"Are you ready, Sakura?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura nodded gravely. "It's almost time. Here," suddenly Tomoyo shoved a small package into Sakura's arms.
"Eh! What is this, Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo smiled and waved her finger. "Uh uh, just go put it on and let me see!" she exclaimed, shoving Sakura into the nearest unoccupied room. They had all come to Sakura's old house. Her father was out on a trip at the moment, so there was no one but themselves.
"Okay, okay, I'm going!" Sakura said, knowing that arguing or protesting would be useless with Tomoyo. When she shut the door behind her, she opened the package and took out Tomoyo's latest costume. Tomoyo sat outside the door, smiling mischievously. That smile only widened when she heard Sakura's embarrassed scream moments later.
"TOMOYO!" she shouted, causing everyone else to flood up to the room when Sakura swung the door open, her face red with embarrassment and anger. The red hue deepened when she saw not only Tomoyo, but Yukito, Toya, and Syaoran all standing there. Tomoyo was the only one smiling expectantly; the others were shocked beyond belief.
Sakura's new "battle costume" was quite different from anything Tomoyo had made before. It was a bikini-style costume; the top was a halter top, the strings of which were so incredibly long that even tied into the bow they were, the strings hung down to Sakura's waist. The bottom, which was too close to a two-piece bathing suit for comfort, had a similar string tie on the left side. However, there was a long skirt-like attachment to the bottoms; it started in the center of each hip and connected in the back, providing a semi-skirt that covered the sides and back of Sakura's legs, and most of the front. There were matching gloves and shoes, of course. The shoes were ankle-length heels.
Almost as soon as Sakura opened the door, Tomoyo snapped a picture. There was silence in the crowd as Sakura slammed the door shut again. "I'm not wearing this! Am I going to go swimming or will I be fighting Cards?"
"Oh please Sakura? This may be the very last chance I get to make a battle costume!"
Syaoran approached the door, his own face slightly red. "It was… rather cute on you, Sakura…" he said quietly. Toya stood scratching his cheek, preferring to just stay out of this one. Yukito and Kero too, stayed quiet.
"It's almost time, Darian," Spinnel Sun said as he walked up behind the young man.
"Yes, it is." The three of them stood on top of Tokyo Tower. It was not quite midnight yet. "You know what to do, right?" he asked Ruby Moon and the panther.
"Yes," she replied. "I am to keep an eye on Eriol, so he does not interfere."
"And I will keep Keroberos busy."
"Very good."
Reluctantly, Sakura agreed to wear Tomoyo's outfit, but only on one condition. "Aww, but Sakura we can't see your cute body when you wear that!" Tomoyo complained, pointing to the small hoodie Sakura had pulled on over the top. Sakura crossed her arms. The hoodie still gave Sakura a bare midriff, but only slightly, between it and the bikini bottoms with partial skirt she was wearing. The outfit was still cute; Syaoran's face continued to stay red while the two women argued.
"Tomoyo, it will be too cold to wear just that! Otherwise I would," Sakura added, though not very convincingly. "Really! Tell you what, when the nights start to get a little warmer… I'll," Sakura looked around, then whispered, "I'll put it on and do some stuff with the cards… like, summon them and fly around and stuff. You can record me then, okay?"
This seemed to cheer Tomoyo up considerably, because she finally agreed to the conditions. Kero flew around impatiently. "Just come on already! If this is going to end, we've gotta go!"
Sakura nodded, and Toya placed a hand on Yukito's arm. "Yukito… are you ready?" he asked.
"Haha, of course I am, Toya! I probably won't remember a thing, anyways." Toya's concern was obvious in his eyes, but Yukito brushed it off. "I'll be fine, Toya. Promise!" Sakura's brother was still skeptical, but he dropped the issue. Together, they headed out for Tokyo Tower, none of them planning on being left behind.
Darian grinned as he saw Sakura come out of the door that led to the rooftop of Tokyo Tower. "So you did come. I'm impressed, truly."
"Did you think I wouldn't?" Sakura demanded.
"I thought you wouldn't," Darian confirmed. "Now that you're here, let's get started."
Sakura nodded. Darian pulled out the Book of the Nova and opened it. Sakura did the same with the Book of the Star. They mimicked each other's movements. Darian's eight Nova Cards appeared in a semi-circle around him. Sakura's remaining twelve did the same thing. They both carried their staves, Darian's was like a dark, twisted version of Sakura's.
"Now then…" Darian said with a grin. He held up his staff, and beneath him a black circle appeared. Next to him, Eriol appeared. Black strings of magic seemed to hold him in place until Ruby Moon came towards him. "I think we're only missing one person."
Sakura continued to glare at him, silent, her Cards hovering before her. Kero had transformed into the Guardian Beast and was standing nearby. Darian raised his staff once more. "O Judge, the Moon Incarnate! Come forth to do battle and put these candidates to your test! The time for a new Master has come!" A wind picked up, blowing violently. Behind Sakura, Yukito gasped and seemed to fall slowly backwards, but never hit the ground. Instead, the circle that represented the Moon and the Judge appeared beneath him. Wings grew out of Yukito's back and enveloped him. Then he disappeared entirely.
"Yukito!" Toya shouted.
"It's fine!" Keroberos replied. "The Judge will be here soon." For better or for worse.
Above Sakura and Darian, the magic circle appeared again, revealing Yue for the first time in weeks. Sakura could not feel relieved, however. This Yue was the same Yue she had first come into contact with some sixteen years earlier; this Yue was the Judge, who presented candidates with a test. If they failed his test, their memories would be wiped out, and the Cards released.
Yue floated casually to the ground. "Present your Cards," he demanded. His cold, blue eyes gazed lazily down at them. "Fine then." Suddenly, he drew an arrow out of thin air, the bow forming as he did so. "Candidate one, prepare to face me." Without another warning, he shot his first arrow at Sakura, who barely had time to dodge. Darian was outraged.
"Please, O Judge, let me prove my worth first! Let me take on your challenge!"
Yue glared at Darian, and his eyes seemed to glow. As they glowed, so did Darian's body and the Nova Cards. Each and every one were shoved backwards, out of the way. "Each Candidate will have their turn. I will test you both. No one can defeat me, so why ask for punishment so soon?"
Darian struggled to stand up. Neither Ruby Moon nor Spinnel Sun ran to him. They had their own orders.
Keroberos shouted, "Sakura, quick! Don't let him gain the upper hand!" But his advice was cut off by a black mass of claws and teeth. Spinnel Sun attacked Keroberos, hoping to lead him away. Within moments, the two beasts were locked in a battle, neither paying attention to their respective Masters.
Eriol watched from a distance as well, his eyes narrowed. Did Yue not recognize her at all? Of course not… there was no way he could, not under these circumstances. He could do nothing to help Sakura.
She was on her own.