The Tides Turn:
Chapter Four
Li walked towards the beach at a very fast walk. He knew that if he could just get through to Sakura, he could change her back. He had managed to get Madison and surprisingly Tori, to agree to help him.
Now he was on his way to the very cliff where Sakura had disappeared seven years ago. If Li was right, the portal would open up right back again and reveal Brilan's hide out. Which is why Li never found Sakura.
Li heard Madison breathing hard and decided to take a quick break. He stopped walking and turned around. "Okay, we can rest here for a while."
Madison let out a sigh of relief and sat on a near by sidewalk bench. Tori just crossed his arms and looked around. Li didn't feel the need to sit down, so instead he began to formulate a plan.
"I don't know what kind of security they have so once we get in..." Li started.
"Wait a minute!" Tori interupted. "Who made you the leader?" Tori said glaring at Li.
"Do you want to get Sakura back or not!" Li growled back.
Tori uncrossed his arms and approached Li. "She wouldn't be gone if you had been able to save her!" He retorted.
Li put his hands out to his sides. "You don't think I tried to get her back!"
Madison got up and stepped in between the two high strung boys. "Stop it!" She yelled. She glanced at Tori. "Now listen if we want to get anywhere...." She turned to face Li. "....we're going to have to work together."
Both boys looked at each other and turned the backs, arms crossed. Madison sighed. "Can you at least call a temporary truce?" She asked.
Li sighed and faces Tori. He held out his hand. Tori stared at it then looked away and met it with his own. They shook and looked to Madison. She smiled. It was the first time Li had seen her smile since...well you know.
"Good." She said. "Now let's get going." She started walking off again. The two looked at each other, shrugged and followed.
Brilan sat in his study and was formaulating a plan of his own. He would not let those three rogues take his precious prize away from him. No. He would take care of them before they even got close.
Brilan stood up and walked to the shelf that held many magic books. And one imperticular. It had on it's cover, the mythical Ceroberos. Brilan smiled as he opened it. Inside were a few cards. Clow Cards.
When Sakura had first become his captive he had made sure that it, along with the key, was safely put away. He wouldn't want the little magician to use them against him. He had the power to use them too. And now he would.
Unfortunatly, he only had a few to work with, since she had only captured a few before her...demise. A pity really that that little chinese brat of hers caught the rest. But these would do for now.
Brilan took out the Watery and the Windy. These had been one of the first few that she had captured. Brilan activated them together and smiled as they set forth to do his bidding.
Together, Windy and Watery would make a snow storm so intense, those three would never get through. Brilan laughed. Soon the fall of the descendant of the clow and his companions was upon them and then the cherry blossom would mature into a black rose. One he could manipulate and use to do as he please.
Li had finally gotton Tori to agree with him on their course of action once they entered the castle. It was based on them getting through to Sakura and then taking out Brilan. Unfortunatly, Li had no idea of Brilan's powers. He had never actually faced him in battle, yet.
Li was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the winds began to pick up. He was brought out of his revery, when he heard Madison scream. He looked at her to see she was loosing ground to the now raging winds. He too started to get blown back.
This was not natural. But what was causing it? Before Li could answer his own question, Li felt something cold touch his cheek. It was then joined by many others. Snow? It was now snowing. But along with this winds, Li would consider it a blizzard.
"This has to be Brilan!" Li said. Actually he had to shout it, to be heard above the howling winds.
Tori put up an arm to block the winds to his face. "How?! You can't make the weather!"
Li bit back a curse. Tori still didn't know anything about the Clow Cards. But if they were going to get out of this, Li was going to have to use magic.
Li saw Tori holding on to Madison, who was not fairing well against the storm. Li pulled out a card and said. "Clow Card! Release!" The card was released and the Shield Card blocked the winds and the snow.
Tori looked up and saw the barrier around them. He nodded and smirked at Li. "Not bad, brat."
Li was going to reply to that but Madison jumped in. "How do you think that Brilan got the cards?"
So she thought it wasn't natural either. Interesting. Perhaps all those adventures taught her something. "He must've taken them from Sakura when he kidnapped her." Li concluded.
"You mean this is Sakura's doing?" Tori asked.
Li sighed. "No. The cards belong to Sakura, but Brilan is using them. I don't know how, but he is."
Li looked out and was relieved to see the storm had disapated. Now they could continue. It as a lame attempt to stop them. But Li knew it would not be the last.
Brilan called the cards back. He was furious. Perhaps he was too forward. Brilan brought his hand up to stroke his chin. Yes, he would have to be a little more tricky. But how?
Sakura sat in front of her mirror, inside her personal chambers. She slowly brushed her hair. She wanted to be perfect when Li arrived. She couldn't wait to see his face when he knew he was going to die. She longed to see that moment.
