Hey everyone. Well this is chapter three. I'm sorry it's taking a little longer but I have forever in one moment as my priority.
Well I'm glad you're all happy that Sakura is born. Now the story gets more interesting.
***
"Xiao Lang, hurry we'll be late." Yelen called to her nine year old son. He sighed and ran over to his mother.
Almost ten years had passed since the birth of the dragon clans cherry blossom and today was a big event that all clans needed to attend.
"Mother why must I go?" He muttered as Yelen put on his ceremonial robes. She sighed and explained it to him for the thousandth time.
"Because you are the future leader of our clan and you must learn to be with the members of the other clans. Learn to communicate with them. It is also a very important day for Sakura. Besides Eriol will be there. I pray you both don't get into trouble again."
"I'm not the one who starts it." He defended. The last meeting they'd attended, Eriol had convinced him that it would be funny to make things float around the room to scare the girls.
It had managed to scare a few of the girls. Sakura included. She had been afraid of ghosts ever since she was three because her brother told her about 'see through people.'
"I know. Go find your father and make sure he's ready." She said kissing his forehead. He slumped his shoulders and ran off to find his father.
"Mother why is little brother so upset about going. It's great fun. Eriol will be there, Tomoyo will too. Sakura will be disappointed if he doesn't go. She seems so fond of little brother but he barely speaks to her." Fuutie walked in wearing a long green dress.
"He's just like that. Remember that the elders teach him not to have emotions and I fear it will threaten his balance."
"He's growing so fast. It seems like only yesterday he was all red and wrinkly." Fan Ran said as her sisters did her hair.
"Hai. My son grows stronger each day." Yelen said.
Meanwhile Xiao Lang was running down the halls to the training area where he knew his father would be.
"What brings you here my son?" Yen asked without even turning around.
"Okaa-san want you ready for the clans meeting." He responded seriously. His scowl ever present on his face.
"I am ready." He said with a small smile. Placing his sword down he called for his son to sit on the bench. "You really don't want to go do you?"
"I think it's stupid. Why should I go? You're the leader of our clan. I have nothing to do there. Eriol just causes trouble, I don't like most of the other boys and that only leaves the girls and Meilin. I should have never made that stupid promise to marry her."
"What about Saku-chan?" Yen asked carefully. His son stared at him for a moment.
"Saku-chan is different. She's not like the others but she's going to be princess and her brother stares at me strangely."
Yen chuckled at this. His son was always being picked on by the teenage Touya who protected his only sister against any male who even tried to talk to her. Especially Xiao Lang.
"Well then I suspect another glaring contest between you before the young dragon princess grabs you. Takes Tomoyo-chan and Eriol-Kun and you all go play in the gardens like you always do."
"I don't want to play. I want to learn how to fight like you do." Xiao Lang suddenly said.
"You will in time son. You're training well and soon you will be stronger. Give it time. Be a child while you can."
Xiao Lang scolded and stared at the ground. His piercing brown eyes full of frustration and disappointment. Yen sighed. He'd hoped his son would try to play with the others but he concentrated solely on training and the only person who could ever get him out of that was Sakura.
"Come on. Your Okaa-san will be very mad if we're late." Yen said. He didn't like these things too much either. All politics and the scorpion clan bragging about something or other.
The young boy nodded and followed his father back down the halls to the main entrance were his sisters and mother were waiting patiently.
"Come on little brother lets go. It will be so much fun." Xie Fa exclaimed grabbing his hand.
"Let go of me you crazy woman." He protested trying to free his hand. He gave her his best glare but it only made her giggle. His stares of death seemed to be immune to them.
***
"Eriol. Darling come on. We'll be late. You don't want to keep Tomoyo waiting do you?" Yang teased her son as he came down the stairs. The ten year old only smiled at her.
"I don't know what you speak of mother." He said brightly though his embarrassment was clear to his mother.
"Oh you don't? Well hurry. We're late. Where is your father?" She sighed. As if a sign a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and a kiss was planted on her neck.
"Here love." Shin murmured as he kissed up her neck to her ear.
Eriol stared at his parents affection and just shook his head and raced off to the limo. Nakuru and Suppi were already there waiting.
"Not in front of Eriol. You'll give him ideas." Yang said when she saw her son run off.
"What ideas? He's only ten. Besides he should know how to treat a lady." Shin said with a mischief's grin on his lips.
"It is one thing to know how to treat a lady. It is another to show him how to be so demonstrative with one." She protested, releasing herself from his arm and grabbing her hand bag.
"He should learn that too." Shin said with a smile. Yang sighed and saw how much her son looked and acted like him.
"You can never deny that he is your son." She said as they walked towards the entrance.
"Wouldn't dream of it." He said helping her into the limo.
"Good or I'd be forced to hurt you." She said then turning to Eriol. "Eriol. Don't float things around in the limo."
"Mother it's fun." He defended and continued to float his pendant in the air.
"Son, do as your mother asks. Oh that reminds me. This time try not to scare the girls." He said to please his wife but his eyes gave him away that he was counting on some mischief.
"I wouldn't dream of it Father." Eriol said. A teenage Nakuru giggled and Suppi just rolled his eyes and stuck his head back in his book.
"Good because young Sakura was very frightened and I don't think Touya will appreciate it if she ends up back in Xiao Lang's arms when she's screaming." Shin said with a chuckle. It had been a memorable time.
'I intend on something a little more creative father.' Eriol sent. He'd recently discovered the wonders of telepathy. He wasn't very good but he was improving.
'I'm counting on it.'
"If you two are planning something you will both be in trouble with me." Yang warned.
"Nothing mother." Eriol said smiling. His glasses hiding a bit of his mirth.
"Absolutely nothing love." Shin said with the identical smile.
"Oh you two will be the death of me." She sighed knowing all too well that both had something planned.
The two males chuckled and Eriol thought through his brilliant plan to torture his best friend and dear Sakura with the help of the lovely Tomoyo.
