To celebrate the new anime, I've decided to finally go forward in posting this fanfic. It's a collaboration between my brother and myself, and it's been in the works for over a decade- since we were kids watching the original series. It has changed and developed from how it started out, but I think it still retains that sense of childlike inspiration that gets lost when a writer develops worry over how harshly the internet might judge their work. That being said, I hope that some people will have fun reading the innocent imaginings of a couple of kids who loved and still love Cardcaptor Sakura. As with all my fics, I don't own anything, I'm just a fan writing some fiction. Enjoy!

1- Sakura and the Souvenir

Time is a thing no one can truly gain or lose; it can only be borrowed and returned.

The ding of a timer sounded from the kitchen, and within a few minutes Nakuru emerged with a loaf pan, holding it triumphantly over her head.

"Everyone! Ruby Moon's signature pumpkin bread, version two, is ready. Come try some while it's hot!"

The library had been silent beforehand, so Nakuru's outburst grabbed everyone's attention. Kaho and Spinel looked up from the books they were reading, Kaho with a curious smile and Spinel with a look of disdain.

"More pumpkin bread? Really? It's not even September yet. You should focus on your summer recipes while you still have the chance."

Nakuru shook her head as she approached him. "Come on now, Suppi. My strawberry french toast is a hit with all our guests. I have to prepare something equally impressive once local strawberries go out of season- and foreigners are crazy about pumpkin!" She held the pan in front of him, wafting the steam in his direction. "Doesn't that smell good? Don't you want to try just a bite~?"

There was a moment in which Spinel's calm demeanor seemed to falter, and Nakuru grinned in anticipation. However, Kaho stood up and approached the two, tapping Nakuru on the shoulder.

"Don't tease him so. I'll try a slice, if you would."

Nakuru stood up straight again, her smile not wavering. "One slice for Kaho, coming right up! Eriol, do you want a piece too?"

This was the first time that Eriol's name had been spoken, and it seemed to surprise him. He had been sitting in his favorite chair, turned toward the window, a blank stare directed at the twilit landscape. "Oh, I- ah, yes. Thank you, Nakuru. Slice one for me as well."

Nakuru and Kaho disappeared back into the kitchen, but Spinel stayed behind where he was, scrutinizing his master's expression. "Something wrong, Eriol?" he asked. "You appear distracted."

"Distracted. I suppose that's one way to put it." Eriol sighed and removed his glasses to clean them. "I've been picking up a strange sort of energy, and it's only been getting stronger as the evening has worn on. It feels intimately familiar, but I can't place it. I've scoured all of Clow's memories, but I don't possess any that identify the source of this power."

Spinel thought the statement over for a moment. "Is it possible that it's a power that you have encountered in this lifetime?"

"Not that I'm aware. But if it isn't something I've encountered, and it isn't present in Clow Reed's memories, I don't know how it could possibly feel so familiar."

"It might be from a part of Clow's past that you've suppressed or even didn't receive in the first place." Spinel closed his book and floated over to Eriol's chair, landing on the arm. "Does it feel malevolent?"

Eriol gave a nod. "Very."

"Is it, perhaps, the malevolence you've been sensing in your dreams? The one that brought you back to this house?"

This time Eriol didn't say anything. He just nodded.

Before Spinel could say anything more, Nakuru and Kaho returned to the room with slices of pumpkin bread arranged on a plate. Kaho was already munching on one, and so Nakuru offered the plate to Eriol. "Tell me what you think! Be critical- I want to improve my recipe!"

"Ah, that's…" Eriol stared at the plate for a few seconds before he finally reached out and took a slice. And even then, he stared at it rather than eating it. Kaho stepped forward, reaching out to him with her free hand.

"Is something the matter, Eriol?"

He sighed and set the bread back on the plate. "I apologize for making you worry. But I'm afraid that evil I've sensed in my dreams has finally made the leap to the real world."

"You mean…" Kaho began, "…the dreams that prompted your return to Tomoeda?"

"Yes. It would seem Sakura is in danger."

"B-but Sakura-chan isn't even here!" Nakuru protested. "She and Touya went abroad for the week! They're not supposed to return until the 31st!"

"It is the 31st," Spinel spoke up.

The room went quiet.

"W-we…" Nakuru spun around on her heels. "…we have to warn Sakura-chan!"

"Let's not get carried away," Eriol finally began again, reaching for his slice of pumpkin bread. "Prophetic dreams rarely tell the whole story. When I split my power, I gave up the ability to view the future clearly. It wouldn't do to frighten Sakura when we aren't even sure what the danger is. While I don't know how or why, I feel intensely familiar with this malevolence. I will spend tomorrow going through Clow's library and writings to see if there's anything that might shed light on the source of the power."

Kaho nodded. "Shall I close the library to guests for tomorrow, then?"

"No need. Everyone is checking out tomorrow morning except for the Australian couple, and they're meeting a private driver for their full-day guided tour at six."

"Oh, that's right!" Nakuru gasped. "I have to make a special early breakfast for them. I'd better make sure I have everything before the stores close!"

Spinel sighed. "Such a scatterbrain."

"Oh, Suppi! Like you do anything to help out around here."

"I was created as a magical guardian. Not a hospitality employee."

"So was I, but-"

Eriol cleared his throat loudly to capture their attention. "This pumpkin bread is wonderful, Nakuru. But might I suggest not using dark chocolate next time? It overpowers the pumpkin flavor. How about reducing the sugar in the bread and using milk chocolate. That way the chocolate can sweeten the bread and the pumpkin flavor will better come through."

