The Shadowed Prophecy
Jo-chan
Disclaimers: Standard CCS disclaimers apply. I do not own any of CLAMP's wonderful characters, I'm only borrowing them for the moment. Some characters that would appear are solely my own.
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Chapter 2- The Beginning
"It looks like a wonderful chapter off a shoujo manga(girl's comic book)!" sighed Tomoyo as she filmed the breath-stealing scene between Sakura and Syaoran. Both were gazing at each other so intently that anyone would feel compelled to cheer for the couple.
Meilin was sniffing at the sweet scene. "Aa(yes)," she said tearfully overcome by emotions between the pair.
"Li-kun looks great too, he has a nice build for a junior high student. He and Sakura-chan look so perfect together! I can start making costumes for Li-kun too, now that they're a couple! That's just so wonderful!" said Tomoyo ecstatically.
A huge sweat-drop appeared on Meilin's head. "Oh dear," she murmured giving Syaoran a sympathetic glance. Looks like Tomoyo has found a Syaoran Ken for her Sakura Barbie doll. Meilin visualized a pink SD costumed Sakura and a matching pink SD costumed Syaoran. (SD- Super Deformed)
~ Meilin's fantasy ~
"IIE! (No) Yadda! (I don't want to)" I won't go out and wear this fluffy pink rabbit inspired battle suit!" screamed an SD Syaoran as he waved his tiny sword.
"Hoe!" exclaimed an SD Sakura as an SD Tomoyo filmed them with an oversized video cam.
"Ohohohohoho! But you look so wonderful together! Be thankful it wasn't a Broccoli-inspired matching outfit! Ohohohohoho!" chirped the SD Tomoyo.
(Jo-chan: An SD is those tiny chibi images of the characters)
~ end of Meilin's fantasy ~
An even bigger sweatdrop appeared on Meilin's head. "Oh boy..." she muttered before Tomoyo turned to Meilin. "What are you thinking about Meilin-chan?"
"Huh? No! Nothing at all Daidouji-san! Ohohoho!" exclaimed Meilin nervously. She took another peek at the couple. "I'm hungry, shouldn't we be getting out of the airport?"
"That's a good idea, we could all use some lunch!" said Tomoyo as she called out to Sakura. "Sakura-chan! Let's treat these two out to lunch!"
Snapping out of her fantasy, Sakura whipped her head around. "Hoe? Oh right! Let's go have lunch everybody! It's my treat and Tomoyo-chan's!" she said as she pulled on Syaoran's hand. With a giggle, she followed Tomoyo and Meilin, feeling happy and secure with Syaoran holding her hand. She was at least able to forget the strange feeling she felt last night.
As they were walking, Sakura and Syaoran's cheeks were both red. First is because of the fact that they were openly holding hands like a couple. The second is that as they were both walking, Tomoyo kept taking videos of them and Meilin was cackling like crazy. The third reason was that a lot of people were staring at the two of them with a lot of loud comments.
Example of comments: "Those two look like a movie star couple!", "Kawaii! Those two look like the couple on my shoujo manga(girl's comic book)!", "Kawaii(cute), both of them are wearing green!", "Sigh, they look so perfect together!", "How sweet, look at them holding hands!", "Those two look like they're really in love with each other!"
"Hoe!" whispered Sakura as she stepped a little closer to Syaoran. Syaoran shook his head to lessen some of the redness in his cheeks. "Iie, don't mind them," he whispered before he caught a whiff of Sakura's perfume. He turned red again. It was his gift last Christmas.
Sakura turned redder when she noticed Syaoran's perfume. It was her gift for Syaoran last Christmas too! She couldn't stop staring at Syaoran who seemed completely unaware that he is such a good-looking, absolutely hunky guy.
"Those two are so much alike!" said Meilin with a giggle. "Yeah! They're like two halves of the same whole!" agreed Tomoyo as the two girls led the entourage out of the Tomoeda airport.
