Chapter 9: The Escape
Disclaimer: CCS … Alas I do not own you
By Stephie23
Authors Note: Sorry for not updating in so long, but I've been swamped with school work. I just finished this stupid assignment that was worth 25 percent of my mark, so I figured I'd update for you guys. Oh and another thing about portals is that you can only create one to a place that you've been before!
Last Chapter:
"Tomoyo" Eriol shouted "Get Sakura out of here"
Tomoyo nodded in understanding and began picking up her friend
"Oh no you don't" snarled Kumiko
She snapped her fingers and 3 ninjas came out of the shadows. They surrounded Tomoyo and then grabbed and bound her arms. One of the ninja's held Tomoyo, another grabbed an unconscious Sakura and the third picked up a limp Syaoran.
The ninja holding Tomoyo summoned a portal and the other two ninjas walked through it carrying their hostages.
Eriol watched in horror as the love of his life was dragged through the portal.
"… and now Eriol you have lost everyone you care for… isn't that a shame" she teased him "Goodbye for now, you know where to find me" Kumiko mocked before she ran over and jumped into the shrinking portal.
"You won't get away" shouted Eriol, and as he got a new wave of strength, he stood up and ran towards the portal…
"Ssssorry master." Kumiko replied while bending down towards the floor she stood up and continued "although I have not yet killed Sakura I did manage to capture her and two other prisoners"
"Well done … for once" the man replied his mouth twisted up into a sly grin 'this may just work out better than I had planned'
"Do you want me to kill Sakura now?" she asked
"No, no … I have a much better use for her now" an evil grin now consumed his features "Chain the three prisoners in the dungeon and have a guard posted outside of the cell. When they awaken tell me. That is when the real pain shall begin for our dear Xiao-Lang" he then burst into maniacal laughter before ushering everyone out of the room.
'I don't understand why we can't just kill her now' Kumiko bitterly thought as she led the group out of the room
"Can you get to her? Is she okay" Tomoyo frantically asked Syaoran
"Not unless I get out of these chains. I think she has a fever; she seems to be really pale. Damn. I need to get to her."
"Syaoran" Tomoyo pointed out shakily
"What is it?"
"Sakura… she… her… blood"
Syaoran looked back over to Sakura and gasped. Her clothes were beginning to turn red.
"Her wound must have reopened" Syaoran yelled and began to struggle with his chains once more
"Syaoran don't … you'll hurt yourself" screamed Tomoyo
"Have they awoken yet?" replied the man, his red eyes gleaming with anticipation
"All but Sakura, sssshe seems to fade in and out" Kumiko replied
"I see. I wish to wait no longer. Lead me to them"
"Yes master." Kumiko bowed and then led him towards the dungeon.
Evil music began to float through the air as if by magic, perhaps foreshadowing the doom to come for our heroes, or perhaps it was something else altogether.
Beads of sweat began to slowly creep down Syaoran's face as he tried to escape the chains that bound him to the wall. The chain was bound fairly low on the wall, low enough to allow the prisoners to sit. The chains themselves however were too short to go very far, much less allow them to stand up.
Suddenly footsteps and muffled voices were heard outside the cell. Syaoran's attention shifted to the door, and his facial features tightened in anger as well as anticipation.
"Syaoran… what do you think they want" Tomoyo whispered to him.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling it won't be good"
The Cell door creaked as it slid open and a cloaked figure, followed by Kumiko and the three ninja's from before, walked in.
As the cloaked figure walked closer to the prisoners Syaoran tensed. He had felt this aura before. He couldn't place it… but somehow he knew this person.
"Xiao-Lang… so we meet again…" his deep voice reverberated through the cell and sent shivers down Syaoran's spine. Tomoyo just quivered as she leaned against the wall looking back and forth between Syaoran and the figure.
The voice played over and over in his mind until realization finally dawned upon him. As the figure began to lower his hood Syaoran yelled out his name with venom and pure hatred.
Eriol looked at his surroundings. He was currently hiding behind a statue in the main hall. The statue was of a rather large man who resembled a boar. He was holding a large metal shield with a golden inscription written across the front of it. His sword was pointed in the air and he looked like he had been frozen in time as he was shouting a battle cry.
'I need to figure out a plan to get to them' he thought breaking his gaze away from the statue.
Suddenly music began to float through the air. Eriol looked around. He had heard this music before but he just couldn't place it. After a couple of minutes he decided to deal with the matter at hand first and give the music more thought later.
What Eriol didn't realize though was that this could mean only one thing. Only once had this music been heard before and the devastation that followed it was almost unimaginable. He also failed to notice that as the music played the inscription on the statue began to glow.
