Hi! I'm finally posting the next chapter! I'm totally sorry for all the
people that had to wait for the 28th in order to read this chappie. I've
been totally swamped with my school stuff and all that. Life is definitely
NOT a bed of roses. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, please read my friend's
fanfics. She's really getting discouraged from the lack of reviews. Her pen
name's Jung-wha and she writes CCS fics too. It's a big pity she's too lazy
to write the fic of hers which I like the best... I'm not gonna write a
super long author's note today, I'm too lazy for that right now.
Thanks to all of the people that reviewed since the first chapter:
Down-right-mystical, Blue-Dreamz (You'll find out soon!), F@ntasy K@t (Thanks!), Fallin' Heart, Buffy(), AyUnLi (Sorry! It will be revealed in this chapter...), arrow-card, Bloodlust Night, Adriana, cherry(), vividviolets(), Keyblade(), kawaiitenshisakura, Miya-chan3, HyPeR- ChErRYBloSsOm, CelestialBlossom, crystalshower, Dacia, Cherry Dragon, amelle (), DAISYMAISY2121 (), helen (), crazyotakuchan, LiGirl (secret!), Confuzzled.Angel.Loves.HP (Thanks for the compliment), Sakura-Angel-04, Ekimozo (maybe!), meinien (I suck at chinese!), SerinityRules
Thanks for reviewing you guys! Your reviews really made my day.
Disclaimer: I want CCS for my birthday, but that's impossible 'cause it's CLAMP's. oh well, standard disclaimer applys.
~Recap~
"YAMI!!!" Sakura's box became dark. "Cool!" Eriol, Syaoran and Tomoyo went over to check out Sakura's box.
"Looks like you were able to do it Sakura-chan." Syaoran congratulated her. Suddenly, the whole classroom became dark. Only Eriol, Syaoran, Tomoyo and Sakura were visible to each other. Syaoran walked over to Sakura and slipped his hand into hers and squeezed tightly.
"Sakura-chan, what happened?"
~End Recap~
Chapter 6: The Sacrifice
~Sakura's P. O. V. ~
"What happened?" I frantically blinked my eyes in order to search for any sign of my co-Gryffindors or even the Hufflepuffs but to my dismay, I could find none. I could only see Tomoyo-chan, Eriol-kun and Li-kun. As I felt Syao- no wait- Li-kun's hand slip into mine, I felt a tingly feeling all over. Mentally, I slapped myself. 'You're not supposed to like him! You're supposed to be over him!' I felt Syao- no- Li-kun squeeze my hand tightly. For some reason, his name seems to jump from my lips whenever I speak with him and I'm always barely in time covering up.
"You didn't cause this right? Are you alright Sakura-chan?" I felt him whisper near my ear those words filled with worry and sincerity. 'How can I not love you when you act that way around me? Always sincere and caring yet the strong pillar whenever others are around you.'
"I'm fine, but I'm positive I didn't cause this. Where are we?" Eriol- kun walked over to me and Li-kun with Tomoyo-chan following after him.
"I think we've been pulled into another dimension. Bring your staff out Sakura-san." Eriol-kun told me as he brought his own staff out. "You too Li-kun, Tomoyo-san, keep your wand out, something's wrong here but I don't know what."
"Hai Eriol-kun, right away." I retrieved my hand from Li-kun's warm and comforting grip and I took out my star pendant. I muttered the incantation under my breath as it glowed brightly in my hand.
"O key that hides the power of the stars shining so bright, release your power and shine your light!" (AN/ correct me if I'm wrong with that okay?) The pendant in my hand instantly grew into my ever-familiar star staff. I gripped it tightly as I scanned the area. For some reason, it didn't seem entirely dark. I don't know exactly how to describe it. It's like all that you can see is very dark black and some brown, there are no floors or walls around either. All you could see is empty dark brown / black space. (AN/ for the people who watch Groove Adventure Rave, think of Altealice, the dimension that pulled Haru into complete agony where he saw his loved ones die for him.) I didn't like the feeling that this- whatever this was- was giving me. It felt really familiar, but painful in the same way.
"Do you think we could use the Through to get out of here?" Tomoyo- chan looked at me with hope in her eyes. "I want to get back as soon as possible so that I can be prepared next time."
"What's happening next time?" I looked at Tomoyo-chan confused.
"The next time this happens, I'll be able to video tape my kawaii Sakura-chan!" her eyes suddenly became all starry and they twinkled. *Sigh* All of us sweatdropped except Tomoyo-chan who was still busy imagining her new videos. It's been a long time since Cardcaptoring but she hasn't changed a bit.
"Maybe I'll even have a new costume for her!" We all sweatdropped again. Okay, maybe Tomoyo-chan changed a little. I have to admit, even if I always refused to wear her outfits, her designing has gotten a lot better. Not like the cutesy kiddie stuff she used to make me wear.
"Tomoyo-chan, for the last time, will you listen to me? I'm not gonna wear your outfits and I don't want a documentary of my life!" I said half shouting at her. Tomoyo-chan winced when she heard me say that. Maybe I was being too harsh... 'No, you made a fool out of yourself back then and it's time to change and get back to basic reality.' I told myself.
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan..." She mumbled. I instantly felt guilty but that was washed right away as I remembered all those humiliating videos. I decided for myself back while I was still in Tomoeda that the world isn't a pleasant place to be and those videos don't help me in any way at all.
