Hello! I apologize that this chapter is a little boring; I hope that you can forgive me!
Links in a Chain
Chapter 14
I Lost it!
"HELP! SOMEONE! ANYONE!" Sorrow yelled hysterically.
"PAIN! EVIL! SCOTTLAND YARD! I DON'T CARE, SOMEONE HAS GOT TO HELP US!" Illness cried.
The pair of spirits crashed through the underbrush of the surrounding woods in a stampeding, frantic fashion. Supported between them was the cracked and dying Lost who could barely manage a groan every time he was tossed about from Sorrow and Illness's poor carrying abilities. His lantern flew about like a hyped-up over sized firefly, swirling around the trees then swooping in and circling around the frantic spirits.
"Stay with us Lost!" Illness cried into what was left of Lost's ear.
"We're almost there, hang on!" Sorrow yelled. With an obnoxiously loud crashing noise, they entered the wooded clearing. With a flourish they threw Lost forward without realising that it might hurt him. He skidded along the ground as small chips of him flaked off leaving a trail of himself in his wake. Seduce stepped away as Lost's body came to a halt before her.
She starred down at the dying spirit with narrowed ruby eyes. "What happened to Lost? I thought that there wasn't going to be enough of him left that you wouldn't be able to drag him here." She asked while nudging him with her foot. Fear snorted and stalked over to get a closer look at his fallen comrade.
"He looks like he's been put through the wringer." He growled then the beast lifted his monstrous head and barked out for Pain to come. "Oi, Pain are you there! The two retards brought Lost back and it looks like he's falling apart!"
What Fear said was true. Lost only had part of one eyes remaining and there was a horrendous hole straight through his torso. All around him were trails and puddles of black sludge that burned the grass were it touched. Since he was face down in the ground you were able to see the small body of the real Lost hanging out a large hole in demon Lost's lower back.
"You called for me?" Pain waltzed in from behind the bushes.
Sorrow and Illness immediately rushed to him and fell before his feet in a wailing mass of two bodies.
"You have got to get Evil to help Lost, Pain!" Sorrow begged.
"He's going to die with he doesn't get any help, I don't want him to die!" Illness wailed and flung herself upon Pain's legs desperately.
Pain looked to the two wailing spirits at his feet with a look of incredulousness, than he glanced up to Seduce and Fear for a better explanation.
Seduce shrugged and shook her head, "Lost is in pretty bad shape, it would be best if you summoned Evil…unless you wish for those two to continue their blubbering…" Seduce motioned to her wailing companions.
Pain shot a look to the groaning Lost, who was trying to turn himself over desperately so his face wasn't in the grass anymore, then he looked to the other four spirits in the clearing. Clearly each of them waited with baited breath for what his decision would be. After what seemed like an eternity, Pain sighed and gave in.
"Fine, as you all wish. I shall go to Evil to heal Lost," he stated. Prying Illness off of his legs, the Syaoran look-a-like left the same way he came.
Seduce stuck her foot under Lost's side (in a part that wasn't severely cracked) and rolled him over so that he was on his back. She surveyed his damaged body with almost a pitying look. She had no idea what he was going through, but it had to hurt regardless.
"Wait a second! Hey Illness, Sorrow, where is Nightmare, isn't he supposed to be with you two?" Fear asked.
The two female spirits stopped their bawling to look at each other with a look of horror on their faces. In unison they exclaimed one word that no one wanted to here at that moment, "Oops…"
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
"That's- it can't be- it's Nightmare. The original Nightmare!" Syaoran exclaimed.
True enough, it was. Before the four teenagers lay what seemed like a completely new spirit; in actuality it was just a finally free spirit from his demonic encasing. Around his unmoving form were various chips and pieces of his demon shell, but the spirit itself was unharmed.
This Nightmare looked far finer than his sketch in the record book. Although the details of his navy, striped bat robes were dead on, and the picture of his face was correct, there was nothing like seeing the real thing. But that was how it was with all things in life; it was always better to see the real thing.
Slowly Sakura lowered her shaking form to kneel at Nightmares side, her eyes blurring with tears of happiness or sadness, she did not know. Her aura tingled as she reached out with her senses to feel for Nightmare, as his spiritual essence touched her. It was pure. There was no taint or evil to it. He was no longer a demon nor was he under the control of Evil.
