Chapter Five... Seeing the Light

It was hard to see at first, as she held herself up off the dank floor. The stench of rotted hay and bones was strong. She stood up and walked over to the bars, trying to find a way out. Sakura reached for her star key around her neck, only to find that it was missing. "OH NO!" she called out, as her voice seemed to echo off the dark walls around her. She covered her mouth, and backed into the shadows. Sakura smacked into something behind her. As Sakura screamed out, the unseen figure grabbed her shoulders and held her up against him. She gasped, and moved to fight the hands that held her. He turned her around and she was face to face with Arithon. Her eyes burned with a bright fire. "Where's my star key?" she growled at him, her eyes full of furry. He answered her with his husky tones. "Safe." Sakura tried to shake herself from his grasp again, but his hold only tightened. She gritted her teeth in pain as his hands bruised her flesh. "What do you want?" she asked, ceasing her struggle with him. His eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, and then suddenly they weren't in the dark chamber anymore. A room of many blue shades appeared around her. Sakura looked about the room, still in his tight grip. His eyes softened to a deep, mesmerizing red.

He released her shoulders and made his way around her to a navy colored chair, where he sat down gracefully, as she watched him. "Come here." he commanded his voice seductive. Sakura's eyes hollowed as she walked obediently towards him, stopping short of his reach. Her eyes went back to normal as she shook her head. "I won't ask again! What do you want?" she demanded, pointing a finger at him. Arithon grinned at her. "You're on my ground now! You will do as I say!" he exclaimed, as his laugh bouncing off the azure walls. Arithon stood from the chair, his face mere inches from hers. Sakura gulped back her intense fear. As he looked at her with his seductive eyes, he pulled her up against him. Arithon grinned at her and before she could fight back, his lips melded with hers.

Elsewhere at the same moment...

Yue doubled over, as the most heart wrenching pain went throughout his body. Lee was sitting on his bed across the room, when Yue went to his knees. Lee ran to his side. "Are you okay?" he asked the guardian. Yue gasped as the pain slowly subsided. "I am all right now." the moon guardian replied, as Lee helped him back up into the chair he had vacated moments before. "What happened?" Lee asked, worry in his eyes. "I'm not sure, it was as if my heart was breaking into a million pieces!" Yue replied, placing a hand over his chest. Lee looked up into Yue's eyes of silver and saw the pain and anguish he was harboring inside. "Do you think it could have been because something happened to Sakura?" Lee asked him, backing up to sit back on his bed. Yue removed the hand on his chest and ran it over his face. "I don't know, but if that vile creature hurts her, I don't know what I'll do. You could very well see a whole new level of what a guardian can really do!" Yue proclaimed daggers of revenge in his eyes. Yue stood with that and went to Lee's window. He looked back at Lee, and his eyes shimmered a brilliant color of the moon. The guardian's angelic wings appeared on his back and before he took flight he spoke. "I need to be alone for awhile..." But as Lee went to stop him, the moon guardian had taken flight, soaring across the early morning sky. He stood there watching as anger grew inside him. "I have to save her... or I'll never forgive myself." Lee whispered.

Back in the building,

Sakura screamed out into the kiss, and struggled to free her lips from his. The more she squirmed in his grasp, the more violently he pressed his lips against hers. As Sakura bit down on his lip, Arithon shoved her backwards and she fell to the ground. "What do you want?" she cried, sitting up. Arithon glared at her as he wiped away the trickle of blood that came from his lip. "Your cards... and well you of course." he responded, moving towards her. "Each card I took from you, I made into one of my own. You will use them with me, to control all the forces on this pitiful Earth!" Arithon explained, crouching down in front of her. Sakura went wide-eyed. "Why do you want me?" she asked, edging away from him. He took hold of her arm and pulled her towards him. "Only YOU will do!" he growled, pulling her up off the ground with him. The look in her eyes betrayed her fear and he could see it. "Obey me, and I'll treat you like a Queen. Disobey me and well..." his words trailing off to leave an evil grin. Sakura knew now that she could do nothing but hope that Yue and Lee could find some way to save her. If they don't come soon, it could be too late for them all.

Dreaming...

