Beautiful Goodbye

-

Fed up with my destiny
And this place of no return
Think I'll take another day
And slowly watch it burn
It doesn't really matter how the time goes by
Cause I still remember you and I
And that beautiful goodbye

Amanda Marshall 'Beautiful Goodbye'

-

Meiun walked quickly through the back halls of the club, checking on everything. She had only one song before she had to return to the stage and sing again but a good assassin always knew what was going on around them.

First Kamui and Shota. Shota was done being angry with Kamui ditching him; he always reacted rather strongly to that sort of thing, and had made inroads on getting himself plastered. He'd evidently gotten Kamui-chan to drink too, judging by the way the young Seal was acting. She doubted he'd normally be found in Shota's lap, kissing him fiercely and clinging to him almost desperately. Shota certainly didn't seem to mind.

Meiun shook her head. The Shiro boy was so uke it was almost pathetic. And she'd thought Subaru was bad…

Subaru himself was in the main room, drinking and snuggling with her brother. Seishirou was talking to Hokuto-chan, feeling rather annoyed and even slightly flustered. She made a note to get Hokuto-chan out of their way once she was done for the night.

As for the other Seals Arashi was missing and Sorata was busy losing a drinking contest with Kigai. The blond could drink anyone under the table. Or under the covers, more accurately, she recognized the drinks chosen for the contest. Rather well known for their 'side-effects' most people drank only one or two. Those gathered around Kigai and Sorata were all watching them, some shaking their heads at the naïve monk, some admiring their capacity. She wasn't quite sure what Kigai had planned for the Seal but, knowing his proclivities as any telepath could, she knew it wasn't going to be pleasant. Not for the Seal. Kigai would probably have fun; he was the only one around who rivaled Fuuma in sexual perversion. And that was saying something.

Shaking her head she dismissed the situation. Sorata was dead anyway, would it really matter how? Still…wasn't he supposed to die for a girl? And where had Satsuki disappeared?

Ah well, not important. Satsuki was gone on some mission for Fuuma, probably.

Speaking of the devil, he was gone too. Unusual. He liked places like this. Especially if Kamui-chan was there too… Well, she'd worry about that later too. He was probably just angry that Shota was making more progress with Kamui-chan then him. Or perhaps she'd upset him earlier? She shrugged and moved on.

The Takemura ninja, Suoh, was sitting at a table drinking the least intoxicating beverage available. How dull. The girl… Meiun frowned. The girl was nowhere to be found. Nokoru was dancing half-heartedly with one of the numerous single, or pretending to be, girls on the floor but Sakura wasn't in the room.

Strange. Hadn't she come with the Seals? In the bathroom perhaps?

Song's almost over, Imouto.

With a slight curse Meiun turned on her heels and stalked backstage. Time to get back to work…

Seishirou smiled as Subaru crawled into his lap, too drunk to give a damn what his sister thought. Hokuto just laughed, she thought it was cute. Seishirou privately suspected that he could fuck Subaru right in front of her and she'd just sit there smiling. Hell, she might even make a few suggestions. Hokuto was a very…odd… girl. He shifted slightly to make Subaru more comfortable as the boy settled in, head resting on Seishirou's shoulder. Taking Subaru's drink he finished it off and looked around for the Kinomoto girl. Sakura… He grinned slightly.

She didn't return for 10 minutes. Suspicious, since he hadn't seen her leaving. He made a note to keep an eye on her…

"Can I go and listen?"

"Not now."

"Please!" The Voice begged. "She's got such a pretty voice."

Flower was peering through the bathroom door. "Oooh! Look at all the pretty sakura petals!"

"She is the Sakurazukamori." Voice reminded Flower.

Flower began to spin in place, sakura petals falling from the sky. "Wheee!"

"Stop that!"

"But Sera-"

"The last thing we need is someone wondering why it's raining flowers in the bathroom."

"You're floating in the middle of it! That's suspicious. Besides, they'd just blame it on her anyway." Flower gestured at the stage.

"No. I am not suspicious since humans can't see me. They can see your flowers though." Sera's voice was final.

Flower pouted and disappeared. Voice shook her head. "She wasn't trying to cause trouble."

Sera ignored that, eyes closed, floating just over the center of an elaborate runic pentagram on the floor. Her breath was slow and even. She frowned.

"Nothing?" Illusion asked.

"Nothing." Sera confirmed.

"Who could be blocking you?"

"I'm not being blocked. It's just…" She shrugged. "Too many possibilities. None of them certain."

"So you have no idea what will happen?"

