Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Dragon ❯ Sakura's End of Innocence ( Chapter 18 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Lord Archive 
A single moment, a single decision can bring the end of childhood.
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.15.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 516 | Status: Completed
A single moment, a single decision can bring the end of childhood.
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.15.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 516 | Status: Completed
Tomoyo fidgeted with her camera. Even though Sakura and Syaoran were combing over her room, she was not recording their actions.
Sakura frowned at her friend. "It's okay, Tomoyo-chan. You can tape this."
Tomoyo shook her head. "It's not 'okay.'"
"There's nothing we're going to be doing that will be of any help to our enemy, even if that tape is stolen as well," Syaoran muttered.
"It's... it's not that simple..." Tomoyo bowed her head. "Everything about Sakura-chan is on those tapes. Every spell she used, every tactic, and even her mistakes all recorded. Once all the tapes have been watched... there won't be any more underestimating her. Not to mention the secrets that were recorded, like Rika-chan's boyfriend and that Hiiragizawa-kun is the reincarnation of Clow Reed."
"Tomoyo-chan...," Sakura whispered. "It's not that bad..."
Meiling glanced into the room from where she stood at the door to keep out of the mages' way. "While the enemy might get a better idea of what Kinomoto can do, the only real fights she has been in were when she was in elementary school and against the enemy. The 'training' you've put her through is hardly the extent of her magic. And the enemy hasn't gained any real information on Syaoran or me."
"But what if the enemy tries to use Sakura-chan's fear of undead?" Tomoyo fretted.
"I'm okay with that now," Sakura assured her.
Tomoyo gave her a knowing look. "Even if zombies are summoned to fight you?"
Sakura shuddered. "Surely that couldn't happen."
"It might." Syaoran frowned. "We'll have to plan for it."
Meiling smirked. "I say doing a marathon of horror movies would be a good thing."
"Can we get back to trying to figure out who did this?" Sakura demanded.
Syaoran sighed. "I know spells were used, but they've been masked."
Sakura pouted. "All I can say it's probably the same person or group that's attacking me."
Tomoyo blinked. "You've felt this aura before?"
"Only vaguely." Sakura ran her fingers over an empty self that once housed her friend's tapes. "It's like trying to taste something after badly burning your tongue. All I can sense is the magic is related in someway to Syaoran-kun's normal magic."
All eyes were now fixed on her.
"Are you saying the attack is from someone in my family?" Syaoran almost barked.
Sakura shook her head. "I can't be sure of that. It could be just the style of magic. If you used one of your cards masked this way, I wouldn't be able to tell if it was one of your cards or one of mine. Your family's style of magic isn't unique, is it?"
"Hardly," Meiling groused. "You can find practitioners who have no blood relation to the Li clan at all."
"So, we still have no evidence," Tomoyo moaned.
"At least we've narrowed down the suspects," Syaoran muttered. "It makes a divine being testing Sakura far less likely."
"However if Kinomoto was being tested by such a high power, making her think the attacks are of mortal origins could be part of her trials," Meiling pointed out.
Tomoyo sagged. "Is there some reason you're being defensive of any theory that takes suspicion away from your family?"
Meiling scowled darkly. "Why would anyone in my family want to hurt Kinomoto? In case you hadn't noticed, I'm just as much at risk of being hurt as you are."
Everyone turned their heads away from her, each seemingly wanting to say more, Sakura included.
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Card Captors Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 18: Sakura's End of Innocence
Card Captor Sakura belongs to the fine ladies of CLAMP. Used without consent, all rights reserved.
By: Lord Archive
Author's Warnings:
This contains mature themes not intended for children under thirteen.
This series contains:
Adult situations.
Sexual situations withOUT detailed description of sex nor the naked human body.
Brief moments of violence, some cases involving people getting severely injured and possibly death.
Occasional use of vulgar language.
Japanese humor: which include bathroom jokes, panty fetish and shocking situations.
Depictions of criminal activity committed by fictional characters.
References of homosexuality.
------------------------
In an English manor house, Eriol raised an eyebrow as his phone rang. He was not expecting any call, but the one calling was someone he knew. He picked up the phone and answered in Japanese, "Hello, Hiiragizawa residence."
"Hello, Eriol-kun," Sakura greeted somberly.
Eriol frowned. "Is there something that is troubling you?"
There was a pause before Sakura replied, "Actually, it's more that my problems may soon be visiting you."
