Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter; sorry this one is so late (damn writers block), it's probably very bad.
And as promised, "things exciting will happen next o_O"
Sakura and the Alternate Reality CardCaptor Chapter 8- GoneStuttering over what they should do about her stove, Sakura got ready to go to Tomoyo's. She wrote a quick not to her Dad, explaining what had happened to the stove…it was all a complete lie of course.
Dad,
Had a little accident with the stove…was cooking dumplings and had to answer the phone, then the oil spat and the stove set alight…I was to late to stop it. Sorry, I'll pay for a new one…I'm going to look for one.
Oh, and I'll be staying with Tomoyo tonight, okay? Ring her house if it's not
Lots of love
Sakura
She read the not over, worried that her father wouldn't believe her.
'Sakura! Are you ready?!' Syaoran yelled, knocking on her door.
Sakura jumped, 'Yeah,' she mumbled.
'What?!'
'YES!' She shouted, picked up her bag and the note, pulling open the door roughly, making Syaoran topple into her.
'Urm, ow.'
Blushing furiously, Syaoran stumbled to his feet, and looked out of the door, making sure he wasn't watching Sakura, 'Tomoyo wants to go.'
Sakura got to her feet, and squeezed past Syaoran, and made her way downstairs. She stopped halfway down when she sensed a gaze on her back. She turned and caught Syaoran staring at her, 'Are you coming, Syaoran-kun.'
He tripped, and looked guilty, before nodding. Sakura giggled.
*
Hours later, they were all sat in Tomoyo's living room, one of them anyway, watching some movie or other. Sakura sat staring out of the huge bay window, occasionally glancing over at the other's in the room.
Kero was scoffing toffee popcorn, not even bothering to pretend to watch the movie, Syaoran was half asleep, head hanging forward and small, silent snores were coming from him. Meilin appeared to be enjoying the movie, but Sakura couldn't really tell, seeing as she couldn't see the girl's face.
Tomoyo was pacing around the room, seemingly nervous for some reason.
Sakura stared out of the window…it was raining, she sighed.
"Brring!" Pause. "Briing, brrring!" The phone started ringing, causing everyone to jump.
'Aha!' muttered Tomoyo, before turning to everyone, 'I'll get that, it's probably my mom.'
She scurried out of the room.
Sakura went back to staring out the window at the rain dripping down the pane.
No one noticed Tomoyo hang up the phone and leave.
*
A few more hours passed, with Sakura just staring out at the bleak, grey sky.
Someone tapped her on the back, startling her, and almost making her fall off the bench in the windows alcove.
'Kinomoto! Don't say anything, Syaoran-kun is asleep,' Meilin stepped back.
'What's the matter?' Something on the TV crashed, and Kero jumped in the air, a joyous look on his little face.
'Tomoyo's not here,' Meilin hissed, looking around warily, 'she's been gone since she went to answer the phone…you don't think…well, you don't think that twisted chick got her do you?'
Sakura's heart missed a beat and her eyes widened, 'Are you sure she's not somewhere in the house?' she got up from her seat and started for the door, but Meilin caught her arm.
'Sakura, I've checked, she's not here, and there's no note!'
some thunder clapped outside causing both girls to jump.
'She wouldn't just leave,' Sakura gabbled, 'Tomoyo's not dumb, she's knows it's dangerous…Korede-san is waiting…she'll do something.'
Meilin blinked in shock, 'Korede-san?! This psycho wants your power and…oh never mind. Yes, I know Tomoyo wouldn't do that, but this girl is well…a psycho.'
Lightening flashed outside, and the TV cut off [1], along with the few lights on.
'Hey! What's the big idea?! Sakura,' Kero whined.
'Kero, shh,' Sakura put a finger to her lips, 'Syaoran-kun is asleep and Tomoyo is missing,' she turned back to Meilin. 'Well, what if it isn't Korede-san, what if Tomoyo just wanted to go out?'
