Dance of the Amadi
Chapter 7
" I do love the Asians. The Europeans gawk at the Last Unicorn because they think it brings up some original concept of immortality and love, when in fact the Asians have been ending their stories in various colorful ways for several thousand years, always with the same theme in mind."
" Which way do you think it will go?"
Aralyn shrugged slightly. " Either way, one of the parties will not be happy. Love, for mortals, is a strong connection to life. Their connection is feeble enough without it, especially for those whose destinies are preordained."
" But Yideca is not mortal."
" You folks are daft. If a mortal can become immortal, the reverse is also true."
There was a long, uncomfortable pause.
" If he becomes mortal,", Aralyn continued, " He might be spared the wrath of the Forbidden Wraiths, even. Being no longer a child of the Amadi, they will no longer be interested in him. There are so many things that do not go well for you people that I wonder why you would wish to bring him back to this nightmare of yours again. Unless, of course, you are more selfish than even I gave you credit for."
The Amadi did not respond to this, and Aralyn did not wait for a response.
" I shall not interfere much more now. Though, as of now you really have little to do." She watched as Yue guarded the child. " Making him mortal will require both time and revealing his location. You set up quite a barricade there. Plus, it is really up to him, and see which one has more of an effect on him—his natural Amadi instincts and desire to belong, or his family's love and his love for another mortal. That will require time. How long do you plan to keep that barricade up, by the way?"
" When the Forbidden Wraiths no longer impede his rescue."
" That will take Millennia! Besides, what puzzles me is why the Forbidden Wraiths did not just destroy the whole world and your precious child with it. Even if it is made mostly of water, which they hate. You are fortunate the child did not go mad yet. I know, that is why you sent Yue. Not an ideal choice, but if he could live with that,"
The Amadi were still silent for a moment.
" How does he fare?" One asked.
" The boy? He just learned he was one of you. He is not very happy about it, though I am not certain he really knows why. What a case of the inferiority complex."
" What should we do?"
" You ask me? I am flattered. But I am afraid I must reject the offer to answer your ridiculously inane question. How should I know? You continue what you came here for. Let the future play itself out for once. You might get the child in the end."
oO
The dreams were back.
If possible, they seemed ten times more vivid. He saw entire worlds collapse on itself, and the beings that lived within it cry out in desperation and fear. This time he recognized who did it though. Magnificent powerful beings, clad in brown.
It all made horrible sense.
Was there nothing beautiful? Even the beautiful ones end in disaster. He saw wonderful worlds, he recognized them from his childhood and had wondered at one point if Tomoeda had them. Lovely places, like the Elysian Fields, like Heaven, like Paradise. They were so calm and so tranquil, so serene. Why would the Amadi want to burn them?
How could he ever become one of them?
And then black shadows tugged at his dreams. They were even more malevolent than the Amadi, dark and all-consuming. They were targeting Sakura, and Syaoran was trapped, frozen and unable to move.
But then she got away…and Syaoran knew that she should not have gotten away. There was no way she could have gotten away so easily from the black shadows that were strong enough to destroy worlds just like the Amadi. They were more powerful than she was. Why did she get away?
And then his dreams reverted back to when he was a child, his father playing with his sisters, his father whose face he could not remember but sensed all the same. It was kind and warm and mortal. It bled away in a swirl of red as the images were replaced, the sad song of the Amadi as their numbers dwindled and the sad songs of the worlds as they sensed the loss. No, he did not want to be part of that! He was not part of this insanity. He was Li Syaoran, a human child, a human sorcerer, not this Yideña, this Yideña, what an odd name…
And then the black shadows coming for him and he knew he was going to die, but there were hands pulling him away from the shadow, fleeing for his life. And as he looked back he saw his mother and sisters reaching out for him, Sakura screaming and crying. She was wounded…she was bleeding from her side, and her face was pale as a ghost but she was still weeping and sobbing and begging him to stay—
Syaoran woke with a gasp and realized he was crying too. The ferret was nuzzling his chin and neck, whimpering, and Syaoran held on to the little animal as he recovered his breath. Yue was nowhere to be found.
Fine. Syaoran thought bitterly when he realized this. He was lousy company anyway. He heard his mother's voice ringing in the back of his memory to treat the guardian with respect, but he was not going to bother listening to it. For one, Yue was not here to see any disrespect.