"Oh! What a good idea!" Nakuru chimed, bounding back toward the kitchen. "I'll try that next time!"

Kaho laughed as she watched the girl disappear around the corner. "I'll look over the registration books so that everything will be in order for the guests checking out tomorrow. Can you take care of the laundry tonight, Eriol, or would that only stress you out further?"

Eriol shook his head. "Actually, I think it would be good to get my mind off things for a while. I'll be happy to do the laundry."

Once Kaho had left as well, Spinel returned to his earlier spot and opened his book again. "Eriol," he spoke, "are you sure turning Clow's old home into a bed-and-breakfast is really what he would have wanted?"

"I'm sure." Eriol offered a nod. "Clow Reed was a lonely man. Filling his house with friendly people is the best way to honor him, I think."

"And what of Sakura?"

There was a pause. Eriol let out a long sigh.

"Sakura's magic has grown stronger over the years. We'll stay aware of the threat and monitor it. But… it's possible this is something she must face on her own."

Time is a thing no one can truly gain or lose; it can only be borrowed and returned.

Those words echoed through Sakura's mind as she pulled herself wearily up the steps, each one feeling a greater strain on her aching feet. Her mind buzzed with the static feedback of one who'd been awake for far too many hours, and her sore shoulders cried out to be relieved of their heavy load.

Jet lag was not fun in any sense of the word.

The relief of entering her room was that she could drop her luggage anywhere she chose and fall face-first onto her own bed. She could've laid there for days, it felt like, but it was only a few moments before the music and sound effects on the gaming system came to an abrupt pause and Sakura was greeted with a familiar, friendly voice.

"Sakuraaaa! How was Greece?"

She pulled a pillow over her face. "Greece? Wonderful. The ride home? Not so much. I feel like I could sleep for days."

"Tough red-eye, huh?" Kero perched on one of the bedposts.

"It's not like we had much of a choice. A flight from Athens to Tokyo is all day and night."

"How much time did you lose?"

"Six hours."

"Yikes. So it's, like, three in the afternoon for you right now?"

Sakura wearily pulled herself to her feet and unzipped her clothing bag, beginning to pull out all of its contents and deposit them in the laundry bin. "I never did quite get acclimated to Greek time. We were only there for five days."

"Did you see anything interesting?" Kero fluttered down to sit beside her.

"I guess so. Dad's dig site was just a lot of dirt and rocks- they didn't find anything too exciting while they were there, so he's probably going to return later in the fall."

"What?" Kero blinked. "I thought all paleontology digs were exciting."

"Archeology. And, no, not really." Sakura balled up one last tee-shirt and tossed it basketball style into the bin with the other clothes. "But Tomoyo and I got to do some shopping, at least."

Kero's eyes lit up. "Did you bring me any treats?"

"Only airport stuff. We didn't want the hassle of bringing outside food through customs." It only took a few moments for Sakura to produce a box of desserts from her backpack. "Sorry it's a little smushed. The economy seats were pretty cramped."

"Hooray! Chocolate is chocolate, no matter what it looks like!" Kero didn't seem to mind, snatching up the box and flying it triumphantly back to his drawer. Sakura, meanwhile, pushed her empty bag next to the closet and dug her phone out of her pocket. Kero, though busy stuffing his face, took notice. "Who're you texting at this time of night?"

"Syaoran." she answered, swinging her legs back and forth from her perch on the side of the bed. "He wanted me to text him when I got home just to let him know I was safe."

"Alright. Carry on."

Sakura giggled and continued typing. [Nice to be back in Tomoeda. Kero-chan is stuffing his face with souvenirs, haha.]

The […] appeared almost instantly, and then disappeared, as if Syaoran didn't want his girlfriend to know that he'd been waiting by the phone expecting her text. He did that a lot, it seemed.

[Glad you're back. Hope you had a good trip.] It was a short and sweet reply, then followed with [Did Kero even say "hi" to you?]

[Yes, he did just barely] Sakura typed back. [How was the rest of your summer break?]

[Pretty average compared to you. Practicing with drama club and doing homework.]

"HOMEWORK!" Sakura blurted out, and then dropped her phone on her bed as she quickly covered her mouth. "I mean… oh no."

"What's the matter?" Kero looked up from his treats. "You leave your homework in Greece?"

"No." Sakura fell back onto the bed. "I forgot to do it."

"That's not good. The new school term starts tomorrow, doesn't it?"

"Yeah…" Sakura gripped her pillow in frustration. "And I can't forget my homework. Ms. Suzuki will make me stay after class, and I can't stay after class because I have cheerleading practice, and I already missed two practices while I was in Greece."

"Bummer. You have time to do it now, don't you? You pulled this stunt all through junior high, waiting until the last night…" Kero had now finished all of the desserts in the box and was massaging a full tummy.

"But my brain is fried from being awake for so long. I can hardly think straight, let alone do algebra."

"Then sleep first and get up super-extra early to do your homework." Kero suggested.

"Not a bad idea." Sakura reached for her alarm clock. "If I set it for 2:30, that'll give me enough time to get everything done, and eat breakfast before school."

"That's my girl. Who says procrastination is a sign of bad time-management?"

Sakura picked up her phone again, suddenly remembering her neglected conversation. [Sorry, gotta sleep now. I'll see you tomorrow. ]

[Okay, good night.]

