Bridge of Lakes: Memories Dove

5 Years Later

Ophiuchus Republic

Syaoran's POV

My eyes shifted slightly towards the pond. It had been five years since I had visited. Though it still made no difference. I still could not see the spirits that lurked there. But I was sure she could. My heart almost tore when I thought about her situation. So I pushed it to the back of my mind. I came here to relax, even if it was for a little bit. Though it also felt so wrong coming here without the one I loved. A part of me was missing without her here with me at this moment. Why had I even listened to Tomoyo in the first place? She very well knew I loathed leaving her alone to care for her.

I could feel my eyes prick. It felt like needles trying to sew their way in and out of my eyes. The sensation was familiar. I cried for a year without the slightest hint of stopping. Then I stopped. My weakness was not needed at this time. Everything was wrong, everything had gone to hell. I could still remember that fateful day as if it was yesterday.

5 Years Ago

Star Lake Castle

Syaoran's POV

The arrows came at me from all sides. It would be impossible for me to dodge them all. I took out my talisman and said the small incantation. Immediately a gust of wind surrounded me. Gradually it became bigger, wider, and stronger. The arrows were all sent back towards their shooters. I cringed at the sound of howls, screams, and other cries I'd rather not identify. My stomach lurched as I ran back to the castle.

Sakura. Something was wrong. I ran with all I had back to the castle. Another creature came in my path. Without a hesitation I lifted my sword ready to strike. I took off it arm. My stomach was ready to throw out whatever I had for breakfast that morning. Black blood gushed from the place where its 'arm' was suppose to me. Pushing back my nausea I got ready for another attack. The creature turned it body so its bad smelling blood gushed all over my body.

I cried out in pain. The blood burned like a fire hungry for flesh. Well this blood was eating away what flesh I had. I staggered back dropping my sword. Once again I screamed in pain. I could feel the blood eating up my flesh.

A flash of light blinded me for a second. It increased the pain I felt. Then everything that was painful was gone. Carefully I opened my eyes thinking the blood would slip in. But none did. I actually did not feel the burning sensation that was the focus of my attention moments ago. Tomoyo was beside me her hands outstretched over me. I had not realized I had fallen. Berry was in front of him her scepter held firm. The creature was melting on the floor its blood bubbling on the floor. It burned the grass until I could see a hole form. Tomoyo grabbed my hand and we started running together. I heard Berry following us keeping the enemy at bay. I was sort of out of it. The burning blood went away but I could feel my skin hissing.

"ERIOL!!!" Tomoyo screeched letting go of me. I staggered to the ground.

My eyes followed her as she ran to him. Eriol was battling three of the creatures at the same time. When he caught sight of Tomoyo I could see panic grow in his blue eyes. He abandoned the fight and caught Tomoyo before she reached him. He turned her around and pushed her towards the castle. Berry helped me back up. Eriol held Tomoyo firmly as we ran.

There were too many of them. Those things as far as I had analyzed had completely surrounded the castle. They were most likely already inside which led me to worry about Sakura and less about my skin.

We reached a side entrance and stumbled our way through it. Berry led us through a secret passage way. We emerged in an underground chamber. There was a communication center that seemed too advanced for the era of this world. King Fujitaka was behind a console pressing buttons and looking at the screens. Everyone else was positioned in different corners of the room. They stood on platforms that had a path. All the paths converged to one place. The center platform where a small white crystal hovered.

"Tomoyo," I heard Eriol whisper.

Berry set me down near the entrance of the chamber. Eriol and Tomoyo stood a few steps away. I could see that she was sobbing uncontrollably. Her body shook as she curled herself into his chest. Eriol smoothed her hair and rubbed circles on her back. Trying, in vain, to get her calmed down. The creatures had a strange effect on her.

"Tomoyo, Tomoyo, love look at me." He whispered but it was almost impossible for her to move. All she could really do is shake. He sighed. "Everything is going to be alright." He whispered more to her but all I could catch was, "Ma petite chou…" I knew he had some French education when he was back in England.

He dug in his pocket for something. A box materialized in his hand. Though I recognized it was not a ring box it could be anything. He helped her sit down. Almost immediately she curled into a fetal position. She brought her knees up against her chest and her hands circled her knees. Eriol gave her a sad and loving look. He knelled down and opened the box. I saw a oval pendant on a delicate silver chain. He took it out and gently placed it around her neck. Tomoyo looked at him as if he would vanish before her eyes. He caressed her cheek and that is when I finally looked away. It was not my right to further look on to what they were doing. I tried to stand, though I still ended up limping badly towards Touya. He was the closest to me as far as I could tell.