"Syaoran, how did this happen?" Sakura asked in a voice no higher than a whisper. "Where's Lost?"
Syaoran kneeled by Sakura solemnly and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know, I could have sworn that we hit Lost dead on, there was no way that we could have missed."
"Well, it seems that you did miss since that certainly is not Lost on the ground." Eriol stated with a slight shrug.
"But- but- AH!" Tomoyo cut off whatever she going to say with a shriek for Nightmare began to stir and his hand accidentally brushed against her foot.
Everyone's attention was now focused on the awakening spirit. He rose stiffly from his spot on the ground and shook his head as if to clear it.
"What's happening?" He grumbled still unaware of the four pairs of eyes that were on him.
"N- Nightmare?" Sakura asked cautiously.
Nightmare stiffened and spun to meet Sakura's emerald eyes.
"Sakura?" Nightmare gaped. He waited for the impulse to destroy her. It didn't come. He didn't feel that small voice in the back of his head telling him what to do anymore. His body was no longer heavy from the demon shell that he wore. He was free. After so long Nightmare was finally free.
"M- Miss Sakura, I don't know how to thank you…" Nightmare trailed off as his voice cracked.
Sakura bit her lip as the spirit said her name the same way the Lost had when he was good. It was only a reminder that she had failed to bring back the little spirit boy.
The new, free Nightmare saw the slightly saddened look in the sorceress's eyes and came to the conclusion that she was saddened by the fact he was still alive. The blast was meant to kill. Swiftly he grovelled low to the ground before her.
"I see that I cannot be forgiven for the atrocities that I have committed as a demon. If it would ease you soul Miss Sakura, you may destroy me now, I will hold no grudge against you if you wish to do so. I only ask that my end be quick by the blade of your warrior so that I do not suffer, unless that is what you wish…" Nightmare stated humbly. He was bowed so low to the ground that his nose brushed the cracked pavement.
Tomoyo hid her mouth with one of her hands so that she could giggle discretely. This new Nightmare was so polite and formal. It was kind of funny to say the least…
Syaoran cleared his throat at the end of the grovelling spirit's request. He had felt that he had been forgotten during Sakura's exchange with Nightmare. "If you wish me to end your existence now than I shall do so, Hiiragisawa, go get my sword will you?" This would be repayment for all the pain, suffering and absolute hell that Nightmare had given to them in the past few days.
Eriol nodded and turned to fetch the metal blade that laid several feet away from the group.
"No! Don't do it!" Sakura cried out and grabbed Syaoran so that he would face her. "Please, I don't want him to die. He didn't mean what he did as a demon, it was Evil's fault, not his! Somehow us capturing these cards are supposed to help free Life and Death and if we destroy one of them we destroy their chances at freedom! Syaoran, you understand don't you?" Sakura pleaded. Against her will tears began to well up in her eyes.
Syaoran could do nothing but stare helplessly into the pleading eyes of the sweet, angelic girl before him. He sighed in defeat, "fine, he lives." Sakura smiled thankfully and hugged Syaoran close, forgetting that his back was severely injured.
"Ack-!" Syaoran choked out as Sakura accidentally pressed on one of his more painful wounds.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!" Sakura squealed.
Nightmare cautiously glanced up to the two teens before him, "does this mean I get to live?"
Eriol nodded. "Yeah, you get to live." He answered for Sakura and Syaoran.
"Thank you." Nightmare bowed his head and rose from his grovelling spot. "You- you look so familiar- I know this shall sound very strange but have I ever met you before?" Nightmare gazed at Eriol with a strange look of almost recognition.
Eriol smirked and held out his hand toward Nightmare, "I am Hiiragisawa Eriol, reincarnation of your creator, Clow Reed."
Nightmare's eyes widened and he sputtered, "you- you are- but you can't be? Can you really be?"
Tomoyo stepped forward and laid a hand on Nightmare's shoulder. "You better believe it, he really is the true incarnation of Clow Reed!" She chirped proudly. Eriol puffed up with pride as Tomoyo turned her gaze towards him with a brilliant smile adorning her face. Nightmare ducked forward and grasped Eriol's outstretched hand in a firm grip and shook it with enthusiasm.
"Mr. Hiiragisawa, it's an honour!" Nightmare breathed reverently.
