Testing The Sakura Card Mistress
Ten- Testing
by Sakura Maxwell
Notes: I'm not pleased with this chapter. I think it's too broken up and abrupt. It sucks! I started 1/3 of it a long time ago, left it, then started the 2/3 today. The battle parts with Kikai and Sakura were written back last year August or so. That's pretty bad, eh? I had the battle planned out before this was. x.x;; That's why it probably won't make much sense. ....Pity me. Try reading it and see if you understand. I'm curious..O_o;;
I also noticed I had a SHIT LOAD of typos in the 9th chapter. Wow! X_x;; Hope I don't have too many in here. (Yea, right..*coughcough*)
-
Sakura snapped her eyes open. "Sore wa yume--"
"Sakura-chan!"
"Sakura-san!"
"Sakura-san!"
"Sakura!"
"Sakura-sama!"
Sakura blinked and saw the worried faces of Tomoyo, Eriol, Syaoran, and Cerberus. ~But I swear I heard Yue's voice..~
"Daijoubu?" the moon guardian asked softly from behind. Sakura tried to push herself off the hard ground, but her sprained wrist caused her slip back down. She winced in pain. "Itaiii.." Yue slipped his arms under Sakura's and lifted her up. She leaned against Yue.
"Daijoubu desu ka, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked, her voice almost a shrill. Sakura smiled wearily. "Ha-Hai," she answered. Eriol frowned at her sprained wrist. "You can't fight with an injury," he mumbled under his breath. Sakura blinked. "What?" Eriol shook his head. "Nevermind." He held Sakura's sprained wrist and muttered something, then placed her hand down gently. Sakura blinked again and lifted it up. "Sugoi!" she exclaimed. "It's better!!" She turned to look at Eriol. "Arigatou, Eriol-kun!" Eriol smiled at her, though the smile was forced. ~You'll need every part of you at top shape to fight, Sakura-san..~
"What happened?" Cerberus asked. Sakura shrugged. "I don't know. I was standing by my window after inviting everyone over for tea, and then a powerful aura slammed straight into me and caused me to fall." Cerberus raised a brow, and looked at Yue. Yue nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Cerberus' expression.
"And be unconscious," Syaoran muttered. "Did you recognize the aura?" Sakura shook her head. "No.. I didn't. I've never felt that kind of aura before.. It was so...powerful..frightening.."
"Ima wa..."
Everyone snapped their heads up, startled, because they forgot Kikai was there, since she was being so quiet.
She turned to face Sakura. "Release," she whispered, almost inaudible. The long, sleek grey staff appeared in her hand. "The time has come. Tsumetai, Kiri Okami, I command you to reveal your true forms!"
Reisei and Kiri floated above the ground as gusts of clouds surrounded them. Two pairs of glossy black wings covered them, and when the wings fell back, Tsumetai and Kiri Okami were standing in their true forms.
Kikai whipped out a card. "Dark Create!"
Grey wisps of cloud swirled around and shot out in every direction. Sakura was lifted into the air, and she felt as if she was disappearing. She looked down at her hands. She was disappearing. "Hoooeeee!!" she screamed, freaked. She was getting more and more transparent.
"SAKURA!!" Cerberus and Yue shouted. The frantic moon guardian reached out to try and grab Sakura. But he felt nothing. His mistress was gone.
~*~*~*~*~
Sakura stepped back fearfully. The world she was now in was totally beyond what she would have imagined. It looked like it was from ancient ruins. There was high stairs made of stone in front of her and it was all grey and dark. And every so steps there was two stone pillars on the sides and one on the top.
She glanced around, feeling afraid. She couldn't sense Cerberus or Yue anywhere near her. Then one cold aura hit her and she looked up.
Kikai was standing on one of the pillars. She had the Dark Sword in her hand and she was looking down at Sakura, her face covered in shadows.
"Where is Yue?!" demanded Sakura, clutching her staff. "Where are you hiding him!" Kikai bent down and jumped off the pillars and landed behind Sakura with no noise.
Without a word, she held out the Dark Sword in front of her, straight at Sakura's face. Even though Sakura always saw Kikai with an emotionless face, she couldn't help but step back. ~Why.. I.. I have to fight her..~
Suddenly Kikai's lips curved into a smirk and her eyes narrowed playfully. "Ima wa..," was what she whispered, so soft, so silent Sakura almost didn't hear it. Kikai raised the Sword and slashed down. A wind started to pick up.
"Jump!" cried out Sakura and jumped backwards, the two wings appearing at her ankles. Kikai was already running towards her, Sword held back, ready to strike.
Sakura started running up the stairs. Kikai wasn't far behind. She lashed out her sword again and barely missed Sakura's neck, making contact with her shirt and ripping it open slightly.
"The Watery!" Kikai's voice shouted as a strong wind blew right through them. "Everytime I looked in water I saw you! And what you were thinking, therefore I know what you did!"
Sakura gasped in surprise. ~So this is what Kero-chan meant! She will tell me how she used the cards! ~
"Augh!" Sakura yelped, using her arm to shield the dust the wind was throwing at her. Again, the Sword narrowly missed her.
"The Dark!" Kikai's voice was now more of a cruel laughter than a shout. "Because Yue resembles Darkness I was able to use the Dark Card to know wherever he was!"
~That's right!~ Sakura realized as she stumbled over a step. ~The two times she knew Yue was close by!~
~"No, of course not. Do you think I'm stupid enough to attack you in the open? Let alone when your guardian is watching you?"~
~"To think that you can't even *sense* him when he's so *close* is not good," Kikai muttered. Sakura faltered a bit, instantly knowing Kikai was talking to her. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Sense who?"
"Yue.." she whispered, almost disdainfully.~
Sakura held her wand closer to her chest. "Yue.. Where are you?" she asked in a whisper.
