FAMILY TIES

By JustAkiko

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but the story is all mine.

Setting: At the end of the anime… and the almost end of the manga.

Notes: This fic is mostly canon, focusing more on the manga than the anime. HOWEVER, I wrote this BEFORE I saw the first or second movie, so they have no relevance to this story. Hence the Li family etc are entirely characterised from my imagination.

It's BACK! Chapter 9 is here as promised (sorry for the wait, my college seems to think essays should come before fanfic... wierd huh? hehe) and with it comes a little more action for a clever Card Mistress! I promise no lemon in this chapter I'm afraid, but don't worry it's not quite lime either. But hopefully you'll enjoy it, as the plot thickens and Sakura works hard to beat Yelan's challenges.

Big thanks once again to everyone who read and reviewed last chapter. And to everyone who's reading and enjoying so far!

Any reviews will make this fic author very happy. I'm still not sure I can get the action sequences quite right, so let me know what you think, good or bad, I can take it :)

And now I'll stop rambling and let you read!

Hugs

Ja

Chapter 9

Danger Games

"RELEASE!"

The white light had become a blinding glare, burning the eyes of everyone in the Arena. Its uniform intensity threatened to swallow everything until a glowing pink ball suddenly blossomed in its midst. Tomoyo's heart skipped a beat as the rapidly growing ball outlined the slender figure of her best friend and once more allowed her camera to pick out the delightful sight. Within moments the pink light had become a swirling, pulsing mist, alive with some unknown force; a howling wind of pure energy whipped around the cavernous room and Tomoyo's skin prickled. Even she, with no magical senses to speak of could feel the strength of Sakura's growing power. A second cry pierced the roaring of the invisible wind.

"Reveal to me my enemy. Shadow!"

A flash of pure darkness flew from the pink light of its mistress and swept across the remaining white like spilled ink. Seconds later Shadow settled as a black cloud over a tall figure, hunched at one end of the room. Even through her powerful lens, Tomoyo couldn't make out his face, but his crouched position - and the now flickering white light - told her everything she needed to know. He was defeated and Sakura had triumphed yet again.

She felt a sudden thrill as the Card Mistress called on her friend Wood to finish the job. Without instruction the beautiful green card-woman reached out to Shadow's captive and shackled him in place, his whole body cocooned in her unbreakable arms whilst his head slowly became visible, perched comically atop the wooden prison.

Tomoyo laughed quietly to herself, heart glowing.

"Enough."

The cold voice of Li Yelan broke the victorious moment and Tomoyo started slightly as, with a wave of the stately woman's hand, the remnants of the combatants' spells were dissipated, leaving the arena and stands unchanged and intact. Wood however remained in place; a testament to Sakura's ever growing ability.

Tomoyo beamed with pride.

Looking quickly from behind her camera she caught her first real glimpse of her heroine since this task had started. Sakura stood calmly in the centre of the Arena floor, not a hair out of place and barely even breathing heavily, whilst her opponent - the Western Li Clan's finest apparently – remained battered and defeated. Her slim body still glowed with a faint pink hue and Tomoyo was suddenly pleased she'd chosen whites and silvers for this particular costume, the afterglow of Sakura's magic was in perfect contrast.

'Kawaii!'

Returning to her lens Tomoyo turned the camera quickly to catch Li Yelan's stony face just in time to hear her cry out.

"Call back your Card Kinomoto-san. You've claimed your victory"

A swift pan-back and Tomoyo just caught a cheeky smile and flashing emerald eyes; both quickly hidden as Sakura called back Wood. Tomoyo grinned right along with her. It was nice to beat these opponents one by one but it was even nicer to hear Li Yelan acknowledge out loud the Cards as Sakura's.

With every day that had passed, Sakura had more than proven her worth as Card Mistress. They had been in Hong Kong a week already and after seven different trails Sakura was still seven up. They'd had a rough start to be sure but with each conquest Tomoyo watched Sakura grow more confident, with each problem more capable. Her magic was evolving at an almost alarming pace and with each escapade she filmed Tomoyo awaited the emergence of a new budding talent.

