Did you like the last chapter? Ok, here is my usual disclaimer. (1) I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura, Clamp does, I only own my plot line, made-up characters and places. (2) I might need to take a break for a little while from the Promise of Forever, while I figure out how the rest of my plot is going…I know up to this point, but for minor details, I haven't figured them out yet.- (3) I want to thank all members of who have reviewed my story! (Thank you so much everyone! -)

(4) May I present to you the 11th Chapter of The Promise of Forever,

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The Nightmare of a Dream

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Tomoyo Daidouji looked down at the plush leather seat of her limo, her hands neatly folded on her lap, as she was taught to do so since she was very small. She shifted uncomfortably, then looked out the limo window and watched the blur that was the passing trees and buildings. She bit her lip in uneasiness, and turned her head slightly so she could see the outline of Eriol's tired form. /-Why is he so quiet?-/ she wondered as she studied his profile. His right arm was laying on the arm rest, as he stared out the window with a serious expression on his face, the light from the window highlighting the planes and shadows of his handsome face. /-Probably because he is exhausted…he looks like he has had to deal with so much…-/ the sensible part of her mind replied. She turned away again/-that would be true…-/ Would she dare to ask him a question?

"Ummm…Eriol-kun..?" started Tomoyo-chan nervously. As the seconds ticked by and he didn't answer she turned back to the window a little put out. /-I don't think he feels like talking…-/

Eriol shifted in his seat and seemed to come back on the present. "What?" He asked, his eyes sleep lidded and he seemed to be pressed to keep them open. "Oh…I'm sorry Tomoyo-chan, did you say something?"

But this time, it was she who didn't hear. He relaxed a little as he gazed at her, trying to imagine what she was thinking. She stared out the window lost in thought; her profile was turned slightly away from him so the bottom part of her was in shadow. Her dark hair spiraled gracefully around her to create a curtain for her face seeming to try and hide her eyes from his view. His gaze moved to study her pale but delicate face. Her crystal amethyst eyes seemed to reflect the light from outside, but they didn't truly return it with the light that was her own. He sensed rather than saw sadness lurking within them, and confusion. He grimaced; he knew had dealt her these emotions. He wished he could comfort her in some way, to heal the hurt she was feeling, but he knew that this was not the right time to do so. But he felt like he could feel her pain and a part of him ached for her. She looked so venerable and delicate, like and angel.

"Tomoyo-chan…" he said whispered quietly.

The curtain of amethyst hair was drawn back, and slowly she turned her face towards him.

"Yes…Eriol-kun…?" she replied just as softly, but with the air of a question.

His face tightened a little as he thought about what he had to do. His tired look turned serious as he turned his face to the window then back to look into her eyes. "Do you want me to explain, Tomoyo-chan…?"

He was asking her if she was ready. Ready to deal with all he had to tell her. Tomoyo looked down again, he saw her hands clasp even tighter and bite the corner her lip. She paused for a second then looked up and back at Eriol.

"Yes Eriol-kun, I think I should know…" she said almost regretfully as she looked away from him.

Eriol watched her again in silence, she looked just as strained as he felt. Her face was pale and her hands were still clasped tight in her lap.

After a moment Eriol said, "Yes, you should know…" he said thoughtfully, "but…where to begin?" He paused for another moment as he turned his face away from hers and looked out the window again. The silence that had reigned became somehow even deeper and not a sound was heard until Eriol started to speak.

"As you know we have been in contact for a while. I went to meet Meiling-chan and found a rather funny…predicament that my dear descendent had found himself in…" At this the corners of Eriol's mouth tipped into a rigid, small smile. "Since Meiling-chan refused to put up with Syaoran's stubbornness to leave…she had trapped him with duck tape and stuck him in a suitcase…" Eriol's small smile grew a little more as he drew up the memory of Syaoran wrapped in duct tape. "Let's just say I was never more proud of Meiling-chan then I was then, she had really outdone herself…of course I don't think my dear descendent was very happy about it." He paused again. We finally found a way to unwrap my dear descendent and he gave us the silent treatment and decided to pretend it never happened. But I think he knew he was beaten, and if I miss my guess…he probably will hold much more respect for a certain cousin of his…" There was a pause as Eriol took another breath to continue. The weight of what was happening seemed to creep back and his smile began to fade. His face took on his serious look again and sadness and worry seemed to creep back into his form.