~*~*~*~*~
Cerberus took in his surroundings. It looked much like Clow's mansion grounds, where the cherry tree that had not blossomed, blossomed because of Clow Reed's magic. But, he remembered everything being alive. The place he was in..everything was dead. The grass snapped under his paws, and the cherry tree was just a lifeless brown tree, branches sticking out everywhere, with no blossoms whatsoever.
"What the hell.. What kind of place is this?"
"A kind of place where we can fight," answered a deep voice.
Cerberus snapped his head up to the dead cherry blossom tree. Kiri Okami was standing there, obviously Cerberus had not seen him before. Kiri Okami jumped down and landed in front of the lion. "Finally," the black-blue wolf said. "Finally, I am able to fight with you." Cerberus narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" he questioned. Kiri Okami answered, "I have always wanted to fight you. I want to see how powerful you really are, Cerberus, guardian of the Seal."
The sun guardian's tail flicked in annoyance. "So, you want to see how powerful I am, do you?" he asked, tone caught between seriousness and mockery. "Then let's go!" Kiri Okami smirked, then opened his mouth and blue-grey mist sprayed out. Cerberus sweatdropped. "That's all you can do--" His mouth stopped moving. The mist had fallen over his entire face, and now his face was frozen. Kiri Okami smirked again. "Tut tut, Cerberus. Don't underestimate me," he mocked, and headbutted the lion.
Cerberus fell back. He summounded the hot angry fire in his mouth, and melted the freeze away, fire blazing straight at the mist wolf. Kiri Okami dodged, jumping to his right and counter-attacking with another mouthful of mist. Cerberus fired back with more flames. The two elements collided and exploded. Both sun guardians jumped back.
"This will be interesting.." Kiri Okami said, eyes full of mischief.
"I'm sure it will be.." replied Cerberus, eyes matching the wolf.
~*~*~*~*~
Yue's eyes snapped from right to left, taking in his new settings. ~What the hell happened..~ he thought angrily. ~This testing.. Why can't I watch Sakura-sama be tested? What if that girl kills her.. No! I won't think like that! Sakura-sama is far too powerful to be beaten by a bratty girl like Kikai..~
"So you think my mistress is a brat?" asked a voice from behind.
Yue whipped around and came face to face with Tsumetai's amused expression. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Where am I?!" he demanded. Tsumetai laughed silently and answered, "Don't be so angry, Yue. This is just part of the testing. You are in another demension. It is neccessary for both guardians and master..or mistress in this case.. to be seperated and tested individually."
"Tested individually?!"
~*~*~*~*~
"That's right," Kiri Okami answered, still smirking at Cerberus' bewildered expression. "You have to be worthy of being the guardian for the Sakura Cards, and your mistress."
"But Clow nor Eriol said anything about us being tested!" the golden lion exclaimed. "This isn't how the testing is supposed to go!"
Kiri Okami frowned, then laughed. "How stupid are you, Cerberus?" he asked in a serious tone. "Clow had a reason for not telling you about being part of the testing." Cerberus asked, "Then what was his reason?!" Kiri Okami closed his eyes. "Because even Clow himself did not know this was going to happen."
Cerberus blinked, eyes wide, and stepped back. "Wha-What do you mean?! Clow was the one who made the Dark Clow Cards! He planned out everything! Just like with Sakura!"
"He did not plan for Sakura to fall in love with Yue. He planned for her to fall in love with Yukito, but because she loves Yue, things got a tad bit more complicated. The Mistress or Master of the Dark Clow Cards was supposed to test the physical and emotional strength of the Clow Card Master or Mistress. However.."
"However..?!"
Kiri Okami's eyes stared coolly at Cerberus. (Think Noin, people! Demon Knight Noin from Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne!) "..What Sakura is being tested on is entirely different.."
Cerberus's eyes widened. "..Wh..What the hell does that mean?! What is Kikai testing her on?!"
Kiri Okami's eyes flashed. "You'll find out.. After you defeat me!" he exclaimed, shooting out an assault of mists.
"Kck.." Cerberus leaped out of the way. 'Sakura.. Watch out..'
~*~*~*~*~
"Hahaha, this is too much fun!" Tsumetai exclaimed cheerfully, flying icicles at the moon guardian. Yue flew up and quickly summonded his bow and arrow. He took aim and fired. Tsumetai glanced at him, turned around, and hurled a wave of icicles at it; the arrow froze over and Tsumetai caught it. "Yue is so weak that even a single arrow can't hit me.. Tsk tsk!" she chided aloud, eyes closed, brows up, talking like a disappointed mother.
Yue: *bending down on the ground swirling a stick around silently*
Tsumetai: Ohohohoho!
Yue: ..Freak..
Tsumetai: ...
~*~*~*~*~
Kikai's slashes became more frequent. She brought her sword down, always closer to the target. Then the blade sliced open Sakura's sleeve and skin. Sakura cried out in pain as the blood just spurt out and leaked down. But still she ran. She wouldn't give up that easily.
Then she heard Kikai laughing calmly yet it still creeped Sakura out. "The Sweet!" she said, slashing and slashing, "was able to let me see who you loved! And it let me know what was your weak POINT!" When she said 'point', she leaned in and the blade went right between Sakura's stomach and arm. It scraped her side and arm.
Sakura gritted her teeth together. "I..don't..care..." she said with great effort. She turned around and jumped high in the air. Raising the staff high above her head, she called out, "WOOD!" and slammed the star against the card. The green feminine spirit swirled out of the card and around Kikai, forming branches around her arms and waist and legs. Soon Kikai was totally restrained.
Sakura bent down and waited for her breath to catch up with her. She pushed herself up with the aid of her staff and took a look at Kikai. The cold-hearted Card Captor was merely staring at her with cool amused eyes, as if telling her to go on.
So she did. She gathered her energy and after much panting and suffering, made it to the top.
What greeted her made her gasp in horror.
"Yue!" she screamed out. Yue was bound to a curved stone wall by ribbons that were so tight they cut through his light skin. Sakura felt tears leak out of her eyes at the sight of the one she loved being hurt like that. She ran up to him and looked up. "Yue.. Yue, are you okay? Yue, please say something!" she pleaded, crying.