Sakura glanced at the mirror and smirked. She remembered when she had captured the Mirror Card. She had been so frail and naive then. But not now. She was strong and revengeful.
Sakura continued to brush her hair. A few black strands fell in front of her face. She was glad she dyed it black. Her brown color before was fitting for the pitiful image of what she once was. So she changed it. Dyed it black to match the blackness in her heart. The blackness Li himself had created.
'Soon, little wolf.' She thought. 'You will know what it means to suffer. Soon.'
Li, Madison, and Tori arrived at the castle in no time. Seeing this scene again brought back painful memories for Li. Memories he didn't want to relive. But he knew he had to.
He turned to the others. "I remember Brilan did something or said something to open the portal, but I can't remember." He said.
Li tried to think about that night. Brilan had to have cast a spell to open the portal. But for the love of the gods he couldn't remember what! Li kicked the ground in frustration.
Madison smiled and walked up to him. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Come Li. You have to remember. This is for Sakura. Do this for her." Madison whispered in his ear.
"That's it!" He exclaimed. He raised his hands and recited those same words. "Colder than ice. Darker than night. Open the portal. Give me the true sight!"
In front of Li a sriwling mass of energy opened. Li smiled and turned to Madison. She winked at him. "I knew you could do it!"
Tori rolled his eyes and snorted. "Come on! Let's do this!" He walked past Li and Madison and went into the portal.
Li shrugged and stroked his hand in front of him, ushering Madison in. She smiled and stepped into the portal. Li took a deep breath and jumped in. Now, Li only hoped he was right about the portal opening to the castle.
Brilan felt the intruders enter his portal. He underestimated the boy. No matter. Brilan would destroy them anyways.
Brilan heard a knock at the door and turned. "Come in." He said.
Entered was Sakura. "My lord." She said with a bow.
He smiled and motioned her in. She walked up to him and noticed the book of the Clow.
Something inside her was telling her that book was hers. But why? She didn't ever remember having it. It had always been Brilan's. Part of his magic collection. Hadn't it? That's what he had told her anyways.
She had noticed him using the cards inside and asked about them. He said they were some of his magic tools. He taught her about each one and what they were for. She rememebered them and already knew about them, but how?
Everything before she had met Brilan was fuzzy. All she knew was how Li had left her to die. That was what kept her going all these years. Revenge. Wanting, needing to get back at Li Showrun.
Brilan noticed Sakura frowning at the cards. Was she rememebering? He had thought he brainwashed all she knew about the cards and taught her the black magic. But maybe she was rememebering. He hoped not. He would hate to have to repeat the process. The first time was unpleasant enough. For her anyways.
"Is something the matter love?" He asked.
Sakura came out of her trip down memory lane and smiled down at Brilan. "Nothing. Why do you have the cards out?" She asked.
Brialn shrugged. "I was hoping to have a little surprise waiting for our guests, but unfortunatly I haven't come up with anything."
Sakura patted him on the shoulder. "Why didn't you just say so?" She looked at the cards arranged on the table. She smiled and picked a card. "This one." She handed it to Brilan.
Brilan looked to see what she had picked up and smiled. "You are a devil."
She shrugged and smiled back. "Thanks to you I am."
Brilan activated the card. 'Yes.' He thought. 'This will work out quite nicely.'
After casting the card, he turned to Sakura. "Shall we go and prepare for our guests?" He held out an arm.
She smiled and accepted it. "Let's" Together they walked to the throne room...to prepare for the final confrontation.
Li entered the castle cautiously. His senses were telling him something wasn't right. They walked down a carpeted hallway. On the walls were weapons of different kinds. On Li's right were two giant axes, lyed across each other, forming an "X". To his right, were crossbows and staffs.
"Wait!" Li spun on a heel at the sound of Madison's abrupt command. She walked to the wall and took down a staff from the wall. On the tip was a blade of some sort.
She looked at it and nodded. "Okay."
Tori's mouth dropped and Li frowned. "What are you planning to do with that?" He asked skeptically.
Madison shruuged. Then suddenly whipped out the staff and brought it down behind Li's legs. He went down hard and landed with an "Oof!"
She smiled and said, "I really don't know."
Tori started laughing and felt his sides were going to split open. He leaned against the wall for support.
Li got up with a growl. "Okay. Where did you learn how to do that?!"
Madison smiled. "My mother's body guards taught me a little after Sakura disappeared. I want to be able to handle myself if we run into any trouble."
Tori was still laughing until he had tears coming out of his eyes. Li glared at him. "Oh, shut up!"
But Tori went right on laughing. Li growled and continued down the hallway, followed by Madison and a red faced Tori.
