A/N: For those who are about as perceptive as young Sakura-chan(^-^), the three asterisks denote a change of perspective. And now, we get into the real plot line...
Episode 6: The Calling
* * *
Syaoran slowly opened his eyes, the dream staying perfectly clear in his mind. He wasn't sure if it had actually been a dream, if Eriol had really contacted him. So, although still a bit tired, he tuned into his magical sense, searching around the emanations of enchantments on the house. Then he found what he was hoping he wouldn't. A gap where there should've been none. That had been Eriol, and he had been telling the truth. Someone had broken into the storage room.
He looked to the side, where Sakura was still asleep next to him.
She looks so cute when she's asleep he thought. I really shouldn't disturb her rest.
But this might be important. And Eriol said I should...wait, when was the last time I listened to him? I know, I'll go check on the kids first...that part sounded more like a warning than a suggestion....
Syaoran slid out of the bed quieting, not wanting to awaken Sakura. He put on the pair of slippers that were on the side of the bed and creeped silently to the door, putting on the robe that was hanging on the doorknob, and then heading down the hall to the rooms where their children slept.
He found the door to the first room open a crack, and he slowly widened it, looking in at the dark room cautiously, for he didn't want to wake Azure if he was in here.
The first thing he noticed was that the bed was empty.
Disregarding quietness now, he ran to the next room, and threw wide the door. Sera wasn't in her bed either.
* * *
Why would that wall have any magic in it? Sera asked her brother.
You mean you don't sense it? he replied.
No, not really.
Walk over to it then. Maybe it's masked, like that charm in tou-san's room.
She headed over to the wall after giving her brother a strange look. I still don't sense anything.
That's odd...
The aura disappeared.
Maybe it was never there, Sera suggested with a smirk on her face, looking at him and away from the wall.
No, it definitely was... Azure said confidently, walking over to the wall, reaching out towards it. But it just seemed to fade- he gasped. Sera turned around to see why.
His hand had gone right into the stone, and he was being pulled in along with it...
* * *
Syaoran ran back to his and Sakura's room, but suddenly stopped, as he was about to step on the cat. He was a strange cat, surprisingly thin for how much it ate. His fur was light orange-gold, with eyes of the same color, only a slightly darker shade, and the oddest thing about his fur was the two white streaks that started at his shoulder blades and went down to mid-back. At the end of his tail was a large tuft of white fur. But the strangest part of this particular cat was something he hadn't done in front of anyone for years, save for Sakura and Syaoran. (A/N: Who didn't expect this?)
Watch it, kid! the cat shouted at him, adding a hiss at the end.
Shimatta, Kero! Why didn't you wake us up? he said, before noticing some white powder on the cat's paws. Not again...
What!? Who do you think she keeps buying that stuff for? No one else here eats it.
Except Azure. And Sera.
And why would I wake you up anyway?
Pay more attention. The magic room has been broken into!
You aren't serious? No one could've broken through *my* wards. And certainly not Sakura's...maybe your's though....
Well they did. And they got the kids too.
No one's been in this house except you four all night. Those outer defenses Sakura put up would've gone off, and you know those can't be dispelled.
Then who- Then he realized it. The children were the only other ones in the house. The only ones who could've been in the house without his sensing a change, since he always sensed them. The smirk on Eriol's face when he mentioned the children. I think Sakura and I might have to explain quite a bit in the morning, he sighed, with a worried look on his face. But you, he said, looking down at Kero once more. Make sure they don't open the book! We don't want any of them free again.
Sure kid...whatever.... Kero began padding towards the stairs, headed for the room, but with an unconcerned look on his face, as if he didn't really care.
I've got to get her... Syaoran thought, opening the door to their room.
* * *
Meanwhile, back down in the room, Azure was slowly being pulled into the wall, while Sera was desperately trying to pull him out.
Let go of him! she pleaded with the wall, as if it were a living thing. However, it just continued pulling him inward, with immense strength backing it. Azure just stood there, not fighting back, a glazed expression on his face, he stood unmoving, letting it consume him.
