Card Captor Sakura
Clow Zero
by Kittyhawk Sakura

Chapter 8: Lines Drawn

<Kinomoto desu.>

"Ah, Touya-san, is Sakura-chan there?"

<...yes,> he replied.

"Is she okay? She didn't come to school today. I mean yesterday was..." said Tomoyo.

<Tomoyo?>

"Yes?"

<What was that yesterday?>

Tomoyo didn't know how to answer that. How could she? She had sworn to Sakura she would never tell a living soul about the Clow Cards, and she wasn't about to burden Sakura with the task of explaining it. Especially now. Sakura was probably devastated after yesterday...

"I...I don't know," she finally said.

Touya sighed loud enough to be heard over the phone. <Well, I sure would like to know what's going on...>

Tomoyo asked cautiously, "You do?"

<Yeah. Look Tomoyo, I'll tell her you called, okay? Anything else?>

Tomoyo glanced at the box in the corner. She said, "...nothing else. Just for her to talk to me."

<Okay, bye.>

"Good bye," said Tomoyo as she pressed the END button. She placed the phone on the bedside table, walked over to the box, and moved the towel slightly to reveal the small animal inside.

Kero-chan's breathing was slow and deep, bringing a wave of relief to Tomoyo. When she had brought him home, he had been gasping for air. She unraveled the bandages around his chest. The bleeding had stopped, but the bandages needed changing. As she finished dressing the wound, he began to stir. "Sa...kura...?" he muttered.

Tomoyo softly said, "No, Sakura-chan isn't here."

"Where is...Sakura?"

"She's at home."

"She okay?" he asked.

"I'm not sure." She taped the bandages in place. "There. That's better. Are you hungry?"

Kero-chan sighed, "Yeah... Gods, that bitch did a number on me..."

Tomoyo was a little shocked at Kero-chan's choice of words. He never cursed. But, then again, he had never been this severely injured, even during the battle with FIRERY. "I was afraid you would die," she said as she held out a spoon of lime Jell-O.

He slowly ate it and then said, "I'm too tough for that." His grin soon faded. "But, wonder where that girl came from? She's a Li, alright, but to score a hit on me, you gotta be good."

Tomoyo knew Kero-chan's ego was very large, but he was right. "Yes, she even had Li-kun helping her..."

Kero-chan growled, "That boy's a coward to be helpin' her. Even if she's good, he shoulda helped us..."

"Maybe there's something else..."

He looked at Tomoyo and nodded, "Yeah, probably is. But in any event, we ought to avoid him. Did ya see him at school today?"

"No," she said as she shook her head.

"Hope Sakura didn't see him..."

"Sakura-chan wasn't at school today."

"Eh?" he said with a bit of shock. "Damn, last night was hard on her. We gotta see her." He tried to get up, but suddenly collapsed in pain.

Tomoyo exclaimed, "Don't get up! You will make it worse!"

"You got that right... Guess I better wait till night, then I'll heal faster..." he growled.

Tomoyo nodded in agreement...

She found herself walking a long corridor with tall white columns. Her body felt like an unknown force controlled it. At the end was a large, dimly lit room.

She looked around. Nothing but a strange haze. Two figures emerged from the mist. She stared at them for a moment. She recognized them.

"Yukito-san! Shaolan-kun!" she yelled.

Yukito and Shaolan grinned at her, but they were not the pleasant smiles they usually gave her. Their eyes were angled in a devilish fashion.

"Yukito-san? Shaolan-kun? What's wrong?"

White wings engulfed Yukito and a bright light transformed him into Yue. Shaolan unsheathed his sword. Both dropped into ready stance.

"What...?"

They simultaneously charged her, striking with blinding speed. She dodged most of their blows, screaming, "What's wrong? Why...why are you attacking me?!" Yue hit her with his wing, sending her flying. "So weak... How could anyone love you?" he said.