Sera shook her head, green eyes troubled. She flipped her long black hair over her shoulder then spread her white, feathered wings wide and settled on the ground. Her wings closed around her then disappeared entirely.

"So what now?" Voice asked.

"We wait. Until we see a chance and take it. We won't lose." Her voice was resolute.

Why do you case so much?" Water asked. "They're just humans."

"I care for all my species." She replied.

"Then why did you call Rociel and Uriel in?"

"Because, I only watch. They judge. If I hadn't called they would have judged more harshly, believing me to be trying to hide something."

"They would have come on their own?"

"Lucifer would have called them. The humans gave gained surprising strength. He fears them."

"Lucifer?"

"He fears not for himself…" Sera sighed, reaching up to brush back her now short hair. "I may have waited too long."

"But doesn't Rociel like that human guy?"

"She only truly cares for the one. And he's…" She shook her head. "I fear that I may be unable to save them."

"The humans are strong, right? They can fight back."

"The human dream gazers seem to think so. Creating the idea of the End of the World…" She shook her head. "No, the humans are not yet powerful enough as a whole and their protectors are being killed in this foolish war." She made a face. "Seals vs. Angels indeed."

"You're in Exile from me…" Voice floated to the back of the room, singing. "Because it's you that I can't see. What did you leave me to be alone!"?

"So what shall we do for now?"

"Wait at the school. Watch for your chance."

"We're going to steal the Shinken, aren't we?" Fire smirked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"With those the humans may be able to kill us."

"They don't seem so special to me." Fire commented.

"You can find your way, find you way back to me. You can find your way, find your way back to me!" Voice floated around the room, still singing.

"They are." Sera remarked simply.

"So we're going to take them? I thought you liked the humans?"

"I do. But I'm an Angel." She smoothed her dress. "I won't give them the means to defeat my own kind."

"You're in Exile from yourself. Been kept away from yourself." Voice picked up some of Flowers left over petals and played with them.

"It all seems silly to me." Rain pouted as Fire threatened to toast her if she didn't stop pouring water on everyone.

"Life on Earth generally is." Sera started for the door. "How long?"

Time held up a clock.

"Lost in the mist from when we last kissed. I need you to find yourself…" Voice trailed off as she saw Sera leaving.

Sera nodded. "Make it ten minutes ago."

Time nodded and turned his hourglass over. Around them time flowed backwards until, ten minutes earlier, time turned the hourglass right side p. Then he, and all the other cards, disappeared. Sera left the bathroom.

To all non-Dragons she'd only been in there 6 minutes. Everyone else who'd been using the bathroom hadn't noticed anything unusual.

Is it worth all the pain?

Is there anything to gain?

Vengeful thoughts breed all that's lost

We won't be the same

…unless…

* * *

Sakura headed back to the table she'd left Suoh at carrying a couple bottles of beer from the bar. She cut across the dance floor to save time. Winding her way through the crowd she barely heard someone calling her and turned just before Nokoru could reach out to her. "Hello." She smiled sweetly. "Did you have fun?"

Nokoru promptly tripped over his own feet and fell face first to the floor.

Sakura gaped in shock a moment then knelt to help him. "My god, are you all right?"

He shot back up to his feet, smiling sheepishly and rubbing his shoulder. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You fell pretty hard."

"I guess I did…" He looked around. "Where's Suoh?"

"I'm getting some drinks." She held up the hand with the beers. "Want some?"

He blinked. "Uhh…sure! Why not?"

She handed him one. "Don't trip now."

"That would be dangerous." He agreed inanely.

They finally reached the table where Suoh was sitting and Sakura set the bottles, she'd gotten 4, on the table, taking one for herself. Suoh grabbed one. "I was worried you'd gotten lost."

She made a face. "This place is too busy. The bar's overwhelmed."

"They are popular." Suoh noted.

Nokoru was staring up at the stage, frowning slightly.

"Something wrong?"

"Rijichou?"

He shook his head. "Sorry. Just…I was wondering how Meiun and Shota ever got together. They don't seem to have much in common, at least in their acts."

Sakura watched Meiun a long minute. The killer was as deliberate in her stage appearances as everything else, her appearance immaculate she stood in one place and simply sang, really moving only her arms. She had a gorgeous voice though. "Meiun's more like an opera singer, really."

Nokoru nodded. "And Shota's…"

"A J-rocker?"

Nokoru nodded emphatically

Suoh shrugged. "She's just more subtle. Shota's more of an in your face sort of person."

"I think they're both sexy." Sakura sipped her beer.

