Author's Note: Finally, all the real action. Yeah, magic. I'll make this short; I'd be looking forward to magic too. Thanks to all. I hope you enjoy, this chapter's been haunting me for two days. Oh, and there is a mild (maybe more than mild, you decide) sappiness warning ahead, but it's S+S so do you really care? I didn't think so. Read and review as always, if you want to anyway.
'…' –thoughts
"…"—talking
____________- time change or scene change, usually both.
Japanese vocab (if you don't know already):
Kaijou: monster Kirei: Pretty/Beautiful
Shorai: descend/come forth Onegai: Please
Disclaimer: I'm not rich, I don't own CCS, CLAMP does. They're rich though.
When Everything Else is GoneChapter 4: Of Dreams and Nightmares
Li Syaoran thought of his promise made so long ago, nearly a year. He made up his mind to tell her, but it wasn't long after that day when Sleep had taken her father from her. If anything, the time was the furthest from perfect, but Meiling's words rang in his head. 'Give her love. She needs it.' He looked down at the angelic presence nestled in his arms, someone with such a pure soul did not deserve the sufferings she had gone through. Her innocence was one of many things he had been drawn to, a moth to a flame, an ant to honey. He was burned and trapped, but he enjoyed every minute of it, just to feel her delicate aura near him. It was only a matter of months after he met her that he had known he was destined to follow her, to love her, to protect her. Movement caught his attention as Sakura stirred slightly in her sleep, unconsciously moving closer to him. He smiled softly down at her and thought about the day he had finally faced his feelings.
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I had been in Japan for a few months, maybe four. I had sensed a Clow card that week; it wasn't hiding itself. Still, though, I was frustrated, searching for it every night without result. I didn't even know which card it was. Maybe Sakura might have known, but I didn't tell her about its presence. I tried to convince myself it was because I believed I could capture the card myself and not that deep down I feared she'd be hurt. Back then, those thoughts I had weren't welcome, images of her face haunting my vision every time I closed my eyes. I couldn't confront the idea that I loved her; it was too painful to know that someone I loved put herself in that kind of danger every time a Clow card appeared.
On that day I happened to turn on the television in time to hear the evening report. "Another strange collapse occurred today; an abandoned apartment complex tagged for demolition mysteriously caved in early this morning. Fortunately, passerbys were left unharmed as they were able to find shelter before the collapse. This example of structural weakness seems to be one in a series of dangerous yet unexplained incidents. Two days ago, the untimely collapse of a small stone bridge in Penguin Park left a little girl severely injured. Five days ago, falling debris rained down on unsuspecting commuters when a section of train track over the business district suddenly dislodged. Fortunately, the trains were able to stop before approaching the gap." The news displayed tapes of the accident sites; all of them were nothing more than heaps of twisted metal, broken stones and dust. Through the rubble, I could dimly make out a red glow, the unmistakable residual aura of a Clow card.
I arrived in the vicinity of the apartment building ruins about fifteen minutes later clad in my robes, sword strapped to my back. I looked at the scene; it was mostly the same as the collapsed structures before it: metal supports warped, concrete blocks cracked and cleaved into smaller pieces, dust blanketing the whole area like snow. There was something else, though; the whole scene radiated a soft pink light, the magical indication of a Clow card. Narrowing my eyes, the scene flickered; the rubble disappeared for the slightest second revealing a complex pattern beneath. The Illusion card. But if it was the Illusion, then…I left the sentence unfinished as fear formed in the pit of my stomach. "Sakura," I barely breathed. I ran as fast as I could, my feet feeling as if they barely touched the buildings' roofs. On a roof above the scene I could see a crowd gathering, reporters pointing at Illusion's false image, police cordoning off the site. Sakura had obviously figured it out too, but where was she?