Tomoyo giggled once again and made her way over to her friends who were still on the ground. Sakura was still on the ground fussing over Syaoran, never minding her own injuries.
'You're so selfless Sakura, Syaoran's lucky to have you- even if he doesn't know that he holds your heart.' She thought.
"Please, Syaoran let me just try and heal your back! I know I can do it!" Sakura attempted to get behind Syaoran but he continually turned away.
"No, you are too low on magic! I'm not letting you use up what you have left on me, I'm fine!" Syaoran reasoned. Sakura made a pouty face and kneeled before the warrior.
"Please Syaoran, I just feel so bad!" Sakura whimpered. Syaoran's defences quickly dissolved.
"But- but Sakura, you really don't have to…"
"Syaoran, you know you're never going to beat her puppy dog eyes so just give in and let her help you." Tomoyo giggled.
Syaoran glared at her half-heartedly. "I- I can't, Sakura is really weak right now and if I allow her to use up the last of her remaining magic on me she might hurt herself or worse!"
Sakura sat back on her heals as Syaoran's words registered in her head. The only reason he wasn't letting her heal him was that he was concerned for her well being. "Oh, Syaoran. If you're that concerned about my well being I guess I'll do as you want, I won't use up the last of my magic on you." She bowed her head humbly to hide the slight blush that was making its way onto her cheeks.
"I- I'm just trying to look out for you, Sakura. You're already hurt enough and I don't want to make it worse."
Sakura looked up into Syaoran's shining amber eyes to see the sincerity of his words reflected in their twin depths, "Syaoran, you are such a sweethear-."
"DEAD MAN!"
Suddenly the lengths of silver chains that had lain dormant on the ground in the coils that they had dropped in came to life and shot up with a fury. In a lightning quick move they shot out and coiled themselves around Nightmare in a constrictor's hold. The spirit had not been expecting the attack so he was helpless to defend against his crushing cage.
"M- Mistress-?" Nightmare choked out.
"How dare you! How dare you show your face here you low life, yellowed bellied, sewer sucking slim spirit from hell! I'm going to crush you into fairy dust then throw you into the nearest pit to hell!"
Out of nowhere, the entities of Life and Death suddenly materialized in the area. Life clearly looked enraged with barely bridled fury. Death actually had a restraining hand on her shoulder to hold back his companion so that she didn't shoot forward and rip Nightmare apart.
"I'm going to kill you Nightmare! Have you any idea how much suffering you forced poor little Sakura and Syaoran to go through? You caused all the pain and tears and stress that have weighed down on their shoulders since Lost was spirited away! I'll make you pay!" Life howled and tried to run at Nightmare; she was jerked back by Death's firm hand.
"Honestly Life, you are not helping any.' He stated monotonously. "Take a breath and assess the situation. I believe you are scaring the others…"
Sakura watched with wide eyes as Life took a calming breath and turned to face the group of teenagers with apologetic black eyes. The spirit took one look at Sakura's beaten form and leaped forward with her arms open wide. No it wasn't an attack, worse, it was a hug.
"Oh, you poor baby! Look at how beat up you are! Come here so I can make you feel better!" Life cooed and wrapped her arms around Sakura in a motherly (smothering) embrace. "Look at those wounds, oh those must really hurt! I wish I could have gotten here sooner to prevent this, I feel so bad!" Life snuggled into Sakura and stroked the girl's hair like you would stroke a kitten's fur.
Nightmare twisted vainly from within his confine of chains, "Master, Mistress, it would be much appreciated if one of you were to release me for I believe I have lost all feeling in my feet."
Life bristled as swung her head in Nightmare's direction. "Silence you cretin! I'll deal with you when I'm ready!" She hissed venomously. Everyone jumped back from the unexpected lightning switch from gushing over Sakura to hissing at Nightmare.
"Bipolar that one is…" Death sighed.
Syaoran felt a pang of protectiveness as Sakura was mauled by Life. He marched up to the pair on the ground and slipped his arms around Sakura's waist as gently as he could and disentangled the sorceress from the life spirit. His arms shook slightly as he held the girl close to his chest glaring down at Life, who in turn looked up at him with confused black eyes.
"What is the matter Syaoran, I was only greeting Sakura?" Life asked.
