Sakura's
eyes seemed to be clouded over by some mysterious emotion as she
raised her wand feebly. Raising her eyes to view the roof of Tomoeda
Elementary School, she could barely make out the outline of three
figures.
Tomoyo studied her best friend's face
worriedly. "Relax, Sakura-chan. Li-kun is not going to disappear
from this earth. He doesn't want that to happen, just like you.
Trust him."
She turned, studying Tomoyo quietly
as a stream of tears slowly trickled down her face. "I'm
trying to, Tomoyo-chan," she spoke quietly as she looked
at the ground. "It's not that I don't trust Li-kunI'm
just afraid that I might not be able to see him again. Tomoyo-chan,
I haven't even told him how I feel yet!"
Nodding mutely, Tomoyo trailed Sakura's
eyes. Li had to be safe; he still had to tell Sakura how he truly
felt. Besides, he had promised her that he would fulfill that
promise.
"Take careLi-kun."
-------
Li could feel the intensity of the situation as he
gripped his sword. He couldn't afford to lose this battle against
The Influence; he had to seal The Influence and The Unlimited
for Sakura.
The Influence stood on the edge, its eyes glaring
at him and The Unlimited as it jumped and landed on the cold concrete
floor of the roof. "Very well then, do your best and see
if it affects me."
The Unlimited attacked first, but Li could see by
its style that it didn't to actually defeat The Influence. Sashes
appeared from her palms, binding The Influence tightly.
"It isn't enough," Li whispered as he watched
The Influence snap the sashes as if they were useless pieces of
rags. "The Unlimited can actually defeat The Influence- but
somehow she doesn't want to."
His eyes trailed The Influence's smooth move to the
right as The Unlimited sent out its sashes again. It wasn't that
The Influence was strong; The Unlimited simply didn't want to
use its full power to defeat The Influence, and if it didn't,
the both of them wouldn't be standing here for long
"Unlimited! Use your true powers!" he called
out as he took out his fire parchment. "Force, know my plight;
release the light! ...Fire!"
A ring of fire shot out and surrounded The Influence,
but was blown away easily as The Influence blew on it. The flames
that had spread on the ground beneath his feet seemed to turn
into ice as he smirked at Li. "Is that the best you can do?"
Li gritted his teeth, stepping back as he gripped
his sword even tighter. There was no way he could defeat The Influence
with his powers only; The Influence could change the elements
and that made it hard for him to attack.
His eyes were somehow focused on The Unlimited, as
if asking her to help him defeat the evil Clow card that stood
in front of them. Helpless eyes simply met his pleading gaze as
The Unlimited shifted her eyes uncomfortably.
"What's wrong? Don't you have anymore attack
to try on me, cardcaptor Li? Unlimited? Surely you can't be that
weak!"
Li glowered, his amber eyes flashing with anger in
its depths as he stepped closer to The Influence. "Damare!
I'll seal you, even if that's the last thing that I do!"
"Iie, Li-kun!"
He turned at the sound of Sakura's voice, his eyes
wide. "Sakura-chan! I thought I told you to get out of the
school grounds! It's too dangerous!"
His eyes rested on Sakura, who looked down, clenching
her fists. "Li-kun, you don't understand," she spoke,
her voice soft as she looked up. A smile seemed to cross her lips
as she raised up her wand. "I am supposed to capture the
both of them. Leave them to me."
Silent, Li scrutinized the girl that stood in front
of him with some courage he had never seen before. There was something
different about her, yet if she were to get hurt
"Let her help you, Li-kun." Tomoyo's eyes
shone with gentleness as she kept her gaze on the two of them,
and unfortunately, her video camera. "You may have some memories
to keep -forever."
The Influence could feel his impatience arising.
"Enough of this!" he exclaimed, leaning back on the
railing of the roof. "If that other cardcaptor wants to join
in, she might as well. I'm going to bring the disaster, anyhow!"
"Not if I can help it!" Sakura's voice
echoed around the dark night as she took a Sakura card from her
pocket. "Fight card, bond your power with my own!" Her
wand struck the Clow card. "Fight! Release and dispel!"
A blue light seemed to glow within her, as she stood,
holding her wand in front of her as she glared at The Influence.
