Author's Notes: I'm sooo extra, extra sorry I was so late with this fic! It was all you reviewers that kept me going . . . I almost was going to do this chapter in like, another year or so. -_-;; Then all of you would probably just come kill me. . . *evil smile* But you don't want that, now do you? Because then I can't write the fic! Lol, I had to write this whole thing over again, because I wrote this chapter once, but then I decided it was to dark and gloomy, so I redid it, so it is a 'little' bit happier . . . I won't tell you how it ends yet, but here's a big clue: I'm a big sucker for happy endings. ^__^ ~ Kinomoto Sakura
______________
Disclaimer time . . . duuum de dumm . . .
Kero: (appears) "It's disclaimer time!"
Syaoran: (appears as well) *grumble* "Yeah, I know."
Sakura: (appears next) "Yeah, it is. Ohayo, Syaoran-kun!"
Syaoran: (blushes) "O-O-Oh-ayo S-Sakura."
Kero: (frowns) "HEY! GAKI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
Tomoyo: (runs up onto the stage) "Kaaawaiii!" (tapes Syaoran and Sakura)
Kero: (annoyed) "HEEY! I don't get taped? How came the gaki and Sakura get all the attention?"
Tomoyo: (still taping S+S) "Because these moments are so KAWAII!"
Syaoran: "NOOOO! It's the eye of Satan!"
Sakura: (confused) "Hoe? What is this-this Sa-tin?"
Tomoyo: (round-eyed) "SATIN! GREAT IDEA SAKURA! A new satin dress for you . . . hmm . . needs pink bows . . should have lots of lace . . and frills, oh yes, LOTS of them . ." (dreamy look in eyes)
Kinomoto Sakura (the writer): (arrives) "Hello everyone!"
Tomoyo: (starry-eyed) "KAWAII TIMES TWO! There are TWO Sakuras now!"
Kinomoto Sakura: (sweatdrops) "Uhh, that may be a problem."
Syaoran: (staring) "Which of you is the REAL Sakura?"
Kero: "Ah! I know how to find out. I'll ask both of you the same question!"
Sakura: "Hoe?"
Kero: "Okay, only the REAL Sakura will know this! Why does Syaoran blush around Sakura?"
Sakura: (eyes turn into little anime dots) "Hoe? He blushes?" (turns to stare at Syaoran)
Syaoran: (blushing heavily) "Y-YOU STUFFED PIECE O' FLUFF! YOU COTTON BALL! YOU-YOU!"
Kinomoto Sakura: (giggles) "That's easy! It's cuz Syaoran *whisper* likes *whisper* her."
Sakura: (question marks pop out everywhere) "Hoe? Likes who?" (*sigh* So dense . . .)
Syaoran: (runs over to Kinomoto Sakura) "ST-STOP!" (slaps hand over Kinomoto Sakura's mouth)
Kinomoto Sakura: "Mrrffh Mff Mrreff Mmm!" (Translation: Cuz he likes you!)
Tomoyo: (still taping whole thing) "Kawaii!"
Kero: (disgruntled) "I think we need to go somewhere ELSE." (claps little yellow ha- I mean, paws)
(scene changes, it shows an elegant room filled with books on the huge wooden bookcases, a huge mahogany desk by a cozy fire place, and the black velvet chair behind the desk swivels around.)
Kero: (dressed in a red satin robe) "Welcome to my humble abode." (says this in a deep, English accent)
(walks over to the fireplace and stares into it)
Kero: "Mmm, what I wouldn't do for some roast chicken about now."
Readers: (enter the fic) *cough* (Psst! The disclaimer! The disclaimer!)
Kero: (looks up) "Oh yeah!" (pauses) "I DO have some chicken here somewhere . . ."
(goes to dig around in the bookcases)
(Eriol enters, petting Suppi)
Eriol: (smiles) "Kero!"
Kero: (looks up) "Master! How nice to-why did you bring HIM!"
Suppi: (looks at Kero) "Because the Master likes me BEST." (purrs)
Kero: (stress mark appearing) "WHY YOU . . .!" (Changes into real form and proceeds in force feeding Suppi sweets)
(While Suppi zooms around library shooting out red beams with a half-crazed expression on his face, and Kero is in his 'little' form again zooming after him, Eriol turns to readers who are very annoyed by now.)
Eriol: "Ah. Let's see. All Kero really had to say in the beginning before my cute little descendent showed up is . . ."
Syaoran: (appears looking hassled) "HEY!!! DON'T CALL ME THAT!" (disappears)
Eriol: (looks momentarily lost) "Well, all he really had to say was 'We don't own CCS.' Sayonara everyone! Enjoy the chapter!"
Readers: (looking exasperated) "FINALLY!"
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Chapter Nine: Don't Say You Love Me
{ Flashback: The really (dense!) Sakura thought that Syaoran was going to say that he loved somebody else, but really he was going to say he loved . . . someone everyone knows, except the most important person, Sakura. Sakura is ALSO in love with Syaoran, but argh, I suck at these things, so I'm just going to let you read now. Okay? }
Syaoran searched the whole area for Sakura. 'Where can she be, damnit!' his brain yelled at him while his heart was in shards. 'I can't believe she would think I loved someone else, how clueless can she get?' the angry side of him said.
