Episode 21 of the continuing epic saga of Kusagano Sakura as the CardCaptor, facing off againt friend and foe to retreive all of the cards! Proudly presenting; Blossoms in the Spring, Episode 21! The Trio of Terror: WAVE, RAIN, and SNOW! Part 2! Produced by Jex! Original Design by Eternal Lost Lurker! Brought to you by Improfanfic! -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Miyuki stood silent for a moment. Rei spoke up. "Do we know where to find the card?" "Me and Rena were going to search for it, then come back and Miyuki was going to bring everyone," offered Chiharu. "Sounds like a good plan." commented Rei's dad, off to the side. "Right. Rena, lets go!" called out Chiharu enthusiastically. "We're gone!" responded Rena, just as enthusiastically. ...And they were gone, too fast to keep track of. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Li sat cross-legged, eyes closed, in a meditative position. His sword was out, straight down, the point in the floor in the center of his legs. Ken watched intently as Li gathered his energy, focusing. "Okay. Be ready." Li stated, then stood up, eyes closed. A few quick gestures, and a heavy slash in midair, accompanied with a loud shout, then his hand thrust forwards quickly. A wavering contained flash appeared, the appearance giving the impression that you couldn't be sure if it was there or not. Li put both his hands on his sword, gripping tightly, focusing his magical energy through it, sweat beading on his forehead. Moments passed, and the not-quite there wavering expanded, seeming more real the bigger it got. The outer edge was more defined, almost like a plastic bubble, with energy dripping off of it. At about 8 feet by 4 feet, Li grunted, 'Go!', still straining. "Oosha! Dan will go forth and crush this Clow Card beneath his migh-", Dan started, but was interupted when Ken Masters forcibly shoved him though the portal. He flashed a V at Blanka, grinning, then stepped though himself. Blanka followed shortly, then followed by Li. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Chiharu was roof-leaping, scanning around for any source or sign of RAIN. Here, there, nothing there, nope, not ther-waitaminute! Chiharu stopped, and squinted. The wind from the skyscraper roof blew though her hair, the rain stinging her face. "Hey, Jump, do you see anything?" She took a step back, as JUMP emerged from within her. "I sense a strong force there. ..It's not good, though, I don't want to go near it." Chiharu nodded. "Let's tell the others." She fished around in an inner pocket, retrieving a walkie-talkie. *Chiharu here! I'm pretty sure I've found it, and so does Jump!* *Rena here! Where are you?* *Over near the Tokyo Tower! I think Tomoyo is there too!* *This is Miyuki! The rest of us will be there shortly!* *I'll be right there! I'm have trouble running with this flooding, so I might be late!* *Meet at the base of Tokyo Tower, I'll be waiting!* -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Dan landed rolling, with a manly cry of 'OOSHA!' Hence when Ken Masters emerged from the portal, he didn't have anything to land on. Which didn't matter, as the master martial artist easily landed on his feet. Blanka's landing wasn't so dignified, though, and ended up face down. He didn't get out of the way in time for a sluggish Li to fall on him, either. *BZZRRRZZZRTTT!!!* A startled Li scrambled away from the panicked street fighter, obviously low on energy. "Jimmy!" scolded Dan, hurrying over. "Aroo....", came the apologetic grunt. "...didn't think...that would be so tiring...." A tired Li leaned against a nearby wall. Ken kneeled down in front of Li. "You going to be okay?" Li nodded. "Yeah... just give me a bit." -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Chiharu didn't flinch at all as space warped, and suddenly Rei and her father, Yukari, and Miyuki appeared. Her previous experience with the cards allowed her that much. "Where's Rena?", asked Miyuki. "She said she might be late. Give her a little bit," answered Chiharu. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Li stood up, composing himself, slowly. "Okay. I'm good enough to start hunting that card. Let's go." Li Shaoron withdrew his Derivitor, looking at it breifly, then holding it out in front of him. "This way." -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- The flooding was bad now, it was almost up to the level of the building they were waiting upon the top of. "Where is she? Rena should be here by now!", anxiously asked Rei. "Look! There!" An excited finger pointed out off in the distance, where the distant figure of Rena swimming across a flooded street. "Hold on Rena! Miyuki is going to bring you here!", shouted out Chiharu. A surge of magic and warping of space later, Rena appeared in front of the lot of them. She was gasping for breath, and soaked to the bone. "Rena, are you okay?" Miyuki asked, sounding a bit worried. The girl mentioned stood up, grimacing. "Gomen. The flooding got too bad, and I couldn't get any footing to dash. But I'm ready." Rei's father spoke up. "Time is wasting. We must go." "Okay, everyone get ready. Gonna loop us all to the tower," warned Miyuki. With that said, she grinned, and magic flared. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Ken was regretting just wearing casual clothes. He should have grabbed at least a coat. His shotokan discipline kept him from freezing, but it was *STILL* cold. The same couldn't be said for Dan Hibiki, though, who had elected to go with his pink gi. He was shivering with each step though the snow, his manly tears frozen upon his face. Blanka was faring well, his thick hide, and large mane protecting him well from the snow. Occaisonally he would flash yellow, to warm himself up some more, though. Li's eyes were blazing. He was relentlessly following his Derivitor, and the cold probably wasn't registering to him. 