VictorianPearl: I've enjoyed the three day weekend.

Sakura: I am proud to announce that finals are OVER!

VictorianPearl: I studied sooooooooo much; I thought my brain was going to fry. I did spend some time writing up some more of this story though.

Tomoyo: So after two weeks of waiting…

Sakura: She's finally posting.

Tomoyo: Hey, Victorian, where's Li?

Victorian Pearl: Good question.

Living Metonymy Chapter 4

The Shadow

A breeze lightly blew on Sakura's face. She was sitting on a swing, being pushed by Syaoran. The time was flying by and neither wanted to leave yet.

Sakura turned her head around to smile at Syaoran, who smiled back. She turned to face the front when a large pulse of pain entered her head.

Sakura let out a cry and fell forward off of the swing onto her knees, clutching her head. Visions began to painfully show themselves to her. She cried out, falling to the ground. She never made it; Syaoran caught her just in time. He steadied her in front of him, both of them on their knees.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" Syaoran called out to her. He placed his hands on Sakura's head over her own. Tears were streaming down her face.

"Hurts…" she whispered.

"It's okay," Syaoran said, gently putting his forehead against hers. "Just concentrate on pushing the pain away, move it away."

Sakura squeezed her eyes shut in concentration, causing more tears to leak out. Syaoran felt her rapid breathing become more and more normal. He opened his eyes to see Sakura, somewhat calmly in front of him.

"I'm glad you're all right." Syaoran said, relieved.

He whipped away Sakura's remaining tears and brought her into his arms. That seemed to snap Sakura back to reality. She gasped, causing Syaoran to pull away.

"Syaoran," she said with wide eyes, "its Yamazaki, he's in horrible danger!"

"Yamazaki?" Syaoran asked, "But…how?"

"Just trust me on this one." Sakura said, pulling Syaoran and herself to their feet.

OOO

"Thank you Takashi, I had the most wonderful time." Chiharu said, smiling up at Takashi.

They were sitting at the edge of the lake. Takashi and Chiharu had just begun to conclude their date. The sun was high but the lake was deserted.

Chiharu turned her attention back to the lake, still smiling. The morning had been so wonderful, the date, the company and…was it just her or was Takashi unusually quiet?

Chiharu blinked, her gaze never leaving the lake. Come to think of it, Takashi should have started lying about something by this time.

"Takashi?" She half whispered, uncertain.

Takashi let out a deep chuckle that was not his own. Chiharu's insides squirmed. Something was definitely wrong. Her gaze was still on the lake.

"Dear Miharu, it's a pity." A deep voice cooed, causing Chiharu's breath to catch.

She turned slowly to face who she thought was Takashi. She took a fearful glance at him. His eyes glowed red and his face had changed from a kind one to an evil one. He was so close that she could feel his coldness radiating off onto her. This was most definitely not Takashi. She let out a scream.

The person who was supposed to be Takashi brought a dead hand forward and clamped it over Chiharu's mouth. Chiharu immediately feinted. The being leaned forward, about to finish its business, when something hard slammed into it.

Syaoran had thrown himself against the being. The thing hurtled through the air and landed in the lake. This seemed to infuriate him.

"Watery!" A flying Sakura cried, slamming her wand onto the watery card.

A giant wave rose up out of the lake and smashed into the being, washing him up onto the shore.

The being raised partially up, it growled at Sakura and Syaoran before executing an attack. It was so sudden that Sakura and Syaoran hardly had time to dodge it.

The being rapidly pulled itself up out of Takashi. It looked like a black demon with many extendable arms. It lashed its arms at the two magicians, almost penetrating them.

Syaoran was taken by surprise. He concentrated on dodging the lashing arms. They would shoot for him, miss, loop around, and come in a furry of attacks.

Syaoran tired slicing off the arms. This caused the creature to reel in pain. It got extremely angry and brought its full forces on Syaoran, tying to beat him down.

On the opposite side of the creature was Sakura. The thing seemed to be toying with Sakura, who was flying, rather than trying to beat her down. The arms circled her, cut her off, causing Sakura to spin in the air and become dizzy.

