The New Cards

The New Cards

One Ghostly Night: Chapter Ten

By: Sakura

Sakura sat by the window, her head resting on her hands, watching the rain showers pour heavily onto the city of Hong Kong.

Though it was only mid-day, the Card Captors were cooped up inside because of the rain, no one really wanting to venture out into the drenching showers. The sky was darkened with blackish-grey clouds and lightning struck at several intervals. Di Shang joined her by the window, giving Sakura a small cup, filled to the top with Sway Sien tea. Sakura accepted it thankfully and slowly drank it, letting the steaming hot liquid warm her body. In Chun Hua's home, there was no heat or air-conditioning. It was always either sweltering hot or freezing cold. But most people didn't mind for they had no need for such luxuries. In fact, there wasn't any electrical lighting whatsoever and it was often pitch-black at the dead of the night. But as aforementioned, nobody minded.

Sakura, Syaoran, and Di Shang had been in Hong Kong for more than a week already. Besides their last battle with the Bond Card, nothing had happened. No new cards appeared, and none of the sealed Jiao Cards had broken their seal; not since the plane trip. Di Shang was worried that Kam Un may have packed up and left to go attack some other place; Syaoran believed otherwise.

After sitting in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, Sakura turned away from the window and, putting her cup down on the table, sat down on a chair. The room was lit with only three candles sitting on the table. Sakura then reached into a small bag and took out all of the Jiao - now Sakura - Cards and placed them on the table, spreading them out neatly. She now had exactly twenty of Kam Un's cards; and some of them she would never, ever use. She wondered how many more of them she needed to capture. Looking over at Di Shang, who was still by the window, she said, "Di Shang, I was just wondering something. The Clow Cards had a book to hold the cards in, so does the Jiao Cards have one as well?"

Di Shang sat down on the chair across from her, contemplating her question. "Well," he said after a while. "I never actually saw the book, but there is one, I know that for sure. Maybe this explains why the seals can be broken, even if they have become Sakura Cards. It's because we don't have the Jiao Book. It's most likely that Kam Un has the book with him." Sakura nodded, knowing what he meant.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"You're very close, Di Xuan," whispered a raspy voice. "But wrong; completely and utterly wrong." His sentence ended with a fit of coughs. "I'm still not ready; not ready at all. Kam Un, you'll be on your own, for the meantime." Kam Un bowed slightly.

"I understand," he said solemnly.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Meiling bounded into the room and joined Sakura and Di Shang with a loud sigh. "When is it going to stop raining?" she mumbled. "I want to go outside!" Sakura patted her friend's shoulder understandingly.

"Maybe it won't be for much longer," she said. "We'll just have to wait in here for a little while longer." Suddenly, she felt a strange power, like something was beckoning to her. "What could it be?" she thought. Then Syaoran entered the room. "I guess it was his power I felt…" she thought. But she couldn't convince herself otherwise. Syaoran, Di Shang, and Meiling began discussing Kam Un and tried to figure out if he ever followed a pattern. Sakura sat quietly, staring out the window. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was calling her. It soon went away and she forgot about it.

Syaoran leaned back against the chair, exasperated. "This guy is completely unpredictable," he said. "He doesn't follow any specific patterns! I don't understand how his mind works."

"Maybe he fights by instinct, by his emotions," commented Di Shang. "Many do; and it usually gives a person the upper hand against someone that just does the same thing over and over." He turned to Sakura. "What do you think, Sakura? …Sakura?"

Sakura eyes widened. She felt the power again! What was it? Looking at her friends around her, she checked to see if they felt it as well. But they showed no reaction to the power. Instead, they were watching her intently. That's when she realized that Di Shang was calling her. "I'm sorry," she said. "I suppose, but…" The power was growing stronger and calling her. She had to see what it was. Getting up abruptly, she said, in an apologetic tone, "Will you please excuse me? There's something I need to see to." The others nodded and she turned and left the room. Syaoran's eyes followed her as she retreated from the room, then turned back to face the others.

"Something's worrying her," he thought to himself. "So why doesn't she just tell us?"

