Disclaimer: The only thing I do own is the idea for this story, which is not intended for profit.
Notes: Konnichiwa! ^.^ I usually don't split my fics into chapters, but decided to for this one for now. Though it may seem like it, I did not make up a new Clow Card or "bad guy" for this story. Fall Out of Darkness takes place around the beginning-middle of the third series when Eriol arrived. I'm trying my best to keep everyone in character, but it is hard since I have never actually watched the original anime, so please forgive any mistakes. It wasn't originally going to be S+S, but how could I resist? I will hopefully finish and put up the other parts soon, but I am busy with schoolwork, etc.
Yes, I know the prologue was rather short, I hope this is a fairly decent size. I am not sure how many chapters there will be, but I'm guessing at least three or four. I'd like to thank Neohowler and Rinoa Heartilly for giving it a review. Please, if you like or dislike this chapter, I would appreciate it a lot if you write a review. Arigatou!
Fall Out of Darkness – Chapter One
Gaining speed, Sakura flew around the corner. She came to a stop and sighed in disappointment, Yukito wasn't there. A drop of rain splashed on her nose, she looked up at the sky. Large dark clouds had moved in, threatening to pour. Sakura wrapped her arms around herself as her dream flashed back to her. Instantly wanting to be away from there and inside her classroom with her friends, she began to skate as fast as she could toward her school.
"Good morning Sakura-chan."
"Good morning Tomoyo-chan!"
From behind Syaoran watched her intensely with a serious expression. Sakura turned around and smiled, "Good morning Li-kun." He blushed and mumbled a reply, temporarily forgetting the strange feeling that had been bothering him since he had woken up this morning. Clueless, Sakura only smiled brightly as Tomoyo and Eriol exchanged an amused, knowing glance.
"Konnichiwa minna, please take your seats so we can begin." Everyone settled down as Terada-sensei entered the classroom. Sakura thought she saw he and Rika look at each other for a moment with faint blushes, but decided she was simply imagining things.
He began to teach their lesson, Sakura listened with interest when suddenly she watched in awe as a single Nadeshiko pedal appeared from no where and fluttered onto her desk. It shimmered beautifully; no one else seemed to notice it. After a moment of hesitation, she reached over and touched it. Sakura felt a strange sensation; she slowly began to drift away towards the voice of someone asking her to follow them.
"Sakura!" Syaoran's startled cry directed everyone's attention to Sakura whose eyes closed as she fell out of her desk and slid to the floor without a sound.
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"Sakura-san…"
Sakura blinked, she stood wondering what had happened to her classroom. Everything was hazy and made her shiver, but this time she did not feel afraid. "Am I dreaming again?" She wondered softly out loud.
"I guess you could say that…"
Sakura searched for the source of the familiar, gentle voice. A beautiful woman with long flowing hair appeared surrounded by a warm light. "…Okaa-san?"
She smiled, "Yes Sakura-san, it is me." Nadeshiko took her daughter's hands in hers. "I have been watching over you since you were three, but I haven't been able to communicate with you until now."
Sakura's eyes shone with happiness, speechless at first at seeing her mother in front of her. "I'm so happy to see you Okaa-san! I do not remember very well since I was so young, but Otou-san has told us so much about you. I knew you were beautiful from all your pictures, but I had never imagined just how beautiful. I can't believe you're here, there are so many things I wish to tell you."
Nadeshiko laughed at Sakura's cute excited and bubbly gushing continued. She wished to talk longer but she knew she must hurry and do what she had come to do. "I'm afraid I don't have much time, I've come to warn you Sakura-san."
"Warn…? Warn me of what?"
Her smile faded. "I can not prevent it from happening, however I can help to slightly change your fate."
"I'm sorry Okaa-san, I do not understand."
"All I can tell you is to always remember that you are strong and have many people that love you. It's going to be hard, but I feel that everything will be alright." She hugged Sakura, "Please take care."
Still confused, Sakura hugged her mother back, wishing she could stay longer. "Will I be able to see you again?"
Nadeshiko smiled lovingly and lifted Sakura's chin. "I don't think I will be able to return like this, but I will always be by yours, Touya-san's, and your father's side. I must leave now, don't forget what I've told you. She began to disappear, "Goodbye Sakura-san, I love you…"
"Goodbye…" Sakura whispered, but she was now holding onto nothing but air.
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Oh, Sakura-chan! Are you all right??"
