Chapter 25: Light Lost

"NOOOOOO!"

Tomoyo's voice tore across the space that separated her and her beloved Sakura. All across the way, the action had halted enough to allow her passage. Though, even if such a path didn't exist, nothing would have kept her from reaching her cousin.

With all caution thrown to the wind, she recklessly pushed her way past Ka-sari and Hiru, who for all intents and purposes seemed unreceptive to the world around them. Like the rest of the hunters, the destruction of their objective had caught them purposeless. But all that didn't matter, it wasn't even considered to Tomoyo as she barreled past.

Once at Sakura's side, she dropped to her knees. All around them were burning pieces of the remnants of the book and cards that seemed for many years the entirety of Sakura's life. It was a cruel fate that had delivered upon them the same judgment… but even in the face of the oblivion, they seemed linked as one.

Yet above all… it was their fading light in the overwhelming darkness, that let Tomoyo see Sakura's. Reality as it was had a cold sense of justice. No… it was cruel.

From further away, Kero stared in utter disbelief. Though he saw it… he didn't want to admit to it. It was just as they feared.

"Sakura… no…"

"Impossible…" Yue whispered.

Though every muscle in his body told him to keep moving, he could not look away. It was as though he were frozen… just like everyone else. But in the reality, Yue was heartbroken… again. He had suffered the loss of his creator through a sudden and unexpected death, though he'd since found that Clow had known all along. Now, he was faced with his current master's inevitable death, though they had all known of this well in advance. Despite that truth… he had wished it could be escaped.

Now, all he could do was watch Sakura's final moments from afar. Unable to do otherwise. Not to help or strike at those responsible. It was overwhelming.

Tomoyo trembled with her cascading feelings as they racked her body with a surge of combative emotions. It was just too much… all of it. She couldn't bear just the sight… let alone the suffering in which Sakura must have felt.

The light that pierced her chest seemed to have missed her heart, but it was still lethal. The wound that rested dead center of Sakura's chest was horribly obtrusive to the purity that Tomoyo had known. Though she could halt some of the bleeding through compression, it would do nothing for the other side. And even if those could both be stopped, there was nothing to prevent bleeding from within.

In such a hopeless scenario, Tomoyo could think of nothing to do but fling herself upon her and scoop her up in her arms. At least then she could hold her truly for the first and last time. With the gentleness she was famed for, she eased Sakura's head against her bosom and lay the rest of her against her torso and on her lap.

If anything, she'd make her comfortable.

"T-tomoy…o…"

Tomoyo's eyes flew open. "Sa-Sakura…?"

Sakura's eyes searched the darkness, but they never met Tomoyo's. Even if the light were faded, she was still close enough. Then it dawned on her. Sakura could no longer see. Without further delay, she grasped Sakura's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"D-don't… I… I mean, I'm here… Sakura."

Sakura's face seemed to lighten a little, despite having lost most of its color and warmth. Even now, little tremors seemed to emanate from her core. Yet above all else, she managed a smile.

"Y-you… are… ok?" Sakura asked between gasps.

"Of… of course…"

"I'm… glad."

Tomoyo shuddered involuntary. It was a response that echoed Sakura's. Her trembling had increased. So had Tomoyo's tears.

It can't be… not yet. Sakura!

"'s…ok… Tomoyo." Sakura said at an almost inaudible level as she sensed her friend's sudden alarm. Against the forces that threatened to tear her away for ever, she struggled to explain everything she could… one last time. "Knew… final… outcome… had… to…"

"No Sakura… no…" Tomoyo said hurriedly as she covered Sakura's mouth with her free hand. "Please… you'll be ok! You just have to rest… conserve your strength… just… JUST DON'T GIVE UP!"

Tomoyo began to sob heavily, too overwhelmed to speak. The tears that streamed down her already moistened face fell like a warm rain on Sakura. It was already too late… and Tomoyo knew that her words were just that. Words.

With the last vestige of her strength, Sakura reached up and gently removed Tomoyo's hand away with trembling fingers, before laying both their hands atop her blood-soaked chest. She smiled, her eyes just half open. With barely parted lips, she pressed out the words she had.

"…'s… ok… to cry… but… strength… re-tain… you… mus-… figh-…" she shuddered again forcing her to fall quiet, but even as the trembling began to wane, so too, did her concentration. "…y-you… Sy—aoran… ev-ery-bo-dy… I-I…" She swallowed once and closed her eyes. With her eyes skewed shut, she breathed her final word.

"l-love…"

And as the word breached her lips, so too did her last breath as it rolled out into the night air. With its finality, her trembling stopped and her hand slid from Tomoyo's as her head lolled back. At long last… her pain was gone.

