Friend or Foe (con't)

A/N: Hey minna! I am getting faster at putting these up, ne? A special arigatou to everyone who reviewed:

Alexandra-chan:: Got another chapter for ya! Don't worry I'll get started on the other fic idea we came up with soon, along with the scene we talked about for this fic. Ja ne!

Lonely Tenshi:: Hehehe. Can't stand the suspense can u? happy ending? I dunno. I haven't thought of an ending for this fic yet. I guess it depends on the way the votes go. I haven't decided if anyone else is gonna die or not yet. Arigatou for reviewing again!

Glarie:: Am I going too fast for you now? I decided to make the chapters a little shorter so I can post them faster. Good luck with your new web page! Arigatou!

Emma:: Careful what you wish for Emma! You asked for Syaoran and you got him. Which also means you get him as the hopeless romantic that he is. Enjoy!

Come on! Is that all the people that care about whether Sakura lives or dies! Gimme feedback people or your precious Sakura is no more!

Disclaimer: Right. As if I would WANT TO! I'll let CLAMP get the credit for totally screwing up the dubbed version of ccs and for doing a horrible job at romance.

Chapter 4 * O.M.G.!! *

Keetra is sitting in her Klat (A/N: kinda like an apartment house.) in one of the rooms that serves as the core of her massive computer. On the screen in front of her is what most people would consider to be gibberish. (A/N: kinda like that zeros and ones techno language stuff) This is how she does her job. The massive computer around her, which she designated K-comp, scans timelines, dimensions, paradoxes, etc, and informs Keetra of any irregularities. Keetra then reports it to Kooslee, who decides if it is worth fixing, then assigns some one to fix it. Most of the time, this person is Keetra. Acting without permission can cost her the job. Or her life.

Keetra struggles to keep these thoughts out of her head as she scans the data on the screen in front of her. It was not looking good. According to K- comp, the battle was normal. It saw it, scanned it, analyzed it, then stored that it had occurred. No alarms, no warnings, nothing. Something was nagging at Keetra, telling her that she needed to challenge K-comp's decision.

OK. I like a challenge. Bring it on.

Ignoring the scans of the dimension, she switched to another. Nothing. No voice, no battle, nothing at all. Keetra switched to another. Then another. Then another. Each one was the same. Keetra knows that something is not right. Dimensions and timelines don't work like that. If it happens in one, it happens in another. THAT is normal. THIS is not. Transferring all the data onto a data transfer disk, she is filled with relief.

I may just keep my job after all.

When the transfer is complete, she picks up the disk and teleports confidently to Kooslee's office.

~*~*~*~ Back in Japan ~*~*~*~

It is late afternoon on Saturday. Sakura is walking home from Tomoyo's mansion. Tomoyo had called that morning, suggesting that everyone meet at her house to figure out what was going on. Her parents would be gone for the day so Yukito could change into Yue. They had spent a couple of hours trying to figure out who was behind this, what Sakura's dream means, etc, etc. in the end, they had more questions than they had answers to them. Tomoyo had suggested they take a break, so she had Sakura try on all these battle costumes she had made. During this, Yue became a party pooper, so, by mutual agreement, he changed back into Yukito. This went on until Tomoyo's parents arrived home and everyone realized how late it was. Yukito and Sakura said goodbye to Tomoyo, and then left.

Sakura looks at Kero, who is sitting on her shoulder. Ever since the attack, he had insisted on not leaving her alone. Sakura smiles. He's worried about her. The fact that he can't sense if she's in danger anymore makes him double worried. All of a sudden, Sakura stops walking. Kero flies in front of her.

"Sakura-chan, what's wrong?"

Sakura is silent.

"Sakura-chan? What is it? Do you sense something? Come on! Talk to me!"

"I… don't know."

"* Ssso, card missstresss, we meet again. *"

Oh no! " Kero-chan, it's him."

"*Ah. I sssee you do remember me after all, Sssakura. It hasss been too long sssinccce our lassst encounter. *"

Not long enough! Thinks Kero angrily. "Who are you? And what do you want?

"* You mortalsss and your obsssesssion with namesss. You wassste time with your quessstionsss. I will not ssspeak with you. My busssinesss isss with the card missstresss. Not you. *"

Kero starts to snap something back but Sakura gives him a look that clearly means 'Shut up Kero-chan!' The voice then talks to Sakura.

"* I have a friend who wants to meet you, Sssakura. Pity you have not made a good firssst impresssion. Ssshe wanted to meet you yesssterday. Ssshe hatesss to be kept waiting. *"

again the voice broadens, and a sense of enchantment fills the air.