He bent over and vomited. It was sudden, but that was fine because it seemed like he was in a void and there was nothing below him or above him or around him. The vomit merely disappeared.
Shaking, he lifted the ferret, afraid for a moment that some of the nasty stuff might have gotten on to the little animal, but the ferret only squealed and nosed him. There was nothing tainting its fur.
Holding it close, Syaoran looked around. There was nothing but endless black. He toyed with the idea of floating around for a while but it was half-hearted—he really was not in the mood. He wondered if Sakura was all right out there, and if his mother noticed he had not called Hong Kong yet, and if the weekend was already over and it was Monday and if the teacher realized he was absent. Oh, I never printed out the stupid homework. He realized, recalling that he never managed to bring home the toner. Or was it the ink? It was the ink. Feeling muddled, he willingly allowed himself to needlessly stress for a while. Darn, I would be turning in that homework late. And the test is on Thursday and I missed a day at least. What was the test covering?
But who was he kidding? There will be no more tests, if what Yue said was right. School and martial arts were the only things he did well in. Most would say that was a significant achievement, and his family had been proud of him. What would entering the life of an Amadi do? What changes would be made? What if he fit in even worse than he did in this society? What if everyone was like Yue? Surely those beings must be all perfect and all powerful. They would have mastered sorcery like it was nothing. Heck, they might have even invented it, based on what he read. He was nothing like them! He was bad at magic. It took everything he had to get to the level he was now, and the Amadi are ten times more powerful than any Card Mistress or any judge of the Final Judgment. Sure, they were good at martial arts, they probably invented that too. Or maybe they had it first. Syaoran did not know. God, what if everyone was like Yue? Syaoran swallowed with difficulty. Yue is a prat. A stuck-up, obnoxious, full-of-himself prat. So was I, but at least I bent down a little once in a while. Though Yue did bend down, literally, to carry Syaoran around. Only for his convenience. That guardian has no heart except for his master. One would think Clow Reed would have done a better job. Though with Kerberus as the other example…
I am leaving everyone. Syaoran realized, hugging the ferret closer to him. I am leaving everything I know. Either he would die, killed by the wraiths, or the Amadi would take him. He thought of his mother and her warm smile, his sisters and their teasing and how they always offered companionship even when they were annoyed with him. And Sakura, always ready to invite him to some event, opening the group up. There was always a space reserved for her Chinese friend. He remembered her expression of awkwardness whenever he and Touya or Kero got into an argument or glaring contest. She could have taken her brother's side. He lowered his head, She could have taken her brother's side. She had no reason to support me. Especially after I treated her like scum before. Instead she cared enough for me to struggle whenever we fought, and settle with trying to mediate. He vowed to stop getting into those with Touya and Kero, but then remembered he would never have a chance, perhaps, to make up for those.
He was cold. His qi felt all clogged up, but he was too distressed to get up and fix that. His eyes felt sore from crying and his cheeks felt clammy. Wow, I am being such a crybaby today.
Nothing to be done now except to toughen up and face the facts. He wiped his cheeks and eyes and sighed. His nose was stuffed. Ugh.
He sniffled, but he was calmer now. Either way he was going to leave Sakura and his family, and that level of certainty made him braver, in a way. How the blazing hells did I end up being the Amadi child? No matter. Who knows, maybe things will work out for him. As if I had ever been that lucky...maybe if he had not been as nice as he was he might have won the Final Judgment…I was not that nice, really. And she was destined. And Clow Reed did not see fit to tell us that before I wasted time and effort going to Tomoeda? But he did not regret it, not really. He had been happy for Sakura. She deserved the cards.
Feeling distressed at his own ineptitude, and aware of the coming tests he might face, Syaoran rubbed his eyes to get rid of whatever tears were welling up again. God, I am such a crybaby! Still shaken by his nightmares, and acknowledging the reality of them, he tried to find a way to locate Yue.
Probably went off looking for an exit by himself. Syaoran thought. Or maybe he got out? Didn't he say he'd stop trying? Where the heck is that guy?
There was nothing but darkness, even when Syaoran lifted his hand and held a glowing orb of light to show the way.
The ferret stretched its head out and nosed his wrist at the same time Syaoran realized he was holding an orb of light.
Sure, Mr. Ineptitude, the ferret seemed to say as it looked at him with what could only be described as dry. What do you call juggling elemental balls without so much as a battered eyelash.
