Some time later...

-...Sakura-san...? -Sakura heard a familiar voice call her name, which sounded near. -...Are you okay...? Sakura-san...!

So she opened her eyes and got up to see...

-Eriol-kun! -She yelled in surprise and relief, before looking at where his voice was coming from. She wondered why her friend was inside a dark sphere...How did he end up there...? -...Wait a little, Eriol-kun. -She said in determination, as she started searching for her star key and cards. -...I am going to get you out of there!

She searched over and over,

But for some reason couldn't find neither her key nor cards...

...

She started to get anxious,

She couldn't have lost them, could she...?

-It's okay, Sakura-san. You didn't lose neither your key nor your cards. -Eriol reassured her, feeling the distress in her magic. -...Since we are currently inside the space of my mind.

There were a few seconds of silence...

-...Hoe...? What do you mean, Eriol-kun…? -Sakura asked in surprise, getting more and more confused by the second. -...How can I be in your mind...?

-...You are currently unconscious, Sakura-san. -Eriol answered her, in a serious and thoughtful voice. -...Do you remember what happened before you woke up here...?

He asked in a slightly concerned voice,

Patiently waiting for her reply...

...

Sakura tried hard to remember what happened,

That is when the last memory hit her...

..

-...I-I am sorry, Eriol-kun…I-I failed...-Sakura said in a shaky sad and guilty voice, as she lowered her head. -...I-I couldn't save everyone...A-and now they are...D-dead...!

-They are not dead, Sakura-san. -Eriol reassured her, before his voice turned serious. -...At least, not yet.

There was silence for a few seconds...

-...W-what do you mean by that, Eriol-kun…? -Sakura asked in confusion and slight fright, not quite believing what she was hearing. -...I-I checked their...B-bodies...T-there...T-there was no pulse...A-and...A-and...

-They are in a magically induced deathlike state...-Eriol answered to her in a thoughtful and serious voice, realizing that she has no idea what he was talking about. -Every part of their body, except for the brain, stopped functioning. Which is why they are not completely dead, thought their life force is diminishing quickly. -He explained, before sighing heavily. -...If left as it is...It's a matter of time before the brain stops functioning, the live force disappears...

-And they will die...-Sakura ended, in realization and fright. -...I can't let that happen! I have to save them! -She added in determination, before looking on in sadness. -...But, how can I do it, Eriol-kun…? No matter what we did until now, it was useless. -All this time, they were just being toyed with... -...How can I save everyone, all by myself...?

She sadly asked,

Unsure of how she could accomplish such a task...

...

When she fought together with everyone it wasn't enough,

What could she possibly do alone...?

-The so called "chaos energy", do you know why it's so strong, Sakura-san...? -Eriol suddenly said in a serious voice, not expecting a reply. -...The reason is because it feeds of negative emotions and feelings.

-...It's strong...Because it feeds on negative emotions...?-Sakura slowly said, as he eyes started to widen in realization. So, that's why they couldn't beat it...-... So, when we fought all those times...It wasn't just because we were weaker...

-Yes, Sakura-san. You couldn't defeat them because it was feeding on everyone's negative emotions. -Eriol confirmed, his voice thoughtful. -Emotions like fear, envy, frustration, hate, doubt, guilt, sadness and...

-Despair...It's feeding of our despair! So, to defeat it we have to use something contrary to...-Sakura suddenly interrupted, as she came to the sudden realization.-...The hope card! -She was feeling embarrassed for not realizing it sooner. Why? Just why didn't she realize it sooner? When it was so simple! -I can defeat this "chaos energy" with the help of the hope card!

She was going to do it!

She was going to save everyone!

-...Using the hope card...? Yes, that might work. But it won't be enough, Sakura-san. -Eriol told her in a grave voice, before sighing heavily. -You are not strong enough to oppose that huge amount of negative magic alone. -"You will die trying, if you were to do that", was left unsaid. -...For this to work, you need the help of all of your friends. -He explained, as his voice turned serious. -You must first save those who are on the verge of death, in the same way as the cards have saved you.

-The cards...? -Sakura wondered aloud, reprimanding herself for not noticing it. -...They saved me before...?

-Yes, they did, Sakura-san. -Eriol confirmed for her, his voice sounding serene. -Didn't you see them lying around you, upon waking up? -He reminded her in a serious voice. -...When the nightmare relieving life siphoning spell was cast, they shielded you from harm. They saved your life, Sakura-san.

He added in a serene voice,

As Sakura was deep in thought...

...

The cards saved her...

...

If not for them,

She would have been in the same condition as everyone else...

...

And a "nightmare relieving life siphoning" spell...?

There was no way that she was going to leave things as they are!

-I promise you, Eriol-kun! I am going to save Syoran-kun and the others! -She promised, her voice determined and strong. -And then together with my boyfriend, brother and friends, we are going to beat those mean ghosts! We are going to save everyone! We are going to make sure that...! Wait...-She enthusiastically yelled, before suddenly pausing. -...Eriol-kun, do you know how I can get out of here...? And even if I found Syoran-kun, Nii-san, Kaho-san and Yelan-san, I couldn't find anyone else...Do you know where they are...?

She sheepishly asked,

Feeling stupid for entirely forgetting about it...

-To get out of here, you have to wish yourself awake, Sakura-san. -Eriol told her, his vice serious. -I don't know about anyone else's whereabouts, though...-He sadly added. -But you do. -He suddenly said, not expecting a reply. -Do you remember how you found your brother, Li-kun, Kaho and Yelan?

