I could go on and on about all the reasons I didn't update this WAY sooner, but that would take up a chapter by itself. OMG I went through SUCH a guilt trip when I realized how long it has been (over a year right? O.o). I'm SO sorry! I just wanted to say that and thanks to all who are still reading and were patient! To everyone, pleaaaaaaaaase forgive me! I will try desperately to update sooner now that I'm back on track. This chapter –is- a bit short but the next chapter will probably be really long to make up for it.

Demon's Wings

Reveal Your True Self

"I understand if none of you trust me just yet. But once I found out where Syaoran was… I had to come." Ame explained, sipping some tea. Kaho watched the teacup carefully. If there was one thing they had found out about Ame already was that she was polite and a klutz. She had run into the door, tripped over the steps, and took the embarrassment well.

Nakuru smiled, "All right! Another girl guardian. Finally!" The introductions had been completed and everyone was in the living room in Kaho's home.

"So let me get this straight," Sakura had been struggling to understand. "You're Syaoran's guardian, created by Clow Reed and given to a sorceress lady to care for until a half-sister came along and her name Kaji and she is Syaoran's enemy, who is afraid of him for some reason of other, who wants revenge for the banishment and killing of her demon father, and who is after the Golden Orb of Magic so she can gain ultimate control of magic and now is searching for the other four pieces of the orb out of nine, one of which you have and five of which she has… Did I get it?"

"Out of ten pieces actually." Syaoran shrugged. "But otherwise you've got it."

Sakura sighed, falling back against the couch, "That's a lot."

"By any chance," Kaho looked around thoughtfully, "Do we have anything to do with this orb?"

"Well, since we are all closely related by magic… there is a huge possibility that one of you has to do with a piece of the orb." Ame sighed. She bit her lip, "One on land, one under sea. Kaji has those two… Part in the birth from one banned. That one was in her. Part in the guard whose name was yet to be. That is my piece. I'm Syaoran's guard and was nameless until he gave me one. Part in air, part in fires. Those she has. She traveled all over the world for most of these. One, a demon's eye in a demon's lair. I don't know where that one could be… and I know she doesn't have it. She's the type who likes to brag and would have mentioned it when we fought last. In one who's crawled though briars. And two within new love unbound and newly found. Those I'm also clueless about."

"A mystery, how fun." Eriol said, sounding truly amused. "I'd better look a few things up. I'll see if I can find anything else about the orb pieces."

"Touya can help. My dad's got hundreds of old books he found on digs." Sakura said, volunteering her brother. "He's read almost all of them."

Kero, who had remained remarkably silent, stared at Ame, "So what do we do when we find these pieces?" He asked.

"We'll take them." Ame shrugged, "I don't see another option. Kaji's no doubt still looking for the pieces."

"What exactly to the pieces look like? Are they something physical?" Tomoyo asked, leaving her camera on, "Because I don't see how a piece can be inside you."

"It's all magic. Yes some pieces are physical, like the one's found on land, sea, and so forth. But the one's that would be inside people are… well…" Ame sighed. "It's hard to explain. It's just all magic. Here, I'll show you." She stood up, closing her eyes, she put her hands in front of her. "O ancient power, balance from another realm, place before me the gold of blood and soul." The lights began to flicker and a blue-silver glow filled the room. "Bring forth the key to peace of magic." Any electric object in the room died completely (including, much to her dismay, Tomoyo's camera) and a breeze swirled around her. "Remove the relic to be united once again." Her eyes opened, glimmering strangely. An ice blue light burst from her chest. Filling the room with a cool wind; a beam of gold then cleared it all away. Once everyone could see again, they saw Ame standing with a glowing gold triangle floating between her fingers. The light's slowly flickered back on.

Ame smiled, "That's always so much fun to do."

"May I see it?" Eriol watched the gold piece. Ame sent the object floating towards him. "Thank you." He plucked it from the air and turned it over in his hands, examining it carefully, "The magic in this is unlike anything I've ever felt…"

Ame nodded, sitting back down, "I'm not surprised. It's a mix of several types of magic. White magic, Black magic, Clow magic, you name it, it's there."

Yue raised a brow, "A lot for such a small piece."

The new guardian laughed, "I suppose so, but once combined with the other pieces…" She trailed off, letting them use their imaginations.

"So… how do we start looking for the pieces?" Sakura questioned, sipping her own tea, "Do they have a certain aura, or something?"