"But, then the darkness took over. Syaoran-kun and I boarded the plane, I chose to read a magazine and Syaoran decided to take a nap. Later, I finished my magazine I felt my magic clamoring at me that something was not right on that plane. I scanned the passengers, and glanced next to me to find that Syaoran-kun was still asleep. But some glimmer of magic caught my eye and I turned next to me to find that Syaoran was glowing with a strange green light. I sent my magic over in an analyzing spell but the magic surrounding him was surprisingly strong. It captured my magic and tried to pull it in to its own power source. I barely escaped, but the first tangle with the "darker magic" as I call it, taught me to be careful." Eriol sat back with a sigh but still continued to look out the window as if in a trance, but Tomoyo interjected with a question.

"Eriol-kun…why do you call it…"The Darker Magic"?" She asked with confused look on her face.

He sighed again and his eyes became ice cold, "Because this power has an aura to it that basically emits evil…and only evil magic can capture magic from another human sorcerer or sorceress that is for the light side. The magic of the Clow is not compatible to the darker magic, but the darker magic uses the absence of that connection to pull in that magic and sent it to it's own power source. This type of magic is very old and hasn't been seen for centuries…the last wielder of the dark magic was banished centuries ago and locked away forever…"

"But, I am the reincarnated version of Clow Reed, and he has dealt with the darker magic in his lifetime. I can draw on his experience to help us fight the darker magic."

"Oh…" Tomoyo-chan said simply as she leaned back into her seat also, "but you still haven't fully explained why Syaoran-kun won't wake up."

Eriol's body grew rigid and he turned to face Tomoyo, betraying the anger he felt growing inside of him. His eyes turned cold, "The Darker magic has become a draining spell…" He said with a carefully controlled voice so as not to startle Tomoyo, "somehow it has captured Syaoran…" Eriol paused for a second with the anger building inside of him, his silver eyes become deathly cold as his gaze connects to Tomoyo's amethyst eyes that are filled with fear. He gazes into her eyes for a moment, and then speaks with a deathly cold whisper…

"…and it has Syaoran's magic..."

Eriol continued his voice and face now monotone, "Since the dark magic is powerful…it can take all of Syaoran's magic…nothing can stop it…only time can slow it…" "…it's like a deadly poison…"

"Our only aid is time…it will take time for it to absorb all his magic…but once it does…" Eriol paused and took a deep breath and turned his cold face to look into Tomoyo's. "…It will start to tap into his life force…for that in itself is connected to his magic, and can be tapped into…" "Until that time…he will merely sleep or continue to become more ill…but once the darker magic taps into Syaoran-kun's life force…Syaoran will slowly start to fade…" "…into death…"

"…"

Tomoyo continued to look at him her wide eyes showing horror and pain…"Oh no…I'm dreaming…please let me be dreaming",. "…Syaoran…Syaoran-kun…cannot…die…"

Suddenly her hands fell away as she turned her pale face to look outside at the sunlight. The light reflected on the one tear that was traveling down her face.

…Someone wake me up from this nightmare…

-

Silence reigned on a dark throne inside. The quiet was so thick it felt like you could cut it with a knife. Tears streamed down Tomoyo's face as she tried to control them, but they fell against her will. This morning she had been so happy, and now all had gone wrong. /-The plane had been late-/-Eriol's worn out and tired-/-I'm scared to death-/-Syaoran's ill without his magic and if nothing stops the darker magic he will die…-/ Of everything she could think of, the one thought she could not let go of was just one question…

/-…What about…Sakura-chan…-/