Darkness Fallen
There was barely any light in the hall once the doors closed behind Sakura, Eriol, Meling, Yukito and Tomoyo. Kero, Soupy, Nakuru and Touya stood near a window and the only source of light coming from the moon. As she and her companions assembled once again it stayed silent and dark and Sakura was beginning to feel frightened. There was no way to know what was possibly about to transpire and despite all her companions, Sakura was truly afraid, afraid perhaps even for their very lives; for the feelings of the day had not lifted but felt all the more heavy with impending fate.
Touya stood with Yukito on one side of the window with Yuki in the light and Touya in shadow. Nakuru stood with Soupy on her shoulder on the other side also in shadow. Touya, though he wouldn't say as much, felt regretful for pushing Nakuru away for he had known of her feelings for him for some time and he couldn't say he didn't feel at least something toward her. Something in him, however wouldn't allow him act on his feelings ere his commitment to Yukito.
But Touya was dismayed as it felt to him that he and Yukito were becoming distanced weather it be because of their current circumstances or just simple truth that he was weakening and the only one with the strength to help him was her. He knew that could mean sacrificing one for another and he wasn't prepared to do that just yet. But he thought perhaps that that time could come sooner than he had thought perhaps at the dawn of that very day.
Sakura took notice of her companions but felt no better but a little worse as none appeared to be very hopeful. Her dear Tomoyo wasn't even recording anything on her camcorder and Meling was just starring out the window probably thinking of Syaoran. On Meling's left and right were Touya and Nakuru. Sakura was a little trouble as the two were separated and seeming to be ignoring each other. 'I thought that they came to the dance together.' Sakura thought. 'She's so pretty and Touya and her look good together. And he always seems stronger with her. I wonder what's wrong.' Her eyes then went to Yukito and he smiled at her again but this time she could only manage a weak smile for her spirits had fallen far in the last few moments in the dark.
Lastly she perceived Eriol standing near the other wall away from the group. Sakura couldn't see his face as the light from the moon fell just short of his shoulders. She felt the urge to ask of him what would happen and she began toward him but stopped short in fear as all she could see of him suddenly faded and then vanished. She heard herself gasp and realized that the light from the moon was gone. She froze in place. Suddenly she felt a very long way from the others. Fear gripped her and she felt like crying out. But before she could yell any question one was answered for her, one that she perhaps did not want the answer to.
"It has begun." Eriol's voice came through the darkness to all. There was a dim glow of gold light and the dark figures of her companions appeared out of the fading darkness before Sakura's eyes. She felt relief that she wasn't alone and the light grew brighter. She looked toward its source and behold! In Eriol's hands shedding the majestic light was his Sun-Wand and upon him were his robes of red, gold and black and to his sides were his loyal guardians: Spinel-Sun and Ruby Moon.
Sakura stood for a moment not really knowing what Eriol was saying had begun and suddenly but gradually, depending how she looked at it, she felt a flood of power wash over her. She and the others had been feeling various odd things throughout the day but it was nothing compared to what was now felt. It was a jumble of many different wavelengths of power some hardly noticeable and some seeming to pulse and burn with a hateful feel. But some though being overshadowed by others clearly stood out to Sakura. They were that of Clow Cards, and more than one.
After exploring the strange, familiar or frightening powers in a state of meditation it seemed to her, Sakura opened her eyes and looked at Eriol. He gave her a somewhat reassuring look and then closed his eyes. "Now we know." he said. "We face tonight a trial by fire I fear for I now know my suspicions to be true."
"What suspicions?" Touya asked.
"There is little time for explanation now." Eriol said but before he could say another word there was heard a commotion coming from the dance. Sakura could tell that it was cries of fear and confusion but she didn't know why. She, with Eriol and the others behind her went to the doors and peered into the dance and heard more clearly now the sounds of panic but saw nothing, as it was black within.
"What do we do?" Sakura asked as she became concerned for all her friends within.
"We must calm them." Eriol said.
"The Sleep Card!" Sakura said proudly as she looked to Eriol. He nodded his head and everyone stepped back as she released her star-wand and then Sleep with a glittery blue light. The tiny sprite stood upon Sakura's hand. "Put everyone to sleep except us." Sakura instructed and then let Sleep through a crack she opened in the door and soon enough all lay upon the floor in a perhaps a not so peaceful slumber.
Sakura felt happy with her accomplishment but all glee in her faded as the powers around her began to become stronger. "Now what?" Sakura asked Eriol as she returned the Sleep card to her pocket. Eriol didn't answer for a moment and Sakura once again began to feel frightened. The expression on his face made Sakura feel as though she wouldn't like what he had in mind.
Finally he spoke: "We have cleared the way. Now we must move forward, into the darkness."
Sakura felt a shiver as the words came off his tongue. "Fear not, Sakura, you are not alone." He said and they prepared to enter the darkness that lye beyond. The guardians, Spinel-Sun, Kero and Ruby Moon went first and behind them came Eriol and then Sakura hand in hand with Tomoyo and then the rest with Yukito holding the hand of Meling and Touya taking up the rear.
The moon and the cherry blossoms had vanished from Syaoran's sight and he suddenly felt an emptiness to the night as if he were now alone. He knew he was not however for he felt Kako still upon him. But only one arm did he feel upon his neck, the other had slipped away unnoticed. He suddenly felt the hand upon him trembling and he then heard the ting of metal falling to the ground. "I can't." He heard Kako sob as she let herself fall into his arms. Syaoran felt a slight change in the air as he held this now broken girl.
The change grew gradually stronger as if a spell blocking his senses were warring off and then Syaoran suddenly felt the wave of power pour over him and the many powers at work reviled themselves to him but he had trouble discerning one from another. He felt still a little disoriented and everything seemed to blur together like smeared oil paint over an intangible canvas.
He perceived a sense of urgency and felt the need to flee to Sakura and the others but he didn't want to abandon Kako. "What's.what's wrong?" he managed to ask while he struggled to sort out his the jumbled powers and emotions in and around him. She gave no answer but stopped crying and stood apart from him. Things then became suddenly clear to Syaoran and he was troubled by all he felt. One thing seemed to stand out that at that moment brought question to his mind; he felt the power of the Sleep card and Kako was unaffected by it's magic.
The hateful power burning in the air then grew stronger and began overshadow all else. Li now knew that he was indeed needed but something kept him from running this time. He looked toward Kako and even though there was complete darkness he could still see the glint of her teary eyes almost as if their light came from within. He wanted to say something but he still couldn't make sense of anything.
From his sight her eyes shut and vanished and he heard the light patter of her feet as she fled from him. He made no attempt to stop or peruse her though he didn't know why. After a moment he started toward the door to return to his friends but stopped when he felt something under his foot. He knelt down and illuminated the room a bit with a fire scroll. He peered down and on the floor was the metal hair comb with a crescent-moon shaped handle. As he looked at it he could feel his senses growing more acute and a slight power did he pick up from it. The other powers about began to worry him further and he had no time to linger. He put the comb in his pocket and left to find his friends.
Sakura and the others slowly passed through the doors into the dance being careful not to step on anyone. Sakura could sense their slumber was indeed unpleasant as most though asleep had expressions of terror on their faces. Sakura wondered what could have frightened them so and she feared that whatever it was they were now drawing closer to. Though Eriol's wand gave a soft light it didn't travel far, all around was darkness into what seemed a vast distance. The light from the wand seemed to be jumping outward upon the floor but it seemed then to be pushed back by the darkness.
The deeper into the dance they went the stronger the powers in the air got and the weaker Touya became. Even though Naruku now had the wings of a butterfly and a new name and was far apart from him, she could still feel his condition worsening. She knew that it meant they were drawing near but that didn't concern her as much as did Touya. She felt a weight on her heart for him as in this night there was no assurance of anything least of all victory unscathed.