With a regional tournament coming up in a few weeks, Sakura was not going to let a little jet lag get in the way of cheerleading practice, that was for sure. She grabbed her backpack and started digging through it in an attempt to find the packet of homework that had been shoved to the bottom. "I took it with me thinking I was going to do it while I was in Greece… that's a laugh, right?"

Kero was quiet, though he was watching her the whole time.

"…Kero-chan? Something wrong?"

"What've you got in that backpack?" he asked quietly.

Sakura blinked in confusion. "What? No more food, if that's what you're wondering."

"That's not what I was talking about. Don't you feel that… energy?"

"I don't have anything special in here. Just some random souvenirs and electronics… the battery on my laptop is about dead, and, uh…"

"I'm sorry. Maybe I'm just confused." Kero shook his head. "You've been gone for a few days- I guess having you and the Sakura Cards back all of a sudden is making my senses go haywire."

"…okay. If you're sure that's all it is, I won't worry." Sakura shrugged and tossed the backpack to the side of the room, beginning to shuffle through the papers. She paused a moment as she set the packet down on her desk. "Actually, there was…"

"Huh?"

"Er, nevermind. I'll ask you about it after school tomorrow."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm not worried. It's just some old book I picked up in a used bookshop. I thought it was cool, but I doubt it's anything serious."

Kero shrugged his shoulders. "You're the magician here, not me. If you say it's nothing to worry about, I'll trust your judgment." He then laughed. "It's probably just got a ghost attached to it!"

The backpack stayed downstairs while she slept that night.

Sakura wasn't used to being the first one in the classroom. She usually was the one running late, barely making it into the room before the teacher in the mornings. Having to leave right after class to get to cheerleading practice meant that the only time Sakura saw an empty room was when she had to stay after for clean-up. Naturally, she didn't like the feeling.

"Hey. You're here early."

Sakura's eyes shot up from the book she was reading. "Syaoran!" She eagerly ran up to him and embraced him tightly. "It's so good to be back! Thanks for texting me last night- I don't think I would've remembered to do my homework otherwise."

"You forgot again?" Syaoran walked with her back to the bunch of desks where their group sat. "I thought you said that you were going to turn over a new leaf for your first year of high school."

"I know, I know…" she sighed sadly. "This trip made for extenuating circumstances."

Syaoran rolled his eyes. "So, how late did you stay up last night? Obviously you didn't go to sleep when you texted me you were going to."

"Actually, I did. I woke up at two-thirty this morning." Sakura yawned. "At least I got a decent breakfast."

"You have the worst sleep schedule of any athlete I know."

"Hey!"

Syaoran shook his head and sighed. "I was really worried about you last night, y'know."

"Why were you worried?" Sakura sat down on her chair and swung her legs back and forth. "Airplane accidents are really rare. Almost all flights take off and land just fine."

"It wasn't the airplane. I felt something strange."

"Strange…? Like what?"

Syaoran sat down at his desk and started pulling books out of his bag. "I don't know. It was a strange sort of foreboding, almost as if something evil was descending upon the city. I thought it might be coming with you."

"Something evil? I don't have anything like that." Sakura shook her head. "I picked up an old book from a store in Athens, but it doesn't seem like it would be evil. Kero-chan thinks it has a ghost attached to it. Is that what you're maybe sensing?"

"No. This was not a ghost." Syaoran insisted. "This was-"

"Hey! You do exorcisms, right?"

"Huh?" Syaoran blinked. "Yeah, but why? You want me to-"

Sakura clung to him in desperation. "Please-please-please, I just can't have a ghost in my house! You've gotta help me! Kero-chan says that there might be one attached to the book I brought back from Greece."

"W-well… Greece has a lot of history…" Syaoran stammered, a blush coloring his cheeks. "I guess I could… l-look at it and-"

"You there! School code of conduct section 36: public displays of affection! Please keep ten centimeters away from the opposite gender at all times!"

Sakura abruptly let go of Syaoran's waist and scooted her chair back. "Y-Yamazaki-kun! We were just-"

"Give it a rest, Takashi. No one wants to hear it." The girl next to him grabbed ahold of his ear and tugged hard. She spoke then to the rest of the group. "How were your summer vacations, guys? I heard you went abroad, Sakura-chan!"

"Ow, ow! Ten centimeters, Chiharu, ten centimeters!"

"Oh, Tomoyo and I had a good time…" Sakura murmured, feeling a little sorry for Yamazaki. "…y'know, saw a lot of old stuff."

"Old stuff is cool." Chiharu replied cheerfully, giving Yamazaki a much-needed respite. "There's definitely a lot of old things in Greece-"

"The ancient Greeks!" Yamazaki piped up, and Chiharu rolled her eyes.

"Here we go…"

"Did you know that, in ancient Greece, being a barber was a highly respected and esteemed profession?"

"H-huh?" Sakura stammered.

"Yes! Back in ancient Greece, the style of a man's beard was a status symbol. Barbers worked hard creating elaborate designs for their clients." Yamazaki continued speaking as Chiharu roped an arm around his neck and began to drag him out into the hallway. "In fact, the practice of having your beard styled by a professional was so popular that barber shops in ancient Greece became social venues for friends to-"

The classroom door slammed shut behind them. There was a pause.

"I didn't know that." Sakura stammered.

"Yeah, well… you, uh, had a ghost problem?"

"Right, the ghost!" Sakura gasped. "I have a cheerleading club meeting after school today, but will you come to my house afterward and exorcise the ghost?"

"Sure. I can meet you after my drama club meeting. If it's a weak ghost, it shouldn't be too difficult to get rid of-"

"Ghostbusting? Count me in!"

