Friend or Foe (con't)

(A/N:) ok… you read my summary and I'm dead serious. From now on, Sakura's fate rests in your reviews. If I get feedback, hey, maybe I'll let her live a little longer. ^__________^ So R+R!

Disclaimer: ok. Give me a break. If CLAMP actually bothered to look at these, than WB's version probably would've been 10x better. However, the only thing I own in this story is myself and I. (T.T)

Ch. 2 * Revealing *

The figure steps out from the shadows. Her eyes look out across the park of the penguin king. Her focus comes to rest upon the limp figure on the pavement.

She had seen it all.

She had seen how it ended.

She had seen Sakura cry desperately into the night.

She had seen Fiery break free of her card and surround her master in a protective, yet angry blaze.

She had seen Fiery send its flames down the long tongues, which were the only visible thing of the lizards.

She had seen the lizards turn ablaze at Fiery's wrath and destroyed.

She had seen Fiery turn to see what had become of her master.

She had seen Fly use the last of its energy to ease its master gently to the ground.

She had seen Fiery and Fly obediently return to their card forms, there was nothing more they could do.

All this she had seen.

The figure slowly crosses the Penguin King Park, coming to a stop beside Sakura's inert form. She sees the burns caused by the acid-covered tongues. She knows that if gone untreated, Sakura will die.

The figure knows her duty. To preserve and protect the timeline. Was this supposed to happen? She doesn't know. There is one thing she does know. Sakura isn't supposed to die yet. Of that, she is certain. She has a job to do. She knows her duty. She will not turn her back to it.

The figure kneels next to Sakura. Putting her hands of Sakura's throat, she begins to speak softly. Again, the air is filled with the aura of magic. Looking down briefly, the figure sees that it is working. The gaping holes were slowly starting to close. The oozing blood slows to a trickle, then begins to dry. The figure removes her hands and is satisfied with her work. Everything left is no longer life threatening and can be fixed with a couple bandages. There is no trace of acid in the wounds. Technically, she did more than she had to, but if Sakura went to a hospital, then questions would be asked. She couldn't let that happen. The figure knows how hard Sakura works to keep her magic and the strange occurrences a secret. The figure

understands and hopes that her people will as well.

The figure stands and begins to walk away since her job is done. Somehow though, she feels that it isn't. Especially when she turns and looks back at Sakura, still lying as it was on the bricks of the park. The figure walks back and kneels again next to Sakura. She picks the girl up and begins to carry her home. With every step, she asks herself why she is doing this. She doesn't have to. It has no effect on the time line. So why? The figure is not able to answer herself. She just keeps carrying her bundle.

~*~*~*~ couple streets later ~*~*~*~

Looking down the street, the figure sees the porch light of Sakura's house. Coming up to the gate, she pauses, then pushes it open. She walks up to the porch and gently deposits her bundle. Then, she wonders if she should tell the family that Sakura is there. She knows that she is not allowed to reveal herself, but what else can she do? Without giving it a second thought, the figure rings the doorbell, then walks away and vanishes; finally feeling that she has done the right thing without breaking the strict rules of her people.

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

Kero is pacing around Sakura's room. He is worried.

*Where is she? How hard can it be? You hear the bell, you come home. Then you give me my PUDDING!! Is it that hard?* (A/N: u gotta love Kero and his pudding! ^_^;; )

Kero goes over to the desk and opens the drawer containing the Clow book. (A/N: I know, I'm getting annoying, but does the book get a different name now that the Clow card are Sakura cards? Please review and tell me!) However, even the book' aura isn't enough to alleviate his worry.

*Where are you Sakura?*

(Ding-Dong).

*The doorbell! She's home!*

Kero starts to fly towards the door to meet Sakura downstairs, then stops. And grins an evil grin. He has a plan. Kero flies back over to the desk, opens his drawer and lays down on his bed. Footsteps walk up the stairs and Sakura's door opens. Kero hears Fujitaka's voice.

"Lay her down on the bed, Touya-san. She needs rest."

