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

Part Twenty-Three: Beyond Chance . . .

[Thanks naturally go out to Bluegoo, once again providing some of this, and to Penmaster for the summary on ff.net – mine are crappy so I asked her – and for the Fanart that she drew, and to Caroltrue and Mateem Bluewing both again for Fanart, and since I don't have a website of my own yet, if you wanna see them, please just email me at dr_megalomania@hotmail.com and I'll send them, cause they are sooooooooooo good, I'm not kidding, I never realised someone out there would even think of spending more than five minutes even thinking about any of my characters!! Well, enough of my senseless babble. . . are you ready Sakura-chan?! Ganbatte!!]

Echoes chased each other around the walls, bouncing back and forth.

The hall was beautiful, the ceiling high, painted with a royal blue, and a deep purple with silver moons and gold suns all over it, white stars twinkled almost like diamonds, scattered between the over lapping lines of the moons and suns. Huge clear windows lined one side of the hall, the pelting rain, and flashing lightning rattled the centuries old panes of glass in their dark wood frames. The wood floor was beautifully polished, their reflections almost as clear as a mirror as they stepped in.

"Congratulations, Cardcaptor . . ."

Kyree's voice floated to them, both whispered and filling the room. Sakura motioned the others to stay back as she walked forward, "I am the card *mistress*." She slowed to a stop, standing in the middle of the room, "And I demand you return my cards."

There was a quiet chuckle. Kyree was sat in Clow Reed's favourite chair, facing away from them and staring deep into the fire, "You have no cards to speak of, they are mine. . . They are *my* life's greatest work . . ."

"No. They are not. " Hei-ying stepped forward, "It's over, Kyree . . . There is nothing more."

She slammed her corroded staff down hard, "NO! As long as I have my cards . . ." She pushed herself to her feet, leaning heavily on the dull gold cane for support, Clow's robes looking old and tattered, entirely too much for her hunched over body. She swallowed heavily, and straightened. Tipping her chin up, she was determined to see this last fight with dignity. "I am the master Clow Reed." She rasped, her voice quiet. "I will not be defeated by a mere girl."

"I am not a mere girl." Sakura stepped forward, "I am mistress of those cards, I earned them, fought for them, they are my cards!"

"YOU ARE NOT!!" Kyree screamed, "They were never yours, I gave them to you, and I can take them back."

"I earned—"

"You used my bell, did you not?" Sakura's deep green eyes widened, as Kyree smirked knowingly, "My bell that gave you a second chance to get it right . . ." She nodded to herself with growing hard conviction, "I was wrong . . . I should never have given up my power . . ."

"Yes, you should have."

Kyree stared at Hei-ying for a long second, his voice still so soft echoed around the hall. "You dare question me, Hei-ying?"

He chuckled, "You are the master Clow Reed . . ." Smirking, he walked forward, circling her, "Every action you make . . ." He walked away, and stared at Eriol, who had paled at the sound of the centuries old spell, "Every word you say . . ." His jade eye flicked to Touya, who clamped a hand on Yue's shoulder for support, ". . . is ultimate and right . . ." He sniggered darkly, as he turned back to Kyree, "And I must always obey . . ."

"I am Clow Reed. "

Hei-ying bowed slightly, and motioned around, "Ah . . . but that's the beauty of it all . . ." He smirked, as he spoke coldly, "Clow Reed never specified which Clow Reed I have to obey . . ." He shrugged as easily as he could, "If that's one liberty I have of the obedience spell it's that . . . I can interpret your wishes anyway I want and still say I'm obeying you . . ."

Kyree growled quietly as a small chuckle rose from Eriol, "I always knew you were cunning, Hei-ying . . ."

The black haired angel glanced at Yue, he smiled slightly as he continued, "As far as I see it, I think that obeying the Clow Reed with the most opinion is the correct fashion. Currently there is two to one against Mistress Sakura's destruction . . ."

"Too many Clow Reeds?" Kyree snapped angrily, she threw out her hand, "Perhaps then I should equal the odds!"

There was silence as the group looked around to see what Kyree had done, Yue frowned as Touya's hand suddenly compressed hard on his shoulder. Looking over, Yue was horrified to see Touya sink to one knee, blood dipping from his nose, Yue fell to his knees and pulled Touya's chin up, the dark blue eyes wide and staring as Touya shuddered deeply. His jaw tensed and loosened alternatively, blood gushed out as he choked.

"To-ya!" Yue cried out, and the taller boy passed out, still convulsing hard on the floor. "To-ya!!"

Sakura span to find her brother having a seizure on the floor. "Oniichan! NO!"

A cruel laugh from behind them made Yue look up, Clow Reed smirked as he stared back. Hei-ying spat and growled as Kyree fooled Yue again with the Illusion card.

"Clow! Please, no!!" Yue begged, "please!!"

"But Yue . . ." Clow drawled slowly, "That's not my doing . . . remember? You're just like Hei-ying. . ."

Yue looked at his hands, they were covered with Touya's blood, "But I . . ."

"YUE!" Hei-ying roared, "THAT IS NOT CLOW!" The white haired angel blinked and looked at Hei-ying, as he explained, "The Illusion card!"

The illusion card fritzed gleefully as it was revealed to them. Yue stood, and glared, "I . . ." doubt coloured his voice but he swallowed it, "I don't believe you . . . Clow Reed is . . ." Yue visibly calmed, his voice, his true voice taking on a new strength. It was now, now he understood. . . everything, his doubts, his longing to live his past died in the face of this imposter. The Yue Sakura had always known came back in full force, as he calmly stated to Kyree, "Clow Reed is dead!"

Kyree growled and lifted her hands, the black Clow cards span out around her, "I am Clow Reed . . . Master of these cards!"

"No."

"What did you say . . .?" Kyree glared at Sakura as she shook her head slowly, the girl was staring at her brother, he'd passed out, or maybe died. It didn't matter to Kyree. Sakura stroked her brother's forehead gently, and motioned her best friend to care for him before she stood, and stared back at Kyree. "I think you heard me . . ."

"I am the master of these cards!" Kyree growled as the cards sparked violently, her deep purple magic circle glowed brightly, whipping up a enchanted maelstrom all around her, her black hair falling out of it's tie. "I will never be defeated . . ." Her black eyes glinted hard, as Clow's voice added a powerful depth to her voice, "I WILL LIVE THIS ONE LAST TIME!!"

"It's over. There is no more for Clow Reed in this life."

"I will live this one last time!" Kyree spat, "My life was ended to make way for you . . ." She calmed herself and lifted her arms, the cards sparking again, "Well . . . now I end your life to make way for me . . ." She glared at Sakura, their world consisting only of the two women. "I gave up my life . . . my cards . . . my magic . . . for you . . . I gave up the love I could have had . . ."

Sakura's expression softened at the desperate tone of Clow's voice.

"But now . . ." Kyree smiled as she glanced between two angels, "Hei-ying . . . Yue . . . *Now* we can be together. . ." She looked at Hei-ying, "Forever . . . " her eyes looked to Yue, ". . . And always . . ."

"I don't love you anymore, Clow . . ."

Kyree faltered, "What?"

"I don't love you anymore . . ." Hei-ying repeated dully. "I stopped loving you when I finally realised what you were doing to Yue . . ." He looked at his youngest brother, "Was what you had done to me . . ." He turned his dull jade eye on Kyree, "Ten years, Clow . . . ten long years . . . you took me when I was only a child . . ." Keroberos' head snapped towards Hei-ying as he finally explained it truthfully, "You hurled abuse at me, you took me when it suited you . . . and pushed me away when it didn't . . . and you taught me . . . You taught me that was love . . ."

Kyree's eyes filled with Clow's tears, "I love you . . ."

"And now you wish for me to return to you, and let this all happen again, to Yue . . . when you get bored of us, then to the next creation . . ." Hei-ying spread his arms and his jade daggers started to form, his jade green magic circle forming beneath his feet, "Never! I'm tired, Clow! So very tired." Hei-ying's voice broke with his emotion, "I want to sleep . . . and there is nothing you can offer me . . . that will give me *half* of what I could get from Sakura . . ."

"What?!" Kyree questioned harshly, "What can she give you that I can't?!"

"The chance to be . . . what I was created to be . . ."

Kyree shook her head, glanced at Sakura as the angel's daggers began to spin, she groaned, "But I love you. I love you . . ." It wasn't working, Hei-ying's magic grew, she glanced at Yue, "Yue. . . I love you . . . you've missed me, you love me . . . now we can—"

"No." Yue stepped back, his usual cold demeanour slipping into place to cover the numbness he felt, he glanced down at Touya, then back at Kyree, "No. You're dead, Clow . . . the balance is, as it was meant to be . . ." He raised his arm, his ice bow and arrow cold, as they appeared, his ice blue magic circle cool as it bloomed under his feet. His amethyst eyes narrowed as he stared at her, "It's time to accept this, Clow, both me and you."

