Love On Horseback:
Part Ten
Brian ran through the passageways, never looking back. He held on tightly to Sakura's hand, who automatically ran after him. Brian hated the fact that he had to run away. That Li had been smarted than he thought, and now Brian was forced to flee in an attempt to keep Sakura. She was still in the trance like state, still magically linked to brain. But now Li was after them, threatening to find a way to break that link.
Brian continued to run deeper into the cavern, now completely lost, and unable to find his way out again. He ran through another passageway, rounded a corner, and came face to face with…
Li ran as fast as his legs would carry him. He could sense Sakura, though was unable to communicate to her. She was cut off from him. He followed them until they came to a part of the cavern that seemed somehow familiar.
A young Li ran through the cavern away from his cousins. He laughed and giggled as his cousins playfully chased him through the passageways. He turned his head, while running, to see how far ahead he had gotten. He saw his cousins a few yards back. He screamed playfully and looked straight again. He increased his speed, but found the walkway abruptly stopped. He gasped when he saw a large ravine with stalagmites cluttering the bottom. He tried to stop, but didn't have enough time. He started to fall over the side. "Ahhh!!"
"Li!" A young Fumi called out and ran to the end of the ravine. He saw Li fall over the edge. He brought out his sword. "Now! Element! Wind!" A gust of wind filled the cavern and wrapped around Li, ceasing his descent. Fumi strained his power to try and bring him up.
"Li!" Suzy cried, finally catching up. She brought out her staff. "Now! Element! Water!"
Water came out of nowhere and a geyser formed under Li, pushing his bubble of wind back up to the top of the ravine, where he reached solid ground again.
All three collapsed and caught their breath.
"I…never…want to do that…again." Li panted.
"Let's mark it, so we know where we're going and…" Fumi suggested.
"And not fall down again neither!" Suzy said.
All agreed and placed a wooden sigh on the wall marking, "Lost Souls Ravine".
Back to the present, Li stopped and turned his head to see the same sign, he and his cousins had placed there all those years ago. Li smiled. Brian had hit a dead end.
You're mine! Li thought and resumed chasing Brian again.
Brian ran, but stopped cold when he saw the ground dropped several meters. He growled. I'll have to go back the other way! He turned around, still holding Sakura's hand, when he saw Li appear at the only exit out of the chamber.
"You've run out places to hide, Brian." Li said coldly. "Now, let Sakura go."
Brian sneered. "You want her!?" He shoved Sakura to the side; she fell against the cold hard rock floor. Brian unsheathed his sword. "Come and get her!"
Li growled and charged in. Brian laughed and charged in as well. Sparks flew as the two swords met. The sound of steel versus steel echoed throughout the chamber.
Li gritted his teeth and pushed will all his strength against Brian's. His eyes flicked to Sakura, lying on the floor where Brian threw her, eyes still glazed and unresponsive.
"Sakura! Listen to me! Ah!!" Brian elbowed him in the chin, slamming it shut. Blood dripped from his lip, where his teeth had cut it. He stumbled back and glared at Brian.
Brian smiled. "Hurts don't it?"
Li whipped the blood away angrily. "Only a low life like you would trap an innocent girl in a maze of darkness, just so you could have her!" Li countered. "You may have her body," Li smiled and pointed to his chest. "But I hold her heart."
Brian growled and charged at Li. Li parried the blow and blocked with his own sword. "Her soul will never be tamed!" Li shouted and blocked another wild attack. "Her spirit will never belong to anyone!"
Brian got madder and attacked more wildly, Li easily blocking the sloppy blows.
"You don't have anything! And you will never have her!" Li blocked another blow and kicked Brian in the chest.
Brian stumbled back and Li took this opportunity to hit the sword out of Brian's hand. It went flying and hit the cavern wall.
"You wouldn't cut down an unarmed foe, now would you." Brian stated.