"What's with you?" Li-kun grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. I couldn't look him in the eye, not now. I looked down at my feet and shut my eyes tightly, not wanting to see him at all. "How come you're so cold and distant nowadays and you're even being mean to Daidouji-san!" he shook me gently. "Is something wrong? You seemed to have changed. If you have a problem, talk it over with us. We're your friends you know. You can confide in us you know. Please answer me!"
"No." my thoughts were clouded with rage. Who was he to tell me about changing? Who was he to tell me that I was being distant? What does he of all people know about my life? He doesn't know me at all! He's too busy with Ms. Perfect to care about anything! "I'm not going to listen to you. I don't need to answer either. Who are you to tell me about changing? How is it that you of all people are telling me that I'm distant? You don't know a single thing about me! You don't understand me at all!" I wrenched his hands off my shoulders and I looked him straight in the eye. "You have no right to tell me what to do or tell me how I've been acting." I glared at him and turned away from them. "I'm getting out of here. Don't try to follow me!" I walked away briskly, but I heard Li-kun's steps right behind me. Fine, if they don't want to leave me alone, I'll just have to leave them.
"Release and dispel, FLY!" I tapped the Fly card with my staff and two beautiful wings grew from my back. Too bad I was busy raging to think about how pretty my wings were. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes as I flew away in the opposite direction, not looking back even once. I knew that Li-kun was following me, but I also knew that he'll never be able to catch up to me. I can hear him calling out my name, but I'd rather ignore it. I flew deeper into the seemingly endless dimension, with no friends and no hope of ever getting them back.
~Syaoran's P. O. V. ~
"SAKURA!!!" I yelled out her name while running as fast as my feet would carry me as two magnificent wings grew on her back. I, along with Daidouji-san and Hiiragizawa kept on calling her, but she just flew away from us, not even acknowledging our efforts to talk to her. I slowed down my pace in defeat. At this rate, I'll never get to talk to her. I hung my head down as she disappeared from my sight. Soon, I heard Daidouji-san's and Hiiragizawa's footsteps right behind me. She looked downcast and not at all like her usual self. She approached me and stood right in front of me. "Daidouji-san, what-" I never got to finish my sentence.
SLAP. I was slapped on my left cheek. "What the-" SLAP. I got slapped by Daidouji-san across my left cheek again. I could see bright tears leaking out of her amethyst eyes. They reflected pain and sorrow as the tears increased. She swung back her hand to slap me again when Hiiragizawa caught her hand and held it back.
"Let me go, Eriol-kun! It's- it's all his fault that Sakura-chan's alone somewhere and we don't even know where she is!" She struggled trying to get out of his strong grip. "LET ME GO!"
"Shhh..." he whispered softly, trying to calm her down. "Hitting Li- kun isn't gonna help the situation. It's not like he knows!" she sank to her knees, crying harder. I didn't know what to do; all I could do was stare at the two in confusion.
"It's his fault she ended up like that..." she muttered, still crying. "I only he didn't... if only she never... she had to be here..." I couldn't take it anymore. What did they know about Sakura-chan that I didn't know?
"Why was she like that?" I asked Hiiragizawa. Daidouji-san was in no condition to speak with me. "What don't I know about Sakura-chan?"
"You don't know now do you? Answer me this: if you truly know who Sakura-san is, would you know how she'd act towards your actions?" Hiiragizawa looked at me with a steady eye.
"I know Sakura-chan very well and I know that I've never done anything to hurt her." I answered with confidence. He looked at me and sighed heavily.
"Not anymore you don't. She's..." I looked at Daidouji's crying figure on the floor. She just kept on muttering 'Forget him... come back...'
"What happened to her?"
"She changed Li-kun... and it isn't her new hairstyle, her entire personality changed." I began to panic at his words. How could she have changed?
"How come? Why?"
"I can't tell you. If you cannot find the answer within your own heart, then there is no hope that she'll ever be the same. You need to know through your heart or else, she won't even recognize our efforts." I sighed in defeat. That's similar to what Daidouji told me back then.
"Will you at least tell me what happened to her while I was away?" he looked at Daidouji who nodded fervently.
"Please tell him, Eriol-kun," she told him. "Maybe he'll be able to find it more easily if he knows. Please, Sakura-chan needs help."
"Very well." He looked at me straight in the eye. "After you left, you promised her that you'd return right? That you'd see each other and that you'd keep contact with her?" I nodded my head in response. "You also told her that you loved her a few days before you left, ne?"
I looked at him in surprise. "I don't remember telling her that. Sure I love her as a friend, but I'm not in love with her."
"You mean, you don't love her anymore?"
"I only love her a little bit more than I love my family."
"This isn't good at all..."
"What isn't good?" he didn't even acknowledge the question I just asked, but he continued to tell me about my best friend.
"Well, for the first year, she was still our genki and same Sakura- san. After that year however, one day..."
~End of Syaoran's P. O. V. ~ ~Flashback~
"Tomoyo-chan, how come he hasn't written to me in over a year? He promised me he would and I know that Syaoran-kun wouldn't go back on his promise." Fourteen year old Sakura looked at the calendar in her room. "It's already two weeks after the anniversary of the day he left."
Fourteen year old Tomoyo looked at Sakura with a smile. "Maybe he hasn't had a lot of time because he is studying really hard."