'Mother. I'm coming.' -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Rena, Chiharu, Miyuki, Yukari, Rei, and her father all appeared on the third obversation deck for Tokyo Tower. ".....", was the collective silence as they ended up not nearly as high as they expected to be. 'LOOP, what's wrong?' 'Something is blocking me. This is the closest I can use my powers. Gomen-ne.' "Sorry. LOOP can't bring us closer than this. Something is blocking it." Miyuki bowed her head apologetically. There was a collective sweatdrop when the group realized that people were there. A rather large crowd, of people who had been trapped in there when the power went out. And that they were all staring at them. ...It'd didn't help at all that Rena had lost her bra while swimming. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- The trio trailing behind Li stopped when Li did. "What's wrong?", asked Ken. "We're almost there," Li responded, gesturing to his Derivitor. Ken spoke up. "If the card is near, we should be careful." He glanced back, to check on Dan and Jimmy. "Hey! Where did Dan and Blanka go?", he asked, not seeing them. Li whirled around, looking behind them. "Over there!", he shouted. About 200 feet behind Li and Ken, Dan and Blanka were each caught up in a steel wire mesh net, suspended from a tree. Both were unconcious. There was a third figure, dressed in a parka, slumped against a nearby tree, also unconcious. Taller, seemed like an adult, but anything else was impossible to discern beneath the thick parka. That didn't stop Li, though. "Mother!" he cried, running torwards the unconcious figure, oblivious of the loose Clow Card in the vicinity that had just made itself known. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- After Yukari and DREAM had set the bystanders to snooze mode, and Rena had 'borrowed' a dry jacket from one of the teenagers who had leered at her, with a nice hard kick to the nuts as a thank you gift, the group had set about opening the roof hatch. Upon opening, the stinging cold rain beat down though it. Chiharu went first, a mighty leap easily clearing from the floor, though the latch, and to the roof. She winced at the rain. The stinging, biting rain. And JUMP was not wanting to go up there. The evil the JUMP was feeling was bleeding from JUMP and into her. She didn't like that feeling. The rest followed, not as quickly, except for Miyuki, who used LOOP to get herself up. "....LOOP dosen't like this," said Miyuki, slowly. "Niether does DASH," agreed Rena. Chiharu and Yukari simply nodded in agreement. Rei simply looked at the team. "...Flower dosen't like at at all. But thats no reason to give up! Flower knows this is important, and so do I! I wont let a little fear stop me!" she excitedly exclaimed, pointing one hand up. Rei didn't mention that it was more than it was a 'little' bit of fear, but she didn't think it needed to be said to be known. Rei's father nodded quietly. "Rei is right. While I cannot feel it myself, I am sure it is a strong feeling. You must not let yourself be defeated before you even begin. This goes for your cards as well." His words of encouragement were heard, and the girls all nodded. "I'm pretty sure the card is on the next floor! It feels really close!" cried Rei, "Let's go!" -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Li leaned down, unhooding the parka. That only confirmed what he had feared, had already known. The face was familiar, everything matched what he knew it to be. Except for the glassy eyes. His mother must have tried to hold back the card, but somehow she became controlled like the others. Like Tomoyo. Two loud cries sounded simeoultaneously. One, "SHORYUREPPA!", and the other, just a loud howl of pain. He turned just in time to see Ken land from a flaming uppercut, and a mass of whirling snow dart away. Ken grinned at Li, flipping him a thumbs up. "Good thing I was here to watch your back, huh?" Li stood up suddenly, withdrawing a card. "We can't defeat that card if its not in it's host!" said Li, softly. Ken cocked his head slightly. "What's wrong?" "The host....is my mother." -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- The elevator doors blasted open, Rei breathing heavily, her hands still in the position for gathering energy. The cards had become weaker and weaker the closer they got, severely limiting their usefullness. The cards power levels weren't at zero yet, due to the fact that all the cards there were temporarilly bonded, willingly, to their hosts. Nonetheless, they *were* weaker. It wouldn't be a good idea to rely on the power of the cards solely. As Chiharu, Rena, Yukari, and Miyuki walked in, they looked visibly sick. 'Ugh... maybe we should leave the cards behind...' thought Rei. Rei was resisting giving in, though. Although she didn't show it, she felt just as sick as the others were looking. Her father could tell she was in pain, too. "Right ahead." Rei pointed directly ahead of them, to a doubledoor. 5 long seconds, of anxiety, of the foreboding feeling right across that door, passed, before Yukari opened the door. What they saw conflicted with what they all were feeling. Karins butler, looking as noble and butler-like as before, was standing still , eyes glazed. He was at the far edge of the obversation deck, looking outwards. And, waiting for them, was Tomoyo and RAIN. Tomoyo's eyes were cloudy, but her face was smiling. It was not a good smile to behold. And RAIN, the appearance of a little boy, was sitting on a dark little stormcloud. He would've been cute if he hadn't been smiling the same smile as Tomoyo. The evil feelings were not coming from any of them. It was coming from the book that Tomoyo was carrying in one arm. The book was old, leatherworn. On it's cover, the picture of the woman was fully animated. All of them there would agree that was a bad thing. