AN: I'm so sorry about the lateness of this update, but I had some problems that I needed to sort out - but everything's ok now, so here's the next chapter.

The Prophecy

Chapter 12 - Losing to feel strong


The day dawned and Sakura felt the need to panic.

It was midsummer's day, soon to be midsummer's night.

Her and Syaoran had been up the better part of the night trying to figure out of this prophecy. It in general confused them, and made Sakura frustrated. She hadn't forgotten Syaoran's moment of kindness towards her either, and that too weighed heavy on her heart.

Sakura tiptoed into the living room. Syaoran was still sleeping on the sofa, and she decided to leave him. She knew he had been up longer than her. She went through to the kitchen, and started to make a brew, right now caffeine and adrenalin where probably the only think keeping her up, her nerves just prevented her from sleeping. She sat on the kitchen table, just thinking about life in general, when a sleepy Syaoran came trudging into the kitchen.

"Kettles just boiled," she said, receiving a grunt from him.

Syaoran was never not a morning person - and he knew that, but recently his sleep had been stolen from him, and the mornings became unbearable. All he wanted to do was sleep until this entire escapade was over. But he knew that he couldn't, he like Sakura had a job to do, and it wasn't one of those that could be put off.

Sakura sat at the table, absorbed in her own thoughts. She never noticed Syaoran sitting next to her, or him calling her name. Syaoran noticed she had completely zoned out and unconsciously moved closer to her. When Sakura returned to normalness, her and Syaoran's noses where inches apart.

The pair sprang apart, realising how close they had been. Both where breathing heavy and wondered what the hell had just happened? Syaoran went about making coffee, and Sakura just sat there, her hands clasped around her mug.

When Tomoyo and Eriol entered they noticed the tension between the two, but decided not to say anything about it. The fact that it was midsummer's day, sat heavily with them all. They all knew the end was coming - the question was where they ready.

The four sat down in the living room to watch the news. Strange things had happened over night, and all four knew that evil was involved in it. That it was evils hand that had spread destruction and loss.

"Good morning Tomoeda - the time is 8:00 AM." Blurted the newsreader. "Last night was full of strange events, and TCN is here to bring you all the news and events currently happening. But first the weather with Chihiro."

The weather girl blabbed about the strange weather phenomena's they where experiencing. Sakura just sat back in the chair and let the words wash over her. She could feel him, the dark master. Right in her bones she could feel the darkness spreading, and the news just confirmed that he was getting stronger.

Syaoran could also feel it, but he felt it much more easily than Sakura did, and that was because of his many years training with the Li clan.

"Our top news story - overnight 13 people went missing, and there was a heavy rise in cot deaths across the county. Many more people have been found to be missing, and the number is slowly rising. We turn to our police informant for more information."

The location changed and in the background Sakura could hear the informant rambling on about how there had been no forced entry and no sign of a struggle, this only strengthened her belief that evil was behind it.

Syaoran finally stated what was on everyone's minds, the one thing everyone in the room had known, but would not say.

"Evil is behind this" he simply said.

Sakura, Tomoyo and Eriol all nodded in agreement. There was no other way that all this could be coincidence - especially so close to the final night.

Sakura felt sorry for all of those who had lost loved ones and children over night. She could sympathise with them - evil had taken her brother. And she knew the sorrow they where in. But for him to take tiny infants that had just begun their life - it just made her angry and more determined to beat him.

~*~

Tomoyo felt the over whelming need to ring her mum and make sure she was ok, after all she was the only one with any family in Tomoeda, Syaoran's mother lived in Hong Kong, Eriol's parents in England, and Sakura, Sakura didn't have anyone except for those in the house.

She picked up the phone and dialled.

Endless ringing until the answering machine picked up.

"Hello this is Sonomi speaking, no-one is home right now, but please leave a message and your call will be returned."

Tomoyo shook her head in worry. It had just gone 9am on a Saturday - her mum wouldn't be at work, and there should at least be a maid at home, unless…

"Sakura" yelled Tomoyo in panic.

Sakura came dashing into the hallway, and saw the panic on Tomoyo face, and the phone dangling from its cord.

"It's my mother - there's no one home," she whispered.

Sakura understood what her friend meant and the look on her face said it all. She was worried that her mother was one of the ones who had gone missing over night.

15 minutes later all 4 of them had piled into Eriol's car, and where zipping along the highway towards Tomoyo house.

Tomoyo was sat in the front next to Eriol - she was gazing out the window and she let her mind wander.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

"Mum - I'm staying at Sakura's tonight" yelled a 15-year-old Tomoyo up the stairs.

"Ok darling - see you later" her mum yelled back from her study.

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

It had always seemed to Tomoyo that her mother had never had time for her.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

"Mum, it's parents evening at school next week - will you be able to come?" asked Tomoyo one evening.

Sonomi looked at her daughter sorrowfully.

"No I'm sorry I am away in England next week for two weeks." She replied

"O, ok" whispered Tomoyo as she left the room.

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

Tomoyo felt a tear roll down her face, sure her and her mum had never been especially close, but it didn't mean that she didn't care. She was her mother - she had every right to care.

They rolled up at the mansion, the wrought iron gates looking cold and uninviting. Tomoyo opened them using the security; they drove up to the main house, and let themselves in.

Complete silence,

Tomoyo tore into the kitchen, and there on the fridge a note was pined.

I have your mother - and if you ever want to see her alive again, you will meet me in penguin park at 12 midnight

The dark lord.


Tomoyo felt the tears well in her eyes, but she refused to cry. She would go out tonight and show that dark one that no one messes with her family.

"Come on guys" she said in a stony cold voice "we've got work to do"

~*~ End chapter 12 ~*~

AN: Ok I know that this isn't much in the way of a chapter - but it needs to be in here or else my entire story line flops.
Please review and I will update as soon as possible - very sorry for the delay.
Ja
demi-kaijuu
-x-