She did not realize it but as she walked she bit her soft red lip. Eriol, though eyes closed and head bowed as he walked stepping over people at need, noticed and made note. "You are frightened for him." He said softly if not in a whisper then with no sound at all but Ruby heard.
"I know you can give me no words of hope as even you do not know the outcome of this coming of events." he perceived her say in much the same way as he.
Soon enough, but certainly not in Sakura's mind, they came to a point and Eriol stopped. Sakura estimated that they were toward the back of the gym near the doors to the courtyard. The group gathered into a tight huddle each touching another all surrounding Sakura. Eriol turned to her and their eyes met. "What do you feel?" He said already knowing the answer.
Sakura wasn't sure how to answer him as she felt many different and some unfamiliar powers. "I." She started and thought on it for a moment.
Touya was feeling frustrated by this time weather it be by his condition or his nature. He looked at Eriol with particular displeasure. "This isn't the time for tests and lessons!" He ridiculed. Sakura looked at her brother feeling as though he was protecting her but also not benefiting the group by arguing. "Tell us what you know because you always know it first!"
Eriol's eyes shot to Touya and he was taken back by their sudden intensity. "Sakura and Sakura alone wheedles the power of the cards of those of us here. They remain under the influence of The Phantom but the cards have a special bond with Sakura as they do with the descendant, a loyalty, one which surpasses perhaps even the strongest of powers. She must seek them and take no council on it. That is the way it was ordained and it holds through even to such desperate times as these." Eriol said and then looked critically at Touya. "Do you have not faith in her?"
"Faith.?" Touya whispered. He then bowed his head and looked at Sakura with a smile. "Of course I do."
Sakura felt slightly warmer inside and more confident with her brother's succor. She held her wand to her chest and closed her eyes and took in more fully the world around her. She thought about all the strange events of the day; first her brother's injured hand and his rash mood throughout the day and his assault as it were. 'Somehow I feel like it's my fault. But she was there to save him. I'm glad.' Second, Eriol's strange behavior: 'He was standing looking out the window. He looked worried. But he looked even more worried when he ended the meeting short.' And third of Syaoran, much could have come to her mind with the thought of this boy, many things had in the past but in this moment only one thing did come to her mind: 'Where are you?'
Then through her mind flashed the feelings and images of the event that preceded all else that day: 'My dream.' She felt cold as the memories of the frightening vision returned to her. She gripped her wand in her hands as the dark and hateful powers around her strengthened.
"It was cold then like now." She said softly. "But this place is much. darker." And then out of that darkness she finally understood and then felt it's coming. "It's the Shadow!" Sakura screamed and all around the group the darkness leapt up from the floor darting upward to envelop them. Without any thought and seemingly not even at her command, The Thunder Card swept up from her pocket above her head and her wand in hand followed it. Raigui, The Thunder Beast, flowed from the card above the group and dispelled it's foe, Shadow with a mighty burst of white lightning that radiated in all directions with a resounding crack of thunder. Shadow was thrown back every which way and severely weakened, as the power of Thunder was more intense than it had ever been.
Sakura, still holding her wand high, was astounded and somewhat horrified with what had just transpired. She gave no verbal commands to Thunder but had thought them in her mind. She then regained her focus and shouted in the language of Clow the words that ended all of her conflicts: "Return to your true form, Phantom card!" Shadow swirled through the air from all around and at the end of Sakura's wand its card appeared.
"Oh Yah!" Kero busted out with right next to Sakura's ear. "Your Star must be shinen' bright tonight!" Sakura put her had over her ear and looked at Kero with one eye squeezed shut. "Owww! You're louder than Raigui!" Sakura then looked to her new card as it floated in the air and she put out her hand to receive it. But it did not come to her. Instead it looped in the air and then flew into the darkness disappearing from Sakura's sight.
Sakura then looked at Eriol for answer. "Let it go." He said. "It seems that Shadow was ordained to have a different master for now."
Sakura looked around with an expression of confusion on her face. "Why is it still dark? I sealed it didn't I?"
"The lights are off." Touya said in his usual tone when Sakura missed the obvious.
"We cannot stay here." Eriol said suddenly. He was referring to the powers in the air. Instead of intensifying further they seemed to have subsided. Sakura could still feel at least one other card still undiscovered but the hateful power that had burned through the air was absent or hiding itself. Sakura had a feeling that whatever it was coming from was still out there somewhere veiled by the darkness waiting to strike.
"There are too many innocent about." Eriol continued. "To the courtyard." The group started toward the near by doors. As they approached, the doors began to appear out of the still darkness as Eriol's wand's golden light reached them. Sakura felt as though she was leaving the burning powers that frightened her so behind in the dark, but her heart stopped as Eriol suddenly stopped short of the doors.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked desperately as she held onto the hand of Tomoyo once again.
Eriol did not turn around. "This way is closed to us." He said in a low voice. "There is not escape." Sakura and Tomoyo both gasped at his defeated words. He turned. Both girls were surprised and somewhat frightened by his expression. It was a dark expression, his face half in shadow and his eyes telling of a hatred within. What the hatred was towards they couldn't guess but Sakura was not surprised by his once again dark demeanor; he was as he had been several times before in her presence. It worried her as, if Eriol, Clow's reincarnation, was doubtful, what hope did they have?
Sakura glanced from Eriol to the doors and only wondered for a moment before she understood why they couldn't escape. "All the exits are blocked by the Lock Card!" She exclaimed.
"Correct." Eriol said. "And now we must face that which is within these walls."
"What is that?" Touya asked as everyone grouped together with Sakura, Tomoyo and Meling in the center. He looked at Ruby and could tell that she had at least an idea of what was hunting them. As Ruby looked back at him she could feel that it was taking all the strength he had left just to stay standing and appear strong.
"I have not the valiancy to say for I do not know for certain." Eriol said after a moments pause. There was then a cold breeze that seemed to come from nowhere. All were then still and silent and the only sound was the slight flutter of Spinel-Sun's and Ruby's wings. "Stay back." Eriol said calmly as he and his guardians went forward.
When a few strides away, Eriol thrust his wand into the air and it's glow instantly became a brilliant and blinding ray of the sun. The light illuminated the entire room for an instant and what Sakura saw beyond struck fear into her heart; four black forms suspended in the air some distance away over the bodies of all. The feeling of her dream filled her and she was frozen with terror.
The next instant the light lessened and the glow from Eriol's wand grew and filled the room dimly but all could be seen though with deep black shadows being cast. The four forms seemed to be radiating darkness. They looked to be on fire but with a flame that gave no light or heat.
Eriol then said in a regretful sounding voice: "I am now certain."
One of the dark forms then came ahead of the others and raised its hand out. There was then the sound of a demonic voice. "Nocrhem mechgorg eshkgrogh!"
Spinel's head reared back and his voice snarled with shocked disgust. "The Demon Language of the Usol Delgoth!" And as his words came to their end the eyes of the dark-formed demon went ablaze with a hatful red light that's terror was only surpassed by its piercing scream. There leapt from its outstretched hand a blinding Hell-Fire that burst across the distance between the two parties with terrible speed. Eriol swung his wand down and cast a spell that saved them from a scorching death; the wall of flame coming toward them was deflected by an invisible shield. As the flame bounced off its power was spent and it fizzled out into a wispy smoke harming no one.
The next instant, Ruby and Spinel struck back at their assailers. Spinel's red Orb and Ruby's Crystal Shards sped forth and struck the demons with a deep boom but to the dismay of the group it did little. Ruby and Spinel, angered, flew forth to meet with the enemy and punish them. They gathered energy for a second attack as they flew but before anything could be done a second demon came forth, smaller then the first with eyes of burning blue. It thrust its hands out sending an orb of blue flame toward the advancing guardians.