Across the way, Kero and Yue were finally free to move. It was as though their emotions had kept them prisoners to the unfolding scene before them. Now… as the conclusion of the dream had found purchase, so too, had they found their place. Alone without a master, and last of Clow's creations.

It was an overwhelming burden to face.

With the sudden absence of weight against her chest, Tomoyo opened her eyes. There, Sakura's head hung back, a peaceful expression on her unmoving face. But… she wasn't breathing.

"No…"

Tomoyo quickly squeezed Sakura's hand in hers. There was no response. And it was cold.

"No…"

She slowly shook her head in disbelief, her eyes wide. It wasn't possible. Quickly, she pressed herself against Sakura's body. It wasn't shaking… and there was no heartbeat.

"No… no… it can't be… it can't…"

Sakura was dead.

"NOOOOOOO! SAKURA!"

As the words flew high into the night air, it seemed to serve as a facture in the icy stillness that had overtaken everyone. Rallied by the call, tensions and hatred once again flared to life. But no stronger were those emotions than deep within Kero and Yue.

With a savage cry that echoed Tomoyo's despondent one, Yue flew high into the air, while the wingless Kerberos sought his targets from the ground. Since the book's destruction, the energies under their jurisdiction returned to them, but only partially. However, those energies were more than enough to fuel their hatred.

Using the dissipated energies of the cards, Yue unleashed a horrific wave of destruction upon his target; the already weakened Faski. Unable to recover from the destroyed cards' rampant energies that claimed his response time, he was helpless against the onslaught. In the moments that followed, he was not only stripped of any means of retaliation, but rendered completely open. It was an opening that Yue responded to in full.

Uttering a feral roar of unchecked aggression, he descended upon the hunter. With lightning fast reflexive movement, Yue, encased in his blue energies, formed a massive crystalline shard and drove it straight towards Faski's unprotected stomach. It found purchase.

At the same time of Yue's attack, Kero released one of his own in a campaign against Shi. Using the powers of the cards that were no more, he drove Shi back. Like Faski, Shi was also sluggish from the power assault… as well as the battle before. Without the use of his weapons, the touch of death and the scythe… he was helpless. It was perfect.

To Tomoyo, the world was dead. Though the sound of battle reached her ears, there was nothing that could make her turn away. Her beloved Sakura was lifeless in her arms, the cards and the book were destroyed, she was losing strength fast, and it was only a matter of time before she would die as well.

Though there were still Yue and Kero here as well… the hunters out numbered them. Because she couldn't fight, it was five to two… and without Sakura…. It was hopeless.

She closed her eyes, but no tears came. By this point, all her tears were already dry. There was nothing left.

"Heh…"

Tomoyo mentally stirred, but did not open her eyes. A cold voice had just pierced the veil of suffering she had wrapped about her heart. She didn't know the owner of the voice, but there could only be one result of the meeting with its owner. Clutching Sakura to her even tighter, she waited in the darkness. Perhaps she'd see her again.

But the strike for which she waited did not come. Instead, there was a pause. Whoever the owner of the voice… they seemed to be waiting for her response. Not knowing what else to do, she opened her eyes.

There, standing in the darkness was a man dressed all in leather, with a noble face, and long black hair. It was him. It was Sakura's killer. With building fear, Tomoyo waited with terror for that which would not come.

"I see that you've forgotten…"

Tomoyo blinked. Was he talking to her? She looked up.

"A pity…" he said with an accompanied sigh. He took a breath and stared hard with his unwavering eyes. "I had thought more highly of you. But no matter, I shall remind you."

He paused a moment and laughed somewhat. "Didn't I say it before?"

Then it dawned on Tomoyo. He wasn't talking to her at all. He was addressing Sakura.

He narrowed his eyes. "That when we next met… you'd forget… how to breathe."

At the end of his words, a dual scream echoed through the air.

Caught by the sudden attacks by Kero and Yue, both Shi and Faski met their end.

Faski lay slumped against a giant shard that had pierced his abdomen and the ground behind him. At the exact moment, Shi's body collapsed to the ground, just as his severed head also made its appearance. It fell several meters away from the body and rolled to a stop. A look of horror still etched on his face. Both were beyond death.

"Tch… now that's troublesome." Spoke Hiru in a calmed voice. There was no presence of any alarm or worry. To Tomoyo, it was cause for fear.

How could he not react to his teammates' deaths? Why was he so confident… why was he so smug? Anymore… nothing made sense.

With an air of fascination, he turned to Tomoyo and addressed her. "Don't worry, I shall return to play with you… but only after I dispose of the nuisance." To disturb her further, he smiled. "Wait for me."