"Use your eyes! Can't you see that she is injured? You can't maul her like you would to some sort of rag doll!" Syaoran growled angrily, subconsciously bringing Sakura's form closer to his chest.
"Syaoran, I'm alright, really I am." Sakura squeaked and looked up at her warrior. "Life wasn't hurting me! She wasn't doing anything bad, honestly! Actually I feel kind of better now."
Syaoran stared down Sakura with a questioning gaze. "Are you sure? It looked like mauling to me."
"Life means well, she's just overly energetic about it." Death stated. "You can put Sakura down now if it would please you, I would be more than obliged to heal both of you since it would be the least I could do."
Syaoran snorted and set Sakura down on her feet as gently as he could. "What could be the most, since this is basically all your fault?"
"Syaoran, that's mean." Sakura chided.
"Yes my cute little descendant, they're only trying to help now. There's no need to be so rude." Eriol wagged his finger in Syaoran's direction.
"Shut up Hiiragisawa!" Syaoran yelled.
"I implore anyone who is willing to listen to me, I really want to get down now!" Nightmare uselessly called.
Life once again bristled and spun to meet Nightmare face-to-face. "You have absolutely no idea much I want to hurt you right now!" She hissed.
Nightmare squirmed and looked down at his keeper frightfully. "I believe I have quite an idea." He stated.
In the blink on an eye Life motioned for her silver chains to crush the ex-demon. Nightmare screamed as he the immense pressure around him built up and slowly squeeze him. Sakura watched in horror. Her throat suddenly seemed too dry to work.
'No! Life can't kill him!' Sakura thought desperately, 'I lost Lost, I'm not going to let Nightmare be destroyed.'
Without thinking of the consequences, Sakura leapt forward and grasped the metal bonds that were wrapped around Nightmare.
"Miss S- Sakura please- d-don't-I-I'm not worth it." Nightmare choked.
"I said that I forgive you Nightmare, I won't let you get hurt anymore!" Sakura yelled and struggled against the chains. "You're not a demon anymore! You don't deserve to die!"
"YES HE DOES!" Life roared.
"NO!" Sakura screamed. Subconsciously she summoned what little magic she had left and let it soar out of her body. It flew into the chains that she struggled against and raced along each link until it hit Life's manacles. Almost like seeing someone electrocuted; Life soared back through the air and skidded along the ground from the force of the magic. Nightmare's cage was immediately undone in a flurry of metal flying to catch their Mistress.
"Sakura!" Syaoran yelled.
She didn't hear him call her name. She didn't see the ground coming up to meet her falling form. All she felt was a numb, tingling sensation of being completely empty and drained. She had used the last of her magic to free Nightmare from Life and now there was noting from stopping her from falling into the oblivion of unconsciousness. Thankfully Nightmare was close enough to catch the girl before she hit the ground.
"What- what happened?" Tomoyo asked cautiously. Tears prickled at her eyes as she saw her best friend fall into the arms of the nightmare spirit.
"She used up the very last remaining drops of her magic to save Nightmare from being crushed." Eriol stated.
"Is she alright!" Tomoyo turned to Eriol as if he was her only lifeline and looked into his dark eyes pleadingly. "Please tell me she's alright. I mean this is just like the fainting spells she used to have when she was turning the Clow Card into Sakura Cards, right!"
Eriol looked away from Tomoyo imploring eyes, gently reaching to stroke her cheek as if that would soothe her. "I wish I could say."
"Miss Sakura, why did you do that?" Nightmare asked the unconscious girl in his arms. It dumbfounded him that this human would do such an unselfish and sacrificial act for a spirit who had committed so many horrid acts against her.
"Give her here!" Syaoran demanded as he charged up to the spirit.
"Of course." Nightmare handed over the light burden to the warrior but continued to stare into her face. "Why did she-?"
"Sakura's heart is far different than any of ours, she cares for everyone. If there ever was anything that she could do to help someone she cared about she would do it- even if it meant sacrificing her own safety to help others." Syaoran growled without even looking at Nightmare. His amber eyes were focused on Sakura. 'Why do you always have to do the right thing?'
… … … … … … … … … … …
With Life and Death
… … … … … … … … … … …
"She- she hit me…" Life stuttered uselessly from the ground where she remained sprawled out haphazardly. "All her magic- Sakura used all her magic on me."
