The Silver Moon

Summary: Xiao Lang Li, Prince of the Li clan, locked up in the Asylum of the Human world for reasons unknown. Accused for murder, his memory erased, declared amnesia, his life a void and perhaps meaningless, his mind only left with one thought to ponder on. Sakura. Can Eriol, Powerful Sorcerer of the Reed Dynasty, help Li revive these memories and perhaps, stop the apocalypse?

Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Romance/Angst.

Author's note: Chapter ten up! Forgive me, it has been an eternity since I last updated but please, do keep up and read and review! I have some official help this time . Aren't Beta readers the best? Thanking The Emcee for picking up this chapter and editing it out as and when asked. I definitely loved reading some of my reviews, Thank you so much, you've all made my day.

And: Keep Review, please. That's all I ask. You've read it and added it to your fav list, but I don't know what you're thinking of it. So please, review.

And: I wanted to ask you all to read my other stories too, but I won't be updating them any time soon. This one I'll keep up with.

Disclaimer: CCS is not mine.

10: Fire

I'll seek you out,
Flay you alive
One more word and you won't survive
And I'm not scared of your stolen power
I see right through you any hour

-Eyes on Fire; Blue Foundation

Princess Tomoyo Daidouji was one of great esteem and beauty. She was known throughout her nation, Reed, Japan, as one who was calm through the storm, and wise like the old man. She had the heiress title added to her wondrous self, which made her further impossible to resist.

The nearby nation, Tomoeda, was ruled by the Lis, whose marriage proposal had arrived only a few days ago. Yelan Li, mother of the prince who she intended to meet sooner rather than later, was magnificent. She was sweet, kind, compassionate and also insisted upon her as a guest to her niece, Mei Ling Rae's wedding preparations in order to bond with their family and such. Tomoyo was delighted.

Having placed herself in a violet kimono, Tomoyo looked ravishing. Her hair was left for all to see, open and cascading across her shoulders and back, black as the night sky and smooth as silk. Her face wore the smallest of smiles as she looked forward to the meeting.

Her carriage moved on through the night as she tried to get some rest and turn her mind off for the next few hours. She was anxious to make new friends, her life having been lonely thus far, and her only companion was her maid, Yui. Her life had been empty with no one to care for, and she liked the prospect of marriage. Less a husband, she was hoping to find her soul-mate and trusted partner in the Prince, and she hoped he wouldn't disappoint.

Something told her he wouldn't, and that she would be making more friends than just the one. With that thought, she drifted her head onto Yui's lap and slept through the rest of the night. After all, tomorrow her life would change forever.

*.*

Mei Ling and Sakura rode peacefully through the countryside as they returned to Mei Ling's castle a little further off from Tomoeda. Mei Ling smiled at Sakura as she looked out; the sky a dull yet vibrant blue, the grass green and the scene seemed complete. She looked lovely in her rose coloured kimono with her hair tied up beautifully. Mei Ling could see her as her own sister, let alone sister-in-law. She felt the will to suppress tears.

Damn her brother for falling for this girl. She was a commoner. She was nobody. And, she still here at the same time. She was innocent, jumpy, and quirky and some may even call it weird but she was wonderful. Sakura Kinomoto was truly a blessing.

Mei Ling thought hard back to when she felt the aura she did coming off of Sakura. She thought back to the times she'd felt the same from her brother and wondered if he knew exactly how powerful this girl before her was. It shocked Mei Ling sometimes how humble she was with all the power she holds.

Does she even know her worth? If anyone had to ever find out, if her family had to even guess—

"Tell me about your fiancé."

Mei Ling blinked as she registered the question. Her fiancé... She smiled.

"His name is Takashi Yamazaki. He's Japanese, unlike me, but he was born and brought up abroad, again much unlike me. He's loud, sneaky, and obnoxious and so much of a butter bag sometimes," she paused, while the two simply exchanged looks.

"I'm guessing the sneaky part's where he's exactly like you," Sakura smirked slightly. Mei Ling gave her a fake gasp.

"Whatever could you be talking about, Sakura?"

Sakura frowned slightly as she decided to come straight to the point. No use putting it off any longer.

"You came to my camp on purpose, didn't you?"

