Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ The Cherry Blossom Opens ❯ The Trump Card ( Chapter 2 )

Dis-Lamer:

I do not own the series Card Captor Sakura or any of the characters. They legally belong to Clamp. This Fanfic is an act of legal parody, and it wouldn't pay to sue me anyway. Warnings for graphic violence and several revelations of some of the characters' sexual preferences. If you are a true fan of Card Captor Sakura, I strongly advise you not to read this. This is a revenge `fic, remember? Friends of good fanfiction, do not shy away from this. I will stick to my standards, not resorting to raving insults, but rather relying on intelligent, humorous although dark parody leaving space for the reader to decide how to evaluate the characters' actions.

If there's no honorific written after a name, just presume a -san or -kun as appropriate. Sakura calls his brother onii-chan, but I've omitted all honorifics from non-name nouns for the sake of neatness. Brother-chan doesn't sound good, and I'm not using Japanese words unless translated immediately afterwards.

Full author's notes at www.livejournal.com/users/guruhoro

Happening, happening.

Thoughts, thoughts.

"Speech, speech."

[On-Screen text/subtitles]

*-*-*-*

You are still sitting with your friends, watching an anime DVD. You have unanimously decided to watch another episode of the weird Card Captor Sakura fanime OAV that somebody brought with her. The guy next to you uses the remote to skip the opening song and the second episode begins.

[Hardly Any Entertainment presents]

[produced by Midnight Souls]

[a Fanfiction directed by]

[Guruhoro]

[starring]

[Sakura Kinomoto]

[with]

[Tomoyo]

[and]

[Mei-Lin Lee]

[also starring]

[Kerberos]

[and]

[Shaoran Lee]

[The Cherry Blossom Opens]

[with]

[The Trump Card]

Sakura was already late from school. Her roller blades had broken, and there had not been time to buy new ones, so she had to walk to school. Walking had its good points; there was more time to think and look around. The downside was that she had to wake up earlier. That morning, she had woken up from a wonderful dream, and had tried to catch it again. It resulted in her lying in bed for nearly half an hour too long and having to eat her breakfast hurriedly, as usual.

The dream had been something different from all those before it. She had stood next to Tomoyo, both girls wearing long, white robes, and all around them raged the flames of Inferno. But the fire could not touch them. It was enchanting to watch the red and yellow death lick the edges of the sphere of calm, cool air formed around their joined hands. The wall of flame around them was a thing of great untamed beauty, but also of destruction and pain. It was good to know that no matter what, Sakura could stay safe with her friend. Although it was not a real divination dream, Sakura could feel that it had some meaning.

Towards the end, the dream had changed. Eventually the flames died down, and the scorched earth sprouted grass and flowers. The sky above them was an ethereal green, and the song of birds could be heard all around them. Then, Tomoyo had opened the belt of her robe, letting the silky garments fall to the grass, and revealed her naked body to Sakura. She had done the same, and the girls had embraced each other. Tomoyo had opened her mouth and was just about to say something, when the alarm clock yanked Sakura up from her sleep.

Sakura could not fall asleep again after that, and it made her a tiny bit irritated. She wanted to know how the dream continued. What if… Sakura shook the thought from her head before it could take a complete form. Knowing what she had been about to think, Sakura blushed. We're both girls, and it's not right. I was normal yesterday. Sakura's blush deepened when she remembered the passionate kisses in her room. Until that happened.

Sakura's mind was warring against itself. She knew Shaoran was the one for her, but Tomoyo had triggered some feelings that Sakura had never experienced with the magician. It was as if somebody or something was testing her loyalty, and she had resolved to succeed in lasting through whatever was coming, to show that she loved Shaoran.

She did, didn't she?

Whenever Sakura thought about Shaoran - his rare smile, his occasional blushes, his brow furrowed in concentration - she felt warm inside. But recently, there had been another, undefined feeling in her heart. It was as if there was an axe hanging above her neck, but she dared not look up in case it really was there. It was as if there was someone planning to hurt them, and she knew who, but just couldn't remember the name or the face. Then again, it was a feeling of a change coming; not necessarily a welcome change, but one for the better in the long run.

Sakura was still certain that she loved Shaoran. But what about Tomoyo, then?

Tomoyo had always been by Sakura's side. Now, when the magical adventures were over, they still spent a lot of their free time together. Tomoyo's mother and Sakura's father had become friends, and it was not uncommon for one family to visit the other. The girls would retreat to the secret video room and watch their adventures on tape or sometimes a good movie. They would laugh or cry together, try to guess how the plot would evolve, mock a bad actor, or move closer to each other when a horror movie got particularly scary. When they weren't watching videos, they could talk for hours about anything. Sakura saw them as best friends, but recently, she had felt a closer affinity to the girl. It had clearly manifested itself last night, when Sakura had kissed and hugged Tomoyo continuously for an hour. Actually, Tomoyo did most of the kissing and hugging, with Sakura as her willing victim. They had not been interrupted again, although Sakura could have sworn there was something different in her father's eyes later, when he looked at her.