"Yes and she did it to save the spirit that you were going to kill." Death's voice floated down to Life as his dark form made its way over to her.
"But- but I was just trying to-."
"You took it too far Life."
"I didn't mean- everything just got out of control-." Life struggled to defend her actions. "I didn't know what I was doing."
Death looked down at the pitiful form of Life, who was slowly starting to curl up onto herself like a frightened kitten. "I know how you feel Life, if anything I too wish to seek vengeance on Nightmare, but we cannot. No matter how strong the urge to do so is. The revenge is not ours to take and those who should seek the retribution have chosen to forgive instead."
"I feel like the lowest creature on earth. Sakura will hate me now." Life whimpered.
"You are wrong yet again, Life. Sakura will not hate you for she should hate Nightmare yet she risks herself to help him. I believe it is not in her heart to hate." Death whispered and grasped a length of chain that was near his foot. The links were worn and tarnished where he held them and if you didn't know any better it looked as if you could snap all of them apart.
"I guess, but still I do not wish to approach Syaoran at the moment because I know he hates me big time right now." Life said.
"At least you're right there."
Life's lip trembled slightly, "you're supposed to make me feel better, not worse!"
"I wasn't aware that I was supposed to. As it is, since you don't want to approach Syaoran we shall have help them from a far for the time being." Death instructed.
Life brightened a bit. "Okay, I can do that."
"On the count of three."
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
Together they raised their hands summoned for the land to mend. Before them the pavement melted back into place and buildings rose once again to their former glory. Windows rebuilt themselves and trees suddenly righted themselves in the ground, reattaching lost branches and flourishing their leaves. The blood that had trailed into puddles on the ground was absorbed by the earth and left no sign behind. And at last, for the last of their duties to the area Life and Death allowed their spirits to flow over the teens in a wave of healing magic. Sakura's magic was replenished in seconds and her flesh mended together like it had never been touched. Syaoran was the same, he felt his strength return and his magic come back ten-fold. His shirt reappeared completely repaired. And for the sake of being subtle, both Life and Death made their spirits undetectable so that no one would sense what was going on until they were gone.
It worked out wonderfully. They were done before anyone figured out what was happening. Then without anyone the wiser, they were gone.
… … … ... … … … ... … … … … … …
"Mmm- Syaoran, what's going on?" Sakura murmured against Syaoran's chest.
Syaoran stood in shock as he took in his transformed surroundings. Everything just started moving and rebuilding and healing all at the same time. No body had time to react as they felt their own bodies began to mend at speeds unimaginable by humans. It all happened in a matter of seconds and was over as quick as it began.
Sakura open one of her eyes to see why she was never answered. She shot up in surprise at what she saw; unfortunately Syaoran had not been expecting her sudden movement and nearly dropped her.
"W-what happened? Everything's repaired!" Sakura gasped, then realised that even as she was jarred in Syaoran's arms she felt no pain. "I'm- I'm healed! How!" No body answered her; they just seemed too preoccupied with staring at their surroundings as if it was suddenly going to start changing again. That was when the answer hit her.
"Life, Death, where are they!" Sakura asked, turning her head about to try and see where the duo went. She was wriggling so much that Syaoran had to set her down on her feet. Her eyes settled on the spot where she had thrown Life, nothing was left except a slight sparkle in the air. "Oh no, they left without saying good-bye…"
"Isn't it better that way, they caused enough damage today." Syaoran growled bitterly.
"Yes, but they repaired all the damage in the end." Eriol pointed out.
"Don't defend them Hiiragisawa, they really don't deserve it." Syaoran snorted.
"Syaoran, please don't be so mean, you were going to do the exact same thing to Nightmare as Life was. You wanted to kill him too." Sakura said.
Nightmare rubbed his left arm with his right and glanced around trying to make himself a little more unobtrusive. He didn't want to get mixed up in this conversation; both sides had a reason to kill him so there really was no point in bothering to speak.
"But- but how were they able to do all this? It happened so fast I barely knew what was happening until it was over." Tomoyo exclaimed, successfully steering the conversation in a better direction. She was still in awe of the newly repaired building that stood around them serenely as if nothing had happened.
"My Master and Mistress are far more powerful then you seem to give them credit for, Miss Tomoyo." Nightmare said as he observed the handy work of his keepers. He sent Tomoyo a grateful look for changing the conversation.
