Sakura and the Council of Eriol

Tomoyo and Meling ran up to the group of magicians and celestial creatures. "Li! Where have you been? I was waiting for you at the front gate for ten minuets!" Meling sounded very agitated. "And why are you with Sakura, again! And who are they?" She scolded with a bit of her old jealousies blaring through.

Eriol smiled slyly. "Perhaps you don't remember me, it was several years ago after all and we only met briefly. I am Eriol Hiragizawa, an old friend of Sakura and Syaoran's."

"You're a friend of Li's?" Meling looked at Eriol and than at Syaoran.

"Aaaah, yah." Syaoran said unsure if 'friend' was the most appropriate term.

"Well, if you're a friend of Li's than you're a friend of mine." She said.

"I say, this could not be more dull." Spinnal said as he fluttered next to Nakuru's head.

"I think I agree with you here." Nakuru muttered as she idly played with the braid in her hair. Eriol glanced at the two unoccupied souls.

"Very well, we should be on our way. Sakura, I don't believe it is far to your house, is it?" Eriol said.

"Yah, but Tomoyo usually takes me home, I think we can all fit in her car though." Sakura looked at Tomoyo who had been recording with her camera since she got there.

"Well, seven is pushing it, but I think we can do it." Tomoyo said as she lowered her camera. The now larger group trekked back to the school and piled into the car. Nakuru, Meling and Syaoran in the back with Syaoran in the middle seat and Spinel on Nakuru's shoulder, Tomoyo Sakura and Eriol in the front with Tomoyo driving, Sakura in the middle and Eriol in the passengers side seat. The group arrived at their destination and piled out of the car. Spinel noticed a sinister smile across Nakuru's lips.

"And just what are you smiling about?" He asked calmly.

"You'll see." Nakuru said slyly.

The group arrived at the doorstep of the Kinomoto residence and Sakura opened the door and everyone poured in. Sakura heard yelling from the kitchen. She and Syaoran went to investigate, although it wouldn't take three guesses to figure out what it was.

"It's mine! Sakura said I could have it!" Kero yelled. He then head butted Touya's forehead and knocked him back a few feet.

"Ow! You little sonofa... Sakura! You finally got home. Where have you bee..." Touya noticed Syaoran Standing behind watching the fight appearing amused. "What is HE doing here!? I thought he moved back to China a long time ago!" Touya and Syaoran exchanged dirty looks.

"Everybody is here!" Sakura said happily. Touya looked around the corner to the large gathering in the living room. One person in the group caught his eye. Her back was turned but he recognized her immediately.

"Nakuru?!" In response to Touya's inquiry Nakuru turned and bounded toward him.

"Touya!" Nakuru threw her arms around Touya's neck and hung on him with her feet dangling above the ground. Touya still had a look of shock on his face and couldn't get anything out but high pitched squeaks. "Aren't you happy to see me, Touya?" Nakuru said in a hurt but artificial tone. Once Touya regained his composure he grabbed Naruku's waist and pried her off his shoulders. Once her feet were on the ground he thought she might pounce again so he griped her shoulders firmly.

"No I'm not happy to see you, the last time I saw you, you almost killed Yukito!" Touya yelled. Nakuru put her hands on Touya's arms trying to get him to loosen his grip on her.

"I did no such thing, I was fighting with Yue, not Yukito, and besides it was a long time ago." Nakuru gave Touya a smug smile.

"Yes. That is now all in the past." Eriol said as everyone listened and looked toward him. "We must now plan for the future."

"Agreed. Sakura shouldn't have to collect the cards alone again!" Touya said.

"You knew!?" Sakura said to her brother as she ran to him.

Touya looked at his little sister with the 'you dumb little monster' look on his face. "Of course I knew. I just didn't want to say anything because I had a feeling that something like this would happen."

