Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura is the fruit of CLAMP's ingenius minds. Hence, I own none of the characters, props, and storyline of said series. None. Nil. Neich. Zilch. Capiche?

Author's Pre-chapter Note:

To my Dear Readers, Holy jumping monkey, I managed to get this out on Saturday (okay technically I'm 42 minutes late, it's 12:42 here in Yamagata, but I'm sure it's still Saturday where the most of you are, so forgive me? Please? ). My eyes are beckoning for me to go to bed at the moment, which is usually a sign that there are probably some missed grammar and spelling errors in this chapter, which I promise to amend as soon as my eyes and brain start cooperating with each other once more. This chapter is also about getting to know more about Eriol, sadly, with his clothes on. Sorry, girls. Alright, on with the story!

This Time Around: The Resolve - Into the Night

Eriol stepped beyond the threshold of the massive doors to enter a room that was very much like the library in his own home, but it was midday here whereas it was almost midnight in his world. He was welcomed by warmth as a fire burned in the massive fireplace and late afternoon sun shone through the massive windows east of the hearth. There was a sofa to the left and right of the hearth, and in between, a single chair that faced the fire. The very chair itself seemed to say that only those who emanated power were worthy enough to sit in it. And though he had little doubt about his abilities, he did not sit in that chair, besides he had a similar one in his own home. But mainly because this particular chair was almost always occupied, as it was now.

"Do have a seat Young Eriol. We have much to talk about." The melodious voice came from the chair that he was contemplating earlier.

"It's been a while." Eriol greeted as he made his way across the expanse of the marble floor. He recalled that he'd been called 'young'. Well he certainly didn't feel it.

"Indeed."

Eriol stopped behind the sofa that faced the window and regarded the man who sat in the single, high-back velvet chair of burgundy – tall, straight, handsome, elegant.

A man of the world, of uncontested power in his time.

Clow Reed had long ago retired his Magician's robes, and preferred the Regency England fashion of starch white shirts, well-cut long jackets, high collars and elegant cravats. His long, silky, jet black hair was swept back and tied at the nape of his neck with a black ribbon. Who was to judge how he dressed? Humans could not see him, and the only one who could - well his criticisms amused Clow more than it aggravated him, so much so that Eriol just stopped saying anything and let his eyes do the talking. Clow almost chuckled to himself. His present successor was a very unique individual. Of course, all of those that came before Eriol were special, they had to be to be able to endure the gift and the curse that it was to carry on Clow's life through memories and sorcery learned through centuries. But Eriol, he was the most powerful and the most prepared out of all of the others. And the boy was all of four years old when he was introduced to his special inheritance.

Which both pleased and worried Clow.

Surely there would be repercussions. One did not exist for so long not to understand the concept of give and take.

To add to that, Eriol was also the one who condemned Clow the most for his selfish experiments with immortality, calling him self-centered, self-involved, power hungry and a variety of other colorful adjectives that need not be repeated. But Eriol had the ability to know what Clow's thoughts were if he tried, and if he took the effort to he would see just how much the weary Sorcerer wished he did not go and create a spell that would force a handful of people away from the chance at a normal life. He knew that now, but he was, of course, hundreds of years too late. Just as how he knew now the reason why Eriol came to him after so many years was the fault of the powers that Eriol wielded.

The man may not know it, but Clow did.

There were those who abused the powers given to them, those more power hungry than Clow ever was, those greedier, those who had sold their soul for power and had allowed the hunger to turn into an evil so black, no light could penetrate it. Now such a being targeted Eriol. They knew that to get to Eriol, they would have to get to those closest to his heart.

Clow steepled his hands together and regarded his progeny as he took his seat on the sofa. They had much to talk about indeed, and though he knew Eriol like no one ever could, he admitted to himself that he did not know how Eriol would react to everything. There was a massive amount of information that was missing from his memory, more than Eriol thought was missing.

"She was kidnapped that night." Eriol turned his dark blue eyes to look at Clow the magician spoke. "She is the one who you search for in your dreams."

Still Eriol said nothing. He had learned well that one waits until Clow finishes speaking before saying a word, though at the moment he wanted to curse in all the languages that he knew how to speak, but still he waited. "She is the one who you found in your dreams, naked and alone in a dark room."