Luckily, her father had taken time to prepare for meeting his daughter, and had acted more comfortingly than Touya. He had not asked any troublesome questions, and Sakura had never admitted to have even accidentally caused the car explosion. The word "magic" was not spoken, and all was dismissed as bad timing for the car engine to spontaneously combust and Sakura getting the blame. It was not that her father believed; he did not want to know. Sakura's father had also taken a moment to talk with Tomoyo. Sakura had not heard what it was about, and Tomoyo would not tell her. It reminded her of something that had happened a few weeks ago.

One time, when she was alone, Tomoyo's mother had come to her and said: "I can see that you are close to my daughter. But exactly how close are you?" Sakura had told her that they were best friends. Tomoyo's mother had smiled mysteriously and remarked: "My daughter has let me understand that her view on this matter differs slightly. If you take it beyond that, you have my approval. I was once like you, too." Sakura had not understood what the woman had meant, but now it was beginning to clear to her. She remembered how she had heard that her mother and Tomoyo's mother had been very close when they were young. It made Sakura wonder exactly how close they had been, but she banished all impure thoughts. Mother could not have been like that. After all, she did marry father. But the words of Tomoyo's mother echoed in her head. Although Sakura had seen her often, the woman had not returned to the subject. Maybe it was because Tomoyo was around.

Tomoyo's mother had given up a part of her work to a promising young management trainee, a Mr. Masshiro, and spent a lot of time with her daughter. She had become at least superficially interested in Tomoyo's sewing hobby, and the two great minds had combined to devise twisted plans. For example, the body guards had suffered a week of work in near-authentic Star Trek uniforms, complete with fake phasers. After they had threatened to resign their jobs, the uniforms had been removed, but by then, the damage had been done; a news reporter had caught them on video and the clip had made the local news. Now, none of the body guards could go to town without being recognised as one of the infamous "Star Fleet Security Team". On the other hand, their company received positive reputation and actually bought the uniforms.

Sakura reached the school. Tomoyo was at the gate, waiting for her, and greeted her cheerfully from a distance. Sakura waved back and ran the last meters. "Am I late?"

Tomoyo looked at her watch. "We can still make it if we hurry." They stepped in through the school gates.

Inside they were met by a threatening sight; a couple dozen boys and girls were standing in a semicircle, some of them wielding baseball bats or iron bars. All of them were staring at Sakura with hate in their eyes. Behind them was a mass of non-combatant supporters and onlookers. A heavy-build boy stepped forward and leered at Sakura. "So, ya dare show ya filthee face `ere aftah whatcha done, bitch?" Sakura was speechless. "What's da matter, bitch, got nuttin ta say ta yer defense eh? Ye murderin' li'l' bahstard!" His voice was mocking.

Tomoyo stood up for her friend. "Sakura is innocent! It was an accident. I saw it happen." She began to shrink back under the intense stares she received.

A boy stepped through from the back row. He had a portable radio in his hand and an earpiece to listen to it. He raised his hand. "Halt! There is no need to be hasty. I have just received knowledge that there will be a lawsuit. Due to the urgency and media exposure of the matter, the judge wants to deal with it quickly, and the first session will be held at noon today. The police are on their way to notify the defendant and detain her."

A murmur rose among the crowd. "Cops!" "Let's just scatter." "I'm not staying." "Hope she gets a lifelong in county. I hear the inmates are pretty rough on women! Har, har, har!"

The girls decided to wait outside. Sakura was silent; she hung her head low and pondered the youngsters' words. I can't go to prison. Not now, after I've just seen Tomoyo in a different way. I need to sort out myself, and then I can sort out things with the rest of the world.

A few minutes later a police patrol car arrived at the school. The officer put handcuffs on Sakura, and roughly threw her onto the back seat of the car. In the rear view mirror she saw Tomoyo flag down a taxi and follow. Sakura looked at her captors. The two policemen were nearly identical; probably brothers. The one riding shotgun turned to look at her. "Calm down, kiddo. Nothing bad's gonna happen. We've received a bunch of special orders directly from our uncle, the judge fellow who's taking this case. We just have to act like you're being treated like a criminal, when people can see. Otherwise, we're instructed to be very polite and friendly."

