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Syaoran's Angels
Chapter 22: Doppelganger
Sakura whirled around and stared into a pair of familiar emerald eyes. Auburn hair, the small familiar smirk on the other girl's face, the way she stood, the clothes she wore, the way she held herself... Sakura's mind raced as she tried to process what she was seeing.
"Hello me," the other Sakura smirked at her.
Kerberos and the Light stared at the two Sakuras as they too tried to figure out what was going on.
"What the?"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"What the?"
"Well is this nice and cosy?" the other Sakura sneered looking around, "Can't say much about the decoration though. This place will look really good with a few dead corpses hanging around. Blood always makes a place look nice."
"Who the hell are you?" Sakura gaped at her counterpart.
The other Sakura smirked at her.
"I'm Yue's champion."
There were more gasps from the two guardians but before Sakura ask them any questions, the other Sakura threw a punch at her.
"Awww... too bad," Sakura jeered nimbly ducking the blow, "You missed. Too slow!"
"Dodge this," her doppelganger snarled.
"CRACK!"
Sakura's head snapped back painfully when the other girl landed a vicious kick to her chin. Grasping her throbbing chin carefully, Sakura scowled at her attacker.
"Think you're good?" she spat.
Her counterpart merely smiled.
"I know I'm good," she boasted.
Sakura didn't even bother to reply as she slammed the girl in the chest with two open palms. Her doppelganger was sent flying as Sakura smirked and grabbed her arm twisting it behind her back and holding her in a chokehold.
"Okay, now this is how this game goes," Sakura whispered in the other girl's ears, "I ask questions and you better answer me. Fast."
"I've got another idea," her doppelganger spat, "How about you go to hell?"
With more strength than Sakura had first suspected, her counterpart broke from of her grip and punished her with a spin-kick that landed solidly in her stomach. All the air was driven out of Sakura's body with a loud 'whoosh' as her doppelganger smirked and snapped a one-two kick to her chest. Becoming overconfident, she tried to do it again only to have Sakura grab her foot and throw her off her balance.
The Light gasped in shock as the other Sakura managed to execute a graceful flip and land daintily on her own two feet.
"Nice try," she acknowledged with a small smirk.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at her as her counterpart stood perfectly still, her dark emerald eyes focused purely her opponent.
"You know what's the different between you and me?" her doppelganger said suddenly, "I know I was created from you and look like you but there's a difference."
When Sakura didn't answer, her counterpart sent her a lazy smile and answered her question.
"I'm a thousand-times stronger."
And with that she bound across the misty ground and before Sakura could react landed a vicious karate chop on her neck. Sakura felt like her spine had snapped as her doppelganger smirked and leapt into the air. Suddenly her feet shot out kicking Sakura in the chest shoving the Angel violently back as she went into a perfect flip and landed with Olympian grace.
"But you know what they say," Sakura spat back, "Nothing's better than the original."
She charged at her doppelganger feinting to the right as her counterpart threw all her defences to her left, Sakura snaked in under her defences and punished her vulnerable unprotected side with a barrage of punches and kicks, all her blows landing on all the pressure and tender points dealing out as many damage as possible. With a fierce cry, Sakura sent her flying with a kick to the kidney eliciting a yelp of pain from her sadistic rival.
"Damn," her doppelganger got up slowly as a small trickle of blood forced its way out of her swollen lips meandering down her chin, "That hurt."
Sakura waited calmly, her senses on high alert and her body ready as the doppelganger smirked.
"Well, it was fun and all but what do you know? Time flies when you're having fun."
Sakura's eyes widened as white light suddenly burst from her doppelganger's skin.
"Time to fly," she smirked as the light began engulfing her body.
"NOOOO!!" Sakura lunged at the glowing figure as Kerberos and the Light let out shouts of dismay and protests.
Sakura felt ready than saw her body hit something solid as white light flared blinding her as her sense of direction and orientation began going crazy. The world around her swirled and blurred as Sakura gave in to her body's demands and let darkness claim her.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"What? Challenge?!" Meiling exploded as Ruby Moon smiled at her.
"Time for you to leave my domain," she said calmly ignoring the Angel's spluttering protest, "I believe that Wood and Sand have good news for you back home."
Ruby Moon fell silent before speaking again, this time each word was filled with deep emotions.
"You are a worth guardian of the book and talisman. A woman of honour, courage and great passion, follow your heart and ignore the corruptions that thrive in this world. Remain true to your beliefs and your heart and you shall go far. You have my blessing, Fighter. Do not fail in you destiny for much depends on you and your friends. The time for the end is nigh; the world hangs in the balance. Fight with honour and hope and you shall win."
As Ruby Moon finished off her speech, she held out her hands and a ball of crimson energy gathered in her outstretched palms.
"Good luck and remember the cards are on your side!" And with that she hurled the ball of energy at Meiling.
Before the Angel could react, crimson light washed over her body and the next thing she knew she was standing in front of a familiar looking building.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Diana rushed down the hallway of the hospital, her usually neat and tidy clothing crinkled and messy. Running her hands through her wild hair distractedly, Diana wondered why Chelsea had called her. It was three in the morning for crying out loud! Reminding herself that her friend need her support, Diana stopped in front of one of the doors lining the corridor and took a deep breath.
She knocked gently.
"Come in!" a familiar voice said cheerfully.
Diana Armstrong opened the door and stared at the scene that greeted her. A beaming Chelsea, something she had not seen in the last few days, rushed towards her sweeping her up in a huge warm hug as Diana stood stock-still staring at the person lying up in bed.
"Zachary?" she whispered feeling the blood draining from her face, "You... you... you're awake?"
And the award for 'Stating the most obvious' goes to... her mind muttered to her cynically.
"Yeah, I know this is kind of a surprise..." Zachary said slowly.
Diana felt Chelsea lead her to chair and she gratefully sat down trying to sort through her jumbled thoughts.
"What happened?" she asked directing her question as Chelsea.
The young woman shrugged helplessly.
"He just... woke up," she finished off lamely, "It's a miracle!"
Zachary nodded confirmation the fact.
"I wasn't given much of a chance of waking up," he said quietly obviously still not okay with the fact, "But I pulled through."
"Hey, do you know where Sakura is?" Chelsea asked concerned, "I tried ringing her tonight but nobody's home."
