"Scuffles and Skirmishes"-Part 2

"Ah!  Were caught in a binding spell!"  Kim called to Mark.  Up in the mountains, on a pathway still warm enough where no snow was seen, Mark and Kim were heading back from retrieving supplies from the local market below.  Their baskets fell to the ground, apples and other round fruits and vegetables rolled in the sand, making their own circles before stopping.

"Who did this?"  Mark said, his hands trapped to his sides, like Kim.  He looked around for the jokester.  Kim concentrated on the spell.

"Wait a minute, this is Clow magic!"  Kim told Mark.  Two glowing yellow circles appeared round mark and Kim, individually.

"I guess that Li is still looking for us."  Mark said, trying to reach into his pocket of his pants.

"Well now I've found you."  Li said tiredly, appearing on the trail.

"It took you long enough." Kim mocked.

"You completely disappeared."  Li said to them.  "Do you know what kind of danger you put my reputation and those of others in?"

"We had to, it was the only way."  Kim told Li.  "Besides, everyone came through it alright, just as we thought."

"It doesn't matter, I want the artifacts back….." Li got interrupted by Kim.

"Actually they were ours to begin with."  Kim informed Li.

"I don't care.  I know you took them and I know you gave them to some boy, get them back."  Li ordered.  "Besides, if they were yours, why would you bury them."

"We were supposed to destroy them and we almost succeeded."  Mark told Li.  "There was a spell on that site to disintegrate those magical objects.  But then you came along and the spell was cancelled."

"Why would you want to destroy them?"  Li asked puzzled.  He tried to think why someone would want to destroy their own magic.

"Because, we're a part of a group that keeps magic out of the hands of bad people.  There was no need to keep those magical items and to keep them from being obtained by others, they were to be destroyed."  Mark answered.

"Then why give them to some boy to use?"  Li asked.

"Li….." Mark said, shaking his head.  "His mission is to retrieve the Sakura Cards."  Li looked shocked that someone else would be interested in them.  "Originally, the group decided not to bother with the cards, they were labeled as "non-threatening" magic.  But then they got loose.  To make sure that doesn't happen again, we're going to take possession of the cards and dispel them."

"You cannot do that!"  Li yelled at them.  "It was Clow's wish that these cards and their magic live on!"

"Li, it is the modern times."  Mark said dully.  "People don't really need magic anymore.  It's almost a joke to the whole world.  Most anyone who seeks possession of it was evil intentions for it.  We're to keep that from happening."

"But Natasha has no evil intentions."

"But the cards are loose, that's all that matters."  Kim replied.  "And we're going to make sure it doesn't happen again."  During their conversation, Mark was able to get his hand into his pocket.  He began pulling out a piece of paper.

"I won't let you….."  Li threatened.

"You cannot do anything about it."  Kim told Li.  "Only the cardcaptors have the power to mettle in the affairs of the cards."  She said, as if an expert.  Li, of course, already knew this.  "Even if you were a cardcaptor at one time, that time has kinda passed."  Li glared at Kim, not knowing how to respond.

Mark pulled the yellow rectangular paper out of his pocket; it had an incantation scripted on it.  "Curse Breaker!"  Mark called.  The paper dissolved and wind wrapped around the yellow circles of the magic that Li used to trap Mark and Kim.  Li backed away from them, shielding his eyes from the wind.  The light disintegrated and they both were allowed to move again.  "Li, there is nothing you can do.  We have orders to neutralize the threat of anything that may interfere in the mission.  As you can tell, in the absence of you practicing magic, you've gotten weaker and won't be able to fight us.  Don't get involved."  Mark glided his hand over the mountain cliff beside them.  The rock face warped and a doorway appeared in the rock.  Li watched.  Kim and Mark walked into it and the doorway disappeared, back into solid rock.  Li walked to the cliff and felt the cliff.  It was no hologram. 

Li never liked being in a situation where he could do nothing.  Li knew of only one other option.  He took out a black cell phone, flipping the flap down, it automatically turned on and green lights lit the buttons.  "Connection to England."  Li ordered to it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kevin deflected Jennifer's second punch at Natasha, pushing Jennifer to the floor.