After Syaoran's disappearance, Sakura's dwindling resolve had somehow turned into a determined strength and she now used all her free time accordingly. With the help of Power and Fight Sakura had begun her own physical training, all of which Tomoyo recorded with glee, as well as constant practise with her Key and the Cards themselves. Costuming sessions had become a daily part of the routine and each evening Tomoyo would carefully prepare the girl for whatever trail would be thrown at her next. Finally the trek to the Arena, a well-worn path now, but a worthwhile trip if only to capture the moment when Sakura laid eyes on her beloved Syaoran.

'It should hurt', Tomoyo had realised, 'but I can't not be happy for them.'

And she couldn't. The look in Li's eyes when Sakura entered the Arena was so full of pride and encouragement that Tomoyo's own heart would leap. The worry and fear in his face had slowly disappeared as each day their Sakura triumphed over his family's obstacles.

Yes. In all things were going considerably better.

As Sakura's glowing form approached the stands Tomoyo felt her heart flutter, a hundred and one reasons behind it. A smile unfurled across her placid face as she packed away her now darkened camera.

Her Sakura-chan was growing up before her lavender eyes and she had never felt so lucky.

Everything was sure to be all right.

Four more days.

Four more days and this would all be over.

Four more days and they would win.

Syaoran felt the excitement swell in his chest and quickly caught the smile creeping onto his face. With all the strength he could muster he forced his gaze back towards the book in front of him, only to see the writing flutter and swim before his apathetic eyes.

It was going well. Better than he'd ever imagined. True he'd always believed in Sakura, knew that she could master his mother's wishes somehow, but he'd never quite believed she'd do it as gracefully as this. With every passing day her magical inheritance was being paid to her and in just over a week she'd progressed almost as far as he had in years. It was amazing to watch and amusing to see his mother's reactions sour every time she mastered one of their Clan's best. Yes, Sakura had proved them all wrong and still kept that shining smile on her pretty face.

The face he'd finally meet in just a day's time.

The secret smile threatened again and Syaoran coughed loudly to cover an unexpected laugh. What was happening to him? He'd never been…giddy before! Then again he'd never had a secret rendezvous with the girl he loved before either. So logically there was some… different reactions. But they would have to wait for the confines of his room, to be studied and explored in safety, so with great effort Syaoran reached for his discarded pen and tried to focus on the tutor before him. But his unruly mind soon skittered back to thoughts of a moonlit garden and the angel he would meet there the next night.

When Sakura had first suggested it, via what she now termed 'Kero-mail', Syaoran had flat out refused. He couldn't be sure that he wouldn't be followed or worse locked in the night of the appointed meeting; and the last thing he wanted to do was disappoint her. But they'd keep it quiet and discrete, she'd said, just in case; that was all part of the fun. And besides in four more days it wouldn't matter anymore.

In four days they were free.

xxx

A wall may be solid enough but its substance matters little to great magics.

They sat quietly in the room beyond the small classroom, all of the Li Elders, separated by brick and mortar but seeing through as if it were a glass windowpane. Syaoran's mood was not lost on any of them, nor was the cause for those who were talented enough in the psychic fields.

As his young mind wandered serenely, a frown crept heavily onto each of their aged faces and settled as a grimace. The air around them hung heavy with hostility.

Li Yelan opened the door into the small antechamber and immediately sensed the angry aura surrounding them all. She had hoped her son, her only son, would have proven more agreeable to her ideals. But it seemed this Japanese girl had more of a hold than she realised. She could sense his feelings for her even at this distance and their strength made some small part of her nervous; but the wrath these thoughts was incurring here was the bigger problem right now.

"Have you made a decision?" she asked quietly, careful to keep the respect in her voice whilst still sounding authoritative.

Not a head turned to look at her but she felt the shift in attention sweep towards her in a wave. After a moment of tense silence a rasping voice replied.

"It's no use Yelan. Separating them isn't enough."

A rumbling sound indicated the agreement of the rest of the Council. Yelan closed her eyes wearily as they faced her with another impossible situation.

