Aiya! Arigato for reading and supporting this fic! I'm really going to try to use more paragraphs for you guys but you see that isn't my writing style. But since you requested it, I will TRY using more paragraphs. Though I can't guarantee it. ^_^; I'm so sorry for the long delay, I took a lil vacation to Disneyland this holiday season! ^_^; Anyway, I'm back! This chapter's gonna be lil bit longer! So let's continue on with another episode of…
Card Captor Syaoran
Chapter Three: And so we meet again…
"Sakura! Watch out!" Kero warned his mistress as the mysterious Clow card attacked her once again.
"Hoe?" [I've been wanting to use this for so long!] Sakura blinked for a second and as she saw the advancing card, jumped back just in time. "Kero! I thought we sealed all of the Clow Cards! Do you think one escaped us?" She shouted as she ran to avoid the card's attacks.
Kero thought for a moment and shook his head. "Nah! I am positive Clow Reed only made 52 cards! And we have caught all of them! Besides…" Kero said as he stared at the mysterious card, this isn't anything like the others!" Sakura nodded hastily before dodging to the left.
This was definitely not one of her cards. This card looked like a combination of a human and a Clow card. It had a human face with flowing long gold tresses and a human female body but its eyes were golden and an emerald orb was centered on its forehead. It was also flying with wings of blue fire. It was quite a sight to behold. And it had nearly shocked all of them out of their wits when it spoke.
"You are not the one." It had said in dismay.
"Hoe?" Sakura said confused.
"Sakura! What are you standing around for? Kero yelled as he got over the shock of hearing the Clow card speak. "Seal it now!" he instructed.
"Hai!" Sakura nodded as she got out her pendant.
Key of Clow
Power of Magic!
Power of Light!
Surrender the wand
The force ignite!
Release!
"Put away your wand, little girl. I wish not to fight you." It said with a cold female voice.
Sakura placed her wand in front of her determinedly. "I don't want to fight you too but I can't let you harm anyone any more!" She threw a glance at all of the people that were lying face down at the park. Everything including trees, animals and plants had seemed to fall dead whenever the card touched them with its blue firey wings.
"I can't let you kill!" Sakura said firmly.
"Very well. You have just assured your death." It said before attacking her. And it had been doing so for quite a while now. Nothing Sakura ever seemed to do worked. She had tried almost every one of her cards and all of them have failed to stop the rampaging card.
She was desperately running out of options. I wish Syaoran-kun was here. she thought as she avoided one of the card's sweeping attacks. And as she did so she had surprised herself. She hadn't thought about him for months. She even prided herself for getting over him. She sighed inwardly and decided to face the awful truth. She had never gotten over losing him. She knew in her deepest thoughts that even though she was acting like she had forgotten him, she was still very much in love with him. And with the way things were going it looked like she would love him for the rest of her life. She winced. The thought that losing him was of her own doing killed her slowly each day. She didn't know how much of this she could take. Without him, she was gradually going insane.
It drove her crazy knowing she could do absolutely nothing to get him back. It was too late. By now, he was probably married to Meilin. Perfectly happy with his life and had forgotten all about her. She couldn't ruin his life by barging into it again. She had already done it once and she won't do it to him again. Besides, he probably hated her. And she deserved it.
But still, I wish he were here. He always protected me from danger. She thought with a wistful smile.
"SAKURA! Snap out of it! It's coming at you again!" Tomoyo yelled at her, pointing at the space behind her while juggling the camera in her hands. Sakura dodged quickly but was hit on her right shoulder. She stared in horror as she felt her right arm go numb. She couldn't move it! The card smiled at its handiwork and prepared to swoop down again.
"Oh no you don't!" Kero shouted at the card as he tried to protect his mistress. "Look here! I don't know what card you are or where the hell you came from. But I am the Guardian Beast of the Seal and I won't let you harm my mistress!" he said bravely.
"That's very touching, stuffed animal. Really. But I can't let you go free now, Can I?" the card said solemnly.