***
"Tomoyo-chan!" A girl with short auburn hair called out when she saw her best friend enter the door.
A girl with long black hair smiled holding her newest toy out. A new video camera. Sakura sweatdroped but smiled anyway.
"Sakura-chan, I hope you don't mind. I got my Otou-san to buy it for me. It's the latest model. It picks up so much more sound and the colors are perfect. It tapes twice as much as my other ones and will be great for today." She said with stars in her eyes.
"That's great Tomoyo-chan. Well come on. No one else is here yet so why don't we go to my room."
After greeting Tomoyo's family the two girls raced off to Sakura's bedroom for a while. She needed to get changed into her ceremonial robes anyway.
"My Okaa-san gave them to me." Sakura explained showing off her new robes. This was a big event; she would wear her full ceremonial robes. Usually she would wear a pretty dress.
"It's so kawaii. I love the design." The robes were white with a gold dragon running down the back. On the front was a cherry blossom to symbolize her name. She wore a pink head band.
In her hair she wore the hair clips the hawk clan had given her this Christmas. She wore the bracelet the scorpion clan gave her. The sash the shark clan presented. The earrings the tigers gave. White shoes the snake clan had offered her.
Around her neck she wore a pendant the wolf clan had given her. It had a cherry blossom design in the middle with the dragon symbol in the center of it.
"You're wearing all your gifts?" Tomoyo asked her friend. She nodded.
"I have to. I have to show my gratitude for my gifts. Besides my birthday is in a week. It would be wrong of me not to." Sakura's ninth birthday was prepared for the following week. Eriol's birthday had been the week before and so had Meilin's.
"Yeah. We'll be the same age again." Tomoyo said happily. Sakura was the baby out of all of them. Though she really didn't mind.
"Hai. I hope my birthday is good. Eriol-Kun's birthday was so good. Meilin's was too. Though she kept looking at me strangely." Tomoyo giggled at her friend's innocence.
"All the candy we ate." Tomoyo laughed. They'd all eaten so much sugar that their parents had to put them to sleep with magic. Even Xiao Lang who had eaten so much chocolate had been placed under the spell.
"Poor Syao-kun. I still feel guilty for falling on him." Sakura said. The Li warrior was always so uptight but that night he'd been as high as the rest.
"Syao-kun?" Tomoyo asked. She'd often heard Sakura use it.
"Syaoran. I saw it in a book. It's Xiao Lang's name in Japanese. I thought it would be easier to say it. Besides he calls me Saku-chan."
"True." Tomoyo was about to comment on the strong friendship the two held when Nadeshiko and Sonomi burst into the room in a panic.
"Hurry girls everyone is here. The ceremony is to start. Remember Sakura. Head high and don't be nervous. They all love you." Nadeshiko kissed her daughter and lead her off to the main throne room.
"Yes Okaa-san."
"She'll be fine Nadeshiko. If she's anything like her mother." Sonomi said taking her daughter's hand and leading her in the same direction as Sakura and her mother.
Sakura was nervous. She's always gone in with her mother. Today she'd go in by herself and would sit next to her brother instead of her mother or father's lap.
Today Sakura would receive her title as a member of the dragon clan. She'd be nine very soon and she needed her title as princess by then or her place could be taken by any other girl who wanted it.
"Don't be nervous my cherry blossom. You will do fine. I'm so proud of you." Nadeshiko hugged her before entering the chamber when she was presented. Tomoyo and Sonomi wished her luck and entered also. She was now alone.
"Here." A voice said from behind her. She turned around and saw Xiao Lang standing there with his emotionless face.
"What is it?" She asked looking at the paper. He sighed and shoved it in her hand running off to the side doors.
She quickly opened the paper and read his writing. He would always do that when he was around her. He'd say something quick then run off.
'Good luck. You'll do fine.'
She smiled. He was never open with his friendship but he always knew how to make her less nervous.
"Presenting Sakura Kinomoto." Her name was announced and the large double doors opened. She breathed in slowly and made her legs move forward.
Everyone turned and stared at her. She held her head high, she was never to look down.
She saw Tomoyo, Eriol, Yukito, Meilin and Syaoran standing together. Tomoyo, Eriol and Yukito were smiling brightly. Meilin didn't look very interested and Syaoran looked emotionless but he nodded at her slightly to encourage her. She smiled brightly and continued to walk.
To the other side stood Yu. He was the son of the scorpion clan and he gave her a smug look. The other children looked at her with smiles. She had no real reason to be nervous.
The head elder of the shark clan walked up to her with a silver bowl full of water. The elder of the hawk clan had a small bowl of paint. The tiger's elder carried a chalice full of red liquid. The wolf elder held a staff for her.
The snake clan's elder carried a mask that would cover half her face. The scorpion elder held a dagger in his hands and it scared her but she would not show it. The dragon clan elder carried the elaborate headpiece. She would wear all of this tonight.
The shark elder smiled down at the girl and knelt before her. He dipped his fingers into the pure water and asked her to remove the head band. She did as she was told.
"With the water of my clan I bless you. That your heart remains as pure as the water. That your mind's eye be open and clear." He said touching the middle of her forehead. Her two cheeks, her lips and her eye lids.
All the members of the shark clan bowed down to her then. They now acknowledged her as the princess.
The elder moved to the right side and let the next blessing proceed. The hawk elder knelt down before her and dipped his thumb into the paint and made a line under Sakura's left eye.
"This mark will show you protection. I bless you in the name of my clan. That this mark even faded protects your soul." He said and the hawk clan all bowed down. The black ink faded into Sakura's skin. It then looked almost invisible.
He moved to the left and allowed the ceremony to continue. The tiger's turn came and the elder knelt on one knee and brought the chalice up to Sakura's lips.
"Drink young princess." She whispered. "Drink what represents the blood of life and be blessed by the tigers eye. That you be swift and agile in your life's journey." Sakura hesitated for a moment but took a sip from the drink. She was pleased to see it was sweet. Like honey.
