DISCLAIMER: I WISH I OWNED CCS, BUT DON'T WE CCS FANS ALL WISH THAT? SO I'D
BETTER NOT, AS OTHER FANS WILL (A) BEAT ME TO IT (B) BEAT ME UP IF I BEAT
THEM TO IT. ^_~
f-teardrops: CHAPTER THREE IS HERE! THANK YOU ALL FOR REVIEWING! I AM GLAD YOU REVIEWED! YAY! ^O^ Ohohohohohohohoho..this chapter took a long time to get out, but it is a long chapter, after all, ne? Ohohohohohohohohohohoho.. ^O^
Lydia: Great. .''''' [Next time, we are not giving her any more chocolate before fics. . .]
Jamie: Yea! Hi-ya! *does a kick in the air, but accidentally kicks f- teardrops in the face, knocking her down*
f-teardrops: Eugh. @.@ *blacks out*
Jamie: Ai-yaaaaaa! Sorry! Gomen nasai!
f-teardrops: ......
Jamie: ......
Lydia: ......
Jamie: *ahem* I guess trying to kick like Meiling was a bad idea.
Lydia: *cough, yes, cough*
f-teardrops: ....
Jamie: What should we do now?
Lydia: I suggest we call 9-1-1. *runs off to find a phone*
Jamie: Sorry, f-teardrops.
f-teardrops:........
Lydia: *runs back* They're coming over.
Jamie: Good. Meanwhile, I'll load the latest chapter that f-teardrops wrote!
Lydia: Good idea. Is she okay?
Jamie: I don't know.
*fades into darkness, and goes into the fic*
~OUTSIDE~
"Eriol?" Sakura gasped, her eyes glued to the figure above, dressed in pure black robes. "Is that you?"
The figure glanced down at Sakura carelessly as if she was nothing more than a fly. "Give me the Cards," he said simply.
"But. . .Eriol?" Sakura gaped.
"That's not Eriol," Tomoyo said softly. "The real Eriol would never try to take the Cards away from you, Sakura."
"Then is it another fake?" Meiling asked.
"No," Keroberos said as he squinted towards the trio. "It looks like Eriol, but it isn't. The person has purplish-black instead of bluish-black hair. And his eyes are darker and blacker."
"Good eyesight, Keroberos!" Tomoyo complimented him, cheering up.
"But if it's not Eriol, who is he?" Syaoran asked.
"A brilliant question," the figure said in a cold voice that jarred everyone's nerves. It sounded so much like Eriol's voice, but at the same time, so different. "I'm surprised that idiots like you pitiful children could come up with such a inquiry."
"Get to the point!" Meiling yelled, annoyed that she was being called an idiot.
"Very well, my lady" the figure said, making a satirical bow towards Meiling. "I am Eli Moon, true Master of the Clow Cards," he said arrogantly, indicating Sleep, Sweet, and Through, who were all lying prostrate on the ground. "They obey me because I am far more powerful than them---and you too, brats---and no one else. I do not know how you were able to capture the Cards and take them as your own, but I am here to take them back."
"What proof do you have?" Syaoran demanded. "And even if you do, what makes you think we'll just give them to you?"
Eli chuckled. "Proof? Don't I look like proof enough to you? And you were wondering, poor Sakuya, how I looked so similar to Eriol?" He smirked at the young Card Mistress.
"It's Sakura," Sakura said simply.
"Don't speak while I'm speaking!" Eli snarled, before smiling widely again. "Now, to continue. When Clow Reed died, he made sure that he was reincarnated. And so he was, into your father, ISakuya,/I and also into this Eriol Hiiragizawa of which you speak of so fondly."
"And who are you?" Yue asked icily.
"Shut up!" Eli screamed. "I told you not to speak while I was speaking!"
Yue glared at him, hate filling his eyes, while Sakura seemed to flinch. Tomoyo tightened her grip on her friend, reassuring her as only she knew how, and Sakura gave her a grateful smile.
Eli chose to ignore this, and went on speaking. "At any rate, I was reincarnated too, but made to sleep an eternal sleep, with my powers stripped from me, as I was the darker side of Clow Reed's personality." He chuckled. "However, my Guardians---also darker side of your Guardians, the pitiful beings---were not imprisoned and so managed to gather enough power over the years to awaken me and give me back all I had lost. I have regained everything---my strength, my magic, my freedom---and all I need now are the Clow Cards. Give them to me!" His eyes flickered, and seemed to burn with some ominous inner fire.
"Never!" Sakura cried, backing away. "I won't give the Cards up to you! They're my friends! "
"How could that be?" Eli snarled. "It must have been a mistake. I am a direct descendent of Clow Reed---his reincarnation! I should have the Cards!"
"I am one of his descendents, too!" Syaoran spoke up. "But it was Sakura who received the Cards because she treats them as her friends and family--- not like you, who treats them as your servants!" He pointed to Through, Sleep, and Sweet, still bowing with faces flat on the ground. "Sakura deserved the Cards! They chose her!"
"I won't let her have them!" Eli spat in fury. "Yui, Kezoberos, get me the Cards!"
"Yes, Master!" Yui and Kezoberos obeyed, and flew down, heading straight for Sakura.
"No!" Keroberos roared, flying up to oppose Kezoberos. Yue blocked Yui and the two groups of Guardians stood floating in the air, staring at each other.
"Let us pass." Yui said in a flat monotone.
"Never." Yue replied.
"You'll regret this!" Kezoberos growled.
"I don't care!" Keroberos scowled. "The rest of you, get out of here! Yue and I will take care of these two!"
"Uh-uh-uh!" Eli shook his head, and pointed his staff at the group. Instantly, a force field surrounded all of the Kinomoto residence, effectively trapping them inside.
~ON THE GROUND~
"No!" Meiling wailed. "This is just so wrong! And so unfair!"
"Sakura, what is going on?" Touya said, confused, as he attempted to grasp the situation. "Who are these people? And why is he here?" he demanded, glaring at Syaoran, who glared back.
"I. . .well. . ." Sakura trailed off helplessly.
Tomoyo took charge. "Don't worry, Touya, this is all just a dream," she said gently. "Now why don't you just lie back and relax?"
"I can't relax! The brat's here, and some weirdos are trying to attack my sister!" Touya protested, waving off Tomoyo.
"There's nothing you can do here," Syaoran said sternly. "Go to sleep!"
"Don't tell me what to do, you little monster!" Touya glowered. He stood up, despite Tomoyo's protests.
"This is for your own good!" Syaoran said decisively. "Sorry, Sakura."
"Syaoran?" Sakura asked him, confused. She was focusing intently on the Guardians above their heads.
Syaoran decided to ignore that comment. With a cry, he rushed Touya, seemingly aiming for his stomach. Touya blocked---but at the last moment Syaoran jumped up and punched Touya in the face with all his strength. "Wha- --?" Touya staggered back from the force of the blow. There was no blood, but a bruise was already began to show on his features. Without another word, he collapsed onto the ground, knocked out.
"Oh. . ." Tomoyo blinked.
"Whoo-hoo! Go, Syaoran!" Meiling cheered.
"Yeah. . .whatever," Syaoran muttered, holding his throbbing fist.
~IN THE AIR---KEROBEROS VS. KEZOBEROS~
"Aha! You blinked! I am the winner!" Keroberos laughed.
"This is stupid," Kezoberos growled. "I never agreed to a Staring Contest!"
"It's a Glaring Contest," Keroberos said matter-of-factly.
"I don't care!" Kezoberos growled, and spat out a ball of dark blue fire at Keroberos. The surprise attack caught Keroberos off guard, but he managed to dodge it. It flew harmlessly onto the ground, though it managed to end up creating a small crater.
"Fine then!" Keroberos growled, and released a ball of orange flame at his enemy. Kezoberos grinned, and opened his mouth wide to catch the ball. It reached his mouth and he quickly swallowed it, grinning widely.
"What?" Keroberos cried. "How?"
"We are the opposite sides of the same coin," Kezoberos explained lazily. "Our magic powers cancel each others' out. However." Kezoberos smiled again, baring his sharp white teeth. "Master made a few. . .exceptions for me and Yui. Your magic cancels out when it hits us, but ours doesn't!" With a roar, he attacked Keroberos again at shocking speed.
"No!" Keroberos growled, and was nearly hit again. The ball of flame signed his fur slightly as it passed by him, creating yet another crater on the ground. Keroberos gritted his teeth against the pain and glared at Kezoberos. "My magic may not be able to hurt you," he said slowly. "But my claws still can!" With a roar, he charged his foe, raking his great claws against blue flesh.
"Weakling!" Kezoberos laughed as Keroberos drew blood. "I am not a magical beast for nothing!" He blasted Keroberos away and flew up. The long gash that Keroberos had left on his flank quickly faded away. "As long as Master lives, we cannot die," he explained, sneering. "And as long as you live, we cannot get the Cards, so you will have to be terminated." He reared his head back and let loose an explosive fireball.