Letting the force lead her, Sakura found herself in her room, located on the west side of Chun Hua's home. If it weren't for the rain, the sun would be setting at that moment in a brilliant display of red and fiery orange lights. The power she felt earlier was much stronger in her room, but suddenly, it began to fade. Looking from left to right, Sakura found a note sitting on her side table. She picked it up and glancing at it, recognized the writing right away.

Greetings, Card Mistress,

I can see you're getting along rather well in Hong Kong. Peace is fragile, but it can be beautiful when in bloom. But flowers die, blossoms crumble, and peace then shatters into millions of pieces. You know very well, Card Mistress, that I need only you and no one else. Not the Li cousins, not your family, just you. Don't take this as a sentimental gesture, for it is anything but sentimental. You know from personal experience how chaotic the Jiao Cards can become, so I propose a simple proposition to you; you will meet me in Victoria Park and the outcome of the battle shall decide who gets to keep the Jiao Cards. If you lose to me, the penalty will be your life. If you do not show up within half an hour, you and the other Card Captors will feel the wrath of the rest of my Jiao Cards all at once; is that clear enough? Come alone; for this is only between you and me and it includes no one else. Bringing the Li cousins will only cause the same consequences as aforementioned.

Kam Un

Sakura's heart sank to the ground. What choice did she have? She knew Kam Un never made empty threats. Fighting back tears, Sakura grabbed her bag and began putting her stuff away. As soon as she was finished that, she changed into her battle costume. Scribbling a short note for the Li cousins, she slipped her bag over one shoulder and deftly leapt out the window, thankful that Chun Hua's home was only one story high. Taking one last look at the home she had for the past days, she turned and fled into the night, amidst the pouring rain, apologizing to her fellow Card Captors in her mind, hoping that they would forgive her.

There was an uncomfortable feeling in Syaoran's heart. It also stirred in Di Shang's heart, but because neither cousin could place what they were feeling, they didn't mention it. Meiling took one look out the window and exclaimed, "Hey! It's stopped raining!" She ran to the window, peering outside. It was a wet world outside. Water slid and dripped off the roofs; streets were filled with water, almost to the point of overflowing; trees were completely drenched. Not the best place to venture out into, either. The sun had already set and dusk was setting in. Strangely, though, black clouds could be seen in the distance and in that area, it was still pouring heavily.

"Time for dinner!" called Chun Hua from the kitchen.

Syaoran's stomach growled, indicating his hunger. Meiling noted it and said, "You two go and start dinner; I'll look for Sakura." Di Shang and Syaoran nodded thankfully and went to join Chun Hua while Meiling went in search of Sakura. "If I remember correctly," murmured Meiling to herself. "Sakura went this way. Hmm…I wonder why she hasn't returned. I'll just go check her room first." Meiling ran to her room and knocked on the closed door. "Sakura?" There was no answer. "Sakura, it's time to eat." No sound at all. "This isn't funny," said Meiling, turning the knob. She was surprised to find it unlocked. Stepping into the room, Meiling couldn't believe what she saw. It was completely empty. The closet doors were wide open, revealing nothing. All of Sakura's stuff was gone. The window was open and as Meiling walked to her side table and picked up a piece of paper, dropped the note with a gasp, and ran out of the room.

Chun Hua and the two Card Captors sat at the table, waiting for Meiling and Sakura when Meiling burst into the room panting. "Sakura's…gone…" she managed to say. Syaoran and Di Shang abruptly stood up, knocking over their chairs. They followed Meiling back to Sakura's room and found it as empty as she did moments ago. Meiling picked up the note she had dropped and read it aloud to her cousins.

"Dear Meiling, Di Shang, and Syaoran," she began. "I can't thank you enough for all your hospitality and your kindness. You have helped me in more ways than one throughout the past years and I will never be able to repay you for that. I'm sorry, but I have to leave now. I hope I'll meet you all again someday. Please, promise me one thing: do not look for me. When I can, I will return. I am very sorry for all the inconveniences I have caused you all and I hope you can forgive me. Signed by Kinomoto Sakura."