"She's possessed by another card?"  Sarah said.  "There sure are a lot of cards to capture today and I didn't bring my camcorder."  Sarah sighed.

Natasha released the star staff.  "What card should I use?"  Natasha asked.  "I don't want to hurt her."  She wined.  Kevin stared at Natasha with disbelief.

"Natasha, the girl hates you and you are afraid of hurting her?"  Kevin exclaimed.  He took a water drop shaped crystal and held it in his hand.  From it, the trident emerged, ready for battle.  Jennifer got up and began to charge at the two of them, her elbow held out to knock them over.  Kevin took the blue colored cube and inserted it into the trident.

"No!"  Natasha yelled and called on the Jump Card.  Grabbing Kevin, she leaped backwards, out of Jennifer's way.  "You cannot harm her!"  Natasha ordered.  Kevin was frustrated.

"Natasha, I don't think you can continue this in a small hallway like this."  Sarah advised.  Natasha pulled out another card from her pocket.

"Dash Card give us the power we need to help us escape with lightning speed!  Release!"  The Dash's magic dispersed among the three and they bolted down the hallway, heading for the exit, Jennifer following them in quick pursuit.  Exiting the school building, they came out on the playground.  Other students were talking, impressing each other with acrobatics they could do on the equipment, or playing some cliché game like tag.  Being chased wouldn't look very suspicious.  To the right of the playground there was a large field to play some sport you desired, to the left were a collection of woods.  The three sprinted along the walkway between the school and the playground and into the woods, with Jennifer not very far behind.  From the field, Ronnie noticed Jennifer chasing the other three and decided to follow.  He told the others on his team he had to leave, passing the soccer ball to one of the players on his team and then running off the field.

In the woods, Natasha, Kevin, and Sarah stopped running and confronted Jennifer.  Kevin placed the white cube into the trident and raised it above him.  "Flash Attack!"  He ordered.  The trident released a sharp, bright light, paralyzing Jennifer and giving Natasha a chance to try a card.  Ronnie caught up with the four of them and watched from behind one of the trees.

"Wood card!  Use your lush vines to entangle Jennifer!"  Natasha tried.  The vines of the Wood Card attempted to wrap around Jennifer's legs and arms but Jennifer was able to fight them off, snapping the limbs that threatened her mobility.  "It didn't work!"  Natasha said, sounding surprised.  From the tree, Ronnie was unsure of what he just witnessed.

'The card must be too powerful."  Kevin told her.  "We still have to find out what card possessed her to seal it anyway."

Jennifer quickly came at Kevin, jabbing him across his chest and ramming him against a tree.  Kevin fell to the ground.  He felt he had descended on some tough twigs lying in the dirt.  Jennifer then turned to Natasha.  Sarah ran to Kevin.

"She just wants to fight."  Natasha said bewildered, using the star staff to try to block Jennifer's attacks.  "Jennifer, I don't want to hurt you."  Natasha said to Jennifer.

Kevin stood up with Sarah's assistance.  "She's possessed, you cannot reason with her."  Kevin told her.

"Natasha, remember when Kero was telling us about some of the cards?"  Sarah asked.  Kevin placed the colorless cube into his trident.  "He mentioned a powerful card called the Fight Card."  Sarah recalled.  Just then, Jennifer hit Natasha's hand that was holding the staff, causing Natasha to drop it.

"Wind Barrier Magic!"  Kevin called before Jennifer could strike Natasha.  The wind formed a shield before Natasha and deflected Jennifer's jab.  Jennifer then rammed the wind shield, causing the wind to disperse.  Jennifer crashed against Natasha and they both fell to the ground.  The two struggled but the power of the Fight Card gave Jennifer added strength, allowing Jennifer to pin Natasha to the ground.  Sarah pivoted to pick up the star staff, which was just lying on the ground where Natasha dropped it. 

"You've got to do something!"  Sarah told Kevin.