'All in all, I hope she's alright.' Suddenly, time seemed to go still. Syaoran fought to keep his eyes open. 'What the . . .' He flew back to the town, and found everything silent. 'Shouldn't the festival still be going on?' he thought.
"SAKURA!" a small stuffed animal zoomed past him towards the . . . Ferris wheel? [A/N: Pretend that they also made the festival part-amusement park-like, okay? I'm sorta recreating the end of the second movie and the battle between Eriol and Sakura.]
Wings enveloped the tiny beast and he soon changed into his guardian form. "Sakura!" Cerberus soared into the sky, closer towards the rides section of the festival. 'Why is he here?' Syaoran thought fervently as he dashed past trees and houses.
~*~*~*~*
Sakura paused. Did something yell behind her? She didn't care. 'Be strong, Sakura.' She muttered to herself, as she flew past motionless people lying on the streets, cars, trees, wait. What? Motionless people on the streets?
"T-The entire town is asleep!" she said aloud, shocked. Pushing all memories of Syaoran to the back of her mind, 'I'll deal with those later.' Sakura thought grimly to herself, she felt a strong, magical dark blue barrier surrounding the Ferris wheel.
"Go, go, go!" a voice sounded behind her. It was Cerberus, in his real form. "It's -- Clow Reed's aura!" Sakura said in surprise, but Cerberus didn't seem fazed by this information. "He's come back, in reincarnated form." The beast said softly, "You'll have to transform the last two cards."
Sakura fingered the last two cards in her pocket. 'Light. Dark.' The most powerful ones, Sakura bit her lip. As she neared the Ferris wheel, her eyes widened in surprise. Who was that standing at the very top car . . .
"Eriol-kun?!!"
~*~*~*~*
Eriol smiled benevolently at his little sweet half-daughter. "Sakura." He said, still in his school uniform, with Tomoyo lying softly in the grass a few inches away.
"W-What are you doing here? Y-You should be asleep!" Sakura yelled frantically. "Be careful, somebody is coming here -- and you won't like it!" There was something odd going on here . . .
Eriol just smiled benignly again. "Oh, don't worry Sakura. You see, I've been the one who has been creating those attacks." Sakura gasped. "N-NANI?!"
Slowly Eriol took out a small dark key, similar to Sakura's, except is was blue and black. [A/N: How does Eriol transform his staff? I don't know! I just made this up, changing things in Sakura's transformation sequence, okay?] "Key of Darkness, answer me now. Reveal the staff, the force ignite, release!" Eriol shouted, and they key slowly grew into a tall staff.
Slowly, a soft breeze changed into a huge gust, enveloping Eriol. Sakura looked away, the light was hurting her eyes. When she looked back, a gasp came out of her mouth. Eriol - how could she not have seen it? Dressed in dark blue Chinese robes, similar to Syaoran's, he looked just like a younger version of Clow Reed, holding a huge sun staff.
"Eriol." She breathed. Suddenly, Nakuru, one of her brother's many 'admirers' and a small black cat-like creature that looked like Kero came out of the bushes. Sakura heard Cerberus snort in surprise. "The goblin!" he said, looking at the little creature. [A/N: Remember? Goblin. Hehe!]
Unexpectedly, Yue flew though the clearing, landing near Sakura. [A/N: Uhh, I forgot about Yue. Okay, pretend that he's here now, okay? *sweatdrop*] "Sakura, are you okay?" Yue said detachedly, staring at Nakuru with a strange expression on his face.
Sakura nodded as she stared at the two new intruders. "Nakuru, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked in surprise. Yue said harshly, "I should have known. I remember now, that day, when my other form saw you . . ." [A/N: Okay, remember in one of the episodes, how Yukito was walking, and changed into Yue, and recognized Eriol? That's what I'm talking about.]
Eriol chuckled as he said another incantation and the two beings next to him had wings envelope them. After a few seconds, 'Nakuru' was changed into somebody resembling Yue, except 'she' had long red hair, and maroon butterfly wings. The 'goblin' changed into a large, black, panther-like animal with wings.
Cerberus stepped back in shock, and Yue floated several inches off the ground. Sakura just stared. "W-who are they?" she asked, her voice oddly loud in the silence.
Cerberus growled, "Spinner Sun." Yue flew back down and faced the red-winged guardian. "Ruby Moon." His silvery-soft voice mumbled.
Eriol nodded, still smiling at all of them. "I see my old Clow guardians already recognize them. Ruby Moon and Spinner Sun, my guardians."
Sakura shook her head, "H-How can it be? You, Eriol-kun, you can't be C-Clow Reed? Why have you been causing all these attacks?"
Eriol just smiled from behind his spectacles, which gleamed in the darkness. "Complete your destiny, Sakura, and you will know. Finish what is unfinished. Expect the unexpected."
There, he jumped down, onto a stone arch near Sakura. Ruby Moon and Spinner Sun flew down next to him. Eriol raised his wand, and a large sphere seemed to expand, capturing them in the center. But not a moment to soon, something, or someone collapsed into the area.
Sakura turned, and then she closed her eyes. "Li-kun." Syaoran felt a pang went she said that. Not looking up, his fiery amber eyes left the ground and stared straight at Sakura.
