Chapter 5: - The First Battle

When the Evil One returns,
And the new moon wanes,
And the Lost One yearns,
For it's Mistress, not in vain.
The Heroes will return,
Two more of their number,
Who will learn,
That five is an even number.

~*~

He was… * drum roll* Feras! (Duh!) He stood half covered by the shadows. He grinned a grin none of them liked. He pulled out a card. And, suddenly, jumped up, towards the roof. They all followed him, Kero now his true form, Keroberos. Feras stood, menacingly, at the peak of the roof. He turned to face them. He snarled in Darren's direction. Darren snarled back, more viciously. Feras looked up at the sky. He grinned again, and said, in a soft, cold, dark voice; "Do you want it all to be destroyed because of you, Darren?" he looked down at the suddenly pale boy.

Darren looked down and stepped away from Amy. "No. Don't. Please." he whispered, stealing a look at Amy. Feras laughed, throwing back his head and laughing out to the sky. "Do you really think I won't? Weakling. You care. That makes you weak."

Darren snarled and looked up. "No. You don't care, and that makes you weak. Not me." Feras looked shocked for a second. He shook his head angrily.

"No. It's not true. You liar!" He launched himself at Darren. "I'll kill you again, Huratomo Nobunaga! Just watch!" Darren laughed, and jumped high…

… and landed on the very edge of the roof, losing his balance. Amy screamed and caught his hand, but instead, catching a fistful of air. She dropped to her knees in shock. "No! Dare, please be alive." she whispered, looking over the edge. They all followed her suit, solemnly. Feras jumped over the edge. Amy followed him, grim determination on her face, reflecting from every twitch of her muscles and sparkle of her eyes. Sakura, Syaoran, Eriol, and Tomoyo on Keroberos, followed. They landed softly. Amy had dropped into a defensive crouch. She scanned the yard, quickly, for any sign of Darren or Feras.

There was a rustle of leaves, a scream from Sakura, and two figures burst from the bushes, landing softly on their feet. Or one did. The other fell to his knees from the shock of the fall. Darren, who was standing up, laughed. "You really got to learn to land right. One day, you'll 'land' and die in the process." Feras got up and glared at Darren.

"You…" He said, throwing a card in the air, yelling, "Lord of Darkness, Conquer the Light! Live and let those around you die! Set free the power in this Card of Destruction! Release!" There was a blast of light, and a spirit-like thing left the card to the sky, spreading out to the horizon in all directions. Feras was grimacing in pain. Then he looked up, his laughter filled their ears and he disappeared. Darren cursed silently in another language. Eriol raised an eyebrow. Darren blushed as caught Amy's reproachful eye. He said, "Arabic. Our native language. I mean, now, that is. After our reincarnation."

"Our?" they all (A.N. 'cept Ames.) asked.

"Yeah, our. Me an' Ames'." he answered. Amy rolled her eyes.

"The only part he mastered is the curses. He can curse in any dialect." Amy said. Darren laughed.

"And you can't, Miss Proper?" he asked mockingly.

"Yes, I can, but that is not any of you business, Bucko." Amy said haughtily, walking towards the door. Darren grinned, following her.

"So, Miss Proper, Have you cursed lately? Hmmm? Are you sure? In what dialect?" Amy glared at him. Her look promised him a slow and painful death, but he could care less.

"I have cursed. Yesterday. And it was in the 'Palestinian Farmer' dialect." she said, entering Sakura's house, and grabbing her bag. Tossing Darren his bag, she pulled him by his ear, through the living room, and out the door. "Sorry guys. It's late. We have to get to our apartment and-"

Tomoyo interrupted. "Our apartment? One, or two?"

Amy blushed. "One." she whispered, her face bright red. "We're engaged. Arranged marriage thingy." she mumbled.

"Oooooohhhhh." said Tomoyo "So when's the wedding?"

"Never's good." asked Amy, trying to leave. Tomoyo blocked her way.

"Really, now? I can get you guys a date, time, place, dress, tuxedo, flowers, and reservations in the nearest hotel. Besides, school is finishing in a few months. It'll be a summer wedding… Ooooooohhhhhh…It'll be so COOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll do your dress, and design your decorations for the wedding hall and-" Tomoyo went all dreamy-eyed. Amy and Darren looked horrified.

Amy pushed a dreamy eyed Tomoyo out of her way, and she and Darren ran off yelling over their shoulders, "'Bye, guys! See ya at school tomorrow!" Sakura, Syaoran, Kero, and Eriol laughed and all went their separate ways for the night. They didn't realize that tomorrow was another day, with more problems to face. Like the card Feras set free, for example.

~*~