"I can see that." She hissed finally. "But what do you expect me to do about it? We've sent our best out against this … girl and somehow she's repelled them all. What more can I do?"

Yelan was shocked to realise the pure frustration that had somehow filtered into her words. Looking down she noted a fine tremble in her pale hands which she clenched together quickly in protest. What was happening to her? Why was this child proving so much of a problem?

"She is strong. Stronger perhaps even than us."

A soft voice cut through the quiet answering her question and shifting Yelan's focus to the men around her. A couple of them were looking at her now but most remained focused on the blank wall ahead of them. The quiet words lay thickly in the air, a sickening truth that made her feel nauseous. She avoided the piercing glares and edged her eyes towards the ceiling, listening as another man continued.

"We have no choice Yelan. For the sake of the Clan, you know that."

The scream in her heart was loud and harsh but Yelan fought to dampen it. What they wanted her to do was their only hope but ir would also mean the end of her smiling son.

A leader has no room for smiles.

With a deep breath she looked back to meet the full gaze of the entire council. With a small nod she consented.

"Leave it to me. He'll never want to see her again."

It had been three days since her last test and despite her time in Hong Kong drawing to a close the Li Clan had been silent ever since. Sadly this included Syaoran, as Kero-mail began to fail in the face of his new lesson schedule. With Tomoyo shopping for last minute fabric in town and Syaoran silent, the Card Mistress found herself faced with another enemy… boredom

After a futile attempt to tidy their cluttered living space she had collapsed on her bed, happily lapsing into dreams of home and when she and Syaoran would return there together. Then Kero had proclaimed her all too boring and suddenly produced their newest source of entertainment: the Li Household's Staff Rota, which just happened to indicate that her own brother was responsible for their wing that very afternoon.

In a heartbeat (and the press of a button) her stubborn sibling was outside her door…. at their beck and call. Sakura quickly took to her role as houseguest and soon had Touya making regular visits, bringing them pudding every five minutes, making the bed they hadn't bothered to make. Finally after requesting that he redecorate their room in bright fuchsia pink, his patience had fled and both Sakura and Kero delighted in Touya's fuming face as he left, slamming the door behind him.

The rattling furniture left an air of finality hanging in the air but Sakura didn't notice. She was too busy holding her sides giggling helplessly in the wake of her brother's angry exit. A small weight landed on her quivering stomach, as she collapsed flat on the rumpled bed and she looked down at Kero with dancing eyes, grinning to see he was laughing as much as she was.

"Ahh Sakura, your brother gets the funniest look on his face when he's angry." Kero panted, his round belly heaving heartily. Sakura nodded in agreement as she fell back to look at the ceiling.

"Well that was the tenth time we called him." She replied, trying to sound serious and failing marvellously. "But you're right… it's almost like… a squirrel?" She cracked up again just as another wave of laughter came from the Sun Guardian.

With a contented sigh Sakura released a long calming breath before finally pulling herself upright to look out at the fading day. Kero grumbled as he rolled ungracefully to the squashy bed covers but she didn't hear. Her thoughts once again lay with a certain Chinese boy and the fact that she would be going to meet him in less than a day now brought a soft smile to her lips.

With that thought in mind she clambered slowly from the bed and towards the large dresser, on which hung Tomoyo's latest fashion creation. Sakura was under strict instruction to wear it to her little rendezvous, as her friend called it, and she wasn't fool enough to argue with Tomoyo when she had those odd stars in her eyes. A little check to ensure it still looked right would surely pass some time Sakura reasoned and besides, she wanted to look nice for Syaoran.

Her cheeks flushed at the mere thought, as the young girl realised she'd never felt the need to dress up for anyone before.

A sharp tug on her shoulder brought Sakura from her daydreams, just as the pale yellow dress slipped down her body. She turned to find Kero floating behind her, his back respectfully turned.

"Nanni?" she asked curiously, stepping round to face him.

Kero seemed thoughtful, more sombre than he had been all day. For a moment she was afraid he'd eaten too much pudding and would perhaps be ill all over her new outfit. But when he met her level gaze there was worry in his eyes.

