ugh....you all hate me now, I know it. I know I haven't updated in like forever, but, as always....my excuse is very lame, I kinda had a mild, or huge, writer's block, and I'm trying to finish one story, but I keep getting ideas for all these new things that keep popping into my head. So, I'll try to have other chapters come faster. (even though that might take a little or a lot of work.)

So here (finally) is the next chapter

R&R

Disclaimer: blah blah do not own, blah blah cardcaptors...blah

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Chapter 11 : Trial Part I: Still more un-answered questions,

'ugh, where is this heaviness coming from?' Sakura thought, her body feeling as if she were swimming in sticky molasses. The air around her seemed to have hummed with energy bent on slowing her down. She slowly felt her body beginning to drain of energy, all of the cards she released were drawing on her power for extra support. C'mon, c'mon! Syaoran's in danger! The litany kept playing in Sakura's head, a prominent reminder of just how little time she had to get to Syaoran before something awful happened to him. And she knew somehow, by some miracle that something bad was going to happen to her Syaoran. She glanced to her side to see that Yue was following her, his bright, almost glowing white wings spread gracefully, looking elegant and dangerous at the same time. The knot inside Sakura's stomach eased a bit, knowing her second guardian would look after her, despite the fact that he said it was purely because she was the master of the Clow cards. She knew better, she'd seen him look at her with that special glint in his eyes. That glint that told her he would protect her at any costs, even if it meant his death. She was glad for it. Not that she wanted him to die. It was just comforting to know that someone was so devoted to her like that.

Sakura almost chuckled. Yue reminded her of Toya sometimes. That undiluted, but well hidden look of annoyance when she was around Syaoran. That stoic look in his eyes. Of course, she knew that he was too polite to voice his opinion of the Chinese teen. Unlike her brother, who made it a point to criticize Syaoran when she wasn't there to defend him. Yue's concern was brotherly, just like Toya, her annoying big brother. Maybe it was because Toya had given Yue his magic, or maybe it was the connection Toya had with Yue through Yuki. Whatever it was, she was glad for it. She couldn't do this alone.

Sakura looked to the side of the street. Seeing more dark figures in cloaks approaching steadily, arms raised, and the power that rose like a ghost around they're bodies. "They're not real...." Sakura realized. Well, they weren't real in the Physical Sense, but they still had great strength. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Yue flying ahead of her, his beautifully carved face set in determination. He collided with the looming figures, and bursts of magic so strong erupted, it made Sakura's head spin for a second, her eyesight splotched with magic spots, as if someone had taken a picture.

'Go! I can handle this" Yue's magic spoke to her, a trace of something feeling remarkably like amusement lacing his powerful magic.

"Thank you" Sakura sent her power back to speak with her guardian before flying off on her great sliver-diamond wings, wondering, why, of all things, did battles amuse her second guardian. "Must be since Yukito's always the one on the outside...." Sakura mumbled, flying with renewed vigor to Syaoran's apartment.

"I'm coming Syaoran." She whispered, flying as if Hell itself were after her.

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Syaoran stared at his hands, trying, not for the first time, to call his magic. He'd felt her. Sakura, heading this direction, and instinctively reached for his magic so that he could be prepared to protect her from anything. But it wasn't there. The magic. His magic. He couldn't feel it. It was always his source of comfort when it was too hard to get through the morning. It linked to his life. Syaoran frowned, where had it gone?

He felt himself get drowsy, like all the other times he fell asleep, feeling something in the back of his mind being sucked away from him, as if by a black hole, sucking out life. Given that he wasn't dead yet, he knew it wasn't his life being sucked out of him. It was his magic. He sank down on his knees, looking around him. It was odd. His apartment didn't look like his apartment anymore. It was dark, almost sinister. Somehow, the lights were turned off, the windows dark, and a feeling of impending doom coming closer. That's when he heard it. Footsteps.

'Meiling?'

The footsteps stopped in front of him. He looked up, his vision slightly blurry from the fatigue he was suddenly feeling. There, standing in front of him, was the most sinister looking woman he had seen. Beautiful, yes, strong, yes, but any sort of compassion for him wasn't there in her eyes.

He felt her power. Representing things, jumbled, but strong. East, skies, fire, water, ice, thunder, wind, earth, power, destruction, shadows, east.....

"....Seriyuu?" Syaoran managed to stammer. The red gold eyes of the woman lit with humor. They're Irises changing as she spoke.

"Yes little Wolf, Seriyuu, One of the four god cards your lovely blossom shall soon face" She tilted her head on one side, a look of amused contemplation registering on her perfect features. "Unfortunately, it is not I she will face today, she is not ready to even face the Tarot Deck. The Hermit, The Lovers, Temperance, Death......all of those, she must face. I'm just here for a little preview of what I'm up against, Not here to interfere." She sighed and shook her head 'Sleep little wolf, this has nothing to do with you. Although their methods seem to have become more flashy since the last mistress.....ah well, no used crying over spilled blood....' She smiled at him, her left eye now an electric blue, while her right eye and bright acid green. Her lovely face broke out into a smile, a cold smile. She tilted her head to the other side, as if examining him, her eyes turning back into those blood red gold orbs, hair of blue-black ebony shone with unnatural beauty, as if carved out of satin sapphire, her eyes burned with a inner light, making them seem like gems in what little light was left in his apartment, constantly changing. Finally she spoke "Well, little wolf, tell your little blossom that I await the time when she and I will finally meet'. With that she turned around and a Black fire dragon swirled around her, sparkling like black opals as she faded in their ethereal light.

