Yo!

A/N: First of all, I'm sorry I missed a week, but I had made it clear that it might happen, so it shouldn't have come as a surprise to you regular readers.

Speaking of which, I noticed an absence of some of my regular reviewers. I'm talking to you Yami Umi, Criticizer 101, Trmpetplaya1 and Mew Frost (For two chapters Mew. I feel betrayed!). Where are you guys? You're probably my favorite reviewers and not even one of you reviewed the last chapter. I feel sad and lonely and...

Sorry for that… I tend to get emotional. Oh, and speaking of regulars. I recall an old regular from the old days (Yes, this fic had it's old days.) that went by the penname of Violet (Insanity Team a.k.a. Violet actually.). If you're still waiting for the story to catch up to the point at which you stopped, please, make yourself known. Just out of curiosity. I really enjoyed your reviews too.

SnowCharms, you're right in everything you said. Those things like Syaoran being able to lock the cards are all my invention. They're not mistakes, but intentional changes. The other reviwers's questions will be answered in this chapter.

But forget that ranting, let's go to what matters.

Instant Japanese:

Baa-san – Aunt or a general way of addressing older women.

Disclaimer: I don't feel like making a disclaimer joke today... Nobody cares about them anyway. I don't own CCS. Period.

The Plot Thickens: After telling his mother about the spell in him, Syaoran was finally approached by the caster of the said magic. It was in his dreams that the mysterious person came to him and, without showing his face, tried to convince him to stop fighting the spell, claiming that even though it gave him control over the boy's body and soul, he wouldn't use it for anything else but protecting Sakura. Syaoran wasn't satisfied with that idea, but could do nothing about it. Soon after, he surprised everybody when Terada announced he was going back to Hong Kong. Sakura was despaired at the news, realizing that the package she'd received from the boy earlier was in fact the pack of cards Syaoran had captured. Right after having a panic attack, the girl fainted in the classroom.

"Character Talking"

ºCharacter Thinkingº

(Me Talking)

Might I add:

All the life on the planet is based on a magical energy called 'Mana'. The Sun and the Moon provide this mana to every corner of the planet. Those who learned to manipulate the mana are the said magicians. A long time ago, Clow Reed mastered the use of both Sun and Moon mana and created his masterpiece in the use of these types of magic, the Clow Cards. Half of them used the mana from the sun and half from the Moon. Now, after accidentally setting those cards on the loose, Kinomoto Sakura must help Li Syaoran, a descendant of Clow, and Kerberos, the guardian of the cards, to capture the cards which, not having Clow to provide them mana anymore, are going on a rampage after the magical energy they need to live.

And:

Card Captor Sakura

Chapter 6: Sakura and Syaoran - Act I

Part 2: Fighting Alone

Syaoran walked past the front door of his apartment. ºI'm all done here.º He thought. ºAs far as I'm concerned, I'm already back in Hong Kong.º

He was still closing the door behind him when he saw Wei entering the room though the kitchen. "Syaoran-sama, you're finally back. You better hurry up, you can still make it for today's second class." He said.

Syaoran sighed. He rested his keys on a key hanger by the door. "I'm not going to school." He said.

Wei looked at him as if expecting him to say more than that. "May I be so bold as to ask why?" The man asked in a reprehensive tone.

"We're going back to Hong Kong." Syaoran said in a cold voice. He walked past Wei not bothering to give any more explanations.

Wei followed Syaoran. "Is there something I am missing here?" He insisted.

Syaoran walked into his room and picked the letter lying on his cupboard. "Read this." He said, handing the letter to Wei.

Wei took the letter. "This is the letter from your mother..." He said shifting his gaze to the words on the letter.

'Dear Syaoran

I am very disappointed at you for keeping this secret from me for so long. Your life might be in danger! That was the most irresponsible thing I have ever seen you do. If you had told me earlier I might have been able to help you. Your life is more important than your trial...'

"Syaoran-sama, what is Yelan-sama talking about?" Wei asked surprised. "Is it the spell?"

Syaoran let out a deep sigh. "I'll explain it all to you later. Just keep reading." Syaoran answered.

Wei nodded hesitatingly. He put his attention back on the letter.

