When Day Fades To Night
By: Satashi
Part Two
~**~
Eriol rode to school on his bike, just like every morning that day. His long ponytail was braided halfway, and he let the rest flow in the breeze. He was wearing his smaller framed glasses instead of his usual contacts. He still liked the way his glasses gave him the intelligent look. Nothing out of the ordinary happened then. It was at school when the first thing went wrong.
~**~
Eriol looked around for his favorite playmate/victim when he got in the room, but noticed he wasn't there. Not really paying attention, he sat in his desk and waited for something to happen. Tomoyo walked in by herself that morning and sat in front of him. This gave Eriol slight disappointment. She could at least say 'hi' to him or something.
~**~
Lunch break was when he started to feel something weird. He couldn't sense Sakura or Syaoran's aura. This bothered him greatly. If they had no aura that meant they were either dead or far away. Very, very far away. He decided to talk to Tomoyo to confirm this. He found her eating by herself under a shade tree.
"Miss Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo looked up at Eriol. "Oh, Eriol-kun. Please, have a seat." She patted the grass beside her and Eriol sat down happily.
"Nice weather today." He stated calmly, observing the sky.
"Un. Kinda makes me wish Sakura was here with me."
"Do you know where they are?"
"They?"
Eriol nodded. "Sakura-san and Li-kun."
Tomoyo shook her head. " I didn't know Li-kun was gone as well. I got a call from Kero-chan today. He wanted to know if Sakura-chan was over at my house."
"Ah... I feel like something is happening. Let's go to Sakura-san's house after school, okay Miss Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo nodded and smiled. "You can stop with the pet name now."
Eriol actually blushed. "Gomen."
~**~
"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo called out at the door, knocking. "You home?"
Touya answered the door and glared at the two teenagers. "What do you two want?"
Eriol frowned. This guy just radiated evil energy. "Where is Sakura-san?"
"I don't know, and I could really use that information myself." He glared at them. "Where would they go?"
"Hong Kong..."
Eriol gasped and turned to Tomoyo. Her eyes were glazed and she had a spaced out look on her face. "Miss Tomoyo!" He shook her lightly. "Snap out of it!"
Tomoyo blinked, regaining her senses. "Huh?"
Eriol grimaced. He made a stupid mistake of forgetting she had no way to block mind reading.
Touya snarled. "Hong Kong.... The Holy card no doubt." He began to think aloud. "I can't leave here. I need someone to go for me in my place...." He looked at Eriol and grabbed his shirt collar, bringing him up to his face. "You'll do just nicely."
"Oh, I'm no one you want, really." Eriol said, placing his trademark innocent smile on his face.
"I'm sure you have more than enough magical power for me to enjoy." Touya pulled back his fist and punched Eriol straight in the face, breaking his glasses and causing blood to come from his nose.
"Please, I really don't want to fight any more..." Eriol pleaded, regretting he had lost more than half his powers. Another punch to his face made him fall back. "I really don't like fighting. I--" his eyes went wide in shock as Touya lifted up Tomoyo and glared at her. Eriol could practically see the black aura fading into her.
He snapped.
"Leave her alone!" He roared, clenching his right fist and making a bo staff appear in it. Before Touya could blink, he found the staff smack in his cheek, making him fly into the house and crash against the wall.
Kero came down just then. "Nani!? What's the racket?!"
"Kero-chan!" Tomoyo shrieked just as she regained her composer. "Behind!"
Kero turned, but was still engulfed in a pure black mist. Several screams came from his mouth, but he couldn't fight it off. "To Strong!" He yelled, felling his false form start to lose it. "Go get Sakura! Tell her--" His voice cut off completely.
Eriol's mouth hung open when he saw Touya. His body was limp, but standing, and a shadowy figure was surrounding it. The shadow's hands held Kero, infusing it with black energy.
"Kero-chan!"
Eriol set his face determined and grabbed Tomoyo's wrist. "Come on, lets get out of here!"
"But, but!"
"No time!" Eriol yelled at her. "Now!" He ran and jumped the fence, pulling Tomoyo behind her.
~**~
"Eriol-kun.... how could you....?"
Eriol paces his house. "Whatever it was could not only 'a' Make me lose my cool. 'b' make me draw my staff. 'c' hurt me. 'd' Read your mind. 'e' Possess Touya, but he could also 'f' take over Kero's body! Isn't that a good reason to run?" He looked over at Tomoyo and softened his voice. Slowly he walked over to her and knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'll find out what's going on. Don't worry, we'll find Sakura-san and Li-kun and bring them back here." He closed his fist. "Even if I have to fight again to do it." He smiled at her. "Okay?"
Tomoyo sniffed and wiped her tears. "O- Okay..."
Eriol smiled once again and stood up. "Hong Kong.... I'm sure that was
the first thing you thought when Touya mentioned Li-kun so that's why you
said it." He offered her his hand. "Let's start there."
~*back to the present*~
Sakura sniffed. "Kero-chan...."
Syaoran place his hand on her head and rubbed it gently. " It'll be okay. Kero is stronger than that. I'm sure he's free of Touya's control already."
Sakura nodded, but sniffed again."Please don't refer to him as Touya..."
Syaoran nodded slowly. "I'm sorry. Okay. The Evil card then."
The door opened just then, revealing Syaoran's mother. "Have you decided what to do?"
Syaoran slid from his place on the windowsill and stood. "Yes. I need the Holy Card."
"Holy...." His mother looked confused. "But that card was taken from us several years ago. Don't you think we would have given it to you when you first left?"
Syaoran restrained himself from face-faulting. "What!?"
"Try the library. You'll find a clue there, won't you?"
Collective sighs rang from the group and Syaoran placed his head against the wall. "If I read too many words in a row I get sleepy...."