Ame shook her head, "No. They give no sign of their presence. That's the annoying part."

Eroil returned the triangle to its keeper. "Intriguing."

"Isn't it?" She smiled and took it back, "Anyone else want a look? … No? All right." She paused and held the triangle out in front of her, "Return to the bearer, o' piece of gold." Light's, similar to the first time around, flashed and nearly blinded everyone. Once they were able to see clearly again, the piece was gone and Ame was calmly drinking tea.

"So…" Spinel raised a brow, "Once we find the bearer's of these pieces, just how do we take it?"

"There should be something to trigger the piece to appear on its own."

There was a long silence. Everyone was deep in thought, wondering.

"Ame," Kaho spoke up through the silence, startling everyone, "Since you're Syaoran's gaurdian you'd better stay here with us."

Ame smiled, "Thank you very much Mitzuki-san."

**********

"Oops!" Ame caught the glass just before it hit the floor.

Kaho was having a heart attack every three seconds. The girl hadn't broken anything… yet… but it was still turning her into a nervous wreck. Each of the guardians in their earthly forms seemed to have their 'thing', their one flaw. For Kero, it was an obsession with food and video games, Spinel was dangerous around sugar, Nakuru was too hyper and Touya-obsessed, and Yukito was usually clueless (and also food obsessed). Ame was a living, breathing, walking (or stumbling) klutz.

Earthly form… Kaho started to think, "Ame, what is your guardian form like?" She started rinsing out the dishes.

"Um well…" Ame laughed nervously, "I really don't know. I've never looked into a mirror while I was in that form. All I know is that I've got wings." She dried the plates and cups with a rag and put them away

Kaho raised a brow, "Maybe you could transform now and see?"

"I'd like to, but it'd be a waste of energy."

"All right, makes sense."

Syaoran watched the two women from the doorway. He wondered what they were talking about. Or, did he want to know? Taking another step into the kitchen, both pairs of eyes turned to him. "I finished cleaning." He told them.

Kaho smiled, "You didn't have too."

He shrugged, "I did anyway.

"Does this mean we can go to the park now? Sakura-san, Tomoyo-san said they were go with Yukito-san and Touya-san." Ame said excitedly, sounding almost child-like. "Please?"

Syaoran shrugged, "Whatever you want." He turned about and walked out of the kitchen.

Crash! "Oh… my…. Gosh. I'm so sorry Mitzuki-san. Gomen nasai!"

Kaho sighed, but said nothing. After all, it was bound to happen sooner or later…

**********

Sakura stared off into space, letting the ice-cream drip off her cone and down her fingers. Something felt strange today…. Something was off.

"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo tapped her friend's shoulder. "Are you all right?"

The green gaze sprung to life again, "Ahh!" Sakura quickly licked the ice cream up and cleaned her fingers with a napkin. "Er… I'm fine Tomoyo. Really. Just happy Kero didn't come or he'd eat my ice-cream." She glanced at her best friend. Tomoyo hadn't bought what she said for a second. With a sigh, Sakura stared at her ice-cream, "I just feel like something is different. Y'know… not right."

"Hey, kajuu, walk faster." Touya shouted, smirking. Yukito was eating his third ice-cream cone and shaking his head, wondering why Touya always provoked his sister.

"Oh shut-up, onii-chan! I'm not on wheels!" Twirling about on the wheel chair, Touya stuck his tongue out and continued rolling forward. Sakura scowled. "Anyway, Tomoyo, what time were we going to meet up with Ame, Kaho, and Syaoran?"

With a glance at her watch, Tomoyo smiled, "They should already be at the playground." Sakura nodded, smiling to herself. Her friend tilted her head slightly, "Sakura-chan, what doesn't feel right?"

"I don't know…" She sighed, eating up her cone, "Just… odd."

Tomoyo opened her mouth, to say a few reassuring words, but none came out as they heard a voice shout, "Hey! Hey! Over here!" Turning about, they smiled at the shouting Ame. Walking over, they giggled (Touya scowled) a greeting to Syaoran and Kaho.

Syaoran gave them a half hearted wave and stuck his hands back in his pockets. Kaho smiled, her hands linked behind her back. Ame rushed over and smiled, patting Touya's head, replacing the scowl on his face with a look on confusion. Yutito chuckled and patted his head too, leaving Touya with a completely baffled expression.

