X x x

There was nothing more he could do.

That damn girl was just as stubborn as her brother.

Yue filtered through the thick crowds with his head low. His nerves had hardened over the years from doing his job, but even something as risky as this was elevating his heartbeat ever so slightly. He disappeared to the control room at the back which was not heavily guarded as much as the front, which was fixated in controlling the flow of guests.

The mumble of the crowds died down behind the thick trees. Yue approached the steel door which was guarded by three soldiers who were rather relaxed considering how formal an event this was. He scanned their faces. Two of them were barely seventeen. He rolled his eyes. They were getting promoted younger and younger.

Yue didn't even need to show his ID badge, most people in the military knew his face.

The steel door closed behind him and his eyes met a bombardment of screens. The images were poor quality and behind them sat a high-ranking soldier whose eyes flickered tediously from one screen to the next. He glanced behind him for a second to acknowledge Yue's face before returning back to the screens.

"Any unusual activity?" Yue asked.

"Not until a second ago." He mumbled and pointed to a screen on his right. "This van just pulled up. Doesn't seem to be on the pre-approved list. A bit suspicious. May need to be checked out."

Yue leaned in and saw the van rocking very slowly up to the west gate of the palace. It was guarded only by two poorly armed security men. No one used this entrance. It was for caterers and the likes.

"You think it should be investigated?"

The soldier nodded. "Or at least re-routed to the east gate."

Yue's eyes scanned the blurry licence plate. He could barely make out the driver, but Yue knew that was what he was waiting for.

"I see." Yue said in a low voice. "And have you informed anyone else about this yet?"

"Not yet. I'll call it in now. Lieutenant Colonel Li is around. I'll pass the message to him."

"I'd rather you didn't." Yue said.

Yue clamped a hand hard down on the soldier's mouth. Before the soldier could even rip his gun from its holster Yue had sliced a knife across his throat. Blood splattered across the screens and keyboards. Yue held on until the soldier's uneven jerks and twitches ceased.

He pushed the now lifeless body to the floor and took his seat. Yue took a second to compose himself. He had killed before, but it was never easy. He didn't have the grit and steel that Toya had.

Looking at the screen again, a figure emerged from the van. Yue wiped the spots of blood off the screen and was both relieved and saddened to see Toya's face. He was really going through with this insane idea.

Toya looked up to the camera and gave a slight nod. Yue nodded to himself and pushed the button that opened the West entrance doors to the palace.

Toya got back into the van, which was loaded with rebels clutching explosives and rifles.

Yue had played his part.

His fingertips touched the screen and his lips parted in anxiety.

"Don't die." He whispered.

X x x

Tomoyo's palms were sweating.

The giant clock above the palace seemed to be ticking slower than ever.

She tried not to shuffle or show her antsy-ness.

Everyone took their seats for the main dinner, which was always an hour affair between long drawn-put speeches and a ridiculous number of courses. It never occurred to Tomoyo the overwhelming wealth of her formal life. Only through suffering through the hardships of Western life did she come to realize how wasteful palace life was.

One night of fine dining at the Palace would be enough to feed Eriol's whole village for days.

She stood behind Eriol and Ruby during dinner. Servants always ate last.

Ruby struggled to take in the sight of the number of cutlery before her. Her hands hovered over which fork was appropriate.

Tomoyo leaned over her and whispered. "Start from the outside and work your way in with each course."

Ruby whispered a thank you, relieved to have her by her side. Tomoyo was annoyed at Eriol, who seemed to have completely gone into his own thoughts and troubles instead of comforting his wife, who was out of her depth.

Tomoyo's eyes found her mother again, who was staring at her food with a vacant expression. Tomoyo took a deep breath in and ran through the plan in her head. She only had one opportunity to get to where she needed to be. She couldn't mess that up.

Queen Sonomi had risen from her seat, and began to walk away. Tomoyo's heart began to quicken. It was uncustomary for anyone to leave during the meal, let alone the queen. To Tomoyo's horror, Layla took Sonomi's hand and began to help her towards the palace.

Not thinking, Tomoyo's feet began to walk away. She had to beat Layla, no matter what.