Sakura and Syaoran jumped. "Tomoyo-chan!"

"Oh, I can just see it! The perfect footage for a summer horror flick starring our beautiful Sakura-chan! An evil ghost has taken up residence in her schoolbooks. Who ya' gonna call? Syaoran Li!"

"Ghostbusters… has literally nothing to do with proper exorcisms." Syaoran scratched his head in annoyance. "It's just for fun. Removal of ghosts is a serious deal that requires the proper rituals and respect."

"I don't care, as long as you get it out of my house." Sakura shivered. "Tomoyo, do you want to come too? We're meeting after club practice tonight and going to my house. Dad is going to be out late in a meeting about the trip, so I'd love to have company for dinner."

"Sounds great to me!" Tomoyo chimed. "I'll text my mom and tell her not to send the van to pick me up after choir rehearsal."

"Hooray!" Sakura clapped her hands. "This will be fun. I look forward to making dinner for yo-"

"-that the importance to the barbershop in ancient Greek culture rivaled even the famed Agora-"

"Takashi, just stop. No one cares."

Tomoyo looked toward the back of the classroom where the commotion was going on. "What's he talking about this time?"

"Don't worry about it." Sakura shook her head.

"Dinner's ready. Thanks for waiting." Sakura leaned on the doorpost to the living room where Syaoran and Tomoyo were sitting on the couch, examining the book. "Did you find anything interesting?"

"I was telling him how we came across the book." Tomoyo replied. "How you bumped into the shelf and it fell on you-"

"That's only because you surprised me with your video camera!" Sakura pouted, leading her friends into the kitchen and directing them to the table. "I was startled, is all."

"The fact that the book itself seemed to choose you is concerning." Syaoran spoke as he sat down. "There's some sort of energy attached to the book, but I can't get a good read on it. It's not human, so it can't be a ghost, but I don't know what else it would be."

"So it's not a ghost?" Sakura's spoonful of soup stopped midway to her mouth. "Oh, thank goodness! That makes me feel better!"

"But then that means you can't exorcise it, right?" Tomoyo asked.

"Not until I know what it is." Syaoran shrugged. "Tomoyo-chan said that you couldn't open the lock on the outside."

"That's right." Sakura nodded. "That's what the book-seller told us. The book had been in the store for a long time because no one would buy it locked and without a key."

"You could try picking it with a hairpin, like they do in the movies. I'd want to film that for sure- beautiful secret-agent Sakura!"

Syaoran cleared his throat. "I checked the lock for an enchantment that might be preventing it from opening, but there wasn't one that I could tell. If we had the key, we could open it, but until then there's not much we can do. I'd love to stay, but if there's nothing more that I can do for the book, may I go home? I want to get a head-start on that history essay for next week, since the drama club is going to be practicing this weekend."

"I understand." Sakura waved a hand in his direction. "That's fine."

"Speaking of the drama club," Tomoyo spoke after she had finished the last of her rice. "did something big fall over during practice today? You know that the choir meets in the room underneath the drama club, and we heard a big clatter during one of our songs."

"Sorry, uh…" Syaoran scratched his head. "…one of the third-years got a little overzealous with his monologue today and flipped a desk."

"What was he reading?"

"Hamlet. That's the play we're doing in two months."

"Oh wow! What part are you playing?"

"I don't know yet. We're holding auditions next week. I'm a first-year so I probably won't get a big part, but…"

"Don't limit yourself, Syaoran-kun." Tomoyo offered. "You're a very talented actor. I'm sure you'll shine in whatever role you play."

"Th-thanks." he murmured to his empty soup bowl. "Sakura… before I go, can I get seconds?"

Sakura and Tomoyo retreated up the stairs to Sakura's room with the book in hand, trying to decide what to do. "Did you ask Kero-chan about it?" Tomoyo suggested. "If it's not a ghost, it must be something magical. And he's the one of us who knows the most about magical items."

"That's true." Sakura nodded, glancing down at the cover of the book. "I wonder if it has something to do with the picture on the front. We learned in school that foxes are featured in mythology all over the world. Maybe the fox in the picture is a-"

"SAKURAAA!"

Before she could finish the sentence, Kero burst out of the room towards the two of them with a big smile. Sakura jumped back with a gasp. "K-Kero-chan!"

"Now that the brat is gone, it must be time for my dessert! Riiight~?"

Sakura let out a groan, but Tomoyo giggled in amusement. "Kero-chan, we have something we need your help with. Will you take a look at this book we picked up in Greece?" She motioned to the book that Sakura had clutched in her arms.

"Oh, the ghost book, right? Yeah, I'll take a looksie." He returned to the room, settling onto the desk and offering a wink. "Only if it means I get my pudding afterward, of course."

"Of course," Sakura sighed. "So, the thing is, Syaoran said that this book doesn't have a ghost attached to it. The magical energy must be coming from something else, so… we wanted to ask you what it is." She placed the book on the desk, stepping back for him to examine it. He started toward it in interest, however, once he noticed the picture on the cover, he stopped immediately.

"…this? It's a pretty picture on the front, but I've never seen anything like this." Kero shook his head. "I can't say I feel anything from it anymore either. Sorry, but I don't think there's anything special about it at all."

Sakura frowned. "Are you sure? I definitely feel something."

"Can you look closer?" Tomoyo asked.

Kero-chan shrugged and laughed, his voice colored with a nervous tint. "What's the point if I've got pudding waiting for me downstairs? You put that book away and I'll get everybody's dessert. Be right back!"