***********
Kero-chan was playing his beloved video game as usual when the telephone Sakura left him rang.
"Not now!" muttered Kero-chan as his score was nearing 2 million points.
He left the phone ringing until Touya knocked. "Oi, Keroberos, why don't you answer the phone! I'm trying to get a nap here!" warned Touya before trudging back to his room.
A sweatdrop appeared on Kero-chan's head. He still hasn't gotten used to Touya and Fujitaka knowing about his presence but with Eriol leaving some of his powers to Fujitaka and with Touya regaining some of the powers he has lost, secrets are now virtually impossible in the Kinomoto residence.
Kero-chan sighed and paused in his game. He picked up the still ringing phone. "What do you want?" he snarled.
"Cerberos?" asked a smooth male voice.
"EH?! Eriol?" shouted Kero-chan in surprise.
***************
They were having lunch at a high-rise cafe and finally, even Syaoran seemed at ease.
"So, where will you be staying guys?" asked Sakura as she took a huge forkful of carbonara. She seemed unaware that Meilin was snickering.
"Kinomoto-san, no wonder your oniichan calls you kaijou!" teased Meilin while Tomoyo giggled and a huge sweatdrop appeared on Syaoran's head.
"Nani (what)?" asked Sakura as an anger spark appeared on her forehead. Everybody at their table laughed and then resumed eating and conversation.
It was like the old times and the only changes apparent are the maturity present in their faces. Tomoyo was looking more like Nadeshiko while Meilin looked beautiful and exotic with her long straight black hair and slanted eyes. Syaoran was a drool-worthy material, with a cross somewhere between Heero and the manga version of Syaoran in volume 12, he was also at least as tall as Touya.
"We'll be staying in the apartment again," answered Syaoran as he looked back at Sakura. Sakura blushed when their eyes met and connected. There was a strange spark between them, nothing like elementary but at the same time, there was a warm fuzzy feeling of trust and security.
"Will Wei-san be with you again?" asked Tomoyo smiling even more brightly at the couple's obvious fascination with each other. Meilin noticed it too and winked at Tomoyo.
"Yes, but he'll be arriving tomorrow. He's still fixing some stuff back in HongKong," answered Meilin helping herself to the canioli. She chewed for a moment before adding, "And we have no idea how to start fixing the complex!"
"We'd be glad to help you guys! It's only Saturday today and school isn't until Monday!" offered Sakura before helping herself to some beef and oysters. Tomoyo nodded her agreement while Meilin clapped her hands in glee.
"Wai! That would really help a lot! Maybe we can catch up on more stories about the last two years!" exclaimed Meilin.
"Arigatou (thank you)," said Syaoran with the same small, absolutely pulse changing smile.
"No problem," said Sakura with the same soft, gentle smile that Syaoran fell in love with.
"Ohohoho!" laughed Tomoyo as her video cam was promptly taken out to capture the magic moment.
************
"So there's something going on right now that you don't exactly know what it is right?" asked Kero-chan as he sat by the window, talking to Eriol on the phone.
"Yes, and Kaho's missing," answered Eriol, the long distance not hiding the worry in his voice.
"Can't you predict it? I mean, what happened to your powers?" asked Kero-chan.
"When I gave some of my power to Fujitaka-san, my powers were decreased. Someone has apparently been blocking my ability to foretell the future and the shield is too strong and too subtle for me to counteract," explained Eriol wearily as he sat back down on his chair in England.
"Did you happen to see Kaho anywhere in Tomoeda?" asked Eriol while Nakuru and Suppi hovered in the background.
Sadly, Kero-chan shook his head. "Iie(no), gomen nasai(I'm sorry). I haven't seen the shrine lady anywhere. Besides, Sakura would tell me if she saw her," replied Kero-chan while absently fluttering his wings.
"Is Sakura-san all right then? Has something bad happened lately?" asked Eriol worriedly. His voice sounded tired and as if heavily burdened.