"I won't let anyone get hurt due to your freedom, and neither
am I going to let you bring the disaster!"
Raising her wand, she charged towards the Clow card,
swinging it swiftly from side to side while she tried to attack
him. The Influence simply sniggered as it raised a palm, avoiding
every one of Sakura's attacks. His eyes seemed to mock the mistress
of the Sakura cards, gazing at her with somewhat triumph.
Sakura can't defeat The Influence by herself, Li
thought as he watched as she was easily thrown towards the railing
of the roof. There was no way her power could match his own power;
unless she had the help of The Unlimited's full powers.
He took a step towards The Unlimited, his amber eyes
pleading for the help that he thought he'd never ask for from
a Clow card. "Please, Unlimited," he spoke quietly,
looking down as he spoke. "Sakura can't defeat The Influence
all by herself, and you know that."
The Clow card shook her head, cowering back slightly
as she listened to his plea. "Iie," she whispered as
she shrunk back. "I don't possess that type of power. Besides,
she is the mistress of the Sakura cards"
Li's eyes turned cold at the sound of The Unlimited's
protest. There was only one Clow card that could defeat The Influence,
and that was The Unlimited. And here she was, refusing to even
attack it attack it properly.
"Baka," he spoke, his voice sarcastic as
he glared at the Clow card that stood in front of him. "You
know fully well what would happen to Sakura-chan if she is defeated
by The Influence. Fine, if you don't want to help her, I will!"
With that, he gripped his sword as he jumped in between
the battle. His eyes flashed coldly at The Influence as he helped
Sakura up. "Daijobu desu ka, Sakura-chan?" he spoke
as she glared at The Influence.
Tomoyo, meanwhile, took a step closer to The Unlimited
and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Li-kun's right," she
told the Clow card gently as she gave her a small smile. "If
you continue doing this, the disaster will soon be here, and what
work they have done all these years will be wasted."
The Unlimited turned to looked at the black haired
girl as she closed her eyes. "You see," she explained
with a trembling voice. "The Void and The Influence were
the only friends I ever had. After The Influence dragged me down
to be sealed together with him and The Void, I was always lonely.
I had no other friends."
Tomoyo nodded, not taking her eyes away from the
battle scene that was in front of her eyes and she recorded it
using her video camera. "Do you really think The Influence
is a good friend towards you?"
There was no answer from The Unlimited as it studied
the scene in front of it. Tomoyo was right; The Influence had
never treated her like a friend. Besides, it was Li and Sakura
who had told her of her true powers. "Hai, Tomoyo. I'll help
Li and Sakura."
Sakura's best friend nodded, her eyes shining with
pride as she gazed proudly at The Unlimited. "I believe you
can do it, Unlimited. I trust you."
-------
Li winced as his lightning rebounded back onto him.
Letting out a cry of pain, he dropped onto his knees, letting
go of his sword in the process. The lightning seemed to spark
around him before finally fading off.
"Li-kun!"
Sakura rushed to his side, her green eyes filled
with worry as she watched him try to withstand the pain that seemed
to cover is entire body. "Li-kun! Daijobu desu ka?"
He smiled, holding back the pained expression that
was originally on his face. "Daijobu, Sakura-chan. Don't
worry about me. Go and capture The Influence while you have the
chance."
Her eyes seemed to be filled with tears as she shook
her head. "Iie, Li-kun. I can't leave you like this"
She was rudely interrupted by The Influence's attack.
Manipulating a metal bar, he aimed it at her before making it
fly towards her. "Sakura-chan, look out!"
Li's eyes widened as a few sashes suddenly appeared
out of nowhere and wrapped themselves around the metal bar. It
was easily pulled the source of those sashes: The Unlimited. Giving
him a confident smile, she turned towards the other Clow card.
"I warned you once, Influence," she spoke,
her voice cold as she glared at him. "I told you never to
order me around, or else I'll join sides with the two of them.
Now, I'm fulfilling my promise."
The Influence took a hesitant step back, unsure whether
she was serious. "You can't be serious, Unlimited,"
he coaxed, his expression changing from angry to a slightly relaxed
style. "You know how we used to be together all those decades.
