A/N: Thank you for the review, faves and follows! You inspire me, and because of that here's Chapter 2. Enjoy!
"Ow..." Tomoyo uttered when she felt that sharp pain inside her skull. It felt like one gigantic pin pricking her brain or something inside her head and it hurts so much. She tried to pry open her eyes to see where she is. She knew she was lying on something hard and cold and realized that she's on the floor when she saw the ceiling and some chairs on her left.
Tomoyo heard a voice, murmuring something she couldn't recognize or that maybe he's speaking in another language. It's a boys'. His voice was ascending and it gets louder until he's almost already shouting.
That's when she realized the person was really speaking in another language.
"Excieo!" The boy screamed and right after that Tomoyo felt her whole body heating up. It's as if she's being burned from the inside. She felt so hot and as if the first layer of her skin is going to separate from her body. Like she's being skinned alive.
She cried out in pain, closing her eyes; she pressed her hands from both sides of her head. There's pain coming from her head and then from every single part of her body. "Please! Please... S-stop." She screamed once again as the heat and pain intensifies.
"You can't stop it Tomoyo." Says the voice. She's never heard that voice before. "You have an obligation to the Order. This is..." And then she couldn't make out what he said next because the pain was too much to handle and she couldn't focus.
"Nooo..." She muttered as she thrashed around hoping that by doing so, the pain would disappear. She doesn't understand what was happening and why it was happening to her. But suddenly, the pain and heat started to subside. And as it did, she felt different... Unexplainable. Like something inside her has changed.
She stopped moving violently thinking that it would lessen the pain but it didn't, it disappeared on its own. Tomoyo then saw a silhouette of someone standing in front and looking down on her. His figure was familiar and she couldn't see his face because of the light coming from the window behind him. It's blinding her, well; almost.
The silhouette moved and knelt beside her. "It's nice to have you back." He said and that confused Tomoyo to the extreme. It didn't make any sense, unless the boy is crazy and doesn't know what he was saying. "Don't worry, I will take care of you all throughout." Then she felt something on her forehead. Once again, darkness welcomed her in the land of nothingness.
"What do you mean disappeared?" Sakura said that so loud that people from the other side of the building would have heard.
"Something strange happened. I saw the book lit up and opened, then the cards flew out of it." Keroberos explained in his eerie and serious tone he rarely uses, or rather; Sakura only hears whenever he is in his original form. "In front of me, they vanished into thin air. I couldn't sense them anymore."
Feeling weak, Sakura felt her knees isn't going to be able to support her while standing anymore. So she sat on the ground, surprising her older brother who had been trying to figure out her conversation over the phone and why it was affecting her so much.
"So, I'm going to speak to Yue now." Then Keroberos dropped the call.
"Hey squirt, are you going to tell me anything or not?" Touya asked, pissed at having to miss out on the things that are actually going on in front of him.
Fortunately, Sakura was still too occupied with her conversation over the phone to notice what he called her. "The cards are gone." She looked up at her brother helplessly. "Keroberos doesn't know what happened."
Touya decided a long time ago never to get involved into anything related to magic anymore. Because it seemed like every single time he does, he looses something...and someone. But now that it seemed like there's another problem, he's feeling skeptic. He's torn into wanting to help his sister and his vow against any magic related activities.
He just thought Sakura would be better off without the cards and the responsibility for it. That's it, with the cards gone; Sakura can finally live a normal life. "Maybe they're gone for good."
Sakura didn't like how Touya didn't seem to care much. Pouting, Sakura stood and turned her back on her brother. "I'm going to look for Tomoyo and the cards alone. Hmp!" She ran away after that.
Following the disappearing form of his sister, Touya shook his head in frustration.
Tomoyo first felt the soft fabric behind her as opposed to the hard and cold floor she thought she felt earlier... in her dreams. She opened her yes and saw the plain white ceiling of wherever she was lying now.
She breathed out a sigh of relief. It was just a dream. A weird one. But the trace of pain in her head was still there.
"Good, you're awake." Says that voice that she doesn't recognize. It was from a girl. When Tomoyo turned, she saw a girl in white uniform with that thing over her head and realized she's looking at their school nurse. Which means, she's in the infirmary. The nurse looked relieved to see her awake.
"W-why am I here?" She asked. The last she could remember was being in the music room and seeing that transfer student sleeping. Then she got surprised at being caught looking at him so she backed off but to no avail because there were instruments behind her and she accidentally hit her back on them that caused them to fall down like a domino. Then she also remembered arms around her and a voice saying 'gotcha' then she felt something on her forehead and that's it.
