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-Four: Beyond All Else

Their whimpers were just dying out; whatever had caused them to cry out like that had passed. Ruby moon opened her eyes, feeling a little more focused, she frowned as Spinel's features refused to come into focus . . . and the dull throb in her head pulsing painfully. Ruby groaned and closed her eyes again; she'd wait for the pain to go first . . . wait for her master to . . . to come back . . . and. . .

Syaoran nodded as Ruby moon passed out again, he glanced at Tomoyo as she stroked Spinel's head gently; she had stopped crying at least. He swallowed, "Tomoyo-chan?"

Tomoyo glanced at him as she reached over to brush a lock of rose red hair from Ruby's forehead. "Hmm?"

"Eriol-kun . . . he . . ." Syaoran cleared his throat, he'd never been any good at things like this, "I'm sure when he comes back . . . he'll . . . he'll remember . . ."

Tomoyo looked at Ruby, "Maybe . . ." She smiled slightly, "I'm glad Sakura-chan won . . ."

"You can feel that?" He looked at her closely as she nodded once, "In what way can you . . . feel?"

"I just can . . ." Tomoyo answered simply, "I don't really know why . . . or how, I just know it's her and she's won . . ."

Ruby groaned quietly as she woke again, "Lavender . . ." She insisted, her dull pink eyes unfocused as she stared at Tomoyo, "Lavender . . ."

Syaoran frowned; once again the strongly subtle smell of lavender touched his senses. He'd always assumed it was merely a perfume that Tomoyo wore, but . . . now . . .

"Tomoyo-chan! Syaoran-kun!!" Sakura bolted through the door, she looked around quickly and ran over to them, Syaoran got up and met her half way. He ran straight up to her, and pulled her into a fierce hug. Sakura gasped in surprise, as he kissed her, her eyes slowly lowering lids as she smiled into the kiss.

Touya sighed heavily as he walked in, guiding Eriol as the blue haired magician stumbled slightly, he didn't have the energy to yell or even growl at Syaoran. Eriol was by far the most affected by Clow's real death. The former reincarnation was silent, his eyes half lidded, expression devoid of any life. Eriol looked like he didn't know how to respond to this massive change in his mind's makeup.

Both he and Touya had been left with magic, massive amounts of magic, but there was not a single trace of Clow Reed's soul left intertwined.

Syaoran broke the kiss and blushed, "Gomen . . ." He squeezed Sakura, and whispered something inaudible into her ear. Sakura smiled, and pushed away from him. He looked at Touya evenly, "Kyree?"

"Dead." Touya answered simply, Eriol shuffled to a stop. Syaoran tilted his head as he stared at the former reincarnation.

"What's wrong with Eri—"

"Clow too." Another simple answer murmured, as Touya looked over his shoulder. "Clow's dead too . . ."

The three guardians walked down slowly, Keroberos padded past Syaoran, looking up once at his mistress and revealing tear-filled eyes. The lion shook his head, sniffed and continued to walk towards Tomoyo. Yue stood on the first step, clasping the railing hard. He looked as if he had been punched in the stomach hard. He glanced over his shoulder as Hei-ying stepped down finally. The dark winged angel swallowed heavily, his eye red rimmed with tears. He straightened himself, and glanced at Yue, walking past him silently. He walked purposely to Sakura, and knelt. "Mistress, I must apologise for my weakness on the . . ." He trailed off as a thoughtful look passed over his features, he looked up, as Sakura knelt in front of him, "I . . . I don't . . ." The words seemed hard to say, so unbelievable. Sakura smiled, as Hei-ying whispered almost fearfully, "I don't need to apologise . . . do I?"

Sakura scrunched her nose quickly, "You tell me . . . do you?"

Hei-ying looked at her, then to Syaoran, the clan head kept his expression neutral. No answers from him. Syaoran moved to Touya, who also was careful not to give any clues, as Touya guided Eriol to Syaoran. Hei-ying glanced at Yue; the white haired angel wasn't paying any attention to him, his pale eyes focused only on Touya. Hei-ying returned his gaze to Sakura, and admitted, "This . . . will take some getting used to . . ."

Sakura giggled, and got to her feet. She helped him up, "That it will . . . but don't worry . . ." She squeezed his hand, "We'll help you!"

Hei-ying cast one more look at his youngest brother, and then allowed himself to be dragged by Sakura over to Syaoran and Tomoyo. Trying hard not to think about his youngest brother's true lover.

"To-ya . . ." Yue fiddled with his hands, rubbing his little finger almost obsessively, Gomen nasai! His words seemed to tumble out, and he'd yet to draw enough courage to look up. "I think I . . . I think I killed Yukito . . ."

Touya was silent.

