It's Just The Beginning







"I am Lord Zero."

Sakura, Syaoran, and Kero let out a gasp.

"Y-you're Zero?" Sakura asked, feeling frightened at the strong power he radiated.

Zero let out a short amused chuckled. "Hai. . . That's me. . . No need to be afraid Card Mistress. All I want is for the two of you to come with me and no one gets hurt."

"We'd never go with someone with the likes of you!" Syaoran sneered, changing his pendent to his sword.

"Hai! You'll have to fight us first!" Sakura added while changing her key to her staff, just as Kero turned into his true form.

His lips seemed to curve in a smirk. "Fine. Demo, are you sure you wish to fight me?"

"Hai," Sakura, Syaoran, and Kero said in unison.

"There's nothing you could do to make us back away from this battle!" Kero inputted.

"You suprise me," Zero said, laughing.

"Nani?" Sakura mumbled.

"Let me show you," he hissed, snapping his fingers.

Two shilouetted figures stood beside him, but the dark fog covered their features. The dark mist slowly disappeared, and there standing next to Zero, was Touya and Fujitaka. Their eyes though held no pupils.

"Onii-chan! 'tou-san!" Sakura gasped out. Her eyes then crunched up in a hateful glare. "So it was YOU that put them under your control! I command you at once to let them go!"

"Why?" Zero taunted.

"Let them go!!!" Sakura shouted.

"Iie," Zero replied simply.

"W-why?" she asked.

"Unless you and the Little Wolf come with me, then I won't let any of these people wake, nor will I let them go," Zero replied.

Sakura clenched her fists, her aura flaring all around her as she shook in anger. Syaoran placed a firm hand on her shoulder, to calm her. She looked up at him, and he shooked his head. Getting an idea, Syaoran said, "First you give them back, then we'll go with you."

Zero stared at them for a while. Silence rang in the air. He said, "Iie. Why would I trust my enemy with their word? Plus I know that little trick."

'It was worth a shot,' Syaoran thought to himself.

"Insince you two won't come with me," Zero began, "then I'll just let these two pursuade you."

He once again snapped his fingers, and before they knew it, Touya and Fujitaka charged at them. Sakura ducked to avoid a punch from Touya, while Kero and Syaoran ran to the side to avoid Fujitaka.

"Onii-chan! Stop this!" Sakura pleased, gripping her staff tightly as she kept on dodging his attempts to hit her.

Touya did not reply, his face stayed emotionless.

"Kinomoto-san! Fight it! Fight the spell!" Kero shouted, but like Touya, Fujitaka's face stayed the same.

Sakura, and Syaoran started to back away and their backs touched eachother as the two advanced towards them, Kero stood at their side.

"Now what are we going to do?" Sakura asked.

"We have to try and reach them," Syaoran replied.

"What do you think I've been trying to do?" Sakura mumbled.

"We have to keep on trying though!" Syaoran said.

Sakura's eyes set in determination as she looked at her older brother. "Onii-chan, onegai listen to me! It's me, kaijuu! Remember?" Touya came to a halt and stared at her. "Fight it Onii-chan, fight it! Do it for 'tou- san! Do it for Yukito-san! DO IT FOR ME!"

His face seemed to twist in pain as his puplis flickered. Holding his head between his hands, he fell to his knees and gritted his teeth in pain. "Sakura! *gasp* I-it's to strong!"

"You have to fight it!" Syaoran shouted.

"I-I'm trying. . . " Touya muttured.

Sakura ran up to him and knelt beside him. "You can do it Onii-chan. . . I have faith in you. . . "

After a while of pain, a black shadow flew out of Touya and disappeared into the sky. Pants escaped his lips as Sakura hugged him in a tight hug. "You did it!"

"Sakura. . . What's happening? And how did I get here?" Touya asked, Sakura helping him to his feet.

"I'll explain it all later once this is over," Sakura assured. "Now all we got to do is get 'tou-san back."

Both looked at their father, who slowly advanced towards them. Syaoran and Kero joined Touya and Sakura at their sides.

"'tou-san!" Sakura shouted. "It's me! Sakura! And Touya! Remember us? You're kids? Remember Okaa-san?"

But it seemed like he didn't hear them as he continued to walk at them.

"He's not listening to us! What now?" Sakura asked, her confidence slowly leaving her.

"Don't give up hope Sakura-chan," Syaoran whispered. She just nodded.