"That's true," the other one piped in, "I think this case is pretty much clear as to the judge's verdict. Heck, they - oh, pardon my language - they didn't even get a damn jury. Uncle's probably been bribed because he's not one of them moral fellows."

The first one held out a doughnut. "Want one?" Sakura shook her head. "You sure? Okay, then." He began to munch on it.

I thought only American policemen eat doughnuts, Sakura thought. Must be the way people think American things are somehow better than our own. The tlevision is corrupting our national identity. She shook her head to clear out the pointless thought. I hope the judge is as favourable as they say. Soon, the patrol car arrived at the courthouse.

After being marched into the tall, looming building that seemed to frown upon the tiny human beings walking into it, Sakura was escorted directly into a tiny courtroom on the second floor. The policemen released their tight grip on her arms and took off the handcuffs, and she looked around the small room. There was the judge's podium, currently unoccupied, and a single table with one chair beside it. She sat in the chair, facing the podium, and the policemen went to stand near the back wall. A door to the podium's side opened, and the judge walked in. He was an old, short and plump man, with a friendly grandfather-sort of face. He sat down behind his desk and cleared his throat. "You are Sakura Kinomoto, the defendant?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes, your honour."

The man chuckled warmly. "No need to be formal, little lady. My name is Yoshio Masshiro. I am the grandfather of your friend's mother's aide. My grandson has explained the situation, as it was told to him by his employer's daughter."

"What is going to happen to me?"

Judge Masshiro chuckled again. "Don't you worry, little lady. Now, let us be done with the formalities. Do you confess to a murder? Just say no."

"No." What is this? I was afraid that there would be a long process, with mean lawyers asking crooked questions to catch me.

"Very well. The defendant pleads not guilty. Now, the prosecution may present evidence and witnesses." A short silence. "None?"

Sakura looked around. "But… There's nobody here except for us! …Judge Masshiro." She was confused.

The judge winked an eye. "It is their problem if they are not present at the hearing. Well, then, on the basis of lack of evidence -"

One of the police officers spoke up. "Hey, I know what'll look good in the books! I present as evidence numerous witnesses stating that she used magic to murder the two people!"

The judge burst out in cackling laughter. "Truly a good one, nephew. All right then, abandoned as ridiculous. This courtroom does not take supernatural events or abilities seriously. Then, on the basis of lack of evidence, this court deems the case crippled on birth and too stupid to find its way into the records. Case dismissed." He banged his hammer on the table three times.

Sakura was even more confused. This must be a dream. A real court doesn't work this way. "What's going on?"

Judge Masshiro smiled. "You're free. This case will not go down in any official files, so your record stays clean. Also, I will give a couple of interviews and declare your innocence. Now then," he got up to leave, "I hope to never see you in my courtroom again. Goodbye, little lady." Masshiro left the room, muttering to himself.

Sakura turned and left the room, shaking her head in thought. Does this kind of thing happen often? The guilty walking free because they had contacts? She walked down to the foyer, where Tomoyo was waiting for her.

"That was quick, Sakura-chan. How did it go?"

Sakura smiled, but something was missing from the cheerful expression. "The trial was a mock one, and I walked free because your family has power."

Tomoyo tried to look innocent. "What might you be talking about?" She grabbed Sakura by the arm and dragged her through an empty corridor and outside through a back door. "Come now. The taxi is waiting." They came to an empty alley behind the courthouse. Empty, as in one, where there was no cab. Not empty, if you counted the angry-looking mob blocking both ends. Tomoyo turned and tried the door, but it was locked. The tiny window showed an empty corridor; there was nobody there who could hear them banging on the door.

Sakura faced the mob that blocked the end of the alleyway from the main street. I remember this thing we had in psychology class… Maybe I can try it. She took a slow step forward. Don't show them your fear. They thrive on it and gain strength. She took another step. A cold sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead and her legs trembled with fear. "You will let me and my friend pass safely." She attempted to make her voice commanding. Act like you don't fear them, and they will believe that you have nothing to fear. "I can use magic." Threatening makes them angry. Calm announcements of power make them nervous. She took out her magical key and held it in her right fist. Whispering the words of the covenant, she allowed the staff to grow to its full length. I just hope I won't have to hurt them. Sakura was sweating a lot now.

The mob retreated and opened a path through it. Sakura could see the park across the road and hope filled her heart. There she could hide in the bushes and call upon her cards to safely return home.

