Chapter Three:
Another three months passed before Nokoru was even able to see Sakuya. Of course he couldn't say it was seeing her. He had been standing at the window of the council office when he saw her walk through the courtyard. She had stopped to talk to someone and he could tell she didn't look like her bright and cheerful self. He couldn't blame her though. Recent happenings had appeared to be done as if by magic and it also seemed that magic had been used to correct the wrongs. The Chairwoman had called upon the CLAMP Kotei Tantei to solve the mystery. Akira and Suoh and accepted with no problems. Nokoru had a bit reluctantly agreed. Later that day Suoh had asked Nokoru what was wrong. He had then broke down and told him about what had happened that night. Suoh had then figured that Sakuya must be the one behind the correcting of the wrongs. Suoh had also decided in his mind to confront Tomoyo about it. The girl knew something about Sakuya and her friends and wasn't about to talk about it of her own free will.
So Suoh had arranged to meet Tomoyo the next day. They met at a grove of apple trees, which had become Tomoyo's favorite place to paint, which she said she wasn't all that great at, but yet enjoyed doing it. He smiled slightly when he saw her. She took one look at his face and knew there was a reason behind the visit other than just being good friends out to talk.
"Hiyo Suoh. What is so important you needed to talk to me?" He noticed she wasn't being formal, and for once was glad of it.
"Tomoyo. . .I need to know about Sakuya." Tomoyo shook her head.
"Don't ask me to tell you something I have no power to tell you about."
"Don't give me that! Nokoru saw her use magic! Is she here for ill or good!?" Tomoyo shrank back slightly at his shouts. He calmed slightly. "I'm sorry Tomoyo, I shouldn't yell at you."
"No you shouldn't. Yet I can tell you this. She's not the bad one in this battle. She's trying to protect Nokoru." Suoh looked at her.
"Protect Nokoru? Why would she have to protect him?" Tomoyo sighed and figured she should tell him at least some of the truth.
"Whatever is out there is after Nokoru to kill him."
"Kill him! Why!?!?"
"Because Sakuya loves him. It's been trying to take Sakuya. Yet it seems to think her love for Nokoru is a threat. So it must first remove the threat before it can claim it's prize." Suoh blinked. He was expecting her to lie, or say something silly, but not something like this. Never something like this.
"What is so special about Sakuya that makes it want her?" He asked calmly. Tomoyo shook her head.
"That I can't tell you. That's not my secret to tell. Ask Sakuya about it."
"I would but no one can get near her." Tomoyo nodded sadly before saying softly.
"You can catch her going for a walk every night around ten. She makes her way to the Sakura grove. She's been asking Wood to help restore the trees."
"Wood?"
"Again, not my story to tell."
"I understand. Thank you for as much as you have told me Tomoyo-chan." She smiled at the soft words.
"You're welcome, Suoh-san." She then kissed his cheek and took off down the path toward the home she shared with her friends. Suoh knew he would find out what he needed to tonight. No matter what.
Night came quickly, covering the campus in its darkness. Sakuya changed into a pair of black leather pants and a black tube top. She then pulled on her leather jacket and headed out on her walk. The others had learned of what had happened on Christmas and had told Sakuya that if they asked, she was to tell them the truth. She had gotten everyone's permission to tell their secret connection to all of this. She had nodded, yet figured she'd not have to tell anyone, seeing as how she had tried to remain away from everyone. At least then only she looked like the freak. Sakura and the others were safe from it. She walked slowly on the grounds of the campus, enjoying the night air. For the last day no battles had been fought, mainly due to the last one leaving the caster pretty hurt. A sound off to her right caught her attention. She blinked as her eyes landed on Suoh, with Fight behind him.
"You are a hard woman to find Sakuya-san. If not for Fight here, I'd of never found you. You blend in well with the night." Sakuya looked down, not wanting to hear anything bad.
"I'm sorry. If Fight following you is a bother I will ask her to leave you be."
"That's not necessary. I rather enjoy her company. Besides, she's been handy in fighting those that I'm not quite skilled enough to fight. I've never seen someone so skilled as her." Fight smiled with pride and Sakuya smiled slightly as well.
"Fight was made to be the best. I've never met her equal yet." Suoh nodded, then turned from Fight to Sakuya.