Demo! Yue continued to speak, "Demo . . . demo . . . I know he's . . . he's with me . . . we are as . . . in my heart, my mind, I know he's still there . . . and I can't transform him . . . we're . . . we . . ."

Touya stepped forward, stroking Yue's cheek once before kissing his angel gently. Yue melted, leaning against the taller boy. Finally finding his love's true harbour . . .

// . . . To-ya . . . //

Touya's reply . . . the thought echoed, like ripples on a calm pool of water . . .

//You're forgiven . . . Yue . . . //

The angel's head dipped, the weight of his guilt lifting away with Touya's simple thought. So consumed by this relief, he almost missed Touya's soft request . . .

//Will you forgive me?// Yue's white bangs flicked, as he snapped his head up, Touya looked . . . worried beneath his usual mask of seriousness. Yue felt a smile touch his pale lips, and he stepped forward, he gently cupped Touya's cheek, and laid his head on the taller boy's chest. There was time . . . there would always be time later . . .

Eriol shuffled to a halt before his guardians and Tomoyo. Syaoran sighed as Hei-ying knelt by Ruby, and Sakura by Tomoyo. Sakura placed her hand gently on her dearest friend's arm. "Tomoyo-chan?" She spoke quietly; she glanced between Tomoyo and Eriol. Tomoyo stared briefly at Eriol; the blue haired former reincarnation stared back. Sakura blinked as Tomoyo smiled at her, "You've won . . ."

Sakura shook her head slowly. She had lost more perhaps than what she had gained. For every small gain, ownership of her cards, Hei-ying and Yue . . . so much was lost to her. Her father, Kaho, Meilin and Rika, Clow Reed . . . so much . . . she'd almost lost her guardian's faith. Sakura smiled sadly, the balance was as it was meant to be now . . .

"No . . . Tomoyo-chan . . ." Sakura admitted, "I've won nothing . . . and lost nothing in return . . ."

Tomoyo blinked in surprise, she nodded slowly. Sakura smiled again and looked at Eriol as he stood before them. His blank gaze travelled slowly from his guardians to Tomoyo again. Sakura nodded to him, "Do you remember? Me? Ruby-chan—"

"I haven't lost my memory, Sakura." Eriol mumbled, some life returning to him. He knelt and looked at Ruby, "I haven't lost my memory, I've lost nothing but Clow's soul . . . I remember you all."

Syaoran touched Sakura's shoulder, and walked away, silently bidding her to followed. Sakura nodded and squeezed Tomoyo's arm, giving her support. She glanced at Hei-ying, who also nodded, and followed his mistress away.

Eriol looked up, Tomoyo smiled faintly, "Ruby is still a little confused . . . and Spinel-kun requires sleep still . . ." Eriol nodded as he watched her, she stroked Ruby's head as the butterfly girl leant her head on Tomoyo's shoulder, murmuring quietly to herself.

"Arigato . . ." he murmured, still staring at Tomoyo. She wouldn't lift her eyes to meet his; she couldn't face the staring blankness. He sighed quietly, and petted Spinel, touched Ruby's cheek, "For taking care of them like this . . ."

Tomoyo nodded mutely, as Spinel opened his eyes and looked at Eriol, "Master . . .?"

"Hello Spinel-san . . ." Eriol tipped his head in greeting, "How are you feeling?"

Ruby lifted her head, "Hiirawagizawa-sama . . ." Eriol looked at her, she pressed her lips together, and looked down at Spinel. He was shaking his head imperceptibly, "Nothing . . ." She put her head on Tomoyo's shoulder again, her hair falling over her face, obscuring her tears, as she mumbled miserably, "Nothing at all . . ."

Tomoyo raised her arm, pulling her own long hair over her other shoulder. She smiled at Ruby, "It's okay, Ruby-chan. . ."

"It's not okay!" Ruby mumbled into Tomoyo's shoulder, "It's not okay . . ."

"Try to sleep, Ruby . . ." Spinel muttered as he closed his eyes again, "It will be better in the morning . . ."

Ruby sniffed loudly, and refused to look up as Eriol touched her cheek. He chuckled, "Are you angry at me?"

"Yes . . ." Ruby muttered, she still refused to show her face, "Yes, I am! You . . . you lost . . ."

Ruby trailed off, as Tomoyo cupped her cheek and shook her head silently again, Ruby sniffed louder and squeezed her eyes shut as Eriol chuckled, "I lost what?"

"Nothing, Hiirawagizawa-san . . ." Tomoyo smiled sweetly, she stared at Ruby as she said clearly, "Ruby's still a little confused . . ."

"She'll need some rest . . ." He nodded, and got to his feet, brushing himself off. "Thank you once again, Daidouji-san . . ."

Tomoyo nodded as he walked back towards Sakura's little huddle of people.