Keroberos somersaulted in the air from Kezobero's kick, and his blood boiled as he heard the hated Guardian's words. "You will never get the Cards!" he vowed, and straightened himself---only to be slammed to the ground by the fireball. There was a definite crunch as his wings and right paw shattered into a mangled mess of blood and broken bones.
"Keroberos! No!" Sakura cried, rushing towards her Guardian. She quickly took out a Card.
"Sakura, don't!" Keroberos coughed out.
"Don't worry, Keroberos," Sakura said soothingly. "I have to teach Kezoberos a lesson!" She grinned as she looked at her Card. "As long as I stick to Cards that are the most faithful to me, I should be fine." Throwing the Card in the air, Sakura used her wand. "Watery! Release and dispel!" Sakura cried.
The familiar blue spirit gracefully rose from the Card and flew up into the air. She looked at Sakura expectantly.
"Attack Kezoberos!" Sakura commanded.
"No!" Kezoberos' eyes widened. "Not her!"
Watery obeyed, and surrounded Kezoberos in an airborne deluge. Struggling, the Guardian Beast roared and released more fireballs, but they all dissipated as they hit Watery. Finally, Kezoberos was able to break free, soaking wet, and flew back up to Eli in humiliating defeat.
"Yea!" Sakura grinned, as Meiling cheered and Tomoyo looked at her admiringly. Syaoran was relieved that she wasn't hurt.
"Sakura. . ." the brown-haired boy whispered as Watery returned to her Card form.
"Are you alright, Keroberos?" Sakura asked her Guardian beast, still worried.
"Hmph," Keroberos nodded weakly, and laid back. [Taken out by one blast], he though to himself bitterly. [I feel so pathetic! Sakura may have won against Kezoberos, but how are we going to defeat them in the future? And Yue---whgere is he?] The Guardian beast glanced up in the air, but the other two Guardians were nowhere to be seen.
"I'm glad," Sakura smiled, not noticing Kerobero's worried glance.
~IN THE AIR---YUE VS. YUI---SLIGHT FLASHBACK~
"Very brave of you to block me, Yue," Yui complimented in a voice that sounded anything but complimentary.
Yue did not reply, but instead got into a fighting stance.
Yui smirked. "Fine," he said, and also crouched into a fighting posture. Without warning, sharp purple crystals shot from his hand and towards Yue, who instantly put up a shield to deflect the blows. Most of the crystals bounced off, but one hit and penetrated Yue defenses, cutting his arm.
[No!] Yue though silently as his shield shattered. He flung back his own volley of silver crystals at Yui, but like Keroberos with Kezoberos, they crumbled into dust a few feet away and became utterly useless.
"Light and Darkness cancel each other out, you simple-minded Guardian," Yui sneered. "Don't you know anything? The only reason I can hit you is because my Master is giving me extra power---which that puny brat of yours you serve lacks."
"My Mistress is just as powerful as your Master," Yue growled.
Yui just laughed. "Think what you will. You'll find out soon enough who is the better of the two." Suddenly, he zoomed towards Yue, hands outstretched and shooting crystals. Yue expertly dodged them this time and caught Yui by the wrists, swinging him (or her) around in a circle and finally letting go, sending him flying on the other side of Sakura's yard. Yue quickly flew over, avoiding the fight between Keroberos and Kezoberos, and looked around for his prey. There was nothing there---not even a feather or hole on the ground. It seemed that Yui had vanished into thin air. But Yue knew better, and as he waited, he suddenly felt someone behind his back.
Quickly he turned around, only to be met with nothing but air. "Wha---?" he gasped.
"Surprised, aren't you, Yue?" Yui sneered from behind him. Yue growled and turned around, only to be met with more air.
"Show yourself!" he demanded.
"And what fun will that be?" Yui cajoled from all around him. "It's so much more interesting this way."
Yue looked around tensely. Where was Yui hiding? He couldn't see him or smell him, or feel his presence. As he strained to search for him, he was violently knocked back by a hefty kick to the stomach. Gasping for breath, Yue managed to stop himself before he slammed into Sakura's house and glared around him. [Where is he?] he thought angrily. [That conniving clone! How is he hiding from me?] Suddenly, something slammed into him from above, sending Yue crashing towards the ground. He managed to stop himself just in time. [This is useless!] Yue thought between gritted teeth. [How can I attack a foe if I can't see him or sense him? Unless. . .] Suddenly, Yue came up with a brainstorm. He floated down to the ground and closed his eyes, channeling all his energy towards finding Yui.
At first, nothing but darkness swirled around him. Then slowly, Yue could discern a purple streak circling around him at an unfathomable speed. Trusting to pure luck, Yue thrust out a foot----and sent Yui tripping, stopping his circular rotation. He opened his eyes again and glared at his foe, who had just gotten up from the ground.
Yui smiled. "I'm surprised that you were able to stop me, Yue. But your luck will not hold out for long. I have a little something up my sleeve."
"Oh?" Yue narrowed his eyes, preparing himself for whatever Yui was planning. "And what would that be?"
"Something I am sure you will not like very much," Yui chuckled softly. Suddenly, with a quick flick of his wrist, he produced a long, slender purple crystal. Yue hastily backed away and soared up into the air.
"Not good," Yue thought to himself as he saw Yui grinning. He stuck the purple crystal into the ground and whispered some words through it, and instantly the crystal began to sprout upwards at a crazy speed. Yue flew away from the first crystal, only to crash into another crystal that had sprouted up next to the first. [They're everywhere!] he thought grimly as yet a third crystal sprang up from the Earth. [How is he doing this?] He glared at Yui, who noticed him and smiled innocently. Yue growled and dodged the rising crystals as best as he could, but they were slowing forming a tight, domed, prison around him. He had to escape---fast.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"Where is Yue?" Sakura suddenly cried out.
"I don't know," Syaoran said. He scanned the air. "There's no sign of him or what's-his-name anywhere!"
Meiling stomped on the ground in frustration and pointed her finger at Eli, floating high above them. "HEY YOU! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" she screamed.
Eli smirked, and sent a long streak of light down towards Meiling, zapping her slightly. Meiling yelped, and lost her balance, falling backwards onto the knocked-out Touya. Blushing, Meiling managed to get up and dust herself off.
"Are you all right, Meiling?" Sakura asked her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Meiling grumbled, glaring at Eli. "You know, if I had magical powers, I would really like to---ahhhh!" Meiling jumped out of the way just in time as another streak of light slammed into the place where she had been standing and left it a blackened, charred, mess. Meiling frowned, but stayed silent and opened her compact so she could smooth out her hair. To her horror, she discovered that it was frizzled beyond repair by Eli's "lightning bolt". Her eyes narrowed. [One of these days,] Meiling thought to herself, [I am going to defeat that evil Sorcerer and make him pay for all he tried to do to me. . .]
Meanwhile, Sakura and Syaoran were conversing about serious matters. "Syaoran, I have to attack!" Sakura hissed. "This is going too far! Keroberos was already hurt, and Meiling was nearly struck by lightning, and Yue is nowhere to be found! I have to do something before somebody else is injured!"
"I know how you feel, Sakura," Syaoran said urgently. "But you can't attack! You don't have too many Cards that you can use, and he's watching us like a hawk." Here Syaoran paused to give Eli a death glare, and then continued. "Besides, Sleep, Sweet, and Through are keeping an eye on us--- though they aren't looking, they're probably listening. If you try anything, Eli might command them to hurt the others. Tomoyo and Meiling don't have magic, and I have none of my spells. We can't risk it---or them."
Sakura looked crestfallen, but she quickly recovered. "You're right, Syaoran. Fine then, I won't attack."
At this moment, Tomoyo, who had been continuously scanning upwards, suddenly decided to look forwards---and saw Yue flying about wildly on the opposite side of Sakura's roof, dodging the purple crystals that were trying to trap him. He flew upwards, only to slam into the invisible force field created by Eli and get knocked back down. "Sakura!" Tomoyo cried. "Yue---he's over there!" she pointed to the Guardian.
"What?" Sakura and Syaoran cried. Sakura gasped. "No! He'll fall right onto those crystals! Arggh. . .Fly! Release and dispel!" Sakura quickly sprouted wings and zoomed towards Yue, against the cries of Syaoran to stop. She hoped she would reach him in time. . .
~HIGH ABOVE~
"Master, should I stop her?" Kezoberos inquired of Sakura as he watched the figure fly towards Yue's rescue.
"No," Eli said crossly. "You've cause enough trouble already." At this, Kezoberos winced visibly.
"I'm. . .I'm sorry, Master." He said softly.
"Be silent!" Eli hissed. His eyes flashed. "Can't you see it, Kezoberos? She'll never reach him in time. Yue will most certainly die."