"But I really miss him. I'm going to the elders in China to ask if I can see him." Tomoyo began to become panicked. She didn't want Sakura to go to China just because she missed the guy she loved.
"Don't you think that's dangerous Sakura-chan? The elders are very powerful from what Li-kun told us." She shook her head.
"No Tomoyo-chan, I love him and the elders aren't gonna keep me away from him."
A week later, Sakura and Eriol set out for China. They arrived there mid-July and Sakura immediately went to the elders without Eriol in a plea to see Syaoran, but...
"Why can't I see him?" Sakura demanded of the elders. "I am the Mistress of the Sakura Cards and I have every right to meet him!"
There were 7 tall old men seated at a long table. The elder seated in the center stood up.
"It is not out wish that you are being prevented to see him. It is the wish of the young Li clan leader. He cannot see you also because he is obligated to finish his training before becoming the clan leader. Seeing you will dampen his spirits for you are currently stronger than him now and that will delay his training."
"I don't believe that Syaoran-kun doesn't want to see me! Let me speak to him at once!"
"We cannot. If you will not leave this hall, we will be forced to use force and I know that you did not bring your cards."
"Even if I didn't bring my cards, it doesn't mean that I am completely powerless."
"Very well, if you must insist." The elder in the center fired a huge fireball at Sakura. She dogged it and ended up on the floor. An elder seated at the far left side then caused a tidal wave to wash Sakura out of the room and out of the entire mansion.
"This isn't the last you've seen of me." She said as she walked away from them.
Day after day, she trained with Eriol from before dawn until midnight. She practiced magic with Eriol during that period of time and when he was asleep, she practiced martial arts with the Fight card. She never ate a bite nor did she sleep a wink all that time she trained. After a month, Sakura went to try and see Syaoran but day after day, she was neglected her meeting with him. Finally...
"I admire your persistence Cards Mistress, so I will allow you to try and talk to him just this once. Do not use force and do not blame us if he refuses your presence." Sakura jumped for victory when she heard this. She followed a servant to his room and she knocked on the door.
"Syaoran-kun, it's me, Kinomoto Sakura!" there was no reply. Sakura tried knocking again.
"Syaoran-kun will you please open the door?" there was still no response.
"Li Syaoran-kun, will you let me talk to you at least? It's your friend, Kinomoto Sakura!"
"Go away, don't do this to me." Syaoran's voice was heard through the door. Sakura tried turning the door knob, but it was locked.
"Syaoran-kun, let me in!" suddenly, a fireball was hurled towards the door and it exploded. Sakura who was right in front of the door was scorched from head to toe and Syaoran was nowhere in sight. She immediately fainted and the servant who brought her there dragged her to the front door and threw her out like a trash bag. Eriol who was waiting outside was surprised to see the form of Sakura all scorched.
"Sakura-san!" he took out a small pouch bag from his pocket, took some stuff out of it and sprinkled it over Sakura's small figure. The burns were instantly healed, but she was still unconscious. He then got on the first flight back to Japan and brought her back home.
~End Flashback~
"After she was fully healed, she then changed for the worst. She refused to eat and all she did was sleep. She stayed like this for the following 3 months after our trip to China. She finally consented to go to school, but she began using her powers recklessly whenever she got emotional. I always had to cover it up and erase people's memories when this happened and it happened more times than there were Clow Cards. The worst was when she nearly killed Tomoyo-chan for mentioning your name. She didn't care any more and she became a loner. Even her health was deteriorating little by little and she was already on the brink of death. Tomoyo-chan and I kept on trying to act like everything was normal and that Sakura-san was still our old friend, but deep inside we knew that there was only one way to truly bring her back. Five weeks ago, she got the letter about Hogwarts and that's when she began becoming a little like her old self. She began eating once more and she stopped using her powers whenever she felt like it. It was like she was given another chance to live again, but there was still something missing. That's how she ended up like this. You're really lucky that she kept her temper in for her power has greatly increased and it gets even more powerful when she is emotional." Silence was heard from Syaoran after Eriol finished. Tomoyo had already dried her tears and she was standing up at this time.
"I didn't know that it was really her at the door. I can't believe that she was really like that. I can't believe that I..." Syaoran shook his head in disgust.
"Because you fired her and because you never believed in her, she changed inside. She even tried to bottle up her feelings and she was even being nice to us when we talked to her. But then your stupid girl appeared."
"My girl?"
"Aisa Miyu you little idiot! Don't you know how cold she was when she met Sakura-san in that compartment on the Hogwarts Express?"
"How'd you know that Sakura met Miyu on the train?"
"I'm Clow Reed's reincarnation and I could hear everything that happened on the train."
"Miyu was perfectly polite when she met Sakura. That's why-"
"She began to blow up and cry when you told her that you were going with Sakura to see us?"
"She's very delicate and motional."
"I don't care what you say, if you haven't realized what the problem is then I don't know what to do."
"Why can't you just tell me what I should do?"
"Because it shouldn't be done. You're more dense that I thought you were." Tomoyo hooked onto Eriol's right arm.
"Li-kun, you need to go find Sakura and explain to her why you blasted her."
"Why did you blast her anyway?"
"I was in training for resistance against illusions. I thought she wasn't real."
"You need to tell her that. If me or Eriol-kun say it, she won't believe us and she'll blow up again. Please hurry Li-kun."
"Won't you come with me?" a hole suddenly opened behind Eriol and Tomoyo in the dimension.