The others stared at her. She shrugged. "Meiun's got that intense sort of aura, you know?" She looked up at Meiun, considering. "She's got that look of hers too. Even Shota can't beat that look."

"…"

"On the other hand, Shota's more intense. He dresses like everyone thinks he should and dances around on stage." She finished off her bottle. "He's a lot more lewd too. I saw them once before and I think a couple people nearly passed out by the time he was done singing that 'Vanilla' song." She laughed.

Nokoru stared at her. Suoh sweatdropped, beer in hands, not drinking. Sakura blinked. "Did I say something wrong?"

They just stared at her. She looked down at her dress, a simple black shoulder less thing, at frowned. "Did I spill something?"

They shook their heads.

"Well?"

Nokoru coughed. "Never mind…" He polished off his beer then grabbed for the other. Suoh, who'd also been reaching, politely held back and let his rijichou take it. Sakura pouted. "We're out already?"

"I'll go get it." Suoh stood up.

Sakura made a face. "I'm not that slow."

Suoh blinked at her then smiled. "Mmm, it's OK. You went last time. I'll be right back, OK?" He waved over his shoulder as he left.

Sakura watched him go then turned back to Nokoru, beaming. "So, I guess we're alone now."

Nokoru promptly choked on his beer.

"Araa! Are you OK? Mou, you seem to be getting into trouble a lot today."

Nokoru, head down on the table, mutely shook his. "I'm…fine…" He turned to look at her and turned bright red when, not having noticed her moving, his head bumped into her stomach. He lurched backwards and fell out of his chair.

Laying on the floor, legs tangled in the chair he sighed, closing his eyes. "Yep, just fine…"

* * *

Akira smiled at the pair of travel-worn boys standing before him. They both appeared to be about sixteen years old, the same as Sakura-san. His smile went a little wider as he thought of his rijichou's new love interest. "So, you want to meet with Rijichou?"

The first boy, with short black hair and gray eyes and a constant smile that rivaled Akira's own, nodded. "As soon as possible." He had a soothing, deep voice. "We've come as the representatives of the Li clan in Hong Kong."

"Hmm?" Akira blinked. "Why would they be sending representatives?"

"The end of the world, of course." Still in that smooth, imperturbable voice.

The second boy, he had short brown hair and sad brown eyes, shifted slightly. He'd been very quiet, hadn't really said a word since he'd entered the room, except for a quick hello. He was currently entranced by the flooring, head bowed. Akira sensed, with a wondrous grasp of the obvious, that he was upset over something. They hadn't really given any indication what he was upset over, however.

"Hmm, Imonoyama-senpai's out for the evening with Takemura-senpai and Kinomoto-chan. I'm sure he'll meet with you-"

"Kinomoto?" The second boy's head snapped up.

Akira sweatdropped and nodded. "Kinomoto Sakura-chan."

The boy's eyes went wide, something like hope appearing in them. "Sakura-chan's alive?"

Akira nodded. "Very much so."

"Did anyone else survive?" The first boy asked. The second boy grabbed his hand in a painful looking grip but he only smiled at him.

"She's alive!!"

The darker boy smiled. "Yes, she is. Isn't that nice?"

The second boy nodded emphatically then hugged a startled Akira. "Alive!"

Akira recovered quickly and took a cue from the first boy, ignoring the hug. "No one else, unfortunately. She was lucky to be alive. Some concrete had fallen over her, tenting her. Aside from some bruises and scrapes she was unhurt."

The first boy's eyes narrowed. "How…lucky…of her."

"Mmmm." Akira nodded. "Isn't it?"

"Anyway," The first boy shook his head, looking faintly disturbed. "Is there any place on campus where we can stay for the night? We just arrived from Hong Kong an hour ago and I'm afraid my cousin's a bit sleepy. We can meet Imonoyama-san tomorrow?"

Akira nodded enthusiastically. "I'll inform him when he returns. We have some rooms in this building you can use. Is there only the two of you?"

"Three, and a pet."

"OH! The ones carrying your bags earlier? (You have such a cute pet. I've never seen a cat with wings.) Sure, we have a couple of spare rooms you can use."

The boy smiled, taking his cousin by the hand and leading him down the hallway. They picked up the other two members of the party who'd remained outside while the boys talked to Akira and headed for the rooms. Akira stopped between two doors on opposite sides of the hall and gestured to one. "You two can stay here." He smiled at the boys. "The girl and your cat can have this room." He pointed to the other.

The cat-thing, who indeed did have wings, blinked. "Cat?"

The girl grabbed him and beamed. "Thanks!!" She hauled the cat after her into the room. "Wow!! Suppi, look all this rooo~om!…YAY! The beds are so bouncy! Ne, Suuuu~piii~i! You should bounce too! See, it's fun! Wheee!!"