He was always good at elements though. He had lousy cards for those but the elements always came to him more easily than the others. Though come to think of it, he did master a lot of the tricks in those books quite easily.
They are just tricks though. Syaoran's doubt voiced. Hardly worthy of being called real magical achievements. You won't destroy worlds or make worlds by juggling elemental orbs. Or hovering a ball of light in your hand. Even if, admittedly, he had never been able to do that before.
Clow Reed saw him but did not know what to make of him. Probably because Clow Reed saw him juggling elemental spheres and wondered if the boy he was seeing had been nuts. Or maybe Clow Reed saw him dressed up as Beauty and practice the scene with Sakura. Hey, that would definitely make him do a double take. Boy from China dressed up as blonde girl trying to kiss his heir. What did Touya's face look like during the play? I can't remember…must be a sight to see. Yue was still nowhere to be found. Maybe you should call him, Genius.
" Yue?" Syaoran's voice was hoarse, weak, and shaky. " Yue? Are you there?"
Maybe I should change bipolar disorder into schizophrenia. Syaoran thought. What had he been expecting, after all? That Mr. Yue would suddenly answer to his calls when he was not within visible range?
Mr. Yue? Syaoran blinked. What the—Mr. Yue? Somehow this brought up the image of Yue in a tuxedo. Probably still bipolar disorder, Syaoran relented as he dissolved into bubbles of mirth. Mr. Yue. What the brain does when it's completely out of it. Mr. Yue. Suitcase, laptop, cigar…darn it—that's just not right.
Shoot. What he would give for even Yue's lousy company. He stopped laughing.
Closing his eyes, he imagined he was in the living room of the mansion in Hong Kong. His sisters were watching Hong Kong dramas and he was complaining that they were stupid. They were making fun of the special effects and declaring how those could have been solved with spells, no problem.
I want to go home. Syaoran thought miserably. Would I see them again?
He opened his eyes as he thought of Sakura and that semester with the teddy bear. The many times he tried to tell her but could not. She was a good friend for putting up with him. Sakura is either dense or just not interested. Either way it did not matter now. He might never see her again.
oO
Sakura suppressed a yawn as she waded through the water. Her toes felt cold and numb and soggy in the wet socks and shoes. Eriol held up the lasin board with his other hand, clenching and unclenching his free fist to relieve the tension. They had separated a little while back to cover more area in the caves, with Nakuru holding a cellphone while Sakura held to another. So far it was doubtful if the devices could even pick up any signals, at the rate things were going.
" I don't see anything. I don't sense anything." Sakura shook her head. " Eriol-kun?"
Eriol took off his glasses and wiped them again. He squinted as he realized his lenses had been scratched from all that rubbing.
" Iie, I didn't get anything." He sighed. He felt exhausted. " Not anything definite, anyway. It flickers occasionally."
Sakura sighed. " There must be another way!" She was not sure whether she preferred the garden, or the wetness of whatever dark chamber they were in. The ground felt like it was covered with soil, and in fact the whole water looked muddy and brown.
His lenses fogging up again, Eriol took them off and wiped them again, making a mental note to get better lenses when he gets the chance.
Sakura stepped forward and slipped. With a loud splash she fell into the water.
" Sakura-san!" Eriol called, but the water suddenly began flowing very fast, nearly pulling his legs out from under him. Grabbing onto a tree trunk he steadied himself, before scanning the foaming waters for any sign of the Card Mistress.
" Sakura-san?" He called again.
Below the water Sakura saw a blurry image of a circular symbol. The water had removed the dirt that lay on top of it. She reached out and touched the center of the crest. It glowed, but the muddy water concealed most of its light. It swirled around her in the water and disappeared into the mud.
Then the water began running and it started dragging her down. She whipped out the Watery and concentrated.
Surfacing thanks to the new magical current, Sakura gasped for breath.
" Sakura?" Eriol called. " Sakura, daijoubu?"
" Hai, hai," She coughed. " Eriol-kun, over here!"
Eriol waded over. " Sakura, use the Watery to steady the current!"
" Hai!" Sakura nodded, still coughing. She held up the card.
Around them in the muddy water the shadows of the wraiths quietly edged closer, silent and still. They waited quietly as Eriol joined Sakura at the knee-deep water. Eriol knelt down grabbing onto Sakura's hand to steady himself. The lasin board glowed green.
" Sakura-san," He looked up. " Use the key. It might open up the lock."