"You will be careful, ne Sakura?" He whispered finally, his voice gruff, traces of his true power reaching out to her. "There are still four days left in this place; don't drop your defences now."

She was taken aback, eyes wide at his heartfelt words. Then she felt her heart warm and wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull him into a tight hug. But she knew her Guardian friend and from the barely held frown on his face, he told her this needed to be a clean exchange, no mushy girly stuff as he sometimes called it. So with a sharp nod she smiled her brightest smile and replied.

"Of course I'll be careful. Arigatou Kero-chan."

The yellow Guardian softened then, his harsh expression relaxing to his more usual smile. He looked ready to suggest yet more pudding when there was a sudden heavy knock on the door.

They froze.

"Did you call Onii-chan?" Sakura whispered hesitantly.

Any response from her friend was cut short by a second knock on the door. Before either could reply a deep male voice called out.

"Kinomoto Sakura please prepare yourself. Your next task begins in one hour."

"Illusion!"

Her own voice rang sharply in her ears, sounding much more confident than she felt at that moment. Relief blossomed in her chest as Sakura watched the twisting paths and staircases around her glow with a familiar red/orange light. The impossible maze trapping her showed itself as the figment it was and as the barriers began to tremble she felt a small smile play across her lips. With a deft swipe of her wand she focused her thoughts and drew out another card.

"Help break the walls that bind me. Sword!"

The solid staff in her hand melted abruptly into a swirl of mist and - as always - Sakura's heart stopped as she waited for the change. Only when the hilt materialised firmly in her hand did she breath again, squeezing it tightly in silent thanks. Then with surety running through her veins Sakura focused her mind again, reaching out with her magical senses to locate the source of the trickery surrounding her. Patiently she waited, suspended in time as the magic swirled around her, through her, just the sound of her heart beating steadily in her ears.

Then it was there.

Without thought her arm struck out on its own, the Sword's indestructible blade slashing at three seemingly random points in the air. Her emerald eyes shot wide open as the illusion held strong for a sickening second until it's reddish glow suddenly lurched violently.

"Fly!"

Great white wings formed quickly and took flight, carrying the Card Mistress up and away as the mock maze collapsed rapidly around her. Its magic fizzled and died as each piece hit solid ground, until Sakura found herself once more surrounded by the Arena, hovering high above the stands, the magical ceiling swirling majestically just by her head.

She quickly tore her gaze from that and instead looked out across the seating. There was Tomoyo, camera out and filming as she waved a hand towards her in congratulation. And there was Syaoran, eyes watching her, hawk-like, as she aced this surprise task.

For one mad moment Sakura had to fight the urge to fly down, scoop him up and fly them both out of here forever; to some quiet place, where they could be alone, undisturbed, together. But the Li Clan were leaving her no time for daydreaming as, with a great green flash she was suddenly faced with her next opponent: what appeared to be an enormous tree, wooden limbs snapping violently in her direction. Sakura dodged back slightly out of the creature's way and was amazed to see it step towards her, following. Taking a deep breath she gripped her reformed wand determinedly.

With a sharp twist and a burst of speed she put some good distance between herself and the creature. A quick assessment of the situation revealed she could tackle this monster with just one card, as long as she put enough strength behind it. Resolutely she faced her opponent and reached confidently for her winning attack.

"F….!"

Silence.

Sakura watched, in disbelief, the Card still spinning madly, before calling again.

"….."

Nothing. No sound. Firey hung poised and ready to defeat her adversary but somehow she had no voice to call on him. They'd taken away her only power; she couldn't use the Cards.

Tears threatened abruptly as she stared in despair at the waiting Card. She could feel him calling to her, pleading with her to use him, asking what was wrong, but she couldn't even tell him that. She felt weak, betrayed and utterly lost without her spells and incantations. Her head was pounding, desperately seeking a solution, when suddenly the world tilted on its axis and she was turning end over end through the air as the giant tree monster caught her with one flailing limb.