~*Several hours later*~
"This is it!" Eriol stated, slamming the book down onto the table. "Guys, look here." He pointed and began to read aloud, Chinese at first, but soon switched to Japanese when Sakura gave him a pleading look. " A magical card with great powers was taken from the Li family treasure during an attack. The card has been traced to a bandit hideout, but was later lost again in a raid. Sources say it was buried in a tomb along with the old king Radenshi!"
"All right." Tomoyo said happily, placing two maps down. "This is an old map, and here is a new one." She ran her fingers along them. "Here is the tomb." She pointed to the right map. "Compare it to a new map and...." Her face fell. " It's right under some police building."
Syaoran hit his head in his hands. "You mean the same building that burned just two nights ago?" He held up an old paper that read 'Old ruins found under Police Department after a fire.'
Tomoyo sighed. "That would be the one."
"Fuck!"
Sakura kicked Syaoran's chair legs, and because he was already leaning back, the force caused him to fall and hit his head rather hard on the floor.
"Gomen, GOMEN!"
"That's more like it." She said down at him, half angry, half saddened by this new information.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait...." Eriol stammered, skimming the pages of the newspaper some more. "Check this out." He began to read. "A card was recovered from the ruins, un hurt from the flames. It is now being held at a museum. It will be shipped to England soon ,though."
"Looks like we gotta work fast." Syaoran said, getting up. "Let's go."
"Li-kun." Eriol began, giving him an innocent but serious look. "This paper is a few days old. It would of probably been shipped by now."
"Then we split up." He replied, getting angry at Eriol for giving him such a look. "You and Tomoyo got to England and search. Sakura and I will head to this museum and see what we can find."
".......that does sound logical."
"Of course."
"Save your ego, Li-kun." Tomoyo interrupted with her sweet voice. "You both did great thinking of this."
Syaoran looked hurt at first, but decided that Tomoyo would never diss him on purpose. "Call if you find anything."
Tomoyo nodded. "You too."
"Right."
The group split up and started to walk away.
~**~
"Are you sure it is safe to split up?" Sakura asks as she watches Syaoran pack his stuff into a bag. They were in his room now, throwing together some stuff that he thought they might need.
"Positive." Syaoran replied, zipping up his backpack. "It is obvious from the attack this morning that the Evil card is trying to stop us from obtaining the Holy card." He gave her a grin. "The museum we are going to is two days away from here. If it is not there, then Hiiragizawa-kun will have a head start on the Card. If it is there, then Hiiragizawa-kun's flight will throw the Evil card off."
"In addition you just don't like Eriol-kun." Sakura added, giving him a disapproving look. " He did save your life today."
"......." Syaoran stood up and set his pack on his back. "Let's go. I still need to see my mother."
Sakura sighed, but nodded anyway. "Hai, hai."
~**~
"Be careful.." Ashley told Syaoran, giving him a hug. "And take care of Sakura."
Syaoran blushed lightly, but nodded when he saw that Sakura didn't hear that.
"Syaoran." The boy turned to his mother and offered her an encouraging smile. "Your sword broke today, didn't it?" His face fell, but his mother stepped forward and took his right hand. She placed a golden bracelet on his wrist and smiled at him. "This is the second Li family treasure. It will protect you."
The young boy nodded and gave his mother a hug. "I'll be back before you know it. Nothing that card sends at me can stop me."
"I hope so..."
~**~
"Good-bye." Jessica called to Sakura as she sat on the back of Syaoran's motorcycle.
"Bye you guys!" She called back happily.
" Better hang on." Syaoran warned.
"Oh I'm sure I'll be okay." Syaoran revved his bike and took off. His passenger would have been thrown off, but she grabbed a hold of him just in time to prevent that from happening. "Hoeee... Don't do that!"
Syaoran chuckled. "I warned you." He felt his hair flap in the breeze. They weren't wearing helmets, but neither really cared. Both knew they could activate the shield card if anything was going to happen.
Sakura held her arms around Syaoran's waist and turned her hold on him into a hug when she thought she could get away with it. She could always blame it on her first time being on a motorcycle. After a while she felt her cheek rest against his thin shirt and onto his back. She let her hands loosen slightly around him and enjoyed being so close to him. Syaoran, on the other hand, was trying to concentrate on the road instead of the honey-blond girl behind him.
"It'll be a few hours before we can stop... I wouldn't recommend going to sleep unless you think you won't fall off..."
"I'll be okay until we stop!" She replied.
Syaoran winced and chuckled lightly. "I can hear you just fine. You don't have to yell." He turned and gave her a grin.
"G-gomen!"
"It's all right."
They drove a two more hours in silence before Sakura spoke up again. "You think Kero-chan is okay?"
"Yes, Kero is fine."
".....What about Oni-chan?"
"Touya will be fine as soon as we get the Holy card."
Sakura gripped him slightly tighter. "Arigato... for helping me with all this."
"Hey..... I'd do anything for you." He whispered softly into the wind.
"Eh? I couldn't hear you."
Syaoran shook his head lightly. "Nothing. Forget it.... Hey, wanna stop and get dinner?"
"Un!"
"Yosha!" He revved the engine and cut a corner rather sharp.
~**~
Eriol boarded the plane with Tomoyo behind him. When they got to their seats, he let out a sigh and sunk into the chair. "I can't believe I'm doing this."
Tomoyo sat down next to him and patted his leg. "Because you didn't want me to tell Syaoran about your little prank, that's why."
Eriol's attitude just brightened. "Ah yes. Removing all of Sakura's underwear from her suitcase was quite fun indeed."
"Sakura-chan's!?" Tomoyo gasped. "You said Li-kun!"
Eriol looked out the window. "Oh? Did I?" An evil grin came to his face and Tomoyo started to hit his back, not affecting him in the least.
~**~
"I'm stuffed." Sakura said happily as she laid back in her chair. "I couldn't eat another bite..."