Syaoran took the note and studied the writing, making sure it was Sakura who had wrote it. He crumpled it up when he realized it was indeed her that wrote it and not a forged letter. "Meiling," he said, taking charge immediately. "You're going to wait here in case Sakura returns." Meiling nodded. Turning to Di Shang, he said, "We're going to go look for her. I don't want her to be alone if she gets confronted by either Kam Un or other Jiao Cards." He immediately turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," argued Di Shang. "She told us not to go after her. She must have a good reason. If she's in trouble, we could be putting her in more danger by following her."

Syaoran turned around, glaring at his cousin. "I'm not letting her go by herself," he said coldly. "You may not care about her safety, but I do." He ran out the door, grabbing his sword on his way out.

Meiling and Di Shang exchanged glances and Di Shang shrugged. "I guess that's his way of admitting he loves her," he commented to Meiling. "Wonder why he can't put it more bluntly."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakura ran blindly through the pouring rain. Her battle costume, completely drenched, clung to her body, water soaking through her skin. But she ignored it. Her bag was beginning to feel extra heavy with the added weight of water, but she ignored that, too. There was only one thought in her mind as she ran and that was to find Kam Un and finish what he started. Though she couldn't see two feet in front of her, Sakura was guided by the Jiao User's dark aura, which seemed to be stronger than she last remembered. Suddenly, she slammed into a force field and fell back. Looking up, she saw Kam Un standing before her, his black aura surrounding him, and a smirk on his face.

"Card Mistress," he sneered. "You can't be called anything but a fool." He took out a card and threw it in front of Sakura. "Go, Ghastly Card!"

Even in the darkness of the night and the falling rain, Sakura could see the card transform into a tall figure; a figure with chains running along its midsection, arms, and legs; a figure with glowing red eyes set in hollow black sockets; a figure that can be seen straight through. Sakura stepped back, completely frozen with fear. It was a…ghost! The Ghastly Card slowly advanced a few steps, then stopped. Suddenly, it splits into multiple forms and the separated card surrounded Sakura. Afraid as she was, Sakura could see that these were the same shades that attacked her and Di Shang at the circus months ago.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Not far from where Sakura was stood Di Shang and Syaoran, at the very end of the rain clouds, where the water ended and the night began. Di Shang recognized the rain to be a card almost immediately and sealed it. Slipping the Showers Card into his pocket, he and his cousin continued toward the direction they felt the Card Mistress' aura.

~*~*~*~*~*~

As Sakura backed away, she saw that the rain had stopped falling. Kam Un scowled, realizing what it meant. "You brought your friends along," accused the Jiao User.

"I didn't mean to," protested Sakura.

"It doesn't matter to me, Card Mistress," Kam Un replied coldly. "The duel is off. Ghastly, attack!" Obeying its master, The Ghastly flew at Sakura, one shade at a time, while Sakura leapt and somersaulted away to avoid them. Then the card changed its tactics; all shades attacked at once. An explosion ensued, caused by the Ghastly Card's attack, coming from the very spot Sakura had just stood in. Di Shang and Syaoran arrived right when it happened.

"Sakura!" cried Syaoran. Kam Un was sitting on the tree, watching with amusement plain to be seen in his eyes. As the smoke cleared, they saw Sakura sitting on the ground, The Shield and The Armour cards protecting her in a sealed dome. Syaoran let go of the breath he didn't even know he was holding. It was at that moment, as well, that the Jiao User ordered The Ghastly to attack all Card Captors. With The Shield and Armour put away, Sakura turned and fled with Di Shang and Syaoran, the Ghastly Card, with their smoke bombs, were right on their heels.

"I told you not to follow me," said Sakura as they ran.

"I'm not letting you walk head-on into danger by yourself," replied Syaoran. "You better remember that." Sakura didn't answer. Did that mean he cared?

"Let's split up," suggested Di Shang. "This card is much stronger when it's close together." His friends nodded and they each went separate ways, with at least two or three shades closely behind them. Suddenly, the shades behind Di Shang disappeared, as well as the ones following Syaoran. The shades had regrouped and went back to their true form and now, as such, they appeared behind Sakura, attacking her from behind.