There was a small uncomfortable silence as Diana gulped remembering what Sakura had told her about her job and what she did for a living. Suddenly she was very afraid for her friend.
"Diana?" Chelsea asked.
Diana shook her head and forced her mind to concentrate on what was going on.
"I don't know where she is," the lawyer said slowly.
There was another silence as Diana looked around the room until her eyes finally fell upon the many cards and flowers lying on a nearby beside table.
"How are these from?" she asked curiously moving over to them.
"Oh, family... friends from work. You know Spinnel Corporation? They've been really good, they've covered for the costs and everything," Zachary said enthusiastically his love for his job obvious in his eyes.
Diana tried to hide her discomfort again as she remember what Sakura had told her about Zachary's company.
How can she break it to him?
Diana pasted a fake smile on her face and just allowed herself to enjoy the fact that her one of her best friends was alive and healthy.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Marcus must have fallen unconscious as some point because the next thing he knew he was inside a strange room lying on a soft bed.
"Hello? Anyone? Where am I?" he called out loudly, "Where's my daughter?"
A door opened as a uniformed woman came into view.
"You're awake!" she said cheerfully, "You're in the Royal Los Angeles Hospital. It was very strange you and... I presume your daughter?"
Marcus nodded.
"Appeared inside our emergency ward just out of nowhere! You had lost a quite a large amount of blood but you're fine now. Just plenty of rest and you'll be rest as rain," the nurse concluded her story.
"My daughter? Where is she?" Marcus asked hurriedly.
"She's fine, just getting quick check up right now. Now, you'll need to rest. As soon as the doctors are finish with her I'll send her in," the nurse said calmly, "Okay?"
"Thank you," Marcus said faintly as the nurse nodded and left.
Marcus lay back onto the bed and tried to go to sleep but he was too worried. His daughter was fine but what about Meiling? And who were those women who had saved him and Lily.
What happened to them?
And what happened to Mallus?
As those thoughts cycled over and over again inside his mind, tiredness overwhelmed him and he drifted to sleep.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Meiling moaned as she gently touched one of the bruises she had received from her ordeal with Ruby Moon. Glancing down at the rest of her body, she could see the rest of her wasn't better off either. Looking up at the hospital and shoving down her dislike for them, she decided she need to get some help before some of these wounds became infected.
Suddenly she remembered something Ruby Moon had said.
'Wood and Sand has some good news for you.'
Meiling felt her body freeze.
Marcus!
Lily!
Glancing down at the sword she still held in her hands, Meiling sighed and wondered what she would do with it. Slowly her mind began working again, this was the talisman of the second book and the second book was supposed to contain the Elemental cards as well as Wood and Sand. So if the talisman was connected to the book than maybe she could call upon the cards again.
Feeling slightly stupid doing it, Meiling held up her sword and called into the night.
"Wood? Sand? Watery? Windy? Earthy?"
No answer. Meiling sighed and called upon her less favourite card.
"Fiery?"
"So of course I was the last one," a familiar voice muttered from the shadows.
"Shut up," another voice growled.
"Yes, mistress?" the Wood emerged from the ground as a giant budding sunflower. Slowly the emerald green bud burst open revealing bright yellow petals and in the centre where the brown pollen should've been was Wood's calm, green face.
"Marcus? Lily? Where are they?"
"They're inside," Windy said calmly not actually appearing but Meiling could hear her voice on the winds.
A bright grin appeared on Meiling's face as she began sprinting for the hospital door.
"Umm.. Fighter?" Fiery's voice said from the shadows.
From some weird reason none of the cards were showing themselves in their true form.
"What?" Meiling scowled.
"Sword."
"Oh," Meiling stared down at the blade and knew she couldn't very well bring it into the hospital, "What do I do?"
"Repeat after me," Earthy's voice rumbled from the ground, "Sword of Earth, Hide your true form before me. I mistress, Meiling command you. Change!"
Meiling quickly mumbled the words stumbling over the unfamiliar phrasing as red light burst from the sword's ruby. Meiling was shocked to feel the sword suddenly become lighter and began changing shape.
"Cool," Meiling whistled as she stared at the small gold bracelet that rested inside her palms.
A small golden butterfly with rubies dotting its wings dangled from the chain as Meiling slipped it on.
"Thanks," she called to the shadows as the Wood slipped back into the earth.
Turning back to the hospital, she briskly walked towards the door and pushed it open.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Yue smiled mysteriously at her as Tomoyo stared at the mystical guardian.
"What did you do?" she demanded.
"You'll find soon enough," Yue said calmly, "But for now we have to deal with you."
"Deal with me?!" Tomoyo scowled, "What the hell do you mean?"
In response, the angelic man arched his pale eyebrow delicately as a small smile appeared on his usually emotionless face.
"How can you fulfil your destiny if you are trapped in limbo?" he asked, "It's time for you to return to the real world."
Before Tomoyo could react, something appeared in Yue's hand.
"Through!" Yue commanded seemingly talking to the thing that was hidden by his long fingers, "Take her from here and put her back where she belongs! Release and dispel!"
Focusing on the thing, Tomoyo realised it was card. To her stunned surprise, the card glowed brightly as something burst from its surface. A semi-transparent woman flew straight for the Angel and before the Japanese Angel could react, the woman slammed into her chest. Tomoyo took a step backwards expecting to feel an impact of some sort but to her surprise she felt nothing only a faint coldness. Looking down, Tomoyo's jaws dropped seeing the woman's spectral body superimposed over her own chest, part of the mysterious woman's body seemingly disappearing through her now. Numbness invaded her body as Yue watched her calmly with icy blue eyes.
"What..." Tomoyo managed to say before her whole body froze and her vision darkened.
She had the distinct feeling she was moving somehow but all her senses were dulled and lifeless. Suddenly feeling once again swept through her body.
Tomoyo opened her eyes slowly and looked around.
"That was freaky," she murmured softy as she tried to move her arms.
She was shocked to feel that they were bound behind her back somehow.
"What the hell?" Tomoyo looked up.
Only to find a pair of emotionless brown eyes peering down at her.
"Rika."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Sakura's eyes snapped open.
"Oowwww..." she moaned as she felt every single part of her body throb with pain.