"Would you please tell me what is going on? What is Fight and Wood? Who are you? What's going on?" Sakuya took a deep breath.
"Fight and Wood are cards. Not just any cards either, but magic ones. There are 53 in the deck. Each one with their own special skill. They are called upon by their master, or one that is their guardian."
"So you are their master? Sword, Shield, and Freeze were cards as well weren't they?" Sakuya held out her hand.
"Let me finish or I won't be able to tell you everything before I lose my nerve." Suoh nodded. "To answer your questions, no I am not the master of the cards and yes those three are cards as well." She took another deep breath before continuing. "I am Sakuya, Guardian of the Sakura Cards. Yes, when I say Sakura I mean the one I live with. Sakura is the master of the cards. The cards were once the proud and great Clow Cards, whom the one and only Clow Reed created." At the name Clow Reed, Suoh knew they were talking about a great magic. "Yue is the Moon Guardian. He is also a card. As am I. I am the Star Guardian. When we say guardian it means there are certain responsibilities we must handle. There is one other, Keroberos, the Sun Guardian. Though I believe you haven't had the pleasure of meeting him. Although Yue, Kero, and myself are cards we are not like them. While some of them, like The Fight card, appear human and have human qualities, they are not human as we are. They are set for one skill and no other.
"Yue, Kero, and myself are just like any human, the only difference being we were created by magic rather than normal means. We don't have a childhood to look back on; we only have what life we begin with. The looks we hold now are the same as when we were born. Kero and Yue were created by Clow himself, and knew him well. Sakura created me. Where Yue and Kero each have so many cards under their protection, I protect all 53 of them. I am allowed the ability to call upon them like Sakura; my ability to understand them is without end, even if they are not human or animal in looks. Syaoran-san is a direct descendant of Clow's, and holds some power of his own. Tomoyo is special in the fact she's known us ever since I can remember and then some. She was the one who designed my looks and wardrobe." As she spoke, a bright light surrounded her and she took on her true form. Her wings outlined by the full moon behind her. Suoh blinked at her beauty and then gaped slightly at the short black leather dress.
"So you're a magic being created by Sakura?" He said. At her nod he was amazed. Yet he knew she was as human as the next, for she was subject to all things of this world. . .and she was capable of love, which was something only humans could feel. . .at least in his mind. "I have only one question."
"What's that?" Sakuya asked, waiting for the worst.
"Aren't you cold in that outfit?" Sakuya blinked at him, then laughed softly.
"Not at all, Firey keeps me warm." Suoh laughed.
"Would you mind going back to the form I'm used to? It's not that you aren't beautiful to look at, it's just I kind of like Tomoyo and I'd hate for her to think ill of me for staring at you in that dress." Sakuya laughed even more and reverted back to her leather pants, tube top, and leather jacket. Suoh smiled and laughed with him.
"Your really O.K. with all of this?" Suoh nodded.
"Why wouldn't I be? It seems you've proven yourself more than human in my eyes. Besides, I never judge people by how they were born or who they are. I judge them by their actions. You've been protecting Nokoru, Akira, and myself so I know you can't be all that bad." Sakuya hugged him then.
"Thank you Suoh. I was so afraid you'd think I was a freak." Suoh stared at her a moment.
"What would give you such an idea?" Sakuya looked away sadly.
"It was my first crush. I was still a little new, yet I looked at the world with a smile, even at it's darkest. He was the nicest person I knew at least I thought so. He became very mean when he found out about me. He was harsh, so very harsh." Suoh shook his head.
"I'd have killed a guy for being that way just because of something you couldn't control." Sakuya smiled and hugged Suoh again.
"You really are like Yue in a way. He wanted to kill him as well. Yet I told him not to, it wasn't the mans fault for seeing something scary when it was something he couldn't understand. In a way, Yue and you are like brothers to me." Suoh laughed and hugged her back this time.
"I suppose we are. Perhaps there is more alike in Yue and myself than I give credit for." Sakuya nodded. She then took on a stricken look. "What's wrong?"
"Nokoru!!!" Suoh blinked. He then followed her gaze to see his best friend staring at them as if his heart had been ripped in two.
"Kaichou! This isn't what is looks like, please believe me." Nokoru looked at Suoh and nodded slowly.
