In This Tainted Soul There Lies Hope Chapter 10: Dark From Within Dreams, a card captor sakura fanfic

Why, Hello and welcome to my little world of weirdness!

I state for the record that, while I really, really wish I did, I don't own any of the wonderful characters that will grace this story . . . they are all CLAMP's, always have been, always will be! However I do lay claim to a few of the original characters, for example . . . I own Hei-ying, and his false form, Tomodachi Yukito, I own Mystrasa Kyree, and Carolyn and Amanda Reed, I don't own The Dragon, Saurian because he is on loan from my very good friend, the ever intangible Blue Goo.

In This Tainted Soul . . . There Lies Hope . . .

By Dr Megalomania

[Okay, just want to mention that I made up the poem that Eriol quotes from here . . . mostly because I am too lazy to go look up something really profound . . . {shakes head} Tch, I'm So Lazy . . . ]

Part Nine: Dark From Within Dreams

Mystrasa Kyree smiled as she listened to them; she looked over to her Sun guardian. The Middle form of Saurian grinned maliciously, and tapped Hei-ying on the shoulder. "Listen to them . . . The Pathetics of Clow Reed's soul . . . A child and the weaker reincarnation's son . . ." Saurian raised his head, "We should crush them now."

Mystrasa tipped her head back, "I know we could . . ." She smiled, "All of them are here . . ."

Hei-ying pressed his hand against the Card Mistress' roof, "As is Yue . . ." He breathed deeply as he closed his eye briefly. Mystrasa smirked at him as he looked at his Mistress. "Perhaps it is time . . . Time to restore the balance . . ."

"His closeness unsettles you?" Kyree stroked his earlobe, running cold fingers over the earring Clow had given him, "You've got it haven't you? The Yin-Yang . . ." She smirked, "The Syndrome, not the Effect like Keroberos . . ." She purred teasingly, "And to think, that overgrown housecat gets to sleep with your Moonbeam, your Yin *every* night . . ."

As Saurian snickered deeply, Hei-ying stared at the roof tiles harder, "I want him." He looked up, "But I want him *dead*."

"How much I agree . . ." Kyree stood, her black robes fluttering gently in the breeze, "It is time to reveal a new danger to them . . ."

Saurian changed to his smaller form and landed on her shoulder, "Why give them warning at all?"

Kyree smiled, "When worried, people tend to make mistakes . . ." She raised her hands, and her deep purple magic circle started to form, "The Card Mistress is no exception . . ."

Black magic swirled lazily around her circle, and wrapped around her walking stick, transforming it into her staff. Hei-ying stood, and stepped into the air, feeling the magic ebb and flow. He glanced at his Mistress, her raven black hair with it's Moon sliver highlights falling out of the deep purple tie. She was beautiful, as the fine hair whipped about her pale face, composed and calm as she began her terror. She raised her staff, black and gold chased each other in coils up the staff, up to it's distorted star and curled rose.

"O, Cards of Clow, hear me now . . . Thy Mistress revoked, thy Master returns . . ."

The Book of Sakura trembled within it's drawer, Clow's magic swirled around it, forcing the lock open. The fifty-three Cards panicked as they were forced to circle in the air. They glowed bright gold in fury as they felt the unfamiliar cold magic of Clow swirl into the room, it's black tendrils groping each Card slowly, plucked the weakest and the easiest from them. The weaker Cards resisted, their pink forms reacting violently, as the black magic changed them.

". . . Revoke the poisoned magic of Sakura, accept my purity . . . I, Clow Reed reborn, command thee . . ."

The Cards that were strong enough flew back to the safety of the book, those who couldn't . . . the Flower Card screamed as she was engulfed and dragged out the window, others quickly followed; the black magic caressed the book's cover, leaving a cold promise to return soon for the others.

Mystrasa Kyree held out her hand, as twelve Cards landed there. She gripped them tightly, and stared at them. Now a deep purple back, with a harsh metallic blood red tainted them. The spirits inside depicted deep violet pictures, she smiled as she noted her locking spell's mark. Each Card's spirit now had a bright blood red collar.

"My Cards . . ." She smiled, "And thou will remain mine . . ."

Hei-ying opened a book his Mistress had prepared, she let the Cards go and each floated in obediently. "What now? That is not all of them . . ."

She scoffed, "This is of no worry . . . Now, Card Mistress . . . Let's see if my guardians are as strong as I trained them . . . Or if you have weakened them . . ." She pulled up her staff again. "Guardian of the Moon . . ."

Yukito's face blanked, he felt Yue awaken suddenly, without any warning.

"Guardian of the Sun . . ."

Keroberos frowned as he watched Yue suddenly transform, he growled slightly as he felt himself being forced to transform as well.

"Hear me now . . . Thy Mistress revoked . . . Thy Master returns . . ."