The tigers all knelt and paid respects to the girl. She got up and stood behind Sakura.
The wolf clan was next and Syaoran watched intently as the elder bowed and knelt before her.
"This staff is to protect you. To serve as a weapon in times of danger. Let it be your guide when you loose your balance." He said handing her the weapon. She smiled and held it in her hand.
The entire wolf clan bowed down. Even Meilin. Syaoran bowed reverently to her but since she wasn't facing him she couldn't see that.
The snake's clan elder smiled down at her and produced the mask. She went on both knees and placed it on Sakura's face. It covered her face and her eyes were now protected from strong light.
"This mask will hide your pain. Will hide your sorrows. It will also protect your eyes. The window of the soul from the darkness of the world. Wear it when you are asked to and remember that my clan will always be there to protect you. Serve you."
All the snakes knelt even Tomoyo. They respected this girl because she was of pure heart.
She shuddered when she felt the aura of the scorpion elder. He knelt before her and took out her free hand.
"With blessings there must be sacrifices. Honor. Courage. Strength. These things you will need to endure the trials of life." He said. He held out her palm and with one quick movement he made a cut in Sakura's hand. She winced in pain as the blood flowed free. He closed her palm into a fist and the blood dropped into a bowl the elder had under his robes. "My clan will serve your strength and power."
The scorpions knelt before her and bowed respectfully. She'd only winced in pain. Not screamed or cried even though it hurt.
The whole time that happened Touya and Syaoran had wanted to leap in and protect her. One as a brother the other as a friend.
Finally the dragon clan's elder walked up to her. He motioned for her to stand up on the stool placed in front of her and held out the head piece.
"With this head piece you are crowned princess of the dragon clan and of all other clans. Respect the ways of our people as they honor you. Are you prepared to help your people young one?" He asked her seriously.
She looked straight up at him and said, "Yes."
"Are you ready to learn to be their guide?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to sacrifice for them?"
She took a deep breath. She was almost nine. She was only a little girl and the weight of the world was about to be placed on her shoulders. She wanted to run away. Give it to someone else but deep in her heart she knew this was her path.
"Yes."
He smiled and put the headpiece over her hair. It was in the shape of a dragon. It's eyes were a light shade of pink to match her aura. Its jaw went around the crown of her head and the body flowed down her hair almost half way down her back in ribbons.
Her clan bowed down to her. Only her family stayed sitting in their place. Her brother got up, wearing his own ceremonial robes and walked up to his sister and helped her down.
"Come sit with me." He said loudly. Then in a low whisper he said "Kaijuu."
She reminded herself this was not the place but he'd get his at dinner. She held his hand and they walked over to the thrones. He sat her down on the comfy chair that would be hers for the rest of her childhood and he sat next to her.
For a moment everyone stayed kneeling and then a loud cry was heard as they all celebrated the princess.
She was blushing furiously under her mask as everyone even her friends cheered for her new title. 'Princess of the seven clans.'
That was a lot to take in. She glanced over at her friends who were cheering and clapping like crazy. Even Meilin seemed happy.
She looked over at Syaoran and looked in shock. Was he? No he couldn't be. He was. He was smiling. It wasn't a really large smile. It was very small. Enough for her to notice as his eyes locked with hers. She blushed even more as did he and they turned away at the same time.
'He smiled at me.'
***
"Kaijuu aren't you a little old for that?" Touya asked when he saw her playing around with some of the other girls
He winced in pain when she stepped on his foot. She was not in the mood to argue with him or to be embarrassed.
"That's not fair." She said and then ran off to find her friends.
"You really have to stop that. Why do you always tease her?" Yukito asked putting a hand on his best friend's shoulder.
"She's my little sister. It's my job." He said. He then noticed the leaders of the clans walk into one of the libraries. "Damn it. They're going to talk about that stupid scroll."
"They still haven't been able to decipher it?"
"No. Not even in ten years. They get bits of it but then another part doesn't make sense. Clow Reed really did a good job in hiding his work."
"Yeah he did. I wonder what's in that scroll though." Yukito wondered as they walked to the balcony.
"To what my Otou-san said it's a prophecy. A really big one but no one can figure it out." Touya put his hands in his pockets.
"Hmm. That sounds very strange. Do you know any of it?"
"Only one part that stays in my mind."
"What's that?"
"Blood will turn white. Angels will fall from heaven. The chosen one will come again and the damned must prove his worth."
"That doesn't sound like something I want to encounter."
"Me neither. I wish I'd never found that scroll. I wish none of this was happening." He muttered looking at he moon.
"What do you mean?"
Touya sighed and looked up at his best friend.
"Sometimes I wish my family was normal. That there weren't in China. I wish we were in Japan. Like we used to be before Sakura was born. I wish that when she turns eighteen I didn't have to loose her to some jerk that won't know how to treat her."
"You want to be a commoner?" Yukito asked. Touya nodded.
"Especially for Sakura's safety you know. She wouldn't have to go through all of this. It would be easier."
"Well aren't you going to Japan when she turns fourteen?"
"Yeah. Till she turns eighteen we'll be living in Tomoeda. Then we have to come back for the tournament." He clutched his hand into a fist. "I wish we weren't descendents of Clow Reed."
"You don't mean that. Do you?"
"Sometimes I do. I'm not even Chinese. Neither are you. The only reason I'm somehow connected to him is because he married that Japanese woman and had their daughter."
"Do you know anything about that?" No one really remembered the stories about the woman or the daughter of Clow Reed.
"Not a lot. She had my sister's name. Ying Fa. They lived in Japan for a long time. Till she was about sixteen we think. Then they came back to China. They spent time in England too. That's all I know."
"You don't know what she looked like or anything like that. What happened to her?"
"No. Most of the art works have faded. All I've ever seen is a necklace she wears. There's a boy next to her. He's wearing what the wolves used to wear. They showed it in ancient history. It's almost like no one wanted us to see what they looked like."