Sakura looked at Touya half confused and half upset with his secrecy. He put his hands on his hip and turned away from her maintaining that he did nothing wrong or sneaky. "Anyway," He looked at Eriol. "I suppose you have some things to tell us about the situation. After all, you always seem to know what's going on anyway."

"Indeed I do." Eriol said. "But there is still one member of the group that has not joined us."

"Yukito." Tomoyo said.

"Yes. Yukito and Yue." Eriol said in response.

"No, I mean he's at the door." Tomoyo said pointing to the window next to the front door. Right then the door bell rang and Sakura answered it and let Yuki in.

"There sure are a lot of people here. Is it someone's birthday?" Yukito said as he came in. After Touya explained to Yuki just what in the hell was going on, everyone found a seat in the living room (somehow).

Eriol stood before the group. "As we all know, the cards have been released once again and I am sure that all of you are concerned about Sakura and her safety as this is very much a different case than when first she captured them. And you are right to be concerned, but not only for Sakura but for all our safety as well. You see unlike before when the cards' main focus was on Sakura this time the cards' behavior has been influenced and is unpredictable."

"But influenced by what?" Sakura asked.

"Yes, by what?" Eriol said. "I have only a partial answer for you on that point. But I think it best to tell this story from where it most recently first began." Eriol looked at Syaoran. He looked downwards and seemed quite depressed once again. Sakura could sense that he was, and she could also tell that this was what he had been keeping from her from the start.

"Well." Syaoran started but trailed off as if unwilling to share.

"Syaoran," Eriol said. "I know it was painful for you but you must tell us."

Syaoran had a sneaking suspicion that Eriol already knew at least something about what he was about to say. Despite this feeling he bent to Eriol's will. "Back home, in Hong Kong one and a half months ago the same wind came as did when this all started, here in Tomeda. And as it was here, there was a voice on that wind. The elders of my clan were the first to sense its coming but by then it was too late. The voice summoned a storm of incredible strength and destroyed most of my home. Many were injured and some were killed and there as nothing anyone could do, not even me."

Sakura was scared and saddened by this. She remembered Syaoran had once told her that it was he who had the strongest magic in his family, and for him not to be able to do anything must have crushed him Sakura thought. 'He feel's responsible for their deaths too.'

"After it was all over I sensed that it had left and was gone. The elders and I didn't know anything of what it was or where it came from but we did know one thing: that it was looking for something. It seemed to be drawn to Clow's magic; it went right for me and the deriveter first, that's why I came here, his magic is stronger here than anywhere else in the world. And when I got here I found out that suspicions were right; it was after the Clow, the cards and Sakura."

"Thank you, Syaoran." Eriol said compassionately. "Than this is the second it has struck, but thanks to the two of you, Sakura, Syaoran, we still have a chance. You asked what could be influencing the cards. My answer for you is this: there is no way to know for certain but I do have an educated guess that I am quite certain is the right one." Eriol said. The air became quiet and everyone listened intently.

"The beginning of this story started long ago. Long before the attack on Syaoran's home and before Sakura first captured the cards. It started in the time of Clow's life. He had already created the cards and his power was great. Few could rival him."

Kero flew in front of the group seeming to be in a panic. "You don't mean."

"Yes Kerobaros." Eriol said as he raised his hand in the air commanding Kero to calm himself.

"What Kerobaros refers to has passed out of almost all knowledge for it was so long ago and never recorded in any readable texts." Eriol said and Sakura wondered what he meant by 'readable'.

Eriol continued: "In that ancient time of Clow, there were many sorcerers, magicians and wizards. Some very powerful, almost as powerful as Clow, and some mediocre." Eriol explained as Kero looked at Li in reference to the 'mediocre' part.

Li pulled out a fire scroll and threw it at Kero. He flew across the room to avoid the flames.

Sakura turned to the boys. "Knock it off!" She whined. After the interruption Eriol once again continued his story.

