1 Friend or Foe

By: Keetra

~~~Key~~~

"Talking"

*Thoughts*

"* Thought-speech *"

(Noises)

(A/N:) OK. Please be nice. This is the first fic I have ever written. If I get some of the names wrong then Gomen ne. I've hardly seen any of the Japanese versions of ccs and had to rely on my friends for most of the stuff for this fic. Arigatou everyone! Please review! I'm not finished yet and I want to make sure it's great.

AHHHH. Gomen ne I'm such a baka The time frame's a little weird. Syaoran has gone back to Hong Kong but I forgot that in reality he told her he loved her before he left. He doesn't do that on WB's version so gomen ne if you get confused. (^_^;;) Take it away Sakura!

Disclaimer: yadda yadda. I don't own ccs or the characters. CLAMP does. I do, however own my included

character and the secret surprise I added. Hehehe.

*~ Ch. 1: Dreams & Occurrences ~*

"No… No…"

Sakura tossed and turned in bed. She was dreaming. Clutching her pillow like it was her only anchor on life.

"No.. Tomoyo-chan…what"

(beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep)

"Ugh…" *I've got to get a less annoying alarm*

Reaching up onto the shelf Sakura grabs the alarm , shoves it under the covers and wrestles with it until it shuts off. (A/N: For all you Hentai minds out there, it's not like it sounds! ( )

*I had the dream again*

Pushing back the covers, Sakura gets out of bed and crosses to the window. Leaning on the windowsill, she becomes lost in her own thoughts.

*That dream. This is the third time I've it. They're so similar. I'm at the penguin king. I'm alone but I feel like someone is watching me. The magic key releases. But I didn't say the incantation! I reach into my pocket expecting the Sakura cards to be there. But there is only one card. I can't see which card it is. I activate the card. There's a bright flash of light. Then, someone appears. The first time, it was Eriol-kun. Then, it was Touya-kun. Today, it was Tomoyo-chan. Each time he/she looks at me and begins to say my name. Then this brilliant beam of light appears and hits him/her. He/she looks at me, then falls to the ground. Dead. I run over, hoping that it is not true. But it is. Then this girl appears. She kneels next to them. I have never seen her before. Long, lavender-colored hair that reaches almost all the way down her back. She turns and looks at me with her light purple eyes full of tears. She says to me…*

"Sakura-chan!"

"AHHHH! Kero-chan!"

Kero is in front of her holding her alarm clock.

"Sakura-chan, don't you know what time it is?"

"oh no! I'm late!", she exclaims while jumping towards her closet. She gets dressed quickly, then grabbing her stuff she runs out the door, leaving behind an excited Kero. "And yet again she sets another Sakura-chan record for getting dressed!" Sakura was too busy running to hear him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hurriedly strapping on her roller blades and equipment, Sakura skates fast to catch up to Touya. Turning the corner she sees him ahead.

"Anii-chan! Wait up, you baka!"

Looking back at her, Touya smirks. "Hurry up, gaki…I can't be late today. Yuki-chan!"

Seeing Yuki, Sakura blushes deep. They stop next to him.

"Ohayo Touya-chan. Ohayo Sakura-chan. Beautiful day isn't it?"

"Yea, sure. Gomen ne for being late. The gaki slowed me down again." (big glare from Sakura)

Yuki leans down and whispers to Sakura, "He still giving you trouble?" Sakura gives him a distracted "Hai." Yuki gives her a worried look, then shakes it off. *Probably none of my business anyway*

Sakura skates along beside Yuki, still thinking about the strange dream and the mysterious girl in it.

*What does it mean? Is it a warning? And what about her? Who is she? What does she want? Is she a friend? Or…*

"Sakura-chan watch out for the…"

(thump!)

"…tree." (A/N: "George, George, George of the jungle" ~( )

"Ugh"

Touya stops his bike and runs over to Sakura, with Yuki right beside him.

"Sakura-chan! Are you all right?"

"Ano… hai" *The only thing hurt is my pride*

"Then get up Gaki. We're going to be late"

(Big glare ( _ _+) )

(A/N: I'm going to be using signs like this a lot. a friend showed them to me and I thought they were cool. If you don't know what they are, then try using a little imagination. They're soooo cute!)

~*~*~*~ At School ~*~*~*~

"Ohayo everybody!" (^_^)/

"Ohayo Sakura-chan!" (^_^)/ (^_^)/ ,etc

"Late again Sakura-chan" comments Chiharu.

"Hai… uh… gomen ne." mumbles Sakura, sitting down next to Tomoyo.

"So what's your excuse this time Sakura-chan?"

"Ano.. I… skated into a tree." (^_^);;

"Good one. Too bad the substitute's not here"

(^_^);; "Hoeeeee…" (blink blink) "…substitute?" ( - - )a

"Hai. I heard that Terada-sensai won't be here for about another week. We have a substitute until he comes back."

"Great! Do you no who it is?"

"No"

"Well then. I'll have to leave a bigger impression this time.

