Author's Notes: I am not DEAD. I am still here. So sorry to have caused you worry, anxiety, frustration, sadness and anger. But finally after 1-2 years. Card Captor Syaoran has another chapter out. Really sorry about that long wait! Thank you so much to all those people who have written their support and shame on those who have threatened me bodily harm have I not continued this fic sweatdrops Anyways, without further ado...
standard disclaimer applies
"Syaoran?" Sakura called out uncertainly through the darkness. Oh dear I wonder where he is? How will I find him? It's so dark! It's creepy here! Sakura thought bewilderedly to herself, suddenly feeling very alone and very afraid. How on earth was she going to find Syaoran without Kero?
A picture of a dying Syaoran flashed through her mind causing her to wince. "Okay, Sakura. You can do this. He's always been there for you whenever you needed him." She resolutely said to herself. She straightened herself determinedly and wiped away the last of her tears.
"It's time I paid you back, Syaoran." She whispered hoarsely.
Feeling much better and less afraid, she got out her Sakura Cards. "Firey Card. RELEASE!" She summoned and instantly the card's brilliance illuminated the area.
Sakura stared in disbelief at the seemingly endless void of green space. She gulped loudly as she stared into the miles and miles of empty green. HOE?!
Card Captor Syaoran
Chapter 7: Return to Me
"A yen for your thoughts?" Myushida gently asked Syaoran who had been staring silently into empty green space for quite sometime.
"Huh?" Syaoran said, startled out of the deep thoughts going through his head.
"I said a yen for your thoughts? Or does it cost a lot more these days?" Myushida wondered with a smile.
"Oh I didn't realize I was out of it for so long." Syaoran said lamely, trying to change the subject for he didn't want to discuss his thoughts.
Myushida still smiled and gently prodded him on. "Something is bothering you. I can tell. What is on your mind? Maybe I can help?"
Syaoran chuckled to himself as he looked at Myushida in exasperation. "You know, for an ancient dragon, you sure are nosy!"
"Oh I wouldn't call it being nosy." Myushida insisted with an earnest grin. "Just concerned, that's all."
"Fine. If you want to know what's on my mind I'll tell you." Syaoran said, giving up on concealing his worries from the concerned dragon. Perhaps the ancient dragon can help him. After all he knows more about all this than he does. "I-I don't know much about these cards I'm after. I mean I know they were created by Clow Reed for the future and all that but what happens after I collect them all? Will I have to convert them into Syaoran Cards like Sakura did to the Clow Cards? How can they balance the future?"
Myushida shook his head gently. "Tsk. Tsk. It is true you have a lot of hardships ahead. Now you've told me you have captured the Reverse and Life Card. These are some of the hardest cards to catch and you have succeeded. I don't doubt that you will succeed in capturing the others also especially since you're doing it with your guardians' help." Myushida smiled fondly at the boy in front of him. "I do not know how the cards will work when the pack is completed or what happens after that. It is a secret Clow Reed has kept to himself. But I do know that he has full confidence in you. That you, Little One, will fulfill the Card's destiny. The answer to your questions lies within the future and within yourself."
Syaoran scowled at the smiling dragon, annoyed that his questions were no closer to being answered than when he hadn't asked it. "Well that's something I could have gotten from a fortune cookie! Can't you tell me anything specific? And don't call me Little One!" Syaoran said annoyed at being called little.
Myushida's smile didn't waver one bit amidst Syaoran's temper and he said, "I cannot tell you what you have to do in the future that has to come from you. We all must determine our own paths. No matter what anyone says."
Syaoran laughed sarcastically. "Really now? And where does the Prophecy of the Chosen fit into that little philosophy? I am bound by it and I have no choice but to be on this path that I'm on which has been designated for me even before I was born!" He said bitterly.
"Contrary to what you think and feel right now, Little One, you are not a prisoner. You are on this path because you want no harm to fall on others and you want to save this world of yours. No one is forcing you to do this but I know as well as you do, that you will not be able to live with yourself if you let these cards run loose. For these and many other reasons I suspect is why Clow Reed chose you." Myushida reassured him smilingly.
Syaoran listened closely to Myushida's wise words. He knew the dragon was right but he still didn't like it. Hmp! Syaoran grunted as he folded his arms across his chest. "Well then stop calling me Little One! What is up with that anyways?"
