Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. I’m not making any profit from the story, just borrowing CLAMP’s great characters for this fanfic.

Author: Angel Kamiya

Lost

Chapter 101

Sakura couldn't believe who was there. When she finished walking downstairs she saw that Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun had really arrived. It almost seemed like a dream at first since she couldn't believe what she was seeing. There was nothing that Sakura thought about doing except running forward to hear what news that they had for her. For the past few days she had thought the worse and now she was glad to see that Eriol's protectors seemed okay. Did that mean that Eriol was okay too?

It took a few seconds for Sakura to run over to where they were standing. Sakura saw that Tomoyo was just as surprised. First Syaoran had gave her that kiss and now this. When Sakura could finally think about what to say the first words out of her mouth seemed like someone else saying them.

"What... what are you two doing here?" Sakura asked, thinking at how unprepared she had been for all this.

"I'm sorry for not calling you earlier." Ruby replied, looking embarrassed. "We wanted to talk to you sooner but Master Eriol wouldn't let us."

"It's not their fault Sakura." The familiar voice interrupted. "I told them not to get in touch with you until now."

Sakura looked past Ruby and saw Eriol standing there almost out of sight. When they had arrived downstairs Sakura hadn't even noticed the magician standing there. Seeing him there really was unexpected. There was nothing that Sakura could say. Instead Sakura flung her around her friend and hugged.

"Eriol! We... we thought something terrible happened to you!"

"I'm happy to see you too."

Sakura stepped back at looked at Eriol clearly for the first time. Instead of the magician robes he usually wore he wore clothes that looked really ordinary. Eriol wore a brown shirt and dark paints and was someone she probably would have missed if she had been walking down the street. Everyone around her had turned silent and seemed a little taken back by Eriol's sudden reappearance that night.

"Where have you been Eriol-kun? Why didn't you tell us you were okay?" Tomoyo asked.

"I had to take care of something important." Eriol explained, looking preoccupied. "Can you guys let me talk to Sakura for a few minutes?"

"I'm sure you won't miss me if I was gone for a few minutes. I will be back before you know it Syaoran."

When Sakura turned and looked at Syaoran that was when her face turned a little red. Sakura wanted to go over to where he was at and kiss him again but she knew that they couldn't do that with everyone around them. They would have to do that the next time they were left alone. Sakura wished that Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun had arrived a few minutes later.

Looking back once more at both of her friend she turned and left with Eriol. Eriol walked through the street while Sakura followed. Sakura didn't know where they were going but she was hoping that the would answer some of her questions.

"How have Yue and Kero been doing lately?" Eriol asked.

The waited there at the street while all the cars went by.

"They are fine. They both left a little earlier to do something, I kind of wish that they hadn't. I think they probably would have liked seeing you instead of hearing from me that you two dropped by."

"I that I could have seen them. I guess I will have to talk to them at another time."

"I have to tell you something Eriol-kun. Something bad happened." Sakura started. "The Clow cards stopped working."

Eriol looked to his side and saw the Clow book that Sakura had brought along with her that night. When they had left earlier it had been in such a rush that he didn't even notice it. Now that he realized they were there he quickly realized that they felt different. Whatever was the matter with them he knew that he had to do something about it.

"They did?" Eriol asked, looking interested.

"They hadn't worked since you disappeared a few days ago. I tried seeing if Yue and Kero could find out anything but they have no idea why the cards would be like this. Do you know what could be wrong with them?"

"I'm not sure how this could have happened."

"You don't know what's wrong with them? I don't believe that."

"I can't help you with this. Not now. We might have to drop by my place to see if I can find out anything from my library."

Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing. Eriol couldn't help her? Then was no one that could help her. Sakura didn't know why things like this always happened to her. As Sakura opened the book and looked at the cards she wondered if she would ever be able to use the Clow cards again.

"What if I never figure it out? Something tells me that Clow Reed didn't create the cards just so it would end up in the hands a normal girl."

"I know you will be able to use them again."

"Are you going to tell me where you have been these last couple of days? I hope it was something really important because we were worried sick about you!"

"I have been watching over Akako."

When Sakura heard this she stopped and stood there thinking about what she had been told. The little girl which had caused so much trouble was actually staying at Eriol's house? Sakura had wished that she had known that instead of being in the dark along with her friends. They had all be so worried that the Sorceress had escaped and was planning to get back at them somehow. Sakura wondered what the girl was now doing there.

"I guess that explains why we weren't able to find her anywhere either."

"I think she is starting to learn that all people that aren't like us are bad people."

"What are you going to do about her? Is it true that she has lost her power?" Sakura asked.

Ruby Moon thought back to where she had been the last couple of days. The memories came rushing back to her. They had went to so many places it was almost hard to keep track of. Ruby Moon looked forward and saw the house. They were finally home now.

"For now. I brought her to the Li family. They will do a better job at looking after her then I can do by myself."

"You did WHAT? Syaoran-kun didn't tell me anything about that!"

"Yelan wasn't sure that Li should know yet. I think she probably thought that Li wouldn't think it was a good idea."

Sakura saw that they had finally arrived at Eriol's house. When Sakura realized where they were at she sighed with relief. It had gotten so cold and Sakura really hadn't brought much warm clothes with her. The moment she walked inside everything around her turned warm. Sakura put down her jacket by the front door and looked around. The place seemed familiar but also like some place she had never been to before. They were there to find out what could have been wrong with the Clow cards. Sakura really hoped that Eriol would be able to find something.

"You are finally home!" Ruby Moon uttered, excitedly. "Would you like something to eat or drink Sakura-chan?"

"How... how did you get back so fast?" Sakura asked, stunned.

"We flew the rest of the way back. I guess you finished talking with Eriol right?"

