Me again, I changed the title to the fic though, odd, ne? It just came to me in Science…Hmmm. I think it fits the fic better as well =p So I like it. I'm going to be working a lot this week (getting my first site up, hurrah! And all that other stuff)

Oh, and if you read, please leave a review, over two chapters, I haven't received one…pfft. I suppose it doesn't matter.

Corrupted Magic (formerly Sakura and the Alternate reality CardCaptor) Chapter 13- Mixed

Sakura's mouth hung open as she followed behind Korede towards…wherever they were going. There was no chance of escape, three henchmen accompanied them, but Sakura was too awed to think of escape. The corridor they were currently being lead down was a blinding white, lit with strip lights and decorated with small intricate pale blue patterns on the wall. Her gaze brushed over each and every little detail, taking it in; it was amazing. Each room they had walked through had been different, none the same, not even one little detail; save colour, shared. /Wow…this is…/ Her breath caught as they walked through yet another door, this one was white; reflecting the walls, but it had no patterns on it, and appeared to be transparent. It wasn't. She looked at it closely as she passed, stopping to survey it.

Someone grabbed her arm, 'Sakura…don't.'

She nodded to Syaoran, and he pulled her along, not letting go of her arm. She sighed, and looked quickly around this room. It was sea blue, with a pale green carpet; which was about it. Suddenly they came to a stop outside a great oak door, and Korede turned to face them.

'Leave.' She ordered. The henchmen bowed clumsily, and ambled away.

'I thought she meant us then,' Syaoran muttered, the hope that had shone in his eyes suddenly, dying.

'Can't get everything,' Sakura replied back, her eyes on the small girl before them, who appeared to be searching for something.

There was a dull "click" and the heavy oak door creaked open, allowing dark streaks of light to cast them over the green carpet, like long willowy fingers

'Don't touch anything,' Korede warned, before stepping aside and waiting for them to go in.

Sakura paused and looked to Syaoran, seeking some sort of advice. He nodded warily. Korede coughed sharply. 'I don't happen to live-forever you know, nor do I have all the time in my world. Get a move on.'

Syaoran promptly dragged Sakura into the room. /What's up with him? / She wondered, as the heavy door closed with an equally heavy thud, sending tremors running around the room.

'Sit down.'

The room was a study of some sort, with a large oak desk with a leather chair behind it. Two high back chairs stood in front of it, and Sakura took her place on one, perched on the edge, looking over the items the littered the desk. A book, a replica of the Clow Book, sat closet to Sakura. It's exactly the same… Her head shot up as she felt eyes on her. Korede sat in the chair opposite, a smirk on her face and her slim fingers tented [1] and resting on her chest.

'What do you want?' Syaoran asked bluntly, sitting rigidly in his chair.

'Manners, Li-san, don't forget your manners. Actually, I never wanted to talk to you in the first place, but I knew you would need to escort your little girlfriend.'

Sakura's face went red, as did Syaoran's, 'He'snotmyboyfriend.' She mumbled quickly, ducking her head.

Syaoran clutched the arms of his chair, his grip threatening to rip the neat fabric covering them. Korede sniggered.

'Sorry for my misunderstanding.' There was a scrabbling sound, and Sakura looked up. Korede pushed something across the vast expanse of the desk towards her. Sakura's key.

'That's yours. Interesting little toy.'

Sakura reached for it, but drew back her hand, 'What did you do to it?' She asked suspiciously.

'Nothing. Nothing I could do to it. It's yours after all,' Korede raised an eyebrow.

Sakura grabbed the key, and secured the familiar object around her neck, 'What do you want to say to me?' she quizzed, securing the clasp, and letting her hands drop into her lap, 'There can't be much else you can put as through.'

'I want to explain…you're the last bit of the puzzle, you finish what I want, so I think you deserve some insight.'

'Go on…' Sakura said wearily.

'I want Cards, I want the ability to have the same power as Clow Reed, or be even more powerful.' She indicated to a book in the centre of the table. It was a sky blue, edged in gold, woven with silver. An intricate design covered it's front, making loops and swirls to cover it. At the bottom in big loopy symbols was something Sakura couldn't quite make out, but she guessed it was writing.

'And…your stealing what isn't your because of this?'

Korede looked stunned, 'Are you telling me the thought has never crossed your mind? Or have you never known the full extent of what Clow Reed created?'

Sakura gaped, and looked over at Syaoran, who shrugged.

'Ohhhh, so you haven't. Well I'm not about to bore you with the details…'

She pushed the blue book to Sakura, who picked it up carefully, and immediately dropped it. The magical aura was strong for something incomplete and it had burnt her hands.