Sakura gasped inwardly at the emotion, sorrow, and pain that reflected back at her. H-How could she have hurt him like that . . .? But . . . she didn't want to hurt others anymore, for her sake.
Sakura closed her eyes. She sighed, thinking back to the day before the festival. Something she didn't want to remember.
+ Flashback +
The telephone was ringing. Sakura, dressed in a comfortable pink tank top and white shorts walked over to the phone, still sorting though her letters. She was expecting one from Kaho.
"Moshi moshi? Kinomoto Sakura speaking. Who is this?" Sakura said into the receiver. Her eyes lit up when she found the small yellow envelope that had had her name on it, from Kaho.
"Ni hao, Sakura." An elderly male voice with a Chinese accent addressed her. Sakura frowned. "Who is this?" The voice paused, and then continued in a stern tone, he said, "This is Li Xiang, one of the elders of the Li clan. We could not contact Xiao Lang, but would you please inform him that he is due back in a week for his final engagement practice."
Sakura's head ceased in puzzlement. "Xiao Lang? Who is Xiao Lang?" The voice interrupted, "Xiao Lang is . . . how do you say it, Syaoran, is his name in Japanese? Yes, Syaoran has to come home right away. Since he broke off his engagement with Li Meiling, we have consented to his engagement with a different girl."
Sakura dropped the phone in shock. "Hello? Hello?" the receiver echoed as Sakura mumbled over and over, "Xiao-Xiao Lang . . . Syaoran-kun, e-engaged to someone else?" [A/N: Aiya, the plot thickens, eh? *wink* All will be explained in the last chapter, if you're confused now.]
Click. The line went dead. Sakura bent over to pick it up and set it back on its base. "D-Does Syaoran really love that girl? That much to get married?" Tears started at the corners of her eyes. Quickly she rubbed them away. "I-I will be all right." She said bravely. "I will not let it get to me, if S-Syaoran-kun says anything about it . . . I will not let him get to me!"
I just want to get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
Counting the days that pass me by
I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing
Are starting to get old
It feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I said,
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
I still get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day
Without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my
Thoughts away
To a place where
I am blinded by the light
But it's not right
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
And it hurts to want everything and
Nothing at the same time
I want what's yours
And I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to . . .
+ End Flashback +
"Sakura! Sakura!" Cerberus's calls shook Sakura out of her dream-like daze as her eyes focused on the scene before her.
"Nani?" her soft voice echoed as she stared at Syaoran. Yue stared over at her, his white hair blowing softly, "You must transform the last two cards, Sakura."
Sakura blinked, taking the last two cards out. "Light. Dark." The two cards were cold and lifeless in her hands. "They balance each other." Sakura added automatically, from memory.
Above, Eriol smiled softly. "She has figured it out. What she must do." Spinner Sun growled next to him, "Can she do it by herself?" Eriol's glasses gleamed again. "You will see. Something has turned out that even I did not predict."
Sakura gripped her staff, and raised it into the air. Throwing the two cards up, she shouted, "I, Sakura, under our contract, change you into your rightful form! Release!" [A/N: I made that up. It might have some of the same lines, but I can't remember it right now.]
Slowly, both cards partially glowing, a pink spread from the tips of the card, where it was red. Then, suddenly, the glow was dimming down.
Cerberus took a step forward towards Sakura, but Yue motioned him back. "What's happening? Why aren't they changing?" Cerberus asked. Yue shook his head, "Sakura doesn't have enough energy and power. It seems like, for some reason, her sprit is lacking too."
Cerberus shot a look over at Syaoran, who was running towards Sakura. "Gaki." Was the soft whisper under his voice.
Sakura shook her head in frustration, 'What is happening?' her mind shouted at her. 'Why aren't they transforming!' Suddenly, warm arms wrapped around hers. 'Relax. You can do this.' A voice said gently in her mind.
A soft but strong forest green aura surrounded her, refueling her energy. Green and pink intertwined, making one very powerful aura. The two strongest magic wielders (not counting Eriol, who has Clow Reed's powers) in the world were binding as one.
Sakura slowly lifted her eyes to the person behind her. The same fiery, burning amber-cinnamon eyes reflected the glowing staff in front of her, not looking at her, yet in an indirect sense, holding her up.
Sakura felt her energy and power flare up, and suddenly, the dimming card flashed with a new glow, a soft green, and slowly, the glow spreading towards the top.
Ruby Moon looked down, "She's doing it!" she said excitedly. Eriol nodded, "Yes, she is. With help of someone I never dreamed of. Who knew that my little descendent would be the one?"
For a split second, just before the cards fully transformed, a woman veiled in white, and another woman veiled in black appeared before Sakura. She gasped. "Light. Dark!"
Light nodded smiling, as Dark stared steadily at her. The woman sheathed in the pearly glowing light smiled at her. "We have accepted you as our mistress, Sakura." The soft ringing voice said. The one draped in dark shadows finally smiled. "Yes. You are worthy. Strong of heart, mind, and soul. You are the chosen Card Mistress."