At the end of the hallway, they reached some kind of a large room. They walked until they were in the center of it. There didn't seem to be another way out except the way the came in.
Li looked around. Suddenly, Li heard a howl. A wolf's howl. Oh, no. They didn't just walk into an...
"AMBUSH!" Tori yelled. Li turned to see a pack of wolves coming through the door they had just entered.
Li cursed to himself. How could he have been so stupid! He unsheathed his sword and Tori did likewise. Madison put two hands on her staff and made ready for battle.
They all went back to back to back and watched as the wolves surrounded them. Li heard laughing and watched as Sakura and Brilan appeared at the front of the room, each sitting in a throne. 'Just like my dream' Li thought.
Just then one of the wolves pounced on Tori. He jumped to the side and sliced down, bisecting the creature in two.
The others followed. Li was engaged in a battle against three at once! Seems teaming up works for them too! Li sliced at one, cutting it's arm, while another jumped in from the side. Li had just enough time to jump out of the way. The wolf landed besides it's friend and they slowly advanced.
Madison was in a battle of her own. Two of the pack had decided to pick on the semingly defensless enemy. Madison smiled and urged them forward. One accepted the challenge and pounced, Madison used her staff to jump into the air. When the dog flew by her, she reversed the staff and stabbed the animal in it's ribs. It cried and it hit the floor, blood coming from the wound in it's side.
Tori turned to see another coming from his left. He didn't have enough time to see it charge at him. It rammed into him, sending him to the floor. It jumped and was about to land on his chest when a sword came from underneath it and gutted it in midair.
Tori looked up to see Li standing over him. He smiled and Li gave him a hand up. "Not bad. You never said you could fight like that."
Li shrugged. "You never asked." Just then Li saw a wolf behind Tori. Tori saw a wolf behind Li.
"Watch out!" They said in unison. Tori ducked down and Li jumped over him. Li thrusted his sword forward, hitting the animal in his chest, while Tori sliced, cutting off the other animal's feet half way up.
Li's jaw dropped. "You never said you could fight like that!"
Tori shrugged. "You never asked."
Madison saw another wolf make a jump at her. She met it with a quick jab to it's jaw. A crack was heard and the animal fell to the ground.
Li looked around and was amazed to see all the bodies disappear. It wasn't real the whole time. How? Then it came to him. "The illusion card." He said. Li turned and saw the book of the Clow sittingon the arm rest of Brilan's throne.
Li suddenly got very angry. He raised his sword and charged at Brilan. Sakura stood up and raised a finger. Electricity came out and hit Li in the chest. He flew back and fell to the ground. He looked up at Sakura.
"Why?"
"Because, I want to see you suffer!" She raised her hand for another attack when...
"STOP!" A voice said. Sakura looked up in shock. Li crawled away to Madison and Tori who helped him up to his feet.
Li turned to see who's voice it was. What he saw was purely shocking. At the entrance to the throne room was Kero. He flew in and approached Sakura.
"This isn't you, Sakura." He said in a stern yet mourniful tone.
Sakura frowned at the new arrival. She recognized him, but couldn't place a name. "Who are you?"
Kero looked at Sakura with sad eyes. "You don't recognize me?" He asked.
She back away and slowly shook her head. Kero sighed. "I chose you to be a card captor. You are the one who is destined to have the cards. Not Brilan. He took them from you."
Sakura opened her mouth to deny it, but somehow it seemed true. But she couldn't remember.
"You have to believe us, Sakura!" Li said. "The cards were destined to be yours the whole time!"
Sakura felt her head starting to hurt. She held it in both hands. "Stop it! You're filling my mind with lies!" She yelled.
Kero crossed his arms. "Oh yeah! Clow Cards! Return to your true master!" He commanded. The book on Brilan's arm rest floated and opened up before Brilan could stop it. All the cards flew in a circle around Sakura who watched Li approach slowly.
She looked up and saw him coming. The cards continue to fly around, but Li plucked one out of the air and handed it to her. "Look and see for yourself."
She took it and looked at it. I had on it a little girl with a blossom as a dress. It read..."Flower?" Sakura said. She stared at it. She got flashes of her and Li sitting under a cherry tree, eating lunch at school.
Then she saw Kero handing her the key of clow. She remembers turning it into a staff and catching clow cards with Li. But he was her enemy wasn't he?
Again her head started to hurt. And she suddenly remembered everything. She looked up at the boy in front of her. "Li." She said
He smiled and a tear came out of his eye. "Sakura."
She smiled and ran to him. He caught her in his arms and gave her a giant bear hug. He then stopped and stared into her eyes. They were emerald again. She was back. He cupped her chin and kissed her passionatly.