"Hey! I am NOT a stuffed animal!" Kero shouted. Geez! It sounds like that Chinese brat! He thought.
Sakura clutched her dead arm tightly and made a run for it. But as she neared the huge Sakura tree in the park, the only tree that the card hadn't killed, she tripped on one of the tree's roots. Oh no! she bit her lip as she desperately tried to get up but had difficulty doing so. The card seeing her chance flicked Kero aside and swiftly made its way towards the cardcaptor.
Sakura watched in fear as the card hovered above her. It had fully opened it blue firey wings ready to embrace her with its spell of death. The leaves of the tree behind her rustled. She looked around her desperately searching of a way out but found none. She gulped, closed her eyes and when she opened them once more saw Sakura blossoms falling gently around her. She smiled sweetly as she found it appropriate to be covered with the blossoms of the tree that had lent her its name in her death. And as she saw the card's descent, although she had already accepted her impeding death, she screamed unconsciously the name of the person that would forever be inscribed in her heart, "SYAORAN!!!"
The whole world seemed to be in slow motion for Syaoran as he watched Sakura battle helplessly with the card. Once they had gotten to the source of the magic power, the fight had already started. He had then decided that he wouldn't help. She could handle her own. Besides, she isn't the Sakura Card's mistress for nothing. he had reasoned. "Stay here. Do not interfere." He had ordered them. Xian who had recently joined them merely nodded his unruly red head and obeyed without question.
Raiju on the other hand wasn't too happy with his master's orders. "But Syaoran-sama they need our help!" Raiju protested as he looked up at Syaoran. He had just seen his brother for the first time in over a hundred years and Kero was being beaten into a bloody pulp! He winced as the card hit Kero. He had to do something! Raiju started to fly towards where Kero had landed but was stopped by his loyalty to Syaoran. For now, he had to trust that his master had a good reason why he wouldn't let them help. Raiju bit his lip as he remembered his master's apparent dislike for his brother. Surely he didn't hate him enough to want him dead? he thought worriedly.
Syaoran watched the fight very closely, never leaving his eyes on the two. And each time Sakura got hit his heart involuntarily ached. He cursed himself silently. He had said he was over her. He had pledged to have forgotten all about the pretty little cardcaptor that had stolen his heart all those years ago and had broken it as well. He had said he didn't love her. Well…he lied.
To himself. To everyone and he had done it well. Because for months he had not once even thought of her. And that convinced him that he was no longer in her spell. That he was no longer desperately in love with someone who didn't love him. And never would. But now, well now he had awakened to reality. For seeing her lovely face again had forced him to see the truth in his lies. He was still that little boy desperately in love with the girl who didn't feel the same. In fact, he had always been that boy and it seems that he always will be.
He sighed inwardly as Sakura took another hit. He caught a glimpse of her dress and smiled in spite of himself. After all of these years, Tomoyo was still up to her old tricks. Dressing Sakura up in her wild costumes. She was probably hiding behind a bush videotaping the whole thing. Some things never change.
Raiju carefully studied his master. Syaoran had fallen into a somewhat deep and thoughtful mood as he stared intensely at the battle before them. Something about the fight was bothering his master. Maybe it's the girl. Raiju thought as he looked at the pretty auburn-haired girl wearing a silly sailor costume. She is the Sakura Card's mistress, isn't she? Then she must have worked very closely with Syaoran-sama! But why wouldn't he want to help her? Raiju thought confused.
Seeing that his beloved cardcaptor had tripped and couldn't get up, he couldn't take it any longer. He could and would never let anything happen to his beloved. He had to help her. No matter what. He motioned Xian and said, "Levitate everyone."
"Everyone, my lord?" Xian asked him. "Yes, every single one of them." He answered.
Xian nodded and as he placed his right arm in front of him and held up two of his fingers, he shouted. "LEVITATE!" And all at once everything was slowly being lifted up into the air.
