Hi again! This is the four chapter all the way. Hope you like it!
Elements
Chapter Four: Please Kero, Explain.
A Fanfiction by Kyo
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The Card Mistress walked through the dark park. Nothing but confusing shadows. She walked with her wand gripped in her right hand, prepared for everything and all. The feeling of a red aura filled her magical senses, she was almost overwhelmed with the strong sensation. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Something told her that she needed to be calm for this. The owner of the aura appeared in front of her. His expression that one of a evil smirk, like it was proud of something.
The beast was cat-like. It's strong legs ended in sharp, vicious-looking claws. Huge fire wings crowned it's back, setting on fire everything they touched. To Sakura, the air seemed to weight a ton inside her lungs. The sensation of asphyxiation didn't leave her, till it was almost impossible to breath, everything due to the heat the beast produced.
For some reason she didn't feel afraid, only like something was missing, but what? Then an idea occurred her, where is Syaoran? She asked herself, afraid of the answer. For some strange reason that her dizzy brain couldn't place nor comprehend, or maybe she didn't want to accept the facts, she didn't find his aura. His aura was nowhere to be found. Sakura spread her magical senses desperately, while the mighty beasts in front of her laughed to itself. Enjoying her puzzled and scared look.
That's when she saw something strange at the feet of the beast. Her confused face transformed into one of terror and sorrow when she recognized the tiny, black body of her Little Wolf, bleeding still, but dead already.
Sakura fell to her knees, tears fell freely, while her brain denied the facts.
"No! Syaoran!"
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Syaoran woke with his name in his ears, followed by a sob. That only noise was all he needed to wake up completely. The sight he saw when he awoke, crushed his heart. His beloved Mistress of the Cards was crying, pale like the snow, a terrified expression on her face. She was seated on her bed, leaning on the headboard, hugging her knees, sobbing to herself. He neared her and called her trough their magical bond.
Sakura, daijoubu? Why are you crying? Sakura immediately snapped out of her thoughts. Syaoran was surprised by her next actions, but didn't have the courage to complain. She hugged him tight and cried on his fur. She cried for a good five minutes before she was calm enough to talk to him.
What's wrong? You had a nightmare? He asked softly inside her mind, while he nestled himself on her lap and she caressed his fur absentmindedly, looking down at him.
No, it wasn't a nightmare, it was another vision. It was different from the earlier. While she said this, the horrible images of her vision came to her mind. Tears blurred her vision again, but she fought them. She told him her vision in detail. He listened every word with great attention, all the while trying to comfort her, because even if she tried to hide her tears and fight them back, they flowed freely. At the end of her painful story there were a few minutes of silence, both of them immersed in their thoughts.
I think... The sorcerer started cautiously. That maybe it was only a nightmare, not a vision, you have been under great pressure with everything. He said, looking straight into her eyes with his big amber ones. Sakura sighed. I really hope you are right. She shook her head. But it was so real. She stopped for a second, then, And so painful.
You don't have to worry, it is not going to happen. I told you we are going to be prepared for that beasts. Sakura sighed. Now go to sleep. He chided. She complied instantly and in a few moments she was sleeping peacefully again, while Syaoran admired her. He wanted to memorize every single feature of her face, in case this dream came true. Then he wouldn't be alone, because he would have memorized her. He sighed. He went to sleep at her side with her picture in his mind.
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I said sorry! There is nothing more I can do.
Yeah, right. You said sorry but you don't really mean it.
And how would you know?
She smiled sweetly at him. Easy. I can read your thoughts.
Good point. But, if you analyze it in a way, it is your fault.
My fault? She asked incredulously.
Yes, because you left me alone with him.
Only because I left you for two minutes to make lunch inside the same room as onii-chan doesn't mean you had to bite him!
He was glaring at me like I was trying to steal you! Or something!
That's not a good enough reason!
You know, it is very difficult to control your emotions when you are an animal. And he glared at me, I felt intimidated.
Oh, oh! Mighty warrior Li Syaoran was intimidated! That's a first! Too bad Tomoyo wasn't there to record it, it was a once in a life time opportunity. She said sarcastically, while she skated trough the gates of Seijou High with the Little Wolf at her heels, trotting.