She smiled as they broke the kiss. "Thank you."
Li shrugged. "I always keep my word." He turned to the others. "Shall we take him now?"
Tori held his sword high. "I'd thought you'd never ask."
Madison smiled. "I'm ready."
Li glanced at Kero. "Nice to have you back."
Kero growled at him. "I didn't do it for you!" He said as he crossed his arms. He looked away. "I did it for Sakura."
Li sighed and glanced back at Sakura. He noticed her chest was glowing. Out from underneath her cape came her key. It too was back to normal.
She smiled. "Shall I?" Li nodded and she spoke the magic words. "Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the Lon. The force ignite. Release!" Her key turned into her staff and she smiled agian. God how Li missed seeing that smile.
She turned to Brilan and her eyes became slits of jade. "I will make you pay for ruining my life!" She said to him. Li never saw Sakura mad, but he knew if she ever did watch out.
Brilan stood up and unsheathed his sword. "You know. It's been my pleasure." He then charged at Sakura, sword raised.
"Sakura!" Tori yelled.
Brilan's sword came down only to be met with Li's sword. Li smiled. "I don't think so." He kicked Brilan in the chest and he flew back to the base of his throne chair.
"You imbisile! You will pay for your ignorance!!" He brought his hand back and when it flew forward, a red energy ball flew at Li.
The blast would've hit Li except Tori's sword blocked it's path. He hit it like it was a fast ball and it flew up towards the ceiling.
It blew a large hole in the roof and the moon light could be seen.
Sakura closed her eyes and a pink aura was seen around her. She opened her eyes and stared at Brilan. "This is between you and me Brilan!" With that she flew up and out of the roof.
"Sakura!" Everyone cried. Brilan smiled and flew after her.
Li growled in defiance and ran out. He couldn't find a way in from the inside, he'd find a way up from the outside.
On the rooftop, Sakura raised her staff and called upon the power of the cards. "Shadow!" She called. "Release and dispell!"
Shadow was released and when Brilan joined her on the roof, it enveloped him. "I can't see!" He exclaimed.
Sakura smiled and approached him. She raised her staff to hit him, but sword slashed out instead, cutting her arm. She cried out in pain and recoiled her injured arm.
Brilan used his sword to cut through Shadow's barrier like it was a cake. Shadow returned to card form and returned to Sakura. She looked up at Brilan, still holding her arm, "You lied to me!" She said.
Brilan laughed. "And it was so easy too."
Sakura got mad. "Sword card! Release and dispell!" Her sword came out and she attacked Brilan. She started with a thrust, then a parry. Both Brilan blocked with ease. He knew the power of the cards, and he knew what he had to do to stop them.
When Sakura tried another thrust, Brilan jumped to the side and came down hard with his sword. Sakura's sword was hit out of her hands and returned to card form as well.
Before she could think of what to do next, Brilan's foot came out and hit her stomach. Sakura was thrown back and fell to the ground. Her staff went flying and fell off the roof. Brilan appraoched her and Sakura looked up in horror.
"It was fun while it lasted, but I really should be getting on to other things." He pulled his arm back to get ready for the final blow when all of a sudden...
Li appeares in front of Sakura and grabs Brilan's hand before it can come down. Brilan doesn't see until it's too late and by then, Li already had his sword back and he thrusted it forward.
The sword went right though Brilan's heart. Brilan opened his mouth in shock and his eyes bulged out. Li gritted his teeth and pushed harder on the sword until Brialn dropped his sword.
"That is for me." Li said through gritted teeth. He pulled out his sword and kicked Brilan off the roof. Unfortunatly, where Brilan was pushed, the land fell away into a steep rocky cliff. Brilan fell and bounced a few times against the cliff wall before landing on the rocky shore below.
Li walked to the edge and watched as the tide took Brilan's body out to sea. The Li was shocked to see the tide begin to come in, the way it should be. The tides were back to normal. "That was for Sakura." He said as a whisper.
Sakura joined him at his side. He saw her arm was bleeding. He turned to her. "I'm sorry." He said.
Sakura frowned. "For what?"
Li took both her hands in his. "For not coming to get you sooner. I broke my promise."
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "No. You didn't. You protected me, little wolf."
The wind blew slightly as Li tipped Sakura's chin and kissed her. He was happy she was back.
"Hey! Monster! Get away from that chinese brat!" They heard Tori say. Sakura and Li broke the kiss and turned to see Tori trying to get on the roof, with a tired Madison trying to pull him up by one hand.
Now it was Li's turn to laugh. "I guess the truce is over." He said.
Sakura frowned at him. He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "I'll tell you later."
She smiled and they went to rejoin their friends. Everything was the way it should be at last.