She slowly tried to force her body to sit up as she studied her surroundings. She seemed to be in a hospital of some kind judging by the faint anaesthetic and medicine smell that permeated through the air. The other already-made beds lining the ward were a big tip-off.
"Hello? Nurse?" Sakura looked around and seeing an alert button nearby she punched in the button the waited.
Okay, so she was in a hospital. Didn't Kerberos tell her the key had helped her somehow after Lara had thrown her through the window and in the sea? She had obviously been badly beaten judging by the bruises and cuts highlighted by the bright fluorescent light overhead.
"You're awake!" a nurse appeared through a door and stared at her in surprise.
Sakura blinked at her.
"Yeah..." she trailed off, "Where am I?"
The nurse took a deep breath and steadied herself whilst her dark eyes continued to study the American Angel.
"You're in Santa Barbara Hospital. We find you in the carpark... you were in a coma... we put you here in this ward... we didn't expect you to wake up," the nurse stammered the story out as Sakura closed her eyes and remembered everything that had happen to her in the limbo.
Her mother...
Kerberos...
Clow Reed's story...
The Light card...
The Void card...
The fourth book...
Her doppelganger!
"Uh oh..." Sakura whispered, "Umm... this may sound strange but can I get out of here... like... now?"
The nurse stared at her.
"I'm sorry but I can't let you. The doctors have to sign you out and check you up. You may have had permanent damage..."
Sakura sighed as her hand slowly crept up to the Star key, which still hung around her neck. At least that was still there.
"You will allow me to go," Sakura said softly, her voice charged with power as the key began glowing brightly again, "You will allow me to go and forget I was ever here. Everybody will forget I was here."
Gold light burst from the key and washed over the paralysed nurse and flooded all the other rooms of the hospital. When the nurse finally emerged from her trance-like state, all the beds inside the ward were empty.
The nurse blinked and looked around.
"Why am I here?" she asked to no one in particular before turning around and leaving.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Well, this is a busy night," the friendly nurse chatted to Meiling cheerfully as she led her to the check-up rooms, "First a man woke up from a coma and then two other people arrived here mysteriously..."
Meiling stopped in her track as the nurse turned to her curiously.
"Two people?" Meiling asked her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, a father and his daughter."
Meiling's hand snaked forwards and grabbed the nurse's arm tightly.
"Can I see them?" she whispered, "Now? I... kinda know them."
The nurse was hesitant at first but then she changed her mind and shrugged.
"Why not?" she said cheerfully, "The man's asleep but his daughter's in the child ward."
The nurse led her down several long brightly lit hallways before pushing open a set of glass doors. Inside there, the walls were lined with many brightly coloured drawings and paintings. Meiling's eyes were drawn to the cheerful posters of cartoon characters dotted the walls as the nurse led Meiling to another room and pushed it open.
Inside a small blonde-haired girl with bright blue eyes were playing with an old battered teddy bear that had obviously seen better days.
"Lily?" Meiling called softly.
The girl's head immediately snapped up.
"Mommy!" the girl shrieked before jumping off her bed and rushing to Meiling's arms.
Meiling was stunned at what Lily had called her but recovered in time to hug the small girl tightly.
"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered into the little girl's ears
The nurse left them allowing them to enjoy a happy reunion.
"What's your daddy?" Meiling asked Lily softly.
Lily shrugged before launching into a confusion tirade of sentences.
"I was so scared and so was daddy I think... he's hurt... then the bad man who stole me before came again and we were in this dark room... then this green woman and her quiet friend appeared... they broke the door and then... Bang! Bang! Bang!... it was sooooo noisy... then... then... then..." Lily took a deep breath as Meiling laughed.
"Whoa! Calm down and breathe," she teased, "Come on let's try and find your daddy, okay?"
Lily nodded as Meiling lifted her up in her arms as the little girl wrapped her arms around the Angel's neck. Anybody looking at them would've thought that Meiling was her mother as they left the room eagerly searching for their loved one.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Eriol stared at the man standing across from him calmly.
"Where?" he said coldly.
"I swear I don't know!" the man cried as Eriol narrowed his icy eyes at him.
"I don't like liar," the assassin said ruthlessly as he calmly withdrew a gun from his pocket and aimed at the cowering man.
"No! Please! No!"
"BANG!"
Eriol pulled the trigger as the man tumbled to the ground screaming as he fell. The bullet shrieked through the air ripping through his leg as Eriol eyed him coldly.
"Where is she? Where is Rika?"
The man merely sobbed and clutched his leg tightly as writhed on the ground in pain. Eriol sighed, a loud mechanical click filled the air as he cocked the gun's hammer.
"BANG!"
Another shriek of pain filled the air as a second bullet ripped through the man's uninjured leg.
"Please, please, please..." the man whimpered pathetically.
Eriol ruthlessly stamped down any emotions that appeared on his face as he kept up his cool façade even allowing a small sadistic grin to appear on his face.
"I don't want to hurt you," Eriol cooed, "But I hate people who don't tell the truth. Just tell the truth and I'll make it all better."
"Leave me alone..." the man shrieked.
Eriol narrowed his eyes and expertly aimed the gun again.
"BANG!"
A third shot rang through the abandoned warehouse as the man's arm gave a wild spasm. Shrieking in pain, tears poured down the man's face as blood poured from the gaping wound in his arm.
"Come on," Eriol clucked his tongue as cocked the gun's hammer again, "We're running out of limbs here."
"I'll tell! I'll tell!" the man screamed, pain and stress causing his voice to become high-pitch.
"Good," Eriol slowly move his gun away as he continued to study the informant, "Where is Rika?"
"Promise me... promise me..." the man managed to gasp, "You'll let me go."
"If you tell me everything, I'll make sure nobody else would harm you," Eriol snapped his eyes chips of dark ice.
The man seemed to think about it before nodding slightly.
"Rika... she's... she's... hiding inside the steel refinery factory in downtown."
Eriol glared at the man.
"But that's been burnt down to the ground for months," he growled, "Don't try and mess..."
"No! No! Yes, the factory's burnt to the ground but there's an underground storage area that still intact!"
Eriol took a deep breath and allowed his body to relax.
"Can you call an ambulance?" the man whimpered, "I swear I won't betray you! I swear!"
Eriol sighed and aimed his gun at him. The man's eyes bulged as he began to panic.
