A/N: There will be a lot of angst so if you're in the mood for happy joyful pick me ups then do not read this. Oh and sorry it took so long life is a pain. To everyone who reviewed you guys rock.
Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own CCS.
"Clow! Please I won't my child, bring back my baby!" Meiling screamed as Li and Eriol tried to hold her down. The young women was stronger then she looked, and in this state she was a danger to herself. Eriol and Li had come up as soon as they heard her screaming, but they were too late. Clow was gone and now Meiling was uncontrollable.
She kept screaming and fighting those who wanted to help her. Li had tried to calm her down but nothing seemed to work, the young mother was in a state of absolute panic, and that panic only fueled her strength. Finally Li was able to get her to stop struggling. Both he and Eriol let up their grip on her and she began to relax. Her screams soon died down to the sound of a whisper. Li and Eriol released their hold on the girl slowly. When it became evident that she was not going to through a fit again they backed away.
To Sakura Meiling looked dead. Her face was a ghastly shade of white, and her ruby eyes were lifeless. The usual sparkle that shown in the red orbs had diminished only to be replaced by fear and hopelessness. Her tear-streaked face was a place of torment and despair. At first glance it would have seemed as though Meiling was dead she seemed motionless, even the rising and falling of her chest with the intakes of air was not visible. Only her mouth showed sings of life for it was moving slowly as Meiling mumbled incoherent pleas.
This was too much for Sakura, she had lived a very sheltered life except for the adventures with the Clow Cards, and that was not nearly as dramatic as these events. This world of abuse and abandonment was so new to her, and the transition into it so quick that it had become overwhelming. She took one last look at the pain stricken mother crying for her child, and then left.
Li watched Meiling; a rage beyond any that his friends had ever seen was grew in his eyes. He clenched his fist at his sides till his knuckles turned white from the pressure. His breathing became long and heavy, and the malice that he had been containing for so long was now radiating for his every move.
Eriol watched Li with fear and anticipation. His young descendant's aurora had never felt so strong before, nor had he felt it be filled with this much anger. Whatever Li intended to do was not going to be pleasant. Timidly Eriol walked over to where Li stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're not alone, you know that don't you." Eriol said quietly showing his support in whatever Li chose to do.
"I know." Li answered just as quietly, though his voice was filled with determination and rage. "Kero." He called without looking back.
"Yes?" Kero responded, respect evident in his voice. Li's now powerful aurora seemed to demand respect and instill fear, something that neither Eriol nor Kero had ever expected.
"I want you to watch over Meiling. Protect her no matter what, and whatever you do don't let her leave this house." Li commanded and then without waiting for an answer he turned and left the room.
Eriol followed quickly after and stopped to watch as Li entered his room and shut the door behind him. He was glad that Tomoyo wasn't here, she had reluctantly left about three hours ago due to the fact that her mother wished for her to return home.
Sakura's soft footsteps ascending the stairs brought Eriol out of his thoughts. "Where is Shaolan?" Sakura asked as she peered over Eriol in the direction of Li's room.
"He's in his room though I'm not exactly sure what he is doing. All I know for sure is that he is going after Clow, I plain on going with him. The Li clan is very powerful, and he will need all the help he can get." Eriol answered.
"Well then I will go too. You two will need the help of the Sakura Cards. I'm just glad that Tomoyo isn't here, she'd have me in some crazy outfit by now." Sakura joked trying to lighten up the mood a little.
Eriol laughed lightly at the thought of his love's hobbies. "Yes, I am glad she is not here as well, she is safest at home."
The two magicians were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. Sakura ran down the steps quickly to answer it while Eriol walked casually behind. When Sakura opened the door she was greeted by a camera and an outfit still wrapped in a plastic cover.
"Hey Sakura, I'm glad I caught you." Tomoyo's sweet voice chided. "I thought you'd be gone by now." she entered the house and began to lay out her stuff as both Eriol and Sakura stared at her in absolute confusion.
"Um, Tomoyo how did you know we were about to leave?" Eriol asked with confusion.
Tomoyo giggled and then gave them a sly look. "Don't tell me you haven't looked outside, it's worse then when the Thunder Card showed up." As Eriol and Sakura ran to look out the window, Tomoyo began unpacking her gear. "Okay Sakura you had better hurry up and go change before we leave." Tomoyo stated as she handed her friend the outfit that she was to wear.