Syaoran almost fell out of the branch he was standing on when he heard her shout for him. As the threat of certain death hovered around her, she had called for him. Not Yukito, Touya or even her insufferable guardian, Kero but HIM. He, whom she hadn't laid eyes on for two years. He, whom she had said she couldn't wait for. He, whom she no longer loved. But why? Syaoran didn't have time to ponder this for he saw the card preparing itself to make its final attack.
"HOE?" Sakura gasped as she felt herself being levitated into the air, away from the card. What was going on? She hadn't used the fly card or any of her cards but still was she floating up high into the air! Her eyes widened in amazement as she saw that everyone was floating too! Even Kero, Madison and the people that were struck by the card were floating.
"Sakura! Did you use your cards?" Tomoyo asked her as she floated near her. She shook her head. Who could possibly be levitating them?
Syaoran quickly took out a green card with golden Chinese markings and held it up to the emerald orb in his band. He chanted his ancient incantation:
Source of Light
Power of Prophecy
Send for thy magic
Fulfill thy destiny!
And as he chanted those ancient words his emerald began to glow. "Syaoran Static Card! RELEASE AND DISPEL!" Instantly sparks of electricity descended on the ground, burning everything on the earth including the mysterious card.
The card writhed in pain as electric sparks bruised its body. Sakura stared at the sight before her. What the heck had just happened?
"Stay here and make sure nothing happens to any of them." Syaoran ordered Xian. Syaoran then decided it was time to make his appearance. He looked over at Raiju who nodded determinedly in return. In a split second he leaped off the tree and landed gingerly on his feet. He was followed quickly by a flying Raiju. "Syaoran Card, I have come for you!" he said solemnly.
The card slowly got up and looked at him. "And so you have…" Then it turned to Raiju and addressed him, "We meet again, Raijiku-san."
"So you are the chosen one." It said as it studied him intently. "I can't say I'm not disappointed. I expected someone a bit more…older."
"Hey! He may be young but you have another thing coming if you think he isn't qualified!" Raiju shouted defensively.
The card smiled at the lion cub, "You haven't changed a bit."
Raiju put folded his arms across his chest. "Hmp! And why should I?"
Syaoran sweatdropped as he watched the two. "I hate to interrupt this little reunion." He said with a smirk. "But isn't there a fight to be finished?"
The card gained its composure and nodded. "Then let the battle begin! Show me, cardcaptor, that you and only you are worthy of my power!" And with that the card jumped up and flew into the air.
Syaoran looked at Raiju. "Raiju! Do you know what card it is we've got here?"
"Umm…" Raiju sweatdropped, "not exactly."
"NANI?" Syaoran fell down anime-style. "What do you mean not exactly?!"
Raiju twiddled his fingers as he nervously looked at the ground. "There were so many cards and I was asleep for so long… I kinda can't tell exactly who the cards are just by looking at them."
"WHAT?" Syaoran exclaimed as he hit Raiju lightly on the head. "Baka guardian!"
"Well, you would forget too if you slept for a hundred years! Hey! It ain't easy remembering 52 cards!" Raiju sulked as he folded his arms.
"Fine! Fine! Do you even have the slightest idea of what card it could be?" Syaoran yelled as he dodged the card.
Raiju rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. "Give me a minute to think."
Syaoran nodded then turned to the flying card. Running after it, he quickly took out his long sword and jumped up high. As he neared the card, he brought down the sword on it. The card swerve left just in time and taunted him. "You aren't going to catch me that easily, young man."
Syaoran landed daintily on his feet. "This isn't going to be easy." He thought. He clenched his jaw and went after it again. To the normal eye they were just a blur but to a skillful one, a long and hard battle was being played out. Syaoran grimaced as he felt the card's punch connect with his jaw. He was too late to avoid that one. The card kicked again but he was able to sluggishly move out of its reach.