Eriol closed the door and sighed. "I hope she doesn't wake the whole place…" He shook his head.

"Thank you." The second boy was saying to Akira, ignoring the girl's noise. His voice was also a bit deep, considering how slim he was. "You've been a great help." He bowed.

Akira shook his head, smiling. "It's no problem, really. I'm sure Imonoyama-senpai will be happy to see you. Sakura-chan too."

The boy blushed slightly. "Aa…Sakura…"

The first boy gave his cousin a slight push into the room and tossed their bags, which had been dropped on the floor, in after him. "Thank you."

Akira nodded. "Well, I'd better go. You both look like you need your sleep."

Eriol nodded and bowed as Akira left. Entering the room he shut the door and sighed, leaning against it. "Neeeee…"

His cousin stared warily at him. "What?"

"Do I really look like I need sleep?"

His cousin made a face. "You don't need sleep, you need powerful drugs."

"Hidoi! You're as cute as ever." He laid out on the bed and leered at his cousin. "Even if you are all rumpled and sleepy."

His cousin turned bright red and threw a bag at him. "Hiragizawa!"

Eriol chuckled then blinked, bouncing on the bed. "Araa. I think Ijyuin-san got the rooms mixed up."

"Eh?" Shaoran blinked at him. "Why?"

"There's only one bed in here."

Shaoran blinked at him then shook his head. "No way! I ain't…I ain't…" He turned bright red again.

"So…" Eriol smirked. "You'd rather stay with Nakuru? I wonder if there's only one bed in there too?" He blinked innocently. "After all, he did say these were spare rooms. Maybe they didn't have any doubles."

Shaoran looked like he'd rather be anywhere but in the situation he was. He hovered by the door for several minutes, considering and looking torn. "Hiragizawa or…Nakuru….Nakuru or…Hiragizawa…"

Eriol sighed and gestured. Shaoran yelped as he suddenly floated into the air and was dropped onto the bed. Before he could flee Eriol had one arm locked around his waist and was pulling up the covers. Shaoran gaped. "Hiragizawa…"

"Hmm? Something wrong?" Eriol's smirk returned. "Having hentai thoughts?"

Shaoran turned even brighter red and shook his head adamantly. "No way!"

"Then go to sleep." Eriol replied practically. "You're obviously tired."

Shaoran stared at him a minute longer then rolled over to face the wall. "...Ne, Hiragizawa…"

"You can call me Eriol, if you prefer…"

"Hiragizawa… Did you know Sakura was alive?"

"… No."

Shaoran turned again. "But…"

"I gave up half my power, remember?"

"…"

"Even when… Her father is dead, I know that. But, my power didn't return."

"Are the others…"

"Probably." Eriol replied simply.

Shaoran was silent, eyes closed, for a long minute.

"If I knew she was alive I would have told you."

Shaoran nodded silently.

"Don't worry so much. You'll see her again tomorrow. Everything will be all right then."

"But…she loved her brother. And her father. And…"

"Everything will be fine." Eriol insisted. "I'll make it that way."

Shaoran suddenly wrapped his arms around Eriol's neck, hiding his face in his shoulder. "Eriol-kun…"

Eriol smiled at the change of address. "Sssh. Go to sleep. You don't want to fall asleep on Sakura-chan tomorrow, do you?"

Shaoran shook his head.

"Then sleep now. The sooner you're unconscious the faster it'll seem until you see her."

Shaoran flexed his fingers, tightening them a bit on Eriols neck then relaxed, breath coming slower and more easily. Eriol smiled as he rubbed his cousins back. "Sleep tight, my cute little cousin."

He ran one hand lightly up Shaoran's back, causing the other boy to shiver and snuggle closer, muttering his name in annoyance under his breath. Eriol smiled and lay back against the pillow, his hand moving to tangle in Shaoran's hair. "Don't worry, cousin. I won't let anything bad happen to you…" He pulled him tight against him, letting up slightly when Shaoran made a discomforted noise. "You're all I have left. I'll protect you…" He smiled. "No matter how much you hate it."

"I hope you don't have any of your usual plans for my nephew, Clow-kun. I'd hate to have to kill you."

Eriol raised his head and smiled at the woman perched at the end of the bed. Several of the clow cards hovered behind her, engaged in their usual low-key mayhem. "Hello, Eien-san."

Eien tossed her long black hair over her shoulder, fixing dark green eyes on Eriol. "Why are you here?"

"To calm my cousin, of course."