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- A voice echoed about. "You are not Reed. You will not defeat me." "I don't care who you think I'm not, I'm taking you in! You've caused enough trouble!" shouted Li, to the air. He leapt up, and with two quick strikes, Dan and Blanka were sent crashing to the ground. Li sheathed his sword, then both he and Ken ran up to help their fallen comrades. Dan and Blanka roused slowly. "-sha! Such a cowardly trap that caught my friend Jimmy I sh-", Dan started when he woke, and stopped when he realized he had fallen for it too. Blanka belched, and scratched his ass. "Alright guys. SNOW is around. Be careful," warned Ken. Dan jumped up, shaking a manly forearm mightily. "Dan does not fear any card! For Dan is MIGHTY! Oosha!!!" Li remained silent, just glaring at Dan. "Easy now. At least he has enthusiasm," said Ken, laying a hand on Li's shoulder. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- 'They are not martial artists. Me and father are. We can win.' "Drop that book, now! I don't want to have to hurt you," demanded Rei. Tomoyo just grinned wider. A sudden rushing tackle caught Rei unprepared, and the hands that snaked around her neck found their target easily. As the rest of the group moved in to help, a nearly solid wall of rain slammed into them. Rain moved through it as if it were nothing, grinning. "Not Reed, not Reed!" RAIN's obviously controlled eyes locked onto the girls. "Not Reed, no chance! You are mine!" More rain, stronger, more biting than before, darting increasingly faster from the stormcloud the Card was riding, slammed into them, starting to draw blood. RAIN did not notice, however, when Rei's father pickup him up under the armpits, lifted him off his cloud, and started spanking him. Miyuki quickly recovered, then LOOP'ed the stormcloud away from the vicinity, Yukari focused, then a flare of magical energy brought about a sleeping RAIN. Sudenly Yukari fell over, a side effect of DREAM going unconcious as well. And then everyone fell asleep, as DREAM reawoke, and used its no-longer-weak power to send everyone to never-never land. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- "Come out SNOW! I am a rightful descendant of Clow Reed! Don't run from me!" Li's shout out to the air had no immediate effect, but soon enough, a flurry of snow whistling around in the air made its way to them. It took form, solidifiying into a little girl, with ice skates, fairy wings, and a white lace dress. The Card's eyes were blank, but staring right at Li. "You are not Reed. You have Clow Cards. You are not the Captor! You do not belong!" These fervish yells were puncuated by the snow level rising more, attempting to engulf the party. "I don't care who you think I am. You've involved my mother, and I can't forgive that!" retorted Li. Ken leapt out of a snowpile, with a cry of 'SHORYUKEN!', grinning. "The little lady wants to fight, huh? Well, I'm ready." Blanka and Dan rolled out of their respective snowpiles. "Yahooie! It will take more than that to defeat the mighty invincible Dan Hibiki! OOSSHHHAAA!!!!" "Aroo!" Not one for talking, Blanka rolled up into a ball, and barreled into SNOW. Which knocked her down, into the snow, the impact sending snowdust flying up everywhere. Li drew a card, FIREY, and touched his sword to it. "Firey, burn my opponent to a crisp!" FIREY appeared, wispy and warm, flickering flames defining its physical existence. It stretched out slowly, then quickly, tendrils of flame wisping out and wrapping around the embodiment of SNOW who had tried to run away frantically. Steam billowed around SNOW's form, which was suddenly dissapeared, darting off into the unconcious figure by the tree. Ken and Li and Blanka dogpiled her, while Dan taunted. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- DREAM, corrupted by the almost direct magical contact with the controlled RAIN, flew up. The draining sensation that had weakend DREAM before now served to strengthen it. The overload had caused everyone near, even the other Cards, to sleep. It came to a rest at the very top of Tokyo Tower. The rain had stopped, temporarily at least. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Li's mother had been tied up securely, and several ofuda placed upon her as well. His mother and SNOW as possessed one were struggling, even so. After his mother and the card within had been secured, they had moved to a more sheltered, warmer spot. Li spoke. "Alright. Sakura should be done by now. Let's get back, so we can get this card sealed. ...I hope I can do this again. I had Mother here to guide me before, but this will be harder now." "Oosha! You have a pure heart, I know you can do it!", exclaimed Dan with his usual enthusiasm. 'I wonder if hes just mouthing off stuff or if he really means that,' thought Li to himself. 'No matter. Time to do this.' Li held out his sword in front of him, focusing. It had took more power to conjure FIREY than he thought it would, why had it been resisting so much? And why did he have such a bad feeling? A few quick gestures, and a heavy slash in midair, accompanied with a loud shout, then his hand thrust forwards quickly. A familiar not-quite there rippling appeared, and slowly expanded. Once it was big enough, Ken and Dan carried Li's mother through. Blanka followed, then Li jumped through. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Yukari woke first. In fact, she was the only one who woke up. What greeted her eyes, was RAIN, Tomoyo, the butler, Chiharu, Rena, Miyuki, Rei, and Rei's father all asleep. They were all muttering something, or tossing. Then she remembered what had happened. DREAM had made contact with RAIN, to put it to sleep. It worked, but upon contact, they had discovered RAIN 'wasn't there'. It was an evil entity, almost exactly like the feeling that they were all feeling from the book. That brief contact was enough for the evil to snatch away DREAM from her, to make her and DREAM both under its control, but out of fear Yukari had let the bond snap, and DREAM alone was caught. "DREAM! Where are you?" she called out. And as she had expected, feared, there was no answer. "..I'm sorry, Dream." Yukari sat against a wall, somehow knowing it would be useless to try and wake the others up. She tried to keep from crying, and failed. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Li stumbled through, but was caught by Ken. Tomoyo's house, the same as they had left it. The water level was lower, though, so the other team must've met up with some success. That didn't shake his bad feeling, though. Did something happen to Sakura, then? Li's mother was set on the couch, still tied and ofuda'd. Not struggling anymore, though. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Might as well settle in and wait for the others," commented Ken, tossing Li a warm blanket, who gratefully caught it. Li had been just as cold as the others, but he wasn't about to let that show, at least, not while they had yet to face SNOW. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- When Sakura got back, Ken and Dan were talking about the old dojo, Li was drinking some hot chocolate, and Blanka was sleeping on the carpet. She saw another figure she didn't recognize, but was familiar, tied down on the couch. She announced her presence by holding up the WAVE card in one hand, and holding her upgraded Key Staff in the other. "Yatta!", she cried cheerfully. Li looked up, then scowled. Sakura glared at him. "What?" Li pointed to the couch. "The host. The card and the host were both possessed, and we've not been able to do anything. Seal the card, I'm sure that will help." The flat, listless voice betrayed nothing. "But Li... isn't that your mother?", she asked softly. "Yes." Ken walked up, and offered his hand to Sakura. "How'd you part go? I see you're back safely." Sakura accepted, and they shook. "It..." She paused, remembering almost drowning. "...went okay." Ken nodded. "Have you heard anything from your track team? The flooding has stopped, so I'm sure they succeeded as well, but, they're not back yet." Sakura blinked. "No, I haven't. They're not back yet?" Ken nodded. 'I have a bad feeling about this,' thought Sakura. "Hey! Seal my card!", interupted Li. "Fine!", yelled Sakura back. Sakura walked over to the couch, extending her Key Staff as she went. As she performed the sealing, Li could obviously tell Sakura was stronger than before. He didn't know what or how or why, but it bothered him. As she finished the sealing, the card, SNOW, floated in the air, than darted torwards Li, and floated in front of him. He caught it, then went to see his mother. She hadn't changed, except for the fact that card was no longer there. Her eyes were still glassy, and she wasn't moving. Li choked back tears. "...No! That had to work!" He stepped back, stumbling a little. Sakura watched him, worried. Li turned and ran, off into some other room. Sakura just watched him run, unsure of what to say. She was pretty sure Tomoyo would have, though. Tomoyo. Was this bad feeling she had have something to do with her? She hated to admit it, but she missed her. And her costumes. She wondered if that was bugging Li, too. She could tell there was something between them. For Li, at least. "Sakura! We need to find the others! They should have been back by now!" The words spoken by Ken knocked her out of her reverie. Sakura shook her head, clearing it. "Right. You know where they went?" Ken shook his head. "When we left, they were still waiting for word from Rena and Chiharu, who were out searching for it." Sakura sighed. "Then they probably found the card. I've had this sinking feeling, ever since I got back. I'm.... worried. I... need to talk to Li. Please excuse me." -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- A soft knock indicated that someone was at the door. Li could tell it was Sakura, it wasn't hard. "Li, it's me, Sakura. I need your help," she called through the door. Silence answered her. "Dammit, Li! This is serious! I have a really bad feeling about the others not showing up yet! And if you used your derivitor, I'm sure we could find them easily! So help me, please!" Silence. "Fine! If you're just gonna stand there and sulk about your mother and not try at all to help anyone else, be that way! Tomoyo would hate you for it, though!" That got a reaction. More specifically, in the form of, the door flying open, and Li attempting to grab Sakura, who stepped to the side. "Don't... you... talk about her!", he growled. "Then help me! I'll admit it! I need your help! I don't want to waste time, I know you can find them faster than me! And this is important!" Li glared at Sakura. "For Tomoyo. Because she would want you to. Please?" said Sakura softly. "...fine." -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- "Kero, Dan, everyone else! Please take care of Li's mother while we're away!" , called out Sakura behind her, as she and Li left the house. The flooding had drastically reduced, so it was safe to open the doors, and so the doors they used. Sakura pulled out the FLY card. "FLY!", she cried, hitting it with her Key Staff. Again, Li could feel that Sakuras power had increased. Sakura sat on the now-floating Key Staff, and gestured to Li. "Come on!" Li walked slowly over, and sat on the staff, wrapping his arms around her waist. And then they were off. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- After no small amount of flight, and Li's guiding with the Derivitor, they had found out where everyone was. Tokyo Tower. Sakura mentally shuddered as she got closer. Her bad feeling was getting worse the closer she got. 