Li put down his sword. "You're right, I wouldn't. He brought up his hand instead. "Force know my plight, release the light!"
Brian charged in, in an attempt in stop him. LI narrowed his eyes, "Lightning!" Lightning struck brain and he flew across the room till he hit the wall. He crumpled to the floor. (Don't worry, I'm not through with him yet. *grins mischievously*)
Li ran to Sakura. "Sakura! Listen to me please!" He grabbed her shoulders. "Remember who you are! Remember us! Remember our love! I love you!" L's eyes glimmered as tears fell from his eyes. "Please." He whispered.
He brushed the tears away with his sleeve and noticed a glow around Sakura. Li looked carefully and saw the line of magic, connecting Sakura to Brian.
"The link…" Li whispered. It enveloped Sakura. If I overload this side, it might break the link. Li looked at Sakura. Sakura, you know I love you. Your eyes, your hair, you smile…they're all a part of you on the outside. But it's the inside of you where I see your true beauty. Your kindness and ability to help others. Your strength and will to continue the fight, when the odds are against you."
Fumi and Suzy barged in, but stopped cold as Li held Sakura in his arms.
"That's what you have to do now." He continued, oblivious to his cousins watching all of this. More tears fell, but Li didn't care. "You have to fight! Gain control of yourself again! Return to us!" He paused, and then croaked. "Return to me." He leaned in a kissed Sakura on the lips.
The glow around Sakura sputtered out and died. The link, that held Sakura all this time, was broken. She blinked her eyes, and the familiar emerald orbs returned. She smiled. "Li?"
He smiled and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around him. He pulled away and kissed her again. She savored the moment, breathing in his autumn scent.
They finally pulled away. Li smiled again. "Thank you for returning to me."
Li and Sakura were so into each other, they didn't even notice brain had regained consciousness and had retrieved his sword.
Suzy caught it, "Li! Look out!"
Li turned just in time to see brain raise the sword and imbed it into Li's back. Li cried out in pain and slumped to the floor, as Brian retracted his weapon.
"Li!" Sakura cried and pulled him over. She glared at brain. "You monster!"
Brian stepped back under her glare. The "Innocent Girl" wasn't so innocent anymore.
"Suzy!" Sakura called. Suzy ran over to her. "Take care of Li." Suzy nodded and Sakura stood up, Li's blood on her hands. She glared more at Brain and pulled out her key. "Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand, the force ignite! Release!"
Sakura pulled out three cards. "Fight Card! Sword Card! Power Card! Lend your power to me! Release and dispel!"
Fight Card's familiar blue hue enveloped Sakura. The Sword Card grew and turned into a sword. Power's little pink hue combined with Fight's blue and the two swirled around Sakura making her glow purple. The powers absorbed into Sakura. She grabbed the sword and looked at Brian.
"I'm going to make sure you can't hurt anyone anymore."
She charged in with Sword, and Brian was barely able to more out of the way in time. She sword struck the wall making chips of rock fly everywhere. Brian opened his mouth in shock, and fear, and back up some more.
Sakura turned and narrowed her eyes. "You've caused me and my friends so much pain." She inched forward. "You're not even human!"
She slashed at him with her sword, he blocked. They fought, Sakura being on the offensive, Brain attempting to defend him self.
Sakura used the hilt of her sword and hit Brian across the face. A b=nice gash opened on Brian's cheek, blood coming forth.
Sakura attacked relentlessly, driving Brian back, until he ran out of room. The ground stopped and Brian looked down to see Lost Souls Ravine staring up at him. Brian looked back at Sakura worriedly.
She met his stare, coldly. Using Fight, Sakura kicked the sword out of Brian's hand. It flew into the ravine, landing loudly among the rocks below.
WARNING: I WANTED TO KILL BRIAN THE WORST WAY I COULD THINK OF, SO THE FOLLOWING IS VERY GRAPHIC. ANYONE WHO HAS A WEAK STOMACH DO NOT READ AHEAD. ^_^. Hey you want Brian to get it right? I did it the best, or should I sat worst way, I could think of. Syaoran? ~*Li Syaoran*~? Lyra? And everyone else who hates Brian…this is for you!!