"How do you figure?" Eriol wondered.
"Eriol-kun... You know that I'm being attacked for some reason. Well... all of Tomoyo-chan's videos have been stolen. Whoever is out to get me knows that you have Clow Reed's memories," Sakura cautiously warned.
"That indeed could be troubling. Yet, even with your warning, I still suspect your troubles are yours alone," Eriol returned.
Again there was a moment of silence. "I guess I was afraid you would say that."
Eriol smirked. "You have an idea who is behind your attacks, don't you?"
"Well, I have two thoughts about it, and neither of them are something I like. That this is some sort of challenge or a mage out to get my cards doesn't make sense." Sakura seemed to choke back a sob. "What does make sense... I don't like it at all!"
"Part of me wants to go out and help you, but..." Eriol trailed off.
"This is my fight to deal with," Sakura finished for him. "Still, I thought you should know. I'll write a letter to you soon. Good-bye."
"Good-bye." Eriol hung up the phone and sighed. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan."
------------------------
Toushiro's glass of soda splashed slightly as he picked it up.
Meiling rolled her eyes. "You don't have to be so nervous. I'm not going to bite unless you want me too."
The glass promptly slipped out of his hand, splashing his drink everywhere. "Ah... er..."
"I was joking," Meiling growled slightly as the boy moved to clean up the spill.
Toushiro laughed sheepishly. "That was a good movie, huh?"
Meiling leveled her gaze. "Obviously you weren't paying attention to that piece of crap. It was a waste of two hours of my life."
"I didn't think so!" Toushiro chirped.
Meiling shook her head. She placed her hand over his and immediately regretted the action as the boy seized up. "Yamane, let me offer you a bit of advice."
Toushiro blinked. "Huh?"
"Will you please get a grip on yourself? I wanted to know you, not your nerves." Meiling poked his chest. "Next time you go on a date, just be yourself."
Toushiro's eyes widened. "You... You're breaking up with me?"
"I'd hardly call it 'breaking up.' More ending it before it starts. You're a nice guy." Meiling shrugged. "But I don't think I want 'nice' right now. You're the kind of guy to marry, and I'm not looking for that."
"That... sounds really weird." Toushiro pouted. "You're saying that you want a cheap sex partner, not a real boyfriend."
Meiling smirked. "Yeah, maybe it is. Though I hardly want it to be 'cheap.'"
"Why would you want that kind of relationship?" Toushiro wondered.
Meiling looked out of the diner. "Well, you know families with money want more money. I don't want to find myself in an arranged marriage." She then gave her date a hard look. "Don't tell anyone about this. I don't want guys thinking I'm easy. I'm certainly not. I have certain... 'tests' a guy has to pass. There has to be... something, you know?"
Toushiro nodded shallowly. "And I don't have it." He pulled money out to pay for the bill. "Guess Kensuke will be happy to know he still has a chance to go out with you." He then quietly walked out.
Meiling leaned back in her seat. Truthfully she had hoped Yamane's friend would've asked her out in the first place. It would seem she wouldn't have to wait long for that to happen.
------------------------
Wandering the streets, Tomoyo tried to think what she could do. There were lots of things on those tapes that could be a huge problem. That the enemy would have a better idea of how to fight Sakura was but one of them.
Coming to a stop where Ichimai had moved on to the afterlife, Tomoyo had to wonder at bringing flesh to the vengeful ghost. Ichimai did not even attempt to murder Sakura. Instead the undead girl tried to soil Sakura's reputation. She used the borrowed body in a way that would make most girls ineligible to marry someone of Syaoran's standing. Then again, Sakura already shouldn't be 'qualified' to be married into the Li clan, being the daughter of a mere teacher and her mother was disowned.
'When there is nothing you can do about something, there is no use thinking about it,' Tomoyo's mother had advised. 'Prioritize what you can do, and don't worry about what you can't.'
As sound as that advice was, it didn't stop her from worrying. There was nothing more she could do about the enemy, considering an assassin had already been hired for that purpose.
Yet, there were other things she would have to consider to deal with the stolen tapes. Damage control could still be implemented to deal with personal attacks that may come from what she had recorded. But what she had to tell certain individuals would be enough to worry anyone. What could she say?
With a flash of white, blackness descended over Tomoyo's troubled mind.
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Sakura rubbed her forehead irritably.
"Headache again?" Syaoran asked.