Get off it, you idiot! He berated himself. Desperately trying to concentrate his mind on the card and not on a certain emerald eyed girl who was floating a few inches above them. He felt his knee give out under him as the card cleanly swiped him with its foot. He groaned as he fell but quickly regained his balance by using his sword as support.
"Stop it!" the card screamed at him. "Why aren't you taking me seriously! Are you taunting me? Is that it?!" it yelled angrily. "Why aren't you giving it your best? You are better than this!" it said in frustration.
To say that Sakura was stunned was an understatement. She was absolutely floored when she saw Syaoran leap out of the tree and come once again to her rescue. Could this mean that he still he cared for her? She vehemently shook her head as to chase her daydreams out of her head. He couldn't possibly still love her after all this time and after what she had done to him. But still, she thought, it was nice to dream.
The card's golden eyes flashed dangerously with annoyance. The boy wasn't even trying to hit her as hard as he could! It then spotted Xian nearby. It narrowed its golden eyes and said to Syaoran, "Maybe you need more incentive to beat me!" Syaoran noticed too late what the card intended to do. It had already struck Xian.
"NO!" Syaoran shouted but he knew it was useless. Even with all his speed, he wouldn't get to Xian in time. As Xian fell to the ground, everyone started to fall down immediately for his powers were no longer levitating them.
"Brother!" Raiju shouted as he flew top speed to catch Kero just in time. Phew! The lion cub sighed in relief. Then grimaced as he felt Kero's weight. "What have they been feeding you, Kero? Boy! You're heavy!"
Syaoran's eyes went wide as he realized what was happening. He caught Sakura as she started to fall. No one even noticed that he had moved from his position. How did he do that? Raiju thought to himself as he saw Syaoran's fast catch. His speed was unbelievable!
"Are you alright?" he asked her in a half whisper. For the first time in two years, his chocolate eyes met emerald ones.
Sakura nodded wordlessly, still in shock. Her mind just wouldn't register that Syaoran was here and he was holding her! That it was really his strong arms enveloping her. Her emerald eyes began to fill with tears of joy as she continued to stare at Syaoran. "You're here." Sakura said wonder in her voice.
Syaoran nodded solemnly. "And I always will be..." he silently added to himself.
As Syaoran landed gently on the pavement, he held her for a moment longer before releasing her. He had missed her so much that it was pure torture for him to let her out of his protective embrace. They stood there in silence. Each unaware of everything around them, they were both caught up with the sight of each other. Even Syaoran, the supposedly cardcaptor of the Syaoran Cards, had forgotten that there even was a rampaging card to catch.
Wow! She's more beautiful than the last I saw her. Syaoran thought as he continued to unconsciously stare at the lovely lady before him. His eyes gently traced her sweet pretty face, her creamy ivory white skin, and her long honey silk hair that fell past her shoulders. He had to violently restrain himself from just reaching up and running his fingers through her long silky tresses. Her inevitable rejection embedded on his mind. But then the sugary sweet smell of her fragrance tickled his senses, teasing him to take just take one step a little bit closer…
Sakura was unable to tear her eyes away from Syaoran's definitive form. And even if she were able to do so she wouldn't want to move an inch! Syaoran sure looks different! Definitely cuter! She blushed as she thought this. But she couldn't help admire his strong tall build, (He was a good 3 inches taller than her.), his solemn handsome face, not to mention the way his long amber hair was framing his hazel eyes. She wanted so much to brush his hair away from his eyes but she restrained herself. His inevitable rejection clearly on her mind. But the spicy smell of autumn that always enveloped Syaoran assaulted her, tempting her to take a little step nearer to close the gap between them...
"Syaoran-sama?" Raiju said bewildered by his master's behavior. Not only was he completely ignoring the card but he was also staring at the girl in front of him so hard Raiju was afraid the girl would melt. What was going on here?