'The elders and I have thought a lot on the situation. Seeing as the cards already have a future mistress selected by Clow, we thought it was pointless to insist in their pursuit. The only reason we told you to keep looking for them was because we thought that it might be a good training for you, but I won't stand here and let somebody manipulate you while you look for cards that you wont even be able to bring back at the end. I have already bought you your plane ticket back. When you get here you will return to your usual training and the elders will decide on a new trial for you. From this moment on the Li family will have no relation with the Clow cards other than our history books.

P.S. You and Wei can pick up your tickets at the Tokyo International Airport. Your flight is scheduled for July 12th at 7:30 am.'

Wei put the letter down. He looked at Syaoran and couldn't quite make up what his eyes were hiding. They looked cold as ice and at the same time completely melt down. "Syaoran-sama..."

Syaoran let out a meek laugh that could be easily mistaken for a snort. "Crazy isn't it?" He said. "Giving up like that because of a stupid spell."

Wei couldn't find any words to say. Syaoran appeared to be as confused as himself, but twice as confusing.

"We better start packing." Syaoran said. "Our flight leaves tomorrow so we have to be ready."

Wei nodded. "Right."

Syaoran walked back into the living room. "I'll call the school and cancel my registration there."

Hong Kong, 11:00 am.

Li Yelan was sitting on her knees over a comfy cushion. Before her, also knelled, was the elder of the Li-clan, her father. The room they were in was very big, and the fact that it had nothing in it apart from the weapons and scrolls hanging on the walls made it look even bigger.

"Why did you call me to the dojo?" Yelan asked in a serious tone. She had a very intimidating frown on her face. Her father was retrieving the gaze with just as much intensity.

"Yelan, you told Xiao Lang to come back." Her father said. "That's not what we've agreed."

Yelan frowned harder. "I won't risk my son's life." She said. "Do you have any idea of who put this spell on him?"

"Do you?" Her father asked with a bit of anger.

Yelan paused. She looked down to her hands that rested on her knees. They were clenched tightly. "I... I've met him once." She said with hesitation. "He came to me."

Her father showed no hint of surprise. His aged face looked like a rock. "It didn't occur to you that you should tell us something of this importance?" He said.

"I couldn't tell you." Yelan said. "He came to me to tell me that he needed Xiao Lang to stay in Japan. If I told you that, you would have found out that I told him to come back."

"I see..." Her father said. "What else did he tell you?"

"Nothing." Yelan answered. She pulled herself up to her feet. "I don't care for anything else he has to say. Whoever he is." She said. "Do as you wish father, but I won't sacrifice my son's free will for a deck of cards that we have already lost to the girl."

Her father sighed. He didn't move a muscle as Yelan walked past him. Yelan was about to leave the door when he spoke. "There won't be another judgment for him." He said. "You elude yourself to think that we have given up on the cards."

Yelan stopped walking for a second. She looked back at her father. He wasn't looking at her, but she could tell that he was serious about that. "Very well." She said. "Then Syaoran has failed on his trial."

She walked out of the dojo and closed the door behind her. After a deep sigh she leaned against the door.

"Good acting." Someone said.

Yelan looked up. "You... I had to lie to my own father and son. And even break an important family tradition to keep your secret." She said in low voice. "But I will never give up my son's free will."

The other person sighed. "Yelan-san... you think this is any easier to me than it is to you? We are on the same side."

Yelan snorted. "You are absolutely selfish. You say that this is for the good of all, but all you really care is your share of the prize."

"It's true that if it weren't for my 'share of the prize' I wouldn't even be here." The person said. "I would be much more satisfied if it was that way, but it's not. I have a responsibility here. I owe it to her."

Yelan started walking through the corridor that led back to the house, the other person following her. "Yes, you make such a foolish mistake with her and now my son has to pay for your irresponsibility. You've messed things up enough for her, Sakura and Touya. Leave Xiao Lang out of this insanity." She said, starting to loose her temper. "And don't you dare forcing my son to stay in Japan with your magic."

"I would never do that. If he leaves or not, it's completely up to him. I've already told him all that he needs to know to make that decision just like you asked me." The person said. "But I must say... I personally think that, regardless of the effects of my spell, he really wants too see this to the end."

Nadeshiko rushed into the Tomoeda Elementary infirmary.