"As with all people some choose to do good and others evil. The same is so for sorcerers. Clow was by all means a doer of good. However his chief rival was not. Salcon the Wicked. He did justice to his name for he was cruel and unforgiving. He was also greedy. He wanted what Clow had because they were equals in power and Salcon would not have it. For years he prepared for battle with the help of dark magic and creatures of evil that he gathered to himself. He had become stronger than Clow and he fought him.

'But he was short sited for he underestimated the power of the cards and their guardians. Though commanded by Clow they drew their power from the sun and the moon.

'And unlike Salcon, Clow had many friends to aid him, one of which who's power was even greater than his own. This was the sorcerer, Eutealemiegn. He fought along side Clow and the cards. He was of an ancient race of half man half creature called the Pealu'rogh. He was of a power different than Clow's, a much more ancient power devoted to the part of the world's magic concerning battle and war. He was a soldier of the ancient world the likes of which this world has not seen since those times of old. His race was great at one time but no longer, with his people extinct and gone.

'The cards were Clow's army. Eutealemaegn and his son, Eumalecrhn his chief allies. Together they fought the evil creatures of Salcon and pushed him back to his dark place of evil deeds, the dark tower Salzade. With Salcon's army of creatures defeated, Clow himself with the help of Shield card and the Sword card did battle with Salcon atop his tower."

Time stopped for Sakura and Li as the word 'sword' echoed in their minds. Their eyes met and they silently exchanged looks of apprehension and confusion as Eriol's words reminded them of the ballad. Once out of their trance they listened even more intently than before to the end of the story.

"Clow boar the great Sword Card and it glistened free from it's chains in his hands in the form of a long broadsword. Salcon was armed with only his favored magical weapon: a long halberd which glinted in the moonlight. They battled fiercely for two days and two nights but the end finally came on the second night when the moon shone full in the sky.

'With a mighty blow from his winged sword Clow beheaded Salcon and his body fell to the ground below. Salcon was dead. And without him his tower could not stand. As Clow summoned the Float card the tower disappeared with the wind like dark smoke. All that remained at the foot of the hill where the tower had stood was his halberd, it's point buried in the earth."

Everyone sat in awe of the prolific story. Sakura sat drawn up with her arms encompassing her legs. She rested her face on her knees and thought about the story trying to make a connection between it and their current situation. Though it could be said that she was doing the exact opposite because she knew what it would mean. Suddenly she felt something touch her shoulder and she snapped her head around to find Syaoran standing behind the couch she was on, one hand on her shoulder. He was not looking at her but she could tell that he was being kind to her.

"But this story is not yet finished." Eriol sad to Sakura's dismay. "We have been calling the entity possessing the cards the 'Phantom' and that is what it has been; an unknown apparition, but no longer. You see because of the circumstances of Salcon's death; by the blade of a supernatural sword, his spirit lived on, as a poltergeist, a ghost."

The room once again was in complete silence and Sakura was at her wit's end and figuratively ready to cry. After a time the silence was broken by Sakura. "But. but how do we defeat something that is a. is." She stammered.

"That is already dead." Syaoran finished. "And just where is this Salcon hiding? I haven't sensed a ghost in a long time. Not even when Sakura scattered the cards to keep them away from the Phantom or when my clan was attacked. If it is controlling the cards I should be able to tell. So why can't I?"

"The punk kid has a point." Touya said agreeing with Syaoran to both of their surprises. "I've sensed nothing."

"There are several possible answers to your questions." Eriol said. "If you remember, when I first came you could not sense my power. The same is so for Salcon. Anyone with enough power can hide it. But to the matter of not sensing anything from the cards. My guess is, is that you assume that the phantom is inhabiting the cards which is not so. Salcon has most likely divided his power between the cards but has not actually shown himself since he first tried to take them. If this is true than we can count on two things: he does not control the cards and than he is weakened. Both are to our advantage."

"Good! Then if he is weak then it shouldn't be any trouble beating him right?" Sakura said optimistically.