Wait for him… it was too much. She had been through too much already… enough was enough. Now her torment seemed to stretch endlessly.

Death… there was nothing but death in her life now. It was more than she could stand. With that last threat all too present, she felt her strength leave her.

As she keeled over next to Sakura, she suddenly felt a strange sensation of warmth overcome her. On this night of naught but coldness, it was a welcome phenomenon. Slowly, she began to slide from consciousness. She wondered if this is what dying felt like.

With her eyes glazing over, and the last of the light fading, she only briefly was aware. In the distance, she saw Yue and Kero moving forward. In the foreground, Hiru had extended his imitation of Sakura's blade. She wondered how it would end.

Tomoyo sat on a bed not of her own, staring out of a window to watch the rain. It had been pouring since the morning, and there was already a substantial amount of standing water. She sighed.

With a tired eyes and a haunted expression, she stared absently around the room. Around Sakura's room. The room where Sakura had spent her childhood.

Somehow, everything was proceeding forward at a pace that left her trailing. A lot… no, too much had happened since she blacked out well over twelve hours ago. Far too much.

According to the others, nothing happened. She had slumped lifeless to the ground and the fight between them and Hiru was just to start, when the tides changed. Before they could fight, everyone except Syaoran had arrived. They spoke of a note and how they knew. Then, before battle could ensue, the hunters fled into the night, disappearing completely. Even their dead.

Then, the others took her and Sakura to her father's house. There wasn't much they could say beyond that. The level of grief and the dredging up of memories made it unbearable.

Tomoyo looked down to her hands. Would the pain ever stop? Sakura… her Sakura. She still couldn't believe it, even after they laid her to rest.

Tomoyo trembled slightly at the thought, but no tears came. After everything she had gone through, her tears were well past dried. There was nothing left.

After a night of grief, it wasn't until the morning that anything was decided. After a quick, impromptu decision, it was decided. After that, a few calls were made, but not many. That afternoon, she came to rest in a marked but un-named grave. As it was so soon and among the time when many funerals were happening due to the Tokyo crisis, prospects of a formal burial had been postponed for favor of a later date. Just a few words were said as she and her casket were lowered into the earth.

The attendance was small, but everyone that was there in Tokyo with her, was now in Tomoeda. Even Syaoran, confined to a wheelchair, and Nakuru, with her infirmities, were there to bid farewell. Fujitaka, who had not loosed one tear since his promise to Nadeshiko, stood in full remorse, but with an iron mask of emotion. It must have pained him to not cry. So Tomoyo was sure to cry for him.

It wasn't until after they had returned to Fujitaka's house that the grief-filled blame kicked in full. However, there was no finger pointing blame; this blame was the kind that came from within. Self-blames of not being strong enough, not trying enough, failing at one thing or another. Touya blamed himself for letting her go that night, Kero and Yue blamed themselves for not being stronger enough, Syaoran blamed himself for not regaining consciousness sooner, and Tomoyo… she blamed herself for everything. It was in her opinion… completely her fault.

Unable to deal with the overwhelming emotions any longer, she had retired to Sakura's old room, and had since done nothing. Nothing but stare out the window. She didn't eat, she didn't cry, she didn't sleep, she just did nothing.

Without cause, she got up. The rain had finally lessened, and the urge to go outside increased. However, it was no longer the afternoon, but the fading light of twilight, getting darker each moment.

Uncaring, she walked out of Sakura's room and downstairs. There, she found no one. Just like her, everyone else had gone elsewhere to grieve. Since that was that, she proceeded out the door and into the night.

It was a short time later that Tomoyo realized that she had walked without purpose. Just to get outside… to feel the air the night had to offer, that had been her only motivation. Now that she had fulfilled that necessity, she wandered aimlessly. Was there really a point to have a destination? She decided not.

She stopped. Though she hadn't a destination, it suddenly became all too apparent that she had one all along. Subconsciously, she had walked to the cemetery in which Sakura now rested. She frowned. It wasn't her intention, but it may just help her to achieve the closure she sought. With a self-nod and a mental affirmation, she strode forward.

The wind blew and with a sudden chill, Tomoyo grabbed her shoulders. Maybe going for this walked hadn't been a good idea after all. With the rain that came before the end of the burial, she had gotten a little wet. Too grieved she didn't notice, and even now a thick blanket of moisture clung to the air. She was liable to catch her death in this weather.

As she plodded along, weaving her way through the stones, she came to think higher of this idea. Her beloved Sakura might just end up taking her too… but that wasn't right. Sakura cared far too much to do anything like that. She would never leave her, nor would she wish harm upon her. So it was decided. Tomoyo would pay her respect and then find warmth.