(blink blink) *That sounded like…*

"Kaho-sensai!"

"Well. It's nice to know that you remember me Sakura-san. I suppose I should start class now."

Kaho walks to the front of the class, leaving Sakura and Tomoyo feeling both excited and confused.

"Well then, class. Let us begin…"

~*~*~*~ After School ~*~*~*~

Sakura finishes putting on her roller blades and starts to skate home. Looking around, she spots Kaho sitting on a nearby bench and skates over.

"Konnichiwa Kaho-sensai."

"Oh. Konnichiwa Sakura-san. Please. Sit down with me."

"Arigatou." Leaning close, Sakura whispers, "Are you just visiting or did Eriol-kun ask you to come?"

(^_^) "A little of both actually. I came just to visit but before I left, Eriol-san told me to give you this." She hands Sakura an envelope with her name on it. Sakura takes the envelope with an "Arigatou". She removes the letter enclosed and begins to read:

Sakura-chan,

I had hoped to write to you with good news but I'm afraid that what I have to tell you is

anything but that.

I have sensed a strong magical force. It seems to be centered in Japan. Is there trouble?

If you need help, all you have to do is call me. I shall be there by the soonest plane. Or faster if

there is a way.

Is Syaoran-san still there? If so, then give him my regards.

1.1 Eriol

"I think Eriol-kun may be right." Sakura says while handing the letter to Kaho for her to read. Kaho skims the letter, then calmly folds it and puts it back in the envelope. She gives Sakura a calm nod, which Sakura takes to mean that she should continue. Sakura starts to tell her about the disturbing dream and what she thinks it may mean.

~*~*~*~ Few minutes later ~*~*~*~

Sakura pauses, surprised at how much she a recalled about her dream. She glances over at Kaho, who is sitting very calmly with an expression that shows no hint as to what she is thinking. While Sakura had talked, she never interrupted, or even moved. She had simply sat there while Sakura had been telling every detail of her dream and of her suspicions; absorbing every word and acknowledging it in silent acceptance. They sit in silence for a while. Finally, Kaho slowly stands up. Turning back to Sakura, Kaho gives her one of her smiles and says,

"You'll figure it out when you need to know Sakura. Answers have a way of showing themselves when you least expect them to." Having said that, she turns and walks off the school grounds; leaving Sakura sitting on the bench wondering what that could mean.

Eventually, Sakura also gets up and slowly skates towards her house. She decides to take both Kaho's and Eriol's advice. She won't let the dream bother her too much. She already experienced what happens when she lets that happen. (wince). She is glad that Eriol has offered to help and knows she can call him if anything happens. Syaoran-kun as well.

"*Sssakura*"

"Huh?" Sakura skids to a stop. She looks around, trying to see if she can find the source of the soft, silky male voice that had filled her every thought at once. But she sees nobody.

"*Sssakura. Come to me. Feel my presssenccce*"

Then she feels it. A strong feeling like the presence of magic. She feels a strong urge to follow it no matter where it leads. Slowly she starts to skate. She doesn't know where she is going, but it doesn't matter. All that matters right now is that the feeling is getting stronger. She keeps following it, skating faster, and faster, and faster, and faster. and faster…

Then it stops, and so does she. The feeling she had been following so eagerly has suddenly vanished; leaving Sakura with a feeling that is as depressing as the former feeling was hopeful. This is the feeling of complete and total emptiness. The kind of emptiness that you feel when you realize that every dream of your entire life cannot exist, and you're left with the feeling of no purpose… just emptiness.

While she is looking around, the reality of everything around her slowly replaces her feeling of emptiness. She begins to see the familiar surroundings that she always skated by on the way to and from school. Many different colored penguins all circled around the tallest object in the area…

"Oh! The penguin king" *I saw the penguin king in my dream!* "But, what does it mean?"

Sakura turns around and starts to skate towards her home again. Now is definitely the time to tell Kero about her dream. She doesn't get very far before…

"*Sssso. You are Sssakura. Massster of the magical cardsss created by Clow. Impresssive. Come to me, Sssakura. Come visssit eternity. Give me the cardsss and eternity isss yoursss*"

Sakura looks around but does not see anybody.

"Who are you?"

The voice replies; though it is still silky and smooth to hear, it is now mixed with a sense of urgency and annoyance.

"*Who I am mattersss not. Give me the cardsss Sssakura. Don't try and resssissst. It would not be wissse*"

The voice is so silky, so tempting. But there is a wanting in that voice. A wanting for the Sakura cards. The feeling wasn't supposed to be sensed. But Sakura senses it. The source of the voice is losing control.

"Why do you want the Sakura cards?"

"*They are impresssive and powerful. By usssing thossse cardsss, a being could have sssupreme power. give it to me, Sssakura!*"

Emotions come flooding in like the water loosed in a broken dam. Sakura sees it all. How her cards will be used to bring total chaos on Earth and on other planets as well. She sees humans and aliens being forced to work by her cards. Anyone who stops is scorched by Fiery. People who try to run are hunted down and killed by Shot. Everywhere she looks, Sakura sees her precious cards being used to cause pain and suffering. All this she sees and more.

