A CCS Fanfic By Card Captor Schlueter (a.k.a. Syaoran-kun)
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Chapter Eleven: The Beginning Of The EndTo say that I was nervous would be an understatement. Here I was standing before a woman who had just picked off Yue and Eriol like flies. Worse still, I hadn't seen it coming. As Ruby Moon helped Eriol to his feet I tried to sense the extent of Lucia's powers. Unfortunately, it didn't do any good. There was some kind of magic barrier around her. For the time being, I had to assume Lucia could be strong enough to beat us all. This situation called for tact.
Not my strong point, actually.
"If you're done, Clow, I'd like to continue." Lucia said. "You seem to be under the impression that the powers of Clow Reed have put you in control of this situation. I'm afraid they haven't. This is all part of a test. An experiment, if you will. Sakura should have failed the final judgment but was given an unfair second chance at it. Since Sakura had a second chance, it's only fair that Syaoran has one too."
"Fine," replied Ruby Moon. "So why do you have to make the final judgment? Why can't Yue judge him?"
"It all has to do with balance," said Lucia. "As you know, everyone with magic has a certain balance of power that determines which magics are more suited to them. You call them 'Sun' and 'Moon' energy, if I recall correctly. For Sakura, who has an even balance of these two energies there is no detriment based on the situation. But it's a serious handicap to place on Syaoran, who relies more on moon energy, to face Yue. His attacks are greatly reduced in strength against a Moon Guardian."
"So," began
Meiling. "He'd have to fight you?"
"No." Lucia replied flatly.
"And I can't reveal the details of the judgment just yet." She looked at me
carefully. "Syaoran Li, I present you with two paths that you can take. You can
renounce the cards and return them to me. Or you can accept the terms of my
judgment. However, I must warn you. Should you fail the judgment, I'm afraid
you will be dead."
That definitely took me by surprise. I stopped to think about this carefully. I knew that whatever the test was it wouldn't be as difficult as fighting Lucia herself. I'd lost the cards before. Could I risk losing them again?
"Very well. I accept your terms," I said.
"Li-kun?" Sakura seemed suddenly concerned. I remained silent. Lucia eyed me carefully for a moment.
"If that is your wish, Syaoran Li," she said "Than we shall meet again once all the cards are sealed. As a token of my mistress' good will she wants you to have this."
A single Clow card appeared before me. "It's in honor of the Final Judgment," she said. It was 'The Libra' card.
Cute.
"If that is all," Lucia finished. "Then I shall take my leave of you."
"Now wait a second." It was Yue. I'd forgotten about him. It was very rare to see Yue lose his temper, but he was seriously ticked off. I think we can all guess why.
"Are you planning to fight me, Moon Guardian?" asked Lucia. "Such an action is ill-advised."
"Tell Yue to back off." I whispered to Sakura.
"What?" she asked.
"He'll listen to you." I replied.
"Yue…" Sakura said. "Calm down. It's not worth it."
Yue looked at Sakura quizzically for a long moment before finally taking a step back.
Lucia watched him carefully before turning and disappearing into the shadows.
"C'mon." I said. "Let's get four-eyes back home."
**
Back at Eriol's house Nakuru confirmed that Eriol had sustained no serious injuries from being hurled against the tree. Just my luck, I guess. Yue had changed back into Yukito who was out cold in one of Eriol's chairs.
"I still don't see why you stopped Yue." Eriol grumbled.
"Come off it." I replied. "Yue couldn't beat her. Your just ticked off that you did something stupid. You the great and powerful Eriol." I was enjoying this a little too much.
"I still don't understand where she got the second book from." Meiling said.
"Reality as we know it doesn't exist in a straight line." Eriol explained. "It exists like the branch of a tree. Occasionally, a small part of our reality splits off from the main structure. These diverted realities may only exist for a few days or hours. But for that period of time everything about them is real."
"Exactly." I said. "Now think about this for just a second. Don't you think that someone who can manipulate realities to get a hold of that book might just be a little bit out of your league."
"Perhaps." Eriol replied. "That doesn't explain why you accepted her challenge."
I was really starting to lose it with this twerp. "Maybe it doesn't mean anything to you, oh great and powerful one, but it sure means something to me! I've finally gotten a second chance for the cards and I'm not going to give it up."
"Are they worth putting your life on the line for?"
"In case you haven't noticed, capturing the cards is a life threatening activity in itself, you know. But I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Hiirigizawa?"
"Li-kun!" Sakura interrupted.
I ignored her. "If you weren't so full of your own self-righteousness…"
"Li-kun!" Sakura said again.
I paused for a moment before storming out of the house. I was sick and tired of dealing with that obnoxious little jerk. I was sick of his cloying, condescending arrogance. I honestly just wanted to…
"Li-kun!" It was Sakura. "Li-kun! Wait up!"
"What is it?" I asked. I was still in a bad mood.
"Look, I know your mad at Eriol-kun…" she began.
"What was your first clue?" I replied.
She looked at me carefully. "Are you sure you're doing the right thing?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The Clow cards. Do you really want to risk your life over them?"
"Haven't I already?" I asked. "Haven't you?"
"I know…" Sakura replied quietly. "But, it never occurred to me that you might…" Her eyes were starting to fill with tears. She rested her head against my shoulder. "I… don't want to lose you, Li-kun"
I put my arms around her. "I know, Sakura. I wouldn't want to lose you either. But I can't just give up."
"I know…" replied Sakura.
I probably should have said something reassuring, but at the moment I couldn't think of anything.
I just hoped I knew what I was getting myself into.
Next: After getting caught in the rain Sakura gets sick and Syaoran has to take her home. But when Touya shows up will poor Li-kun be the one requiring medical attention?
All this and… well, some other stuff in Chapter Twelve: Take To Aspirin And Call Me In The Morning!
But first, an interlude…