Note: A short chapter before the grand finale (hopefully comprised of two chapters with an epilogue).

Chapter 13

It the weekend, more specifically it was a Sunday and the two couples had assembled again at a juice bar. Julius and Tomoyo on one side of the table, Sakura and Shaoran on the other side.

"We can't just keep getting attacked like this, we have to beat them properly somehow." Shaoran said. Silence descended on the group, now that the dark reality had once again been placed down upon them. At last, Julius looked up.

"The twins can only be beaten in their own domain. It's a separate world to this one, a world they created and where they hide. I know how to get there; but the twins are stronger there, much stronger. We'd have to be ready for anything if we went there." Julius sat back as they all thought it over. In the end, it would be Shaoran's decision. Sakura would go with Shaoran and vice versa, but she was not one for making brutal decisions like this. It was not a simple case of beating the twins; they would have to be vanquished. Although they were monsters of nature, it was not something Sakura would find easy to do.

"Well we have to do something about them and the sooner the better." Shaoran finally said, after much thought. Julius breathed out and leaned forwards.

"I can open the way to their world; but whatever happens we must not be separated. They are far, far stronger in that world and only all combined do we have a chance at beating them." Julius glanced at Tomoyo who was sitting next to him. He was torn between whether to keep Tomoyo safe from the battle, should things go wrong or whether to take her. If she was left behind there was a chance she could be attacked by one of the twins while the rest were occupied in the other world; and she had the ability to heal others which could prove invaluable; but he still hesitated over taking her into such danger.

"I think we're all as recovered as we're going to get, so we need to strike before they come again. Tonight would be a good time, I think." Shaoran said, looking around the table. It was quite clear that Julius and Shaoran were the leaders in their little group, sexism aside it was simply down to personality traits.

"I agree. We need a meeting point, let's say the park and at five o'clock this afternoon? Time is tricky between worlds so we need to leave time for us to get back without anyone getting worried about where any of us are." Julius' mind was already running over what he'd need to take. This time he would be able to bring along his real battle equipment which could swing things in their favour.

The group departed, splitting into the two couples. Sakura and Shaoran heading off to the park, Julius and Tomoyo taking a stroll around town; past the library on a long route towards Tomoyo's house.

"Julius, when this is over, what are you going to do?" Tomoyo asked as they walked hand in hand down the empty street. Julius glanced up at the clouded sky and gave his answer some though. In truth, he was torn between what to do afterwards; return home or stay here?

"I think what I'd like to do is stay here; but my family's estates in England will require attention. I might let my sister take care of them while I'm gone." Julius said with a laugh, and then toyed with the idea for real; it didn't seem like such a bad thing to do.

"If you did have to go back, how long would you be gone?" Tomoyo asked earnestly, again Julius had to think.

"Not long, a month or so? Only as long as it takes to make sure things can run without me being there in person, I think." He said, the turned a corner, nearing one end of the park. They both stopped at the bridge and looked down it.

"Julius, do you know how this is going to work out?" Tomoyo asked him; but Julius had no answer to that question.

Sakura sat on the swing as Shaoran half sat and half leaned on the low metal barrier surrounding the little play area.

"Hey, Shaoran, do you remember that time just before we fought Eriol-kun, when we were here?" Sakura asked, Shaoran nodded.

"I remember." He said, not wanting to overly interrupt her. Sakura was often confused over her own emotions and found it hard to say some things, she was trying to get some across now so he let her speak unhindered.

"We didn't know we were going to finish it all just after that. Now we know when we're going to have to fight; and I think it's harder because I can't help but worry." Shaoran looked up to see tears rolling down Sakura's cheeks. He took a step toward her but she carried on speaking, making him pause.

"Every time we've fought them one of us has gotten hurt. Even Ragnar-san was badly injured and he's so much stronger than us. He said they'll be stronger there, that it's going to be a harder fight." She wrapped her arms around her as if trying to hold herself, she shivered but it wasn't from the cold, indeed the temperature was quite mild. "I can't help but think that, maybe… maybe one of us is getting to get hurt again; but it'll be worse than before. That one of us might not come back."

Sakura looked up from the ground at Shaoran, sobbing openly now. Shaoran stopped hesitating and took a step forward, embracing the weeping girl, pressing her against him. She leant in his embrace as if it would offer some solace from her fears.

"I don't want to think about it like that; but I can't help it!" She sobbed into his chest. "I'm scared it might be Tomoyo-chan, or Ragnar-san. But if you didn't come back, I couldn't keep going. So please… make sure we come back together." Shaoran closed his eyes and leant his chin on her head gently.

"Don't worry, I promise."

The deadline arrived and the group stood assembled in the park. Sakura had been kitted up by Tomoyo in another costume, one she had presumably kept from before and had adjusted for Sakura's new size. Shaoran stood in his ceremonial clothes and Tomoyo was dressed in a simple but practical dress.

Julius was the most visible change. He wore a chain mail hauberk with a blue surcoat with his family's emblem blazoned on his chest. A sword hung at his waist in a simple scabbard, runes running faintly up and down both the blade and the sheath at the same time. He wore a pair of boiled leather greaves and steel plated armguards that protected his arms from the elbow to the wrist so still allowing full flexibility. He wore dark navy blue trousers and black ankle high boots. In his right hand he held his staff; but this time more majestic as it was the real item rather than a recreation from magic.

"Let's go." He said, jabbing his staff into the empty air and then pulling it down as if ripping something open. Indeed, a hole appeared where he had 'ripped' the air with his staff and beyond they could see a long stone hall with many doors branching off. "Remember, stay together." Julius said, stepping through. The others followed and they were in the twins' lair.