Disclaimer; Nothing except plot (not HP or CCS obvs) is mine.

A/N. I'm thinking of dropping this story, so let me know what you think. Thanks x

please R&R

Chapter Nine: Clash

Recap...

I reached up on my tip toes, and kissed him on the lips.

'I'm sorry..'

As we hugged, I suddenly felt my senses go on hyper-alert. We broke apart, Syaoran feeling it too.

And then I knew why.

'So your the card mistress?'

Hmmm..I really should have been paying more attention.

Continued...

Pulling away from Syaoran, we both turned to look at the newcomer...who unexpectedly wasn't quite as scary as I thought.

Hadn't I stopped time? I hear you cry? Well, I had kind of unfroze it without realising it when Syaoran and I were kissing. Normally I'm quite good! But well, you would find it hard to concentrate if you were kissing Syaoran too. Though that was something to bear in mind if I wanted to watch out for evil people.

'And who might you be?' Syaoran looked the blonde boy and his two companions up and down. who were standing in the door way.

I heard a cough behind us and realised that Tomoyo and co could listen to everything again. We made our way out into the corridor. (Syaoran and I anyway, though I had a sneaking suspicion that Tomoyo was recording it)

We met the guy again.

'I can either be your best friend or worst enemy as it goes.'

I rolled my eyes, exchanging a bemused look with Syaoran.

'Really? My worst nightmare? Did you hear that Syaoran-kun? Far worse than...I don't know, the sword card or the firery or-'

'I know!' Syaoran cut me off, 'I think we should be worried Sakura-chan. This is indeed not someone to meddle with if he is, as he says, our worst nightmare!'

I stifled a giggle, turning to face the boy who was scowling, giving even Syaoran a run for his money. I thought I had better be polite though as it was best not to be rude on our first day. Well, not even day really as we weren't even there yet.

'Hello,you already know me, but most people don't call me 'cardmistress'. My name is Kinomoto Sakura.' I held out my hand for him to shake.

He merely looked at it, sneering.

'Draco Malfoy. And from your mocking, I take it you have chosen the latter. Take my word for it, your life will be a lot harder without me on your side.'

In an instant, Syaoran had unsheathed his sword (which for unknown reasons he kept on him at all times...what a burden!) and had it up against Malfoy's neck.

'If you are ever so rude to Sakura again, I'll do more than threaten you. You are the one who should be watching your back boy'.

Geez, Syaoran could be over dramatic sometimes! I just stood there waiting for him to pent out his anger. I didn't know Syaoran was the jealous type!

Putting away his sword, Syaoran turned to me,

'Are you ready to leave these losers Sakura? I'm pretty sure we'll be there soon.'

I smiled sweetly at the three boys who were standing there looking rather afraid, and then nodded following my boyfriend back into the carriage with the others.

As we sat back down, we realised that there was considerably more food in there than when we left.

'Tomoyo?' I questioned.

Frowing slightly at Syaoran, my best friend turned to me and smiled sweetly, 'Oh the food cart came round so I got some food and well, so did everyone else.' We saved you some though!'

I smiled, shifting to get comfortable next to Syaoran and Hermione.

'What happened out there?'' Harry (I think that was his name) asked.

Syaoran answered.

'We met a little rodent called-'

'Draco Malfoy?' Ron put in.

'How did you know?' Was this boy a legend? Was he actually scary?

'Eh! Who doesn't know that idiot? He is all about pure blood this, my father that...it is enough to do your head in!'

Harry nodded along.

' I met him on my first day of school and since I turned down being friends with him...well we have been enemies since then really. I wouldn't worry about him.' He smiled kindly at me.

I didn't want to hurt Harry's feelings and say that I really wasn't in the slightest bit worried. He had the same amount of power as my fingernail. My little finger at that. On my toe. And I have small feet...So I just nodded and tried to smile as if it was a burden and I was trying to be brave.

Syaoran just laughed out loud though. Smooth...

'Well be there soon, we better get changed,' Hermione said to the group.

I stood up with the rest of the girls to head off to the changing rooms (which apparently this train had according to Ginny)

Five minutes later after wrestling our uniforms out of our bags, we were all set ready to go. Tomoyo had modified our robs slightly. They were far more tight fitting that any of the girls robs I noted while changing. When I pointed this out to Tomoyo though, she merely said that ours were more feminine and she couldn't bare to see me in the 'potato sack that was our former uniform'. (her words not mine).

Hermione and Ginny were in fact jealous of our robes though (I really didn't see why).

'Where did you get them? They are so much cooler that ours? Is it because you are from Asia?' Hermione asked excitedly.

I really didn't see the connection between fitted robes and Asia but I let it slide,allowing Tomoyo toanswer.

'We got them from Diagon Alley, the same place as you. I just modified them slightly.'

'Wow! Your fantastic! They look so professional!' Ginny said.

Tomoyo blushed, 'Well I can do yours if you want? When we are at the castle and have some free time?'

Both girls nodded enthusiastically. I rolled my eyes. Tomoyo would be in her element.

'Shouldn't we be getting back?' I interrupted.

'Oh right! Yeah.' chorused the group.

And so we made our way back.

Around half and hour later, we finally arrived outside the castle.

Sadly the train hadn't stopped right outside so it had been a bit of a trek to get there. We had to ride on these invisible horse creatures. Harry explained that only certain people could see them. If you had seen someone die actually. I thought that was a bit harsh. Strangely enough I could still see them, even though I had seen no one die. Syaoran explained that it was because we were of a different power and...well I didn't really understand the rest so...moving on.