Syaoran snagged some chicken off her plate with his chopsticks and quickly put it in his mouth. "Good."
"Hoe!" Sakura sat up and stuffed some more food in her mouth. "I need energy for the road to, you know!" She said between mouthfuls.
"That is my energy your eating there!" Syaoran protested, grabbing more food.
"I'm a growing girl!"
"At this rate you'll bust everywhere but your bust!" That one earned him a face full of rice. Syaoran dropped his chopsticks and let the bowl of rice fall from his face. "Orrrrroooo..."
~**~
"This is our room?" Sakura looked around after dropping her bags at the door. It was a semi small room. A bathroom to the immediate left of the door, enough space to walk in, two beds, a dresser, TV, and a night stand between the beds. A typical hotel room.
"Hope you don't mind. I don't have that much money."
Sakura blinked. "Didn't your mother give you a credit card?"
"Yeah, but I don't want to use it unless I have to."
"Ah." Sakura sat on the far bed and flipped on the TV. "Hey, Syaoran, your on TV!"
"Eh?" Syaoran dropped his bags and kicked the door closed behind him. Sakura turned up the volume so they could hear.
"...The future leader of the Li clan, Syaoran Li, has just arrived home last night." The TV showed a scene of the dance. " A dance was thrown in honor of the 'prince' and during the first song he chose a pretty young lady to dance with.." Scenes of Sakura and Syaoran dancing. "It got quite hot midway though." The couple kept getting closer and closer on the screen. "Sources tell me that Syaoran met the young lady when he went to Japan, and have been dating for three years now."
"Hoooeeeee!!!???"
Syaoran hit head on his hand. "Figures...."
~**~
Syaoran watched the comedy channel as he waited for Sakura to get out of the bath. It had only taken him a few minuets to explain that everything he did was usually recorded. Seems as if she understood what it was like to be filmed all the time.
The water cut off then and he heard Sakura step out of the bath. A small blush came to his face and he shook his head violently to clear out an image that would soon cause a nosebleed. A few moments passed and Sakura stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a long green Tee shirt.
"Hey...!"
Sakura closed one eye and stuck her tongue out at him. "I forgot my pajamas so I got one of yours." After that she turned around and rooted through her bag. A few moments passed and she switched to another bag and repeated the same thing. "Hoe... I can't find any of my bras..."
"Nani!?" Syaoran sat up and looked at her. "I didn't take them! What kind of sicko do you think I am?"
Sakura shook her head and rummaged through her bags some more, finally coming up with a note. "Sakura-san," She read aloud. "I figure since you and Syaoran would be sleeping together anyway, I'd remove some articles of clothing you won't need." She blinked. "What does he mean 'won't need'?"
~*Somewhere over the ocean*~
"I can't believe you did that..."
Eriol was still laughing. "I got bored, okay?"
Tomoyo bit her fingernails. "My little Sakura's innocence is going to be destroyed...."
"Ah, relax, relax..." Eriol comforted, with a smile still on his face. "Don't you trust him?"
"Him yes, her...." This earned Tomoyo a questioning look. "Well... she once told me about this dream she had......"
~**~
"Ah-choo." Sakura sniffed at her tiny sneeze. "I wonder if he is laughing at me right now..."
"Probably..."
"Oh well... nothing I can do about this now." She sighed and zipped up her bags before turning to Syaoran. "Can we stop somewhere tomorrow?"
"As long as it isn't Victoria Secret I really don't care."
Sakura got on his bed and crawled on top of him, smiling playfully. "That's where I want to go."
Syaoran tried his best to stay calm. Not only was she flirting with him, but since his shirt was a lot larger that she was, he was getting a lot of eye candy. "I...uh..."
Sakura blinked. She was only teasing him, not trying to confuse him. Slowly she looked down and realized what was making him so nervous. "Ah!" She quickly pulled her shirt up and rolled next to him, facing the wall with a furious blush on her face. "Hentai."
"It's your fault!" Syaoran protested, facing the other way, face red with embarrassment. "You're the one who got all sexy on me."
"...... You think I'm sexy?"
Syaoran gulped. How had he gotten himself in this situation? "I..Uh...." Cough. "Guess so..." The ceiling suddenly held his attention.
Sakura turned around and smiled at him, pulling his body around so he could see her. "No one has ever told me that before."
"I would hope not."
"Oh shut up." Sakura pulled the covers back and slid under them, then pulled them up and looked at Syaoran. "Coming?"
"Uhhhh......"
Sakura giggled. "Well you are my 'boyfriend', are you not?" She smiled mischievously at him. "Beside's, my bed is too far away to see the TV just right."
"..."A smirk came to his face. "I guess everyone else in China thinks we're together, so sure... Why not?" He crawled under the covers, but grabbed the pillows from the other bed before laying down. "Anything you wanna watch?"
"Don't care." They lay side by side, with a few inches between them. Both enjoyed the other's company.
~**~
"Syaoran....? Syaoran....?" Sakura whispered his name softly in the dark. She didn't get an answer. Slowly she slid from her bed and took a single step before sliding into his bed. He was facing her, but didn't open his eyes. Carefully Sakura slid her arms around him and hugged him loosely. "I had a bad dream, Syaoran..."
Suddenly she felt his arms wrap around her and she gasped lightly. "What was it about?" He asks her sleepily, still not opening his eyes.
Sakura took a breath to calm herself before continuing. "We..fought.... You and me."
"We fight all the time." Syaoran breathed, slowly regaining his senses. "Did we die or something?"
"No.." Sakura pressed her forehead against his chest, letting the feel of his shirt seep through her hair. "We fought each other. You were possessed by the Evil card."
Syaoran pulled Sakura close to his body and looked down into her emerald green eyes. "I would never hurt you, silly girl. You mean too much to me."
"Do you... mean that?"
"Of course.." He yawned. "Now go to sleep. We are going to get up early."