"You are right on that point Sakura." Eriol said but he did so not with a smile which concerned Sakura and the others. "But Salcon although short sighted, has had many years to prepare for his deeds this day. He has almost certainly brought with him protection aside from the cards. Even if we do find him, reckoning with his forces will not be so easy."

"You said 'find him' but you haven't told us where he is!" Syaoran said trying to keep his respect in check of his animosity toward the phantom.

"For reason, descendent, I cannot tell you what I do not know." Eriol said. "But I can guess. Since he is in a weakened state and being a earth-bound spirit, or one who's passage to the next world is blocked, he is most likely residing in one place, a place of natural power like somewhere where laylines intersect such as a shrine or even in or around an object relating to him."

"What did you mean by 'reckoning with his forces'? What forces? Do you mean people?" Touya asked.

"That may be. His protection could be a number of things. People in his bloodline for example for he had several children by his wife, Mesiko. And of his army some survived. They were demons with the ability to change their form and they were powerful foes. Kerobaros, Spinnal, Ruby and Yue will attest to that as it was they who fought and defeated some of them."

With that Sakura glance at Yukito with wonder. "But." She said but wasn't sure how to say what she was feeling. She wished to address the issue of Yue's absence but she couldn't put it into words. Without anything more she looked elsewhere out the window and he noted the orange dim light streaming in from the setting sun.

Eriol addressed the group in closing. "Enough has been said for this day. It is becoming night and we all need our rest so we are for the time adjured. But keep in mind to be watchful. Things are not what they seem right now and danger and peril may come from anywhere so I tell you, be watchful. Of your surroundings and each other. We here are united in our cause and bound to protect each other."

The group started to disperse as Eriol, Nakuru and Spinel left and Touya gave Yukito a ride home. Syaoran left with Meling but Tomoyo agreed to stay the night with the still bewildered Sakura and the ever hungry Kero.

Sakura and Tomoyo Waved to everyone as they left and the day's happenings seemed to be over. But as Syaoran and Meling were walking back to their apartment Syaoran thought he sensed something and looked to the nearby trees of the park. "What is it Li?" Meling asked while squeezing his arm as she was a bit shaken by the afternoon. He didn't respond right away. Instead he gazed into the thick forested area but then he blinked and it seemed to be gone. "Li?" Meling asked again.

"It's nothing." He looked at the almost scared girl and felt for once happy that she was with him. "let's go home." To her delight he smiled and put his arm around her and they walked off into the sunset.

As Syaoran and Meling disappeared from sight a tall black haired girl dropped from a tree. She starred off in the direction of the two and sighed with relief. She leaned against the trunk of the large tree she was in and ran her fingers over her lips. 'Syaoran.' she said very quietly.

"That was close!" there came an obnoxious voice from behind the tree. She jumped and turned around to see stepping out form behind a tall guy appearing about 22 years old, wearing a red sweater with a zipper and hood. He was thin and had short black hair tipped red and light brown almost sinister eyes. "The boy almost found you out, Kako." The guy said as he put his hands on Kako's shoulders.

She pulled herself away from him with disgust. "What do you want Dorameir?" She said crossing her arms and leaning on the tree.

He stood over Kako and grabbed her arm tightly. "What have you been told, girl! Do not call me by that name! You may call me by my earth name while we are in this place." She looked at his contemptuous gaze and then looked away. He tightened his grip and struck her with the back of his other hand. "Do as I say!" His voice change and became a shrill and disturbing hiss.

"Yes..." She said in a defeated tone. ".Dorian."

He let her go and she put her hand on her red paining cheek. "That's better." Dorian said in his normal voice almost playfully completely dismissing what he had just done. "I'm here because he want's to see you, and he doesn't seem very happy with you. I mean, you've been here for almost a week and have done nothing. It would piss me off too." Dorian laughed.