"One of our students brought you here and said you got your head hit by the falling harp in the music room while he attempted to catch you and you lost consciousness so he rushed you here. Does your head feel okay now?" The nurse asked.
Oh. So that's what happened.
Tomoyo nodded; smiling at the nurse to show that she's better now and moved to get off of the bed. Just then, Sakura, Rika and Chiharu came in; catching their breaths from running.
"Tomoyo!" It was Sakura's voice, laced with worry as with the look on her face. But the worry was there for a moment, now relief took its place on her pretty face seeing that she's still in one piece.
She smiled sweetly at the three. She doesn't like people worrying about her. Truth is, she's actually already feeling fine.
"We were looking all over for you." Says Chiharu.
"Yeah, when you weren't able to attend Language, we were so worried." Rika said.
That's when Tomoyo realized she actually missed classes on the first day of school.
"It's okay Tomoyo-chan, we didn't do much in class anyway. Mr. Kanazawa already knows what happened to you by now." Chiharu said as they all walked towards the gate.
The raven-haired girl nodded and managed a smile of understanding. "Thank goodness." But Sakura was still worried. "How's your head now? Is it still painful?"
Tomoyo turned to her as she taps her knuckles in her head three times as if she's knocking on her skull. It was to show that she's not feeling pain anymore. "Good as new." She joked, and that made Sakura laugh. She'll stop worrying now.
"The nurse said, it was the transfer student that brought you in the infirmary. Why were you together?" Rika asked, out of curiosity.
Realizing that everyone was looking at her, Tomoyo answered. "When I went to the music room, I saw him sleeping on the stool by the piano. I wanted to wake him up but.." The girl paused for a while, then a hint of red gathered in her cheeks. So faint that maybe it was only Sakura who noticed it. "He suddenly woke up when I got close. I was surprised so I backed off but I hit the instruments and he tried to save me but the harp fell directly on me and hit my head and then I passed out."
Satisfied with the answer, Chiharu and Rika both simultaneously looked at their wrist watches and bid their goodbyes. Sakura and Tomoyo watched them leave and disappear from their vision. "Where's your car?" Sakura asked.
Tomoyo smiled at her mysteriously, biting her lower lip in excitement in the process. "I can now go home by myself."
"What... do you mean?" Sakura asked carefully. She's trying to make sure that her assumption was correct.
"We had a compromise." She was talking about her overprotective and cynical mother. "She will give me a curfew instead. Besides I'm gonna be seventeen this year." She sounded so happy.
Sakura clasped her hands together, she's so happy for Tomoyo. That means that they can now both go ride the train together everyday. Then she remembered she had something to tell her.
"What?" Tomoyo exclaimed after she heard what happened to the cards.
"Keroberos said he'll speak to Yue to talk to him about what happened. We both really have no idea."
"He called Yukito?" Tomoyo made sure. It's been years since the last time she had seen that man. Though he's only a thousand miles away, where he chose to pursue his studies and most probably his employment now; he hasn't shown himself in town ever since that day Sakura completed the transition of all the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards.
Sakura nodded. "Technically, yes."
Tomoyo knows how serious this problem is. Most likely, there's going to be another threat to the Sakura cards and maybe for everyone. She could feel her excitement. Something she hasn't felt for a while. "I'm sorry." She tried to cover her mouth.
Sakura noticed Tomoyo stopping a smile and she wondered what was so amusing to the girl.
"It's just that, I missed it." Tomoyo said, unable to suppress her smile anymore. She clasped her hands over Sakura's own, excitement emanating from her. "I have to make you and Keroberos new costumes!"
Sakura's smile slanted. She reached to scratch the back of her head as she laughed at the thought of her having to wear Tomoyo's costumes again. "He he he, w-were not so sure what will happen yet.
Tomoyo didn't hear her. "Finally! I will be able to capture interesting shots again!" She placed a finger under her chin as she thinks. "I have to buy that HD camcorder!"
"Good afternoon, Mr. Kinomoto. It's great to see you again." Tomoyo greeted her father. Then she passed on the box of cake to him. She always brings something when she comes. "I brought something for everyone."
They parted ways earlier after riding the train back to Tomoeda together. Then an hour after, she called to say she wanted take her measurements. Tomoyo's very excited and Sakura doesn't have the heart to tell her to stop. And besides, she missed this.