"Impressive wasn't it?' another amused, slightly awed voice said, then sighed. 'I never get tired of seeing that....' Syaoran glanced to his right, seeing another vision, with red hair, and mint green eyes dressed in a green kimono with Kanji symbols imprinted on it, there was a slit, right in between her legs, showing shapely legs, with intricately carved green designs around the ankles, glowing a steady teal color as they pulsed with magic. She smiled at him. Reminding him of a Cheshire cat that had just had a saucer of cream. 'Thank you' she giggled.

"For what...?' he thought. That's when he noticed her aura. Strong. Based on the moon. green. Syaoran's eyes widened. That was his magic! As if she had read his mind, her grin widened. 'That's right.'

The Card laughed at the look on his face, and dipped into a mocking curtsy. "Drain. At your service."

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"Dammit! Keroberus, Move faster!" Koryu all but snarled. They were in the middle of the street, surrounded by dark cloaked figures. "What am I supposed to do? They've blocked where Sakura went! And I can't feel her anymore!" the true form of Kero snapped.

"Yue's power I can still sense." Eriol said, glancing in the opposite direction. "Do you think he went with her?"

"Maybe....." Kero said, a little uncertain as he watched Koryu send a black ball of fire straight at the cloaked figures. "Some guardian you are!" Koryu yelled as charged forward, hurling more fireballs towards the ever approaching figures. Koryu's head jerked up, he looked in the opposite direction to where Yue's magic was building. "Wraith, she and some of the other Miracle cards are there." he said. almost inaudibly.

"Shit." Eriol muttered, dropping his usual amused air for something akin to annoyance. "so which way?"

"That way." Kero and Koryu intoned at the same time, staring in opposite directions.
Eriol sighed. "I'll go with Yue's direction. He'll probably have a better chance at being with Sakura then the other cards."

Koryu's eyes narrowed. "Fine. But we have to hurry. Cause if that's the wrong direction....." he trailed off, leaving Kero's imagination to go wild with all the horrible possibilities of what might happen to his card mistress. Face set with determination he ground his teeth together. "lets go."

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"Syaoran?" Sakura called, as she stepped into the apartment. "Hello? Are you in here Syaoran?"

'How rude. Don't you ever knock?" a voice said, amused scorn laced with annoyance intoned into it. Sakura's head snapped over to where the voice . Sakura swiveled just in time to avoid the *Naginata as it slammed into the wall behind her. "Where is Syoran!?" Sakura asked furiously trying to avoid another oncoming attack. The card laughed, expanding her magic as her ankles began glowing brighter. Sakura froze. "Why do you feel like Syoaran? Why do you have his magic? Where is he?" she tried to keep the panic out of her voice.

'Lets just say that I..."Borrowed it" for a little bit' The card answered, joyously, seeming more amused at Sakura's distraught.

Sakura breathed deeply, trying to keep calm when all she wanted to do was make sure Syaoran was okay......And kill this unknown card. Composing herself she stared into the green eyes of the cheerful card. "Where is Syaoran?" her voice dangerously calm.

The card shrugged. 'Not here at the moment.' then she smiled. 'but I'll take a message' Sakura gripped the handle of her sword tightly. The card giggled. 'Impatient aren't we? Well he's in another dimension. One parallel to this one. Come with me and we'll play for keeps. kay?'

"Play for keeps?" Sakura asked, slightly confused.

'Sheesh' The card rolled it's eyes. 'You really are dense. Playing for keeps. You know, winner take all?' She sighed. 'but I suppose you're too much of a goody-goody to actually play that dangerously aren't you?" Drain grinned somewhat mockingly.

Sakura's emerald eyes narrowed. "Fine, we'll play for keeps. If I win you return Syaoran to me, give him back his magic, and let me seal you without anymore complaining and, or trying to kill me. Come quietly, got it?"

Drain tiled her head sideways, leaning slightly on her Naginata. 'And what if I win?'

Sakura's smile stayed pleasant as she shrugged casually. "You won't"

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T. B .C

*Naginata- a Five foot pole with and additional three foot slightly curved blade. (similar to a halberd)

UGH!!! Finally! Sorry about the wait folks. And even then I'm afraid I didn't dish out such a good chapter. I was in a rush to get this done, I guess It's a little sloppy. But I know If I don't post it sometime soon I'll forget about it. -__-0 well, I'm working on the next chapter, so maybe I'll dole it out earlier then making you people wait. Siiigh, I know I haven't updated in like, for ever, but I guess it kinda just dropped off my radar for a whil. But I'm back now, so I'll try to finish the story soon. Kinda short too. I'll do better next time! I promise!