Sakura blinked. Time seemed to be frozen. Eriol was standing motionless on the arch, Cerberus and Yue were in mid-air, unmoving, and Syaoran--oh, Syaoran was looking staring straight ahead, as if frozen.
Sakura nodded, and slapped the cards with her staff, unfreezing time, "Release!" The cards flashed bright pink and floated down to the ground.
"I-I think I need to . . ." Sakura fainted dead away
"Sakura!" Syaoran ran towards her and caught her just as she collapsed.
To be continued . . . (in the last chapter)
¤*¨°·.,,.·¤*¨°·.,,.·¤*¨°·.,,.·¤*¨°·.,,.¤*¨°
I hope you enjoyed that chapter, no S+S, *cries* Wahhh! Next chapter is the final one. All that business with Syaoran engaged yet again . . . you'll find everything out in the last chapter, so don't worry. So don't get all mad at me right now, because remember, this is an S+S, and S+S has gotta have its downfalls and upfalls (is that a word?), right? Or else my story will have no plot! ^^
I'm really sorry for not updating right after 150 reviews, but I wrote that when I still had about 110 reviews, and had no idea that I had THIS many. 212 the last time I checked! Can we go over 300 with this one? I HOPE! Gods, I think this fic is getting kind of darkish in these chapters. I never meant for that to happen. Well, I'd better start making it happier then, shouldn't I? *smile*
Review, and I'll love you forever and ever! And I cannot believe how many people think I'm evil now. *laugh* Do you really think I'm that evil? Aww, I feel so cherished. Maybe I shouldn't have encouraged them. Tell everybody that 'Kinomoto Sakura is angelic!'
Oh, and also, thanks to SakuraJade for talking to me on AIM, (She's real nice! ^_^) and keep on writing your awesome Saint Tail fics, I loved Only You! *wink* It was awesome. . . everyone, go read it, noooow! *sees charging readers*
And last note, thanks to everyone who thought my little poem was good. ^__^ Somebody said the formatting was wrong, you were right. Fanfiction.net messed it up again . . *cries* That's no good. I'm trying HTML yet again, and seeing if it works this time. If it does, I'll personally go and thank f-f.net, if not, I'll go on a rampage.
Oh, and I have a little present for all you guys . . . just to say 'TANK OOS!' Scroll down to see. ^_^;
xoxoxo, Kinomoto Sakura
Opening the present? Scroll down some more . . .
'A Week With You' - Chapter 7 - Scene 5 (Lil' Teeny Bloopers)
(Ah, I'm going to call myself 'Yukimi' from here for a bit, okay?)
Yukimi (writer): "Take one!" *snap*
Sakura: (walks down the stairs) "La de da . . . I hope I can get a teddy bear . . ."
Syaoran: "Sakura . . . you, err . . . I forgot my line again."
Yukimi: "CUT! Syaoran! You are supposed to memorize them! And Sakura, you're not supposed to be singing . . . Tomoyo is supposed to come in any minute and start humming and taping you when you trip and fall . . ."
Sakura: (sweatdrops) "O-Okay."
Syaoran: "Fine . . . I've got my line now."
Yukimi: "Take two!" *snap*
Sakura: (walking down stairs, ONCE again)
Syaoran: (annoyed) "Sakura. You look nice."
Yukimi: "CUT! Syaoran, what is the matter with you?!"
Syaoran: (glares at Yukimi)
Yukimi: "You were supposed to BLUSH and say 'Sakura, you look beautiful! Why can't you get that right . . . mou . . . we may have to call Eriol and tell him to come here . . ."
Syaoran: (pale white) "N-N-Noooo! I'll d-do it!"
Yukimi: "Alrighty then. Take three!" *snap*
Sakura: (descending stairs. AGAIN)
Syaoran: (trying to blush, but remaining white) "S-S-Sakura. Y-you look beautiful."
Yukimi: (whisper) "That's right . . ."
Tomoyo: (enters with her camera) "LA DI DA LA DI DAAA . . ."
Yukimi: "CUT! Where is the girl who is doing voice-overs?"
Syaoran: (removing cotton balls from ears) "I dunno."
Hinato: (enters) "Hey, isn't Tomoyo supposed to have a beautiful voice?"
Sakura: (shrugs) "Yeah, but lately, Eriol lost her medication, and she's been like this . . . if you've had nothing but lots of caffine for three straight days, I guess your voice would be all weird and --"
Yukimi: (sighs) "Take four . . ." *notices Hinato* "HEY! You're not in this scene! Go back to where Meiling and Kero are patiently waiting . . . along with Eriol."
Syaoran: (looks like he's going to faint)
Two hours later . . .
Syaoran: (groans) "I'm hungry . . . I've been saying, 'Sakura you are beautiful' for the last two hours . . . seriously . . ."
Yukimi: "You're starting to sound like Kero. Take 122!" *snap*
Sakura: (down the stairs. 122th time.)
Syaoran: "Sakura, you l-l-l-look-k-k-k-k . . ." (white as a ghost)
Eriol: (enters wearing a dress and a wig of purple hair and amethyst contacts) "Oh, I see my cute little descendent is falling for my little half-daughter . . . mwahahahaha . . . "
Yukimi: "CUUUUUT! ERIOL! You're pretending to be Tomoyo! She doesn't laugh like a half-crazed manic . . ." (grumbles)
Ghostly Voice: "Well everyone, we'll check in with THIS bunch another time."