Myushida smiled, his mind far away and his heart focused on a distant fond memory. "Have I been calling you that? I am sorry I didn't realize. Gomen." Myushida said still smiling softly.
Syaoran waited for an explanation when it was clear he wasn't getting one from the dazed dragon he said impatiently, "Well? Why are you calling me that?"
"Oh it's because you remind me greatly of someone I know. He used to act and talk the same way you do. All cold and distant but deep inside we all knew he was a real softy." Myushida said with a grin.
"NANI? I AM NOT A SOFTY!" Syaoran shouted in indignation.
That made Myushida roar with laughter. And through his mirth one can hear him say, "Th-that i-is haha exactly what he said haha when I told him that! Haha!" Myushida laughed uncontrollably. "He used to be exactly like the silent thinking type. Then he met me! Good thing he did or he'd probably died of boredom! Ahaha!"
Syaoran's frown deepened as he watched Myushida continue to shake with laughter. "Who is it that I remind you so much of?" Syaoran asked irritably.
"Why, Little One ... Clow Reed of course." The dragon said with a smile.
Back in Syaoran's room
"Don't worry yourself too much, brother" Kero tried to calm the frazzled white cub.
Raiju plastered a fake smile on his face and said in what he hoped was a calm voice, "I am calm, Kero!"
"Of course you are." Kero said unconvinced as he stared at his brothers shaking paws. "That's why you're paws are shaking. It's a sign of your unshakable calm."
Raiju smiled weakly at his brother in an attempt to reassure him that he wasn't completely loosing his cool under the circumstances before them. He's gonna be okay. Sakura will get him out of his coma. Raiju thought to himself.
Kero looked carefully at his trembling brother who was virtually shaking with fear although his face was determined not to show it. It bothered him to see Raiju this way for he had never seen him this distraught and unfocused. Then suddenly it dawned on him. "You really like this Li kid huh?" Kero stated quietly astonished that his own brother who was so like him could come to love the little brat he himself detested so much.
Raiju lifted his sore tear-stained eyes to meet his brother. "Yes. For not only is he my master, he is my friend and from what I have come to learn about Syaoran is that it's an honor he rarely bestows on people."
Kero nodded as he left to leave his brother with his thoughts. He looked around the room as he neared the door. In a corner Kero saw Xian, his shoulders slumped against the wall, his face hidden in the shadows of where he sat.
With one last glance of the occupants of the room Kero shut the door behind him thinking, "You better get back soon Sakura. I don't know how much longer they could hold on to their sanity if you don't"
Meanwhile...
"Augh! I've been walking around here for hours and still no Syaoran!" Sakura grumbled tiredly. A faint glow caught the corner of her eye and she quickly followed it. She stared dumbstruck at the figure before her. The Dream Card?! But this would mean she was back where she started! AUGHHHHH! She yelled exasperatedly. She's been going around in circles! Now how was she supposed to find Syaoran?
Think Sakura Think! Sakura berated herself as she felt to her knees in desperation. "Oh no!" Sakura cried out as she got a closer look at the Dream Card. The Card was visibly tired and its magical glow was slowly flickering out. This could only mean one thing...
Time was running out...
"NANI? Clow Reed was short?!" Syaoran burst out in surprise. In the times he pictured Clow Reed, he always thought of the great Li Clan master as powerful, foreboding, and high above everyone else, which also inadvertently meant in stature.
Myushida roared with laughter at Syaoran's incredulous face. How he loved wiping that cold indifferent mask Syaoran always seemed to wear. The dragon shook its massive head. "Well to me it seemed like he was!" Myushida smiled as he puffed his chest and arose to his impressive size.
Syaoran looked at the dragon warily. "Well of course he's small compared to you! Hell! Mountains are miniscule compared to your size!" He snickered sarcastically.
Myushida abruptly stopped laughing at this and started for Syaoran with an intense look on his face. Syaoran backed away cautiously, idly wondering if he had finally angered the great giant dragon. After all from the minute he had met Myushida, the dragon was anything but predictable.
Myushida frowned at Syaoran intensely and said, "Nani? You think I'm fat?"
Syaoran roared with laughter at this unexpected question. The thought of a gigantic guardian dragon worrying about his weight was too much. First he had a talkative and food obsessed stuff toy for a guardian, now he had to deal with a weight watching dragon too? Where in the world did Clow Reed get all his guardians?! He thought as he roared in waves of laughter.