"But you promised me you won't hurt me!!" he wailed desperately.
"Actually I promised that nobody else would," Eriol said calmly as he fired.
Blood splattered on the walls as the bullet shattered the man's skull.
"See, nobody else would ever hurt you again," the cold-blooded assassin smirked as he turned around and walked off into the night.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Key of stars with powers burning bright,
Reveal the staff and shine your light,
RELEASE!"
The key spun around crazily inside the sphere of light floating above Sakura's hand as the American Angel stared at the magical talisman intently. In a bright flare of white light, the key transformed into the pink and gold Star wand as Sakura grabbed it and twirled it expertly above her head.
"CLOW CARDS TO ME!" she bellowed filling power fill every single cell inside her body.
A burst of gold light illuminated Sakura's dark surroundings as the Clow cards emerged from thin air and flew into Sakura's hands.
"FLY CARD!" Sakura commanded throwing the card onto the ground as the Light card in the limbo had shown her, "RELEASE AND DISPEL!"
Glowing symbols appeared on the ground as Sakura whacked the card with the tip of her wand. A spinning vortex of white wind burst from the card as Sakura took a cautious step backwards.
"KREEEEE!!" a semi-transparent bird-like creature burst from the ground as Sakura stared at it wondering what it was doing.
"Fly card! Fly me back to Los Angeles!"
The Fly card let out another high-pitched screech as it lunged straight for Sakura. Sakura let out a surprised yelp as the semi-transparent card slammed into her body easily passing through it. Her whole body was bathed in white light as Sakura stared around wildly looking for the source of the light. She looked behind her and froze seeing a pair of dainty white-feathered wings sprouting from her back.
"What the?" Sakura gaped at the wings.
In response the wings gave a flurry of small flaps as Sakura stared them in surprise. Suddenly as if a door inside her mind had been opened, a river of information about flying flooded into her mind.
How to operate these wings...
How to fly at night...
How to catch the best thermals...
Sakura let out a joyous laugh and flapped her wings experimentally. To her surprise, they answered her response and she lifted several centimetres off the ground.
Suddenly remembering why she was in such a rush to go back to L.A., Sakura sobered up quickly and gave her wings one powerful pump and she was off soaring through the air.
With the wind whipping through her hair and wings, Sakura gave one loud whoop of joy and sped through the night winging towards the city of angels.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Lilia knocked gently on the door and waited patiently for an answer.
"Come in," a gravely voice rumbled.
Taking a deep calming breath to steady her trembling body, Lilia pushed the door open and walked into the dark domain of her mysterious boss. As always, thick drapes hung over the windows and no lights were on. The only source of light was from the fiery-red end of a lit cigar, which her boss held in his hands.
Lilia counted herself lucky since she was one of the few people privileged enough ever to enter her boss's office but she had never seen his face. He hid his identity from her with darkness and shadows. She didn't even know his full name: he was just simply known as 'Mr Noir'.
"Yes, sir?" she asked almost timidly.
A puff of smoke poured into the air briefly dimming the burning red of the cigar tip. Lilia resisted the urge to cough as smoke poured into her lungs.
"I've been thinking..."
Lilia stiffened not liking the tone of her boss's voice.
"You know about Zachary Yamazaki?" Mr. Noir said after a few seconds pause.
Her body slowly began to relax as she let out an unwomanly snort.
"The fool that's working in one of the lower offices?" Lilia asked scornfully, "What about him?"
Mr. Noir chuckled as Lilia got a sinking feeling in her stomach. Every single part of her brain were screaming warnings at her, something was going to happen. Something she won't like at all.
"He's going to get promoted."
Lilia froze.
"What?!" she gasped, "But is he... I mean... coma... he in..."
"Yes, he was in a coma but my contacts have told me that he has just woken up several hours ago," Lilia held the distinct sound of a chair creaking as her boss leaned back into his, "You do realise that he has been a faithful employee of mine. And he is a hero of sorts around the office after the terrorist attack..."
"You mean those blasted Angel attacks," Lilia snapped.
Her boss merely chuckled.
"True," he agreed, "But my promoting Zachary it would show the rest of the employees that commitment to me would result in good benefits for them. It would make them work harder for me. That's why I'm promoting Zachary to poor Hayden's... vacant position."
Lilia wondered for possibly the millionth time if he knew about her involvement in her partner's death. Mentally she shrugged, if he knew he probably didn't care.
"His promotion is in effect as soon as he returns here," Mr. Noir continued, "You will do the necessary paperwork and fill him on what he has to do for the company. Understood."
Mutely, Lilia nodded.
"Good, dismiss."
As Lilia left the room, her heart and mind raged with anger.
"Damn it!" she hissed.
As soon as she had gotten rid of one rival another one pops up. She has to nip this one in the bud as soon as possible but Mr. Noir would be very displeased if she did it openly. This has to be handled delicately...
Lilia reached into the folds of her expensive suit jacket and pulled out a top of the rage mobile phone and punched in a quick series of numbers.
"Hello? It's me. I've got a job for you..."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Eriol casually got out of his car and walked towards the charred ruins of the factory. Blackened walls jutted out from the ground like broken tooths as slivers of metal not devoured by rust glimmered in the cold fire of the stars above. Eriol scanned the area expertly straining his eyes to look for the entrance of the underground storage facilities. Strolling through the wreckage not really caring as pieces of metal shrapnel bit into the leather of his expensive shoes, Eriol pressed on broken glass crunching underfoot as he searched the area.
Finally he spotted it, by some twist of fate a column of blackened concrete had remained behind after fire had ravaged the factory. Eriol's eyes traced the outline of an iron door set into the concrete as he slowly began moving towards it.
Gingerly he touched the rust-corroded handle jutting out from the door. Experimentally he pressed his weight against it. It shifted slightly; exerting more force he pushed it open slowly inch by inch wincing as a piercing screech rended through the air as metal scraped across hard concrete. Finally with one last mighty shove, it swung open revealing a crumbling staircase leading down into ominous shadows.
With a final check that his gun was rested in the holster on his belt, Eriol descended down into the darkness.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Marcus let out a low moan as his side gave a small spasm of pain, slowly and with great effort he finally managed to open his eyes.
"Lily, leave him alone," a familiar voice scolded gently, "I think your daddy needs to rest."