Yukimi: "CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUUUUUUT! Where that voice come from??!"
---
You can all go and review for me now. ^^ - Yukimi
______________
Disclaimer time . . . duuum de dumm . . .
Kero: (appears) "It's disclaimer time!"
Syaoran: (appears as well) *grumble* "Yeah, I know."
Sakura: (appears next) "Yeah, it is. Ohayo, Syaoran-kun!"
Syaoran: (blushes) "O-O-Oh-ayo S-Sakura."
Kero: (frowns) "HEY! GAKI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
Tomoyo: (runs up onto the stage) "Kaaawaiii!" (tapes Syaoran and Sakura)
Kero: (annoyed) "HEEY! I don't get taped? How came the gaki and Sakura get all the attention?"
Tomoyo: (still taping S+S) "Because these moments are so KAWAII!"
Syaoran: "NOOOO! It's the eye of Satan!"
Sakura: (confused) "Hoe? What is this-this Sa-tin?"
Tomoyo: (round-eyed) "SATIN! GREAT IDEA SAKURA! A new satin dress for you . . . hmm . . needs pink bows . . should have lots of lace . . and frills, oh yes, LOTS of them . ." (dreamy look in eyes)
Kinomoto Sakura (the writer): (arrives) "Hello everyone!"
Tomoyo: (starry-eyed) "KAWAII TIMES TWO! There are TWO Sakuras now!"
Kinomoto Sakura: (sweatdrops) "Uhh, that may be a problem."
Syaoran: (staring) "Which of you is the REAL Sakura?"
Kero: "Ah! I know how to find out. I'll ask both of you the same question!"
Sakura: "Hoe?"
Kero: "Okay, only the REAL Sakura will know this! Why does Syaoran blush around Sakura?"
Sakura: (eyes turn into little anime dots) "Hoe? He blushes?" (turns to stare at Syaoran)
Syaoran: (blushing heavily) "Y-YOU STUFFED PIECE O' FLUFF! YOU COTTON BALL! YOU-YOU!"
Kinomoto Sakura: (giggles) "That's easy! It's cuz Syaoran *whisper* likes *whisper* her."
Sakura: (question marks pop out everywhere) "Hoe? Likes who?" (*sigh* So dense . . .)
Syaoran: (runs over to Kinomoto Sakura) "ST-STOP!" (slaps hand over Kinomoto Sakura's mouth)
Kinomoto Sakura: "Mrrffh Mff Mrreff Mmm!" (Translation: Cuz he likes you!)
Tomoyo: (still taping whole thing) "Kawaii!"
Kero: (disgruntled) "I think we need to go somewhere ELSE." (claps little yellow ha- I mean, paws)
(scene changes, it shows an elegant room filled with books on the huge wooden bookcases, a huge mahogany desk by a cozy fire place, and the black velvet chair behind the desk swivels around.)
Kero: (dressed in a red satin robe) "Welcome to my humble abode." (says this in a deep, English accent)
(walks over to the fireplace and stares into it)
Kero: "Mmm, what I wouldn't do for some roast chicken about now."
Readers: (enter the fic) *cough* (Psst! The disclaimer! The disclaimer!)
Kero: (looks up) "Oh yeah!" (pauses) "I DO have some chicken here somewhere . . ."
(goes to dig around in the bookcases)
(Eriol enters, petting Suppi)
Eriol: (smiles) "Kero!"
Kero: (looks up) "Master! How nice to-why did you bring HIM!"
Suppi: (looks at Kero) "Because the Master likes me BEST." (purrs)
Kero: (stress mark appearing) "WHY YOU . . .!" (Changes into real form and proceeds in force feeding Suppi sweets)
(While Suppi zooms around library shooting out red beams with a half-crazed expression on his face, and Kero is in his 'little' form again zooming after him, Eriol turns to readers who are very annoyed by now.)
Eriol: "Ah. Let's see. All Kero really had to say in the beginning before my cute little descendent showed up is . . ."
Syaoran: (appears looking hassled) "HEY!!! DON'T CALL ME THAT!" (disappears)
Eriol: (looks momentarily lost) "Well, all he really had to say was 'We don't own CCS.' Sayonara everyone! Enjoy the chapter!"
Readers: (looking exasperated) "FINALLY!"
_____________________________________________________
Chapter Nine: Don't Say You Love Me
{ Flashback: The really (dense!) Sakura thought that Syaoran was going to say that he loved somebody else, but really he was going to say he loved . . . someone everyone knows, except the most important person, Sakura. Sakura is ALSO in love with Syaoran, but argh, I suck at these things, so I'm just going to let you read now. Okay? }
Syaoran searched the whole area for Sakura. 'Where can she be, damnit!' his brain yelled at him while his heart was in shards. 'I can't believe she would think I loved someone else, how clueless can she get?' the angry side of him said.
'All in all, I hope she's alright.' Suddenly, time seemed to go still. Syaoran fought to keep his eyes open. 'What the . . .' He flew back to the town, and found everything silent. 'Shouldn't the festival still be going on?' he thought.