He looked around him and then pulled out his staff once more. He began to cast a spell that would freeze everyone in place for a short amount of time, just enough to allow him to get to the dungeons and find Tomoyo, Syaoran, and Sakura. It was a lengthy spell, but was well worth it. It would make getting to the dungeons an easy task. Getting out however would not be so easy.
"KURODA!" shouted a furious and somewhat frightened Syaoran … "How… how…"
"…is it possible that I'm still alive?" he interrupted "Well… you see, after that little assassination attempt you so kindly carried out, I was badly injured, but still very much alive. At first I went day by day just trying to stay alive. Eventually I began to make my way back to power. I was given a second chance, and I refused to waste it. In fact I owe you a great deal of gratitude. I am much stronger now than I ever was before."
"What do you want with me?" Syaoran spat back
"… not so much you as Saku..."
"YOU BASTARD! I won't let you touch her." As Syaoran said this he sprang off the wall with all his might in an attempt to break free of his bindings and strangle Kuroda.
"It is no use Xiao-Lang. Those chains have been bound by magic. You cannot simply break through them with physical force." Then he broke out into laughter, laughter so cold and so chilling that it sent shivers down each and everyone's spine, friend and foe alike.
Exhausted from all of the energy he had spent trying to break free Syaoran slumped back against the wall. Tomoyo who had been too shocked to say anything looked from Syaoran to Kuroda once more before she spoke up.
"… what do you want with Sakura? What has she ever done to you? Can't you see she is hurt? Let us go so we can take care of her." Tomoyo said somewhat sternly
"You sure are brave little girl." Kuroda laughed. "She has done nothing, the only one who has done something to me is Syaoran, and for that he must pay. As for Sakura… she will not be left here to die. I have a much better use for her." With that he snapped his fingers releasing the chains that held Sakura and her limp body fell to the ground. With a wave of his hand she was transported away, and there was no telling where he had taken her or why.
"NO!" shouted Tomoyo and Syaoran together
"Where are you taking her?" screamed Tomoyo in fear
"Give her back" shouted Syaoran who's blood began to boil.
"She is safe. Do not worry." Kuroda laughed and with that he left the cell with his followers close behind.
"NOOOOOOOOOO" Tomoyo screamed once more as the cell door closed and she collapsed to the ground.
The only thing left was the pool of blood and the empty chains that minutes ago held her fragile body.
"Sakura…" Syaoran collapsed depression overwhelming him.
'I WILL get her back! I will NOT allow him to take away the only person who has ever really meant anything to me, the person whom I love more than anything else in this world, the person who… who… holds my heart' thought Syaoran as he choked back the tears that were beginning to flow down his face.
As Eriol cast the spell, time seemed to stand still. He looked around to make sure that the spell had in fact worked. Everyone seemed to be frozen on the spot. After double checking that no one was moving he carefully made his way down towards the dungeons.
What he saw shocked him. Emerging from the dungeons was a man whom he thought was dead, a dangerous enemy and a powerful dark wizard. Kuroda. The man he saw Syaoran slaughter 5 years ago, the man that had almost killed him, the very man who threatened to destroy the world.
No matter how much he wanted to reach out and kill him right now, he knew that he didn't have enough magical power to even scratch him. He also knew that Kuroda would be aware that his spell had been cast and would go right back down to the dungeons as soon as the spell wore off. So he had no time to lose.
Wanting to waste no more time he quickly, if not a little reluctantly, made his way down to where he assumed his three companions were being held hostage.
"Syaoran… Syaoran … SYAORAN" Tomoyo yelled …
Finally noticing that Tomoyo was trying to get his attention he looked up. His eyes were bloodshot from crying, as were hers.
"Someone's coming" she whispered to him
Syaoran sat up fully now. He was on his guard. Although he couldn't do anything because of the chains he wasn't just going to sit still. He needed to get the upper hand; he needed to save Sakura before any more harm could come to her. He needed to…
He never got to finish that thought though because the cell door swung open and the last person he ever expected came in.
"Err…Eriol…" Tomoyo's voice came out soft and shaky. "Is it really you? …"
Eriol nodded his head then looked from Syaoran to Tomoyo and then to the pool of blood and empty chains that had held Sakura.
His eyes darted back to the gate. He swiftly closed it and then performed a difficult spell to release Tomoyo and Syaoran from their bindings.
"Where's Sakura?" he asked hurriedly as he helped Tomoyo stand "… we don't have much time"
Tomoyo jumped up and hugged him before moving away and looking into his eyes, tears filling her own.
Syaoran stood up and rubbed his shoulder. He couldn't move his arm. 'Damn. This will be a major disadvantage' he bitterly though
"He took her. Kuroda … he took her."