"That's really strange."
"TOUYA!" Nakuru came running and attached herself into his arms. Touya made a disgusted face and tried to pry her off.
"Get off me." He breathed out. She was hugging him so tightly that it hurt.
"Hey Nakuru." Yukito said with a smile. She mumbled a response and turned her attention back to Touya.
"You must come and dance with me." She said. He shook his head and tried to ignore her but she continued to pull at his arm. "Please Touya. Come and dance. It will be fun."
He sighed as she dragged him out into the dance floor. Yukito laughed at the scene. Poor Touya was forced to dance with Nakuru and she was actually quite good at it. Though you could tell Touya was embarrassed. People constantly said she was his girlfriend by the way she attached herself to him.
He laughed when a slow balled went on and Nakuru made Touya hold her hip. He sighed and sat down.
'I wonder why the name Ying Fa sounds familiar to me.' He thought but suddenly saw the buffet being served. It was time to eat.
The men reentered the room and Fujitaka went to the head of the table. A separate table was set for the young children and the teenagers. Touya gratefully sat in his seat with Sakura at his side.
"Did you know that in our ancestors times they used to eat dragon instead of chicken? It was said to bring good luck to all present. Also it warded of bad spirits." Yamazaki said. Everyone who heard him stared in wonder. Was it true or was it a lie?
Yamazaki who could lie since the day he could talk sat there waiting for everyone to say something. Sakura and Syaoran were the first to fall for the lie along with everyone else.
"Stop lying. I've told you a million times that you shouldn't lie." Chiharu complained hitting him over the head.
"But."
"I said stop lying."
"Yes Chiharu." He muttered and started to eat. Everyone laughed at the display. Yamazaki and Chiharu had been engaged since they were five years old. Chiharu would constantly hit him over the head for lying and he still didn't get it.
Eriol patted his friend on the shoulder. It was a well known fact that when you put Eriol and Yamazaki in the same room they would burn the house down with a combined lie.
Sakura sweatdroped and started to eat. Beside her was Tomoyo. Beside Tomoyo were Syaoran and Eriol. On the other side Was Yukito. Nakuru. Rika. Naoko and Yu. The rest of the table went on and they ate in silence.
"So Sakura what do you think about going to Japan?" Yu asked. It was a well known fact that she would go in four years time and everyone wanted to know what she thought.
"I haven't thought about it." She said honestly. She really didn't think it would come to pass. She didn't want to leave her friends and relatives.
"You should. I mean in four years you'll go for special training and then after another four years you'll come back. Get to choose your husband." Yu knew he was stepping into rocky territory. Syaoran was staring secret daggers at him and Touya looked about ready to assassinate him.
"I don't get to choose." Sakura whispered. Her husband would be chosen for her by his strength.
"Don't worry Sakura. It's not like you'll be alone in Japan." Tomoyo reassured. It was true. The clans would split for the four years for different training. It was tradition. Tomoyo and her family had already agreed to go with them.
"Eriol you'll be going to England won't you?" Yukito asked. The ten year old nodded.
"Yes. Mother wants to go see her family. Father wanted to check on the estates there anyway."
Nakuru sniffed a little and then looked at Touya. "I'll miss you when I'm In England Touya."
He sweatdroped and thanked the gods for Yukito sitting next to him.
"Xiao Lang? You'll be staying here in China won't you?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah. In Hong Kong." He muttered while eating.
"I will be in Hong Kong as well." Yu said. Sakura gave a nod of acknowledgment but didn't' respond to him.
"I think Yamazaki got the best deal." Eriol said with a smirk. "He gets to spend half of the time in Japan and then the rest here in China."
"Tigers are allowed more movement. Besides With Chiharu going to Japan as one of Sakura's maidens I will need to protect her." He said brightly
Chiharu hit him hard over the head. "I don't need protecting. You're the one who needs it if you keep lying when I'm not around."
"I wonder what they're kids will be like." Naoko whispered to Rika. She giggled and whispered something back making both girls burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Sakura asked. Rika got up and went over to Sakura and Tomoyo. She then whispered into Tomoyo's ear and then Sakura's
Tomoyo started to giggle but Sakura didn't get it. Rika and Tomoyo sighed at her naivety.
"Hoe. I don't get it." She said. Sakura was well known for not getting 'certain' things.
"Sakura." Tomoyo sighed then leaned over and whispered something else. Sakura's eyes opened wide.
"HOE." She said loudly and then started to blush. The girls on the table started to laugh at her innocence.
"It's so kawaii." Chiharu said after Naoko explained the joke. Except she didn't say it was about them. "Sakura's so innocent."
"Kaijuu's are supposed to be innocent." Touya muttered and then winced when Sakura hit him in the shin.
"Stop it. You're not allowed to be mean to me today. I'm the princess now." Sakura said sticking her tongue out at her older brother.
"You're still a kaijuu. Princess or not." Touya said with a small smile. He really did love his sister.
The night continued with little incident. The topic about moving away was dropped and was not picked up for the rest of the night.
They'd worry about being separated when they needed to. For now they had to concentrate on the present.
What Sakura didn't know was that her past was about to come looking for her. Her present was about to get a lot stranger and her future was waiting for her.
***
"What's that noise?" Sakura whispered when she entered the private library. It was early morning and everyone was off training. She'd had her training an hour ago and was now bored. She'd considered calling Tomoyo but remembered that she was with the shark clan because something very important and strange had happened to Eriol. She'd wanted to be there.
She'd gone into the library to see if she could find something to read and had heard something coming from the library basement.
"Hoe." She whispered grabbing her staff from the wall. She crept towards the basement door and tried to stay quiet.
'Why isn't anyone ever here when something bad happens? I wonder what it could be? I hope it's not someone sent to kill us.' Her mind whimpered.
Opening the door she peaked inside. Her senses didn't feel anyone down there but she'd need to go take a look.