"Sakura-chan!" She said in a gasp when she put her eyes inside the room.

Sakura was lying on the bed, still unconscious. Her face looked peaceful though. Beside her were Tomoyo and a nurse.

"Good morning, baa-san." Tomoyo said. The fact that Tomoyo was smiling calmed Nadeshiko down. Sakura was ok after all.

"Good morning, Tomoyo-chan." She said, returning the smile.

The nurse coughed gently to get their attention.

"Yes?" Nadeshiko said.

The nurse was a very over weighted woman, but she had a friendly feeling to her big face. She was smiling. "Don't you worry Kinomoto-san. Your daughter's probably passed out from stress. Her friend told me she had a panic attack just before loosing consciousness. She'll be back to her senses anytime now."

Nadeshiko sighed in relief. "Thank you. When I got the call from Tomoyo I was so nervous, Sakura never did anything like this. I mean... Her health has always been superb."

The nurse nodded. "I was told that her friend is going back to China. That probably made her nervous."

Nadeshiko blinked in confusion. "You mean Li-kun? That Chinese boy?"

The nurse nodded again. "Yes. That boy." She said. "Does your family have any history of problems with blood pressure?"

Nadeshiko shook her head. "No, not that I've heard of..." She said.

The nurse nodded yet again and looked up as if taking mental notes. "Then it was probably a matter of stress. She must have been really attached to the boy." She said. "It's unusual in children, but it can happen."

"I never knew..." Nadeshiko looked at Sakura, paused for a second and then looked at Tomoyo with an inquisitive look. "Tomoyo-chan... were Sakura-chan and Li-kun..."

Tomoyo immediately completed the phrase for Nadeshiko. "They were really good friends." She said with the sweetest smile she could put on.

"Do you really want to do this?" Wei asked the boy when they finally managed to close an overly stuffed bag. "Why don't you stay? The money for the ticket isn't much of a problem for your mother."

Syaoran sat down on his bed. "Wei-san, when I got that letter from my mom... my first thought was that I wanted to stay." He said. "But... I can't stay anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because the only reason I would be staying would be the fake feelings I have..." Syaoran said. "The ones he put on me. Staying would be the same as surrendering to his will."

"And going back would be the same as running away from it." Wei said in a stern voice. "The Li Syaoran I know would stay here until he had managed to solve the problem."

"The Li Syaoran you know doesn't exist as long as this spell is on me!" Syaoran said with anger. "I'm just a puppet to this maniac. If I go to Hong Kong he'll have no use for me! He said it himself. He's only using me to protect Sakura."

Wei looked at Syaoran directly in the eye. "You are scared aren't you?" He asked with a soft voice.

Syaoran jumped up from his bed. "I'm just doing what's reasonable. Staying here would only bring problems to me and to everyone around me."

Wei sighed in defeat. "It's your choice, Syaoran-sama. I just wanted to be sure you wouldn't regret it later."

Sakura's house.

Sakura heard the sound of rain and slowly opened her eyes. When the weak sunlight that was coming in through the window hit her she felt a pain in the back of the head. A headache. Her whole body felt like a headache as a matter of fact. She was completely exhausted.

"Finally awake." She heard someone say. "I've heard you made quite a scandal at school. Typical of a monster like yourself." It was Touya. He was sitting on the bed beside her.

"Touya..." Sakura forced herself to sit up. "I am not a monster." She said meekly.

Touya chuckled. "Right..." He said in a sarcastic tone. "I'm going to fix you something to eat. I'll be right back." He stood up. "Oh, and Tomoyo's here. I'll call her up."

"Thanks." Sakura said as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Two seconds later Kero landed on Sakura's belly. "What happened?" He asked. "Was it a Clow card?"

Sakura shook her head. "Not really..." She said. "I don't know what it was... It felt as if all of my mana was being sucked out of me."

"What were you doing when it happened?" The guardian asked.

"I had just found out that..." Sakura gasped when the memory hit her back. "Li-kun!"

Syaoran put yet another piece of clothing in his big bag. "They make me bring so many clothes... I could spend the whole year here and not wear half of them." He said to himself.

"Luckily, they also make you bring this enormous bag for them." Wei said jokingly as he handed him another pile of shirts.