Sakura fought desperately to right herself even as the world span sickeningly around her. Still dodging the monster's clumsy attacks, something small and pink suddenly caught her eye. Firey. The Card, pulled too far from her magical hold, was fluttering useless to the ground. Sakura's heart sank as she watched the beast advance and move its great hulking mass to cover the tiny pink Card, taking it from her once and for all.

It was over. She couldn't win. Sakura could feel Yelan's cold eyes glittering up at her from the stands and her heart crumbled. She wanted to scream and cry at the injustice of it all. As she dodged another swiping appendage she suddenly registered the glowing warmth of the Cards still pressed against her side.

'Everything will be alright.'

Perhaps it was the Cards, perhaps it was those words, but the power they both held suddenly surged through Sakura's heart filling her with what felt like pure electricity. Her desperation melted into surety, she stopped her dodging and simply hovered, suspended easily above the creature's reach. Slowly, deliberately, her hand released its tight grip on her now useless wand and watched with unseeing eyes as it fell swiftly to the ground. She could feel the power suddenly infusing her entire body and with the release of her wand she felt strangely liberated. She wasn't sure why, but as Sakura swooped back towards her waiting opponent, she knew that if she just concentrated enough everything would truly be all right.

Her keen eyes focused inward as she slipped effortlessly between the creature's flailing grasp. Her attention became ever more intent on the Sakura Card waiting patiently on the ground, as a huge wave of warmth spread along her arms through to her fingertips. She held it there, allowing the power to build and grow between her clasped palms while her head began to buzz with the magic surrounding her.

She didn't notice the pink light pulsing and swirling through her body, giving her an ethereal glow against the shimmering backdrop of the magical roof. Nor did she see the astonished faces of her watching audience or Syaoran's eyes glittering with fear and wonder. But she did recognise that the pressure of this sudden power was reaching its peak, so, with exquisite care, she pulled her hands apart, allowing the energy inside to fill the gap; waiting for breaking point.

When it came Sakura clapped her hands together with all the force she could muster. Her soul called out to Firey but her lips never moved as she freed the energy trapped inside her. When she opened her flashing emerald eyes she wasn't surprised to see the tree monster consumed in flame from below.

The Card glowed a dazzling pink at the centre of the blaze and without instruction it eventually flew to her side. Sakura caught it deftly in one hand as she reached out towards her burning opponent with the other. Pink light turned blue as energy sprayed like seawater from her fingertips, becoming drops of rain that easily doused the roaring flames. Finally the monster was still and silent, a charred statue, all its magic dissipated. Then it too disappeared entirely along with the curling wisps of smoke hanging thick in the Arena air.

Sakura hovered a moment longer, her pretty yellow dress glittering golden in the hazy air. With a brief shake of her head she cleared her thoughts of the dizzying power that had just swept over her and descended slowly to the ground.

She was a vision, an angel descending from the seat of some unknown power to thank the mortals for her sport. In all his life Syaoran had seen only a few people exude that much power at once. His mother was one and a few of the Clan Elders were said to have been able to do so in their day.

It was unimaginable. Unthinkable. For someone of her age and experience it was utterly impossible.

It was just what he'd expect from his girl.

With a healthy blush on his cheeks Syaoran couldn't stop the broad grin covering his face. His mother's stunned expression only heightened his pleasure and he longed to be alone with Sakura to find out just what had happened during that final fight. Whatever it was that saved her from defeat, he knew it had changed her forever.

Her whole being glowed with limitless energy and her emerald eyes flashed with knowledge far beyond her years. Her basic control over herself and the Cards had somehow transcended all their expectations and at a tender sixteen years she could control it all with her will alone.

He'd always believed in her heart and it seemed his belief had finally been proven right.

Her feet touched down softly as her wings folded away into nothingness. The sudden gravity of standing made her want to stumble but somehow Sakura remained poised and still before the Li Council. Her eyes met Yelan's briefly before she bent her head and bowed respectfully.