"Why me?" She whispered with a sigh.
She was now nine. Her birthday had been two months ago. (Nothing extremely out of the ordinary went on so I won't write about it.) Her training had been intensified and her mother made sure to teach her about the balance of fighting and proper manners.
"Ok Sakura. It's probably nothing. Just your imagination. It doesn't have an aura. Maybe it's just a ghost." She went pale. "A ghost. Oh Kami."
She walked down the dark steps. The dragon clan was well known for their exquisite designing for their rooms but Sakura knew that when it came to basements they weren't very glamour's. This basement was no exception. It was filled with all her fathers old books and scrolls.
Still a little nervous she looked around the room. It couldn't be a ghost. Could it?
"There are no ghosts. It's just your brother scaring you." The braver part of her said. She then lost the momentum and turned to leave. She stopped when she felt something from the shelf.
She started to look through the book shelves. She hadn't been in here before and she was now curious. These books were older than anyone could remember.
'Maybe Clow Reed and his family read from them.' Her mind wondered.
She put her staff on the old table and continued to walk, looking at the different books. Some were magical and some were just for reading.
She saw one that looked very old. She took it out and saw that it had been written by Clow Reed himself. She was very excited. Many of the books she read were by him but this was the first original copy she'd been allowed to hold.
"It's a story book." She said happily. She closed her eyes for a moment and thought what it would be like to have a group of children around you and your father and have them read to you.
'Where did that thought come from?' She asked herself.
Setting the book down she took another book from the shelf. She blew the dust off it and read the name. The Clow.
To her surprise the seal on the book opened immediately. She looked inside a little confused. Cards.
"Why would Clow Reed keep cards in a book?" She asked herself picking up the first card. 'Windy.' She read to herself. (I'd have them released but then it would take me too long.)
The book started to glow and she dropped it from shock.
"HOOEEEE!" She cried out when something started to come out of the book. The cards were all scattered on the floor and Sakura had grabbed her staff.
A small stuffed animal appeared in front of the wide eyed girl. She was trembling. Sure she had a bit of magic but this was unreal.
"'Yawn'. Thank you little girl." The creature said to the frightened girl.
Sakura suddenly grabbed the stuffed animal and pulled it around. She started to look for a battery slot or a charm.
"Where's the battery? Is it electronic? Maybe it's a possessed toy that used to belong to Clow Reed's daughter." She pondered through the possibilities till the little toy got himself free.
"I am not a stuffed animal." He said hotly. "I am Keroberus. Chosen guardian of the seal by Clow Reed himself."
Sakura started wide eyed at Keroberus. This was a guardian of the seal? This was so strange.
"Wait a minute. Ying Fa?" Keroberus asked. He smiled happily. "YING FA."
He jumped into her arms and hugged her as best he could. Now Sakura was very confused.
"I'm not Ying Fa. My name's Sakura." She corrected. Sure the name had the same meaning but it was HER name.
"What do you mean you're not Ying Fa. You look exactly like her. Same rare green eyes. Same hair. You even talk like Ying Fa. Or are you Ying Fa's daughter? I knew she was having a baby but I was sealed before it was born." He protested. She shook her head.
"No. I'm Kinomoto Sakura. I know someone named Ying Fa but she died a very long ago."
"Died? Has it been that long?" He said sadly. "Have I slept for all this time?"
"How long have you been asleep?" Sakura asked him.
"Thirty years. When did she die?" He asked quietly.
"I'm not sure. It was a very long time ago. Like a few centuries." She said innocently.
"It has been a long time. You must be her descendent." He said sadly. She looked at him for a moment.
"Well I am a descendent of Clow Reed. I don't know about Ying Fa. No one knows too much about her."
"They wouldn't. Clow Reed made sure that all documents about his family be kept secret. You look so much like her though." He said looking over Sakura.
"Thank you." She said with a blush. "Though I doubt I look that much like her."
"No you look exactly like her. Does anyone else in your family have green eyes?" Keroberus asked.
"No. It's really weird. I'm the only one in my family who has the green eyes. It's really rare."
Keroberus sighed and looked at the girl. "Kero."
"Excuse me?"
"You can call me Kero. Ying Fa used to call me that. You can call me that too."
"Oh arrigatou. You can call me Sakura." She said brightly.
'She IS Ying Fa, but if she's been dead for so long how can it be? A reincarnation. It has to be.'
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. I was just thinking. What clan are you from?"
"Oh I'm in the dragon clan." Sakura said proudly showing her head band.
"Yeah. What is your ranking? I want to be sure that you are related to Ying Fa Reed."
"Well I'm the princess of the seven clans." Sakura said showing him the special markings under her eye and the permanent scar on her palm.
"Yep you are the princess. It's a true honor to meet you Kinomoto Sakura." He said. She shook his paw.
"Pleased to meet you too Kero. I know this sounds strange but I feel like I've known you for so long. Even if we've only met."
"Yeah I get the same feeling." Kero said hovering closer to her. 'I can't tell her. I have to keep it a secret for now. Until Yue shows up. Then we can figure it all out.'
"So what are these cards?"
"These are the clow cards. Clow Reed created them a long time ago. Each card has it's own special talent and magical power. They're very powerful cards and it takes a very powerful sorcerer to control them. You really must have a lot of magic in you."
"I don't actually. I don't have a lot. Why do you say I do?"
"Because the seal could only be broken by someone with great magic. You must have a lot but you haven't found the outlet."
"Really?"
"I'm positive."
"Arrigatou. I appreciate that." She said with a smile.
"Listen we should go somewhere more comfortable. Besides I'm starved. Got anything to eat?"
With a giggle she nodded and picked up her staff and the book.
"Yeah. Come on I'll take you to the kitchens." She said walking up the stairs. She then stopped half way. "Wait I better not show you to anyone yet till we figure it all out and you tell me the whole story."
"Good idea."