The interphone rang.

"I'll get it." Syaoran said. "I need a break from all of this luggage." He walked out of the room.

When he pushed the interphone button, the little screen beside it lighted up.

There was Sakura. Her eyes were damp, but Syaoran couldn't tell if they were tears or if it was just a consequence of her standing in the rain.

Syaoran felt his heart sink. ºIs she crying?º "K-Kinomoto-san... What are you doing here?"

Sakura sniffed and wiped a tear that was about to fall down her face. "Please..." She said in a faint, tired voice. "I need to talk to you."

Syaoran sighed. He didn't want to go through that. He knew the spell was still on him and it would make him start having second thoughts on his decision to go back. He needed to stay away from all that linked him to Tomoeda and the cards, even if it meant to leave Sakura crying in the rain. She would get over it eventually, but he might not have another chance to get away from the spell again. It wasn't so bad to be in the rain. She even had raincoat on.

"I'm sorry. You'll have to go." He said. "I'm busy right now." ºIs she crying over me?º

Syaoran froze when he saw another faces joining Sakura in the screen. It was Tomoyo and Touya. Both clad on raincoats too.

"Listen here brat!" Touya said. "I don't know why my sister is crying over someone like you, but you're going to apologize to her right now!"

Tomoyo seemed to be infuriated too. It was a rare sight. "Li-kun, I think you owe us some explanations." She said.

Syaoran let out a loud Chinese curse word. "Fine. Come up."

"I can't believe I'm letting him alone with her." Touya said, letting his body fall down on the couch.

"Touya-kun, this has to be a private conversation." Tomoyo said. ºAnd it wouldn't be too good if you found out the real reason of all this problem.º

"I'm only accepting it because Sakura asked me. The brat has lost his right for privacy." Touya said. ºAnd who do they think they're fooling?º

Inside Syaoran's study Sakura stared at her own feet. She couldn't say anything.

"What do you want?" Syaoran asked, trying to sound bored. He was, as usual, avoiding Sakura's gaze. It wasn't necessary this time though. If he looked at her all that he would see was her bangs covering her eyes.

Sakura breathed in a large amount of air. "Please... don't go." Was all she said.

Syaoran snorted. "Why shouldn't I?" He said coldly. "You're going to be the future mistress anyway. I have no more business here."

Sakura sniffed. "I can't do this on my own." She said. "Up until now I thought that I could handle it all but... When I found out you were leaving I realized that you were the one making it all easy for me."

Syaoran's cold expression melted for a second, but he quickly regained his composure. "Listen... You'll do fine. You've opened the seal. That means you're much more powerful than I am."

"No!" Sakura shouted. "Everybody keeps saying that, but it's a lie. I can't deal with the cards by myself. I don't know how I opened that seal, but I know that I'm not half as good as you are."

"I'm not changing my mind." Syaoran said.

There was only silence then. Syaoran hoped that Sakura would turn back and give up. He had made it quite clear that he wasn't open for argumentation.

He gasped when he saw Sakura fall down on her knees. For a second he thought she was fainting, but then he saw that she was bowing. ºShe's begging me?º

"I beg of you." Sakura said between sniffs. "I'm afraid. I'm afraid to do this on my own."

Syaoran felt his eyes start to burn. "Why are you doing this?" Sakura was desperate and there was nothing he could do. He couldn't comfort her because it wouldn't be him talking, and he couldn't stay in Japan either. He felt a tear slide down his eyes.

"Get up." He said. "It won't do you any good. This isn't my choice, it's my family's."

Sakura put herself back up. She discovered that, if your wish is not granted, standing up after begging to someone can be twice as humiliating as the act of begging itself.

She looked at Syaoran and thought she saw him wiping a tear from his face. "Why?" She asked him. "Why are you doing this now? It's been a month since we've found out I'm the future mistress. What changed since then?"

Syaoran looked at her in shock. "Didn't you read the note on the present?" He said. "The reasons are mine and mine alone. I expected you to respect that."

Sakura shook her head. "I didn't open it..." She said. "When I found out they were Clow cards... I automatically took them as mine. I became their mistress. I fainted immediately after. Kero-chan said that there were so many new cards that I fainted from the amount of mana I had to give away. Imagine what will be like if I get them all."