"Aww, Sakura's all right. She's looking great, maybe gaining a little weight, I think my eating habits has been rubbing off on her," narrated Kero-chan as he swallowed a gum drop whole.
Eriol gave a weak laugh. "Tomoyo-san tells me differently. She said that Sakura-san is as beautiful as ever and blooms like the cherry blossom she is."
Kero-chan snorted. "Hmph! Tomoyo's just so optimistic! Oi... wait a minute, you mean you've been talking to Tomoyo? While you've seldom called me?" asked Kero-chan with hurt eyes.
Eriol chuckled. "Gomen(sorry). I'll try to call more often next time. But I've been corresponding with Tomoyo-san since I left for England and every weekend or so, we get to talk on the phone."
"But why her? Why not me, the cute, gorgeous, unstoppable, cool, magnificent, Cerberos whom you've created!? Hmph! Eriol, you're so cold-hearted!" scolded Kero-chan.
The worry lines on Eriol's face disappeared. He realized that Kero-chan was trying in his own way to cheer him up. "Arigato, Cerberos," he said.
"Aww sure. No problem--" boasted Kero-chan before he paused.
"What's the strange aura?" asked Kero-chan in alarm. There was a strange feeling in the air, as if there was something dark and heavy looming over them.
"What aura?" asked Eriol in apprehension.
"It's dark... very dark... almost like the power of the stars in comparison but dark and void," described Kero-chan with a visible shudder.
"I knew it! Before I lost connection with my strength to foretell the future, I felt that Sakura-san will be facing something dark and ominous in the future!" said Eriol as he stood up and began pacing in the living room of his house in England.
"The Chinese brats are here too!" declared Kero-chan with narrowed eyes.
"So it's beginning now... Cerberos, I'll be going back to Tomoeda. As soon as I arrange things here in England, I'll be going back to Japan," vowed Eriol while Suppi looked on in amazement and Nakuru began bouncing around, singing, "Touya-kun, Touya-kun!"
On the other end of the line, Kero-chan heard everything and turned blue in dread.
**************
In Syaoran and Meilin's apartment.
"Sugoi! So many boxes Meilin-chan!" exclaimed Sakura as she surveyed the clean and spotless foyer of the apartment. The furniture was all covered in a white cloth and the decorations were all packed in the boxes.
In dismay, Meilin looked at the heaps of boxes. "Yosh! I had no idea we brought so many things... let's get started then!" said Meilin as she pumped her fist in the air.
Syaoran looked in disapproval while he was carrying three boxes at the same time. "You brought so many unnecessary things Meilin," he said while he carried the three boxes into his room.
Meilin stuck her tongue out at him. "You brought a lot of books as well Syaoran!" she shouted while Tomoyo and Sakura laughed. Sakura started carrying a box when she happened to glance at the contents.
Inside the box are the Chinese battle costume Syaoran always wore and a green scarf. There was also a small pink winged teddy bear inside.
Syaoran saw her looking at it and turned red. "Umm, umm..."
Sakura turned shining eyes at him, "Syaoran-kun, you kept my presents."
"Of course I did," answered Syaoran bashfully.
"I'm glad," said Sakura as she handed him the box.
From the corner, Tomoyo was as usual, taping the scene. "Another touching scene to my 'Sakura and Li-kun Reunited series'", sighed Tomoyo. Meilin giggled. "I wonder if we can finish work at this rate," she muttered before falling into the routine of unpacking.
Hours have passed companionably and before long, Sakura was polishing the tables, her hair held back by Syaoran's green handkerchief that she tied as a bandana around her head. Tomoyo and Meilin were arranging the decorations all over, hanging pictures and paintings while Syaoran was moving the heavy stuff. It was already 4 o' clock in the afternoon.
"Syaoran, I'm hungry," complained Meilin stretching wearily. Syaoran shot her an irritated glance. "Why don't you cook something then?" he asked as he piled his books on the desk.