"Where are you going?" Ruby said and weakly caught her wrist.

Tomoyo's eyes stayed on her mother, who was being stopped by some of the servants.

"I need to use the bathroom. I'll be back."

"You can't leave me." Ruby whispered as a plea. "I don't know what to do."

Tomoyo hesitated and looked to Eriol, who was now not touching his food and engrossed with glaring at Meiling, who was patrolling the cadets.

Tomoyo's eyes flickered from Ruby to her mother, who thankfully seemed to have been convinced to stay at the table. Tomoyo sighed with relief and took her place behind Ruby again.

She breathed steadily to calm her heart.

She ran through her plan in her mind for the hundredth time.

X x x

Sakura sat through dinner service with a tight smile.

The mindless chatter had bounced from boastful stories to occupations to Sakura's journalism.

She groaned inwardly. She didn't want to speak about that. Especially not in front of these people.

"So how did you even get into writing about the west?" Asked a curious woman with a silly pink hat that had a feather poking from the top.

"Oh, Sakura has always had a passion for Utopia affairs. One of the things I love about her." Yukito answered and placed his hand on hers. Sakura's stomach dropped to see the rest of the table look at them with warm faces as if they were a couple. Her hand trembled with rage under his. He was getting too confident around her. She slipped her had away and grabbed a glass of wine. After emptying it she reached for the bottle to refill but Yukito caught her hand in the air and held it tightly on the table.

"That's enough wine for now." He whispered condescendingly into her ear.

She took a deep exhale to calm herself. She felt the urge to bark at him in front of all these people grow. She was embarrassed and humiliated to be controlled by him.

"So where did you two meet?" The woman pestered and leaned in with curiosity, as did the rest of the table. They were intrigued how a girl with her family's reputation had matched with a seemingly perfect Eastern citizen.

"At college." Yukito answered and smiled widely at the admiration he was getting. "She was hard to get but persistence paid off." He said which made them all laugh in an exaggerated way.

Sakura was teeming with anger.

"Well I think that's marvellous." Said a man across the table. "It's good to see a girl like yourself doing well."

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Her dark and harsh tone immediately cut the pleasant atmosphere of the table.

Yukito panicked and laughed. "Aha, what he means is-"

"I'm not asking you." She said not taking her eyes of the man. "I'm asking him."

"Well you know…" He said and shuffled awkwardly under her burning glare. "Considering…you know."

"No, I don't know. You mean considering my father's reputation?" She pried her hands away from Yukito's and everyone looked away uncomfortably.

"Well…it's no secret that your father probably would not have been invited tonight for obvious reasons."

"Well then he's lucky." She remarked. "He doesn't have to suffer through dull conversations of uninteresting people." Even with that comment, Sakura was holding back. This was what the upper end of East Tomoeda looked like. Suck ups to Utopia.

Yukito panicked. This was not good. No, this was very bad. He had to get control of this situation back.

"Excuse me, miss." Said a waiter appearing behind Sakura.

Shit. She thought. I've blown it. She knew she'd be escorted out for causing unpleasantness. She didn't know they were listening that intently.

"Yes?" She replied.

"Your presence is required at the high table."

Sakura stared back wide eyes. The high table was where the royal family and other people of the highest status sat.

She rose up with uneasy knees. Yukito also stood up and fixed his tie. Was he being elevated so soon?

"I'm sorry, sir, just the lady." He said and gestured Sakura to follow.

Yukito looked instantly deflated as he returned he his seat.

"Why am I being summoned?" Sakura asked but the waited did not reply.

Behind the long table where the royalty sat, there were a few smaller tables which were occupied by businessmen, celebrities and high-status citizens. Sakura was directed to a table near the back where an old man was looking at her with a kind face.

"Mr Reed is very old and sometimes get confused with what year it is. I'll have to ask you to be patient." The waiter said finally addressing Sakura.

Sakura winced. "You mean, that man is Clow Reed? Of Clow Reed industries?"

The waiter nodded.

