Seconds after Yuuko's introduction,
Almost everyone turned in her direction...
...
Everyone but Yue and Ruby Moon,
Who continued to sit in place at Eriol's body...
-So, you are Ichihara Yuuko. -Kereberos slowly said, studying the arrival. -...You really do seem familiar...-He quietly admitted, before looking serious. -Thought what I want to know is, where were you all this time?! -He slowly asked, while his voice started getting dangerous. This whole situation was starting to really aggravate him...If everything goes well(like it should!), he was going to eat a bunch of sweets while playing some nice race games...Or fighting games...Or maybe some casual minigames to get the mind of sad and/or annoying things...And rage inducing people...-...IF YOU KNEW HOW TO HELP ALL ALONG, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME HERE SOONER?! WHY DID YOU APPEAR NOW OF ALL TIMES, WHEN THE PERSON WHO YOU SHOULD HAVE CARED ABOUT IS ON THE BRINK OF DEATH?!
He asked her in rage,
As he almost pounced on her...
...
*Which he seemed to be doing way too many times, recently...
...
-...Sadly, the only way I can help other people is by granting their wishes. It's physically impossible for me to help them in any other way...-Yuuko quietly said, ignoring the looks she was getting. If it was any other way, she could have helped way more people by now. And without them needing to pay her in return...-...And the reason I came here is because I need him alive. -She then simply answered, her eyes revealing nothing. -...There's no time to lose. Do you accept my help or not?
-You said that you could grant wishes. -Yelan said in a thoughtful voice, as she tried to look only at Yuuko and no one else. -How does this process work?
-...As the person known by the title of the Dimensional Witch, I can grant any wish a person desires. -Yuuko explained, looking thoughtful and serious. She actually had other titles, but that one was her most known one...-...For a payment of...
-You can have my magic! As much as you want of it! -Sakura suddenly interrupted her, sounding frantic and determined. -Just leave me enough of it to sustain the cards, Yue-san and Kero-chan. -She desperately asked, before starting to look sad. -...And if you can't do that, then let me appoint a new card master first...
-Sakura, you can't! -Syoran yelled in desperation, as he turned to her. -You worked so hard to get stronger, overcoming challenge after challenge! You caught all the cards, triumphed in Yue's challenge, transformed the cards into Sakura cards and then beat Hiiragizawa's challenge! -He explained, getting more and more passionate by the second. -You can't give away your magic and your position as the card mistress that easily! If you do, then all that hard work and hardship you went thought will be...!
-B-but if I don't, Eriol-kun will...! -Sakura interrupted him, not believing what she was hearing him say. -ERIOL-KUN WILL DIE! -She yelled in anguish, before looking Syoran right in the eyes. -Besides, if not for Eriol-kun and Clow-san, I would have never meet the cards, Kero-chan, Yue-san and you too Syoran-kun! -At this, Syoran's eyes widened in realization. -IF NOT FOR THEM, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER MEET EACH OTHER TO BEGIN WITH!
By now most of the people around moved to Yuuko's side,
As Ruby Moon moved her head to look in their direction...
...
Only Yue was sitting in the exact same position as before,
Listening to everything that was said around him,
Yet not daring to lose focus of his current task...
-As I was about to say, to perform a wish... -Yuuko continued explaining, as if she was never interrupted to begin with. -...Any wish at all, I require a payment of equal value. -She suddenly became serious. -As I always tell all of my costumers: "For everything you wish, you have to pay an equal price in return. You can't get more or give more. You can't get less or give less. It must be in balance, or else there will be chaos." -She ominously explained, before looking at Sakura in pity. -...So even if you gave me all of your magic as a price, it would have ended very badly for you and anyone involved...
There were a few second of eerie silence...
-...W-what kind of chaos, Yuuko-san...? H-how badly could it end...? -Sakura asked in confusion and fright, shuddering at the thought of the horrible possibilities. -...W-what is going to happen if the price is not equal...?