"You thought Sakura was dead. Bringing him here would solve nothing."

"I was wrong, apparently. So it's all good in the end."

"Don't lie to me, Hiragizawa."

"… This place feels…wrong. Something is wrong. Fate isn't going as planned."

"Hmm?"

"People have been changing it, haven't they? Lots of them. Without a plan."

"You are as smart as they say. Or almost, at least."

"And Fate is out of control. No one really knows what will happen." He was thinking out loud now. "However it started, it's all out of hand."

"All she wanted was to save him." Eien replied cryptically. "All he wanted as her for himself." She sighed. "All Shota wanted was to be normal."

"He's twice as strong as the next sane telepath and a Magami to boot. Friends with the Sakurazuka's and in love with the antichrist. How could he ever be normal?"

"He could be fully human."

Eriol blinked. "He's a guardian?…No, he's an Angel, and…" He trailed off, eyes widening. "Impossible…"

"Impossible just means that no one's seen or done it yet."

"But why would a tenshi be here on Earth?"

"Did you forget about the Judgment Day?" She smiled and suddenly unfolded white-feathered wings from her back. "Humanity will be judged, the same as all other sentient beings."

"Will we…win?"

Eien watched him for a long minute. "There never was any Fate, you know. The universe just followed an orderly plan. You could predict what would happen. There were amazingly strong possibilities but no certainties. This is part of the problem now, because nothing is certain even the past, things can be changed. But even a simple change, much less the varying changes we've had here recently, can change the path of the universe itself. To answer your question the possibility of humanity winning is minimal. You don't even have half a chance." She shook her head slowly. "Humanity will die…"

"…Did they suffer?" He asked quietly.

She looked at him a long moment. "…The Tomoeda earthquake was largely natural. The next day a quake, on a much smaller scale, of course, would have hit the area. The Kinomoto residence would have been destroyed."

"And everyone?"

"…The father was home. He would have died instantly, crushed by all his books. Ironic, that… Daidoji would have been visiting."

"They…would have died?"

"Not in the quake." She shook her head, tears in her eyes. "No, that would have been a mercy. They would have…" She choked up slightly. "Her brother was a strong boy, you know. Very stubborn. He would eventually die of thirst and blood loss. Still holding his sister and Yukito's hands…"

Eriol buried his face in Shaoran's hair. Shaoran, mercifully, was still sound asleep. He'd had a very trying day.

"He would have lasted five days. He was determined… He was determined not to die before they did. He didn't want them to be alone." She sighed. "He'd have died only minutes after she did. Daidoji would have been dead within a day, from blood loss caused by massive injuries and Yukito would have faded, dying from Sakura's lack of power and nourishment, within 3. Kerberos would have gone with him."

"God." Eriol choked, fighting back tears.

"This way… It was over in minutes. None of them suffered." She sighed, standing beside the bed. "You pick the worst bedtime stories, Hiragizawa-kun." She kissed his cheek. "And I think life hates you…" Wrapping her wings about her she, and the cards, disappeared.

Eriol lay in bed for a long time, Shaoran's breath a warm, regular beat against his ear, crying softly, clinging to his cousin.

All he had left…

* * *

Eien sighed, relaxing in her bed. A quick check told her where everyone was, Nokoru and his teammates safely asleep in their beds, Arashi in her room, Hokuto asleep in bed, Meiun at home, Shota and Kamui asleep at the club. The Clow boy had finally fallen asleep, curled up with her nephew.

She sighed. Her other nephew… Subaru was sleeping, badly, in his bed curled up in Seishirou's arms. Rather cute, if one ignored the fact that he was on the verge of insanity.

"Sumeragi Eien, daughter of a Li and the first son of the 12th head of the Sumeragi clan. The second most powerful person in Tokyo, with onmyojitsu, dream gazing and, now, the Clow Cards. Could have been the new head of the clan but differed for your nephew, Subaru. Could be the next head of the Li clan but differed in favor of your nephew Shaoran… You're such a sucker for family."

"I wouldn't expect you to understand that." She turned and was unsurprised to find her dreamscape changed. She frowned, recognizing the room. "This is where the shinken are kept…"

"Very good. So quick…" A dark form appeared, a man wearing all black with black wings and black hair falling around his face.

"I see your fashion sense hasn't changed." She shrugged, settling for floating over the ground, wings out. "Is there a reason you're here?"

He held up the shinken. "These can kill us?"

She frowned. He'd heard… "Yes."

"Who…"

"Will you keep them if it's the right person?" She shook her head. "Selfish as ever." She closed her eyes, concentrating. "…If you don't get rid of them…the strongest possibility… Rociel."