Ha, ha, ha. He said flatly, without emotion. Sakura favored him with a giggle. Besides, he continued in his own defense, it's not like I killed him or anything AND I gave him enough warning beforehand and HE didn't back up. Sakura rolled her eyes as she placed her books inside her locker and took out her Calculus book for her next class. Whatever. But you have to promise me you will not bite anybody else, not even Jong-Su, even if I myself want to kill him, okay? She told him seriously.
Hai, hai. He responded obediently.
You are starting to sound like Kero. She scolded playfully. He gave her a look like he had been shot to death. She giggled at his expression, but then the bell rang. It's tremendous RIIIIINNNGG! Reverberated through the building. Sakura ran into a panic.
"Hoe! I'm gonna be late again!" She shouted desperately while Syaoran chuckled in her mind and ran behind her.
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Li Syaoran was watching the cheerleaders do their job along with some others males that obviously had nothing better to do and had no girlfriend. But Syaoran was not paying attention to the whistling and wolf calling males, instead he was admiring the perfection with which Sakura jumped and danced around. He also admired her endurance, she had been doing the routine for more than an hour by this time and she showed no signs of getting tired.
The music was loud, it echoed through the entire gym where the cheerleaders took their practices. Sakura was always the last one to leave since she was the captain of the team. The cheerleaders practiced Tuesdays and Thursdays and cheered in all games.
Syaoran waited patiently seated on one of the stands while Sakura talked with one of her teammates about the routine and what will they do on the next game, which was a soccer game to be held on Saturday. Syaoran was supposed to play in that game, but since he couldn't, his team would try to beat the visitors without their captain.
A familiar odor came to his nose. His muscles tensed. It smelt like sweat and leather. just like—
"Jong-Su! What are you doing here?" Nichie, Sakura's cheerleading teammate, asked. She was a very athletic and good looking girl and even though she could have any boy in the whole school she kept trying to impress Jong-Su, who didn't even gave her an acknowledging glance. Instead, he kept walking till he was in front of Sakura, who was trying to disappear from there without making such of a fuzz in front of her friend, who thought Jong-Su was really a good person.
Syaoran fumed. There he was bothering Sakura again. That made Syaoran very mad, he had a very hard time keeping his promise and not biting him hard. He ran to Sakura's side, making a superhuman effort to keep himself from snarling at him or bite him in the face. He sat on his haunches and waited till Jong-Su talked.
"I wanted to apologize for being such a jerk yesterday. I hope your dog there is all right." He said politely. But something in his voice made both Sakura and Syaoran suspicious, but Sakura, being so good natured shook the feeling off, but Syaoran, who trusted much more in his instincts and this kind of feelings, didn't.
"Apology accepted. Now, if you don't mind, I have to do some work, so if you excuse me..." Sakura turned around to walk away but Jong-Su grabbed her wrist. Syaoran immediately growled deeply at him.
"Now what do you want Jong-Su?" She asked coldly.
"I wanted to ask you out. Would you like to go with me to the Spring Ball?" He asked with another voice, but let go of her wrist.
She smiled a fake smile. "I'm sorry Jong-Su, but I have already been invited." She said. Jong-Su's expression changed to one of rage.
"Oh. Yeah? By who?" He asked in a very deep voice due to the anger and rage.
"It's a surprise." She said confidently, even if she had just made it up. She started to walk away again, and she was stopped by the Korean boy yet again. Syaoran bared his teeth, even if he was just a pup, he was a frightening sight.
Sakura looked sharply at him, this time angrily.
"Who?" He asked stubbornly.
"If it's necessary to tell you for you to let me go, then I'll tell you. By Syaoran." He let go of her and smiled a somewhat evil smile at her. Syaoran was surprised by her answer, but he knew that wasn't the right moment to ask stupid questions.
"He isn't in Japan, how will he take you out?" He asked with an edge in his voice.
"That's not of—" She stopped mid-sentence. The same burning sensation as her dream tugged her magical senses. Her muscles tensed in a fighting stance. Syaoran's did too. She ran in the direction her senses told her to, Little Wolf Syaoran at her heels. Jong-Su was left half stunned in the middle of the gym. He made no try to reach her, everybody knew Kinomoto Sakura couldn't be caught in a race, in fact, he was surprised the pup could keep up with her.
