A Cherry Blossom's Death
Aha! Here it is, the second last chapter, and the chapter that has the action you've been waiting for! I'm sooo proud…I'm almost done and all I have to do is the part b and then the last chapter which is only a finishing chapter and…there is a God! Now I can work on all my other fics. Yesss! ::audience hisses:: Booo!
Lol! I can't help it…I'm ecstatic. I'm on the verge of completing something. I have //never\\ completed something in my life…oh, goody goody gumdrops!
I'm sooo happy and motivated, I think I could rule the world! And yet…I still would not own CCS…it's a cruel, cruel world…::sigh::
Chapter Eleven: Final Showdown: part A (AN: something about this title just //screams\\ action, don't ya think?)
~ * ~ * ~
The warehouse - old and abandoned for some time now. (AN: yup, of course that's //always\\ the case) Syaoran had never given it a single glance when he'd passed by it numerous times to do some groceries, but now it held a kind of significance that had nothing to do with precious memories and wonderful old times. This significance was one that meant a crucial situation in which neither he, nor Meiling knew what would happen once they stepped through the creaky doorway. It held a faint smell of gasoline and paint, and Meiling covered her nose with her sleeve, making a face like she was gagging. Syaoran crept forward, careful not to make a noise – smooth, swift and stealthy in the darkness of the huge room. He made his way up the stairs and motioned for Meiling to follow him. She complied and together they made their way through the old offices of the ex-employees. A light seemed to emanate from a slightly open doorway, and Syaoran skulked closer, Meiling following his lead.
Pressing his ear against the door, he heard an all-too familiar voice speaking smoothly and dangerously like cool glass. "…such a sweet boy…but revenge is sweeter…" There was a pause and then Syaoran tensed, but the voice kept on talking. "…a life that should have been mine…" There was another pause and then…
"We've been waiting for you…Syaoran…and you too, Meiling…"
The two froze in mid-stride, Meiling's face taking on a look of defeat. That was it, then. Seria could easily take their lives in one move, judging by what Syaoran had told her at Tomoyo's funeral. If they were lucky, they would be spared a slow and painful death…and maybe they'd even die at the same moment. A wry smile fluttered upon her lips. How ironic that the two should die the very day that they had made a fresh start as cousins. (AN: I can't believe that all this happened in one day!) She glanced at Syaoran and was surprised to see the look of determination was still placed in his features as he squared his shoulders. "Show yourself," he demanded.
The fear was there, but he tried to hide it in his trademark glare. His gaze was firm as he waited for Seria to step out of the shadows. As Seria stepped out from the darkness, Syaoran gasped and gripped Meiling arm so hard that she winced in pain. "Syaoran…you're hurting me…ow!"
She was silenced as she looked up and stared in disbelief at the auburn-haired girl. Syaoran stepped forward boldly. "Sak-Sakura?" he whispered.
~ * ~ * ~
"Sak-Sakura?"
The auburn-haired girl smiled evilly. "Yes…I'm Sakura…what did you expect, Mike Myers?" Syaoran ignored the sarcasm and stared at the girl before him. There was no way…it just had to be one of Seria's tricks! Of course, they were twins, but Syaoran had known Sakura long enough to distinguish the difference…Sakura's eyes had always held a deep meaningful green, and the one time that he had seen Seria…well they had been cold and hard…and so unfamiliar.
He remembered the scar on the back of Sakura's neck from one of the attacks of the earlier cards, (AN:I know it probably didn't happen, but sucks for you then, doesn't it?) and he circled the green-eyed girl. There was a giggle and Sakura spoke again. "Yes…that scar does seem to bring back old memories…look for yourself…I'm the one and only Kinomoto Sakura…"
She parted her hair so that Syaoran could see, and Syaoran gasped. It was there…but Sakura…she would never…
"I would never what?" Sakura-look-alike mocked, taunting him as Syaoran stood still. Meiling looked frightened. Now that Syaoran wasn't by her side bringing out her courage, she wondered if she could make a break for it and head back to China. Forget it even happened.