'Gah, Sakura, you are so dumb sometimes! She would've told us!'
'Syaoran wouldn't of let her go,' Sakura argued, hurt from being called dumb, 'and I'm not dumb.'
Meilin rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything, she didn't know what to say.
'Tomoyo-chan is missing,' Kero quizzed, 'how long for?'
'Probably after she got off the phone.'
Another clap of thunder, followed suddenly by lighting, the storm was getting closer.
'I'll call her on her cell phone…'Sakura said, worried for her friend. If Tomoyo was gone, and Korede-san had her…well, it would be her fault, after all the "twisted", as Meilin so kindly put it, CardCaptor wanted Sakura's power. Sakura sighed.
'There's no point!' Meilin cried, holding up Tomoyo's latest cell phone model.
Sakura's shoulders sagged in defeat, before another clap of thunder rolled directly overhead, making both girls and Kero jump.
'Wha-?! Where's my teddy?!' Syaoran said, also jumping, before falling flat on his face from being half asleep, 'teddy?' he blinked at the carpet.
Silence, broken only by a sharp crack of lightening.
Syaoran realised what was going on, and got to his feet, blushing in the dull light.
'Syaoran-kun! Your awake!' Sakura wailed, 'Tomoyo's gone! She's gone and not told anyone!'
She ran over to him and hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder and making little sad sounds.
Syaoran blushed even more and looked at Meilin, a questioning look on his red face. She nodded.
'Well--er--Sakura,' Syaoran prodded at her back, trying to gently detach her from himself, 'Sakura, I'm sure Tomoyo's okay, Sakura.'
She looked at him and her face shining slightly with tears, 'You think?'
More thunder, followed swiftly by lightening and then something very unexpected, the TV toppled over.
'Argh!'
'What was that?'
'It was me going "Argh!", baka.'
'No, what made the television fall over?'
'How am I supposed to know?'
'Well, I was only-'
'Guys!' Sakura wandered over to the fallen TV, 'it must've slipped or…'
'or--? Sakura what is it?'
'Do you…sense that?'
'Sense what?! What?!'
'Oh, shut up you stuffed animal,' Syaoran walked over to Sakura, 'What is it, Sakura-chan?'
'How dare you call me a stuffed animal, I'm one of-' Meilin clamped a hand over Kero's small mouth.
'Do as Syaoran-kun says and shut up.'
'There's some sort of…it's like Clow Cards, ne, Syaoran-kun? Can you sense it?'
'Sakura…are you sure?'
'Hai…you don't feel it? It's…it's like-'
The sound of something breaking could be heard out in the hallway, and the four went to investigate, stepping into the hall cautiously.
Another smash…this time closer, and from behind them. Sakura whirled round. There was nothing there. She breathed out, reaching for her key. It had to be here somewhere.
Smash. Smash. Smash. Sakura frowned, where was that key?
The air felt tight and Sakura was searching with held breath, she turned out her pockets…not there, around her neck…not there, she even looked in her shoe…no luck.
/Is it me…or is it getting very dark?/ She wondered, frantic…/My key…my key…where is it? I knew I had it with me, I always have it with me./
Everything felt very small and closed in, she turned, intent on asking the others if anyone had seen her key, yet she couldn't see her friends.
'Syaoran-kun, Meilin-chan? Kero-chan?!' She whispered, terror creeping into her voice, 'guys?' she breathed out slowly, calming her nerves, 'Oh very funny, but this happens to be serious…Tomoyo-chan is missing, stuff is--breaking and I've lost my key! GUYS?! Joke over,' she said with finality, looking around, 'guys, I mean it I really-' she stopped in front of the living room door an peered in, 'mean it…I don't like-'
The living rooms two bay windows suddenly imploded, sending sharp shards of glass flying everywhere. She squeezed her eyes shut. Pressure that had caused the windows to implode sent Sakura into the opposite wall, which she almost went through backwards. Winded, she looked up, watching as the windows' last shards fell to the floor. Blood trickled down her cheeks where small, but sharp, pieces of glass had hit her. The blood mingled with tears, and she felt like sobbing.