-...How I found them...? -Sakura asked aloud, confused. -...I just went in a random direction, hoping that I would be able to find them...-She suddenly paused in shock. -...I could find them, because I was hopeful...?

-That's right, Sakura-san. -Eriol admitted, his voice serious and thoughtful. -It seems, that now...-His voice became slightly sad. -...Hope is the only thing that can save everyone.

-Everything is going to be alright, Eriol-kun. -Sakura reassured, in a warm and determined voice. -I will make sure of it!

She promised as she started wishing herself awake...

...

Eriol was glad that she was so determined,

But, something was nagging at the back of his brain...

...

Could he have forgotten something important...?

What could it possibly...?

...

...

There was so much that was going on,

That he forgot about such an important thing!

...

This was the 24th fanfic chapter,

And there shouldn't be many chapters left...

...

He had to tell Sakura-san now,

When there was still time...

-...Wait, Sakura-san. -He suddenly said in an eerily calm voice, just as she was about to disappear from the place. -Before you go, there is something I want you to do for me.

-What is it, Eriol-kun…? -Sakura asked in concern, suddenly feeling foreboding. -...What do you want me to do...?

Eriol sighed heavily,

He had to say it now...

-...I imbued Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun with enough magic to sustain them for a few years. -He explained in an unreadable voice. -During that time, I want you to train yourself and become stronger. -His voice suddenly became serious, as Sakura couldn't quite understand what she was hearing. -...I want you to be ready to make them your guardians before the magic runs out.

He finally admitted,

Waiting for Sakura's reply...

...

Sakura was stuck speechless,

Did she hear it right...?

...

...

No,

She couldn't have...

...

Eriol-kun couldn't have asked her to take care of his guardians...

...

He couldn't have asked her that,

As if he was going to die...!

...

There was no way that she heard it right!

...

Eriol-kun couldn't actually have...

...

HE COULDN'T HAVE!

-...I WON'T DO IT, ERIOL-KUN! -She refused in open defiance, as she started shaking with rising rage. -THERE IS NO WAY THAT I WILL HONOR SUCH A REQUEST!

There was no way she was going to do that!

She would never agree to such a thing!

-I AM GOING TO SAVE YOU, ERIOL-KUNI! -Sakura promised in a determined voice. -THERE IS NO WAY THAT I AM GOING TO LET ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS DIE!

There were a few seconds of awkward silence,

As Eriol was surprised by Sakura's unusual outburst...

...

He knew that Sakura-san was a good and forgiving person...

...

But, still...

-...Why would you go through all that trouble to save me, Sakura-san...? -He asked, in a quiet and slightly bewildered sounding voice. -...You remember how I said that I would rather die, that be possessed, hurt and kill others...? -He added, as his voice sounding guilty. -In the end, it turned out to be a lie. I couldn't resist the possession. -No matter how hard he tried, it still wasn't enough...-I let them steal other people's souls. I let them hurt and kill others. -He continued as his voice turned sad. -...I am a bad person, Sakura-san.

People actually died because of him...

...

It doesn't matter if he was possessed at the time,

He indirectly killed other people...

...

He promised to save everyone by absorbing the chaos energy,

And yet he let himself be possessed and kill others...

...

*It was an undeniable truth...

...

How could he live with himself knowing that...?

...

How could he...?

-You are wrong, Eriol-kun. -Sakura interrupted his musings, sounding serious and slightly mad. -You tried to save everyone by absorbing this "chaos energy" into your own body! You even tried to kill yourself, when you felt that you were going to get possessed! -She gravely reminded him, remembering it like a bad dream. -You really are a good person, Eriol-kun. Not everyone will ever think of doing what you did. And it's not your fault that it turned out like this. So, you should...

-Sakura-san, do you remember when I made you enter the Alice in wonderland story? Remember what the Cheshire-me told you? -Eriol interrupted her, his tone unreadable. -I am quite a mischievous person who likes playing pranks. -His voice suddenly turned slightly sad. -...But sometimes I go too far, as you surely already noticed from the tests I made you go through. I get swept into the idea of having "some fun" and unknowingly hurt a lot of people, both physically and mentally. -Not including the manipulation...-...Can you really call me a good person and want to save me, knowing how I am actually like...?

He said before chuckling slightly,

Saying that he is a good person would be a lie...

...

If there was a choice between saving him and saving...

-I don't care, Eriol-kun. I don't care if you are like that. -Sakura interrupted his musings, sounding heated. -You are one of my best friends and I won't let you die! -She proclaimed, in undying determination. -No matter what, I will save you and everyone else! I won't let anyone I care about to be killed!

There were a few seconds of silence,

As Eriol thought about what would be the best reply...

-You are very nice, Sakura-san. -Eriol told her, in a thankful voice. -I am glad that you became the mistress of the cards. -He quietly added, before chuckling slightly. -If it's you, then everything will turn out alright for sure. -He reassured her, almost believing it himself. -Let's celebrate the New Year when all of this is over.

-It's a promise, Eriol-kun! -Sakura said in enthusiasm, as she wished herself awake, again. -We are going to survive this, together!

She said as she began waking up,

And disappeared from the place...

...

Leaving it in silence...

-...You are wrong, Sakura-san. I am not such a good person...-Eriol quietly said, as he tried looking through the sphere at where he felt Sakura stand moments ago. -...Both as Clow and as Eriol, I hurt and manipulated many people...-He sadly added, before chuckling slightly. Some things never change...Aren't they...? -...And I am still doing it, even now...