'Tokyo Tower. Why here?' Images from dreams, figures and herself there, sometimes other, but always her. This place was important, stuff impacting and deep would happen here involving her. "5th floor!", shouted Li, pointing. Sakura steered torwards the 5th obversation deck, slowly, circling once to make sure it was clear. "They're all asleep," pointed out Li, and that much was obvious through the windows. As they landed, they saw Tomoyo. Li didn't waste any time, and leaped off of the still descending staff, and rushed over. "Tomoyo!", he cried, leaning over her. Sakura joined him shortly, glancing at the other unconcious figures around. "Li. Something is very wrong here," she said softly, spying the book. "The right amount of cards are here, but look, there's RAIN!" Li pointed to the unconcious butler. Sakura nodded. "Right! Lets seal it!" She grabbed her still floating staff, dispelling FLY. "Return to the guise that you were meant to be in! CLOW CARD!", she cried loudly, bringing the Key Staff high above her head, and brought the beaked end down hard, stopping just short of the butler. A flare of magical energy, and a bright flash, and the RAIN card appeared. It floated torwards Sakura, who accepted it. "Rain," she said simply. And the rain stopped. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Sakura and Li both jumped as Yuriko came running in. "Sakura! I'm so glad to see you!" Sakura caught the crying Yuriko in her arms, holding her there. "It's okay. We've got the card, and the book is right there." Yukari shook her head, still cying, burying her head in Sakuras chest. "It's all my fault! It's all my fault!" Sakura help Yukari closer, letting the teenager cry. 'Dream isn't there. I can't feel a card in Yukari. I wonder what happened. Best to let her get it out, for now, though,' thought Sakura idly. Eventually the story came out, about how Yukari's group made it up, their bad portents on the way, their quick victory, then DREAM getting controlled, and how she couldn't wake anyone up. "Li, can you detect DREAM?", Sakura asked politely. Li nodded, consulting his Derivitor. "Straight up!", he said. A little pulsing X appeared on Sakura's forehead. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- At the very top of Tokyo Tower, there was a final maintenence deck. It was small, and not very stable, and off-limits to anyone but the ones supposed to repairing something. Such was not the case. The only inhabitant was not even human. It was a Clow Card. More specifically, a Clow Card possessed by an as-yet-unknown evil force, a Clow Card that was known as DREAM. While possessed, the card had been unsealed, and bonded with a willing human. As such, it was not totally helpless. Currently, it was resisting the wanton influence, as best as it could, with half-dreamt illusions being sent back and forth along the forcible grip the influence had on it. DREAM didn't know how much longer it could keep it up, it was definitely a losing battle. In its half dreaming state, it remembered something. DREAM knew that in humans, dreams could bring back old, forgotten memories. Somewhere along it's creation, DREAM remembered an event. A bad event. But it changed the cards, made them more *alive*, due to a backwash of magical energy flowing backwards into the cards. The masterpiece contructs of Clow Reed, the Clow Cards, were definitelly altered by that event. But for sure, all DREAM could remember is that it itself was more aware, after that event. More human...? That thought lingered in the Clow Card's mind. It could imagine the ramifications that could have upon such magically powerful artifacts. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Elsewhere, in a old leatherbound book, another Clow Card dreamt. It was dreaming, due to an almost direct controlling link with DREAM, the power from DREAM flowing along it, and affecting WATERY. It was a dream very similar to the one DREAM was having. Similar, yet with it's own memories of the event. WATERY was not as aware, as *alive* before. And no memories remained from before then, that could be remembered. A redefining of WATERY, into *someone*, the Clow Card dreamt-remembered. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- DREAM, in its half-lucid half-controlled state, didn't notice when Sakura landed upon the maintenence deck. Thusly, the force possessing it did not. Sakura raised her Key Staff, and brought it down upon the form of DREAM. It dissapeared, into wispy tendrils, forming into a card, that fell upon the ground. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- As DREAM was sent back to Card form, its influence was felt no more. Rena woke up, as did Chiharu and Rei and Miyuki and Rei's father and Tomoyo and the butler, as well as DASH, JUMP, and LOOP. As the butler stood up, the glassy eyes seemed panicked. The still-possessed butler looked back and forth, edgy, panicky. Then he seemed calm, his eyes glossed over completely, and he jumped off the obversation deck. The now-awake girls of the original team just stared in shock. Tomoyo seemed to be going through the same struggle. Eyes darting back and forth, pacing, backing away. Li hurriedly approached Tomoyo. "Tomoyo!", he cried, not thinking to use her alternate identity. As he approached, Tomoyo backed away. Then her eyes, too, completely glazed over again, and she turned and jumped, as well. "TOMOYO!!!" A thoughtless dash after her, and he followed. "TOMOYO!!!", he screamed again, plummetting after her, one arm stretched out. Falling faster and faster, he could see fear overwhelm the control in Tomoyo, breaking the hold. 'Just a little more...', he thought, straining to catch up with her, yearning, stretching, every ounce of his body bending torwards that goal. And then, contact. Their eyes and hands locked as one, at once. The wind whistling by went unnoticed, their rapid descent unnoticed. Suddenly, Tomoyo's eyes changed, again. To intense, passionate, cold eyes. A momentary image of a white garbed figure, wide flowing wings, straining against the wind. And then it was gone, and the two of them crashed into a tree, smashing through at least 2 dozen thick branches, Li taking the brunt of it, landing in a since-flooded park, the fall cushioned by the mud. The momentary flight had slowed them just enough to save them. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Far away, Touya staggered. For a moment, he had felt... otherworldly? His magic felt drained, like he had just done something strenuous with it. He dismissed it as nothing, for the moment, although something told him there was something more to it. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- In the Himalayan Mountains, a certain person in a white gi paused from his meal. "...That was..." The man was silent a moment. "I must go there. I must know who this other person was." Ryu Hoshi picked up a sack, containing the entirety of his very few wordly posessions, slung it over his shoulder, and started walking. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Sakura landed on the 5th floor, and noticed a lack of three people. "Where's Li and Tomoyo?", she asked a shocked-looking Yuriko. Yuriko just pointed outwards, to the horizon. Not accepting that as a good thing, Sakura rushed over to the handrailing, and leaned over. 'Oh no" she mouthed, slowly. She brought out her Key Staff to bear, FLY still active, and descended. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Sakura landed, jumping off her Key Staff, and rushed over to where Tomoyo was cradling Li in her arms. He did not look in good shape at all. A quick glance revealed broken branches lying around, from above, and from their position, it definitely confirmed they had came from the 5th floor obversation deck. "Tomoyo! Li!", she called out. Sakura leaned down, looking face to face with Tomoyo. Tomoyo's face was covered with tears, her clothes dirty from all the mud, and her eyes closed. "Tomoyo. I'm here. It'll be okay," said Sakura softly, wondering if she herself believed that. She wished there was some sort of healing card, and that she had it *NOW*, and could use it on Li. But she didn't, so the next best thing was first aid. "Tomoyo! Do you still have your cellphone on you?", she asked. Tomoyo nodded. "Then call an ambulance! I'll get some sticks for braces, we need to help Li, not just stand here and gawk!" Tomoyo blinked, wiping away tears. "You're right, as usual, Sakura-chan!" Sakura couldn't help grinning, hearing that voice. Tomoyo's usual, cheerful voice. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Li was concious, at least. And Tomoyo was looking better, even though she had some large bruises and cuts. Li had took the brunt of the fall, but not all of it. "Tomoyo. Li. There's one last thing I need to take care of, then I'll see you two at the hospital, okay?", Sakura said, smiling. Li grimaced. "The book, right?" "...Right," Sakura confirmed. Li grimaced, reaching underneath him. "Li-kun! Don't move, please!", scolded Tomoyo. "Sorry. Just.. had to... return this," Li said slowly, withdrawing FIREY. "Also, take this," he added, handing Sakura an ofuda. "Be careful with that card, I don't think.. it likes us," he finished, then leaned back again. Sakura accepted the card and ofuda, looking at Li softly. "Li..." "Go and... kick butt... Wish.. I could help," Li continued, slowly. "It's okay. You've done enough by saving Tomoyo. Just relax now, leave the rest to me," said Sakura, slowly, "You've earned a little rest, at least." Sakura turned, activating FLY, and sitting on her Key Staff. "Good luck, Sakura-chan!", called out Tomoyo, waving vigourously. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Sakura flew up, slowly, her mind focused, and calm. That book. She had dealt with it in her previous life, she knew that much. ....Li had helped her, there, but in the end it was just her. And she had won. She didn't think it would be so easy this time. But she had to win. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Cerberos was there when Sakura arrived. Yuriko, Rei, the others had left, except for Miyuki, who still remained. "Sakura! Be careful! This book is evil, don't rush....." trailed off Cerberos, seeing the look on Sakura's face. Sakura look at Miyuki and Cerberos, smiling warmly. "Miyuki. Thank you for all your help. Be sure to tell the rest of your team that, too, for me, too. ...There had better be a party ready for me once I kick this things ass! If there isn't one, I wont forgive you!" Sakura concluded her statement with a 'V' sign, grinning. 'This feels different than last time. So, be ready for anything,' Sakura thought to herself. Sakura leaned down, picking up the book. She leafed it open, and dissappeared. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- She was in a large room. Large, very large. And wet. Very wet. She looked down, it seemed like she was standing on water, clear bottomless water that stretched down as far as she could see. The sense of something gone wrong, her mind suggested. The sense of a Clow Card blared in her brain, so strongly she couldn't ignore it. She looked up, around. Even though she couldn't physically see it behind the marble-sided waterfall, she *knew* it was there. Just waiting. Well let it wait, and see who got in the first hit! "ILLUSION! Confuse my enemy with 20 copies!" "SHIELD! Protect me from attacks!" Those two cards cast, Sakura dashed forward, Key Staff tucked away. "Shinkuu... HADOUKEN!", she cried, not holding back anything, gathering as much energy from within as she could. She let it fly, as well as did her many illusions, all centered at the same spot behind the waterfall. Only the real one, though, caused the big explosion, that sent water spraying everywhere, shattering the stillness of the water. Before she could react, half a dozen water columns rose, hitting, and dispelling the illusions. She wasn't fast enough, herself, getting caught in a column, which started to suck her downwards, like a vacuum. The shield kept out the water, but did nothing to help her swim up. "MOVE!", she cried, activating the card, an arubt force pushing her upwards. Sakura quickly got to solid ground. "......Captor. CAPTOR!!!", the being yelled, the voice betraying extreme fear. "Please, listen to me! You don't have to fight!", Sakura cried. 