"Then what is it?" Nokoru asked, his voice slightly cold. Sakuya could feel tears in her eyes and the urge to run was strong. Hands came to rest on her shoulder and she turned slightly to see Sakura behind her. She blinked slightly in surprise. Sakura smiled softly to her.
"I'd never leave a friend in need alone," Sakura whispered to her. Sakuya nodded. Sakura was right. She was in need. Yet she needed to tell Nokoru the truth as well, no matter what he thought of her. First, she had to deal with the sudden surge of power she felt. Sakura felt it as well and pulled the key from around her neck. "Key that contains the power of the Stars! Reveal thy true form before me! By our contract thus I, Sakura, command you! RELEASE!" Magic streaks in as if from silver lights in the sky above. The Key glows, expands, and hovers in the air before Sakura. She spreads her arms wide as if to embrace the Staff. She then raises a card high, a picture of a Star sat in the middle of the back of the card, with a sun on one side and a moon on the other. Magic seemed to rise from her hand up the thin card and it glowed like a star. "Return to thy true form, Sakuya!"
Nokoru blinked in surprise while Suoh seemed to be amazed by the power Sakura seemed to throw off. Sakura looked sadly toward Sakuya, only to see her smile softly. She then watched as the same symbol from the card appeared beneath Sakuya. Sakuya's clothes changed from her pants, top, and jacket to a short leather dress that hugged ever curve of her body. Her black hair became shiny and smooth, almost as if it had never been a little messy. Her eyes took on a glow of their own and black wings appeared on her back. Sakura twirled her staff and hit it to a card, calling its name as she did. "Fly, Release!" Sakura sprouted wings of her own, hers being white. She then quickly swung into the air at the same time Sakuya did and quickly dove back down for Suoh. Sakuya did the same for Nokoru. They had just gone back into the air when a quick blast of air rushed though the path they had been standing in.
"Sakuya? What's. . ." She silenced him with a hand on his lips.
"Shhhhh. . .Please, I'll explain later. Right now I've got to protect you." He blinked in surprise. Even though he knew she had seen the way he was looking at her she was still willing to save him. He wondered what she had to tell him and for the moment was actually glad to be in her arms again, although this wasn't quite what he had expected. So the angel he had seen all those months ago had been real. He was surprised by how much more her beauty shined in the dark of night. He let his mind trail from those thoughts when they suddenly changed direction to avoid an oncoming attack. "Shield! Protect Sakura and Suoh!" Nokoru recognized the Shield from Christmas as it quickly appeared to protect Sakura and Suoh from a blast of wind they weren't fast enough to avoid.
"Arigato Sakuya!" Sakura called. Sakuya nodded, she then maneuvered around another set of attacks, her grip on Nokoru suddenly becoming a little tighter. He held her back, just as tight. His lips rested near her ear. Without much thought he spoke what his heart had wanted him to say for the past three months.
"Sakuya, I love you. I trust you. Now matter what you are or what skill you have I will always love you. You are the last thing I think about at night and the first thing I think of when I wake. I'm always wondering what you're doing and what I can do to gain your love. No matter what you have to tell me when we are though with the battle, I shall still love you, just as much as I do right now." Sakuya blinked, tears filling her eyes. He loved her, even though he now knew her true form. She was tired of running from this threat. She called to her brother in creation and prayed he'd arrive soon.
Yue was quick to arrive, Kero by his side. Both were in true form. Sakuya smiled thanks and whispered to Nokoru softly as she went into another set of evasion rolls. "Nokoru, I love you too. I have for a lot time. I can only say that I can no longer run from this enemy. I will not have it threaten our love any longer." With that said she flew next to Yue and Kero. "I need your help my friends. Kero, take Nokoru and protect him. Keep him safe. You're the fastest among us. I know you can do it." Kero nodded.
"It's about time I see some of the action," Kero said. Sakuya laughed and Yue rolled his eyes.
"Next time I'll let you nearly kill yourself saving someone, Keroberos," Yue muttered.
"I wouldn't nearly get killed like you," Kero muttered back. Sakuya sighed.
"Enough to two. Kero, get Nokoru out of here." Kero nodded and took off. Nokoru hung on, his eyes watching as Sakuya and Yue got smaller. Yue turned to Sakuya.