She lifted her head and looked him straight in his dull silver eyes. "Yue-san...?" She was too shocked to notice Shaolan behind her. He drew his sword high and plunged it into her left shoulder. As she screamed in agony, Shaolan looked down at her as the blood covered the floor around her. "You have no friends... Your search is fruitless..." he said coldly.

"Enough."

Yue and Shaolan turned to the voice and knelt before the figure. It was a tall man with a long staff similar to hers, dressed in robes and hood that obscured his face. "Who...?"

"I am the true Master of the Clow. Continue your search, and I will make sure that everything you hold dear will be mine or destroyed," he said.

She hissed, "I...am the Mistress of the Clow, and I won't...let you have them..."

"So be it," he said with a laugh. "We will see who will be the victor." He commanded, "Yue, Xiao Lang, eliminate her."

They stood up and generated a blinding white light that engulfed her, burning her in pure flame.

"KYAAAAAAAA!!!"

Sakura sat up quickly, sweating profusely and panting. As soon as she caught her breath, she noticed she was in her room. How did I get here? she thought. Her hand grazed the pillow. It was still damp from her tears. Sakura closed her eyes. That dream was obviously a result of yesterday, she thought. The tears welled up in her eyes as she thought back to how cruel Shaolan had been yesterday...

Her bedroom door suddenly opened. Her brother stepped in with a worried face. "Sakura? Are you okay?"

Sakura turned away, not answering. She didn't want to talk to him right now. Touya sat down on the bed and said, "Was it a nightmare?"

She still refused to answer. Like he cared about her. For Kami-sama's sake, he forgot about her. Not once, but many times...

Touya sighed, "Sakura, I'm sorry for what I did. I forgot, and I'm sorry how yesterday turned out. I should have remembered, and maybe I should have told you about Yuki and me...but that's not what I'm worried about. What was that yesterday? What did that boy...?"

Sakura bit her lip. Why did Shaolan turn against her? Why hadn't he tell her he was engaged? And why the hell did that bother her?! Shaolan had let that girl Meirin attack her and all she could worry about was why he hated her. She should have be angry with him, but she wasn't. Sakura said, "Nothing. It was nothing."

"That wasn't nothing, Sakura," said Touya. "That girl attacked you. Sakura, what is going on...?"

Sakura turned to Touya. She hesitated. Could she tell him? He did come to her rescue, but...

But he didn't have magic. She did. Only she could resolve this. She was the Mistress of the Clow.

"Onii-chan, I... I don't know," she said. It was true. She didn't know why Shaolan's heart had changed. The words of the man in her dream repeated in her head:

...I will make sure that everything you hold dear will be mine or destroyed...

Was that dream more than it seemed?

Touya lifted her head. "Sakura, I don't want you near that boy... He's always been trouble."

Sakura nodded, despite the fact she intended to confront Shaolan about it.

Touya watched Sakura nod in agreement, but he knew that she didn't mean it. She had some attachment to the boy, despite the fact he obviously abused her. Touya could feel his blood boil, but all he said was, "Sakura, when you want to talk about it, you tell me, okay?"

"Yes," she said quietly.

He hugged her and said, "I'll protect you no matter what. You're my little sister, Sakura."

He saw her smile slightly. "Arigato, onii-chan."

A. B-. A-. C. Sigh, F.

Yukito stretched a moment. Grading papers was a difficult job. He especially hated it when his students failed.

He had brought his work over to the Kinomoto house so he could see how Sakura was. She hadn't gone to school that day, and he was worried because she wasn't talking to anyone. Yukito knew he was part of the problem.

Yesterday had been a strange day. He had one of those blackout spells again, and when he woke up, he had found himself in an odd situation.

And the voice had lost its cool calm.

It had been silent all day, but Yukito, who never gave it much thought, was afraid. He was starting to think he was losing his mind. What happened during those blackouts?

He heard someone’s footsteps coming down the staircase. Touya came through the kitchen door, and... Yukito froze, gaping at Touya.

"Yuki, what's wrong?" Touya asked.