"You would never hurt any of your friends, Sakura-chan!" Syaoran cried, his voice breaking. Things were getting complicated and so frustrating!
There was a snarl. "Do you really know me that well, Li? Do you really think I would never have a darker side to me?!" The voice came out an angered screech and Syaoran stared at the familiar-looking eyes and shook his head. No! It couldn't be true that Sakura had caused all of this! "Please Sakura," he begged.
He was cut off as she zapped an energy ball at him, sending him flying against the wall. "Silence, you fool!" (AN: hmm…sounds like one of those really bad evil-dude against good-dude movies!) Syaoran's crumpled form lay in a heap, and he looked up as Sakura advanced toward him, her palms facing towards him and he closed his eyes, waiting for death to reap his soul and lead him to the eternally asleep. There was a pause- a slight hesitation, and Syaoran saw a difference in Sakura's eyes. They had become urgent…so much more like her once happy ones…
"Syaoran!" she cried. "Take Eriol and Meiling and leave! Please…before it's too late…go now…who knows what she'll make me do?!!"
Syaoran scrambled to his feet with difficulty and for the second time, he said it. "Sak-Sakura?"
"GO NOW!" she screamed. Then her eyes were back to their familiar, but cold dark state, and she laughed menacingly. "Li Syaoran, you will regret ever meddling in this business…and you too, dear, sweet…Meiling…"
Meiling sobbed at the sight before her. She was too new at her magic…too inexperienced to do anything but watch as Syaoran would soon perish at the hands of Sakura…not Seria…
Syaoran straightened boldly. "I know what you've done, Seria!" he growled. "I don't know the exact details…but it was you who had really died that night…except that somehow you managed to take over Sakura's body and forced her to keep hidden away…!"
"Oooh," Sakura-Seria taunted. (AN: okay, let's just say that I'll call her Seria from now on until it gets less confusing, okay?) "We have a winner…tell me, Li…what did you expect? A prize for figuring this all out?!" There was a hollow laugh. "It doesn't matter that you know. You've figured it out too late and if you plan to kill me…you kill Sakura…ingenious wouldn't you think?"
Syaoran clenched his fist and glanced at Meiling who was edging back in fear.
"I will find a way, Seria!"
~ * ~ * ~
It was horrible…watching as Seria made her body hurt the one person that she loved most – Li Syaoran. But Sakura could do nothing. She was trapped, in a place where she could do nothing but watch and wait and cry for everything that her twin had done. At Tomoyo's funeral, she hadn't been able to do anything but stare solemnly and blankly at the casket which was slowly lowered to the ground. Her best friend…dead because she, Sakura, had been too weak to fight off Seria…and now it was too late. And to see Eriol, as Seria performed the ritual…to see Syaoran and Meiling…now before her…and she couldn't do anything to stop herself…it was horrible…and the sad thing was, Sakura knew…that she had caused some of this. She had been too stubborn to accept anybody's help during that long-ago night by the pier. She had been too weak to conquer her own twin as she left Sakura's faith shatter to pieces. She watched through her eyes…and strangely enough, not her own eyes, as Syaoran stood defiantly, fist tightly clenched…
She, Sakura, could do nothing but watch in mind-numbing pain…as everything happened in slow-motion…
~ * ~ * ~
Even as he said the words, he knew he was bluffing.
@ I can't fight her! @ Syaoran realized. @ Seria may control her every movement but she's still Sakura…and I would be killing the one that I love…this fight is over…I just can't@
He fell to his knees, gripping his sword that he had somehow gotten out during Seria's taunting. "I just can't do it Sakura," he whispered, his head bent. "I just can't…" (AN: actually, I really hate when people repeat what they say…it's so annoying…but in this case, I had to do it.)
~ * ~ * ~
NO SYAORAN! Sakura tried to reach him, but Seria was blocking everything off so that she couldn't communicate with anybody. All she could do was watch.