Sakura nodded. "At least it's not as bad as when Ichimai was around."
Syaoran moved over to her and took her textbook from her hands and set it on the coffee table. He then began to massage her forehead.
Sakura pouted at him. "I don't really have a headache."
"Best to take care of it before you do." Syaoran kissed her forehead briefly, but then his lips found hers and did not break away. Her tongue invaded his mouth, showing she had no objection to the change in 'study plans.'
Sakura shifted underneath Syaoran, which gave the boy a moment of pause only to realize she was making herself more comfortable and easier for them to have fun. Still no words were said as their hungry kiss continued.
Syaoran's hands began to drift over his beloved's body. Her moans goading him to be even bolder as he touched her. A voice in his head began to nag him, but he ignored it even as his hand disappeared under her skirt.
Sakura began to squirm under him, but he paid that no mind as every part of his being was focused on touching her, exploring her.
Suddenly and without warning, Sakura shoved Syaoran away. He stared at her in wonder, confused at her action. She only spared a moment to readjust her lower clothes that he had disturbed before running out of the apartment. She cried out, "FLY!" And then she was gone.
Syaoran looked at his hand, which was moist with Sakura's scent. Had he gone too far?
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Tomoyo groaned as she woke up. Her head never felt so foggy before. Had she fallen so ill that she didn't remember trying to sneeze out her brain? Her nose was definitely sore enough. She could barely feel her arms as they seemed to be dead weights behind her body. Not a good way to sleep.
"So the princess has awakened," a guy's voice growled dangerously.
Tomoyo's eyes snapped up and saw Satome looming over her, his now stained plaster hand cast identifying him to her disorientated mind. It had been no disease that hurt her head. She could now feel something warm and sticky covering her mouth and chin. The fog of her mind had prevented her from noticing that she was exposed to this thug until she saw her torn clothes lying on the floor. She tried to move away in fear, but discovered where her missing shirt was-- tied around her wrists behind her back.
Satome grinned with nothing but cold menace. "Don't worry. I waited for you to wake up before you got to truly know your place."
"Why are you doing this?!" Tomoyo cried out.
"After what your trashy friends did to me?" Satome slapped her across the face. "Because of them I've lost what little I had. And you're going to pay for it."
"It would be a mistake! Li-kun's threat isn't hollow! Even if he doesn't kill you, my mother will make sure you're dead!" Tomoyo sobbed. "PLEASE! Don't do THIS!"
Satome merely laughed as he advanced and she found herself backed up into a corner. "I've heard that sort of bullshit before. I'm not dead or in jail, am I?"
"You mother can't protect you from this! Please don't do it!" Tomoyo desperately pleaded.
"If you calm down, you might enjoy it." Satome moved closer to her as he pulled down his pants.
Tomoyo closed her tear filled eyes and looked away. She didn't want to see any of what was to follow. She could feel him move closer to her. She let out a scream of terror that was answered with the door exploding off its hinges.
"GET AWAY FROM TOMOYO-CHAN!!!" Sakura bellowed in the most awful, angry voice.
"What the fuck?!" Satome spun around and stared in confusion. His eyes widened at the sight of the winged Sakura. "How in the hell?"
Sakura looked like the very image of an avenging angel when she answered him with a magically empowered kick that launched him into one of the outer walls with enough force that he almost went through it. He slumped to the ground half-conscious.
"Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo rasped out.
Sakura gave her friend a pained look before turning her hate-filled gaze back at Satome. Her hand twitched, her fingers looking like awful claws.
"Allow me," Tomoyo heard a ghostly voice say before a perfect mirror image of herself flashed into existence.
Mirror raised a hand toward the mirror that was in the room and it shattered. The shards floated and hovered before her hand. She cast a look at her Mistress, who only looked away. "You will never hurt a girl like this ever again," Mirror condemned in Tomoyo's voice before the shards streaked through the air and found their mark.
Satome's high-pitched scream echoed loudly.
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Syaoran cursed his indecision as he found Sakura. She hadn't run from him, that much was certain. He swallowed hard at the state Satome was in, crumbled on the floor with blood pooling beneath him. He held no sympathy considering he did not immediately recognize the sobbing girl in Sakura's arms.
Syaoran pulled out his cell-phone and dialed the Daidouji home. When it was answered he ordered, "This is Li Syaoran. Send the bodyguards to room four at Gaihaku Motel. Ah, eleven hundred Bara lane. Daidouji Tomoyo has been hurt." He then hung up the phone after the information was confirmed.