He stiffened. "…"

"Rociel and…myself…"

"One or the other?"

"…" She shook her head. "I can't tell. One or the other or both."

He frowned. "What's blocking you?"

"You've made a mess of things, you know." She opened her eyes. "And why? To get rid of a few humans? Jealousy? You put the entire universe at risk because she likes someone else!"

"She's mine!"

"Killing him won't help you! She'll hate you!"

"Not if she doesn't know that it was because of me. Everyone still believe it was the sakura-"

"How stupid do you think she is? Uriel won't fall for it either."

"Uriel won't care enough to check."

"Kami-sama-"

"Won't tell anyone either." He smirked. "I've seen to that."

She blinked, eyes suddenly going catlike. The dreamscape twisted chaotically for a minute then she hissed, eyes and dreamscape returning to normal. "You didn't…"

"As I've said, she's mine…"

"Lucifer, you're insane!"

"Not me…" He smiled.

"What were you thinking? Were you thinking? Rociel and Uriel, none of the other angels, will stand for this!"

"And who's going to stop me? By the time they know it will be too late. By the time they figure out who did it…" He smirked. "People have been insisting god must be crazy for years. Now they'll be right."

"You're the insane one! What will you gain from this? You've unbalanced the universe itself!"

Lucifer stared at the swords in his hands. "…She's mine. I won't share her with anyone, not a foolish human, not god himself."

"You're insane…" Eien, sometimes known as Sera, sometimes merely called Watcher, fifth most powerful Angel in the heavens, repeated quietly. "You'll kill us all." She laughed bitterly. "And to think, I was worried about the humans. We're as destructive as they are. We've been corrupted-"

Lucifer shook his head, twisting the shinken slightly as he drove it through Sera's chest. He watched her body fall to the 'floor'. "You always did piss me off when you started in on your rants, Sera-chan."

He held up the other Shinken then drove it into the floor. "All I have to do is seal up this dreamscape and they'll be safely hidden. Rociel…" He smiled. "My Rociel will be safe." He smirked at the body on the ground. "It was one or the other, dream gazer. I won't let anything happen to her."

He nudged the body with his foot and smiled. "God, I love death. Do you think she likes it when I send another soul to her?" He nodded as if she'd replied. "She must. She is death, after all." He laughed. "Death and the devil, a match made in heaven."

Tired with the bad puns he disappeared.

It was 4 in the morning.

* * *

Meiun looked up as someone knocked on the door. Walking over to the door she paused before opening it. "Who is it?"

Fuuma stood outside it, bloodstains on his clothing. He entered, silently.

"Hold it, are you hungry? Did you eat yet? Let me hang up your coat now…" She smiled as she took his coat from him and put it away in the closet.

He glanced at the clock and sighed. Five am… Reaching over he pulled her close, walking towards the bedroom. Well past time to get to sleep.

With a quick kiss they climbed into bed and immediately both went to sleep. It had been a very long day…

* * *

Eriol yawned as he woke up, an internal clock warning him it was time to get up despite the fact he was still tired. He tried to sit up and frowned as he couldn't move. Squirming got him nowhere, he couldn't even more his arms.

"Hiragizawa…" A voice, a very familiar once, muttered in his ear.

Eriol blinked. He'd heard that voice, many times. Just never in this…position… He smiled as memory caught up with him. Oh yeah, he was in bed and his ever kawaii cousin was asleep beside him. Not a bad place to be… "Ne, Shaoran?"

He cousin lifted his head, blinking sleepily at him. Aw, he was so cute in the morning. He looked so... so…confused. "Ngh?"

Not very verbal, apparently. "It's time to get up."

For once Shaoran didn't turn bright red or shout or anything. He simply nodded, stood and looked around for his bag. "Where're my clothes?" He had the slow drawl of the still sleepy. Jet lag, perhaps?

"2 feet to your left."

"Thanks…"

Eriol crawled out of bed himself and smiled as Shaoran went to the convenient bathroom to change. How typical.

Having changed he yawned again, stretched some more and sat on the end of the bed. If the morning went as normal any second now Nakuru would come running in, swinging Suppi, and demand breakfast…

Nothing.

He blinked. Were they still sleeping? He poked his head into the bathroom. "Ne, Shaoran, I'm going to go check on Nakuru and Sup-"

Shaoran cut him off by throwing his old shirt over his head. "I'm changing!" He protested.

"Still? I've been done for a while. Do you need-"

"NO!"

"Are you sure?"

"Hiragizawa…" Shaoran glared.