***
"ERIOL IS WHAT?" Yang cried out when the elders gave her the news. They'd been doing magical tests on the boy for the last month when he'd started getting strange dreams.
"As I said mistress. Your son is part of the reincarnation of the great Clow Reed." The elder said calmly. Eriol sat on the floor with Tomoyo next to him.
"This is amazing." Shin said looking at his son. Yang ran to Eriol and grabbed him in her arms.
"Oh my baby." She sobbed. If he was the reincarnation. Even half, it would mean more training. More hardship for her precious baby boy.
"Love it isn't as if he's going to die." Shin tried to comfort her. It made some sense that Eriol was the reincarnation. He was part English and so was Yang. They also had Chinese in them. Eriol was a mix. Just like Clow.
"Don't you understand that now they'll try to take my baby away?" She wailed.
"No one will take me away mother." Eriol said hugging her. She was very protective of her only son. Her only child.
"This is a blessing Yang. Not a curse." Shin said soothingly. Tomoyo stood to one side watching the entire event.
"Don't you understand that he'll start gaining the past life's memories? They'll force him to." She said pointing to the elders. They all stayed quiet. She was right. They would try to get Eriol to remember Clow Reed's life.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean he'll suffer. He's so strong. He'll handle it." Eriol nodded in agreement with his father. His mother continued to hug him and sob.
"My poor baby." She cried out. She didn't' care what they said. It would be hard for him and she was going to protect him from any pain.
"Mother I can't breathe." Eriol chocked out when Yang's arms became too tight around him shutting off any oxygen to his lungs.
'Eriol? Why don't you take Tomoyo to the gardens and I'll try to calm your mother?' Shin whispered in his son's mind.
He nodded and kissed his mother's forehead.
"Maybe I should take Tomoyo somewhere else." He whispered.
"Yes of course. Take her away from this. While I speak to the elders." Yang said drying her ears. She let go of him and he took Tomoyo by the hand and they left.
After closing the door Eriol heard his mother cry out. "YOU WILL LEAVE MY BABY ALONE."
Eriol sweatdroped and saw Tomoyo looking at him strangely.
"What?" He asked. He was a little stunned to see her kneel in front of him. "Don't."
"Why? You are basically Clow Reed. I have to show my respect." She said quietly. He shook his head and helped her stand up.
"No you don't have to. It's still me Eriol. I don't want you to look at me as someone important. We're friends."
"So I can treat you like I always have?" She asked quietly. She really didn't' want to have to see him as someone else after all these years of friendship.
"Of course not. This is just a new part of me but you've been my friend for too long. I saw you when you were born. I would hate for us to change." He said passionately. "You, Xiao Lang, Sakura, Yukito, Rika, Yamazaki, Chiharu, Naoko and everyone else. I don't want things to change because of this. I would never accept it."
Tomoyo stared at him for a long time. He was afraid that she wouldn't want to hang around him anymore. If she the most beautiful girl that he knew couldn't accept him. What would that mean for everyone else?
She suddenly smiled at him and threw herself in his arms.
'You really are the greatest Eriol Hiirazigawa." She said into his neck. She'd really thought this would change everything but it was still the same old Eriol.
"Tomoyo. What will people think? They'll think your throwing yourself at me because I'm part of Clow Reed's reincarnation." He said with a big grin on his face. Yep same old Eriol.
"You baka." She said hitting him playfully.
"Oh yeah I was only joking. I know that you throw yourself at me because I'm charming, irresistible, handsome and of course very talented." He said with a slight bow.
She burst into laughter and shook her head.
"No. I don't throw myself at you. You know that." She said between giggles. Eriol pretended to be hurt and grabbed his chest.
"Tomoyo you hurt me. I thought you loved me." He exclaimed. That caused Tomoyo laugh harder.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you." She started to play along as they walked out into the gardens.
"But my love. I can't live without you. I need you to love me or I'm nothing." He exclaimed melodramatically.
"I tell you that I cannot return your love. My father forbids us to be together." She said just as dramatically.
"We can run away. Anywhere I need you by my side my lady." He said grabbing her and pulling her into his arms.
"I cannot." She protested and tried to get herself out of his arms. He held her closer and whispered.
"Love I can't live without you." His voice was low and husky.
"Even if I do love you. I can't be with you." She whispered back. She then burst into laughter just as Eriol pretended to kiss her. "You're a very good actor."
"As are you miss Tomoyo." He said using the pet name he had for her.
"When do you think you'll tell everyone?"
"About the new talent I possess?" She nodded. "I suppose I'll tell my cute descendent. Hmm where did that come from?"
"I don't know but I'm guessing you're talking about Xiao Lang." Tomoyo said smiling.
'Yes. Syaoran." He said with a chuckle.
"Syaoran." Tomoyo repeated laughing. "I think Sakura likes him."
"Ah young Sakura might just like him as a friend. Like us."
"No I think she LIKES him." Tomoyo insisted.
"Perhaps, but I must tell him first. Then Sakura and then everyone else. That is if my clan wishes it so."
"True. They might only tell the dragon clan. So that you're safe from anything else." Tomoyo then got starry eyed. "Why don't you tell Sakura and Xiao Lang anyway? They are our closest friends. They do have the right."
"What do you have planned?" He asked knowing her too well.
"Nothing. Just a get together at Sakura's house. Tomorrow." Eriol nodded. "I'll get to tape it."
"Yes Tomoyo." He said with a sweatdrop. He had to admit she was pretty cute when she acted this way. Ok now where did that come from?
***
"Oh no." Sakura exclaimed as she set down the phone. "Tomoyo, Eriol and Syaoran are coming over tomorrow."
"Who are they?" Kero asked munching into his pudding. They'd been talking for an hour and Sakura had been telling the little guardian about her life.
"They're my best friends. Tomoyo is from the snake clan. Eriol is from the shark clan and Syao-kun is from the wolf clan."
"Wolf clan ay. Fang was from the wolf clan." Kero said out loud. "Though I didn't meet him till he was seventeen."
