A/N: Well, I'd just like to thank my reviewers, because you guys convinced me to continue. At first I wasn't sure I could hack this fic, but I'll try extra hard for you all. Unfortunately, school starts on Monday, so writing will be a lot harder once that starts up again. Hopefully, I'll plan a schedule so I'll update at least once a week or something.
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Through Another Day
Written by: Shadow
Chapter 2
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Everything was seemingly peaceful on the clear night that had followed the beautiful spring day. Sakura was safe and sound in her bed, snoring lightly, and dreaming of the days past events…
Keroberos however, was keeping an ever watchful eye on Sakura. He knew that the rest of the Spirits of Clow would not stay idle for long, and that Sakura may not be able to tell if one appeared…
Or, she could have a knack for it, like the last person to pick up the book. Kero grimaced at the thought of him. He had abused the spirits for his own needs, and caused a lot more trouble than he was worth.
Then suddenly, Sakura shot up out of her bed, and Keroberos became instantly alert as well.
Sakura felt as though some strange presence had washed over her…and it broke her deep sleep better than any alarm could ever do. It felt as though someone had physically lifted her from her bed, and threw her back down on it.
"Sakura," Keroberos called from the book, "There's a spirit causing trouble nearby. What you were feeling a moment ago…that's what a spirit's presence is like…it makes you feel almost weightless for a few moments. Come on, we have to go get whatever is out there!"
Sakura nodded, and headed to her dresser drawer to change into something other than her pajamas.
"No, we don't have time for that. Just grab a sweatshirt and go Sakura! This spirit could be destroying the entire town!" Kero said urgently.
Sakura stopped for a moment and gaped at Kero in the book, "You're not serious are you? If this thing could be destroying the entire town, then how am I supposed to capture it?"
Keroberos merely smirked, "You forget you have me, the studly, awesome spirit of the sun."
Sakura looked doubtful, but trusted Kero anyway. As quietly as possible, Sakura snuck out the window, and landed with a small thud on the ground below.
She then opened the book to Kero's picture, too seek further guidance on what to do next.
"Okay Sakura," Keroberos said, "Now, I want you to repeat the words I told you earlier. We can get to the disturbance faster if you ride on me. So…go on, you can do it. There was a reason I made you memorize it."
Sakura took a deep breath and prepared herself; Kero had made it clear that she had to say the words correctly:
"Book of Clow that holds the Spirits of old, I call on the power of The Sun Spirit: Keroberos. By the contract I have made with you, release!"
Sakura flinched back as the book glowed a shadowy purple color, and the insignia on the front cover appeared before her. Slowly, a large lion-sized creature started to form on top of the magic circle--almost as if it were dissolving into reality, particle by particle.
Finally, the shape formed into a silhouette of Kero, flashed purple, and then faded into a living breathing sun spirit.
"Hoee," Sakura muttered, amazed.
Kero put on a big grin, "You see? Aren't I the most awesome creature you've ever seen?"
Sakura smiled back, and nodded with an excited grunt, however, the moment was short lived, for a extremely strong gust of wind nearly blew Sakura over.
"Hold on Sakura!" Kero called out as he moved to catch her from falling, "Climb on my back! We have to fly!"
Sakura obeyed, climbing onto Kero much like she would a horse. It was a bit awkward sitting without damaging his wings, but she didn't have time to shift, because Kero spread his wings and took flight before she could comprehend what was happening.
"Ah!" Sakura yelled, and clutched onto Kero for dear life.
"Oh, sorry Sakura," Kero said apologetically, "But I just wanted to get above the wind. Look below us, our target has landed."
Sakura hesitantly sat up, and after finding that she was safe, looked downwards like Kero asked her to. Sitting on the fountain near the edge of the park, was a huge, white, bird of prey. Its talons were digging into the stone, and leaving cracks.
"Whoa, what spirit is that?" Sakura asked, glad that she wasn't the stone fountain.
"I believe that is the Spirit of Flight. I must say, she looks very angry today. She must be looking for our last master…"
"Last master?" Sakura asked, curious.
Kero's face looked grim, "Come on, we need to confront her."
Sakura was well aware that Kero was avoiding the question, but kept quiet. He would tell her later if he wanted to she supposed.
Kero landed a few feet from the massive bird, which glared at the sun spirit, and then at Sakura, only to glare at Keroberos yet again.
"What is this Kero?" she asked in a loud, screeching voice. It was almost witchlike, Sakura thought.
"This," he said, gesturing to Sakura on his back, "is Sakura. She is the new holder of the book."
The bird took another look at Sakura, and let out a loud screech. Sakura cowered in fear at first, but then realized that the bird seemed to be…
Laughing?
"Keroberos," the bird started, "I've known you to be a joker in the past, but this is your best joke yet." With that, the Spirit of Flight erupted into another bout of laughter.
"Hey!" Sakura said, fuming, "What's that supposed to mean? I am the new owner of the Book of Clow, and I summoned Kero so I could capture you!"