"Don't worry. Help is on the way," Syaoran told the girls.
"Oh, Sakura-chan... I'm so sorry... So, sorry... It's all my fault," Tomoyo sobbed.
Syaoran raised an eyebrow. "The only one at fault is dickless."
Sakura flinched, causing the boy to once again look at Satome. His eyes widened. "Why didn't you just kill him?"
Syaoran was never so thankful to see Daidouji's bodyguards arrive after minutes of awkwardly standing watch over the girls. No words were passed between them. He immediately moved to pull Sakura away, but she wouldn't let go of her friend.
"Go, Sakura-chan... I'll be fine now..." Tomoyo whispered, and the tight hug she was in lessened enough for the girl to be pulled away.
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." Sakura tapped the wall and spoke a single word, "Earthy." The dent caused by Satome's body disappeared as the wall was fixed. "I'll be home waiting..."
Syaoran guided Sakura out of the room and used his magic to take her home.
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The hospital was silent in a way that did not seem natural. Sakura sat besides Tomoyo's bedside, but no words passed between them. Neither moved until there was a sharp knock at the door.
"Hey, it's me," Meiling greeted poking her head into the room. She frowned at the bandages covering her friend's face. "How are you doing, Daidouji?"
"Not too good," Tomoyo rasped. "It seems Satome did a number on me."
Meiling scowled viciously. "What did he do?"
"Broken nose." Tomoyo pointed at her face. "That's it."
"Is that true?" Meiling demanded. "Or are you not telling me things like the bruises that Sakura had on her chest?"
Tomoyo looked away. "He... He did strip me naked, but...."
"I stopped him before he could do more." Sakura bowed her head. "I almost didn't come. I... I was with Syaoran-kun. If I didn't feel Tomoyo-chan screaming... Satome would've... taken her at the same time I..."
Meiling appraised the mop of auburn hair. "And what happened to Satome?"
Sakura remained silent.
Tomoyo didn't seem willing to answer it either. "Even though it was... well, The Mirror... as far as the police are concerned... I made sure he would never father a child."
Meiling's eyes went wide. "Damn...."
Sakura suddenly stood up. "Excuse me... I'm afraid I should go home."
"Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo gazed through her bandages. "Thank you for saving me... And I'm sorry I was so careless."
Sakura stood at the door. "It was my carelessness that started Satome's feud with us. Everything has been my fault... Good-bye." Without another word, she was gone.
Meiling sighed. "Good thing she's not my stupid cousin. Syaoran would try to do everything by himself. She, at least, knows she's useless alone."
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Author's Notes:
Coming Next: Chapter 19 - Sakura's Determination
Sakura sets new goals for herself in dealing with the problems that threaten her and her friends.
A special thanks to Canis Black and Jeremy Mullin for prereading.
This omake is of a legend for one of Clow Reed's deeds, as such it is fiction.
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High atop a hill, surrounded by wilderness as far as the eye could see was a shrine that was built with as much beauty and as fortification in mind when it was built. It was an ideal place for an emperor to hide. Easily defensible, yet suitable for one of such a high rank.
The emperor's son found there was more to the beauty of the shrine than the building itself. Hidden inside was not a treasure of gold or silver, but a young shrine maiden with flawless skin and long hair that was as fine as silk. It would seem the only flaw the beauty had was that she was all too aware of her seemingly perfect visage.
The emperor's son may have held the promise of power if the attempt to overthrow his family's reign failed, but without the adornment of gold and make-up the lad held no more attraction than a lowly farmer. Such a plain person, despite being the prince of an empire, was beneath the maiden's notice. She would prefer to stare at her own reflection than look at him. She had even told the prince as much.
The price of her hubris was high indeed. An aide of the emperor could not stand the insult to the prince by a mere girl. He stole his way into her room to teach her the ultimate lesson of humility. The maiden was forced to watch herself in her beloved mirror as the pleasure of man was forced upon her. To make sure the lesson was never forgotten, he shoved a sword through her heart.
The aide would soon learn his own lesson, for the maiden's anger persisted beyond her death. The trophy of her mirror became a curse to him, and his ability to have children was soon lost. The cursed mirror did not stop with him for within it, the girl's spirit held ill will to all who lacked kindness.