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You felt it? Sakura asked to the Little Wolf, who ran a mere stride behind her. Of course I felt it! It was burning me!
It was in this direction, wasn't it? Because I cannot longer feel it. She asked. She was still wearing her cheerleading uniform, so it would be very awkward if someone found her in the middle of the woods that were behind the school dressed as she was. She wasn't thinking of that though.
I cannot feel it either, it was just a flash, but a very strong and controlled flash. Both thought for a minute, spreading their senses to try to find the presence again. What do you think it is? She asked, heading toward the school. She feared the answer. I think it is the beast you saw in your vision. We will have to ask the stuffed animal about that.
Why do you think it gave only a flash? She asked, thinking for an answer herself.
I don't know, but it was like it wanted us to know it is there, somewhere. He responded thoughtfully, then he added: I hope the stuffed animal knows something about it, or I'll kill him myself. He said looking at the ground, but still alert.
Sakura started giggling for some reason. What is it? He asked, a bit annoyed. Sakura shook her head. It's nothing.
Come on! Tell me! He urged her, trying to bite her shoe while she walked.
You no longer have a right to call Kero a stuffed animal, not anymore. She finally responded, a smile in her voice.
He looked at her quizzically. Oh yeah? And why is it?
Because you look like a stuffed animal yourself! She said tapping his nose. Before Syaoran had time to react she started running, giggling and laughing all the way. He followed her, totting and chuckling to himself. She's right. Right now I'm more of an stuffed animal that he is. He thought to himself, amused of his own thoughts.
In the shadows, two yellow eyes observed the scene, an evil smirk in it's cat-like features. He turned around and ran in the opposite direction as the Card Captors, running deeper into the forest. His mighty claws made no sound when making contact with the ground, but the air grew hot as he passed by. It's huge wings made contacts with the trees and they caught fire instantly. It trotted deeper, leaving a fire trial behind him.
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So... Syaoran started in a teasing tone.
So what? Sakura asked, walking by his side.
Why did you told Jong-Su I was taking you to the ball? He quipped, a sly smile in his voice.
Er... Because... That was the only thing that came to my mind. She said, kind of nervously. Besides I owe you a date. Remember? She asked coyly.
Oh! That. Anyway, how am I going to take you out if I'm only a wolf. He trotted ahead of her.
Don't worry about that. I'll figure it out. At that moment they arrived at Sakura's house. She stopped at the front door and looked at Syaoran seriously, who stopped wagging his tail. I'm sure Touya doesn't want to see you, so you better make the less noise possible, okay? Syaoran nodded. Sakura opened the door an took off her shoes and noticed that there were two pairs of shoes besides Touya's, she recognized one pair as of Tomoyo and she concluded the other must be of Yukito.
"Tadaima!" She called. Three voices responded "Okaeri nasai!" Sakura left her things near the staircase and entered the kitchen. Syaoran next to her, trotting. The instant he entered the kitchen, Touya glared at him to what Syaoran gave a step forward but Sakura gave him a warning look.
"Konbanwa, Sakura." Yukito and Tomoyo greeted. "Konbanwa." She responded. "Are you going to join us for dinner?" She asked but she was already placing two more places on the table. "If you don't mind." Yukito said, Tomoyo nodded.
"What are we having for dinner today onii-chan?" She asked while she took her place besides Tomoyo and in front of Yukito. Syaoran sat beside her on the floor.
"I made Tempura and your mutt there is not going to eat from the food I made." Touya stated stubbornly, glaring at the Little Wolf who took an insult at being called a mutt.
"How many times have I told you that he isn't a mutt! He is a wolf and if you don't let him have dinner today, you won't have dinner next time because he" she said pointing at the sitting Syaoran. "is going to eat your part." Touya saw she was talking seriously and decided it wouldn't be that bad sharing a part of the dinner he had made with the little mutt. "Okay. Whatever, he can have some dinner." Sakura smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you!"
Dinner went pretty nicely, everybody chatted about this and that, none of them had a worry in their minds. Syaoran and Sakura took advantage of the moments where Touya, Yukito and Tomoyo talked to talk themselves, with their minds of course.
