AN: Alright, explanation time...

Someone didn't understand the last part of Tomoyo in the chapter 11. What's not to understand about that? Anyway, Tomoyo sees Sakura as a really close friend, and wants her to be happy (just like the series). Tomoyo has an eye for seeing what others feel/think, that's why she was kind of shocked that Sakura reacted differently from what she would have expected. In contrary to Tomoyo, Sakura normally doesn't realize the things around her, doesn't seem to know when people care, or not care, about her, doesn't realize when someone feels extremely sad or happy, and tries to hide it from her.

Tomoyo had just discovered that Sakura wasn't that dense as she had always thought, but that's the only thing that she didn't know, because Sakura still was the same, except for that little I-do-know-what's-going-on stuff.

Okay? All clear? Tell me if not...!

And further more: Chiharu, Naoko, Rika and Takashi all appear in this story, as you probably have seen already, but not very often. I try to get most characters from the series in this story, though I might forget someone of course...

Just hang on to the fic, if you want to know when and how! ;)

Hehe...on with the story:

Chapter 12

Syaoran and Meilin walked home. Her luggage was already at Syaoran's home, brought before school started. They didn't talk the 'big talk', as Meilin wanted, for Sakura walked a few steps behind them, chatting happily with Tomoyo. The talk had to be held later.

When Sakura and Tomoyo went a different way, she wanted to start, but they were at the Li-residence to soon, bumping into a smiling Wei. Their old friend followed them in the house, giving them tea and cookies, asking Meilin about her last months in the Li-residence in Hong Kong. She really didn't want to sent him away, so she answered all his questions, except for the part she had to discuss with Syaoran first. The talk had to be held later.

It was already getting late, and she still had to unpack her belongings, before she could go to sleep. Syaoran had soccer training early in the morning, so he didn't stay up that late. The talk had to be held later.

In the morning, when she woke up, she searched for Syaoran, but only found Wei, explaining that practice had begun one hour earlier. She mumbled something under her breath, clenching her fists. The talk had to be held later.

In school, they didn't have one moment together, for there were students everywhere. She did try to eat lunch with him alone, but there weren't any free spots, so they had to join their friends instead. Maybe after school? Anyway, the talk had to be held later.

-

He walked to the dark room, where his hated mirror stood. He had been ill for the last three days, so it had been a while since he had followed Sakura. Standing before it, he focused and the picture of Sakura appeared. She was at school, where she should be at this time a day, dozing off in history class, which she thought was boring.

He looked a bit closer, and saw Meilin in the back, next to Eriol. He quickly focused on a different character, and the image of Yukito appeared. Everyone is here, finally. My journey will soon end, my pain will stop existing.

All eight were complete, and even the less important four were there. It would all end soon.

I'm ending it all soon, my sweet Sakura. I'm weak, I know, but you'll forgive me, it's in your nature.

Just don't forgive him...

-

Walking trough the large hallways of his castle, he thought about the near future. His lifework would finally be near to complete. Reaching the last path to his study room, he nearly bumped into one of his servants. He didn't like them, so he just steppes aside and pretended he didn't exist. Reaching the large doors, with golden frames, another servant appeared. Opening the door for his master he said obediently: 'Your thee is served, Master Ywdoranc.'

Smiling on the inside, he walked in his chambers, towards the huge desk at the end. Servants were really useless, for they didn't do anything that he couldn't have done a hundred times faster. But towards other people, it looked like he had more power, if servants bowed to his will. His enormous castle held a couple of hundred servants, though he hardly saw any of them, except for opening doors – which he could do with a simple thought – and serving dinner.

Ywdoranc sat on his chair, large, as the rest of his belongings. Searching the room for any other beings – he found none – he opened one of the drawers. A small mirror laid there, which he took carefully and planted before him. The object was smaller then the one he had given his slave, and with this smaller form, he could only watch his bigger brother.

The little mirror showed the image of the larger one, with a boy, probably at the age of twenty, in front of it. The mirror the boy looked in, showed the sight of a girl, named Sakura. He was observing her very intensely, as she talked to the Li's. Ywdoranc could hear her trough the two mirrors, proving the power of them.

'...extra tickets! Will you two please go with Tomoyo and me? Please? You don't know what you'll miss, these don't exist in Hong Kong!'

Both Li's looked doubtful, but agreed nonetheless. Even from here, he could hear Meilin, mumbling something like 'The talk has to be held later.'

The boy in front of the mirror turned and looked him in the eyes. He looked pale, and his emerald eyes stood dull, but he spoke clearly. 'They're all here, Master Ywdoranc.'

