Re-Broken

Disclaimer: I love CCS... but I don't own it. :( Oh, and I don't own Phantom of the Opera either.

---- A change in writing style/time/place/whatever (will notate in () which one if necessary)

Rating: T - for language

Summary: A new enemy is trying to break Sakura's spirit in order to weaken her enough to steal her cards from her. Everyone around her seems to be turning cruel... and the only solace she can find is in the arms of the man she never expected.

Pairings: Syaoran/Sakura, Sakura/Eriol

AN: Alrighty, I just can't resist writing an alternate ending to this.

(Begins after Chapter 7 - from Broken, so go back and read it if you don't remember.)

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(Chapter 8.5: How to measure self-worth)

Eriol sat in his study for hours. Having been unable to sleep after the most recent events, he had eventually given up on it entirely and gone back to meditate some more on the future.

As of late, his usual ability to see the future as clear as day had begun to waver. He knew that this was partially because he was loosing his control over Clow's power. Like Sakura, he knew he would soon have to begin a new contract with his staff that drew from his own inner power, whatever it was. He had been waiting patiently for so long for this to happen... to finally be reconnected with his childhood self that had been sealed to make room for his previous incarnations memories and drive.

It wasn't all that bad, he had simply grown up faster than most, it had been necessary, and his other self understood that. Or at least, Eriol believed that he did... the things he'd been seeing however, made him less certain of the state of his other half.

Eriol sighed as he watched the swirling clouds. He had chosen the scents that would pertain to romance... as his future with the girl currently sleeping in one of his spare bedrooms was the most curious thing happening to him at the moment, but the smoke was not cooperating in the least. He still read in it the same things he'd been reading in it for the past few months since before he had returned to Tomoeda. He could feel it radiating with him...

Darkness, betrayal, destruction, loss. Fear, uncertainty, evil.

It infuriated him that he couldn't see more... it would be nice if he knew how deep the darkness went, or who was going to be betrayed. Whether loss meant death or change...

He thought about the recent happenings... well, it did appear that Syaoran had betrayed Sakura, that she had lost him to whatever battle was going on inside the thick skull of his descendant. Perhaps that was a part of what the meaning behind what he was seeing. He hoped fervently that the loss would end with Syaoran's betrayal, mostly because he'd hate to think of himself doing such a thing to the mistress of the cards, whom he had always secretly loved.

He had been telling Syaoran the truth, of course. The previous day when the youth had challenged him, that whichever of them was -stronger- had nothing to do with which of them would get Sakura in the end. It would be Sakura's decision of course... but girls tended to be swayed by those who gave them their heart. And all signs currently suggested that his would be the stronger one.

He sighed, in the past of course he'd had a minor inkling that this might happen... Clow had sent him to Sakura with the full intention that he would inevitably be the one to win her heart. Then Syaoran had shown up and proven himself to be a man of upstanding moral fiber. If he would just stop rushing into things once in a while he might have gotten a lot farther, then again, without the hindsight Eriol had from living a whole life prior to this one... he could understand why it was the brunet was so frustrated all of the time. It took some guts to stand up to him, even if the kid had been doing it for the wrong reasons. Eriol may no longer have any control over what the future would bring... but he would still be incredibly difficult to take down by any means.

Syaoran, however, had a huge weakness... he had no idea what he was doing, nor what he was up against. At least Eriol had one out of two. Knowing what you were doing was three fourths of the battle. Sakura had won nearly all of the ones she'd ever fought... though her winning streak had more to do with beginners luck and sheer determination rather than actual know-how, at least at the beginning. Eriol supposed Syaoran had that as well, to some extent... but for a young man who would never have the power of the cards at their disposal... the chinese boy was at a distinct disadvantage.

Eriol thought about this for a few more moments before there was a soft knock at the door.

Curious, he turned towards it. Normally his guardians knew better than to interrupt him while he was meditating, but there was always an exception to the rule. Like an emergency.

"Come in."

Or Sakura...

He'd almost completely forgotten what he was doing in the midst of all his thoughts and blushed slightly, the previous evening still fresh in his mind. Clearly, it hadn't left Sakura's either, because her face was beet red as well.

"Um... sorry" she stammered, gesturing to the incense that was now escaping the room.

Eriol smiled, "Not at all... what can I do for you?"

Sakura shifted uneasily on her feet. "Well, you've been in here a long time, and I was kind of hoping to talk to you about... last night."

Eriol flushed and turned away from her. "I think it best if we drop it for now."

"You don't like me."

It wasn't a question, and the alarming certainty of the comment made him spin back around to face her in surprise. "Sakura-chan... that's hardly the case."

Sakura sniffed, tears beading at the corners of her eyes. "Then why have you been avoiding me all day?"

Eriol rose to his feet and shook his head, reaching forward to squeeze her shoulder gently. "I haven't been avoiding you Sakura... I just thought you might need some space after what happened. Loneliness is the worst sort of feeling, and at it's height it can sometimes make you believe things that might not necessarily be true. Like... liking me, for instance."

"But I do like you!" She insisted immediately.

He stopped her from continuing by placing his fingers over her mouth. "Hush, that's not what I meant." He removed his hand and smiled, carefully reaching up to brush a stray lock of auburn hair behind her ear.

"Sakura, you have spent a long time loving Syaoran-kun." Eriol began gently. Sakura flinched and pulled away at the sound of Li's name. "What has it been? Four? Five years since I last saw you? You're no little girl anymore... you're sixteen years old! And quite lovely, might I add." Sakura blushed.

"The teenage years are the most difficult as far as the trials in the matter of the heart are concerned. When you are young you believe true love is everywhere... in any one. And when you get your first crush you believe it will end your life if you lose that person. I know how it is, Sakura... I've done it all once before. You have only just recently lost Syaoran, and your heart is aching for some kind of release. Right now, I'm the most convenient person, but if you act on the impulse to just throw yourself into my arms... " Eriol paused, trying to think of how to phrase what he was about to say correctly.

"If you do that, Sakura... you may wake up tomorrow and find that you regret not waiting to see if Syaoran came back for you after all."

Sakura blinked, "But... why should I care about what he does? He doesn't care about me anymore!"

Eriol sighed, "It may appear that way... in the six or seven years you've known him and fallen in love, you two have never once had any kind of quarrel. But are you really going to just give him up after only a day? When you've spent so long together?"

Sakura thought about that for a couple of moments. "I... I guess not. Well, in the past, when he left to go home... he only ever left for a week. So, if he's not back in a week... can I give up on him then?" she asked curiously.

Eriol shrugged, "Your rebound time is for you to figure out Sakura... it might be a day, a week, a month, or even a year. When you can be sure that your feelings for me are real, and not spring-loaded by your current hatred of Syaoran... then we can talk about this again." he warned.

Sakura shrunk in defeat. "Alright Eriol. But, for the record... you do like me, right?" she asked hopefully.

Eriol smiled, "For the record... yes, I like you very much Sakura-chan."

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Muahaha... Ah, how I have missed doing this.

And yes, as it says above, this is an alternate ending... and as defined by me... that means it will not end the same way the other one did.

You go ahead and figure out what that means. XD

`Rozu