You're going to give it all up like that?"
"Hai."
The one word answer was what The Influence needed
to hear from the other Clow card. "Very well," he spoke
coldly, his expression changing once more. "If you want to
side with the cardcaptors, I won't protest. But remember- it won't
be my fault if you were to get injured."
The Unlimited nodded, her blue eyes not leaving The
Influence's face. "You don't have to worry about that, Influence,"
she retorted coldly. "I won't mind if you do that to me-
but leave the cardcaptors out of this. They have nothing to do
with this."
Li and Sakura looked up, shocked at The Unlimited's
words. "Demo"
The Unlimited's eyes seemed to soften at the sight
of the both of them. "Don't worry. I can handle him. There's
no need for the both of you to battle against Influence."
The other Clow card tapped his foot impatiently as
it frowned. "Enough of this," he spoke, his voice scornful.
"If you want to battle with me, fine. But prepare to lose!"
He raised one of his palms, and the floor around
The Unlimited seemed to rise up around her. His dark eyes were
triumphant at first, but turned suspicious when he saw that his
attack hadn't affected The Unlimited.
"Nani?"
The Unlimited seemed to smile at him as she raised
her hand, reversing what he had done. "You've known for a
long time what my powers are, Influence," she spoke, her
blue eyes boring into the Clow card who took a step back. "You
knew what would happen if I turned against you."
Li watched as The Influence tried to attack The Unlimited
again, but was simply stopped by a mere stretch of her palms.
There was something that still told him that The Unlimited still
didn't want to defeat The Influence, but he didn't know what it
was.
He turned to look at Sakura who was also watching
the battle in front of them. Her green eyes were glued to the
scene of the battle in front of them, while her mouth was slightly
opened in surprise.
Blushing slightly when she turned to look at him,
he turned away. He couldn't possibly let her know how he felt,
much less how frightened he had felt when The Influence had tried
to attack her. It was just thathe cared about her.
Sakura studied Li in confusion. She was sure that
he had been staring at her, but when she had turned, he had looked
away. Somehow, she felt as if he could feel the same thing that
she had been feeling lately, but why? There was no way he'd understand
how she felt towards him
-------
Meilin smiled as she read the note that had been
strategically set on the table so that she could see it. Li-kun
never left her alone, she recalled as she closed her palm around
the small piece of notebook paper.
Li had written to tell her that he wouldn't be back
until most probably late at night since he was out capturing Clow
cards. She needn't know with whom he had gone card capturing with.
After all, he and Sakura were both cardcaptors
Rereading the note once more, she set it down on
the table, a small smile lighting up her face as she turned around.
Li knew how dangerous it was for Sakura to go and capture he two
Clow cards alone.
Reaching the photo that stood not far from her, she
ran her hand over the glass, brushing off the dust from it. It
was an old photo, taken during the days when they were still in
fifth grade, when she was still schooling in Tomoeda Elementary
School.
She smiled at the thought of the memory. Li had always
been there for her, even when Sakura had been trying to figure
out the cause of all the odd happenings that turned out to be
Eriol. Being cousins, they shared a special bond that not even
his friendship with Sakura could break.
Arigato, Li-kun, she thought as she brushed her fingers
across the clear line that she had made across the dust on the
glass pane. He had never criticized her for her lack of magical
powers despite being born in the Li clan.
Her eyes seemed glow from its depths, making her
eyes look fiery red. The only thing she could do to repay Li was
to help him get together with Sakura. That was the least she could
do for her cousin.
Meilin seemed to hold the photo a little longer before
putting it back on the table beside her. There was no doubt about
it; Li and Sakura were meant for each other.
-------
The Influence stepped back, his eyes somehow unfocused.
"I won't let you defeat me, Unlimited," he panted as
he raised his hand up once more. As The Influence, there was no
way he could lose to this Clow card!
She just shrugged, focusing her attention on the
wind attack that he had thrown around her. It subsided to a slight
breeze, making her hair seem to fly across her face as she pushed
a strand of it back from her eyes.
Her eyes seemed to gaze at him for what seemed a
long time, before a smile crossed her lips. "I've warned
you before, Influence. I told you that I'd join them if you treated
me worse. It's become true, ne?"