'And I'm the one who attacked first,' she then recalled. "Iiieeee!!!", the mermaid(?) shouted. The unintelligable shout was followed by two more water columns bending and twisting and aiming RIGHT FOR HER! Sakura nimbly jumped over them, backflipping over them again as they swerved around to try and get her again. A hasty sidestep avoided one more pass, then she had an idea. "SHIELD! Seal my foes power in a shell!" The recasting of the SHIELD left her defenseless, as she just barely dodged another column. Not much more dodging was necassary, though, as the columns died down. She took a moment to breath, looking at the enemy, the first time she had a chance to get a good look at it. It was obviously a Clow Card. It had the physical appearance of a mermaid. A scaled fish tail in place of legs, fins in place of arms, and a very deep blue scaled tiara, with long pointed ears. It's eyes, though, looked very scared. Sakura could sense something besides the Card, but she wasn't sure what. Sakura's breif moment of respite was over as the Card came down to her level, tendrils of water coming from the Card, and flailing wildly. Sakura backpedalled quickly, eyeing the watery whips. 'Those will probably hurt. Quite a bit.' Sakura bit her lips, anticipating the pain to come, then dashed into them, fist out, with a cry of "SHO-OH-KEN!" As she expected, the tendrils cut into her skin, lacerating it all over, but her rushing cherry blossom punch did get through, connecting solidly on the Clow Card, carring her up, energy blazing from her fist onto the enemy. Sakura landed gracefully, and the embodiment of WATERY landed on the solid marble with a hearty *thump* The blood running from Sakura's many instant cuts mixed in with the unavoidable moisture, and ran down her arms and legs, flowing in with the bottomless depth of water. She clenched her fists and arms, gritting her teeth. Those whips had hurt *MUCH MORE* than she'd thought they would. And the Clow Card got up. "Kuso," said Sakura simply. The Clow Card stood there, head drooped lazily, then looked up at Sakura, eyes locking. In a moment of clarity, Sakura knew what happened. It was a Clow Card, WATERY, corrupted by the remnants of an evil spirit, a spirit she had fought before, in another life. The negative feelings and hatred she had been feeling all around had corrupted the card, which had somehow ended up in this book, with no way out. It's only salvation was to be found in a Captor dead in Judgement. But the Captor was here, now. "Thank you," said Sakura Kusagano. She ran up, and placed the ofuda given to her by Li upon WATERY's forehead. A sudden black aura became visible, around the mermaid, seperating from it, the blackness forming into a ghostly silhoutte of a woman, seperate, but still linked. ~o/ On this old tape is that song I used to like, /o~ Sakura knew how she could fix that. ~o/ filling dawn with small scratches and fading titles. /o~ "Return to the guise that you were meant to be in! CLOW CARD!" She brought the Key Staff down upon the seperate-but-one Clow Card/Spirit, the Clow Card fading into watering tendrils, wisping away, forming into a Card. As WATERY solidified into a Card, all the links forced upon and coming from it were cut off, the magical feeling of a dozen strong cords snapping all at once felt. ~o/ And again, today comes, bringing the summer breeze. /o~ The ofuda still present, and no longer linked to anything, the once defeated spirit, now only mostly lingering emotions, defeated again, faded away. As it faded, Sakura could feel the negative feelings and emotions she had been feeling from all around fade. "I'm sorry," intoned Sakura Kusagano softly. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Upon the cover of the book, the vividly animating figure upon the cover of the book stopped, the animation a bit erratic, then stopping. ~o/ In the corner of my usual life, suddenly I feel loneliness. /o~ Shortly after, a *LARGE* amount of water flowed from it, nearly knocking Miyuki onto and over the guardrail, who just barely managed to brace herself against the guardrail, the intense current pushing her relentlessly against it. Cerberos wasn't so lucky, though. The plushie-like gaurdian with very little mass went with the flow, no ifs and or buts about it. ~o/ Even wherever I go on my bike, /o~ "Iiiieeeee!!!!!!!" -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Sakura held up the card. WATERY. She couldn't begin to imagine the suffering it went through. Not being able to be yourself, unable to resist dark feelings taking over, not being able to get away, stuck in there for who knows how long? At least it was over for WATERY. It was free, now, from the darkness. The way out. There, over there! ~o/ I never forget the speed of riding in the wind. /o~ Sakura quickly ran over to the waterfall where the Card had first been waiting for her, the pitter patter of her feet running on water sounding, leaving ripples in her wake. The sound echoed around and around, resounding in the empty space, louder and louder, with each step, and then she ran through the waterfall, past it, and- -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- OUT! ~o/ La la la la - Let's look up to the sky and sing! /o~ ~o/ La la la la - It's my life. I'll keep walking it. /o~ The setting sun was visible in the distance, and the stars were out. Sakura forgot the fact she was soaking wet, and was too glad to get out of there to point out that Miyuki's were, too. Miyuki ran up and hugged Sakura, grinning. "You did it! Way to go Sakura!", cheered Miyuki happily. Sakura grinned from ear to ear, and hugged Miyuki back. ~o/ With my own strength, I make my way in this endless