"It's great to see you too, Tomoyo. Ahh! I smell strawberries." Her father took the box from the girl. "Thank you for this. I'll get this prepared and will bring some for you upstairs. Do you girls want juice or tea?"
"Tea please."
"Juice!" Tomoyo and Sakura said at the same time.
Fujitaka laughed as he disappeared to the kitchen.
Tomoyo followed her as she lead the way to her room. But just when she was about to step on the stairs, a figure appeared upstairs. It was her brother who arrived half an hour ago to get some things and borrow some of their fathers' books.
Sakura still hasn't forgotten how Touya acted indifferently after knowing about what happened. But does she really want him to be involved? And that's when she realized the answer is no. If this is going to be something dangerous, she shouldn't even involve Tomoyo. However, the girl isn't so easily persuaded. So she decided to ignore Touya's presence. Unfortunately, Tomoyo's manners didn't allow for that to happen.
"Good afternoon... Uhh, sensei. It's good to see you." The raven-haired girl greeted.
Touya gave Tomoyo a nod. "Same here, Daidouji." He responded as he steps down. And the moment he reaches the bottom of the staircase, Sakura immediately climbed the stairs. "Hey, kaijuu!"
Sakura felt the top of her head heating up, her blood reaching their boiling point and steam is coming out of both her ears. "DON'T. CALL. ME. THAT!" She burst out.
Touya shrugged and with his usual poker face, he asked; "Have you seen my Samurai Japan cap?"
"No!" Sakura answered. "To-san! We have a stranger in the house! Please call the police!" She called her father, and looked at Tomoyo. "Come on Tomoyo!" Then she rushed to her room, expecting the girl to be following her already.
Tomoyo giggled at the cute scene before her. She likes seeing Sakura's different expressions especially whenever her brother teases her. She looks cute too when she's mad. "She looks cute when you tease her, I should have brought my camera."
Touya turned to his sister's bestfriend. Then noticed that both of them may have already grown but they never changed from the inside. Sakura is still the whiny and happy kid that she is and this girl, she's still the shy and well, weird kid with her fascination to his sister. "I heard you had an accident in the music room this afternoon. How's your head?"
Tomoyo looked up at him. His face was always really hard to read and he always has this bored look. From their encounters before, Tomoyo'd only seen him change his expression to worry and determination when it's about Sakura. That is why it's so surprising for her to see concern in his eyes now when the topic is her.
"Never better." She answered and smiled at him, appreciative of his concern.
"Good to hear." Touya said, nodding and satisfied of her answer. This girl has one of the most genuine smiles he's ever seen. He is thankful she is his sister's friend because he doesn't have to worry about the kind of influence Sakura will be getting. He then motioned to her that he's going to the kitchen now and she just nodded in understanding as she moves to climb the stairs too.
Sakura was surprised to see the other guardian in her room. Standing on the side of her bed with his usual posture, his eyes on her; carefully watching her as she enters her room. He has his arms crossed over his chest. His long silver hair falls naturally over his shoulders. He looks ethereal, standing there with his pristine wings.
"Sakura! He's here now." Keroberos appeared so suddenly in front of her.
"Heh, I can see him." Sakura stated the obvious. Then her eyes moved back to Yue who now has his eyes closed. He always looked so calm and composed but now he has his nose scrunched up as if he's smelling something really foul.
Then he moved like a lightning, so fast that Sakura felt being pulled by her hand and the movement of the world around her then she's suddenly behind Yue who is now in his fighting stance.
"W-what's going on?" Sakura asked, confused of Yue's reaction. Then she looked over at Keroberos who doesn't have the same alertness as the other guardian.
"What is it, Yue?" Keroberos asked.
"Someone's coming." Yue said, he was waiting for someone to enter the door.
Then someone knocked on the door. Sakura could feel Yue tensing. "It's just Tomoyo..." She told the guardian. "Do you remember her?"
The door opened and Tomoyo entered, surprised at the scene before her. She recognized Yue's defensive position. Then she looked behind her to make sure if the enemy is behind her. "H-hello?"
Sakura found Yue's actions ridiculous so she pushed him with all her might and stood beside Tomoyo who has no idea of what's going on. Well, make it the two of them. Then Keroberos joined their side.
"What's going on, Yue?" Keroberos asked again.
Yue looked at Tomoyo in the eyes and thought how he didn't feel it before. But it couldn't be her. Is she the reincarnation of Clow Reed's greatest enemy?
A/N: See you in the next chapter!