Hi! I'm glad that you all loved the last chapter. I wouldn't be able to not let Touya and Yukito die. It wouldn't be the same! Who would pick on Syaoran and be overly protective of Sakura?!? ^-^ Personally, I do not like that Tokurashi guy either. Who would? I am VERY and EXTREMELY hyper at the moment, so don't mind me! `-_- Eh heh…heh… Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! Well, then. I think I will start the chapter now. Sound good? Sounds good! ^-^ Yay! Don't forget to review!!!!! Here I go!



*****Sakura*****

"Well, now that you have all the Clow Cards what are you going to do?" Tomoyo asked.

"Change them to Sakura Cards I guess. Now Kero AND Yukito can change into their true forms. My brother still doesn't know though."

"About your magic?" Syaoran asked.

"Yes," I said, looking at him. "Why? We never grew up learning day in and day out about our powers."

"I just think that it's funny that's all. He doesn't seem so tough now."

"Do you care to prove your theory?" Tomoyo asked with a glint in her eyes. Syaoran glared at her.

"Come on you guys. Which classes do we have?"

"Today we don't have any. Queen Yelan wouldn't permit it for some weird reason. Who knows," Meiling commented.

"Maybe she knows something we don't." It took me a moment to realize that I said that out loud. 'Oops.'

The others looked at me, but they didn't say anything. Eventually we just brushed it aside. We were outside once again, and today was a nice warm and sunny day. Yesterday I caught the last two cards and now Kero was here. I also found out that Touya was alive. My day couldn't have gotten much better.

"Sa-ku-ra!" came a muffled voice from below. I looked down at the burlap sack and lifted the flap.

"Kero!" I whispered harshly. "Don't draw any attention to yourself! I already told you! I don't want anyone to know you're here!"

Kero flew out of the bag and was gasping for air. Meiling crossed her arms and Syaoran looked pensive. Tomoyo on the other hand gave a tiny smile and offered him some strawberries, which he accepted gladly.

I shook my head. "YOU are that dangerous beast that I saw the other day? It seems impossible!" I was grinning when I said that though.

Through a mouthful of fruit he answered, "Hey! I NEED to eat! It preserves my strength!"

"Riiiiight," I said sarcastically. I haven't seen Kero forever, so it was good to have him around again.

"Hey Sakura! Tomoyo! Look who we met!" Chiharu yelled over to us, coming our way. Naoko, Yamazaki, Rika, and a Prince that I have never met or seen before came forward. I grabbed Kero and stuffed him in the bag as fast as I could. 'Did they see?!?'

He gave a small smile that kind of freaked me out, but other then that he was okay. He had dark blue hair and eyes that were behind rimless glasses. He seemed friendly enough.

"Meiling, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Sakura, this is Prince Eriol. He just arrived today."

"Hi!" I said cheerfully.

"Hello, Prince Eriol. Are you enjoying the Kingdom so far?" Tomoyo asked, tilting her head to the side and permitting herself a small smile.

"Hello. It is nice to meet all of you." As he said this I noticed that Syaoran was glaring at him full force. "And yes, I am enjoying my stay very much, thank you."

He seemed very polite. I didn't know what to say or do. No one seemed to be saying anything. I decided to ask him a question. It was better than nothing. "Do you come from a near-by Kingdom?"

"Actually, I don't. It took me almost a day to arrive here. You are Princess Sakura, from the Kinomoto Kingdom, right?"

"Yes," I said while nodding. I thought I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but then it was gone. I must have imagined it.

"Then it is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a lot about you and your Kingdom. It would be nice to learn about it from someone who has actually lived there, instead of getting it second hand. Maybe we could get together sometime and you could tell me all about it."

I felt a shadow cross over my face. Right now I REALLY did not feel like talking about it. I couldn't be mean though, and it was impossible for me to say no. "Um…okay. Yeah… I'll have to take a rain check though. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all."

Then with a wave of his hand he turned around and headed inside.

"I don't trust him," Syaoran growled once he was out of earshot.

"He was just trying to be nice," I said, looking after him.

"I agree with Syaoran. I mean… there is just something not quite right about that guy," Meiling commented.

