Chapter 3- The fight
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura doesn't belong to me.
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What happened in the last chap-
Sakura looked up and blinked under the bright glaring light. When everything swam into focus, she realized who the boy in front of her was.
"Syaoran?" Sakura let out and inaudible whisper.
Sakura's head started to spin as she felt anger and happiness and worry course through her, ending in a mix of conflicting emotions. She started to worry if she really had to fight against him and hurt him. Tears started to well up in her eyes.
Kimaru prodded her shoulder and Sakura snapped back to reality. She had made up her mind.
Sakura cleared her throat, "So, what's your name, challenger?"
Syaoran looked at her in puzzlement.
Rei's eyes seemed to penetrate through him as she drawled in a smooth and dangerous voice, emphasizing on each word, "Mistress Sakura asked for your name, answer her NOW!"
'Mistress?' Syaoran became even more puzzled. 'Maybe it's not that Sakura that I knew. Someone with the same name and coloured hair. Sakura Kinomoto did NOT have long hair and that attitude'
"Syaoran."
"We are Crossfire, only known to people holding magical powers. We are one of the best, er hem, I mean the BEST and the most feared thought the magical world.
As I said, people from all over try to defeat us. So try, if you dare, but the consequences of losing are deadly. If one of us defeats you, you will lose you magical powers, to us. And your memory about magic will be lost, forever."
Sakura grimaced and continued, "however, if you defeat us, or we admit defeat, which is the most unlikely thing to happen, you will, of course, in turn attain our powers. ALL of our powers. We will, too, lose our memories.
Once you defeat Ryoko, you will not be able to attain his powers until you defeat ALL five of us.
Right after you have defeated Ryoko, Akito will appear anywhere and anytime to fight you. You will have to be alert, as she may just appear while you're training or even when you're having a meal. All of us will appear anywhere, anytime to fight you. You will defeat all of us in this order- Ryoko, Akito, Kimaru, Rei Sakumato and finally me. You can use magic, or sword techniques-"
Akito cut in and said in an audible whisper, "Kinomoto-san. Don't take too long."
Syaoran, who had stood up, had to lean back against the wall for support. 'KINOMOTO! It's Sakura!'
Sakura glared at her and whispered back, "Don't call me Kinomoto-san!"
"Saku-" Syaoran yelled, but his voice got drowned by Sakura's shouting, "Then we shall begin NOW!" (Don't worry, it's still S+S!)
She clapped her hand twice and the lights flickered and they were plunged into darkness. Sakura activated the TIME card and ushered them out of the room.
Sakura was still worried about hurting him.
"I'll fight him. He looks tough. I can handle him by myself."
"What are you trying to say? Are you trying to say we are not up to his standards? Not fair! I wanna fight that cute, handsome guy!" whined Akito.
Sakura glared at her.
Kimaru sensed something in Sakura's voice and turned around. She looked deep into Sakura's eyes and saw a certain sadness hidden beneath all that pride and fierceness. "It's alright, I have faith in you."
A few seconds later, the lights came on again.
Sakura felt the TIME card weakening and used the THROUGH card to back into the room. On the way out, she mouthed a thank you to Kimaru. Kimaru smiled affectionately at her. Akito stared in disbelief at Sakura's retreating back.
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When the lights came back on, Syaoran wheeled around. Everybody was gone in a flash (in a flash to him)! Syaoran tensed and stood perfectly still, trying to be alert and at the same time, think.
Questions whirled in Syaoran's mind. 'It was Sakura! But why didn't she recognize me? And, what's all this about? When did she become so-"
A dagger flew pass Syaoran's face, missing him by just a few millimeters. Missing Syaoran, the dagger dissolved into the air.
"You were lucky. I'm a little rusty." a voice echoed from behind Syaoran.
Syaoran whirled around, but saw nothing.
"Uh, not fast enough. You'll have to be faster than that."