"Oh, Daidouji-san?" Tomoyo looked up as Eriol stood beside her, he tilted his head, his expression a little more animated now, "May I call you Tomoyo? Daidouji seems so formal, and Hiirawagizawa is what my guardians always seem to call me . . . I'd like for you to call me by name . . ." Tomoyo nodded again, he smiled slightly, and walked over to her, leaning over until he could whisper into her ear. "Tomoyo-chan . . . I *did* only lose *one* thing . . ." She blinked as he whispered quieter, "I only lost Clow Reed . . . nothing more . . ."

Tomoyo felt Spinel snort, and Ruby lift her head up, her mouth falling open. Tomoyo swallowed, still not able to look him in the eye. Eriol smiled and straightened, tightening his cuffs, "Savour this moment . . ." He tipped her head up, so she could look at him as he winked gently, " . . . It's not often I like to admit I'm wrong . . ."

She stared at him, shock in her eyes. Eriol swallowed nervously, almost afraid of this girl, he trailed his fingers up from her chin, to her lips and touched her bottom lip with his thumb gently.

Sakura knelt by Keroberos stroking him slowly, she was distracted. She was trying to watch the exchange between Tomoyo and Eriol. He was walking away from her now, a calm look in his face, just like his normal way. Syaoran rolled his eyes as he realised Eriol's quiet smugness was back, and that he was wrong. It wasn't all due to Clow Reed.

Sakura smiled slightly at Eriol, but stared at her friend as Tomoyo looked back at her. Sakura leant forward slightly, anxiousness holding her stiffly.

Tomoyo blinked, dipped her head once and blushed.

Keroberos jumped in surprise as Sakura suddenly jumped to her feet, all her previous adultness melting under the sheer joy she felt about Tomoyo's happiness. "WAI!!"

The lion blinked, he hadn't caught the exchange, "Well . . . I guess we have won something . . ." he glared at Hei-ying, "even if he's more trouble than he's worth . . ."

Hei-ying folded his arms, in a scary mimic of Yue's normal pose, and picked some lint off his dusty robes. His jade eye flickered to Keroberos, "I'm not a trophy . . ."

"You're right . . ." Kero snorted, and looked away, "You'd look ugly on the shelf anyway . . ."

"Try it . . ." Hei-ying murmured threateningly, "Just try it, stuffed animal . . ."

"Stop it." Yue looked at both of them, "Just stop it . . . it's over now . . ."

"Some things are never over . . ." Hei-ying whispered, and nodded to the door. The group fell silent as something approached the door.

Sakura, Eriol, Touya and Syaoran pulled out their staffs and sword. Walking slowly, and motioning the guardians back. They were all too weak right now to take on this new threat. Keroberos stepped in front of Yue, "If it's not one thing with Clow . . ." He muttered darkly, "It's always another . . ."

Hei-ying narrowed his eyes, he walked forward towards Sakura, "Mistress . . ." He jogged slightly to catch up as the four approached the door, "Mistress, NO!!"

The door blew open throwing the five closest back. Staffs and Syaoran's sword went spinning away as the force of the explosion blew the five back, and sent them skidding away. Keroberos stepped back as Saurian limped in slowly, his front leg dangling below him broken. The dragon grinned, a mix of blood and drool dripped from his lips, "So . . . you defeated the Mistress . . ." He laughed, "It's a good thing I don't rely completely on Clow Reed's power then, isn't it?"

Spinel dragged himself up, and stood weakly in front of Tomoyo and Ruby as they cowed behind him. He growled quietly as the dragon's head swivelled to them. Saurian's eyes narrowed, and he drew his head back, only to swiftly knock Spinel away with his long tail.

"SUPPI!!" Ruby screamed as her brother went down, "Suppi!!"

Keroberos ran over to Spinel as the panther tried to push himself up, "Suppi?"

"I'm . . . fine . . ." The panther gasped, winded by the knock. He glared at the dragon as the beast turned his attention on the five down; Hei-ying was just struggling to get up, as the others remained dazed, they were slow to recover from the sudden blow. Yue blinked, and in the same breathe, as his brother and Spinel ran and leapt on Saurian's back, Yue ran in front of his mistress and the rest. He threw up his hands, chanting a quick shield spell . . . praying his magic would hold long enough . . .

Saurian growled as he tried to throw off the two sun guardians, he glared as he sucked in a deep breath and exhaled a fierce plume of fire.

Yue's left foot went back, as the fire passed over and around his shield. He dropped to one knee as Saurian stopped to throw off the other guardians. Hei-ying crawled over, "Yue . . .?"

Yue looked at him, and sank down, "I can't . . ." He explained quietly as he passed out. None of the guardians had enough energy to see off Saurian . . . Hei-ying raised his hand, forming a jade dagger as Saurian's deadly attention fell on Tomoyo and Ruby.