I shook my head at them and then changed the subject. "Hey! What are we going to do all day?"

"Why don't we go swimming?" Tomoyo asked. "I made outfits for all of us that can get wet, so we can go all the way in. What do you think?"

I tilted my head. When did she have time for that? Oh, well. Right now that sounded like a lot of fun! "Okay!" I said brightly. "Let's go to our bedchamber and get the outfits! Are you sure there are enough?"

She nodded her head while smiling with crescent-moon eyes.

"Alright!" Rika and I shouted simultaneously.

We all headed to our bedchamber once we found Yamazaki, and then took turns changing into our new… water outfit or, bathing suit, as Tomoyo referred to them. [An: Hee hee hee. Picture how embarrassed Syaoran is! LOL!] My bathing suit was mainly black with the exception of the top part of it which was an emerald green to match my eyes. Rika's was a pale yellow, Naoko's was a pale green, and Chiharu was wearing a swimsuit with three different shades of blue. Yamazaki was wearing navy blue shorts that had a few yellow spots on it, and Syaoran's shorts were red. [AN: I think the two best colors on him are red and green. Don't you agree? Hey! I wonder what he would look like for Christmas! Very festive! ^-^] Tomoyo was wearing a lavender and purple swimsuit that had a little skirt. It was very Kawaii. ^-^

We all made our way outside and Tomoyo decided that later that night she would make one for Eriol so that he could join us one day. Syaoran didn't really like that idea, but I thought that it was nice of her. When we arrived at the lake disappointed because there were so many people there. There was WAY more than last time! Since we were the only ones who could get all the way in the water Syaoran and Meiling showed us a spot we could go to that was away from everyone else. I think the main reason Syaoran agreed so quickly was because Kizutsu was better now she kept hanging all over Syaoran. She was REALLY starting to get on my nerves for some reason. She shouldn't treat my friend like that! He didn't even LIKE her… did he? I was kind of confused about my feelings for him once again. I still couldn't process that kiss. It was just a friendship kiss, right? [AN: YOU ARE SSOOOOOO DENSE SAKURA!!!!!]

I liked him, certainly… but I THINK I only liked him as a friend. I liked Yukito! And now that I knew he was alive… well… I was happy. I think I like him even more now than before. When I realized he was gone forever, I knew that I truly loved him. [AN: Don't worry you guys, this is strictly S+S and E+T and Y+C and R+T. No Yukito and Sakura. SHE doesn't know that though. ^- ^] But… for some reason, I really liked that kiss. It was so tender, and it was my first kiss, and it meant a lot to me! I felt… connected to Syaoran. Kind of like… well… OH! It's hard to explain! Now do you see why I'm confused! I certainly didn't want to push him away! I didn't want to lead him on either. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Maybe my heart knows something my brain doesn't. [AN: You got that right!]

The place that Syaoran and Meiling showed us was around the bend and at a little island that was pretty close to the shore. There were a few trees that were on the strip of land, and their branches hung out over the water. It looked like a fun place to play at when you were little. It still looked like paradise at their age. Everyone's face broke into a smile once they saw it, even Syaoran permitted himself a tiny grin.

"Let's play a game!" Chiharu suggested.

"Like what?"

"Well, we could make one up. Somebody is the crocodile, and they have to go around and sneak up on people until they tag someone. Once they do that, the person they tag becomes the crocodile. Except no one knows who is it except at first. Then, once they tag more and more people, everyone will have to avoid everybody else! You have to be quiet though, because you don't want others knowing if you're it or not."

I put my fists up to my mouth, trembling. "Th-there a-a-aren't r-r-r-r-real c-c-crocodiles…are there?!?" I asked skeptically.

"Of course not," Tomoyo said reassuringly. I still wasn't convinced. Why did they have to make up this stupid game?!? "Crocodiles are only located in the rivers," Tomoyo went on. I let out a long sigh. I was safe. Then she put a finger to her lip. "Then again, rivers usually end up in lakes."

"To-mo-yo!" I complained.

"Sorry Sakura," She said with a little sweat drop.