Kyree shook her head, trying to deny this. She looked at Keroberos and Spinel as they flanked Sakura; they floated off the ground slightly, as Ruby moon floated behind Sakura, all with their weapons ready, their magic circle bright beneath them. Kyree stared into Keroberos' golden eyes, "Keroberos . . . I—"

"No, Clow . . ." Keroberos murmured, "It's over . . . a new dawn must be seen."

Kyree started to tremble with Clow's rage, "NEVER! IT'S NEVER OVER!"

Sakura stepped forward; her magic circle drew itself, line by line, symbol by symbol, burning itself into the polished wood as she walked. She closed her eyes, and spoke quietly, her staff growing into existence. Kyree trembled deeply, holding her power over the cards, as she watched Sakura's staff grow to equal Sakura's height, a symbol of her increasing power. Sakura's eyes snapped open as she tapped her staff hard on the ground.  

"It is over, Clow."

"Never."

Sakura shook her head, raising her arm, her magic shifting uneasily around her, restless. "It's over . . . and now, I must claim back my cards . . ."

"Never!"

Tomoyo gasped as she watched Sakura's magic circle grow out, spreading as Sakura's determination made her magic increase strongly. Eriol gasped in surprise as her magic circle became the size of Clow Reed's, Sakura was becoming as powerful as Clow Reed, just through her own will. Syaoran watched Sakura as her magic swirled around her, ready for her spell. Her arm was extended towards Kyree, "Very well . . ." Sakura murmured; she threw her arm in Hei-ying's direction.

The black haired angel gasped as his magic circle flared under him, a surge of magic coursing into his body. He opened his jade eye, her magic infused his, giving him the strength to see this though.

Out of the corner her eye, Sakura watched as Hei-ying's jade daggers span with renewed strength, she threw her arm towards Yue.

The angel flinched slightly as Sakura's magic overrode his own, filling his hands, his head, his heart with the warmth that was her own. He pulled his arrow back, his eyes narrowing as he focused on his target, sparing only a second to think, //To-ya . . . I'm sorry . . .//

Sakura's arm flipped back, and Keroberos chuckled slightly as his own gold magic circle glowed brightly, he felt his stomach tighten with power. They were winning now, and he was ready to claim back the cards, and seek revenge from the creature that claimed to be his former master.

Kyree growled tearfully, as she watched Sakura flip her arm to Spinel, infusing the panther with magic as well. Eriol stared at his guardian as he watched Spinel throw his head up, surprise flitting over his midnight blue features as Sakura overrode Eriol's power.

Ruby Moon's pink eyes narrowed as Sakura flipped her arm towards her, the moon guardian jerked her arm back further as she prepared her Ruby shard bow for the fight.

Sakura lowered her arm, her magic electrifying the room, even Tomoyo could feel it grazing her cheeks, her sense tingled as the true card mistress grasped her staff again, she smiled as she watched her best friend and wished even now, that she had a camera to take in Sakura's features. Syaoran drew his sword and glanced at Eriol as he too drew his staff into existence again. The two stood just behind the front line of angels, and the two sun guardians.

Sakura smiled slightly as she felt both Syaoran's and Eriol's magic flare, ready to fight with her. She stared at Kyree, and spoke calmly, "You cannot win . . . Give it up now . . ." She grasped her staff, "I will not let this happen, Clow, don't make me have to destroy you . . ."

"This one last battle, Cardcaptor . . ." Clow's voice filtered through Kyree's once again, "To live again . . . one more time . . ."

"I am the card *mistress* . . ." Sakura shook her head, "Not you."

"Very well, Cardcaptor . . ." Kyree/Clow nodded slowly, mockingly challenging Sakura, "Prove it . . . Take the cards from me . . ."

"O, cards of Sakura . . ." Sakura raised her hand, it glowed with her power, "Hear me now . . ."

The cards around Kyree started to tremble, causing her to increase her power over them.

". . . Return to me . . . thy true mistress . . ."

"No!" Kyree spat, her violet magic circle flared. "Cards, remain!"

". . . Forsake the corrupted magic of Clow, accept thy truth . . ."

"Never!" Kyree closed her eyes against the cards as they burned brightly in the air around her, throwing off her control.

". . . Return to me, Sakura, thy true mistress . . . I call to thee, return to my side . . ."

The cards began to spin, faster and faster, sparking in the air, Sakura's pink and gold magic exploded against Kyree's violet and black.

"Move."

Sakura's voice was a mere whisper in the storm, as the move card suddenly stopped spinning and dashed to her in a stream of gold. It slit a cut against Kyree's cheek in it's haste. It raced to Sakura's magic circle, and floated in it's usual place. Glee and happiness emanated from it as it gave Sakura all it's power. Sakura's emerald green eyes narrowed, as she felt magic course in her body again,  " . . . Dash! . . . Song! . . . Lock! . . . Sleep!"  She smiled as she gathered pace, each card streaking to her in a flash of gold, and lending her every ounce of their power, her voice grew louder and more confident, "Float! Loop! Mist! Flower! Woody! Wave!" Tomoyo smiled as she felt Sakura's magic increase more and more, she looked around quickly and gasped as Sakura's magic cast shadows, she could see Syaoran's own magic circle, faint dark green. She could see Touya's powerful and blue, and she could see a faint lilac coloured one, the owner of whom she couldn't identify. She looked up as Sakura continued, "Dark! Light! Silent! Voice! Rain! Illusion! Sand! Storm! Thunder!" Sakura's hair flew around her face, as the magic surged around her, "Fly! Snow! Power! Shield! Create! Fight! Jump! Sweet! Twin! Dream!" her magic circle flared as each card deserted Kyree; it started to give off powerful pink ripples as Sakura reached half way, "Bubbles! Through! Return! Big! Little! Glow! Time!" the strong glowing wind of magic whipped around the entire group, warm like a spring breeze, the guardians shivered as they closed their eyes and dropped their weapons, Eriol smiled as he felt his version of Clow close his eyes too, Sakura closed her emerald eyes, and drew a deep breath, "CHANGE! FREEZE! SHOT! MAZE! SWORD! LIBRA! ARROW! SHADOW!" Kyree held up her hand to prevent the fifth to last card, Sakura staggered a little, the potent magic making her a little light headed. One thought ran through all of Sakura's friend's minds, as Syaoran suddenly dropped his sword, Eriol made his staff turn back into his key, and Tomoyo ran to Sakura's side. Syaoran stood behind her as he had on her final test with Eriol, Tomoyo and Eriol grasped her staff with them, and drew it up with her, Sakura's eyes flew open as her friend closed their eyes and helped her. She drew as much air as she could into her lungs, and screamed at the top of her voice, as the four slammed the staff down as hard as they could, "MIRROR!!"

The mirror card stopped spinning and raced to her true mistress.

Kyree panted, as she took in her last cards, the Windy, the Firey, The Watery, and finally the Earthy were the only cards remaining.

Sakura's friends fell back, even Eriol was exhausted. Sakura alone remained standing, as her friends sat around her panting. 

"O, cards of Sakura . . ." Sakura began again, her determination and love of her cards giving her renewed strength again, her eyes focused only on her cards, "Hear me now . . ."

The cards sparked bright, burning the very air with their power.

"Return to me . . . Thy true mistress . . ." Sakura's hand tightened around her staff, Kyree's magic circle flared and grew as she threw her entire being into the control she had over the cards.

"Return to me, Sakura, thy true mistress . . . I call to thee, return to my side . . ."

The cards continued to spin, the power of Clow and Kyree too much to throw off.

Sakura swung her staff again, "Return to me! " The cards still span, Kyree's control still too much for the Ruling Cards. She growled quietly, "You will not stop me, Clow, my cards will return to me . . ."

Kyree wiped her face, her concentration bursting a blood vessel in her nose, causing blood to run down her face, "Never!" She cackled insanely, "You are out of friends!"

Hei-ying's magic circle suddenly began to spin, as he faded from existence. His very essence span and swirled in the air as it raced to combine with Sakura's staff. Sakura smiled, as her staff gained a star pattern, she looked at Yue, "Onegai, Yue?"

Yue smiled, as he spread his arms and wings, his magic circle spinning faster as he too faded from existence.

"NO!!" Kyree screamed as Keroberos' magic circle span out of control and the lion too combined with the staff, Sakura's star grew with Keroberos' magic, the small wings flexed with Yue's. Sakura smiled as she felt Spinel's magic circle spin and his dark blue magic infuse with her staff, deep red handgrips appearing.