Sakura looked at it in disbelief. The outfit was a pair of tight leather pants, a thick silver belt with a light pink star engraved in the center, black boots with sliver buckles, a tight black shirt with a sliver ring about the neck and stomach which was exposed, and black gloves that expose the fingers along with two sparkling body tattoos of light pink stars for her arms. To top all this off there was a long black velvet cape with a hood and a light pink satin liner.
"Wow Tomoyo this is nothing like the other outfits you use to make me. Way the sudden journey down the dark side?" Sakura asked as she stared at her new black attire.
"Well for one you are older now so I thought a change would be nice. Two black will help you blend in with the darkness of night, and three is that executioners should look a little darker then Card Captors." Tomoyo explained as she began working with some other items.
"Executioner?" Sakura asked confused. "I do not want to be an executioner." She whined the thought of going out with the soul purpose of destroying a life never entered her mind before this moment.
"Come on Sakura, no one said that this job would be easy, but it is your job nonetheless. You are a magician and with that power comes some dirty work. Besides it is your destiny to help Shaolan destroy the bad descendants of Clow Reed." Tomoyo argued back.
Eriol laughed inwardly at his new love's wisdom. "Tomoyo is right Sakura, if you want to help save Clow then you will be forced to fight and maybe even kill members of the Li Clan, but if you don't want to go through with it it's okay. We will not be angry in the slightest." Eriol didn't want the young girl who still held so much innocence to go into this battle unless she absolutely wanted to. "And anyway I think that that outfit will look absolutely stunning on you." Eriol added smirking at the glare he received from Sakura.
Sakura took her clothes and went up stairs to change. Once she was gone Tomoyo came up to Eriol grinning mischievously. "So you really like the outfit I made for Sakura." She asked grinning still.
Eriol nodded his head. "Yes it was perfect for this action." He answered truthfully but with slight humor in his voice.
Tomoyo's grin grew even bigger as she handed Eriol an outfit she had been holding behind her back. Much like Sakura's costume, this one consisted of black leather pants though not nearly as tight as Sakura's, a sliver belt with a golden sun engraved in the center, black boots with no buckles, a long sleeve black shirt, and a black leather blazer.
Eriol looked at the outfit then back at Tomoyo then back at the outfit again. "What is this?" he asked confused.
"Well since you liked Sakura's outfit I thought I'd give you the one I made for you. Now hurry up and go put it one." Tomoyo ordered as she ushered him away. Eriol tried to protest but was pushed in the bathroom before he could utter a word.
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Meiling still slept and Eriol had just got done explaining to Kero what they planed to do this night. Now Tomoyo, Sakura, and Eriol waited in the living room for Li.
"Shaolan certainly has been up there for a while what is keeping him?" Sakura thought out loud.
"What I want to know is what he plains to do." Tomoyo added.
"I plain to go hunting." A familiar yet dark voice answered from behind. The group of three turned around to see Li standing at the top of the stairs. He was clad in an outfit similar to Eriol. Black leather pants and boots along with a silver belt with a green wolf head engraved in the center. A tight black shirtsleeve muscle shirt clung to his upper half, and black biker gloves were on his hands. A black leather trench coat moved with him gracefully as he descended the stair. Held in a case latched to his belt rested an ancient Chinese sword. An object that he had carried since he could walk; yet it was the most alien thing he bore.
Sakura stared in awe at the young man she knew so well yet seemed so strange to her. The sparkle of light and compassion had vanished from his eyes, and his face seemed stern and unforgiving.
Eriol's voice broke through the uncomfortable silence that had settled upon the room. "How exactly do you plain to find the Li Clan, Shaolan?" he asked obviously expecting to see Li in such an unforgiving state.
Li smiled a slight gleam entering his eyes as he held up an object that none had expected to see. "With this." he answered as he showed the group what he held.
Sakura couldn't hide her surprise, she had thought that Li was forced to leave behind all objects of his past, but now here he stood holding his sword, and the lasin board.
Li held the board before him and began to chant softly in Chinese. At his commands the board began to glow a light green suddenly the light intensified and consumed Li's form, and then Li began to absorb the light and soon both the board and the light were gone. Li now stood there with his eyes shut tightly; slowly he lowered his now free hands and opened his eyes. To the amazement of all Li's eyes were now glowing a bright green. He stared at each watcher closely and then blinked when he reopened his eyes they were back to beautiful amber.
Before the others could speak Li started walking to the door. "I know where they are follow me if you can keep up." He said not looking back or waiting for them to answer.
The group quickly got up and followed Li, not certain to where he was leading them.