Ruby got up shakily, "Suppi . . ." She called out, "I can't hold . . ." She swallowed as the dragon started to suck in breath, "Suppi!"

Sakura pushed herself to her feet, and screamed as the dragon threw his head forward, "Tomoyo-chan!!"

Spinel clung to Saurian's back, watching in abject horror as his deep red fire rolled over his sister and the master's new love. He closed his eyes, "Ruby . . ." Opening his eyes again, the large panther roared loudly and dug his claws in deeper to the dragon's dark orange scales. Hoping to rip him apart. Keroberos increase his attack too, even though it racked pain through his damaged paws.

Tomoyo-chan!! Sakura screamed as the smoke from Saurian's fire cleared, she watched in horrified surprise as Saurian suddenly jerked his head back. "You're not a Muggle!!" He yelled angrily.

The smoke cleared completely, dust and debris crackled a filmy lilac shield as Tomoyo stood before Ruby, Ruby was slumped on the floor, leant against Tomoyo. Tomoyo had her eyes closed, her hands held up in front of her, casting the spell for the shield . . .

"You're not a Muggle!!"

Saurian's angered yell made her open her eyes, the first thing she saw was her hands, they were glowing slightly with her magic. She moved her hands apart, and stared into the incensed dragon, his disgusting breathe rolling over them. Tomoyo trembled, as she threw a quick look at Sakura, "What do I do?!"

"You can start by lowering your hands . . ." Saurian hissed darkly, he growled and threw his back against the wall hard, slamming Spinel and Keroberos off easily, "Let me snap you up easily . . ."

"Saurian!" Hei-ying called out, the dragon turned his head and glared at his former brother. The dark angel smirked knowingly, "I was wondering when you'd join us . . ."

"Hei-ying . . . little moonbeam . . . I can't wait to sink my teeth into you . . ." Saurian limped closer, "And then it'll be the concubine and the butterfly girl after you . . ."

Hei-ying smiled as he held up his hand, "I don't think so . . ." His jade dagger stopped spinning and flew at the dragon ripping a huge slash in his side. The dragon roared in real pain, and gasped as he stared at the wound.

"How . . . what?!"

"Ahhh . . . that . . ." Hei-ying spread his arms as he moved closer, three more jade daggers spinning into existence, he chuckled, "Kyree trusted you as much as she did me . . ." Saurian shrank to his middle form, and snarled at Hei-ying as the black angel growled, "She gave me the power to kill you too!"

"Traitorous bastard!!" Saurian ran forward as Hei-ying blasted him with his daggers, the dragon kept dashing towards him, and raised his razor sharp claws at Hei-ying. He snarled and slashed at Hei-ying, "I'll hear you cry out, Hei-ying!! You bastard, I'll hear yo—"

A sharp explosion of bright jade magic under the dragon's hardened underbelly blew him off Hei-ying. The dragon slid along the floor, his stomach exposed. He gasped weakly for air as Syaoran walked up to his calmly. Syaoran was silent as he tipped the dragon's head back with his foot; the orange eyes peered at him, glowing dimly as he looked at the clan head upside down. Syaoran allowed the sword tip to trace lightly up the dragon's exposed throat, until it rested above the soft patch of skin under his jaw.

The dragon chuckled darkly, "That other girl . . . Rika was it? She was a pretty little thing too, she screamed for me . . ."

Syaoran straightened his sword, staring straight ahead. Silent as he raised his fist.

Saurian sniggered one last time, "Such a pretty little thing . . . that girl, Meilin . . . pity she didn't scream for me . . ."

Syaoran's fist came down fast on the hilt of his sword, driving the point throw Saurian's jaw, brain and into the hard wood below. He was calm as he yanked the sword up, wiped it once on his sleeve and walked away. The dragon was dead.

Hei-ying got to his feet, and smiled softly.

Sakura threw one glance at Tomoyo, the purple haired girl was tending to Ruby and Spinel again, and then to Hei-ying. He was standing. Barely.

Yue got to his feet, and stared at his eldest brother, as the dark angel smiled and staggered forward. "Hei-ying . . ."

The dark and light angel's rushed to each other, the dark falling, the light catching. They sank to the ground together; Hei-ying leaving bloodied marks all over Yue's already mussed and dirty uniform. Yue held him, and craned his neck to look at his eldest brother. Sakura ran over as well, skidding to her knees, "Hei-ying?!"

Keroberos shook himself as he got up, and looked over. Hei-ying was dying. He could sense it. He sighed and shook his head, limping over slowly. Hei-ying was lain on his side; head leant against Yue's chest. The dark angel smiled faintly to Sakura as she waved her hands over each deep slash, "Daijobu . . . Sakura . . . Daijobu . . ."

