Author's Note: I've kept you waiting long enough, so I'll skip the mumbo jumbo.
*~*
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.
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*~* Chapter Nineteen *~*
The Light From Within
Syaoran turned to his men. "I want you all to return home. You'll know the outcome of the battle soon enough."
Galen, who was among the men, frowned. "Are you sure you'll be alright? We could stay . . ."
Syaoran shook his head. "I don't want any of you to be put in danger. Go back to your families."
After saying their good byes and wishing Syaoran good luck, the men slowly began their trip home.
Meanwhile . . .
Alan took Sakura into his arms as Syaoran and Yukio headed out to the battlefield. He wanted her to stay far away from the fight. She was in no condition to try to help Syaoran.
"Where the hell is Mai-Tai?" he growled.
"Here I am!" she cried, running into the room. She eyed the gaping hole in the wall. "Well . . . I guess I'm too late . . ."
"You sure are! Syaoran and Yukio are about to fight." Alan placed Sakura onto the ground. "Get her out of here and far away from the castle. I'm going to help Syaoran."
She watched as Alan took off after Syaoran. Good luck . . . and be careful . . .
Mai-tai glanced down at Sakura. "How am I supposed to move her?" She bent down and gently patted Sakura's cheeks. "Wake up . . . wake up Sakura . . ."
Nothing.
Mai-Tai tried to pick Sakura up. "Uhhh . . . she's too heavy!"
"I wish I were strong as Alan or Syaoran. Then I could-"
"Syaoran . . ." groaned Sakura.
Mai-Tai raised an eyebrow. "Yes . . . Syaoran's here! If you can wake up, then you'll get to see him!"
"S-Syaoran . . . I'm coming . . ."
"Atta girl!"
Sakura's eyes fluttered open. "Wh-where am I?"
"That's not important," muttered Mai-Tai. "we need to get you out of here and fast." She pulled Sakura gently off of the floor and wrapped her arms around Sakura's waist. "Whoa! Don't fall over!"
"You said Syaoran was here," Sakura mumbled. "Where is he?"
"Uh . . . um . . . never mind that. Let's go . . ."
"No! I want to go to Syaoran! He's in danger, isn't he?" When Mai-Tai didn't answer, Sakura continued. "I knew it! He's going to fight Yukio, isn't he?"
Mai-Tai nodded.
Sakura stepped away from Mai-Tai. "My necklace, please," she said, holding out her hand.
She placed it in Sakura's palm. "What are you going to do?"
Sakura took in a deep breath. "I don't know. I don't have any cards. They're all at home . . ."
Mai-Tai reached into her pocket. "Wait! I've got the transportation stone!" She handed it to Sakura.
"Okay. Let's do this."
*~*
Syaoran looked around the place Yukio had chosen for a battlefield. It was barren and surrounded by a thick forest. Syaoran then eyed his opponent. How was he going to defeat him? How strong was he?
Alan stepped up next to him. "I'm here if you need any help."
"Thanks," he said. "I don't have a strategy. I know nothing about my enemy."
Alan grinned. "Well, you didn't know much about my powers when you defeated me, did you?"
Syaoran turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "That's true . . ."
"And how did you defeat me?"
"With . . . lighting?"
Alan sighed. "YEAH, but with something else . . ."
"Uh . . ."
"Love, you idiot! You did it out of love for Sakura and your family. That may be the only way to defeat this enemy."
Syaoran nodded. "You're right. But I'm going to have to find a way to turn love into something physical to . . . I have no idea what I'm talking about."
"And think of those new powers you gained during your first fight with me. Use those. And relax. You're stressing yourself out. Let everything come to you. Believe me- it will."
*~*
Sakura stood in her room, holding the Sakura Cards in her hand. I hope this will be enough to defeat Yukio . . . or at least help . . .
She opened the portal to Yukio's world, but before she could step through, the door to her room opened.
Her father and Touya stepped in and gasped when they saw her. "Sakura?"
She smiled. "Hi daddy."
Fujitaka took his daughter in his arms. "You're okay . . ."