"Can't. We just got back from HongKong. The refrigerator is still empty," retorted Meilin.
"I'll go do the grocery!" offered Sakura as she leapt up from her position in polishing the center table. The moment she jumped up, her bangs fell forward again, escaping the confines of Syaoran's handkerchief.
Syaoran gazed at her with a tender expression in his eyes. "No, never mind, I'll go do the grocery. You just stay here and relax," said Syaoran. "I'll go with you!" said Sakura as she walked over to where Syaoran was standing. "Nope, you just stay here. I'll be fine," said Syaoran as Sakura stared after him dubiously.
"All right. Take care," said Sakura as Syaoran walked out the door.
"Don't worry!" called out Syaoran.
**************
Syaoran was standing out the apartment complex wondering what direction the grocery store is when a feminine voice startled him out of his reveries.
"Konnichiwa (good afternoon)!" greeted the female voice with a slight American accent.
Turning around, Syaoran saw a gorgeous girl who was about his age, dressed in a short black skirt and sleeveless black top. Her hair was black but even darker than Meilin's, with no blue highlights. Her eyes were amber colored, and somehow, her face was familiar.
Syaoran gave a slight nod to return her greeting and looked around once more. //Where the heck is the grocery?//
"If you're looking for the grocery, it's that way," said the girl with an enigmatic smile as she pointed to the right.
Startled, Syaoran stared at her. "How-- arigato," he said shortly before walking away from the strange girl. She ran up next to him and started chatting.
"I'm Claudette Mizuko, I just transferred here from America. What's your name?" she asked with a particularly arresting smile.
Syaoran looked at her suspiciously before shrugging her off as harmless. "Li Syaoran desu," he said before turning his eyes on the road ahead.
The girl smiled knowingly, "Oh that's right, it's a custom in Japan to say the family name first right? Anyway, that's all I needed to know. Ja matta ne (I'll see you again)!
Syaoran paid no more attention to her and continued on his way, thinking about the groceries.
Claudette looked at Syaoran's disappearing back. "Small Wolf is soooooo cute. I like him..."
"I really like him..."
***********
// Hmm, let's see, did I buy enough to make the stir fry?//
Syaoran has just finished his groceries and was walking back to the apartment, loaded up to his ears with shopping bags. // Meilin eats a lot and so does Sakura... //
His pace slowed down at the thought of Sakura. // Sakura... I can't imagine myself betraying her... even in the littlest way yet why did that prophecy say I will? I'd rather take the pain myself than let her feel the smallest hurt...//
He paused walking and turned to face the entrance of the Tsukimine Shrine. There was a prickling sensation in the back of his neck and he suddenly felt alert and wary. There was something wrong in the air, like a dark presence hovered above the atmosphere.
He looked around. The wind seemed dry, and there was the heat of danger. There were some torn sealing papers on the ground, blown by the same dry wind. His other hand slowly crept up to his sword that he still hasn't transformed.
A loud cracking sound erupted from his right side and a huge stream of black fire flew towards him.
Loaded with groceries, Syaoran cursed. "Shimatta(Shit)!"
*************
Sakura dropped the plate she was cleaning. She suddenly felt the strange aura and the same piercing pain from last night grew. There was the also the intuition that Syaoran was in danger.
"Syaoran-kun!" she cried out as she took out her key.
Alarmed, Meilin and Tomoyo crowded around Sakura. "Sakura-chan, you look pale!" exclaimed Tomoyo. Meilin worriedly went to Sakura's side. "Is there something wrong?"
"Syaoran-kun's in danger!" said Sakura tersely as she began her incantation.
"Oh key that holds the power of the stars, reveal your true from to me! I, Sakura call upon our contract. Release!" said Sakura as her magic circle came out and the magic transformed her key into the star wand.
"Fly!" commanded Sakura as wings sprouted from her back.