Eriol sighed. "Fine, fine…" Closing the door he left. "He's cranky in the mornings…"

Walking across the hall he entered Suppi and Nakuru's room. He blinked. They weren't there. The luggage was though. The bed had been slept in, or at least bounced on, at some point. No remains of breakfast. Had they gone on without him? He pouted. He wasn't late or anything! How rude.

"Are they here?" Shaoran, straightening his clothes, poked his head in the room. "Huh? Where'd they go?"

"I don't know. They didn't say anything. Nakuru never wakes up before now and Suppi wakes up when Nakuru does."

"Always?" Shaoran asked.

"Always." Eriol responded, with a smile that told the whole as to WHY Suppi woke up when Nakuru did.

"So where are they?"

"Breakfast, perhaps."

"Already?"

"It's 10 am, Shaoran."

"Oh…I really was tired, wasn't I?"

"Yes." Eriol replied simply. As I am now. "Shall we go meet with Imonoyama-san?"

"What about them?"

"They'll find us."

Shaoran made a face. "Nakuru would, wouldn't it?"

Eriol beamed.

Shaoran sighed. "They're as twisted as you are."

"Hidoi! How can you say such things about me? Shaoran, you're heartless."

"Hmph." Shaoran turned away.

"Araa, you're up!"

They both turned to see Akira standing beside a blond they figured had to be Imonoyama Nokoru, with a blue haired man standing defensively behind them. Eriol smiled. "Ijyuin-san, good morning."

"Good morning." Shaoran echoed.

"Araa?" Eriol peered around. "Where's Sakura-chan?"

"Still asleep." Akira replied, with a smile.

"Eh?" Shaoran blinked. "Sakura never sleeps this late!"

"Oh?" Nokoru flipped his fan open. 'Interesting'. "You know Kinomoto-san well?"

The blue haired man leaned forward and whispered something to Nokoru. Nokoru blinked, then nodded. "Oh, her fian-WHAT?" He gaped at the blue-haired man. "Suoh, you're lying!"

Suoh just Looked at him.

Nokoru gaped, looking back at Shaoran. He shut and re-opened his fan. 'Shock!'

Shaoran blinked. "…"

Eriol hmmed. "I thought you were supposed to know everything about females, Imonoyama-san? You're rather famous for it."

Nokoru coughed, shutting his fan, looking annoyed. "Yes…well…" He glared at Suoh who shrugged innocently.

"She's still asleep?" Shaoran was asking Akira, largely ignoring Nokoru. Akira nodded. Shaoran sighed. He turned to Eriol. "I'm going to get some breakfast. And there's something…" He looked towards the wall.

Eriol smiled. "OK. I'll fill you in later then." He looked over at Nokoru. "Unless, of course, you're busy now, Imonoyama-san."

"Umm…not really. Now would be a good time." He seemed offset by something.

Eriol nodded and turned to wave to his cousin but Shaoran was already gone. He blinked. "That's odd."

"Hmm?" Akira asked. Nokoru was still disturbed and Suoh was trying to calm him down. "Did you say something?"

"No…Nothing important…"

"Imonoyama-sama!"

Nokoru turned as two security guards ran up the hall to them. They paused to bow before speaking. "Sir, there's been a disturbance."

"Where?"

"The center of campus, at the fountain."

Nokoru started. "The fountain? What happened."

"Well…" The first guard looked uncomfortable. "There was, evidently, some fighting.

"Fighting?"

"The fountain itself was destroyed."

"Any weapons found at the site?"

"None, sir."

Nokoru sagged, Suoh had to catch him. "Anything else?"

"Yes, sir…"

"…Something wrong?"

"I don't know how to say this sir, but…" The second guard coughed. "There were, fatalities."

"Fatalities?" Nokoru perked up again. "Who?"
"One unidentified girl, a large black cat and…"

"And?"

"There was a body in the fountain, drowned. It has been identified as belonging to Nekoi Yuzuriha."

Nokoru paled and almost collapsed again. Akira cried out, hands flying up to cover his mouth. Eriol frowned. "An unidentified girl and… a large black cat?"

"Yes." The guards nodded.

Eriol frowned, casting a spell. An illusion of Nakuru and Spinel Sun, in its true form, appeared beside him. The guards blinked. "That…just might be them."

"You don't know?"

The guard shifted nervously. "Well…there wasn't much…left…of them…Makes positive identification hard…"

Eriol closed his eyes. "But… you believe it's them?"

"It just might be."

Akira blinked. "Aren't those your…oh!" He gaped. "Oh my!"