Snap out of it, onii-chan! Sera shouted, her efforts having no effect, and half of him was already within the wall. He stood still as a gazelle when first smelling a lion behind it, and the wall mercilessly kept pulling him in. She desperately pulled at his hand, trying to halt or even just slow the wall's progress. But it was to no avail, and then it was done. He was fully in the wall.
* * *
Sakura awoke to someone shaking her. Slowly she opened her eyes.
Ohayo, my little wolf, she said teasingly, seeing Syaoran was the one doing so. It doesn't feel like it should be morning already though.She turned her face to the window and saw that it was still night. Syaoran grinned despite the situation.
No, it isn't morning. But I was talking to Eriol and- he said, in a rush. Sakura was quicker though.
Oh! Did Tomoyo and Eriol come to visit? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I haven't seen them in years! Although it's kind of an odd time to visit us, but England is on a different clock, so maybe they didn't- she quickly and excitedly said.
No, Sakura, they aren't here. What happened was-
So Eriol called? It is rather late for that. He could've at least waited until we had woken up. But you still should've woken up. I haven't even spoken with T-
No, it's not that either.
He contacted me in a dream.
That's kind of an odd way to talk to someone, but it is Eriol, after a-
This is important. Azure and Sera aren't in their rooms. Sakura gasped, getting up rather quickly, but giving Syaoran her attention.
You don't mean they've run aw-
No, it isn't that. We know where they are. That's why Eriol contacted me.
How would Eri- she gasped, realizing what he meant. We have to get them out of there!
Kero's already heading there. Eriol said I should bring you, although I'm not sure why. They certainly couldn't have found the book. Still, we'll probably have a lot to explain...
Let's hurry then! she whisperingly shouted. A black hole appeared on the wall next to her. She grabbed Syaoran's hand before he could react, and pulled him through it.
* * *
Onii-chan! Nooo! she kneeled down, tearing, but making sure not to touch the evil wall. Then, a hand reached out of the wall, grasping at her.
she screamed, jumping back.
* * *
Well, that doesn't sound good, Kero thought as he padded down the hallway, But that does, he changed his mind, as he heard one of Sakura's portals open back at the stairs. At least I won't be the only there once they reach it.....
* * *
The hand reached farther out, and grabbed her wrist, then began pulling Sera back towards the wall.
No! Let me go! she shrieked, flailing, trying to back away, tears of fear flowing from her eyes. She heard the wall laugh.
* * *
Kero sat, curled up next to the door, waiting there for the few seconds it took for the couple to reach him.
Why did you stop? Syaoran shouted at the cat.
Waiting for you two, he said calmly, with the same attitude he had had the whole way down to this room.
You stupid stuf-
Iie, Syaoran. He's a neko now, Sakura said, coming up behind him.
Fine, stupid nek-
Don't, Syaoran. Let's just go in.
We can't, Kero said calmly, and if a cat's mouth could smirk, that's what he was doing.
Why not? Syaoran shouted back at him, being angered by his calmness.
The wards have resealed themselves.
* * *
Azure sat there laughing, a very angry Sera sitting next to him.
I can't believe you did that! Scaring me like that.
It was...hahaha...worth it....to see that look...hahaha-ow! he finished, as she punched him in the arm again.
Where are we anyway? she said, looking around. They were on the other side of a pitfall which was right after the illusionary wall(which they could see through kaa-san's room). Azure had cast a floating spell to get himself out of the pit, which actually had a rather soft mattress at the bottom, a dozen feet down. Obviously kaa-san had chosen that part. If it had been tou-san making the bottom of the pit, it would more likely have spikes. Down at the other end of the hallway they were in was mostly darkness, although they could see faint light coming from a room.
That's where it is, Azure noted, pointing. Some strong magic over there.
Obviously. They wouldn't go through the trouble of that trap there if the magic was something weak. Otherwise it just would've been out, like the things in tou-san's room. Azure got up, and started to head towards the room. Where are you going?
To the source of the magic, of course. Where else?
D-demo, we don't know what it is! What if it's dangerous?!
I can handle it...
* * *
We're the ones who put the wards up! You think we can't just take them down again? Syaoran shouted at Kero, both angrily and confusedly.