That made Marcus open his eyes.
"Meiling?" he gasped staring at the ruby-eyed woman.
"Marcus!" Meiling beamed at him, "You're awake."
"Wha... how?" Marcus took a deep breath, "I'm so glad to see you!"
Meiling sent him a small grin before leaning over and giving him a small kiss. Marcus deepened the kiss as Lily looked on interestedly.
"Who were those women?" Marcus demanded as soon as they broke the kiss.
Meiling stared at him for a few seconds before finally realising what he meant.
"Oh, you mean Wood and Sand," Meiling smiled nervously, "Kinda of a long story..."
"I've got time," Marcus said not letting her get off his easily.
"Shouldn't you be resting?"
Marcus continued to stare at her, after a few seconds Meiling sighed.
"I only know bits and pieces of the story but apparently Sakura knows everything..." Meiling trailed off, "Aside from the fact that she's in a coma in Santa Barbara."
There was an uncomfortable silence as Marcus gaped at her. Meiling shrugged delicately.
"Apparently she's fine," Meiling sighed, "Okay, so this is what I know."
And Meiling began telling Marcus the legend of the three books of Clow.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
A burst of white light flooded the dark carpark illuminating every shadow as a figure appeared from the midst of the brightness.
"Let the challenge begin," Sakura's doppelganger smirked as she studied Los Angeles Hospital, "Ready or not, here I come."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Sakura landed lightly in front of her apartment building and concentrated for a few seconds as the wings of her back melted into thin air. Glancing down at herself, she realised she was only wearing a thin hospital gown that was not keeping out the cold. Shivering slightly, she pondered for a few seconds if she should go up into her apartment.
"I wonder if a card can help me here," Sakura said aloud as she stared down at the cards in her hand.
Seeing one with a promising name, she pulled it out.
"Move card!" she called reading the name inscribed on the card, "Bring a set of my clothes to me! Release and dispel!"
Light burst from the card as she hit it with the Star wand from the centre of the light a pair of hot pink wings appeared fluttering in an invisible breeze as Sakura stared at the peculiar creature. It seemed to pause for a few seconds before disappearing, a few seconds later it reappeared again.
Sakura jumped in surprise were several articles of clothing fell from the sky and landed lightly on her hand. Before it could slide off her and hit the ground, Sakura grabbed it and stared at the familiar looking shirt and jeans.
"Thanks," she called to the pair of pink wings as she quickly changed.
After warming herself up, Sakura considered her next move. She needed to find her fellow Angels and quick.
They should be at Tomoyo's house but considering the craziness she had been put through she wasn't so sure and she needed to find out where her doppelganger had got to.
"Light card," she commanded, "Show yourself before me! Release and dispel!"
This time light seemed to slowly seep from the card chasing the shadows away as a searing warmth brushed against Sakura's skin. Slowly emerging from the light, a pair of calm golden eyes stared at her.
"Flower," the Light card greeted, "Lovely to see you back in the real world."
"Where's my doppelganger and where's Meiling and Tomoyo?"
The Light was silent for a few seconds before speaking up.
"Meiling is at Los Angeles Hospital with Marcus and Lily..."
"What's wrong are they alright?" Sakura asked concerned, "Why ar..."
"So is your friend Zachary, Diana and Chelsea," the Light added cutting Sakura off, "And so is unfortunately your doppelganger."
Sakura stared at the card.
"Damn!" she swore, "FLY CARD! GRANT ME YOUR WINGS!"
"Flower! Wait! It's folly to go af..."
"Release and dispel!"
Before the Light could speak again, Sakura was already flying full speed towards Los Angeles Hospital.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Tomoyo felt sick, her body was numb for a few seconds before becoming alive with sensation a few seconds later. Over and over again, this cycle continued as Tomoyo's mind feebly fought against the darkness that threatened to overwhelm her.
Suddenly a piercing screech resounded through the dark room as Rika who had been silently standing guard over her suddenly burst into action springing behind a wall. Tomoyo could faintly hear the sound of shoes slapping against hard cold concrete, as Rika seemed to become more and more tense with each passing second.
Tomoyo tried one last desperate attempt to keep her eyes open but against her will, her eyes slammed shut and darkness claimed her.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Eriol stepped off the final step and stood silent in the shadows, his senses on high alert.
His sharp eyes caught the faintest flash of light and he moved depending on instinct rather than his senses. Razor claws sliced through the air as Eriol neatly sidestepped the blow. Rika lashed at him again as Eriol grabbed her wrist and ruthlessly twisted it sharply.
Rika kicked him in the ribs as Eriol hissed in pain letting go of her arm. He punched her in the chest as his hands quickly flew to the holster on his belt. Before he could yank the gun out, Rika lunged at him again throwing him backwards as she elbowed him viciously in the stomach.
"Son of a..." Eriol growled as Rika advanced stalking him like a sleek dark panther stalking its prey.
She charged at him again as Eriol met her head-on as he bent at the waist head-butting her in the stomach. Rika let out a small gasp of pain as Eriol grabbed her arms and straightened throwing her clumsily over his shoulders. She landed heavily as Eriol whirled around and yanked the gun from his holster.
Rika continued to circle him as Eriol cocked the hammer and aimed.
"BANG!"
The clawed assassin lunged to the side and feinted to the right as Eriol fired again missing her. Blades flashed through the shadows as Eriol let out a shout of pain. Blood poured down from the vicious cuts down his arm as Eriol cursed loudly before managing to kick Rika away.
Rika came back with amazing agility kicking the gun from Eriol's hand as she delivered a snap-kick to his chest sending him stumbling backwards as he cursed loudly. Recovering quickly, Eriol shifted into a boxing stance bouncing lightly on his heels as he waited. Rika charged again as Eriol ducked weaving under her blow before delivering a punishing uppercut to her exposed chin. He followed up with haymaker that whacked her senseless across the head.
"Never mess with me," he growled as he continued to pummel her, "She's mine! Not yours or you damn sponsors!"
If Rika heard him she showed no signs as she tried to carve his stomach open only to have Eriol grab her arm and body-slam her. Rika tumbled to the ground as Eriol kicked her away before taking advantage of her dazed pain to search vainly for his gun.