-...Let's just say, that you get punished if you get too greedy (As if the wish is not worth it) or too generous (As if the wish is everything). -Yuuko replied, with an ominous smile on her face. -It seems okay at the start, but after a while, the wish gets horribly twisted...-She explained, as if she was telling a horror story. -...Love turns to Possessiveness, Bravery turns to Recklessness, Friendship turns to Manipulativeness…-She gave some of the easier to understand examples. In their situation Eriol would have either died in one-two years or would have became immortal (Which she knew would only made him feel depressed).-...The wish you were so happy to be granted becomes twisted to the extreme! -She told them in ominous interest. -...And the person who made the wish, now regrets even thinking of making one to begin with...! -She was actually having fun with this. -Why, their wish just turned into a curse and their life into living hell!
-...What is the price for saving Eriol? -Spinel asked, looking serious and concerned. -Since all of Sakura's magic is not enough, it must be a lot higher, right?
-...Yes, the price is much higher. -Yuuko answered him, as she looked between everyone. -As a magically sustained reincarnation, losing all of your magic means death. Meaning that he lost all his "years of life", making them nonexistent. -She thoughtfully explained, before looking at Eriol's unmoving body. -...To fulfil your wish of saving him, "years of life", another life or something of equal value must be paid as the price.
There was complete silence,
As everyone we shocked from what they just heard...
...
-...So, to save Eriol, someone has to pay with their future…-Kaho started slowly saying, as she was still shocked from the news. -...Meaning that their life will be shortened and they will die earlier than they should have were they not payed the price...-She added, saddened at the possibility. -...And something of equal value...Must be something that you would never be able to part with, even if threatened by death...
As soon as the words left her lips the place erupted into chaos...
...
With those around Yuuko going back and forth,
On what the price should be and who should be the one to pay it...
...
As someone proposed a payment,
And the others adamantly refusing the idea...
...
It was taking quite some time,
Time they didn't really have...
...
...
-I have a great proposal, if you are willing to listen. -Yuuko suddenly said, in a very serious and commanding voice. She was feed up with this back and forth...-You know that you don't have much time, right? -She reminded them, which made everyone quiet down right away. -Good, I have your attention now. -She said in amusement, before becoming serious again. -My proposal is this: The price will be the guardians' semi immortality, the very thing that grants them longevity even after their master's or mistress's death. -She explained her idea, which she knew was absolutely brilliant. She could have asked for Yue's and Cerberus's earrings, but this was much better for them. -This way your friend is saved and the guardians won't have to feel the loneliness after their masters' deaths, because they will live and die together with them...-At the last part she briefly glanced at Yue, before looking back at the people surrounding her. -It's a good deal, wouldn't you say?
There was silence for a few seconds,
As everyone though about Yuuko's proposal...
-I say we do it. I don't want to choose another master after Sakura dies! -Kereberos suddenly said, in a serious and determined voice. -...One time was more than enough...-He sadly added, glancing in Yue's direction, who seemed like he was deep in thought. -I AM IN ON YOUR PROPOSAL!
-ME TOO! -Ruby yelled in an unusually serious and determined voice, as she glanced at Eriol's unmoving body. -I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WHILE MY MASTER DIES!
-I will join as well. -Spinel said in a serious and thoughtful voice, as he looked in Yue's direction. -...I may have not experienced what Yue did...-Which was apparent to have somehow broken him...-But I still know that it's not something that I will ever want to experience!
Yue didn't say anything,
Nor did he need to...
...
His face expression said it all...
-Good to know that you are so willing to pay the price. -Yuuko gratefully said, as she looked between the four guardians. Though, she was going to make it the means for the wish's fulfilment...-Let's finally begin, shall we?
She said as the four guardians suddenly started to shine with a bright purple aura,
Then the aura particles gathered together and moved away from them,
Carrying with them four strange balls of light:
Yellow, White, Red and Blue...
...
*From Kereberos, Yue, Ruby and Spinel respectively...
...
They merged into one ball of light brown,
Still being carried by the bright purple aura,
And disappearing inside of Eriol's unmoving body...
...
The whole process took several moments...