Three more daggers came pelting at him. Syaoran rolled away just in time.
He scrambled back onto his feet and saw Sakura appearing at the far corner of the room.
"Sakura! It's me, Syaoran!" He shouted, jumping into the air to avoid the daggers.
"I know NO one by the name of Syaoran!" She replied, sending the LIGHTNING card lashing at him with the flick of her wrist.
Syaoran ducked. "What's going on?"
"Since you're still new to Crossfire I will test you and give you a taste of our power. Brace yourself for the worst."
Sakura unclenched her fist and pointed her palm at Syaoran. A green light formed around her hands and exploded. Daggers flew at Syaoran. Syaoran stood stock-still, not daring to move. His mouth opened in a silent scream. All the daggers missed him and pinned him against the wall by his clothes.
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Kimaru watched the battle through a window not visible to the fighters. 'That was a close one for Sakura. I wonder how long is she going to keep this up.'
Akito and Rei stood by Kimaru's side, frowning at Sakura. "How can she be so careless as to miss that! Her shooting usually has pinpoint accuracy.Grr. what's wrong with her? Come one Sakura! Hit him real hard. You can do it!" Cheered Akito.
Kimaru was silent in thought. 'Hmm.something fishy going around here. Now that Sakura knows how to hide her thoughts, I don't know how.not that I want to pry.well, that Syao- (what's his name) is certainly interesting.I can read his thoughts clearly, something about -Sakura not recognizing him- ..' (Does she sound like Eriol?!)
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Syaoran's mind was reeling. He tore himself from the daggers, tearing his clothes and hurting himself. Blood dripped from his shoulder down to his fingertips.
Sakura tried to force herself from running over to him to ask how he was, like when they were young. She clenched her palms and gritted her teeth, trying to make her eyes look cold and hard to Syaoran.
Syaoran reached behind his back and lashed out his sword. He gripped it in his hands, pointing it at Sakura.
"You asked for it!" said Syaoran in a deadly whisper.
Syaoran lunged forward at Sakura. Clearly missing her.
"Are you having double vision or something? You're terrible at this!"
Stalling for time, Syaoran tried again, lunging at her. He accidentally (erm.purposely) tripped.
"But why, why Sakura? You've changed. You're not the Sakura I once knew. Please Sakura, come back.snap out of it.please." Pleaded Syaoran.
Sakura clenched her fists tighter and said, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Syaoran lunged at her and grabbed her by her arm and pinned her to the ground. Syaoran brought leaned towards her and said in a whisper, "Don't make me do this Sakura, snap out of it. Come on, you can do it."
Sakura seemed to relax a little and like she was ready to give up, but suddenly she heard a voice in her head, Kimaru's voice, 'Sakura, don't be confused. Follow your heart. Save yourself.'
Sakura brought her leg up to kick Syaoran in his stomach. Syaoran flew all the way to the other end of the room.
Syaoran sprung up and charged at her. Shocked and surprised at Syaoran's behavior, Sakura backed away, thinking there was a wall behind her. She stretched out her hands trying to find the wall behind her. But all she felt was air.
She turned around, her eyes stretched wide open, and the scene that greeted her was a fifteen-foot drop down below. Losing her balance, she started waving her arms, trying to get her balance. She teetered at the edge, her foot slipped and she dropped all the way down.
Syaoran saw her fall. He ran to the edge and plunged into the darkness of the alley below. Syaoran's mind only had one objective- To save Sakura. He tightened his body and shot downwards faster. He heard the wind whistling in his ears as he urged himself to fall faster to reach her.
The ground was getting closer and 'bigger'. Syaoran was suddenly aware of Sakura beside him. He pulled Sakura towards him by her waist. The ground came rushing up to them. Syaoran landed on the ground, hard, cushioning Sakura's fall.