He couldn't…he mustn't surrender…at all costs…he mustn't…
~ * ~ * ~
Meiling finally snapped out of shock-I'm-gonna-watch-my-cousin-die mode and she dashed forward. "You can't give in, Syaoran!" she screamed. "What are you doing?!" Her cousin shook his head, still kneeling on the dusty floor as Seria held a smug grin. "She's Sakura, Meiling…" he mumbled. "I couldn't attack…Sakura…"
Meiling felt like slapping him, shaking him – anything to snap him out of this! He had to be joking…what about justice, and courage and…who knows what else. She just had to stop this nonsense. Even if it was Sakura she was attacking.
"Damnit Syaoran!" she growled. "I'll fight her myself!" She barely missed herself and Syaoran getting hit as Seria let out another high laugh and sent a firball spinning toward them at amazing speed. "Give up Meiling. You can never defeat me…you can't even use your magic yet! Look at you!"
"I know I might not be able to, but I'll try!" Meiling cried. She summoned anything and everything that could help her (AN: sorta like Goku's Spirit Bomb, actually…) and brought everything together in one huge whirring ball of electric-blue light. "You did this!" Meiling cried. "You've hurt everybody and you can't get away with it!" In one semi-second she hesitated, then sent the ball flying toward Seria, who couldn't dodge it in time. There was a crackle and after the dust cleared away she saw that Seria had only gotten a minor scratch on one of her cheeks. Meiling gulped. With Seria and Sakura's power put together, there was no way that she could defeat her on her own…
but she just had to try…for the sake of Syaoran, Tomoyo, Eriol and even Sakura.
"Very nice," Seria mock-praised, clapping her hands as she landed on the ground neatly, with a flourish. "I wonder though…is that the best that you could do?" She shook her head and pouted. "Tsk, tsk Meiling…I don't want our little game to be over yet."
Meiling could feel the perspiration on her forehead and neck; that attack had gotten a lot out of her and she couldn't believe that it had only left Seria with a scratch. Cursing under her breath, Meiling stepped back as Seria advanced forwards.
"Don't you see?" Seria rasped. "You can't win…it's already far too late. Any second now, the ritual will be completed and my power will be invincible…"
Fear flashed through Meiling's eyes. "Eriol!" she gasped. "You used him for your ritual?"
Seria's top lip curled in distaste. "Tomoyo would have been easier but the fool had to kill herself…it was the only smart thing she'd done for herself…but then…it was so lucky that Eriol came to seek vengeance. He played right into my hands…"
~ * ~ * ~
"NO!" Syaoran screamed, hearing Seria speak triumphantly. "You can't do this! What do you hope to achieve?"
Seria's eyes darted away from Meiling's and scowled at Syaoran. "It is my duty to payback everybody…Fujitika for sending me to that horrible old lady…and her for leaving me on the roadside…the world needs to be changed…with all the power that I will take from Sakura's loved ones, I can create a far better world…where I can rule…"
"You're crazy," Meiling cut in. "It will never work!"
"Do you wanna bet?" Seria crowed, smiling like a cat who had just caught a mouse between her claws. "I told you…the ritual is almost over…"
"Meiling!" Syaoran cried urgently. "You go get Eriol before it's too late! I'll deal with Seria…"
Meiling nodded and hurried away and Seria smiled. "I won't try to stop her. She'll never get through the barriers to Eriol anyway. My fight is here with you…"
Syaoran got up from his kneeling position, determination renewed. If he ended up killing Sakura, he would hate himself for it, but he couldn't just sit back and watch as the world was shattered to pieces.
"You better believe it," Syaoran said. "It's just you and me…Seria…"
~ * ~ * ~
Next chapter up fairly soon. More action! R+R plz. I had to make it two chapters because then it would be too long and I'm not known for my long chaps. I just had to be a meanie and divide it into two, didn't I?
::gingerbread man glares:: You're a monster!