"SAKURA!" a small stuffed animal zoomed past him towards the . . . Ferris wheel? [A/N: Pretend that they also made the festival part-amusement park-like, okay? I'm sorta recreating the end of the second movie and the battle between Eriol and Sakura.]
Wings enveloped the tiny beast and he soon changed into his guardian form. "Sakura!" Cerberus soared into the sky, closer towards the rides section of the festival. 'Why is he here?' Syaoran thought fervently as he dashed past trees and houses.
~*~*~*~*
Sakura paused. Did something yell behind her? She didn't care. 'Be strong, Sakura.' She muttered to herself, as she flew past motionless people lying on the streets, cars, trees, wait. What? Motionless people on the streets?
"T-The entire town is asleep!" she said aloud, shocked. Pushing all memories of Syaoran to the back of her mind, 'I'll deal with those later.' Sakura thought grimly to herself, she felt a strong, magical dark blue barrier surrounding the Ferris wheel.
"Go, go, go!" a voice sounded behind her. It was Cerberus, in his real form. "It's -- Clow Reed's aura!" Sakura said in surprise, but Cerberus didn't seem fazed by this information. "He's come back, in reincarnated form." The beast said softly, "You'll have to transform the last two cards."
Sakura fingered the last two cards in her pocket. 'Light. Dark.' The most powerful ones, Sakura bit her lip. As she neared the Ferris wheel, her eyes widened in surprise. Who was that standing at the very top car . . .
"Eriol-kun?!!"
~*~*~*~*
Eriol smiled benevolently at his little sweet half-daughter. "Sakura." He said, still in his school uniform, with Tomoyo lying softly in the grass a few inches away.
"W-What are you doing here? Y-You should be asleep!" Sakura yelled frantically. "Be careful, somebody is coming here -- and you won't like it!" There was something odd going on here . . .
Eriol just smiled benignly again. "Oh, don't worry Sakura. You see, I've been the one who has been creating those attacks." Sakura gasped. "N-NANI?!"
Slowly Eriol took out a small dark key, similar to Sakura's, except is was blue and black. [A/N: How does Eriol transform his staff? I don't know! I just made this up, changing things in Sakura's transformation sequence, okay?] "Key of Darkness, answer me now. Reveal the staff, the force ignite, release!" Eriol shouted, and they key slowly grew into a tall staff.
Slowly, a soft breeze changed into a huge gust, enveloping Eriol. Sakura looked away, the light was hurting her eyes. When she looked back, a gasp came out of her mouth. Eriol - how could she not have seen it? Dressed in dark blue Chinese robes, similar to Syaoran's, he looked just like a younger version of Clow Reed, holding a huge sun staff.
"Eriol." She breathed. Suddenly, Nakuru, one of her brother's many 'admirers' and a small black cat-like creature that looked like Kero came out of the bushes. Sakura heard Cerberus snort in surprise. "The goblin!" he said, looking at the little creature. [A/N: Remember? Goblin. Hehe!]
Unexpectedly, Yue flew though the clearing, landing near Sakura. [A/N: Uhh, I forgot about Yue. Okay, pretend that he's here now, okay? *sweatdrop*] "Sakura, are you okay?" Yue said detachedly, staring at Nakuru with a strange expression on his face.
Sakura nodded as she stared at the two new intruders. "Nakuru, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked in surprise. Yue said harshly, "I should have known. I remember now, that day, when my other form saw you . . ." [A/N: Okay, remember in one of the episodes, how Yukito was walking, and changed into Yue, and recognized Eriol? That's what I'm talking about.]
Eriol chuckled as he said another incantation and the two beings next to him had wings envelope them. After a few seconds, 'Nakuru' was changed into somebody resembling Yue, except 'she' had long red hair, and maroon butterfly wings. The 'goblin' changed into a large, black, panther-like animal with wings.
Cerberus stepped back in shock, and Yue floated several inches off the ground. Sakura just stared. "W-who are they?" she asked, her voice oddly loud in the silence.
Cerberus growled, "Spinner Sun." Yue flew back down and faced the red-winged guardian. "Ruby Moon." His silvery-soft voice mumbled.
Eriol nodded, still smiling at all of them. "I see my old Clow guardians already recognize them. Ruby Moon and Spinner Sun, my guardians."
Sakura shook her head, "H-How can it be? You, Eriol-kun, you can't be C-Clow Reed? Why have you been causing all these attacks?"
Eriol just smiled from behind his spectacles, which gleamed in the darkness. "Complete your destiny, Sakura, and you will know. Finish what is unfinished. Expect the unexpected."
There, he jumped down, onto a stone arch near Sakura. Ruby Moon and Spinner Sun flew down next to him. Eriol raised his wand, and a large sphere seemed to expand, capturing them in the center. But not a moment to soon, something, or someone collapsed into the area.
Sakura turned, and then she closed her eyes. "Li-kun." Syaoran felt a pang went she said that. Not looking up, his fiery amber eyes left the ground and stared straight at Sakura.
Sakura gasped inwardly at the emotion, sorrow, and pain that reflected back at her. H-How could she have hurt him like that . . .? But . . . she didn't want to hurt others anymore, for her sake.