Sakura swallowed and continued to try and heal the deep cuts, anything to stop the blood from draining from him. Hei-ying smiled sweetly, a glassy look taking over his remaining eye. He looked up at Yue, the angel was weeping, tears rolling over his bruised and bloodied cheeks. "Dai-Daijobu Oniisan . . . it'll be okay . . ."

"Once upon a time . . ." Hei-ying chuckled weakly, "There once was a little girl . . . I broke her neck . . . just because she pleaded for her life . . . you pleaded for your life, and she reminded me of you . . ." He coughed, "I wanted to stop her pain . . ."

"Shhh . . ." Keroberos sat, and stared at Hei-ying dully, "You'll just make it worse . . ."

Hei-ying ignored him, and continued quietly, "I let her say her prayers . . . before I broke her neck . . . it was a sweet prayer . . ."

Sakura sat up, and clenched her staff tightly, "Gomen nasai . . . I'm . . . I'm not powerful enough, I can't fix it . . ."

He chuckled again, "Because I'm not letting you . . ." He struggled to sit up, Yue murmured a protest, but helped his elder brother sit up anyway. Hei-ying smiled at Sakura, and held out his hand, "I gave you something for Yue . . . please may I have it . . .?"

Sakura blinked, she nodded slowly as she realised what he meant, and plucked the jade green earring from her pocket.

Hei-ying smiled as he clasped his hand around the small trinket, he looked at her, "Thank you . . ." He grunted as he stood, the three gathered around him and helped him up. He leant heavily on Yue, as he smiled as best he could to Sakura, "Now . . . you must transform us into your guardians . . . Clow is not able to take us now . . . we must become yours . . ."

Sakura nodded, "Clow told me this . . ."

Hei-ying nodded slowly, "Good . . . please prepare . . ." He turned away, and paused. "Please do Keroberos first . . . then . . ." He licked his lips, his voice dropping to a dry whisper, "Then Yue . . . and finally me . . ." He smiled half heartedly, "I was Clow Reed's first . . . and I wish to remain his longest serving guardian . . ."

Sakura nodded, and stepped forward, he tipped his head down as she brushed a simple kiss over his cheek, whispering, "Arigato." before stepping back.

"You're welcome, Sakura . . ." He murmured, "Now, please prepare . . . I want to have a word with my little brothers . . ."

"I bet you're ecstatic . . ." Hei-ying chuckled quietly as Yue and Keroberos helped him slid down the wall. He leant back heavily and tipped his head back. Keroberos sat by his feet, and stared at him.

"This isn't the death I wanted for you . . ." The lion admitted.

"Keroberos!" Yue hissed quietly, shocked by his brother's bluntness. Hei-ying shook his head, and patted Yue's hand, he stared at the lion.

"We've said everything we need to say, eh stuffed animal?" Hei-ying smiled faintly; "You'll always hate me for dying while you have a reason to feel anything good for me . . ." He pulled his clenched fist up, and opened it, the jade earring glinting softly. "You know . . . Yue . . . I only ever saw one birthday of yours . . ." He looked up at Yue, "And I never gave you a thing . . ."

Yue tilted his head down as Hei-ying fixed his own false form's confine to his youngest brother's ear. "Oniisan . . ."

"Today is the day, Yue . . ."

Such a phrase had been spoken once before, it seemed so strange to hear it from Hei-ying, Yue blinked, "Nani?"

The dark haired angel remained silent, as he watched the jade jewel in his brother's ear swirl and change into something new, a deep, dark purple colour, dark than his former earring. Hei-ying pressed his head against the wall, closing his jade eye, "The end of a long nightmare . . ." He breathed for a few seconds, "Yue . . . a very long nightmare . . ."

"Why are you doing this, Oniisan? Sakura could save you . . ." Yue questioned quietly, he squeezed Hei-ying hand, "Why?"

"What is the logic behind the Yin-yang Syndrome?" Hei-ying smiled, his voice rasping slightly. Yue blinked slowly, as he answered quietly.

"To preserve the balance."

"Good . . . good . . ." Hei-ying laughed faintly, "And the logic behind the law of triad?"

"Balance . . ."

"Excellent . . ." A thin trail of blood began to flow out of the deathly pale lips. Hei-ying pressed a hand against his mouth, and snorted with half amusement as he saw the blood stain his hand. "Yue . . . I have done you a great evil . . ."

"I know . . ." He understood now, Yue finally understood why Hei-ying was doing this. The dark angel couldn't possibly live; the laws of Triad demanded the eradication of the most unstable part. Hei-ying . . . Hei-ying was allowing this to happened because . . .

"Please forgive me . . ."

"Seeking redemption, Hei-ying?" Keroberos snorted quietly, he too saw it, as long as Hei-ying lived . . .