Eriol was sitting bent forward, his elbows braced on his knees with his hands clasped together. The only indication that he heard all that Clow was saying was how white his knuckles were due to how tightly he was grasping his hands. He wanted to lash out, but knew better. He knew that his enemies were not here, they were out there, somewhere, waiting for him to make a move, waiting for him to fail. Eriol smiled. A cold humorless smile that did not reach his eyes.

"Ever one to get straight to the heart of the matter, aren't you?"

"You were never one to dawdle yourself." As if to prove Clow's point, Eriol then asked,

"Why was Tomoyo kidnapped?"

"She is obviously bait. They're after you."

Eriol swore now, fluently, in various languages. It was the last thing he had expected to hear. Tomoyo was a beautiful, wealthy woman, not to mention heiress to one of the largest companies in the corporate world. Of course there would be many reasons why some bastard would want to get their hands on her, but he never once considered that one of those reasons would be to get to him. Why? He asked himself, basically screaming it out in his mind, powering out his frustration and anger, but uttered not a word. Clow stood up and walked to the fireplace, but turned to face his companion as Eriol's words echoed in his mind as well.

"You know why." Eriol's head snapped up to look at Clow but remained silent. "Tomoyo matters."

"What different does that make? Nakuru matters. Koen matters. Sakura, Syaoran, they all matter."

"I have known you to be many things Eriol Hiiragizawa, but stupid was never one of them."

Naturally, Clow was right, the damned insufferable man was always right.

Always.

Under most circumstances, Eriol was practical and pragmatic, and among his many gifts, he had this uncanny ability to discern lies from truth. But apparently if the truth had to do with his heart, he decided to go blind, mute and incredibly dumb. If anything, Clow would have been the very first to know about his emotions. Eriol, himself, did not even know when he started loving Tomoyo. When denied so long, one tends to forget.

Toss all that nonsense about people saying that one knows the exact moment that they fall in love. Maybe to some it may be a lightning bolt experience, but for him, it was a seed planted many years ago. With time, it grew and thrived, and eventually wrapped itself around his heart so tightly that ignoring it was no longer an option. Eriol sighed.

"Yes, I love her more than I thought I could love any one. But I didn't always know, you have overestimated me because I was stupid for refusing to see it. But how would they know."

"Naturally, they infiltrated your world, those who you worked with, those who you interacted with. They took one of your human enemies and made a pawn out of him. Through him, they found what would make you vulnerable. Or in this case, who."

"Nara." The one word had contempt dripping from it.

"Yes. But pay him no mind. He is of no matter in this. He never was. He is a foolish human, consumed with greed therefore easily manipulated." Eriol tried to process all of the knowledge that he had just attained, but found that he was very close to having his first migraine, ever.

"And what? They want me because I am an almighty sorcerer?" He said it half mockingly.

"You are." When Eriol scoffed at this, Clow's voice went even lower, softer, unrelenting steel behind every word.

"You are more powerful than you ever give yourself credit for. You underestimate yourself, Eriol Hiiragizawa. And I know indefinitely that if you are ever defeated that will be the very reason why. I warn you for your own sake, do not take your powers lightly. Ever."

The two formidable men regarded each other for a moment. Clow's eyes almost daring Eriol to challenge his words, but surprisingly he only found acceptance. Weary, but acceptance nonetheless.

"But to answer your question, it's not so much you that they want. Sorry if that is a blow to your ego. They are after the key."

Eriol raised an eyebrow on his comment about his ego, but decided not to follow up on it. Clow gestured for the key and only then did Eriol realize that it was still in his hand. As he handed it to Clow, he saw the angry red imprint of it in the palm of his hand. He had been infuriated and confused about everything that he was hearing that he did not even realize that he was gripping it hard enough to become a tattoo in the palm of his hand. Clow held the necklace by the chain, letting the key hang freely in the air, the fire causing the sapphire so sparkle.

"This was one of the very first object I created using my magic. As I grew with in power, I worked on it, improving it, strengthening it, perfecting it. This key has only become stronger with each passing century, enhanced by the ability of its user. You are its eighth Master, and one of the most powerful. What your powers bring to the Key of Eternity has made it a weapon the likes of this world has never seen."

"But I've safeguarded it. Don't tell me these people have magical abilities that match yours?"

It was Clow's turn to scoff.

"Hardly. But they still have the ability to bring out the darkness in the key, the malignant power that lays dormant within it. The Key is the balance of Light and Darkness. You know very well without one, there is no other."