Yue pushed up from the table and looked up as he felt Eriol and Touya return to the room. Touya smiled warmly, "Hello Yue." The angel stared at him blankly; Keroberos growled louder, "What is this?"

Sakura blinked, "What Kero-chan?"

Kero shook his head, "This magic . . ." His head snapped up, "Yue!"

Yue groaned, and clutched his head, "Get out!" He growled, his head snapped up and he leant over the table to Sakura. He shouted at her angrily, "GET OUT! GET OUT!"

Nakuru and Spinel transformed instantly, "What is it?"

"Sakura!" Keroberos slipped off his chair and began to retreat to the kitchen, "Listen to us . . . Get out!"

"Nani?"

Yue stumbled away from Touya and tried to walk over to Kero, "What's happening to us?!"

"I don't know . . . ARGH!" He growled in frustration, struggling to keep his eyes open, "GET OUT, SAKURA! GET OUT!"

"Why?!" Sakura pulled out her key and tried to sense for the trouble, nothing! "What is it?!" She started to run towards them, but stopped as Yue drew his bow and arrow.

He pointed it straight into her face, "Final warning." He bit his lip hard, his eyes struggling to remain focused, "Get. *Out*. Now."

Sakura backed up a bit, but still didn't leave, "Iie." She said quietly, "What is wrong with you?"

Yue's struggle suddenly finished, and he lowered his bow and arrow. Sakura breathed a sigh of relief; she glanced at Kero who still struggled, "Kero-chan?"

"Sakura . . ." he stumbled away from his brother, "Get away from Yue."

"Nani?" She looked up at the angel, his eyes were closed.

Keroberos growled again, and stepped towards her, "It's . . . *binded* . . ." Sakura looked at Yue again as his eyes slid open, his eyes were now a deep dark purple, and his lips stretched into a cruel smirk. Sakura gasped and jumped backwards as Yue suddenly brought his hand down on her to grab her.

"Yue!" Touya jumped up, his second sight catching a glimpse of the faint aura of a deep red collar locked about Yue's thin neck. He looked at Keroberos; the same collar was struggling to bind itself to the lion's think neck. "Eriol!"

"I see it!" Eriol held out his hand and his staff appeared, he ran forward and grabbed Syaoran's arm, he quickly skidded over to Keroberos.

"Get away from me!" Keroberos roared, "I . . . can't fight this!!"

"Syaoran!" Eriol ordered, ignoring Kero, "Cut this collar!" He raised his staff and started to build a shield over the lion. He glanced over to his own guardians, "Ruby, Stop Yue! Spinel, hold Keroberos!"

Yue raised his hand again, "Stay back!" Touya growled, putting himself between the possessed guardian and his sister. 'Yue' smirked again, "A new order . . . will be . . ." His voice filled with dark, twisted humour as he stepped forward, "The balance will be restored."

". . . Revoke the poisoned magic of Sakura, accept my purity . . ." Her black eyes slid shut as she spoke, "I, Clow Reed reborn, command thee . . ." She swung her staff to the eastern point of her magic circle, "Yue . . . Call forth thy Card . . . Call forth thy power . . . Sword Card, obey . . ."

"Sword Card . . . Obey thy influence . . ."

Yue's hand glowed brightly, as the Sword Card began to materialise in his hand. Ruby Moon ran forward and threw herself onto Yue's back, as he struggled to throw her off, she looked up, "Get her out of here! They want Sakura!"

Touya didn't need telling twice, he spun and slung his sister over his shoulder and ran out of the room. Yue sent Ruby sprawling and got up to run out the room, "NO!" Tomoyo screamed as she blocked the doorway, she closed her eyes as she saw Yue draw the sword up to strike her. "You will not get Sakura-chan!"

"Tomoyo-chan!!" Sakura screamed as her brother carried her to safety, "Tomoyo-chan!!"

"Touya, get her to safety!" Tomoyo stood her place and stared at Yue resolvedly, "You will *not* get to her."

"Such strong friends . . ." Saurian growled, "And that little girl isn't even magic . . ."

Hei-ying nodded mutely as his Mistress smiled cruelly, "Yue . . . Kill the mortal."

Keroberos growled deeply, "*Hurry*!"

Syaoran grunted as he worked his sword on the tightening spell, he glanced at Eriol who held his staff above them, his spell making the Collar spell sluggish and easier to break. He looked past the reincarnation at Tomoyo, "Eriol!"

"I know."

"Go." Syaoran glanced up, Eriol shook his head, "I can manage without you, GO!"

Ruby leapt to her feet and shook off her disorientation, "Yue!"

Metal clinked against metal as Yue brought the sword down on Tomoyo, Eriol's staff the only thing standing between Tomoyo's soft flesh, and the Sakura Card. "Yue!" Ruby threw herself at him, "Stop it! STOP IT!!"

He spun and pushed her off again, "The new order *will* be!"