" It's a lock?" Sakura blinked. " How can you tell?" She could not see anything from above the water's surface.
Eriol wiped at his glasses as water splashed onto them. " You're glowing."
" I'm what?"
" You're glowing. Did you touch the symbol?"
" Uh…hai…" Sakura blinked. " What…how come I don't see myself glowing?"
" I have no clue. No time," Eriol waved at her, " Take your key and insert it into the center of the symbol."
" You can see the symbol?" Sakura asked. She could not see anything.
Eriol looked at her, contemplating. " Sakura, go into the water again."
" Nani?" Sakura blinked. " Oh."
" Come on, I'll hold on to you." Eriol held out his hand. Sakura took it and she dove in.
This time she could no longer see any symbol. She surfaced.
" I don't see anything anymore!"
" Defense mechanism." Eriol replied. " There used to be more dirt over it, but anyone who steps over the area would not be able to see or sense it. Come on, take your key. I'll guide your hand."
" How do you know all that?" Sakura muttered as she took off her key and held it out over the water. Eriol took her wrist and guided her carefully over the symbol.
The key slid into the symbol and the water glowed bright green. Something opened up at the bottom of the water and the wraiths that had been waiting at the side suddenly plunged through the water into the opening.
Eriol cursed in English, jumping back and pulling Sakura with him.
" What was that?" Sakura cried.
" The Forbidden Wraiths!" Eriol cried. " Hurry!"
The water had started to swarm in, forming a vortex where the symbol once was. He jumped in first, and heard Sakura yell as she followed him.
Within the Amadi structure the maze immediately snapped into form, followed by a barrier a little way in. As the wraiths rushed through the barrier shimmered and immediately cast the commanded spell to force them into physical human forms. The walls became impenetrable and inflexible and winding, forcing the wraiths, who were not really that far from Syaoran, to take a long path in order to reach him.
The wraiths paused. They had human shapes, faceless and nameless, but with the legs and arms of people. They were clad in black robes, which dragged in the drafty wind to slow them down. Behind them, Sakura and Eriol rushed through the barrier, which did nothing to them, but when Sakura tried to fly over the wraiths the walls grew higher, like the Maze Card, forcing the two children to solve the puzzle as well.
Luckily for the two of them the wraiths moved ahead without bothering with them. With the Amadi Child so close they would not be distracted. Sakura and Eriol looked at each other, alarmed and afraid for Syaoran.
" What do we do?" Sakura whispered.
" Follow!" Eriol ran. Sakura ran after him. " Maybe they will open up a shortcut for us!"
" How?" Sakura asked. " Does the maze change?"
" It should be able to. If you can do it, so can they!" Eriol yelled back.
" Let me use the Maze Card!" Sakura caught up to him and whispered.
" The Maze over this one?" Eriol blinked. " That might work. I doubt it, but it might."
They stopped, allowing the wraiths to run ahead. Sakura summoned the staff and cast the Maze Card. The maze card sent out its magical aura and seemed to clash with the existing maze. It struggled for a moment, before resigning and returning to its confined card form.
Eriol sighed. " So much for that. Come on!" He ran ahead. Sakura caught the card and followed.
oO
Yue had no clue how he lost Syaoran. At one moment he was making the child realize that the boy himself was the Amadi child. The next minute, when he turned around, the child had disappeared. The room they had been in disappeared as well, which further puzzled him. That meant the boy did not run away, but he had not moved either.
This place is very odd.
Deeply annoyed, especially since he had done this before with Sakura, Yue had decided to just stay where he was and wait for the boy to find him.
Suddenly he felt his surroundings change and warp in the most nauseating way. Yue's wings shot out in alarm and he flapped to get himself airborne. The darkness cleared into a maze. He was able to shoot above the walls and look down.
The wraiths were trapped within the rules of the maze, and so were the two figures following them.
Eriol and Sakura. He suddenly realized that he was supposed to find Syaoran now. He hesitated, unsure whether he should fly first to Sakura before heading to Syaoran, but realized that the wraiths were completely ignoring the two of them.
The Li boy then. He thought resignedly. The wraiths did not look up to him, but it was hard to tell because none of them had a face.
Diving down, he saw the white-clad child running away from the wraiths along the winding path. How the child knew which direction the wraiths were coming from, Yue had not the faintest idea, but he ignored that thought for now and dove toward the child.