Chapter Four
Li walked towards the beach at a very fast walk. He knew that if he could just get through to Sakura, he could change her back. He had managed to get Madison and surprisingly Tori, to agree to help him.
Now he was on his way to the very cliff where Sakura had disappeared seven years ago. If Li was right, the portal would open up right back again and reveal Brilan's hide out. Which is why Li never found Sakura.
Li heard Madison breathing hard and decided to take a quick break. He stopped walking and turned around. "Okay, we can rest here for a while."
Madison let out a sigh of relief and sat on a near by sidewalk bench. Tori just crossed his arms and looked around. Li didn't feel the need to sit down, so instead he began to formulate a plan.
"I don't know what kind of security they have so once we get in..." Li started.
"Wait a minute!" Tori interupted. "Who made you the leader?" Tori said glaring at Li.
"Do you want to get Sakura back or not!" Li growled back.
Tori uncrossed his arms and approached Li. "She wouldn't be gone if you had been able to save her!" He retorted.
Li put his hands out to his sides. "You don't think I tried to get her back!"
Madison got up and stepped in between the two high strung boys. "Stop it!" She yelled. She glanced at Tori. "Now listen if we want to get anywhere...." She turned to face Li. "....we're going to have to work together."
Both boys looked at each other and turned the backs, arms crossed. Madison sighed. "Can you at least call a temporary truce?" She asked.
Li sighed and faces Tori. He held out his hand. Tori stared at it then looked away and met it with his own. They shook and looked to Madison. She smiled. It was the first time Li had seen her smile since...well you know.
"Good." She said. "Now let's get going." She started walking off again. The two looked at each other, shrugged and followed.
Brilan sat in his study and was formaulating a plan of his own. He would not let those three rogues take his precious prize away from him. No. He would take care of them before they even got close.
Brilan stood up and walked to the shelf that held many magic books. And one imperticular. It had on it's cover, the mythical Ceroberos. Brilan smiled as he opened it. Inside were a few cards. Clow Cards.
When Sakura had first become his captive he had made sure that it, along with the key, was safely put away. He wouldn't want the little magician to use them against him. He had the power to use them too. And now he would.
Unfortunatly, he only had a few to work with, since she had only captured a few before her...demise. A pity really that that little chinese brat of hers caught the rest. But these would do for now.
Brilan took out the Watery and the Windy. These had been one of the first few that she had captured. Brilan activated them together and smiled as they set forth to do his bidding.
Together, Windy and Watery would make a snow storm so intense, those three would never get through. Brilan laughed. Soon the fall of the descendant of the clow and his companions was upon them and then the cherry blossom would mature into a black rose. One he could manipulate and use to do as he please.
Li had finally gotton Tori to agree with him on their course of action once they entered the castle. It was based on them getting through to Sakura and then taking out Brilan. Unfortunatly, Li had no idea of Brilan's powers. He had never actually faced him in battle, yet.
Li was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the winds began to pick up. He was brought out of his revery, when he heard Madison scream. He looked at her to see she was loosing ground to the now raging winds. He too started to get blown back.
This was not natural. But what was causing it? Before Li could answer his own question, Li felt something cold touch his cheek. It was then joined by many others. Snow? It was now snowing. But along with this winds, Li would consider it a blizzard.
"This has to be Brilan!" Li said. Actually he had to shout it, to be heard above the howling winds.
Tori put up an arm to block the winds to his face. "How?! You can't make the weather!"
Li bit back a curse. Tori still didn't know anything about the Clow Cards. But if they were going to get out of this, Li was going to have to use magic.
Li saw Tori holding on to Madison, who was not fairing well against the storm. Li pulled out a card and said. "Clow Card! Release!" The card was released and the Shield Card blocked the winds and the snow.
Tori looked up and saw the barrier around them. He nodded and smirked at Li. "Not bad, brat."
Li was going to reply to that but Madison jumped in. "How do you think that Brilan got the cards?"
So she thought it wasn't natural either. Interesting. Perhaps all those adventures taught her something. "He must've taken them from Sakura when he kidnapped her." Li concluded.
"You mean this is Sakura's doing?" Tori asked.
Li sighed. "No. The cards belong to Sakura, but Brilan is using them. I don't know how, but he is."
Li looked out and was relieved to see the storm had disapated. Now they could continue. It as a lame attempt to stop them. But Li knew it would not be the last.
Brilan called the cards back. He was furious. Perhaps he was too forward. Brilan brought his hand up to stroke his chin. Yes, he would have to be a little more tricky. But how?
Sakura sat in front of her mirror, inside her personal chambers. She slowly brushed her hair. She wanted to be perfect when Li arrived. She couldn't wait to see his face when he knew he was going to die. She longed to see that moment.
