough to convey his message to the quick card mistress.
"I shall see you again soon, I promise, Thunder." She told him as he changed back and turned to look at the now darkened festival. "We should have lights at a festival, shouldn't we? And electricity." She muttered to herself for awhile before her magic went to work. Her hands glowed quietly and softly as she released the Thunder again, this time with the task of making sure that the electricity worked, but it was quickly discovered that the lights would not come back on, not with the fact that the line was severed at places. Sighing, Sakura raked her brain for ideas, turning to her family and friends. "Light. What about Light?" Sakura shook her head. "Have to do Dark as well. Not enough power." Syaoran nodded and laid his chin on his hands as he thought on. "We need light…light…glowing…Glow!" Tomoyo exclaimed as her own head shot up with the idea. Sakura smiled and nodded eagerly. "Great idea!" Again, the hands glowed in the bright colour of pink and there were pinkish white snow flake like lights that fell from the skies on her command. Beautiful it was, glowing softly like the name suggested.
Sakura looked around herself and smiled at the group of people she loved so much. "It's time to get back to fun. The person who is doing this will come to us when he is ready." And Touya knew that moment. His sister was no longer the cry baby she had once been, getting upset at his every little tease. She was a leader, a powerful girl that knew what she was talking about. And he was proud. Proud of what she has achieved so far and most of all, of her.