Cardcaptor Sakura/ Witchblade: Part Three

Li looked around him wildly, as if trying to make up his mind as to whom to strike at first. The shadows twisted all around them, twisted faces and forms appearing in the darkness, then it was as if he simply exploded.

A wave of shadow drove back the Angelus transformed Mei-Lin, even as another stream arched directly towards where Tomoyo stood. She remained there frozen a moment, even as the Witchblade screamed at her in her mind to attack.

"Look out!" Natsuki shoved her aside, the two sprawling to the ground. "Are you all right, Miss Tomoyo?" she asked softly.

"You're hurt," Tomoyo said softly.

Blood ran down Natsuki's arm, but the brown haired woman simply shrugged it off. "Goes with the job," she smiled.

Tomoyo reached out, gently placing her Witchblade covered hand on the wound. Feelings foreign to her rushed in, warmth, kindness, a deep caring, all coming from the normally stoic seeming bodyguard. The 'blade glowed softly, light streaming between her fingers, and when she pulled her hand away, the cut was gone.

"All this destructive power," Tomoyo murmured, "and yet it heals, too?" She tried not to think about what she had felt from the guard, how she had invaded the woman's privacy.

Sonomi and the other guards were crouched behind a broken wall, while Sakura shielded herself and Kero. The Angelus and Darkness didn't seem to care about anyone around them, lashing out with fire and shadows.

"They keep this up, and we're all in trouble," Natsuki sighed.

The Witchblade sang in Tomoyo's mind, and she suddenly understood something. 'I don't have to stand on the sidelines anymore, watching. This time, I can help,' she thought, looking down at the weapon in wonder.

"Help protect my mother," Tomoyo told her intensely, then broke from cover to run over and stand at Sakura's side.

"I don't know what to do," Sakura cried, grabbing at Tomoyo's arm. She was surprised by Tomoyo's calm gaze, and comforting touch.

"I do," Tomoyo said gently. She looked over at Li, the Darkness enfolding him, and hovering above Mei-Lin, completely controlled by the Angelus. "They're consumed in hatred, blinded to everything but each other. We've got to separate them, and try to reason with them," Tomoyo said.

"But how?" Sakura asked, but there was an odd look on her face. It was like she knew the answer, but was hoping she was wrong.

"Use the Clow cards, and go after Mei-Lin," Tomoyo said softly. She raised the Witchblade, "I'll handle Li."

"Don't hurt him, please," Sakura said softly, getting ready to release the Shield card.

"I'll try not to," Tomoyo said to her grimly, "but if it comes down to a choice between him and my family," she paused, looking towards where her mother hid, finding her eyes meeting Natsuki's gaze, "I choose my family."

Sakura looked at her in shock, tears glistening in her eyes, and it almost felt like Tomoyo's heart was breaking. "Fly," Sakura cried, and rose to face Angelus.

Using the moment of distraction Tomoyo charged at Li! He turned to her, but wasn't able to keep her first shot from throwing him right out of the building. Tomoyo then dove through a broken window in hot pursuit.

"Windy!" Tomoyo heard Sakura cry out behind her, "become a chain to bind Angelus!" She didn't have time to see if it worked, she had caught up with Li.

Black, almost organic armor covered him from the neck down, and his eyes glittered madly. "You'll do nicely to start," Li spat out, even as tentacles of darkness struck at her.

The Witchblade seemed to crawl up Tomoyo's arm, forming protective armor even as it shot out bands of silver to block the darkness. "We don't have to do this," Tomoyo cried.

"Yes, we do," and the Darkness formed a sword, which Li swung down at her.

Clang! Tomoyo felt the hilt of the sword the Witchblade formed, warm and comfortable in her hand. Without thinking, she let the 'blade guide her, driving Li back with thrust and parry. 'We're getting farther and farther from Angelus,' she thought, 'but I'm not getting through to him!'

"You'll pay, for Sakura loving you more," Li bit out, swinging at her wildly.

Tomoyo felt a coldness within her, an old aching pain. She ducked his blow, stepped up close to him, and with her bare hand slapped him across the face. Li gazed at her in shock, his eyes clear for a moment. Tomoyo spoke with complete honesty, ignoring the pain saying those words caused her, "Sakura doesn't love me."

Li gazed at her silently, the darkness strangely silent around him. "What... am I doing," Li said softly, grabbing the sides of his head as his armor disappeared. Falling to his knees he shook his head, groaning, "What have I done?"

Tomoyo took a step towards the kneeling young man, and the darkness lashed out at her without thinking. "It doesn't like the Witchblade," Tomoyo said even as she fought to restrain the weapon on her arm.

Li looked up, his eyes wide with shock, "And the Clow Cards."

"You've got to leave," Tomoyo sighed, "until you can control this." She looked into his pain filled eyes, "Otherwise Sakura will never be safe around you."

Li stood up, his brown hair blowing around his face. The armor reformed, and Tomoyo braced herself for an attack, but instead black wings stretched from his back. He looked almost noble, meeting her gaze even as he fought to control the shadows.

"Tell Sakura that I'll be back, once I've gotten this under control," Li said quietly, "that I love her, and I'm sorry."

"I will," Tomoyo promised him softly.

Li nodded, then with a single sweep of his wings he was gone. Tomoyo stood there, watching him fly away until he became a speck in the distance, then simply disappeared. "I suppose I can't fly using you?" she asked the Witchblade softly.

Receiving no answer, she jogged back to the house as fast as she could.

Natsuki met her at the door, "There's been no sign of Sakura or the fire girl."

Tomoyo nodded grimly, "Is mom all right?"

"Fine," Natsuki said, and with a smile added, "full of questions, but fine."

Tomoyo looked up at Natsuki in shock, her eyes widening. "I've got to explain all of this to my mother," she said, and with a wry smile, "too bad you couldn't have just let Li kill me."

Natsuki took her arm firmly, "Don't even joke." Trying to make light of it she added, "Your mother would fire me for sure."

The two walked into what was left of the reception room, the walls sagging a bit without the roof. Sonomi was brushing off her clothes, but once she saw Tomoyo she ran to her side and threw her arms around her. Tearfully, "I was so worried!"

"Sorry," Tomoyo murmured, "I didn't mean to scare you."

"This isn't because of those Clow cards, is it?" Sonomi murmured softly.

"No," Tomoyo answered by reflex, only to look at her mom in surprise. "You know about them?" she squeaked.

Sonomi had a pained expression, "Your mother isn't completely blind."

Before Tomoyo could try to form a reply, they heard a sweep of wings, and looked up to see Mei-Lin looking down at them. She hovered there on her flaming wings, them was gone in the direction Li had fled.

"Hope Li had enough of a head start," Tomoyo murmured.

Moments later, Sakura bounded in using the Jump card, looking just a bit singed. "We've got to go after her, protect Li!" she exclaimed.

Tomoyo could feel the Witchblade retracting, forming the silvery wrist band again. "He's already gone," she said to Sakura softly. "He told me to tell you that he'll be back when he can, he's sorry," she paused, "and he loves you."

"You just let him go?" Sakura looked at Tomoyo in surprise.

Tomoyo sighed softly, "There wasn't much choice, Sakura. His power is out of control, a danger to himself and others."

It was obvious that Sakura was angry, holding her temper in. "Fly," she cried, and on white wings she was gone, Kero following behind her.