Essence of Blood

He had met girls throughout his life but never had he met a woman as unique as her. Not only did she defy him in an erratic way but her blood held an essence that differed from everyone else. Her blood was special... her blood made her, his.

Chapter Thirty-six
Essence of Magic

.xx.

-Sakura-

August 13th, 2001 – 2:04 p.m.

I gathered all that I could from Fanran; there wasn't much to know that we already discerned. She didn't reveal anything to me that could tip me off as to where Akuma took Xiao Lang and that, in itself, really irked me. That man has saved me countless times over the course of tens of thousands of years and I couldn't even find a clue as to where the asshole took him.

Thanking Fanran, I composed myself and began heading in the direction of Jin's office. Perhaps they were luckier than I was in locating where on earth Xiao Lang could be—I couldn't even sense his aura any more… it was as if he wasn't anywhere on the earth.

Like he was somewhere that couldn't be reached.

I had taken all but seven steps from Fanran's room when a sinister aura blanketed the area. My heart jumped to my throat; I could recognize that feeling anywhere.

"Akuma."

As his name left my lips, I heard Tomoyo's blood curdling shriek and Eriol's cry of desperation. My heart stilled…

"TOMOYO!"

Breaking into a sprint, I jumped from the banister landing all the down to the ground floor. Where this adrenalin came from, I had no idea; the only thing on my mind was Tomoyo.

I had to get to Tomoyo.

I hurdled over a couch and came to a halt in front of a crowd gathering around Tomoyo's fallen body. My soul froze—how did Akuma manage to breach our barriers once again?! Finding the will to move my limbs once again I rushed forward and yanked Clow away so that I could get to my cousin. She was lying in a motionless heap on the ground with blood trickling down her chin. Tears stung my eyes…

"Tomo—Tomoyo!" I screamed, dropping to my knees and cradling her head. Eriol was crouched on the other side of her, checking for a pulse. I could see, from the corner of my eye, the Essence of Continuation. My eyes furrowed and I looked over… Why would she have that? Xiao Lang had it last…

Mei Lin's voice broke me out of my reverie. "What the fuck happened?! Tomoyo?!"

I looked up at her and blinked away my tears; I had to stay strong. Xiao Lang and Tomoyo depended on me.

"We have no idea. Get Tomoyo to the living room and lay her on the couch; do not leave her alone, understood?"

There was a force in the mansion and I was going to be fucking damned if I let it hurt another person. Although my magic was still fledgling and I was still relearning everything that I could do, I knew in my heart that I was strong enough to erect a barrier that would repel all things devil and dispel everything within the parameters. This presence wanted to hurt everybody that had a hand in the past.

Which meant Eriol could be next.

"There's something in the mansion." Eriol whispered as he picked Tomoyo up carefully. Thankfully there seemed to be no other blood other than what was on her chin. I reached forward and wiped it off with the back of my sleeve—the same feelings that I felt the night she got shot ran through me at that moment.

I felt so useless, though. It was as if I could've protected her… but didn't.

Nodding to Eriol's statement, I glanced over my shoulder to see Feimei heading to the living room with a few pillows and a comforter. I turned back to Eriol. "Akuma," I whispered. "But what I don't get is that if—"

"He took Syaoran, how could he be paying enough attention to what we're doing?"

I nodded. "Exactly."

"There's definitely a snake somewhere in the gang." Eriol said, low. "And this snake must have some magic to be able to play Akuma's messenger."

"Or," My eyes locked with Eriol's, "Akuma has this person under mind control as well. It was what he did with Fanran."

Eriol nodded slowly. "You could be right. I'll go make sure Tomoyo is okay, you go meet up with Jin. Last I knew Chiharu and Takashi were talking so… I suppose don't interrupt?"

Despite myself, I cracked a half-grin. "Yeah, gotcha." With a final glance at Tomoyo's fallen figure, I turned and pushed the door open to enter Jin's office; but I stopped halfway. I turned around abruptly and zoned in on the Essence of Continuation. It was what was probably in Tomoyo's hand when she was attacked; there was something in there that Akuma didn't want us to read.

He could've attacked Tomoyo, but he'd have a tougher time trying to breach my strength.

Okay, so personal to-do list:

a) Erect barrier around the base.

b) Read Essence of Continuation.

c) Check on Tomoyo

d) Check in with Jin

e) Find Xiao Lang.

d) Kick Akuma's ass and send him back to the hole that he crawled out of. Son of a fucking bitch.

.xx.

August 13th, 2001 – 2:58 p.m.

The barrier had been set and immediately all evil sources in the house disappeared. I sat in the living room, on an armchair beside the couch Tomoyo slept on, and cracked open the Essence of Continuation. What could possibly be in this book that Akuma didn't want us to read?

My eyes widened as realization dawned: where Xiao Lang is…

Without further hesitation, I flipped the pages to where we left off last. Indeed I saw that the book was complete.

At least, I think it was. From what I could tell there were tears in the margins towards the end of the book. My brows furrowed but I didn't let that stop me. I had to read this… I had to figure out what to do.

Through the trials and tribulations that Sakura had to endure, she was able to regain her memory and unlock her subconscious. She regains her memory of a life once lived and fully embraces her past; one she shared with Xiao Lang. Her memory is regain and she rushes to Xiao Lang—the only man that has been with her time and time again.

Lovers unite and the union is reborn. Ying Fa and Xiao Lang's spirits have rekindled and they exult in the moment. But happiness is a feat that does not last. Satan breaches their home, as he has done before when he defiled Sakura, but this time manages to get a hold of Xiao Lang and take him to a world unwanted.