Hehehe…
Aha! Here it is, the second last chapter, and the chapter that has the action you've been waiting for! I'm sooo proud…I'm almost done and all I have to do is the part b and then the last chapter which is only a finishing chapter and…there is a God! Now I can work on all my other fics. Yesss! ::audience hisses:: Booo!
Lol! I can't help it…I'm ecstatic. I'm on the verge of completing something. I have //never\\ completed something in my life…oh, goody goody gumdrops!
I'm sooo happy and motivated, I think I could rule the world! And yet…I still would not own CCS…it's a cruel, cruel world…::sigh::
Chapter Eleven: Final Showdown: part A (AN: something about this title just //screams\\ action, don't ya think?)
~ * ~ * ~
The warehouse - old and abandoned for some time now. (AN: yup, of course that's //always\\ the case) Syaoran had never given it a single glance when he'd passed by it numerous times to do some groceries, but now it held a kind of significance that had nothing to do with precious memories and wonderful old times. This significance was one that meant a crucial situation in which neither he, nor Meiling knew what would happen once they stepped through the creaky doorway. It held a faint smell of gasoline and paint, and Meiling covered her nose with her sleeve, making a face like she was gagging. Syaoran crept forward, careful not to make a noise – smooth, swift and stealthy in the darkness of the huge room. He made his way up the stairs and motioned for Meiling to follow him. She complied and together they made their way through the old offices of the ex-employees. A light seemed to emanate from a slightly open doorway, and Syaoran skulked closer, Meiling following his lead.
Pressing his ear against the door, he heard an all-too familiar voice speaking smoothly and dangerously like cool glass. "…such a sweet boy…but revenge is sweeter…" There was a pause and then Syaoran tensed, but the voice kept on talking. "…a life that should have been mine…" There was another pause and then…
"We've been waiting for you…Syaoran…and you too, Meiling…"
The two froze in mid-stride, Meiling's face taking on a look of defeat. That was it, then. Seria could easily take their lives in one move, judging by what Syaoran had told her at Tomoyo's funeral. If they were lucky, they would be spared a slow and painful death…and maybe they'd even die at the same moment. A wry smile fluttered upon her lips. How ironic that the two should die the very day that they had made a fresh start as cousins. (AN: I can't believe that all this happened in one day!) She glanced at Syaoran and was surprised to see the look of determination was still placed in his features as he squared his shoulders. "Show yourself," he demanded.
The fear was there, but he tried to hide it in his trademark glare. His gaze was firm as he waited for Seria to step out of the shadows. As Seria stepped out from the darkness, Syaoran gasped and gripped Meiling arm so hard that she winced in pain. "Syaoran…you're hurting me…ow!"
She was silenced as she looked up and stared in disbelief at the auburn-haired girl. Syaoran stepped forward boldly. "Sak-Sakura?" he whispered.
~ * ~ * ~
"Sak-Sakura?"
The auburn-haired girl smiled evilly. "Yes…I'm Sakura…what did you expect, Mike Myers?" Syaoran ignored the sarcasm and stared at the girl before him. There was no way…it just had to be one of Seria's tricks! Of course, they were twins, but Syaoran had known Sakura long enough to distinguish the difference…Sakura's eyes had always held a deep meaningful green, and the one time that he had seen Seria…well they had been cold and hard…and so unfamiliar.
He remembered the scar on the back of Sakura's neck from one of the attacks of the earlier cards, (AN:I know it probably didn't happen, but sucks for you then, doesn't it?) and he circled the green-eyed girl. There was a giggle and Sakura spoke again. "Yes…that scar does seem to bring back old memories…look for yourself…I'm the one and only Kinomoto Sakura…"
She parted her hair so that Syaoran could see, and Syaoran gasped. It was there…but Sakura…she would never…
"I would never what?" Sakura-look-alike mocked, taunting him as Syaoran stood still. Meiling looked frightened. Now that Syaoran wasn't by her side bringing out her courage, she wondered if she could make a break for it and head back to China. Forget it even happened.