Kyree glared as Ruby moon danced on her circle, as it too began to spin. The butterfly's wings fluttered as she jumped into the air and turned into pure magic, Sakura's staff began a brilliant pink as Ruby sealed herself into the staff as well. The long staff became the smaller sized version as Sakura started to spin it around herself slowly. "O, cards of Sakura. . ."

"No . . ." Kyree cried out as the cards under her control span out into their visible forms, the four Ruling Women of the cards took their places, north, south, east and west of her magic circle. Facing Sakura, and awaiting their rescue. "NO!"

Tomoyo sat in awe as the cards above her head span, and magic dripped from them like fine glowing sand. The magic sparkled as Sakura reached her peak again. The once scared Cardcaptor smiled confidently as she recited her incantation.

"O, cards of Sakura . . . hear me now . . . forsake the corrupted magic of Clow Reed, accept thy truth . . ." Sakura's staff came to a sudden halt as she span to the south of her magic circle, "I command thee . . . with all the supremacy over the four winds of the Earth at thy will . . . Wind spirit, return to me . . ." The Windy spirit smiled gently as she wrapped around Sakura once, and settled into her place in the south point, Sakura swung the staff down hard and struck the air. "WINDY!" Shimmering gold tendrils of magic obscured the woman from her sight and the card came into existence, sparkling pale gold magic raining down.

Sakura grinned breathlessly, and swung her staff over her arm as she swung to the east, raising her staff once more, "I command thee . . ." She called above the howling wind, "With all the supremacy over the three infernos of space, man and the earth at thy will . . ." The Firey smirked as she danced away from Kyree, Sakura could feel the spirit burn against her cheek as she brought the staff crashing down, "Fire spirit, return to me . . ." Scarlet whips of magic wrapped themselves about the girl's form and sealed her into her confine. "FIREY!!"

Bright red magic sparkled as fine sand as it covered Syaoran; he smiled as he watched Sakura, her magic making the air tremble. Sakura swirled her staff over her arm again, "I command thee . . ." She ground out as she turned on her heel to the west, "With all the supremacy over the six oceans of the earth at thy will. . . Water Spirit. . ." Sakura grimaced as the magic made her light headed again, she shook it off, knowing her friends couldn't help her anymore, "Water spirit, return to me. . ." Sakura sucked in a deep breath; She closed her eyes as she pulled the staff down with all her heart. "WATERY!!"

Sakura staggered slightly as she turned to the north once more, facing Kyree and the Earthy card. A shimmer of doubt suddenly clouded her vision, she couldn't keep this up, it was too much for her . . .

"Daijobu . . ." A quiet voice murmured, Sakura glanced behind her, to see the Hope card wrap itself into her staff, the card smiled sweetly, "Mistress . . . we depend on thee . . ."

Sakura nodded as the card faded. Her emerald eyes settled on her brother. She had to do this . . . for her father . . .

Kyree braced herself for this last assault.

. . . for Kaho . . .

Eriol clenched his fists, and closed his eyes, willing as much power as he could to Sakura.

. . . for Meilin and Rika . . .

Syaoran pushed himself to his feet, and stood behind Sakura wrapping his hands over hers, lending as much as he could to her.

. . . for Yue . . .

Tomoyo closed her eyes, and growled quietly, unwittingly giving Sakura all her magic.

 . . . for Hei-ying . . .

The cards span brighter, this final time . . . they could not fail their mistress.

. . . for Carolyn . . .

Sakura's eyes snapped open.

. . . for Clow Reed . . . and for . . . herself . . .

She tighten her grip on her staff as she called the final verse of the incantation, "I command thee . . . with all the supremacy of the earth at thy will. . . Earth spirit. . . Return to thy true mistress. I, Sakura, command it . . ." She slammed the staff down as hard as she could, the combined magic of every one of her friends, guardians and cards rocking impossibly white ripples of sheer power on to this celestial plane. "EARTHY CAAAARDD!!!" Sakura roared as she completed the seal on the last card of the Sakura Cards.

The Earthy spirit floated away from Kyree sparing only one last look of pity, before exploding into a shower of earth green magic and light, Sakura screamed quietly as the final card sealed itself into it's form, the circle of cards around her sparking brightly, triumphant as they were completed. Syaoran stumbled back and fell unconscious as Sakura bore the brunt of the magic fall off; Tomoyo covered her eyes as she crawled over to catch him. Eriol was grimacing as the magic whipped around them. He could feel Kyree's pain, could feel Touya . . . and knew they could feel his as the cards were ripped away from Clow once again. The transference cutting every last bond he once had with them. 

The Li clan, young and old, sat in the Elders chambers, gathered once again. Many had their battle robes on, ready to fight to the death. Only Yulan refused to change for the battle, and forbade her daughters to do the same. They remained in their best clothes, beautifully intricate dresses, hand crafted, and stitched with magic.

They waited.

Every single member of the Li Clan waited.

Either the card mistress would fail . . .

Li Xiao Fao Lan opened his glinting black eyes and stared at the impassive face of the Clan Head's mother.

. . . or she would succeed.

Yulan opened her eyes and stared back at the Elder.

Still they waited.

The sound buzzed the air, vibrating the musty haze of incense, every Li felt magic course in their bodies, magic they knew only as fall off . . . Syaoran was outlet-ing some of the power he was feeling into them . . . but to achieve such a thing . . .

Yulan's daughters were slightly less controlled than herself, exchanging excited looks as they realised what it meant. Yulan stared evenly at the Elder.

But to achieve such a thing . . . The card mistress would have had to conquered the cards, claiming them as her own once more . . .

Li Xiao Fao Lan nodded imperceptivity, and observed quietly, "There is still the matter of Clow Reed himself . . ."

Kyree slumped to her knees, her black cloak, the former cloak of Clow Reed, almost shredded beyond recognition. Holes and deep rips where the cards had piece the centuries old cloak, they had raced to Sakura eagerly without regard for their former master's favourite clothes. Blood seeped from the small cuts and grazes, where the cards had escaped, uncaring of her flesh. She hung her head, unable to support herself anymore.

"How dare you . . ." She rasped, her voice lower, and deep. Her nose still bled, the bitter taste of her own blood upon her lips.

Sakura staggered back, allowing Eriol and Tomoyo to guide her down, Syaoran panted slightly as he pushed himself up, allowing her to lie in his lap. She closed her eyes as she caught her breath; her throat was dry and drained. She lifted her hand, and the cards floated to it eagerly, their pride of her, creating a warm sensation in her hand. "Welcome home, cards . . ."

The cards glowed once before filing into her pocket, making their feelings utterly clear. They were where they wanted to be.

Sakura closed her eyes and rested. The battle had worn her out.

Her staff shook and glowed warmly as the guardians started to unseal themselves from each other and the staff.

Kyree's head snapped up, with her fury providing her with extra strength. Her dark eyes narrowed as she felt her traitor guardians begin the process of extricating themselves from the claustrophobic confines of the staff. 

"How *dare* you!" She hissed and threw her hand out, she need a distraction to escape, and if she could harm her traitor guardians in the deal as well, then so be it. She cast the locking spell, and dragged herself up, stumbling weakly to the hidden stairwell.

The staff sparked hotly, causing Sakura's eyes to snap open and her to drop the cane in pain. Ah! It shook and rattled on the floor, as the guardians tried strongly to escape, throwing themselves against the confines. Eriol frowned, as he sensed a spell on it, and motioned to Syaoran to help him hold it down. The guardians started to panic as the two men tried to hold the staff down, calm down! Eriol snapped quietly, "I'm just trying to—"

The staff sparked hotly as the five guardians pooled their strength and threw themselves against the confining spell.

"Calm down!" Eriol snapped again, "I'm just trying to break it . . . but you've got to calm down!"

The five paid no attention as they pooled their magic again, the cane jumped, and jolted as their panic mounted. They could sense they were trapped. Sakura pulled herself up and took the staff in both hands; she glanced at Tomoyo, as the two women calmed the five guardians. Tomoyo held the staff as Sakura removed her gloves, and cooed quietly, "Shhh . . . my guardians, it's okay . . . it's okay. . ."

The staff glowed dimly, Eriol's guardians still trying to escape. Tomoyo smiled gently as she cradled half the staff in her lap. She stroked the cane slowly, "Daijobu, Ruby-chan . . . Spinel-kun . . . please try to keep yourself calm for now . . ."

The staff stilled, and Eriol glanced at Tomoyo, her soft words calming his guardians easily. He smiled weakly, "maybe I should have you around next time Ruby wants to give Spinel a bath . . ."