Yue's eyes fluttered open and he looked down. "Sa..Saku..Sakura..?" he asked in disbelief. Sakura nodded in happiness, wrapping her arms as best as she could around the winged guardian. Yue's cheeks went pink but he sighed blissfully. "Sa.."
Sakura glanced up at him and put her hands on his shoulders. "Yue.." she mouthed and leaned up. She closed her eyes and placed her lips against his. Yue's eyes brimmed with tears as he returned the kiss.
Reluctantly, Sakura pulled away. "Yue.." she whispered. "I.." Yue smiled a little and said, "Sakura.." Sakura looked back up at him and then her face got serious again.
"Sword!" she commanded, and Sword replaced her staff. With one quick swift cut, the ribbons that bound Yue fell to the cold stone. Sakura immediately dropped her staff and caught Yue as he fell.
"Dai..Daijoubu desu ka?" Sakura asked in pure concern. Yue ignored the pain searing all over him and managed to say, "Yes, I'm fine." Sakura laid him down and picked up her wand. "Don't worry, Yue," she said, standing up. "I'll make sure you won't get hurt anymore!"
"And how do you plan to do that?" an icy voice inquired.
Sakura spun around and Yue turned his head. "Kikai!" they exclaimed in unison.
Kikai had her share of scratches and marks on her wrists caused by the wood's tight branches. "How did you get out of the Wood's grip?!" Sakura asked angrily.
Kikai tapped the tip of her staff on the ground and answered coolly, "Very. Simple. All I did was twist my wrist and slice the first branch off. It was enough to let me get free of the entire plant."
It was then that Sakura noticed Kikai's right wrist was hanging limply. "You..twisted it?" she asked, wincing. Kikai started laughing. "Foolish girl, you get used to pain when you have the stubborness of a mule," she said. "But it's time for the finale."
Sakura got ready.
"The Light Card.. Was my target. The Light Card.. Represents..Yue."
Sakura's eyes widened. "What?! From Yue?!"
Kikai raised her head and answered, "Of course from Yue. Though his symbol is Yin, darkness, he lit you up inside everytime you saw him. It didn't matter what represented him." Kikai looked straight at Sakura. "It mattered on how you felt about him."
With her limp hand, she took out a card. "It is time for your test to end, Kinomoto Sakura, Mistress of the Sakura Cards. You lose!" Kikai shouted. She twirled the staff with her left hand and brought it up to the card.
"DEATH!"
~*~*~*~*~
This would be such a great cliff hanger, wouldn't it? LOL! Nah.. I'll let you read the rest. ^_^;;...
~*~*~*~*~
Sakura's eyes went big as saucers. "No!" she screamed.
Black whisps of clouds surrounded Kikai and like how the Windy always comes from the card, a female shape burst from it. It was entirely dressed in black. The figure wrapped itself around Kikai and a violent black thunder crackled from within.
Sakura covered her face with her arms. "Ahhhh!!" she cried out.
The thunder ended and Sakura opened her eyes. Then she blinked, eyes going wider. "What in the world.."
Kikai was floating above the ground. Her head was bent, eyes closed. A silver crown circled her head. Her body was covered in a huge black robe with a silver tie hanging loosely around her waist. The sleeves of the robe were so long they fell on the ground. Her hands were covered in white gloves and in them was a long, narrow and deadly looking scythe.
Sakura stared in awe at the weapon that could easily slice her into numerous pieces. There was gold and black metallic designs on the upper part of the silver scythe. The blade curved wickedly and the tip was so sharp and pointed Sakura had to glance away.
Finally the wings. The two devil wings the hanged over her form, covering her face in shadow. So pitch black and full of detail.
Sakura was amazed at how deadly she had becomed. "Ki..Kikai.." she whispered.
Kikai's head tilted up. Sakura bit her lip. Then the devil's eyes flashed open, glowling an evil blue. Sakura gasped and stepped back. "Wha..What is that?" she asked. Yue winced and said through gritted teeth, "She..used..the Death.. Sak..Sakura..please.. Ki o tsukete.." He winced a final time and went still. Sakura stared at him. "Yue.. YUE!"
Her eyes squeezed shut, tears flooding down her cheeks. She turned to the combined form of Kikai and Death and screamed with rage, "I'm the one you want so come and get me!"
Kikai's head raised fully, exposing her even paler face and blood red lips. She raised the scythe above her head and twirled it. Then she slashed slowly at first, then as soon as Sakura was about to dodge, Kikai's speed quickened and she slashed the scythe straight across Sakura's stomach.
Sakura flew back, hitting the stone. She layed limp. Kikai didn't bother with her and turned around in time to grab Sakura's foot and throw her against her double.
The real Sakura stood up. The Sakura with the wound turned into blue whisps of cloud and turned back into a card. ~Mirror.~
Sakura spun her staff and brought out a different card. "Bubbles!" she cried out, and tons of bubbles started to surround Sakura and Kikai.
Kikai turned her head, looking for the other Card Mistress. Then..
"SHOT!"
Sakura released Shot and it began shooting at Kikai. Kikai's eyes narrowed as she flew up, down, sideways and any other way she could to dodge the pieces of power aiming at her repeatedly. Then a shot hit her arm and tore through the sleeve of the black robe and revealed white. White, white skin.
~It's like she just died..~ Sakura thought, running to the other side of Kikai. She gripped her staff. ~Now what do I do.. ~
She looked at Kikai. The Shot was going at her. Kikai raised her scythe and brought it down roughly on the pink bullet and sent it ramming into the ground. Shot crackled and disappeared. Kikai turned on Sakura.
"Ah.." Sakura said, "Jump!" and two small wings attached to her ankles.
Kikai flew over and swung the scythe at Sakura with amazing and blinding speed. Sakura pushed off the ground and landed on a pillar. Kikai slashed her scythe in Sakura's direction and a blade of power left the weapon and hit Sakura.