His hand brushed against the cold metal of the barrel as Rika attacked again kicking him in the ribs. Eriol let out a gasp of pain as her foot found soft flesh, again and again her foot flashed down catching him in the same spot over and over again.
"Bitch!" he hissed as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
With one last powerful kick, Eriol was sent sprawling onto his back. Rika leapt at him, claws ready to slice him apart. Fighting back the river of pain that threatened to flood his senses, Eriol managed to finally grab his gun and brought it up with one smooth motion firing as he brought it to bear.
"BANG!"
A single bullet howled through the air slamming into the clawed assassin's side. The force of the blow sent Rika reeling from her trajectory as Eriol aimed blindly again and fired.
Rika fell to the ground as blood poured from the two wounds punched in her side. Eriol gasping for breath managed to finally stand up. Staring at Tomoyo who was lying bound and gagged on the floor, he ran over to her and shakily checked for her pulse.
It was there faint and slow but it was there. Eriol sagged with relief as he pulled a mobile phone from his pocket and called 911.
"Police?"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Sakura landed on the hard tar of the carpark as she looked around.
"Where the hell is she?" Sakura scowled.
The answer to her question came roaring from the darkness, Sakura was sent flying as her doppelganger burst from the shadows tackling her to the ground.
"Surprise!" she chirped as Sakura snarled at her and threw her off with a powerful kick.
Her doppelganger easily flipped onto her own two feet as Sakura eyed her wearily, her Star wand held tightly in her hands.
"Oooo... shiny," her doppelganger smirked staring at the wand held in her counterpart's hand, "Can I have it?"
"Go to hell," Sakura barked.
"That's mean," pseudo-Sakura pouted, "Don't you want to play."
"Play with this," Sakura smirked as she scanned through her cards.
Seeing a familiar card, Sakura pulled it out and held it up so her doppelganger could see it.
"Awww... there's no need to be shocked," Sakura smirked staring at her counterpart who was eyeing the Clow card with bulging eyes.
"Noo..." her doppelganger gasped as Sakura hurled the card onto the ground.
"THUNDER CARD!" Sakura bellowed, "STRIKE MY DOPPELGANGER WITH YOUR BOLTS! RELEASE AND DISPEL!"
The dark sky above lit up with cold blue light as skeins of crackling electricity jetted across the darkness of the night. The sky rumbled unleashing a barrage of hard rain as Sakura smirked at her doppelganger feeling the power of the storm flooding through her body.
"Strike," she whispered pointing at her enemy.
Pseudo-Sakura screamed in fury as huge bolts of lightning crashed down from the skies each deadly arrow of electricity aiming straight for her. She tried to run but was stopped dead in her tracks as the lightning came crashing down with deadly force. She was flung off her feet as thousands of volts of electricity flooded through her body, Sakura watched in stunned fascination as her doppelganger was sent flying through the door of the hospital with the force of the lightning shock.
Calmly calling the power of the Thunder card back to her, Sakura transformed the wand back to her key and walked calmly towards the ruined doors of the hospital ready to finish this once and for all.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Lily clung tightly to Meiling as the night outside rumbled with thunder. Meiling told a shocked Marcus about her fight in the centre of Ruby Moon's volcano as he stared at her in shock.
"Are you okay?" he asked concerned pushing aside his surprise, "Are you hurt?"
Meiling smiled, touched, thanking god she had find someone who cared so much about her well-being.
"I'm fine just superficial wounds," Meiling reassured him.
"Shouldn't you be seeing a doctor?" Marcus asked her raising an eyebrow.
Meiling shrugged as Lily whimpered.
"Are you okay, honey?" Marcus asked his concern immediately focused on his trembling daughter.
"Storm," the young girl whimpered.
Meiling marvelled at the fact that Lily could remain unafraid when visited by two magical beings but be instantly scared out her mind at the slightest rumbling of thunder. She hugged the little girl to her as Marcus beamed at them liking the image of Lily being held tightly in Meiling's arms.
As sudden as it had started the thunder died down.
"See Lily?" Meiling said gently, "There's nothing to be afraid of."
"You'll protect me?" Lily whispered still frightened.
Meiling nodded.
"Promise."
Lily relaxed as she beamed up at the Angel.
"Thanks Mommy!" she said cheerfully.
Everybody stared at her.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Well that was strange," Chelsea, remarked looking out at the suddenly calm sky.
"Stupid weather," Diana muttered.
Zachary laughed.
"Oh come on, what are you complaining about?" he teased.
Diana sighed.
"It's just so annoying. I mean, rain one second and then sunny the next. Can't it stay the same?"
"Then we won't have the different seasons," Chelsea pointed out.
Diana glared at her.
"Chelsea," she sighed, "I don't want logic, I just want to have a good whine."
"Hey, shouldn't I be the one whining?" Zachary asked, "I mean I was in a coma."
"Oh, boo hoo," Diana snapped back, "You didn't have to deal with real life for a few days."
The three friends stared at each other before suddenly bursting into loud peals of laughter. It was good to laugh after such trying times but little did they know the real challenges were just beginning.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Ow..." psuedo-Sakura whinged as she stood up slowly.
She stared at the shattered front door of the hospital as she slowly moved her body around. Finally satisfied that she was alive, she turned to the frightened nurse cowering behind the reception desk.
"What're you staring at?" she snarled, "Haven't you seen a woman get struck by lightning?"
She was distracted from her terrorising of the nurse as the real Sakura strolled into the hospital foyer.
"Well, that was an electrifying start," Sakura smirked.
"Screw you," her doppelganger snarled.
"Now, now that isn't nice," Sakura reprimanded arching her eyebrow.
"Well, is this nice?"
Sakura was thrown against a wall as her doppelganger sent her flying with a kick that cause her body to explode into pain. Sakura slowly staggered to her feet brushing the hair from her eyes as she glared at her counterpart who was slowly moving into a fighter's stance, a sadistic smile decorating her face.
"Hey, you're friends are here!" she said suddenly tossing an evil smirk towards Sakura, "I better say hello!"
Before Sakura could react, psuedo-Sakura disappeared in a flash of bright light.
"Damn it!"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Lily looked up in surprise as Meiling stared down at her.
"What's wrong?" she asked innocently.
"Ummm..." Meiling gently placed Lily in her father's waiting arms as she tried to gather her scattered wits, "Ummm..."