Touya's eyes grew wide as the orb struck the pair and he suddenly felt Ruby's pain and fell to his knees. "Touya!" Sakura exclaimed as she went to her brother's side along with Tomoyo and Yukito. Sakura squeezed the hand of her brother as he hung onto his own life seemingly soon to be in vain. He struggled to keep his eyes open and he looked into his sister's and she saw the true mortal danger he was in. "Touya!" She repeated as she began to cry. "I have to do something."She sobbed softly as she felt her brother's hand becoming cold as if his life were rapidly slipping away.
Above, the guardians were thrown back and hurt but would not yield. They divided and circled to either side of the demons and made their second attack. Surrounding their enemy they swooped in for the strike but as they were about to overtake them the four demons darted away with speed. Before Ruby gathered what where they had done a heavy fist came down upon her neck and she plunged to the floor crashing down through a table, painfully. As she looked upward she saw not the first two demons but one of the other two; larger than the others and with the pain it had inflicted upon her came a strange feeling of deja vu, she then knew she had fought this fight before and the look of vengeance was in this demon's eyes. The demon then plunged down upon her taking hold of her neck and striking her with his other fist again and again. She then fell limp with her strength leaving her. She looked weakly up at the dark form atop her and in it's eyes she found the truth of him. She was now convinced that she was in dire peril and with desperate strength she put her hands upon the dark form's chest and plunged her crystal shards into his ungodly body. It roared deeply in pain as it reared back from Ruby into the air. There came a red orb that struck the demon and threw him back. The demon darted away to return to the others of his kind. Ruby took short breaths as she suffered and lye helpless upon the ground.
Spinel, distracted for a moment in helping his comrade, did not see and his enemies come from his sides one after another striking to his head whipping it one-way and then another with a violent jolt. He crashed to the ground also, only narrowly missing innocents by his will. He struggled to his feet and charged his magic as he looked for his foes. He found them where they had been at the beginning. He rose to the air and went to Ruby. He nuzzled her to her feet and with one arm around his strong neck she and Spinel rose once again to the air. They peered forth and the demons were now in-between them and the rest of the group.
Spinel looked at Ruby. "You are hurt."
She grit her teeth and stared hard at the dark forms dividing Spinel and she from their master and his allies. "I am fine."
"You were weakened even before this battle began. I am worried for you." He responded.
"Your concern is touching but we must fight on."
"Yes," he said. "We must."
As they looked forward a dark hand once again raised for the attack. At this instant the guardians went forth with all speed and met with their assailers. Each was met with two enemies to combat and they did not fair well. Their strikes were evaded and repaid twice over. Outnumbered and overpowered, Ruby and Spinel fought through and regrouped on the other side. Though they fought hard it felt as though the demons held some of their wrath back as to insult them further.
The two guardians grouped together to channel the last of their strength into one last blow. "It will be up to the others if we are defeated." Ruby said and Spinel responded: "We are already defeated. We must now do what we can to weaken them for the next battle without us." And at this they dispelled all the magic in their being toward the forms of darkness and the room filled with light as their spells tore into the enemy with viscous power.
Though drained the two stayed in the air and watched for the mist clear and reveal their defeated enemies. Ruby's eyes then suddenly grew wide as an orb of blue flame swept out from the mist and tore Spinel from the sky next to her and sent him back and through the wall of the room. She then looked back and for not even a second saw the flash of blue light before she too was expelled from the battle to lye along side Spinel somewhere out in the dark of the night.
A grim look overtook Eriol as he starred up at the demons. "The guardians have fallen. They have passed out of this place, and they are not the only ones." For a moment no one knew what he spoke of but it was then realized that Sakura was nowhere to be found. "Everyone outside now! Help Touya. Go!" He commanded without movement. He stood as the others started to flee out the doors with Yukito and Meling under each of Touya's arms. Eriol looked into the eyes of the red-eyed demon and it was there he found some of the answers he sought. He then retreated with the others.
The limp bodies of the defeated guardians were sprawled across the ground in back of the building in deep ruts their falling bodies had made in the ground. They lied defeated next to one another and kneeling in-between them with a caring hand on each was Sakura; her head hung low with remorse. The group rushed to the three. Touya was gently set down next to Ruby and his sister once again went to him, Kero with her, just as concerned.
Eriol knelt where Sakura had been and looked at his guardians. Spinel weakly raised his head from the ground as he lie on his side while Ruby remained motionless. "We failed you, master. I'm sorry." Eriol made no response. He placed his wand over each and gentile wings of white light wrapped them in Eriol's majestic power and returned them to their temporary forms of Nakuru and Spinel. "You have done your part and I thank you for it." He said gently. He then stood and looked to Sakura. She held her brother in her arms, the tears running down her fair face. "There is nothing more you can do for him." Eriol said.
Sakura looked at Eriol. "I though. I though if I. if I got him out, if I got him away from them that it would. I sealed The Lock Card with the Trough, but it doesn't matter does it?" Sakura held her brother tight and her tears fell onto his face. "Oh Touya! .Please don't die..." She sobbed.
Sakura then felt a clod breeze and looked up and gasped at the sight of the demons hovering at the broken wall starring once again. Sakura looked at her companions and then Eriol came to her with his hand outstretched. "The battle is not futile. Stand with me Clow Mistress." He said. For the first time that day Eriol's words brought Sakura hope and she took his hand.
Touya barely being able to keep his eyes open looked up at his sister and Eriol. He then looked to his side to see the shimmering burgundy eyes of Nakuru upon him. He could tell she was weak and in as much danger as he. With little strength left, Touya lifted his arm and put it around the girl. His other hand met hers and their fingers linked. Touya looked at the bandage still on his hand and a flame seemed to suddenly kindle within him and his strength began to return little by little and though he knew not where this new strength was coming from he gave to Nakuru what he could in hops of repaying her for that day.
Eriol and Sakura stood side by side together and starred into the lifeless burning eyes of their foes. Separated by a distance; the battlefield was before them. Sakura felt ill at ease, as she doubted any of her cards were strong enough to contend with even one of these "Usol Delgoth" as Spinel referred to them. And even with Eriol's hopeful words she could still sense doubt in his heart.
The cold wind blew across the area; they were now in the courtyard behind the gym. The darkness was only pushed back so far by the glow of Eriol's wand and no moon shone above for the clouds would not give leave to it's white light. Sakura stood close to Eriol and gripped her wand nervously. Eriol gave Sakura no glance of encouragement but stared coldly into the eyes of the red-flamed demon.
Suddenly Eriol raised his wand to the air. "You shall fall." He said commandingly and swung the wand downward and as he did from the sky over the demons came a thin rain that came down swiftly like glass shards. The demons screeched in sudden pain as they dropped from the sky landing soundly with feet upon the earth. "I have taken their flight. Now our battle begins." Eriol said softly to Sakura.
No sooner did Sakura hear Eriol's dark words did she see the hands of the demons raise and then the flash of their magic. Eriol swiftly took Sakura in his arms and thrust his wand outward toward the demons and they're fiery magic smoldered upon Eriol's protective spell spanning across them protecting all that were behind. The flame however this time did not stop after a moment but kept coming and though she was in Eriol's arms, the terror of the lethal fire so close frightened her to death. And at the same time she was troubled by Eriol's state, the strength of the flame was intense and he could not hold out for long. It now seemed to be a fatal contest of endurance.
Eriol's face began to show more and more clearly of his strife. A testament to his strength in Sakura's eyes, Eriol began to advance on their enemy. He let Sakura go and made his approach with her at his back huddled close. With each step forward Eriol pushed back the wall of flame and its spell seemed to become weaker.
Eriol cast the last of his strength into a mighty thrust forward repelling the flames back onto their foes with a roar and there was then silence. The ground on area between was now smoldering molten concrete glowing a dull orange lighting the area with an eerie glow. Eriol's wand no longer shone golden and he now supported himself with it.