Mei Ling stopped breathing. While she assumed Sakura was talking about something funny she had done, like sneak her back to her castle, she had not expected this. And she didn't know what to say to her. She couldn't control her. She had nothing to do but accept it. But was the smartest thing to do right now?

She sighed before she responded.

"I've known you for a long time Sakura," Mei Ling stated as though that was the most obvious thing in the world. Sakura only looked at her dispassionately. She had guessed as much.

"I know you'll want answers, Sakura, and I would give them to you. But I can't." She paused as she looked to Sakura. She held one hand out for Sakura to hold.

"Please, you have to trust me when I say there are things out there that I have to keep from everything, even you. I may not be a Li, but as you know from my brother already, we share enough blood to share the magic and we have to keep our secrets," she felt worried as she felt Sakura tensing up.

"Please, trust me. Everything will fall into place. You and I are meant to be best friends, and that's why you're here with me. Let me play my role in your life Sakura, and you can be what you're meant to be to me."

Mei Ling stopped speaking for a long few moments before Sakura held Mei Ling's hand in confirmation. Sakura trusted her. Mei Ling let go of a breath she did not know she was holding back.

Mei Ling gripped Sakura's hand and gave it a firm shake before letting it go.

Sakura smiled at her. She trusted Mei Ling, just as she trusted her cousin still. And she knew they would never betray her. But she couldn't help feel that even they couldn't protect her from what she had to be protected from.

TSM

"And this is where the wedding chapel will be, where we're going to have an authentic catholic and Chinese wedding," Mei Ling gestured to the large meadow that followed her palace of a home. And never before had Sakura ever thought she would be in a place this beautiful. The meadow was green, luscious and wonderful to look at. She could hardly imagine how it would look once the preparations were all done.

Already there were Chinese lanterns hung up. Large, and blue and glass was all around the making of this wedding and she was so enticed by the thought of being a part of it. She loved knowing Mei Ling's special day had become hers somehow, and she couldn't contain herself. She hugged Mei Ling while she spoke to some workmen, shamelessly, and felt the tears then.

She was incredibly happy.

"Sakura..." Mei Ling slowly called out as Sakura pulled away. Sakura shook her head.

"It's nothing. I'm just so happy for you. I love that you're doing this, I love that you're in love and I'm so happy for you." She blabbered a lot and felt the tears. Mei Ling smiled and patted her shoulders.

"This will happen for you too. One fine day, we all get what we want if it is what we actually want."

Sakura nodded. She noticed a tall man with closed bright eyes approaching towards them. He smiled a smile that made her want to laugh. Something told her everything this man said had a little story behind it.

"Yamazaki!"

Mei Ling threw her arms around him as she kissed his cheek. He twirled her around the on the grass and felt his relief. Finally, he has seen her again.

"You've been gone for days, Mei." He told her silently. She nodded as she smiled at him. She eyed Sakura inconspicuously and answered him truthfully.

"I'm back now."

Mei Ling led him to Sakura as she introduced to the two of them. Sakura bowed and Yamazaki did the same as he spoke to her in the strangest accent, according to Sakura. It was the strangest way she'd heard anyone speak. He drawled over his words so carelessly that she felt herself wincing. It wasn't that she despised it... she just wondered how Mei Ling got along with him so well even with it.

That day, the three of them spent their time getting to know each other, loving the weather and the food. Sakura had never eaten as much before. Mei Ling had never laughed as much before. Shockingly, Yamazaki always spoke as much as he did that day, at every chance he got nonetheless. It was... refreshing for Sakura. She was tired of secrets.

"How did you meet?" she asked him them as she ate a small bite of what Mei Ling told her was called cake. She loved it instantly. Sweets were her cup of tea.

"Well, Mei Ling had come Chicago to study arts, and I was there already. You see, as that is where I am from and I was gallivanting the world when I found this beautiful woman fighting a bunch of goons ragging her on campus. She was like lightning, I tell you, like a ninja," he looked at her with pride and smiled at her as he kissed her.

Sakura sat upright.

She had never seen two people kiss before. But she could feel the tingle on her own lips as they kissed in front, and it made her wonder why she felt like this.

Yamazaki truly loved Mei Ling, and Mei Ling loved him. They looked lovely together, submerged in their wedding plans and premarital bliss. They looked... at peace. All her life Sakura had wanted that peace. She'd craved for that once she lost her parents and was left with only her brother. She thought Syaoran would bring her that peace—

She was so madly in love Syaoran, and he was to be married to someone else.