"We're not supposed to be here." Eriol led Tomoyo out the hole. "Sakura-san made this dimension from her feelings inside and only you can bring her out of it." He stepped through the hole and the two vanished from Syaoran's sight completely as the hole disappeared.
"Great, I'm all alone in a dimension and I don't even have a way to get out." Syaoran then walked in the direction where Sakura flew off and began his search for the misunderstood girl.
~ Sakura ~
"Great, I'm all alone in a dimension and I don't even have a way to get out." Sakura flew down low and retracted her wings. "I shouldn't have lost my temper and run off like that. Now I don't even know where the others are. I'd better find a way to get out of here soon"
~ Syaoran ~
"Where'd she go? I was stupid enough to make her run away and I can't find her. It's all my fault I guess. I should've used my magic to chase after her." Suddenly a fierce wind began to blow.
"Huh? How can there be wind in a place like this? If there's wind here that must mean there is... magic!"
"Come here... come to me..." a voice began calling out to him as the wind encircled him. "If you want to find your precious Cherry Blossom, follow me..."
"Who are you?" Syaoran looked around to find the source of the voice. "What do you want?"
"Your Cherry Blossom is here..." a cloaked figure appeared a few meters away from Syaoran. It motioned towards the area where the wind was creating a tornado and suddenly a small form of a girl appeared there.
"SAKURA!" Syaoran rushed to the girl only to find a barrier enclosed around her. "Speak to me, Sakura!"
"She cannot hear you... she has blocked you out of her thoughts..."
"No, she will listen to me. Sakura, give me sign that you are alright!" there was no response. Syaoran began banging and pounding against the barrier, trying to break through. After a lot of pounding, the barrier finally broke and Sakura fell to the floor. Syaoran rushed to her side and picked her up gently. The cloaked form had reappeared beside him.
"Please be alright, don't die. I'm here for you." Syaoran stroked her head gently and whispered comforting words in her ear.
Suddenly Sakura's eyes opened, but they weren't those emerald eyes that Syaoran loved most. They were some kind of cobalt blue. Syaoran dropped her back to the floor. "Who are you?!"
"I am Sakura Kinomoto. I'm so glad you came for me Syao-chan!" Sakura over to him and threw her arms around him. Syaoran pulled her arms off him in disgust.
"You're not my Sakura! Tell me, who are you?" Syaoran demanded. Sakura sighed in defeat.
"I guess I can no longer hide it from you." Sakura walked over to Syaoran and hit him unconscious. "I'm sorry, but we need the real you for this." She then dragged Syaoran away.
~ Sakura ~
"Where am I now? I've gotta get out of here real soon. People might be worrying about me already." Sakura continued walking. Suddenly a fierce wind began to blow.
"Why is there wind in a dimension? If there's wind that must mean that there's an exit!" Sakura began walking in the direction of the wind.
"Come here... come to me..." a voice began calling out to him as the wind encircled her. "If you want to find your precious Little Wolf, follow me..."
"Who are you? Will you show yourself to me?" Sakura scanned the area looking for whoever spoke. She then saw a cloaked figure a few feet away from her.
"Excuse me, but may I ask who you are?" the figure motioned to the area where the wind was creating a tornado and suddenly an unconscious boy with messy chestnut hair appeared there. She felt an aura radiate from the boy. A GREEN aura.
"Oh my gosh, Li-kun, are you alright?" Sakura walked towards him but a barrier appeared in front of her, blocking her way to Syaoran.
"You cannot get to him..." Sakura faced the figure. For some reason, the figure had an aura but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what kind of aura it was. It felt somewhat familiar and welcoming yet lonely and deserted.
"Why can't I get to him?"
"You cannot reach him... not without giving something up..." Sakura looked back at Syaoran and she looked at the figure with a determined look in her eyes.
"I won't give up." She then began using her cards to try to get through the barrier.
"Release and dispel, Fiery!"
"Watery!"
"Earthy!"
"Sword!" but despite her efforts, the barrier remained firm. She finally gave up and looked at the figure desperately.
"I'll do anything, just get me back to Syaoran-kun."
"Give me your magic then." Sakura looked at Syaoran's unconscious form and sighed.
"Very well." Sakura lifted her arms and the figure began extracting her powers from her. Just then, Syaoran woke up and he saw Sakura being drained.
"Sakura, don't do it!" Sakura looked at him weakly.
"I have to Syaoran-kun, unless I do, you won't be able to get out." Sakura then looked at the figure again. "Finish it."
The figure then smiled at her and rained her powers. Sakura then fainted and fell to the ground. Her magic was all gone. The barrier disappeared and Syaoran ran to pick her up. He held her in his arms tightly.
"Sakura, don't die..." Syaoran then glared at the figure that got Sakura's magic and raised his sword. "What did you do to her?! I won't let you hurt her any longer!"
"Hurt her?" the figure chuckled pleasantly. "Why would I want to hurt my mistress?"
Syaoran lowered his sword in confusion. "Who are you?"
It chuckled once more and the cloak disappeared, leaving a form of a lady so much like a...
"You're a card!" the figure nodded.
"I cannot be sealed without a sacrifice from the mistress. As soon as I turn back to a card, her magic will return." Her form suddenly disintegrated and went inside a pink card. It floated toward Sakura and it landed on her chest. Syaoran picked her up and carried her in his arms. He placed the card in her pocket. But before he returned it, he read the new Sakura Card's name.