What is Tomoyo doing here? He asked, while biting one piece of fish of his Tempura. I don't know, she shrugged mentally, maybe she wanted to talk about something.
Maybe.
When dinner was finished the boys retired to Touya's room, they had work to do, they said. Tomoyo and Sakura offered themselves to clean the kitchen.
"So why are you here Tomoyo?" Sakura asked after a lot of insistence from Syaoran.
"I wanted to tell you something."
"About what?"
"Well, today there was a fire in the woods behind the school." Tomoyo asked, cleaning a dish.
Sakura looked sharply at her. "Really?"
Tomoyo nodded. "But the strangest thing is that the fire started high in the trees not in the floor." She said looking at the worried expression of her friend. "I thought it could be a Clow Card." Sakura nodded.
"It was a Clow Card." She sighed tiredly. "Syaoran and I were there this afternoon, we felt it's presence, but only for a second. We didn't find it, and it didn't attacked us either, so we left the place." She said taking the plates and placing them on their rightful places. "Was it a big fire?" Sakura asked, preoccupied.
Tomoyo shook her head. "No, it wasn't that big, it was controlled rapidly, thank goodness. I also wanted to ask you something." Tomoyo said, following Sakura to her room now that the kitchen was done. Sakura smiled at her. "What?"
"I'll tell you in your room." They arrived to her room. Sakura opened the door and Syaoran was the first one to get in, followed by Sakura and Tomoyo.
"What did you wanted to ask?" She asked, ignoring Syaoran who was glaring at Kero and trying o get loose from her grip.
"Will you go to the Spring Ball? I need to know to make the dress." She said, keeping the struggling Kero from getting to the Little Wolf.
Sakura thought for a moment. "Well, yeah." Tomoyo squealed in joy. Sakura sweatdropped. When her best friend was done with her outburst she asked: "But with who?" She asked looking directly at Sakura's eyes, she turned crimson and looked away. "Well... if I go, I'll go with Syaoran." Tomoyo shrieked again and took her video camera out of nowhere, and began videotaping Sakura. She then asked in a disappointed tone of voice. "But how is he going to take you out if he is only a wolf?" Syaoran nodded and looked at Sakura.
"Well everything depends of the hour you change back to human." Syaoran nodded again.
"Wait. He can change back to human?" A confused Tomoyo asked.
All three magical beings nodded. "Yesterday he went back to human for an hour." Sakura explained.
"Because the Card's magic is at it's weakest at night." Kero explained further.
"Ah!" Tomoyo said, now understanding.
"What do you think Kero? Will he be able to go to the Ball?" Sakura asked the small magical creature.
Kero frowned in concentration while he floated in front of it's Mistress. "Well, by that time the Card's magic will be very weak, maybe he can manipulate the time he stays human, he will only have five hours, though."
"That's more than enough." Sakura said cheerfully. "you heard that Syaoran?" She asked the Little Wolf who nodded happily and wagged his tail. If a stranger had watched this scene without knowing the happenings, he would have sworn the Little Wolf was Sakura's pet.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt you," Kero started. "But there is something important I have to tell you." When he finished three pairs of ears were listening closely to him.
"What?" Tomoyo asked.
"It's about the visions you have been having." Kero said solemnly.
"So you know about the visions. May I ask how do you know about them?" Sakura asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Well... I... umm... I kind of eavesdropped last night." He said with a remorseful look. Sakura sighed. "Well it doesn't matter, continue."
"Okay, but don't interrupt me." He said looking directly at Syaoran, who glared at him. "The saga tells of Four Beasts made of the magic of the elements. All of them of incredible might and cat-like features. They are Cards of Clow, but they are special in a way. These Four Elemental Beasts were made evil and mean to balance the good and kind power the other Cards possess. Clow kind of programmed these four Cards so they would appear only after the Four Elements have been sealed, that way I would be able to help the Card Captors in my true form. Other than this little is known about them. Clow once mentioned something about them being some sort of a test, but nothing is written about that.
But why is Sakura having visions about them? Syaoran thought to ask. If we haven't caught all the Elements.
Sakura knew about his question thanks to the unique and magical link they had and asked for him.