There was no sound coming from the rubble, my uneasiness rose to form a lump in my throat. I leapt down to the scene right behind Illusion's backdrop and scanned the area hoping to catch some sign of Sakura. I almost sighed in relief when I saw her behind the remains of a collapsed wall, its bricks scattered over the floor. She was sweeping the area with her magical senses, her head turning left and then right. If she felt my presence, she didn't acknowledge it. I noticed strange movement of the bricks as they floated into the air and hurtled themselves at her turned back. I tried to warn her, my mouth open, but nothing coming out. She must have sensed the card's attack because she quickly rolled out of the way to safety; the bricks struck the wall, but I heard no sound. Standing straight up, she surveyed her surroundings again, trying to find the card, wand held before her in defense.
Why couldn't I speak? Why is there no sound? She certainly didn't hear me; she didn't even look my way. It was then that I noticed it, another faint glow, a transparent bubble around the building's ruins. It was the Silent; I almost smirked, she was completely prepared this time. I rushed through the magical barrier only to be assailed by the sudden onslaught of sounds: the creaking of debris, the wind's shrill whistle as it blew its way across the devastated scene, my own breathing.
She seemed to finally take notice of my presence. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was pained, laced with concern. I was taken back; why was she worried for me?
"I sensed a Clow card here. Which one is it?"
Her face frowned. "I don't know, but it's really strong." As if responding to her fearful compliment, the card leveled a heap of debris, the mountain of bricks, metal, wires and glass flying every which way. "Clow card, reveal yourself!" Sakura straightened, her wand held in front of her defiantly. The card emerged from thin air, a small pink spirit with pigtails; I could have laughed. This is what caused all this destruction?
The card smirked menacingly, its hands clenched into fists at its side, its aura flaring dangerously to an impossible intensity. It could seriously do some damage. I threw myself between Sakura and the card, my sword drawn and pointed. "I'm not afraid of you. I challenge you." It merely nodded its head, setting its face in a resolute grimace.
"Li, you can't!" Sakura pleaded with me, her jade eyes pleading. I could feel my will wavering under her gaze, but I knew I couldn't let her get herself killed.
"No, I'm going to fight it. You can't change my mind." Maybe she saw my stubborn look, or if she were really observant, my concern for her safety. She merely backed a little way off, gripping her sealing wand tightly.
I rushed at the card, my sword ready to slice it in half. It simply stood its ground allowing me to strike it. I had seriously underestimated this card's power; my blade clanged against its skin, not making any wound. It smirked slightly before it grabbed my arm and flung me back harshly. Barely steadying myself before I fell, I tried to regain my fighting stance, racking my brain for an inkling of a plan. It was a long shot, but it was the only thing I could think of. The card floated in the air long enough for me to thrust my sword at it. "Dash!" I ran, inhumanly fast at the pink spirit, hoping that my increased speed would be enough to injure it. I slashed at it as I sprinted by, my sword sliding along its skin, a slight wound opening up underneath the blade. It only snarled as I turned around to rush at it again. Unfortunately, this time it was ready for me, sidestepping quickly before I struck, grabbing my free arm to prevent me from escaping. I tried to attack with my sword, but it caught my wrist and hand in a death grip. I felt the pain lance through my arm as it crushed my hand slowly forcing the blade back towards me. I struggled against its power as it turned my sword to point diagonally at my left side. I saw its triumphant smile a split second before it used a final surge of energy, driving the blade into me leaving a deep gash. I released my grip on the sword as a pain like fire burned up my left side. It took the bloodied sword by the hilt and flung it forcefully away, embedding it in the ground half way up the blade. "Syaoran!" I heard my name, my first name from Sakura's mouth right before I collapsed to the ground. The card kept its smile as it raised a fist ready to drive me into the ground. As I prepared to die, I silently prayed that Sakura could handle this card. I was expecting to have my body broken; instead I heard a loud thud above me. Opening my eyes, the card's fist had stopped a foot above my head as it had slammed against a barrier: the Shield card. Enraged it turned to face the card mistress.
"Syaoran!" She called again, I turned my head to see her facing off with the card. The tears in her eyes convinced me, she was worried for me.