Sakura looked puzzled as the waiter suggested she sit at a chair beside him. Clow Reed,of Reed steel industries was a millionaire and a very well-known name. She had no idea what he could possibly want from her. She did what she was told and the waiter left them alone. The man was in his seventies and confined to a wheelchair. Despite his age, his hair was thick and black and hung around his shoulders like a curtain. Sakura did not recognise him.

But his face was so kind with a pair of glasses with circled frames resting on his nose. He suddenly clasped his hands in front on him and smiled a wide smile.

"My girl, I thought you were not going to come." He said and laughed a grandfatherly laugh.

Sakura blinked and wrinkled her forehead. "I'm sorry Mr. Reed, have we met before?"

He laughed again and patted Sakura's knee. "Oh, come now, Nadeshiko. It's just us." He pointed up and leaned in, whispering, "They're not listening to us. Bigger fish to fry."

Sakura's voice caught in her throat. He called her by her mother's name.

"I'm sorry, sir." She began. "But I'm not Nadeshi-"

"Now listen girl," He said cutting her off and glancing around the room. "I've been thinking about what you said and you're right." He grabbed Sakura's shoulders and forced her to lean in. "We need to strike now! Before they put up the bloody walls!"

His words were raspy.

It occurred to Sakura then that he was not only confusing Sakura with her mother, but also confusing time with what was happening over fifteen years ago.

How did this man seem to know her mother on an almost personal level?

Sakura knew better than to let this moment pass her by. "Which attack is this?" She replied, assuming her mother's role.

"The one against the military! We can't let them build those walls." He said with urgency.

Sakura' mouth ran dry. He was talking about pre-takeover. A time Sakura could vaguely recall.

"And how can we stop them?" She whispered, trying to extract more information from him.

"You know how, Nadeshiko. You have to print those articles. Even if they're lies. The people need something to rile them up."

Sakura squinted, his thick accent was hard for her to keep up with. "What articles."

"And listen to me." He continued, seeming to not hear Sakura. "Don't let that husband of yours try to talk you out of it again. Fujitaka is a good man Nadeshiko, but he doesn't have the grit or drive that you do. People like me and you have to do these things for the greater good."

Sakura was overwhelmed by this bombardment of information, she struggled to process it.

"I'll give you all the guns and supplies you need, you now that. They don't suspect and old fart like me. Trust me. I'll keep your secret to death. But you have to do what's right. Think of your children's future."

Sakura swallowed a lump in her throat. She looked around but thankfully no one was paying any attention.

"Mr. Reed." She whispered and touched his soft wrinkled hand. "Why are you asking me to do this? What do I have to do with any of this?"

Clow Reed's soft face turned serious. "Because it's you they recognize. You're the leader of the uprising, Nadeshiko. You and Nathala are what people are looking up to. Don't let them down."

Sakura felt as if her mind had been scrambled. Her mother…a rebel leader. Her mother…and Nathala? But what rebellion? One before she was young? Before she was even born? In Sakura's mind her mother's memory was faint. She was a loving wife and mother who died of illness.

Or so she thought.

"You mean Nathala B. Omerson?"

"Fujitaka is a good man," He continued without answering her. "but his morals will only slow you down. Stop letting him plant doubt in your mind!"

He seemed to not hear her, his mind planted in a time fifteen years ago. Was Sakura so similar looking to her mother that is transported him so vividly back to that controversial time?

"Mr. Reed." Sakura said clutching his hand. "You have to tell me more-"

"I'm sorry, miss." The waiter interrupted. "The dance will begin soon so you will need to return to your seat."

"Just another minute-"

"I'm sorry, it's the rules. All guests must return to their seats."

Sakura gritted her teeth and rose from her chair.

"Thank you, Mr. Reed." She said and turned from him.

He caught her hand and leaned in to whisper. "Print Spinnel 7."

Before she could even ask what that was, she was escorted away.

Print Spinnel 7…

X x x

Sakura walked back to her table in a trance.

Clow Reed's words still rang in her ears.

Print Spinnel 7.

What was Spinnel 7? Sakura struggled to think that her mother was far more complicated than her memories and father had led her to believe.

Before she got to her table, Yukito was by her side and leading her to the dancefloor where others were also moving to.