Sakura glanced at the mirror and smirked. She remembered when she had captured the Mirror Card. She had been so frail and naive then. But not now. She was strong and revengeful.
Sakura continued to brush her hair. A few black strands fell in front of her face. She was glad she dyed it black. Her brown color before was fitting for the pitiful image of what she once was. So she changed it. Dyed it black to match the blackness in her heart. The blackness Li himself had created.
'Soon, little wolf.' She thought. 'You will know what it means to suffer. Soon.'
Li, Madison, and Tori arrived at the castle in no time. Seeing this scene again brought back painful memories for Li. Memories he didn't want to relive. But he knew he had to.
He turned to the others. "I remember Brilan did something or said something to open the portal, but I can't remember." He said.
Li tried to think about that night. Brilan had to have cast a spell to open the portal. But for the love of the gods he couldn't remember what! Li kicked the ground in frustration.
Madison smiled and walked up to him. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Come Li. You have to remember. This is for Sakura. Do this for her." Madison whispered in his ear.
"That's it!" He exclaimed. He raised his hands and recited those same words. "Colder than ice. Darker than night. Open the portal. Give me the true sight!"
In front of Li a sriwling mass of energy opened. Li smiled and turned to Madison. She winked at him. "I knew you could do it!"
Tori rolled his eyes and snorted. "Come on! Let's do this!" He walked past Li and Madison and went into the portal.
Li shrugged and stroked his hand in front of him, ushering Madison in. She smiled and stepped into the portal. Li took a deep breath and jumped in. Now, Li only hoped he was right about the portal opening to the castle.
Brilan felt the intruders enter his portal. He underestimated the boy. No matter. Brilan would destroy them anyways.
Brilan heard a knock at the door and turned. "Come in." He said.
Entered was Sakura. "My lord." She said with a bow.
He smiled and motioned her in. She walked up to him and noticed the book of the Clow.
Something inside her was telling her that book was hers. But why? She didn't ever remember having it. It had always been Brilan's. Part of his magic collection. Hadn't it? That's what he had told her anyways.
She had noticed him using the cards inside and asked about them. He said they were some of his magic tools. He taught her about each one and what they were for. She rememebered them and already knew about them, but how?
Everything before she had met Brilan was fuzzy. All she knew was how Li had left her to die. That was what kept her going all these years. Revenge. Wanting, needing to get back at Li Showrun.
Brilan noticed Sakura frowning at the cards. Was she rememebering? He had thought he brainwashed all she knew about the cards and taught her the black magic. But maybe she was rememebering. He hoped not. He would hate to have to repeat the process. The first time was unpleasant enough. For her anyways.
"Is something the matter love?" He asked.
Sakura came out of her trip down memory lane and smiled down at Brilan. "Nothing. Why do you have the cards out?" She asked.
Brialn shrugged. "I was hoping to have a little surprise waiting for our guests, but unfortunatly I haven't come up with anything."
Sakura patted him on the shoulder. "Why didn't you just say so?" She looked at the cards arranged on the table. She smiled and picked a card. "This one." She handed it to Brilan.
Brilan looked to see what she had picked up and smiled. "You are a devil."
She shrugged and smiled back. "Thanks to you I am."
Brilan activated the card. 'Yes.' He thought. 'This will work out quite nicely.'
After casting the card, he turned to Sakura. "Shall we go and prepare for our guests?" He held out an arm.
She smiled and accepted it. "Let's" Together they walked to the throne room...to prepare for the final confrontation.
Li entered the castle cautiously. His senses were telling him something wasn't right. They walked down a carpeted hallway. On the walls were weapons of different kinds. On Li's right were two giant axes, lyed across each other, forming an "X". To his right, were crossbows and staffs.
"Wait!" Li spun on a heel at the sound of Madison's abrupt command. She walked to the wall and took down a staff from the wall. On the tip was a blade of some sort.
She looked at it and nodded. "Okay."
Tori's mouth dropped and Li frowned. "What are you planning to do with that?" He asked skeptically.
Madison shruuged. Then suddenly whipped out the staff and brought it down behind Li's legs. He went down hard and landed with an "Oof!"
She smiled and said, "I really don't know."
Tori started laughing and felt his sides were going to split open. He leaned against the wall for support.
Li got up with a growl. "Okay. Where did you learn how to do that?!"
Madison smiled. "My mother's body guards taught me a little after Sakura disappeared. I want to be able to handle myself if we run into any trouble."
Tori was still laughing until he had tears coming out of his eyes. Li glared at him. "Oh, shut up!"
But Tori went right on laughing. Li growled and continued down the hallway, followed by Madison and a red faced Tori.