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Sakura leaned against a tree as she watched their leader move in and out of the shadows of night. She was amazed at how much Li had changed. The sweetness and gentleness that she had come to love in him had completely vanished, and was now replaced by hatred. She was frightened and intrigued by the sudden change that the young man had undergone. She just hoped that they could get back Clow and that everything would go back to normal.
The small group had walked to a forest on the outside of town. Li continued to lead them through a clearing in the middle of some large and withered looking oak trees. Eriol walked slowly behind him watching his surroundings closely. Following after him was Sakura who was looking around nervously as though she was afraid that a ghost might pop out of no where. Tomoyo trailed the group, moving so quietly that it was almost impossible to tell she was there. As she followed she recorded every movement in the woods with her new night vision camcorder.
Li paid little attention to the others, his mind was set on one purpose finding Clow, and eliminating the Li Clan once and for all. He was no longer afraid to show his power nor was he worried about-facing his family. He had once loved them they were after all his kin, though it was never the kind of love that Sakura had for her father or Tomoyo for her mother it was a love nonetheless. He could never honestly say that he had trusted them, but he was devoted to them, and would probably still hold devotion to them if it were not for Sakura, for she had taught him what true love and compassion were. After he had returned from his adventures with her he became aware of the Clan's treachery, and after they hurt Meiling they lost what little devotion he still held for them. Now that they have taken Clow they will see the extent of his betrayal, and will pay with their lives.
Sakura, not being able to take the unsettling silence any longer, spoke her voice echoing through the woods. "How long do you think it will take us to find them?" she asked fear in her voice.
"Oh believe me child it will not take long." A female with a low and haunting voice answered.
The group turned around quickly and saw a tall woman with inky black hair and a painted white face. Her eyes were black as night and her voice sent shivers down Sakura's spine.
"Hello mother." Li said coldly with an odd smirk on his face.
Yelan laughed cruelly. "Why do you smile son? Were you hopeing to fall into a trap?" She asked amused.
As she spoke these words figures clad in robes of black emerged from the shadows. Sakura began to feel frightened, while Tomoyo simply crept into the shadows and continued taping.
"I suppose you are looking for the infant, well he is not here, but I will be glade to entertain you instead. Especially since you seem so pleased to see me." Yelan smirked as the black robed figures moved closer into the clearing.
Li smiled and then drew his sword. The blade seemed to be glowing as it reflected the sliver rays of moonlight. "You being here saves me the trouble of hunting you down." And with that Li began attacking the robed figures.
The figures also possessed swords and were quite gifted in using them. The figures continued to appear and it wasn't long before Li was facing a multitude at a time. He would slaughter one and then two more would appear in its place. The clattering of swords made Li aware that Sakura had called upon the Sword card and was now facing the corrupted magicians and worriers. Eriol had called upon his staff and was now using it as well as a powerful spell to dissolve his opponents.
The battle continued for some time and soon it seemed as though an army was upon the small group. Li called upon his inner power drawing as much strength as possible. His sword began to glow a bright green and as opponents would slash at him, he would hit them with a powerful blow slicing their swords in half. Then he would attack ramming his sword into the chest of his enemy. It wasn't long before his sword and body was dripping with the blood of his opponents. The crimson liquid seemed to seep into his skin and burn like acid.
Finally with a strong battle cry Li sliced into his last opponent decapitating him. He looked over to see if his friends were all right. To his relief all the attackers had been destroyed. It seemed that the Clan focused most of the attack on him.
As Li looked around he realized that there was one opponent that he had yet to face. "Where is my mother?" he asked looking amongst the dead corpse to see if she lied there.
"It looks like she's gone." Eriol answered. "But I don't think we're done yet, I sense more powerful auroras coming in this direction."
Li looked at Eriol sternly. "I most not let her escape." He said simply.
Eriol nodded his head in understanding. "Go we will take care of these new attackers."
Li took off into the woods using the power of the Lasin board to track down his mother. Once he was gone Eriol and Sakura got in fighting stance, waiting for their true opponents to arrive.
As the powerful auroras got closer Sakura peered into the shadows. "Well here we go."
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Will Sakura and Eriol be able to handle the most powerful members of the Li Clan alone?
Will Li get his revenge?
Will Meiling simply sleep while her child's life in on the line?
Will I ever get a good paying job (probably not)?
Okay so I have a morbid sense of humor. Well what did you think? I no it took a long time to get out but hopefully it was good. Oh by the way I think the next one will be the last chapter.