"Did you hear about the girl that disappeared one day?" Naoko asked, her voice slow and steady, getting into the right feeling of the spooky stories she always told. I trembled, awaiting the scary tragedy. "She went out to this VERY lake on day, and that was the last her family ever saw of her. They never knew what happened, but they swear to this very day that the whole lake is haughnted, by either the ghost that took her away from them, or her wondering spitit. They left because of weird noises, never to return."

I gulped. "N-n-nani?!?" Tears were streaming down my face. 'A g-g-g-g- ghost?!? H-h-h-here?!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!'

Then she smiled, her story over. "Okay! Let's play now!"

"Now?!?" I asked in horror. "After what you just said?!? I think we should all head back and…" I turned around to start going back when a hand lashed out and grabbed my wrist. I slowly turned around to face Tomoyo.

"Don't worry Sakura. Nothing will happen, I promise."

For some odd reason I had the feeling that she would be dreadfully wrong, but I simply nodded my head, still scared out of my mind!

"Okay… Yamazaki, you are it first, okay?" Rika asked.

"Well…" he started, scratching the back of his head.

Chiharu hit him over the top of the head. "He'll do it."

We all split up in different directions and hid in various places so that no one would see us or know that we were it. I swam around, my chin to the surface of the water, keeping an eye out for any sign of Yamazaki, or most importantly… *gulp* a crocodile. [AN: Sweat drop]

It was a long time since we started the game and I hadn't seen a single person yet. I was starting to get even MORE worried. They didn't disappear… did they??? I looked around every which way and still didn't see or hear anything except frogs, crickets, and an occasional splash from a fish. Once or twice I felt something slimy brush past my lag and I would freeze, a chill running up the entire length of my spine. "Egh!" I said, wrinkling my nose. I spotted a weeping willow with it's branches completely covering a little part of the water and I grinned. I would be safe there. I swam towards it as quietly as possible and then went all the way under, coming up for breath on the other side. I made a complete circle and saw that a third of the circle was land, and that the other two thirds were branches completely hiding me from view. I smiled, content with my little hiding space. I actually felt safe here. I could actually kneel in one part of it, the water coming up almost to the top of my shoulders. I steadied my breathing and listened. I heard a bee whiz by, a few chattery birds over head, the occasional splish of a fish, [AN: Hey! That rhymes! ^-^] and a squirrel up in a tree, something brush past my leg, another frog croak, SOMETHING BRUSH PAST MY LEG?!?

Suddenly something wrapped around me and I held my breath, my eyes wide in fright. "Aahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I slowly started to tip backwards and was pulled under the water.

"Sakura?!?" I heard someone yell from near by, at least, I think they were near by. It was hard to tell from being under water. I wanted air, and bad! What was it that captured me?!? What could it… then I realized that it didn't have a hold on me any longer. Strong arms grabbed a hold of me and pulled me up out of the water with full force. I gasped and choked as someone patted my back, making sure I didn't swallow the whole lake.

Once I was done hacking I looked up to see who my rescuer was. I immediately locked eyes with two pools of amber brown and knew right away who it was. "S-S-Syaoran?!?" I gasped. He suddenly looked relieved. "What are you doing here?"

"I was 'it'," he explained. "I didn't mean to startle you so much though. Sorry about that. Are you okay?"

I looked at him, completely perplexed. "You're 'it'? That was you?!? I thought it was…well, never mind what I thought it was. Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine now."

He stared at me and then shook his head, still trying to process my information no doubt. I placed a hand to my rapidly beating heart, trying to slow it as best I could. "How did YOU get 'it'?" I finally asked after a while.

"Well, Yamazaki got Chiharu, who got Meiling, who got me, and now I tagged you."

"Oh," I said, dropping the subject. If I thought about it too much it would hurt my head.

"The thing is, I haven't seen anyone for a really long time. I was probably the 'crocodile' for an hour or more. I was starting to get worried so I came here. This is my favorite place to be, other than my room, because no one knows where it is. Well, now you do, but that doesn't matter…"

"No one knows where your room is?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, with the exception of my mother, no. She doesn't come to my room or anything though. She respects other people's privacy. Not that my sisters need any, but…"

Again I cut him off without intending to, "It must be really messy in there if no one rags on you to clean it every day."

