Author's Note: I almost gave up on this story. Why? Because someone lied to me. Let that be a lesson in honesty to all of us. Heck, let's make it a lesson in life...everything you do, no matter how insignificant it seems, casts ripples upon the pond of life and sways us all. So, you can thank that liar for the delay in this update.

Last chapter got more than twice as many reviews as most other chapters. Huzzah! Am I really picking up that much interest with this? ~grins~ This has been the hardest story for me to write, especially since before last chapter I felt that it wasn't appreciated for the energy I was putting into it. ~sigh~ I'm glad I've pushed my way through though. We're looking at only a few more chapters...we've reached the build up to the climax! Finally! The grand show down! Can you believe it? Thank you all for sticking with this story, through thick and thin, and I hope I don't disappoint with the next few chapters. Tinji, Starquestor, Babybattlefaerie, Kira, Peacewish, Askani Blue, L-chan, Kurotenshi, and Silvermoon Maru--thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Each and every review means a lot to me.

Silent Eyes

Desperation

What do they think they're doing, Yaku wondered as he paced back and forth. They had taken Sakura while he had taken Eriol, striking perfectly while he was at his most distracted. Fujitaka said that it was Tomoyo that had taken her.

But, why?

They had to know by now that without Yue and Yukito it would be impossible to save her, no matter where they were. Were they grasping straws out of desperation, or did they have a serious plan?

He continued to pace, the gorgeous spoils of war surrounding him meaning nothing as he worried what his opposition could possibly be up to.

~~~~~@~~~~~

Sakura slept more and more, and Tomoyo watched over her the entire time. Their time was drying up too fast and at night when Syaoran had finally joined them in Tomoyo's room he was too exhausted to do more than kiss Sakura on the cheek and fall asleep himself. With a small sigh Tomoyo stood up, too worried to sleep. She stepped out onto the balcony, staring up at the nearly full moon. One more day. Syaoran and his mother would study and practice all day long, trying to get the spell perfect, and that would be it. It would either work or it wouldn't.

Tomoyo had felt helplessness more often than she wanted to admit, but this was somehow worse. So many times she had been in the line of fire when the cards were being captured or converted to Sakura cards. Yet, even when the ground had almost opened beneath her when the Earthy card had become active, or when she had been targeted by the rampaging piano she had never felt like this. It went beyond helplessness to hopelessness. As long as Sakura had been there, fighting against hostile magic, Tomoyo had felt safe. Nothing could touch Sakura, nothing could stop her, she always won in the end. Sakura was perfect.

But, right now Sakura was dying and no one could stop it. Sakura was getting weaker and weaker before their eyes and she couldn't fight it. Knowing hadn't made her give up, but it didn't give her any extra strength to fight it either.

And there was nothing Tomoyo could do.

She had been useless through the entire ordeal, standing around while everyone else helped in some way or another. Even her own mother had pulled upon magical ability that no one had suspected of her. Tomoyo just didn't have anything like that. Her skills were all mundane, and in the end no amount of sewing or singing ever really made a difference.

But they made her feel better, and they made Sakura feel better. Tomoyo knew very well that her best friend felt uncomfortable being fussed over with new costumes, but they really did help her. New ideas danced through Tomoyo's mind for a perfect costume for tomorrow night, but all of them would take so long! There were a couple of costumes that were nearly finished though that could be made even more fancy in that much time though. With a happy sigh she turned to go back inside and work on one, but something held her back. Another idea.

A song.

Sakura was never embarrassed when Tomoyo sang. Over and over again she had praised Tomoyo's voice and said how sometimes that was exactly what she needed to turn the tide in some battles they had faced. Singing also filled Tomoyo's soul with hope and happiness, something they could all use.

As she gazed out into the night the words just came to her, so she opened her mouth and sang what her soul prompted.

When I wish on a star
Could it ever come true,
If I wish not for me
But a wish that's for you?

If I open my eyes
In the dark, lonely night
Can my hope be fulfilled
By that pinprick of light?

Hope steals my heart
Whispers words in my ear
If I wish hard enough
There is nothing to fear.

So I wish by the stars
That there may be a way
That our hope won't be lost
And you'll be here to stay.

She finished and turned around with a smile. It had turned out more beautiful than she hoped.

There was a glow from Sakura's purse, then two cards flew out under their own power. Hope and Song. Everyone else had slept, but somehow the cards had picked up on Tomoyo's feelings despite her lack of magic. Her heart surged as the cards came close, then Song turned into her girl form just long enough to give Tomoyo a reassuring hug before flying back and taking card form again. Hope hovered a moment longer before joining the other cards.

It was the reassurance Tomoyo needed at that moment. Still humming the tune that had come to her on the balcony, she gathered the material for her latest costume idea and closed herself in her personal theater room to sew the rest of the night while everyone slept. It would all be all right.