Sakura grew frustrated, she knew perfectly well what the creature was doing and she didn't like it. No matter whether the enemy was a human, magic, or monster, they all thought she was an easy target. She always proved them wrong.

"Sword!" Sakura called, slamming her staff onto the Sword card.

She sliced her sword downward, sending a lethal blow and cutting off many arms. But no matter how many she cut off, more always seemed to reinforce.

Sakura figured out soon enough that the arms would not stop coming. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Syaoran dodging and slicing the arms as well.

"Syaoran!" She called, "We have to use more magic, try to use your magic!"

"God of water!" Syaoran called, summoning the dragon god of water.

The evil creature used its many legs to push itself up. Its body missed the water but the dragon managed to drench all of its arms.

"Freeze!" Sakura yelled.

The legs on the creature were frozen up to their attachments on the body. The legs snapped off and the creature's body dropped to the ground.

The creature stood, screeching at Sakura and Syaoran, only with two arms and lets. It then turned and ran.

"Come on!" Syaoran cried, grabbing Sakura's hand and running for the creature.

The creature turned and shot out a black tar at Sakura. Syaoran pushed himself onto her, causing them both to drop to the ground. The tar passed over them and landed on the grass; it began to eat it away. The two young sorcerers scrambled up. They made to go after the creature, but it had already disappeared.

Sakura clutched her wand; this was very scary. Poor Yamazaki was most likely hurt now. Chiharu was unconscious too, was she harmed?

Syaoran ran over to Yamazaki and Chiharu. He stopped short when he realized Sakura wasn't following. He turned and saw her, still clutching her wand. She looked at him and slowly walked over to him.

"Are they alright?" Sakura whispered, looking at Yamazaki and Chiharu's unconscious forms.

Syaoran knelt beside his two friends. He put either of his hands on Chiharu and Yamazaki. He concentrated his energy, pouring healing magic into his friends.

He took his hands off, trying to overcome a bit of dizziness. He looked up to see Sakura kneeling next to him.

"Sakura?" He asked; she looked so melancholy. It was as if a sense of loss had overcome her.

Sakura put one of her hands on Chiharu. She stayed there a while before bothering to speak.

"It looks like this creature is going to keep using our friends." She said softly, "I just hope their lives are not greatly afflicted with." She looked like she wanted to say more, but she thought the better of it.

Syaoran gazed at her sadly. His attention was drawn to her arm.

"Sakura, you're bleeding." He said, gently bringing her arm to him.

"Huh?" She was so taken with her friends that she didn't even notice her bleeding arm.

Syaoran placed his warm hands on either side of the wound. He softly chanted, pouring more of his magic into healing. The wound successfully closed, but he didn't let go.

Sakura looked up at him, almost questioningly. Syaoran brought a hand up to her face.

"I came from Hong Kong, a place where I had to work extremely hard, hoping against hope that my return to Tomoeda would be a peaceful one." Syaoran started.

Sakura's breathing began to labor, what was he trying to say?

Syaoran caressed Sakura's cheek with his thumb. "We're going to have to fight this together; I'm more than ready, are you?"

Sakura gave a small smile, "I'm surprised you had to ask." She answered.

"Com on," Syaoran said, helping Sakura up, "let's get Takashi and Chiharu home."

OOO

"WHAT!" Five different voices screamed.

Sakura and Syaoran cringed. Tomoyo, Kero, Eriol, Touya, and Meiling were staring at them with wide eyes.

"Are you sure it was a good idea to tell them?" Syaoran mumbled into Sakura's ear.

"So let me get this strait," Kero started, "thiyes…thing possessed Yamazaki and attacked Chiharu? Not only that, it also came out and attacked you two as well?"

Syaoran and Sakura nodded. Kero put his hand to his chin, thinking deeply about the situation.

"I don't think I know what kind of monster attacked you." Kero said, "This was not in Clow's book."

Something seemed to click in Syaoran and Eriol's minds, something about Clow's book.

"I have that book!" They both said.

Syaoran glared at Eriol, who simply ignored him.

"I had a specific book that was much more authentic than the ones in my library." Eriol said informingly.

"Yes Eriol, you had that book. I am now its owner." Syaoran said, a little triumph leaking through his voice.