Desperate to end the curse, they sought the help of spiritualists. Each failed to placate the angry spirit. Then came a man from a foreign land who took the mirror away, trapping its restless spirit within strange paper.
Legend of Hizaki Kagome, the cursed mirror of Hizaki Shrine.
Sakura frowned at her friend. "It's okay, Tomoyo-chan. You can tape this."
Tomoyo shook her head. "It's not 'okay.'"
"There's nothing we're going to be doing that will be of any help to our enemy, even if that tape is stolen as well," Syaoran muttered.
"It's... it's not that simple..." Tomoyo bowed her head. "Everything about Sakura-chan is on those tapes. Every spell she used, every tactic, and even her mistakes all recorded. Once all the tapes have been watched... there won't be any more underestimating her. Not to mention the secrets that were recorded, like Rika-chan's boyfriend and that Hiiragizawa-kun is the reincarnation of Clow Reed."
"Tomoyo-chan...," Sakura whispered. "It's not that bad..."
Meiling glanced into the room from where she stood at the door to keep out of the mages' way. "While the enemy might get a better idea of what Kinomoto can do, the only real fights she has been in were when she was in elementary school and against the enemy. The 'training' you've put her through is hardly the extent of her magic. And the enemy hasn't gained any real information on Syaoran or me."
"But what if the enemy tries to use Sakura-chan's fear of undead?" Tomoyo fretted.
"I'm okay with that now," Sakura assured her.
Tomoyo gave her a knowing look. "Even if zombies are summoned to fight you?"
Sakura shuddered. "Surely that couldn't happen."
"It might." Syaoran frowned. "We'll have to plan for it."
Meiling smirked. "I say doing a marathon of horror movies would be a good thing."
"Can we get back to trying to figure out who did this?" Sakura demanded.
Syaoran sighed. "I know spells were used, but they've been masked."
Sakura pouted. "All I can say it's probably the same person or group that's attacking me."
Tomoyo blinked. "You've felt this aura before?"
"Only vaguely." Sakura ran her fingers over an empty self that once housed her friend's tapes. "It's like trying to taste something after badly burning your tongue. All I can sense is the magic is related in someway to Syaoran-kun's normal magic."
All eyes were now fixed on her.
"Are you saying the attack is from someone in my family?" Syaoran almost barked.
Sakura shook her head. "I can't be sure of that. It could be just the style of magic. If you used one of your cards masked this way, I wouldn't be able to tell if it was one of your cards or one of mine. Your family's style of magic isn't unique, is it?"
"Hardly," Meiling groused. "You can find practitioners who have no blood relation to the Li clan at all."
"So, we still have no evidence," Tomoyo moaned.
"At least we've narrowed down the suspects," Syaoran muttered. "It makes a divine being testing Sakura far less likely."
"However if Kinomoto was being tested by such a high power, making her think the attacks are of mortal origins could be part of her trials," Meiling pointed out.
Tomoyo sagged. "Is there some reason you're being defensive of any theory that takes suspicion away from your family?"
Meiling scowled darkly. "Why would anyone in my family want to hurt Kinomoto? In case you hadn't noticed, I'm just as much at risk of being hurt as you are."
Everyone turned their heads away from her, each seemingly wanting to say more, Sakura included.
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Card Captors Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 18: Sakura's End of Innocence
Card Captor Sakura belongs to the fine ladies of CLAMP. Used without consent, all rights reserved.
By: Lord Archive
Author's Warnings:
This contains mature themes not intended for children under thirteen.
This series contains:
Adult situations.
Sexual situations withOUT detailed description of sex nor the naked human body.
Brief moments of violence, some cases involving people getting severely injured and possibly death.
Occasional use of vulgar language.
Japanese humor: which include bathroom jokes, panty fetish and shocking situations.
Depictions of criminal activity committed by fictional characters.
References of homosexuality.
------------------------
In an English manor house, Eriol raised an eyebrow as his phone rang. He was not expecting any call, but the one calling was someone he knew. He picked up the phone and answered in Japanese, "Hello, Hiiragizawa residence."
"Hello, Eriol-kun," Sakura greeted somberly.
Eriol frowned. "Is there something that is troubling you?"
There was a pause before Sakura replied, "Actually, it's more that my problems may soon be visiting you."
"How do you figure?" Eriol wondered.
"Eriol-kun... You know that I'm being attacked for some reason. Well... all of Tomoyo-chan's videos have been stolen. Whoever is out to get me knows that you have Clow Reed's memories," Sakura cautiously warned.