Sakura closed her eyes. She sighed, thinking back to the day before the festival. Something she didn't want to remember.
+ Flashback +
The telephone was ringing. Sakura, dressed in a comfortable pink tank top and white shorts walked over to the phone, still sorting though her letters. She was expecting one from Kaho.
"Moshi moshi? Kinomoto Sakura speaking. Who is this?" Sakura said into the receiver. Her eyes lit up when she found the small yellow envelope that had had her name on it, from Kaho.
"Ni hao, Sakura." An elderly male voice with a Chinese accent addressed her. Sakura frowned. "Who is this?" The voice paused, and then continued in a stern tone, he said, "This is Li Xiang, one of the elders of the Li clan. We could not contact Xiao Lang, but would you please inform him that he is due back in a week for his final engagement practice."
Sakura's head ceased in puzzlement. "Xiao Lang? Who is Xiao Lang?" The voice interrupted, "Xiao Lang is . . . how do you say it, Syaoran, is his name in Japanese? Yes, Syaoran has to come home right away. Since he broke off his engagement with Li Meiling, we have consented to his engagement with a different girl."
Sakura dropped the phone in shock. "Hello? Hello?" the receiver echoed as Sakura mumbled over and over, "Xiao-Xiao Lang . . . Syaoran-kun, e-engaged to someone else?" [A/N: Aiya, the plot thickens, eh? *wink* All will be explained in the last chapter, if you're confused now.]
Click. The line went dead. Sakura bent over to pick it up and set it back on its base. "D-Does Syaoran really love that girl? That much to get married?" Tears started at the corners of her eyes. Quickly she rubbed them away. "I-I will be all right." She said bravely. "I will not let it get to me, if S-Syaoran-kun says anything about it . . . I will not let him get to me!"
I just want to get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
Counting the days that pass me by
I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing
Are starting to get old
It feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I said,
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
I still get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day
Without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my
Thoughts away
To a place where
I am blinded by the light
But it's not right
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
And it hurts to want everything and
Nothing at the same time
I want what's yours
And I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to . . .
+ End Flashback +
"Sakura! Sakura!" Cerberus's calls shook Sakura out of her dream-like daze as her eyes focused on the scene before her.
"Nani?" her soft voice echoed as she stared at Syaoran. Yue stared over at her, his white hair blowing softly, "You must transform the last two cards, Sakura."
Sakura blinked, taking the last two cards out. "Light. Dark." The two cards were cold and lifeless in her hands. "They balance each other." Sakura added automatically, from memory.
Above, Eriol smiled softly. "She has figured it out. What she must do." Spinner Sun growled next to him, "Can she do it by herself?" Eriol's glasses gleamed again. "You will see. Something has turned out that even I did not predict."
Sakura gripped her staff, and raised it into the air. Throwing the two cards up, she shouted, "I, Sakura, under our contract, change you into your rightful form! Release!" [A/N: I made that up. It might have some of the same lines, but I can't remember it right now.]
Slowly, both cards partially glowing, a pink spread from the tips of the card, where it was red. Then, suddenly, the glow was dimming down.
Cerberus took a step forward towards Sakura, but Yue motioned him back. "What's happening? Why aren't they changing?" Cerberus asked. Yue shook his head, "Sakura doesn't have enough energy and power. It seems like, for some reason, her sprit is lacking too."
Cerberus shot a look over at Syaoran, who was running towards Sakura. "Gaki." Was the soft whisper under his voice.
Sakura shook her head in frustration, 'What is happening?' her mind shouted at her. 'Why aren't they transforming!' Suddenly, warm arms wrapped around hers. 'Relax. You can do this.' A voice said gently in her mind.
A soft but strong forest green aura surrounded her, refueling her energy. Green and pink intertwined, making one very powerful aura. The two strongest magic wielders (not counting Eriol, who has Clow Reed's powers) in the world were binding as one.
Sakura slowly lifted her eyes to the person behind her. The same fiery, burning amber-cinnamon eyes reflected the glowing staff in front of her, not looking at her, yet in an indirect sense, holding her up.
Sakura felt her energy and power flare up, and suddenly, the dimming card flashed with a new glow, a soft green, and slowly, the glow spreading towards the top.
Ruby Moon looked down, "She's doing it!" she said excitedly. Eriol nodded, "Yes, she is. With help of someone I never dreamed of. Who knew that my little descendent would be the one?"
For a split second, just before the cards fully transformed, a woman veiled in white, and another woman veiled in black appeared before Sakura. She gasped. "Light. Dark!"
Light nodded smiling, as Dark stared steadily at her. The woman sheathed in the pearly glowing light smiled at her. "We have accepted you as our mistress, Sakura." The soft ringing voice said. The one draped in dark shadows finally smiled. "Yes. You are worthy. Strong of heart, mind, and soul. You are the chosen Card Mistress."
Sakura blinked. Time seemed to be frozen. Eriol was standing motionless on the arch, Cerberus and Yue were in mid-air, unmoving, and Syaoran--oh, Syaoran was looking staring straight ahead, as if frozen.
Sakura nodded, and slapped the cards with her staff, unfreezing time, "Release!" The cards flashed bright pink and floated down to the ground.