Myushida smiled knowingly at the boy who was helplessly laughing at his feet. "Clow Reed had the same answer too." He said quietly.
Meanwhile...
Sakura threw down herself on the illuminating green floor. "This is no use! I've been going around in circles and there's no sign of Syaoran anywhere!" Sakura grumbled as she raked her hair in frustration. In the distance she could see the faint glow of the Dream Card slowly ebbing away.
"Pull yourself together! There's no use in thinking negatively." She chided herself as she resolutely got up again. "Now Kero isn't here to help you get out of this one and that's okay because you can get through this." She said to herself.
"Syaoran!" she called out to the green darkness but she knew no one would answer back. I need to save him but how can I find him first? She sat back down and rested her back on the wall. She closed her eyes and tried to think. Syaoran was nowhere to be found in this realm but she knew he was here somewhere.
"How do you know that what you seek is here?" A gentle voice entered her thoughts.
"Because I can feel him here." She answered the voice.
"How? Show me." The voice said.
"I can always sense him here." She answered as she motioned with her hand.
"Then use it and you shall find that which you seek so desperately." The voice said.
Sakura gently opened her eyes and looked down at her hand. It lay directly above her heart.
She smiled weakly as she continued to look down on the place where her hand laid. She should have known better that willing herself to rid her feelings for Syaoran would not make it a reality. He is still in her heart no matter how many years she spent trying to forget him. She sighed over her heart's own stubbornness for her mind knew and accepted the truth of it all. It could never be. Now if only she could convince her heart of it.
Suddenly remembering the urgency of her mission, she closed her eyes once again and focused all her thoughts into sensing Syaoran. As she did she felt herself being pulled forward through the vast open space.
Syaoran...I'm coming.
Meanwhile...
Myushida continued to study the young boy who was still laughing hysterically on the floor. He is so much like him. He thought wistfully. Suddenly his sensitive mind picked up on an aura approaching. He smiled happily and said, "Well, you're in luck! You're not the loner you deemed yourself to be!"
Syaoran abruptly stopped his laughter and stood up. "Raiju's coming?" Syaoran asked excitedly. "Finally I can get out of here!" Syaoran sighed in relief. "No offense." He added belatedly to the towering dragon.
Myushida smiled mischievously for the chestnut haired boy was about to receive the shock of his life if he thought his guardian was the one coming for him. No. This aura was different from Raiju's. Perhaps the fates were so kind as to actually given him a chance to meet the girlfriend Syaoran had vehemently denied and watch Syaoran blush even more different shades of red in the process. Myushida sniggered. That would be most amusing.
Syaoran looked the dragon over as he noticed him trying to smother his chuckles. What was he so pleased about? He wondered. His thoughts were quickly interrupted as his attentions turned to the figure looming towards them.
"Raiju! Am I ever glad to see you! I knew you'd come for me!" Syaoran called out enthusiastically as the figure approached. "You know when we get back; I am totally treating you to an eat-all-you-can buffet! We'll stay there 'til they close the place down! Huh? How does that sound-"His voice trailed off as he finally saw the figure coming towards them, the person that was going to save him was not who thought it was at all. It was –
"Sakura..." Syaoran whispered hoarsely as he stared dumbfounded at the young girl.
Sakura stared back at him, unshed tears in her eyes. Her tears were partly because she was so happy to see him and partly because she was upset when she saw that she disappointed him by not being the person he wanted to see. It was Raiju, after all, that he thought would come to save him, the one who would come to his aid when he needed him. She had no right to be upset by this. She lost his trust long ago and she should not have been so surprised when he didn't think she would come to save him. She shook these thoughts away and managed a weak smile. "Hello to you too, Syaoran." Sakura said, her voice trembling slightly.
Syaoran continued to stare at the girl dumbfounded. He never thought she would come. After all why should she? She obviously had no feelings for him that was clearly evident in the way she crushed his heart all those years ago so it was logical to think she wouldn't bother to come save him. But then after a few minutes of thinking, he knew those words were not the truth. Sakura did care for him. It was evident in the way she broke out of the Reverse' Card spell. In any case, she was the first to come out of its spell and fought the command that would have likely finished him off. After all he was her friend. Syaoran shook his head in disgust. Half hating himself for resenting her friendship and for coveting it like a priceless treasure at the same time.
