I was feeling oddly creative (wow, first time in AGES!) and depressed, so I wrote this chapter to cheer me up (a bit) and to work of the months (that's what it feels like) of writing I haven't been able to do, cuz of my writers block . Gomen ne for the lateness of this chapter.

Thank you to those who reviewed or just read, it's inspiring to hear peoples comments ^^

Chapter 12- The Card

Eriol stared out of the shattered windows of Tomoyo's living room.  He could sense the traces of strong magical energy, and was trying with difficulty to focus on it. Tomoyo watched from the doorway, biting down on her nails, hoping Sakura would be okay.  She couldn't quell the feeling of guilt deep inside her stomach. Something patted her softly on the head, and she turned to see Kero hovering at face level, a look of concern on his face.

'Leave Eriol to it Tomoyo-chan…he needs to focus, we should just go somewhere else.'

Tomoyo didn't bother to protest, she followed Kero down the hall and out of sight.

Eriol frowned…this magic, this sense, it was so…odd.  Thick almost, as if it wasn't just one lot of magic, it was almost as if many magical auras had left traces behind.  And he didn't like the feeling it gave him, it felt wrong…very wrong, but he couldn't explain WHY.

He turned to look around the room, casting a glance at the glass splattered floor, and furniture.  Something more out of place than the shattered glass caught his eye, and he bent down to examine it.  Reaching out a hand he pushed a few shards of glass from it so he could pick it up and examine it.  His fingers met a carded surface and a sharp pain like flames shot into his fingers and up his arm.  With a yelp of surprise, he fell backwards in shock.  His arm burned achingly, and he held it to his chest, staring at the offending object.  It resembled a Clow Card…but not much so, the outlining was a dark, misty blue, and he couldn't quite see the image on the Card.  It was smaller than the cards Sakura owned, but not by much.  No writing decorated the surface, refusing to let him understand what the card was.  Hesitating, he reached out for the Card again.

His fingertips were inches away from the item, and a feeling of emptiness washed over him.  Whatever this item was, it didn't have magic like the Sakura Cards…it just had some sort if protection around it.  Slowly, he put his hand on it and felt no pain this time.  He picked the card up to examine it more closely.   The image was shrouded in mist, and he could barely make out the two dull eyes staring out at him.  He turned the card over, and saw a intricate series of patterns and swirls depicted on the back.  He brought the card closer to his face, trying to see if the random pattern showed more that what it appeared to.  His eyes crossed as the card got to less than an inch from his eyes.  The burning pain shot up his arm again, all the more sudden than the first time, and he dropped the offending object promptly, wincing with the searing pain the attack had left.

He glared at the card, and scolded himself.  He could figure out what it was. Reaching out once again, he immediately felt his hand jerk back roughly, sending him backwards.  He fell onto his back, and quickly scrabbled to his feet, his eyes not moving from the spot the card had landed. He suddenly felt the oddest magical aura flit into the room, distilling all the other mixed auras, and swirling them around him in a powerful vortex.  He couldn't move.

Blue flames sprung around Eriol and the card, and they slowly closed inwards, getting closer…when the card disappeared in a cloud.  Eriol's eyes widen as he saw the image of Sakura's Star key appear in the blue smoke, then fade away to reveal the face of Sakura, followed by Syaoran and Tomoyo, Meilin, Kero, Kaho and many other people.

What does this mean? Was the last thought that passed through his mind, when suddenly the world went blank and he passed out.

*

Korede sighed.

'This better bloody work…after all my planning…' She smiled at the closed book in front of her, and ran her hands over it. 'Yes…I have a feeling, this can't go wrong, unless that Sakura's stronger than I predicted,' she bit her bottom lip, 'that's impossible, I'm never wrong.'

She cast a smug little smile at the window she had opened, revealing all that Eriol saw, and all that happened to him.  Holding out a delicate hand, she clicked her skinny fingers and too Eriol the card disappeared.  To Korede it landed in her hand.

'Tsk…You'd of thought Clow Reed would be able to tell…but I guess he's a little out of touch,' she opened the book and placed the card inside it.

'Hmmm…what to do now? Gotta have a little fun.'

*

Syaoran looked down at Sakura, whose eyes were starting to flutter open.

'Sakura?' he whispered, shaking her.

'What happened?' she groaned, sitting up, 'oh, Syaoran! I thought…' she looked around, 'I had the strangest dream…'

Syaoran frowned at her, 'What was it about?'

She blushed and shook her head, 'Nothing much.  Where are we?'

'In some cell, that Korede girl had us put in here.'

Sakura sighed and her shoulders sagged.

'Kinomoto-san?'

Both Sakura and Syaoran jumped. Syaoran looked up to see Ralon standing over them, his soulless eyes on Sakura.

'You!' she gasped, backing away and into Syaoran.

'You two know each other…?' Syaoran scowled.

'He's the…dead boy, the one from my dream, the one…'

'Gomen ne, Sakura-san, I didn't mean to scare you…we were trying to help you. You were not supposed to be captured.'

Syaoran wasn't liking this one bit, and the petrified look on Sakura's face made him feel protective towards her. 'Well whatever you tried to do, it didn't work very well did it? 'Cause Sakura's here now, and so am I.'

Ralon looked up sharply, 'You were not supposed to be involved in this.  You were supposed to let things be.'

'Then Sakura would be here by herself!' Syaoran growled in response.

'This isn't the time to bicker,' Sakura said, 'I don't know what to do, or what's going on, but I know this has to be sorted.' Her face creased in thought. 'We need to find a way…to take the power back, I think Korede-san is planning something, there must be a reason why she wants all this power.'

'Cards.' Came a new voice. A girl with black, long, lank hair, and piercing grey eyes looked at them, 'She wants her own cards.'

'Hoe?' Sakura face faulted.

'Her own creation,' the girl waved a hand, 'power corrupts all…it must be taking a little longer to work away at you, Card Mistress, or maybe it's because you were meant to be dealt the Clow Cards.'

Sakura stared, and swallowed nervously. She cast a glance at Syaoran, who shrugged, looking a bit baffled.

'You'll see…your just the last bit of the puzzle.' The girl fell silent as the door was swung open, and Korede stepped in and beckoned to Sakura.

She stood and went over to the door, not really thinking, just looking for a way to escape.

'Oh, I guess you can come to.' Korede bit out, her eyes on Syaoran.

*

*sobs* Sorry! So sorry! If you were waiting for this chapter…I know it's bad, but I'm so busy, I'm drowning… Sorry again. ^^;