"...Hai.."
~**~
Sakura awoke when she felt the warmth leave her. Slowly she reached out for it, but when she couldn't find it she opened her eyes. "Syaoran?"
Syaoran blinked from his sitting up position. "Sakura?" Each looked at each other for a full half minuet before last night came to their minds. ' Oh my God! I was too asleep to realize what I was saying!'
"Sorry I got in your bed last night..." Sakura slowly sits up. "I can't take scary dreams or stuff like that." She hugged her knees.
"It's...okay."
"Syaoran....?"
"Nani?"
She looked back down. "Gomen ne."
"Again?"
Sakura blushed again, but hid her face in her knees. "Un."
"No matter." Syaoran slid out of bed. "Let's get outta here, get your cloths, and get going." Syaoran went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, and to try to get the dark blush off his face.
~**~
"It was delayed." Eriol stated, looking at the empty glass case in front of them. "So that means Sakura-san and Li-kun will have to fight this battle."
"Oh, I assure you, you'll fight as well."
Eriol spun and threw one hand out in front of Tomoyo. His long hair breezed behind him, giving him a rather cool look. Subconsciously Tomoyo found herself recording him. "Who are you!?"
A medium sized man stepped forward into the light. He had short green hair spiked into a Mohawk. The man brought up his right hand and Eriol glared at the armor on it. The man's knuckles were golden and a golden circle was on the back of his palm. Every joint in his hand had golden armor that seemed to come from the skin. A golden band of armor seemed to cover his bone, because it came from the skin. His elbow also had a golden piece of armor on it. But none of that is what held Eriol's attention. The man's palm had a magic circle on it.
"That name's Joe." He said, closing his fist. "Touya has given me this armor band specifically for the task of killing you, reincarnation."
Eriol clenched his fist and his bo staff appeared in his hand. "I don't want to fight."
"Then you die."
~*Eriol*~
His anme was Joe. I saw it on a nametag. He msut work for the museam now.
I push Tomoyo out of the way with my left hand and dodge to the right at Joe leaps forward in a punch. I saw an opportunity to kick him, but because I don't know much unarmed combat, I choose rather to bring up my staff and hit him in the face. My blow hits and his head reals back. Black blood comes from his mouth and I frown. This guy was obviously possessed by the Evil card as well. How long would it be before all of Tokyo was taken over?
Joe lashes out in a kick, which is ducked, and I counted by swinging my staff again. I force my eyes to stay calm when Joe grabs my staff in mid swing with his armored hand. A normal person would freak, but I saw it as a weakness. He went out of his way to use his right hand, which meant the other parts of his body were unguarded.
I give him an innocent smile. This confuses him and, just as I suspect, he drops his guard for a small second. I use this time to sweep in close and grab his neck. An evil scream comes from my lips and my eyes go red. I send all the power I have left into his neck and only stop when he drowns in his own blood.
Tomoyo gasps as we both fall to the floor. My eyes drop tiredly, but I force them open again and roll over, not liking blood dripping on me. She helps me up and I lean heavily on her. I was stupid to use what little energy I had left.
"Let's go..." I say sleepily. "I need to rest." I feel her nod and we start to walk, but a golden shine catches my attention.
~*Normal*~
"Sir."
Touya looks down from his throne. He has already made Tokyo Tower his home. They were on the observation deck. Touya lowers his head and looks at the speaker. " What is it, Keroberus?"
Keroberus looked up from a small bow, well it was more of a kneel since he was in his true form. "Eriol has taken the first piece. Sakura is still with Syaoran, and has not gotten hold of the card just yet."
"Good." Touya smiled evilly, bringing a glass of red whine to his lips. "All is good."
~**~
Ring ring.....ring ring...
Click. "Moshi moshi?"
"Sakura-chan!"
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura pushed the cell phone closer to her ear. "What's wrong?"
"We were attacked!"
Syaoran found a place and pulled over, killing the engine. "What's going on?"
"Are you two okay?" Sakura ask, worried. She saw Syaoran pick up his phone and dial. Sakura let him in on the conversation. Three way calling.
"We're okay." Tomoyo said, her voice was a little scared. "But I'm kinda shaken up. Eriol-kun has been asleep ever since the fight."
"Hiiragizawa?" Syaoran interrupted. "What did that idiot do?"
"He grabbed this guys neck and screamed. I could see something like black electricity come from his hand...I was so scared."
"It's okay, Tomoyo-chan..." Sakura comforted, giving Syaoran a confused look. Her traveling partner glared into the ground.
"The card is still in China." Her voice came from the phone. "I aspect you to be attacked, be careful. Tou-.... the Evil card is possessing people to work for him!"
Sakura was about to say something but Syaoran cut her off. " Tomoyo-san, stay in a hotel until Eriol wakes up and feels he can fight again. Without him you are defenseless. Be careful, okay?"
"Hai..."
"..... And tell that idiot I said he did a good job." Syaoran clicked off his phone and started his motorcycle again.
"Be careful, Tomoyo-chan."
"You too, Sakura-chan."
Both hung up and Sakura grabbed Syaoran's waist just in time not to be thrown off. "Hoeeee... what's the rush?"
"You heard them." He replied, going faster now. "If they were attacked then that means that Touya knows we are split up. That also means that he knows where the card is. If he gets to it before us and destroys the card then we're all screwed."
Sakura pinched his stomach, getting a 'gerk' from him. "Watch your mouth."
"Gomen..."
~**~
"This is it." Syaoran stated as he parked his bike. "The card should be in there."
"Syaoran!" Sakura grabbed his arm and pointed. "They have it!"
Syaoran grits his teeth. A group of what appeared to be teenagers were running from the museum. An alarm sounded and the group hopped into a convertible. "Damn. Let's go." Sakura gripped his waist and Syaoran started his bike again, peeled out, and began the chase.
