Episode 3

Li placed his bowl down and wiped his mouth with the table napkin.

"You didn't like the cooking?"Wei asked.

He shook his head."I'm not in the mood to eat."

"I'll go get the ascorbic acid."The butler stood up and went out of the dining room.

Li sighed.He didn't mean to worry Wei.It's just that he couldn't force himself to eat.After all these years,Yao was alive and hell-bent on revenge.

Suddenly,a chilly gust of wind blew into the room.The boy suddenly felt paralyzed.

"Meet me in the park tonight and there we shall do battle,Little Wolf."A voice whispered.

Then everything returned to normal.As soon as he could move,Li struggled to catch his breath."Tonight..he's going to kill me tonight!"



Li tiptoed out of the gate quietly.He sighed,relieved that Wei didn't catch him sneaking out.He didn't tell him anymore about Yao because he didn't want him to worry.

"Boo!"A voice shouted behind him.

"Aaah!"Li drew out his sword automatically and pointed it at..

"S-Sakura?"he croaked.

"Sorry about that.We just can't resist pulling your leg a little."She gave him a smile that nearly took his breath away.

Tomoyo giggled as she pointed her videocam at the ghostly-white face of the boy.

"D-Don't ever do that again."Li tried to calm his jumping heart."What are you two doing here anyway?"

Sakura turned serious."I sensed something very wrong."

He looked away."You're just being paranoid.

Sakura touched his shoulder."Syaoran,I'm going to ask you the same thing you asked of me before:I want you to tell me what's wrong so I can help you out.we're a team,remember?"

He looked at her sincere emerald eyes and nodded."Yes,Sakura."



As the three of them walked towards the park,Li narrated to the girls what happened to Yao and how he came back as Himitsu Ikaru,their new classmate.

Sakura looked troubled."But it's not entirely your fault!You just wanted to save Meiling."

"Sakura's right.You just did what you have to do."agreed Tomoyo.

Suddenly the lamplights around the park flickered.Chilling gusts of wind surround them.Syaoran stepped protectively in front of the girls.

"Good evening,Little Wolf.I see you brought along some guests."A boy in scarlet chinese costume was standing above the tallest lightpost,holding his weapon."These two are fortunate enough to witness your death."

Li's face turned grim."Sakura,stay by Tomoyo.She doesn't have the power to protect herself."

"Syaoran,be very careful."The girl reminded her as she took her friend a few feet away.

Li drew out his sword."Believe me,Yao.I never wanted to leave you in that cave."

"Shut up!"Himitsu jumped down."I will claim your life tonight."

"I had no choice!"insisted the amber-eyed boy.

Without warning,Himitsu charged towards him.The boy was taken by surprise so he failed to avoid the attack.His chest got wounded by the razor-sharp blades of the masamune.

"Syaoran!!"cried sakura.She was about to help him when Li faced her."No,stay out of this!"He stood up shakily,ignoring the blood dripping down from his chest."You got me there,but you won't be as lucky next time."

Himitsu smirked."To see is to believe,Little Wolf."




Eriol,who was watching them from the treetop,watched the raven-haired boy intently."I knew there was something about that transferee."

Ruby Moon grinned."Well for one thing,he's cute."

Spinel Sun snorted."Oh please!"

"Little Wolf,some people are watching us from up there."Himitsu glanced at their direction.

"What the-"Ruby frowned.

"The boy spotted us!"The feline was incredulous.

"Interesting."whispered Eriol.



Syaoran didn't even follow Himitsu's gaze.He used the split-second vulnerability of the enemy to attack.Himitsu though,read his mind and swiftly blocked his sword."That was nice,Little Wolf,attacking when I'm not looking.Too bad it didn't work."He countered Li's attack with the masamune.He stabbed the boy's right knee and threw him away.

Li landed on the ground,holding his right knee in pain.He felt like he was blacking out.

"Syaoran!!!!"cried Sakura.

"No,I can't lose conciousness now.Himistu might turn on Sakura and hurt her."he said to himself.

Sakura,on the other hand,brought out a Sakura card."Firey card!!"

Firey tried to set the boy on fire but Himitsu merely blocked it with his masamune.The flame sizzled and died.

Everyone was shocked.

"H-He wasn't even scratched by my card!"Sakura whispered fearfully.

"You have tried my patience enough."Himitsu aimed a strong wind attack against Sakura,but Tomoyo pushed her out of the way.It was she who got blown away.

"Tomoyo!!"screamede Sakura in horror.

Himitsu sighed."She wasn't really my target,but she got in the way.What a shame,she was really kind to me."He turned to Sakura again.

The girl brought out all her elemental cards.

The black-haired boy smiled sarcastically."Clow cards?I'm more powerful than all of them combined."

"You're wrong!"said Sakura."Because these cards derive their strength from the strength of my heart!"She then released all of the four cards at the same time.

Himitsu blocked them with his masamune,but the Windy's sharp angry gusts scratched his cheek.Himitsu touched the blood with his finger."You'll pay for what you have done to me."He hypnotized Sakura with the rings of his masamune.The girl's green eyes instantly became glassy and lifeless.

He chuckled evily and lifted his arm up towards her direction.His hand grabbed empty air and lifted it up.

Magically,Sakura was lifted up too evem if Himitsu was not actually holding her body.

He then clenched his fists and crumpled it into a ball.

Immediately Sakura let out a cry as if she was being strangled.

"Sakuraaa!"Li forced himself to stand up but the pain on his right knee was excruciatingly painful."Let her go!!Kill me now if you wish,but don't hurt her,I'm begging you!!"

His souless black eyes twinkled diabolically."I see.She is your weakness."He squeezed her throat more,causing her to scream hysterically in pain.

Every scream felt like a knife being stuck deep into his heart."Stop it!!!"Tears fell from his eyes.

"Maybe if I kill her,it will move you to figt better."Himitsu said slowly.He then clenched his fists with all his might.

"No!!!!!"shouted Li.He ignored the great pain on his knee and ran blindly towards Himitsu.

Himitsu opened his hand,and Li watched as Sakura's unmoving body fell down the ground as if in slow motion.His heart stopped beating as he knelt down wearily beside Sakura.He cradled her in his arms."I'm so sorry,Sakura.I failed to protect you,but it will be alright.Everything will be over soon.I promise you that."He laid her down gently.

Himitsu felt his opponent's aura change and his powers increase unbelievably.

"The girl..the girl is the source of his strength.."he realized.

Li looked at him."You just made your biggest mistake in your life.I will have no mercy for the likes of you."Li drew out his sword.

To be continued..