However, just before she found it, something was wrong. Actually, something didn't feel right… it felt wrong. And it was familiar.

Not wasting another second, she quickly ducked behind one of the larger headstones and felt her heart beat harder. Her thoughts began to race, and her breathing quickened as well. It couldn't be… it couldn't possibly. But as she watched from around the corner, it was.

Just as one steps from a shadow to a light, so too did the hunter's appearance come as he stepped out of the night. He paused a moment, his black cloak swishing about his ankles, then with fluid precision, he moved forward. There was no question of his destination, as it was the same as Tomoyo's. But where as she had known it to be the unmarked grave, and this among the countless over fresh mounds of recent, he did not. So how was it that he knew now?

Tomoyo felt her blood harden. It was one thing to hunt her down and rob her of life, but to hound her after death as well? Which one… which was it?

With a newly found drive, she risked a closer look by venturing from the stone further. She steadied her breath with the knowledge that he had his back to her, and that was the only thing that kept her from fleeing in terror. Not that it would help her.

Through unwavering eyes, she watched him. It was all that she could do… it was all. Even though she risked everything, she had to know.

Once at the edge of her grave, he paused.

What was he doing? That was all she could think. From what she knew of the hunters, none were so laid back… except one. And she prayed that it wasn't him.

However, as he took a knee by the fresh earth, she could see his face for what it was. Her heart stopped. It was… it was Hiru.

With his one hand, he kneaded the earth with his fingertips. With his right hand, he held it slightly above the center of the ground, with his eyes closed. There was almost a peaceful look etched into his soft features. Though she had no idea what he was thinking, it was all too apparent of what he was doing: waiting.

All was quiet as the darkness grew could around them. There was such inactivity and stillness that Tomoyo dared not move for fear that she'd bend a blade of grass. She closed her eyes in anticipation. She felt so helpless… it was unbearable. Then, it happened.

All around the grave a soft incandescent light permeated the soil. In the pale glow that the light gave, a small smile formed upon Hiru's face. Though it was a satisfied smile, it was also a sad one.

Tomoyo briefly wondered what he could be thinking.

Then, the glowing stopped… no… it seemed to change. The ground had no more to give, but the light remained. But the light was strange. It seemed not to have a source, nor a destination beyond its level. Instead, it gathered in a pool beneath Hiru's hand, before taking the shape of a body… no, not any body… but Sakura's.

Tomoyo mentally gasped. Could it be? She stared unbelievably. Was it… Sakura's soul?

The ghostly image of Sakura lay suspended horizontally just above the earth, yet just beneath his hand. It was perfect. Though she was naked, she looked as though she were sleeping in water, with her hair floating in a gentle current. The awful wound that was her chest didn't exist. She was whole once more.

Gathering all the strength she had left, Tomoyo resisted the urge to reach out. Though with all her heart, she wanted to. Hiru as he was had no restraints.

"I'm sorry," he expressed as he reached closer. Saturated with sorrow, he thrust his hand to her chest. Suddenly, a silent scream tore from Sakura's lips as cracks ripped through her core and the energies fled their casing and flowed into the tattooed hand above. After a few moments, it was over.

"…But magic is best where magic belongs."

This time, Tomoyo not only gasped audibly, but crushed a dead leaf under her weight. In a frenzied terror, she tried to get up to get away, but knew she could not. Without anywhere else to turn, she dashed behind the headstone that hid her before.

An amused smile crept across Hiru's face as he glanced in the direction of headstone.

Tomoyo's nerves burned. It was hopeless now… hopeless. There was no way he couldn't have seen her.

Hiru looked absently to the air. He seemed to debate something. Then he called out softly to the darkness.

"Though I told you to wait, it seems you've come to me." He smiled and looked down, closing his eyes. "I suppose this makes things easier."

When Tomoyo heard nothing more, she clenched her teeth together and clamped her eyes shut. To her, the end had come at last. However, it would not come today.

"You see, I really have no interest in you. My leader has already used you to obtain our goal… at least some of it." He laughed smoothly. "Her energies are mine. That what she could do, I can do. However…" he opened his eyes. "We're not done yet. Tell her guardians that I will wait for them at the blood shrine when the worlds of light and darkness collide in the fading warmth.

"Further more… I will be alone."

He sighed to the silence as he turned away.

"Oh… and feel free to watch."

With that, he vanished in the darkness, leaving Tomoyo all alone, to consider her options.

A/C (10/4/05): Ugh... it seems everytime I go away I lose my rythym... sorry if this chapter doesn't flow as well as it should, but it was a difficult one for me to do. Hope to hear some comments on this one, bad or good.