~IN THE AIR~
"Yue!" Sakura screamed. "No!" She was flying as fast as she could towards the falling figure, but the trip between the front and back yards seemed to take forever. Sakura saw with horror that she wouldn't be able to catch her Guardian before he was spiked through on the sharp purple crystals below. Already they were closing in around him. Desperate, Sakura summoned another Card. "Wood! Release and dispel!" Sakura screamed. "Catch Yue!"
The Wood Card sprouted from the paper and grew long, slender branches. They blocked the magic of the purple crystals, stinting their growth, and easily caught Yue in her wide, soft branches. Sakura sighed with relief.
"No!" Eli growled. "How could I have forgotten the Wood Card was one of her earlier captures?" His eyes narrowed. "No matter. I am still more powerful." His mouth twisted into an evil grin.
"Master?" Kezoberos looked at this sudden change in Eli's mood with some uncertainty.
"I should have done this much sooner," Eli growled. "But it was much more fun trapping them here." As he spoke, he waved his staff above his head, and a black portal suddenly appeared in the air above Sakura, who was hugging Yue. She looked up in surprise, and then fear as the portal began to suck her in.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"SAKURA!" Syaoran and Tomoyo screamed in horror.
"No!" Keroberos, lying still on the ground, growled in rage. He sprang up and struggled to fly, but his wings were hopelessly broken. Roaring out his rage, he spat out a massive fireball towards Eli and Kezoberos. The latter quickly flew in front of his Master and smirked as the attack dwindled down to nothing in front of him.
~IN THE AIR~
"Master, should I take care of the ones below?" Kezoberos asked, eager to regain his favor back.
"Do as you wish with them," Eli said carelessly. "I have no use for those weaklings."
"Thanks you, Master," Kezoberos said solemnly, and grinned as he swooped down towards the unprotected group.
~IN THE BACK YARD~
Yui stared at the turmoil above him emotionlessly. "Now they will know to obey Master," he said with satisfaction. "And when he gets the brat, I will be left to take care of Yue. . ." his eyes glimmered with anticipation.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"Watch out!" Syaoran shouted as he pushed the girls away from Kezoberos' blast. Automatically his hand groped for one of his ofuda strips, but felt nothing but air. "Shoot!" he growled. "I don't have them with me!" As Kezoberos prepared to shoot another blast of fire at him, he dodged out of the way and behind a tree with Tomoyo and Meiling.
"I hate this!" Meiling cried as he came. "I wish I could fight!"
"So do I, but I think that would cause more harm than good, Meiling," Tomoyo said gently.
Syaoran noticed something strange. "Tomoyo, what's that book you're holding?" he asked.
Tomoyo glanced at her hands and realized she was still holding the black leatherbound book from Sakura's basement's library. "I'm not sure," she said in surprise. "I thought I put it back when I left, but I suppose I didn't."
"Well there's no time to worry about it now!" Meiling said hurriedly. "Get out!" She pulled Syaoran and Tomoyo away from the tree just as a third fireball from Kezoberos split it in half.
~ON THE GROUND~
Keroberos stopped, partly from pain and exhaustion, partly from tiredness and indecision. His mind spun. Behind him, Kezoberos was attacking Tomoyo, Meiling, and Syaoran. Ahead and above him, Yue was still unconscious and Sakura was clinging to Wood as a last measure against being sucked into the gaping black portal. Where was he supposed to go and who was he supposed to help? "Arggh..NO!" he roared in frustration.
~IN THE AIR~
Desperately, Sakura clung on to Wood. The Card was using all its strength to hold on to her, but it was not as powerful as Eli's magic. She tried to look away from the scary black hole above her and focused on remaining calm and trying to think up an idea to escape. Using Fly would probably cause her to get sucked up faster, she decided, and so she would have to use something else. But which one? Suddenly, Sakura came up with a brainstorm. Struggling to get a good grip amongst Wood's branches, she flipped through her Cards. "Windy! Release and dispel!" Sakura cried.
The faithful Card escaped from its place and appeared above Sakura. It seemed to know exactly what to do and began to form itself into a sort of hurricane below the black hole, directing its vaccuming pull away from Sakura and towards itself.
Eli growled and called to his other Guardian. "Yui! What are you doing down there, loitering about? Get the brat and throw her into the portal!"
"Yes Master," Yui nodded and quickly flew up towards Sakura. He created more crystals and shot them at Windy, who used her powers to spin the crystals around and shoot them at Yui instead. Growling, the floating Yui approached Sakura, who was still hanging on for her life to Wood. He, on the other hand, was unaffected by the gatewayl's magic. "Get into the portal!" he ordered her over the noise of the wind. "My Master wills it so, and you must obey!"
"Never!" Sakura replied, her eyes narrowing. "I won't leave my friends here!"
"Friends?" Yui echoed the words. "You mean people like him?" Using a wave of his finger, Yui magically suspended the unconscious Yue up into the air, where he floated lifelessly.
"Yes!" Sakura cried. "Leave him alone!"
"Why should I listen to you, brat, if you won't listen to me?" Yui growled. Sakura's eyes widened as he suspended Yue a little closer towards the purple crystals and out of the reach of Wood's stretching branches. "Should I skewer your friend, then?"
"No!" Sakura cried out in a hoarse voice.
"Get in!" Yui snarled, and produced another crystal. "If you don't, I swear I will stab this thing into his heart!"
"ROAR!"
Sakura and Yui both turned, to see Keroberos releasing a huge fireball towards Yui. Snarling, Yui quickly righted up Yue so that he would take the blast.
"No!" Keroberos cried.
"Yue!" Sakura screamed. "Shield, release and dispel!"
Shield sprang up in front of Yue and deflected the blow, sending it back to Keroberos, who barely dodge the blast. But in the next instant, Shield flickered and shattered, only to reappear in Yui's hand. He held the newly captured Card up plainly for Sakura to see and smiled. "Thank you, brat," he laughed.
"At least Yue's safe," Sakura whispered.
"But what about the rest of your friends?" Yui sneered, pointing across to the front yard.
Sakura looked, and saw with horror that Kezoberos was burning the place up. Running around were Tomoyo, Meiling, and Syaoran. Meiling's hair was singed, Syaoran was limping, and Tomoyo was relatively unharmed but tiring fast. Touya was being guarded and surrounded by the three Clow Cards, who watched the whole scene expressionlessly. Halfway across the yard, Keroberos half-stood, half-sat, breathing heavily. He seemed to be unable to muster any strength even to lift up his head. "No!" Sakura cried. She summoned Sword and began to fly towards them, but was repelled back by Yui as he used Shield against her.
"You can't escape yet," he crooned. "The fun is just starting. Look at them run---they're like little mice!" He grinned at the terrified trio.
"Leave them alone!" Sakura cried, hacking at the Shield with little success. "Let me out!"
"As you wish," Yui grinned. He lifted Shield and instead sent it to entrap Windy. Sakura, who was not holding on to Wood, began to get sucked up towards the portal.
"Fly! Release and dispel!" she cried desperately, and began to struggled her way downwards. Wood had its branches open, but it couldn't reach her. "Rain! Release and dispel!" Droplets of water fell on Wood, making it grow faster, but Sakura was already halfway inside the portal. She vainly strove to reach Wood, who was growing as fast as she could towards her. A little branch reached Sakura---she held on---and it was broken to bits by Yui and his crystal. "NOOOO!" Sakura cried as she was sucked inside the portal. Instantly, it closed up. Wood and Rain vanished, along with Windy, and Shield returned to Yui. He laughed, and let Yue drop to the ground harmlessly by the purple crystals. It would have been fun to kill him right then and there, but it wasn't worth it now.
[Let Yue wallow in misery,] he thought to himself. [Their Mistress is doomed. Then I can kill Yue.]
High, high above, Eli smiled.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"SAKURA!" Tomoyo cried out as the portal closed up. "NO!" She ran away from Meiling and Syaoran and towards the fading remains of Wood and Windy. [No. . .she can't be gone!] she thought frantically. [Not Sakura. . .]
"Tomoyo! No! Get back!" Meiling shouted hoarsely.
"STOP!" Syaoran cried, to no avail.
Tomoyo struggled onwards as best as she could, only to be barred by a dark shadow. She looked up and was horrified to see Kezoberos above her, with his claws glinting. "I've been meaning to try out these claws all day," he said softly. "And I think that this is now the perfect time."
"Tomoyo!" Meiling cried, running forward---only to fall into a hole filled with dark liquid that had suddenly appeared from the ground. "What?" she cried in bewilderment, and gasped as she saw the Through Card grinning at her from its depths. Slowly, she began to sink. "Help!" Meiling cried. "Get me out of here!"
"Tomoyo! Meiling!" Syaoran cried, aghast and uncertain of whom to help. Suddenly, he was slammed into a tree and pinned there---by Sweet and Sleep. He struggled like a demon possessed, angry from the fact that he had already lost Sakura and was quickly losing Meiling and Tomoyo---all right before his eyes. Sleep tried to get him to fall asleep, but he was resistant to her magic. Annoyed and angered by the fact that her powers weren't working, she flew up, used all her might to rip off a large branch, and conked Syaoran on the head. He blacked out instantly.