"Perhaps . . ." He whispered, his eye slid shut, "I loved him . . ."

"I did too," Yue brushed the black hair away, it was matted and the blood began to bind it together heavily as it clotted, "Oniisan?"

"I never had the chance to ask you . . ." Hei-ying opened his eye, glad to see understanding in Yue's eyes, "Please, call me your Oniichan . . .?" Yue nodded, Hei-ying smiled slightly as a shiver took his shoulders, "I wish I could have stayed with you . . ." a tear slid from his eye, "I should have played with you, taught you . . ."

"You did teach me."

"Not the way I should have, little moonbeam . . . I ask you . . ."

"I forgive you."

Hei-ying's eye shut, his faced creasing in his gratefulness. Thank you, his breathing laboured, he glanced at the dragon that had once been his brother, "At least Clow, Fujitaka . . . everyone that bastard . . ." He shook his head, "That *we* have killed have now been avenged."

" . . . And you?" Yue whispered, "May I say you've been avenged?"

"I need avenging? Keroberos would hardly agree . . ." Hei-ying smiled, the lion nodded, and kept his tongue. Hei-ying pressed his bloodied hand against his brother's cheek, "Please do . . . remember me . . ."

Yue murmured, "I will remember you."

" . . . And I will remember you . . ." Hei-ying closed his eye, and leant against Yue. They sat silently, as Hei-ying's breaths became more and more laboured. The three guardians, created by Clow Reed, shared the understanding completely. As long as Hei-ying lived, remaining between insanity and sanity, the Yin-Yang syndrome would forever hold Yue between sanity and insanity . . .

"I'm ready now . . ." Sakura murmured softly as she turned to the three brothers. Hei-ying smiled dully, and nodded slowly, patting Yue's hand off.

"Go, little moonbeam . . . Don't waste our mistress' magic by making her wait for you . . ." He looked at Keroberos, "I have one thing I wish to discuss with the stuffed animal here . . ."

Yue got to his feet slowly, touching his new earring; it meant Yukito was safe for now. He looked from Hei-ying to Keroberos and walked towards Sakura slowly. Keroberos nodded to him, as Yue walked to the middle of the hall. "What is it, Hei-ying?"

"I have only one thing to ask you . . ." Hei-ying tilted his head slightly, "You swore to Clow . . . that you'd always protect Yue . . ."

The lion nodded once.

" . . . Good . . . I ask you . . ." Hei-ying stared at Yue, the young angel watching them both anxiously, "I ask you to hold by that oath for the rest of your existence . . ."

Keroberos looked at him closely, "Nothing else?"

Hei-ying smiled his lopsided smile, the one that had always given Keroberos the chills when they had been younger. The dark angel started to laugh quietly causing Keroberos to snort and nod in understanding, "Nothing else."

Keroberos got up, and limped to his position, saying not one more word to Hei-ying. They had said all they need to say . . .

Sakura's magic circle appeared, the brilliant star in the middle shone brightly. Keroberos took his position over the sun on the western side. Yue stepped gracefully on to the moon of the eastern side. Sakura stood in the middle; she looked up drawing a deep breath for the incantation as it formed in her heart. The words new, but old at the same time.

"Thy art the Guardians of the Master Clow Reed . . . " She began, "Thy art a power unto thine own. Today, I, Kinomoto Sakura, thy Mistress and as thy friend, have elected to transform thee into mine own . . ." She paused for breath, as she slowly turned, "O, cards of Sakura, these will be thy rulers, after me; thee will obey them." The cards glowed brightly as they span slowly in their formation. Sakura nodded, and turned to Keroberos as Hei-ying had requested.

Keroberos stood, he looked nervous . . . he drew a breath and nodded his readiness.

Sakura lifted her staff, "I command thee . . . with all the supremacy over the sun at thy will, the cards of the Earthy and the Firey under thy influence . . . Guard of the Sun, seal thyself, thy magic, thy very soul into this form I have chosen . . ." The Lion lifted off his feet, his golden eyes sliding shut as his gold tinted wings wrapped around him, obscuring him from sight.

"Beyond faith . . ."

Hei-ying watched this with a decree of bittersweet amusement. Everyone looked so sad as Sakura broke the very last bonds with Clow Reed; his former reincarnation was knelt with his guards and his lover. Touya and Syaoran stood to one side, watching as Sakura cast such a huge and demanding spell. Hei-ying felt cold . . . but shook it off as he whispered again.

" . . . Beyond chance . . ."

Keroberos' large wings became obscured by the magic, it was transforming him completely, and Sakura didn't even know what the outcome would be. She closed her eyes as she felt herself complete the spell, "Guardian, thy name given, thy name called . . . Keroberos, Release!!"