"Far more powerful than any of us could ever imagine." Eriol added.
"You know, I think we should really get moving, standing out in the open like this must really be suspicious." Sakura said.
"Oh, and he's not?" Syaoran asked sarcastically as he jerked his thumb in Nightmare's direction.
"Ah, we have to change you before someone comes along and sees you!" Sakura exclaimed.
Nightmare cocked his head. "Change me? What's wrong with the way I look?"
"Nothing at all, it's just that normal people around here aren't used to seeing- um- glowing men in- interesting clothing standing around the streets." Tomoyo explained.
"I'm just going to make you look human." Sakura said before grabbing Nightmare's hand and concentrated her newly replenished magic to cover Nightmare in a human illusion.
In a flash of pink magic Nightmare stood before them with a completely human looking countenance. He was dressed in a dark blue work shirt and a pair of black work pants; very professional looking.
"I- I look like a human!" Nightmare exclaimed in a horrified voice and began picking at his shirt. "And I look weird!"
"You do not, I think you very good." Tomoyo stated seriously.
"There you go, approval from a fashion queen, feel better?" Eriol grinned.
"Not really."
"Oh well. Come on; let's go to the park or something, anywhere away from here. I just want to find out how we got stuck with Nightmare instead of Lost." Syaoran said and began making his way down the street.
… … … … … … … … … … … …
The Park
… … … … … … … … … … … …
Everyone's eyes were trained on the spirit in disguise. He was leaning against a tree trying to think back to what happened earlier so that he could tell them.
"I remember you two shot a blast of white magic, it was colossal! I knew that Lost was a goner for sure- then I felt Illness and Sorrow's hands on my back. They pushed me off the roof to save Lost… I bounced on the pavement and ended up in the direct path of the blast…" Nightmare trailed off. "I- I don't know if Lost got hit or not. He could of because I remember seeing him crumbling behind me before everything went blank. My guess is that Sorrow and Illness took Lost and forgot about me."
"You mean we really did hit Lost!" Sakura asked hopefully.
"Most likely he got hit with some indirect magic." Nightmare nodded.
Eriol began to swing gently on the swing he sat on, "I can only imagine the condition that Lost is in right now, he was pretty beaten up to begin with but when you add your attack on top of that…"
Sakura's face fell, "I never really thought of that. What if Lost is hurt really bad- so bad that we won't be able to get him back?" She asked worriedly.
Syaoran gently nudged Sakura so that she would look up at him. "Don't worry Sakura, no matter what, we'll get him back."
"You can count on us to help." Eriol piped in, volunteering himself and Tomoyo.
"As well, you now have me to assist you, Miss Sakura." Nightmare offered.
Sakura smiled and nodded. Discreetly wiping her eyes she looked up at Nightmare with a question gleaming in her eyes. "Why do call me "Miss Sakura" and call Life and Death "Mistress" and "Master"? Even Lost did that."
Nightmare looked thoughtful for a second, "don't know- more respectful I guess. It just feels right to call you "Miss Sakura"… As for the reason that I refer to Life and Death and my Mistress and Master…it's because for the hundreds of years in which they held us bound, they ruled us- like our real Master and Mistress."
But Sakura is your real Mistress now, right?" Tomoyo inquired.
Nightmare grinned and nodded firmly. "Yes, she is now my true Mistress and may I say-." He turned to face Sakura and kneeled before her formally, "- I shall serve faithfully to your word Miss Sakura, to the best of my ability will carry out your orders."
Sakura blushed and put a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. Nightmare was so formal; him kneeling before her reminded her of the time she saw that show about a knighting ceremony in England.
"Ah, but Nightmare you seem to forget Sakura has yet to capture you and transform you to your Sakura Card form." Eriol pointed out.
"Hoe! I forgot- ah my key! Where's my star key!" Sakura yelled and patted around her neck for her key. She didn't find it right away and began to pat down her clothes and search around the ground to see if she could find it. "I lost my star key! I can't believe I lost my star key! Kero is going to kill me!"
"Hold on, are you sure it's not around your neck?" Syaoran asked. Sakura shook her head vigorously and pulled at the neck of her top to reveal that there was nothing around her neck.
"You lost it?" Eriol asked.