Sakura knew not what to do when she looked upon the demons and their appearance hadn't changed. She was now the only one left to fight. She thought back to her dream and remembered the feelings stirring in her as the dream was coming to its close: feelings of wishing to be protected, wishing to be saved. But she now felt alone and utterly powerless against these creatures of darkness. But she knew she had to be strong for all depended now on her.
Sakura looked at Eriol and his eyes told her to fight. She felt in his eyes the courage and determination to face the demons. She looked at the demons standing amid the burning embers blowing in the air like orange fireflies dancing in the wind. She thought of her brother, Eriol's fallen guardians, and her friends, Tomoyo and Meling all who suffered because of these creatures. Sakura clenched her wand and called to the demons: "You hurt my friends!" Then suddenly a card flew up before her. She thrust her wand into it and summoned its spirit to her assistance. "Freeze Card! Release and dispel!"
The mighty blue fish rose from the card and hovered above its master with steam surrounding it as the embers in the sky burned on its skin. Sakura looked out over the battlefield of fire and brimstone and knew what to do. "Freeze Card! Cover everything in ice!" Sakura's words were callous and vengeful, surprising even her. Freeze above dove across the battlefield as if on a strong wind leaving in its wake a veil of steam and mist. Freeze returned to rest in card form and the mist faded from the field reveling a glistening crackling icescape.
The demons too were covered in ice and Sakura stepped onto the battlefield to finish them. Slowly and very cautiously she crept toward the mass of ice they were entrapped in. The ice was thick and Sakura could only see their dark forms within. Now that it seemed to her that she had the advantage she wasn't sure what to do next, if she was to kill them or just to somehow keep them imprisoned. She didn't like the thought of killing them but she didn't know what else to do for she somehow knew that keeping them contained was an impossibility. But before she could make any decision, there came a light from within the ice. The eyes of the red demon shone once again. Brighter and brighter but the light not only came from its eyes but its hands. The ice began to crack, as the flame in the palm of its hands grew more intense until there came a sudden flash and with a screeching boom the ice exploded outward and threw Sakura to the ground.
"Ecsteh shren mechna mu!" Sakura heard in the demon's tongue, as she lay motionless upon the icy ground. Petrified with fear, she slowly turned her head to see the four demons looking at her from afar. "You cannot save your friends, nor yourself, pathetic human!" The red-eyed demon said. It raised its hand once again and in it an orb of flame flickered.
All the memories and all people of her life went through Sakura's mind and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Sakura heard the scream of the demon and felt something take hold of her and she felt herself flung to the side narrowly avoiding her death. She suddenly felt the smoldering heat of the demon's flame burning. She felt upon her another warmness however, one which felt not menacing or hateful. She felt herself in the arms of another person and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her heart stopped. Her eyes glistened with tears. Her thin arms quaked and she held in her breath. "Syaoran!" she yelled as her heart nearly burst in her chest and she threw her arms around his neck. Syaoran knelt with Sakura in his arms and put a hand on her cheek, the other bearing his sword. He looked into her eyes and spoke from his heart: "I'm sorry, for not being there."
There was now a white light on coming down from the sky, the clouds had parted and the moon now shone. What Sakura saw in Syaoran's eyes deepened by what she felt from his soul; he pulsed with the vibrations of the Power and Dash cards as well as his own magic, they burned in him now.
Syaoran then whipped his head around to find the demons. There they stood, watching, waiting. Syaoran took to his feet and drew two scrolls from his coat of Wind and Fire. With a thrust of his hand they went forth and dispelled, the wind fueling the fire and sweeping it across the demons, blinding them for an instant. Fueled by his anger, Syaoran, with the speed of the Dash and the strength of the Power leaped forth and with a vicious slash of his sword he tore it across the chest of the red-eyed demon and it let out a scream of pain more terrible than before.
The demon was thrown to the ground by the sheer force of the strike. It held a hand over its chest where upon its dark form there was a deep, wide slash, which burned a bloody red as its eyes did. Syaoran stood between the group and the demons, sword at the ready. The demon stood as the other three stood around it. The red-eyed demon was angered as its luminous red blood ran down its dark form. It started forth for battle with this new foe but was stopped by the hand of smaller demon with eyes of blue flame.
The blue-eyed demon formed a triangle with its fingers toward the group and closed its eyes. There was a great blinding light that didn't seem to come from anywhere but instead grew in everyone's minds. It lasted for a time and then faded and sight returned to all, they did not see all they had before, the demons were gone, as well as any sign of the battle, no fiery icescape, no holes in the wall where Eriol's guardians had crashed through. Everything was as it had been.
There was silence and stillness. Like a gentile breeze the numbness of the moment passed. The silence was then utterly shattered: "Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!" Meling screamed as she careened into him knocking him down and landing on top of him, her arms firmly wrapped around his neck, possibly never to let go again. Syaoran sat up. "Meling." He uttered regretfully. "I owe you dance, don't I?"
Sakura smiled at this familiar sight. She then felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to find Eriol no longer bearing his wand or wearing his robes. She then took his outstretched hand and stood. Sakura had many questions for him but she felt that with the threat passed this night was no longer the time for questions. But there was one question she asked before thinking. "Is Touya.?" She said as she whipped her head in the rest of the groups direction only to find them walking toward them. To Sakura's surprise there seemed to be little wrong with her brother. He was walking toward her with Nakuru under his arm; she was now the one who seemed drained. Her eyes were half shut but Sakura could see clearly that they were set upon Touya. The others were to the two's sides and all seemed fine for the most part.
Eriol said nothing, as he needed not to by the warm smile on Sakura's face at the site of her brother and all her friends safe at last. Syaoran and Meling came over to Sakura and Eriol as well did the others. Everyone looked to Eriol for direction but he kept it simple. "Let us go. The others are waiting for us to awake them in the dance." He said as the Sleep spell came to everyone's mind. All began walking back into the dance except Syaoran and Eriol for a brief moment. The rest continued into the dance.
When just through the doors Touya's eyes came upon a sight and he paused for a moment. Sakura looked at him with question and noticed that Nakuru had a similar expression. Sakura asked "What is it, Touya?" He looked at Nakuru and they then slunk away without a word. On the floor at Sakura's feet asleep with the others were four people of about her brother's age. Yukito then stepped to Sakura's side to explain, somewhat.
"They're Dorian, Traya, Roan, and Dieae, some friends from school." He said pointing to each. "Those two had some doubts about them at first but I guess this proves otherwise, right?"
"Right!" Sakura said with a smile. "No one as pretty as them could be mean!" Though at that moment she didn't realize the fallacy of her words. Yukito then took Sakura's hand the two went to Tomoyo and Kero, waiting for them.
Still outside, Syaoran stood next to Eriol and did not look directly at him. "It was you wasn't it?" He said. "The cherry blossoms."
Eriol put a hand on Syaoran's shoulder. "As I have said: none of us are alone."
Author's Notes: Don't worry, this isn't the last chapter. There are at least two more sections of chapters to go each consisting of at least four chapters each (ruff estimate).
Also, special thanks to cherry-blossom and Anime Goddess for your great support of the story. You two, as well as all my other fans, have been encouragement and reward enough. Thanks.
Preview synopsis for next chapter: With the dance and the battle behind them all are physically and emotionally drained. There are many questions to be answered but Eriol is keeping things to himself for some reason; he retires to his mansion hidden from all. While her brother and Nakuru recovering, Sakura is now writhe with curiosity and some suspicion. Li attempting to sort out his jumbled feelings rediscovers Kako's enchanted comb and seeks her out. The group rests to regain its strength, but what of the demon enemy? Kero and Spinel are concerned.
Important Notice: For those who didn't know I've been revamping the chapters and I just finished. For the returning readers I'd like to invite you to read this story again from the beginning because I have not only re- vamped the chapters I have also completely re-written the first chapter as the previous one sucked ass. Thank you for your support and I hope you read and enjoy Possessors of the Clow into the future chapters and to its end.