At the end of the hallway, they reached some kind of a large room. They walked until they were in the center of it. There didn't seem to be another way out except the way the came in.
Li looked around. Suddenly, Li heard a howl. A wolf's howl. Oh, no. They didn't just walk into an...
"AMBUSH!" Tori yelled. Li turned to see a pack of wolves coming through the door they had just entered.
Li cursed to himself. How could he have been so stupid! He unsheathed his sword and Tori did likewise. Madison put two hands on her staff and made ready for battle.
They all went back to back to back and watched as the wolves surrounded them. Li heard laughing and watched as Sakura and Brilan appeared at the front of the room, each sitting in a throne. 'Just like my dream' Li thought.
Just then one of the wolves pounced on Tori. He jumped to the side and sliced down, bisecting the creature in two.
The others followed. Li was engaged in a battle against three at once! Seems teaming up works for them too! Li sliced at one, cutting it's arm, while another jumped in from the side. Li had just enough time to jump out of the way. The wolf landed besides it's friend and they slowly advanced.
Madison was in a battle of her own. Two of the pack had decided to pick on the semingly defensless enemy. Madison smiled and urged them forward. One accepted the challenge and pounced, Madison used her staff to jump into the air. When the dog flew by her, she reversed the staff and stabbed the animal in it's ribs. It cried and it hit the floor, blood coming from the wound in it's side.
Tori turned to see another coming from his left. He didn't have enough time to see it charge at him. It rammed into him, sending him to the floor. It jumped and was about to land on his chest when a sword came from underneath it and gutted it in midair.
Tori looked up to see Li standing over him. He smiled and Li gave him a hand up. "Not bad. You never said you could fight like that."
Li shrugged. "You never asked." Just then Li saw a wolf behind Tori. Tori saw a wolf behind Li.
"Watch out!" They said in unison. Tori ducked down and Li jumped over him. Li thrusted his sword forward, hitting the animal in his chest, while Tori sliced, cutting off the other animal's feet half way up.
Li's jaw dropped. "You never said you could fight like that!"
Tori shrugged. "You never asked."
Madison saw another wolf make a jump at her. She met it with a quick jab to it's jaw. A crack was heard and the animal fell to the ground.
Li looked around and was amazed to see all the bodies disappear. It wasn't real the whole time. How? Then it came to him. "The illusion card." He said. Li turned and saw the book of the Clow sittingon the arm rest of Brilan's throne.
Li suddenly got very angry. He raised his sword and charged at Brilan. Sakura stood up and raised a finger. Electricity came out and hit Li in the chest. He flew back and fell to the ground. He looked up at Sakura.
"Why?"
"Because, I want to see you suffer!" She raised her hand for another attack when...
"STOP!" A voice said. Sakura looked up in shock. Li crawled away to Madison and Tori who helped him up to his feet.
Li turned to see who's voice it was. What he saw was purely shocking. At the entrance to the throne room was Kero. He flew in and approached Sakura.
"This isn't you, Sakura." He said in a stern yet mourniful tone.
Sakura frowned at the new arrival. She recognized him, but couldn't place a name. "Who are you?"
Kero looked at Sakura with sad eyes. "You don't recognize me?" He asked.
She back away and slowly shook her head. Kero sighed. "I chose you to be a card captor. You are the one who is destined to have the cards. Not Brilan. He took them from you."
Sakura opened her mouth to deny it, but somehow it seemed true. But she couldn't remember.
"You have to believe us, Sakura!" Li said. "The cards were destined to be yours the whole time!"
Sakura felt her head starting to hurt. She held it in both hands. "Stop it! You're filling my mind with lies!" She yelled.
Kero crossed his arms. "Oh yeah! Clow Cards! Return to your true master!" He commanded. The book on Brilan's arm rest floated and opened up before Brilan could stop it. All the cards flew in a circle around Sakura who watched Li approach slowly.
She looked up and saw him coming. The cards continue to fly around, but Li plucked one out of the air and handed it to her. "Look and see for yourself."
She took it and looked at it. I had on it a little girl with a blossom as a dress. It read..."Flower?" Sakura said. She stared at it. She got flashes of her and Li sitting under a cherry tree, eating lunch at school.
Then she saw Kero handing her the key of clow. She remembers turning it into a staff and catching clow cards with Li. But he was her enemy wasn't he?
Again her head started to hurt. And she suddenly remembered everything. She looked up at the boy in front of her. "Li." She said
He smiled and a tear came out of his eye. "Sakura."
She smiled and ran to him. He caught her in his arms and gave her a giant bear hug. He then stopped and stared into her eyes. They were emerald again. She was back. He cupped her chin and kissed her passionatly.