"That indeed could be troubling. Yet, even with your warning, I still suspect your troubles are yours alone," Eriol returned.
Again there was a moment of silence. "I guess I was afraid you would say that."
Eriol smirked. "You have an idea who is behind your attacks, don't you?"
"Well, I have two thoughts about it, and neither of them are something I like. That this is some sort of challenge or a mage out to get my cards doesn't make sense." Sakura seemed to choke back a sob. "What does make sense... I don't like it at all!"
"Part of me wants to go out and help you, but..." Eriol trailed off.
"This is my fight to deal with," Sakura finished for him. "Still, I thought you should know. I'll write a letter to you soon. Good-bye."
"Good-bye." Eriol hung up the phone and sighed. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan."
------------------------
Toushiro's glass of soda splashed slightly as he picked it up.
Meiling rolled her eyes. "You don't have to be so nervous. I'm not going to bite unless you want me too."
The glass promptly slipped out of his hand, splashing his drink everywhere. "Ah... er..."
"I was joking," Meiling growled slightly as the boy moved to clean up the spill.
Toushiro laughed sheepishly. "That was a good movie, huh?"
Meiling leveled her gaze. "Obviously you weren't paying attention to that piece of crap. It was a waste of two hours of my life."
"I didn't think so!" Toushiro chirped.
Meiling shook her head. She placed her hand over his and immediately regretted the action as the boy seized up. "Yamane, let me offer you a bit of advice."
Toushiro blinked. "Huh?"
"Will you please get a grip on yourself? I wanted to know you, not your nerves." Meiling poked his chest. "Next time you go on a date, just be yourself."
Toushiro's eyes widened. "You... You're breaking up with me?"
"I'd hardly call it 'breaking up.' More ending it before it starts. You're a nice guy." Meiling shrugged. "But I don't think I want 'nice' right now. You're the kind of guy to marry, and I'm not looking for that."
"That... sounds really weird." Toushiro pouted. "You're saying that you want a cheap sex partner, not a real boyfriend."
Meiling smirked. "Yeah, maybe it is. Though I hardly want it to be 'cheap.'"
"Why would you want that kind of relationship?" Toushiro wondered.
Meiling looked out of the diner. "Well, you know families with money want more money. I don't want to find myself in an arranged marriage." She then gave her date a hard look. "Don't tell anyone about this. I don't want guys thinking I'm easy. I'm certainly not. I have certain... 'tests' a guy has to pass. There has to be... something, you know?"
Toushiro nodded shallowly. "And I don't have it." He pulled money out to pay for the bill. "Guess Kensuke will be happy to know he still has a chance to go out with you." He then quietly walked out.
Meiling leaned back in her seat. Truthfully she had hoped Yamane's friend would've asked her out in the first place. It would seem she wouldn't have to wait long for that to happen.
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Wandering the streets, Tomoyo tried to think what she could do. There were lots of things on those tapes that could be a huge problem. That the enemy would have a better idea of how to fight Sakura was but one of them.
Coming to a stop where Ichimai had moved on to the afterlife, Tomoyo had to wonder at bringing flesh to the vengeful ghost. Ichimai did not even attempt to murder Sakura. Instead the undead girl tried to soil Sakura's reputation. She used the borrowed body in a way that would make most girls ineligible to marry someone of Syaoran's standing. Then again, Sakura already shouldn't be 'qualified' to be married into the Li clan, being the daughter of a mere teacher and her mother was disowned.
'When there is nothing you can do about something, there is no use thinking about it,' Tomoyo's mother had advised. 'Prioritize what you can do, and don't worry about what you can't.'
As sound as that advice was, it didn't stop her from worrying. There was nothing more she could do about the enemy, considering an assassin had already been hired for that purpose.
Yet, there were other things she would have to consider to deal with the stolen tapes. Damage control could still be implemented to deal with personal attacks that may come from what she had recorded. But what she had to tell certain individuals would be enough to worry anyone. What could she say?
With a flash of white, blackness descended over Tomoyo's troubled mind.
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Sakura rubbed her forehead irritably.
"Headache again?" Syaoran asked.
Sakura nodded. "At least it's not as bad as when Ichimai was around."
Syaoran moved over to her and took her textbook from her hands and set it on the coffee table. He then began to massage her forehead.
Sakura pouted at him. "I don't really have a headache."