I returned her concern as I tried to yell. "S-Sakura!" Her name rolled off my tongue as if I had said it all my life; in fact it was the first time I uttered it in her presence. "Get out of here!"
She wiped the tears from her eyes, her lips pinched together in determination. "I won't leave you here. And I won't let this card hurt anymore people." She flung a card into the air, slamming down her wand. "Fight! Grant me your skills." A blue light enveloped her; she almost seemed unearthly, but that may have only been my blood loss speaking. She assaulted the card, throwing punches and kicks with familiarity and strategy. Her attacks landed against the card's figure with some effect; the card backed up wincing every now and then from pain. Its aura flared in intensity again as she caught Sakura's arm mid punch; taking her lithe figure, the card flung her across the lot into the wall of the next building.
"Sakura!" I tried to desperately get up as I watched her body slam into the wall; clutching my bleeding wound, I tried to force my legs to work, but they wouldn't. I watched helplessly as her figure remained still on the ground. The card approached the prostrate card mistress with pride, ready to strike again.
Moaning, Sakura stood up waveringly, trying to regain her wits as she watched the card approach. She quickly settled into a fighting stance again; she again threw punches and kicks at the card, again seeming to inflict some damage. The spirit again caught Sakura mid punch; Sakura pushed all her strength into her fist making the card slide slightly back. The card, in response, drove its heels into the ground, stopping its movement, and crushed Sakura's wrist. It brusquely threw her to the ground a few feet away from me. I felt so useless; all I could do was yell. "Sakura!"
She stood up clutching her side and rubbing her wrist. "I'm okay. I will capture this card; I swear it on my life. I just have to hold my ground." Her face seemed to suddenly brighten as realization dawned on her. Right hand clutching her left side, she extracted a card flinging it into the air. Bringing down her wand to meet it, she cried, "Sand! Make the solid ground unsteady!" An Arabian looking spirit dove straight into the ground, the hard concrete and soil becoming shifting sand dunes and unsteady terrain. Removing another card she yelled, "Watery! Flood this lot!" A fierce blue spirit bared its fangs and rose high above the ruins, jets of water spouting from its hands and body, draining deep into the sand.
The unsealed card found itself standing on wet sand, a tremulous support under its feet. It tried to rush at the card mistress, but found it's heavy footfalls embedding its legs deeper and deeper into the sand. No matter how hard the card struggled, it couldn't find a way to move, each effort trapping its body under more confining sand. Sakura stood, slightly pleased, but casting a worried glance at me.
She approached the trapped card cautiously. Holding out her sealing wand, she commanded, "Return to the form you were meant to be in. Clow card!" The card dissolved into gaseous threads, converging into a rectangular card. She grabbed the card and rushed to my side, a pained expression on her face. "Syaoran!" She kneeled beside me, the tears she tried to restrain before, falling uninhibited. She grasped my hand gently, and put the captured card in my hand. It was The Power. My senses were telling me I was losing consciousness; my limbs were already cold and my vision had started to become hazy. Her face swam before me as my world went black.
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My body was warm. I opened my eyes a sliver and realized that the sun was shining directly onto my bed, but it wasn't my bed. I looked around, machines beeping, fluorescent lights, the smell of antiseptic. I was in a hospital room. I tried to rub my eyes awake but found my right arm restrained somehow, a pleasant weight laying on it. Turning my clouded head, I saw the weight: the auburn head of a sleeping card mistress. The morning light played with the subtle copper hues of her hair; it seemed like a dream. A gentle knock took me out my trance; a doctor poked his head through the doorway. "How are we this morning? No complaints I hope?"
I looked at the sleeping figure. "None whatsoever." He noticed my glance; it was painfully obvious.
"Don't ask me how but she was able to carry you here."
I saw the Power card peeking out from its hiding place in her sleeve. I nearly grinned. "I think I have an idea."