Sakura jumped up enough to escape total injury but her left arm and waist got cut. Her arm was the most damaged. She landed on the ground and tried to catch her breath.
She saw Kikai swing her scythe, creating a black wind-fire, and sent it at Sakura. Sakura hastily summoned Shield. The faint green bubble surrounded her and the wind-fire hit. It was pressing against the Shield and Shield started to crack. Sakura's eyes widened and she ran out of the Shield and called Jump, leaping backwards away as the wind-fire exploded.
She landed next the unconscious Yue. Her eyes narrowed at Kikai and gritted her teeth together in frustration.
~Just how am I supposed to beat her?! Argh, she's just too strong! ..What did Eriol-kun say...~
~"You will never be able to beat Kikai if you don't beat her at her best ability."~
Sakura's eyes widened. ~That's right! Eriol-kun said I can only beat her if I defeat her at her strong point! ..But.. What is her strong point?~ She tried to think of anything Kikai did to her, and tried to ignore Death's mocking face like when she caught Fight.
All the images of Kikai holding Dark Sword appeared in Sakura's mind.
"That's it!" she cried out. "Sword!" Wand transformed into a sword and she pointed it at Kikai. "I challenge you to a duel!"
Kikai's eyes narrowed, then held the scythe high and for a second Sakura thought Kikai was going to slice her to pieces. But black whisps of cloud started to disappear from Kikai until she was back to normal, holding the now Dark Sword high.
"I accept that challenge," Kikai said and instantly ran at Sakura, swiping her sword at her legs. Sakura jumped up and backflipped. "Damnit, I can't use any other magic," she mumbled. "Hoee!!" She barely dodged another attack.
Kikai brought the sword down on Sakura's and pushed her down. "You can't win," she hissed, pressing harder. Sakura winced. ~I can't keep this up.. My wounds.. They hurt..~ Sakura let her sword go limp and pulled away as Kikai's sword made contact with the ground. The tip struck and Kikai yanked it out.
"Die!" she yelled, slashing at Sakura's side. Sakura went the other way tried hitting Kikai's stomach but she jumped in the air. "Where is she?!" Sakura asked no one. "Ah!" Kikai came down and her sword clashed with Sakura's. Sakura narrowed her eyes and tried not to fall on her knees. "Ugh.."
Kikai's eyes narrowed to slits and put more pressure on the sword and caused Sakura to cry out a little.
With all her strength, Sakura pushed her sword up and threw Kikai off. She landed a few feet away but didn't hesitate. She came running back with speed and agility and the two engaged in slashes and swiping at each other.
"I must ask you a question," Kikai said, brining her sword at Sakura. She blocked and managed to say, "What is it..?" Kikai smirked and slashed at Sakura's feet. Sakura backflipped.
"I want to know," said Kikai, walking towards Sakura, "why you love Yue so much." Sakura's cheeks blushed a little. "Why do you want to know?!" she demanded.
"Just curious."
Sakura narrowed her eyes. ~Just curious?! What does she mean..?!~ "I.. I love Yue so much because.. He's nice and comforting! And he has a loving heart, it's just he didn't have anyone to fall in love with! He was always locked in the Clow Book, and never had any time to be free. Now that he is, I think he's friendly. He always looks out for me, and cares for me. He.."
Kikai raised a brow and stopped walking. "That's what attracts you to him?" she asked. "And are those the reasons you love him? Are you being honest?"
Sakura blinked in confusement.
~'Are you being honest'? What does she mean?~
Kikai sensed Sakura's confusion. She smiled, looking to the ground with her eyes closed. (No, ppl, not like how Xelloss or Yamazaki smiles..o.O;;) "Is that what really attracts you to him?" she asked again. "Are those the true reasons to why you love him?" Sakura blinked. "..I..don't understand..what you mean.." she replied. Kikai's smile widened a little. "Sakura, be honest. Be honest with your heart. Tell me, why do you love Yue so?"
Sakura closed her eyes. ~Why do I love Yue so much..? That.. That I..~
"That..I don't know.." Sakura answered softly.
Kikai opened her eyes. "Very good.. Well done, Mistress of The Sakura Cards.." she said. Sakura blinked again. "Hoe? What do you mean?" Kikai looked up at Sakura.
"You have passed my test."
Sakura stared. "Ho..Honto ni?!" she asked in an excited voice. Kikai closed her eyes and smiled, nodding. (Yesh, now she smiles like Xelloss and/or Yamazaki..) "You have proven to me that you sincerely love Yue with all of your heart, mind, body, and soul."
Sakura yet again blinked in confusion. "I..did?" she asked, lost. "How? I couldn't tell you. I don't know.."
"And that is why I know you sincerely love him."
Sakura blinked. "..Because I don't know why I love him is how you can tell I love him?" she asked. Kikai nodded. "The love you feel for Yue is pure and true. Your heart cannot be controlled. Emotions cannot be controlled. Therefore, not knowing why you love Yue assures me that you, infact, do love him with every part of you," she answered. Sakura's eyes lit with joy, and she smiled. "Arigatou, Kikai-san!" she exclaimed, throwing herself at the blue-eyed girl and hugging her. Kikai stumbled back a bit in surprise, then smiled. "Don't thank me," she said. "Thank your heart."
Sakura nodded.
Kikai held up her staff. "Dark Mirror, Illusion, and Create!" she said. "You may return!"
At once, everything surrounding the two girls disappeared.
AHAAA! Yes! Finished! Finally! Wooo! How was THAT?! DIDN'T EXPECT THAT, DID YA?! ..Eh? You did? O.O;; ..Damn, I suck. *saunters off*
Wooden sign stuck in the ground: Please review! ..Sakura needs to be praised. (She needs to be smashed with tomatoes.)
Another sing stuck in the ground: Sakura drew some scenes from this chapter! Should she put these ugly horrific drawings on the web for y'all to see? E-mail or say it in the review!