"The Sacrifice..."
-To be Continued-
AN/ hi! So how'd you like it? No cliffy! I won't update the next chapter until I get a total of 80 reviews (including the old ones). Sorry about the demand! Oh yeah, R+R!
~mycherrywolf~
Thanks to all of the people that reviewed since the first chapter:
Down-right-mystical, Blue-Dreamz (You'll find out soon!), F@ntasy K@t (Thanks!), Fallin' Heart, Buffy(), AyUnLi (Sorry! It will be revealed in this chapter...), arrow-card, Bloodlust Night, Adriana, cherry(), vividviolets(), Keyblade(), kawaiitenshisakura, Miya-chan3, HyPeR- ChErRYBloSsOm, CelestialBlossom, crystalshower, Dacia, Cherry Dragon, amelle (), DAISYMAISY2121 (), helen (), crazyotakuchan, LiGirl (secret!), Confuzzled.Angel.Loves.HP (Thanks for the compliment), Sakura-Angel-04, Ekimozo (maybe!), meinien (I suck at chinese!), SerinityRules
Thanks for reviewing you guys! Your reviews really made my day.
Disclaimer: I want CCS for my birthday, but that's impossible 'cause it's CLAMP's. oh well, standard disclaimer applys.
~Recap~
"YAMI!!!" Sakura's box became dark. "Cool!" Eriol, Syaoran and Tomoyo went over to check out Sakura's box.
"Looks like you were able to do it Sakura-chan." Syaoran congratulated her. Suddenly, the whole classroom became dark. Only Eriol, Syaoran, Tomoyo and Sakura were visible to each other. Syaoran walked over to Sakura and slipped his hand into hers and squeezed tightly.
"Sakura-chan, what happened?"
~End Recap~
Chapter 6: The Sacrifice
~Sakura's P. O. V. ~
"What happened?" I frantically blinked my eyes in order to search for any sign of my co-Gryffindors or even the Hufflepuffs but to my dismay, I could find none. I could only see Tomoyo-chan, Eriol-kun and Li-kun. As I felt Syao- no wait- Li-kun's hand slip into mine, I felt a tingly feeling all over. Mentally, I slapped myself. 'You're not supposed to like him! You're supposed to be over him!' I felt Syao- no- Li-kun squeeze my hand tightly. For some reason, his name seems to jump from my lips whenever I speak with him and I'm always barely in time covering up.
"You didn't cause this right? Are you alright Sakura-chan?" I felt him whisper near my ear those words filled with worry and sincerity. 'How can I not love you when you act that way around me? Always sincere and caring yet the strong pillar whenever others are around you.'
"I'm fine, but I'm positive I didn't cause this. Where are we?" Eriol- kun walked over to me and Li-kun with Tomoyo-chan following after him.
"I think we've been pulled into another dimension. Bring your staff out Sakura-san." Eriol-kun told me as he brought his own staff out. "You too Li-kun, Tomoyo-san, keep your wand out, something's wrong here but I don't know what."
"Hai Eriol-kun, right away." I retrieved my hand from Li-kun's warm and comforting grip and I took out my star pendant. I muttered the incantation under my breath as it glowed brightly in my hand.
"O key that hides the power of the stars shining so bright, release your power and shine your light!" (AN/ correct me if I'm wrong with that okay?) The pendant in my hand instantly grew into my ever-familiar star staff. I gripped it tightly as I scanned the area. For some reason, it didn't seem entirely dark. I don't know exactly how to describe it. It's like all that you can see is very dark black and some brown, there are no floors or walls around either. All you could see is empty dark brown / black space. (AN/ for the people who watch Groove Adventure Rave, think of Altealice, the dimension that pulled Haru into complete agony where he saw his loved ones die for him.) I didn't like the feeling that this- whatever this was- was giving me. It felt really familiar, but painful in the same way.
"Do you think we could use the Through to get out of here?" Tomoyo- chan looked at me with hope in her eyes. "I want to get back as soon as possible so that I can be prepared next time."
"What's happening next time?" I looked at Tomoyo-chan confused.
"The next time this happens, I'll be able to video tape my kawaii Sakura-chan!" her eyes suddenly became all starry and they twinkled. *Sigh* All of us sweatdropped except Tomoyo-chan who was still busy imagining her new videos. It's been a long time since Cardcaptoring but she hasn't changed a bit.
"Maybe I'll even have a new costume for her!" We all sweatdropped again. Okay, maybe Tomoyo-chan changed a little. I have to admit, even if I always refused to wear her outfits, her designing has gotten a lot better. Not like the cutesy kiddie stuff she used to make me wear.
"Tomoyo-chan, for the last time, will you listen to me? I'm not gonna wear your outfits and I don't want a documentary of my life!" I said half shouting at her. Tomoyo-chan winced when she heard me say that. Maybe I was being too harsh... 'No, you made a fool out of yourself back then and it's time to change and get back to basic reality.' I told myself.
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan..." She mumbled. I instantly felt guilty but that was washed right away as I remembered all those humiliating videos. I decided for myself back while I was still in Tomoeda that the world isn't a pleasant place to be and those videos don't help me in any way at all.
"What's with you?" Li-kun grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. I couldn't look him in the eye, not now. I looked down at my feet and shut my eyes tightly, not wanting to see him at all. "How come you're so cold and distant nowadays and you're even being mean to Daidouji-san!" he shook me gently. "Is something wrong? You seemed to have changed. If you have a problem, talk it over with us. We're your friends you know. You can confide in us you know. Please answer me!"