Syaoran ran as fast as he could, following the ferret that scampered before him. When the maze returned the ferret had leaped out of his arms and shot toward the path like an arrow. Syaoran felt it necessary to follow. It was only after the first few seconds when he realized the ferret was leading him away from pursuers. He doubled his efforts.
Out of the sky a black shadow loomed over him. Syaoran, frightened, lifted one arm to cover his head and screamed. Yue's arms circled him and lifted him up. Syaoran looked up as Yue readjusted his hold.
" What's going on?" Syaoran cried.
" They found their way in, somehow." Yue answered.
" How come you can fly?" Syaoran demanded. " Is that Sakura down there?" The boy's heart clenched as he saw that the girl was well within proximity of the shadowed figures.
Yue looked down and struggled a little. " Hai."
" Go down and get her! Is that Hiriingaziwa?" Syaoran leaned over. " Get them quick!"
Yue hovered in the air, hesitating. He also wanted to get Sakura out of there. Even though he knew that the wraiths were not interested in her after all, he could not help but be nervous that once the boy was freed Sakura would suffer their wrath.
After a long internal debate, he finally relented.
" Hai." Yue moved Syaoran. The boy moved up to his back so Yue's arms were freed. The guardian then dove toward the two children behind the wraiths.
Below, the wraiths halted, following the direction of the guardian and waiting. The change was so sudden Sakura and Eriol nearly crashed into one of them. Hurrying back, Sakura and Eriol ducked behind one of the walls.
" What's going on?" Sakura asked. " Why did they stop?"
Eriol looked up and cursed. " Iie, Yue!"
But the guardian was already heading toward them. They could see Syaoran clinging to Yue's neck at his back. Reaching down, Yue dove and Sakura and Eriol hurriedly reached up to grab the guardian's hands.
Syaoran suddenly shot a blue orb at the wraiths, just as something shot toward Yue. The boy flipped his body over to block it from Yue, and screamed as he bent down, getting hit instead. There was a huge burst of blood and Syaoran lost his hold. His body fell limply off Yue's back, and the wraiths swarmed up like hungry beggars, catching his blood, trying to catch the white body.
" Syaoran-kun!" Sakura cried, grabbing the boy's wrist at the last moment. With a heave Yue soared into the sky, away from the maze, as the structures warped and changed to trap the wraiths within.
Sakura tightened her hold as Syaoran could not grip back. The boy's eyes closed and his face was bleached of all color. The child's head fell back as the boy lost consciousness.
oO
Kero circled in the air above the boy's head. Eriol furiously cleaned Syaoran's back. He was angry beyond words.
" Why the heck is he still bleeding?" Nakuru complained as she brought more water. " Kuso!"
Touya grabbed a towel and helped Eriol wipe away the blood that was still poring. " Gaki doesn't have hemophilia, does he?"
Eriol did not answer. " Did they come yet, Kinomoto-san?" He was not talking to Touya though.
" Iie." Fujitaka replied. " Isn't this supposed to be quick?"
" Faster than airplanes, definitely." Eriol replied. " Especially with the weather like this."
Now that the wraiths were contained in the maze, the weather had cleared up. Outside it was bright and sunny, and the water in the streets was starting to drain away.
" Come on!" Eriol begged, wiping at his glasses. He cursed when his lenses were smeared red. " Kinomoto-san," He turned to Touya, " Can I have a tissue or something."
" Here." Fujitaka dropped a packet next to Eriol. " I use that to clean my glasses."
" Arigatou." Eriol opened the packet and took out the wet towel.
There was a bright glow from the middle of the living room and five figures appeared. Li Yelan ran forward as soon as she materialized, not even bothering to catch her breath from such an endeavor, and rushed to her son's side.
" What happened?" She demanded. She then proved her power by extending her hand over Syaoran's wound and healing it easily, in contrast to Eriol's efforts. Taking her son's wrist, she felt his pulse.
" He lost a lot of blood." She realized. " What happened?" She demanded again.
Eriol leaned back, unwilling to tell her. The sisters gathered around their mother, who looked at Eriol, waiting.
" What is it?" Yelan blinked. She sensed something really wrong had happened. She had not expected her son to be completely well, and the question had not been accusing. Why were they all acting this way?
" It…" Sakura looked at Yukito uncomfortably. Yukito was not looking in their direction.
The girl sighed.