"I guess so." Sakura replied, looking at him.

"Okay! I have hot chocolate just for times like this when we have an important guest!" Ruby Moon uttered, running into the kitchen.

Ruby Moon ran into the kitchen.

While Sakura stood there she saw that Spinel was floating around in a circle looking like he was busy thinking about something. Ruby and Spinel so different. In a way they were similar to how Yue and Kero were compared to each other. There seemed to be a reason that Clow Reed had always made a pair of card guardians opposites in personalities. Sakura really wanted to know what was going on.

"I have look through a few books.." Eriol explained. "Would you wait here a few minutes?"

"Sure."

Eriol headed towards his room.

Sakura stood there for a few moments wondering whether it would be Ruby Moon or Eriol who got back first. Even though she had been there several times now Eriol's house still felt so strange to her. It felt like someone had lived there a really long time and left behind a magic presence. Sakura knew that it must have been Clow Reed and wondered if the three people living there felt it.

"What are you doing here?"

Sakura nearly jumped when she heard the girl's voice. After looking down she saw Akako sitting there on the ground. The girl seemed to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere. As Sakura thought about what to say she realized that there was something different about her. It almost was like she was a different person. Akako was looking up at her.

"You didn't answer my question." Akako replied, looking up at Sakura. "What are you doing here Sakura-chan?"

"I'm here because Eriol-kun invited me."

The sorceress held a stone and several small bones in her left hand. When she closed her hand she put everything away in the pouch she carried with her. Akako got up and stood there looking at Sakura carefully. The girl was acting like she was curious at why Sakura was there in the middle of the night.

"I supposed Eriol-kun considers you a friend."

"What's is that you were holding?"

"Oh. It was some pieces to a game I was playing. I was playing with Ruby Moon when she had to leave to get you."

"So you are really staying at this place..."

Akako rolled her eyes at the comment. Being stuck there for so long really wasn't something that she had liked. In fact the place felt like a prison with very usual guards. Ruby Moon constantly asked her if she wanted to eat anything or if she wanted to play some kind of game. Akako though she would go crazy if Ruby did that just one more time that day.

"The Clow cards aren't working right now are they?"

"How do you know... do you have anything to do with that?"

"I'm not the reason they aren't working if that's what you are asking. I just felt it."

Sakura had been planning on asking Eriol about the Clow cards the moment she saw him. However she hadn't expected Akako to know anything about what could be going on. Sakura stood there for a few moments wondering if she should ask the little girl what she knew. If Syaoran had been there with her he probably would have suggested to her not to do anything. The sorceress was bound to lie to her wouldn't she? Sakura wondered if asking would have been a good idea or not.

"Do you know what's the matter with them?"

"I think I have an idea."

"Please tell me."

Sakura saw Akako walking away and sitting down on the ground again. It looked like she was going to start doing something even though Sakura was there. As the girl sat she looked up at Sakura.

"There's nothing wrong with the Clow cards. The problem is with you." Akako replied.

"What you are talking about? What is that supposed to mean?"

There was a loud sound as Eriol arrived back in the living room. Sakura stopping talking and saw him. Eriol glanced at the two girls standing there who had just been talking to each other moments before.

"Let's talk in the kitchen Sakura." Eriol stated.

Sakura went with him. Taking a seat at the large table she saw that Ruby Moon had already left two glasses of drinks on the table. Ruby Moon had already left a few minutes earlier. Sakura looked at Eriol hoping that he had found something that would be helpful.

Eriol opened an old book and looked through it quietly as Sakura sat there not far away.

"What's that?"

"It's a book that Clow Reed wrote about the Clow cards while he was making them." Eriol explained.

"What is Sorceress Akako still doing here? If Syaoran was here he would've asked you why you didn't trap her with your magic."

"Do you really think I should do that Sakura? I did something like that a long time ago. It was because I thought that there was no other options."

Sakura didn't know what to say. The thought of trapping someone seemed like such a horrible thought. However Sakura didn't know if Sorceress Akako could ever turn good. What were they going to do once she could start doing magic again. Sakura wished that Eriol could done something differently.

"You could think of something else."

"I did that before and it didn't turn out very well. It'll only be a matter of time before she gets away and we might not be around to do something about it." Eriol answered. "What were you and Akako talking about?"

"Akako told me that the reason the Clow cards aren't working was because of me."

Eriol stopped what he was doing and closed the book.

"As far as I know there's nothing the matter with the Clow cards. I think what she told you was true in a way." Eriol answered.

Eriol got up and stepped away from Sakura. With one hand the key that he held in his right hand floated into the air and it turned into the Sun Staff. After that happened he was wearing his blue and yellow robes. Eriol didn't seemed like the same person that he was a few minutes ago.

"What are you doing?" Sakura asked.

"I'm taking you somewhere. I think if you see this you will be able to use the Clow cards again. Do you want to go Sakura?"

"Yes, if it will help me use the Clow cards."

Eriol waved the staff and the two of them were covered with a bright white light. They both suddenly left Tomoeda.

Sakura woke up and as she slowly opened her eyes she realized two things. It was cold. It was also snowing. For some reason she was laying on the ground. As Sakura slowly got up she saw that they were outside. Sakura looked around and it looked like Eriol was gone. Sakura walked around a few minutes and saw something she recognized. It was Eriol's house and Clow Reed stood there by Yue. It didn't seem like they could see or hear her. It seemed like Eriol had used his magic to take her to another time when Clow Reed had still been alive. What did Eriol want her to find out?

Sakura quickly ran forward to see what they were talking about.

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A/N: Please Review! I really want to know what you think of my story. If you have any comments or questions please put them in your review. The next chapter should be up in a few days.