"They weren't in their room this morning… I thought…they went to breakfast." Eriol slowly sank to the floor.

Nakuru, Suppi, Yue, Kerberos, Touya, Daidoji… Everyone was dead. Everyone except…

'I think life hates you.'

'hates you…'

She'd been standing over him when she said that.

 Staring at Shaoran…

He stood up suddenly, peering around. "Which way did he go?"

Everyone stared at him. "Who?"

"Shaoran!" He demanded. With a quick curse he ran back into their room and, digging through Shaoran's things, pulled out the Lasin board. Holding it up he began to chant, concentrating.

Nokoru blinked. "What's he doing?"

"Trying to find his cousin, I think?" Akira suggested.

The guards stared at Eriol as if he was nuts.

A blue light shot out of the lasin board as Eriol finished the spell. With a quick nod he ran off in the general direction it was pointing. Suoh gestured for Akira to watch Nokoru then ran after him.

"Where are you going?" The ninja demanded.

"I have to find him…"

"Your friend?"

"He's in danger…"

They dodged down a few side corridors, trying to find the right place. Suoh frowned. "We're nearing the Seals rooms. What would he be doing here?"

"Who's here now?"

"Kamui never came home. Neither did Sorata. That leaves Arashi and Yu…" He trailed off. "Only Arashi."

"That's it?" Eriol almost stumbled. "I thought there were seven Seals?"

"There were." Suoh replied grimly. "But Subaru doesn't live here."

"Still…" Shaking his head Eriol returned to the task at hand. Find Shaoran THEN worry about the fate of the world. Priorities.

They slowed to a stop as the board pointed them towards a door. Eriol frowned, staring at it. "What's this room?"

"This is Arashi's bedroom. What would he be doing here?" Suoh looked confused.

"He said there was something…something not right? Something wrong here?" Slowly he opened the door.

Suoh and Eriol both gaped at what was inside. Cables and wires criss-crossed the room like a complex electronic device. They'd burst through walls, flooring, gone right through furniture. Furniture and…

"E-ri-ol…"

"SHAORAN!" Eriol, heedless of the danger, jumped into the room, pushing his way through the cables until he reached Shaoran. The boy was in bad shape, the cables and wires had gone through a shoulder, his stomach, legs, even his left hand. His sword lay on the ground beside him, out of reach. He was in no shape to cast a spell even if he could reach it though.

Shaoran smiled weakly as Eriol tried to figure out how to free him without causing more damage. "I came…because I thought…she was dead…Ironic, huh?"

"Shut up!" Eriol yelled at him. "You aren't dead yet!"

"Not yet…" Shaoran coughed. "I felt something here…something bad… I came in…I thought they were dead…I just touched her… She was dead…the wires weren't." He winced, closing his eyes. "It hurt, Eriol."

'I'll protect you. No matter how much you hate it.'

"Sakura is all right, isn't she, Eriol?" Shaoran sounded more worried about her then himself.

Eriol nodded. "She's fine…" He picked Shaoran's sword off the ground and cut him free, cradling him in his arms.

Shaoran smiled, eyes obscured by his bangs. "That's good…I think he likes her…Does she like him?"

"I didn't ask…"

"Oh well…" He frowned, considering. "It isn't so…bad…I always…thought I'd be scared more."

"You'll be fine."

"It really hurts…" Shaoran put his wounded hand on his stomach, the other arm dangling useless at his side.

"You'll be fine." Eriol repeated stubbornly.

"Did you ever find Suppi and Nakuru?"

"Yes…they're fine." He lied.

"Good." Shaoran smiled. "They're strange, just like you, but…" He frowned, considering. Eriol brushed his hair from his eyes and Shaoran smiled. "I think…I liked…all of you…anyway…even if you were…annoying…" He hissed, biting his lip. "Eriol!"

"Shaoran!"

"…"

"Shaoran…"

"…"

"Shaoran…say something…please? Please?…Don't make me beg, Shaoran. I don't beg…"

Silence.

Eriol put his fingers on Shaoran's neck.

Silence.

Eriol stared down at the body in his arms, then looked up. There was another body, one with long black hair. "I think…I think you're running out of Seals very quickly…"

Suoh said nothing, standing outside the door, staring inside, eyes wide with horror.

'Humanity will die'

'Life hates you'

'E-ri-ol…'

'I'm sorry.'

'I think…I liked…all of you…anyway…'

Eriol buried his face in his dead relatives hair. Shaoran was gone. His guardians, all of them, were gone. The Kinomoto's were gone. Eien would never have let this happen, so she was gone. What was left?

Who was left?