"My father always told me 'A man's fate will be decided based on his deeds during his time in the land of the living.'" She recalled sword and clenched her fists. " 'And he who served evil, will join evil...in the depths of the underworld!" Sakura turned and round housed Brian in the chest. With the power from the cards, Sakura's blow hit Brian with such force; he was blown off the edge of the ravine, hitting a few stalactites hanging from above, before falling into the Lost Souls Ravine. The stalagmites cluttering the ravine impaled Brian several times. One large one piercing his back, and erupting out of his stomach. His body lay unmoving, resting for the last time.
Sakura recalled the cards and collapsed from exhaustion. Fumi ran over and helped her to her feet.
"Sakura!" Suzy cried.
Sakura turned and saw Li start to come to. Suzy had her hands on his wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Sakura, with Fumi's help, went to his side. Sakura kneeled at his side. She lifted his head and placed it in her lap. Li opened his eyes and looks up at Sakura weakly. "You're okay."
Sakura nodded. "And you will be too, just stay awake." She tried to hold back tears.
Li shook his head slightly. "We both know that's not true. But at least I get to see your true self in all its beauty, one last time."
Sakura shook him slightly. "Don't' you say that! You're going to be just fine!" She said partly to convince herself. "You hear me! You're going to be just fine!"
Li started to close his eyes. "Hey hey hey!" Sakura shook him some more, trying to keep him from infinite slumber. "After this…" She smiled. "…After this, we're gonna ride to that tree, remember? And you're going to play that song, and we're going to watch the sunset together. Just please stay awake."
"I can't. I'm too tired." He admitted.
"No! No your not!" Li tried to listen, but soon closed his eyes. "Li! Li you better wake up! You hear me! Wake up!" Sakura cried more and shook Li, until Fumi placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He's gone. There's nothing you can do." Suzy cried too, covering her head in her arms.
Sakura turned to Fumi. "Yes there is." Sakura closed her eyes and concentrated on Li. Her body began to glow white, and the glow soon enveloped Li as well. Fumi and Suzy closed their eyes against the brightness and when the glow subsided, Sakura still had her eyes closed, but was breathing hard.
She opened her eyes and raised Li's head up. "Hey. Wake up."
Li groaned and slowly opened his eyes. Suzy and Fumi gasped as Li smiled, now very much alive, and completely healed. "How…?"
"Shhh. I used my energy to revive you." Sakura explained. (You really didn't think I was going to kill the hero did you?) Sakura, now drained, collapsed. Fumi caught her, and Suzy steadied Li as he sat up, a little too quickly.
Fumi picked Sakura up, while Suzy helped Li to his feet. "You're very lucky Li."
Li smiled at his cousin. "I know." Then he frowned. "What happened to Brian?"
Suzy motioned to the ravine. "He's become a lost soul."
Li staggered to the edge, Suzy never letting go of his arm. He glanced over and saw…nothing. "You sure?"
Suzy frowned and looked over. "But he was…what happened to him?" She turned to Fumi. "We both saw it, right?"
Fumi nodded. "Guess his body disappeared. That usually happens when someone with magic dies."
Li nodded and stepped away from the edge. "It happened the first time he died."
Suzy nodded. "Let's just hope this is the last time we see him." They all agreed to that and left Dead Man's Cavern.
A/N: Told you Brian would get his. Guess what? Brian is a character based on my boss from work! I don't like him much, so all your hate comments towards him, made work a lot funner! I hope you like way I killed him. I ended the series reluctantly, but I have another one I want to start. It'll be called, "City Under Siege" R+R and keep an eye out for a mush and sappy S+S filled epilogue. ^_^. Probably tomorrow since no one has school!!!!