Yelan saw the look and wondered if Yue had something to do with this. " He should be fine now." She announced, a bit uncomfortably.
Everyone let out a breath they did not know they were holding.
" Ano…Li-san," Fujitaka started uncomfortably, " Would you…would you like some tea?"
Yelan looked at him. " Arigatou." She said. " I think we could all use some."
Eriol leaned back, watching as Yelan reached over and felt the white hood on her son's head. She said nothing, but Eriol knew what she was thinking.
What a way to lose a child. Eriol thought sympathetically. He looked over at the sisters. What a way to lose a brother. What a way, He looked at Sakura, to lose a good friend. Because that is all they will ever be, Sakura and Syaoran, if fate has its way.
He shuddered. Syaoran could have died. The blow had been mere centimeters from his heart. He could not believe Yue had risked—
But then, it was Clow's error. Yue was loyal to a fault. He sighed, wondering if Yue would ever think for himself instead of just following orders or doing his duty. He knew that he would hurt the guardian deeply if he lost his temper with him, which was why Eriol made an effort to keep silent despite his rage. As far as Yue knew, he did the only thing he could do. The Card Mistress was his first priority. For all he knew, Sakura might have really been in danger.
Aralyn, Eriol called out mentally, wondering if she would even answer. Aralyn, what do we do now?
To his surprise, the Sorceress answered him, in a voice that was much warmer than when she had been with them. So Yue risked the child for his mistress.
Despite her warm tone, Eriol flinched at the words, feeling the brunt of it as if he had been the one to commit the crime.
He is fine now. Eriol felt the need to say. His mother healed him.
There was a heavy pause, and Eriol grew uncomfortable. Did the connection break?
Ah, Li Yelan. The Sorceress's voice was strangely wistful. She healed him did she?
Yes…Eriol had a bad feeling about this. Didn't she?
There was another pause. How does the boy look to you?
Eriol turned to look at the child. " Hey, Hiriingaziwa-san," Touya was waving his hand over his eyes. " Daijoubu?"
" Hai, hold on," Eriol held up a hand, before studying Syaoran's features. No…his pallor…is it the blood?
Syaoran looked pale, and his hands were cold. There was something white coming out of his mouth. White foam…
" He's been poisoned…" Eriol realized. Curse Yue and his unmoving—
" Nani?" Sakura cried, hurrying to Syaoran, but Eriol was once again distracted by the Sorceress.
Do not be too hard on the guardian. Aralyn's voice was almost amused. He feels bad too, you know. Why do you think he is hiding?
Eriol did not glance over in Yukito's direction. What do we do now?
Unfortunately for you, Yue's mistake has cost you time. Aralyn replied. You will have to give him up. Either way, you will lose him. The choice is whether it is to his Amadi family, or to Death. Neither of which is too awful, but I am certain you have already decided which.
Eriol was silent.
It is farewell soon. Aralyn finished. You will have to tell the others. Including Li Yelan.
Eriol looked up at the Chinese sorceress, who bent over her son, trying to figure out what was wrong with him and solve it, like all mothers do.
Where do we take him?
Yue knows.
Yue knows? Eriol sighed. Why did the Amadi put so much faith in Yue all of the sudden?
Ask him what the new moon brings.
Eriol blinked. " Alright…"
" Nani?" Tomoyo blinked. " What is it?"
Eriol turned to Yukito. " We have to get Syaoran to the Amadi." He said.
Yelan looked at him in alarm.
" Now?" Sakura asked.
" As soon as possible." Eriol replied grimly.
" How?" Yelan asked. " Did they say…were they coming here?"
" Iie." Eriol shook his head. " I was talking to Aralyn earlier…she said Yue would know where to take him."
Yukito lifted his head. " How the blazes would—"
" She said to ask you want the new moon brings." Eriol cut him off.
Yukito looked at Syaoran, still very confused.
" It was the new moon when this all started." Sakura realized.
Eriol studied Yukito very closely and noticed the flicker he was looking for.
He then turned to his kawaii little descendant. The descendant, as it turns out, had not been his descendant after all. He wondered how it would be if Syaoran had just been a normal sorcerer, perhaps with more power than he had before, but still normal and human and destined for Sakura and will make her happy and her life whole. He wondered still, if Syaoran would have needed Sakura's open affection as much as he did. Perhaps he would have belonged more, and been more confident of himself.
There was no time for what ifs. Syaoran was dying. It was time to say goodbye.