'Perfect, my precious one. You have done well. It wasn't that hard, was it? After all, you're still alive.' He looked at the younger boy, who didn't show his emotions anymore. He had learned not to, a very long time ago. He simply nodded at his master.

'Not for long, of course,' Ywdoranc continued. 'but we have discussed that a long time ago. Go on observing them, and especially her. Try to find out what had happened in the past three days when you were...ill.' He paused at the last word, smirking evilly. He broke off the contact, and put the mirror in the drawer again.

All eight, at last.

He thought about them for a moment. For him to succeed, these eight had to be there.

The card captor.

Her family members with magic.

Her two guardians, of the sun and moon.

The friend she cares about most.

The reincarnation of Claw.

The leader of the Li-clan, together with his wife.

Why these people all had to be there, had a reason. They had to complete the magic circle, one would be for thread, and two would talk for the truth. With these eight, he would have the power soon and finally complete his goal. He had waited for almost eighteen years, and now, it had almost come to the end.

-

Sakura walked next to Meilin, talking to her, cheerful as ever. Tomoyo and Syaoran walked behind them, also having a conversation. They were going to a festival just outside Tomoeda. It was an Japanese festival, but they didn't know much more then that, for it was the first one they would see. The free tickets were the reason that they were going, but Sakura really looked forwards to it. Festivals had always been fun.

Tomoyo looked at Sakura, who walked, nearly danced, before her. Her eyes moved to the back of Meilin, who was cheering up a bit, and then she looked at Syaoran, next to her. She saw he was looking at both girls, an awkward look on his face.

What are you thinking of, Syaoran-kun?' He stopped staring at the girls and looked her in the eyes. He still wasn't very used to them using his front name. But with two Li's in the class, they had agreed to do so, to prevent any mistakes.

'Nothing much, really.' He answered, blushing just the slightest bit of red.

'Really.' Tomoyo just said.

That irritated Syaoran. What did she think, that he thought about? 'You really want to know, don't you? Well, you always seem to know what others think, so why don't you tell me.'

'Well, you don't like it that she came, but on the other hand, you do seem to enjoy having her around. It seems that you two know each other way to long, to dislike her anyway.'

He looked at Meilin, and then back at Tomoyo again. 'True, I guess.'

'So you'll explain it to me?' Tomoyo asked, curiously as she was.

He looked pained, but talked anyway. Soft as they spoke, the two girls in the front couldn't hear them, trough their own chatting. 'She is my fiancée. We have promised to marry a long time ago, under certain circumstances. But trough the years, we both changed, our feelings changed.' He sighed. This was hard to explain, especially without the parts Tomoyo was not supposed to know. 'We are very good friends, and nothing can change that, but there are moments we totally hate each other guts.'

'But do you love her?'

He hesitated a bit. 'I suppose I do, but I never want to marry her. It's not that kind of love, and she knows that.'

Tomoyo smiled inwardly. She saw great opportunities here, and she was willing to take them all. I might need some help though…Maybe Eriol could help, he knows Syaoran best of all. 'Then why is she still your fiancée? You can break the engagement, right?'

The painful look was back on his face. 'Not really, that's part of the certain circumstances, the rules of our promise.' He stopped talking, but Tomoyo gave him the you-must-continue-or-else look, so he did. 'He have to both agree to cancel and both have someone else we love most of all.'

'And that won't happen, because…?'

'Because… she has always loved me, and always told me so, and I don't have anyone I love more.'

He was kind of surprised, when Tomoyo began to giggle softly. 'Oh, you will. You just wait!'

Syaoran looked dumbfounded at her, and then started to blush a bit. How mush does she know anyway…It's like she can read minds, damned girl. I'm not even willing to give in to my own thoughts, so why should know anything?

He was about to retort that, when they stood in front of the entrance of the festival. They showed their tickets and entered. The festival was held in a small valley, surrounded by a forest. It was a magnificent sight: the trees were in all colors, for autumn had begun. Stands were decorated in Japanese stile, as were a lot of people, wearing kimono's in all colors. Music ran in the air, adding a bit more magic to the festival.

Sakura ran ahead, and turning around and around, enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Syaoran couldn't help but look at her. He had to push the smile back, that grew on his lips. But it was to late, Tomoyo had already seen it, and smiled victoriously at him. He just sighed. I might as well admit that I like Sakura. To myself, that is. Tomoyo already knows anyway.

He saw Meilin, laughing at Sakura who was nearly dancing now. She seems happier then usual. I really, really need to talk to her, something sure has happened. She has…grown up! That's rare…

Tomoyo was holding her camera now, and he wondered where it came from, he hadn't noticed before that she carried it with her. She filmed Sakura, and squealed happy sounds. A sweat drop appeared on his forehead, for the filming would never end.