He looked curiously at me, but let the matter drop. "She must care a lot about you; we tried to get her to leave, but she demanded to stay at your bedside last night. I don't think she even slept until a few hours ago." I was amazed; her heart had no limits. Neither did her strength; she tapped five Clow cards, captured one and still had the energy to carry me to the hospital and stay up all night. I almost fell in love with her again. "Actually I've been meaning to ask; you came in last night with a horrible wound on your side. What happened?"
"I don't remember." I had lied, but it was second nature to lie about Clow card business by now. He didn't question me any further, and left me alone with the sleeping card mistress. I looked her over; the same clothes yesterday but dusty, her face slightly swollen, a large black bruise on her right wrist and hand. I winced; if she didn't have the sand or the watery…I couldn't bear the thought. I tried to extract my right hand without disturbing her, but she seemed to wake instantly when I pulled my arm away.
"Syaoran?" she asked drowsily. Her eyes half opened as she yawned. She looked beautiful in the sunlight. "Syaoran?" she asked more alertly.
"Hai?"
Her eyes jerked open. "Syaoran!" The joy in her voice was obvious. "Daijobu desu ka?"
"Hai. Are you all right?" She merely nodded still staring at me almost as if she feared I would disappear if her gaze faltered. We stayed like that, staring at one another to make sure the other was really there.
She broke the silence, pulling my robes from under her jacket. "I couldn't let them see you dressed like that. I didn't know what to do with your sword, so I just hid it outside." I took my robes which had since been permeated with her sweet smell. I still have it, unwashed, hanging in my closet. As an afterthought she pulled the Power out of her sleeve and held it before me. "Here. This is yours."
I remembered she placed the card in my hand last night. "Doshite? You deserve it; you captured it."
"I want you to have it."
As much as I would have like another Clow card, I couldn't take it. "Keep it. I meant what I said, you deserve to have it. You showed strength and courage; it should be yours." Thankfully, I was still too weak to fully blush, having only a light heat dance across my cheeks.
"Honto ne?" Her face flushed slightly, an appealing rosy hue coloring her creamy skin. My heart quickened instantly, inwardly glad I wasn't connected to a heart monitor. Her innocence; another reason I loved her. I suddenly realized. I love her? The answer was almost too simple.
"Hai."
"Arigatou, Syaoran"
I replied in kind. "Nande monai…Sakura." A smile wound its way to her face. Kirei.
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Syaoran's reverie was curtailed as Sakura mumbled unintelligibly in her sleep, shifting ever so in his lap, but remained asleep. He looked fondly down at her. 'What are you dreaming about, my love?'
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Sakura stood confused in the center of blackness, seemingly floating in an endless infinity of darkness. Reaching out her hand tentatively, she felt a smooth surface, like a wall, as cold as ice. The black around her suddenly seemed to become different shades, shifting and swirling whirlpools. Faint color appeared from the black, spawned by the darkness: dull orange, violet-red, deep blue. She strained her eyes wanting to see more of the colors emerge. As if her desire had been heard, the blackness around her exploded in light; she closed her eyes tightly feeling breezes brush past her. She could almost feel the colors brightening, mixing in a furor of blues, greens, yellows, reds, and then abruptly solidifying, becoming definite. As swiftly as the air had raged, the winds settled leaving the card mistress frightened and alone. Sakura cautiously opened her eyes little by little, waiting for the black to return. Her eyes widened as someone stood before her: Touya.
Instinctively, she ran towards him, her arms outstretched ready to grasp him tight. Instead, she felt her open arms crash into something flat, something impossibly hard, cold as ice. It was a wall, the wall, a mirror-like pane. She banged desperately against it hoping that she could reach him if she shattered the glass. She stopped however, once realization set in. She was in the mirror too; not card mistress Sakura, but a small, young Sakura clad in a pink kinomo, smiling without a care in the world. It all seemed so familiar, a truth at the edge of her perception.
"If it isn't the little kaijou all dressed up." Touya's voice filled the empty space around Sakura as it resounded through the glass.