"What are you-"

"It's the first dance."

Sakura put her foot down. "No." She attempted to walk away but he kept a tight grip on her wrists. Yukito's face struggled to stay smiling. She was not in the mood for this after what she had just heard from Clow Reed.

"It's just one dance. Don't embarrass me now in front of everyone."

Before Sakura could escape the music started and Yukito's hands were on her waist and hand and began an awkward shuffle that was supposed to be a sway. His hand was warm and sweaty which made her squirm.

"Who were you talking to back there?" He asked. "Did you mention me? Do they know you came with me?"

Sakura didn't answer, her mind was spinning from her conversation with Clow Reed. She gulped. There was no more hovering around the issue, she had to have a serious talk with her father about the past, and about her mother. This time, she would not let him avoid her, or lie to her.

"Are you listening to me?" Yukito rasped into her ear.

The floor filled up with dancing pairs and Sakura felt silly even being a part of this. She needed to go somewhere to think. "I have to go." She said and attempted to break away from him but he was quick to catch up to her.

"At least wait until the song is over." He grumbled.

She was about dismiss him and leave anyway. Ball or no ball, she was done with this night. She needed to get home and confront her father, who had kept her in the dark for far too long.

As she began to protest her eyes flickered across Yukito's shoulder and landed on something that froze her feet solid in their place.

Yukito stumbled at her sudden stop.

"What's wrong?" He asked in annoyance.

Sakura's face was frozen in shock. Her heart plummeted into her stomach and her mouth became instantly dry. She blinked twice to make sure she was not hallucinating. She wasn't.

Across the dancefloor, standing in the corner with a face as hard as steel, Syaoran was watching her.

Her hands instantly began to shake. How long has he been there watching her? Watching her with Yukito? By the incredulous expression on his face, she knew he'd seen enough.

No, no, no. She thought. Why is he here?

He had said he wouldn't be there. It was the only thing that made her secure in coming here with Yukito. The secrecy itself had made her stomach twist, but now he was here, seeing her with Yukito. Although he was far away, she could tell her had a murderous expression on his face.

No, no, no Syaoran it's not what is looks like.

Sakura tried to gulp but her mouth was too dry.

Her sudden change in manner even alarmed Yukito.

"What's wrong with you? Get it together." He hissed and looked around to make sure no one else had noticed.

"I…I…" She didn't even know how to do damage control here. Should she go over to Syaoran and explain? Would it be too suspicious if she left Yukito and went over to him?

She was suddenly extra aware of how close Yukito was to her. How his hands were on her, now and all night. She felt sick. As if suddenly shaking herself out of denial, she realized how wrong this was. She wanted nothing more than to run to Syaoran and beg for forgiveness and shower him with love to prove that he was the only one, that this meant nothing.

But the fear and shame of being with Yukito at that moment paralysed her to her place. Yukito had to roughly shove her from side to side to get her legs working again.

"The song is almost over." He said angrily but with a smile.

The rest of the song seemed to drag on forever, all the while she suffered under Syaoran cold glare. Her heartbeat raced and she prayed it would just be over already.

When it ended, Yukito finally took his hands from her to clap for the band with the others. Sakura had managed to move her feet again and charged past Yukito without even thinking. When she looked up, Syaoran had already stared to walk away from her. Her weak knees tried hard to push forward to reach him, as if she knew what she'd even say to him. She pushed through other couples to reach the edge of the dancefloor.

X x x

Eriol kissed Ruby's head.

The time had come. The first dance was over, which signalled that the chaos would start soon. She held onto him for an extra moment and held in her tears. She refused to consider he wouldn't make it out alive.

Eriol glanced over at Tomoyo, who was fixated on the clock above the castle. She seemed calmer than Ruby, almost as if preparing for something else.

"You know when to run?" He asked her again and she nodded.

"Why can't you come too?" She whispered.

"Don't worry about me." Eriol said and his eyes glanced up to where Meiling was. "I won't be long behind you."

"You too, Madison." He said addressing her.