The Ghastly seized Sakura in its cold, grisly grasp and filled her mind with fear - fear for the present, the past, and the future - tormenting her with those dark thoughts. In the back of her mind, though, something was planted, something that helped her to see things more clearly. Then it vanished. Sick with fear and exhaustion, Sakura gave one final cry and fell to the ground, losing all consciousness.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakura's scream split the silent night air.

"No," thought Syaoran with a sense of dread as he ran toward the sound. "Not again. It can't be…" He stopped short when he saw her, lying unconscious on the ground. Her name sprang to his lips. "Sakura!" he cried.

Di Shang, having also heard Sakura, reached her before Syaoran did and lifted her up gently, his eyes filled with worry. Obviously angry, Syaoran drew his sword. "Lightning! Strike!" he cried, static electricity flying from the tip of the sword to the Ghastly Card. The Jiao Card doubled over in pain, unable to withstand any sort of electricity, especially those formed by lightning. In moments, the card stopped moving. Syaoran stopped the flow of lightning and stepped up to the downed card. "Ghastly Card," he said, making a downward thrust with his sword and stopping just above the card's form. "Seal!" The remains of the card disappeared as it was sealed into its card form. Looking back up to where Kam Un had been moments before, Syaoran was enraged to find that the Jiao User had escaped again. Without saying a word, Di Shang and Syaoran walked back home, Sakura being carried in Di Shang's arms and Syaoran, with Sakura's bag over his shoulder, glowering all the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Meiling walked into the room, carrying a tray of hot Sway Sien tea that she had just prepared for her cousins. Placing the tray down on the table, she sat back down on her seat by Sakura's bedside.

As soon as the trio of Card Captors had returned, Di Shang had placed Sakura under the care of Meiling. Helping the Card Mistress out of her soaking wet battle costume, she found a clean identical pair of shorts and a buttoned down shirt for Sakura to change into. Now Sakura was resting in her room, still sleeping. Di Shang sat next to Meiling while Syaoran stood leaning against the opposite wall with his arms folded, still fuming. As Meiling looked over Sakura's battle costume, she found a note in the front pocket. Taking it out and unfolding it, she was about to read it when Syaoran snatched the note from her and read it silently, despite the running ink written on the damp piece of paper. Angrily, he crumpled it up as best as he could and tossed it over his shoulder. Di Shang caught it and, opening it, read the letter aloud. It was the letter Sakura had received from Kam Un earlier that evening. Now they understood why she had left them.

"Why did you fall for his bluff, Sakura?" thought Syaoran as he stared out the window. "Why did you believe him so easily?" He turned slightly, a movement that went unnoticed by his cousins and watched Sakura out of the corner of his eye. "You could have been killed…"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakura slowly groped her way through the dark empty space, unable to see anything. Where was the light? There was none to be seen at all. There was only total darkness. All of a sudden, a light flickered before her. The light threw shadows around her, ghostly ones all seeming to attack her. She cringed at the thought of more ghosts, their presence always frightening her. She could hear a laugh and looked up. The source of the laugh was Kam Un.

"You have become weak, Sakura," he sneered. "What right do you have to still be called the Card Mistress?" His face was covered with shadows, but Sakura still recognized him, nonetheless. Then the light grew stronger and she could see bitterness in his piercing blue eyes. Abruptly, the shadows swerved and Sakura could see the robes of another figure. This figure stood tall and stared at her condescendingly. Slowly, the figure walked towards the light and Sakura could almost see his face…

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Sakura? Sakura?" called Meiling. "Come on, Sakura, wake up." Sakura's eyes fluttered open at the sound of her friend's voice and she found herself looking at the ceiling of her room. Bolting up suddenly, she was gently pushed to lie down and rest by Meiling. Meiling smiled soothingly at her and Sakura obeyed and didn't try to leave again. Looking about her, she saw that Di Shang and Syaoran were also in the room. Di Shang was sitting next to Meiling and Syaoran was leaning against the wall, arms folded and eyes closed. He appeared to be angry about something.