Ten- Testing
by Sakura Maxwell
Notes: I'm not pleased with this chapter. I think it's too broken up and abrupt. It sucks! I started 1/3 of it a long time ago, left it, then started the 2/3 today. The battle parts with Kikai and Sakura were written back last year August or so. That's pretty bad, eh? I had the battle planned out before this was. x.x;; That's why it probably won't make much sense. ....Pity me. Try reading it and see if you understand. I'm curious..O_o;;
I also noticed I had a SHIT LOAD of typos in the 9th chapter. Wow! X_x;; Hope I don't have too many in here. (Yea, right..*coughcough*)
-
Sakura snapped her eyes open. "Sore wa yume--"
"Sakura-chan!"
"Sakura-san!"
"Sakura-san!"
"Sakura!"
"Sakura-sama!"
Sakura blinked and saw the worried faces of Tomoyo, Eriol, Syaoran, and Cerberus. ~But I swear I heard Yue's voice..~
"Daijoubu?" the moon guardian asked softly from behind. Sakura tried to push herself off the hard ground, but her sprained wrist caused her slip back down. She winced in pain. "Itaiii.." Yue slipped his arms under Sakura's and lifted her up. She leaned against Yue.
"Daijoubu desu ka, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked, her voice almost a shrill. Sakura smiled wearily. "Ha-Hai," she answered. Eriol frowned at her sprained wrist. "You can't fight with an injury," he mumbled under his breath. Sakura blinked. "What?" Eriol shook his head. "Nevermind." He held Sakura's sprained wrist and muttered something, then placed her hand down gently. Sakura blinked again and lifted it up. "Sugoi!" she exclaimed. "It's better!!" She turned to look at Eriol. "Arigatou, Eriol-kun!" Eriol smiled at her, though the smile was forced. ~You'll need every part of you at top shape to fight, Sakura-san..~
"What happened?" Cerberus asked. Sakura shrugged. "I don't know. I was standing by my window after inviting everyone over for tea, and then a powerful aura slammed straight into me and caused me to fall." Cerberus raised a brow, and looked at Yue. Yue nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Cerberus' expression.
"And be unconscious," Syaoran muttered. "Did you recognize the aura?" Sakura shook her head. "No.. I didn't. I've never felt that kind of aura before.. It was so...powerful..frightening.."
"Ima wa..."
Everyone snapped their heads up, startled, because they forgot Kikai was there, since she was being so quiet.
She turned to face Sakura. "Release," she whispered, almost inaudible. The long, sleek grey staff appeared in her hand. "The time has come. Tsumetai, Kiri Okami, I command you to reveal your true forms!"
Reisei and Kiri floated above the ground as gusts of clouds surrounded them. Two pairs of glossy black wings covered them, and when the wings fell back, Tsumetai and Kiri Okami were standing in their true forms.
Kikai whipped out a card. "Dark Create!"
Grey wisps of cloud swirled around and shot out in every direction. Sakura was lifted into the air, and she felt as if she was disappearing. She looked down at her hands. She was disappearing. "Hoooeeee!!" she screamed, freaked. She was getting more and more transparent.
"SAKURA!!" Cerberus and Yue shouted. The frantic moon guardian reached out to try and grab Sakura. But he felt nothing. His mistress was gone.
~*~*~*~*~
Sakura stepped back fearfully. The world she was now in was totally beyond what she would have imagined. It looked like it was from ancient ruins. There was high stairs made of stone in front of her and it was all grey and dark. And every so steps there was two stone pillars on the sides and one on the top.
She glanced around, feeling afraid. She couldn't sense Cerberus or Yue anywhere near her. Then one cold aura hit her and she looked up.
Kikai was standing on one of the pillars. She had the Dark Sword in her hand and she was looking down at Sakura, her face covered in shadows.
"Where is Yue?!" demanded Sakura, clutching her staff. "Where are you hiding him!" Kikai bent down and jumped off the pillars and landed behind Sakura with no noise.
Without a word, she held out the Dark Sword in front of her, straight at Sakura's face. Even though Sakura always saw Kikai with an emotionless face, she couldn't help but step back. ~Why.. I.. I have to fight her..~
Suddenly Kikai's lips curved into a smirk and her eyes narrowed playfully. "Ima wa..," was what she whispered, so soft, so silent Sakura almost didn't hear it. Kikai raised the Sword and slashed down. A wind started to pick up.
"Jump!" cried out Sakura and jumped backwards, the two wings appearing at her ankles. Kikai was already running towards her, Sword held back, ready to strike.
Sakura started running up the stairs. Kikai wasn't far behind. She lashed out her sword again and barely missed Sakura's neck, making contact with her shirt and ripping it open slightly.
"The Watery!" Kikai's voice shouted as a strong wind blew right through them. "Everytime I looked in water I saw you! And what you were thinking, therefore I know what you did!"
Sakura gasped in surprise. ~So this is what Kero-chan meant! She will tell me how she used the cards! ~
"Augh!" Sakura yelped, using her arm to shield the dust the wind was throwing at her. Again, the Sword narrowly missed her.
"The Dark!" Kikai's voice was now more of a cruel laughter than a shout. "Because Yue resembles Darkness I was able to use the Dark Card to know wherever he was!"
~That's right!~ Sakura realized as she stumbled over a step. ~The two times she knew Yue was close by!~
~"No, of course not. Do you think I'm stupid enough to attack you in the open? Let alone when your guardian is watching you?"~
~"To think that you can't even *sense* him when he's so *close* is not good," Kikai muttered. Sakura faltered a bit, instantly knowing Kikai was talking to her. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Sense who?"
"Yue.." she whispered, almost disdainfully.~
Sakura held her wand closer to her chest. "Yue.. Where are you?" she asked in a whisper.