TSM

"As it turns out, you get to be the first outsider who gets to see the dress," Mei Ling said as they climbed the marble stairs to her room. The castle was just as royal as the meadow outside. Immersed in blue walls and seating arrangements, the entire castle was lit up with small candles and lanterns everywhere.

And Mei Ling's room was just as extraordinary. Large, with enough space to hide away an army, its walls were lightly coloured and it's ceiling lit fluorescent. Sakura inhaled.

"It is so beautiful," she sighed dreamily.

"You haven't even seen it yet." was Mei Ling's smart reply.

And then out came the dress.

It was a long dress, white (as obvious) with stones –diamonds, Mei Ling had corrected her— engulfed in the back of the dress. A strapless dress for a Chinese/American wedding with diamonds and threading that Sakura could only dream angels could do. It was perfect.

She showed her comment by simply hugging Mei Ling for the umpteenth time that day.

"I can't believe I have to let you go in a few moments," Mei Ling cried, "It feels so good to have a friend after so long."

Sakura smiled. She smiled as they hugged again when they bade farewell till the wedding, and she smiled on the ride back home in the carriage as she clutched her dress in her lap.

Sakura finally understood why her parents decided to get married, and what a wedding holds.

*.*

As Kero Beros, the small fuzzy animal in front of them who claimed to be the guardian of the Clow Book, sipped at his small cup of tea swiftly, Eriol and Kaho merely watched amusedly. It wasn't every day the sight before them occurred and Eriol couldn't help but want to laugh. He didn't of course.

Kero Beros had not said much since the two had come in. Kaho pulled out her tea and offered to heat some water for three of them. Eriol nodded once. Kero Beros drooled.

It appeared Kero Beros had a weakness.

"So you're telling me that the Clow book has been entrusted to this commoner with no real background of magic," Kero stated as he sipped his tea with a final slurp. Eriol smiled awkwardly. Kaho nodded.

The scene was quite comical naturally, given that stuffed animals don't talk about magic and they do not drink their tea with a dash of honey.

"I've known the girl for a few years. She has been quite capable with the cards and growing stronger progressively, might I add. Without a doubt, she could defeat all of us at our best," Kaho paused as she thought.

"Except for maybe you, Eriol,"

Eriol whipped his head in her direction as she said those words. It was not just a surprise, but a shocking development.

Kero Beros nodded as though all of this should make sense to him. Eriol couldn't stand it anymore.

"Are you certain that is you under there, Kero Beros?"

Kero Beros only looked at him.

"Of course. I suppose the body I've chosen to be in fazes you," he said, standing on his small golden feet. "Not to fret, I can change as and when I please." He walked around and had his hand (with no fingers or claws) on his chin. He was hard at plotting. And then he asked.

"So, where's Yue in all this?"

Eriol blinked while Kaho only looked at Kero Beros.

"Yue?" They both questioned.

Kero twitched an eyebrow.

"You mean to tell me you've not met Yue? You must at least know of him?" Kero asked as though it was ridiculous to. In reality, it was.

"Yue is the other Guardian," Eriol stated slowly as he flipped the Clow book to the back. He eyed it incredulously. "You, Kero Beros are the Guardian of the sun, and while you take your power off of the Sun, Yue," he paused to look at Kero Beros. "Gets his power from the Moon,"

Kero merely nodded.

"That much is obvious. And Yue is the protector the Chosen one, while I'm that of the Book." He said, giving a pointed nod to the Clow Book. Eriol nodded.

"So where is Yue now?" Kaho asked.

Kero shrugged.

"I presumed you should know. Yue generally takes cover as he can't fend off his enemies too well, but since you've told me Sakura seems to have all the cards, the final judgement is definitely already over." Or was it?

Kero wondered. Was it possible this girl was the true Chosen One? Could it be this mere commoner of no magic background could be Clow's direct descendent?

"Kero Beros?" Eriol called to him.

Kero snapped out of his daze. He only grinned at him.

"Call me Kero!" he said, as he showed them thumbs up. Nothing beats this, ladies and gentlemen.

"So, let's get this much straight: this girl has the cards, the Lis have no knowledge of it whatsoever, and Yue is still MIA. Have I covered everything?" Eriol and Kaho nodded without a word. The thumbs up threw them completely off focus.