Sakura and Tomoyo watched as he flew cheerfully out the door and down the hallway. Tomoyo picked up the book and held it out at arm's length, turning it back and forth the get a better view of the cover. "Did it seem like Kero-chan was acting kind of weird?"

"Yeah, he definitely said he felt the magic energy last night. Why would he suddenly change his mind?"

"I think the only way to find out for us to find out for sure is to open it."

There was a pause, and the two looked at each other.

"…should we…" Sakura began, "…find a locksmith?"

Tomoyo placed her head in one hand and sighed sadly. "You're just not thinking out of the box, Sakura. You've got to think like a magical girl."

"A magical girl, huh…?" Sakura thought it over for a moment, initially unsure of what to make of the statement. However, she noticed the warm power of her key nestled against the fabric her shirt. She reached out and pulled the chain from around her neck, holding out the Key of the Star in front of her. "You mean something like this?"

Tomoyo's eyes sparkled. "Sakura-chan, you genius! Hold on, let me get my camera in position. This is going to be good!"

"We have no idea if this is going to work or not-"

"Don't worry. I can fix it in editing. Now do your thing!"

Tomoyo handed her the book and Sakura steadied it the arm opposite the hand she held the key in. She had her doubts, but as soon as she touched the key to the edge of the book's lock, she could feel a shock of magical energy between the two of them and the key slid almost as if by a magnetic pull into the lock. She turned it, hearing a click from inside the mechanism, and feeling an emptying of power like a barrier being broken. Curious, she grabbed the edge of the cover and pulled the book open to look inside-

"Order up! Three puddings, fresh out of the-" Kero burst through the door, a cup of pudding in each hand and one balanced on his head. However, as soon as he caught sight of Sakura opening the book, he let out a loud yelp and all three pudding cups fell to the floor. "-WAIT, NO!"

It was too late. Sakura stared in wonder at the book in front of her. There was a cutout through the pages, just like the one in the Clow Book, and nestled inside was a deck of Stygian-colored cards with Greek text along the top and English lettering along the base. The words along the top card read THE NIGHTMARE, and the image showed a tall, cloaked figure. The image was static at first, but suddenly the character's somber expression changed and his mouth turned up into a toothy grin.

The top card lifted into the air, channeling a gust of wind around it that pulled the other cards with it. They flew around the room in a frenzy of magical energy, disappearing through the walls and ceiling one by one until all were gone. There was a quiet echo around them, words softly chanted under their breath.

"WE'RE FREE. FINALLY FREE."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room once all the cards had disappeared. Sakura dropped the book to the floor and looked back at Tomoyo, as if trying to confirm that they'd both seen the same thing. Tomoyo pointed to her video camera with a nod. There was no denying what she had just captured on film.

"No, no, no, NO!" Kero surrounded himself in his wings and appeared in his true form, slamming his paw down on the book. "Call Yue! Call Eriol! Call the brat, even- I don't care! This is an emergency and we need everyone we can get!"

"Wh-wh-what happened?" Sakura stammered. "All I did was open the book. The cards just acted on their own- I didn't even say anything!"

"You didn't need to," Kerberos replied. "Those cards have been waiting centuries for an opportunity like this." He frowned and turned to Tomoyo. "Would you turn that camera off? This is serious!"

Tomoyo lowered her camera, but didn't turn it off. "I don't understand. Where did those cards come from, and what are they-"

Before she could finish her question, the book under Kerberos' paw began to burst with light, and he pulled his leg away with a hiss of pain. From the light of the book emerged the figure of an enormous red fox, his amber coat glowing in the dim light of the room. Kerberos stepped back, raising his wings in front of Sakura and Tomoyo to protect them. Sakura pressed closer to Tomoyo and whispered "I have an awful feeling of deja-vu."

"…Kerberos?" a voice asked.

Kerberos narrowed his eyes and spoke with a growl.

"Stephanos."

There was a tense moment of silence. The two beasts stared at one another, neither willing to move. Finally, the fox spoke again.

"Keroberos! Oh, I'm so glad to see you! It's been decades- how've you been, old sport?"

The sudden cordiality in the fox's demeanor caught Sakura off-guard. It had the same effect on Kerberos, who flinched before speaking out in rage.

"How've I been? How've I been?! After everything that happened between us, all you have to say to me is how've I been?!"

The fox tilted his head with a confused look. He glanced over at Sakura and Tomoyo, and gently asked "did I hit a nerve?"

"OF COURSE YOU'VE HIT A NERVE!" Kerberos grabbed the book and held it up for the fox to see. "YOU'VE HIT ALL THE NERVES! LOOK AT THIS!"

A bright smile spread across the fox's face. "Oh! You've already taken the cards! Where did you put them?"

Kerberos tumbled to the floor. "Unbelievable! You haven't changed a bit! We have a real crisis on our hands, and all you can do is smile!"

Tomoyo placed a hand on Kerberos' wing and stepped forward. "Kero-chan," she began, "how do you two know each other?"

"This guy-" Kerberos began, however, he didn't get to finish his sentence. The fox approached Sakura, bowing respectfully.

"Where are my manners? I haven't even properly introduced myself- and to the Mistress of the Clow Cards, no less! I'm Stephanos, guardian beast of the Warp Cards. And you must be Sakura-sama, who awakened me from my slumber."