There was barely any light in the hall once the doors closed behind Sakura, Eriol, Meling, Yukito and Tomoyo. Kero, Soupy, Nakuru and Touya stood near a window and the only source of light coming from the moon. As she and her companions assembled once again it stayed silent and dark and Sakura was beginning to feel frightened. There was no way to know what was possibly about to transpire and despite all her companions, Sakura was truly afraid, afraid perhaps even for their very lives; for the feelings of the day had not lifted but felt all the more heavy with impending fate.
Touya stood with Yukito on one side of the window with Yuki in the light and Touya in shadow. Nakuru stood with Soupy on her shoulder on the other side also in shadow. Touya, though he wouldn't say as much, felt regretful for pushing Nakuru away for he had known of her feelings for him for some time and he couldn't say he didn't feel at least something toward her. Something in him, however wouldn't allow him act on his feelings ere his commitment to Yukito.
But Touya was dismayed as it felt to him that he and Yukito were becoming distanced weather it be because of their current circumstances or just simple truth that he was weakening and the only one with the strength to help him was her. He knew that could mean sacrificing one for another and he wasn't prepared to do that just yet. But he thought perhaps that that time could come sooner than he had thought perhaps at the dawn of that very day.
Sakura took notice of her companions but felt no better but a little worse as none appeared to be very hopeful. Her dear Tomoyo wasn't even recording anything on her camcorder and Meling was just starring out the window probably thinking of Syaoran. On Meling's left and right were Touya and Nakuru. Sakura was a little trouble as the two were separated and seeming to be ignoring each other. 'I thought that they came to the dance together.' Sakura thought. 'She's so pretty and Touya and her look good together. And he always seems stronger with her. I wonder what's wrong.' Her eyes then went to Yukito and he smiled at her again but this time she could only manage a weak smile for her spirits had fallen far in the last few moments in the dark.
Lastly she perceived Eriol standing near the other wall away from the group. Sakura couldn't see his face as the light from the moon fell just short of his shoulders. She felt the urge to ask of him what would happen and she began toward him but stopped short in fear as all she could see of him suddenly faded and then vanished. She heard herself gasp and realized that the light from the moon was gone. She froze in place. Suddenly she felt a very long way from the others. Fear gripped her and she felt like crying out. But before she could yell any question one was answered for her, one that she perhaps did not want the answer to.
"It has begun." Eriol's voice came through the darkness to all. There was a dim glow of gold light and the dark figures of her companions appeared out of the fading darkness before Sakura's eyes. She felt relief that she wasn't alone and the light grew brighter. She looked toward its source and behold! In Eriol's hands shedding the majestic light was his Sun-Wand and upon him were his robes of red, gold and black and to his sides were his loyal guardians: Spinel-Sun and Ruby Moon.
Sakura stood for a moment not really knowing what Eriol was saying had begun and suddenly but gradually, depending how she looked at it, she felt a flood of power wash over her. She and the others had been feeling various odd things throughout the day but it was nothing compared to what was now felt. It was a jumble of many different wavelengths of power some hardly noticeable and some seeming to pulse and burn with a hateful feel. But some though being overshadowed by others clearly stood out to Sakura. They were that of Clow Cards, and more than one.
After exploring the strange, familiar or frightening powers in a state of meditation it seemed to her, Sakura opened her eyes and looked at Eriol. He gave her a somewhat reassuring look and then closed his eyes. "Now we know." he said. "We face tonight a trial by fire I fear for I now know my suspicions to be true."
"What suspicions?" Touya asked.
"There is little time for explanation now." Eriol said but before he could say another word there was heard a commotion coming from the dance. Sakura could tell that it was cries of fear and confusion but she didn't know why. She, with Eriol and the others behind her went to the doors and peered into the dance and heard more clearly now the sounds of panic but saw nothing, as it was black within.
"What do we do?" Sakura asked as she became concerned for all her friends within.
"We must calm them." Eriol said.
"The Sleep Card!" Sakura said proudly as she looked to Eriol. He nodded his head and everyone stepped back as she released her star-wand and then Sleep with a glittery blue light. The tiny sprite stood upon Sakura's hand. "Put everyone to sleep except us." Sakura instructed and then let Sleep through a crack she opened in the door and soon enough all lay upon the floor in a perhaps a not so peaceful slumber.
Sakura felt happy with her accomplishment but all glee in her faded as the powers around her began to become stronger. "Now what?" Sakura asked Eriol as she returned the Sleep card to her pocket. Eriol didn't answer for a moment and Sakura once again began to feel frightened. The expression on his face made Sakura feel as though she wouldn't like what he had in mind.
Finally he spoke: "We have cleared the way. Now we must move forward, into the darkness."
Sakura felt a shiver as the words came off his tongue. "Fear not, Sakura, you are not alone." He said and they prepared to enter the darkness that lye beyond. The guardians, Spinel-Sun, Kero and Ruby Moon went first and behind them came Eriol and then Sakura hand in hand with Tomoyo and then the rest with Yukito holding the hand of Meling and Touya taking up the rear.
The moon and the cherry blossoms had vanished from Syaoran's sight and he suddenly felt an emptiness to the night as if he were now alone. He knew he was not however for he felt Kako still upon him. But only one arm did he feel upon his neck, the other had slipped away unnoticed. He suddenly felt the hand upon him trembling and he then heard the ting of metal falling to the ground. "I can't." He heard Kako sob as she let herself fall into his arms. Syaoran felt a slight change in the air as he held this now broken girl.
The change grew gradually stronger as if a spell blocking his senses were warring off and then Syaoran suddenly felt the wave of power pour over him and the many powers at work reviled themselves to him but he had trouble discerning one from another. He felt still a little disoriented and everything seemed to blur together like smeared oil paint over an intangible canvas.
He perceived a sense of urgency and felt the need to flee to Sakura and the others but he didn't want to abandon Kako. "What's.what's wrong?" he managed to ask while he struggled to sort out his the jumbled powers and emotions in and around him. She gave no answer but stopped crying and stood apart from him. Things then became suddenly clear to Syaoran and he was troubled by all he felt. One thing seemed to stand out that at that moment brought question to his mind; he felt the power of the Sleep card and Kako was unaffected by it's magic.
The hateful power burning in the air then grew stronger and began overshadow all else. Li now knew that he was indeed needed but something kept him from running this time. He looked toward Kako and even though there was complete darkness he could still see the glint of her teary eyes almost as if their light came from within. He wanted to say something but he still couldn't make sense of anything.
From his sight her eyes shut and vanished and he heard the light patter of her feet as she fled from him. He made no attempt to stop or peruse her though he didn't know why. After a moment he started toward the door to return to his friends but stopped when he felt something under his foot. He knelt down and illuminated the room a bit with a fire scroll. He peered down and on the floor was the metal hair comb with a crescent-moon shaped handle. As he looked at it he could feel his senses growing more acute and a slight power did he pick up from it. The other powers about began to worry him further and he had no time to linger. He put the comb in his pocket and left to find his friends.
Sakura and the others slowly passed through the doors into the dance being careful not to step on anyone. Sakura could sense their slumber was indeed unpleasant as most though asleep had expressions of terror on their faces. Sakura wondered what could have frightened them so and she feared that whatever it was they were now drawing closer to. Though Eriol's wand gave a soft light it didn't travel far, all around was darkness into what seemed a vast distance. The light from the wand seemed to be jumping outward upon the floor but it seemed then to be pushed back by the darkness.
The deeper into the dance they went the stronger the powers in the air got and the weaker Touya became. Even though Naruku now had the wings of a butterfly and a new name and was far apart from him, she could still feel his condition worsening. She knew that it meant they were drawing near but that didn't concern her as much as did Touya. She felt a weight on her heart for him as in this night there was no assurance of anything least of all victory unscathed.