Sakura blinked and stared at Eriol as he waved his hand over the staff. It was a weak joke but it . . . she smiled broader as she felt Syaoran lean closer to her, and drop a very subtle kiss on her cheek softly . . . it meant everything was going to be okay . . .

Eriol frowned.

"What is it?" Tomoyo questioned quietly, she could see the staff glow slightly, different from usual, with a darker bind around it.

Eriol pressed his finger against his lips, and started to wave his hand up and down the staff, trying to dampen the guardians' senses. They could hear them perfectly, but not see the locking spell. On the surface, the spell was incredibly simple, just a mere locking spell, but with a dark sting. Kyree had trapped the equivalent of a spring in the spell's lock. The lock could be opened but . . .

The guardians bucked slightly, not willing to be sent to sleep, they wanted to be aware of the conversation.

"If we try to spring the lock open . . ." Syaoran asked quietly, placing his hand on the staff, also silently asking the guardians to calm themselves, not to give into the crushing terror they had to be experiencing. They could only be aware that they were trapped in the tiny space of the cane, not of the deadly trap Kyree had left with them. "What will happen to them?"

Eriol lowered his hand, it wasn't working. He wiped his hand over his eyes tiredly, "It's not so much that we can't get them out . . . it's just they'll come out much faster than they can ever be braced for . . ."

The cane started to rock violently; the guardians were awake enough to hear him.

"Will it kill them?"

He shrugged, "I don't know . . ." Sakura picked up her staff and struggled to her feet. "Where are you going?"

She moved to the centre of the room, and looked around. "Bubbles, Float . . ." Sakura paused as she tried to think of another soft card, "Ano . . . Snow . . . Create for me a barrier soft for the guardians to land in . . . Release!"

The cards rushed away, and padded the room, the Snow filling as much of the windows as she could, building huge snow banks around the room's floor. It built a small, heavy bank of snow, packed heavy in front of the small group, to protect them. Tomoyo shivered deeply, and leant into Eriol's arms as he moved closer to her. The Bubbles card padded the ceiling with as many tough bubbles as she could. The Float hovered around Sakura, ready to decelerate the guardians as the five exploded away from the staff.

"Okay . . ." Sakura murmured, "Ready, guardians?"

The staff glowed uncertainly, then brightly as the guards decided to be thrown about was better than being trapped.

"Very well . . . first . . ." Sakura let go of the staff, allowing it to float before her, "Kero-chan . . ."

The staff glowed dimly as the guardians shuffled uneasily, they all wanted out at the same time. Sakura touched the staff, knowing their impatience and panic made them hesitate. "I ask for Kero-chan first . . ." She smiled gently as she explained to them, "because Kero-chan is the more hardy . . . then I shall ask for Spinel, then Yue . . . Hei-ying and Ruby-chan will follow . . . okay?"

The staff glowed brighter slightly.

Sakura touched the staff one more time, "I know you're scared . . ." She admitted, "I am too . . ."

The staff started to rotate slowly as the first guardian separated himself from the staff. "Sakura!" Eriol shouted, "Come back here . . . the guardians can take care of the unlocking themselves . . ."

Sakura ran over as the staff started to spin faster and fast, almost matching the speed of her key when she was ordering the staff to come into existence. The magic circle beneath shone a bright burning gold, whips of gold magic moved around the staff as it got faster and faster. Eriol winced; the spell was a horrid and petty one. The staff started to spin out of control, it's perfect rotations became erratic and scarily fast.

There was an indescribable bright white flash as Keroberos appeared suddenly. There was the sickening crunch of bones as he was thrown against the wall furthest from the windows. The float tried his best to capture the lion, but he had been too fast. The lion slid into the snow bank below, and lay there dazed, groaning loudly. One of his hind ankle bent at an odd ankle and all of his paws looked swelled as it became clear he'd landed feet first against the wall, five of his claws had been ripped from his paws, and blood trickled, staining the snow red.

Sakura jumped up quickly and ran over to him, cradling his head in her lap, "Kero-chan!" The lion barely opened his eyes, a look of pure pain over his features.

"Sak . . . ku . . ." He whispered, his golden eyes filling with tears, "Sakura . . . Sakura-a-aaa. . ."

She swallowed heavily and looked up, the spinning staff getting faster. Sakura closed her eyes, the next guardian had to get out now . . .

"Spinel Sun."

Eriol called out his sun guardian's name as he felt his stomach clench, he could see how much pain Keroberos was in, it had reduced the powerful lion to tears! Spinel sun was only just a bit smaller than Keroberos. The magic circle turned instantly to a cold dark blue, rotating with wisps of Spinel deep velvet magic. Another bright flash, and another sickening thud.

Spinel sun skidded along the floor, just a little way from them. Eriol felt his stomach take a horrid lurch, as Spinel didn't move for a few seconds. He got slowly to his feet, staring at his downed sun guardian. A quiet sob issuing from his lips. Eriol ran over to his midnight blue panther, "Spinel?!"

Spinel's dark blue eyes were glassy and staring as he whimpered like a kitten, the sun guardian, like his counter part, reduced to tears with the pain. Spinel tried to push himself up, but his left front leg caved under him, his left shoulder crushed from the impact. "Master . . ." Spinel whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut and crying weakly, "It hurts, master . . ."

Eriol trembled, and stroked his guardian's fur gently, "Shhh . . . shhh . . ."

Syaoran and Tomoyo exchanged a look, before Syaoran sucked in a deep breath, he sat up a bit. "Yue-sama . . . it's your turn . . ."

The dark sapphire faded into an icy azure, as Yue's magic appeared.

Tomoyo clapped her hands over her ears, and squeezed her eyes shut, screaming out in surprise as Yue's sudden shout of fright was cut off. Syaoran bit his lip and looked away as Yue suddenly hit the ceiling, then went crashing to the floor before he could help himself. The snow card had gathered a little snow there, but it wasn't enough to stop the angel from hitting the floor hard. Syaoran stood slowly, exchanging a look with Tomoyo before walking slowly to the angel. Tomoyo peered over the small protective snow bank, Yue was pushing himself on to his hands slowly, a look of pure grief on his face; his amethyst eyes were dazed, and teary. Blood poured from his nose, and from his mouth and from cuts on his cheek. He cried out weakly as his hands slipped out.

Syaoran knelt in the snow by the angel, rolling him over and pulling him up. He held Yue to his chest, not caring about the angel's blood on his family robes. The angel moaned in his pain, his beautiful eyes closed as he pulled his right hand up, and cradled the wrist to his chest. Yue rocked from side to side to allay the pain, crying out pathetically.

Tomoyo swallowed, three guardians in great pain, guardians whom she had never seen cry like this before. She pushed herself to her feet, and stared at the vicious staff. "Ruby-chan . . ." Tomoyo whispered, then swallowed, calling louder, "Ruby Moon!"   

Sakura crouched over Keroberos, Syaoran over Yue, and Eriol over Spinel. Tomoyo briefly glanced at Touya, he was still lying unconscious on the floor, but the bubbles card was protecting him. She turned her attention back on the magic circle, it glowed a brilliant Ruby red. Tomoyo sucked in a breath as she closed her eyes against the bright flash.

There was a piercing shriek from Ruby, her shock and horror as she was re-materialised. Her scream was cut off as she hit one of the support walls between the windows. Tomoyo opened her eyes just as Ruby slid to her knees, the butterfly girl stared expressionlessly, a quiet whimper in her throat as her legs gave way. Tomoyo approached carefully, Ruby wasn't sobbing as openly yet, her tears still gathering in her eyes. By far she had had the easiest landing.

Ruby tilted her head as she stared at Tomoyo, her pink lip trembling and bleeding where she had bit it hard. "To-Tomoyo . . ."

The purple haired girl nodded mutely as she knelt in front of Ruby moon, taking in the damage. Her eyes flitted to the wall where Ruby had hit, a small round circle of blood, with tiny tear drops of crimson ran down the wall. Tomoyo looked at Ruby, as the butterfly girl murmured quietly, an eerie blankness tainting her eyes and her voice, "My head hurts . . . I think I hurt my . . ." Ruby began to sway slightly, "My . . . head . . ."

"I think so too . . ." Tomoyo sighed and looked at the most painfully obvious damage. While one wing had managed to bend easily in the small window dent, Ruby's other wing had hit the wall . . . and crumpled completely . . .

Ruby followed Tomoyo's gaze and stared uncomprehendingly at the small shards of her broken black wing on the bloodied snow. "What's that . . .?" She looked up at Tomoyo slowly, Ruby was completely dazed by the impact, blood was starting to run over her shoulders. Tomoyo's eyes creased as Ruby raised her hands and clutched at her head, "My head hurts . . ." The moon girl started to howl in pain, "MY HEAD HURTS!!"