Touya walked towards Fujitaka and Sakura was about to hold him back, but once again Syaoran placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Listen to me 'tou-san," Touya began. "It's us, your kids! Don't tell me you forgotten. What would Okaa-san think? She wouldn't want you to be acting like this. She loves you and I know you love her!"

Fujitaka stopped in his tracks, staring at his son. His pupils slowly appeared, and instead of feeling pain like Touya, the dark shadow in him just left. A smile appeared on his face. "Arigatou Touya-san. . . Sakura- san. . . "

"'tou-san!" Sakura exclaimed, her and her brother running towards their dad as all three embraced in a tight hug. "I'm glad you're back!" They with drew from the hug and Sakura frowned. "You two better get out of here."

"What about you?" Fujitaka asked in worry, afraid of loosing his only daughter, like he lost his wife.

Sakura smiled reassuringly at him. "I'll be fine 'tou-san. I promise."

"Well we're not leaving you," Touya stated firmly.

"You must!" Syaoran inputted. "It's not safe for the both of you to be here!"

"I don't care what you say gaki," Touya snapped.

"They're right you know," Kero added.

Touya opened his mouth to argue, but Zero interrupted, "Him and the Card Mistress are right you know."

Turning to Zero, Touya glared. "Oh? And who are you to be telling me what to do?"

"I am Lord Zero, son to Lord Hades of the Underworld," Zero replied, smirking. "Demo, that doesn't matter now does it? What I'm most interested in is how you two were able to fight my spell. . . "

"Shows how much you know about the Kinomoto Family," Touya snorted.

"Actually. . . I know more then you think I do. I already know that Fujitaka Kinomoto is the half reincarnation of Clow Reed, and the other half, I believe is their friend, Eriol Hirrigazawa."

"How'd you know?" Kero demanded.

"We have our ways of finding things out," Zero replied.

"What's going on here?" Yue asked, flying to the side of Kero. "Who is he?"

"That's Zero," Kero replied.

"His powers. . . It's. . " Yue began. Kero nodded grimly.

"Now enough interruptions, come to me you two."

"Never!" Sakura snapped.

"Are you so sure of your answer?" Zero asked.

"Of course we are!" Syaoran said.

"So be it."

Zero held out his hand, and a sword slowly materialized in his grip. It was a dark hilt sword with a gloomy grey blade. Kero, Yue, Sakura, and Syaoran stepped infront of the others protectively. Syaoran crouched down in a fighting stance as Zero charged at them. The four prepared to attack, but when he was just inches away, he instantly vanished.

"Hoe?" Sakura mumbled. She slowly turned around when she felt his powers somewhere behind them. Her eyes widen. "Onii-chan! 'tou-san! Behind you!"

It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Yue, Syaoran, and Kero turned around, and all their eyes widen. Touya and Fujitaka turned their backs on them and came face to face with Zero. Before anyone could act, Zero stabbed his sword through Fujitaka, then forcefully turned Touya around. They all saw the horror in Touya's face as Zero pushed his sword through Touya's back.

"Onii-chan. . . " Sakura whispered, as Zero withdrew his sword. "'tou-san. . . " Blood dripped from it, a menicing smirk on Zero's face. "Iie. . . "

"Sakura. . . we love you. . . "Fujitaka whispered, just as he slowly dropped to the ground - dead.

"Syaonara," Touya said weakly, falling beside his father, closing his eyes, forever.

Sakura stood there paralyzed. Her face stayed emotionless as she fought the tears that threatened to spill. Her heart felt like it was twisting, and her grip on her staff tightened, her knuckles turning white. She turned her gaze to the ground, her bangs covering her eyes.

"Iie. . . They didn't deserve this. . . " Kero whispered, tightly shutting his eyes as he turned his head.

Syaoran looked at Sakura sympathetically. He imagined the pain that she was going through. How he hated to see her this way. Something in his stomach lurched. "Sakura-chan. . . Daijoubu?" (A/N: When you say 'Are you alright?' Is it Daijoubu desu ka, or just plain old 'Daijoubu?' And how do you say, 'I'm fine'?)

She didn't reply. She shook with furry as she looked up and glared at Zero, tears evident at the corner of her eyes. "H-How could you?" she asked through gritted teeth. "They didn't deserve to die. . . . You WILL pay. . . I swear it. . . YOU WILL PAY!!!"