Syaoran suddenly felt numbness spread though his whole body, clouding his mind. Then, just as the numbness came, it went, as something else came to take it's place. Pain. He felt sharp needles pricking him, piercing through his clouded mind, waking him up. He tried to stand up, but the pain was too much to bear. He crumpled down immediately.
He crawled over to Sakura with much effort. Ignoring the pain that was enveloping his state of mind, he tried to sit up. He held Sakura, shaking her, trying to wake her up.
Finally, Sakura's eyes fluttered open. Sakura saw someone in front of her. It was a boy. Her vision was too blur to make out who that was. She blinked slowly and realized that it was Syaoran! He was bleeding. A drop of blood trickled down his forehead and splashed onto his arm where a bruise was forming. His chin was bleeding and there was blood seeping through his shirtsleeves.
Sakura smiled at him and faintly said, "Thank."
She caught herself in time and pushed him away, saying, "Get your filthy hands off me!"
Syaoran sat on the ground, stunned.
"This isn't over yet. Just watch out." Sakura jumped up and walk away without a backward glance.
The rest of Crossfire came piling down beside Sakura. Ketaru walked over to Syaoran.
"Real smooth kid, real smooth." He sneered, patting Syaoran on the back a little harder than normal.
Crossfire walked away in the same V- shaped way as when Syaoran first saw them.
Syaoran couldn't hold off the pain anymore. He let it surround his whole body as darkness started to cloud his mind and his vision.
Sakura heard a sound behind her. She turned back and saw Syaoran hit the ground with a 'thud'.
She stopped in her tracks, her legs telling her to go back, but her mind telling her to go on.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran," she murmured.
She let her hands fall helplessly to her side. She turned around slowly, as a tear slid down her cheek and splashed on her shoe.
Sakura started to walk away as Syaoran lay behind, moonlight washed over his body. She squeezed her eyes shut as another tear rolled down from the corner of her eye, splashing onto her palm stretched before her...
To be continued.
Cherry-blossom-sakura: Alright! Done! Hope to see more reviews! And, don't worry, it's still a S+S fanfic! Please review!
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura doesn't belong to me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
What happened in the last chap-
Sakura looked up and blinked under the bright glaring light. When everything swam into focus, she realized who the boy in front of her was.
"Syaoran?" Sakura let out and inaudible whisper.
Sakura's head started to spin as she felt anger and happiness and worry course through her, ending in a mix of conflicting emotions. She started to worry if she really had to fight against him and hurt him. Tears started to well up in her eyes.
Kimaru prodded her shoulder and Sakura snapped back to reality. She had made up her mind.
Sakura cleared her throat, "So, what's your name, challenger?"
Syaoran looked at her in puzzlement.
Rei's eyes seemed to penetrate through him as she drawled in a smooth and dangerous voice, emphasizing on each word, "Mistress Sakura asked for your name, answer her NOW!"
'Mistress?' Syaoran became even more puzzled. 'Maybe it's not that Sakura that I knew. Someone with the same name and coloured hair. Sakura Kinomoto did NOT have long hair and that attitude'
"Syaoran."
"We are Crossfire, only known to people holding magical powers. We are one of the best, er hem, I mean the BEST and the most feared thought the magical world.
As I said, people from all over try to defeat us. So try, if you dare, but the consequences of losing are deadly. If one of us defeats you, you will lose you magical powers, to us. And your memory about magic will be lost, forever."
Sakura grimaced and continued, "however, if you defeat us, or we admit defeat, which is the most unlikely thing to happen, you will, of course, in turn attain our powers. ALL of our powers. We will, too, lose our memories.
Once you defeat Ryoko, you will not be able to attain his powers until you defeat ALL five of us.
Right after you have defeated Ryoko, Akito will appear anywhere and anytime to fight you. You will have to be alert, as she may just appear while you're training or even when you're having a meal. All of us will appear anywhere, anytime to fight you. You will defeat all of us in this order- Ryoko, Akito, Kimaru, Rei Sakumato and finally me. You can use magic, or sword techniques-"
Akito cut in and said in an audible whisper, "Kinomoto-san. Don't take too long."