She looked up and came out of her thoughts to nod. Although she had no intention of leaving the palace until she did what she came to do. Tomoyo looked up at her mother who was clapping mechanically, disinterested in the whole thing. Tomoyo's gaze was distracted by Sakura, who was walking with urgency across the dance floor. Tomoyo raised an eyebrow and pointed to her.

Ruby and Eriol looked at her direction and Eriol felt slight panic at seeing her here.

"Hey," He said and held an arm out to stop her. "What the hell are you doing here?"

She halted suddenly and looked at him with panicked eyes. "I…can we talk later?" She said in a shaky voice and tried to manoeuvre by him.

"Sakura." Eriol said with forced and grabbed her by the shoulders.

Sakura pried her eyes from Syaoran, who was getting father away. Her heartbeat was racing, she had to get to him and explain herself.

"You can't be here." Eriol whispered. "It's not safe, you need to leave?"

"Why is everyone telling me that?" She said in a frustrated voice. She was frustrated by that and the fact Syaoran was disappearing from her vision.

"You're not safe here." He repeated. Eriol didn't know Sakura would be here. Surly she should have known better than to come here. "Didn't Toya tell you?"

The mention of Toya's name broke Sakura from her trance. "Toya? What?"

Eriol knew from the surprise in her voice, she didn't know. "You have to go right now before-"

"Is Toya here? In the palace?" She said raising her voice. "Why? What is he gets caught?" Sakura's eyes scanned over Ruby and Tomoyo's faces, which were laced with concern and almost pity for Sakura.

Then something clicked it her mind.

"Is there going to be an attack?" She whispered.

"Yes." Eriol answered reluctantly. "And if you don't leave now, you're going to be in the middle of it."

"But what about you guys? Won't you also be-"

"We have our own way out. It's you who needs to go, now."

Eriol didn't finish what he was saying before Sakura bolted past him and towards the trees where Syaoran's figure was disappearing.

Her mind was not on her safety, but Syaoran's. Too many things were fighting for priority in her mind. Either way, she had to reach Syaoran.

X x x

"Too easy."

Toya nodded. It was too easy. Yue did an excellent job.

Around him, hidden behind the discretion of the trees, Toya's men changed into soldier's uniforms. They had taken out some on-duty soldiers and had infiltrated the palace. It was working out too perfectly. Some of the soldiers were barely eighteen. Not that Toya felt a shred of guilt for ending their lives quickly.

This was all for a good cause.

"Lieutenant Meiling Li is here, sir." Kazahara said. "Also…Lieutenant General Mizuki."

Toya felt his spine tingle at Mizuki's name. He was lucky to have Meiling at the ball, revenge would be sweet. But for Mizuki to be here too…? It was as if tonight was simply meant to be. Toya placed a firm hand on his gun. He and Mizuki would settle their score tonight.

Toya knew his mother would be proud of him.

"Explosives are ready, Toya." Kazahara said eagerly.

Toya looked at the men and women who were willing to die tonight for him and the cause.

No turning back now.

X x x

"Syaoran." Sakura called.

She was catching up to him but he showed no signs of slowing down. That image of her and Yukito dancing together, it turned his stomach and sent a sharp pain through his heart.

"Syaoran!" She called louder, thankful they were in the shelter of the trees. "Please." She said with her voice breaking.

She caught him by the cuff of his uniform. He finally stopped charging forward and halted. He wouldn't look at her. He couldn't.

Sakura could see that he was physically trembling with anger. She had never felt him so enraged.

"Syaoran," She begged. "Please look at me."

She thought he wouldn't. With great strength, he turned to face her. The rage in his eyes turned her blood cold.

He said nothing and Sakura was suddenly lost for words. What the hell could she possibly say? Suddenly the threat of an attack had faded as a priority. She had to calm him down, to reassure him.

"It's not what it looks like." She said meekly, disappointed that that's all she could come up with.

He clenched his fists and she thought he'd take a swing at her. She would have rather he did. His silent rage was terrifying her.

"It never is with you." He said bitterly and pulled his cuff from her grasp.

She ran in front of him and placed her hands on his chest to stop him walking away. He glared down at her. He was so angry, yet in his mind he was hoping she'd say something that would comfort him, prove that what they had was not a lie.