Overlooking it all are two figures dressed in splendid attire. The first is a half-man and half-lizard hybrid. His skin is a beautiful emerald and his eyes are redder than the reddest ruby. Sitting beside him is Sakura. But she has changed. An evil aura surrounds both of them. You know that they were the reason for the chaos and pain that is all around them.

"NO! I can't let that happen! I won't let you do it!"

"*Sssilenccce! You could have been my queen. We would have ruled the world. But you have challenged my wrath! If you ssshall not give me the cardsss, then I ssshall be forccced to take them from you myssself. Prepare to die, Sssakura!*"

The voice then becomes broader. Like when you addressing a huge crowd instead of one person. Every word is wrapped in enchantment and every molecule of air around Sakura seems to tingle with anticipation.

"*Rissse, my minions. Carry out the evil deedsss thy massster hasss given thee. Thisss ssstupid girl hasss challenged my wrath.*"

The grass all around Sakura starts to move. Something is out there! The words were a spell! Sakura stands completely still, waiting to see if she can catch a glimpse at whatever is out there. She cant see it, but she can hear it.

"* Hissshissshisss. Sssilly girl. Tell me. Have you ever heard of chameleonssss? They are magificcent creaturesss. Their ssskin turnsss into the color of their sssurroundingsss. But chameleonsss move far too ssslow for me. The lizzzardsss you faccce have ssskin that makesss them invisssible. You won't win. Every thirty sssecondsss another lizzzard isss created to do my bidding. Hissshissshisss. You ssshall perisssh.*"

Sakura can hear them. They are all around her, rustling in the grass. she can hear their tiny claws clickety-clicking on the sidewalk. They seem to be waiting for something.

"* Hisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss *"

That one word… that was all it took… to make all hell… break loose!

One of the lizards suddenly charges! Coming an inch away from Sakura it brings up one of its claws and slashes with all its might!

"Ow!"

Sakura looks down at the cut on her leg. It is a tiny thing. No bigger than a paper cut.

* He talks big for someone whose "minions" can hardly hurt me. What do have to be so scared

of? *

It didn't take long for Sakura to get her answer. Every nearby lizard suddenly attacks at once. They crawl all over her, scratching and biting. She tries to shake them off but there are too many. She tries to skate away but everywhere there are only more lizards. More hungry lizards. Sakura realizes there is only one thing she can do. She reaches for the magical key hanging around her neck and yanks it off.

Key which holds the power of my star

Reveal thy true form before me

I, Sakura, command you under our contract,

Release!

The key transforms into the wand. Sakura throws one of her Sakura cards in the air. (A/N: where do those cards appear from anywaz?) She calls out "Jump" as she activates the card with her staff. Jump's wings sprout from her roller blades. Sakura crouches deep and jumps with all her might. The sudden movement catches the lizards by surprise and causes them to lose their holds.

* Yes! *

For a split second, Sakura is free. Free of the slashing and biting of her tormenters below. Slowly, though, she begins to fall. Just before she lands they are upon her once again. Scratching and biting just as before.

Sakura jumps again. And again. And again. And again. Every time it is the same. When she jumps they fall. When she lands, they attack again. No matter where she jumps to, the lizards follow. On the final jump, one of the lizards bites the base of Jump's wings. It is too much for Jump, and so it returns to its card form. With the lizards still attacking her, Sakura knows she needs to call another card.

* But, which one? *

She begins to think. Then it hits her, and she knows this is the right one.

"Fly!"

Fly's wings sprout from her back, scaring the lizards for a moment. Sakura uses it. She pushes off hard and flies high above the penguin king. Angry hisses come from below as the lizards realize that this time, their prey will not be landing. Sakura knows they must be destroyed. If anyone else happens to come by, the lizards may very well turn upon that person. Sakura begins to think about each card and about which one would be the best to use against the lizards. However…

Shlit! "Ahhh!"

She looks down at her leg, which is burning with pain. She sees the long, pink tongue attached there. And the skin around it dissolving, burning.

* Acid? Oh no! I have to get it off! *

As if they had heard Sakura's thought, more tongues shoot out and attach themselves to her. There are so many, and all pulling in so many different directions that Sakura could barely move. She was trapped!

The pain and burning was so fierce that she could barely think or breathe. Sakura feels her energy being drained from her.

Fly struggles to keep its master aloft, wishing there is more it can do to help her. It can feel the draining power and knows that its master will soon faint. Or worse.

Sakura begins to feel tired. * I have to do something. Fast. But what… can I… do? * Sakura's eyes slowly begin to close.

The lizards below "hissss" with anticipation. They believe they have finally won. Their master will be proud.

"Sakura-chan." Fiery's voice calls to her master. She knows that she may be her master's last hope. Perhaps, her only hope.

Sakura knows too. Using her last ounce of strength, she calls into the night.

"Fiery!"

The last thing Sakura sees is a vision. A vision of being totally surrounded by a blazing, angry fire.

Then … her world becomes black.