"Best to take care of it before you do." Syaoran kissed her forehead briefly, but then his lips found hers and did not break away. Her tongue invaded his mouth, showing she had no objection to the change in 'study plans.'
Sakura shifted underneath Syaoran, which gave the boy a moment of pause only to realize she was making herself more comfortable and easier for them to have fun. Still no words were said as their hungry kiss continued.
Syaoran's hands began to drift over his beloved's body. Her moans goading him to be even bolder as he touched her. A voice in his head began to nag him, but he ignored it even as his hand disappeared under her skirt.
Sakura began to squirm under him, but he paid that no mind as every part of his being was focused on touching her, exploring her.
Suddenly and without warning, Sakura shoved Syaoran away. He stared at her in wonder, confused at her action. She only spared a moment to readjust her lower clothes that he had disturbed before running out of the apartment. She cried out, "FLY!" And then she was gone.
Syaoran looked at his hand, which was moist with Sakura's scent. Had he gone too far?
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Tomoyo groaned as she woke up. Her head never felt so foggy before. Had she fallen so ill that she didn't remember trying to sneeze out her brain? Her nose was definitely sore enough. She could barely feel her arms as they seemed to be dead weights behind her body. Not a good way to sleep.
"So the princess has awakened," a guy's voice growled dangerously.
Tomoyo's eyes snapped up and saw Satome looming over her, his now stained plaster hand cast identifying him to her disorientated mind. It had been no disease that hurt her head. She could now feel something warm and sticky covering her mouth and chin. The fog of her mind had prevented her from noticing that she was exposed to this thug until she saw her torn clothes lying on the floor. She tried to move away in fear, but discovered where her missing shirt was-- tied around her wrists behind her back.
Satome grinned with nothing but cold menace. "Don't worry. I waited for you to wake up before you got to truly know your place."
"Why are you doing this?!" Tomoyo cried out.
"After what your trashy friends did to me?" Satome slapped her across the face. "Because of them I've lost what little I had. And you're going to pay for it."
"It would be a mistake! Li-kun's threat isn't hollow! Even if he doesn't kill you, my mother will make sure you're dead!" Tomoyo sobbed. "PLEASE! Don't do THIS!"
Satome merely laughed as he advanced and she found herself backed up into a corner. "I've heard that sort of bullshit before. I'm not dead or in jail, am I?"
"You mother can't protect you from this! Please don't do it!" Tomoyo desperately pleaded.
"If you calm down, you might enjoy it." Satome moved closer to her as he pulled down his pants.
Tomoyo closed her tear filled eyes and looked away. She didn't want to see any of what was to follow. She could feel him move closer to her. She let out a scream of terror that was answered with the door exploding off its hinges.
"GET AWAY FROM TOMOYO-CHAN!!!" Sakura bellowed in the most awful, angry voice.
"What the fuck?!" Satome spun around and stared in confusion. His eyes widened at the sight of the winged Sakura. "How in the hell?"
Sakura looked like the very image of an avenging angel when she answered him with a magically empowered kick that launched him into one of the outer walls with enough force that he almost went through it. He slumped to the ground half-conscious.
"Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo rasped out.
Sakura gave her friend a pained look before turning her hate-filled gaze back at Satome. Her hand twitched, her fingers looking like awful claws.
"Allow me," Tomoyo heard a ghostly voice say before a perfect mirror image of herself flashed into existence.
Mirror raised a hand toward the mirror that was in the room and it shattered. The shards floated and hovered before her hand. She cast a look at her Mistress, who only looked away. "You will never hurt a girl like this ever again," Mirror condemned in Tomoyo's voice before the shards streaked through the air and found their mark.
Satome's high-pitched scream echoed loudly.
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Syaoran cursed his indecision as he found Sakura. She hadn't run from him, that much was certain. He swallowed hard at the state Satome was in, crumbled on the floor with blood pooling beneath him. He held no sympathy considering he did not immediately recognize the sobbing girl in Sakura's arms.
Syaoran pulled out his cell-phone and dialed the Daidouji home. When it was answered he ordered, "This is Li Syaoran. Send the bodyguards to room four at Gaihaku Motel. Ah, eleven hundred Bara lane. Daidouji Tomoyo has been hurt." He then hung up the phone after the information was confirmed.
"Don't worry. Help is on the way," Syaoran told the girls.