"Yah, well you and the others haven't exactly done anything either." Kako said but wished she had not. Dorian looked down at her and she felt a weight on her by his eyes. He struck her again harder than before knocking her to the ground. Kako didn't scream. She didn't cry. But the taste of blood in her mouth and the feeling of helplessness in her heart made her want to do both. But she knew that if she did she would not live long enough for any help to arrive. She stayed on the ground without movement as she felt Dorian's hateful gaze on her.

"Watch your mouth!" Dorian hissed. "Keep in mind that though your power protects you from the Clow Mistress and her allies, they don't protect you from me and the others. We know who you are."

Kako picked herself up and wiped the blood from her lips. She looked at the cruel Dorian and he starred back with an evil smirk. "Best not keep him waiting." He said.

With some reluctance to turn her back on him, Kako left.

The trees, the streets, the building and everything else seemed dark and ominous as Kako walked. It was past sundown now and the street lights had come on. She stood beneath one simply to postpone arrival. She took out her compact and looked at her face. The skin over her cheek bone on the right side of her face was bruised and stung. It was from the first hit. Her lip was cut and still bleeding but it had only a dull pain from the second hit. Over her left eyebrow there was the remnants of another bruise by Dorian's hand. To conceal it she had not been to school that day and it seemed to her that she would not be attending the next either.

She put her compact away and began walking again. After a while she came to the entrance to a shrine. The sign on the passage beams read 'Tsukimine Shrine'. She walked through and the air on the inside of the shrine seemed colder than the air outside. The air didn't blow but seemed to be moving about Kako. It moved over her and over her like searching hands as if it were seeking her identity. It was an unpleasant feeling as if being touched against her wish. With the air came echoes of voices in the distance. Though mysterious and ominous they seemed to be calling a warning of a threat.

Kako came to the main reliquary of the shrine. It's doors were already cast open. As she passed through them the seeking air about her and the voices faded away into the dark of the night. A dark that permeated the building almost entirely. The only light in the hall before her was from few torches here and there and the patchy light of the moon through the trees and the doors. Though Kako disliked the comfortless tidings of the outside she much preferred them to the tactility of the reliquary. The shrine; it was a place of peace and meditation but no longer. Darkness had fallen upon it.

Through the hall there was a stair and Kako descended it to a dim room with linen drapery hanging from the beams over her head. There were many and they overlapped obstructing all view. The room was dim like the hall, illuminated only by the firelight of hundreds of candles along the walls in between the rows of hangings. The flickering of the candles made the shadows of the room flicker and jump as if trying to escape the forlorn place.

Kako moved in between the drapery through the seemingly long room. She came to the end of the room to a space where the hangings only adorned the walls. On the back wall there was an alter with tall smooth-burning oil lamps to each side. In the center of the alter there was burning incense and on a woven cloth an ancient looking human skull. On the floor before it were hundreds of candles covering the floor except in a circle in the center of this part of the room.

Kako with apprehension stepped into the circle. There was a deep rumbling sound and the room became dimmer as the candles' flames grew suddenly smaller all around. Kako could feel the fear rising in her as she held herself with again a feeling of helplessness. She closed her eyes and knelt to the ground. Then after the room seemed silent and still a voice came. "Descendent." The voice was low but tumultuous; assaulting Kako with malice.

Kako place her hands on the ground in front of her and rested her head on them. "Master." She replied.

A cold air blew amid the trees of the shrine and the crescent moon shed little light. The dark of the eve was deep and the sprits of the night were about the trees. They were in unrest as the leaves and branches swayed with the winds. They dared to rise to the tops of the trees to look out upon the woods but they fled back down for from the shrine there was heard the horrible scream of a girl and then there was silence and great sorrow.

Author's Notes: Eutealemaegn is pronounced U-tal-Eh-main. And Pealu'rogh is Pa_-lu-rok with a long A. Eumalecrhen is pronounced U-mal-eh-cren.