"Oni-chan, you're so mean. I am not a monster!" the little girl retorted, her face slightly annoyed but nonetheless still smiling.
As if the sudden action had given her the answer, Sakura knew why her oni-chan was still alive here. It was only a memory. She smiled sorrowfully, laying her palms flat against the icy barrier. The scene was New Year's; she was eight and excited, her oni-chan had agreed to take her to Tsukimine shrine. She had wanted to get a fortune at the shrine, but her Otou-san couldn't take her; he had to finish up a presentation at the university. Touya had unceremoniously, with a slight grimace agreed to bring her there. Sakura let a stray tear slide down her cheek as she remembered what happened at the shrine, the scene shifting with her thought.
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A small Sakura hopped up and down waiting for her fortune. She grabbed a jar and shook it until a numbered wooden stick fell out, number 21. The small man behind the booth bent down underneath the counter to extract a slip of paper. She grabbed the paper anxiously reading her fortune:
YOU CANNOT FIGHT DESTINY
Her smile turned down, a slight sadness overtaking her features. She didn't fully understand it, but she didn't like the idea of being forced to do something. Her eyes watered in disappointment; this wasn't the happy fortune she had hoped for.
Touya had noted the sadness that swept over Sakura's features, something that pained him even if he never let it show directly. He took the paper form her hands, scrutinizing its message. Laying it flat against the counter, he took a pen and quickly scrawled on it. He looked anxiously at Sakura, handing her back her fortune. She beamed. It now read:
YOU CANNOT FIGHT DESTINY but there will always be someone there to protect you from it
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The card mistress shed pained tears as she thought about it. It was true, he had always protected her, and when he couldn't anymore, Syaoran had taken his place. Unexpectedly, another wall flashed to life, joined to the first, forming a corner. Syaoran's image appeared in it, dressed in green ceremonial robes, a sword strapped to his back. She instinctively placed her hand on the smooth glass where his cheek was. The tears continued to fall; there in these scenes held two of her protectors, one who was gone, and one she was deathly afraid to lose.
Her attention wavered back to Touya, her eyes moist with new tears. The wall responded by blurring his image, color streaking across the pane, smearing the scene and reforming. She stared in horror at the new scene, one that was already imprinted in her mind and would remain so until she died. Clasping her hands over her ears and sealing her eyes shut, she tried to close off her senses, the memory too painful to relive. "You cannot fight destiny, card mistress," a voice echoed. Sakura squeezed her eyelids tighter, pushing her palm flat to her ears to shut off the voice. Despite her efforts, she could still hear the voice, could still see the image, could still feel the pain. As if taunting her, the image on the wall began to animate.
"Sakura!" Touya left Yukito and ran fast toward Sakura who was poised in a fighting stance. She was prepared to attack, wand in hand, face set in determination. The Mist merely gathered in a fog circling around her feet as if it was waiting for her first move. Upon hearing 'Sakura' from behind it, and seeing desperate fear on the card mistress' face, it formed a malicious strategy. Gathering together in a green mass, its featherlike vapors flew toward the unsuspecting Touya.
"Oni-chan!" Sakura froze, unable to rescue her brother, unable to lift her wand, unable to call a card.
The vaporous tendrils circled slowly around Touya like a boa constrictor ready to swallow its prey. Sakura stood frozen, horrified at the sight. "God of wind shorai!" a voice commanded. A furious wind blew towards the Clow card dissipating some of the mist. The card was not deterred, striking out in vengeance by immediately regathering its gaseous limbs and engulfing Touya, its corrosive steam burning flesh and cloth amidst screams of agony.