"Like what?"  Kevin questioned.  "Natasha doesn't want the girl hurt.  Magic wind doesn't work against this card."

"You're a boy, aren't you stronger than her?"  Sarah challenged Kevin.  He didn't find that comment very appropriate.  Still, Kevin ran up to where the two girls struggled and grabbed Jennifer's arms, pulling her off Natasha.  Sarah tossed the star staff to Natasha and Natasha got up off the dirt ground.  Pieces of twigs stuck in the back of her shirt.  "Are you sure you cannot hurt her even a little?"  Sarah asked Natasha, whose arms were now sore.  Jennifer forced Kevin back up against another tree, causing him to release her.  Jennifer then forced Kevin into a growth of shrubs and vines lingering close to the ground.  "Recess will be ending soon."  Sarah alerted them.  Jennifer stood ready for Natasha attempt at disabling her.  Natasha looked as if her decision was a painful one as she took out the Shadow Card.

"Don't hurt her too badly."  Natasha asked.  Before Natasha was able to release it however, Kevin stood up, breaking the vines loosely clinging to him. Kevin took out one of his cards.

"Cloud Card!  Spread your haze and cause confusion, shroud the senses that assist her vision.  Release!"  Kevin called, meeting the tips of the trident with the Cloud Card.  The magic cloud surrounded Jennifer and she was unable to locate her targets or escape from the expanse of cloud.

"He did it."  Sarah said surprised.  Kevin loaded the trident with the white cube again and leashed another Flash Attack.  The light penetrated the cloud and stunned Jennifer.  She fell to the ground, defeated, and Kevin returned the Cloud Card.  Natasha, bruised from her struggle like Kevin, walked up to Jennifer and held the staff at her.

"Return to your power confined, Fight."  Natasha said weakly.  The Fight spirit released itself from Jennifer's body and into the forming card.  From the staff, the card floated to Kevin, who felt so beaten up he didn't want to pick it up.  Reaching for it, he lifted it to his field of vision in front of him and gazed at it.

"A lot of work this one was."  Kevin stated the obvious.  Jennifer still lied on the ground.  There was a rustle from where Ronnie was standing.  All three turned and noticed him.  Ronnie stood out clear into there sight.

"What just happened here?"  Ronnie said nervously.  "What did you do to her and what was that thing you did with those weapons?"

"Ah….."  Natasha said, unable locate any words.

"Look, Ronnie…"  Sarah began, approaching him.  Ronnie backed away.

"Stay away from me, all of you.  Who are you people?"

"You shouldn't have come here."  Natasha said sorrowfully.

"Natasha, you have to use the card."  Kevin told her.  Natasha scrimmaged for it in her collection, and separated it from the pile.  She looked at Ronnie sadly, then back at the card she held.

"Erase Card!  Vanish the memory of this event!"  Natasha commanded.  The Erase spirit levitated towards Ronnie, its veil in hand.  Ronnie attempted to walk, moving slowly backwards trying to escape but too frightened of the spirit.  The Erase spirit ran its veil though Ronnie, causing him to faint.  It then returned to its card form.

"I really didn't want to do that."  Natasha expressed.

"I know."  Kevin said.  "But you had too."  From the playground, the teachers blew on their whistles in replacement for a bell sounding.  From the equipment and field, groups of students proceeded to the doors.  Powering down their magical items, Kevin, Natasha, and Sarah went to awake Ronnie and Jennifer.  Kevin and Sarah woke Ronnie up and Natasha revived Jennifer.

"Ronnie, you came out here to talk to Natasha but you tripped and fell."  Kevin made up.  Ronnie looked puzzled.  "Are you alright?"

"I don't remember coming out here."  Ronnie told him.

"Yeah, we should get you to the clinic."  Sarah told him.  "Come on, you probably just played too hard and got tired."  Sarah told him.  They walked with him, heading for the school building.  Natasha hovered over Jennifer, pushing softly on her shoulder.

"What happened?"  Jennifer asked, her eyes not yet open, feeling she was on the ground.