The bird stopped suddenly, and stared at Sakura. It was then that Sakura took note of just how big this creature was…
"Hoee," she muttered, going paler than ever…
"Back off Sora!" Kero growled protectively, "She is the new master. You'd do best to listen to her…or you'll be facing off against me!"
"Sora?" Sakura asked over Kero's shoulder.
"Yes," he replied. "Some of the Spirits have their own names as well as title in the book. Our last master, though cruel, was close with some of us, and gave us personal names."
Sakura tilted her head to the side, "But not all of you were named? That hardly seems fair."
"You're right, it's not!" the bird screeched, "Which was why I gave myself a name. That bastard of human that owned the book last time didn't give me, and some of the other Spirits names. In fact, he never gave us a second glance. Never had I met such a cruel human…ever. He used only the most aggressive Spirits to gain power for himself."
Sakura looked to the bird with sympathy in her eyes, "I'm sorry," she said in an honest voice. "That's not fair to you, or the others…and this last master sounded…terrible."
"Yes!" the Spirit of Flight shouted, "He was, as are the rest of you human scum! Why should I allow myself to be captured again, when I could easily destroy you pitiful creatures? Tell me this Sakura…"
The bird came extremely close to Sakura, bending down so that she was eye to eye with the much shorter human.
Sakura trembled, and the bird made a low growling sound from deep in its throat. Keroberos let out a warning snarl for the bird to back off, and seemed ready to pounce at any moment, but Sakura held a hand up to keep him back.
"Sakura," Kero said worriedly, but backed off anyway.
"Sora," Sakura started, thinking carefully about what she was going to say, "I don't want to capture you to use you as a slave or something like that…I mostly want to protect what I hold dear. And I won't allow you to just destroy me and my friends and family without batting an eye. I'd rather we be friends."
The bird stared at her for a few more minutes, letting out a grunt, as if she were in deep thought.
Finally, she brought her neck up and looked at the night sky, "I believe you are honest…" she said at last, "And I think you might be the most pure of heart than any of the last owners. Maybe you can change some of the Spirits. Many are broken and angry, and refuse to let their beliefs go. If anyone can do anything about this…it is you Sakura…"
"So does that mean…you'll come with me?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes," the bird confirmed. "But if you're lying to me, I will do everything in my power to make this difficult for you…got it?" she said, swinging her head back towards Sakura, who cowered back in fear.
"Enough Sora. Don't scare her so much!" Kero yelled.
Sakura let out a sigh of relief, and stood up strait. She opened the book to the page where Flight was supposed to go, and held it up, pages facing outward as she recalled the capturing spell.
"Spirit of Flight," she started, "Abandon your physical form, and return to the ancient scriptures Clow made as your home!"
With that, Sora glowed white, and dissolved into many small particles. Then a strong wind seemed to pick up, and blow them all into the book. The wind caused Sakura to flinch back, but she didn't loose her grip on the book.
Finally, the wind died down, and Sakura turned the book over to see Sora's picture. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
Kero walked up beside her, "Sora may not seem like it, but she's very kind. She believes in you very much Sakura."
Sakura made a grunt to acknowledge that she had heard him, but her eyes were scanning the page:
The Spirit of Flight has two forms: a beast form, and a less conspicuous from in the shape of a staff with wings on it.
"Kero?" she asked, "Do you think Sora would appreciate it if I used her tonight?"
Keroberos was puzzled, but nodded, thinking that Sora would probably enjoy a flight around the town.
With that, Sakura released Sora in the form of a staff. It was pink, and had a bird beak and small wings on one end.
"So how do I make you fly with this?" Sakura asked the spirit.
"Just say, 'fly.'"
Sakura did so with such enthusiasm, that Sora laughed in response. The two wings on the pink staff grew to a relatively big size. Sakura put the staff in between her legs, much like a witch might ride a broom.
"Hold on tight," Sora's voice rang out. With that, they lifted off the ground.
Sakura gaped in wonder at the scene below her. Earlier she didn't have time to enjoy it, but she could see everything clearly on top of the staff.
"Wow," she muttered, amazed, "this is…incredible! Sora, I would do this everyday!"
Sora did not reply, but Sakura was filled with a presence of joy. Somehow, she could tell that the spirit was very appreciative.
"Sakura," Keroberos said, flying up beside her, "I forgot to tell you, when you use spirits…"
But Kero trailed off; he was starting to fade out of existence.
"Kero?!" Sakura exclaimed, not sure of what was going on.
But before she could ask, she felt herself become lightheaded, and then suddenly, everything was weightless…like she was falling.
And then she realized Sora was gone as well, "Sora! Kero!" she shouted as she started freefalling to the earth.
She tried to call out their names again, but lost her voice when everything went black…
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A/N: Bah, school started, so updates are going to be kind of slow, and probably not as long as usual. Bare with me people.
I'll work on the next chapter of 'The Game' next, and then I really wanna pick back up on an older FanFic of mine, that's unrelated to CCS, but don't worry, I'll be updating all my CCS stories too.
Also, fans of Iris that are waiting for Simple Design, bare with me, I'm working as fast as I can! Meep.
Please, please, PLEASE review.