'What's going on?' she whispered to her self, looking through the door at the once beautiful room. Remembering her friends, she pulled herself to her feet, and dusted her clothes down, trying to get rid of any small pieces of glass. Some imbedded themselves in her hands, but she was too worried to notice. 'Guys…Kero, Syaoran, Meilin, are you all okay? Where are you?'
'Sa--Sakura!'
Syaoran reached and grabbed her by the shoulders, staring at her blood streaked face.
'Oh, god, Sakura--'
'I'm okay Syaoran-kun,' she said, hoping he wouldn't worry, 'what happened?'
'I was hoping you would tell me,' he said, attempting to wipe the blood from her cheeks, 'I was looking fro what smashed and we were all together, and then we weren't, and then the windows exploded and…you need to get these wounds sorted, Sakura, you wouldn't want anything to go septic.'
'Syaoran, we need to find Kero and Meilin first, and Tomoyo, and we need to find out why I sensed Clow Cards in there and…are you sure you couldn't sense anything in there? One hundred percent…I think…well Meilin said Korede could've captured Tomoyo and I thought maybe-' Syaoran put a finger to her lips to hush her.
'She's here, that's what you think. I know, I do too.'
Sakura nodded and pulled away from him, 'The storm stopped,' she said quietly.
'Sakura…Syaoran…shut up stuffed animal! OW! Die!'
The sound of Meilin's voice drifted down the hallway to them, and they watched as she rounded the corner. 'There you are!'
'Sakura!' Kero hurtled towards the Card Mistress, 'next time something like that happens, do not, in any way, leave me with the little girl.'
He glared at Meilin, and she poked her tongue out at him.
'What happened?' she asked.
Syaoran ran through a quick explanation of what they thought was going on.
'No doubt, I've told you that Korede who-ever-she- is, is twisted! She's mental!'
Sakura sighed, 'Meilin…you haven't met her, don't say that.'
'Sak-u-ra, she wants your power, if you can't say that's twisted, then, well, nothing can be twisted to you.'
Silence. Lost for words, Sakura just stared at her friends, a few fresh drops of blood trailing down her pale checks. Syaoran went to wipe them away, but she jerked her head away, and he fell back, looking a little bit hurt.
The silence continued, and Sakura turned away and stepped into the living room. She didn't know why, but she felt she needed to go in that room. Glass glittered on the blue carpet and the white elegant couches. Unconsciously her hand went to her throat, seeking the key that usually hung there, around her neck.
'Sakura?' Syaoran asked, following her, 'Sakura?'
She didn't hear him, or pretended she didn't, but instead she focused all her attention on one of the shattered windows.
'Clow Cards…she's here.'
'Sakura,' Syaoran grabbed her shoulders and tried to spin her round, but she wouldn't budge. 'Sakura…what are you doing?'
Something grabbed his neck from behind, and he yelled.
Sakura tried to turn, but couldn't, she tried, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the window, where the small Korede was slowly materialising.
'Sakura!' she heard Kero call, sounding in need of help.
Korede smiled maliciously, and held up Sakura's key, 'Looking for this?' she quizzed, and pocketed it, grinning still.
Whatever hold she had had over Sakura failed, and she lunged forward, swiping at the neko-girl.
'That's mine,' Sakura hissed through clenched teeth.
'Ah, but it belongs to me, just like your power,' she winked triumphantly, and Sakura lunged at her again. Korede put a hand in Sakura's face, 'You don't want to help your friends?'
Sakura paused and looked. Syaoran was battling off to hulking forms, but his face showed pain, had he been hurt? Sakura gasped. Kero was in his true form, and was trying to stop more figures from getting to Meilin, who was trying to help fight them off.
'Get back, little girl!'
'No, I'm not backing down!'