Yue slept in Sakura's bed that morning, painfully dreaming of her. His facial features twisted as the dream went bad, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He suddenly awoke, and sat up in the bed, his heart raced to catch up with him. "Sakura..." he whispered, wiping the wet tears from his eyes. As he ran his hand through his silvery locks tousled about from sleeping in the bed, it somehow made him look very rugged. With a pained sigh, he stepped out on Sakura's apartment balcony. Yue closed his eyes as he felt the afternoon sun fall on his skin and the light breeze play on the ends of his long hair. "Please help me Clow Reed, show me how to find Mistress Sakura." he whispered into the wind, his eyes still closed. Without warning he felt the presence of his old Master. Yue turned about to find a shadowy figure of Clow Reed standing in the living room. Yue stared at him with sorrowed eyes. "Master Reed, I need your help." Yue asked, almost pleading. "I know what has happened to Sakura, I have been watching her since she opened the book." Reed replied, showing no emotions at all. "How can I find her. I don't know where she is. I'm worried for her and... and..." Yue trailed off.

A small smile touched the lips of Clow Reed. "I know how you feel for each other too and I know for a fact she liked you when she was merely a child. It took you much longer to see her in that light." he said, playing past events in Yue's mind of the many times they ended up together or alone. "Feel for her presence and go to it. Use your magical abilities to save her along with my descendent. It is the only way to save her... and the world." Clow Reed finished, and then disappeared before Yue could beg of anything else. It seemed clearer to him now of what he was going to have to do. With a breath of hope, he took flight off the balcony, his destination being that of the great descendent of Clow Reed himself.

Meeting with Lee...

Lee sat on his porch looking up into the stars, hoping they would provide the answer's he needed to help her. Sakura had been his only real friend since he came to this place. Meilin was his childhood friend, but he had never really cared that much for her. Sakura on the other hand had somehow went from the annoying little girl with the talking stuffed animal, to someone who had warmed her way into his cold heart. He sighed at the thoughts of when he first realized he cared a great deal for her. It has been the moments after Yue had challenged him for the Final Judgement. He had accepted, thinking he was the rightful ruler of the cards. Yue, however, had defeated him easily. Lee knew then that Sakura was destined. The moment the moon guardian had fought with her, she had refused to fight back, and in the process had been hurt by Yue's quick attacks. Lee remembered how angry he had been when he found out he could not help her at all, her safety had been more important to him in those final moments of her Judgement than anything else. "What should I do? At least show me a sign." he said, as the stars twinkled back at him.

In the next few moments, Yue landed behind him. Dust moved on the porch floor as his wings flapped slowly. Lee turned around and looked up at the one he probably most hated at this moment. "I sure do hope you're not the sign I'm looking for." Lee said, cursing under his breath. Yue looked at him and his eyes took on a foreboding color. "I'm am not here for you to pick fun at. I'm quite aware that you have never really cared much for me, but there is one thing we have in common!" Yue said, staring him down. Lee sighed. "Sakura..." he replied, and looked away to something else. "Right, and at this moment she needs us to work together. We'll never find her if we keep checking on each other." Yue finished. Lee was shocked to hear such words from the guardian. He had never heard him talk this way. "I guess I could deal with your presence for Sakura's sake, but don't think that I like you any differently!" Lee spat, pointing a finger in Yue's direction. Yue seemed to almost role his eyes at Lee's reply and folded his arms in front of him. "Clow Reed said I would have to feel her presence and... and then I could find her. I guess that leaves you to save the world." Yue explained the last bit with sarcasm. Lee stared at Yue for a moment. "We'll see who gets to save what." Lee said coldly.

Yue looked up at the moon, drawing wanted energy from its silvery depths. Lee looked at Yue with confusion. "What are you doing Yue?" he asked, stepping back as the bright light had gotten to much for him. Lee shielded his eyes and crouched down closer to the ground, as the wind about them tousled his clothing and hair. Yue did not answer him, and closed his eyes. Images of Sakura and the last moments they were together mingled and mixed into his consciousness. Warm fuzzy feelings and a bright smile were sticking out the most. "Feel her presence..." Clow Reed had said, so Yue tried to remember what it felt like when he had been around her. Cherry blossoms danced across his mind, thousands and thousands of them, falling every which way. 'Is this what she feels like? Is this what I should look for?' Yue thought to himself, as he was emerged in his fiery magic. The wind and light that blinded Lee to no extent vanished without a trace of ever being there in the first place. He uncovered his face to see Yue fall to his knees, tears of pain stinging his silvery eyes. The guardian placed his hands on either side of his head to keep from feeling as if it would fall from his shoulders. Lee, although he disliked the man, fell to his knees beside Yue and held him steady by the shoulders. "Are you alright?" he asked, speaking in quieted tones. Yue slowly nodded reassurance to Lee, and tried his best to stand up on his own.