"I-I think I need to . . ." Sakura fainted dead away
"Sakura!" Syaoran ran towards her and caught her just as she collapsed.
To be continued . . . (in the last chapter)
¤*¨°·.,,.·¤*¨°·.,,.·¤*¨°·.,,.·¤*¨°·.,,.¤*¨°
I hope you enjoyed that chapter, no S+S, *cries* Wahhh! Next chapter is the final one. All that business with Syaoran engaged yet again . . . you'll find everything out in the last chapter, so don't worry. So don't get all mad at me right now, because remember, this is an S+S, and S+S has gotta have its downfalls and upfalls (is that a word?), right? Or else my story will have no plot! ^^
I'm really sorry for not updating right after 150 reviews, but I wrote that when I still had about 110 reviews, and had no idea that I had THIS many. 212 the last time I checked! Can we go over 300 with this one? I HOPE! Gods, I think this fic is getting kind of darkish in these chapters. I never meant for that to happen. Well, I'd better start making it happier then, shouldn't I? *smile*
Review, and I'll love you forever and ever! And I cannot believe how many people think I'm evil now. *laugh* Do you really think I'm that evil? Aww, I feel so cherished. Maybe I shouldn't have encouraged them. Tell everybody that 'Kinomoto Sakura is angelic!'
Oh, and also, thanks to SakuraJade for talking to me on AIM, (She's real nice! ^_^) and keep on writing your awesome Saint Tail fics, I loved Only You! *wink* It was awesome. . . everyone, go read it, noooow! *sees charging readers*
And last note, thanks to everyone who thought my little poem was good. ^__^ Somebody said the formatting was wrong, you were right. Fanfiction.net messed it up again . . *cries* That's no good. I'm trying HTML yet again, and seeing if it works this time. If it does, I'll personally go and thank f-f.net, if not, I'll go on a rampage.
Oh, and I have a little present for all you guys . . . just to say 'TANK OOS!' Scroll down to see. ^_^;
xoxoxo, Kinomoto Sakura
Opening the present? Scroll down some more . . .
'A Week With You' - Chapter 7 - Scene 5 (Lil' Teeny Bloopers)
(Ah, I'm going to call myself 'Yukimi' from here for a bit, okay?)
Yukimi (writer): "Take one!" *snap*
Sakura: (walks down the stairs) "La de da . . . I hope I can get a teddy bear . . ."
Syaoran: "Sakura . . . you, err . . . I forgot my line again."
Yukimi: "CUT! Syaoran! You are supposed to memorize them! And Sakura, you're not supposed to be singing . . . Tomoyo is supposed to come in any minute and start humming and taping you when you trip and fall . . ."
Sakura: (sweatdrops) "O-Okay."
Syaoran: "Fine . . . I've got my line now."
Yukimi: "Take two!" *snap*
Sakura: (walking down stairs, ONCE again)
Syaoran: (annoyed) "Sakura. You look nice."
Yukimi: "CUT! Syaoran, what is the matter with you?!"
Syaoran: (glares at Yukimi)
Yukimi: "You were supposed to BLUSH and say 'Sakura, you look beautiful! Why can't you get that right . . . mou . . . we may have to call Eriol and tell him to come here . . ."
Syaoran: (pale white) "N-N-Noooo! I'll d-do it!"
Yukimi: "Alrighty then. Take three!" *snap*
Sakura: (descending stairs. AGAIN)
Syaoran: (trying to blush, but remaining white) "S-S-Sakura. Y-you look beautiful."
Yukimi: (whisper) "That's right . . ."
Tomoyo: (enters with her camera) "LA DI DA LA DI DAAA . . ."
Yukimi: "CUT! Where is the girl who is doing voice-overs?"
Syaoran: (removing cotton balls from ears) "I dunno."
Hinato: (enters) "Hey, isn't Tomoyo supposed to have a beautiful voice?"
Sakura: (shrugs) "Yeah, but lately, Eriol lost her medication, and she's been like this . . . if you've had nothing but lots of caffine for three straight days, I guess your voice would be all weird and --"
Yukimi: (sighs) "Take four . . ." *notices Hinato* "HEY! You're not in this scene! Go back to where Meiling and Kero are patiently waiting . . . along with Eriol."
Syaoran: (looks like he's going to faint)
Two hours later . . .
Syaoran: (groans) "I'm hungry . . . I've been saying, 'Sakura you are beautiful' for the last two hours . . . seriously . . ."
Yukimi: "You're starting to sound like Kero. Take 122!" *snap*
Sakura: (down the stairs. 122th time.)
Syaoran: "Sakura, you l-l-l-look-k-k-k-k . . ." (white as a ghost)
Eriol: (enters wearing a dress and a wig of purple hair and amethyst contacts) "Oh, I see my cute little descendent is falling for my little half-daughter . . . mwahahahaha . . . "
Yukimi: "CUUUUUT! ERIOL! You're pretending to be Tomoyo! She doesn't laugh like a half-crazed manic . . ." (grumbles)
Ghostly Voice: "Well everyone, we'll check in with THIS bunch another time."
Yukimi: "CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUUUUUUT! Where that voice come from??!"
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You can all go and review for me now. ^^ - Yukimi