Surrounding Touya was a blue vortex, crackling with anger and fury,. He took off his glasses, rubbed his temples and looked again, but it was still there. What the hell was it? Finally, it faded, but Yukito was still confused by it.

"Nothing. I think I've been working too hard," he said with a sigh.

Touya looked at him quizzically for a moment. Yukito put his glasses back on and asked, "How is Sakura-chan?"

"At least she's talking to me, but she won't tell me what happened last night."

"I would never expected Shaolan-kun do something like that..."

Touya snorted, "That jerk's been nothing but trouble."

Yukito sighed. "But if he did do something..."

"I'll take care of it..." growled Touya. The blue aura began to burn fiercely around him again, and Yukito stared at it, wide eyed.

"Yuki? You're starting to worry me..." said Touya slowly.

Yukito remained silent and then finally muttered, "I'm just tired... it's nothing..."

She rang the doorbell.

Touya answered the door. Tomoyo smiled and said, "I decided that phone calls are impersonal. Can I see Sakura-chan?"

"Yeah, she's upstairs," said Touya.

"Thank you," she said as she ascended the stairs.

Kero-chan peeked out of the bag she was carrying. "Thanks for the lift, Tomoyo."

She smiled. "It's nothing." He looked up and said, "Thanks for saving my butt, too."

She patted his head. Tomoyo reached Sakura's door and knocked. There was no answer. "Just go in," Kero-chan said.

Tomoyo agreed and entered the room. Sakura was staring out the window. Tomoyo approached her and said, "Sakura-chan?"

Sakura didn't even look in Tomoyo's direction. She continued to stare forward towards the darkening evening sky. Tomoyo noticed how tired Sakura looked. Her eyes were puffy from crying and her cheeks were not as pink as they usually were. Tomoyo said, "I brought someone to cheer you up."

Sakura looked at Tomoyo. "Hm?"

"How ya doin', Sakura?! Miss me?!"

Sakura's eyes brightened as Tomoyo lifted the small guardian out of the bag; she immediately embraced him. "Kero-chan!! I thought you were a goner for sure!"

He moaned. "Everybody's been sayin' that!! You know I'm made of tougher stuff than that!"

She kissed his forehead, and he rubbed his paws over the spot. "Aw, Sakura! Don't you get mushy on me now!"

"I'm just so happy you're okay," she said. Sakura turned to Tomoyo. "Thank you, Tomoyo-chan."

Tomoyo replied, "It was nothing." However, she changed the subject quickly. "But, Sakura-chan, how are you?"

Sakura tried to smile. "I've been better."

Kero-chan said, "Has 'nii-chan been taking care of you?"

"Yeah, we talked. He asked about yesterday..."

Tomoyo asked, "What did he ask?"

Sakura looked down, "About...Shaolan-kun..."

Cerberus knew this was no good. Touya was a normal human being, but he was too protective of Sakura to realize he didn't have a chance against Meirin and...Shaolan. And Sakura wasn't about to go up against Shaolan. She wouldn't attack, or defend herself against, people she loved. "Sakura, did you tell him anything?"

Sakura shook her head. "No, I don't want him and onii-chan to fight..."

"Sakura," said Cerberus. "For all purposes, the boy is our enemy now. And a strong one at that, 'specially with that girl by his side."

Sakura's eyes flashed with what could be described as anger. "That girl..."

Cerberus nodded. "Yes, her overall strength is a few notches above Shaolan's..."

Sakura turned suddenly to him. "So, she could be forcing him?" she said hopefully.

"I wouldn't be surprised..."

Tomoyo jumped in. "Um, didn't Touya-san stand up to her? If she is so strong, then why did she get scared of him?"

Cerberus yelled, "What?! You didn't tell me that!"

Sakura nodded, "Yes, onii-chan came and chased her off."

Cerberus sat there stunned. That girl was strong, about on par with Sakura. If that girl was afraid of Touya, then that was something big he missed...

"Kero-chan, are you all right?"

He snapped out of it and replied, "Yeah, I'm okay..."

Sakura looked out the window again. "Maybe you're right... Maybe there's a good reason he's helping that girl..."