"You'll get used to it."

"I don't want to get used to it!" She said loudly. She looked down to her feet again. "I need someone to help me..."

Syaoran closed his fist tightly, but avoided showing any other sign of his tension. "I'm sorry..." He said. "I have no choice." He walked past Sakura. "You should get back to your house and get some rest."

He was going to reach for the doorknob when he felt a hand holding his sleeve delicately.

"I'll give up too." Sakura said in a last desperate attempt. "I'll leave the cards on the loose and throw the book away."

"Fine." Syaoran said, though his heart screamed otherwise. "It's not my problem anymore."

'I'm going back to Hong Kong. I got a card from my mother today. She said I should go back because the cards already have a mistress. I agree with her on that but, I didn't really want to go back. I have to go however, for reasons that you're better off not knowing. You'd just concern yourself over it. Just remember that we're not the only ones interested in the cards.

Good luck with getting them all.'

Sakura put the piece of paper back on her desk. "Kero-chan... I can't do this. I'm scared."

Kero flew to her side. "Sakura, it's ok to be scared." He said. "But you have to believe in yourself. You're the one who saved the brat's life just yesterday, remember? You can fight too."

"I know but..." Sakura took the small pile of cards that was in the box. "Li-kun was never afraid of those cards. When he was fighting by my side, it didn't feel so dangerous. But now... I'm alone."

"Hey! What about me? And Tomoyo?" Kero said flying to the spot between Sakura and the cards. When he saw Sakura's red eyes his face softened. "You shouldn't rely on the brat so much."

"I'm sorry Kero-chan." She said, forcing a smile on. "I'm just being silly. Li-kun was never this worried about me anyway. I guess I just thought I would be safe with him because of that dream." Sakura put the cards back down. "So much for a prophecy."

A lone figure stood on top of a building in the proximity of the Tokyo Tower. Sakura wondered what she was doing there. She should be in her bed, sleeping. What was that all about? Why were the cards flying around her? Kero was also there. She was scared. Somehow she knew that she was about to fight the last battle of her life, and there was no one there to help her up if she fell. Except for him. He had protected her up until today. She looked around desperately for any sign of him, but he was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't protecting her anymore. She was all alone now.

Sakura woke up crying.

She felt an urge to tell everything to her mother, her brother and her father. Tell them about the Clow cards. Tell them she wasn't ready to face them on her own. She wasn't ready for so much responsibility. Tell them that for the first time in her life, she was afraid she might really die.

July 12th.

"Sakura! Wake up!" Kero said, shaking Sakura as hard as his small body permitted. "I can feel a Clow card! It's very close."

Sakura sighed. She was already awake. She had been awake all night fearing this moment. She had hoped it wouldn't come so soon though.

"I won't..." She said.

Kero stopped shaking her. "What?"

"I can't do it..." She said, holding her sheets tight "I don't want to do it anymore." She pulled her body to the side so she would be facing the wall.

Kero sighed. He landed on Sakura's shoulder. "Sakura, do you really believe that all the cards you've caught, all the battles you fought since we met... Do you believe that he deserves credit for all of them?"

Sakura didn't answer.

Kero remained in silence for a couple of seconds. After making up his mind he looked at Sakura with determined eyes. "Did you know that when Clow died, he asked me to judge whoever opened the book?"

Sakura's attention was caught by that. She turned her head to look at Kero. "Judge?"

"Yes..." Kero said. "I have been judging you all this time, and as far as I'm concerned you are more than Clow could ever ask for in a successor."

"But..."

"You've grown so much in so little time, and you still have so much to grow. You can't just throw that away Sakura." The guardian continued. "I know that sometimes it seems as if we are out of place or as if things will not work out right, but that's precisely when you need to raise your head and face the obstacles in your way. Or have you forgotten how afraid you were when you captured your first card. It was flying straight at you, but you stood there and faced it. It's the same now Sakura. You're afraid of imminent danger. All you have to do is face it again."

Sakura let out a small smile. It was amazing how that cute little fur ball actually sounded like a centenarian guardian sometimes. "Kero-chan... thanks." She said.

Kero smiled too. "Come on... you'll be afraid forever if you don't face your fears."