Eriol took Yue's distraction and grabbed Tomoyo, "What the hell do you think you are doing?!" He threw her out into the hallway roughly, "Get out of here!"

Tomoyo stood, "I won't let him get past me to Sakura!"

"There's nothing you can---" Eriol paused, as there was a loud roar. Keroberos broke loose of Syaoran and bounded over, Eriol held his staff up to fend off the lion. Tomoyo gasped slightly, Kero's usual kind gold eyes were replaced by deep violent violet, like Yue. "Kero-chan!"

"Get out of here!" Eriol called over his shoulder, "OUT!" He felt her hesitate behind her, "Tell Touya to come down here . . . and Sakura to get the *Shield* Card!"

As Tomoyo ran off instantly, Eriol ducked and rolled out of the way of Keroberos. He swung his arm out, "Staff, retract! His long gold staff turned into a more manageable length. "Syaoran?"

The little wolf shouted back, "I'm fine! Tomoyo?"

"Good," Eriol ducked under the table as Keroberos bounded after him, "We need to keep them away from Sakura!"

Yue drove the sword into the ground as Ruby jumped out of the way, "There isn't enough *room* for us to move!" She shouted as Spinel and Keroberos leapt onto the dinning table, "Eriol!"

Eriol scrambled out of the way, as the table came to a groaning crash, he ran to the doorway, and pulled Syaoran out of the way of the big cats. Spinel and Keroberos were fighting fiercely, "Keroberos!" Spinel shouted all throughout, "*Listen* to me!"

The gold lion raised his sharp claws, and drove them into Spinel's back; Eriol and Syaoran took station by the door, and watched both fights.

Ruby retracted her wings, and held up her fists, "Hiirawagizawa-sama!" He shouted, she jumped and landed a solid kick to Yue's stomach, she swung around and kicked his head with the back of her heel, "Hiirawagizawa-sama, what can we do?!"

"Ruby Moon . . ." Eriol closed his eyes briefly, his magic circle opening up, "Thy magic changed, thy longbow removed . . . Release!"

Ruby pulled up her arm, her ruby bow disappearing, and the arrow morphing into a sword. She fended Yue's attack off again, and slid her foot behind his knees. "Keroberos! Listen to me!" Spinel roared as Keroberos sank his teeth into his back, "You are being controlled!!"

Yue rolled as he hit the ground, "The new order . . ."

Ruby nodded, angry now, "I know! The new order will be . . . Well, will be *this*!" She kicked his head hard, and brought the hilt of her sword down hard on his exposed hand, "Stop this madness *now*, Moony!"

Touya ran to his room, Sakura beating her smaller fists on his back the entire way, "Tomoyo-chan!" She cried, "She's in trouble, Tomoyo-chan!!"

"Sakura!" Touya dumped her on the bed and grabbed her shoulders, "Your guardians are down there trying to *kill* you!"

"Tomoyo-chan!!" Sakura screamed, punching and kicking him, "Syaoran-kun!! Let me go!!"

"Sakura!" He shook her, "You are *not* going back down there!"

She fell silent, and pursed her lips together, "They are my *friends*!"

The two siblings stared at each other hotly until Tomoyo came running in, "Sakura!"

Sakura scrambled past her brother and grabbed her friend, "Are you all right?!"

"Hai!" Tomoyo turned to Touya, "Eriol wants you to help him."

"Make sure she stays here!" Touya shouted over his shoulder as he ran down the corridor. Tomoyo turned to her friend, to find Sakura trembling with a deep rage, the little Card Mistress stared at the door resolutely, "My guardians *need* me!" She raised her staff to her chest, and clutched it tightly, "They need me and I am being *pampered* like a china doll!"

Tomoyo grabbed Sakura's hand, and pulled her to the door, "Eriol said to use the—"

"Shield Card! Of course!!" Sakura ran forward, dragging Tomoyo behind her.

Ruby jumped up again, striking a hard blow to Yue's head, she hovered slightly and locked her other leg around the Moon guardian's head, she let herself fall onto her hands and dragged the other guardian over. She glanced at Spinel, he had Keroberos by the back haunches, but didn't seem to intent on causing any bodily harm, unlike Keroberos who snarled and tried to turn around.

"Suppi!" Ruby called out, "We have *no* choice!"

"I am not going to kill him!" Spinel called back, he pulled his tail out of Keroberos' reaches quickly, "He doesn't know what he's doing!"

Ruby gritted her teeth and ducked Yue's backhand, he had dropped the sword as she had done hers. She landed a swift punch to his gut, "Neither does Yue . . ." She stepped back and circled as Yue regained his balance, "But that doesn't stop him from---" She ducked as he threw a punch at her.

Touya ran up behind Eriol, "The collars?"