"Syaoran, it's nothing. Ok?" She said in a hushed, quivering voice. "Yukito…he-he's nothing. It was just an invite. It doesn't mean anything." She said desperate for him to soften his face and relax.

He balled his fists at his side and made no moves to touch her or showed he understood, because he didn't understand. His eyes ran over her smooth, beautiful face that had smiled so innocently, over her lips that had him convinced that he was the only one, that she cared for him. In his heart he wanted to forgive her already without her even explaining because he knew that he was that weak for her. And then the image of her hand in hand with Yukito came back with a punch to the heart.

"Please believe me." He said with her voice breaking.

Her cracked voice did not sway him. He couldn't tell what was genuine with her anymore.

"I don't believe you. I don't believe anything that comes out of your mouth." His voice was so dark and low that it sent chills down her spine. "Maybe it is nothing with you two, and maybe you are just using him, you're good at that." He pushed her to the side.

He didn't want to do that, but he had to put some distance between them before he either exploded with jealousy and envy or succumbed to weakness.

She grabbed his jacket again, refusing to let him go. "What does that mean?" Her finger shook as she tried to hold tight to the thick fabric of his jacket.

"You had me fooled." He said raising his voice. Finally, he was giving into his anger. It felt goof to raise his voice to her. He knew he had been to placid, too understanding towards her and respecting her freedom of choice. But she had to see what she was doing to her. He had restrained himself enough.

"You actually had me believe that you cared about me, that you loved me. But you're just using me like you are Yukito!"

"That's not true." She shouted with a tear breaking free from her eye. "You think I don't care about you? About us?"

"You obviously don't if you came here with HIM! Out of all people, Sakura, why him? If you wanted to come here so badly why didn't you just ask me? I would have brought you-"

"Oh yeah?" She said and backed away with her hands in the air. "because that wouldn't be suspicious, would it? Us two strolling in together?" She said defensibly. "You know we can't do that?"

"Then why didn't you tell me you would be here with him tonight?"

"Would you have actually been OK with that? If I told you I was coming here with him tonight?"

"No!" He fumed and took her possessively by the shoulders. "I'm not OK with you being here with any man." He raged honestly.

His hands tightened around her shoulders with an emotion that he couldn't distinguish as rage or passion.

He didn't know whether to shake her with rage or smother her angrily in an embrace.

The rage and possessiveness in his voice startled her. She realized to the extent she was hurting him. She felt so ashamed at herself

"So, what was I supposed to do? I found a way to come here. Just because I came with Yukito doesn't mean there is anything between us. Don't you trust me?" She said softer, hoping it would calm him down.

"After tonight, no." He said and put a cold arm's length distance between them. Despite the pain and hurt she was causing him, when he looked at her, the endless amount of love he had for her told him to look past what she did, what she was doing to him. It was driving him crazy.

"Syaoran." She said weakly. "Please, Syaoran...It's just a ball-"

"It's not just a ball." He fumed. "It's everything. Your secrets and your lies and your- your manipulation."

"When did I manipulate you?"

"When you made me believe you loved me!" He raged and stabbed a finger accusingly at her.

Sakura recoiled as if shot. "That's not a lie. I've ever lied about that…how I feel about you." Her own heart broke to think he didn't know how much she really felt about him. Was she that cold in the past? How could he think she toyed with him like that so cruelly? She could never do that to him, he was the only man she had ever loved…

"Syaoran," Her lip quivered when he didn't reply to her words.

"I don't want to hear it." He said sternly.

"Syaoran," She breathed and attempted to close the gap between them. He put his hand out to keep her away. She stopped in her tracks and felt her chest ache at the rejection. "I'm sorry. I'm- I...you have to believe me when I say-"

"No." He said firmly which silenced her. "You'll just do this to me again and again. I'm done with this, and I'm done with you."

Sakura's stomach dropped. She began to shake her head slowly from side by side as if to reject what he had just said.

"You…what?" She asked, praying she heard him wrong.

Syaoran clenched his jaw and repeated through his teeth. "You heard me. We're done. I'm not doing this anymore."