"If you are stronger than them then why are they such a threat?"

"Partly because they've managed to hide themselves so well, walking in the dark, and partly because I do not exist in the present world, Eriol. I exist in you. My powers are yours as well, but there is always a cost." He paused and stared into the dancing flames for a moment before continuing.

"I'm sure you are well aware of this for you've experienced the aftereffects of your powers and mine combining." He turned and walked back to his chair and then looked straight into the young man's eyes. His voice was rich and melodic. Some may even call it beautiful, those listening just had to listen to it and soak up everything that he was saying.

"I let you deny what you truly were for so long because I understood you needed a semblance of a normal life after what had happened twelve years ago and considering that there was no great danger to you since then, I believed that there was no harm in such a thing. But I am telling you now, if you want to protect Tomoyo, your son, everyone who is important to you, take up your mantle Eriol. It was rightfully yours to begin with; learn to live with it fully."

Twelve years ago.

Eriol thought he had forgotten that day. The truth was, he wanted to forget but knew he never would. At sixteen, he was cocksure of his powers when he obviously had so much to learn and Eriol had learned his lesson the hardest and cruelest way possible. Having your father die in your arms is a day one would rarely forget. In his grief and rage, he was able to completely utilize his powers as well as Clow's, making him lethal to mankind and to himself, he had been completely unstoppable, and he remembered the feeling of having lost control. But some part of him had come to his senses and reached within for the Sorcerer to help him stop the uncontrollable power he had unleashed. He then lost consciousness, waking up to find his father's lifeless body next to him, and his enemies, literally rendered to ashes. Eriol had no recollection whatsoever at what had happened, Clow volunteered no information and Eriol did not ask. It was the last time he had come across enemies with powers like his. It was the last time that he utilized his magic to its full potential and it had nearly killed his father, and nearly him. He believed resolutely that his magic was the cause of his father's death. And now Clow was telling him to use those same powers once more so that he could protect those he loves. Eriol felt the sensation of something akin to being buried alive by his duties, but just as sure as he knew he was the Clow Reed of the present world, he would not shirk his duties now. For so long, he felt like he had been traveling an empty road – he did what he was destined to do and then he would move on.

Alone.

Always alone.

And then came Tomoyo. Tomoyo who was worth everything he had ever possessed and so much more. She had given him a son, a family. She completed him, and if he let her, he knew she would complete the shattered pieces of his soul torn apart by his past.

As he regarded the fire, suddenly he felt it, a flash flood emotions and the downpour of memories that were filling his mind.

He remembered going to Tomoyo's house to apologize about the way he had been behaving only to find it empty. But the alarms in his head went off, something was obviously wrong. Tomoyo's wallets, keys, cell phone – things he knew she would not leave home without were all still there. And then he felt it, the evil that lingered like a calling card, calling to him, daring him to follow. He was out the door without a second thought, knowing that if he did not get to Tomoyo in time he would never forgive himself. No, he did not even allow himself that thought. He was going to find her – there was simply no other option. Eriol had jumped into his car and followed the trail of darkness. He remembered driving for a long time, until the sun had set. The strange thing was, it was only 6:00pm in the afternoon, but it looked to be midnight outside. He stopped his car and stepped out. Whatever menacing presence he felt in Tomoyo's apartment felt stronger here. Fear and anger coursed through him and he felt the familiar rush of power that he felt twelve years ago, but he did not care. Damning all the consequences and throwing caution as far into the wind as possible, he summoned the shadows and in mere moments his physical form disappeared. He would find darkness faster if he was darkness himself, and so he moved in the shadows in preternatural speed, the fire that was initially his anger had turned into ice. He knew full well that with his emotions running freely he would accomplish nothing, and once more, he would lose someone important to him. Well, not this time, God help him, not this time.

The trail led him to an abandoned building. No exactly run down, but it was no longer in use and the notice of demolition on the fence only confirmed the fact that. It would be nothing but ruble before the week was out. But the scent of evil was so pungent here; no insect or animal dared to go near the place. He wondered if even normal human beings would be able to notice it and safely avoid this place. He hoped for their lives they would.