"W-Where's my fiancée?" I rasped. The burning was taking more out of me than I thought. Touya looked down at me and smiled with little emotion.

"She's with our mother. You took claim quick didn't you?"

"I was not about to leave her with Aniue, where is the basterd by the way?" His features became dark as he answered me.

"None of us know."

That gave me a bad feeling. I looked around finding the scene stranger than I had before. Somehow I knew that Sakura's mother was the center of the formation. But a feeling came over me, telling me she wasn't going to make it. I told Touya my concerns. He just dismissed my thoughts. This almost made me lose my temper. But this was not the time for a fit. So I set out to the door in hopes of finding Sakura and her mother as well as Aniue. Tomoyo stopped me, she placed a hand on my shoulder to stop me. Berry came beside her both looking solemn.

"I heard what you said." Berry spoke up first. "We can not allow you to leave this place. You are much too weak. The Dar's blood is poison to the body of a human."

"Syaoran…" Tomoyo said concern in her eyes. But I shook my head stubbornly.

"I am going with you. The poison can kill me for all I care. I am searching for Sakura as well."

The girls exchanged a concerned look. Berry agreed with me although she was still reluctant to let me go without Tomoyo healing me. But I knew that if we had time for me to heal that would waste the time we could be searching for Sakura. Tomoyo went to Eriol who was beside a Karuko. When she approached the older women graciously released Eriol from their conversation. Tomoyo informed him on what was happening and what she was about to do. A worried gleam entered his eyes. She took his hands in her own kissed him and whispered something more. A pain shot through me. I closed my eyes and clutched my rib cage. The pain took away my capability to breath and I bent over. Tomoyo was immediately beside me. Berry held me up and a few minutes later I felt almost back to normal.

"T-Thanks…let's go." Tomoyo shook her head.

"Syaoran, I just took away the pain, I did not heal you. Please just stay here until we return." She begged. I gave her a glare.

"If you won't let me go I'll go alone. Which do you prefer?"

Tomoyo gave a wary sigh. Berry helped me up. We covered ground quickly though we found no trace of the two women. My throat tightened and my hands became sweaty, the poison had nothing to do with this. We circled the castle twice but nothing gave one hint. Berry stomped her foot in frustration up ahead. I recognized this place as the beginning of the south wing of the castle. My eyes caught something further ahead.

"My goodness!! Where in the stars could they be?!" Berry shouted completely frustrated.

"Maybe they are already at the Battle Room." I shook my head and pointed a shaking finger ahead.

"Look there's something up there."

Tomoyo took hold of my torso. She hoisted me up and helped me to walk forward. Berry went ahead. Berry's shrill horrified scream reached me and Tomoyo's ears. We rushed inside the small corridor. Berry was sitting on the floor. Her hands were to her mouth as another scream worked up her throat. I could see her shaking as she stared at the two bodies on the floor. My stomach lurched when I saw all the blood around Kinjo Heka's body. Sakura's body was facing her mother's but she was upside down. Her mother was facing her daughter but she was laying the flip side of Sakura. Tomoyo let go of me and went to Sakura. She checked her pulse and I could see relief in her eyes. No one needed to check the queen's body. We already knew she was dead. The arrow was a dead giveaway. Berry sobbed in her hands.

Then I saw a bird flying in circles above them. I was monetarily blinded by the brightness of the white bird. I could see floral and heart designs all over its body. The designs were royal purple and gold. I was taken aback. Was it a spirit? It couldn't be because I could not see spirits. Tomoyo lifted her eyes up and saw the bird. She gasped holding Berry close to her. Berry looked up and saw the bird hovering.

"Go away!! Shoo!!" Berry called out trying to scare the bird but it only perched on top of Tomoyo's' shoulder.

In seconds everything changed. The South Wing of the castle exploded. Fire and debris was all I could make out. When it cleared half the wing was gone. Tomoyo had gotten Sakura away from the explosion. I saw Berry took out the arrow from her mother's chest and got her on her back. I could imagine she used magic for this. I got to my feet. I ushered them out of the corridor. We ran as fast as we could back to the Battle Room. But we never made it. Fire engulfed the castle. Chunks of the walls began to fall. Forgetting about getting to the Room we all headed down the stairs to the only exit we could see. The front.

We battled our way out. I could see Tomoyo and Berry trying to fight. It was up to me to kill whatever creature was stupid enough to come in our way. After the battle I barely remembered where I was.