Touya took his hug next. "Welcome back, kaijuu."
"I can't stay. I . . . I have to help Syaoran defeat Yukio. I know he'll need my help . . ." Sakura said reluctantly.
Her father wiped a tear from his eye. "I understand."
Touya also nodded. "So do I."
"I've got to go now. Please don't cry. We'll be back- I promise."
"I know you will. Just . . . I've missed you. Please hurry," said her father.
"Sure dad. And please tell everyone I said hi." With that, Sakura stepped into the portal.
*~*
When Sakura stepped out of the portal again, Mai-Tai sighed with relief. "There you are! I thought something had happened!"
"I had to talk to my father for a bit. Now, let's get to the battlefield before things st-" Sakura was interrupted by a large explosion. "I guess the guys have started without us."
Mai-Tai frowned. "Are you sure you're strong enough to fight? Maybe you'll just be in the way."
"Well, I've got to try. Do you want to come with me?" she asked, calling forth her want and the fly card.
"O-okay. For Alan. I want to make sure he's okay."
The girls took flight and began to soar height over the trees. "I think the explosion came form this way . . ." muttered Sakura as she flew towards a green field.
The girls soon spotted Syaoran and Yukio on the field down below. They were both in battle positions.
Sakura was just about to land when the earth below them began to shake. She gasped as the ground beneath Yukio began to give way.
"What's this, boy!" she heard Yukio shout as he jumped to stable ground. "You know some tricks?!"
Syaoran continued to make the ground collapse underneath his enemy wherever he landed. But Yukio was too fast. He kept jumping out of the way.
Syaoran stopped. This isn't working! He's too fast!
With lightening speed, Yukio sent a dark ball of energy straight at Syaoran. He rolled out of the way, but not before the ball nipped his shoulder.
Sakura cried out when Syaoran got up, gripping his shoulder. She flew to the ground, careful to land in the trees so that she could stay out of sight.
"Stay here, Mai-Tai. I'm going to sneak up behind Yukio and attack," whispered Sakura.
"Okay . . . be careful . . ."
Sakura wove through the trees, making her way behind him. She took out the Thunder Card. "Thunder Card, release!"
The Thunder beast went forth and wrapped itself around Yukio. He cried out in pain and surprise. He fought the Thunder off. "WHO DID THAT?!!" He whirled around. "You . . ."
"I'm going to take you down, Yukio! I'm tired of this!" she cried.
"You little bitch! And to think I wanted to take you as my wife . . ."
Syaoran took this distraction to strike. He called forth this lightning and shot it at Yukio, followed by a blast of fire.
He roared out again and fell to the ground.
Sakura gasped and stepped back. Is he . . . gone?
"Sakura, are you okay?!" shouted Syaoran.
"YES! I'm fine!"
"Good! Now get out of the way- I'm going to try to finish him off!"
Suddenly Yukio leapt up. "I don't think so!" He attacked Sakura, hitting her with a dark ball.
She flew backwards, slamming into a tree.
Yukio returned his attention to Syaoran. "Now, with her out of the way, let's get this over with!"
Sakura . . . I can barely feel your energy . . . "Bring it on!"
Yukio formed a sword with his dark energy. "A sword fight should be interesting . . ." He quickly advanced towards Syaoran.
Syaoran prepared himself for the block. But Yukio's attack never came.
Syaoran cried out in shock as Yukio's sword went through Alan's shoulder. Alan, his eyes bulging, crumpled to the ground.
"YOUR FIGHT IS WITH ME!!!" roared Syaoran. First he took out Sakura, then Alan . . . it was beginning to be too much.
"I don't want anyone to get in our way." And with that, he attacked Syaoran.
*~*
Sakura's eyes slowly fluttered open. Oh, my head . . . She sat up, rubbing her temples. What . . . happened?
Her memory quickly returned when she caught sight of Yukio and Syaoran engaged in a sword fight. Alan was lying on the ground. This doesn't look good . . .