"I can't break them!" Syaoran growled, he pulled out his magic papers, "Petals Of The Wind, Answer My Call!" The magic streamed out from his sword, and wrapped around Keroberos' torso, and threw the lion against the wall, "Spinel Sun!" He called, "You *must* fight back now!"

Spinel shook himself, he was bleeding from his hind leg, "I will not fight---" he yelped in pain as Yue kicked him in the stomach, Keroberos shook his head and switched with Yue, he pounced on Ruby, digging his teeth into her shoulder. Eriol pulled Syaoran to him, "Get to Sakura, tell her to activate the Shield Card *now*!"

Syaoran ran up the stairs, and Touya and Eriol swapped looks, "We need to stop this before they kill each other!"

Eriol nodded, as he stared at Keroberos, the lion was starting to draw blood, "Keroberos! Listen to me now!" He intoned, "Your mind is clouded now, but listen to me still . . ."

Touya walked over toward Yue, "Yue . . . Guardian of the Moon . . . Cease this now!" Touya looked over at Eriol as he swung his golden staff, Spinel yelped louder as Yue kicked him even more violent. Touya pursed his lips and grabbed a chair, "I'm sorry about this, Yue . . ."

The Moon angel drop to his knees as the wood slammed against his head, Touya felt Clow wince and he too felt pain as they approached the downed angel. There was a low growl as Yue suddenly looked up. His teeth bared and his deep violet eyes flashed with anger.

"Touya, retreat!" Spinel called as he tried to get to his feet, Yue held his hand towards the broken table and levitated it against Spinel. He stood to his full height and stared resolutely at Touya, his eyes closed briefly, and he appeared to fight the enchanted collar, "Run." He ground out through gritted teeth, "I *cannot* fight this power, run now."

Touya stepped back, "I will not abandon you."

The angel's now deep purple eyes slid open . . .

"Foolhardy too . . ." Saurian hissed, "It shall be their downfall . . ."

Hei-ying closed his eyes, "Touya . . ." He smirked, "He tries to love Yue . . . Doesn't he realise that he is . . ."

"Yours?" Kyree leered, "Of course not!" She moved her hand to the side and clenched her fist . . .

. . . Yue raised his arm to the side, his hand glowed and the sword came flying back into his grasp. He clenched his fist around the cold blade's handle . . .

Kyree raised her arm above her head and smirked. "Thy love shalt be thy disgrace, the new order will be once again . . . The Mistress revoked . . . The Master returns . . ."

Touya stepped back and found himself pressed against the wall, defenceless as Yue raised the sword above his head, the angel's lips twisted into a horrid smirk, "Thy love shalt be thy disgrace . . . The new order shalt be once again . . . "

Touya closed his eyes and swung his arm around to protect himself. He felt a hot spark graze his cheek and he opened his eyes again, he was holding Yue's sword back . . . not with his hand . . . but with a staff . . . it's silver seemed to burn bright ice blue as Yue pushed against him hard . . .

Syaoran ran into Touya's room, "Sakura?!"

"In here!" Sakura called from her room, he sprinted down there.

"You *must* hurry!"

Sakura spread her arms, and whirled her staff around her body, "Shield Card, take my guardians into thy safety . . ." her magic circle sparked brightly as the Card prepared to release, she pulled her staff up, holding it high as the supernatural storm gusted up. The Card began to glow eagerly, ready to protect. Syaoran stepped in front of Tomoyo, as Sakura's anger threw force into her magic. The star on the staff glowed powerfully, and span fast, as Sakura narrowed her eyes and screamed her command.

"RELEASE!!"

Spinel padded over to his Master, limping painfully, "Are you all right?"

Eriol ran his hand through his hair, dragging it out of his eyes, "Shouldn't I be asking that of you, old friend?"

Spinel smiled slightly and looked at Ruby, she sat up, holding her shoulder. The blood seeped down still, soaking her white skirt, "Suppi, are you all right?"

Spinel nodded, and padded over to her. She held out her arms and caught him as he stumbled weakly and passed out. She sighed and hugged him tightly, "Good fight, my brother . . ." She looked up at Kero and Yue's slumbering bodies, "Good fight."

Syaoran ran into the room, sword drawn. "Eriol?! Touya?!"

"We're fine . . ." Eriol chuckled, as he slid down to the floor besides his guardians, he rested his head on Spinel's back and yawned, "We're fine . . ."

Sakura sprinted in a few moments later, "Touya?"

Touya was crouched besides Yue; he pulled at something invisible around Yue's neck, "Kaijuu?"

"I'm fine!" Sakura smiled and let the insult slid, "Yue-san?"

"Asleep . . . as is Keroberos . . ." He looked up at Syaoran, "Help me with this?"

As Syaoran and Touya worked to pull off the collar around Yue's neck, and Sakura checked Keroberos . . . the lion rolled on to his back and purred like a kitten . . . Tomoyo sat beside Ruby Moon, Spinel Sun and Eriol. The blue haired reincarnation was fast asleep. She sighed and stroked his head, she looked at Ruby, "Let me tend to your arm?"