~*~*~*~*~
Cerberus took in his surroundings. It looked much like Clow's mansion grounds, where the cherry tree that had not blossomed, blossomed because of Clow Reed's magic. But, he remembered everything being alive. The place he was in..everything was dead. The grass snapped under his paws, and the cherry tree was just a lifeless brown tree, branches sticking out everywhere, with no blossoms whatsoever.
"What the hell.. What kind of place is this?"
"A kind of place where we can fight," answered a deep voice.
Cerberus snapped his head up to the dead cherry blossom tree. Kiri Okami was standing there, obviously Cerberus had not seen him before. Kiri Okami jumped down and landed in front of the lion. "Finally," the black-blue wolf said. "Finally, I am able to fight with you." Cerberus narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" he questioned. Kiri Okami answered, "I have always wanted to fight you. I want to see how powerful you really are, Cerberus, guardian of the Seal."
The sun guardian's tail flicked in annoyance. "So, you want to see how powerful I am, do you?" he asked, tone caught between seriousness and mockery. "Then let's go!" Kiri Okami smirked, then opened his mouth and blue-grey mist sprayed out. Cerberus sweatdropped. "That's all you can do--" His mouth stopped moving. The mist had fallen over his entire face, and now his face was frozen. Kiri Okami smirked again. "Tut tut, Cerberus. Don't underestimate me," he mocked, and headbutted the lion.
Cerberus fell back. He summounded the hot angry fire in his mouth, and melted the freeze away, fire blazing straight at the mist wolf. Kiri Okami dodged, jumping to his right and counter-attacking with another mouthful of mist. Cerberus fired back with more flames. The two elements collided and exploded. Both sun guardians jumped back.
"This will be interesting.." Kiri Okami said, eyes full of mischief.
"I'm sure it will be.." replied Cerberus, eyes matching the wolf.
~*~*~*~*~
Yue's eyes snapped from right to left, taking in his new settings. ~What the hell happened..~ he thought angrily. ~This testing.. Why can't I watch Sakura-sama be tested? What if that girl kills her.. No! I won't think like that! Sakura-sama is far too powerful to be beaten by a bratty girl like Kikai..~
"So you think my mistress is a brat?" asked a voice from behind.
Yue whipped around and came face to face with Tsumetai's amused expression. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Where am I?!" he demanded. Tsumetai laughed silently and answered, "Don't be so angry, Yue. This is just part of the testing. You are in another demension. It is neccessary for both guardians and master..or mistress in this case.. to be seperated and tested individually."
"Tested individually?!"
~*~*~*~*~
"That's right," Kiri Okami answered, still smirking at Cerberus' bewildered expression. "You have to be worthy of being the guardian for the Sakura Cards, and your mistress."
"But Clow nor Eriol said anything about us being tested!" the golden lion exclaimed. "This isn't how the testing is supposed to go!"
Kiri Okami frowned, then laughed. "How stupid are you, Cerberus?" he asked in a serious tone. "Clow had a reason for not telling you about being part of the testing." Cerberus asked, "Then what was his reason?!" Kiri Okami closed his eyes. "Because even Clow himself did not know this was going to happen."
Cerberus blinked, eyes wide, and stepped back. "Wha-What do you mean?! Clow was the one who made the Dark Clow Cards! He planned out everything! Just like with Sakura!"
"He did not plan for Sakura to fall in love with Yue. He planned for her to fall in love with Yukito, but because she loves Yue, things got a tad bit more complicated. The Mistress or Master of the Dark Clow Cards was supposed to test the physical and emotional strength of the Clow Card Master or Mistress. However.."
"However..?!"
Kiri Okami's eyes stared coolly at Cerberus. (Think Noin, people! Demon Knight Noin from Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne!) "..What Sakura is being tested on is entirely different.."
Cerberus's eyes widened. "..Wh..What the hell does that mean?! What is Kikai testing her on?!"
Kiri Okami's eyes flashed. "You'll find out.. After you defeat me!" he exclaimed, shooting out an assault of mists.
"Kck.." Cerberus leaped out of the way. 'Sakura.. Watch out..'
~*~*~*~*~
"Hahaha, this is too much fun!" Tsumetai exclaimed cheerfully, flying icicles at the moon guardian. Yue flew up and quickly summonded his bow and arrow. He took aim and fired. Tsumetai glanced at him, turned around, and hurled a wave of icicles at it; the arrow froze over and Tsumetai caught it. "Yue is so weak that even a single arrow can't hit me.. Tsk tsk!" she chided aloud, eyes closed, brows up, talking like a disappointed mother.
Yue: *bending down on the ground swirling a stick around silently*
Tsumetai: Ohohohoho!
Yue: ..Freak..
Tsumetai: ...
~*~*~*~*~
Kikai's slashes became more frequent. She brought her sword down, always closer to the target. Then the blade sliced open Sakura's sleeve and skin. Sakura cried out in pain as the blood just spurt out and leaked down. But still she ran. She wouldn't give up that easily.
Then she heard Kikai laughing calmly yet it still creeped Sakura out. "The Sweet!" she said, slashing and slashing, "was able to let me see who you loved! And it let me know what was your weak POINT!" When she said 'point', she leaned in and the blade went right between Sakura's stomach and arm. It scraped her side and arm.
Sakura gritted her teeth together. "I..don't..care..." she said with great effort. She turned around and jumped high in the air. Raising the staff high above her head, she called out, "WOOD!" and slammed the star against the card. The green feminine spirit swirled out of the card and around Kikai, forming branches around her arms and waist and legs. Soon Kikai was totally restrained.
Sakura bent down and waited for her breath to catch up with her. She pushed herself up with the aid of her staff and took a look at Kikai. The cold-hearted Card Captor was merely staring at her with cool amused eyes, as if telling her to go on.
So she did. She gathered her energy and after much panting and suffering, made it to the top.
What greeted her made her gasp in horror.
"Yue!" she screamed out. Yue was bound to a curved stone wall by ribbons that were so tight they cut through his light skin. Sakura felt tears leak out of her eyes at the sight of the one she loved being hurt like that. She ran up to him and looked up. "Yue.. Yue, are you okay? Yue, please say something!" she pleaded, crying.