"Oh, Sakura-chan... I'm so sorry... So, sorry... It's all my fault," Tomoyo sobbed.
Syaoran raised an eyebrow. "The only one at fault is dickless."
Sakura flinched, causing the boy to once again look at Satome. His eyes widened. "Why didn't you just kill him?"
Syaoran was never so thankful to see Daidouji's bodyguards arrive after minutes of awkwardly standing watch over the girls. No words were passed between them. He immediately moved to pull Sakura away, but she wouldn't let go of her friend.
"Go, Sakura-chan... I'll be fine now..." Tomoyo whispered, and the tight hug she was in lessened enough for the girl to be pulled away.
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." Sakura tapped the wall and spoke a single word, "Earthy." The dent caused by Satome's body disappeared as the wall was fixed. "I'll be home waiting..."
Syaoran guided Sakura out of the room and used his magic to take her home.
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The hospital was silent in a way that did not seem natural. Sakura sat besides Tomoyo's bedside, but no words passed between them. Neither moved until there was a sharp knock at the door.
"Hey, it's me," Meiling greeted poking her head into the room. She frowned at the bandages covering her friend's face. "How are you doing, Daidouji?"
"Not too good," Tomoyo rasped. "It seems Satome did a number on me."
Meiling scowled viciously. "What did he do?"
"Broken nose." Tomoyo pointed at her face. "That's it."
"Is that true?" Meiling demanded. "Or are you not telling me things like the bruises that Sakura had on her chest?"
Tomoyo looked away. "He... He did strip me naked, but...."
"I stopped him before he could do more." Sakura bowed her head. "I almost didn't come. I... I was with Syaoran-kun. If I didn't feel Tomoyo-chan screaming... Satome would've... taken her at the same time I..."
Meiling appraised the mop of auburn hair. "And what happened to Satome?"
Sakura remained silent.
Tomoyo didn't seem willing to answer it either. "Even though it was... well, The Mirror... as far as the police are concerned... I made sure he would never father a child."
Meiling's eyes went wide. "Damn...."
Sakura suddenly stood up. "Excuse me... I'm afraid I should go home."
"Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo gazed through her bandages. "Thank you for saving me... And I'm sorry I was so careless."
Sakura stood at the door. "It was my carelessness that started Satome's feud with us. Everything has been my fault... Good-bye." Without another word, she was gone.
Meiling sighed. "Good thing she's not my stupid cousin. Syaoran would try to do everything by himself. She, at least, knows she's useless alone."
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Author's Notes:
Coming Next: Chapter 19 - Sakura's Determination
Sakura sets new goals for herself in dealing with the problems that threaten her and her friends.
A special thanks to Canis Black and Jeremy Mullin for prereading.
This omake is of a legend for one of Clow Reed's deeds, as such it is fiction.
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High atop a hill, surrounded by wilderness as far as the eye could see was a shrine that was built with as much beauty and as fortification in mind when it was built. It was an ideal place for an emperor to hide. Easily defensible, yet suitable for one of such a high rank.
The emperor's son found there was more to the beauty of the shrine than the building itself. Hidden inside was not a treasure of gold or silver, but a young shrine maiden with flawless skin and long hair that was as fine as silk. It would seem the only flaw the beauty had was that she was all too aware of her seemingly perfect visage.
The emperor's son may have held the promise of power if the attempt to overthrow his family's reign failed, but without the adornment of gold and make-up the lad held no more attraction than a lowly farmer. Such a plain person, despite being the prince of an empire, was beneath the maiden's notice. She would prefer to stare at her own reflection than look at him. She had even told the prince as much.
The price of her hubris was high indeed. An aide of the emperor could not stand the insult to the prince by a mere girl. He stole his way into her room to teach her the ultimate lesson of humility. The maiden was forced to watch herself in her beloved mirror as the pleasure of man was forced upon her. To make sure the lesson was never forgotten, he shoved a sword through her heart.
The aide would soon learn his own lesson, for the maiden's anger persisted beyond her death. The trophy of her mirror became a curse to him, and his ability to have children was soon lost. The cursed mirror did not stop with him for within it, the girl's spirit held ill will to all who lacked kindness.
Desperate to end the curse, they sought the help of spiritualists. Each failed to placate the angry spirit. Then came a man from a foreign land who took the mirror away, trapping its restless spirit within strange paper.
Legend of Hizaki Kagome, the cursed mirror of Hizaki Shrine.