Syaoran, who had stood up, had to lean back against the wall for support. 'KINOMOTO! It's Sakura!'
Sakura glared at her and whispered back, "Don't call me Kinomoto-san!"
"Saku-" Syaoran yelled, but his voice got drowned by Sakura's shouting, "Then we shall begin NOW!" (Don't worry, it's still S+S!)
She clapped her hand twice and the lights flickered and they were plunged into darkness. Sakura activated the TIME card and ushered them out of the room.
Sakura was still worried about hurting him.
"I'll fight him. He looks tough. I can handle him by myself."
"What are you trying to say? Are you trying to say we are not up to his standards? Not fair! I wanna fight that cute, handsome guy!" whined Akito.
Sakura glared at her.
Kimaru sensed something in Sakura's voice and turned around. She looked deep into Sakura's eyes and saw a certain sadness hidden beneath all that pride and fierceness. "It's alright, I have faith in you."
A few seconds later, the lights came on again.
Sakura felt the TIME card weakening and used the THROUGH card to back into the room. On the way out, she mouthed a thank you to Kimaru. Kimaru smiled affectionately at her. Akito stared in disbelief at Sakura's retreating back.
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When the lights came back on, Syaoran wheeled around. Everybody was gone in a flash (in a flash to him)! Syaoran tensed and stood perfectly still, trying to be alert and at the same time, think.
Questions whirled in Syaoran's mind. 'It was Sakura! But why didn't she recognize me? And, what's all this about? When did she become so-"
A dagger flew pass Syaoran's face, missing him by just a few millimeters. Missing Syaoran, the dagger dissolved into the air.
"You were lucky. I'm a little rusty." a voice echoed from behind Syaoran.
Syaoran whirled around, but saw nothing.
"Uh, not fast enough. You'll have to be faster than that."
Three more daggers came pelting at him. Syaoran rolled away just in time.
He scrambled back onto his feet and saw Sakura appearing at the far corner of the room.
"Sakura! It's me, Syaoran!" He shouted, jumping into the air to avoid the daggers.
"I know NO one by the name of Syaoran!" She replied, sending the LIGHTNING card lashing at him with the flick of her wrist.
Syaoran ducked. "What's going on?"
"Since you're still new to Crossfire I will test you and give you a taste of our power. Brace yourself for the worst."
Sakura unclenched her fist and pointed her palm at Syaoran. A green light formed around her hands and exploded. Daggers flew at Syaoran. Syaoran stood stock-still, not daring to move. His mouth opened in a silent scream. All the daggers missed him and pinned him against the wall by his clothes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Kimaru watched the battle through a window not visible to the fighters. 'That was a close one for Sakura. I wonder how long is she going to keep this up.'
Akito and Rei stood by Kimaru's side, frowning at Sakura. "How can she be so careless as to miss that! Her shooting usually has pinpoint accuracy.Grr. what's wrong with her? Come one Sakura! Hit him real hard. You can do it!" Cheered Akito.
Kimaru was silent in thought. 'Hmm.something fishy going around here. Now that Sakura knows how to hide her thoughts, I don't know how.not that I want to pry.well, that Syao- (what's his name) is certainly interesting.I can read his thoughts clearly, something about -Sakura not recognizing him- ..' (Does she sound like Eriol?!)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Syaoran's mind was reeling. He tore himself from the daggers, tearing his clothes and hurting himself. Blood dripped from his shoulder down to his fingertips.
Sakura tried to force herself from running over to him to ask how he was, like when they were young. She clenched her palms and gritted her teeth, trying to make her eyes look cold and hard to Syaoran.
Syaoran reached behind his back and lashed out his sword. He gripped it in his hands, pointing it at Sakura.
"You asked for it!" said Syaoran in a deadly whisper.