Yue's eyes fluttered open and he looked down. "Sa..Saku..Sakura..?" he asked in disbelief. Sakura nodded in happiness, wrapping her arms as best as she could around the winged guardian. Yue's cheeks went pink but he sighed blissfully. "Sa.."
Sakura glanced up at him and put her hands on his shoulders. "Yue.." she mouthed and leaned up. She closed her eyes and placed her lips against his. Yue's eyes brimmed with tears as he returned the kiss.
Reluctantly, Sakura pulled away. "Yue.." she whispered. "I.." Yue smiled a little and said, "Sakura.." Sakura looked back up at him and then her face got serious again.
"Sword!" she commanded, and Sword replaced her staff. With one quick swift cut, the ribbons that bound Yue fell to the cold stone. Sakura immediately dropped her staff and caught Yue as he fell.
"Dai..Daijoubu desu ka?" Sakura asked in pure concern. Yue ignored the pain searing all over him and managed to say, "Yes, I'm fine." Sakura laid him down and picked up her wand. "Don't worry, Yue," she said, standing up. "I'll make sure you won't get hurt anymore!"
"And how do you plan to do that?" an icy voice inquired.
Sakura spun around and Yue turned his head. "Kikai!" they exclaimed in unison.
Kikai had her share of scratches and marks on her wrists caused by the wood's tight branches. "How did you get out of the Wood's grip?!" Sakura asked angrily.
Kikai tapped the tip of her staff on the ground and answered coolly, "Very. Simple. All I did was twist my wrist and slice the first branch off. It was enough to let me get free of the entire plant."
It was then that Sakura noticed Kikai's right wrist was hanging limply. "You..twisted it?" she asked, wincing. Kikai started laughing. "Foolish girl, you get used to pain when you have the stubborness of a mule," she said. "But it's time for the finale."
Sakura got ready.
"The Light Card.. Was my target. The Light Card.. Represents..Yue."
Sakura's eyes widened. "What?! From Yue?!"
Kikai raised her head and answered, "Of course from Yue. Though his symbol is Yin, darkness, he lit you up inside everytime you saw him. It didn't matter what represented him." Kikai looked straight at Sakura. "It mattered on how you felt about him."
With her limp hand, she took out a card. "It is time for your test to end, Kinomoto Sakura, Mistress of the Sakura Cards. You lose!" Kikai shouted. She twirled the staff with her left hand and brought it up to the card.
"DEATH!"
~*~*~*~*~
This would be such a great cliff hanger, wouldn't it? LOL! Nah.. I'll let you read the rest. ^_^;;...
~*~*~*~*~
Sakura's eyes went big as saucers. "No!" she screamed.
Black whisps of clouds surrounded Kikai and like how the Windy always comes from the card, a female shape burst from it. It was entirely dressed in black. The figure wrapped itself around Kikai and a violent black thunder crackled from within.
Sakura covered her face with her arms. "Ahhhh!!" she cried out.
The thunder ended and Sakura opened her eyes. Then she blinked, eyes going wider. "What in the world.."
Kikai was floating above the ground. Her head was bent, eyes closed. A silver crown circled her head. Her body was covered in a huge black robe with a silver tie hanging loosely around her waist. The sleeves of the robe were so long they fell on the ground. Her hands were covered in white gloves and in them was a long, narrow and deadly looking scythe.
Sakura stared in awe at the weapon that could easily slice her into numerous pieces. There was gold and black metallic designs on the upper part of the silver scythe. The blade curved wickedly and the tip was so sharp and pointed Sakura had to glance away.
Finally the wings. The two devil wings the hanged over her form, covering her face in shadow. So pitch black and full of detail.
Sakura was amazed at how deadly she had becomed. "Ki..Kikai.." she whispered.
Kikai's head tilted up. Sakura bit her lip. Then the devil's eyes flashed open, glowling an evil blue. Sakura gasped and stepped back. "Wha..What is that?" she asked. Yue winced and said through gritted teeth, "She..used..the Death.. Sak..Sakura..please.. Ki o tsukete.." He winced a final time and went still. Sakura stared at him. "Yue.. YUE!"
Her eyes squeezed shut, tears flooding down her cheeks. She turned to the combined form of Kikai and Death and screamed with rage, "I'm the one you want so come and get me!"
Kikai's head raised fully, exposing her even paler face and blood red lips. She raised the scythe above her head and twirled it. Then she slashed slowly at first, then as soon as Sakura was about to dodge, Kikai's speed quickened and she slashed the scythe straight across Sakura's stomach.
Sakura flew back, hitting the stone. She layed limp. Kikai didn't bother with her and turned around in time to grab Sakura's foot and throw her against her double.
The real Sakura stood up. The Sakura with the wound turned into blue whisps of cloud and turned back into a card. ~Mirror.~
Sakura spun her staff and brought out a different card. "Bubbles!" she cried out, and tons of bubbles started to surround Sakura and Kikai.
Kikai turned her head, looking for the other Card Mistress. Then..
"SHOT!"
Sakura released Shot and it began shooting at Kikai. Kikai's eyes narrowed as she flew up, down, sideways and any other way she could to dodge the pieces of power aiming at her repeatedly. Then a shot hit her arm and tore through the sleeve of the black robe and revealed white. White, white skin.
~It's like she just died..~ Sakura thought, running to the other side of Kikai. She gripped her staff. ~Now what do I do.. ~
She looked at Kikai. The Shot was going at her. Kikai raised her scythe and brought it down roughly on the pink bullet and sent it ramming into the ground. Shot crackled and disappeared. Kikai turned on Sakura.
"Ah.." Sakura said, "Jump!" and two small wings attached to her ankles.
Kikai flew over and swung the scythe at Sakura with amazing and blinding speed. Sakura pushed off the ground and landed on a pillar. Kikai slashed her scythe in Sakura's direction and a blade of power left the weapon and hit Sakura.