The introductions were still a little overwhelming, and Sakura took a moment to regain her composure. "Yes, that's right!" she finally responded. "I'm Sakura Kinomoto, master of the Sakura Cards. It's a pleasure to meet you, uh, Stephanos… but what are these Warp Cards you're talking about? Were they the cards from that book?"

"That is correct!" Stephanos hopped up on Sakura's bed, propping himself up on his hind legs and gesturing as he spoke. "The Warp Cards were created by my master, Warp Neon, in emulation of the world's greatest magician, Clow Reed! They are a powerful, maleficent force guided by evil and intent on destruction, and as a creature of benevolence, it is my duty to keep them confined so that the world may never enter a state of darkness… so to speak."

The room fell silent, except for a low beeping noise. Tomoyo spoke up, motioning to her camera. "I'm sorry, it looks like my microphone shut off there for a second. Can you repeat that creature of benevolence part again?"

The triumphant expression on Stephanos' face fell, and he hopped back down from the bed so that he could approach Tomoyo. "What is this... microphone you speak of?"

"Hey!" Kerberos yelped. "I thought I told you to turn that thing off!"

Tomoyo ignored him. "Oh, I have a professional boom mic attached to the top of my camera here, as well as an option to turn on the binaural microphones along the sides for stereo sound if needed. I'm thinking about investing in a 3D mic, but I'm not sure yet about the mounting capabilities, or if I'll need some kind of special software to run the-"

Stephanos interrupted her, pointing toward the camera. "I'm sorry, can I get the short version of what this thing does?"

"Oh, of course!" Tomoyo chimed. "It records and plays back the adventures of my wonderful Sakura-chan in real time with high-definition picture and stereo sound! See, here's the video of a few minutes ago, when she opened that book."

Stephanos was curious as he kept his eyes on the playback screen, but when Tomoyo pressed the button, the image on the screen showed Sakura opening the book and the cards flying out- all in beautiful 1080p. The expression on Stephanos' face turned very quickly from one of excitement to one of grim horror. Tomoyo, however, didn't notice.

"See? Isn't she the cutest?"

In response, Stephanos turned slowly back toward her. "Did… did that really happen?"

Sakura, Tomoyo, and Kerberos all nodded silently.

Stephanos paused, took a deep breath, and then quietly replied "excuse me while I panic."

His words were followed immediately by a sharp screech of terror.

A few minutes later Stephanos had finally calmed down, thanks in part to a damp cloth that Sakura had placed on his head and a track of "calming music for dogs" that Tomoyo had found online and played (once she'd done an internet search on foxes and determined that they were indeed canids and that the "calming music for cats" wasn't quite as applicable.) Kerberos stayed in his true form, a scowl on his face the entire time as he watched. Eventually, once the commotion seemed to have died down, he cleared his throat and spoke up again.

"If you wouldn't mind, I would like to tackle the issue at hand rather than spending precious time making the one at fault feel better about himself."

"It's not Stephanos' fault, is it?" Tomoyo asked. "After all, we were the ones who opened the book."

"It is absolutely Stephanos' fault!" Kerberos fumed. "He's supposed to be guarding the cards! That's his job as guardian."

Sakura glared. "You know, I recall another set of cards with a guardian who wasn't doing his job."

If you looked closely, you might swear there was a blush beneath Kerberos' fur. "I-It's not the same! The Clow Cards were not nearly the threat that these cards pose. Tell them, Stephanos."

Stephanos' eyes were closed, and he was moving back and forth slightly to the music. Hearing his name caught his attention, however, and he opened one eye.

"Tell them what?"

"YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE!"

Kerberos lunged as though he were going to attack Stephanos, but Sakura grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and Tomoyo put her arms around Stephanos' shoulders. "Please, calm down," Tomoyo replied. "He may be a little clueless, but your anger isn't helping the situation either. Stephanos, Sakura and I don't know anything about these, uh, Warp Cards. Can you tell us what makes them so dangerous?"

"W-well, it isn't the cards themselves, but the evil energy that powers them. Warp Neon crafted them from an incredible mass of evil energy that-"

Sakura raised her hand. "Perhaps you should start by telling us who this Warp Neon person is. You said that he was a fan of Clow Reed?

"Not a fan!" Kerberos barked. "He was a spiteful old man who was nothing but a nuisance to Clow Reed!"

"A nuisance?" Stephanos tilted his head. "I thought he was Clow Reed's greatest enemy?"

"Self-proclaimed greatest enemy," Kerberos replied with a hmph. "But it was only out of jealousy, and Clow Reed never acknowledged him as such."

Tomoyo took her arms from around Stephanos' shoulders and sat down next to him. "But Kero-chan, if he was just a nuisance, then why are you so afraid of these cards?"

Kerberos stiffened. "It's not just the cards' power, it's the fact that they seek nothing but destruction. The Clow Cards' danger came from the fact that they're free spirits who enjoy making mischief upon their own whims. They didn't care whether or not they were hurting anyone. But these Warp Cards? Their intent is to cause as much destruction and suffering as possible."

Sakura frowned. "Stephanos? Is that true?"

Stephanos nodded, the wet towel slipping off of his head. "I'm afraid so. You see, Warp Neon was a magician born over two-hundred years ago, when his homeland of Greece was still controlled by the Ottoman Empire. When he was a young man, the Greeks went to war with the Ottomans for their independence and Warp Neon became desperate for the power to help his people. He wanted to find something that would utterly destroy the Ottoman armies, and that destructive power he cultivated is what he eventually turned into the Warp Cards."

"Warp Neon… that doesn't sound like a very Greek name to me," Tomoyo commented.