She did not realize it but as she walked she bit her soft red lip. Eriol, though eyes closed and head bowed as he walked stepping over people at need, noticed and made note. "You are frightened for him." He said softly if not in a whisper then with no sound at all but Ruby heard.
"I know you can give me no words of hope as even you do not know the outcome of this coming of events." he perceived her say in much the same way as he.
Soon enough, but certainly not in Sakura's mind, they came to a point and Eriol stopped. Sakura estimated that they were toward the back of the gym near the doors to the courtyard. The group gathered into a tight huddle each touching another all surrounding Sakura. Eriol turned to her and their eyes met. "What do you feel?" He said already knowing the answer.
Sakura wasn't sure how to answer him as she felt many different and some unfamiliar powers. "I." She started and thought on it for a moment.
Touya was feeling frustrated by this time weather it be by his condition or his nature. He looked at Eriol with particular displeasure. "This isn't the time for tests and lessons!" He ridiculed. Sakura looked at her brother feeling as though he was protecting her but also not benefiting the group by arguing. "Tell us what you know because you always know it first!"
Eriol's eyes shot to Touya and he was taken back by their sudden intensity. "Sakura and Sakura alone wheedles the power of the cards of those of us here. They remain under the influence of The Phantom but the cards have a special bond with Sakura as they do with the descendant, a loyalty, one which surpasses perhaps even the strongest of powers. She must seek them and take no council on it. That is the way it was ordained and it holds through even to such desperate times as these." Eriol said and then looked critically at Touya. "Do you have not faith in her?"
"Faith.?" Touya whispered. He then bowed his head and looked at Sakura with a smile. "Of course I do."
Sakura felt slightly warmer inside and more confident with her brother's succor. She held her wand to her chest and closed her eyes and took in more fully the world around her. She thought about all the strange events of the day; first her brother's injured hand and his rash mood throughout the day and his assault as it were. 'Somehow I feel like it's my fault. But she was there to save him. I'm glad.' Second, Eriol's strange behavior: 'He was standing looking out the window. He looked worried. But he looked even more worried when he ended the meeting short.' And third of Syaoran, much could have come to her mind with the thought of this boy, many things had in the past but in this moment only one thing did come to her mind: 'Where are you?'
Then through her mind flashed the feelings and images of the event that preceded all else that day: 'My dream.' She felt cold as the memories of the frightening vision returned to her. She gripped her wand in her hands as the dark and hateful powers around her strengthened.
"It was cold then like now." She said softly. "But this place is much. darker." And then out of that darkness she finally understood and then felt it's coming. "It's the Shadow!" Sakura screamed and all around the group the darkness leapt up from the floor darting upward to envelop them. Without any thought and seemingly not even at her command, The Thunder Card swept up from her pocket above her head and her wand in hand followed it. Raigui, The Thunder Beast, flowed from the card above the group and dispelled it's foe, Shadow with a mighty burst of white lightning that radiated in all directions with a resounding crack of thunder. Shadow was thrown back every which way and severely weakened, as the power of Thunder was more intense than it had ever been.
Sakura, still holding her wand high, was astounded and somewhat horrified with what had just transpired. She gave no verbal commands to Thunder but had thought them in her mind. She then regained her focus and shouted in the language of Clow the words that ended all of her conflicts: "Return to your true form, Phantom card!" Shadow swirled through the air from all around and at the end of Sakura's wand its card appeared.
"Oh Yah!" Kero busted out with right next to Sakura's ear. "Your Star must be shinen' bright tonight!" Sakura put her had over her ear and looked at Kero with one eye squeezed shut. "Owww! You're louder than Raigui!" Sakura then looked to her new card as it floated in the air and she put out her hand to receive it. But it did not come to her. Instead it looped in the air and then flew into the darkness disappearing from Sakura's sight.
Sakura then looked at Eriol for answer. "Let it go." He said. "It seems that Shadow was ordained to have a different master for now."
Sakura looked around with an expression of confusion on her face. "Why is it still dark? I sealed it didn't I?"
"The lights are off." Touya said in his usual tone when Sakura missed the obvious.
"We cannot stay here." Eriol said suddenly. He was referring to the powers in the air. Instead of intensifying further they seemed to have subsided. Sakura could still feel at least one other card still undiscovered but the hateful power that had burned through the air was absent or hiding itself. Sakura had a feeling that whatever it was coming from was still out there somewhere veiled by the darkness waiting to strike.
"There are too many innocent about." Eriol continued. "To the courtyard." The group started toward the near by doors. As they approached, the doors began to appear out of the still darkness as Eriol's wand's golden light reached them. Sakura felt as though she was leaving the burning powers that frightened her so behind in the dark, but her heart stopped as Eriol suddenly stopped short of the doors.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked desperately as she held onto the hand of Tomoyo once again.
Eriol did not turn around. "This way is closed to us." He said in a low voice. "There is not escape." Sakura and Tomoyo both gasped at his defeated words. He turned. Both girls were surprised and somewhat frightened by his expression. It was a dark expression, his face half in shadow and his eyes telling of a hatred within. What the hatred was towards they couldn't guess but Sakura was not surprised by his once again dark demeanor; he was as he had been several times before in her presence. It worried her as, if Eriol, Clow's reincarnation, was doubtful, what hope did they have?
Sakura glanced from Eriol to the doors and only wondered for a moment before she understood why they couldn't escape. "All the exits are blocked by the Lock Card!" She exclaimed.
"Correct." Eriol said. "And now we must face that which is within these walls."
"What is that?" Touya asked as everyone grouped together with Sakura, Tomoyo and Meling in the center. He looked at Ruby and could tell that she had at least an idea of what was hunting them. As Ruby looked back at him she could feel that it was taking all the strength he had left just to stay standing and appear strong.
"I have not the valiancy to say for I do not know for certain." Eriol said after a moments pause. There was then a cold breeze that seemed to come from nowhere. All were then still and silent and the only sound was the slight flutter of Spinel-Sun's and Ruby's wings. "Stay back." Eriol said calmly as he and his guardians went forward.
When a few strides away, Eriol thrust his wand into the air and it's glow instantly became a brilliant and blinding ray of the sun. The light illuminated the entire room for an instant and what Sakura saw beyond struck fear into her heart; four black forms suspended in the air some distance away over the bodies of all. The feeling of her dream filled her and she was frozen with terror.
The next instant the light lessened and the glow from Eriol's wand grew and filled the room dimly but all could be seen though with deep black shadows being cast. The four forms seemed to be radiating darkness. They looked to be on fire but with a flame that gave no light or heat.
Eriol then said in a regretful sounding voice: "I am now certain."
One of the dark forms then came ahead of the others and raised its hand out. There was then the sound of a demonic voice. "Nocrhem mechgorg eshkgrogh!"
Spinel's head reared back and his voice snarled with shocked disgust. "The Demon Language of the Usol Delgoth!" And as his words came to their end the eyes of the dark-formed demon went ablaze with a hatful red light that's terror was only surpassed by its piercing scream. There leapt from its outstretched hand a blinding Hell-Fire that burst across the distance between the two parties with terrible speed. Eriol swung his wand down and cast a spell that saved them from a scorching death; the wall of flame coming toward them was deflected by an invisible shield. As the flame bounced off its power was spent and it fizzled out into a wispy smoke harming no one.
The next instant, Ruby and Spinel struck back at their assailers. Spinel's red Orb and Ruby's Crystal Shards sped forth and struck the demons with a deep boom but to the dismay of the group it did little. Ruby and Spinel, angered, flew forth to meet with the enemy and punish them. They gathered energy for a second attack as they flew but before anything could be done a second demon came forth, smaller then the first with eyes of burning blue. It thrust its hands out sending an orb of blue flame toward the advancing guardians.