~**~
"Syaoran!"
Syaoran ignored the girl behind him and let his bike scream next to the car. Already several police cars were chasing them, but that was all ignored. The group of kids yelled at him to back off, but Syaoran kept their pace and searched the car. The front passenger had it in his hands.
Suddenly the car swerved at them and Syaoran had to pull away. "Gah!" A quick turn let Syaoran live another day as he dodged an on coming car. They were on a four-lane, but there was no median. "Damn it..." He moved the car behind them and got on the right side, matching pace again.
"Syaoran!"
"Take over."
"Nani!?" Sakura soon found out what he meant when he hopped onto the seat, and force slide Sakura under him. "I can't drive this!"
"Learn!" With that, the boy jumped from the bike and landed in the backseat of the car, punching one guy and knocking him out.
"You're crazy!" the second passenger cried, just before being knocked into dreamland by Syaoran's foot.
"Pull over!" Syaoran yelled at the driver, but had to back off when the only other passenger slashed a knife at him, cutting his cheek.
"Get'em Leon!" The driver shouted, trying to drive and watch the fight at the same time.
Leon smirked and leapt into the back seat and stood up. On the way back he kicked the radio and a hard rock song came on. "You prepared to die, brat?"
Syaoran returned his smirk with a cocky smile. "You should ask yourself that."
"Take this!" Leon swung his knife, but Syaoran ducked professionally, caught his balance, and uppercuted Leon, making him fall back, unconscious as well. The card flew from his hand and Syaoran literally dove for it, snatching it with two fingers. This, however, caused him to fly from the car and his the pavement running a good ninety miles per hour under him.
"No!" Sakura screamed, trying to handel the bike.
Syaoran's eyes went wide and he instantly brought his hands out to block the oncoming pavement. When he connected with the ground, his bracelet glowed gold and engulfed him in a bright light as he rolled furiously and finally came to a stop a few moments later.
The car he jumped from lost control then and crashed into the ditch.
Syaoran breathed out heavily and brought the card to look at it. He smiled to himself and then let himself fall into unconscious.
~**~
"Syaoran! Syaoran! Answer me!"
Syaoran opened his eyes slowly and pushed some foul smelling thing away from his nose. "Gah...Wha...?"
The policeman looked at Syaoran and helped him up. "You're lucky to be alive, kid. That was some stunt you pulled." The officer placed a cap on the incense. "What is your name?"
"Syaoran Li."
"The future leader of the Li clan!?"
"Un." He nodded his head slowly and then shook it to clear his mind. His vision then went to his bracelet and a long sigh came from his mouth. "Man.... this thing works after all..."
Sakura threw herself on him and hugged him tightly. "Syaoran...." She sniffed and let the tears fall. "You idiot! Don't you ever scare me like that again...!" She sniffed again and cried full force on his chest.
The young boy only nodded and wrapped her in a hug. "Gomen, Sakura-chan.... gomen." She only hugged him tighter.
~**~
"Master..."
Touya looked at Keroberus. "Yes? You have a report, correct?"
"Hai..."
"...And it is?" His voice began to get impatient.
"The group has failed to capture the Holy Card. It is now in the hands of Sakura and Syaoran."
"Dammit!" Touya threw his glass across the room, letting it shatter. "How much power do I have to give to a group of people to steal something from mortals!?"
"The Card Mistress was there as well, sir. She has unimaginable powers. So does the brat, Syaoran."
"Yes... I see.... Looks like I will have to get a more powerful form if I wish to take them on sooner.... Send Carlos after Eriol."
"Carlos, sir?"
Touya glared at the lion with wings. "Did I not make myself clear enough?"
"Yes, sir."
~**~
rriiinnnnngggg....
Click. "Moshi moshi?"
"Eriol-kun? Are you okay?" Sakura's voice came through clearly over the phone.
"Un. I'm okay now. How is everything where you are?"
"We have the card!"
"Really!?"
"Un!"
Sakura heard a few whispers on the phone and Tomoyo's voice came to her next. "Sakura-chan! Daijobu desu ka?"
"Daijobu desu." She insisted, nodding although she couldn't see her. "Syaoran is asleep, though. He had a hard day.... The bracelet his mother gave him saps his strength like you wouldn't believe."
"Oh.... So what are we going to do now?"
"We can't fly to Tokyo." Eriol's voice said, startling Sakura. " That will be too obvious. If Touya, er, the Evil card could take over people and send them after us, I'm sure he has the city pretty much under raps by now. We'll have to land a few cities away and go from there. "
"Wait.. Syaoran is waking up now. I gotta go. We'll call again when he feels better. Give us about six hours."
"Hai."
"Hai."
They all hung up.
~**~
"Syaoran! Are you okay?"
Syaoran sat up in the bed and nodded numbly. "Un... I just got tired... that's all."
Sakura sat down next to him and wrapped the boy in a hug."The police paid for this hotel room, so we can relax for the rest of the day."
"U-Un..." Syaoran blushed lightly and looked away. "Sakura-chan, It's getting kind of hard to breathe."
Sakura looked up and loosened her hold a little bit. "'-Chan.' is it?"
Syaoran blushed more. "Just slipped, Gomen."
She shook her head on his chest. "Nuh-uh... It's okay.... Can I call you Syao-chan?"
"Eh!?"
Sakura looked up dangerously. "I still need to hit you three times for cussing!"
"Gomen, gomen gomen gomen! Call me whatever!" Sakura smiled happily and Syaoran let out a long sigh.
"By the way, you were on the news again."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, the reporter talked kinda fast this time, so I didn't catch all of it. Something of you aiding the police in a car chase."
"Oh..." Realization hit him. "The card!"
Sakura held up a pink card. "Already changed it."
"Sakura-chan... Yosha!" He hugged her tightly and both rolled off the bed, letting out a pained 'oomph!'. "I'm going to treat you to the biggest steak I can find!"