When it occurred to Lee that he was not going to succeed at this, he offered his shoulder for Yue to lean on. He did this only for Sakura's sake, knowing how much she cared for the guardian. It always baffled him as to what this man had that he did not have, or could not give her. 'Could she be in love with him?' he asked himself, time and time again. The concept was absurd to him, but he never knew about Sakura. She was always full of bountiful surprises. Yue shoved himself away from Lee's helpful arms. "It's okay, I can manage." he whispered, holding himself up by the porch railing. Lee sighed and thought how insufferable this man was. Yue hated to show his weaknesses to others, especially to those who loathed him. He was not quite sure why Lee hated him so much, but he had a silly notion that it was because of him and Sakura. Lee backed away from the moon guardian and spoke. "So what happened?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest in annoyance. Yue turned his face slightly to see Lee better and then returned his gaze to the ground. "Just follow me and listen to what I tell you to do, and we will find her. I promise you that!" Yue spoke his tone almost that of a whisper. Lee scuffed, and a slight chuckle escaped his lips. "Listen to you? You must be joking! I'm not going to depend upon you to find her... you couldn't even keep her safe." Lee said flatly, his eyes showing those deadly daggers again.

Yue turned full around to face the smaller man. "If your not going to help me then our chances of finding Sakura will be almost ZERO!" Yue yelled, raising Lee into the air by the front of his shirt. Lee frantically grabbed for Yue's hands, hoping he would not let go. "I'm sorry, I'll go along with you! Just put me down!" Lee choked out, holding on for dear life. The smoldering fire in the guardian's quicksilver eyes snuffed out, and he placed him lightly back on the ground. Lee straightened his clothing and composed himself. Yue turned his back to Lee and crossed his arms across his broad chest. "Give me your lazen board." the guardian demanded, not even looking at him. Lee's eyes widened in shock. "What?" Lee growled. "I said give it to me!" Yue thundered, scaring Lee beyond reason. With a compliant nod, Lee disappeared into his apartment and returned several minutes later with the magical artifact. With smug impoliteness, Lee handed the board over to Yue. The feeling of the board had brought back old memories of serving under his old master, Clow Reed. Closing his eyes and placing his hands on either side of it, Yue concentrated on Sakura's presence. The lovely images of cherry blossoms dancing across his memory brought the board to life, as it carved a bright red path into the horizon. Lee clutched hold of Yue's arm. "It's revealing her location to us!" He said, suddenly releasing the guardian. Yue did nothing but sigh.

Lee grabbed the lazen board from Yue and looked in the direction of which it burned. "This is amazing. Thank you." he said hesitantly, almost not loud enough for Yue to hear him. The guardian turned about to face the young man and looked at him with disbelief. "Did I just hear you thank me?" Yue asked him. Lee looked up at the guardian, his eyes uncertain. "Yes, you did. But I still won't ever forget how you failed to protect her." Lee resigned, placing the lazen board back in his pocket. Yue sighed; knowing the thoughts of his failed attempt at saving her would stick with him forever. Lee strode into his apartment and returned a few moments later, his attire changed. He was ready to fight at any expense to save his beloved Sakura from the vile clutches of this mad man who had stolen her away from them both. Yue ascended into the air, flapping his mighty wings. "The only fast way for both of us to travel, is to carry you with me." Yue said, casting a sidelong glance at Lee. Lee glared up at the flying guardian. "What? I'm not ready to get that close to you!" Lee spat, pointing a finger in Yue's direction. The guardian sighed heavily, pain hidden in his tones. "If not for me! Please do it for Sakura..." Yue retaliated, his voice falling into silence. The sight of pain in Yue's face was enough to make Lee comply with the guardian. "Alright, I'll go with you." he spoke, coming closer to Yue. The guardian flew closer and picked the cardcaptor up in his arms and then they were off in the direction the lazen board had projected for them.

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Well, here we are..the attempt at the great rescue. Yue is so, how shall I say it, dedicated!! Dedication is awsome..with I had dedication like that...^_^..then again..I think I do...^_~ Also, I have a few more chapters left..and then dum dum dum..the end..If you want em to write more...have to review me up really good...haha...^_~

For any question's, comments, or flames... e-mail me at: sakura_blossom@hotmail.com!