Ruby chuckled, "It'll heal by itself . . . Don't worry . . ." She stroked Spinel's head gently, "You can give me a hand with Eriol though . . . he gets neck cramp when he sleeps like that . . ."

Keroberos groaned as he came back to consciousness, "Sakura . . .?"

Sakura's kind bright green eyes swam into his vision, thankfully, unhurt. She smiled, "Kero-chan! Are you all right?"

Keroberos rolled onto his front, and groaned, "Who bit me?"

"I did . . ." Spinel called out quietly, "Are you well Keroberos?"

Kero pushed himself up into a sitting position, "Hai . . ." He smiled tiredly, "I feel like I took and gave a real beating . . ." He looked over at the midnight blue panther, "You look like hell."

Spinel smiled and closed his eyes again. He was sat under the window as the winter's sunlight streamed in through the window, normally when the guardians were in their full forms the curtains would be drawn, but after the fight the sun guardians needed as much energy as they could collect, even from the weak winter's sun. Spinel and Keroberos would have changed into their false forms, but, Spinel sighed as he allowed the warm sunlight warm his battered hunches, he could barely move he was so sore. "Trust me, you look worse . . ."

Kero looked at Sakura questioningly, as she brought up a wet cloth and wiped at his mouth, "What did I do?"

"You have no memory?" He shook his head silently, Sakura continued quietly, "You fought rather viciously . . . You bit Spinel several times, and you sank your teeth into Ruby-san's shoulder."

"That explains that bitter taste in my mouth . . ." He shook his head again, "What about the thing around my neck?" Syaoran held up two blood red collars, their enchanted buckles snapped, Keroberos growled, "Do we know where they came from yet?"

Syaoran shook his head, "The battle has worn out everyone . . ." He knelt by Keroberos and took the cloth from Sakura gently, "Why not go check on everyone?"

Touya folded his hands and watched Yue quietly; the Moon guardian was still sleeping, bruises and cuts quickly fading from his pale visage. He sighed and looked up as the door opened, Ruby smiled as she hobbled in slowly, "How is ol' Moony?"

"Moony?" Touya raised an eyebrow in amusement, and patted the armrest of the blue chair, Ruby limped over and sat on the bed instead, she picked up Yue's hand. He looked incredibly pale and frail to her at that moment.

"You are of the Moon too . . ."

Ruby smiled, "but I am not a pure creation of the Moon, I just take my power from it . . . Yue . . ." She looked at him again, his frailty disturbing her slightly, "Yue is the Moon in some respects . . ."

Touya nodded, "He's fine . . . He might look a little drained but when he wakes up . . ."

"I know . . ." She looked at him, "Are you all right?"

Touya nodded, he smiled slightly, "Something happened though . . ."

Ruby raised an eyebrow as Touya reached into his pocket; he pulled out a silver chain. Ruby stood as she felt powerful magic emanate from his hand, "What is that?"

Touya opened his hand and a key dropped down and swung from the chain.

Tomoyo hummed quietly as she propped up Eriol's head. He was still sleeping deeply; she smiled and lay beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against the back of his neck. He was warm, and she too had been worn out by the emotions of the day. Never before had she ever considered that Yue and Keroberos could be so easily controlled by a force. She frowned slightly, the only time she had ever encountered a time was when Eriol had forced Keroberos and Yue down, pressing on them so hard they couldn't help Sakura. Another time had been when the void Card had captured the two, but she hadn't been there to see it.

Sakura had been very quiet as she described it . . .

Tomoyo pulled Sakura aside, "Are you all right?"

Sakura sat down on the steps of her home, pulling her skates undone. She looked up at Tomoyo, the happiness she had felt had begun to ebb away when Sakura realised just how close she had come to losing Keroberos and Yue. "They gave their lives for me . . . instantly, without an inch of hesitation . . . demo . . ." Tomoyo sat besides her as Sakura turned and grabbed her hands, "There was nothing I could do . . . the Void Card just swallowed them . . . Tomoyo-chan, I watched their eyes close as they faded away . . . it felt like they had died . . ."

"Demo . . . you saved them with your bravery . . ."

"Cardcaptor Sakura can only work so many times, Tomoyo-chan . . ." Sakura looked up at the evening sky, "I shall never allow that to happen again, I will never lose my guardians to anything ever again . . ."

Tomoyo smiled, and squeezed Sakura's hand, "You can do anything, Sakura-chan . . ."

Sakura looked her, her face, her eyes composed in a way Tomoyo had never seen, she had never seen Sakura look so collected before. The emerald eyes still twinkled with happiness, but there was a serenity belying it, "Tomoyo-chan . . ." Sakura said tranquilly, "I shall become as powerful as I can . . . I shall train harder . . . I shall learn every magic trick and spell there is to know . . ." She turned her eyes to the twilit sky, reds, blues, oranges, and purples mixing gently spreading as the Sun set, the Moon rose and the stars began to shine through. "I will become the best magician I can . . . and I will never allow you nor Syaoran or my guardians to be stolen from me . . . ever again . . ."

