Past, Present and Future

Author's Note: I am not dead! I'm really sorry but I'm a slowpoke and I couldn't find my stuff. Read & Review!

Disclaimer: CCS © CLAMP

Chapter 9: Unmasking the shadow part 2

"Crystal! But how? Why?"

She didn't answer the questions. She mearly smirked and let herself fall backwards off the blacony.

A newly transformed Keroberos and Yue ran out onto the balcony after her. She had landed on the ground below and only motioned to them to follow.

"Dammit!" muttered Yue before going after her.

Keroberos looked back at the group.

"We'll head down right now!" Said Sakura who had woken up and was now wearing a battle costume; the same one she used to capture Watery.

Keroberos nodded and followed Yue. The human looking guardian beast was chasing Crystal around in the air. A blast of energy sent Yue flying backwards suddenly. Crystal landed softly and removed from around her neck, the Key of Clow; the same key Sakura started with.

"Oh Key of Clow! Power of magic! Power of light! Surrender the wand! The force, ignite! Release!"

The voice that said the incantation was as different from Crystal's voice as it could be. While Crystal's voice was high and happy, this one's voice was low and icy.

The staff revealed itself as a black version of Sakura's old one. Around her waist appeared a holster carrying a deck of dark Clow Cards.

"Dark Clow Cards? This makes no sense!" Said Yue in disbelief.

"Thieves! Murderers! Disrespectful cretins! You dare steal my heirloom? You dare kill my mother?" She cried in that same voice.

"What do you mean?" They asked.

"You come to my time and steal my heirloom, killing my mother in the process! My father chased after you and went missing!"

"Stop!" Yelled Eriol. "What are you?"

"Crystal was cursed when she was born. A… problem at birth: she's half guardian beast. When she becomes me, it is sudden; she knows nothing that happens when she is me. I had to travel to the past, breaking an ancient taboo to do so. I possessed and stole the Clow Cards of the magician Clow Reed, then I came to this time to get my heirloom back. Simply, Crystal comes from the future." She said, answering Eriol's question.

"What?" Asked Syaoron.

"But if you stole the Clow Cards, time would have been changed." Eriol said matter-of-factly.

"I have my ways."

"You're the thief!" yelled Sakura pointing at her. "That's my old staff!"

"Liar! This is the staff Crystal's mother past down to her!"

"What? This makes no sense!" Sighed Sakura, holding her head.

"Sakura, capture her without hurting her." Yue said.

"Huh?" She looked up. "Right. Windy! Form a chain!" She commanded once she had released her key.

The spirit known as Windy appeared and shot towards Crystal in its usual fashion.

Crystal only smirked. "Clow Card return to your power confined! Windy!" She flung her staff like Sakura had in the past and captured Windy.

"What! But how!" Sakura yelled.

"That's another for the pile. Now give me my family heirloom!"

"I don't understand! This makes no sense!"

"Dark Sword!" Crystal called. Her staff became a black version of the sword card as she lunged towards Sakura.

"Sakura!" Cried Yue and Keroberos.

Sakura looked up just in time. "Sword!" She yelled, deflecting the attack.

"We have to find out what happened in her time! See who her parents are…" Eriol said.

"Time Card! Take us to Crystal's time at the final moment with her mother!"

Crystal's eyes widened. "No! I can't let you see that!" She lunged toward Time but was blocked by Yue.

Time brought them forward and they saw a horrible sight. The shadow of a burning house could be seen. In front of them was a young man in his late twenties holding the body of a young woman, about the same age as the man. They saw for a moment the Clow Cards floating before vanishing. Behind the couple, a young girl stood in complete shock. The young man was crying lightly before he stopped and stood up. He silently put the young women's body down and they saw that it was Sakura. The young child, who they knew as Crystal, ran after the man, screaming for him not to go. He stopped and they heard him say "I have to find that traitor." before he turned and looked at her.

It was…

A/N: Dun dun dun! Don't blame me! My beta made me do it! Read & Review!