Syaoran lunged forward at Sakura. Clearly missing her.
"Are you having double vision or something? You're terrible at this!"
Stalling for time, Syaoran tried again, lunging at her. He accidentally (erm.purposely) tripped.
"But why, why Sakura? You've changed. You're not the Sakura I once knew. Please Sakura, come back.snap out of it.please." Pleaded Syaoran.
Sakura clenched her fists tighter and said, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Syaoran lunged at her and grabbed her by her arm and pinned her to the ground. Syaoran brought leaned towards her and said in a whisper, "Don't make me do this Sakura, snap out of it. Come on, you can do it."
Sakura seemed to relax a little and like she was ready to give up, but suddenly she heard a voice in her head, Kimaru's voice, 'Sakura, don't be confused. Follow your heart. Save yourself.'
Sakura brought her leg up to kick Syaoran in his stomach. Syaoran flew all the way to the other end of the room.
Syaoran sprung up and charged at her. Shocked and surprised at Syaoran's behavior, Sakura backed away, thinking there was a wall behind her. She stretched out her hands trying to find the wall behind her. But all she felt was air.
She turned around, her eyes stretched wide open, and the scene that greeted her was a fifteen-foot drop down below. Losing her balance, she started waving her arms, trying to get her balance. She teetered at the edge, her foot slipped and she dropped all the way down.
Syaoran saw her fall. He ran to the edge and plunged into the darkness of the alley below. Syaoran's mind only had one objective- To save Sakura. He tightened his body and shot downwards faster. He heard the wind whistling in his ears as he urged himself to fall faster to reach her.
The ground was getting closer and 'bigger'. Syaoran was suddenly aware of Sakura beside him. He pulled Sakura towards him by her waist. The ground came rushing up to them. Syaoran landed on the ground, hard, cushioning Sakura's fall.
Syaoran suddenly felt numbness spread though his whole body, clouding his mind. Then, just as the numbness came, it went, as something else came to take it's place. Pain. He felt sharp needles pricking him, piercing through his clouded mind, waking him up. He tried to stand up, but the pain was too much to bear. He crumpled down immediately.
He crawled over to Sakura with much effort. Ignoring the pain that was enveloping his state of mind, he tried to sit up. He held Sakura, shaking her, trying to wake her up.
Finally, Sakura's eyes fluttered open. Sakura saw someone in front of her. It was a boy. Her vision was too blur to make out who that was. She blinked slowly and realized that it was Syaoran! He was bleeding. A drop of blood trickled down his forehead and splashed onto his arm where a bruise was forming. His chin was bleeding and there was blood seeping through his shirtsleeves.
Sakura smiled at him and faintly said, "Thank."
She caught herself in time and pushed him away, saying, "Get your filthy hands off me!"
Syaoran sat on the ground, stunned.
"This isn't over yet. Just watch out." Sakura jumped up and walk away without a backward glance.
The rest of Crossfire came piling down beside Sakura. Ketaru walked over to Syaoran.
"Real smooth kid, real smooth." He sneered, patting Syaoran on the back a little harder than normal.
Crossfire walked away in the same V- shaped way as when Syaoran first saw them.
Syaoran couldn't hold off the pain anymore. He let it surround his whole body as darkness started to cloud his mind and his vision.
Sakura heard a sound behind her. She turned back and saw Syaoran hit the ground with a 'thud'.
She stopped in her tracks, her legs telling her to go back, but her mind telling her to go on.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran," she murmured.
She let her hands fall helplessly to her side. She turned around slowly, as a tear slid down her cheek and splashed on her shoe.
Sakura started to walk away as Syaoran lay behind, moonlight washed over his body. She squeezed her eyes shut as another tear rolled down from the corner of her eye, splashing onto her palm stretched before her...
To be continued.
Cherry-blossom-sakura: Alright! Done! Hope to see more reviews! And, don't worry, it's still a S+S fanfic! Please review!