Magic burst away from Keroberos, his wings glowed with completely new strength as his paws lowered to rest upon the sun of Sakura's powerful magic circle, he was re-born as a new guardians, he could feel it . . . every pour, muscle, everything in his body was no longer Clow's with Sakura's name superimposed. He could sense, it was purely Sakura's magic now. He looked at his paws; sharp, honed claws glimmered white against his gold fur. Nothing about him at a first glance had changed, he felt an added weight to his tail, and looked to see a small brace of metal, the same metal of his armour merging from his tail to the large fine flume of white hair. The brace had a deep set Ruby, and now, like his armour, held almost invisible star motifs over it. From it dangling a small Ruby star.

He looked up, his brother, Yue seemed dull to look at, Clow's magic and the night's events had ruined his uniform, he stood leant on one side, exhausted. He looked at Keroberos, a mix of apprehension and worry caused a listless look on Yue's face. "Kero-chan?"

The lion nodded to him, "It's still me, little one  . . . it's still me . . ." 

The worried frown eased slightly as Yue looked at Sakura, she stared back at him. "Ready?"

"Beyond all else . . ."

Hei-ying didn't know why he was praying, who he was prying to. All he knew was that he had to see his youngest brother breathe his first as Sakura's guardian. The cold shiver took him again, but he shook it off. He stared at the back of Yue's head; the guardian was so beautiful, even now as he stood as a fallen angel. A smile quirked Hei-ying's lips, causing drying blood to flack off, as Hei-ying whispered, "In this tainted soul . . ."

"I command thee . . ." She closed her eyes, and le her heart to take over; she could feel Yue's fear. He didn't know what was going to happen to him, neither did she . . . but . . .

"With all the supremacy of the Moon at thy will, the cards of the Windy, the cards of the Watery under thy influence . . ."

Yue felt the magic force his wings closed, and he knew, this would be the last time he would ever call himself the guardian of the Clow. Sakura stood before him, his older brother behind her. Behind him he could feel the last of Clow's magic in the form of his brother. Hei-ying was dying, was letting himself die to preserve Yue's own mind and sanity. Such a price to pay . . .

. . . To keep Yue sane. Hei-ying snorted to himself, as Yue's wings closed up completely, the magic wrapping around his body. His own wings were left sprawled behind him, and he knew they would be of no use anyway. Sakura looked terribly young, as she completed the spell, but it occurred to him that she was no older than Clow was when he had moved to this very mansion, a circle of life, existence was completing itself. So had Clow been, so Sakura was becoming. He shivered again, not only with the creeping cold of the old magic dying, but with the pulsing warmth of new magic being born. Hei-ying closed his last remaining eye, //Just a while longer . . . I will see him one last time . . . a small moment longer . . .//

Even as his mind began to shut down, prepare itself for the change in mindsets, the switch over from 'Clow Reed is forever my master' to 'Sakura Kinomoto is forever my mistress'; Yue could hear her voice as she chanted the rest of the spell. Guard of the moon . . .

His body tensed, his breath shortening as he became ready.

" . . . Seal thyself, thy magic, thy very soul . . . into this form I have chosen . . ."

"There lies . . ."

Hei-ying's lips barely moved, the blood drained from his face, leaving a cool sheen of sweat over his brow. Death cradled him, and he opened his eye slowly. A little while longer . . .

" . . . Guardian . . . thy name given, thy name called . . . Yue . . . RELEASE!!"

Sakura's voice sent shimmering ripple through his body, and the magic burst away from him. He could feel himself, he was Yue, once a guardian of Clow . . . but Sakura had taken his place, he was now a guardian of Sakura. Yue felt clean, renewed, a true creation once more. He felt his mind in balance, he could feel balance . . . his strength once more. The emotions so great in his heart, as he kept his eyes closed but for this moment, almost made him forget to breathe. As his wings began to spread, his pale lips . . .

. . . parted, cold and bloodless. His hair stuck to his sweaty brow, matted with his own cold and clotting. His left hand twitch from the partial severed nerve in his arm. His jade eye becoming rapidly bloodshot, as the pale eyelid fluttered. His breathe, like much else in his nightmare of a life, deserted him with a pathetic whisper.

" . . . Hope."

Yue, The Judgement Maker Of The Mistress Sakura, breathed in . . .

. . . Hei-ying, The Adviser Of The Master Clow Reed, breathed out.

Not another breath taken in a moment so precious.

Yue's amethyst eyes slid open, taking in his world. Nothing had changed much, and like Keroberos, only tiny things had changed. Much like Keroberos, some parts of Yue's uniform had gained a star motif in gold thread over the royal blue/purple. So tiny, you'd have to look twice to catch it. But still it was there. Yue flexed his wings once, felt his feet touch down on the strong magic lines of his own symbol of Sakura's magic circle. Keroberos and Sakura were staring at him anxiously, waiting for his response. He tipped his head once to reassure them, he was fine, nothing much had changed, but Yue wanted to speak his first words to Hei-ying, to prove . . .