It was then that she noticed her pounding heart and just how weak her legs felt beneath her. Whatever she had just done had taken everything out of her and she prayed that they'd release her soon before she collapsed at their very feet. Tears of joy were waiting to be shed and squeals of happiness were hanging in the background. All they needed to do was confirm her victory and she was free.

"Rise Kinomoto-san."

With a small smile of relief Sakura faced the Council once more. She fought to avoid Syaoran's pleased gaze and instead focused on the hard red irises of Yelan. That's when she noticed the smirk, that tiny quirk of lips. Sakura's heart sank.

"Don't you want to finish your opponent?"

Yelan's graceful arm pointed behind Sakura's back. She didn't want to turn, didn't want to see the next magician that she would have to face, but she had no choice and reluctantly turned to face the night's final challenge.

Her heart stopped dead in her chest. She wanted to speak but words would be useless; instead she stared straight back into the cool defiant eyes of Li Shiefa.

Syaoran choked on a cry, his eyes wide, head shaking in disbelief.

His sister? His youngest sister?

Mother?

Why?

Heart pounding painfully Sakura ran swiftly towards the centre of the Arena floor, just as Sheifa's first attack hit the space where she had been standing moments earlier. The crumble of stone rumbled in the background as a nearby wall collapsed. Her nerves sufficiently shaken, Sakura reached quickly for the Card that would grant her escape

But it wasn't there! Fly, had gone from her pocket. Spinning sharply on her heel Sakura faced the youngest Li sister and cringed at her now smiling face.

"Looking for this?" The girl asked brightly, her orange hair swinging with the delicate shake of her head. She indicated a glowing green ball of light hovering just by her shoulder, inside of which the Fly card was suspended, silent and unresponsive.

"Even with your pretty new tricks you won't break that, so you'll stay and fight and then you'll lose. Okay?"

Her breezy voice chilled Sakura to the bone as she stared helplessly at the girl, just a year older than her, who was goading her into a fight. Until then her opponents had been no-ones; faceless Clan members that even Syaoran didn't recognise. But this was his sister and Sakura also knew that she was the favourite sister in Syaoran's heart. How could she even attempt this challenge without hurting the most important member of Syaoran's family?

Shiefa wasn't giving her time to decide as she pulled a second charm from her pocket. With her long silver staff, carved intricately with glowing dragons, she summoned its power effortlessly.

"Gods of Flame, heed my call! Attack!"

Burning flames shot from the pointed end of the wand and Sakura quickly summoned Jump to bound out of its path. But her energy was low, as if she'd transformed her whole deck of Cards at once, and with her own wand still out of reach… after barley dodging two more blasts she was suddenly afraid she might not escape this match unscathed.

Mumbling words from across the Arena caught her suddenly sensitive ears and Sakura saw the young Li sister recall her flames till her wand grew still and silent once more. In the brief respite Sakura quickly gathered up her own staff and desperately searched her thoughts for any Card that could stop all this, painlessly.

Then her magical senses were tingling and she flicked her gaze back to Sheifa. Her brilliant blue eyes were alive with power and her silver staff floated in the air before her, glowing a menacing red. The wide smile on her face made Sakura's heart fill with panic as she raced through each Card one by one. Suddenly the tension that had brewed snapped and with it Sheifa's spell. At her command the staff sprouted a long tongue of flame, but this time it didn't dissipate, it continued to spew fire, like some lethal hosepipe. Sakura felt fear take hold as she realised she wouldn't dodge this for very long.

On instinct her had reached for a Card as her wand swept high into the air.

"Watery!" she cried, her voice scratchy and strained as the spell sapped her remaining strength. She gripped her quivering wand with both hands and watched with relief as the impish Watery erupted from sleep and blocked the ball of flame headed straight for her.

Then time seemed to slow as all her control disappeared. Sakura felt a scream stick in her throat as the fire began to turn back on itself. Despite Watery's advance the flame did not die out, in fact it seemed to be growing in intensity, and was suddenly moving away from Sakura and towards it's own Mistress.