Kero stays in his drawer, yet he is bursting with curiosity. Kero hears footsteps walk back downstairs. It is safe now. He bursts out of the drawer and flies over to the bed where Touya is standing. Kero looks down and sees the still form of his mistress.

*Dead? No! I can feel her aura. It's so faint. Something must have happened. But what? That all ended a while ago. Poor Sakura.*

"Did you sense anything?", Touya suddenly asks.

"No. Nothing.", replies Kero. *But I should've*

Touya walks over to the door, starts to open it , and then stops.

"If you didn't sense it, then whoever was behind this," Touya gives a sad look at Sakura, "must be very powerful. You have to protect her." Touya looks meaningfully at Kero, then leaves.

"I know Touya-chan. And I will." Kero promises.

Ignoring his drawer, Kero lies down on the pillow next to Sakura, and slowly falls asleep.

~*~*~*~ In a place so close and yet so far away ~*~*~*~*

" I know Touya-chan. And I will."

Keelah watches the scene through the slightly-rippling surface of the magic water. As she watches the golden, flying bear curl up next to the human girl on the bed, she can't keep a look of pure disgust from showing on her face.

* How sweet. The possessed teddy bear is worried about her. *

Waving her hand over a sensor near the edge of the pond, the image on the surface becomes blank. Keelah glances around at the familiar surroundings. They were simple. The Watching Pond is at the center. Smooth rock formations are strategically placed around the pond. The water's power can be accessed through sensors carefully blended within reach of the rocks. That is it. Upon request, a food dispenser will appear to assist with nutritional needs, then disappear when its deed is done. The whole room is dark. The only light is a faint hue that emanates from the pond as if lit by a source from the bottom. If it was, nobody knew. At first glance, it would seem as if the room went on forever. There were no walls to be seen. However, if one attempted to find them, they would reach a certain point and though they seemed to still be walking, if s/he were to look back, they would be no farther distant from the pond.

A brief light flashes then disappears, leaving behind Keetra. (A/N: Hehehe. Ever wanted to put yourself in an anime? I do and I have. Eeek! I have a line coming up! Ja!) After taking a moment to orient herself, she seats herself on a vacant rock. Keetra glances at Keelah. Through the mental link between them, she can sense her friend's aggravation. She also knows who it is aimed towards and why.

"*Penny for your thoughts? *" Keetra asks through the link.

"*A human phrase. One that I have never understood. *"

"*You know what I am asking. *"

That is true. Though she does not understand the phrase, Keelah does know why Keetra is asking it. She pauses a moment before responding.

"*Why did you save that human girl? You know the laws. *" Keelah asks accusingly.

"*I did not break them. *" Keetra responds coolly.

"*Yes, you did. You saved the human's life. You interfered with her life line. *"

"*No. I did not, Kinta. She is not supposed to die yet. Her life line ends at a later date. *"

"*How do you know? How can you be so sure? *"

"*It is my job to know. *"

Keelah pauses, defeated. To continue would be repeating past arguments. There is no point. Sensing confusion from Keetra, she turns to see what her friend is doing. Keetra has activated the pond and is staring intently at the surface. She is watching the battle.

"*Kinta! *" Keetra exclaims suddenly. "*This wasn't supposed to happen! *"

Now she has Keelah's attention. Keelah's mind races at he accusation that her friend has made.

"*Are you sure? *"

"*I'd recall something like this. *" Keetra replies, gesturing slightly towards the image on the water.

"*An instinct will not be enough for Kooslee. He likes facts and proof that he can lay his hands on. *" Keelah relies, her eagerness slowly ebbing away.

Keetra turn and looks directly into Keelah's eyes. Her eyes reveal her set determination.

"*Then I'll have to get some for him, won't I? *"

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

Keetra:: alright people! Loosen up those typing fingers and start reviewing! Just remember Sakura's life's on the line here. I saved her in this chapter, but since my character's in it, I can easily take it away again. So…R+R please! By the way, if u want me to email u when next chapter come up just leave ur email address in the review and I'll make sure to do that.

JA! R+R!