"Here's the plan: First off, we should move quickly if we want to find Yue," Kero stated as he looked at Eriol in the eye. "You don't know much before the second Guardian reveals himself." Eriol nodded.

"Will he be dangerous?" Kaho asked inquisitively.

"Dangerous," Kero guffawed. "If anything, he'll be as moody as a little girl with a candy tantrum. Don't worry on that; as long as you're no immortal enemy of his or Clow's, you're safe."

And once that was settled, Kero continued with his plan.

"Next, we have to make sure any danger that surrounds this girl—"

"Sakura," Eriol stated. It felt right to say her name. She was, after all, the Card Mistress.

Kero nodded as he spoke on. "Sakura and the cards must be taken care of."

Kaho and Eriol stood as they discussed the path to take while they packed up to start their trek back.

"You don't need to take any paths. I'll take you," Kero said. Eriol only stared at him.

"And how will you do that?" He was tempted to mention a magic carpet, but he closed his mouth before. This was a millennium old Guardian Beast they were talking to. No knowing what he had up his sleeve.

And that was when it happened.

Kero had walked to the edge of the cave where there was some sunlight, and then he smiled as felt the tingle.

His wings always came first, caving him within and transforming him from the inside. He looked like a bear— no, he looked like a lion, furious and beast like, Eriol thought when he saw him.

"You don't think I'd let you go without me, do you?"

Even his voice sounded beast-like now, after this transformation. Kaho smiled as she climbed on first. Eriol, unbelievably shocked, climbed on his back next.

"Are you sure you're the Guardian Beast?" Eriol asked and received a lion's grunt in response.

*.*

Xiao Lang had had a pretty uneventful day. As soon as he watched Sakura go off with Mei Ling he knew, he could trust her to keep Sakura safe. He headed off in the direction of the gypsy camp and wondered what the natives were doing on such a cold, closed day. He himself was wrapped in his best wool, that Kaho had offered him, of course.

He decided to keep his aura low and hang around the trees in the camp, just to be safe. No knowing what could happen to Sakura's loved ones. He never considered the chances at all, to be honest.

And, to be on the safe side, he took his sword along with him. Not that he thought he'd need it. Who'd want to fight a harmless time traveller in the midst of this freaking cold fest anyway?

After moving from tree to tree, Xiao Lang decided on a tree, almost at the edge of Tomoeda and the camp. He sat on it admiring the view of vast forest ahead of him and decided to try and meditate. Kaho had told him to concentrate on the noise he couldn't hear, on the sounds...

And so Xiao Lang drifted off into a trance.

TSM

Yukito thought it was strange, the way he felt. It was as cold as ice outside, but even barefoot he felt as hot as the sun on the inside, and no it wasn't anything he ate. He couldn't stand it anymore. Running seemed like a good way to blow off steam, so he ran.

Are you trying to get yourself killed?

He thought he recognized that voice, and yet, it seemed so far, so distant. He turned the corner towards the forest, needing to escape this heat. He didn't understand why he was feeling so hot.

That voice had been haunting his dreams and was making its way through into reality. Was it real? Whose voice was it? Why was it haunting him?

Are you trying to get yourself killed?

He knew jumping off that tree would prove something to him; he just didn't know what he was proving to himself. What was it? Was it that he could fly? Could he fly? Was it that he could hear voices now? Voices beyond the dead... what were they?

TSM

Xiao Lang noticed Yukito the second he ran across his tree, and realized something was very wrong with the scene before him. He looked terrified as he grabbed his head violently whilst wearing nothing but tatters. He barely wore any clothes and he looked unfazed. He didn't understand what it was, but he knew he should help him.

Should he? Coming in contact with anyone could jeopardize everything.

And then he heard the scream.

Xiao Lang sighed. He jumped off the tree's branch, thinking worse comes to worst, and he'll erase Yukito's memory. He followed after Yukito as quickly as he could.

TSM

What was it, in his head? It wasn't him, it wasn't his control. It wasn't him, it wasn't him...

He knew his own voice, and he did not sound like that. His voice never reached out to him by the throat and tried to fly off with wings, for God's sake.