She smiled as they broke the kiss. "Thank you."
Li shrugged. "I always keep my word." He turned to the others. "Shall we take him now?"
Tori held his sword high. "I'd thought you'd never ask."
Madison smiled. "I'm ready."
Li glanced at Kero. "Nice to have you back."
Kero growled at him. "I didn't do it for you!" He said as he crossed his arms. He looked away. "I did it for Sakura."
Li sighed and glanced back at Sakura. He noticed her chest was glowing. Out from underneath her cape came her key. It too was back to normal.
She smiled. "Shall I?" Li nodded and she spoke the magic words. "Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the Lon. The force ignite. Release!" Her key turned into her staff and she smiled agian. God how Li missed seeing that smile.
She turned to Brilan and her eyes became slits of jade. "I will make you pay for ruining my life!" She said to him. Li never saw Sakura mad, but he knew if she ever did watch out.
Brilan stood up and unsheathed his sword. "You know. It's been my pleasure." He then charged at Sakura, sword raised.
"Sakura!" Tori yelled.
Brilan's sword came down only to be met with Li's sword. Li smiled. "I don't think so." He kicked Brilan in the chest and he flew back to the base of his throne chair.
"You imbisile! You will pay for your ignorance!!" He brought his hand back and when it flew forward, a red energy ball flew at Li.
The blast would've hit Li except Tori's sword blocked it's path. He hit it like it was a fast ball and it flew up towards the ceiling.
It blew a large hole in the roof and the moon light could be seen.
Sakura closed her eyes and a pink aura was seen around her. She opened her eyes and stared at Brilan. "This is between you and me Brilan!" With that she flew up and out of the roof.
"Sakura!" Everyone cried. Brilan smiled and flew after her.
Li growled in defiance and ran out. He couldn't find a way in from the inside, he'd find a way up from the outside.
On the rooftop, Sakura raised her staff and called upon the power of the cards. "Shadow!" She called. "Release and dispell!"
Shadow was released and when Brilan joined her on the roof, it enveloped him. "I can't see!" He exclaimed.
Sakura smiled and approached him. She raised her staff to hit him, but sword slashed out instead, cutting her arm. She cried out in pain and recoiled her injured arm.
Brilan used his sword to cut through Shadow's barrier like it was a cake. Shadow returned to card form and returned to Sakura. She looked up at Brilan, still holding her arm, "You lied to me!" She said.
Brilan laughed. "And it was so easy too."
Sakura got mad. "Sword card! Release and dispell!" Her sword came out and she attacked Brilan. She started with a thrust, then a parry. Both Brilan blocked with ease. He knew the power of the cards, and he knew what he had to do to stop them.
When Sakura tried another thrust, Brilan jumped to the side and came down hard with his sword. Sakura's sword was hit out of her hands and returned to card form as well.
Before she could think of what to do next, Brilan's foot came out and hit her stomach. Sakura was thrown back and fell to the ground. Her staff went flying and fell off the roof. Brilan appraoched her and Sakura looked up in horror.
"It was fun while it lasted, but I really should be getting on to other things." He pulled his arm back to get ready for the final blow when all of a sudden...
Li appeares in front of Sakura and grabs Brilan's hand before it can come down. Brilan doesn't see until it's too late and by then, Li already had his sword back and he thrusted it forward.
The sword went right though Brilan's heart. Brilan opened his mouth in shock and his eyes bulged out. Li gritted his teeth and pushed harder on the sword until Brialn dropped his sword.
"That is for me." Li said through gritted teeth. He pulled out his sword and kicked Brilan off the roof. Unfortunatly, where Brilan was pushed, the land fell away into a steep rocky cliff. Brilan fell and bounced a few times against the cliff wall before landing on the rocky shore below.
Li walked to the edge and watched as the tide took Brilan's body out to sea. The Li was shocked to see the tide begin to come in, the way it should be. The tides were back to normal. "That was for Sakura." He said as a whisper.
Sakura joined him at his side. He saw her arm was bleeding. He turned to her. "I'm sorry." He said.
Sakura frowned. "For what?"
Li took both her hands in his. "For not coming to get you sooner. I broke my promise."
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "No. You didn't. You protected me, little wolf."
The wind blew slightly as Li tipped Sakura's chin and kissed her. He was happy she was back.
"Hey! Monster! Get away from that chinese brat!" They heard Tori say. Sakura and Li broke the kiss and turned to see Tori trying to get on the roof, with a tired Madison trying to pull him up by one hand.
Now it was Li's turn to laugh. "I guess the truce is over." He said.
Sakura frowned at him. He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "I'll tell you later."
She smiled and they went to rejoin their friends. Everything was the way it should be at last.