"Hoe!"
"Come on," He stood up, grabbed her hand, and led her to the door. "I'm starving!"
"Hoeee!"
~**~
"Yes, sir. May I help you?"
Syaoran took in the appearance of the well-dressed waiter in front of him. Maybe it was a mistake to come to such a fancy place. Sakura had on a very pretty dress, but he only had on slacks and a green T-shirt. They went well together, and both their cloths complimented each other, but he still felt a little out of place. Taking a deep breath he answered. "Yes, please. I would like to treat my girlfriend here to dinner here."
The waiter shot him a look that read 'why would a girl be seen with you' , but lead them to a seat anyway.
"Girlfriend?" Sakura asks as they followed.
"Um...yeah.... if you would like?" Syaoran looked away.
"I.. Think I'd like that." She took his hand and smiled at him. This brought Syaoran's face to look at hers and he returned the smile. He would have to remind himself to thank whatever reported said that on the air not to long ago, or else he wouldn't have said that just now. It was amazing what a slip up can do for your love life.
"Here you are, Madam." The waiter waved his hand to a nice booth. "And... Sir." He turned his back on Syaoran and handed Sakura a menu. Syaoran frowned, and thought about saying something along the lines of him being the future clan leader of this continent, but bit his tongue. He didn't want to abuse his powers. The waiter stood up straight and said: "I'll be back in a few minuets to get your order. Please enjoy yourselves."
Syaoran slid into the seat in front of Sakura and frowned again. "That guy is a jerk."
"Hoe? Why do you say that?"
Syaoran picked up the menu and skimmed it. "He totally ignored me!" He whispered angrily. "Like I don't deserve to be here! I mean...I maybe a little under dressed, but still...."
Sakura giggled. "I think your just paranoid." She looked at the menu, then back up at Syaoran. "I suppose there isn't a Japanese translation?"
Syaoran chocked down his laughter and offered her a smile instead. "Right in front of you."
~**~
"......hehhehe. That's funny, Syao-chan." Sakura giggled through her talking. "I didn't think that Mei-ling would do something like that."
"Yeah." Syaoran answered, laughing as well. "Just kinda happened."
"Are you ready to order now, miss?" The waiter asks, speaking directly to Sakura.
"Uh, Yeah. I'll have a steak, please... Medium rare."
"Very well then, and to drink?"
Sakura blinked and turned to Syaoran, who mouthed something in Japanese. "Sweat tea."
"Very good choice, madam." The waiter turned. "And for you....sir?"
Syaoran shot the waiter an evil look, but let it slide. " I'll have a twelve-ounce steak, please."
"Your drink?"
"Tea. Unsweet."
The waiter turned to Sakura. "Your meal will be out shortly." He bowed lightly and walked off.
"I see what you mean..." Sakura said quietly. " He is totally avoiding you..."
"What a jerk...."
"Just try to ignore it, okay?"
Syaoran thought about it for a second, but nodded. "Right..... oh man, I never called Mom!" Syaoran stood up. "I'll be right back, Sakura-chan."
Sakura smiled sweetly up at him. "Hai."
Syaoran walked quietly to the outside of the restaurant and dialed his phone.
~**~
"Here are your salads." The waiter said politely as he sat them down. "Oh? Where did your... er, date go?"
"He had to call someone." Sakura said nervously.
"Oh. Probably one of his other girlfriends."
"Edscuse me?"
"I see his kind all the time. Such a riffraff. You deserve better than that trash."
"Trash am I?" Syaoran asked angrily as he came into view. "Why, pray tell, am I trash?"
The waiter seemed to snarl at Syaoran. " I know low level scum when I see it. You wouldn't know what it is like to be upper crust. You just got lucky by tricking such an innocent girl into being one of your girlfriends! You were probably going to take her to a hotel after dinner, weren't you?"
"Yes, I was." Syaoran said deathly angrily. "For your information we have stayed in a hotel together for a few days now."
"You're low."
Syaoran got in his face. "Am I? Perhaps I should show you how a street person fights?"
"Is their a problem?"
The waiter and Syaoran turned to face someone dressed in a very nice suit. " Yes, Manager." The waiter said. "As a matter of fact, their is."
Sakura placed her head in her hand.
~**~
"Let me GO!" Syaoran screamed as three people pushed him out of the restaurant. "I did nothing wrong!"
"Leave before we call the police." The waiter stated with a cool smirk on his face. Sakura walked out to, but the waiter turned to her. "You may stay, miss. Meal is on the house."
"Nani!?"
"Talking a different language won't get you back in."
"What is going on here!?" A policeman demanded, stepping into the group that has surrounded them.
Syaoran smiled. "It seems that I am trash. I am to low on the social food chain to eat here."
The policeman turned to the waiter and manager. "And why is this?"
"Because this person here," Syaoran pointed to the waiter. " thinks so. When I tried to disagree with him, I got thrown out."
"That's about it." The waiter said smugly.
"Okay..." The officer turned to Syaoran. "And just who are you?"
A smirk came to the young boy's face. "Syaoran.... Syaoran Li. Of the Li clan." Sakura's mouth turned to a slight smile as surprise struck everyone's face. "Would you like some I.D.?"
~**~
"That was sssoooo funny!" Sakura said, laughing, as they eat at a fast food joint. "Did you see their faces when you said whom you were!?"
Syaoran laughed as well. "Yeah! I could hardly keep a straight face!" He took a few moments to regain his breath and smiled at Sakura. "Thanks for letting me have some fun."
"Hoe?"
"I could tell you wanted me to stop, but you let me do it anyway." He bowed his head lightly. "Arigato."
Sakura smiled sweetly at the boy. "I thought you could use something to relax you. Messing with people is what you usually do."
A blink. "Doesn't Eriol do that, not me?"
Sakura pretended to think. "Hm, you both act kind of childish..."