Touya's eyes grew wide as the orb struck the pair and he suddenly felt Ruby's pain and fell to his knees. "Touya!" Sakura exclaimed as she went to her brother's side along with Tomoyo and Yukito. Sakura squeezed the hand of her brother as he hung onto his own life seemingly soon to be in vain. He struggled to keep his eyes open and he looked into his sister's and she saw the true mortal danger he was in. "Touya!" She repeated as she began to cry. "I have to do something."She sobbed softly as she felt her brother's hand becoming cold as if his life were rapidly slipping away.
Above, the guardians were thrown back and hurt but would not yield. They divided and circled to either side of the demons and made their second attack. Surrounding their enemy they swooped in for the strike but as they were about to overtake them the four demons darted away with speed. Before Ruby gathered what where they had done a heavy fist came down upon her neck and she plunged to the floor crashing down through a table, painfully. As she looked upward she saw not the first two demons but one of the other two; larger than the others and with the pain it had inflicted upon her came a strange feeling of deja vu, she then knew she had fought this fight before and the look of vengeance was in this demon's eyes. The demon then plunged down upon her taking hold of her neck and striking her with his other fist again and again. She then fell limp with her strength leaving her. She looked weakly up at the dark form atop her and in it's eyes she found the truth of him. She was now convinced that she was in dire peril and with desperate strength she put her hands upon the dark form's chest and plunged her crystal shards into his ungodly body. It roared deeply in pain as it reared back from Ruby into the air. There came a red orb that struck the demon and threw him back. The demon darted away to return to the others of his kind. Ruby took short breaths as she suffered and lye helpless upon the ground.
Spinel, distracted for a moment in helping his comrade, did not see and his enemies come from his sides one after another striking to his head whipping it one-way and then another with a violent jolt. He crashed to the ground also, only narrowly missing innocents by his will. He struggled to his feet and charged his magic as he looked for his foes. He found them where they had been at the beginning. He rose to the air and went to Ruby. He nuzzled her to her feet and with one arm around his strong neck she and Spinel rose once again to the air. They peered forth and the demons were now in-between them and the rest of the group.
Spinel looked at Ruby. "You are hurt."
She grit her teeth and stared hard at the dark forms dividing Spinel and she from their master and his allies. "I am fine."
"You were weakened even before this battle began. I am worried for you." He responded.
"Your concern is touching but we must fight on."
"Yes," he said. "We must."
As they looked forward a dark hand once again raised for the attack. At this instant the guardians went forth with all speed and met with their assailers. Each was met with two enemies to combat and they did not fair well. Their strikes were evaded and repaid twice over. Outnumbered and overpowered, Ruby and Spinel fought through and regrouped on the other side. Though they fought hard it felt as though the demons held some of their wrath back as to insult them further.
The two guardians grouped together to channel the last of their strength into one last blow. "It will be up to the others if we are defeated." Ruby said and Spinel responded: "We are already defeated. We must now do what we can to weaken them for the next battle without us." And at this they dispelled all the magic in their being toward the forms of darkness and the room filled with light as their spells tore into the enemy with viscous power.
Though drained the two stayed in the air and watched for the mist clear and reveal their defeated enemies. Ruby's eyes then suddenly grew wide as an orb of blue flame swept out from the mist and tore Spinel from the sky next to her and sent him back and through the wall of the room. She then looked back and for not even a second saw the flash of blue light before she too was expelled from the battle to lye along side Spinel somewhere out in the dark of the night.
A grim look overtook Eriol as he starred up at the demons. "The guardians have fallen. They have passed out of this place, and they are not the only ones." For a moment no one knew what he spoke of but it was then realized that Sakura was nowhere to be found. "Everyone outside now! Help Touya. Go!" He commanded without movement. He stood as the others started to flee out the doors with Yukito and Meling under each of Touya's arms. Eriol looked into the eyes of the red-eyed demon and it was there he found some of the answers he sought. He then retreated with the others.
The limp bodies of the defeated guardians were sprawled across the ground in back of the building in deep ruts their falling bodies had made in the ground. They lied defeated next to one another and kneeling in-between them with a caring hand on each was Sakura; her head hung low with remorse. The group rushed to the three. Touya was gently set down next to Ruby and his sister once again went to him, Kero with her, just as concerned.
Eriol knelt where Sakura had been and looked at his guardians. Spinel weakly raised his head from the ground as he lie on his side while Ruby remained motionless. "We failed you, master. I'm sorry." Eriol made no response. He placed his wand over each and gentile wings of white light wrapped them in Eriol's majestic power and returned them to their temporary forms of Nakuru and Spinel. "You have done your part and I thank you for it." He said gently. He then stood and looked to Sakura. She held her brother in her arms, the tears running down her fair face. "There is nothing more you can do for him." Eriol said.
Sakura looked at Eriol. "I though. I though if I. if I got him out, if I got him away from them that it would. I sealed The Lock Card with the Trough, but it doesn't matter does it?" Sakura held her brother tight and her tears fell onto his face. "Oh Touya! .Please don't die..." She sobbed.
Sakura then felt a clod breeze and looked up and gasped at the sight of the demons hovering at the broken wall starring once again. Sakura looked at her companions and then Eriol came to her with his hand outstretched. "The battle is not futile. Stand with me Clow Mistress." He said. For the first time that day Eriol's words brought Sakura hope and she took his hand.
Touya barely being able to keep his eyes open looked up at his sister and Eriol. He then looked to his side to see the shimmering burgundy eyes of Nakuru upon him. He could tell she was weak and in as much danger as he. With little strength left, Touya lifted his arm and put it around the girl. His other hand met hers and their fingers linked. Touya looked at the bandage still on his hand and a flame seemed to suddenly kindle within him and his strength began to return little by little and though he knew not where this new strength was coming from he gave to Nakuru what he could in hops of repaying her for that day.
Eriol and Sakura stood side by side together and starred into the lifeless burning eyes of their foes. Separated by a distance; the battlefield was before them. Sakura felt ill at ease, as she doubted any of her cards were strong enough to contend with even one of these "Usol Delgoth" as Spinel referred to them. And even with Eriol's hopeful words she could still sense doubt in his heart.
The cold wind blew across the area; they were now in the courtyard behind the gym. The darkness was only pushed back so far by the glow of Eriol's wand and no moon shone above for the clouds would not give leave to it's white light. Sakura stood close to Eriol and gripped her wand nervously. Eriol gave Sakura no glance of encouragement but stared coldly into the eyes of the red-flamed demon.
Suddenly Eriol raised his wand to the air. "You shall fall." He said commandingly and swung the wand downward and as he did from the sky over the demons came a thin rain that came down swiftly like glass shards. The demons screeched in sudden pain as they dropped from the sky landing soundly with feet upon the earth. "I have taken their flight. Now our battle begins." Eriol said softly to Sakura.
No sooner did Sakura hear Eriol's dark words did she see the hands of the demons raise and then the flash of their magic. Eriol swiftly took Sakura in his arms and thrust his wand outward toward the demons and they're fiery magic smoldered upon Eriol's protective spell spanning across them protecting all that were behind. The flame however this time did not stop after a moment but kept coming and though she was in Eriol's arms, the terror of the lethal fire so close frightened her to death. And at the same time she was troubled by Eriol's state, the strength of the flame was intense and he could not hold out for long. It now seemed to be a fatal contest of endurance.
Eriol's face began to show more and more clearly of his strife. A testament to his strength in Sakura's eyes, Eriol began to advance on their enemy. He let Sakura go and made his approach with her at his back huddled close. With each step forward Eriol pushed back the wall of flame and its spell seemed to become weaker.
Eriol cast the last of his strength into a mighty thrust forward repelling the flames back onto their foes with a roar and there was then silence. The ground on area between was now smoldering molten concrete glowing a dull orange lighting the area with an eerie glow. Eriol's wand no longer shone golden and he now supported himself with it.