He gave me a weird expression. "Actually, I like to keep my room clean. It's just that… well… it's one of the few places I can go to get away from everybody."

"Oh," was my brilliant comment. Then I got worried. "Did you not want me to know about this? I mean, so that you could get away or whatever? I can leave… I won't ever come back or anything… I won't tell…" I turned to leave but he grabbed my arm in a firm, but not too tight grip.

"No…Sakura, I don't want you to leave." I stopped, but my heart sure didn't. It was beating a mile per minute.

I slowly turned in his grasp and shyly looked up into his honey brown eyes. "Are you sure?" I asked, barley above a whisper.

His grip loosened a little, but not completely. "Hai."

"I-I won't tell anyone. This can be between you and me. I won't bother you if you're ever here…"

"What if I want to be bothered?" He asked quietly.

I blushed. "T-then I guess…if you didn't mind… then it would be okay," I said, finding the surface of the water and all the little fish swimming by very interesting. He cupped my chin with his hand and tilted my head upwards, making me look him in the eyes. Shivers were flowing up and down the entire length of my body. I stared into his deep and caring eyes. Slowly our heads came closer, both of us leaning into each other like flowers leaning to the sun. Our mouths were centimeters apart and the thought once again crossed my mind. Yukito. 'I loved him… but… there was something about Syaoran that…' I decided to fret about it later. Nothing could have stopped me from kissing him. We were already too close together. Our lips barely brushed when we pulled apart automatically, sitting up straight.

"Do you sense it?" He asked.

I couldn't look at him, and I had to strain myself just to answer his question. "Yes. Do you know what it is?"

"No."

We spotted it at the exact same time. Under the water was Tomoyo, Yamazaki, Chiharu, Meiling, Rika, and Naoko. They were all in one large bubble, completely asleep. At least… I HOPED they were only asleep.

"Syaoran!" I exclaimed, worried.

"I know. I see them too. The thing is… how do we get them out? What are they IN?!?"

"I looks like a bubble," I stated, but what I want to know is who did this!"

"Calm down Sakura. This is no time to loose your head. Don't panic, we'll get them to safety."

"But Syaoran!"

"No buts. Come on, call windy or something."

"Alright." I pulled the key out and released the wand. Then I pulled out windy. "Syaoran!"

"What is it?" He asked, coming over to me.

"I can't feel its aura! Well, I can… but just barely! It feels so distant! What's wrong?!?"

"Crap. I was hoping this wouldn't happen so quickly! They need to draw their power from you now Sakura, because now you are their master."

"What happens if I don't have enough power? How am I supposed to do that anyway?"

"If you don't, then they will become wondering spirits again, and the world will be in MAJOR trouble! You have to change them! And soon. They can't draw off of Clow Reed's magic for much longer."

I gulped. What was I supposed to do? I closed my eyes and concentrated. 'I can do this,' I told myself. 'I have to do this! All my friends are in danger!'

I felt my staff transforming in my grip. I gasped and my eyes shot open. Now, in my hands, was a pink wand with a star it its tip. On the sides of each edge was a little white wing.

"You changed the staff!" Syaoran said unnecessarily.

I gave a little smile. I could do this! I threw the Windy card up into the air and tried to hit it with the new wand but the card just floated downwards. 'No! What's going on?!?'

"Syaoran-" I started.

"I don't know! Maybe since you changed the staff you also have to-" then a huge wave splashed over Syaoran and he was dragged underwater in a weird little bubble.

"Syaoran!!!" I screamed. I yelled his name over and over but didn't get a response. He floated over to the others that were underwater and his bubble joined with theirs. I gritted my teeth together, now knowing that no matter what I wouldn't give up. My grip on the new wand tightened. There HAD to be a way for me to save them! There just HAD to be! What was it that Syaoran was saying? Something about me changing the staff. Yes, I did change the staff… but what did that have to do with anything?