Sakura looked over as Tomoyo cradled the sobbing butterfly girl, her eyes settled on the staff once more. Hei-ying was next. She closed her eyes as she whispered his name.

The jade green magic circle flared brightly, as the staff rotated faster. Hei-ying's exit would prove to be just as speedy as the rest. There was a bright flash, obscuring him from sight as he appeared. Sakura covered her eyes, throwing her head down, waiting for the stomach lurching thud, or the sickening crunch.

She looked up as Hei-ying skidded along the floor on his left side. He lay still for a few moments before standing, the dark haired angel kept his back to them, as he patted himself down. His left arm hanging limply beside him, another broken wrist. Hei-ying turned slowly, his face dull as he stared back at them, looking for his brothers and cousin. He limped over to Sakura, and looked at Keroberos. She stared at him, incredibility all over her face. "You're hurt, aren't you?"

His jade eye flickered quickly to her, "It's nothing much . . . merely my arm . . ." He looked at Keroberos, "You must try to fix his ankle, he will not be any use to us if he is injured . . ."

"Thank you, Hei-ying, as always your sympathy . . ." Keroberos mumbled tearfully, "Your sympathy astounds me . . ."

Hei-ying declined to answer, instead straightened, and started to hobble to Yue.

"Hei-ying?" Sakura looked at him, he turned slightly, listening to her. She swallowed, "How can you bear this and—"

"Practice . . ." Hei-ying mumbled quietly, a weak smile quirked his lips as he turned and hobbled away to Yue, "Half a century of practice . . ."

The roof door blew open, as Kyree staggered out. The storm was vicious, but not even close to the rage she felt. The part of her that was Clow Reed seethed with fury, his guardians, his cards . . . betraying him for the love of a mere girl! She staggered along the rooftop, not knowing where to go . . . she glanced at her hand, the flesh rotting as nature intended. Without the magic of her guardians, the magic of the cards . . . she was dissipating.

"No . . ."

Kyree moaned quietly, there was nothing she could do . . .

"No . . ." The wind whipped around her body, the lightning flash, the storm sensed her mood. Her dark rage building as she took in her weak flesh. Mystrasa Kyree died in that instant . . . and the part of her that was Clow Reed came to the surface completely . . .

"NO!!"

Yue opened his eyes, he could hear crying, Keroberos . . .

//Oniichan . . .?//

. . . Spinel Sun was sobbing . . .

//What happened?//

. . . Ruby Moon wailed . . .

//Why does it hurt so much?//

. . . Yue's eyes slid shut again . . .

::Squeak::

He looked up, the swing chain was very rusty . . . frowning slightly, he looked around.

::Squeak::

"To-ya must be worried . . ." Yue looked over at his swing companion, Yukito smiled as he glanced back, "Are you all right?"

Yue blanched, "I . . . I'm sorry . . ."

"How can you be sorry . . .?" Yukito asked quietly, he smiled gently, "You know it just as well as I do . . ."

Yue looked at him, the snow rabbit was so accepting, "Why can't you just be angry about this?!"

"I am." Yukito laughed, "You are the part of me that is angry about it . . . and I am the part of you that is accepting of it . . ." He tipped his head back, pure white snow fell around them like flower petals. Yue mirrored his movements almost exactly, they stared up together.

:: Squeak ::

". . . Yukito . . .?"

:: Squeak ::

". . . Yue . . .?"

:: Squeak ::

"I can't go back to the way things were . . ." Yue admitted, "When you and I were one . . . I'm . . ."

"Too used to the way they are now?" Yue's head snapped towards his other side. Yukito giggled sweetly, "You forget we are still one on some level . . ."

Yue nodded, "What about To-ya?" He closed his eyes, and whispered fearfully, "What are we going to do?"

Yukito fell silent and thought.

:: Squeak :: :: Squeak ::

"Wake up."

The two glanced at each other not sure who had spoken, yet sure they had said it on the same breath.

Keroberos panted as he leant against his mistress, she had helped him to crawl over to his youngest brother. He stared at Yue's face dully as the angel's eyes flicked from side to side under his puffy eyelids. "What's he doing?"

"Thinking." Hei-ying answered quietly, as he bandaged Yue's swelling wrist, his own wrist already sporting a pink make shift bandage. The guardians' magic was at such a low ebb, with the moon obscured by the storm, and the sunrise hours away. Yue yelped quietly as Hei-ying tightened the small strip. Sakura's favourite cloak lay in tatters near the remnants of Tomoyo's. Syaoran looked over Sakura's shoulder to Spinel and Eriol.

"Shhh . . ." Eriol cooed quietly, he bandaged Spinel leg as best he could, aware that fixing Spinel would take hours, maybe even days. He swallowed, feeling his part of Clow Reed rage quietly. These were *his* guardians, and Kyree had nearly killed them. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down, the last thing he needed was to join souls with Kyree again. He tipped his head back; he could feel Kyree on the roof. Her own soul dormant, and her version of Clow Reed now completely active. His own words coming back to haunt him.

"Ancient spells . . . Cast mostly by the most greedy of magicians . . . But it wasn't unheard of for a reincarnation to go against the will of the first life . . . so some magicians would try to restore the balance . . . try to come back, live again, and kill the reincarnation's soul to inhabit the body themselves . . ."

Some dark part of Clow Reed had killed Kyree and now . . . his lavender-grey eyes narrowed, he and Touya would have to stop him . . . this was no longer for Sakura to take care off; this was purely between Clow and his reincarnations now . . .

Spinel sun groaned quietly, "Ruby . . ." His eyes fluttered open, slightly bloodshot, "Master?"

Eriol smiled down at the panther as he lay in his lap, "Daijobu?"

The large cat stared at him blankly before repeating, "Ruby?" His master nodded and looked over at Ruby, Spinel tipping his head slowly, barely focusing on his sister's Ruby red aura. //Ruby?//

Tomoyo cooed quietly as Ruby rested against her, she patted some snow into her hand and held it against Ruby's forehead. The guardian was so weak, her sobs had ceased, and Tomoyo's nearness seemed to keep her calm. Ruby giggled suddenly, "Lavender!" She looked around with a childish confusion, "That's what it is . . . lavender . . . yes, lavender . . ."

Tomoyo blinked, "Nani?"

"You smell of . . ." Ruby fell silent, her eyes moving from left to right as if she was reading. "Smell of . . ."

"Lavender?"

Ruby giggled again, her mirth was severely dampened, slowly by her confused state. Tomoyo frowned, as Ruby nodded slowly, still staring at nothing, "Lavender . . . ever since . . . to Japan . . . -sama loves . . ." Some life came back to Ruby's rose red eyes as she blinked, and lifted her head off Tomoyo's shoulder. "Suppi . . .?"

"Ruby-chan! No!" Tomoyo protest as Ruby staggered to her feet. Ruby limped and swayed, not entirely sure where she was going. Her vision faded, making her sob out loud. "Suppi! Suppi, where are you?!"

Syaoran lowered Yue into Sakura's arms, and paced over to Ruby. He glanced at Tomoyo, "It's probably best if we let her go to him."

Touya groaned, Clow in his mind urging him to wake. Pain, there was so much pain nearby. Not only his own but . . . he gasped, the guardians!

What had happened?!

Touya pushed himself past the mugged darkness of his own mind, and forced himself to wake.

"Suppi?" Ruby collapsed a few feet away from her brother and crawled towards him, one hand out in front of her searching for him. Spinel craned his neck, whimpering quietly, //Ruby . . .//

Ruby giggled slowly as she patted his snout, "Suppi!" Eriol smiled bittersweet, Ruby was very dazed, her wing in tatters, she too would take days to fix. Syaoran dipped his head as he watched Eriol's face suddenly crumple, and tears roll from his eyes. Not know what to do, Syaoran glanced at Touya as the taller boy rolled onto his side, Syaoran bowed quickly and paced away, knowing his distant relative wouldn't want him there to see this show of weakness.

Tomoyo nodded gratefully to Syaoran as he moved away to tend to Touya. She shuffled closer to Eriol, pulling Ruby closer. The moon guardian curled up beside her brother, and lay staring into his eyes. Tomoyo touched Spinel's head slightly, and glanced at Eriol, he was composing himself again.

"They will be fine again . . . won't they?"

He nodded, and sniffed, "Yes but I . . . I never prepared them for this . . . and it's all . . . all my fault . . ."

Yue opened his eyes weakly as he felt his older brother, Keroberos and Sakura move away from him. Hei-ying held his head in his lap, and smiled down at him. "How are you feeling, little moonbeam?"

Yue didn't answer, just blinked slowly.