-Your wish was gran...-Yuuko started saying, before being interrupted by a loud gasp.
…
Which came from a very distressed looking Yue...
-...Yue-san...? Is there something wrong...? -Sakura asked him in concern, not getting any reaction from him at all. Why did it seem like he was not even hearing her...? -...Yue-san...? Are you okay...? -She worriedly asked, getting more and more concerned by the second. -...What happened...? YUE-SAN?!
Yue slightly jumped in response,
And then slowly looked in her direction...
...
It seemed like he wasn't fully there,
Like he didn't quite register anything around him...
...
It made everyone really worried,
What could have possible happened,
To have Yue act so unlike himself...?
Some time earlier,
Inside of Eriol's "mind"...
-...You know...I have been...Thinking...-Eriol suddenly said, in a slightly confused voice. -...But, I...Still don't...Understand it...
"...What were you thinking about...?" ,Clow asked him in a slightly concerned voice. Their kind of "thinking" almost always lead to bad thoughts...
-...I...We...Are not the...Nicest people...Around...-Eriol answered him, seemingly deep in though. -...And we did...Some very...Questionable things...-Which was putting it lightly...-...With the...Manipulations...And everything...-He added, before looking confused again. -...So why...? Why do they...Still seem...To care...?
There were a few seconds of silence...
"...Actually, I am not too sure of it myself." ,Clow finally answered, in a similarly confused voice, "...You would think that after everything that happened, they would at least not want to talk to either of us ever again...", He was sounding more and more confused by the second, "...But, they still show the same concern, loyalty and love as they did before..."
-...We really...Do seem...To be...Omniscient Morality...License characters...-Eriol sadly said, before sighing heavily. -...Even though...It's really...Wrong...Since we...Are not...Gods...
"...And even thought there are people who get Disproportionate Retribution, those that get Misplaced Retribution and even those that get Easily Condemned...", was left unsaid...
"...I know, right...?" ,Clow said in a weary voice, as he also sighed heavily, "...It seems that the multiverse broke even more than anyone could have anticipated…"
-...And since...We were...The ones...To break...It...-Eriol thoughtfully said, trying to added logic to the whole situation. -...It sees us...As the ones...With the...Powers that be...?
"...That could actually be true...", Clow thoughtfully said, feeling that they might have solved one of the mysteries of their multiverse. Or it could just be because of Clamp wanting them to always be seen as the "good guys", "...That could also explain why Yuuko can grant any sincere wish, for the appropriate sacrifice in return..."
-...Like in...Fullmetal Alchemist...-Eriol added in amusement, trying to divert the conversation. -...Equivalent exchange...Wasn't it...?
There was silence for a few seconds,
Before Eriol started to look sad again...
-...I don't...Want them...To pay...With something...Important...-He sadly said, as he started to feel guilty again. -...Or something...That will...Put their...Lives in...Mortal danger...
He already hurt them...
...
A lot...
...
He already put them...
...
In different dangerous situations...
...
...
If they were...
...
Going to pay...
...
Such a...
...
High price...
...
Then he...
...
Would...
...
Rather...
...
Just...
...
Di...
-Are...Are you alright? -Light suddenly asked him in concern, as she saw him become weaker. This wasn't good at all...-Remember: You have to hold on. -She reminded him, with more conviction this time. -Everyone is counting on it. Just hold on for a little longer, okay?
"...Even if you are not afraid of death, you have to stay alive...", Clow told him in an understanding voice, "...Since they will be very sad if you died...", He reminded him in a slightly guilty sounding voice, "...Thought, I still don't understand why they would react like that..."
He added in a slightly baffled sounding voice this time...
-...I know...That I should...Hold on...But...-Eriol weakly mumbled, as he was struggling to keep his eyes open. -...I am...Just...So...Slee...Py...
Then his eyes suddenly closed,
Which made the Light card look down in horror...
"...W-well...This is bad...", Clow slowly said, not sure if he wanted to know what was going to happen "outside", "...Really bad..."
Which was a huge understatement...