"Syaoran?" she said softly. Silence followed. Abruptly, Syaoran unfolded his arms and opened his eyelids.

"How could you be so stupid, Sakura?" yelled Syaoran. Meiling was shocked at Syaoran's tone of voice and her mouth hung open. "Do you think that going off alone will stop Kam Un? No! He's just waiting to get you and you leapt straight into his open arms! How could you fall for his trap?" Sakura cringed everytime he raised his voice. Syaoran began pacing the room. "Did you really believe that he would let you go if you actually did win? You, the Card Mistress? No, of course not. Why didn't you think before you acted? Why did you act on your emotions instead of taking things step by step?" He stopped yelling, out of breath.

His words hurt her. So harshly dealt and chosen that it hurt her terribly. "I'm sorry I'm not as strong as you, Syaoran," she retorted coolly. "Nor as level-headed. When it comes to Kam Un and the Jiao Cards I'm not given much time to think things out step by step. I battle the way my heart tells me to and that counts more than using only my mind."

"Don't be so stupid," snapped Syaoran. "Depending so much on your heart doesn't always help you. It always makes you the victim, especially in Kam Un's schemes. You're playing his game, exactly the way he wants you to."

Hot tears stung Sakura's eyes and they rolled down her cheeks. "Since I'm so weak," she said in a subdued tone, getting up. "Then I may as well leave. There's no point in me staying here any longer." Before she could get up any further, Di Shang placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and gently pushed her down..

"Sakura, please don't leave," he told her, gently wiping away her tears. Di Shang glared at his cousin for making her cry.

Syaoran, though feeling rather repentant, said coldly, "I should be the one to leave, not you." Making good use of his word, Syaoran turned on his heels and left the room. Meiling murmured her apologies to Sakura and followed Syaoran. She found him outside, sitting on the front steps of the house.

"Xiao Lang," she said scolding him as if he were five years old. "I can't believe you. What are you trying to prove by yelling at Sakura?" Syaoran ignored her, a stormy cloud brooding above him. Meiling decided to try a different approach.

"You say Sakura always acts on her emotions," she said softly. "But, Xiao Lang, that's exactly what you're doing now. You're acting out of anger. Anger is an emotion, too, you know." Syaoran continued to ignore her. By now, Meiling was steaming inside, unsure of how to make her cousin listen to reason.

"Stop sulking, Xiao Lang," she commanded, her hands resting on her hips. "Being angry does absolutely nothing at the moment. You're just wasting your energy. Can't you think of something more productive to do?" She sat down beside him. "I know you're only angry because you care. You care so much about her well being; her safety. You just can't bear the thought of losing her, especially to Kam Un. Xiao Lang, why can't you just admit you love her? Use your heart to tell her that. Sakura needs you but you keep pushing her away. If you keep this up, you'll lose her completely, to someone else. Doesn't your heart tell you the same thing?" Syaoran turned away, not looking at his cousin because he knew at that moment, his eyes would betray his true feelings, the ones he kept buried within the deep chambers of his heart.

Meiling was sick and tired of being ignored by Syaoran. "Boys just won't listen to reason," she thought furiously. "Maybe you aren't able to act with your heart because you don't even have one!" shouted Meiling. She turned and ran inside with an exasperated huff. Syaoran's quieted emotions were replaced with anger at Meiling's sharp words. But then the anger drained from his eyes and for that moment, he lost the will to fight. But he quickly regained it before he lost it again.

"Meiling's right," he thought to himself. "I do keep pushing everyone away. But why? Maybe it's because I'm afraid to let them get too close me, because I could end up hurting them, like I did to Meiling years ago." Syaoran got up and began wandering along the side of the tiled courtyard. Meiling watched him from inside.

"Look into your heart, Xiao Lang," she whispered. "The answers you seek are all there. All of them."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Don't think like that, Sakura," said Di Shang, his hands still on her shoulders, steadying her. "Syaoran doesn't really want you to leave and neither do we. He's just mad about something…You know how he gets sometimes." Sakura nodded, though not really convinced.