A man stepped onto the path through the mob. He was short, skinny and a few years older than Sakura. In his left hand, he held a katana [Japanese sword]. In his right, he held something far more dangerous. The man raised his right hand and began to swing something attached to a golden chain. It was an intricately carved hollow ball of wood slightly larger than a fist with irregular holes in its sides and a burning candle inside. The item in itself was not dangerous, but from the moment Sakura saw it, she knew there was something wrong with it. She felt uneasy and a shiver ran up her spine. She tried to sense magic from it, but could not. Instead, she felt it sucking in her probing senses. Her staff shook in her hand, as an unseen tendril seemed to pull on its essence. Sakura could feel its power flowing through the air into the ornamental lantern and her own magic being similarly drained.

A rock flew from the mob, arcing towards Sakura and Tomoyo. The mage girl flipped a card from her sleeve and called out: "Floaty!", her intention being to stop the stone in mid-flight and lower it into the alley, showing that she could indeed use magic. As her staff hit the spinning card, there was no usual flash of light. Instead, there was a flash of darkness, and the Floaty fell onto the cold concrete, its powers emptied. The rock hit Sakura on the shoulder, and she yelped in pain and fell to her knees. What's this? Why didn't the card work? The lantern in the boy's hand began to glow very faintly. No! How can this be? Sakura could feel even the unused cards slowly losing their magic as the ornamental lantern brightened. It must be an anti-magic enchantment. Her hopes of survival fell and a tear rose into her eye. It's not only me. Tomoyo will be hurt too, and it's my fault. If only…

Some deity must have heard her prayers. Her wish came true as a figure in flapping, loose clothes fell from the sky. It landed between Sakura and the lantern boy. "Sakura… I came as soon as I could. I'm sorry that I'm so late." The voice was more than familiar, and hearing it once again sent Sakura's heart racing.

"Shaoran-kun!" Sakura ran to the young man, who drew his ceremonial sword.

"Stand back Sakura-chan. I know that item. It will suck you dry of all magic if you open yourself to it. Don't use your cards, I'll take care of it." He took a ready stance with his sword and began to approach the other man with a sword, who hung the lantern around his neck and grabbed his sword with both hands. The two swordsmen came within sword's reach and began to circle each other. They were given the space they needed.

Shaoran was the first one to move. He opened with a slash from the upper left, and when the other blocked it easily, the mage moved closer and kicked the punk in the side. The man fell to one knee and was just about to get up, when Shaoran's sword flashed across his chest. The lantern fell to the ground, its golden chain severed, and a slight rift appeared in the man's shirt. No blood came out, but the man clutched his chest and retreated on his hands and knees. Shaoran lifted his left foot and brought it down on the anti-magic lantern, which shattered and released a bright flash of blue light. Sakura could feel her magical powers returning all at once, and the Floaty returned to the secret pocket in her sleeve.

Shaoran lifted his sword to the ready position again. "Now… Which one of you threw the stone?" His voice trembled with anger, and Sakura knew that if he found out who it had been, he would not hesitate to swing his blade to maim or even kill.

"No! Shaoran-kun, I'm okay. You don't have to hurt anybody."

Shaoran turned his head to look at Sakura. "Why do you side with this thrash?" His face was hidden in shadows, but his eyes gleamed brightly. "They don't even know about real magic. You and I, we are above this filth. If one of them tries to hurt the one I love, I will kill them. I could take them all on for you." He waved his hand, and a ball of lightning appeared in it. He threw it into the pavement, making a hole over two feet in diameter, and sending trails of blue electricity worming across the alley, zapping every one of the mob around him. Some of them fell to the ground with their legs numb, others screamed in pain as their feet were burnt. "Can you see the power I have gained in these past years?"

Sakura was horrified. "Shaoran-kun.. What's happened to you? You weren't like this before." A tear appeared in her eye. "How can you hurt them?"

Shaoran looked around. "Hurt who? Oh, these humans. They were threatening you. I will fight them because I love you. It's that simple."

"But… You can't just hurt people because they were mistaken! It's not right…" Sakura was becoming increasingly sure that this was not the same Shaoran Lee that she had said goodbye to the last time they met.

Shaoran smiled. It was not his usual, gentle smile, but something out of either Hellsing or a nightmare. "Can't you see? They are but ants compared to us. In my training, I have come to understand this. Come with me, and I can show you how we can - no, deserve to live. Magicians, side by side, ruling over the powerless commoners." Sakura could see the madness in his eyes.

"Stop it! I liked you the way you were, but now you're scaring me!" Sakura was crying openly. Tomoyo was silent, but her face was frozen in a mask of terror.

One boy from the mob got slowly up from the paved ground. He reached behind his back, saying: "You goddamn freak… I'll…" He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Shaoran. "…kill…"

Shaoran spun to face the boy and raised his hand. A large ball of crackling electricity appeared in it. He released it, and Sakura's mind screamed. No! You can't kill! Her magic reached out from within and flew to touch the ball of lightning. She instinctively pulled the energy into her and released it into the ground, cracking the pavement under her feet.