He looked back at Sakura again and wondered. Why did he like her anyway, and since when? He realized that he had pushed all his feelings, all he knew about her, back, in a far corner of his mind. But in there, all the feelings had piled, and now they wanted to get out. Why should I hide it, It's not that I can forget her, even when pushed back. Maybe it's better to face it. After all, I just like her, it's not that I love her. I don't even know her for that long. Feelings don't grow that fast.

I suppose it's okay to just like her. She might be the enemy, literally, but being friends can help the mission. The cards will obey her, and trough her, to me. He let the smile grow again, and he caught Tomoyo filming him, smiling innocently.

But inside, in a far corner of his mind, he was shocked. He had just admit that he liked her, but still wanted to use her for the mission of the book of Clow. I don't want to! I'm not doing this mission voluntarily! I can't use her for that!

But as usual, he didn't pay any attention to the screams. Failing this mission was a lot worse, then Sakura loosing her cards. None had any idea what would happen if he failed.

-

Sakura was almost bursting with happiness. She ran around the festival, wanting to see everything, pulling Meilin along with her. She really liked Meilin, and it made her only happier to see that she had succeed in making a bit of Meilin's pain go away.

Meilin had not told her what had happened, and Sakura hadn't ask, scared that Meilin's painful look would return in her eyes. So Sakura just waited, for maybe, Meilin would tell her herself. But in the mean time, she had to keep her minds of all problems. That's why she had invited Meilin and Syaoran, to keep their minds off the problems.

She had been happy since she had stood up against the class, but it didn't mean that her own problems didn't get any attention. She had a lot to do, and her priority was helping Meilin. But besides that, there were a lot of different things she had to take care of.

First of all, her family. She wanted to spend more time with them, getting to know them even better, although Touya acted like a big brother, the moment he knew he was one. She hadn't had time yet to do anything, but she was planning to at least spend the evenings with them.

Another problem concerned Kero and Yukito. Yukito had been around a lot lately, and she had figured out, that her brother and he, were maybe just a bit more then good friends. She was okay with that, it didn't bother her, although it was a strange thing to see those two together.

But with the arrival of Yukito, Kero had gotten a little bit less space. He was allowed to be anywhere he wanted to, but besides her family, Syaoran and Eriol, no one was supposed to know he lived here. So when Yukito came, Kero had to hide, which he didn't like at all. Kero seemed to have his own reasons to see him, but Fujitaka didn't allow it. This resulted in a grumpy Kero, who only acted normal if she promised him some food.

Then the new student, and one of her new friends, Eriol. He had such a strong aura, that it seemed to overwhelm her sometimes. He sure was more then he said he was, but she had know idea what exactly. And to make it all worse, Syaoran, and even Meilin, did seemed to know it, but they didn't tell her. Not that I asked.

And thinking of Syaoran, he was her biggest problem. She hadn't forget that he had helped her, but more important, she hadn't forget the feeling he gave her, trying to comfort her. She had felt so entirely save in his arms, she wanted to feel that feeling again. She had admitted, after everything had been a bit more normal, that she really liked him.

But the arrival of Yukito had made it a bit more difficult. When Yukito came, she felt very attractive to him, the same way she had secretly felt toward Touya, Eriol and Syaoran. Therefore, she figured out, it could have something to do with magic. Magic attracts others with magic, Touya had told her. She knew Touya and Syaoran had it , and it really made a lot of sense if Eriol had. But has Yukito also magic?

Sakura really didn't know, so she was not sure if she just liked Yukito or his magic. And that resulted in a mix of feelings between Syaoran and Yukito, not knowing who she liked more, or even loved.

Love? That's a bit to much, I don't know them that well at all.

-

Ywdoranc looked at he picture in the mirror he looked trough his own mirror. They were supposed to be all there, but he couldn't find the guardian of the sun. He was left at home, forced by Sakura, but he couldn't find him there. This could be a problem, for all eight had to be their.

But Keroberos was a guardian, so he would probably come if his mistress was in distress. Counting on that, he activated the trap, especially made for this day.

-

Looking at his mirror, he saw everything happening. The group of friends realized too late that something was wrong, they were trapped. The bit of hope he had, when Keroberos wasn't anywhere to be found, disappeared, as the small creature made himself visible, risking to get scold at by Sakura.

Instead it was awfully quiet, and he knew why. They had fell into a trap, made by his master. That meant that it was going to be painful, physical or mental. He forced himself to look, hoping Sakura would indeed forgive him.

-

Darkness, loneliness, emptiness, loveless and much more.

Sakura screamed.

-

AN: THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS! Love you all!