He tripped over a bush, landing on his face and thus earning himself a bleeding nose. His breath was frantic as he realized his pulse was racing, his heart thumping loud in his ears. He'd never felt so miserable before. What was this?

It wasn't him. It wasn't him.

"Help is on its way. Calm down."

Yukito couldn't help but scream. Anyone would scream when a voice talked into your ears as if the voice had a body. But there was no body, and Yukito was frightened of just that.

TSM

The mystery behind Touya Kinomoto was simple and obvious. He was a devoted brother, he loved his sister dearly and made sure to provide for her in plenty and he was a wonderful companion. His principles revolved around those whose hearts his own revolved. And that made everything clear. He knew who he was with, what they were like and when they were happy.

He even had the sixth sense that told him when they needed him. Every time Sakura was in trouble, every time Yukito needed help. And Yukito had never cried out like that before.

Touya ran faster than he had ever before. Something told him this had something to do with the wings... white, angelic wings that vanished before him without a trace of ever having existed.

Touya scrambled through the forest and held on tightly to his coat. He was freezing and realized his hands were exposed. He groaned in frustration, not being able to trace Yukito, and then he knew exactly where he was.

"Yukito," Touya whispered as he sat over his battered form. His forehead was bleeding from the small scratch he got from his fall before and his eyes were wide from shock. Touya felt his pulse and watched the way Yukito panted in sharp breaths. He didn't even think Yukito was conscious. Sure his eyes were open, but something was very, very wrong here.

His body seemed to be burning up, like it was lit up on fire. He held Yukito's hand and watched as his body seemed to be coping with his pain. He watched Yukito's face closely for any change in breathing, so closely that he almost would've missed it...

His hand, solid enough, passed right through Yukito's semi solid one without a warning. He then watched as Yukito's hand patched through in phases, sometimes visible, sometimes semi visible and sometimes, completely translucent.

Touya could only sit and wonder for some time, and then it struck him.

"What do you need from me?" He asked Yukito, almost feeling ridiculous for asking. Like Yukito was going to form words and mouth them to Touya at that very moment.

"I need your power, Touya."

Touya sat up straight, listening for more. But that was all he heard. Touya had only ever transferred power once before, and it wasn't much. It was so Sakura could start healing again, and this was long after Sakura had even—

It didn't matter how much. Power transfusion didn't take long, and he wouldn't give it all up. Just enough to help Yukito, he told himself. Just enough to help him stand and recover on his own, and it wouldn't take much. Touya had sensed a certain power coming from him for some time now; he would be able to take care of himself. All he needed to do was touch his body with his own somehow, and focus.

Touya leaned over his face and kissed his lips lightly with his own. After Sakura, Yukito was all he had. For Yukito, he would do anything, he was certain of that much.

And he knew for certain it wasn't Yukito who kissed him back.

TSM

Xiao Lang did not know what to make of the scene before him. At the back of his mind, something did not sit well at all.

He thought. He thought of how he watched the forest in its glory. He thought of how he meditated for a while. He thought of all the noise, the distortion in his mind. He thought...

He stood against the tree, tall with his sword in hand while he thought. He frowned as he thought and slid his body to the ground, watching Yukito carry Touya off to the camp. He didn't understand.

What just happened here?

*.*

Kero sat huddled with the hay stacks so neat and perfect it looked like he fit there all his life. There was no other way to put it: Kero was an adapter. He sipped his tea neat and crisp, and he looked shrewd and naive all at once. Eriol finally fell at ease around him. After the journey back with him, he realized Kero was one of the good ones.

"Tell us about Clow's past," Kaho started slowly, drawing Eriol's attention as well.

Kero closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment.

"There were many sorcerers back in the day that could use magic and at the same time become powerful rulers. You would have heard of some of them, and, then again, you wouldn't have realized what made Clow truly powerful.

"Clow was born a half breed to an Englishman and a Chinese woman. He chose to inherit both his paternal and maternal traits and create something that would destroy world wars, violence, and show us that we could live together as one, and only then could we be powerful. To show humans that, of course, would be pointless, but try he did anyway. He created the Clow cards,"

Kero paused as he bothered to open his eyes and blink in concentration. It was like he could see it in front of his own eyes.