Sakura laughed, finishing off her ice-cream, not noticing Syaoran's eyes resting on her. Tomoyo smiled, noticing what her friend did not, and slipped beside Syaoran. "You know… I bet you two would look cute together. Why don't you ask her out sometime?"

He face quickly turned crimson, "Y-you think so?... I mean-!" He cleared his through, "You're delusional."

Tomoyo smiled that strange smile of hers and flipped on her video camera. "Am I?" She peered through the lens. Syaoran was about to retort, as she suddenly shrieked, dropping her camera with a loud crack. "She's here! Oh my god! Sakura!" Tomoyo clamped her hands over her mouth, eyes widening as she stumbled back.

Before anyone could make a move, a dark cloud swirled up between the cracks in the pavement, outlining a figure standing over the Card Mistress. Yue emerged within flash, darting in front of Sakura as Kaji came clear into view.

"Fool, it's not her I desire." Her bright gold eyes pierced through the shadow across her face, locked on Syaoran, now shielded by Ame. "Dear sister, do move out of my way!"

Ame's eyes grew icy cold as a faint black aura flickered around her, her locks of hair curling and wiping about her face like snakes. "You'd have to kill me first…"

"Am I supposed to actually answer that?" Kaji raised her hand palm upwards towards the heavens. A ray of fire shot down upon the two.

Sakura covered her eyes, blinded by the bright light that followed. Opening them again, she summoned her staff without hesitation. Everyone but herself and Yue had been knocked out and to the ground by the bolt. Her gaze dart to where Ame and Syaoran had been standing. Ame stood tall, a deep frowned creased into her face. She had changed, her eyes were now ice blue light, her clothes now consisted of a long, tight, tunic and black boots. Large scaly wings spread spread across her back, and Kaji laughed, "Ah! There's Ame, mother's little dragoness!"

Ame growled and darted into the air a blade of black fire appearing in her hand. Kaji grinned and a sword of red flames appeared before her, just in time to block the thundering blow. Sakura stood, dumb-struck by the speed and amount of magic that exploded as they fought.

Yue grabbed her arm snapping her out of her trance, "Mistress, shall we get everyone away?" He motioned quickly to their unconscious friends. She nodded and quickly summoned the Dash card. Moving everyone quickly out of the clearing. Yue then flew them all even further away as she raced towards Syaoran, finding him staring, seemingly as dumb-struck as she had been.

"Syaoran." She clutched his hand. He suddenly frowned, jerking his hand away, just as Ame crashed down into the path in front of him, barely composing herself in time to block Kaji's charge. With the red blade nearly at her throat, and her back pressing deeper into the hard earth, Ame trembled with effort.

Syaoran's face darkened, "I'm not going to let her take anyone else…. No one." Sakura flinched and stepped away. There was something… something in his voice. He doubled over and before she could make a move toward him, a loud rip greeted her ears. Grand black dragon wings burst from his back. Straightening up he turned to stare at Sakura, his eyes glazed over with a green glow.

She stumbled back, falling in shock. He held his hand out and a sword of a solid green gem flared into his hand. With a great flap of his dark wings, he shot towards the distracted Kaji, ramming into her side with his sword.

A screech of pain and anger tore through the air. Kaji dropped her sword and disappeared, melting away into black mist, before vanishing completely. Ame pushed herself up, rolling her shoulders and stretching her wings out to their full size, "Well… now things make sense." She sighed, placing a pale hand on Syaoran's fore head. "Now sleep."

The boy rocked back and forth, dropping his sword, though it vanished before it even touched the ground. His eyes closed, his wings shrinking rapidly, he fell back, quickly caught by Ame.

Sakura staggered to her feet. "Wha…. What?"

Ame stared up at her, eyes still pools of light as she scooped up Syaoran. "Sakura, tell everyone we shall return within a few days. I'm afraid I must discuss something with Syaoran."

"Wait! Wait… just… tell me. What just happened?" Sakura pleaded, stare fixed on the boy.

After a short pause, Ame simply answered, "I shall explain when I return. But for now… it is fair enough to say that The Keeper has awoken." Without another word, and not waiting a moment longer, she launched into the sky, leaving a bewildered Card Mistress standing in the smoky, desolate battle ground.

Yeah that was short…. It'll be longer next time. Promise. ^-^;;;; Again, pleeeeaaase forgive me for taking forever.