They both snapped out of their trance at the same time as the thought of the other's rejection penetrated their minds. Sakura gazed nervously at the floor. What was she thinking? She almost couldn't resist the urge to kiss him! But that was the problem she wasn't thinking. Her brain seemed to malfunction whenever he was within 2 feet of distance. But what she didn't know was that Syaoran was thinking the very same thing as he awkwardly stared into empty space.
The card who had just about enough of their ignoring her screamed in fury, "Now you're just plain mocking me!" "Arrrghhhh!" it yelled as it blasted them with its power.
Syaoran quickly grabbed Sakura's hand then as he shielded her from the raging card's attacks shouted to her, "Run! Run and find a safe place for yourself!"
Sakura shook her head. "No! I won't leave! What about you?"
"Look you have to! I have to face this card and I can't let you get hurt!" Oops! Did he just say that? Sakura too was stunned by his outburst. Did that mean that he still cared for her? But before she could react, he roughly pushed her away and began running in the opposite direction. "Sakura, use the shield card!" he said as he took one last look at her.
Sakura started to go after him but decided against it. She would give him the space he needed. "Shield Card, she commanded as she placed her wand in front of her, Release and Dispel! Shield Card!" And sure enough a barrier materialized around her. Movement in the bushes behind her caught Sakura's attention. "Tomoyo!" she cried out in relief. "Thank Kami your safe! Get in here quick before Cruela de Vil strikes again!" And as Tomoyo scooted out of the bushes and into the safety of the shield, Sakura couldn't help but bite her lower lip and worry about the handsome warrior who was risking his life yet again to save them.
The card muttered something unintelligible under its breath as it tried to hit its young opponent but to no avail he was just too damn fast! Kisama! When the hell did he get so fast? It thought in frustration as it attacked him once again but Syaoran merely dodged it. The card looked around bewilderedly trying to think of a way to divert his attention and catch the young sorcerer off guard. Its golden eyes rested on the unconscious Xian that lay haphazardly on the park's floor. He would do. It thought evilly.
"Raiju! Do you know what card it is yet?!" Syaoran barked at the young lion. He was getting a bit tired from all of this dodging.
The cub smiled sheepishly at his master, "Not yet…But I do have a few facts on the cards. The cards who are by nature designed to challenge the cardcaptor's worth often do it by a certain technique so as to confuse the cardcaptor of their true identity.
Syaoran looked bewilderedly at the cub as he swerved to the left to avoid another attack. "Translation?! And I prefer it in English (Japanese) please!"
"Gomen!" Raiju said, "What I mean is that the card, to cause confusion, would usually behave opposite to its true identity. If this is correct then that means this card is-"
"The Life Card!" Syaoran finished for him. It made sense! Its power was turning animate things to inanimate ones. Raiju nodded his approval.
But the joy of their discovery was cut short by Xian's cries of pain, which were intensified by the card's attacks. Syaoran quickly went to Xian's side. He kneeled beside Xian. "Are you alright?" he asked in concern over his fallen companion.
Xian nodded slowly then through clenched teeth he said to Syaoran, "Master, Leave me! Get out of here quick! It will strike again!"
Syaoran shook his head, "I will not leave you!"
"But Syaoran-sama, you could get hurt and it would only be on my account! Please you must be unharmed. You are our leader and master! You cannot be hurt!"
Syaoran laid a hand on his shoulder, "Be that as it may, I cannot and will not leave you here to die!"
Through tears Xian could not help but ask him, "Why?"
"Yes, the card who had descended onto the ground interjected, why?" "Why would the inaugurated leader and master of the Li clan and the chosen cardcaptor of the Syaoran cards risk his own life for a mere servant?"
Syaoran squeezed Xian's shoulder gently and stood up, placing himself between the card and the fallen Xian. "Because to me he isn't a 'mere servant'! He has a life as equally important as mine. Maybe not materially but in every other way that matters, his life is equally valuable as mine. And I dare challenge any soul that tries to harm him." He answered.
Xian gasped as he heard his master's reply. No one in his entire life has held him in such high regard! Such humility in a Li Clan master was impossible to find, almost unheard of! Xian could not help but be in awe of his master's modesty.