~~~~~@~~~~~

The moment the spell began Syaoran knew it would fail. He had survived on hope all day, finding joy in the fact that his mother learned the spell perfectly and could do it by moonrise. Even Sakura had smiled when she was brought down and told that the spell was ready. She modeled a costume Tomoyo had spent all night sewing, almost dancing as she heard that they would be able to do it. Hope filled the entire house, right up until the moment Syaoran began the chant of the spell.

He went through the motions, mirrored precisely by his mother, with exacting care and attention to detail. He carefully said the words needed, not stumbling at any point and not slurring a single syllable. He was perfect, his mother was perfect, and yet the spell went on and they could see in each others eyes that the spell would do nothing. The only effect would be to drain them of their energy to the point of helplessness. They couldn't even stop.

Soon, Syaoran felt like a puppet on strings as he went inexorably on toward the conclusion. He couldn't stop if he tried. He couldn't mess it up on purpose even to get it to stop. He knew it would lead to failure, he knew it was doomed from the start, but the spell carried the two of them on it the dance it wove. The magical energy burned through him, pulling him, demanding release. He held onto it as long as he could. Then, at the exact spot needed, his energy escaped him along with his mother's energy, joining into one magical entity that sought to bring together the two who wanted to be one.

There was no one. The magical entity created even found the target of the spell coming closer and closer, but they did not have the intent necessary. With a mournful cry it dissipated, becoming nothing upon the wind, and the strings that held up Yelan and Syaoran were cut. The spell ended abruptly. They fell to the floor amid screams from observers.

And to Syaoran's eye, all went black at that moment.

~~~~~@~~~~~

The failure of the spell brought chaos to everyone inside the mansion. The carefully maintained wards that Syaoran's sisters had placed sputtered and died as the young women rushed to tend to their fallen family members. Sakura also ran to Syaoran's side with a scream of dismay. Only Sonomi and Tomoyo held back, afraid of getting in the way, but every bit as concerned as the others. Those two found themselves in each others arms, still looking at the scene before them but seeking comfort and reassurance from each other.

The front door was heard slamming open and a moment later all with magic felt a wave of energy wash past them. The electricity went out and the candles that had been burning for the spell were extinguished in an instant. Then a faint glow began to emanate from the ceiling and it was revealed that they were surrounded.

Touya stood at the north wall, glaring with more intensity at everyone than he had before been able to muster for his glaring contests with Syaoran. His dark hair was more mussed than usual, giving him a feral look that warned everyone away. Soon an evil grin began to spread on his face as he took in the scene before him.

To the east, in front of the large picture window, hovered Yue and Yukito. A true coldness now possessed both faces, giving them the appearance of marble statues. Each of them were toying with glowing energy forming above the palms of their hands, but no emotion at all could be discerned. It was a calculated threat, unhampered by passion, almost like the final judgment that Sakura and Syaoran had faced so long ago, but without the weariness Yue had possessed then. Yue and Yukito knew that their adversaries here were worthy and showed no disregard for their abilities. They simply showed that they were ready for whatever was to come.

The west wall was guarded by two figures as well--Fujitaka and Eriol. Neither had looked more ominous than at that moment. They wore slight smiles, looking calm and composed, almost playful. Yet, their glasses gleamed in the wan light and their eyes narrowed dangerously. Whatever evil plans the two of them had been instructed to follow through with, they were obviously planning on enjoying.

Finally, stepping into the doorway of the east wall, stood Yakusoku. He was in his fully adult form, looking commanding and assured with a mocking sneer.

"What the hell are you doing in my home," Sonomi demanded with all the strength she could put into her voice.

"I've come here to gloat," he answered. "I won. You lost. Poor Sakura-chan is going to die and give all her energy to me, and there's not a damn thing any of you can do now to stop it."