Tomoyo sighed, that had been shortly before her father had been murdered. She shuddered with something deeper than cold, the case still remained unsolved. She sighed and opened her eyes. Eriol's blue hair tickled her nose, Tomoyo smiled, Eriol had allowed it to grow slightly, only enough to make it fall over his eyes a bit more, but still it was handsome and it suited him. She hugged him tighter slightly, hoping his dreams were much more gentle.

There was a low groan as Eriol shifted, and rolled. Tomoyo loosen her arms to let him move freely, he rolled until he faced her and muttered quietly, "I hate being away from home . . . I can never get comfy in foreign beds . . ."

Tomoyo smiled, and raised her hand to stroke the side of his pale face. He looked much younger now, but still . . . his pale eyelids fluttered gently and he smiled, turning his head until he kissed her hand, Tomoyo blinked, "Eriol-kun?"

He smiled as he awoke, mind still hazy, "hai . . .?"

"Are you awake . . .?"

"Iie . . ." He pulled her closer, warmed by her closeness and fell asleep once more. Tomoyo stroked his face as he began to murmur softly, "Might I hold thee like this, 'til the storm hath past? My soul is weary, my heart lost love's last battle . . ." he smiled and giggled nonsensically, "Rest my mind at ease, hold me, dear, for I fear I might never awaken again . . ."

Tomoyo hugged him tighter, "Eriol-kun?"

He raised his face and pressed his lips against her forehead, "Should I, perhaps, one day, turn to thee and pray? Where shalt I find shelter, but for thy sweet embrace?" Tomoyo blushed as Eriol kissed the bridge of her nose, "'Til Thor's hammer still'd, 'til Zeus' anger appeases . . . might I hold thee, might I love thee, might I worship thee like this?"

Tomoyo smiled and pulled herself from him, she felt uncomfortable with Eriol's murmured recital. She sat up and looked at him once again, he frowned in his sleep and raised his hand to where she was. He patted the pillow, and sighed. Tomoyo blinked as he frowned deeper in his sleep. "Tomoyo . . ."

"Hai?"

Eriol's eyes fluttered open and stared at her, "Don't leave just yet . . ." He reached up to her face, "Onegai?"

Sakura pressed her hand against Yue's room, Ruby and Touya were watching over Yue. She smiled and moved towards Touya's new room, she pressed her ear against the door, and heard Tomoyo's and Eriol voices softly from inside. She smiled, "Good . . ." She moved into her own room, and closed the door behind herself quickly. "Cards . . . awaken . . ." The Sakura book floated out of the drawer, and came to her, it floated uneasily in front of her. Sakura smiled gently as she touched the book's cover, "There was nothing to be done . . . demo . . . Thy guardians are safe . . ."

The book continued to float, not releasing the Cards. She blinked as she stared at the cover, "What's wrong?"

Mystrasa straightened, "It's time to leave . . . before they can recover enough strength . . ."

"Mistress?" The wicked dragon licked his lips, "The girl . . . The child reincarnation's concubine . . . May I have her?"

Mystrasa smirked, "I don't see why not . . ." She scratched under his chin, "And that Li clan head will be need to be removed . . ." she looked at her dragon, "We must think of a more subtle way of get him away from the Card Mistress . . ." As the dragon smiled maliciously, Kyree turned her attention on her Moon guardian, "Ensure that the Card Mistress gets our message . . . but . . ." she kissed him harshly, "Be wary that you are not seen . . . it is not time to reveal you to them just yet . . ."

Hei-ying nodded, and watched as his Mistress climbed on to her dragon's back and took flight. He sighed and reached out with his sense, the Card Mistress was alone in her room . . .

Sakura gasped as she fingered the lock on her book, the small wing shaped lock had been burnt. She stared at it, "Book . . . What happened?"

The lock snapped off, and the Cards span out agitatedly, they glowed as they circled her, twelve gaps in their usual pattern almost painfully obvious. Twelve Sakura Cards had been stolen during the attack. Sakura cried out in shock, "Who did this?!"

"We did . . ." A whispered voice told her, "We are here to restore the Master to his rightful place . . ."

Sakura spun, aware suddenly she was no longer in her room, she had entered Dreamscape, "Who's there?"

"I am . . ."

"Who?" A shadowy figure stepped towards her, "Clow-sama?"

Clow smiled as he nodded, "Sakura, you will face a new challenge . . ."

Sakura held up her staff, "Do you know what happened to Keroberos and Yue?" Clow nodded, "What happened and why?"