She could hear low murmurs as many concerned faces appeared above her. Tomoyo hugged her worriedly, feeling very relieved she was okay. Sakura tried to sit up as she realized where she was. "Tomoyo-chan? What's going on?"
"You gave everyone quite a scare. Suddenly you just fell from your seat as if you had fainted. Li-kun caught you in time, but you weren't responding and we got really worried. Are you not feeling well?"
Sakura looked at her teacher and other classmates who were most likely waiting for her to tell them what had happened. She didn't want to tell them the truth, they would probably just think she was making it up or had only been dreaming or imagining things. "No… I don't think I'm sick, I guess I must have been very tired." Sakura wasn't a very good liar, Tomoyo knew there was something else by her voice and the far away look in her eyes.
Terada-sensei examined her closely. "Are you sure Kinomoto-san? Maybe Daidouji-san should take you to the nurses office."
She started to decline, but nearly fell over again feeling dizzy. Sakura allowed Tomoyo to help her up and support her as they began to walk out of the classroom. As they passed Syaoran, she gave him a weak smile to try and assure him she was fine. Sakura was surprised when she saw him smile back; maybe she really did need to lie down.
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"How are you feeling Sakura-chan?"
Just having woken from a short nap, Sakura looked like her usual energetic and happy self. "I'm feeling fine Tomoyo-chan, rest was just what I needed!"
Tomoyo smiled, happy that Sakura was no longer tired or dizzy. "That's great, I'm sure everyone will be relieved. Sakura smiled back brightly at her friend. "If you don't mind me asking, what really happened at school?"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth earlier, but there were too many people around. It wasn't because I was tired, during class a flower petal suddenly appeared. No one else could see it, so I touched it and was brought into a dreamlike state, which is why I fainted. It was so wonderful Tomoyo-chan! I got to meet my mother. She is so kind and beautiful, I wish we could have spent more time together but she had to leave. She said she came to give me a warning…"
Kero who had been half-listening from the other side of the bed quickly turned his attention toward them. "A warning? What kind of warning Sakura?"
Sakura paused in thought, "I can't remember exactly… something about helping change my fate and to remember that I am strong."
He frowned, "First the dream and then a warning from your mother? This doesn't sound too good…"
Tomoyo noticed the scared look on Sakura's face and quickly tried to comfort her. "It's alright, if anything does happen, you know that your mother will protect you, as will all of us."
Her expression eased, but Kero's did not. Tomoyo stood up smiling; "Looks like you have a visitor."
"A visitor?" Sakura joined Tomoyo's at the window where Syaoran stood outside, seeming to be deciding whether he should knock on the door or run away. "Li-kun!" She waved happily at him; "We'll be right out!"
Tomoyo couldn't help but laugh as Syaoran's face reddened. She had seen him follow them here while she helped Sakura home. He had been hiding behind trees trying not to be seen for about forty-five minutes as he tried to get himself to approach her front door. She followed Sakura downstairs and outside to where he was waiting, still looking a little embarrassed.
"Konnichiwa Li-kun, how long have you been here?"
He flushed again mumbling, "Only a few minutes…"
"Shouldn't you be at school?" Tomoyo continued, already knowing why he was here.
"Well… I… came to see if Kinomoto-chan was alright."
"You were worried about me?"
Before Syaoran could respond, Tomoyo jumped in. "I have to leave now, I'll see you both tomorrow." Her limo had drove down the road with perfect timing; she waved and got inside. She wished she could tape them together, but she didn't want to ruin a perfect opportunity. Waving again and smiling a tad devilishly, Tomoyo watched them out the back window for as long as she could as the limo drove away.
They watched her in silence for a moment. Syaoran looked at her; "It's good that you're okay now… Is there something bothering you?" She opened her mouth to tell him about her dream and the warning from her mother, but stopped when she noticed Touya glaring at them from his bedroom window. "This isn't exactly the best place to talk… do you want to go to park?"
He nodded, taking Sakura's hand and pulling her quickly behind him. Syaoran tried to hide a blush when he became aware of how warm her hand was in his. Touya looked ready to jump through the window to kill him. Syaoran sweatdropped, quickening his pace eager to get away from his murderous expression, and to go somewhere where they could be alone to talk.
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Preview of Chapter Two:
"Sakura, wait!" Syaoran felt a knot of dread in his stomach as he ran after her. He had tried to ignore it earlier, but now it had come back stronger than ever. He began to run faster afraid to let her out of his sight; he needed to protect her. Syaoran could sense something terrible was going to happen very soon, Sakura was in danger.
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