Sakura jumped up enough to escape total injury but her left arm and waist got cut. Her arm was the most damaged. She landed on the ground and tried to catch her breath.
She saw Kikai swing her scythe, creating a black wind-fire, and sent it at Sakura. Sakura hastily summoned Shield. The faint green bubble surrounded her and the wind-fire hit. It was pressing against the Shield and Shield started to crack. Sakura's eyes widened and she ran out of the Shield and called Jump, leaping backwards away as the wind-fire exploded.
She landed next the unconscious Yue. Her eyes narrowed at Kikai and gritted her teeth together in frustration.
~Just how am I supposed to beat her?! Argh, she's just too strong! ..What did Eriol-kun say...~
~"You will never be able to beat Kikai if you don't beat her at her best ability."~
Sakura's eyes widened. ~That's right! Eriol-kun said I can only beat her if I defeat her at her strong point! ..But.. What is her strong point?~ She tried to think of anything Kikai did to her, and tried to ignore Death's mocking face like when she caught Fight.
All the images of Kikai holding Dark Sword appeared in Sakura's mind.
"That's it!" she cried out. "Sword!" Wand transformed into a sword and she pointed it at Kikai. "I challenge you to a duel!"
Kikai's eyes narrowed, then held the scythe high and for a second Sakura thought Kikai was going to slice her to pieces. But black whisps of cloud started to disappear from Kikai until she was back to normal, holding the now Dark Sword high.
"I accept that challenge," Kikai said and instantly ran at Sakura, swiping her sword at her legs. Sakura jumped up and backflipped. "Damnit, I can't use any other magic," she mumbled. "Hoee!!" She barely dodged another attack.
Kikai brought the sword down on Sakura's and pushed her down. "You can't win," she hissed, pressing harder. Sakura winced. ~I can't keep this up.. My wounds.. They hurt..~ Sakura let her sword go limp and pulled away as Kikai's sword made contact with the ground. The tip struck and Kikai yanked it out.
"Die!" she yelled, slashing at Sakura's side. Sakura went the other way tried hitting Kikai's stomach but she jumped in the air. "Where is she?!" Sakura asked no one. "Ah!" Kikai came down and her sword clashed with Sakura's. Sakura narrowed her eyes and tried not to fall on her knees. "Ugh.."
Kikai's eyes narrowed to slits and put more pressure on the sword and caused Sakura to cry out a little.
With all her strength, Sakura pushed her sword up and threw Kikai off. She landed a few feet away but didn't hesitate. She came running back with speed and agility and the two engaged in slashes and swiping at each other.
"I must ask you a question," Kikai said, brining her sword at Sakura. She blocked and managed to say, "What is it..?" Kikai smirked and slashed at Sakura's feet. Sakura backflipped.
"I want to know," said Kikai, walking towards Sakura, "why you love Yue so much." Sakura's cheeks blushed a little. "Why do you want to know?!" she demanded.
"Just curious."
Sakura narrowed her eyes. ~Just curious?! What does she mean..?!~ "I.. I love Yue so much because.. He's nice and comforting! And he has a loving heart, it's just he didn't have anyone to fall in love with! He was always locked in the Clow Book, and never had any time to be free. Now that he is, I think he's friendly. He always looks out for me, and cares for me. He.."
Kikai raised a brow and stopped walking. "That's what attracts you to him?" she asked. "And are those the reasons you love him? Are you being honest?"
Sakura blinked in confusement.
~'Are you being honest'? What does she mean?~
Kikai sensed Sakura's confusion. She smiled, looking to the ground with her eyes closed. (No, ppl, not like how Xelloss or Yamazaki smiles..o.O;;) "Is that what really attracts you to him?" she asked again. "Are those the true reasons to why you love him?" Sakura blinked. "..I..don't understand..what you mean.." she replied. Kikai's smile widened a little. "Sakura, be honest. Be honest with your heart. Tell me, why do you love Yue so?"
Sakura closed her eyes. ~Why do I love Yue so much..? That.. That I..~
"That..I don't know.." Sakura answered softly.
Kikai opened her eyes. "Very good.. Well done, Mistress of The Sakura Cards.." she said. Sakura blinked again. "Hoe? What do you mean?" Kikai looked up at Sakura.
"You have passed my test."
Sakura stared. "Ho..Honto ni?!" she asked in an excited voice. Kikai closed her eyes and smiled, nodding. (Yesh, now she smiles like Xelloss and/or Yamazaki..) "You have proven to me that you sincerely love Yue with all of your heart, mind, body, and soul."
Sakura yet again blinked in confusion. "I..did?" she asked, lost. "How? I couldn't tell you. I don't know.."
"And that is why I know you sincerely love him."
Sakura blinked. "..Because I don't know why I love him is how you can tell I love him?" she asked. Kikai nodded. "The love you feel for Yue is pure and true. Your heart cannot be controlled. Emotions cannot be controlled. Therefore, not knowing why you love Yue assures me that you, infact, do love him with every part of you," she answered. Sakura's eyes lit with joy, and she smiled. "Arigatou, Kikai-san!" she exclaimed, throwing herself at the blue-eyed girl and hugging her. Kikai stumbled back a bit in surprise, then smiled. "Don't thank me," she said. "Thank your heart."
Sakura nodded.
Kikai held up her staff. "Dark Mirror, Illusion, and Create!" she said. "You may return!"
At once, everything surrounding the two girls disappeared.
AHAAA! Yes! Finished! Finally! Wooo! How was THAT?! DIDN'T EXPECT THAT, DID YA?! ..Eh? You did? O.O;; ..Damn, I suck. *saunters off*
Wooden sign stuck in the ground: Please review! ..Sakura needs to be praised. (She needs to be smashed with tomatoes.)
Another sing stuck in the ground: Sakura drew some scenes from this chapter! Should she put these ugly horrific drawings on the web for y'all to see? E-mail or say it in the review!