"O-Oi!"
"Hahha... Just kidding." She closed her eyes and smiled again.
A small smirk hit Syaoran's lips. "Oh, very funny. Ha.ha.ha.ha.ha."
~**~
"You feel them, too?" Syaoran asks quietly as they walk down the street, holding hands.
"Un... What is it?"
Syaoran shot a quick glance behind him. "I'm not sure... All I know is that I can feel their evil... Two... maybe three in all. To- The Evil card isn't taking us lightly."
"What should we do?"
"If we lead them to out hotel, they can attack us anytime they please...." He looked down at her. "But if we ditch them, we can get the first attack in."
"....Hai." She let go of his hand and both started to run.
~*Syaoran*~
"Oh, this is too easy." I whisper to myself from a random rooftop. My wings were folded behind me, since they were not in use. Sakura herself had come up with this idea. Run into a back ally, spilt up on two different rooftops, and jump down when they ran in the ally. Such a simple plan, yet very effective. She would jump down first, followed by me. I would prefer to go first, but with her using the jump card and me using the fly card, she would be the best choice for a surprise attack. I would just have to wait.
Two figures ran into the alleyway. I feel a smirk appear on my face. Only two.... this would be kinda easy. Movement catches my eye as Sakura jumps down and lands with a soft thump. She holds up a card and calls out the name. "SHOT!" A very good idea. The bullet of magic flies from the card and hits the first person. I let that be my cue, and I jump down as well, flapping my wings only once. It was really too bad about my shirt. It had ripped off when I grew my wings... oh well, that's life.
I land slightly louder than Sakura, but I still get in a surprise attack. I use my right foot for the attack and am successful...kind of. My foot goes right through the person and I realize it was a shadow being like I had fought before. Looks like normal attacks wouldn't hurt this one, though.
Sakura screams in shock as her oponet stands up as well, slightly weaker than mine. She quickly pulls out another card and a sword appears in her hand. Looks like she was going to a direct attack. I suddenly wish I had my sword.
The bracelet my mother had given me starts to glow at my thoughts. Soon a green ball of energy appears in my hand. As if directed, I close my hand over it and it changes shape. A small gasp comes from my lips. Below my closed fist, just one inch away, was a small ball of energy. Half an inch below that ball was a round line of energy, about 3/4 an inch think and maybe four inches long. On top of my hand, and an inch away, was a long line of energy. It was at least forty-two inches long. A sword of pure energy. My energy. And it was taking a lot of energy to keep the sword there. No wonder this wasn't given to me when I left for Japan, at that power level I probably couldn't even form this weapon, let alone fight with it!
My attention is quickly turned back to the fight when I am attacked. I block the swing from the shadow's sword and marvel at how his blade was neatly sliced in two pieces by mine. Without wasting any time, I move my sword and thrust it into the shadow's body. The beast lets out a scream of pain, but only stammers back, not dying. A frown forms on my face and I attack several more times, slicing random slivers of shadow from his body and getting a nice coat of black blood on me.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Sakura swinging her baton. She was glowing pink now. I recognize it as the power card. Lord help that creature when it got hit. Sakura dodges a few attacks nimbly and I smile. She was also using the Fight card. She was getting so strong. She could even mix a max of three cards now.
I return to my attention to my battle. My oponet was looking rather pissed off. Hell, I didn't blame him. I would be absolutely pissed if I just got stabbed and hacked away at with a power I never knew I had. Suddenly I was getting kinda weak, not to mention my sword was starting to haze in and out of view. Thinking quickly, I yell to Sakura. "Sakura! Give me the Windy card!"
Sakura nods, dodges an attack, and throws me the card. My original intention was to use a little of Sakura's almost infinite power, but when I grab the card I start to feel as if I can do something else. Sure enough, when I look at my bracelet it was glowing brightly. Deciding fast, I let my instinks take over.
"Card, do whatever it is you want to." I say, hoping I knew what the heck I was getting myself into. "Bracelet, accept this power."
The card vanishes and my right hands starts to go numb. A quick image and some words shoot through my mind and I thrust my hand out. "Tornado blast!" A strong wind blows from my hand and I am thrust back, slamming into a wall. My wings scream out in pain. The wind forms a horizontal tornado from my hand and shoots all the way through the alleyway, hitting everything but Sakura. The two shadow creatures and blown from the wind and Sakura lifts up a card to air me.
"Firey! Show these two shadows the power of light!" With a flick of her wrist, she thrust the card into the wind and hits it with her star wand. The Firey spirit comes out and is instantly wrapped in the wind, turning it into a firestorm.
When the flames die down, I collapse to my knees and use my hands to support myself in a kneeling position. Small fires burn in random places, but where quickly going out as the magic fades. Police sirens come into my ears and I look up at Sakura. "Lets get out of her." She nods and lifts me up.
"Float." She says quietly, checking to make sure I was okay. The pink bubble comes over us and we glide into the air and over the city to our hotel.
~*Normal*~
"So tired...." Syaoran whispers, barely audible. "This weapon drains me so much....."
Sakura closes the hotel door behind her and helps him to the bed. "Are you okay? Two fights so soon...."
"Well the first one wasn't that hard... Just used too much energy bringing myself from ninety to zero without being crushed...."
"It's late anyway.... Let's go to sleep, All right?"
Syaoran nodded, falls back on the pillow and is asleep before Sakura has a chance to change cloths.
~**~
"They should have called by now..." Tomoyo thought aloud to herself as she paced the hotel room. She bit her nails nervously and glanced at her cell phone every few seconds.
"Relax, Miss Tomoyo." Eriol told her calmly. "I'm sure something just came up."
"How can you be so darn calm!?" She practically screams in his face. "They could be dead!"
"I think you need something to calm you down. How about some tea?" Eriol stood. "Yes, I think I'll go get you some tea."