"* Arissse, Sssolarisss , your time hasss come. *"

The ground around Sakura begins to shake. Sakura stands still a few seconds, then begins to run. Kero flies along behind her. She runs until she reaches the Penguin King Park where a sight there causes her to stop and watch. At the top of the Penguin King was a glowing red ball of fire. Wings of pure fire sprout from either side and engulf the glowing sphere. Upon closing it emits a painfully bright light, which causes Sakura and Kero to look way. It disappears leaving behind a huge, magnificent bird of fire. The only parts that are not fire are its strong talons and it's long, nasty beak. (A/N: any Pokemon fans out there? I got inspiration from Moltres!) Lifting her massive head towards the sky, she opens her beak and emits an ear-splitting screech. Looking across the penguin king park, Solaris sees Sakura and Kero. Solaris becomes overpowered with rage. Flapping her gigantic wing, she takes to the sky. Solaris brings her wings in front of her. A red light can be seen coming from behind them. Solaris opens her wings and sends a fire blast directly at Sakura and Kero. Kero quickly transforms into Keroberos. He uses his shield to block the attack, then sends back a blast of his own. Solaris easily dodges the attack. Keroberos growls in annoyance, then launches himself into the sky. Solaris is waiting. With a powerful stroke of her wings, she sends a gust that sends Keroberos flying backwards. Solaris swoops in and grabs Keroberos, pinning his wings behind him. Turning towards the sky, she starts to fly higher. Down on the ground, Sakura can only watch in horror. She can't use her cards for fear of hitting Keroberos as well. Back in the sky, Solaris reaches the pinnacle of her climb. Turning towards the ground again, she folds her wing and takes a sharp dive. Gravity pulls them faster and faster and faster. At the last possible moment, Solaris lets go of Keroberos and swoops up to land on its talons a few feet away. She looks back to see if her prey rises, prepared to attack it again. He doesn't.

"Kero-chan!", Sakura screams.

Keroberos can't hear her. Solaris spreads her wings wide and announces her victory to the sky. Then she turns and gives Sakura a look that clearly means 'You're next.' Overcome with fear, Sakura turns and runs. Solaris flies after and pushes her to the ground. The star wand escapes from Sakura's grasp. Solaris picks it up with her beak and flies off. She turn's around and flies at Sakura again. Sakura gets up and runs away from her. Solaris comes up behind her, grabs her with her talons and lifts her into the sky. Solaris flies to a fair height, then lets go of Sakura! Sakura falls towards the ground, screaming.

"Element: Wind!"

a gust of wind appears on the ground beneath Sakura and eases her fall. Surprised that she is not dead, she sits up, looks around, and sees a familiar, brown-haired figure running towards her.

"Syaoran-kun!", Sakura calls out in surprise.

Syaoran kneels next to her.

"Daijobou?" he asks, worried.

"Hai. But, Syaoran-kun, wh-", she asks.

"I'll explain later. First let' take care of the bird." Syaoran stands and helps Sakura to her feet.

"Syaoran-kun, it has my staff!" Sakura remembers.

Syaoran looks up and sees the staff still in Solaris' beak. Syaoran brings his sword in front of him, pointing towards the sky. Laying two fingers along the flat of the blade, he calls out:

"Force, know my plight,

Release the light.

Lightning!"

Lightning bolts shoot from Syaoran's sword towards Solaris, striking her. Solaris cries out in pain, dropping Sakura's wand. Sakura runs over, picks up her staff, and pulls out a Sakura card.

"Windy, form a ribbon and tie up Solaris!"

Windy soars all around Solaris leaving behind a ribbon that wraps around her wings, neck and talons. Solaris is trapped! Sakura turn to Syaoran and yells, "NOW!"

"Element: Water!"

"Watery"

Watery and the water soar towards the trapped Solaris and surround her in water. Sakura and Syaoran hear Solaris give one last screech of agony, then silence. Watery returns to it's card form leaving behind… nothing! There is no sign of Solaris. She has vanished. Sakura and Syaoran let out a huge sigh of relief. Sakura looks back at Syaoran and gives him an arigatou smile. Syaoran starts to blush. Sakura then sees Keroberos still lying on the ground and runs over to him.

"Keroberos-chan!"

Sakura reaches him and kneel down, tears of worry streaming down her cheeks.

"Kero-chan, iie! IIE!

Sakura leans down on Keroberos and cries. Syaoran stands nearby. He can't stand seeing Sakura like this. Syaoran wants to take her into his arms and kiss away every tear that falls, while whispering reassuring words that Kero was not dead, that he would wake up soon. But he doesn't. he just stands there like an unemotional fool while his Ying Fa weeps. Suddenly, Keroberos is lifted into the air and his wings close around him. When they part, Kero is there in his false form. Kero opens his eyes and stars brushing at his side.

"Hey Sakura-chan. Can you cut it out? That stuff's wet you know."

"Kero-chan!" Sakura grabs Kero and hugs him hard.

"Sakura-chan! You're squishing me!" Kero complains.

Sakura lets go of him. "Gomen ne Kero-chan. I thought… you were…"

"Dead? Nah! Nothing defeats great Keroberos, the sun guardian. Speaking of which where's that bird-brain Solaris?"

"Gone." Syaoran says walking towards them.

(_ _+) "Well, if it aint the Chinese gaki. What are you doing here?

"Nice to see you too, stuffed animal. Nice to know that you missed me when I left.", Syaoran counters.

^_^;; "Are you two ever gonna quit?"

Both turn towards her and yell, "Iie!", then glare at each other some more.

"Hoeee" Sakura sighs. Some things will never change.

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

Keetra:: Well there's chapter 4 for ya! Thought I'd really kill off Kero didn't ya? Hehehe. Maybe later. I have to pick on him some more first. I have NO IDEA what I'm gonna do for the next chapter. Ideas would be most appreciated!! ^_^;;

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