"I'm going ahead, Meilin-chan, Tomoyo-chan!" said Sakura as she flew out of the apartment.
"I don't know what's going on!" shouted Meilin as she and Tomoyo followed hurriedly after Sakura.
"Sakura-chan felt something strange yesterday too! There must be something going on" answered Tomoyo as she tried to catch up with the Meilin and Sakura, her video cam held in her hands.
Whatever's going on, Tomoyo didn't have a good feeling about it.
*************
Syaoran slammed against the Sakura tree because of the force of the impact. He was able to put his sword in front of his body, preventing the maximum impact from reaching him.
"Kuso(damn)!" he said, struggling to get up. There was a huge black fire hovering above the sky, sizzling and hissing. Another stream of fire erupted from it, cutting towards Syaoran.
Tumbling away, Syaoran dodged it and sent out his own ofuda. "Kashin Shou Rai!" he said as he sent a stream of pure red fire towards the ball of concentrated black fire.
A black fire ball met his own fire and extinguished each other. The black fire seemed to grow larger and angrier because of Syaoran's attack. A barrage of black fire balls erupted from the black fire, hovering threateningly.
Syaoran started running, there was no way he can escape from that many fire balls! Even while he started running, he began forming a shield made out of air and water. The rain of black fire began attacking him, cutting through his shield of water and air.
He stopped running and turned around to face the storm of black fire. Whipping his sword, he cut through the nearest black fire ball. But there were too many for him to handle. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, preparing for the impact.
The heat was immense as it drew closer and he was prepared for the worst when he heard Sakura call out his name.
"SYAORAN-KUN!" screamed Sakura as she threw herself in front of him to shield him from the black fire.
As Sakura got hit by Scorch on her shoulder, Syaoran's vision suddenly darkened and he saw the words of the prophecy, bright-red as though written in blood.
"As the small wolf, her true beloved will betray her
And deliver his own love into the hands of the enemies"
"NO!" he shouted as Sakura got hit in her shoulder, taking the blow for him and collapsing in his arms.
A blazing green aura radiated from Syaoran as he held Sakura in his arms. He could hear Tomoyo and Meilin's voices faintly in the background but all he could see was Sakura and her scorched shoulder. The power roared even louder in his veins as soon as Sakura opened her eyes weakly.
"Are you alright Syaoran?" asked Sakura, wincing as she felt the burning pain in her shoulder.
His eyes looked scary, there was something ominous and serious as Syaoran answered sadly, "Yes, I'm alright. Rest now."
"Sakura-chan, Li-kun!" cried Tomoyo unable to approach because of raining fire. "Syaoran! Kinomoto-san!" screamed Meilin, feeling helpless as she watched the scene. Syaoran's aura was scary and unpredictable, Meilin has never seen her cousin like this. And Sakura seemed to be badly injured as well.
With one hand, Syaoran swept out his hand. "KASHIN SHOU RAI!" he shouted out as a huge, blazing fire that was reflected in his eyes came out of the seal, larger than even the fire created by Fiery. It burned out all the other fires, extinguishing even the mother black flame.
A huge shadow appeared where the Scorch was but since Sakura was injured, she wasn't able to seal it. The shadow drifted away into the wind, the black fire growing a bit.
There were tears in Meilin's eyes. There was something in Syaoran's aura that made her heart ache profoundly... for both Syaoran and Sakura.
Tomoyo paused, she was about to run towards Sakura when she felt Li's emotions. There was profound anguish in his eyes and the way he held Sakura made Tomoyo dread what he would do and say next.
"There's something bad going to happen..." whispered Meilin, feeling the aura of her cousin.
Syaoran held Sakura tightly. Her beautiful green dress' sleeve was scorched and the smell of burned skin was heavy in the air. "Gomen(sorry)...gomen nasai(I'm so sorry)... Sakura..." whispered Syaoran.
