Chapter 2

"Enter, Eriol"

The day dragged on and on. Tori was ecstatic when school finally decided to end. He had barely passed his test and was just about to pass out when he got home, but the day didn't stop there. Tomorrow was Sunday and he had a gigantic project to finish for Monday with Julian in Socials class. Julian had come home with him to finish the project early.

"So tell me again," Tori said "where does the last arrow go?"

"Right here." said Julian pointing to India's capital.

"Okay." He said placing the arrow sticker down on the map.

"Now we have to— Julian started

"show the roots in which the boats came from." Tori finished.

"Wow, freaky." Someone said.

The boys looked up to see Sakura at the base of the steps. She smiled "You've never done that before, Elevator Man." She giggled.

"What did you say Squirt?" Tori said standing up.

"Elev-ahhh!" Sakura screamed as she was being chased up the stairs by you know who.

He turned around to face Julian, "Sorry about that." He scratched his head.

"That's okay." He answered calmly.

"Want some tea? It's kinda cold in here." Tori gestured to the kitchen.

"Sure, that would be great, just make sure you don't spill it on the project." Julian smiled.

"Yeah." Tori returned a smile and headed into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, in Sakura's room. . .

"Something bad will happen to the cards!" Sakura exclaimed. "How? When? Where? Is it another test Kero? Am I ready? How will I—

"No Sakura." Kero answered holding his paw up to her mouth to silence her.

"Well then what?" Sakura burst out as she tore off his paw.

"I don't know much. Ask Yue." Kero waved to the door.

"Here, now! No way! You go down there since your so brave and all." Sakura pointed at him.

"No! I shall not." He pouted.

"Scardy Cat." Sakura whispered.

"Did you say something?" Kero asked.

"No." Sakura grunted.

"That's what I thought." Kero smiled.

She paused wondering about the situation. What would happen? When would this tragity befall them?

"Don't you ever get tired of that game Kero?" She asked, deciding that there was no use in worrying about it now.

"No I don't." replied Kero, still trying to get past the 5th level.

"You've beaten it about a million times already!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Wrong, only seven times." Kero corrected.

"Fine, seven times." Sakura sighed.

Ding Dong

"There's the doorbell." Sakura informed him.

From downstairs there was a voice. "Squirt, can you get that?" Tori yelled from the kitchen.

"Fine!" She yelled back. "Don't call me squirt." She said to him at the base of the stairs.

"Yeah, yeah." He replied like he did every time she said that.

Sakura went to the door and peeked out the tiny window to see who it was. Here eyes went wide and she immediately opened the door with such a force that she created enough wind to blow back her hair.

"Eriol." She said, dumbfounded.

"Hello Sakura." Eriol replied calmly.

Sakura regained herself and half whispered "What are you doing back in Japan? You are supposed to be in England!"

"May I come in?" He said.

"Oh," Sakura answered flustered. "Sorry, yes, come on in."

"Thank you." Eriol said entering.

"Who is it Squirt?" Tori called from the kitchen still.

"It's Eriol. And stop calling me 'Squirt'." She yelled back. "Elevator legs." She said to herself.

She heard a small laugh escape Eriol. "Oh, you heard that didn't you?" She said blushing.

He nodded and followed her into the living room where still all of Tori and Julian's work was spread out all over the place.

Julian lifted his head and gave a slight nod towards him in recognition of his master's reincarnation. Eriol nodded back in silent notice of his guardian and sat down at the opposite couch with Sakura.

"Why did you come back." Sakura asked him.

"I sensed that you needed help.

"But we are in no danger." Sakura protested

He turned to her and replied "Not yet."

"Tea Eriol?" Tori said entering the room with the tea and some goodies.

"Thank you." He said taking a cup. He drank less than half and continued.

"Long ago when I, Clow Reed, lived in this world I was approached by a seer. She told me of many things, but one caught my attention. This is what she said.

When a new master comes into view,

When a boy comes home,

When a new guardian walks through the door,

Will you be ready?

A darkness awaits those who seek it,

Only when you find the perfect fit,

Can you beat it.

The sun will go dark,

And the moon will turn red,

But only when it is time,

For it to be fed.

He paused a moment to see what everyone's reaction was or to recover himself from a horrible memory from his own past life.

Tori was the first one to speak up. "So I would assume that this 'new master' is supposed to be Sakura?"

Eriol nodded. "The 'boy who comes home' is Li, he has just come back from Japan."

"What about the 'new guardian'?" Julian inquired

"That remains to be seen." Eriol replied, drinking a little bit more of his tea.

Kero suddenly came floating down the stairs in a trance, mumbling "I smell cookies. . .I smell cookies." He stopped abruptly when he finally noticed Eriol when he was halfway to the kitchen already. He suddenly stopped in mid-air and gave a very low bow. Eriol smiled at his second creation and gestured to the table where on the same tray the tea was on there was also a plate of cookies. Kero's eyes lit up instantly and he grabbed a cookie and was gone up to Sakura's room. "I had better not find any crumbs up there!" She yelled after him.

Another pause. "Well, I better be off." Eriol said shattering the silence.

"Why do you have to?" Sakura asked.

"One, because you have company coming, and two because I have to overlook the moving process at my new house." Eriol replied standing up, everyone followed the gesture.

Tori gave his sister a look. Sakura quickly grinned and walked Eriol to the door and said they're good-bye's.

"What did he mean 'company coming' Squirt?" Tori asked once he was out the door.

Sakura sighed, "I asked Li to come over to help me with my homework. Is that okay?" She batted her eyelashes.

"Too late now." Was all he said.

Sometime later. . .

Ding Dong the doorbell said, announcing that someone had arrived.

Sakura rushed to the door as fast as her legs would allow. She threw open the door, knowing exactly who it was standing on her front step. "Li!" She said as he fell into his arms. "Hey Sakura." He said stroking her hair.

They stood there for a while, melting in each other's arms, until Li spoke up "Well am I here to hold you out here all night or am I here to do homework with you?" He said holding her at arms length.

"Oh, yes. Come on in." She answered snapping out of her trance. "Tori, we'll be in my room." She said dragging Li through the living room, and towards her bed room.

"Okay, Squirt." He said, never even looking up.

"Since when did they get so close?" Julian whispered

"Ever since the brat came back from Japan." He answered. "They really like each other ."

"Really?" Julian said apparently very interested in the subject.

"Yep, he comes over everyday to do homework after school, he hasn't missed one day yet. Kero hates it when he comes over so he leaves and soon comes back to fined Sakura in bed and Li packing up to go." Tori answered, showing no emotion.

" Do you get Kero to spy on them?" Julian asked amazed.

"No, but now that you mentioned it. . ." Tori smirked.

Author's Note: By now you must have realized that I have only used the character's English names (with the exception of Nakuru) I apologize to all of the very in-to-it otaku's (anime fan's) that were expecting their Japanese names.