"Tired, hmm?" Hei-ying spoke in low tones warmly, "Me too . . . when this is all over . . . I look forward to a nice long rest . . ." He smiled weakly as Yue sat up slowly, "How is the Sakura book? Is it warm? Comfortable?"

The white haired angel shrugged with a single shoulder. "Never been in there."

"Why not?"

"Sakura-sama doesn't like it . . ." Yue swivelled slightly, hugging one knee to his chest, "She thinks it's like trapping us . . . she just . . . doesn't like it . . ."

Hei-ying smiled, a fragile look in his eye, "Really?" He chuckled quietly, "I want nothing more than to curl up in front of a good fire, and just read then . . ." Yue's head moved slightly, making Hei-ying tilt his head, "You like that too?"

Yue nodded, "Sakura-sama doesn't have any fires though . . ."

"Oh . . ." Hei-ying murmured, he sighed and looked over at Sakura, Touya was sitting up now and rubbing his head, answering Syaoran's questions slowly. "Pity . . ." Hei-ying whispered, he closed his eye and turned back to Yue. "Touya's awake now . . ."

A sudden movement from Yue made his eye snap open, the white haired angel lurched to his feet in fright.

"Yue?"

Yue stumbled back away from Hei-ying, his eyes staring worriedly at Touya. He was afraid of what Touya would say, Kyree's words still ringing hotly in his ears.

Keroberos looked up as he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye, "Yue? What's wrong?"

Sakura and Syaoran blinked and watched as Yue suddenly looked around wildly, his eyes settling on a window. "Yue?!" Sakura got to her feet and ran over, Yue glanced at her once, pure fear and panic in his eyes as he lifted his good hand and formed his powerful ice crystals. The window shattered loudly, and Yue ran forward, instantly fleeing. Sakura ran to the broken window, and screamed out into the driving ran, "Yue?! NO!!"

She pushed the window frame up, and readied her cane; she was going to go after him when a hand stopped her. She looked back, her brother's blue eyes completely clear as he stared out the window. "Keroberos . . ." His voice indescribably calm, Clow Reed had taken over again, "Hei-ying . . . you will retrieve Yue this instant . . ." He looked at Sakura, a small fraction of sorrow in his eyes, "I want to go after him too, but I . . ." He glanced over his shoulder as Eriol got up too, "We have to take care of the third reincarnation . . . we cannot allow this to go on . . ."

Sakura growled, "Yue first!" She threw her hand out, pointing after her angel, "I let him go once . . . not again!"

Clow looked at her calmly, then out the window, he swallowed, and murmured, "This goes beyond Yue now . . ." He stepped back, grabbing Sakura's arm gently, pulling her away to make room for the two guardians. Keroberos limped painfully after Hei-ying as they approached the window. Sakura watched them as they flew away slowly, she broke free of Clow and ran to the window, "Please tell him to come back!!" The two guardians paused in their flight, and stared back at her as she screamed above the howling wind, "Tell him that no one's angry at him . . . tell him not to be scared!!"

"Sakura . . ." Clow murmured quietly, he closed his eyes and sent a silent message to his former guardians, //Tell him Touya still loves him . . .//

"Please take care of his guardians . . ." Clow/Eriol murmured as he walked away. He paused, and looked back at Tomoyo, "He loves you a lot, Tomoyo . . ."

Tomoyo blinked, and looked at him, ". . . But?"

Clow/Eriol sighed and crouched down again, stroking Ruby's head as she dozed, "But when he comes back he might feel . . . slightly differently . . ."

She closed her eyes and swallowed quietly, her head rocked slightly as she took this in.

Clow/Eriol closed his eyes, and then there was only Eriol. "I'm sorry . . ." Her head rose slightly, as he continued, "There are sacrifices now that must be made . . . for all of this to stop . . . my love for you . . . might be a casualty of war . . ."

Her eyes travelled over his shoulder, and stared at Sakura as she readied herself for her last battle. "For Sakura-chan . . ." Tomoyo murmured, preparing herself for this last battle too, her hand reached out blindly, and Eriol laced his fingers with hers, ". . . I just want her to be happy and her happiness means more to me . . ."

He squeezed her hand tightly, Tomoyo. He frowned deeply, and pulled her hand to his lips. Tomoyo shook her head suddenly and tipped his head up. They kissed harshly tender, sweetly bitter until she pushed him away. "Go!" Eriol stumbled back, and looked at her . . . Tomoyo didn't turn her head, she looked away from him as she spat again, "GO!"

Eriol rose to his feet, glancing at his slumbering weakened guardians, then at Tomoyo. He closed his lavender-grey eyes and focused on a single thought as Clow came back into his consciousness.

Syaoran watched silently as both Clow Reeds and Sakura ran to the hidden stairwell, Sakura pausing once to glance at him. She cast one worried look out the window, then at her dearest friend, "Tomoyo-chan . . .?" The purple haired girl looked over at her, as Sakura promised faithfully, "I'll bring your costume back in one piece!"

"Remember, that's a promise, Sakura-chan . . ." Tomoyo smiled faintly, as Sakura threw one more look at Syaoran, filled with another promise, before she disappeared up the stairs. Syaoran turned and walked to the window, staring out as he waited for the Clow guardians to come back.

Quiet weeping caught Tomoyo's attention, "Ruby-chan?"

"Hiirawagizawa-sama loves the smell of . . . lavender . . ." Ruby moaned, her blank pink eyes holding some glimmer of realisation. She knew.

Tomoyo pressed her lips together hard, as her heart felt like it was cracking under such great pressure . . . Eriol's last thought echoing in her mind . . .

Syaoran jerked his head back as he heard Tomoyo burst into racking sobs. He closed his eyes and sighed, walking over to her quickly. "Tomoyo-chan . . ." he knelt by her, and just held her, trying to soothe her sudden pain, "What is it?"

Tomoyo was inconsolable, Eriol's voice still echoing in her broken heart . . .

//I love you.//

"Bastard! This is all your fault!"

Keroberos growled at Hei-ying in German as soon as he was sure the rest was not watching them. Hei-ying rolled his eye, wiping his hair out of his face as the rain matted it down, Keroberos continued to berate him, "If you had been killed like I told Clow, *none* of this shit would ever happened! And I tell you this, bastard, while Sakura and Yue might be charmed by your little innocent act, I'm *not*!!"

Hei-ying continued to fly, knowing he would have to face Keroberos sometime. He closed his eye and tried to keep his calm.

"And you filthy bastard!! Yue's only a *child*!! If you really knew how it felt, you wouldn't repeat it to Yue! He's only a fucking child!!" Keroberos roared, his Osaka accent thickening his German dialect, "Even if Sakura accepts you as a guardian, I will never, ever, ever forget your true nature! HA! Never! I know you, Hei-ying; you could never change what you are, *never*! What you did to my little one is unforgivable, I will never forget it, never forgive you!!"

Hei-ying jade eye suddenly snapped open, and the black haired angel abruptly pulled up in the air. He was trembling with rage, as he roared rapidly, "YOU THINK I DON'T *KNOW* THAT?!" He spread his arms, shaking his hands at the lion, "I DON'T CARE! DO YOU HEAR ME?! I *DON'T* CARE!!"

"WELL YOU SHOULD!! YOU ALMOST KILLED HIM!!" Keroberos growled at the instability lurching beneath the surface, so close to the surface in this tainted soul, and only he could see it. The old battle-hardened lion, the old Keroberos returned as well, years of denied and pent-up anger finally welling up, and finding it's release and roared back, "AND FOR WHAT?! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU HEI-YING!! YOU BASTARD!! NEVER!!"

"I DON'T CARE!" Hei-ying bellowed back icily, shadows lurking behind his jade green eye, and the other brutally exposed to the elements, an orbless scar that would never heal, his face paling with his anger, "I DON'T CARE! ALL I CARE ABOUT IS. . ." He paused, unexpectedly softening, saddened and quiet now as he murmured, "All I care about is that . . . Yue is nothing like me . . ." Keroberos blinked, and stared at Hei-ying as the angel stared back. Hei-ying was crying . . . he shook his head slowly, "I don't care about anything anymore, nothing . . . but that . . ."

"Bad things . . ." Keroberos murmured, "Bad things happen . . . but I . . . I don't believe you've changed. . . " Keroberos was eyeing him measuringly, without his usual anger, "And I will *always* watch you, Hei-ying . . Every minute, every second you are near him. . . I will watch you." He met Hei-ying's jade gaze evenly, "I can't forgive you."

"I know, Keroberos . . ." Hei-ying snorted tearfully, "You think I can either?" The black haired angel pushed his soggy hair out of his one good eye, "Let's just find Yue . . . for now . . . We'll sort out old problems later . . ."

Kyree turned, her soul dead, Clow Reed in power.

