.. + .. The Prophesy .. + ..

By: SaKuRaStArS

A/N: Konnichiwa Minna-san! Gomen for the late update! ( >. ) As usual, no time to write.. Anyways, I wanna say Arigato to all my reviewers! I'm so sorry I didn't post ur names in this chapter but I wanted to get it up fast so I didn't have much time.. So.. yeah.. anyways.. enjoy! -

Disclaimer: How can CCS be mine if I can't draw like the wonderful CLAMP ladies do? Compared to theirs, my stories are very feeble. Therefore, CCS is not and will never be mine! TTTT

Chapter 3: OPERATION: Save the Cherryblossom!

"Syaoran! How are we going to find her?" panted Meilin as she, Tomoyo and Eriol hiked up a high cliff behind Syaoran and Yukito.

"I don't think he hears you, Meilin," said Eriol, who was slowing down so that Meilin and Tomoyo wouldn't be left behind. Then, all of a sudden, there was a rumbling sound. Eriol, Tomoyo, and Meilin looked up to see Syaoran and Yukito sliding downwards with a rockslide at their heels. By reflex, Eriol took Tomoyo and Meilin by the arm and slid quickly downward also. In seconds, they were on the ground and at a safe distance from the avalanche of rocks and dirt.

"SYAORAN!" shouted Meilin. "What the heck just happened!"

"Argh!" said Syaoran, punching the rocks. "How're we going to find her at this rate!" Yukito gave a small cough.

"Well, my students," he began, catching everyone's attention. "If you would close your eyes and pay attention, you would sense it too. It's not strong, but it's there." Immediately, everyone closed their eyes and focused their minds. They could all feel it then, the tiniest flicker of a pinkish aura at the back of their minds. As one, their eyes snapped open, and they looked at the fallen cliff.

"We don't need this cliff," said Tomoyo, slowly. Everyone looked at Yukito.

"Yukito-sensei, what can we do?" asked Meilin.

"Join hands," he instructed. When they did so, Yukito muttered a quick spell and there was a flash. They all felt a tugging sensation and were thrown into a portal. "Keep hold! Don't let go!" called Yukito. Their grips tightened and seconds later, their feet touched the grounds. They all looked up to see unfamiliar grounds. Taking a step, Yukito cautiously led the way. He muttered another spell and everyone felt a chill throughout their whole body. The children all looked at their master. He just directed them to stay silent and follow him. He led the way toward a large, gloomy, and eerie-looking mansion that just sent shivers up your spine. Yukito led them all toward the front entrance, past the sentries, and into the castle. Under his breath, Yukito murmured, "Invisibility spell." The children nodded, understanding and followed him as he led the way. The pinkish aura was stronger now, but it seemed to be tinged with a bit of black. They figured it was because of the castle. They climbed many stairs and looked through many rooms until finally, Yukito stopped where the aura was strongest. They walked into the hall and were all taken aback at the sight they saw there.

"Sakura!" shouted everyone. Yukito lifted the invisibility spell as they all bounded toward her. Then, they stopped.

"Why is she just standing there?" murmured Eriol, perplexedly.

"She's not bound either," said Meilin quietly.

"Sakura-chan?" said Tomoyo. Sakura turned around the face them. Everyone gasped. Her emerald green eyes that were usually so bright and cheerful, were now dark, cold, and emotionless.

"Well, hello dear friends," said Sakura in a low voice that was icy cold. "Isn't it a coincidence that we meet again. I must admit, I didn't expect you so soon." She smiled at Syaoran and the others when they gaped at her. The smiled didn't reach her eyes, which remained as cold and emotionless as before. "No matter," she continued, drawing out her sword and examining it. "I'll just proceed with the original plan." With a smirk, she lunged forward and sliced thin air.. exactly where Syaoran had stood, except they'd all disappeared. Sakura scowled in annoyance and stalked off to report to her master.

"Where are we!" shouted Meilin. They had appeared in what looked like a dungeon. Yukito pointed toward a lone, cloaked figure standing in the shadows. The person stepped forward. It was Haru Kinomoto, one of the brothers who had kidnapped Sakura. He was the twin with light brown hair and emerald green eyes.

"We are under the castle," he said. Syaoran, Eriol, Tomoyo, and Meilin blinked in surprise. His voice wasn't cold anymore and he appeared.. worried.

"What do you-" started Syaoran, angrily, but was cut of by Yukito.

"Please explain to us what is going on. Why are you doing this?" asked Yukito, his eyes on Haru's face. The others glanced at Yukito, surprised, then turned their eyes to Haru, who sighed.

"You see, Haku and I.. we were separated from our family a while back. Sakura wouldn't remember, she was barely six months old. We were taken because we were mistaken for the Awaited Ones from the Prophesy. When it was discovered that we weren't, a spell was cast over us. Just recently, the spell wore out on me, but it appears that Haku is still under it. I continued to be obedient, pretending that nothing had happened. I had to fool them. I had to protect Sakura. I knew they were after her. When we took her, I intended to hide her, but she was put under a spell before I could get to her. I couldn't protect her, I will. I brought you guys here so you would be safer. I'm sure Sakura wouldn't want her friends to get hurt. I'm going back to get her," he said determined. Yukito stepped forward and put a hand on Haru's shoulder as the others stared at Haru in surprise.

"You are strong, Haru, but will you be able to break the spell?" Yukito asked. Haru looked at him.

"I have to. I haven't found the 'little wolf' of the Prophesy yet. Although he's supposed to be the only one who can free my sister," said Haru.

"We think Li Syaoran is the 'little wolf' of the Prophesy," said Yukito, gesturing toward Syaoran. Syaoran stepped forward. Haku stared.

" 'Syaoran' means 'little wolf' in Japanese..." said Haru, eyes wide at the sudden revelation.