~TOMOYO~
Tomoyo took a tentative step back, and Kezoberos smiled. "Are you afraid of me?" he asked.
Tomoyo said nothing, and she did not need to. Her face was ashen white and she felt frigid all over her body. Shivering, Tomoyo took another step back- --but stumbled. With a cry, she fell to the ground, and the black leather- bound book she had been clutching all this time slipped from her grasp. Kezoberos ignored the book and focused intently on Tomoyo, his silver eyes shining. She looked at him, eyes wide, unable to speak or scream. He raised a claw up in the air, and it glinted brightly in the afternoon sun. With a growl, he brought it down on Tomoyo's face---and instead was blasted away to the side and to the ground, where he laid still.
But he had not completely missed. Tomoyo felt a searing pain and realized that instead of scratching her face off, he had brushed against her shoulder. She was disoriented. Who had saved her?
"Are you alright, Tomoyo?" a voice asked her gently.
Tomoyo looked up into the sunlight and could discern a figure standing over her, dressed in sorcerer's robes with a large round hat. She shuddered. "Eli?" Tomoyo whispered, backing away.
The figure placed his hand on hers and looked into her fearful eyes. "No, Tomoyo. Eriol." He said slowly.
Tomoyo felt tears of relief trickle down her face and hugged him. "Oh Eriol. . ." she sobbed. "Eli took Sakura! And Yui attacked Yue! And Kezoberos. . ." She trailed off and instead started to cry softly.
Eriol's eyes hardened as he comforted Tomoyo as best as he could. [Eli? Kezoberos? Yui? So they are the names of these evil beings. . .but who are they?] He decided that it would be best to take care of these matters another time, and set his mind to calm the pale Tomoyo.
~MEILING~
"Ahhhh!" Meiling dug her nails deep into the dirt as she struggled to stay adrift of Through's tugging. "Let me go, you stupid card!" She flailed wildly, and suddenly screamed as she slipped and fell. Meiling's head sunk below the ground, and her hand was about to disappear too---until another one pulled her up and carried her securely within her grasp. Coughing, Meiling choked out the black stuff and opened her eyes---to see two red ones staring back at her. "Who. . .are you?" she gasped weakly.
"Nice to see you're still alive!" the red-eyed girl grinned cheerfully. "I'm Ruby Moon. Who are byou/b?"
"Meiling," Meiling coughed, and finally was able to breathe again. "Thanks for saving me. . .I think." She looked at the Guardian suspiciously. "I've heard Syaoran talk about you before. . .you're not here to kill us too, are you?"
"Of course not!" Ruby Moon giggled. "Now let's go help this Syaoran of yours."
She flew nimbly towards the tree where Sweet and Sleep were guarding the unconscious boy. At the sight of Ruby Moon, both Cards trembled and instantly ran away before Ruby Moon ciuld catch them. They met up with Through, who created a portal and allowed all three to escape. Ruby Moon proceeded to set Meiling gently down, but she struggled off halfway and ran to Syaoran. He had a bruise on his head, but otherwise looked fine. Ruby Moon carried him to the tree where the unconscious Touya laid, and placed the boy next to him. Meiling looked worriedly at the two.
"Will he be alright?" she asked Ruby Moon.
"He doesn't look hurt," Ruby Moon remarked cheerfully. "I'm sure they'll be just fine."
~KEROBEROS~
Spots swam about Kerobero's head as he strained to focus. Where was he? What was he doing here? As a dark, catlike figure approached him, he suddenly remembered everything. [Kezoberos! Yue! Sakura!] his mind screamed, and in a flash he had released another fireball. The cat figure nimbly jumped to the side and approached Keroberos. "Are you all right?" he asked in a rough but not unkind voice.
"Keep away from me, Kezoberos, or I swear I will kill you!" Keroberos growled, and raised a paw to slash at the intruding figure. But it pained him greatly, and instead he let it drop, snarling softly under his breath.
"You're hurt, and delirious too, by the look of it, Keroberos," the voice continued on. "Master Eriol and I shall tend to your wounds as soon as we can get you to the house."
Gradually, Keroberos' eyes focused clearly and he was able to see the form of Spinel Sun sitting in front of him, eyeing him concernedly. "How did you get here? Where's Kezoberos?" he growled.
"He was lying unconscious at the other end of the yard," Spinel Sun said matter-of-factly, using a paw to point to a now empty spot on the grass. "Master Eriol's handiwork, of course. But then the other two saw us and escaped through a portal, and used another to pull this Kezoberos of yours in with them. What has been going on, Keroberos? The magic aura was strong enough from here to be sensed by Master Eriol during teatime."
"Dark reincarnation," Keroberos muttered as he tried to move. The effort sent waves of sharp pains throughout his frame, causing him to groan.
"You're in no shape to move," Spinel said gravely. "And neither is Yue. You've both been badly wounded."
"Sakura. . ." Keroberos moaned.
"Yes, where is the Card Mistress?" Spinel inquired.
"Taken. . .by them. . ." Keroberos slowly turned his head away. He saw Yue lying by him, bruised and bloodied and still out cold. Keroberos sighed, and closed his eyes. The plain fact of it all was almost too painful to bear. They had been useless as Guardians---what kind were they if they were too weak to protect their Mistress? How good were they when they could not even fight off an enemy? And worst of all. . .
They had lost Sakura.
Keroberos moaned again, and squeezed his eyes together tighter. He needed to sleep, to fall into a dream and forget about this afternoon. And its losses. And its pain. But most of all, forget Sakura.
Finally, he drifted off into a weary sleep.
~THE END~
Jamie: Hi everyone! Well the good news is, we got f-teardrops to wake up! The bad news is, now she wants to kill me. . .
f-teardrops: *from far away* Where are you, Jamie? I need to ask you a question! Come on, just because I have all these newly-sharpened daggers on me doesn't mean I want to kill you!
Jamie: O_o Yeah. . . As you can see, she wasn't very happy when she found out I had kicked her in the head. And she doesn't think it was an accident, either.
Lydia: *suddenly popping up from nowhere* Cheer up, Jamie! It was fate that prompted her to murderous thoughts! Besides, you were driving her crazy with all your filming! ^-^
Jamie: _ So you're saying it's my fault and destiny's that I'm going to die very soon?
Lydia: In a way, yes, but I don't think she would actually kill you, ya know. . .
f-teardrops: *slams open a door not too far away* Aha! Are you in here? *loud crashes and clangs, followed by the screeching of some poor innocent animal and a ripping sound* Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Jamie: -_-;;;; Ya think?
Lydia: ^_^ Sure! As soon as she's done *trying* to kill you, she'll give it up altogether!
Jamie: And how long will she try?
Lydia: As long as she wants.
f-teardrops: *close by* JAMIE, GET OUT NOW! OR ELSE I WILL BLOW THE BUILDING UP!
Jamie: That's something I'd expect from Louis Destroyer.
Lydia: Then again, she does analyze a lot of his drawings. I wouldn't be surprised if she picked up something from them.
Jamie: *gulps* Really?
Lydia: *nods wisely* Yes, my soon to be dearly departed friend.
f-teardrops: AHA! THERE YOU ARE! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ALL OVER FOR YOU, JAMIE! %_# *cackles madly*
Jamie: I think my kick head did something to her head. . .
f-teardrops: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THERE IS NO ESCAPE! YOU SHALL PERISH BY MY BLADES TODAY, YOU VILLIANOUS KNAVE! *draws out a group of daggers* TAKE THIS! *throws the daggers at Jamie*
Lydia: Careful! They're filled with poison!
Jamie: *dodges the daggers* How do you know?
Lydia: 'Cause I helped f-teardrops make them!
Jamie: WHAT?!
f-teardrops: YOU MAY HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT ONE, EVIL SORCERESS, BUT I WILL GET YOU AGAIN WITH THE NEXT BATCH! *pulls out more daggers* SEE YA, SUCKER!
Jamie: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..........!!!!! *petrified, not moving, frozen*
f-teardrops: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *starts to run towards Jamie, daggers agleam, but runs into a pillar instead and knocks herself unconscious*
Jamie: *peeks at f-teardrops cautiously* Uh, f-teardrops?
Lydia: Should we call 9-1-1?
f-teardrops: Huh? *stirs, blinks, and looks around* Bleah! Jamie, don't ever try to kick like Meiling again! THAT HURT! *feels her head and notices that she is holding the daggers* That's weird. I don't remember holding these.
Jamie & Lydia: O-o;;;;
f-teardrops: What are you two gaping at me for? Is the fic out?
Jamie: I. . .it's already done, f-teardrops.
f-teardrops: Eh? Really? That's great! ^_^ Let's go work on the next chapter! *leaves the room*
Lydia: Sounds good! ^_^ *follows f-teardrops*
Jamie: Wait! B-but. . .
Lydia: Come on, Jamie! We need your help here!