town. /o~ "Was there ever a doubt!", she said excitedly. "Now how about that party!" Cerberos drooled, seeing two girls in wet shirts hugging each other, upon regaining the 5th observation deck. ~o/ Even though I still get lost at so many intersections, /o~ "Hadouken!" *Boom* "Iiiieeeee!!!!!!!" ~o/ with the moving crowd passing me, I'm living the present. /o~ "Oh yeah," Miyuki started. "LOOP says yes." -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- ~o/ Things that I bump into, things that I recognize, /o~ Li and 'Yuriko' laid next to each other, each on a seperate stretcher. Neither one particularly wanted to move, and it suited them just fine. Their hands slowly came together, meeting in between them and not letting go. ~o/ I never forget them even when I've become an adult. /o~ -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Li's mother woke slowly. She sat up, rubbing her head. "I'm... where am I?", she said slowly. "You're awake," said Ken, "Li will be glad to know you're alright." "Li? Then he saved me from when I failed against the evil Clow Card." Ken nodded. "He's a good kid. You ought to be proud of him." -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Hitomi clicked off the television. All was well. It should be soon. ~o/ La la la la - Let's look up to the sky and sing! /o~ "Hey, sis, I'll be back in a little bit. There's something I've got to do." Hitomi waved out, closing the door behind her. ~o/ La la la la - It's my life. I'll keep walking it. /o~ -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- A flare of magic, and Constellita appeared where she had been some time before. Rose was still there, in stasis, as she had been left. "....It'll be time for you soon. But not yet. I think you should be awake now, though. Events are starting to happen, and you should know about it," Constellita spoke to the frozen Rose. Constellita snapped her fingers, and Rose was free. She snapped her fingers again, and disappeared. Rose sat up, slowly, confused. ~o/ Because it belongs to me alone, I should be confident. /o~ "...I...?" -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- Karin roused, slowly. She knew she had been sleeping. After a ...fight? Fight. With Sakura Kusagano. Karin sat up, planting a fist in one hand. Sakura would pay. Oh yes. That bitch would pay. -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- ~o/ I've had this dream in the town I was born. /o~ ~o/ I think of it when I'm discouraged. /o~ ~o/ What I can do now, just like that song, /o~ ~o/ is to take even just a small step forward. /o~ ~o/ La la la la - Let's look up to the sky and sing! /o~ ~o/ La la la la - It's my life. I'll keep walking it. /o~ ~o/ La la la la - Let's look up to the sky and sing! /o~ ~o/ La la la la - It's my life. I'll keep walking it. /o~ ~o/ With my own strength, I make my way in this endless town. /o~ -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- */^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\* Leave it to Kero-chan! */^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\*/^\* "Konya nyatchiwaaaaaaaaa!" *Kero-chan flies in, still dripping wet* Kero-chan: Poor WATERY! Too bad it wasn't EARTHY, though! Then I'd be REALLY SUGOI! Kero-chan: If you don't know what I'm talking about, its this! When EARTHY and FIERY are captured, I get to change back into my SUPER-COOL BIG POWERFUL STRONG LION FORM THAT CAN BREATH FIREBALLS! DEATH TO ALL WHO OPPOSE ME AWAITS! *powerpose* *Kero-chans head droops* Kero-chan: I'm still just a plushie, though. Sakura-sama! Hurry up and get EARTHY! Sakura: .... Kero-chan: Remember way back when Constellita, the Star Gaurdian, put Rose in stasis? Well, now that Sakura is more powerful, has unblocked her own magic, and has gotten the Bell, Constellita thinks that Sakura-chan might be ready to hear what Rose has to say! Constellita: Kero-kun. What did I tell you about not revealing the Xelloss-inspired Star Gaurdians motives? And I only let her out, because I'm sure Rose knows by now not to do anything yet. ^_^ If she does something like giving Sakura LIGHT and DARK before the plot is ready for it, I'll punish her! In the name of the Stars! Rose: *sweatdrops* Kero-chan: Meep. Kero-chan: Anyways, its time for the KERO-CHAN CHECK! The subject, Sakura Kusagano. An extreme close up of her chest is shown. Kero-chan: Figure A. Sakura Kusagano, before unshielding her Star Magic. Note her cup size. B. Sakura: ....I don't like where this is going. Kero-chan: Figure B. Sakura Kusagano, after unshielding her Star Magic. Note her cup size. C! Aren't they so much cooler, now that she's not a total flat chested tomboy! Sakura: ... Sakura: [...] Sakura: SHINKUU... HADOUKEN! *boom* Kero-chan: Ittai....! -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- And now for the author notes and other assorted ramblings. :/ My 2nd contribution! Oh yes. To repeat what I said to Ryunson, I only type as fast as I think of the words. ^^ And I thought of a lot of words really fast on this, cuz this was fun and there were just so many possibilities and stuff for something to go wrong! And its WAIWAILOTSBETTER than my last one! Erm, pre-readers go here. ^^ Smlee, Ayden, Ryunson, Dan Wood. WHETHER THEY WERE WILLING OR NOT! MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyways, I thought plugging in the end lyrics from the movie would fit nice. ^^ http://oldcrows.net/~rabi/CCS/cd/movie.html <--- The site I shamelessly ripped em from. Um... Thanks to Ayden, for his lovely last line curse. ..Read it, you'll see what I mean. *AND* for the nice excellent set up and easy/clear to follow part. ^^ Much appreciated. Smlee, for dragging Ayden into this. Oh well. I wish thee, Dan Wood, luck with your boring 'easy' chapter that contains no ass-kicking whatsoever! *taunt taunt* Dan Hibiki: Why didn't I get to finish a taunt? Me: Because I suck at writing overly long taunts! Gomen! Dan Hibiki: ....... Me: *runs*