Sakura knew not what to do when she looked upon the demons and their appearance hadn't changed. She was now the only one left to fight. She thought back to her dream and remembered the feelings stirring in her as the dream was coming to its close: feelings of wishing to be protected, wishing to be saved. But she now felt alone and utterly powerless against these creatures of darkness. But she knew she had to be strong for all depended now on her.
Sakura looked at Eriol and his eyes told her to fight. She felt in his eyes the courage and determination to face the demons. She looked at the demons standing amid the burning embers blowing in the air like orange fireflies dancing in the wind. She thought of her brother, Eriol's fallen guardians, and her friends, Tomoyo and Meling all who suffered because of these creatures. Sakura clenched her wand and called to the demons: "You hurt my friends!" Then suddenly a card flew up before her. She thrust her wand into it and summoned its spirit to her assistance. "Freeze Card! Release and dispel!"
The mighty blue fish rose from the card and hovered above its master with steam surrounding it as the embers in the sky burned on its skin. Sakura looked out over the battlefield of fire and brimstone and knew what to do. "Freeze Card! Cover everything in ice!" Sakura's words were callous and vengeful, surprising even her. Freeze above dove across the battlefield as if on a strong wind leaving in its wake a veil of steam and mist. Freeze returned to rest in card form and the mist faded from the field reveling a glistening crackling icescape.
The demons too were covered in ice and Sakura stepped onto the battlefield to finish them. Slowly and very cautiously she crept toward the mass of ice they were entrapped in. The ice was thick and Sakura could only see their dark forms within. Now that it seemed to her that she had the advantage she wasn't sure what to do next, if she was to kill them or just to somehow keep them imprisoned. She didn't like the thought of killing them but she didn't know what else to do for she somehow knew that keeping them contained was an impossibility. But before she could make any decision, there came a light from within the ice. The eyes of the red demon shone once again. Brighter and brighter but the light not only came from its eyes but its hands. The ice began to crack, as the flame in the palm of its hands grew more intense until there came a sudden flash and with a screeching boom the ice exploded outward and threw Sakura to the ground.
"Ecsteh shren mechna mu!" Sakura heard in the demon's tongue, as she lay motionless upon the icy ground. Petrified with fear, she slowly turned her head to see the four demons looking at her from afar. "You cannot save your friends, nor yourself, pathetic human!" The red-eyed demon said. It raised its hand once again and in it an orb of flame flickered.
All the memories and all people of her life went through Sakura's mind and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Sakura heard the scream of the demon and felt something take hold of her and she felt herself flung to the side narrowly avoiding her death. She suddenly felt the smoldering heat of the demon's flame burning. She felt upon her another warmness however, one which felt not menacing or hateful. She felt herself in the arms of another person and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her heart stopped. Her eyes glistened with tears. Her thin arms quaked and she held in her breath. "Syaoran!" she yelled as her heart nearly burst in her chest and she threw her arms around his neck. Syaoran knelt with Sakura in his arms and put a hand on her cheek, the other bearing his sword. He looked into her eyes and spoke from his heart: "I'm sorry, for not being there."
There was now a white light on coming down from the sky, the clouds had parted and the moon now shone. What Sakura saw in Syaoran's eyes deepened by what she felt from his soul; he pulsed with the vibrations of the Power and Dash cards as well as his own magic, they burned in him now.
Syaoran then whipped his head around to find the demons. There they stood, watching, waiting. Syaoran took to his feet and drew two scrolls from his coat of Wind and Fire. With a thrust of his hand they went forth and dispelled, the wind fueling the fire and sweeping it across the demons, blinding them for an instant. Fueled by his anger, Syaoran, with the speed of the Dash and the strength of the Power leaped forth and with a vicious slash of his sword he tore it across the chest of the red-eyed demon and it let out a scream of pain more terrible than before.
The demon was thrown to the ground by the sheer force of the strike. It held a hand over its chest where upon its dark form there was a deep, wide slash, which burned a bloody red as its eyes did. Syaoran stood between the group and the demons, sword at the ready. The demon stood as the other three stood around it. The red-eyed demon was angered as its luminous red blood ran down its dark form. It started forth for battle with this new foe but was stopped by the hand of smaller demon with eyes of blue flame.
The blue-eyed demon formed a triangle with its fingers toward the group and closed its eyes. There was a great blinding light that didn't seem to come from anywhere but instead grew in everyone's minds. It lasted for a time and then faded and sight returned to all, they did not see all they had before, the demons were gone, as well as any sign of the battle, no fiery icescape, no holes in the wall where Eriol's guardians had crashed through. Everything was as it had been.
There was silence and stillness. Like a gentile breeze the numbness of the moment passed. The silence was then utterly shattered: "Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!" Meling screamed as she careened into him knocking him down and landing on top of him, her arms firmly wrapped around his neck, possibly never to let go again. Syaoran sat up. "Meling." He uttered regretfully. "I owe you dance, don't I?"
Sakura smiled at this familiar sight. She then felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to find Eriol no longer bearing his wand or wearing his robes. She then took his outstretched hand and stood. Sakura had many questions for him but she felt that with the threat passed this night was no longer the time for questions. But there was one question she asked before thinking. "Is Touya.?" She said as she whipped her head in the rest of the groups direction only to find them walking toward them. To Sakura's surprise there seemed to be little wrong with her brother. He was walking toward her with Nakuru under his arm; she was now the one who seemed drained. Her eyes were half shut but Sakura could see clearly that they were set upon Touya. The others were to the two's sides and all seemed fine for the most part.
Eriol said nothing, as he needed not to by the warm smile on Sakura's face at the site of her brother and all her friends safe at last. Syaoran and Meling came over to Sakura and Eriol as well did the others. Everyone looked to Eriol for direction but he kept it simple. "Let us go. The others are waiting for us to awake them in the dance." He said as the Sleep spell came to everyone's mind. All began walking back into the dance except Syaoran and Eriol for a brief moment. The rest continued into the dance.
When just through the doors Touya's eyes came upon a sight and he paused for a moment. Sakura looked at him with question and noticed that Nakuru had a similar expression. Sakura asked "What is it, Touya?" He looked at Nakuru and they then slunk away without a word. On the floor at Sakura's feet asleep with the others were four people of about her brother's age. Yukito then stepped to Sakura's side to explain, somewhat.
"They're Dorian, Traya, Roan, and Dieae, some friends from school." He said pointing to each. "Those two had some doubts about them at first but I guess this proves otherwise, right?"
"Right!" Sakura said with a smile. "No one as pretty as them could be mean!" Though at that moment she didn't realize the fallacy of her words. Yukito then took Sakura's hand the two went to Tomoyo and Kero, waiting for them.
Still outside, Syaoran stood next to Eriol and did not look directly at him. "It was you wasn't it?" He said. "The cherry blossoms."
Eriol put a hand on Syaoran's shoulder. "As I have said: none of us are alone."
Author's Notes: Don't worry, this isn't the last chapter. There are at least two more sections of chapters to go each consisting of at least four chapters each (ruff estimate).
Also, special thanks to cherry-blossom and Anime Goddess for your great support of the story. You two, as well as all my other fans, have been encouragement and reward enough. Thanks.
Preview synopsis for next chapter: With the dance and the battle behind them all are physically and emotionally drained. There are many questions to be answered but Eriol is keeping things to himself for some reason; he retires to his mansion hidden from all. While her brother and Nakuru recovering, Sakura is now writhe with curiosity and some suspicion. Li attempting to sort out his jumbled feelings rediscovers Kako's enchanted comb and seeks her out. The group rests to regain its strength, but what of the demon enemy? Kero and Spinel are concerned.
Important Notice: For those who didn't know I've been revamping the chapters and I just finished. For the returning readers I'd like to invite you to read this story again from the beginning because I have not only re- vamped the chapters I have also completely re-written the first chapter as the previous one sucked ass. Thank you for your support and I hope you read and enjoy Possessors of the Clow into the future chapters and to its end.