Jamie: . ArGgGhHhHh......and they wonder why I act so weird....
~TO BE CONTINUED~
f-teardrops: CHAPTER THREE IS HERE! THANK YOU ALL FOR REVIEWING! I AM GLAD YOU REVIEWED! YAY! ^O^ Ohohohohohohohoho..this chapter took a long time to get out, but it is a long chapter, after all, ne? Ohohohohohohohohohohoho.. ^O^
Lydia: Great. .''''' [Next time, we are not giving her any more chocolate before fics. . .]
Jamie: Yea! Hi-ya! *does a kick in the air, but accidentally kicks f- teardrops in the face, knocking her down*
f-teardrops: Eugh. @.@ *blacks out*
Jamie: Ai-yaaaaaa! Sorry! Gomen nasai!
f-teardrops: ......
Jamie: ......
Lydia: ......
Jamie: *ahem* I guess trying to kick like Meiling was a bad idea.
Lydia: *cough, yes, cough*
f-teardrops: ....
Jamie: What should we do now?
Lydia: I suggest we call 9-1-1. *runs off to find a phone*
Jamie: Sorry, f-teardrops.
f-teardrops:........
Lydia: *runs back* They're coming over.
Jamie: Good. Meanwhile, I'll load the latest chapter that f-teardrops wrote!
Lydia: Good idea. Is she okay?
Jamie: I don't know.
*fades into darkness, and goes into the fic*
~OUTSIDE~
"Eriol?" Sakura gasped, her eyes glued to the figure above, dressed in pure black robes. "Is that you?"
The figure glanced down at Sakura carelessly as if she was nothing more than a fly. "Give me the Cards," he said simply.
"But. . .Eriol?" Sakura gaped.
"That's not Eriol," Tomoyo said softly. "The real Eriol would never try to take the Cards away from you, Sakura."
"Then is it another fake?" Meiling asked.
"No," Keroberos said as he squinted towards the trio. "It looks like Eriol, but it isn't. The person has purplish-black instead of bluish-black hair. And his eyes are darker and blacker."
"Good eyesight, Keroberos!" Tomoyo complimented him, cheering up.
"But if it's not Eriol, who is he?" Syaoran asked.
"A brilliant question," the figure said in a cold voice that jarred everyone's nerves. It sounded so much like Eriol's voice, but at the same time, so different. "I'm surprised that idiots like you pitiful children could come up with such a inquiry."
"Get to the point!" Meiling yelled, annoyed that she was being called an idiot.
"Very well, my lady" the figure said, making a satirical bow towards Meiling. "I am Eli Moon, true Master of the Clow Cards," he said arrogantly, indicating Sleep, Sweet, and Through, who were all lying prostrate on the ground. "They obey me because I am far more powerful than them---and you too, brats---and no one else. I do not know how you were able to capture the Cards and take them as your own, but I am here to take them back."
"What proof do you have?" Syaoran demanded. "And even if you do, what makes you think we'll just give them to you?"
Eli chuckled. "Proof? Don't I look like proof enough to you? And you were wondering, poor Sakuya, how I looked so similar to Eriol?" He smirked at the young Card Mistress.
"It's Sakura," Sakura said simply.
"Don't speak while I'm speaking!" Eli snarled, before smiling widely again. "Now, to continue. When Clow Reed died, he made sure that he was reincarnated. And so he was, into your father, ISakuya,/I and also into this Eriol Hiiragizawa of which you speak of so fondly."
"And who are you?" Yue asked icily.
"Shut up!" Eli screamed. "I told you not to speak while I was speaking!"
Yue glared at him, hate filling his eyes, while Sakura seemed to flinch. Tomoyo tightened her grip on her friend, reassuring her as only she knew how, and Sakura gave her a grateful smile.
Eli chose to ignore this, and went on speaking. "At any rate, I was reincarnated too, but made to sleep an eternal sleep, with my powers stripped from me, as I was the darker side of Clow Reed's personality." He chuckled. "However, my Guardians---also darker side of your Guardians, the pitiful beings---were not imprisoned and so managed to gather enough power over the years to awaken me and give me back all I had lost. I have regained everything---my strength, my magic, my freedom---and all I need now are the Clow Cards. Give them to me!" His eyes flickered, and seemed to burn with some ominous inner fire.
"Never!" Sakura cried, backing away. "I won't give the Cards up to you! They're my friends! "
"How could that be?" Eli snarled. "It must have been a mistake. I am a direct descendent of Clow Reed---his reincarnation! I should have the Cards!"
"I am one of his descendents, too!" Syaoran spoke up. "But it was Sakura who received the Cards because she treats them as her friends and family--- not like you, who treats them as your servants!" He pointed to Through, Sleep, and Sweet, still bowing with faces flat on the ground. "Sakura deserved the Cards! They chose her!"
"I won't let her have them!" Eli spat in fury. "Yui, Kezoberos, get me the Cards!"
"Yes, Master!" Yui and Kezoberos obeyed, and flew down, heading straight for Sakura.
"No!" Keroberos roared, flying up to oppose Kezoberos. Yue blocked Yui and the two groups of Guardians stood floating in the air, staring at each other.
"Let us pass." Yui said in a flat monotone.
"Never." Yue replied.
"You'll regret this!" Kezoberos growled.
"I don't care!" Keroberos scowled. "The rest of you, get out of here! Yue and I will take care of these two!"
"Uh-uh-uh!" Eli shook his head, and pointed his staff at the group. Instantly, a force field surrounded all of the Kinomoto residence, effectively trapping them inside.
~ON THE GROUND~
"No!" Meiling wailed. "This is just so wrong! And so unfair!"
"Sakura, what is going on?" Touya said, confused, as he attempted to grasp the situation. "Who are these people? And why is he here?" he demanded, glaring at Syaoran, who glared back.
"I. . .well. . ." Sakura trailed off helplessly.
Tomoyo took charge. "Don't worry, Touya, this is all just a dream," she said gently. "Now why don't you just lie back and relax?"
"I can't relax! The brat's here, and some weirdos are trying to attack my sister!" Touya protested, waving off Tomoyo.
"There's nothing you can do here," Syaoran said sternly. "Go to sleep!"
"Don't tell me what to do, you little monster!" Touya glowered. He stood up, despite Tomoyo's protests.
"This is for your own good!" Syaoran said decisively. "Sorry, Sakura."
"Syaoran?" Sakura asked him, confused. She was focusing intently on the Guardians above their heads.
Syaoran decided to ignore that comment. With a cry, he rushed Touya, seemingly aiming for his stomach. Touya blocked---but at the last moment Syaoran jumped up and punched Touya in the face with all his strength. "Wha- --?" Touya staggered back from the force of the blow. There was no blood, but a bruise was already began to show on his features. Without another word, he collapsed onto the ground, knocked out.
"Oh. . ." Tomoyo blinked.
"Whoo-hoo! Go, Syaoran!" Meiling cheered.
"Yeah. . .whatever," Syaoran muttered, holding his throbbing fist.
~IN THE AIR---KEROBEROS VS. KEZOBEROS~
"Aha! You blinked! I am the winner!" Keroberos laughed.
"This is stupid," Kezoberos growled. "I never agreed to a Staring Contest!"
"It's a Glaring Contest," Keroberos said matter-of-factly.
"I don't care!" Kezoberos growled, and spat out a ball of dark blue fire at Keroberos. The surprise attack caught Keroberos off guard, but he managed to dodge it. It flew harmlessly onto the ground, though it managed to end up creating a small crater.
"Fine then!" Keroberos growled, and released a ball of orange flame at his enemy. Kezoberos grinned, and opened his mouth wide to catch the ball. It reached his mouth and he quickly swallowed it, grinning widely.
"What?" Keroberos cried. "How?"
"We are the opposite sides of the same coin," Kezoberos explained lazily. "Our magic powers cancel each others' out. However." Kezoberos smiled again, baring his sharp white teeth. "Master made a few. . .exceptions for me and Yui. Your magic cancels out when it hits us, but ours doesn't!" With a roar, he attacked Keroberos again at shocking speed.
"No!" Keroberos growled, and was nearly hit again. The ball of flame signed his fur slightly as it passed by him, creating yet another crater on the ground. Keroberos gritted his teeth against the pain and glared at Kezoberos. "My magic may not be able to hurt you," he said slowly. "But my claws still can!" With a roar, he charged his foe, raking his great claws against blue flesh.
"Weakling!" Kezoberos laughed as Keroberos drew blood. "I am not a magical beast for nothing!" He blasted Keroberos away and flew up. The long gash that Keroberos had left on his flank quickly faded away. "As long as Master lives, we cannot die," he explained, sneering. "And as long as you live, we cannot get the Cards, so you will have to be terminated." He reared his head back and let loose an explosive fireball.