"No, Warp Neon was a pseudonym. Even I don't know his birth name," Stephanos replied with a sigh. "He took it on when he moved from Greece to England to study the occult practices of the Freemasons, a society that influenced some of the early movements toward Greek independence. The word warp is English, meaning 'to change or alter,' and neon is Greek, meaning 'new.' By taking on the name, he melded his past and future and declared himself a new person… acknowledging that the magic he'd harnessed had changed him."

Kerberos raised a paw. "Hold on, now. You can't pretend the power he wielded was his own. It was a power he discovered on the mythical isle of Ogygia- and he corrupted it by splitting it into two unstable halves."

"Ogygia," Tomoyo began, considering the name. "That's mentioned in Homer's Odyssey as the home of the sea nymph Calypso."

Sakura gasped. "He was able to find a lost Greek island spoken of only in ancient myths?"

Stephanos made a shrugging motion with his shoulders. "Actually it's in Malta, which was under British rule at the time, but…"

"Warp Neon was after a weapon of mass destruction he could wield against the Turks," Kerberos broke in. "He foolishly split Ogygia's power into two halves, one good and one evil, so that he could wield the latter as a tool of war."

"This world cannot exist without a balance of good and evil," Stephanos agreed. "It's the principle of Dualism, something Chinese philosophy refers to as Yin and Yang. For Warp Neon to create a weapon of evil, he first needed to separate the good energy from it. This made it unstable, and after repeated use, the power began to corrupt him."

Sakura hugged her arms close to her chest. "The evil energy made him evil too?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't he recombine them when the war was over and he no longer needed to destroy?" Tomoyo asked. "Surely he must have realized that he was being corrupted."

"That's the problem with power. You don't realize what it's doing to you when you're the one being consumed. Not even when it's too late." Stephanos shook his head. "Warp Neon became obsessed with being recognized as the world's greatest magician. That's why he traveled to England, where he became widely known… and feared. The power he wielded over the people in Victorian England was something he relished, and he held incredible influence over certain occult communities. But it wasn't enough. At some point he heard about a sorcerer in British Hong Kong who had combined Western occultism with Eastern magic and was rumored to be more powerful than any other magician in the world. Warp was enraged, and he declared that he would assert his rightful place. That was when he traveled to Hong Kong and met Clow Reed for the first time."

"I still remember it," Kerberos spoke with a sigh. "Clow Reed was too trusting. This strange foreigner came to visit with no announcement and asked to see the Clow Cards. Clow obliged, showing off Yue and myself, and even giving demonstrations and a reading."

Sakura smiled. "I think it's nice that Clow was so kind."

"He wasn't really. He just… didn't have many friends."

"And Warp Neon wouldn't be a friend to him." Stephanos shook his head, glancing out the window as he spoke. "Determined to outdo Clow Reed, he went home that very night and started work channeling Ogygia's power into the Warp Cards. From the evil half, he formed the cards as beings capable of wanton destruction. And out of the good half, he created me, an obedient servant with such a strong sense of loyalty that there was no capacity for betrayal."

"I… don't get it," Tomoyo began, placing a hand on her chest. "If you're made of good energy, how could you serve someone corrupted by evil?"

Kerberos was the one to reply. "It's more complicated than that. The concepts of 'good' and 'evil' are defined by each individual's set of morals. For Warp Neon, senseless destruction was evil because it was what he wished on his enemies. When the evil energy corrupted him, he was overtaken by a desire for what he had once only wished for those who'd wronged his people. In the same way, Stephanos' life was defined by his servitude to his creator. 'Good' would be following his master's commands, and 'evil' would be… well… not."

"But that's changed!" Stephanos broke in, jumping to his feet. Kerberos took a step back and unfolded his wings, but there was no danger. Stephanos was only trying to break into a dramatic speech again. "Decades of fighting alongside Warp Neon brought me face to face with the reality of other viewpoints and moralities! I realized how truly evil Warp Neon was and how twisted it was that he charged me with finding a new master to fight against Clow Reed's successor."

"He did?" Kerberos growled.

"So that's why I've decided to do the opposite!" Stephanos continued, ignoring Kero. "I'm here to ask a grand favor of you, Sakura-sama. I want to purify the Warp Cards and end the fight between Warp Neon and Clow Reed. If you were to capture all the cards and convert them to Sakura Cards, it would not only provide them with a non-evil source of energy, but it would bring the two card sets under one master, united." He closed his eyes and made a sweeping bow in Sakura's direction. "Sakura-sama… will you lend your power to the Warp Cards and accept them as your own?"

Sakura glanced down at her key, wrapping her hands around it and feeling the soft glow of power that emanated from it. It was her own key, her own star, the power with which she supported the cards she loved so dearly. She would never forget the pure exhaustion she had faced when converting the Sakura Cards; the panic of knowing that the unconverted cards were losing their magic and the frightening idea of losing Yue and Yukito, all because she wasn't strong enough to support them…

But she had grown in her magic. That much she knew. Syaoran and Eriol were constantly telling her that her skills were improving, and that even at this young age, she was a powerful sorceress in her own right. How could she turn away these cards when she had a chance to free them from the evil that held them captive?

"I will!" she finally answered, her smile backing the certainty of her words. "On my honor as the master of the Sakura Cards, I will collect and transform the Warp Cards until I've rescued every one of them!"

"Oh, Sakura-sama!" Tears pooled in Stephanos' eyes, and he pounced on Sakura, knocking her over onto the bed and nuzzling her cheek. Sakura giggled, Stephanos' tail wagged happily, and Tomoyo couldn't help an amused coo as she filmed the whole thing.

