Author's Note: Sorry I took such a long time. I was very
busy with my attachment and I was suffering from sentences block. I knew what
was going to happen. I just don't know how to put them into words. So finally
when I was in the X-ray department waiting for a patient to get his X-ray done,
the words started flowing and I wrote them down. Lucky that nurses always have
pen and paper with them! Also, I was able to write coz me and my patient had to
wait over an hour for his turn.
Disclaimer: As usual, Clamp
is the creator of CCS, not me. I'm saving up for a keyboard and piano lessons.
So please don't sue me.
The sense was coming in torrents
now. So strong that Sakura couldn't ignore it any longer. As usual, the feeling
started as a sudden change in the atmosphere. It was during her cheerleading
practice that it started. On the day Eriol arrived in town, strange things
began to happen. At first, she couldn't figure out why her new star key
couldn't be released. And after she figured it out, she realised that she
couldn't use her Clow cards. She was only a split second into being defeated
when she got her magic to work.
Sakura was changing into her cheerleading uniform
when she sensed a sudden change in the atmosphere. Clow-san? Looking
around, all she could see was rows of lockers. As usual, she was the last one
in. By then, everyone had changed and assembled by the field. As far as she
could see, she was all alone in the changing room. The feeling got stronger and
harder to ignore. Oh no, not now, Sakura groaned. Everyone was waiting
for her! A cold, icy wind blew through the room. The locker doors started
opening and slamming by themselves.
"Gho… ghooost!!!" Sakura shrieked,
turning an unhealthy shade of blue.
"Don't worry. It's not. I can feel
the tremendous flow of power." Syaoran reassured, touching her shoulder.
"Li-kun! I'm so glad you're here!"
"We don't have time to do this.
Let's deal with this later at night." Syaoran said and walked out of the
changing room, head lowered. Sakura was only half dressed and she was totally
unselfconscious about it. But Syaoran was another matter. Blood shot up his
cheeks, warming his whole face.
She followed the scent to the local
beach where it was the strongest. Syaoran was already there with his back towards
her. If he realised that she had arrived, he didn't show it. A storm was
brewing out there. Lightning flashed through the evening sky, followed by a
deep ramble seconds later. The strong gushy wind stung her eyes and she could
feel them tearing. Syaoran stood unmoving against the wind, robe whipping
behind him. Sakura couldn't help but noticed how cool he looked at that moment.
Tomoyo-chan will love this setting. But Tomoyo happened to be out and
Sakura couldn't reach her. Without warning, the rain came down bitingly cold
and hard. Sakura watched as Syaoran forced his way forward. She did likewise,
inching slowly towards the shoreline.
"Here it comes!" Syaoran yelled,
turning towards Sakura.
She saw what looked like a tornado
of water rising from the sea. It moved with amazing speed and before any of
them could react, it had swallowed Syaoran up. She wasn't prepared for it but
nevertheless, she released the seal on her star key. She then remembered the
time Rika had almost drowned in the Big Wave Pool because of a faulty valve in
the system. She had used 'Watery' to evaporate away the excess water. Throwing
the card into the air, she tapped the card gently with her staff. She cited the
chant to change the Clow card into Sakura card.
"Watery!"
What happened next was not what she
had expected. More water rose up from the sea and engulfed Syaoran. By now, he
could be seen struggling and choking in the water tornado that imprisoned him.
Exasperate, she tried to buy the both of them some time by using the time card.
A yellowish tint began to spread over the landscape. To her surprised, it
rolled over her and although she knew what was going on, she couldn't move. The
card had stopped time for her and not on the surrounding. When she could move
again, she was close to tears. All the cards she had used had turned against
her, making the situation worse. If this carries on, Li-kun will die!
"Let's see what you make of this.
Sakura-san." Eriol whispered, in company of the black leopard and pink haired
girl. They were standing on branches of a tree, watching the episode.
Then she had it. If any attempts to lessen the
water failed, then it might be possible that adding water will work the
opposite way. She chose the rain card. Almost immediately, the water began to
rise up from the tornado, freeing Syaoran with its evaporation. It was
miraculous. Even the storm had quiet down. Sakura rushed up to the motionless
Syaoran.
"Li-kun!" She shook him but without
result. "Syaoran-kun!!!" She sobbed.
Syaoran wasn't breathing. She
couldn't even make out a heart beat. It couldn't be. But it's true. Syaoran is
dead.