"Yes! Yes! I lost it! What am I going to do!" Sakura panicked.
Eriol shook his head, his face taking on a far more serious expression. "No Sakura, you lost it?"
"Yeah I- I-." Suddenly it dawned on Sakura what Eriol was trying to say, "I lost my star key…"
"That little brat, he took your star key!" Syaoran exclaimed. "How are you going to transform Nightmare now!"
"I don't know? How am I going to get my key back!" Sakura cried. Tears began to well up in her eyes; her star key was very precious to her. She never took it off, unless she had to transform it into its staff form. Without it she was somewhat useless in capturing the Clow Cards.
"Miss Sakura, please dry your eyes." Nightmare said. "I won't go anywhere so you need not worry about changing me. I'll wait."
"But still Nightmare! How could I have let Lost take my key!" Sakura cried.
Syaoran wrapped his arms around Sakura's shoulders and brought her close to his chest, regardless of the peering eyes of those around them. "Hey, come on, it's not that bad Sakura. We'll find Lost and when we do we'll get your star key back. Please just stop crying I hate it when you cry, a smile looks better on your face any day."
Sakura blushed as she felt Syaoran's warm breath tickle her cheeks, her lips curling into a sweet little smile. "Thanks Syaoran…" She whispered, "You always know how to make me feel better."
"HEY! YOU! GAKI! WHAT DO TO THINK YOU'RE DOING TO MY LITTLE SISTER!" Toya's voice unexpectedly split the air.
"Who's that?" Nightmare asked as he watched the approach of the obviously angry human male.
Sakura leaned out of Syaoran's embrace and stared at her brother with wide eyes. "It's my- my-."
"It my worst nightmare." Syaoran finished.
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END CHAPTER FOURTEEN!
Just kidding, there's just a bit more! I decided to make this chapter extra long because my exams are coming up and I'll be studying real hard! Enjoy!
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Toya marched up to his little sister who still was in the arms of the Chinese gaki.
"Sakura what the hell do you think you're doing!" He demanded angrily. Sakura jumped out Syaoran's embrace and stared up at her brother with desperate eyes.
"I was- um- you see Syaoran was just- well we were-." Sakura stuttered pathetically as she was put on the spot. Syaoran narrowed his eyes into a dangerous glare and matched the fierce look he was receiving from Toya.
"We weren't doing anything Kinomoto." He growled warningly.
"I'll be the judge of that you little gaki!" Toya snapped back.
Nightmare watched helplessly as the strange man bombarded his Mistress and her Warrior with angry glares. What could he do? He sworn to help and protect Sakura but that was against Clow Cards, what do you do against a human?
"Sir, I do think you should lighten up on the young lady." Nightmare stated firmly, trying his best to seem intimidating though it seem useless in his wimpy form.
Toya rounded on the stranger, "who are you?"
"Me?- I'm-." Nightmare thought for a second how he was supposed to respond.
Toya narrowed his eyes; there was something familiar about this guy, he had the same strange feeling about him that Shieng had … "Hey, you wouldn't be that little kid's father would you, the kid who stayed the night last night- Shieng?"
"Huh- I'm not a father!" Nightmare yelped. What the hell was this human talking about!
Syaoran grinned at the opportunity that had just been presented. "No, this is my other cousin Feishing, he's Shieng's older brother! And would you look at the time, Feishing and I are expected back home to look after Shieng for his mother, better get going! I'll call you later Sakura!" Syaoran said hastily and grabbed Nightmare by his arm and left as quickly as he could.
"Stupid kid." Toya mumbled as he glared after Syaoran and Feishing's retreating backs. Then he turned to his sister who mow stood defenceless before her brother. "That still hasn't explained why that little gaki was all over you."
"Oh! I can explain that!" Tomoyo said cheerfully. She held out her camera to show the screen that had been focused on Sakura and Syaoran. "They were doing this as a favour for me, I wanted them to act out a scene in a play for me. I was thinking of turning it into a movie that would star them."
Toya looked down at his sister's best friend with questioning eyes. He smelled a lie. But either way, he had nothing to disprove them so he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine. Do what you want, but if I ever catch you two together like that without a camera on you, you'll both get it." He warned.
"Don't worry Toya, Tomoyo and I will make sure there is a camera on them at all times." Eriol said smoothly.