He stared into his oldest brother's eye, his Oniichan had done something to the other, he didn't know what. Papa and Oniichan never told him. Oniisan stared back at, a strange distractedness in his one visible eye as he knelt before his tiny brother. The two angels stared at each other before Yue finally spoke. His tiny child voice echoing against the hallway, down the stairs, into papa's open-doored study. He spoke clearly, so Hei-ying could hear, so Oniichan could hear as he sat nearby, growling quietly. So papa could hear it, even though his back was turned to them.

"This is the End . . ." He whispered, "I am Yue . . . the Judge . . ."

He said it, to prove he could, that Oniisan couldn't take that from him . . . but mostly, to prove to Oniisan, he was *alive*.

. . . He stared; Hei-ying was slumped to one side. Yue would prove nothing to him. The dark angel stared back, not an eerie distractedness from his insanity tainting his eye, but a lack of life. Hei-ying, like Saurian, Kyree, Meilin, Rika, Fujitaka, Carolyn . . . like the great master he adored so much, Clow Reed . . . Hei-ying was dead.

Spinel shivered, Ruby closed her eyes, pressing her face into Spinel's back, as Tomoyo stood slowly, walking over. Syaoran nodded once, glancing at Eriol. The former reincarnation stared grimly at the cold angel, his lavender-grey eyes closing as he sent a single thought to his descendant, //Clow's last mistake . . . his Achilles' heel . . .//

A chill rolled over Eriol's spine, the last ghost of Clow's regret moving, running invisible fingers up his back. Hei-ying was dead now.

Touya felt it too, like a lover's whisper in his ear, he walked forward blindly trying to reach his sister, he could feel her pain. Sakura stood clutching her staff to her chest, her beautiful uniform now dulled and bloodied from the night's fight, she looked like a child more than ever as her eyes filled with tears for this fallen angel. Sakura pushed past her brother, running past her frozen judgement angel. "Hei-ying?!"

Sakura cried out as her dearest friend suddenly pitched forward and grasped Sakura in a tight hug, Tomoyo buried her face in Sakura's shoulder, and cried too. "Sakura, no . . . no. . ." she murmured over and over as Sakura broke down and cried into her friend's embrace, "No . . . Sakura . . . he's gone . . . gone now . . . and Cardcaptor Sakura can't bring him back . . ."

Keroberos walked forward, his body was strong now, no trace of a limp faltered his step as he sat beside Yue. He glanced up, the angel was a mask of complete and collected calm, but Keroberos had been Yue's brother for a long time now . . . he could see the shock and the disappointment in his brother's now clear eyes. The lion cleared his throat, "Oniisan . . ." he began, the respectful honorific seeming stiff on his tongue, "Oniisan is at peace . . ."

"Keroberos . . ." Yue barely lifted his voice from a hushed whisper, "He's not our Oniisan . . ."

The lion nodded, "We are the guardians of Sakura, but still we hold a small blood relation to—"

"I mean he's my Oniichan, your Oniichan . . ." The angel swallowed, "Please?"

Kero shook his head, "He is, and forever will be the eldest creation of Clow, this is a fact I cannot change . . . but . . ." Keroberos sighed, and turned his back on Hei-ying's dead body, "I shall never give him that . . ."

As Syaoran stepped past his sobbing future wife, and her dearest friend, he knelt down, and whispered a quiet Chinese spell. It was not a curse, nor a charm, but a simple folklore spell. It was meant to keep the dead, dead . . . and forbade them from coming back, to haunt the living, to honour old deeds or take revenge.

Sakura cried for Hei-ying, because she could have saved him.

No one shed a tear for the fallen angel, aside from her and Yue. The judgement angel allowed a single tear, more than he'd ever cried for Hei-ying in his life, to slid from his right eye . . . because Hei-ying had really saved him, as he'd promised . . . Hei-ying had saved Yue from himself.

"Arigato, Oniichan."

  ---------------------------------

And now it's time to Leave It To Doctor Mega---

DrM: [sobbing] WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Hei-ying: You *Killed* me!

DrM: [snivels] I knooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Saurian: And Me!!

DrM: [deadpan] boo-hoo. . .

Clow: And Me. . .

DrM: [snigger]

Pretty much everyone else who's bitten the dust: AND US!!

DrM: [blinks innocently] . . .

Hilligans: [shakes head] da'nay e'er 'ccur t' 'er, d'zit it now?

Kyree: [blankly] Yeah! . . . What he said. . .

DrM: [snapping out of it] Anyway, please R&R!! and there's just TWO more chapters to go!! Thank you!!!