Marcus studied Meiling intently as the Angel fumbled around looking for the rights, his face seemed to show uncaring calmness but inside he waited desperately for the words he wanted to hear.
"Don't you want to be my mommy?" Lily pressed determined to get an answer.
"Umm... Lily..." Meiling began nervously.
Luckily fate saved the Angel from answering as bright flash of white light flooded into the room causing everyone to let out shouts of surprise as they blinked furiously trying to clear their vision.
"Hmmm... isn't this a nice little gathering," a familiar voice said with malicious humour.
"Sakura?" Meiling tried to clear the spots from her eye as she stared at her friend, "Where have you been?"
"Close but no cigar," 'Sakura' smirked, "I'm not Sakura!"
Meiling had no time to react as this strange Sakura threw a punch at her that knocked her out of her seat and sent her flying into the wall with considerable force.
"Meiling!" Marcus yelled as the Angel slowly levered herself off the ground as psuedo-Sakura smirked at her.
"Who the hell are you?" Meiling roared as she staggered to her feet.
"I'm many things," psuedo-Sakura smirked, "I am power, I am destruction but most of all I'm Yue's champion."
Meiling froze as her mind flew back to what Ruby Moon had told her.
'... the challenge of Yue is about to being.' Meiling remembered the mysterious phrase perfectly.
"Yue's challenge," she gasped at last.
"Oh good, you've heard," psuedo-Sakura sent her one last smirk before flinging herself at her.
Meiling barely managed to block a quick right hook that came crashing into her side only to be whacked across the room with a spin-kick that landed with deadly force. Landing heavily on the ground, Meiling tried to stand up but her legs gave out from under her.
"Whoops," psuedo-Sakura smirked, "Mommy, I broke my doll!"
Meiling spat and cursed at this mysterious creature who had taken her friend's image as a disguise as psuedo-Sakura slowly stalked to towards her menace charging every step.
"You leave her alone!" a tiny voice yelled.
"NO!" Meiling yelled as psuedo-Sakura turned to Lily who was staring at her defiantly.
"Now who are you funny little creature?" she snarled as she began walking towards the bed.
"Marcus! Get her out of here!" Meiling yelled as she tried to run towards them only to have her feet give out from under her.
Psuedo-Sakura took another steps towards Marcus as he tried to get up but stopped as pain flooded through his body.
"Lily! Run!" her father yelled putting her down onto the floor.
"But daddy..." Lily protested.
"GO!" Marcus roared.
Lily tried to run away but psuedo-Sakura leapt over the bed in one single bound and grabbed her roughly around the arm.
"Trying to run?" she snarled, "But the party is only starting!"
Lily tried to squirm out of psuedo-Sakura's grip but it was to no avail as the false Angel tightened her iron-hard grasp.
"NO!" Meiling yelled and finally managed to stand up.
"Take another step and I'll kill her!" psuedo-Sakura roared.
Meiling watched her helplessly as Lily let out a shriek of pain. Psuedo-Sakura had a sadistic smile dancing across her face as she slowly tightened her grip.
Use the sword
Meiling blinked as that random thought suddenly appeared in her mind. Slowly she unclasped the clip of the gold and ruby bracelet she wore on her wrist and gently traced the outline of the ruby-studded butterfly tangling from the chain. A divine calmness seemed to seep into her mind and body as words came to her from the recesses of her mind. Words she had never heard before but instinctively knew they invoked some kind of great power.
"Blade of Clow,
Power of magic,
Power of light,
Reveal the sword,
The force ignite!
RELEASE!"
Psuedo-Sakura let out a gasp of shock as the crimson light burst from rubies on the bracelet. Gold became liquid as it shifted and warped forming first a cross-hilt, then a handle and pommel and finally an awesome blade that shined with divine light. "The Sword of Ruby Moon," psuedo-Sakura gasped as Meiling smirked at her slowly twirling the sword around in her expert hands.
"Fiery, Watery, Wood, Sand, Earthy and Windy," she said slowly and calmly her ruby eyes flashing, "To me!"
Pseudo-Sakura looked around in shock as the window leading out into the night sky suddenly leapt open as strong gust of wind swept into the room. Marcus could feel the air suddenly turn unbearably hot as though a fire had just sprung into life beside him, several seconds later the air turned cool and moist as though a rain cloud was about to sprout from thin air.
The ground just in front of Meiling's feet shook and quaked as thought a mini earthquake had burst from the ground. It widened slightly as the ground bulged upwards as though something was trying to push up and through.
"What is it now?" an angry voice demanded as a red elfish creature with long wings of flames appeared causing a wave of hot air to sweep into the room.
"Mistress?" the wind swirled around in a vortex as it took on a cream and yellow tinge. Finally an elegant woman with long dragonfly wings burst forth from the mini-tornado hurling the winds in all directions.
Two familiar faces greeted Marcus as the bulging ground dissolved into sand causing three magical creatures to spill out. The Wood spirit sent Marcus a small grin as Sand merely nodded at him. The third creature was one he hadn't seen before but she seemed to emanate great powers as she stared at psuedo-Sakura.
Water seemed to appear from thin air unleashing a tiny flood as blue liquid spilled onto the ground. Before Marcus's astonished eyes, the water seemed to become semi-solid as it twisted and bulged forming a fish-like tail and long fin-like ears.
"Calm down Fiery," the tiny mermaid-creature scolded as it emerged from the water.
"The Elementals," Psuedo-Sakura gasped.
"Attack her!" Meiling yelled pointing her sword at Psuedo-Sakura.
Fire, water, gusts of wind, sand, vines and huge chunks of rock blasted out from all corners of the room, twining together to form a destructive wave of elemental power. Psuedo-Sakura gasped in shock as white light began filling her body.
"This sucks," she pouted before her face disappeared behind a mask of white light.
With a huge burst of light that illuminated each of the Clow spirit's faces, she disappeared leaving Lily to stare at the combined attacks of the cards, which hurtled towards her with terrifying speed.
"STOP IT!" Meiling barked.
Marcus watched as each magical creature waved their hands and dispersed their awesome attacks without blinking an eyelid.
"Who the hell was that?" Meiling scowled glaring at the Clow spirits.
"That was Yue's champion," Windy said calmly acting as spoke person again, "She was sent by Yue to test you."