Tomoyo watched him with a blank face as he calmly grabbed his wallet and walked out of the room. Slowly she walked to her bed and sat down, placing her head in her hands. "They should have called us last night.... Sakura-chan... where are you?"
Riinnnggg...rrrii-
Click. "Sakura-chan?"
"Hai. Gomen ne, I couldn't call last night, We-"
"Sakura-chan! I was so worried!"
Syaoran's voice came into the phone now. "Calm down, Tomoyo-san. I wouldn't let anything hurt Sakura-chan."
Tomoyo blinked and wiped away her tears. In the back ground she could hear Sakura yell something at 'Syao-chan'. All in all, this brought a smile on her face and she forgot she was supposed to be mad at her for not calling. "Sakura-chan, did you just call him 'Syao-chan'?"
"Kawaii, ne?"
"Honto ne Kawaii!"
"Oi!" Syaoran's voice was heard from the background again. "Lay off, okay?"
"Ne, ne, Sakura-chan. Are you and Syaoran together now?"
"Hai!" Sakura smiled brightly. "He asked me out last night."
"Oiiii..."
" I'm so happy for you!"
"Anyway," Sakura said, waving away Syaoran. "We were attacked again last night. Are you guys okay?"
Tomoyo blinked. "Eh? We are okay."
"And Eriol is still with you?"
"Actually he just went to get me some tea."
"How long ago?"
"About...five minuets..." Tomoyo gasped. "Oh no! It shouldn't take him more than three minuets round trip!"
CRASH!
"He's fighting!"
~*Eriol*~
Ouch. That one hurt. Slowly I pick myself out from the indention in the wall. I discard my broken glasses with little interest. I never wore them much anyway... wait a minuet, that was my second set this month! Oh, this guy was going to pay. Glasses got expensive lately, even if I did were contacts most of the time.
I duck an attack and hit him with my left hand, which he blocks with his left. I notice he is wearing the same kind of armor Joe had, but his was on the left hand. Suddenly I feel heat entering my hand and I pull back, thrusting my right hand out in the process. A dark navy blue energy ball rips from my hand and throws my attacker several feet back.
Slowly I bring my hand to look at it. The golden armor was on my right hand. The magical circle in the middle of my palm was smoking from the energy blast. It felt good. Oh so good, like my powers were restored for a little bit. testingly, I point my right index finger at a chair in the room and move my hand. The chair moves with my finger and I feel a smile play at my lips. That was until I get clocked in the head by my foe. Obviously I need to pay more attention in this fight.
My attacker raises his hand and sends a rather large ball of red energy toward me, which I block by swatting it away with my armored hand. I call my staff into my right hand and focus energy into it, catching it on magical fire. The shadow being in front of me takes a step back and I charge forward, smacking him hard on the head with the end of my staff and setting him on fire. Without wasting time I push out my right hand and let out a small yell to focus my energy and send another ball of power into him.
The shadow hits the wall and breaks through it. Not even taking a breath, I rush forward and dive into the hole, bringing my right hand down into where the face should be. A sickening crack greets my fist and I start to breathe as the shadow goes limp. Slowly I pull my fist back and look at it, amazed at what I had just done. I had never been that violent before. Shaking it off, I stand and watch the figure fade away, leaving only the left arm piece. I think a while before reaching out to it. Just as with the right piece, it shoots into my arm and solidifies a second before going away. When my eyes see my right hand, the armor is gone on it as well, but I can feel the power cursing through me. It felt good.
~*normal*~
The elevator doors slide open slowly and Tomoyo runs out. Frantically she searches for Eriol, and finds him a few moments later, staring into his hands. "Eriol-kun!"
Eriol turns and offers a calm peaceful smile. "Miss Tomoyo." He is startled by a hug. "Something wrong?"
"I should ask you that." She says into his chest. "Look around you. This room is trashed."
"Well, I kinda lost it for a second."
"You okay?" She looks up and into his eyes, making Eriol- yes Eriol- look away in embarrassment. "Your face is red! Are you hurt badly?"
"N-no..." Eriol looked down at the ground. 'Get a grip on yourself! You're starting to act like Li-kun!'
"We better get out of here then."
Eriol looked around the room. "Yeah... Let's get our stuff and try to contact the others."
Tomoyo nodded.
~**~
"Okay, are we all here?" Sakura asked into the phone. She was still in their hotel room, sitting on the bed. Syaoran laid beside her, letting his phone rest on the pillow on his side.
"Hai." Tomoyo answered. "Eriol?"
"Hai. Syaoran?"
"Hai. Sakura?"
"Of course I'm here! I spoke first!"
"Anyway," Syaoran began, sitting up on the bed. " We have the card. The question is: Where do we meet up, and how do we fight this Evil card?"
"Hhmm..." A long silence passed over the group.
"Yue!" Sakura suddenly gasped.
"Nani?" Eriol wanted to pace, but found that he couldn't inside the rental car.
"Yue. We haven't heard from him since all this began!"
"That's right! He should know about Kero-chan as well!" Tomoyo said happily into the phone. "With Yue on our side we can't lose!"
"Does that mean you don't believe in me?" Syaoran asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Now's not the time for a bruised ego." Eriol said calmly into his phone. "First we get to Japan. Secondly we go to Yue. It is too dangerous to make a call to Japan."
"Agreed." Sakura nodded. "Where do we meet?"
"Hiroshima?"
"Sounds good, Tomoyo-chan."
"All right. Hiroshima it is. Not too far away, but good enough." Eriol looked out the window. "We'll meet in two days. One day to rest here and book a flight, and the next day we actually meet. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Hai."
"Whatever."
"Li-kun."
"Hai, hai. Agreed."
Four people clicked off their phones.
~~**~~
Oh..... only 11 people reviewed this story..... Am I not good at writing
long stories? Maybe I should jsut give up on this....?