The card broke into a wide smile as it heard his reply. Now it knew he truly was the one. For only someone with that kind of respect for all forms of life regardless of stature or appearance was worthy to be called its master. "Come Li Syaoran. You have earned my respect, loyalty and service for only a pure soul like yours could control my power. You must also know that life and death go hand in hand. Death is as inevitable as birth. And both powers must always be used with extreme caution and rarity."
Syaoran wiped his forehead. Phew! Finally! He thought as he brought out his long sword. "Syaoran Life Card! Return to your power confined! Life Card!" he chanted as he hit the card squarely on its chest.
The card's emerald orb glowed coinciding with the glowing of the one embedded in Syaoran's band as it changed to its card form. "I am now yours, master." It whispered softly before it was completely altered into card form. With the Life card's power now safely contained, everything it had touched returned to normal.
With the Life card now securely in his hand, Syaoran let himself fall back onto the ground beside Xian. They were in a spot safely hidden away from the prying eyes of the Life card's former victims. "Phew! He exhaled loudly. That was the hardest one yet!" he said to Xian.
Xian cautiously glanced at Syaoran looking as if he was debating something in his head. "What is it Xian?" he asked noticing his companion's discomfort.
Hesitantly Xian said, "I was just wondering if- Well what you said awhile ago-" then he stopped himself. "Never mind master, it doesn't matter. Gomen for disturbing you." But as he turned a way he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Is it about what I said to the card?" Xian nodded diffidently. Syaoran looked directly into his eyes and said, "I meant every word." Xian smiled at him, obviously relieved.
Just then Raiju came flying at them, zooming straight into Syaoran's arms. "That was so great! You really handled that one!" Raiju exclaimed joyously as he gave his master a hug.
"Gee thanks that was a hard capture, no thanks to you!" Syaoran teased his guardian.
"HEY! A guardian does what he can!" Raiju cried defensively. "And I'm not really intimidating anyone with this as you say 'stuffed toy' body of mine, you know!"
Syaoran laughed as he patted Raiju affectionately on the head. "Don't blame me! I'm not the one who put you in there!"
Sakura ran towards Syaoran and as soon as she saw him her eyes lit up. He wasn't hurt! Heck! He wasn't even scratched! Her joy and relief overwhelming her, she quickly lunged at Syaoran the minute she was near enough. And for the second time in one day, Sakura was in Syaoran's arms. "I am so glad you're okay!" she cried happily into his chest.
Syaoran blushed to the roots of his hair as he sat there totally conscious of Sakura's body pressing close to his. He nervously patted her on the back for lack of knowing what to do. In the corner of his eye, he saw Raiju and Xian trying desperately to cover up their laughter both of them finding it hilarious that Syaoran was so uncomfortable and so red he'd looked like he was going to explode! He shot them both one of his famous death glares. True, he hadn't used them for quite some time now but he knew he still had it for they both promptly shut up.
"Hey! Stop that you Chinese brat!" someone shouted distantly. "Get off that Chinese gaki, Sakura!"
"Well it's nice to see you too, Kero." Syaoran muttered under his breath.
"HOE?" Sakura gasped as she realized just exactly what she was doing. She quickly let go of Syaoran as if she was burned. She then bowed politely, "Gomen, Syaoran! I didn't mean to-"
Syaoran shook his head dismissing her apologies, "It's ok, Sakura."
"Hey Syaoran! You're back!" Tomoyo greeted him as she came towards them. Then eyeing his clothes she remarked, "Nice costume by the way."
Syaoran lightly blushed at the comment as he surveyed his red robe and consciously smoothed out the dragon pattern emblazoned on his chest. "Gee thanks Tomoyo…I think." He replied awkwardly.
Just then Kero reached them, seeing his brother, Raiju pounced happily on him causing them both to topple unto the pavement. "I'm so happy to see you again brother!" he exclaimed.