"You would never hurt any of your friends, Sakura-chan!" Syaoran cried, his voice breaking. Things were getting complicated and so frustrating!
There was a snarl. "Do you really know me that well, Li? Do you really think I would never have a darker side to me?!" The voice came out an angered screech and Syaoran stared at the familiar-looking eyes and shook his head. No! It couldn't be true that Sakura had caused all of this! "Please Sakura," he begged.
He was cut off as she zapped an energy ball at him, sending him flying against the wall. "Silence, you fool!" (AN: hmm…sounds like one of those really bad evil-dude against good-dude movies!) Syaoran's crumpled form lay in a heap, and he looked up as Sakura advanced toward him, her palms facing towards him and he closed his eyes, waiting for death to reap his soul and lead him to the eternally asleep. There was a pause- a slight hesitation, and Syaoran saw a difference in Sakura's eyes. They had become urgent…so much more like her once happy ones…
"Syaoran!" she cried. "Take Eriol and Meiling and leave! Please…before it's too late…go now…who knows what she'll make me do?!!"
Syaoran scrambled to his feet with difficulty and for the second time, he said it. "Sak-Sakura?"
"GO NOW!" she screamed. Then her eyes were back to their familiar, but cold dark state, and she laughed menacingly. "Li Syaoran, you will regret ever meddling in this business…and you too, dear, sweet…Meiling…"
Meiling sobbed at the sight before her. She was too new at her magic…too inexperienced to do anything but watch as Syaoran would soon perish at the hands of Sakura…not Seria…
Syaoran straightened boldly. "I know what you've done, Seria!" he growled. "I don't know the exact details…but it was you who had really died that night…except that somehow you managed to take over Sakura's body and forced her to keep hidden away…!"
"Oooh," Sakura-Seria taunted. (AN: okay, let's just say that I'll call her Seria from now on until it gets less confusing, okay?) "We have a winner…tell me, Li…what did you expect? A prize for figuring this all out?!" There was a hollow laugh. "It doesn't matter that you know. You've figured it out too late and if you plan to kill me…you kill Sakura…ingenious wouldn't you think?"
Syaoran clenched his fist and glanced at Meiling who was edging back in fear.
"I will find a way, Seria!"
~ * ~ * ~
It was horrible…watching as Seria made her body hurt the one person that she loved most – Li Syaoran. But Sakura could do nothing. She was trapped, in a place where she could do nothing but watch and wait and cry for everything that her twin had done. At Tomoyo's funeral, she hadn't been able to do anything but stare solemnly and blankly at the casket which was slowly lowered to the ground. Her best friend…dead because she, Sakura, had been too weak to fight off Seria…and now it was too late. And to see Eriol, as Seria performed the ritual…to see Syaoran and Meiling…now before her…and she couldn't do anything to stop herself…it was horrible…and the sad thing was, Sakura knew…that she had caused some of this. She had been too stubborn to accept anybody's help during that long-ago night by the pier. She had been too weak to conquer her own twin as she left Sakura's faith shatter to pieces. She watched through her eyes…and strangely enough, not her own eyes, as Syaoran stood defiantly, fist tightly clenched…
She, Sakura, could do nothing but watch in mind-numbing pain…as everything happened in slow-motion…
~ * ~ * ~
Even as he said the words, he knew he was bluffing.
@ I can't fight her! @ Syaoran realized. @ Seria may control her every movement but she's still Sakura…and I would be killing the one that I love…this fight is over…I just can't@
He fell to his knees, gripping his sword that he had somehow gotten out during Seria's taunting. "I just can't do it Sakura," he whispered, his head bent. "I just can't…" (AN: actually, I really hate when people repeat what they say…it's so annoying…but in this case, I had to do it.)
~ * ~ * ~
NO SYAORAN! Sakura tried to reach him, but Seria was blocking everything off so that she couldn't communicate with anybody. All she could do was watch.