Then a light dawned on. Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!? I had to change the cards too! To Sakura cards! Like I have been talking about! I threw Windy back up into the air, and this time she stayed above the tip of my wand. I said the words that I thought would be best. They just came to me, like all my magic did.

"I call upon the power of my star,

Ancient forces near and far.

Clow Card change with all your might,

And draw your power from my light,

STAR CARD!"

The winds picked up around me and the back of the card, instead of being red, was a pretty pale shade of pink. I didn't have time to think about that though. My friends were down there, and possibly in danger!

"Windy! Form a bubble of wind around me so that I can breathe under the water! Windy!"

When she was done with that I slowly submerged into the water, my heart hammering away. I sure hoped that this would work! I went deeper and deeper into the water and then I finally came to the bubble that had captured my friends. 'Who was behind this?' Once again, pushing thoughts and questions back for later I tried to think of a way to get to my friends. [AN: Did I say… my friends this and my friends that over and over? Gomen if I did! `-_- ] I put a hand against the outer part of the bubble and experimented on it's strength. My brows knit together when I felt it's hard surface. I knocked. It was even harder than a piece of wood! It was perfectly smooth too!

I grabbed another card and looked at it. I would have to change this one too, I guess. I threw it up in the air while yelling, [AN: And people, I do not know the Japanese version of this so you will have to bare with me. If, you know it, please review and tell me or just e-mail me. Thanks!]

"I call upon the power of my star,

Ancient forces near and far.

Clow Card change with all your might,

And draw your power from my light,

STAR CARD!"

The Sword Card changed into a Sakura Card and then it appeared in my hands. I raised the sword over my head and in one, big, downward swipe I cut the bubble perfectly. When I saw the water seeping into the bubble I gasped. They could drown because of me! Panicked, I did the only thing I could think of.

"Windy! Form an air bubble around all of them and take them to the surface!" I took one last breath of air as Windy did as I said. I watched as she carried all of my friends to safety and then I started to swim for my life. I stroked and stroked until I thought I could stroke no more. My muscles were in pain, and were searing from the same movement. I felt my lungs collapsing from lack of oxygen. I HAD to get to the surface… and fast! Otherwise… I wouldn't… make it…

As my vision started to fade in and out I realized how far down here I really was. I couldn't make it. There was no possible way. I just… couldn't… get… to the surface… in…time. My world went black.



~ * Somewhere from the depths of the ocean * ~

"Heh heh heh. What are you going to do Master? She isn't going to make it. She's not strong enough. She'll die."

"I know Ruby. Let's just… see how she does."

They watched as Sakura released all of her friends, making a mistake because they were under water already. Then they watched Sakura make one more mistake, having Windy go with them, but not saving herself.

"Does she get brownie points for thinking of her friends first?" Ruby asked with mild satisfaction.

*yawn* "If you ask me, she did everything wrong. She doesn't even know what she's doing," Spinnel droned. "Not that I was paying attention."

They watched Sakura swim as fast as she could to the surface. Little did she know that she wasn't even a third of the way there yet.

"She's not going to make it," Ruby commented.

"Then why don't you leave our little red bubble and go save her if you're so concerned."

Spinnel got a glare for that. "Well, it's just that Touya is always so concerned about her. It's not like I would leave this bubble of air to try and save her if I would die too! Master needs me. I can't be selfish." Ruby stuck her nose up into the air.

"Riiight," Was Spinnel's only comment.

"Humph!"

Eriol just grinned at their constant bickering. "It looks like she has finally stopped swimming. Come. Bring her to safety."

The three swam over to the girl and Ruby brought her into the bubble. She was breathing, but faintly.

"Are you disappointed Master?"

Eriol smiled that eerie smile of his. "Not at all. She did what I wanted her to do. She changed two of the Clow Cards to Sakura Cards. We're one step closer than before."



Well, did you like it? You were probably expecting a longer chap. Because of how long it took me to post this. Sorry everybody! I'll try to type faster and actually find the time TO type! Well, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!!! Thank you SO much EVERYBODY! Especially to those of you who e- mailed/reviewed and told me what those sayings were! I still need to know the Jap. version of the Star cards though! Thanks a lot! Bye!