We were talking and we came out here….."  Natasha tried when Jennifer recognized her voice.  Jennifer stood up, eying Natasha.

"I?  Walk out here with you?"  Jennifer said sarcastically.  "I would never.  You are so weird."  Natasha just watched as Jennifer walked quickly out of the woods when Jennifer turned back and faced Natasha.

"Great, now she thinks I'm weird as well."  Natasha sighed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kero paced on Natasha's desk in her room.  Natasha's rollerblades lay against the legs of the desk.  Sakura was still at work, at Kero's Hut.

"There's just no way I, or the book, can hide from Sakura.  As the mistress of the Clow, she'll sense my presence."  Kero shook his head.  "If only there was some spell to use.  But Natasha doesn't have that power.  I wonder why she doesn't have the power she should."  Kero thought.  He jumped as a knock at the front door broke the silence of the house and echoed against the walls.  Kero continued in his thoughts, knowing not to answer the door when he caught the faint fragrance of chocolate, a very strong chocolate.  Blindly following the scent, Kero opened Natasha's door and hovered into the hall, down the stairs, and into the foyer.  Coming to the door, Kero realized he shouldn't answer it as he vacantly daydreamed at the white door.

"Keroberos, I know you are there."  A voice from the opposite side of the door spoke.  Kero came out of his chocolate induced trance.  Kero peered through the window beside the closed door.  He found a familiar face looking back at him, Miss Mizuki.  Her face just as pale and hair red.

"What are you doing here?"  Kero said, shocked, through the window.  "You're supposed to be in Europe."

"Kero, may I come inside?"  Miss Mizuki asked.

"Yeah."  Kero responded, playing with the lock on the door, then pulling back on the door knob.  The door slowly opened, to the dismay of Kero who wished he was taller for this assignment.  Miss Mizuki gently pushed on the opening door, assisting him.  In the foyer, the sunlight lit the area by the doorway.

"Kero, I was sent here by Eriol.  He is aware of the situation and he wanted to attend to this but had other business.  I believe you are looking for this spell to conceal the Sakura Book and yourself from Sakura and Li."  She informed Kero and handed him two small, square purple piece of paper.  Kero observed it, taking it from her.

"But this is one of Clow's spells; it is not going to have its full effect over Sakura."  Kero argued.

"But you now draw your power from her and the magic will change accordingly."  Miss Mizuki told him.  "Now go on Kero, I shall be around."  She turned back into the doorway.

"Wait, what business is Eriol on that's so important he couldn't come here himself?"  Kero asked.

"Did you want this chocolate Kero?"  Miss Mizuki smiled, changing the topic and tossing the small wrapped candy to Kero.

"Of course!"  Kero replied.  "I should have known only magic could amplify the scent of chocolate so much."  Kero was now content to wolfing down the chocolate.  Miss Mizuki then walked out, closing the door behind her.

Author's Note:  that last chapter was long.  Guess I missed up judging the length.  wow, 3 pages of nothing but a battle.  For those who like action, I hope you enjoyed it.  Whose character profile shall I choose this time, Ronnie or Jennifer?  They both are equal characters to choose from as they are shaping the plot or subplot if you will.  *flips coin* Heads, it shall be Ronnie.  I am trying to make up incantations versus just saying something like "Dash Card! Release!"  You know?  It really is difficult for me for some reason.  Why would I use Miss. Mackenzie's Japanese name is another question.  Besides that most people might like it better, it's shorter and easier to remember to spell *hehehe*.

Ronnie:

Favorite subject: PE

Least favorite subject:  Science

Average grade (on an A,B,C,D,F scale): C

Best friend: Chris

Favorite pastime: Playing sports, being with Natasha

Least favorite pastime: anything boring, having to deal with Jennifer

Current missions:  Following Natasha

Favorite color: Orange

Eye color: Blue

Hair: Blond, buzz cut.

Most often asked of: Be on my team.

Other facts:  At recess, Ronnie can always be found playing sports on the field.  He really doesn't have any academic interests, as long as he's passing it really doesn't matter too much to him.  He only appears in school for social purposes.