"Sakura! Sakura!" Mai-Tai hissed from behind her. "Alan's been hurt. And it looks like Yukio's wearing Syaoran down. You've got to do something!"
Mai-Tai was right. She couldn't just sit here- she had to help Syaoran. He'd saved her many times before; it was time to repay him.
But there's not much I can do. The Cards are too weak and I don't know any other magic . . . Unless . . . Unless I use the Cards in a different way. That just might work!
Sakura hauled herself off the ground. She took out the Light card and stared down at it. "This has to work. It has to. Or else we're finished."
She closed her eyes. "Light Card . . . drive the dark forces form Yukio's heart. Release!"
Something amazing happened. Sakura's chest began to glow a bright pink. The pink glow surrounded the Light Card. The Light Card smiled at Sakura and then entered the battlefield.
With a blinding white light that stopped both fighters in their tracks, the Light Card swept forth and wrapped itself around Yukio.
He began to roar. "WHAT IS HAPPENING?!!!!!!!"
The white light got brighter and brighter until Sakura, Mai-Tai and Syaoran had to shield their eyes.
"WHAT IS THIS?!!" Yukio exclaimed. He felt as if he was being ripped apart. When he looked down at himself, he saw that he WAS being torn apart. His flesh began to dissolve.
The Light engulfed his body, and, with a huge explosion, Yukio and the ground around him was blown to bits.
The explosion rocked the ground. Sakura collapsed and tried to cover her head to protect it from falling rocks.
When everything was still, she cautiously opened her eyes. Yukio was gone. She let out a huge sigh. "Mai-Tai, are you alright?"
She got off of the ground and inspected herself. "Yes . . . I think so. Let's go check on the guys."
They rushed across the field. Sakura fell to her knees next to Syaoran and Mai-Tai checked on Alan.
Sakura gently shook Syaoran. "Syaoran . . . get up. Yukio's gone. We won!"
His eyes slowly fluttered open. "Sakura?"
"Yes, it's me!"
"He's . . . gone? Really gone?"
Sakura nodded, a big grin on her face. "We won! We did it!"
Syaoran sat up and pulled Sakura into a big hug. "Yes, we've won. It's finally over."
When they let go of each other, they went to check on Alan.
Mia-Tai looked up at them with tears in her eyes. "H-he's unconscious. We've got to do something!"
"There are healers at the village where I was staying," said Syaoran. "They'd be happy to tend to his wound."
Sakura nodded. "I've got the transportation stone. We can use it."
"But . . . I can't go. I-I don't have magic," Mai-Tai mumbled.
Sakura eyed her. "How do you know?"
"Huh?"
"How do you know you don't have magic?"
"I . . . my parents didn't, so . . ."
Sakura smiled. "Well, we can try. Who knows- you may have a little magic hidden inside of you."
"If that's settled, then let's go." Syaoran picked up Alan. "Uh, he's heavy . . ."
Sakura held out the stone. "You first, Syaoran, since you know this place."
A hole appeared out of thin air. Syaoran stepped into it. "You next, Mai-Tai."
She took a deep breath and approached it. She stepped in and- disappeared.
Sakura grinned. I was right! She does have magic!
Just as Sakura was about to step into the hole herself, the Light Card stopped her. "Mistress . . ."
Sakura whirled around. "Oh! I can't believe that I forgot about you! I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, Mistress. You saved the day."
"No, it was all you . . ."
The Light Card smiled at Sakura. "I alone was not strong enough to defeat Yukio. He had too much darkness in his heart. But with the pure, loving light that you gave me from your heart, I was able to defeat him."
"Pure . . . loving light?" Sakura gasped, remembering the pink light. "Wow . . ."
The Light Card nodded. "So it was really you who saved the day. And now, Mistress, if you don't mind, I'll return to my Card form . . ."
"Of course!" Sakura caught the Light Card as it floated towards her. She smiled and then stepped into the portal.
Author's Note: You can expect one more chapter, probably a long one. Then I'll continue with my other fic, One by One (which I'll probably be changing that tittle). Chapter One for that is already out, so take a look at it. Please R+R.