The blue light disappeared in midair, and Shaoran shouted: "Sakura-chan, Why did you do it?" A moment later, a loud bang was heard. The gun in the boy's hand flew back with recoil, and everything slowed down. Sakura could nearly see the bullet flying out of the gun's muzzle and hit Shaoran in the stomach. A few milliseconds later, it exited through his back, followed by a cloud of vaporized blood. Shaoran put a hand onto the wound and lifted it in front of his face, looking at the blood-stained fingers with a panicked expression. He put his hand back to the wound and commanded: "Heal." Nothing happened. "Heal! … Heal! Heal! Heal!" His voice turned from commanding to desperate and pleading. "Heal, goddammit. You can't fail me now. Heal…" He began to sob. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan." He closed his eyes and fell onto his back, limbs sprawled around him.

Sakura screamed, but she could not hear it herself. She ran to Shaoran and kneeled next to him, pulling his limp form onto her lap. "Shaoran-kun… Please, don't die… I love you."

Shaoran opened his eyes and smiled his usual smile. "I love you too. I can see, that being away from you had driven me mad. But don't worry; now that I'm here…" He coughed, and a droplet of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. "… I'm sorry. I have failed you."

"No, you haven't." Sakura's tears fell like rain onto Shaoran's calm face. "I betrayed you, and now this happened. I killed you."

"I was doomed already. Only now do I see the truth, but I'm happy that I do. Don't worry. This is not the end. I…" He coughed again, and more blood flew out of his mouth, staining his face and Sakura's school uniform. "..will always be with you." Shaoran closed his eyes.

Sakura closed her eyes, feeling how Shaoran's magic waned and died with his life. She whispered: "It can't end like this. Cards, do something! Save Shaoran!" The cards flew out of her sleeve, one by one, and formed a circle around the two magicians. They began to spin around them, first slowly, and then at an increasing speed. Shaoran's body began to emit a white light that burnt away his clothes, but Sakura could not feel it. His body became very light and began to float in the air, being enveloped by the light. It shone so brightly, that Sakura had to turn her eyes away from it. When the light waned, she felt a light touch on her hand.

In her right, bloodstained palm, Sakura held a card. The picture showed a young, handsome man in traditional Chinese garb, holding a ceremonial sword. The card's name:

Xao Lang

Sakura could feel Shaoran's soul in the card. He was confused and sad. She picked up the staff that she had dropped and tapped it lightly on the card. "Shaoran."

A trail of smoke flew out from the card, gathering and growing in front of Sakura. It condensed into an exact image of Shaoran, who looked around. "Am I not dead? Sakura-chan?" He kneeled next to the unbelieving sorceress and hugged her. "Sakura-chan… I came back."

Sakura wrapped her arms around Shaoran, carefully, because she was not sure that he really was there. Her hands did not pass through him, however, and she began to cry again. This time, the tears were those of joy. "Shaoran-kun… The cards helped you. You are one of them now." She held the young mage tightly in her arms.

Shaoran smiled. "Thank you, Sakura-chan. But I can feel my existence drawing on your strength. You can't keep me out for long at your level. You can let me go now."

Sakura shook her head. "I'll keep you with me forever."

Shaoran removed the young woman's arms from around him and stood up. "You don't have to strain. I will wait in the card, until you can find a way to turn me back." He faded away and the card floated to the pavement.

Sakura picked up the Shaoran card and put it in her sleeve. "I promise, I will find a way." She was surprised as a pair of arms hugged her from behind.

Tomoyo whispered. "Oh, Sakura-chan… I don't know what to say."

Sakura turned and embraced the girl. "It's all right. We all survived, didn't we? Now, let's go home and ask Kero about how we can turn Shaoran back." She looked around. "By the way, where did all the people go?"

"They ran away after Shaoran d… After the gunshot." Tomoyo began to walk towards the main street. "You're right, we should go home. You can stay at myplace, until things quiet down. We have the bodyguards, remember?"

Sakura nodded and followed her. Shaoran-kun… Please, wait for me.

Author's notes:

Xao Lang is the Chinese and correct spelling of the young mage's name, whereas Shaoran is another example of the Japanese translitteration system's inaccuracy. Thanks to Mayu-san for confirming my suspicions.

This chapter was more to the actual point of the story. It was still preparatory in the sense that I am clarifying the circumstances, but as you can see, I did get some action in. Well then… Review! Tell me about what was wrong. And no, I won't remove the part where Shaoran dies. It's one of the important plot points.