He held out his reddened hand and began to concentrate. Green chi flowed from his hand to Sakura's shoulder. Slowly, the burned flesh began to mend itself. When it became a raw burn instead of scorched flesh, Syaoran stopped, staggered by the amount of energy and magic he used to heal Sakura.
"He healed Sakura with his own magic?" asked Tomoyo incredulously. Tearfully, Meilin agreed. "Aa(yes), his magic improved a lot in Hongkong," whispered Meilin.
Sakura regained consciousness and looked up at Syaoran with large green eyes. "Are you hurt Syaoran? I felt your pain..." she asked snuggling against him.
With agony in his eyes, Syaoran closed them, not wanting to see the trusting picture Sakura made, nestled in his arms. "And I felt your pain... but this time, you'll never have to feel any more pain because of me," said Syaoran grimly.
"Hoe?" asked Sakura sitting up a bit and groaning. She gazed worriedly at Syaoran's blank face.
"I--"
"I--I--"
Syaoran turned to face her, hesitating but then saw the injury. He turned his back on Sakura.
"I-- I can't love you anymore..."
****************
TBC
Author's Notes:
Many thanks to Kaye, my friend, my CCS fanfic collaborator. Thanks to those kind reviews. I only write for you guys! Please R&R! Ja matta ne! For longer comments, suggestions, clarifications or contact with the author, please email me at jaded_cutie@edsamail.com.ph. On my next chapter, Sakura and Syaoran with one of the sweetest couples in the series, Touya-Yukito!
OMAKE Theater
Sakura started carrying a box when she happened to glance at the contents.
Inside the box are the Chinese battle costume Syaoran always wore and a green scarf. There was also a small pink winged teddy bear inside.
Syaoran saw her looking at it and turned red. "Umm, umm..."
Sakura turned shining eyes at him, "Syaoran-kun, you kept my presents."
"Of course I did," answered Syaoran bashfully.
"I'm glad," said Sakura as she handed him the box.
From the corner, Tomoyo was as usual, taping the scene. "Another touching scene to my 'Sakura and Li-kun Reunited series'", sighed Tomoyo. Meilin giggled. Oi Tomoyo, I've got this really cool video," whispered Meilin conspiratorially as she observed the blushing couple.
"Ara(oh)? What kind is that?" asked Tomoyo curiously, with huge question marks in her eyes.
"Do you know what Syaoran does when he's alone with that teddy bear at night? Well he..." said an SD Meilin as she leaned closer to Tomoyo.
"Aha! I knew there was a hidden side to Li-kun's reticence!" giggled Tomoyo with stars in her eyes. "I wish I can video tape it myself!" said an SD Tomoyo with foxy ears.
"Ohohohohoho.... I got the privilege and such good results too! Very sexy!" chortled the SD fox-eared Meilin. "You know... he actually..."
"YAMERO(Stop it!) MEILIN!" shouted Syaoran clapping a hand over his cousin's mouth. Red as a beet, an SD Syaoran shook the SD spiral-eyed Meilin.
"Ohohohohoho, naughty boy Li-kun!" said Tomoyo as Sakura looked at them with totally clueless dot eyes. "Hoe?"
"AM NOT!" protested Syaoran, looking red enough to explode.
"Oh no Li-kun! Don't tell me you're into stuffed--" exclaimed an SD Tomoyo dramatically.
"IIE(no)!" shouted Syaoran, so flustered he was unwittingly let go of Meilin.
"Actually Syaoran..." began Meilin once again and Syaoran was too late and too red to try and save his battered dignity.
"Iie!"
"Syaoran kisses the bear every night, really calls it Sakura and sleeps beside it! He even washes it every month! See here, I've got a video of him washing the bear!" finished Meilin with a sly wink.
Slumping down in a heap, Syaoran collapsed, eyes all twirly and red-faced.
Looking a little disappointed but laughing at Syaoran's embarrassment, the SD Tomoyo laughed. "Ohohohoho! Maa (well), we still are a little too young for that aren't we?"
OWARI