"Where did she go?"
"After Flower's friends."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"LIGHT!" Sakura yelled, "RELEASE AND DISPEL!"
The familiar-looking majestic woman slowly emerged from the card as Sakura tapped her foot impatiently.
"Where did she go?" Sakura demanded.
"Yue's champion?" The Light card asked.
Sakura glared at her as the Light sighed.
"I believe she's still in the hospital after your friends..."
Sakura stared at her.
"Zachary, Chelsea and Diana," the card clarified.
Before the Light card could say another word, Sakura was already sprinting down the long brightly lit hallways of Los Angeles Hospital.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Diana, Chelsea and Zachary stared as a glowing figure emerged from the bright light that had flooded the room. A familiar-looking girl with long auburn tresses and gentle emerald eyes appeared.
"Cherry?" Chelsea asked in astonishment reverting to her friend's old name.
"No, try Yue's Champion," psuedo-Sakura smirked.
"What the..." Diana gaped at this woman, who obviously wasn't their close friend as she slowly moved into a slow fighter's stance.
"Now, I wonder if you have magic to protect you," psuedo-Sakura smirked, "But I'll guess I'll find out soon enough!"
With that she leapt at Diana as the lawyer stood rooted to the spot by shock and fear as the doppelganger came closer and closer.
"SHIELD!" the door to the room burst open as a sparkling barrier of blue light appeared around Diana.
Psuedo-Sakura's eyes widened in shock as she tried to avoid the barrier but ended up hitting it with considerable force. For a few seconds she seemed to freeze in the air as her foot struck the card, Diana stared at the bubble of energy surrounding her in shock her mind trying to furiously process what she was seeing. With a huge flash of blue light the Shield card hurled psuedo-Sakura backwards with enough force to drive her through the plaster of the room wall.
"Ow... damn it! This is not my day!" psuedo-Sakura growled as she slowly stood up calmly brushing the plaster dust of her, "What now?"
"Get away from my friends," Sakura snarled as the Light card hung back watching the scene unfold before her.
"You again?" her doppelganger snarled, "Really how the hell do I get rid of you?"
"What the hell is going on?" Zachary demanded staring at his close friend as she glared at her doppelganger.
"Sakura?" Chelsea asked, "Which one is you?"
Both Sakuras ignored her as they continued their glaring match.
"Oh screw this, my eyes are getting sore!" Psuedo-Sakura hurled herself at the real one as the Light card stiffened.
Sakura grabbed her doppelganger's outstretched hands and hurled her into a wall as she slammed the butt of the Star wand into her exposed stomach driving the wind from her counterpart's body.
"OW!" Psuedo-Sakura grabbed the Star Wand before Sakura could yank it away and pulled it with all her might.
Sakura tried to fight against her but to her horror find she was slowly being dragged inch by inch towards her doppelganger.
"That's right come to mommy," Psuedo-Sakura cooed, "Come to mommy."
"NO! You are not worthy of wielding the talisman!" the Light card sprang into action as a ball of light burst from her outstretched hands.
Sakura wasn't quite sure what the attack did but she could hear her doppelganger scream in pain as the light washed over her body. When it finally faded, her doppelganger had let go of her wand and was coughing weakly as blood formed a crimson river down her face gushing out from a long cut across her cheeks.
"You Angels," Psuedo-Sakura spat, "You and you friend and loved ones. You can't protect them all."
Before Sakura could react, white light enveloped her doppelganger like a long shimmering cloak and she disappeared again.
"DAMN IT!" Sakura swore in every language she knew in her considerable repertoire, "DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!"
"Umm.. Flower?" the Light card broke through her mistress's ranting.
"WHAT?!" Sakura snarled.
The Light card gestured calmly towards her shell-shocked friends. Sakura gulped and quickly retracted the Shield card away from Diana as the Light transformed herself into a card and floated back to her.
Sakura fidgeted nervously as she scuffed her shoes against the ground. Clutching the Star wand against her chest, she hazarded a look at her friends who stared back at her with three pairs of disbelieving eyes.
"Umm... there's something I need to tell you."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Syaoran Li sat up as he heard the sound of footsteps walking across the hard wood floor just outside his office. Frowning, he got up and walked to the door.
"Who is it?" he called as he swung the door open.
A pair of familiar emerald eyes stared back at him.
Syaoran gasped as he took a step backwards in shock.
"How did you find me... what... when?" he gasped as he paled wondering how one of his Angels find out where he lived and who he actually was.
'Sakura' just continued to smile at him, her eyes dancing with malicious mirth.
"Sakura?"
"In your dreams."
The next thing Syaoran knew, 'Sakura' had punched him in the face and darkness claimed his senses.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
You guess it! CLIFFHANGER!! Don't you just hate me? And thank you, thank you, thank you for all your lovely reviews! It's great to know so many people are reading this fic!
Next chapter:
Finally the Angels are reunited once more as Tomoyo appears at the hospital not realising Eriol was the one who rescued her. However they have little time to rest when they realise Syaoran is missing and Psuedo-Sakura is the one behind his disappearance. To make things more complicated, Yue contacts them via dreams to reveal the first piece of the puzzle concerning the whereabouts of the third book. And what is Lilia's plan for Zachary? All will be revealed in... Missing in Action.
A/Notes: First of all thank you, thank you for all your lovely reviews! It's great to know some many take an interest in this fic!
And thanks for all your opinions concerning the sequel/prequel. I've got some ideas for the sequel but it is still in its early developing stages so it may take a while to post up but the prequel may come sooner than that.
And just on a personal note this is one of the favourite chapters because of its kind of new character, Psuedo-Sakura (just in case you're wondering or confused psuedo means false and it will be the name I'll most often used for Sakura's clone. Doppelganger and counterpart may also be used). To me personally Psuedo-Sakura is everything Sakura is not: malicious, evil and sadistic, which to me is the funniest character of all to write (do I need to get help?).
And of course the mysterious boss of Spinnel Corporation is revealed. If you know French, it may give you a hint on who he is. But if you know don't put it in your review cause you'll spoil it for the others.
So what do you think of Psuedo-Sakura? And in general what do you think of what I've done with old CCS characters and new characters? If there is something you don't like, I'll try to make improvements. Thanks!