"No." my thoughts were clouded with rage. Who was he to tell me about changing? Who was he to tell me that I was being distant? What does he of all people know about my life? He doesn't know me at all! He's too busy with Ms. Perfect to care about anything! "I'm not going to listen to you. I don't need to answer either. Who are you to tell me about changing? How is it that you of all people are telling me that I'm distant? You don't know a single thing about me! You don't understand me at all!" I wrenched his hands off my shoulders and I looked him straight in the eye. "You have no right to tell me what to do or tell me how I've been acting." I glared at him and turned away from them. "I'm getting out of here. Don't try to follow me!" I walked away briskly, but I heard Li-kun's steps right behind me. Fine, if they don't want to leave me alone, I'll just have to leave them.
"Release and dispel, FLY!" I tapped the Fly card with my staff and two beautiful wings grew from my back. Too bad I was busy raging to think about how pretty my wings were. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes as I flew away in the opposite direction, not looking back even once. I knew that Li-kun was following me, but I also knew that he'll never be able to catch up to me. I can hear him calling out my name, but I'd rather ignore it. I flew deeper into the seemingly endless dimension, with no friends and no hope of ever getting them back.
~Syaoran's P. O. V. ~
"SAKURA!!!" I yelled out her name while running as fast as my feet would carry me as two magnificent wings grew on her back. I, along with Daidouji-san and Hiiragizawa kept on calling her, but she just flew away from us, not even acknowledging our efforts to talk to her. I slowed down my pace in defeat. At this rate, I'll never get to talk to her. I hung my head down as she disappeared from my sight. Soon, I heard Daidouji-san's and Hiiragizawa's footsteps right behind me. She looked downcast and not at all like her usual self. She approached me and stood right in front of me. "Daidouji-san, what-" I never got to finish my sentence.
SLAP. I was slapped on my left cheek. "What the-" SLAP. I got slapped by Daidouji-san across my left cheek again. I could see bright tears leaking out of her amethyst eyes. They reflected pain and sorrow as the tears increased. She swung back her hand to slap me again when Hiiragizawa caught her hand and held it back.
"Let me go, Eriol-kun! It's- it's all his fault that Sakura-chan's alone somewhere and we don't even know where she is!" She struggled trying to get out of his strong grip. "LET ME GO!"
"Shhh..." he whispered softly, trying to calm her down. "Hitting Li- kun isn't gonna help the situation. It's not like he knows!" she sank to her knees, crying harder. I didn't know what to do; all I could do was stare at the two in confusion.
"It's his fault she ended up like that..." she muttered, still crying. "I only he didn't... if only she never... she had to be here..." I couldn't take it anymore. What did they know about Sakura-chan that I didn't know?
"Why was she like that?" I asked Hiiragizawa. Daidouji-san was in no condition to speak with me. "What don't I know about Sakura-chan?"
"You don't know now do you? Answer me this: if you truly know who Sakura-san is, would you know how she'd act towards your actions?" Hiiragizawa looked at me with a steady eye.
"I know Sakura-chan very well and I know that I've never done anything to hurt her." I answered with confidence. He looked at me and sighed heavily.
"Not anymore you don't. She's..." I looked at Daidouji's crying figure on the floor. She just kept on muttering 'Forget him... come back...'
"What happened to her?"
"She changed Li-kun... and it isn't her new hairstyle, her entire personality changed." I began to panic at his words. How could she have changed?
"How come? Why?"
"I can't tell you. If you cannot find the answer within your own heart, then there is no hope that she'll ever be the same. You need to know through your heart or else, she won't even recognize our efforts." I sighed in defeat. That's similar to what Daidouji told me back then.
"Will you at least tell me what happened to her while I was away?" he looked at Daidouji who nodded fervently.
"Please tell him, Eriol-kun," she told him. "Maybe he'll be able to find it more easily if he knows. Please, Sakura-chan needs help."
"Very well." He looked at me straight in the eye. "After you left, you promised her that you'd return right? That you'd see each other and that you'd keep contact with her?" I nodded my head in response. "You also told her that you loved her a few days before you left, ne?"
I looked at him in surprise. "I don't remember telling her that. Sure I love her as a friend, but I'm not in love with her."
"You mean, you don't love her anymore?"
"I only love her a little bit more than I love my family."
"This isn't good at all..."
"What isn't good?" he didn't even acknowledge the question I just asked, but he continued to tell me about my best friend.
"Well, for the first year, she was still our genki and same Sakura- san. After that year however, one day..."
~End of Syaoran's P. O. V. ~ ~Flashback~
"Tomoyo-chan, how come he hasn't written to me in over a year? He promised me he would and I know that Syaoran-kun wouldn't go back on his promise." Fourteen year old Sakura looked at the calendar in her room. "It's already two weeks after the anniversary of the day he left."
Fourteen year old Tomoyo looked at Sakura with a smile. "Maybe he hasn't had a lot of time because he is studying really hard."
"But I really miss him. I'm going to the elders in China to ask if I can see him." Tomoyo began to become panicked. She didn't want Sakura to go to China just because she missed the guy she loved.
"Don't you think that's dangerous Sakura-chan? The elders are very powerful from what Li-kun told us." She shook her head.
"No Tomoyo-chan, I love him and the elders aren't gonna keep me away from him."