"Is all good between Nokoru and you?" Sakuya nodded.
"Surprisingly well. I refuse to allow this threat to continue." Yue nodded.
"I'm with you. I'm tired of this magician. Let's take him out. . .or her. . .or it. Whatever, let's just deal with it once and for all." Sakuya nodded. Together they combined their attacks and with one swift motion attacked the wind cloud. A scream pierced the night air and Sakuya and Yue took off after the sound. They soon came upon a man dressed all in black. He seemed to be in a ball. He wasn't too old yet he wasn't too young either. As Sakuya got closer to him she gasped.
"It's Kanoshi-san!" Yue looked at her.
"Who's Kanoshi?"
"The one you wanted to kill for breaking my heart."
"This is the guy you had a crush on?"
"Yes." Sakuya landed next to Kanoshi and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kanoshi-san, what are you doing? Why are you doing such evil things?" He looked up at her voice.
"Sakuya? Have I finally won?" Sakuya shook her head.
"You could never win. The power that lives inside Yue, my friends, and myself is one you could never hope to match. Why do so much evil?"
"Because I wanted you, your power. I was wrong to call you such names. You could bring my power to such heights." Sakuya shook her head, knowing she'd have to use her one gift to stop him from hurting others. She began to glow softly, all 53 cards surrounding her. They suddenly merged with her, becoming one with her. She then placed a hand on Kanoshi's head. He began to glow as well. Soon that glow faded and then disappeared all together. Sakuya slowly opened her eyes and knew that what was needed was done. Kanoshi's power had been taken away, rendering him harmless. He cried out as he could feel the lose of his power and knew he was truly beat. Yue came up to Sakuya as the cards left her and went back to Sakura.
"Will everything be safe now?" Yue asked. Sakuya nodded.
"He's now powerless. He's no more harmless than any other human being." Yue nodded.
"Then all's back to rights. Let's go back and find the others."
"I couldn't agree more, Yue." Together they headed back, glad that this threat had been minor in comparison.
A week later things had gone back to normal. Sakuya and Nokoru were still just friends, even though both had confessed their love and both wanted more. Tomoyo was now dating Suoh, and causing nothing but trouble for any who got caught in her cameras path. Sakura was glad Sakuya and Nokoru were getting along, Syaoran having finally proposed to her and her having said yes. Sakuya couldn't of been any happier for Sakura then at that moment. Yue and Akira were trading cooking stories. Akira seemed to be amazed at how much Yue once ate. Yue was glad that they now had new friends that they could trust their secret to and enjoyed telling stories of Clow and Sakura to whomever wanted to listen.
It was on one fairly dark day that Nokoru had asked Sakuya to meet him at their spot in the Sakura Tree Grove. She rushed to be on time and laughed when she was scooped into his arms. As they parted Sakuya looked to him, her eyes questioning. "So what's so important Nokoru?" Sakuya asked.
"I asked you once if you'd be my girlfriend. Back then you rushed off, afraid I would see you as something not human. Yet here I stand, wearing my heart on my sleeve for all to see. I'm asking you again, now that all secrets have been told, will you be with me? Will you honor me by becoming my girlfriend?" Sakuya smiled softly and nodded, rushing back into his arms.
"I would be more than honored to be your girlfriend. I love you more than life itself."
"I love you just as much. Now that you're mine I'll never let you go."
"Nor I you." They held each other close. Nokoru then backed up a bit and held out a soft black jewelry box.
"I got this for you back at Christmas, yet I hadn't been able to give it to you cause you rushed off. Now I can." He opened the box to reveal a necklace and ring. Both had a dark onyx stone set in the shape of a star inside a heart. Sakuya gasped in surprise and felt tears begin to fall again.
"It's beautiful. I'll love these forever."
"As I'll love you forever." She smiled brightly and helped him place the necklace around her neck. He smiled with a blush as he placed the ring on her left hand, not as an engagement ring, but as a promise of what was to come. They smiled at each other and cuddled close. Finally they came face-to-face, nose-to-nose. His blue eyes looked into her silver-gray ones and slowly they grew closer together, until their lips met in a sweet kiss. One that was a seal to a promise both made in their heart. A love that would last for all time.
THE END