"Fang?" Sakura asked curiously. The name suddenly sounded familiar.
"Yeah. Fang. He was Ying Fa's husband. Tough guy. He was the leader of the wolf clan. Maybe Syaoran is related to him."
"Maybe. How is the wolf clan related to Clow Reed?" Sakura asked refilling his tea.
"They're related by his mothers side. The sharks are related by Clow's father side. I don't really remember the rest. Though the snake clan has a significance." He said sipping his tea.
"What was he like?" Her curiosity was getting the best of her but she wanted to know about her ancestors. It wasn't every day that you found someone who knew them personally.
"He was a very kind person. It was rare to see a frown on his face. He loved children. He was the most powerful magician of his time He was very understanding. Though he liked to play a few pranks on people."
"That sounds like two people I know." Sakura said.
"You never know. Someone might be his reincarnation." Kero said
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really. You never know who you've seen in your past lives. That's the theory. Expect the unexpected."
"I wish I had a past life." Sakura sighed. Kero looked at her with his black eyes and gave a crooked smile.
'You just might." Sakura brightened. "You just have to find out."
"How do I do that?"
"Uh. I don't know actually. Clow's books might be able to tell you though." He did know but he could feel that it wasn't time yet.
"Well that will take a while. Oh well. I'll try to look it up later. It's really late now and I doubt that I could do any reading."
"Yea. I like your room by the way." Kero commented.
"I like it. Though I'll have to give it up soon." She sighed.
"Why?"
"When I turn fourteen I have to go away. Back to Japan where my parents were born."
"Then you come back and you have to get married?"
"Yes."
"Who you going to choose?" Sakura looked at him shocked.
"I don't get to choose. I have to marry the one who wins the tournament."
"Wow things have changed." Kero muttered. "Before you spent ten years in the country your mother was born in. Then you'd come back to your clan and you were allowed to choose who you thought was worthy."
"Yeah things have changed. We spend four years away then we come back and they'll hold a tournament. The winner will get to marry me and have control over all the clans."
"That's rough. I don't understand how it could change. Clow wouldn't approve of it. He'd want the princess to be able to have control over her life." He said. "Hey what about your brother? Wouldn't he get control of all seven clans?"
"No. He gets control of the dragon clan. His choice. He said he felt I was the one. I don't know why."
"He must think very highly of you."
Touya's a pain sometimes but I know he loves me. I love him too." She said. "We fight but I know he really cares for me. Even if he doesn't show it."
"All brothers do. So tomorrow I meet your friends?"
"Is it a good idea?"
"Well you'll have to tell them eventually. Besides it's not good to keep secrets between friends."
"You're right. I'll introduce them to you tomorrow. After Eriol says what he wants to tell me and Syao-kun."
"Hey I've noticed that you always call the Syaoran guy that. Why?"
"It's a story they tell me. When I was born my umbilical cord got caught around my throat and my brother helped deliver me. They let Syaoran in and when they said what I was going to be called he tried to say it but he couldn't. It came out as Saku. Ever since he's called me that and I call him Syao-kun."
"Ah. I don't know but he sounds like a gaki to me." Kero said. She'd spoken about him a few times.
"He is not a gaki. He's a good friend. Even if he is cold."
"Yeah. His girlfriend doesn't seem so hot either."
"Meilin is not his girlfriend. It's just a promise they made when they were little. If he finds his true love she has to let him go." Sakura said logically. Though she wasn't sure if she was telling Kero or herself.
"That them?" He asked looking at a picture on her wall. He floated over to it. It was full of people
"Yeah. We're in the front row. We're all wearing our ceremonial robes so it isn't hard to figure out who's who."
Kero looked at the picture closely. Eriol wore blue, Tomoyo wore purple, Meilin wore green with hints of red, and Syaoran/Xiao Lang wore pure green. Kero stopped and looked closely at Syaoran.
'It can't be. It is.' He thought to himself. He looked back to Sakura then at the picture. 'This is what Clow meant.'
"When was this picture taken?" Kero asked as Sakura got changed into her night clothes.
"Last year. At a picnic." She said walking up to him fully changed.
"Oh. I remember our picnics. Lots of food. Lots of games for the children. They were nice times." Kero said.
"It's like that with us too. See not everything has changed."
"But everything has changed at the same time." Kero said looking at the machine Sakura had called a TV.
"Do you want to watch something? Or maybe play a video game?" Sakura offered showing him the consol.
"Sure. I like new things."
"Good luck. I'm going to go say goodnight to everyone. Stay here."
"Ok."
She walked out of the room and Kero looked at the TV then at the consol he followed the instructions and started to play.
"Hey this isn't too bad."
***
"HOOOOEEEEEE!" The sound of the young princess's panicked awakening could be heard by most of the people in the mansion. Including Tomoyo, Eriol and Syaoran who had just entered the house.
"She's late again." Tomoyo giggled. Syaoran rolled his eyes and Eriol chuckled.
"Hiirazigawa why did you drag us here? Why couldn't you just tell us over the phone." Syaoran asked using Eriol's last name. Something he did when he was particularly annoyed.
"Because my cute little descendent it wouldn't be fair for me to tell you that way."
"Would you stop calling me that? I think you've finally lost it." Syaoran said with a scowl when Sakura ran down the stairs.
"I'm so sorry. I slept in. Come on. We'll talk in my room." She panted and led her friends upstairs. (Remember she lives in a very large mansion. Can you imagine running all the way to the hall?)
They all went upstairs and Sakura sat down nervously on her bed. Kero was hiding with some of the stuffed animals.
"So Eriol. What did you want to tell us that you couldn't say over the phone?" Syaoran asked sitting down on his personal seat. Yes he had his own seat.
"Well I'm glad you're all sitting down. Yesterday after extensive tests and mystical venturing I found something out."
"What?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Well it seems that I'm part of the reincarnation of Clow Reed." He said calmly. Sakura and Xiao Lang stared at him for a moment with their mouths wide open.