Touya's painful screams burst through Sakura's shock, her consciousness forcefully reawakened. "Oni-chan!" she screamed as she blindly ran towards the corrosive Mist. She seemed not to hear Syaoran behind screaming, 'Sakura, stay away!' "Windy!" A card transformed into a glowing spirit, it's arms and body becoming gusts of wind lashing out at the green fog. The Mist fought relentlessly with Windy, fog against wind, but slowly succumbed to the gales of the elemental card. Windy backed off, waiting for the card mistress to seal the Mist, but Sakura hardly took any notice, allowing the Mist to seep quickly into a sewer grate. Sakura was cradling Touya's head in her lap, his burned and broken form sprawled out before her. Her tears hitting pavement was the only sound for what seemed like eternity. "I'm so sorry," she barely whispered.
Touya's hand pressed hers comfortingly. "Don't be." His gaze faltered, the pressure on Sakura's hand slowly disappearing. More tears crashed to the ground, the anguished silence disturbed by a sudden onslaught of uncontainable sobbing.
"Touya!" Sakura looked up; Yukito stood motionless over them. There was something foreign in his eyes: anger. He removed Sakura's arms from her brother, and hugged Touya tight. Tears formed beneath his closed lids as his sobs joined Sakura's in the still night.
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Sakura had her eyes still shut, but knowing exactly what had been played. "Stop it! Stop it!" She screamed into the blackness hoping her memory could just be wiped clean.
"What has happened cannot be stopped." The emotionless voice taunted the card mistress. "You must always face the consequences to your actions."
Sakura was distraught, needing comfort; unconsciously she turned to the Syaoran pane. He was seated in a tree looking at something far off in the distance. She recognized the scene; it was when she knew she loved him. The scene flashed to life, driving the voice away. Sakura remembered vividly following the scenes on the wall.
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It was a week after the Sleep had weaved its spell over the university, including my father. He was already in the hospital in a coma as the doctor's put it. I knew he was really asleep and would be until the Sleep was caught. I was so worn from crying that whole week I couldn't find the strength to go searching for the card. But I had decided that day I would forgo rest if I had to and track down Sleep.
I was walking down the avenue pushing my magic to the extreme trying to catch a glimmer of Sleep. There was a magical aura near, but I was fairly sure it wasn't the Sleep; it was familiar and comforting. I followed the unidentified aura hoping it would lead to Sleep, instead I found myself standing alone under a blooming cherry blossom; the aura was directly above me. Looking up I found myself staring at two amber pools, Syaoran. I was startled. "Syaoran, what are you doing out here?"
"Searching for the Sleep. Isn't that why you're out?" He rested a sympathetic look on me.
"Hai, but why are you looking this late?" I was confused; he usually didn't patrol unless there was a definite glimmer of a Clow card. I filled with deceiving hope. "Did you find the Sleep?"
He hesitated seeing my hope. "Iie, there's no sign of it. I was hoping there would be, but it's just like the rest of the week, nothing. It's hiding again."
I couldn't believe my ears. "You searched the whole week? Doshite?"
He broke his eye contact with me and stared ahead of him. "The card took something important from you. I-I don't want to see you this sad." He abruptly jumped from tree to tree disappearing down the lane.
Tears had come to my eyes; he had wasted endless nights because he didn't want me sad. He actually cares about me? The floodgates opened; I felt the emotion rise up from my stomach. I loved him, for his concern, for his loyalty for his caring heart. It also pained me that eventually I would have to drive him away. I couldn't let him get hurt or…die. It was hopeless, I couldn't tell him how I feel; I'd be sealing his fate. Tears of sadness replaced the awed ones and I cried underneath the flowering cherry blossom.
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The wall faded to black as the colors rearranged again. The card mistress' tears returned at the new scene that faced her. The Power card had Syaoran's sword pointed diagonally at him; suddenly, the sword rushed forward finding a sheath in Syaoran's flesh. The scene paused momentarily at Syaoran's face, contorted with pain. "Stop it! Onegai, please stop!" Sakura grabbed her head trying to shake the image away, but the wall kept replaying the image, always pausing at Syaoran's pained face.
"You have sealed his fate, card mistress." The impassive voice returned, louder than before. "He is guaranteed to die."
"It's not true! You're lying!" Sakura shrieked wildly feeling her sanity slipping through her hands like water.