"Yeah," said Syaoran. "So I think I should go get her. Yukito-sensei, you should take everyone home and wait." Yukito nodded.

"I'll go with you, Li," said Haru. When Syaoran opened his mouth to argue, he continued. "She's my sister. Besides, you don't know your way around this place. And I can deal with Haku." Syaoran looked at him with narrow eyes. He nodded, grudgingly.

"Fine, then. Yukito-sensei, could you please get everyone back now?" said Syaoran, stepping away from the rest.

"But Syaoran!" cried Meilin.

"Sakura's my cousin and best friend!" cried Tomoyo. Yukito looked at Eriol, Tomoyo and Meilin firmly.

"We are going. We will only be in their ways otherwise," said Yukito. Meilin, Tomoyo, and Eriol were quiet and nodded reluctantly. "All right, let's go. Hold hands." They all held hands and formed a circle. Yukito muttered a spell and with a whoosh of wind, they were gone. Haru walked up to Syaoran and put a hand on Syaoran's shoulder.

"Stay still! Don't you want to get out of here!" hissed Haru when Syaoran tried to move out of Haru's grasp. Syaoran immediately became still. Haru closed his eyes and all was quiet for a few minutes. Then Haru opened his eyes. Syaoran noticed that his face was rater pale, but said nothing because he had no idea what Haru was doing. Haru looked Syaoran in the eyes. "She's with the Master."

"Who's 'the Master'?" asked Syaoran, a flicker of fear for Sakura blooming in his heart.

"Shimara," said Haru, heavily. "Listen, Li, when we get up there, Sakura's going to attack you. It's part of Shimara's plan. Leave Haku to me. I'll try to break the spell on him. I'll leave Sakura to you." He paused. "Please take care of my baby sister." Syaoran nodded. Haru said something under his breath and the next instant, Haru and Syaoran stood alone in a dark, cold hall lit sinisterly with a few torches. A flurry of pink immediately struck out at Syaoran.

"Sakura!" shouted Syaoran, defending himself with his sword.

"Li! She's not herself!" shouted Haru before he was forced to dodge a blast of energy that hit exactly where he had been standing seconds before.

"Well, looks like we've got ourselves a traitor in our midst," said Haku, who had appeared out of nowhere. "Good bye, dear brother."

"Haku!" shouted Haru, dodging Haku's blade. "Stop it! You're under a spell! You're not spell!" Haku merely smirked maliciously.

"Oh, but I am myself, Haru. You don't understand. You see, I awoke before you," said Haku, with a cold laugh. "I am myself."

"Lies! That's Shimara talking! He planted those memories on you!" shouted Haru, desperately. That situation had never occurred to him.

"Ha! Master gave me a choice. I could remain my pathetic self and try to get back to our family. OR I could join him and gain all the power I need, to be stronger and powerful. I chose to be stronger. What is a family that abandoned me worth when compared to all the power that I was offered? All I had to do was embrace the darkness. You should join me brother. We could rule under Shimara together," said Haku.

"You're wrong! They never abandoned us! They didn't even know where we were! They haven't forgotten us! Haku! Sakura's our sister! You can't just kill our family to gain power! We're your-" shouted Haru, desperately.

"Shut up!" snarled Haku. His eyes regarded his brother in disgust. "You're too weak, as always. You always did have a soft spot for our family."

"Haku, please. All of this is a lie. Lies created by Shimara to turn you against us!" said Haru, beseechingly. "Haku, you can be strong without the darkness Shimara wants you to embrace! Don't you see! He's just using you!"

"Well, lies or no lies, I quite like all this new strength he has given me. My orders were to get rid of you, Sakura, Touya and our parents. Since you refuse to join us, I'll destroy you first, you're your precious Sakura!" said Haku, striking again.

.. + .. Syaoran and Sakura .. + ..

"What's wrong, Syaoran-kun?" said Sakura, mockingly, as she struck once again and Syaoran merely blocked the blow. "Why don't you attack? FIGHT!" she attacked again, but when Syaoran moved to block the blow, she feinted and hit his left arm. Syaoran gasped in pain.

"S-Sakura..!" shouted Syaoran, still refusing to fight. Far behind them, Haku and Haru were also engaging in a battle. "Don't! Stop!"

"Don't stop?" said Sakura. "Okay. Die, wolf!" She struck again.

"Sakura!" shouted Syaoran, blocking her sword. Sakura didn't respond. "Come back!" Sakura struck again, but there was a small flicker in her emerald eyes. This time, instead of just blocking, Syaoran disarmed her with a single fluid move and caught her in his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to him tightly. "Come back to me." Sakura's eyes flickered again.

"Get your hands off me!" she shouted, but her voice was wavering.

"I really care a lot about you. I came all this way for you. I'm not leaving until you can come safely with me. I refuse to hurt you. Everyone is waiting for you. Come back to them. Come back to ME. I know we've only known each other for a short time, but .. Sakura.. I-I love you," Sakura stiffened, her eyes widening and the coldness dying.

"S-Syaoran-kun?"

To Be CoNtInUeD ..

A/N: hehe.. that was unexpected.. " I'm sorry for the short chapter. It's CSTs (California Standards Testing) right now and I've been squeezing my writing in whenever I can. As usual, I'm writing this chapter by hand, so it takes a while to write, then type it. I know this chapter is rushed (basically the whole story is rushed.. ..sigh..), short, and makes absolutely no sense. (") GOMEN! TTTT Please, please, please gimme a review! ONEGAI! (Please) though I know I don't deserve it.. oh and I think there're a lot of grammar mistakes, but well.. I don't know why but when I try to fix it, it doesn't stay fixed.. o wellz, 'til my next post, SaKuRaStArS signing out! (-)

. x -- SaKuRaStArS -- x --