Predator 2
By Charles Xavier
…
"Eriol never told me that this one could fly." Sakura said, helping Syaoran bandage up his left arm inside the ambulance van.
It was good news that the police and paramedics had come just in time to save everyone's bacon. All the children had been returned safely back to their homes with their parents. But it was bad news that the creature had escaped and was still on the loose. News reporters, policemen, detectives and doctors were rampaging all over Tomoyo's house…indeed, her birthday night had been ruined.
"Sakura…" Tomoyo asked her friend uneasily. "…what in the world was that…thing?"
"Something that's been after Sakura and her cards for a long while." Syaoran answered the question for her. "It nearly killed Meiling, and it nearly killed me too. Nothing can ever stop it…it moves way too fast for me to handle…ow."
"Gomen." Sakura carefully set some healing cream onto Syaoran's cut forehead, before placing a bandage on top of it. "Syaoran…I want to thank you for saving us from that monster…but why are you here? Shouldn't you be in Hong Kong?"
"Why should I be?" He replied rather fumingly. "I wanted to find the monster that hurt my cousin…so I traveled back here alone."
"Then, how did you know it was going to come here?"
"Your friend Eriol called me at your house when I came looking for you, there…your father also told me where you were staying. So I rushed here as soon as I could." Syaoran felt the stinging pain in his arm when he tried to stand up. "Uhn…baka…I must find it…"
"Syaoran, don't." Sakura settled him back down. "You're not fully healed."
Syaoran gave a deep sigh…Sakura was right. "Iie…this is hopeless. Who knows what it might be up to next?"
The three children sat together quietly in grief.
"That does it!" Sakura broke the silence and stormed up onto her feet. "I'm not going to lounge around like a sitting duck and let that thing get away after what it's done…let me track down that monster for you, Syaoran!"
"Nani?" Syaoran looked at her muddled.
"If that thing wants to challenge me and claim my cards, then it's a challenge he'll get." Sakura took out all of her Clow Cards from her pocket. "I'll teach it a lesson he won't ever forget."
…
The three of them had left the scene of Tomoyo's house, and had taken cover into a small forest, not far away. Tomoyo seemed quite excited about Sakura's decision to fight the creature. She had kindly given her the pink battle costume that she wore once from last month…when hunting down the last Clow Card.
"Arigatou, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura came out from the trees and stepped into the moon light, armed with her staff and all dressed up for her battle. "I won't rest until I find that monstrous beast that hurt you and my friends…this has gone too far."
"Ah, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo was filming her with another one of her cameras. "You look so much better than you did when you last wore this costume! You really do look cuter!"
"Hoe…" Sakura's face blushed red with embarrassment.
"Sakura." Syaoran limped towards her. "Before you go, please take this."
Syaoran slipped out his Chinese sword and handed it over to her.
"Syaoran…" Sakura went speechless…she had never been given his sword to fight. "…your sword…doushite?"
"If everything else happens to fail, don't forget that you'll always have this up your sleeve." He gave a smile and winked at her with good luck. "Be careful, Sakura-chan. Remember that you are challenging yourself with one of the most experienced alien hunters in the whole galaxy. So do not underestimate its power and strength, no matter what."
"I understand, Syaoran." Sakura answered…as she closed up on Syaoran and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek with her lips. "Arigatou…and thank you for coming back to Tomoeda."
"Goodbye, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo began to cry…she couldn't tell if this was to be the last time that she would ever see her again. "Please don't let that thing terrorize any more people."
"I won't, Tomoyo-chan." She gave her friend comfort with a big hug. "I won't…I promise."
With everything set, Sakura was ready to take to the sky and find the creature once and for all. She knew it was hiding somewhere…but it wouldn't be hiding for much longer. Tonight was the time to settle matters personally, and Sakura wasn't scared; she had saved Tomoeda once from a dangerous Clow Card, and now she had to face a being far more cunning than anything ever imaginable.
"FLY!" Sakura struck her staff onto the Fly Card. Angelic wings grew out from her back, and she ascended up high into the starlight sky. Syaoran and Meiling watched her leave and wished her all of their best luck to her.
"Do you think she'll do it?" Tomoyo asked Syaoran.
"If you believe so…I believe so."