"What you've seen is true, card mistress. There is a pattern; it always ends with death."
"No! I don't believe you!" As much as she verbally denied it, there was the proof before her; Touya was dead. How many times would Syoaran escape death before he succumbed? In response to her doubts, two more walls appeared, one with Kinomoto Fujitaka laying motionless on a hospital bed, the other with Meiling laying unconscious before the menacing Twin. Sakura was trapped in a four-walled torture chamber, hands over her ears, tears stinging her eyes, screaming, "It's not true!"
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Syaoran's magical senses flared to life, assaulted by the aura of a Clow card. He protectively pulled Sakura closer to himself trying to gently wake her up. When she didn't stir, he became worried; her face was contorted in anguish, already wet with crying. "Sakura?" She didn't wake, her eyes remained fastened. "Answer me, Sakura."
She answered in strangled sobs, clutching at his shirt. "It's…it's not true! You're wrong! You're wrong!"
"Sakura, it's a Clow card. Fight it." Syaoran was panicked; he was fighting a losing battle. How was he supposed to help her fight this card if he didn't even know what she was experiencing? He did the only thing that he could think to do: hug her tighter. "Fight, Sakura! I have faith in you."
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Sakura felt her resolve weakening; the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Everyone she loved would be doomed to die; it would be better if she just gave up. She couldn't bear to lose Syaoran or Tomoyo or Meiling. She was about to surrender herself to whatever was out there when she seemed to hear an impossible voice. 'Sakura, it's a Clow card.' Was that Syaoran? She felt phantom arms wrap around her, a voice in the wind. 'Fight Sakura! I have faith in you.' She lost herself in the reassurance the disembodied voice held. Straightening herself, she grabbed the Clow key hung around her neck.
Key that hides the powers of darkness
Reveal thy true form
I, Sakura, under contract, command you
Release!
A circle flickered to life underneath her feet, gaining in intensity until the light pierced through the darkness. Her key floated before her, gathering energy from the swirling magic around her. The Clow wand extending to full length, the circle disappeared into the thin air from whence it came. A card floated before the card mistress as she raised her wand to strike. "Power! Grant your power to my wand." Reinforced with a brilliant red aura, she turned towards the walls, the wand glowing fiercely; she brought it down crashing against the walls, each shattering into nothingness leaving the card mistress in a field of complete blackness. "Clow card, face me. You know I will never give up. Face your own destiny." Her voice never wavered for an instant, still having the feel of ethereal arms around her. Through the void, a figure assembled, a woman spirit, green jewel glowing, eyes covered. "Return to the guise that you were originally meant to be, Clow card!" Sakura gripped the card that formed under the tip of her sealing wand. The world around her fell into white as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink to the floor.
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Syaoran's arms encircled the card mistress' form as he felt the aura of the Clow card become weaker and weaker. She had stopped sobbing suddenly a few minutes ago. When the aura disappeared completely, he pulled himself slowly away from her body to look at her face. Her eyelids stirred, allowing a crescent of jade to escape. Emotionally exhausted, she hoarsely whispered, "I did it." A Clow card formed in front of her as evidence, The Dream. Syaoran pulled the card out of the air and placed it on the nearby table. Words unexpectedly appeared in his mind. 'Give her love.' He blindly obeyed, pulling Sakura close to himself. She stared up questioningly at Syaoran, scrutinizing his eyes. As if he had said it, she knew it from his eyes. He loved her as she loved him. She pressed herself to his chest, her arms tied around his body almost desperately; breathing in his scent she was lulled to sleep by a strong heartbeat. She delayed sleep long enough to murmur, "Onegai, don't leave me tonight."
He breathed in a quivering breath, the perfume of flowers overtaking his senses. "Never." With that single promise made, both fell to slumber, arms enclosing each other; a scene of heartwarming tranquility.
Author's Note: Have you noticed my chapters getting steadily longer? You don't need to answer that, just keep reading =)