"Hiirazigawa you better not be lying about this." Syaoran said with a glare. If his best friend was pulling a trick on him he'd need to reconsider their agreement of not hurting each other.
"Come on Xiao Lang. We've known each other for how long? Since we were only months old? Do you honestly believe that I would lie to you of all people about something like this? On the oath of our friendship I swear I'm telling the truth."
He pondered over the question. It was true they'd known each other their whole lives. Sure they had their arguments and could sometimes go weeks without saying a word to each other and still be able to play together.
Syaoran nodded. It was impossible for Eriol to lie about something this big. On the oath of their friendship he wouldn't dare.
"This is really weird." Sakura muttered. Kero was struggling to stay still. He had just heard that Eriol. The boy in the picture with the glasses was part of the reincarnation of his master.
"My mother almost had a heart attack." Eriol said. Everyone. Even Syaoran laughed at that. "She wouldn't let me go for the rest of the afternoon. Wouldn't let anyone get near me either."
"Poor aunty Yang. She loves you so much Eriol. How can you blame her for it?" Tomoyo said. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Saku-chan? Are you alright you seem a little distracted." Syaoran said looking over at Sakura. Who was looking over at Kero, who was having trouble staying still.
"Actually I have something to tell you guys too." She said quietly. She got off the bed and went to her bedside drawer.
"What is it Sakura?" Tomoyo asked worriedly. Sakura opened the bottom drawer and took out the book of Clow. She sighed and showed it to everyone.
"What's that?" Syaoran asked. He couldn't see it properly.
"I'll let someone else explain it." She said. Then turning to the stuffed animals. "Kero. You can come out now."
"Kero?" Everyone said together. Who was Kero?
A small stuffed animal emerged from the pile and everyone was stunned. He floated over to sakura and landed on her shoulder.
"Hi." It said. Everyone fell over anime style.
"Sakura what is that?" Syaoran said pointing at the stuffed animal sitting on Sakura's shoulder.
"Everyone this is Keroberus but he said to call him Kero." She introduced. "Kero this is Tomoyo, Eriol and Syaoran."
"Sakura. How?" Tomoyo asked. She took out her video camera and started to film. Everyone sweatdroped and Syaoran wondered how she always managed to bring it along.
"Well I was in one of the basements in the library and well I found this book and the seal broke and well Kero popped out."
"I'm Keroberus. Guardian beast of the Clow cards." He said proudly.
"Clow cards? The ones Clow Reed created?" Eriol asked. It wasn't usually talked about. It was considered a myth since they went missing centuries ago.
"The very same." Kero said complacently and the book started to float in front of them.
Clow Reed left a stuffed animal in charge of the clow cards?" Syaoran asked skeptically. Kero growled and transformed into his true form.
"You want to say that to my face you little gaki?" He growled. His body pined down on the boy.
"Kero!" Sakura exclaimed. Tomoyo stood there shocked. Eriol just blinked a few times then grinned. Suppi could also transform so he wasn't that surprised. Also he felt as if he'd seen this too many times. With that he chuckled.
"What is it Eriol?" Tomoyo asked as Sakura tried to get Kero off the struggling little wolf.
"Nothing. I just started to remember something." He said cryptically.
"Like what?"
"This has happened before." Eriol said. He had started getting visions of his past life and it was becoming clearer as the day went on. He'd been having these memories for the last two months but he'd passed them off as dreams. Now that he knew what they were he paid close attention.
"I don't understand Eriol." Sakura said once she got Kero off the splattered Syaoran.
"Just, I remembered something. Kero jumping on a boy." He said with a chuckle.
"Yeah. Fang." Kero mumbled. Everyone looked at him curiously. "Clow Reed's son-in-law."
"Kero could you tell us about them?" Sakura asked sitting back on her bed.
"I'm sorry Sakura. I don't really remember that much. It will take time." Kero lied. Eriol eyed him carefully.
'You're lying.' He whispered in the beasts mind.
'I have to. As part of Clow Reed you must understand.'
'Yes of course.'
'Clow ordered me to protect her. Yue will be here soon. I'll explain it all to you tonight.'
***
"So I guess I better start." Kero said as he stood on the hill top. He was looking up at the full moon and then back at Eriol, Spinel sun and Ruby moon.
"It's the best place to start." Eriol said. After being at Sakura's house a flood of memories had crashed down on him and he's collapsed from exhaustion. He now knew so much about his past that it had alarmed him. How could so much have happened?
"Ying Fa was Clow Reed's daughter. Sakura is her reincarnation. I don't know how to explain it but she is. I remember her so well and Sakura is exactly the same. The clow cards will only obey a person from the Clow blood line. So that means Sakura, the gaki and you."
"So in a way Sakura is my daughter?" Eriol asked sitting down next to the guardian beast."
"Yeah. I guess in a way she is. There's a lot of danger coming. I know you can sense it."
"What of this Yue?" Spinel sun asked.
"He'll appear when he's ready to appear. He has a human form. I haven't been able to sense him though."
"You're not very good as a guardian then." Ruby moon muttered. Kero gave her a growl but ignored her.
"You can't tell anyone about this. I don't know what will happen. Only Clow knew. Which means only you will know."
"A prophecy." Eriol suddenly said out of the blue.
"Master what do you mean?" Spinel asked.
"I remember a prophecy. A curse. I can't remember the detail. I just know it's important."
"Don't worry kid. You have four years to figure it out. After then the clock starts ticking."
"Sakura's engagement." He sighed.
"And yours." Ruby muttered very softly. He raised an eyebrow at her but let it pass. This wasn't the time.
"So what now?"
"Now we wait."
***
Ugh. I didn't like the end of that chapter but for almost thirty pages it's not that bad. Sorry it's taken so long but I've just been lazy. I promise I'll write a little faster.
Well please remember to review and I'll keep writing.
Love ya all.
Kang