"They were put under a very powerful spell . . ." Clow pulled his hands up, two tight blood red collars dangled from them, "My spell . . ." He growled angered, "You broke it . . ."

Sakura took a step back, "Clow-sama?"

Clow's eyes narrowed as his pupils turned a deep black, the black spread to the whites of his eyes, "You have stolen my Cards . . . I want them back . . ." He raised his hands and the magic circle of Clow Reed burned brightly on the floor, turning from it's usual brilliant gold to a deep malicious violet, "You have stolen my guardians . . . Keroberos will pay for his betrayal . . . Yue will return to my side . . ."

Sakura gasped as the magic circle began to fracture, smouldering into three different colours, she looked down at her feet. One foot stood on the burning red third, the other on a cold blue . . . she looked at Clow, he stood predominantly on the deep jade green. As he stepped forward, the jade green withered and died into a smouldering black, as his feet touched the red, the red began to bleed, real blood oozing out of the sharp lines, his foot touched the blue and the blue began to change into purple . . .

"Know this little girl . . ." Clow spat as he came closer, "I am the Master . . . and most certainly not your friend . . . you will pay for taking away my life's greatest work . . . do you understand this fact?"

Sakura held up her staff, "If you want them . . . you will have to come and get them!" She growled as she faced off the demon that pretended to be Clow Reed, "You are *not* Clow Reed, Clow Reed would *never* do this . . ."

"Very well." He murmured, "This lesson . . . has begun."

"I WILL NEVER RELINQUISH MY CARDS!!"

Sakura screamed as she came out of her vision, she stumbled slightly and felt cool hands catch her. "Arigato Yue-san . . ."

There was an uncharacteristic chuckle as the angel moved her to her bed, "Don't worry, Cardcaptor . . ." Sakura looked up, Yue's voice seemed a little harsher than normal. She gasped as she stared into a deep jade green eye, silken black hair obscuring the rest of the dark angel's face.

"You're not Yue!"

The angel drew himself up, and he smirked down at her, "No . . . But I feel like him, don't I?"

Sakura drew back in horror as the angel came closer, his aura was almost identical to Yue's, "Who are you?!"

He moved his hand to the book, which resisted him at first, but floated over docilely. As soon as it touched his jade-gloved hand, there was a snap of green magic, and the book's cover was changed, Sakura stared at the Clow book. It's cover slightly changed, he opened it up and showed the front and back covers to her, he tapped the front, "Seal Beast . . . Appointer Of The Clow . . ." He moved his finger over slowly to the back cover, caressing it gently, "Hidden Angel . . . Judgement Maker . . ." He moved over to the spine, the words The Clow sparked brightly and faded.

Sakura blinked in confusion as a blank red spine, bordered with gold, replaced Clow's name. The dark angel tapped it gently, and a the stem and leaves of a rose burned themselves into existence, thorns grew around a star that smouldered jade then gold, and finally a blood red rose burnt and blossomed into being.

Sakura wrapped her small fingers around the book and pulled it closer, the rose and star now had the title, The Star, "Shown Angel . . ." The whispered voice spoke again, "Adviser Of The Captor . . ."

Sakura looked up to find she was alone again; she looked around as snow drifted in from her window. She shivered and looked back at her book, it had returned to the normal cover, Sakura once again embolden on the front, and the burnt rose and star scarring the spine no more. She touched the spine gently, still feeling the resonance of magic, "Who are you . . .?"

"Adviser Of The Captor . . ."

She looked up suddenly, the room still empty, she slipped off the bed and over to her open window. She struggled with it briefly, sliding it shut. She stared out the window, and held her hand up. Her Sakura Cards trembled slightly as they folded themselves on into her palm. She closed her eyes . . .

"Very well." He murmured, "This lesson . . . has begun."

She opened her eyes again and pulled her Cards closer, "I shall not relinquish you . . ." the Cards glowed slightly as she turned to tell the others of her discovery, //*Never* . . .// She thought, she looked at Yue's door, on it hung a picture Sakura had drawn for Yukito when she tried to describe what Yue looked like, he had smiled and stared at the picture running his fingers over Sakura's wavy lines. After looking at the picture for a short while, Yukito suddenly transformed and Yue pulled out another sheet of paper, his picture was almost photo perfect, and he also drew Yukito in as well. In his picture, Yukito was at the forefront, a slightly serious look on his face, and Yue had the same expression as he stood behind Yukito's shoulder.

Sakura smiled at him, as he handed her the picture, and muttered, "Tell him that I look like *this* and not . . ." He picked up her picture, and sighed, "Ruby Moon covered in floor . . ."

When Yukito returned, Sakura had given him the almost perfect picture and he had gasped. "He looks . . . so . . ."

"Unearthly?" Touya smiled with bemusement, "That is your other form."