Keroberos somersaulted in the air from Kezobero's kick, and his blood boiled as he heard the hated Guardian's words. "You will never get the Cards!" he vowed, and straightened himself---only to be slammed to the ground by the fireball. There was a definite crunch as his wings and right paw shattered into a mangled mess of blood and broken bones.
"Keroberos! No!" Sakura cried, rushing towards her Guardian. She quickly took out a Card.
"Sakura, don't!" Keroberos coughed out.
"Don't worry, Keroberos," Sakura said soothingly. "I have to teach Kezoberos a lesson!" She grinned as she looked at her Card. "As long as I stick to Cards that are the most faithful to me, I should be fine." Throwing the Card in the air, Sakura used her wand. "Watery! Release and dispel!" Sakura cried.
The familiar blue spirit gracefully rose from the Card and flew up into the air. She looked at Sakura expectantly.
"Attack Kezoberos!" Sakura commanded.
"No!" Kezoberos' eyes widened. "Not her!"
Watery obeyed, and surrounded Kezoberos in an airborne deluge. Struggling, the Guardian Beast roared and released more fireballs, but they all dissipated as they hit Watery. Finally, Kezoberos was able to break free, soaking wet, and flew back up to Eli in humiliating defeat.
"Yea!" Sakura grinned, as Meiling cheered and Tomoyo looked at her admiringly. Syaoran was relieved that she wasn't hurt.
"Sakura. . ." the brown-haired boy whispered as Watery returned to her Card form.
"Are you alright, Keroberos?" Sakura asked her Guardian beast, still worried.
"Hmph," Keroberos nodded weakly, and laid back. [Taken out by one blast], he though to himself bitterly. [I feel so pathetic! Sakura may have won against Kezoberos, but how are we going to defeat them in the future? And Yue---whgere is he?] The Guardian beast glanced up in the air, but the other two Guardians were nowhere to be seen.
"I'm glad," Sakura smiled, not noticing Kerobero's worried glance.
~IN THE AIR---YUE VS. YUI---SLIGHT FLASHBACK~
"Very brave of you to block me, Yue," Yui complimented in a voice that sounded anything but complimentary.
Yue did not reply, but instead got into a fighting stance.
Yui smirked. "Fine," he said, and also crouched into a fighting posture. Without warning, sharp purple crystals shot from his hand and towards Yue, who instantly put up a shield to deflect the blows. Most of the crystals bounced off, but one hit and penetrated Yue defenses, cutting his arm.
[No!] Yue though silently as his shield shattered. He flung back his own volley of silver crystals at Yui, but like Keroberos with Kezoberos, they crumbled into dust a few feet away and became utterly useless.
"Light and Darkness cancel each other out, you simple-minded Guardian," Yui sneered. "Don't you know anything? The only reason I can hit you is because my Master is giving me extra power---which that puny brat of yours you serve lacks."
"My Mistress is just as powerful as your Master," Yue growled.
Yui just laughed. "Think what you will. You'll find out soon enough who is the better of the two." Suddenly, he zoomed towards Yue, hands outstretched and shooting crystals. Yue expertly dodged them this time and caught Yui by the wrists, swinging him (or her) around in a circle and finally letting go, sending him flying on the other side of Sakura's yard. Yue quickly flew over, avoiding the fight between Keroberos and Kezoberos, and looked around for his prey. There was nothing there---not even a feather or hole on the ground. It seemed that Yui had vanished into thin air. But Yue knew better, and as he waited, he suddenly felt someone behind his back.
Quickly he turned around, only to be met with nothing but air. "Wha---?" he gasped.
"Surprised, aren't you, Yue?" Yui sneered from behind him. Yue growled and turned around, only to be met with more air.
"Show yourself!" he demanded.
"And what fun will that be?" Yui cajoled from all around him. "It's so much more interesting this way."
Yue looked around tensely. Where was Yui hiding? He couldn't see him or smell him, or feel his presence. As he strained to search for him, he was violently knocked back by a hefty kick to the stomach. Gasping for breath, Yue managed to stop himself before he slammed into Sakura's house and glared around him. [Where is he?] he thought angrily. [That conniving clone! How is he hiding from me?] Suddenly, something slammed into him from above, sending Yue crashing towards the ground. He managed to stop himself just in time. [This is useless!] Yue thought between gritted teeth. [How can I attack a foe if I can't see him or sense him? Unless. . .] Suddenly, Yue came up with a brainstorm. He floated down to the ground and closed his eyes, channeling all his energy towards finding Yui.
At first, nothing but darkness swirled around him. Then slowly, Yue could discern a purple streak circling around him at an unfathomable speed. Trusting to pure luck, Yue thrust out a foot----and sent Yui tripping, stopping his circular rotation. He opened his eyes again and glared at his foe, who had just gotten up from the ground.
Yui smiled. "I'm surprised that you were able to stop me, Yue. But your luck will not hold out for long. I have a little something up my sleeve."
"Oh?" Yue narrowed his eyes, preparing himself for whatever Yui was planning. "And what would that be?"
"Something I am sure you will not like very much," Yui chuckled softly. Suddenly, with a quick flick of his wrist, he produced a long, slender purple crystal. Yue hastily backed away and soared up into the air.
"Not good," Yue thought to himself as he saw Yui grinning. He stuck the purple crystal into the ground and whispered some words through it, and instantly the crystal began to sprout upwards at a crazy speed. Yue flew away from the first crystal, only to crash into another crystal that had sprouted up next to the first. [They're everywhere!] he thought grimly as yet a third crystal sprang up from the Earth. [How is he doing this?] He glared at Yui, who noticed him and smiled innocently. Yue growled and dodged the rising crystals as best as he could, but they were slowing forming a tight, domed, prison around him. He had to escape---fast.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"Where is Yue?" Sakura suddenly cried out.
"I don't know," Syaoran said. He scanned the air. "There's no sign of him or what's-his-name anywhere!"
Meiling stomped on the ground in frustration and pointed her finger at Eli, floating high above them. "HEY YOU! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" she screamed.
Eli smirked, and sent a long streak of light down towards Meiling, zapping her slightly. Meiling yelped, and lost her balance, falling backwards onto the knocked-out Touya. Blushing, Meiling managed to get up and dust herself off.
"Are you all right, Meiling?" Sakura asked her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Meiling grumbled, glaring at Eli. "You know, if I had magical powers, I would really like to---ahhhh!" Meiling jumped out of the way just in time as another streak of light slammed into the place where she had been standing and left it a blackened, charred, mess. Meiling frowned, but stayed silent and opened her compact so she could smooth out her hair. To her horror, she discovered that it was frizzled beyond repair by Eli's "lightning bolt". Her eyes narrowed. [One of these days,] Meiling thought to herself, [I am going to defeat that evil Sorcerer and make him pay for all he tried to do to me. . .]
Meanwhile, Sakura and Syaoran were conversing about serious matters. "Syaoran, I have to attack!" Sakura hissed. "This is going too far! Keroberos was already hurt, and Meiling was nearly struck by lightning, and Yue is nowhere to be found! I have to do something before somebody else is injured!"
"I know how you feel, Sakura," Syaoran said urgently. "But you can't attack! You don't have too many Cards that you can use, and he's watching us like a hawk." Here Syaoran paused to give Eli a death glare, and then continued. "Besides, Sleep, Sweet, and Through are keeping an eye on us--- though they aren't looking, they're probably listening. If you try anything, Eli might command them to hurt the others. Tomoyo and Meiling don't have magic, and I have none of my spells. We can't risk it---or them."
Sakura looked crestfallen, but she quickly recovered. "You're right, Syaoran. Fine then, I won't attack."
At this moment, Tomoyo, who had been continuously scanning upwards, suddenly decided to look forwards---and saw Yue flying about wildly on the opposite side of Sakura's roof, dodging the purple crystals that were trying to trap him. He flew upwards, only to slam into the invisible force field created by Eli and get knocked back down. "Sakura!" Tomoyo cried. "Yue---he's over there!" she pointed to the Guardian.
"What?" Sakura and Syaoran cried. Sakura gasped. "No! He'll fall right onto those crystals! Arggh. . .Fly! Release and dispel!" Sakura quickly sprouted wings and zoomed towards Yue, against the cries of Syaoran to stop. She hoped she would reach him in time. . .
~HIGH ABOVE~
"Master, should I stop her?" Kezoberos inquired of Sakura as he watched the figure fly towards Yue's rescue.
"No," Eli said crossly. "You've cause enough trouble already." At this, Kezoberos winced visibly.
"I'm. . .I'm sorry, Master." He said softly.
"Be silent!" Eli hissed. His eyes flashed. "Can't you see it, Kezoberos? She'll never reach him in time. Yue will most certainly die."
~IN THE AIR~
"Yue!" Sakura screamed. "No!" She was flying as fast as she could towards the falling figure, but the trip between the front and back yards seemed to take forever. Sakura saw with horror that she wouldn't be able to catch her Guardian before he was spiked through on the sharp purple crystals below. Already they were closing in around him. Desperate, Sakura summoned another Card. "Wood! Release and dispel!" Sakura screamed. "Catch Yue!"