"Combining elements of the East and the West, Clow decided to create magic that he could pass on to the Chosen ones, so that the memory would never be lost and the wisdom would always re-emerge. Clow always wanted power, but for the right reasons. He was wise, clever but alone. And he knew he needed companions whom he could trust for eternity, so he created us. First, he divided our powers among the sun and the moon, and he created the Guardian of the Cards: me. Next, he created Yue.

"The problem with Yue was simple: the moon couldn't provide him the power he required for his stability. Even though my power surpasses Yue's, Yue is built to be far stronger than myself. Even if he isn't all the time, that is the truth.

"When Clow died, we didn't even get a warning. All we knew was his life source was fading, and the Chosen One hadn't come along yet. And then came the final hour..."

Kero's pause had a rather dramatic effect on Eriol. He didn't know Kero had seen Clow die. That had to have been painful for anyone, even a beast if that's all he was.

"For decades, Yue and I waited, waited for a new master, waited for a better world. The cards were spread around the world and we were quickly losing purpose. Yue lost stability and then, we chose to be separated. Yue felt Clow's loss far more than I did, for Clow was Yue's Earth. Yue circled him, believed in him and drew power from him. Without him, Yue was as good as dead."

Kaho spoke first.

"So he has survived; you're sure of that much?"

Kero laughed.

"It would take more than a sun and a moon curse to kill us off. We're immortal beings; we've seen this world change so many faces, we probably lost hope. Well, at least I did. Until the two of you came along.

"Yue won't be far, but I can assure you that he isn't our enemy."

Eriol smiled.

"The Lis have been known to be violent descendents of Clow."

Kero smiled in return.

"Violent and obnoxious, these Lis are. They always thought it to be birth right to own Clow's magic. Keep it within the family, they stated to Yue and I. We couldn't stop our hysteria. To believe in such an absurdity was not only foolish, but it was a crime. The cards never became theirs.

"We knew Clow chose someone right before his death. He talked about her and told us to be prepared. But in the end, Yue seems to have gotten to her sooner than I did."

Or did he? During this entire trip, Kero worried over whether or not Yue was even alive, but then he had to have faith. Kero sighed.

"To be honest, that's all I can say for now. Nothing else of any relevance has been kept from you, but I should warn you—"

The outside gate opened and then creaked to a close, revealing footsteps right after.

Xiao Lang appeared almost immediately after, his eyes wide and his breath shallow. Kaho gasped.

"Li-san, what happened?" she stood to assist him when he fainted, his body slumping completely to the floor.

Eriol assisted Kaho in lifting Li up to his bed. Kero merely watched.

Yue...

*.*

Sakura returned home before sundown and felt as good as new. Her powers felt rejuvenated and it was good to not worry over Syaoran for a day. She knew it was time to move on, but it was getting harder. Moving on didn't mean the same thing as not love someone. She knew this from the past few days of trying to hate Syaoran and failing miserably.

She climbed up the stairs to her cabin as she sighed before entering. She hoped her brother wasn't still asleep. It would be a pain to wake him—

"Sakura," Yukito's meek voice came from Touya's bedside. Sakura gasped as her eyes fell upon her brother's heaving form.

"What happened? Why is he breathing like that?"

Yukito smiled at her.

"It seems he's far more tired than he lets us on," he said as he took her hand. "Don't worry; I'll watch him until he wakes up."

Sakura blinked at him and responded with a nod.

"Are you sure he's just tired?" she asked again as she went to prepare something large for herself and Yukito; she knew how his appetite was.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Sakura."

While Sakura slept after their dinner, Yukito stood and went by their window side. If Touya had not come when he did, he didn't know that he would be standing right now. He couldn't remember what exactly had happened, where, or rather when, but he knew Touya helped him. Touya had protected him, of that he was sure.

He watched the moon, still and complete in the night sky, as he averted his gaze to Touya once again.

Yukito was sure he had heard that voice in his head again. And now when he thought of it, he felt a stirring in his gut, like something was holding an arrow to his skull. He was hyperventilating again, his skin tightening.

Calm down.

He closed his eyes, feeling the voice closer to him than before. He opened them to watch the moon once again. He walked to Touya's side, whose breathing was now even and pulse was normal, and thanked him silently by kissing his cheek.

Yukito would never know just how close the voice was.

I'm taking it slow
Feeding my flame
Shuffling the cards of your game
And just in time
In the right place
Suddenly I will play my ace