He noticed movement on the first floor and made no hesitation in continuing forward. He did not make a single sound, a silent predator. There were two armed men guarding a door, and behind it were three more men. He could not see them, but he could hear their heartbeats, strong and steady. Separated from the five, he heard a sixth heart beat, pounding fast and frantic, it reminded him of a hummingbird. It was the only sound he focused on. He knew it was Tomoyo. Even though he was only down the hall, the two men did not notice his presence, he was still hidden in the shadows, but not for long. He yanked the key from his neck, not caring that the chain broke, and released the Key of Eternity to its full form. He cast a safeguard in the room where Tomoyo was kept before he stepped forward, pointing the key-scythe forward. He cast an incantation with a whisper, causing tiny threads of light to come from all sides, encircling him, illustrating ancient symbols in the air, that appeared and vanished like smoke. It caught the attention of the two men who raised their guns to fire at him, but it was a waste of their energy. Those bullets would not pierce, would not even reach Eriol.

"Luminus."

He did not shout it or yell it out loud; instead he spoke it quietly, in his own melodic voice, carrying every ounce of his resolve. An eerie silence followed as if the world and everyone in it was put on pause. Then the entire place and a good three kilometers surrounding the building were thrown into a world of painfully blinding light, holding the unnatural night at bay, blinding and burning the skin of the five men in the building. He heard their screams of pain but it affected him not at all. He cared for nothing except for Tomoyo's safety, and he would see it through no matter what the cost. The world continued in the bright light that Eriol had cast, the only shadow being him as he walked past the two guards, who had now lost consciousness. He proceeded to the next room where the three other men were also in the same condition as the men outside. As he approached the door where Tomoyo was held captive he waved his hand sharply to one side and the barrier he had set around the room as well as the light spell he had cast dissipated, the world dwelling in the night once more, but it was not as dark as it had been when Eriol had first arrived to that place, it was not the black ink of night that it had been but a natural dusk. The key had reverted to its original form, and was pocketed with care. He opened the door a little, and there he saw her, in the corner of the room. Tomoyo was crouched, arms wrapped around her legs, head buried in her chest, her wealth of hair curtaining her face. He felt her stiffen as he stepped in the room, but she did not raise her head. Moving towards her in the same silent manner he did everything he saw that she was without clothing, her skin had bruises and cuts scattered all over. And it was all he could do not to go out there and the five men another round of the searing heat his hands had cast. But they did not deserve a second thought, with his last spell, they would be in pain for a very long time, that would be enough. He would not have another handful of unmeaning death in his hands.

As he got to an arms reach of her, he bent down on his haunches. He could not hear it when he was at the door, but he could hear it now – her sobs, so quiet that he could only hear it when he was that close to her.

"Shhh, sweetheart. No one will hurt you anymore, I won't let anyone hurt you anymore, I promise." Still he made no move to touch her. "Tomoyo."

She moved slightly, giving sign that she heard what he said. She tilted her head a little until her blanket of hair fell away revealing her face, her eyes sparkling even in the dark from the tears, her cheeks streaked with wetness.

"Eriol."

It was all she said before she passed out. Eriol quickly caught her and gently placed her on the floor as he quickly unbuttoned his shirt and wrapped it around her body. It took much to not shake from the anger that he felt. For someone to treat her in such a way, he did not want to consider what other damage they did to her, ones that he could not see. The woman barely weighed anything in his arms as he lifted her high and held her close, walking out of the building, not wanting to ever see it again. But he did not get far from the building for outside, a dark figure awaited him. A solitary figure but that one person's powers were more than the five he had taken out earlier. Hair of silver, eyes of black, he just stood there and gave Eriol a sinister smile. Eriol did not pay attention to it. The ice in his veins had melted, becoming liquid fire once more. Everything in him knew that the person before him had done all of this.

"Fulmenos, venite"

Without even blinking or moving to put Tomoyo down, Eriol called lightening from the sky, striking his adversary where he stood. Except he was no longer there, he had somehow managed to move himself a meter to the left, but he was bleeding, the lightning managing to strike his shoulder. Certainly the fool must know that there was no defeating Eriol. The man had managed to make him bleed without putting down the woman he carried, without moving a muscle in his body. Whoever he was, Eriol underestimated him for the man was a bigger fool than Eriol believed as the silver haired man stepped forward coming at him and Tomoyo, casting what Eriol was sure was an elemental spell. Surely enough, the ground that Eriol stood on started to shake and hills emerged from the ground, turning into mountains. Eriol took to the sky, landing swiftly on one of the newly formed peaks and looked down at the man who fought him.

"I will have your name so I know as to whose blood it is I will shed."