The Wood Card sprouted from the paper and grew long, slender branches. They blocked the magic of the purple crystals, stinting their growth, and easily caught Yue in her wide, soft branches. Sakura sighed with relief.
"No!" Eli growled. "How could I have forgotten the Wood Card was one of her earlier captures?" His eyes narrowed. "No matter. I am still more powerful." His mouth twisted into an evil grin.
"Master?" Kezoberos looked at this sudden change in Eli's mood with some uncertainty.
"I should have done this much sooner," Eli growled. "But it was much more fun trapping them here." As he spoke, he waved his staff above his head, and a black portal suddenly appeared in the air above Sakura, who was hugging Yue. She looked up in surprise, and then fear as the portal began to suck her in.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"SAKURA!" Syaoran and Tomoyo screamed in horror.
"No!" Keroberos, lying still on the ground, growled in rage. He sprang up and struggled to fly, but his wings were hopelessly broken. Roaring out his rage, he spat out a massive fireball towards Eli and Kezoberos. The latter quickly flew in front of his Master and smirked as the attack dwindled down to nothing in front of him.
~IN THE AIR~
"Master, should I take care of the ones below?" Kezoberos asked, eager to regain his favor back.
"Do as you wish with them," Eli said carelessly. "I have no use for those weaklings."
"Thanks you, Master," Kezoberos said solemnly, and grinned as he swooped down towards the unprotected group.
~IN THE BACK YARD~
Yui stared at the turmoil above him emotionlessly. "Now they will know to obey Master," he said with satisfaction. "And when he gets the brat, I will be left to take care of Yue. . ." his eyes glimmered with anticipation.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"Watch out!" Syaoran shouted as he pushed the girls away from Kezoberos' blast. Automatically his hand groped for one of his ofuda strips, but felt nothing but air. "Shoot!" he growled. "I don't have them with me!" As Kezoberos prepared to shoot another blast of fire at him, he dodged out of the way and behind a tree with Tomoyo and Meiling.
"I hate this!" Meiling cried as he came. "I wish I could fight!"
"So do I, but I think that would cause more harm than good, Meiling," Tomoyo said gently.
Syaoran noticed something strange. "Tomoyo, what's that book you're holding?" he asked.
Tomoyo glanced at her hands and realized she was still holding the black leatherbound book from Sakura's basement's library. "I'm not sure," she said in surprise. "I thought I put it back when I left, but I suppose I didn't."
"Well there's no time to worry about it now!" Meiling said hurriedly. "Get out!" She pulled Syaoran and Tomoyo away from the tree just as a third fireball from Kezoberos split it in half.
~ON THE GROUND~
Keroberos stopped, partly from pain and exhaustion, partly from tiredness and indecision. His mind spun. Behind him, Kezoberos was attacking Tomoyo, Meiling, and Syaoran. Ahead and above him, Yue was still unconscious and Sakura was clinging to Wood as a last measure against being sucked into the gaping black portal. Where was he supposed to go and who was he supposed to help? "Arggh..NO!" he roared in frustration.
~IN THE AIR~
Desperately, Sakura clung on to Wood. The Card was using all its strength to hold on to her, but it was not as powerful as Eli's magic. She tried to look away from the scary black hole above her and focused on remaining calm and trying to think up an idea to escape. Using Fly would probably cause her to get sucked up faster, she decided, and so she would have to use something else. But which one? Suddenly, Sakura came up with a brainstorm. Struggling to get a good grip amongst Wood's branches, she flipped through her Cards. "Windy! Release and dispel!" Sakura cried.
The faithful Card escaped from its place and appeared above Sakura. It seemed to know exactly what to do and began to form itself into a sort of hurricane below the black hole, directing its vaccuming pull away from Sakura and towards itself.
Eli growled and called to his other Guardian. "Yui! What are you doing down there, loitering about? Get the brat and throw her into the portal!"
"Yes Master," Yui nodded and quickly flew up towards Sakura. He created more crystals and shot them at Windy, who used her powers to spin the crystals around and shoot them at Yui instead. Growling, the floating Yui approached Sakura, who was still hanging on for her life to Wood. He, on the other hand, was unaffected by the gatewayl's magic. "Get into the portal!" he ordered her over the noise of the wind. "My Master wills it so, and you must obey!"
"Never!" Sakura replied, her eyes narrowing. "I won't leave my friends here!"
"Friends?" Yui echoed the words. "You mean people like him?" Using a wave of his finger, Yui magically suspended the unconscious Yue up into the air, where he floated lifelessly.
"Yes!" Sakura cried. "Leave him alone!"
"Why should I listen to you, brat, if you won't listen to me?" Yui growled. Sakura's eyes widened as he suspended Yue a little closer towards the purple crystals and out of the reach of Wood's stretching branches. "Should I skewer your friend, then?"
"No!" Sakura cried out in a hoarse voice.
"Get in!" Yui snarled, and produced another crystal. "If you don't, I swear I will stab this thing into his heart!"
"ROAR!"
Sakura and Yui both turned, to see Keroberos releasing a huge fireball towards Yui. Snarling, Yui quickly righted up Yue so that he would take the blast.
"No!" Keroberos cried.
"Yue!" Sakura screamed. "Shield, release and dispel!"
Shield sprang up in front of Yue and deflected the blow, sending it back to Keroberos, who barely dodge the blast. But in the next instant, Shield flickered and shattered, only to reappear in Yui's hand. He held the newly captured Card up plainly for Sakura to see and smiled. "Thank you, brat," he laughed.
"At least Yue's safe," Sakura whispered.
"But what about the rest of your friends?" Yui sneered, pointing across to the front yard.
Sakura looked, and saw with horror that Kezoberos was burning the place up. Running around were Tomoyo, Meiling, and Syaoran. Meiling's hair was singed, Syaoran was limping, and Tomoyo was relatively unharmed but tiring fast. Touya was being guarded and surrounded by the three Clow Cards, who watched the whole scene expressionlessly. Halfway across the yard, Keroberos half-stood, half-sat, breathing heavily. He seemed to be unable to muster any strength even to lift up his head. "No!" Sakura cried. She summoned Sword and began to fly towards them, but was repelled back by Yui as he used Shield against her.
"You can't escape yet," he crooned. "The fun is just starting. Look at them run---they're like little mice!" He grinned at the terrified trio.
"Leave them alone!" Sakura cried, hacking at the Shield with little success. "Let me out!"
"As you wish," Yui grinned. He lifted Shield and instead sent it to entrap Windy. Sakura, who was not holding on to Wood, began to get sucked up towards the portal.
"Fly! Release and dispel!" she cried desperately, and began to struggled her way downwards. Wood had its branches open, but it couldn't reach her. "Rain! Release and dispel!" Droplets of water fell on Wood, making it grow faster, but Sakura was already halfway inside the portal. She vainly strove to reach Wood, who was growing as fast as she could towards her. A little branch reached Sakura---she held on---and it was broken to bits by Yui and his crystal. "NOOOO!" Sakura cried as she was sucked inside the portal. Instantly, it closed up. Wood and Rain vanished, along with Windy, and Shield returned to Yui. He laughed, and let Yue drop to the ground harmlessly by the purple crystals. It would have been fun to kill him right then and there, but it wasn't worth it now.
[Let Yue wallow in misery,] he thought to himself. [Their Mistress is doomed. Then I can kill Yue.]
High, high above, Eli smiled.
~IN THE FRONT YARD~
"SAKURA!" Tomoyo cried out as the portal closed up. "NO!" She ran away from Meiling and Syaoran and towards the fading remains of Wood and Windy. [No. . .she can't be gone!] she thought frantically. [Not Sakura. . .]
"Tomoyo! No! Get back!" Meiling shouted hoarsely.
"STOP!" Syaoran cried, to no avail.
Tomoyo struggled onwards as best as she could, only to be barred by a dark shadow. She looked up and was horrified to see Kezoberos above her, with his claws glinting. "I've been meaning to try out these claws all day," he said softly. "And I think that this is now the perfect time."
"Tomoyo!" Meiling cried, running forward---only to fall into a hole filled with dark liquid that had suddenly appeared from the ground. "What?" she cried in bewilderment, and gasped as she saw the Through Card grinning at her from its depths. Slowly, she began to sink. "Help!" Meiling cried. "Get me out of here!"
"Tomoyo! Meiling!" Syaoran cried, aghast and uncertain of whom to help. Suddenly, he was slammed into a tree and pinned there---by Sweet and Sleep. He struggled like a demon possessed, angry from the fact that he had already lost Sakura and was quickly losing Meiling and Tomoyo---all right before his eyes. Sleep tried to get him to fall asleep, but he was resistant to her magic. Annoyed and angered by the fact that her powers weren't working, she flew up, used all her might to rip off a large branch, and conked Syaoran on the head. He blacked out instantly.