The other Clow card seemed to back away slightly
at the sight of the glowering Clow card. He knew, The Unlimited
wasn't someone to be mixed with. Besides, she was one of the most
powerful Clow cards in the entire deck of Clow cards
"I don't care about that," he spoke recklessly
as he pushed a strand of hair back from his eyes. "I shall
prove to you that I can bring the Clow card disaster all by myself!
I don't need your help to get rid of these cardcaptors!"
The Unlimited didn't speak, but merely glanced at
the two cardcaptors that kneeled at one side of the roof. A smile
crossed his lips as she watched Sakura bend over Li in concern.
Those two were meant for each other, there was no doubt about
it.
-------
Sakura studied Li carefully as he turned to watch
the battle in front of him again. He was avoiding her eyes, she
could see, but why? Was he hiding something from her?
"Li-kun"
He turned to face her for a split second, his amber
eyes coming into full view as he looked at her in surprise. Then,
he turned away, his face heating up into its usual red blush that
had been on his face fir the past few days.
"Nanda, Sakura-chan?"
She hesitated, wondering if this was the right time
to ask him such things. Things hadn't been going well between
the both of them, she admitted, but there was nothing that said
that she and Li-kun couldn't be just friends.
"Li-kundo you hate me?"
He blinked, his eyes wide as he turned to look at
her again. He hadn't expected that she would ask such a question
during such a time too. "Iie, Sakura-chan. What makes you
think so?"
She turned away, evidently embarrassed at her sudden
confrontation. "I don't know, Li-kun. It's just that you've
been quitedistant lately."
Li understood exactly how she felt. True, he had
been avoiding her for the past few days, but he hadn't known that
she had thought that he hated her. "Gomen," he replied
shortly, not wanting to talk of such a thing.
Sakura understood what he meant. He didn't want to
talk about this more than she wanted. The both of them were silent,
watching the battle, yet waiting to each other's reaction at their
replies.
There was tension between the both of them. Both
of them were reflecting the memories that been so perfectly cherished
all these years when they had been cardcaptors. How either one
of them had always been there for the other if the person needed
help
Li and Sakura's paths had crossed, but there was
no telling what would turn out in the end.
-------
The Unlimited calmly raised a palm as a quiver of
fire arrows hurtled towards her. The fire seemed to have been
doused by water, diminishing and fading before it could even touch
her.
The Influence stepped back, his eyes wide with somewhat
terror as he viewed the look in The Unlimited's blue eyes. Gone
was the Clow card who had been so afraid of him and willing to
do anything, and here was someone he didn't know. Someone cold,
and brave enough to do anything she pleased.
"Baka," he spoke as he took another step
back, his voice trembling slightly. " You think you can defeat
me? I'm not going to give up until I bring the disaster to this
world!"
She seemed to study him for a moment, her eyes growing
soft as she viewed the Clow card that stood in front of her. "It's
no use fighting, Influence," she spoke softly. "Why
don't you just forget your revenge towards Clow Reed?"
Li and Sakura turned, shocked at the sudden news.
They hadn't known that The Influence hated Clow Reed. Then again,
hadn't he known that Eriol was the reincarnation of Clow Reed?
"I'll never forgive him!" he spat, his
eyes glowing with anger as he clenched his fists. "He was
the cause that I was sealed at the bottom of his house anyway!
Why should I forgive him?"
"Because I did it for your own good."
All of them turned to see Eriol standing at the doorway
that led back down to the school hallways. He had taken off his
glasses, making it clear for everyone to see that he was truly
Clow Reed.
The Influence stepped forward, his face contorted
with anger as he glared at his creator. "So you are the reincarnation
of Clow Reed, Eriol," he spoke, his voice filled with rage
and hatred. "I should have killed at my first chance."
Eriol took a step forward, his eyes studying the
fuming Clow card that stood in front of him. "Do you think
I wanted to seal you and The Void?"
The Influence looked shocked at the question, but
quickly shook his head. "Nice try. All the same, I won't
forgive you for what you did to me decades ago and making me suffer!"
He raised his hands, making things start to throw
themselves at Eriol. It was evident that The Influence still hated
Clow Reed for what he did decades ago.