"Look at them! That's the cutest thing I've ever seen!" Tomoyo gushed, on the verge of crying herself. Kerberos frowned and stuck his head in front of the camera.

"What about me? I'm cute, aren't I? You film me all the time!"

"Yes, of course you're cute, Kero-chan." Tomoyo lowered her camera again. "But you- well- you don't exactly give cuddles or wag your tail like that."

"I'm a CAT! What do you expect?!"

Stephanos and Sakura had finished their embrace, and Stephanos stepped back so that he could speak to Kerberos again. "Come to think of it, I've always wondered why that is. In the original Greek myths, Kerberos is a dog."

Kerberos clenched his teeth in frustration. "I am well aware of that! If you have a problem with my look, take it up with Clow Reed! He was a cat person, okay?"

"Oh, I don't doubt that." Stephanos chuckled. "He always did seem like a cat person. Warp Neon wasn't a cat person, but he wasn't really a dog person either. I guess that's why he made me a fox."

"Oh!" Tomoyo stopped filming for a moment, pointing at Stephanos. "Maybe he was referencing the legendary Teumessian Fox. In Greek mythology, it was a magical fox that couldn't be caught by anyone. The people of Thebes sent the magical dog Laelaps to capture it because of Laelaps' ability to capture anything it pursued."

Sakura gasped. "I haven't heard that one! If the fox could never be caught, and the dog could catch anything, then what happened?"

"They were destined to be locked in combat for eternity," Stephanos spoke up, "so the god Zeus turned them both to stone and they became the constellations Canis major and Canis minor."

"Stop talkin' about stars, will you? There's no time for this!" Kerberos stepped in between them, stretching out his wings to separate them. "Look, Stephanos- I know I haven't been the nicest to you now or in the past. But if we're going to do something about the Warp Cards, we'll have to work together, and the keyword there is work. For Sakura to capture the cards, she'll need your guidance, since you're the only one who knows what abilities each card has. Can we trust you as our ally in this fight?"

Stephanos' expression grew grave again. "...yes. I'm sorry for getting sidetracked. Where is Yue? We should inform him of what's going on as well."

Sakura sat down on the bed and pulled out her phone. "He's not here, but he- I mean, his temporary form- lives with my brother. I'll give them a call to see if he can come over."

"Will Yukito be home this late?" Tomoyo sat down beside her. "I thought he worked in the evenings."

"He has Thursdays off. That is, unless he and my brother have found new jobs since we got back from Greece…"

Stephanos nudged Kerberos. "What do they mean by temporary form? Who is Yukito?"

"Yukito is the name of Yue's temporary form," Kerberos shot back. "Yue disguises himself as a human named Yukito in order to blend in."

"Oh, I see. But he's still Yue, right?"

"No. He's Yukito."

"Huh? But you just said that Yukito is Yue disguised as a human-"

"That's not what I said! Yue disguises himself as Yukito, but Yukito is Yukito!"

"I don't get it-"

"Quiet, you two!" Sakura called out. "It's ringing!"

The room fell silent as a mechanical buzzing noise on the other side of Sakura's cell phone rung out. It felt like an eternity, but finally a voice picked up on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Yukito? This is Sakura! I'm sorry to call so late-"

"Sakura? It's no bother at all! How are you? I haven't had a chance to see you since you got home! I've heard all the highlights from Touya, but I want to hear your side of the story."

"Y-yeah, I want to tell you all about it too. I was actually calling to, uh, see if you could come over tonight."

"Tonight? It's kind of late, but I suppose I could-"

A loud noise from downstairs rang out, causing Sakura and Tomoyo to yelp in surprise. Stephanos and Kerberos both jumped to their feet, Kerberos' mouth turning up into a snarl.

"Sakura? Are you alright? What was that just now?"

"I-I, uh, think something fell-" Sakura began, but the noise continued, punctuated crashes ringing out through the house and shaking the walls. "-um, I'm sorry, but can I call you back?"

"Is something wrong? I can just-"

"THANKSBYE!" Sakura hung up before Yukito could say anything more and started toward the staircase. Tomoyo followed after, her camera rolling once again, and Stephanos and Kerberos brought up the rear. Once Sakura reached the top of the staircase, she stopped and turned back to face her friends. "I sense something downstairs. Do you think it's a Warp Card?"

"It's very likely," Stephanos nodded. "While the cards are driven to do evil, they were also charged with fighting against the Clow Cards. It must have sensed the Sakura Cards and been lured in by your magic."

"So you're saying the cards will all be after Sakura?" Tomoyo asked.

"Yes, but some are rebellious. They won't come after her right away. Others may draw near, but take their time in observing her and work out a strategy before striking. So any cards that strike first will be those that are headstrong, but not so bright. They should be more easily outsmarted."

"I see," Kerberos murmured. "It's like enemies in a video game slowly growing stronger the more you fight."

"Enemies in a what what?"

"I'll tell you about video games later!" Sakura assured him, having to yell to be heard over another crash. "Right now I've got to find out what this card is doing in my kitchen and put a stop to it before my dad gets home!"

(Unlike my other fanfictions, which I try to keep on update schedules, chapters of this fic will be posted on an "as-I-write" basis. If you enjoy it and want to read more soon, the best way to inspire me to write is to favorite and/or leave a few kind words in a review. Thank you again for reading, and I hope you're enjoying the story!)