'ITAI!' She yelled, and clutched her hands to her chest.

Syaoran was out of his seat, and kneeling in front of her, trying to grab her injured hands to see what he could do for her.

'Sakura? Sakura let me see, are you okay? Sakura?'

She had tears in her eyes, but she dropped her hands into her lap and allowed Syaoran to look at them.

So many different types of magic…it's not pure, it's mixed, it stings someone who holds only one type of magic and true magic… She looked up, tears blurring her vision, and saw Korede surveying the bookshelves, not looking particularly bothered. She doesn't care…but I do. I'm going to get that magic to it correct owners, not matter what.

Syaoran was still looking at her injured hands, handling them as if they were glass or something equally fragile.

'Sakura, are you okay?'

'I'm going to get it back.' She whispered.

He frowned, 'What?'

'The magic…we have to give it back to its rightful owners.'

'I'm not sure that's entirely--'

'Like my book, Kinomoto-san? Oh, you've hurt your hands. Hmmm…nothing I can do for that.' Korede bent down to retrieve her book, and stood, bent slightly, too look into Sakura's eyes.

When the silvery cat eyes met Sakura's pure green ones, it felt like they were the only two beings in the room.

'You know what it is, don't you?' Korede asked, awe in her eyes.

'I know it's wrong…I know…I know---'

'You can't win. I heard what you want to do, you won't be able to accomplish it, because your fears are true.'

Sakura's mouth opened to protest, but she didn't. Korede backed up, and walked away, leaving Sakura feeling vulnerable.

Syaoran was still kneeling in front of her, a dazed worried look on his face.

'What just happened?'

She looked at him, 'It----nothing, don't worry about it Syaoran-kun,' she muttered, her eyes dropping they're gaze to her red, burnt hands. They stung slightly still, but the pain was ebbing away.  The marks the book had caused didn't appear to be fading though. Syaoran picked up her hands and cradled them gently, a blush, that Sakura didn't notice, staining his cheeks.

'Do they hurt?'

'No…' she mumbled.

Korede sat silently behind her desk, and thoughtful look on her face; 'Ahem.'

Both Syaoran and Sakura looked up.

'You'll be taken back to a new cell in a moment…I can't have you mixing with the used ones, not a good idea, no, no, no.' She stood, and opened the oak door. 'Follow me.'

Syaoran dropped Sakura's hands, and stood.

'Just do as she says. We'll figure this out.'

*

'Eriol-kun!' Tomoyo gasped, running into the room, Meiling [2] and Kero hurrying after her.

'What's happened to him?' Meiling asked worriedly.

'I don't know. Eriol-kun, wake up, Eriol-kun.' Tomoyo knelt beside him, shaking his shoulders.

'Should I get some water?' Meiling asked.

'I'll get it!' Kero whizzed out of the room.

'Is he going to be okay? What happened here?'

Faint traces of the blue smoke still hung in the air, wispy and hardly visible.

'We'll have to ask Hiiragizawa-kun.'

*

The door closing them in was like an omen. We're never going to get out of here! Syaoran thought hopelessly, trying to hide the thoughts from Sakura. He kept his expression blank and watched her walk further into the empty cell, her shoulders sagged and a defeated look on her beautiful face. She slumped down against the wall opposite the door and looked down, appearing to think.

I could just tell her now…what if we die? She needs to know that I--- He shook his head rapidly to clear his thoughts, I can't think like that…we'll get out of here. That Korede's half my size, and she thinks we can't defeat her-- Oh, but those henchmen. He sighed; thinking like that was pointless.

'Syaoran-kun?'  Sakura's quiet voice cut through his thoughts, and he hurried over to sit down next to her.

'What is it, Sakura? Do your hands hurt, still?' He reached for her hands.

'No.'

He dropped his own hands back into his lap, 'What is it then?'

'Do you---do you think we could do [3]…what I said? Get the magic back for everyone?'

Did he?

No…we don't even know how it was taken in the first place, but…

'I'm not sure, Sakura-chan, maybe.'

'I'll take that as a "no" then,' she rested her head on his shoulder, and sighed.

Er---er, His face started to get hot, and he was thankful for the dim light, and also that Sakura couldn't actually see his face.

'What are we going to do?'

*

Ta-da…and it didn't take ages for me to do this one. Shouldn't take me long to the next one either! I know what's going to happen *evil smirk* Mwaahahahaha, I love author powers ^^;;

[1]- like Mr Burns when he goes "Excellent"…I couldn't get the right word!

[2]- I decided to start spelling her name correctly

[3]- I refrained from saying "do it" seeing as most of you are probably little hentai's =p, and I didn't want to embarrass Syaoran-kun