"Whatever." Toya snorted and turned to run back to Yukito, who stood waiting a small ways off for his friend to return.
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much you guys."
"No problem Sakura." Tomoyo smiled gently.
"Let's just hope Syaoran does this well with keeping Nightmare at his house." Eriol chuckled.
… … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …
Syaoran's Apartment
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Syaoran swung the door open and flung the spirit into the apartment.
"Okay, don't touch anything, don't move anything, for that matter; don't breath on any of my stuff." Syaoran ordered.
"No problem, I don't breath in the first place." Nightmare stated. "What was the whole "Feishing" and "Shieng" thing back there?" he asked.
Syaoran made a face. "Sakura's family thinks that Lost is my cousin named Shieng and now Kinomoto thinks I'm related to you as well."
"Me- and the pip-squeak- brothers?" Nightmare made a face.
"Trust me, it's no better for me." Syaoran growled. "Look, today's been a long day, as you can imagine, so I'm having a hot shower and going to bed. You can have the couch or something." Syaoran said.
"Mr Syaoran wait, if it wouldn't be too much trouble could you remove this illusion now? It really is beginning to itch badly." Nightmare asked as he scratched at his chest.
Syaoran snorted at the request. In a second the simple disguise was broken and the normal Nightmare stood in place.
"Thank you very much Mr Syaoran." Nightmare bowed.
Syaoran's eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't! Don't call me "Mr Syaoran" only Lost can do that! Find something else to call me by."
"So just Syaoran, then?" Nightmare asked.
"Fine by me." Syaoran shrugged and stalked of to the washroom, leaving Nightmare to find his own way around the apartment.
… … … … … … … … … … …
Somewhere in Darkness
… … … … … … … … … … …
Lost floated in nothingness. He was a speck of nothing in a void of enclosing darkness. It seeped into his being and slowly brought the crumbling pieces of his shell body back together. It hurt unlike any pain that existed on earth. A burning sensation that ate at every fibre of his being and felt like he was being doused in acid then rubbed on sandpaper and scraped on sharp rocks, never ending, seeming to go on forever with no end.
"Why?"
Nothing seemed to fit in his head.
"Why won't the pain stop?"
Has he always been in this place?
"Am I alone here?"
It's so dark that not even the glow from his dim luminescent skin could be seen.
"I want to leave."
Suddenly there was a light in the darkness. It called to him in a strange, gentle child's voice. The unknown entity came forward at a slow struggling pace. Lost wanted this light to come closer, it could help him. He knew it. The child's voice was so familiar, why couldn't he recognize the voice? The light was so close now, so close that if Lost could move he would be able to reach out and touch it.
With every ounce of determination that he had Lost twitched his hand. It burned like fire and moved as if it were rusted. It took hours- or was it minutes? Decades? Millennia? However long it took, Lost eventually brought his cracked and damaged hand up to touch the begging light.
The result was instantaneous. For a blissful split second all the pain was gone. He was washed over in the most beautiful and soothing feeling he could ever imagine. It didn't last long though, soon all the torturing pain returned and Lost found himself kneeling in the darkness of the clearing with his hand placed over his lantern.
"W- what did y-you do?" Lost struggled to form the words in his mouth. A small spurt of black sludge dribbled from his lips. He was still far from healed. The large hole in his lower back had been mended so the real Lost didn't hang out of him anymore but the gap in his torso was still open.
The lantern bobbed gently in the air and swung around to show a strange dangling object that hung from it. The star key. It was glowing slightly with a faint pink light.
"Sa- Sakura." Lost breathed.
Slowly the lantern began to bob away, beckoning for Lost to follow.
"Alright. I'll come." Lost crawled painfully after his lantern. After a second the lantern turned back and scooped its master onto it's itself. "W- where are we g-going."
A child's faint voice floated up from the lantern in an echoing reply.
"We're going to find Miss Sakura. She can help."
… … … … … … … … … … … …
Wow! This is the longest chapter that I have ever written! This is all for you! I wanted to give you all a gift because I might not be able to update, or even work on my story for a while, my exams are coming up and they are freaking me out!
I hope that you liked this chapter! I do hope to hear from you, so please review me! The more reviews I get the more I will try to update as soon as I can! I want to know what you thought of this chapter, but please be nice about it! I love you all so much, BYE!