~TOMOYO~
Tomoyo took a tentative step back, and Kezoberos smiled. "Are you afraid of me?" he asked.
Tomoyo said nothing, and she did not need to. Her face was ashen white and she felt frigid all over her body. Shivering, Tomoyo took another step back- --but stumbled. With a cry, she fell to the ground, and the black leather- bound book she had been clutching all this time slipped from her grasp. Kezoberos ignored the book and focused intently on Tomoyo, his silver eyes shining. She looked at him, eyes wide, unable to speak or scream. He raised a claw up in the air, and it glinted brightly in the afternoon sun. With a growl, he brought it down on Tomoyo's face---and instead was blasted away to the side and to the ground, where he laid still.
But he had not completely missed. Tomoyo felt a searing pain and realized that instead of scratching her face off, he had brushed against her shoulder. She was disoriented. Who had saved her?
"Are you alright, Tomoyo?" a voice asked her gently.
Tomoyo looked up into the sunlight and could discern a figure standing over her, dressed in sorcerer's robes with a large round hat. She shuddered. "Eli?" Tomoyo whispered, backing away.
The figure placed his hand on hers and looked into her fearful eyes. "No, Tomoyo. Eriol." He said slowly.
Tomoyo felt tears of relief trickle down her face and hugged him. "Oh Eriol. . ." she sobbed. "Eli took Sakura! And Yui attacked Yue! And Kezoberos. . ." She trailed off and instead started to cry softly.
Eriol's eyes hardened as he comforted Tomoyo as best as he could. [Eli? Kezoberos? Yui? So they are the names of these evil beings. . .but who are they?] He decided that it would be best to take care of these matters another time, and set his mind to calm the pale Tomoyo.
~MEILING~
"Ahhhh!" Meiling dug her nails deep into the dirt as she struggled to stay adrift of Through's tugging. "Let me go, you stupid card!" She flailed wildly, and suddenly screamed as she slipped and fell. Meiling's head sunk below the ground, and her hand was about to disappear too---until another one pulled her up and carried her securely within her grasp. Coughing, Meiling choked out the black stuff and opened her eyes---to see two red ones staring back at her. "Who. . .are you?" she gasped weakly.
"Nice to see you're still alive!" the red-eyed girl grinned cheerfully. "I'm Ruby Moon. Who are byou/b?"
"Meiling," Meiling coughed, and finally was able to breathe again. "Thanks for saving me. . .I think." She looked at the Guardian suspiciously. "I've heard Syaoran talk about you before. . .you're not here to kill us too, are you?"
"Of course not!" Ruby Moon giggled. "Now let's go help this Syaoran of yours."
She flew nimbly towards the tree where Sweet and Sleep were guarding the unconscious boy. At the sight of Ruby Moon, both Cards trembled and instantly ran away before Ruby Moon ciuld catch them. They met up with Through, who created a portal and allowed all three to escape. Ruby Moon proceeded to set Meiling gently down, but she struggled off halfway and ran to Syaoran. He had a bruise on his head, but otherwise looked fine. Ruby Moon carried him to the tree where the unconscious Touya laid, and placed the boy next to him. Meiling looked worriedly at the two.
"Will he be alright?" she asked Ruby Moon.
"He doesn't look hurt," Ruby Moon remarked cheerfully. "I'm sure they'll be just fine."
~KEROBEROS~
Spots swam about Kerobero's head as he strained to focus. Where was he? What was he doing here? As a dark, catlike figure approached him, he suddenly remembered everything. [Kezoberos! Yue! Sakura!] his mind screamed, and in a flash he had released another fireball. The cat figure nimbly jumped to the side and approached Keroberos. "Are you all right?" he asked in a rough but not unkind voice.
"Keep away from me, Kezoberos, or I swear I will kill you!" Keroberos growled, and raised a paw to slash at the intruding figure. But it pained him greatly, and instead he let it drop, snarling softly under his breath.
"You're hurt, and delirious too, by the look of it, Keroberos," the voice continued on. "Master Eriol and I shall tend to your wounds as soon as we can get you to the house."
Gradually, Keroberos' eyes focused clearly and he was able to see the form of Spinel Sun sitting in front of him, eyeing him concernedly. "How did you get here? Where's Kezoberos?" he growled.
"He was lying unconscious at the other end of the yard," Spinel Sun said matter-of-factly, using a paw to point to a now empty spot on the grass. "Master Eriol's handiwork, of course. But then the other two saw us and escaped through a portal, and used another to pull this Kezoberos of yours in with them. What has been going on, Keroberos? The magic aura was strong enough from here to be sensed by Master Eriol during teatime."
"Dark reincarnation," Keroberos muttered as he tried to move. The effort sent waves of sharp pains throughout his frame, causing him to groan.
"You're in no shape to move," Spinel said gravely. "And neither is Yue. You've both been badly wounded."
"Sakura. . ." Keroberos moaned.
"Yes, where is the Card Mistress?" Spinel inquired.
"Taken. . .by them. . ." Keroberos slowly turned his head away. He saw Yue lying by him, bruised and bloodied and still out cold. Keroberos sighed, and closed his eyes. The plain fact of it all was almost too painful to bear. They had been useless as Guardians---what kind were they if they were too weak to protect their Mistress? How good were they when they could not even fight off an enemy? And worst of all. . .
They had lost Sakura.
Keroberos moaned again, and squeezed his eyes together tighter. He needed to sleep, to fall into a dream and forget about this afternoon. And its losses. And its pain. But most of all, forget Sakura.
Finally, he drifted off into a weary sleep.
~THE END~
Jamie: Hi everyone! Well the good news is, we got f-teardrops to wake up! The bad news is, now she wants to kill me. . .
f-teardrops: *from far away* Where are you, Jamie? I need to ask you a question! Come on, just because I have all these newly-sharpened daggers on me doesn't mean I want to kill you!
Jamie: O_o Yeah. . . As you can see, she wasn't very happy when she found out I had kicked her in the head. And she doesn't think it was an accident, either.
Lydia: *suddenly popping up from nowhere* Cheer up, Jamie! It was fate that prompted her to murderous thoughts! Besides, you were driving her crazy with all your filming! ^-^
Jamie: _ So you're saying it's my fault and destiny's that I'm going to die very soon?
Lydia: In a way, yes, but I don't think she would actually kill you, ya know. . .
f-teardrops: *slams open a door not too far away* Aha! Are you in here? *loud crashes and clangs, followed by the screeching of some poor innocent animal and a ripping sound* Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Jamie: -_-;;;; Ya think?
Lydia: ^_^ Sure! As soon as she's done *trying* to kill you, she'll give it up altogether!
Jamie: And how long will she try?
Lydia: As long as she wants.
f-teardrops: *close by* JAMIE, GET OUT NOW! OR ELSE I WILL BLOW THE BUILDING UP!
Jamie: That's something I'd expect from Louis Destroyer.
Lydia: Then again, she does analyze a lot of his drawings. I wouldn't be surprised if she picked up something from them.
Jamie: *gulps* Really?
Lydia: *nods wisely* Yes, my soon to be dearly departed friend.
f-teardrops: AHA! THERE YOU ARE! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ALL OVER FOR YOU, JAMIE! %_# *cackles madly*
Jamie: I think my kick head did something to her head. . .
f-teardrops: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THERE IS NO ESCAPE! YOU SHALL PERISH BY MY BLADES TODAY, YOU VILLIANOUS KNAVE! *draws out a group of daggers* TAKE THIS! *throws the daggers at Jamie*
Lydia: Careful! They're filled with poison!
Jamie: *dodges the daggers* How do you know?
Lydia: 'Cause I helped f-teardrops make them!
Jamie: WHAT?!
f-teardrops: YOU MAY HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT ONE, EVIL SORCERESS, BUT I WILL GET YOU AGAIN WITH THE NEXT BATCH! *pulls out more daggers* SEE YA, SUCKER!
Jamie: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..........!!!!! *petrified, not moving, frozen*
f-teardrops: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *starts to run towards Jamie, daggers agleam, but runs into a pillar instead and knocks herself unconscious*
Jamie: *peeks at f-teardrops cautiously* Uh, f-teardrops?
Lydia: Should we call 9-1-1?
f-teardrops: Huh? *stirs, blinks, and looks around* Bleah! Jamie, don't ever try to kick like Meiling again! THAT HURT! *feels her head and notices that she is holding the daggers* That's weird. I don't remember holding these.
Jamie & Lydia: O-o;;;;
f-teardrops: What are you two gaping at me for? Is the fic out?
Jamie: I. . .it's already done, f-teardrops.
f-teardrops: Eh? Really? That's great! ^_^ Let's go work on the next chapter! *leaves the room*
Lydia: Sounds good! ^_^ *follows f-teardrops*
Jamie: Wait! B-but. . .
Lydia: Come on, Jamie! We need your help here!
Jamie: . ArGgGhHhHh......and they wonder why I act so weird....
~TO BE CONTINUED~