Eriol simply closed his eyes as the items flew at
him. Using his own magical powers, he avoided every item that
was sent to harm him in whatever way.
Li took a step forward, his eyes filled with worry
for his reincarnated ancestor who simply faced The Influence's
attack calmly. He was stopped by Sakura who tugged slightly at
his cardcaptor uniform.
"Don't interfere, Li-kun," she told him
as she turned to look at Eriol. "I believe that Eriol-kun
can defeat The Influence. He knows what he's doing. If he's truly
in trouble, then we can help him. For the time being, don't interfere."
He hesitated, looking at Sakura before nodding in
defeat. Sakura was right. Eriol was the only one who knew how
to handle The Influence in the best way possible. There was no
use trying to interfere in his work anyway.
The Influence finally stopped attacking. His eyes
widened in surprise as he saw Eriol calmly open his eye and look
straight at him.
"Are you satisfied now, Influence? Have you
attacked me enough, or do you want to attack me more?" Eriol's
voice was calm as he spoke to the Clow card that he had created.
"You're welcome to. I won't try to resist."
"What's the use?" he spat, his tone bitter
as he glared at his creator. "You know very well that even
if I were to attack you once more, you would either avoid my attack
or just use your magic to defend yourself!"
Eriol shook his head. "Very well, then, Influence.
I won't avoid your attack, or use my magic to save myself. Do
whatever you think is right. I won't mind."
The Influence hesitated, his eyes showing the slightest
hint of a doubt as he raised his hands slowly. Eriol stood firmly
on the ground, closing his eyes as he waited for The Influence's
attack.
"You don't frighten me!"
Eriol flew back as a strong force hit him. The direct
hit made his stagger back, his eyes open with shock as he tried
to look into The Influence's eyes. "Go on," he gasped.
"I won't stop you."
The Clow card paused, lowering his hands as he scrutinized
Eriol carefully. "Nani?" he asked at last.
"?"
"Why are you so willing to sacrifice yourself
? Why don't you use your magic instead of bearing my attacks?"
Eriol's eyes softened as he stood up, brushing some
dust off himself. "I've been wanting to tell you all this
time, Influence," he spoke gently. "I never wanted to
seal you and The Void under Clow Reed's house. That wasn't what
I wanted to do at all."
"What do you mean? You were the one that sealed
me and The Void under your own house!"
He looked down, his eyes full of sorrow as he spoke.
"I had no other choice, Influence. Since you and The Void
were the only yin cards among all the Clow cards that I created,
I had no choice but to seal the two of you to avoid anything bad
from happening if anyone released the Clow cards."
"Don't lie to me! You deliberately chose me
and The Void to be sealed under that house of yours! You don't
know how the both of us suffered! Ever Unlimited knows about how
it was under there! "
The previous owner of the Clow cards seemed to study
The Influence as he spoke. "I never wanted to do anything
like that to the three of you, but I had no choice. If I didn't
seal you under there, the entire world would be in danger. The
disaster might happen."
The Influence looked down, clenching his fists. "Iie,"
he whispered almost inaudibly as he looked up. "You never
cared about how we were! You simply left us to rot down under
that house of yours! Then, you left us alone!"
Eriol could feel the hatred that seemed to radiate
from The Influence, yet he was silent. The Influence was right;
he had been irresponsible to leave them there like that for all
those years. Still
"I didn't. After sealing the Clow cards in the
Clow book, I died."
This unexpected reply made both the Clow cards look
up in shock. The reality of the situation seemed to crash down
on them as they viewed Eriol looking down. "You died?"
He nodded. "Hai. Sealing you and The Void together
with The Unlimited took away most of my powers, but that didn't
bother me. I had to seal the other Clow cards in the book. That
took the last of my power, and I suffered the consequences"
"Masaka"
The Unlimited stepped forward, her blue eyes glimmering
with tears as she laid a hand on stunned Clow card's shoulder.
Flinching slightly, he turned to look at her.
"He's telling the truth, Influence. I tried
to hide this fact from you all these years, hoping that your hatred
towards our creator would fade so that I could tell you what really
happened to Clow Reed. But I never had a chance."