A week later, Sakura and Eriol set out for China. They arrived there mid-July and Sakura immediately went to the elders without Eriol in a plea to see Syaoran, but...
"Why can't I see him?" Sakura demanded of the elders. "I am the Mistress of the Sakura Cards and I have every right to meet him!"
There were 7 tall old men seated at a long table. The elder seated in the center stood up.
"It is not out wish that you are being prevented to see him. It is the wish of the young Li clan leader. He cannot see you also because he is obligated to finish his training before becoming the clan leader. Seeing you will dampen his spirits for you are currently stronger than him now and that will delay his training."
"I don't believe that Syaoran-kun doesn't want to see me! Let me speak to him at once!"
"We cannot. If you will not leave this hall, we will be forced to use force and I know that you did not bring your cards."
"Even if I didn't bring my cards, it doesn't mean that I am completely powerless."
"Very well, if you must insist." The elder in the center fired a huge fireball at Sakura. She dogged it and ended up on the floor. An elder seated at the far left side then caused a tidal wave to wash Sakura out of the room and out of the entire mansion.
"This isn't the last you've seen of me." She said as she walked away from them.
Day after day, she trained with Eriol from before dawn until midnight. She practiced magic with Eriol during that period of time and when he was asleep, she practiced martial arts with the Fight card. She never ate a bite nor did she sleep a wink all that time she trained. After a month, Sakura went to try and see Syaoran but day after day, she was neglected her meeting with him. Finally...
"I admire your persistence Cards Mistress, so I will allow you to try and talk to him just this once. Do not use force and do not blame us if he refuses your presence." Sakura jumped for victory when she heard this. She followed a servant to his room and she knocked on the door.
"Syaoran-kun, it's me, Kinomoto Sakura!" there was no reply. Sakura tried knocking again.
"Syaoran-kun will you please open the door?" there was still no response.
"Li Syaoran-kun, will you let me talk to you at least? It's your friend, Kinomoto Sakura!"
"Go away, don't do this to me." Syaoran's voice was heard through the door. Sakura tried turning the door knob, but it was locked.
"Syaoran-kun, let me in!" suddenly, a fireball was hurled towards the door and it exploded. Sakura who was right in front of the door was scorched from head to toe and Syaoran was nowhere in sight. She immediately fainted and the servant who brought her there dragged her to the front door and threw her out like a trash bag. Eriol who was waiting outside was surprised to see the form of Sakura all scorched.
"Sakura-san!" he took out a small pouch bag from his pocket, took some stuff out of it and sprinkled it over Sakura's small figure. The burns were instantly healed, but she was still unconscious. He then got on the first flight back to Japan and brought her back home.
~End Flashback~
"After she was fully healed, she then changed for the worst. She refused to eat and all she did was sleep. She stayed like this for the following 3 months after our trip to China. She finally consented to go to school, but she began using her powers recklessly whenever she got emotional. I always had to cover it up and erase people's memories when this happened and it happened more times than there were Clow Cards. The worst was when she nearly killed Tomoyo-chan for mentioning your name. She didn't care any more and she became a loner. Even her health was deteriorating little by little and she was already on the brink of death. Tomoyo-chan and I kept on trying to act like everything was normal and that Sakura-san was still our old friend, but deep inside we knew that there was only one way to truly bring her back. Five weeks ago, she got the letter about Hogwarts and that's when she began becoming a little like her old self. She began eating once more and she stopped using her powers whenever she felt like it. It was like she was given another chance to live again, but there was still something missing. That's how she ended up like this. You're really lucky that she kept her temper in for her power has greatly increased and it gets even more powerful when she is emotional." Silence was heard from Syaoran after Eriol finished. Tomoyo had already dried her tears and she was standing up at this time.
"I didn't know that it was really her at the door. I can't believe that she was really like that. I can't believe that I..." Syaoran shook his head in disgust.
"Because you fired her and because you never believed in her, she changed inside. She even tried to bottle up her feelings and she was even being nice to us when we talked to her. But then your stupid girl appeared."
"My girl?"
"Aisa Miyu you little idiot! Don't you know how cold she was when she met Sakura-san in that compartment on the Hogwarts Express?"
"How'd you know that Sakura met Miyu on the train?"
"I'm Clow Reed's reincarnation and I could hear everything that happened on the train."
"Miyu was perfectly polite when she met Sakura. That's why-"
"She began to blow up and cry when you told her that you were going with Sakura to see us?"
"She's very delicate and motional."
"I don't care what you say, if you haven't realized what the problem is then I don't know what to do."
"Why can't you just tell me what I should do?"
"Because it shouldn't be done. You're more dense that I thought you were." Tomoyo hooked onto Eriol's right arm.
"Li-kun, you need to go find Sakura and explain to her why you blasted her."
"Why did you blast her anyway?"
"I was in training for resistance against illusions. I thought she wasn't real."
"You need to tell her that. If me or Eriol-kun say it, she won't believe us and she'll blow up again. Please hurry Li-kun."
"Won't you come with me?" a hole suddenly opened behind Eriol and Tomoyo in the dimension.
"We're not supposed to be here." Eriol led Tomoyo out the hole. "Sakura-san made this dimension from her feelings inside and only you can bring her out of it." He stepped through the hole and the two vanished from Syaoran's sight completely as the hole disappeared.