I didn't really know where to go when we got there though. This was another thing that the letter hadn't really explained. Though we weren't first year students, we didn't have a house. Do we go with them to be sorted? Or follow our new found friends?

It was rather disconcerting having everyone stare at you though. I had never really known that I was famous because I live in what the westerner's call a 'muggle world' No one knew me because of my abilities. I could lead a normal life. Sadly no such luck here. Hence much pointing and whispering.

Just as I began to think I had made a major mistake coming here, Syaoran took my hand and kissed me lightly on the lips.

'Don't worry Sakura, you'll be fine.'

After that, I kind of allowed myself to be led into the large hall after that with Syaoran. I spotted Tomoyo in the line with the first years, waiting to be sorted. Just as we walked through the large doors, we were beckoned over to a middle-aged stern looking woman.

'You must be the new exchange students? Card mistress Kinomoto Sakura, Sorcerer Li Syaoran,

it is a pleasure to have you in the school' the woman smiled kindly, 'I am Miss McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, one of the houses here.'

I blushed slightly, bowing to her. She was after all, an elder to me. Syaoran did the same.

'The pleasure is ours.' I answered respectfully (all while thinking how mush I wanted to go home. It's lucky these people were telepathic...wait were they?)

Syaoran looked at me sharply, obviously hearing my distress. He shook his head subtly.

I relaxed slightly.

'So do we get sorted?' Syaoran enquired. Most of the other students were sitting down, getting ready to watch the others put into houses

'Yes, though we will sort the first years before you. Dumbledore will call you up when we are ready. Don't look so nervous Miss Kinomoto! It will most certainly be fine. Go take a seat on any of the tables.'

Was it that obvious that I was worried? I guess I was literally shaking in my boots. Well, my rather cute black sandals as it goes (they had to be black for the uniform...grrr)

I smiled back and then followed Syaoran to a seat with Harry and the others. (Even though we were technically house-less.) The other tables were straining to look over at us. I sank further down into my seat.

Just at that moment, the man who I took to be Albus Dumbledore stood at the front of the hall.

'Welcome, welcome, one and all. We have new students and old. Of new cultures and our own. Remember the forbidden forest is as always, out of bounds. With that said, on with the sorting!'

Hmmm brief but to the point I guess.

The hat then sung this strange song about the school and the houses. To be honest I zoned out a bit only to be woken by-

'Abby, Christie!' The hat shrieked.

A timid blonde girl approached the stool and moments later there was a shout of 'Ravenclaw!'

This exercise went on for another 10 minutes before Tomoyo was called.

Standing out from the rest of the first years (she was a good foot taller than most of them to start with, as well as being stunning- quite a few of the boys wolf-whistled as she strode towards it)

The hat took quite a while to decide on where it would put my best friend. I was beginning to get worried that it was actually a dark force in disguise. I mean weirder things have happened. But then-

'Hufflepuff!'

Tomoyo smiled sweetly and went to sit down at the cheering Hufflepuff table.

I didn't know if this was good or bad that Tomoyo was there and turned to Harry to ask.

He shrugged, 'It is neither really. Houses are meant to suit peoples qualities so really it just means she is loyal and just (according to the hat). It is a shame she wasn't with us though.'

I nodded, still wondering where I would be. As long as I was with Syaoran or Tomoyo it would be ok.

Anyway, where was Eriol? Surely he wouldn't be far? He'd said that he would meet us here and here we were.

I daydreamed a little, imagining our new 'life' here (for however long that would be),waiting to be sorted ourselves, which I was growing more and more nervous about.

The hat had finally finished with Graham Zeldolph being sorted into Slytherin and Professor McGonagall beckoned us forward. Very quickly, the hall went silent and all eyes were on Syaoran and I as we walked towards the hat.

Dumbledore addressed the room, ' As you can see we are lucky enough to have some exchange students this year. Li Syaoran and Kinomoto Sakura, better known as the Cardmistress and the future Li-Clan leader. I hope you treat them with respect and friendship. They will be entering 6 the year.'

If we hadn't created a stir before, we certainly did with that little nugget of information.

'Kinomoto, Sakura!' the hat called.

Syaoran smiled kindly at me as I went at pulled the hat down on top of my head. Suddenly, a voice was in my head.

'Why hello there Mistress Sakura, if I may you call you that?'

'Sure...?'

'Now! Aren't you a tricky one? You are extremely powerful yet are still open to learning new skills, this is a good quality to have, Your power makes you a candidate for Slytherin. But then you are loyal as well as brave...hmmm...Gryffindor? Tut tut...Where to put you?'

'You know, I realise you are the hat that chooses and everything but, i'd really rather not go to Slytherin. How about Hufflepuff?'

'I'm afraid you are not suited to Hufflepuff my dear, and if you would really rather not go to Slytherin, then it must be GRYFFINDOR!'

I realised that everyone else could hear that and that was my cue to get going. I wrenched that hat off my head and made my way to the cheering table. In fact, most of them were standing, cheering. And most of them were boys. How embarrassing. I could already tell I was unpopular with the girls for that reason. Good start Sakura.

Syaoran put the hat on his head and it immediatly shouted 'Gryffindor' also. It barely touched his head. I had the distinct feeling there was some threatening involved. Syaoran had a very scary grin on his face...Most of the girls got up to clap and cheer for him. Mou, I hope I wasn't going to have to fend of girls from my boyfriend all year.

This was going to be a long year.

Please R&R x