"We were all really worried about you," continued Di Shang. "I mean, one minute you were there; the next minute, you disappeared. And Kam Un is a very dangerous foe."

"I'm sorry to cause you all so much distress," said Sakura quietly. "I hadn't meant to. I thought if I left, you all would have less to worry about. I was merely because a heavy burden for you to carry."

Di Shang held Sakura close to him in a hug and Sakura lightly leaned against him. "Don't ever think like that, Sakura," he scolded gently. "We care too much for you to ever think that. Besides, we volunteered. Nobody forced us to do what we did. Just promise me one thing."

Sakura looked up at him with her emerald green eyes, still shining with tears, and her eyes met his steady hazel ones and she found comfort in them. "What is it, Di Shang?" she asked.

"Promise me you'll never run away from us again," he said. Sakura hugged him tight. There was just something about him… Maybe it's because he reminded her so much of Syaoran when the latter had comforted her during her tears over Yukito. She was getting confused…But still…

"I promise," she answered, in a soft whisper.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Why do my dreams keep coming true?" wondered Syaoran aloud. "Those nightmares…I don't want them to happen, and yet…they keep happening." He angrily slammed his fist into a trunk of a tree, striking it so hard that leaves fell to the ground. Looking up, he found a note pinned to the tree with a small pocketknife. Withdrawing the knife, he read the note to himself.

Sad and all alone, Xiao Lang?

I have some news that may cheer you up. You're all being drafted. Why, you may ask? Let's call this another test. If you can reach the destination indicated on the little map I've provided, I'd say you passed the test. Of course, you don't have to do this. After all, as you have often stated, you'd just be playing my game. Be forewarned, though, Xiao Lang; the greatest instrument of evil has gathered at this destination and you and your pathetic troop of Card Captors will easily be destroyed when it is unleashed. Do you care to try and stop me? Or are you going to just sit back and watch like a coward?

Kam Un

Syaoran clenched his fists. A coward, huh? He'd show him what this 'coward' could do! Unfolding the map, His eyes widened when he saw the destination point. It was so far away…After checking over the rest of the map, including the route given, Syaoran scowled darkly. "What are we?" he muttered to himself. "Chess pieces on the board game of life? Does he think he can move us wherever he wants, whenever he wants? As if we were his mere pawns? I'll play your game for now, Kam Un. But once I figure out exactly what you're up to, the rules will change."

~*~*~*~*~*~

A dark clothed figure, covered by the dark shadows, lightly stroked his chin. "This boy is obviously quite sure of himself," he said.

"That's a Li for you," replied Kam Un. "He just needs to be taught a few lessons so he can be brought down a few notches."

"And the Card Mistress is confusing herself with her own emotions," added the dark figure. Kam Un nodded with a wide smirk on his face.

"A stupid move on her part," he said. "It just makes things easier for us."

"But I'd prefer a better challenge. Perhaps she is too weak."

"Trust me, Master," said Kam Un with a slight bow. "You will enjoy the upcoming battle. I promise you that. Just amuse yourself for now by watching their insignificant little battles." The figure nodded and coughed, waiting for the moment he would be his true self again.

Author's Note: I'm beginning to wonder…do you readers actually like this fic? If you're reading this note, that means you've been following the story, and that's good news so far. *smiles* I got the CCS second movie on DVD, but it's all in Japanese. *exasperated* What are they saying? There might be Chinese subtitles but I haven't checked yet.
Now about the story: Our three Card Captors are leaving Hong Kong, but wait! Where are they going? Hehehe…*grins evilly* I didn't mention it in this chapter. Try to guess where! And who's the strange person that keeps popping up every once in a while with Kam Un? Come on, guess!!! ^_~ I'd like to see if anyone can get it.
I think I have about fifty or more Jiao Cards so far. Some of them are mere equivalents to the Clow Cards while others are totally new and original! =) After I finish this fic, I'll post a list of all the cards, short descriptions about them, and what chapters they appear in. Or…do you want me to post the list I have now? The list I currently have includes every card that has been used/captured/mentioned in the past chapters and it is always being updated as I write. Let me know what you want.

*Sakura
~The Animé Archives Team