Something then clicked in Sakura's mind. Her face lit up immediately.

"That's it Syaoran, that's the book!" Sakura said, jumping a little.

Syaoran gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"Come on Syaoran, can't you keep up with the conversation?" Touya mocked.

Touya and Syaoran shared a small glare before Sakura jumped in.

"You said that you got your wish. That book is a book of Clow's that was on your wish list right?" Sakura asked hopefully.

Syaoran smiled, she always looked so beautiful with that look in her eyes.

"Plan on answering any time soon?" Kero asked.

Syaoran sent a small glare at Kero. He hadn't realized that he was dazed again.

"Yes Sakura, the book is the one that was on my wish list."

"That's where you saw my necklace," Sakura said excitedly, "you saw it in you book!"

"I suppose you're right." Syaoran said, summoning the book into his hands. He moved to sit at the table as everyone else gathered around as well.

Syaoran opened the book and flipped through the pages. He eventually found what he was looking for.

"Necklaces of Clow: Two necklaces were made by Clow for two descendants to inherit. Although protection purposes are not confirmed, it is believed that their magic is supposed to protect the bearers." Syaoran read.

"Oh yes!" Kero cried, "I remember now, those necklaces are supposed to be light wielders. They are supposed to repel the darkness."

"You spoke a little late." Syaoran said, waving a hand at the creature.

Kero suddenly turned serious, "Syaoran, what's on your hand?"

Syaoran looked at Kero and then down at his hands. There was dried blood along the edges of his palms. It wasn't just red blood either; there was a purple colored blood there as well.

"Blood," Syaoran said.

Kero flew over and scraped the purple blood into a small capsule he had summoned.

"I am going to run tests on this blood. Sakura, do you mind?"

Sakura sighed, "No, I'll be right there to use Create to make a lab area." She threw a look behind her before advancing up the stairs.

"Lab area?" Syaoran questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Kero is going to fully examine the blood sample in a laboratory created by The Create." Tomoyo filled in.

"How are Yamazaki and Chiharu now?" Meiling asked, changing the subject.

"They'll be okay," Syaoran said, "Sakura and I used our magic to heal Takashi. Chiharu was unharmed, but was a little shaken.

"Such is the was of evil." Eriol said, "They use the innocent for their own purposes."

"Why does that sound familiar?" Syaoran muttered.

Tomoyo glanced from Eriol, to Syaoran, and then back to Eriol again. "I don't know about you guys, but I think I'm going to head home."

"I'll walk you to the car; however, shouldn't you tell Sakura goodbye before leaving?" Eriol said.

"I'll call her." Tomoyo said simply, walking out of the house with Eriol behind her.

After the couple left, Touya turned his attention to Syaoran. "I think you had better follow like suit."

Syaoran glared, "I certainly will, but only after saying goodbye to your sister!"

Before Touya could say anything, Syaoran jumped form his seat and dashed up the stairs. Touya was going to follow when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Meiling, shaking her head.

"He's only going to tell her goodbye. The reason he ran up the stairs so quickly was just to spite you."

"Only to spite me?" Touya asked, eyes narrowing.

Meiling shook her head again, "He wants to see your sister more than anything. He didn't want you to make him leave before saying goodbye."

"I don't doubt what you say, but I still don't think I can trust him."

Upstairs, Syaoran's mouth dropped open when he opened Sakura's door. Her once clean and open room had many lab tables set up in it. Kero had on a pair of goggles and a plastic apron. He was carefully examining a purple substance in a beaker.

Sakura shook her head and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"It's actually very interesting, the whole lab project." Sakura said, giggling.

Syaoran smiled, "Yes, it is. The reason I came up here was to tell you goodbye."

Sakura's face fell. "Do you have to go so soon?"

"Unfortunately, your brother wants me gone." Syaoran said.

Sakura sighed, upset that her brother was making Syaoran leave so early.

"Would you like to meet me later for dinner?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura's face lit up, "Of course Syaoran!"

Syaoran bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll call you later to give you more information.

Sakura saw him and Meiling both to the door. She was excited about the night yet to come.

OOO

VictorianPearl: I hope you liked it, please review!