Myushida stared at the two immobile occupants of his domain. They both looked like they were lost in each other's presence and their own thoughts. They had it bad for each other, even more so than he thought! And it amused him that it was obvious they were oblivious to this fact. Myushida moved slightly closer to the newcomer and said, "Hello. Since Mr. Rude over here doesn't seem to be willing to introduce me, my name is Myushida." The dragon gave the openly gaping girl a friendly smile. "And who might you be? Wait! Hold on, lemme guess! Your Syaoran's girlfriend that he keeps talking about?" Myushida said slyly, his eyes twinkling with laughter.
Syaoran and the girl both blushed eight different shades of red and he couldn't help but chuckle. Oh this is going to be fun!
"She is NOT my girlfriend!" Syaoran gritted out through clenched teeth. "And I've never talked about her!" He vehemently added.
Myushida shook his head. Stubborn. Why are they always so stubborn? The truth was evident in his extreme denial and yet he forces it away. Myushida sighed. It was going to take awhile for this Li Clan Master to find his happiness. Just like his great ancestor. He smiled wistfully.
"I'm S-Sakura." The girl said trembling from head to foot. Clearly taken aback by the giant dragon who she just noticed was in the room. She was so focused on Syaoran that she failed to detect the huge figure.
"Oh! The Mistress of the Clow Cards!" Myushida exclaimed as he broke out into a huge grin. "Or should I say the Sakura Cards now, eh?" he smiled
Sakura felt herself smiling back at the dragon. As intimidating as he was, she couldn't help but feel at ease in his presence. It was funny really since she was never in the company of a 40 foot giant dragon before.
This brief exchange was able to bring Syaoran back to his usual business- like mode. "So? Now there is a medium which is Sakura." He glanced at Sakura briefly and flashed her a small smile, hoping to let her know he was glad she had come. Certainly greeting her the way he had might have gave her the thought he wasn't glad she had. "So what do we do now?"
"I think Sakura has the answer to that question." Myushida smiled softly at the girl.
"The Dream Card has the power to get us both back. Actually we should be leaving right now! The card is weakening. The spell can't last any longer and we'll be stuck here forever if it fails!" Sakura said in a panicked voice. She had forgotten about their time limit! They had to hurry back or else they'd miss the chance!
"What are we waiting for then?!" Syaoran said as he hurriedly took off in the direction where Sakura had come while Sakura quickly followed him.
It was only when Sakura had gone through the portal the dream card was strenuously holding that Syaoran noticed he had forgotten something. He had forgotten something BIG. He had forgotten to say his goodbyes to the 40 foot tall guardian dragon that had saved his life and he was thinking that wouldn't go very well with the dragon in question. He was about to turn back when he heard a voice commanding him. "Go." It was Myushida.
"But I haven't even, I mean I forgot to-" Syaoran began to argue with the voice.
"I understand. No need for goodbyes, we would surely meet again and hopefully it wouldn't be under these circumstances. I am always here when you need me. It is my duty and my pleasure so there is no need to thank me." Myushida's voice echoed inside his head.
"But it doesn't seem right." Syaoran said.
"Time waits for no one and unfortunately, for now, our time together is up. It was an honor to meet you. And prepare yourself; this ordeal is not over when you get back. You, yourself, have said that things are never easy. Remember I can only protect you from death when you are in this realm. No such protection exists in the real world. So you must be prepared to fight and find a way to recover your life's energy. I have given you enough so you won't die immediately when you get back. You have a few hours to restore your strength." Myushida said sadly.
Syaoran gulped but nodded determinedly. He has gotten through this far, he wasn't about to throw it all away by giving up. "I will find a way."
"I know you will...Little One." And with this words echoing around him, he stepped into the portal and was hurtled back into his own realm...
To be continued...
What will happen when Syaoran gets back? Will they find a way to replenish his life energy before its too late? Will Sakura, Xian and Raiju be able to deal with their guilt? Will we ever see our lovable giant guardian dragon again? Where the hell is the next card? Tune in for the next episode of CCSyaoran!
Author's Notes: You have just taken the time to read my work, please be kind enough to review it. All forms of feedback are always welcome.
I need a proofreader to read my work before I post it. Any takers?