Sakura and Tomoyo stared at the two lion cubs entangled on the ground. Kero had a brother?
"What?! Raiju? Is it really you?" Kero exclaimed stunned by his brother's arrival. Raiju nodded happily.
"But why are you here? Weren't you suppose to only be awake when the chosen one was-" then Kero's eyes widened as a realization struck him. "Oh No! No! No! No! No! It can't be! That would mean-! The Chinese gaki is-!" Kero blabbered unable to form a coherent sentence.
Raiju nodded happily once again and flew to Syaoran's shoulder. "Keroberus, my dear brother, This is my master and the cardcaptor of the Syaoran Cards, Li Syaoran!
Kero gaped at his brother. He couldn't believe it! That Chinese brat was the chosen one? The one Clow Reed himself had given the sole power to control his Little Wolf cards? Kero then winced and smacked himself over the head as he realized, "Little Wolf = Syaoran! Augh! How could I've been so blind? I should have noticed he wasn't an ordinary kid!"
Sakura and Tomoyo sweatdropped at the sight before them. Why was Kero acting so weird? And what the heck are Syaoran Cards? Now what was going on here?
Kero noticing the girls' confusion decided to make introductions, turning to his mistress he said, "Sakura, this is my brother and the guardian beast of the Syaoran Cards, Raijiku."
Raiju flew over to Sakura and politely kissed her hand. "My friends call me Raiju." He said with a smile. Sakura lightly blushed and returned his friendly smile.
"And Tomoyo this is Raiju. Tomoyo is Sakura's bestfriend who also captures our adventures on film and makes Sakura's costumes." Kero explained. Raiju in turn repeated the same gesture he gave to Sakura.
"Aren't you the charmer!" Tomoyo said teasingly. Kero smiled and winked, "What can I say? It runs in the family!"
"And this, Kero continued his introductions as he turned to Xian who was standing protectively behind Syaoran, is a guy I've never seen before!"
Raiju laughed and introduced Xian, "This is Xian, the clan's appointed companion for our little cardcapturing adventure." Xian bowed politely to the girls and quickly stepped back behind Syaoran.
"The Card! Was that a Syaoran card?" Kero asked curiously. Raiju folded his arms and nodded solemnly. "Our hardest capture yet."
"Raiju? Sakura asked him, What's a 'Syaoran Card'?"
Raiju smiled kindly at Sakura and explained, "After the Clow Cards, Clow Reed made a second pack of cards and of course he created me to guard them until the chosen one was ready to claim the cards' powers. Clow Reed made those cards for they were crucial in maintaining the future's state of nature. Because of the great force of these cards' power only one person could contain their magic and be able to live through it. Clow Reed himself chose that person and he is my master Syaoran."
Both Sakura and Tomoyo gaped at Syaoran, stunned by this new knowledge. There was a new pack of uncaptured cards? And he was the chosen one?
Syaoran gulped nervously under their stares. He silently cursed Raiju in his head. Damn that Raiju! He thought. Now they would all get involved! I don't want anyone else to be involved in this! This is my duty and my duty alone! No one else can be mixed up in this!
Suddenly Tomoyo snapped out of her shock and began to jump up and down excitedly, clutching Sakura's hands. "Do you know what this means Sakura? I'll get to videotape more of your cardcaptoring! And I'll get to make new costumes for you too!"
Sakura sweatdropped. I wonder if that's such a good thing? she thought. Wow! This means I'll be able to work with Syaoran again! Just like old times, cardcaptoring side by side! She thought excitedly.
Uh-oh! I know that look in her face, Syaoran thought nervously, and it says 'I can't wait to go cardcaptoring!' Better put a stop to this right now! He thought determinedly.
"Hey! Who's up for some ice cream?" Kero said enthusiastically. "Ice cream? What's that?" Raiju asked curiously. "Oh brother! Have I got a lot to teach you!" Kero said excitedly as he put his arm around his brother's shoulder.