Well, I already removed mine, but you and Sakura have to remove your own. And even I'm not sure how the kids got through all those and Yue's as well. Their powers must be progressing faster than you thought. Maybe you should watch therm mo-
Quiet neko! Syaoran shouted, cutting him off, and then walking up to the door.
Ward of the Moon! As your creator, I bid you leave this place! he commanded, palm touching the center of the door. All three of them felt the green aura around it dissipate. Your turn, Sakura. Sakura walked up to the door almost hesitantly, feeling something inside telling her to stop, but at the same time telling her to hurry and take down the ward. Slowly, she placed her palm against it.
Ward of the Stars! As Mistress of the Cards, I command you to dissipate! The pink aura around the door faded out, and now all that was left was the silver of the guardian, Yue.
* * *
Sera ran after Azure, who had already reached the room. He stood there staring, and she looked at him. What is it? He pointed at the only thing visible in the room. On a stand in the center of the small, square room, in a glass case, and within that on a pillow of pink velvet, with a small solid piece jutting out of the velvet to hold it up, there sat an ancient looking book. A book giving off immense magical energy. Azure walked up to it, a stupefied look on his face. He touched the glass, and the book flashed an aura of sky blue, the color given off by his own aura, and then reverted to pink, the color of his mother's.
It's calling me.... he mouthed, awe struck. Sera walked up to him, staring at the book, but feeling only a small amount of magical energy coming from it. She stared at her brother in confusion, who was staring at the book in an odd way, almost hungrily.
she said, waving her hand in front of his face. He didn't even flinch. Onii-chan? Hello? You still there? She saw him touch the glass again, and once more the book showed a light blue aura to him, and he knew what it was saying.
It wants me to take it... he mouthed again. His hands shot out, trying to remove the glass covering, that which separated him from this thing he wanted, he needed. Sera tried to slap his hand away, but he just ignored it. However, the glass didn't move. He felt along the sides and found a keyhole.
* * *
Ward of the Guardian of the Moon! I, Sakura, Mistress of the Cards and Mistress of your creator, command you to leave this place at once! Sakura shouted in a commanding tone, both palms against the door. The three of them now felt the silver ward fall apart, and Syaoran reached to pull the doorknob. It didn't move.
The door glowed pink, with streaks of light blue running through it.
* * *
Where is it? Azure muttered as he searched around the room frantically. It has to be here somewhere...somewhere, I can sense it, it must be here...
Umm....onii-chan? What is it you're looking for? Sera asked him, quite confused at the moment. She felt nothing around the room, save for the minute magical field of that book. In fact, the illusionary wall they had passed through had given off more energy than this book.
It's here...it has to be....it must be...there! he shouted, a triumphant look crossing his face as he reached towards the wall.
Onii-chan? What's going on? Why are you reaching for the wall? he walked over to him; he seemed not to notice her at all.
It's here. This is what I need, he muttered, more to himself than to her; he actually hadn't even heard her, just the voice in his mind, guiding him. His hand went right into the wall.
Not again....
* * *
Syaoran muttered, as Sakura gasped. Kero just yawned. They've managed to find the book, despite the traps, the wards, and the masks....and why are you acting like that!? This is serious! he shouted, turning to Kero.
I knew this would happen...
Hoee? You knew and you didn't tell us? Sakura said, more concerned than angry, wondering why Kero would keep such a secret from her.
Syaoran shouted angrily.
You'll see, he said, lifting up a front paw and looking at the wrist, as if he had a watch on. It should be happening very soon...
What should?
You'll see....
* * *
This wall, however, did not draw him in. His hand came out holding something clenched in it. He ran past his sister to the glass case, and put it into the keyhole, turning it, and a rather loud click could be heard.
Onii-chan!? What are you doing? Sera questioned, and not very calmly, turning towards him to see his hands lifting the lid of the glass case up. Once that was done, the lid just floated there, rising to five feet above the book. Azure, his blue eyes glazed over, reached in and grabbed the book. Onii-chan! Don't! Sera rushed over to him, but it was too late. Azure undid the clasp with a flick of his finger, and opened the book wide....