"Watery stop!" She finally yelled, but the Card wouldn't respond and seemed to be content in pushing the flames back towards her opponent. Sakura's head was spinning as she saw Sheifa's terrified face. If this continued the fire would be pushed right back into the young Li girl and a blast like that would not be pleasant. But she seemed frozen, her red head shaking in disbelief and although Sakura called out desperately to her she seemed deaf to all pleas of escape. In the end there was nothing the Card Mistress could do but watch as defeat crept ever closer to Syaoran's favourite sister.

'Gomen-ne Syaoran-kun…'

Time jerked back to life as a cry wrenched itself from Sakura's broken throat.

"Nooo!"

But the sound was lost in the crash of waves as both flame and water swept over the quivering Sheifa. They merged and writhed in a great ball, like a storm localised just where the girl was standing, without any indication of stopping. Sakura was frozen, horror holding her to the spot unable to look away.

"Stop!"

A wave of blinding purple light flew across the entire room and both flame and water vanished under its touch. When she could see again, Sakura was no longer looking at two raging Elementals but the unmoving body of Li Shiefa, fallen on the dusty Arena floor. Beside her lay the silver wand and the Watery card both contained and once again lifeless.

She wanted to move, wanted nothing more than to go to the fallen girl and help somehow. But her legs weren't listening to her and instead they crumpled beneath her till Sakura too landed on the floor, eyes still fixed on the eerie scene. She watched dumbly as bodies rushed towards the unconscious girl, including a frantic looking Yelan. They seemed to be trying to revive her, but the cries and wails she could almost hear told Sakura they weren't succeeding.

What had she done?

A soft hand on her shoulder told Sakura she was no longer alone but she couldn't tear her eyes from the nightmare in front of her. Finally an anxious voice asked,

"Sakura-chan? Are you okay Sakura-chan?"

She tried hard to nod in reply but nothing was working the way it should. Then she noticed the daunting form of Yelan was coming closer and closer and Sakura was unable to stop the tear that slid unhappily down her cheek.

"What have I done?" She whispered hoarsely just as the intimidating woman came to a stop in front of her.

Li Yelan was trembling with apparent rage, here eyes were flashing but she seemed pale as a ghost. Her hands clenched together in front of her, twisting and turning as if they wanted to wring Sakura's neck; and all she could do was bow her auburn head as the woman spoke in a vicious whisper.

"I don't know what you have done but my daughter will not wake. What was supposed to be a fair trail has turned into a disaster because you have been using black arts!" Her quiet voice had risen to a shout and Sakura could feel everyone in the Arena listening to every scathing word. "I hope for your sake Kinomoto that my girl awakens or there will be more than just the Li Clan to answer to. Your time here is at an end. We finish this tomorrow evening when you will have your final… test. Then all will be set right and I hope to never see you again."

With that she swept away, back to where they were continuing their attempts to wake Sheifa from her sleep.

The tears running from Sakura's eyes were unstoppable now. Each word Yelan had said rang clearly in her head making her feel sick inside. And yet she knew, she knew, that she hadn't meant for this to happen. Sakura couldn't understand; her heart controlled the Cards and the last thing she wanted was to hurt Syaoran's sister…

Syaoran.

"Syaoran!" The name sprang from her lips on a sob as her head snapped up to search the Arena. She couldn't find him, he wasn't there; reaching out with her aura she determined the same result. Where had he gone? Had he seen…

"Tomoyo-chan, where is Syaoran-kun? Where is he!" She turned and grabbed the dark haired girl roughly by the shoulders. Tomoyo didn't flinch just lowered her eyes and answered in a quiet whisper.

"I'm afraid he left Sakura-chan. Just now; he walked out of that door."

She pointed with her delicate hand to the large entrance, through which they had walked almost every day. Without another thought Sakura stumbled clumsily to her feet and ran after him as best she could.

Her wand laid, a forgotten pendant, on the Arena floor.

Eeep! It upset me just writing this, and the next lil bit even more so... but then again I am a sucker when it comes to S/S. >sniff

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Yes or No? Review and tell me what you thought!

Next one will be along soon... you thought the games couldn't get tougher... read on...

Ja x x