She pulled out the Sword Card and called on it, her staff changing to a sword. Sakura ran at Zero, anger and hate flaring in her emerald green eyes.

"Sakura!" Syaoran called, running after her, Yue and Kero right behind.

Once she was close enough, Sakura lifted her sword above her head, and brought it down. Zero easily knocked his sword against her's, making her loose her grip as her sword fell out of her grasp. He aimed an open palm at her, and an invisible wind blew her back. Syaoran caught her, while falling on his rear end.

"Arigatou," Sakura mumbled, getting up and helping Syaoran.

"No problem," Syaoran replied.

"Enough chit-chat!" Zero snapped, annoyed of all the interruptions. "Fight me!"

Kero and Yue stepped infront of Syaoran and Sakura. "You two stay put, let Yue and me handle him."

"Kero-chan! Yue-san! Be careful!" Sakura called after them as they flew at Zero.

Yue fired crystal shards, while Kero fired fire-balls at Zero, but instead of hitting him, it hit a force field that surrounded him. "Is that the best you got?" Zero taunted.

In annoyance, both Yue and Kero bared their teeth and a low growl escaped their throats. A bow appeared in his hand, and an arrow appeared in the other. Reading the arrow onto the bow, Yue closed one eye, and aimed at his target. Releasing it, the arrow shot at Zero like a bright blue stream. It broke through the force shield, and pierced his shoulder. But Zero did not flinch, he did not wince, he just stood and smirked. Pulling the arrow out, he gripped it tightly and it snapped in half. He threw it to the ground and looked at the wound on his right shoulder that dripped with blood, dark red blood. Yue's eyes widen in disbelief and astonishment.

"What. . . what is he?" Yue asked himself.

"Well. . . I see that's the best you can give. . ." Zero said in boredom. "Now let me show you what true power can really do!"

His eyes flashed a dangerous red as bat like wings grew from his back. Tears and rips were in them, and they were stained with blood. Spreading his wings, he took flight and flew towards the two guardians.

"Yue! Kero! Watch out!" Sakura shouted, her eyes wide in horror.

The Moon Guardian and the Sun Guardian both dodged to the side to avoid the sharp blades of Zero's swords as it came crashing through thin air between them. Turning sharply towards Yue, he began his attempts of stabbing Yue with his sword, but the moon guardian had sharp eyes and narrowly dodged his attacks. From behind, Kero fired a fire-ball at the unsuspecting Zero. But he turned around, and smacked the fire away easily. His red bloody eyes flashed with anger as he charged towards Keroberos.

"Syaoran, we have to help them!" Sakura cried out franctically as she watched Kero dodging the deadly sword.

He nodded in agreement. "When I say 'now' use Fiery."

She pulled out a card, while Syaoran pulled out a yellow sheet of paper with black chinese writing on them.

"NOW!" Syaoran shouted.

"FIERY/ELEMENT FIRE!" They shouted in unsion.

A red blazing rage of fire erupted before them, and both their attacks combined and flew towards Zero. Seeing the fire, Zero shielded himself with his wings to protect himself from the fire. Opening his wings, Zero glared down at Sakura and Syaoran who clenched their weapon tightly.

"Do you really think your punie attempts will work against me?" Zero asked, straightening himself. "Well, guess what? It won't. All you humans think the same. You think that good always conquer over evil. Well it doesn't, not this time at least."

Sakura stared up at him. Her hope slowly decreasing. Was he right? Was all this just one useless battle? Fear started to come over her. Is there no more hope? Will good over come evil?

"Yes Card Mistress. . . Listen to your fear. . . You know perfectly well that darkness will cover the light," Zero sneered.

A cold chill ran up Sakura's spine as she stared into Zero's red eyes. Syaoran looked at her.

"Sakura! Don't listen to him!" Syaoran cried, shaking her gently by the shoulders. "You know better. You know that he's lying! We will win. We will defeat him AND Hades! Just say you have hope!"

-Syaoran-kun's right. . . I can't give up hope. . . Not now. . . It's just the beginning. . .I will fight till the end. . . - Sakura thought to herself, the fear in her slowly evaporating a being re-placed by determination.



A/N: Well that's the end of this chapter. If you all think that this fic is going to end in a few more chapters. . . well guess what. . . you're wrong! There's still lots more chapters to add before this thing is over. . . (I think) Well don't forget to R&R! And Arigatou for the last few reviews I've been getting! ^-^