Her black eyes narrowed as she took in the sight before her. "So . . . my final betrayal . . . will come from my own soul . . ."

Eriol and Touya stepped forward, their staffs glinting dully as the lighting flashed. Kyree raised her own worn staff; it's black corruption almost completely overriding the gold. "We could be again . . ."

Eriol shook his head, "The future must exist . . . The past must be left behind . . ."

"Yue and Hei-ying . . ." She looked at Touya, "We could force them . . . ours once more . . ."

"At what price . . ." Touya chuckled mirthlessly, "We aren't what they want anymore . . . Yue wants Touya now . . . Hei-ying, freedom from his heart's desire . . ."

"Our cards . . ." Kyree sank to the ground, finally weakening, "Our guardians . . . our love . . ." She glared at Sakura, "We gave everything up for a mere child . . ."

Sakura started forward, but both Eriol and Touya held up their hands to stop her. "Life must exist . . ." Eriol sighed, "We had to die . . . we died for a good reason . . ."

Yue stared at the water, the pond rippled with his icy blue magic as he stood above it. His reflection stared back, showing him a failure and a wreck of a guardian. He folded his arms and closed his eyes, what would he do? What could he do? He had failed as a guardian, as the creation he was meant to be.

Yue opened his eyes as cold water touched his toes. He watched his reflection narrow it's eyes at him. Yukito's voice clear in his mind, //If you think of that as a way out, then add coward to your list!//

The angel sighed and levitated upwards again. "What else can I expect . . .?"

Yue!! Keroberos yelled as he landed, the lion limped over as fast as he could, "Yue!! What's wrong?!"

The angel snorted quietly, "Look at me, Keroberos . . . I'm hardly the perfect moon angel Clow created, am I?" Yue looked down again, his reflection still staring back at him, Yukito's compassionate reproach in his expression. The reflection rippled as gold and jade green ripple disturbed it and his own ice blue ripples. Yue looked up to see both his older brothers floating beside him. Keroberos sat heavily, bobbing slightly. Hei-ying motioned Yue to sit as well, as the dark haired angel sank down on one knee. Yue folded his legs below him and hugged his knees.

"You think this is what he planned for any of us?" Hei-ying rasped quietly, "that I be like this? Or Keroberos as he is . . .?"

"But I'm meant to be the judgement maker . . ." Yue let go of his knees and pulled his hands together. Hei-ying's eye flicked down to watch as Yue started to rub the small finger Hei-ying broke some very long ago. A small twist of regret stabbed at Hei-ying as Yue corrected himself, "I mean, the judge . . . as the judge I'm meant to be---"

"As the adviser, I thought I was meant to be perfect too . . ." Hei-ying pulled Yue's hand away, "And I've passed this . . . this obsessive desire to you . . ." He dipped his head, "I'm sorry . . ."

Yue dipped his head as well; the three brothers stared into the pond. Keroberos stared down, his eldest brother, and his youngest were almost a perfect recreation of the yin-yang symbol as they sat together. He shook his head, and puffed up his chest suddenly, "well, it's a good thing . . ." Hei-ying and Yue blinked and started at him, the lion winked broadly at Yue, smiling, "that I'm not all obsessive then, isn't it?" He nudged Yue, forcing a small tearful chuckle out of him, "Admit it. . . you wanna be just like me!"

Hei-ying stood swiftly, and brushed himself off, Yue instantly following suite, both angels muttered, "If we were all like you Keroberos, we'd need new robes . . ."

Keroberos blinked, as both Yue and Hei-ying looked up at each other. Hei-ying's face suddenly filled with a deep disgust and he turned on his heel, heading back to the house. "Hei-ying!" Yue ran after him, "Hei-ying, Matte!" The younger angel grabbed his arm, "What is it?"

Hei-ying glanced at Keroberos, before he tried not to spit his answer, nothing. He swallowed, his dry throat working to hold down the bile, come along now. "The mistress is probably waiting for her guardians . . . and . . ." He turned away, "Touya's probably waiting for you . . ."

Yue's voice floated in a whisper, "To-ya . . ."

Hei-ying turned instantly, sparing only one look at Keroberos, as he grabbed Yue's chin harshly, "As your eldest brother . . . you have my permission and approval to continue this relationship . . ."

"Oniisan . . ." Yue murmured, his eyes wide.

"Do you hear me?" Hei-ying shook Yue's head sharply, "Touya loves you dearly."

"What good reason could that be?" Kyree protested dimly, "Hmmm? What *good* reason was there for us to give up our lovers, Yue and Hei-ying, to give up our cards, our power . . . everything to this mere girl?"

"We were the most powerful magician in the world . . . no one could match our power . . ." Eriol murmured as he knelt by her, Touya swiftly kneeling as well, Clow's argument flowing easily between the two, "Without our death, we would have continued like this . . ."

"That's your reason?" Kyree grunted, "That we would still be the most powerful in this world . . . The magic world would take pride of place, as it should have done . . ." She pointed at Sakura, "Had it not been for our pitiful desire to help this worthless brat we could have concentrated on our purpose properly . . ."

Sakura clutched her staff closer as the inaudible conversation continued, Kyree glared at her, Touya and Eriol occasionally glancing over their shoulder. She glanced out across the roof, wondering how Yue was doing . . .

Eriol shook his head, "Our purpose was never to save the magic world . . . merely to see Sakura as the next mistress . . ." Kyree continued to shake her head, almost breaking down completely. Eriol sighed and stood.

He tapped his staff down hard, his huge gold magic circle appearing instantly.

"No . . ." Kyree reached up, her strength deserting her, "Don't do this . . ."

Touya sighed and stood as well, repeating Eriol's motions. His ice blue magic circle over lapping and was over lapped by Eriol's.

"No!" Kyree cried, "I don't want to die again . . ."

Sakura stepped back as she felt Clow Reed amass his vast magic in one place. "What are you doing?"

Touya and Eriol smiled at her, Kyree raised her staff, not willing to add it to the others, she hissed at Sakura, "I hate you."

"Doushite?" Sakura murmured quietly.

Kyree never answered, she closed her eyes and pushed her staff down, her deep violet magic circle adding to the other two over lapping circles. Sakura backed away, the sheer power of Clow's magic made the rain stop, she felt the Fly card suddenly sprout wings on her back and force her off the roof.

"Oniichan!" Sakura screamed as the light beneath them light the roof top, "Eriol-kun?!"

Kyree stood in the circle, her former beauty restored to her once again. She stood tall and gracefully next to Touya and Eriol. The three's heads tipped forward, their hair blasting away from their faces, white light from the three circle as they began to rotate slowly almost obscuring them.

Hiirawagizawa Eriol, true reincarnation of Clow Reed, opened his eyes, "Let this be our last battle . . ."

"This our last fight . . ." Mystrasa Kyree, impure re-embodiment of Clow Reed, murmured, "The fairness in war . . ."

"Is as the fairness in love . . ." Kinomoto Touya, second keeper of the magic and soul of Clow Reed, whispered, "Let this be our last battle . . ."

Sakura gasped as she found herself in dreamscape. A place she hadn't been scene her Cardcaptor days. Clow Reed smiled sadly as he approached her, "Hello Sakura . . ."

"Clow-san?"

He nodded.

"Clow-san . . . what's happening?"

"This is the end of the story, Ruby's fairytale's ending . . ." He smiled at her confused look, "Never mind . . ." Turning, Clow started to walk away. Sakura shook her head.

"That's not a good enough answer, Clow-san!"

Clow paused, without turning to her, he asked, "What would be then?"

Sakura paused, knowing she could ask only one question, ". . . Why would you hate me?"

Clow chuckled, a cool tone creeping into his warm chuckle, "You have everything . . ." He turned to look at her, sadness in his deep blue eyes, "*Everything* I've ever loved . . . Take my advice, once you die . . . stay dead . . . it's less painful . . ." He pursed his lips together, "Sakura . . . the guards are no longer mine . . ." He nodded his head to her staff, "As you have done with the staff, the cards, the book . . . everything . . . you must make them yours now. . ."

Sakura blinked as the magician turned away again, "Clow-san?" He stopped, this time only tilting his head to show her he was listening, Sakura clutched her staff to her chest, feeling like that little girl once again, "I'll . . . I'll tell them . . . the cards, Kero-chan, Yue and Hei-ying . . . that you loved them . . . loved them very much . . . they'll understand . . ."

Clow nodded once . . . and faded. His voice floated to her, "This our last fight . . . to live again . . . one more time . . ."

Li Xiao Fao Lan opened his eyes. Yulan swept to her feet graceful and proud, "She's done it . . . The Mistress of the Cards has defeated Clow Reed."