"Syaoran asks why am I having this visions and why we are feeling their presence if we haven't caught all the Elements."
Kero frowned in concentration trying to think of a suitable answer. Tomoyo only listened, not making questions even if she didn't know what were they talking about .
"I myself don't know the answer." He said, finally defeated. "Maybe the special seal Clow placed in them broke." He sighed. "I don't know."
"Are these Cards very powerful Kero?" Tomoyo asked.
Kero nodded. "Yeah, each one of them represents one fourth of the total Card power. And we are in a disadvantage, great disadvantage since one of the elements is missing."
"What about the fire this afternoon? Could it have been caused by one of them?" The only non-magical being in the room asked.
Kero pondered the question for a second. "It could have been." Then he turned to the Card Captors. "You say you felt their presence?" He asked with a frown on his face.
Sakura nodded. "Yes, or at least we think so. It was a burning sensation." Syaoran nodded. Kero's frown deepened.
Long seconds passed before Kero spoke again. "I want you both to promise me that you won't go after them, not till the gaki has use of all his faculties."
Syaoran wanted to protest, but Sakura reasoned with him.
Kero is right Syaoran. If these beasts are as powerful as he says they are I will need you at your best. Right now you cannot even hold a sword.
Syaoran wanted to protest some more, but at the end gave up. All this conversation in less than three seconds.
"Okay Kero, we promise, we will wait till Sunday to go hunting for them." Kero felt relieved. "Thank you. After Sunday, if they keep appearing we will hunt for them."
"Oh My God!" Tomoyo suddenly cried, looking at her clock.
"What is it?" Sakura asked, bewildered.
"Look at the hour Mom is going to kill me! I promised her I would be get home early!" Sakura looked at the clock and discovered it was already ten.
"I better go, see you tomorrow." She said, standing up. "Tomorrow you will choose the design of your dress and Li's tux too!" She said smiling that sweet smile of hers at them. Sakura and Syaoran nodded.
"Good-bye!" With that she closed the door behind her, muttering things like "Sakura," "dress" and "kawaii."
"I'll get changed, close your eyes you two." Sakura ordered them while she took her PJ out of her dresser.
Syaoran closed his eyes quickly and blushed a deep red, lucky for him all his fur covered it. After Sakura got changed she went straight to bed. Apparently forgetting that Syaoran's transformation could take place at any moment now since it was almost 10:30.
Just before drifting of to sleep Sakura said: "I'm going to sleep, good night." Nor Kero nor Syaoran had time to protest for Sakura was already sleeping and in dreamland.
She must have been very tired. Syaoran thought silently, while he observed Sakura's beautiful face, to see her like this, so at peace, made him feel tranquil too. He kept watching and thinking like this till Kero interrupted his train of thoughts. The Little Wolf snapped out of his reflections feeling like killing Kero, but the Magical creature's next words made him stop.
"Okay Gaki, if you want to the Ball with Sakura you better listen to me." Syaoran didn't stepped forward but didn't dropped his guard either.
"Look Gaki, I don't like you and you don't like me. I would be very glad if you stayed like that forever, but Sakura wouldn't like that. I only do this for Sakura, understood?" Syaoran kept his guard up and waited for Kero's next words. "To go back to human you must manipulate the Card's power when it is at it's weakest. It's easy if you have enough will power." Kero smirked. "but it could be very painful. Are you willing to go through that only to go to a Ball?" The tiny creature said with disdain.
Syaoran looked away from Kero and Back to Sakura. Even if Kero spoke with disdain, inwardly he was praying that Syaoran said yes, because if he said no, Sakura would be very sad, and nobody wants to see Sakura sad, but this way, the Gaki couldn't say that he didn't warned him.
After pondering the question for several minutes during which he watched Sakura's profile, Syaoran nodded, his eyes never leaving the face of the angel in front of him. Kero nodded solemnly. Syaoran decided he would try to do the transformation, even if it could be painful, it was all for his beloved Card Mistress.
"Then I'll teach you tonight." Syaoran nodded again.
Through all the night the warrior and the beast trained. Indeed it was painful, but Syaoran had promised to himself that he would do it for Sakura.
To be continued...
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