Hell.

My world began spinning as I read the four-lettered word that solved everything for me. How was it possible? Xiao Lang couldn't—but he…

I stopped myself from asking more questions. I had to continue reading the rest of the book…

A plain where the most evil and deceptive people are sent. It is not a goal to be attained as Eden is the destination mortals strive to enter. The gates are guarded by Saint Peter who determines whether or not a mortal may enter.

Hell is guarded by Cerberus, a three-headed creature who ensures that mortals cannot enter the dark plain of oblivious.

Satan, as the ruler of the underworld, can overrule Cerberus and allow anyone to enter so long as they accompany him. However, when one enters hell, he cannot return unless a divine entity beckons them.

That is where Akuma has taken Xiao Lang.

The fate of the world draws near; Akuma enters the gates of hell with Xiao Lang in tow. Cerberus witnesses the entrance of an immortal divinity into the darkness that he guards and watches in utter confusion. The aura of light is strong and resonates from Xiao Lang; it reaches corners of the darkness that even Satan was unsure existed.

Those punished watch in awe—the light that Xiao Lang brought was something they long forgot.

My eyes moved onto the page beside the text; there was a picture. My fingers ran over the figure that depicted Xiao Lang; he was at the gates of hell with Akuma just a few paces in front of him. There was a light glowing from Xiao Lang that proved his divinity in this wretched plane.

Akuma guides Xiao Lang to where he intends to destroy his divinity and lock his soul in hell forever; a feat he was unsuccessful the first time around. Ying Fa is Xiao Lang's only hope—without her, he cannot return to the land of the living.

And that was where the book ended. The rest of the pages were torn out; that was probably why Tomoyo was attacked. Snarling, I slapped the book shut and threw it onto the coffee table. So Akuma was playing nasty eh? I'll show him nasty…

I'll show him just how nasty this little game could get.

.xx.

August 13th, 2001 – 3:27 p.m.

"Hell." I said, without explanation, as I burst into Jin's office. There were machinery plugged in and running all throughout the room and Jin was sitting in the centre, operating the mother of all computers. He was rather tech savvy, if I do say so myself.

All eyes turned to me but I was focused on Jin.

"Akuma took him to hell."

Jin's eyes studied mine; he was searching to see if I was telling the truth and I didn't blame him. My story sounded unbelievable, even to me. But I knew, in my heart, that that was where Akuma took him. The Essence of Blood wasn't wrong, so the Essence of Continuation couldn't be. The Essence of Blood told the story from the beginning of time… and the Continuation? Spoke of now.

"That explains why we can't locate him." Jin finally said slowly. "But how do you propose we get Syaoran if he—"

"We go there." I cut Jin off. People were beginning to draw near, trying to closer to hear the conversation better. "We… no, I have to go there. We can't rescue Xiao Lang from a place that we cannot rescue ourselves from."

Jin scowled. "Are you crazy, woman? You can't do this shit by yourself. This isn't a break-in, shoot-out, get-the-fuck-outta-here mission. This is hell."

"I know!" I sounded vehement. "This is it; this is what we've all been waiting for."

"Then we gather a group of trusted warriors and go into hell to ensure that Akuma doesn't ever leave, all the while bringing Xiao Lang back to us." Eriol's voice sounded from behind me. I turned around and saw that was leaned against the doorframe, listening to the conversation that was happening.

"Not everybody can just enter and then leave." I pointed out. "I'm sure there are other forces at work here."

Eriol nodded. "You're right; nobody can enter and then leave. But," Eriol glanced around the room to every face watching him. "If we can find out those who have banked enough good points to enter the Gates of Heaven, we can take them and be confident that they will return back with us."

"How do you know that?" Mika chirped. He was in the office as well.

Shrugging, Eriol looked back at me. "Call it a hunch; if you are meant to go to hell, then you aren't leaving once this mission is done. If your judgement lies in heaven, then you will not be kept in a place you do not belong. I'm sure Sakura," he nodded at me, "can gauge who will be appropriate to accompany us on this feat."

I blinked and nodded, slowly. "Well… I suppose…"

"Hikaru," Eriol glanced at another one of the gang members, "draw a list of all possible members in this place that can go on this mission."

Hikaru was visibly pale. "To hell? Is that even—"

"Don't question. Just do."

Hikaru jumped but quickly wheeled away on his wheely-chair to do what he was asked. Eriol grabbed my upper arm and dragged me out of the room before I could say anything else. When he was sure that we were in a secluded area and nobody was in earshot, he began speaking.

"Although I'm not active with my magic, I retain memories and know certain things that you and Syaoran don't." He said fast, his eyes locked with mine. "I know that you can look into somebody's soul and see if they are going to heaven, or hell. When Hikaru passes us the list of who can go on this mission, I'll gather them and you figure out if they're hell-bound or not."

My heart was racing. "But I don't know how to—"

"I'm sure it'll come to you when you're standing in front of the guys." Eriol cut me off. "But we have to be quick. Syaoran doesn't have much time."

I chewed on my cheek but nodded nonetheless. "You're right. I'm going to check on Tomoyo and go see Fanran once more before we leave. Call me when the guys are ready?"

"Yeah. Oh, and Sakura?"

I turned around when he called my name.

"Yes?"

He cracked a lopsided grin. "Just have faith. Before you know it, we'll be back to where everything began."

I just stared at him… what the hell did he just say? Back to where everything began?

.xx.

This story is now a main-focus story. There's like... 4-6 more chapters left before it's done and I don't want to waste anymore time. It's been long enough, ehh?