Syaoran fell back and one of the figures raised a hand to hit him. Sakura ran, and jumped on the figures back.
'No!' she sobbed, yanking on the figures neck. It gagged and stepped back, trying to get Sakura of it's back, 'Stop this Korede! I'll let you have my power!'
'SAKURA!' Syaoran protested, mouth open in shock.
There everything seemed to freeze and hang awkwardly in the air.
'Sakura,' Syaoran whispered, 'don't.'
'As you wish, Miss Kinomoto,' the CardCaptor snapped her fingers, and the figures (Sakura never saw what they were) stopped their attacks on Sakura's friends, and the one whose back she was on grabbed her and flung her across the room to Korede.
Her head hit the glass covered floor and Sakura's vision blurred.
'No!' Kero roared, and charged forward, only to be knocked backwards, where he bowled Meilin over.
Korede reached down and took hold of Sakura's wrist, 'Come now, Miss Kinomoto, we really do not have much time, there are things I'd like to know before I take that power of yours.'
Sakura groaned and tried to get to her feet, managing just about to do so. 'Don't hurt them,' she muttered, glaring feebly at her enemy.
The hulking figures faded away, just as Korede had faded into view.
'I do not plan to, your friends are of no concern to me, but you best say goodbye, after all, you won't remember them, power is all, don't forget that.'
Sakura blinked for a moment, gathering her courage, and then she gazed at her friends…she really did doubt she would see them again…but-
'Where's Tomoyo,' she glared at Korede again, who frowned.
'The Daidouji girl, ah, she went of her own accord, she was not part of my plan, I do not have her,' Korede smiled, 'but you don't believe me, do you?'
A portal opened in the window, dark and swirling. The room became cold, as the portal got wider and deeper.
'Say goodbye, Sakura, never forget your manners.'
/Goodbye…Dad, Touya…Syaoran…I…we…/ Sakura stopped thinking, and sneered at Korede, 'Don't tell me what to do, you don't have that right.'
'I guess,' the other girl said airily. She pulled sakura to the dark hole.
'Stop…you won't take her.'
Korede whirled, freeing Sakura's wrist.
'Oh, if it isn't a descendent of the great Clow Reed…the creator of the cards,' Korede said harshly, 'and why is it that you aren't the Cards' Master?'
Syaoran opened his mouth to answer, but ended up staring in disbelief. He quickly gathered his wits, and stared at the neko-girl. 'Sakura won't be going anywhere with you.'
'You offer to go in her place?'
'Syaoran, no,' Sakura whispered, tears in her eyes, partly from emotion, and partly from the wind the portal was now creating.
'Hai.'
Korede laughed, a brittle snigger, 'That's not an option, although it is very noble of you,' she stepped towards Syaoran, 'I know what you feel for the Cherry Blossom.'
Syaoran's eyes widened and he pushed Korede away from him
/What did she say to Syaoran?/ Sakura wondered, /Wait, wait, Sakura, get your priorities straight./
'Syaoran, I have to do this,' she started, 'no one else is going to go in my place, I was the one chosen.'
Korede smiled, an evil, sneaky grin, 'Yes. You were. But he offered. I'll take him…'
Sakura's heart jumped, 'Iie! You won't!'
'I will,' she pushed Syaoran to the portal.
'Sakura it's for the best, I don't want you to…go,' he said, a deep sadness in his eyes. Korede grabbed Sakura's wrist.
'I'll take you too.'
And with that, both of them fell into darkness.
***
[1]-oh, so what, I don't care if this is cliché! Flame me for all I care!
Yes, I know…but my suspense writing is bad, as far as I can tell, and this is not very…well written o_O
Ooo, now I have to figure out what's going to go into the next chapter, *runs* Okie, review, I worked hard and long on this chapter (not that that makes it any better)
DISCLAIMER: CCS is © of CLAMP, ha, what a surprise. I'm never going to own it, so, smeg.