The man looked up at him and laughed humorlessly.

"I am called Duncan and I tell you only so you know who relieves you from your existence in this world."

Eriol's reply to that was countering Duncan's spell, crumbling the mountains, and causing a massive land slide below, burying the man in his own creation, while Eriol found solid ground. He had no time to finish this, Tomoyo was still in his arms and he did not want to risk her any more than he already had. He reached for the Earth, asking for its aide and power. It shook in response, a mightier tremor than the one Duncan had summoned. A massive crater ran across the land, swallowing up the mass of rubble and soil that had moments before been tall hills, swallowing as well, the man buried underneath.

Eriol closed his eyes, he was beginning to feel the strain, but he would finish this much.

"Arceo."

The Earth shook once more, closing up the wide chasm, taking away any evidence of the extraordinary confrontation. It was when Eriol finally took a look around him did he realize that the building was no longer there. It had vanished, swallowed up by his spell, taking the lives of five men. The guilt rushed through his body like poison for he never once considered himself judge, jury and executioner for humanity, with his powers he only wished to protect it. Why was it that he always failed in what he vowed to do?

'Even if some people are beyond saving?'

The voice came from within him. The unerring voice of wisdom, always with him.

'Look harder Eriol, it was not with your hands that these lives were lost. The formation of the mountains tore the building apart, it would have been impossible to save them by then.' And yet even with Clow's practical reasoning, Eriol still felt the pain of having been part of the cause of death. All he could do now was to reassemble everything around here as it was before the place was trespassed upon. Placing Tomoyo down as gently as he could, he summoned the key and restored the building and the surrounding property. No one would be able to tell that anything occurred here.

No one but him and the other.

He returned to Tomoyo's side, picking her up as if she were the most fragile treasure he had ever come across, holding her closely, yet afraid that she would break. He had her now, but did he get to her in time? But questions now would do him no good, he was exhausted, his heart felt ill at ease, still burdened with a guilt he knew he did not need to feel and the most important person to him lay in his arms like a broken doll. What was important now was that he get them home, and fast, though all he really wanted to do was to go far away from this world, taking Tomoyo with him, forgetting all that had come to pass tonight. He had failed to protect her, he had failed to prevent death. With a weary sigh, he turned away and headed for home, hoping that calm would find its way in him again and lock away all the demons he had unleashed through the use of his powers.

Clow watched Eriol, knowing that the memories were flooding in. By summoning the Gate to this world of theirs, Eriol had also unlocked all the barriers he had erected in his mind. And because Eriol was undoubtedly connected to his wife through this ordeal, Tomoyo would regain her memories as well soon after, if not already. Everything would unfold here on out, and the path that needs to be followed will be made clear, for the both of them.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Tomoyo awoke, the remnants of her strange dream hazy in her mind, slowly fading away as she turned to find her son still asleep next to her bed. She reached out to gently caress his face, smiling gently. But it did not last long as she became aware of an emptiness within her, her smile disappeared. Tomoyo had always been able to feel Sakura, so close was their bond that she would always know if something had happened. She only believed that she shared that kind of bond with her cousin, but as she sat there in bed, dazed, Tomoyo discovered that she shared the same bond with Eriol. She would never have known, would have never been made aware of such a thing existing except for the fact that she knew. She knew without a doubt, that at that very moment, Eriol was no longer in this world. And with that knowledge, Tomoyo's world turned a very merciless shade of gray.

tsuzuku

Author's Post-chapter Note:

Pardon the latin. I was at a loss as to how to convey Eriol's powers, and this was the only way how.

Luminus - light

Fulmenos Venite - come, lightning

Arceo - to enclose, to shut

I think that's pretty much all I used there. Again sorry if I missed a lot of the spelling and grammar, it will be re-edited. I get to go to the graduation ceremony of one of my elementary schools tomorrow! Joy! I will edit after that. The next chapter might take a few weeks because I will be going to Hiroshima for most of this week and won't be able to spend any quality time with my computer. Maybe Matsumoto Palace and Miyajima will inspire me. LOL one can always hope.

The next chapter will be up April 7th, naturally a Saturday. Love my Saturdays! The next chapter should have ExT moments. Well I hope so! Again, my thanks to each of you for your productive criticism, and your wonderful words of encouragement. I know I dragged this story to death, but that fact that you've still kept up with it always leaves me in awe. I am humbled, always .