"Great, I'm all alone in a dimension and I don't even have a way to get out." Syaoran then walked in the direction where Sakura flew off and began his search for the misunderstood girl.
~ Sakura ~
"Great, I'm all alone in a dimension and I don't even have a way to get out." Sakura flew down low and retracted her wings. "I shouldn't have lost my temper and run off like that. Now I don't even know where the others are. I'd better find a way to get out of here soon"
~ Syaoran ~
"Where'd she go? I was stupid enough to make her run away and I can't find her. It's all my fault I guess. I should've used my magic to chase after her." Suddenly a fierce wind began to blow.
"Huh? How can there be wind in a place like this? If there's wind here that must mean there is... magic!"
"Come here... come to me..." a voice began calling out to him as the wind encircled him. "If you want to find your precious Cherry Blossom, follow me..."
"Who are you?" Syaoran looked around to find the source of the voice. "What do you want?"
"Your Cherry Blossom is here..." a cloaked figure appeared a few meters away from Syaoran. It motioned towards the area where the wind was creating a tornado and suddenly a small form of a girl appeared there.
"SAKURA!" Syaoran rushed to the girl only to find a barrier enclosed around her. "Speak to me, Sakura!"
"She cannot hear you... she has blocked you out of her thoughts..."
"No, she will listen to me. Sakura, give me sign that you are alright!" there was no response. Syaoran began banging and pounding against the barrier, trying to break through. After a lot of pounding, the barrier finally broke and Sakura fell to the floor. Syaoran rushed to her side and picked her up gently. The cloaked form had reappeared beside him.
"Please be alright, don't die. I'm here for you." Syaoran stroked her head gently and whispered comforting words in her ear.
Suddenly Sakura's eyes opened, but they weren't those emerald eyes that Syaoran loved most. They were some kind of cobalt blue. Syaoran dropped her back to the floor. "Who are you?!"
"I am Sakura Kinomoto. I'm so glad you came for me Syao-chan!" Sakura over to him and threw her arms around him. Syaoran pulled her arms off him in disgust.
"You're not my Sakura! Tell me, who are you?" Syaoran demanded. Sakura sighed in defeat.
"I guess I can no longer hide it from you." Sakura walked over to Syaoran and hit him unconscious. "I'm sorry, but we need the real you for this." She then dragged Syaoran away.
~ Sakura ~
"Where am I now? I've gotta get out of here real soon. People might be worrying about me already." Sakura continued walking. Suddenly a fierce wind began to blow.
"Why is there wind in a dimension? If there's wind that must mean that there's an exit!" Sakura began walking in the direction of the wind.
"Come here... come to me..." a voice began calling out to him as the wind encircled her. "If you want to find your precious Little Wolf, follow me..."
"Who are you? Will you show yourself to me?" Sakura scanned the area looking for whoever spoke. She then saw a cloaked figure a few feet away from her.
"Excuse me, but may I ask who you are?" the figure motioned to the area where the wind was creating a tornado and suddenly an unconscious boy with messy chestnut hair appeared there. She felt an aura radiate from the boy. A GREEN aura.
"Oh my gosh, Li-kun, are you alright?" Sakura walked towards him but a barrier appeared in front of her, blocking her way to Syaoran.
"You cannot get to him..." Sakura faced the figure. For some reason, the figure had an aura but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what kind of aura it was. It felt somewhat familiar and welcoming yet lonely and deserted.
"Why can't I get to him?"
"You cannot reach him... not without giving something up..." Sakura looked back at Syaoran and she looked at the figure with a determined look in her eyes.
"I won't give up." She then began using her cards to try to get through the barrier.
"Release and dispel, Fiery!"
"Watery!"
"Earthy!"
"Sword!" but despite her efforts, the barrier remained firm. She finally gave up and looked at the figure desperately.
"I'll do anything, just get me back to Syaoran-kun."
"Give me your magic then." Sakura looked at Syaoran's unconscious form and sighed.
"Very well." Sakura lifted her arms and the figure began extracting her powers from her. Just then, Syaoran woke up and he saw Sakura being drained.
"Sakura, don't do it!" Sakura looked at him weakly.
"I have to Syaoran-kun, unless I do, you won't be able to get out." Sakura then looked at the figure again. "Finish it."
The figure then smiled at her and rained her powers. Sakura then fainted and fell to the ground. Her magic was all gone. The barrier disappeared and Syaoran ran to pick her up. He held her in his arms tightly.
"Sakura, don't die..." Syaoran then glared at the figure that got Sakura's magic and raised his sword. "What did you do to her?! I won't let you hurt her any longer!"
"Hurt her?" the figure chuckled pleasantly. "Why would I want to hurt my mistress?"
Syaoran lowered his sword in confusion. "Who are you?"
It chuckled once more and the cloak disappeared, leaving a form of a lady so much like a...
"You're a card!" the figure nodded.
"I cannot be sealed without a sacrifice from the mistress. As soon as I turn back to a card, her magic will return." Her form suddenly disintegrated and went inside a pink card. It floated toward Sakura and it landed on her chest. Syaoran picked her up and carried her in his arms. He placed the card in her pocket. But before he returned it, he read the new Sakura Card's name.
"The Sacrifice..."
-To be Continued-
AN/ hi! So how'd you like it? No cliffy! I won't update the next chapter until I get a total of 80 reviews (including the old ones). Sorry about the demand! Oh yeah, R+R!
~mycherrywolf~