"No! Kinomoto you can't capture these cards!" Syaoran said silently. Everyone turned to him in shock.
" What d'ya mean Sakura can't capture the Syaoran Cards, brat?" Kero spat in his face.
" What I meant, stuffed toy, is that since I AM the only one who can capture them anyway then there would be no reason why she should even try capturing them!" Syaoran said evenly.
"But Syaoran I want to help even though I can't capture them myself!" Sakura said gently reaching out to hold his hand in hers. "You were there to help me and rescue me each and every time I was in trouble capturing the Clow cards. I-I just want to do the same thing for you." She said brokenly feeling her tears fill her eyes.
Syaoran roughly pulled his hand out of hers and said, "I don't need your help! I can do this by myself!" Then steeling himself he went on to vehemently say, "You would only be in the way!"
Everyone around him was shocked by his words and actions. But before any one of them could react, Syaoran turned his back and said, "I'm leaving, Raijiku if you want to stay that is your decision you know where the apartment is." Then turning to Sakura, he met her tear filled emerald eyes and warned her coldly, "Do not get involved." And with a blink of an eye, he was gone and so was Xian.
As Syaoran raced back to their apartment he thought, Please listen Sakura. I don't want you to ever get hurt! Especially not because of me. And with the cold blanket of the black night, he leaped of rooftops and went home, hating himself all the way.
Raiju watched his master disappear into the cold night, then he sadly turned to the others. "Gomen, I have to be with him." Then to his brother who was seething over Syaoran words he said, "Maybe another time, Kero."
Kero rustled up a sad smile and said, "Yeah sure Raiju!"
Raiju then prepared to fly off but before he did he turned to the three, "Sayonara! It was nice meeting all of you!" Then he added solemnly, "Please try to understand my master. He may seem to be cold and impossible at times but he never does anything that wasn't what he thought would be the best for everyone." And with that said the lion cub was gone.
"Can you believe the nerve of that kid! Telling my mistress to back off the Syaoran Cards! Ha! As if we would ever do that!" Kero fumed. "Right, Sakura?" he questioned her "Umm? Sakura? Hello? Is anyone in there?" he flew in front of her stunned face and wildly flapped his arms to get her attention.
Huh? She grunted as she snapped out of her trance. She was just pondering what Raiju had said to them before he left. She knew that the white lion cub was right. Syaoran would never say those things just to hurt her. She knew deep in her heart that he just didn't want any of them to get hurt but still! Even though his intentions were noble Sakura will not back down from a fight! She needed to help him! After all that he's done for her it was time for her to pay him back! She would help him capture those cards whether he liked it or not! Sakura's eyes were filled with determination as she faced Kero, "Of course not Kero! Sakura Kinomoto is a cardcaptor and I will help him whether he likes it or not!"
Kero gave her a high five and said, "Now that's the spirit Sakura!" Tomoyo joined in their elation, happy that she would be able to get some action once again. And in the midst of their happiness, Kero shouted loudly, The Sakura-gumi is back in business!"
Now that Syaoran and Sakura had met what will happen next? How's Syaoran going to react when he sees that Sakura didn't heed his warning? Where will the Syaoran card strike next? Will Raiju ever know the true joy of that wonderful thing called 'ice cream'? Don't miss out on the next episode of… Card Captor Syaoran!
So did you enjoy this chapter? Hope you did! Please review! It would really help to get some serious feedback from you guys! If you want to contact me for whatever, email is webmistress@rkfan.com! PLEASE REVIEW! All forms of reactions are welcome! And yeah this is a S+S fic! And no I do NOT own Cardcaptor Sakura! So don't sue me! I'm not a lawyer yet! ^_^;
--------------------
*Note*
Hey peeps! According to Fire Angel a bishounen is a feminine man. Now I'm confused bcoz I've always thought that it meant a "good looking man"? Hoe? Can someone please clarify this for me? I'm so confused @_@! ~*:Syaoran-kun:*~