He couldn't…he mustn't surrender…at all costs…he mustn't…
~ * ~ * ~
Meiling finally snapped out of shock-I'm-gonna-watch-my-cousin-die mode and she dashed forward. "You can't give in, Syaoran!" she screamed. "What are you doing?!" Her cousin shook his head, still kneeling on the dusty floor as Seria held a smug grin. "She's Sakura, Meiling…" he mumbled. "I couldn't attack…Sakura…"
Meiling felt like slapping him, shaking him – anything to snap him out of this! He had to be joking…what about justice, and courage and…who knows what else. She just had to stop this nonsense. Even if it was Sakura she was attacking.
"Damnit Syaoran!" she growled. "I'll fight her myself!" She barely missed herself and Syaoran getting hit as Seria let out another high laugh and sent a firball spinning toward them at amazing speed. "Give up Meiling. You can never defeat me…you can't even use your magic yet! Look at you!"
"I know I might not be able to, but I'll try!" Meiling cried. She summoned anything and everything that could help her (AN: sorta like Goku's Spirit Bomb, actually…) and brought everything together in one huge whirring ball of electric-blue light. "You did this!" Meiling cried. "You've hurt everybody and you can't get away with it!" In one semi-second she hesitated, then sent the ball flying toward Seria, who couldn't dodge it in time. There was a crackle and after the dust cleared away she saw that Seria had only gotten a minor scratch on one of her cheeks. Meiling gulped. With Seria and Sakura's power put together, there was no way that she could defeat her on her own…
but she just had to try…for the sake of Syaoran, Tomoyo, Eriol and even Sakura.
"Very nice," Seria mock-praised, clapping her hands as she landed on the ground neatly, with a flourish. "I wonder though…is that the best that you could do?" She shook her head and pouted. "Tsk, tsk Meiling…I don't want our little game to be over yet."
Meiling could feel the perspiration on her forehead and neck; that attack had gotten a lot out of her and she couldn't believe that it had only left Seria with a scratch. Cursing under her breath, Meiling stepped back as Seria advanced forwards.
"Don't you see?" Seria rasped. "You can't win…it's already far too late. Any second now, the ritual will be completed and my power will be invincible…"
Fear flashed through Meiling's eyes. "Eriol!" she gasped. "You used him for your ritual?"
Seria's top lip curled in distaste. "Tomoyo would have been easier but the fool had to kill herself…it was the only smart thing she'd done for herself…but then…it was so lucky that Eriol came to seek vengeance. He played right into my hands…"
~ * ~ * ~
"NO!" Syaoran screamed, hearing Seria speak triumphantly. "You can't do this! What do you hope to achieve?"
Seria's eyes darted away from Meiling's and scowled at Syaoran. "It is my duty to payback everybody…Fujitika for sending me to that horrible old lady…and her for leaving me on the roadside…the world needs to be changed…with all the power that I will take from Sakura's loved ones, I can create a far better world…where I can rule…"
"You're crazy," Meiling cut in. "It will never work!"
"Do you wanna bet?" Seria crowed, smiling like a cat who had just caught a mouse between her claws. "I told you…the ritual is almost over…"
"Meiling!" Syaoran cried urgently. "You go get Eriol before it's too late! I'll deal with Seria…"
Meiling nodded and hurried away and Seria smiled. "I won't try to stop her. She'll never get through the barriers to Eriol anyway. My fight is here with you…"
Syaoran got up from his kneeling position, determination renewed. If he ended up killing Sakura, he would hate himself for it, but he couldn't just sit back and watch as the world was shattered to pieces.
"You better believe it," Syaoran said. "It's just you and me…Seria…"
~ * ~ * ~
Next chapter up fairly soon. More action! R+R plz. I had to make it two chapters because then it would be too long and I'm not known for my long chaps. I just had to be a meanie and divide it into two, didn't I?
::gingerbread man glares:: You're a monster!
Hehehe…