"WHAT!" yelled Eriol "do you know where, was she ok?"
"… she was hurt… when he took her…we don't know where" cried Tomoyo
"We have to go get her." Said Syaoran
"There's no time. We can come back for her. The spell won't hold out much longer and Kuroda will be on his way down here!" Eriol almost shouted.
Although he didn't want to leave Sakura behind and normally would never have even thought such a thing, much less actually suggested it; he knew that's what had to be done.
Syaoran knew deep down that's what needed to be done too. He however refused to leave her. He just couldn't.
Eriol began summoning a portal that led back to Tomoeda, his house to be specific.
"Eriol. We can't leave! We just can't … not without Sakura" Tomoyo shouted
"You guys go on without me. I'm going to go find Sakura." Syaoran said as he began to leave.
BAM
Before Eriol even had a chance to object the cell door slammed open and Kuroda stood there with a scowl on his face. Then it turned into a smirk and he began to laugh.
"Eriol. Why it's so nice of you to join us. Nice spell you did there. I'm sure you know how little remaining energy you have."
"I am quite aware of the energy requirements for all of my spells thank you." Eriol spat back
"Eriol you didn't…" Syaoran started but was cut off
"It was necessary." He stated as he finished forming the portal.
Kuroda's eyes flickered towards the portal. Another grin spread across his face.
"So you're just going to leave Sakura behind then." He laughed "What great friends you are… especially you Syaoran, although I should have expected no less."
"Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about!" Syaoran shouted back "Where is Sakura? What have you done with her? If you've hurt her I swear I will kill you."
Kuroda broke into laughter once more. "Oh really? There's only one problem with that."
"Oh and what's that?" Syaoran said as his temper began to rise once more
"This…" he shouted and with a snap of his fingers the three ninja's appeared between Syaoran and him.
"How sad, you get others to do your dirty work. Is it because you're lazy or just incompetent" Syaoran said with a smirk
The ninja's stepped forward and took a fighting stance waiting for Syaoran to make the first move.
Syaoran quickly took a look back at Eriol.
"Take Tomoyo and get out of here!" he shouted
"I won't leave you" Eriol shouted back.
Eriol took Tomoyo's hands and bent down to capture her lips in a delicate kiss. Then he broke free and led her to the portal.
"You have to go. We will be right behind. I promise." He whispered into her ear.
"I can't leave you!" she shouted as she pulled him into a hug.
"It'll be okay" he gently caressed her and then broke from the embrace. "You have to go."
She looked into his eyes for a moment before finally nodding her head. "Okay" she whispered, tears filled her eyes and began slowly cascading down her cheeks. "Just... just promise me that I'll see you again."
"I promise" he smiled and watched as she entered the portal.
He turned back to Syaoran and the three ninja's and prepared for a fight that they couldn't possibly win.
Syaoran looked at Eriol and they both nodded. Knowing that this could easily be their last fight, but they were prepared. Neither was willing to back down give in to Kuroda; maybe they would prove him wrong after all … the just might…
"You know our odds are really, really bad…" whispered Eriol to Syaoran
"Ya, I know. I can't use my arm and you have no magical energy left." Syaoran said and then laughed "I really don't know how we get ourselves into these things"
'This is for Tomoyo' thought Eriol as he took his stance.
'This is for Sakura' thought Syaoran as he took his stance
'This should be interesting' thought Kuroda and he began to grin once more.
Syaoran looked to Eriol, they exchanged a glance. He nodded his head and with that ... the battle began.
Authors Note: Hey Everyone!PLEASE review! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see new reviews and reviewers. Keep this in mind I've submitted 303 signed reviews! See if I can do it so can you!
Sorry about taking so long to update. I had 5 exams in the past week (3 in one day!) and then all of those stupid assignments (around 6). So I really didn't have the time or the energy to update. But I finally managed to! Yay! Again it felt kind of forced, rather than smooth … I can't really explain … so it's a bit shorter than I was planning, but longer than I thought. Sorry if it's crappy! But thanks for reading anyways!
Firstly I'd like to thank all of my wonderful reviewers: Midnight-whisper3, Shaaarona, BabyPenguin, Kokari, QteLilAZnGrl, Kaye and A nadeshiko blossom. Thanks so much guys!
A VERY special thank you goes out to: Shabisiikage, Shaaarona, and QteLilAznGrl for adding my story to your favourites list, and to Anjuliet for adding my story to your alert list. Thank you all so VERY, VERY much!
Over 2,000 hits to my story! OMG I am sooo happy! You guys are the BEST! Thanks again everyone. Ja ne!