Syaoran turned and began to walk away before he crumbled and took it all back. Though his words were so strong and definite, he knew if he stayed a second longer he'd apologize for those words he didn't really mean.

He himself didn't know why he said that. It didn't mean to come out. Caught in the moment he just wanted to hurt her, he was desperate to see a reaction. Would she actually fight for them?

He walked away quickly. A part of him just knew that with his threat, she would resort to her true cold self. He imagined she'd cross her arms and give him her cold, green glare and say something like, "Am I suppose to beg? Do you think that's a threat? Do you think I care?"

It killed him to know that Syaoran was always the weaker one in their relationship, the one who'd fight harder, love more and excuse all.

Sakura was unable to move. He had finished with her. She had finally pushed him over the edge. Nothing she said changed his mind or restored his fate in her. She heard a ringing of disbelief in her mind.

They were over. He didn't love her anymore.

That thought alone, was more painful than any bullet wound.

He suddenly felt a tug at his jacket cuff again. When he turned around she was standing there, not with a look of smugness or defiance, but with mouth open and tears brimming in her eyes. She was shaking all over and her face had become bleached white.

He had never seen her so shaken.

She began to shake her head. "No. Please." She whispered in such desperation. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry just please don't- please don't…" She couldn't produce anything clearly and Syaoran stiffened, almost frightened to see her crumble so extremely in front of her.

Her hands moved from his cuff to his chest and clutched the fabric there in desperation.

"Syaoran, please. I'm sorry. Don't do this. I-I fucked up. I promise I won't see him again, ever." She whimpered not even ashamed to let herself be so weak. "Whatever you want. Just don't…don't…"

The panic at the thought that he didn't love her anymore had cancelled out her pride and even the warning of the attack.

Syaoran anger had zapped away in that moment but what he was left with was uncertainty. He had never seen her so vulnerable to him.

"Sakura…" He said in a tone that did not give away forgives or anger. Was this genuine? Or maybe just her last resort option.

She looked up at him with wide anxious eyes, terrified of his reply. And as she held her breath and waited, somewhere on the other side of the palace hidden in the shadows, Toya also held his breath and took in the moment of sweet tranquillity…

… before the destruction.

X x x

"Syaoran?" She asked when he said nothing.

His face was expressionless apart from the slight narrow in his eyes. She clutched him desperately trying to convince him not to leave her.

Finally, he opened his mouth to speak, unsure himself of how to reply.

His mind, which was frozen with indecision, was interrupted by a horrifically deafening explosion nearby followed by a shower of gunshots.

The first of many to come.

X x x

Thanks for reading!

:)

X x x

Tomoyo bolted at the first bomb.

The westerners took it as their cue to run.

Ruby screamed and ducked into the fleeting crowd. When she turned to look back, Tomoyo was gone.

Tomoyo's legs shook as she pounded the ground and into the cover of the trees towards where she needed to be. Her heart raced as she ducked and jumped over branches. She didn't have time to stall or re-think her plan. He mind was so focused on where she needed to be, she didn't even noticed Sakura and Syaoran ducking for cover on the ground as she ran past them.

At the first explosion, the royal family was swept into cover and currently making their way to the palace.

Tomoyo had to beat Layla before she could strike.

The screams and gun fire became muffled behind the tree tops but her heartbeat thudded loudly in her head. She emerged into the small damp clearing and threw herself onto a pile of weeds and vines. This was the spot.

Though she hadn't used it in many years, she remembered exactly where it was.

Her trembling hands clawed them away until she had finally reached the steel, rusted handle of the small door. With great strength she lifted it upwards. It let out a roaring screech and it revealed a square hole leading downwards into a black abyss. It had been so long since she used it, she had forgotten the terrifying coldness inside it.

Without another second to hesitate, Tomoyo threw her legs and body into the hole. The door slammed behind her with an awful hair-raising clang.

Tomoyo stayed crouched low in the blackness for just a moment as her heart thumped loudly. The screams and gunfire from outside were cut off and she could only hear her own jerky breathing. She waited in the silence until she willed her legs to move again.

She took a deep breath.

The easy part was done.

The real challenge was yet to come.

X x x