Sakura nodded. "I'll get dressed."

Meanwhile at the Tokyo International Airport.

"Tokyo Airlines: Flight 815 to Hong Kong boarding in fifteen minutes." Said the voice on the speaker.

"Here you go Syaoran-sama." Wei said, handing Syaoran a cup of coffee. "Drink it up."

"Thanks." Syaoran said, taking the cup. He threw away the empty packing of a chocolate bar he had just eaten in a nearby thrash can

Syaoran slowly sipped the coffee, careful not to burn his tongue.

A minute ago he had felt the presence of a Clow card while in the cab. He ignored it though. ºShe'll take care of it.º He opened another chocolate bar and started eating it.

'When I get nervous about something, I usually eat a lot, but when that doesn't help, the best thing to do is to face the problem straight on.'

Syaoran shook his head hardly. ºWhy did I think of that now?º

"Wei-san..." He said. "I'll take a walk around. I'll be back before they announce the flight."

The shores of Tomoeda Lake.

"It's The Shot. Can't reason with that one." Kero said. "It's very small and very quick so you'll have to find a way to stop it."

Sakura looked at the small pink ball floating in front of her. It didn't have a face, but from its aggressive aura she could tell it was ready to attack. Her hands were trembling, but she was feeling a little braver than in the past night. ºAll that crying really helped me.º She tried to put a determined face on, in an attempt to encourage herself.

"How do I stop it?" She asked.

"I'm still working on that..." Kero said.

"Hurry up." Sakura said holding her staff tight. "I think it's going to attack any... Kiah!"

The card charged towards Sakura at an incredible speed. Sakura jumped to the side to avoid it. She felt a stinging pain in her left arm and knew that she had been cut.

"Sakura!" Kero flew to her side. "Quick, get up." He said.

Sakura stood up, putting her hand to the cut in her arm. It wasn't too bad. "It's too fast!" She said.

"You have to be faster then!" Kero said.

Sakura nodded. "I'll try..." She put a hand in her pocket and took out a deck of cards. "Which should I..."

She didn't have time to finish. The card charged again and this time managed to make a deeper cut on her left shoulder.

"Ouch!" Sakura dropped all the cards from the pain. "Oh no!" She tried to reach for them but had to jump to the other side to dodge yet another charge of the card. This time she didn't get any cuts, but fell face first on to the floor, swallowing a lot of dirt in the process.

"Sakura! Try this!" She heard Kero shout. She looked up and saw him throwing a card to her.

Sakura took the card in midair. It was The Freeze. "That's it!" She said.

She was about to pull herself up when she saw the card charging at her again. She rolled to the side and avoided it by less than an inch. A lot of mud was thrown in the air when the card hit the ground.

Sakura stood up, coughing to clear the dirt from her throat. "It's now or never!" She said. "Freeze!"

Wei looked at the digital clock above the boarding platform.

"They'll announce the flight anytime now." He said. "I'd better go and warn Syaoran-sama."

Sakura looked at the ice that formed itself above the card. It was trapped now.

"I did it?" She stared at the ice in awe. "I did it!" She answered herself, smiling.

Kero flew to her side merrily. "See? I told you. You're great at this!" He said.

Sakura grabbed Kero in a tight hug. "Thanks Kero-chan! I really feel much better now." She said, a tear sliding down her face. A tear of relief.

Kero chuckled. "Alright. Now lock that card so we can go home. You're already late for school."

Sakura nodded. She wiped the tear out and faced the ice block. ºI can do this. I really can!º "Return to the shape you are meant to..."

'CRACK'

Sakura froze. ºCrack?º

"Sakura! Look out!" Kero shouted.

Before she could react, part of the ice in front of her exploded. The card had broken free and it was headed straight at her. It wouldn't take more than a second for it to reach her. They were too close. And if the card hit her straight in the face like that...

ºIt's going to kill me.º

TO BE CONTINUED...

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A/N: Oh no! Don't die Sakura! I need you! You're my protagonist for crying... Wait... I've done this already. Gosh... Is my story getting repetitive?

Whatever... Review and stuff.

Oh! And a special thanks to Meredith Summer. My newfound editor (Sort of.). I feel bad for not paying her any money.

See you next chapter.