Sakura shook her head, and returned to the present. She had been visited by someone with almost identical features to Yue, she had had a vision from a demon posing as Clow Reed, and now, her guardians had been trapped by a powerful spell . . . and twelve of her Cards had been stolen.

Her hair was so silken . . .

He smiled as he brushed the stolen lock against his pale cheek again, so soft and child-like. Hei-ying quickly and efficiently called a small jade ribbon into existence and tied the lock of the Card Mistress' hair tightly. He had taken it while she had been focused on his party tricks with the book, her hair . . . her room . . . everything about her smelt of cherry blossoms, //She is as her name . . .// he smiled again as he tucked the small lock away, "Sakura . . ." He breathed, testing her name upon his bloodless lips.

She was his would be Mistress . . . his eye narrowed, if Yue hadn't been created and taken Clow's love away from him. Hei-ying snarled slightly, Yue was the root of his pain . . . the only balm, the only cure . . . Hei-ying fluttered over to Yue's room and looked in. Sakura had entered and she was now trying to wake Yue, //. . . The *only* cure . . . // Yue's eyes fluttered weakly, //. . . The only way I can cure myself of this madness . . .//

Yue sat up, faltered and fell unconscious once again, the Ruby red guardian eased him back down again, she reeked of Clow's magic also, Hei-ying's eye narrowed. He glanced at Sakura and her brother, Touya, they looked on with concern. Hei-ying pressed his hand against the glass, it and the glass pane glowed a deep green, "The only way Yue . . . it's the only way . . ."

Yue frowned in his sleep . . .

"The only way, Yue . . . the only way . . ."

He looked up as his older brother stared down at him, "Oniisan . . .?"

His brother's huge white wings fluttered gently, the only indication that he had heard Yue's small voice, the taller angel continued to float away. Yue looked around, the woods were dark, "Oniisan! I cannot find my way out of here without help!"

"The only way, Yue . . ." His jade stone glinted on the back of his glove as he quickly raised the erase Card in front of him. The black haired angel disappeared as he lowered the Erase Card again, his voice floated to Yue.

"It's the only way you will ever learn . . ."

Hei-ying lifted his hand off the glass, his cracked jade stone on the back of his glove glinting, he spread his black scaled wings, he continued to stare at Yue as the Moon angel's worried frown eased from his brow, he smiled slightly, "It's the only way, Yue . . . one of us . . ." He glanced up at the Moon, "One of us must die . . ."

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And Now It's Time To Leave It To Doctor Megalomania!!

DrM: I know, I know, another update so soon . . . sheesh, I tell you, I *tried* to go to college today, I made it all the way to the front door of my house before my mum said, 'Nu-uh, no way . . . you look crappy . . . Get Back to bed with thee!!' [Sighs] I hate being ill. [Clears throat] ahem, anyway, enough of my lousy Real Life grousing, and on with the celebrations!!

Congratulations SAKURA LOVER, you are THE 100th reviewer, I'd give you some kind of prize but I'm a poor student with nothing to her name except a computer, and some CCS DVDs . . . mmmm . . . DVDs, anyway, congratulations anyway . . . [reads line again, and shakes head] that didn't make sense . . . [shrugs and continues] And I hope that today's update quenched the thirst for some blood . . . it's not Saurian, Kyree, or Hei-ying's blood . . . but hey, blood is blood is blood, eh? MWHA HA HA HA!! So NOW the evil attacking of various CCS characters begins . . . So, Saurian wants to eat Tomoyo, eh? . . . hmmm, could be indescribably evil if I let him . . . now to mention it, it's a really good ide---

Clow: [claps hands over DrM] And you accuse me of giving away VITAL plot twists!! Will you ever stop talking?

DrM: [pulls Clow's hands off] Apparently not . . . [grins] I finally figured out exactly what happens at the end of this fic, so updates will be less forth coming as I readjust the next few chapters to realign with the ending I have configured.

Clow: [blinking] That was surprisingly eloquent . . .

DrM: That would because I just watched four hours straight of Star Trek Voyager . . . mmmmm . . . Tom Paris, Harry Kim, Chakotay overload . . . gaaaaahhhh . . .

Yue: [offended] And me? What about me?

DrM: [reassuring] If my mum hadn't taken the laptop with her, you'd be assured I'd have watch two solid hours of Trekkie-yumminess and two solid hours of Bisshy-Yue-yumminess . . . [realises the camera is still rolling] Crikey! Erm . . . [Blushes] anyway . . . please R&R!!

Saurian: Just quickly, just to annoy any Tomoyo lovers out there . . . just to remind you, Tomoyo *ISN'T* Eriol.

Eriol: What the hell does that mean?!

Saurian: [grins and licks ugly lips] It means, your very *darling* Tomoyo is fair game, my man . . . and by the looks of DrM's mood, a certain best friend's gonna bit the dust . . . [rubs claws together evilly] heh, heh, anyone for Roast Tomoyo And Lemon Gravy?