The elder nodded his agreement, but said nothing more.

Yulan motioned her branch of the family to leave now; there would be no battle . . .

"Yulan . . ." she paused in the doorway, as the elder spoke. "Inform the Clan Head . . . his choice of bride . . ." the elder settled back again, speaking the card mistress' name for the first time in the House of Elders, "Kinomoto Sakura is approved . . ."

Shocked whispers echoed around the rest of the family as Yulan nodded once, she stepped out to leave when the shockwave hit her . . . raced through out the hall, drawing gasps of surprise from every member of the clan. Li Xiao Fao Lan staggered to his feet, his hard black eyes widening with surprise.

"Clow Reed!"

Hei-ying gasped as he felt it, he clutched his stomach and fell to his knees, throwing up.

Keroberos stepped back, dizzy, nauseous and confused, he stumbled and fell heavily.

Yue was stunned, he clutched his head and started to cry uncontrollably, he too fell to his hands and knees and proceeded to empty his stomach.

Ruby moon started to scream loudly, kicking out and punching the air.

Spinel sun closed his eyes and whimpered as he felt the gorge rise up in his throat.

Syaoran, even Tomoyo felt it, as the massive shockwave of magic exploded outward.

As the light of the spell's shockwave, lit up the sky, Yue pushed himself up, pushed himself past his older brothers at the three raced to the rooftop. Ice-cold fear gripped Yue's heart, Clow Reed . . . Clow Reed was dead. Not even Eriol's aura showed any trace of Clow's . . .

The three guardians flew desperately, each having his own fears about what they would find . . . the same thought ran true through each mind.

Clow Reed . . . their master and creator was truly gone . . .

The cards cried out, shock numbing them so much, the fly card stopped working; it's disbelief too much for it. Sakura screamed as her wings disappeared. Her eyes widened as she fell past the house. She reached up, Fly!! She tried to command but the card was too far away, it could never catch her. Her fifty-three cards dived for her, in bright pink streaks of light but . . .

She closed her eyes, //GUARDIANS!!//

"SAAAAKKKKUUUURRRRAAAA!!!" Keroberos' voice roared up, "SAKURA!!!"

She looked to her side, the wind blowing her bangs into her eyes, but she could see the three guardians. Keroberos flew to her, Hei-ying just behind him. Yue hesitated. She closed her eyes, //Yue . . . Onegai . . . //

"ARROW!!" She could barely hear the angel as he yelled for one of his cards. There was a swift succession of arrows shot past her, making her eyes open again. Hei-ying and Keroberos swirled around each other, aiming to fly below her, Yue was aiming arrows at her. One arrow hit her, just slicing past her cheek, but it was the arrow that struck true.

Sakura hit the wall hard, as Yue's arrow nailed her thick pink cloak to the wall. Sakura breathed a sigh, as she pulled herself into a window. "Sakura!!" Keroberos roared, "Sakura . . ."

Hei-ying fluttered nearby, and pulled the arrow out of her cloak, freeing her from it. Sakura shook her head and smiled, she was trembling, having only fallen once like that in her lifetime. Hei-ying caught Sakura and leaned her heavily against Keroberos. The lion swore slightly because of the weight it put on his damaged paws. Yue flew up to them, the cards in his hands, "Sakura?! Sakura?!" She lifted her head weakly, and reached out, stroking Yue's cheek.

"Arigato . . ." she murmured faintly, she smiled a gentle smile to each of her guardians, "To all of you . . ."

Hei-ying actually blushed slightly and looked away, Yue dipped his head thankfully, and Keroberos smiled a little. "That's what we're here for . . ." He glanced at Yue, "Isn't it?"

Yue nodded, "Hai . . ." He looked up, "What was that . . .?"

"I'm not sure . . ." Sakura pulled her cards out of his hands, she twirled her staff once, "But it was Clow Reed's doing . . ."

The four flew up steadily, until they arrived on the roof. Touya looked up, the last one standing. Sakura landed quickly, and ran along to him. The tall man was incredibly pale as he staggered towards, he dropped his silver staff, and fell into Sakura's arms, "It's okay . . ." He murmured, "Sakura . . . it's all over . . ."

"What's happened?!" Yue demanded as he landed, he looked around, and immediately went to Touya's side, the taller boy smiled gently from the protective circle of his sister's arm. "Yue . . . you're here . . ."

Sakura handed him to Yue to hold as she got up. The two seemed engrossed with each other; she looked up as Hei-ying and Keroberos landed quickly.

Keroberos landed by Eriol, and covered the young magician with his wings. He looked at Eriol's expression carefully, finding none of Clow's usual smugness in Eriol's face. Eriol curled up, damp and cold against the lion, and fell into a light sleep. Keroberos sighed as he sat, and wrapped his wings around Eriol warmly; he stared up at the sky. The storm clouds clearing with the power of the last spell Clow ever cast.

"Oh, Clow . . ." He sighed quietly, and closed his eyes, shedding the first tears he'd ever cried for Clow's death, "If you wanted to prove you weren't a selfish man . . ." He opened his eyes and murmured, "You have a mighty strange way of showing it . . . but then . . ." Keroberos' face crumpled, as he stared at Eriol's blank face, Clow had allowed his soul to slip away, leaving Touya and Eriol with all his magic, but none of his memories. Kyree didn't have enough to support herself anymore. Keroberos shook his head, trembling as he sobbed quietly, "You were always a man with many, many problems . . ."

Hei-ying landed tentatively, he glanced once at Touya and Yue as they stared at each other, then at Keroberos as he cradled the sleeping Eriol . . . finally his gaze fell on Kyree . . .

She was beautiful, even in death.

He found himself stepping forward, and slipping his hand into his pocket. He blinked as he felt a smaller hand wrap around his other hand, he looked behind him into the emerald green eyes of his new mistress. "She's dead." He remarked without a trace of emotion in his voice, "Clow too . . ."

"I'm sorry, Hei-ying . . ." Sakura gazed at him, she squeezed his hand, "I'm very sorry . . ."

His hand tightened around his silver scissors and he pulled them out suddenly, he lurched forward, and plunged them into his lover's . . . mistress' . . . tormentor's . . . Kyree's neck. Sakura ran forward, and grabbed his arm as he raised it for another strike. The scissors clattered to the roof's tiles skidding along until they fell off and plunged to the ground forgotten, as Hei-ying finally broke down.

He curled into Sakura's lap grateful and sobbed. Crying out through his racking sobs, "It's over . . . it's finally over . . ."

Sakura stroked his head, and looked up, first to Yue and Keroberos, Eriol and Touya, then upward to the stars. Hei-ying's cries still echoing.

"It's over . . ."

Eyes slid open . . . a dark orange glowed dimly; as he sucked breathe back into his body.

 --------------------------------------

And Now It's Time To LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!!

Clow: [eyes narrow]

DrM: [gulps]

Clow: [eyes narrow even more, arms fold]

DrM: [gulps again, and pulls at collar nervously]

Clow: [starts to tap foot on ground angrily]

DrM: [looks out of corner of eye to readers] er. . . a little help?

Clow: [growls]

DrM: [giggles uneasily] Look Clow, sweetums, it had to be done. . . or you'd just keep coming back, and back, and back. . . and that would mean I'd have to make another sequel . . . and I can't think of anything poetic to go with 'In This Tainted Soul . . . There Lies Hope' . . . somehow I don't think anyone wants to read a fic called, 'In This Tainted Soul. . . There Lies 20% More Hope'

[Yue walks in and puts soothing hands on Clow, and starts whispering soothing promises of Lemon-y goodness, DrM breaths a sigh of relief as Yue leads Clow away. Touya walks in and slaps DrM upside the head]

DrM: Itai!! [rubs head] what was that for?

Touya: [points at last line] Just can't well enough alone, can you?!

DrM: [scratches back of head sheepishly] oh, come on, you know ya really wanna have a chance to pummel him into the ground good, blow him back to the stone ages with style, my man!!

Yukito: At least announce what you should be announcing. . .

DrM: Hai, hai!! [grins at readers] I love you. . . you know that, right? I probably don't say it often enough but I really, really, really love you guys. . . last count when I was putting this chapter up was 315 reviews. I can't believe it, seriously, I can't believe it at all. . . I really think it's some kind of fluke, I mean. . . [blushes] it's not like I'm any good or anything. . . aw, man. . . I dunno what to say except I really love you all!! And the winner, well. . . what I mean is, the 300th review was Anmanjiko so congratulations to you!! And I have to mention Clow'd9, 'cause she made 301 and wasn't too pleased with it!! [giggles happily] I've got nothing more to say except: please R&R!! [winks] especially if you want in on a certain scaly bastard gettin' his hiny whupped. . .