Tomoyo said, "I'm sure there is."

Cerberus nodded, but he was silently contemplating the fact that Touya was much stronger than previously thought.

This might turn ugly...

"Mei Ling, report."

Xiao Lang stood behind Mei Ling as she told the man behind the curtain the events of yesterday. He had slept in this morning and failed to go to school. Like he wanted to go. Xiao Lang didn't want to face Sakura. Not now...not after yesterday. She must think I'm a coward, he thought.

"...so you failed to capture the Card WINDY?" asked the man.

"Yes. A man with an extremely strong battle aura came to the Card Captor's rescue. I don't think I could have held up against him. It threw me off..." said Mei Ling.

The man cut her off. "Enough with the excuses, Mei Ling. Since this was your first attempt, I will let this one slide. Try not to repeat such mistakes."

Mei Ling bowed. "Thank you, sir."

"Hmm, a man with a strong blue aura. He has some relation to the Card Captor, eh? Look into it further."

"Yes, sir," she replied. "If I may, sir, I present our errant cousin, Xiao Lang, to you." She made a gesture towards Xiao Lang.

Xiao Lang stepped forward and bowed. As he did so, he wondered who this was. He didn't remember a man being in charge of the Li. His mother was quite prominent among the family, but she never commanded this much power. "I humbly request to be accepted into the family circle again," he politely said.

The man laughed, "So, cute relative, you want to be accepted once again? After your failure? You know what happens to traitors, Xiao Lang..."

Mei Ling jumped in front of Xiao Lang. "Please, sir! He has pledged his loyalty to me! He is trustworthy!" she quickly said.

The man after much silence said, "Fine, Mei Ling, your fiancé is your responsibility. His mistakes are yours now. You have a lot to make up for now, you understand..."

"Yes, sir..." Mei Ling said hesitantly.

Xiao Lang stared at his cousin for a moment in surprise. Was this really Mei Ling? She never did anything for others, much less take orders. Who was this man?

"My cute relative, Xiao Lang, you are wondering who I am?"

Xiao Lang looked at the curtains. How did he know that?

The man laughed, "Don't you recognize me? All Li do..." The man stood up, walked forward through the curtains. Xiao Lang struggled to recognize the man...

Then it hit him. Instinctively, he knew. This tall man with long black hair with silver streaks, gold spectacles, long fine robes, and calm violet eyes was...

"Clow...Reed?"` said Xiao Lang in disbelief.

Clow smiled at him...

Kittyhawk: Uwaaa... I'm beat...

Tails: That's what you get for writing two fanfictions and translating CCS at the same time... Plus drawing pictures for this page and the total makeover of your homepage, Saisho no Hikou.

Kittyhawk: Uh huh. At least it's over with... Thank you to my prereaders, Jez-chan, Reinselft-chan, and Shi Lin-chan!

Tails: So, you introduced Clow as a character in this fanfiction. Was this another spur of the moment thing like Mei Ling?

Kittyhawk: <shakes head> Nope. I had planned on bringing him in all along. (It seemed natural to do so.)

Tails: What about the shadow guy in Sakura's dream? Is he Clow?

Kittyhawk: <giggling> Not telling! Could be!

Tails: <sighs> I walked into that teaser... <looks at Fanfiction page> Wow, nice selection of CCS fanfiction!

Kittyhawk: <smiles> I know! I'm so happy people want to put their fanfiction on my page! I love reading them. (Especially the Sakura and Shaolan fanfictions! ^_^) <to any fanfictioners> Please continue to submit them!

Kittyhawk Sakura (ccsakura@hotmail.com)
June 6, 1999

Oh yeah, the BLURB. Card Captor Sakura, Manga: ©CLAMP/Kodansha; Anime: ©CLAMP/Kodansha/NHK/NEP21. All pictures, ©Kittyhawk. This fanfiction is made because of my love of CLAMP's work. Please do not use anything on this page unless you ask Kittyhawk for permission. Thank you and goodnight.