Author's Notes: Wow it's been a while! I'm sorry guys but my hard drive broke and I lost my fourth part for this story and just never got the urge to write any more of it tell now. One good thing did come out of the hard drive going though! I did manage to sit my ass down and write out a whole nice outline for this story! And I'm pretty happy with it, this story is actually not going quite as I planned but I think its better now ^ ^. Thanks everyone who reviewed and hope you enjoy!
"Well who was that? And who are you?" Syaoran questioned crossing his arms over his chest giving the other a distrustful glare. He had just come over the shock of seeing the older Sakura look a like performing magic, and now he knew something weird was going on.
"Just forget it." Xiao Lang muttered pushing past the younger boy.
"The hell I will!" Syaoran yelled going after the other to stop him from escaping. Xiao Lang quickly turned sensing the others attack and blocked it. The two threw punches at each other neither getting the advantage.
"Stop it both of you!" Sakura yelled quickly breaking the two fighting before they hurt each other. She scowled slightly towards Syaoran giving him a look that said he should know better. Syaoran blushed slightly muttering curses under his breathe as he backed away from the other.
"Listen just stay away, neither of you can handle this, trust me." Xiao Lang stated rubbing slightly at his wrist which a bruise was starting to form. He had let Syaoran in his defenses somehow, which didn't make him to happy, the only constellation being he had also gotten Syaoran on the shoulder. He made a move to leave but this time Sakura stopped him by grabbing his uninjured wrist.
"Please Xiao Lang…. if you tell us perhaps we can help…. Isn't three heads better than one?" Sakura pleaded making her eyes go wide. Xiao Lang looked away slightly trying to resist that look, he knew it to well and it was one of his weaknesses. He had to stay firm or he could cause unknown consequences.
"I shouldn't even be talking to you! This could change my world as I know it." Xiao Lang exclaimed out of frustration. He had been warned about interacting with people, that it only took one second to change the course of history. Then again he wasn't sure that was such a bad thing, after all his world was practically already gone anyways, perhaps it was better if his world was wiped out and a new one was formed.
"How do you know we can't help you if you don't try?" Sakura urged on seeing the internal fight Xiao Lang was having with himself. She could tell he wanted to tell them, wanted their help, but some force was keeping him from seeking it out. Xiao Lang sighed heavily before answering her.
"Not here…" He replied quickly can't believing he was going against the advice he had been given.
"We can go back to our apartment than…" Syaoran answered now calm from their earlier fight. He still didn't trust the other but he had found out with experience that fighting for the answer usually didn't accomplish much.
"Fine." Xiao Lang answered as the three of them started to head in the direction of Sakura and Syaoran's apartment. The walk seem to take forever for Xiao Lang he debated his story over and over in his head trying to decide whether he should tell them the whole truth or not.
The three finally reached their destination taking seats amoung the varies furniture. Xiao Lang sat on the big comfortable arm chair while Syaoran and Sakura sat on the couch.
"Should we call Kero?" Sakura asked softly to Syaoran breaking the silence. It wasn't so softly that Xiao Lang couldn't make out the words though so he replied.
"I am of Clow descent… I know of the cards and their guardians." The other two nodded deciding they would trust him for now.
"Kero will you come in here!" Sakura yelled into the kitchen, she knew the Clow Card guardian was most likely pigging out on pudding.
"But I'm busy Sakkuuurraa!" He whined fluttering into the room. He jumped in surprise seeing the other person in the room quickly dropping to the floor to pretend to be a stuffed animal
"Its ok… he knows about the cards." Sakura stated as Kero again fluttered into the air sweat dropping.
"What's going on? And why are there two gakis?!?" Kero exclaimed realizing for the first time that Syaoran and the other man looked suspiciously alike. Sakura caught him up on the days events before letting Xiao Lang continue. After hearing the whole story Kero glared at Xiao Lang distrustingly, which Xiao Lang only sighed to.
"Ok please tell us what you know Xiao Lang." Sakura stated urging the other to share.
"A long time ago… when Clow was alive and young… four other sorcerers and himself got together. Their goal was to make a crystal of some sort by combining their powers. Each sorcerer added in his own element, a piece of himself into the mixture, until it was complete. A huge crystal was made that burned, glowing, and pulsating madly. It was said to be the most beautiful thing any of them had ever seen." Xiao Lang started his story making sure each of them were listening carefully.
"Wait a minute?! Your lying I have never heard of such a story!" Kero exclaimed getting ready to bite the intruder's finger.
"That's because this happen when Clow was young… inexperience… before the cards… before you." Xiao Lang informed them.
"He would have said something though?!?" Kero continued not convinced.
"Shhh Kero let him go on." Sakura hushed him knowing there was more. Xiao Lang nodded in thanks going on.
"Unfortunately the crystal was just to strong for any of them to use it… they were all very powerful but they lacked in experience … One by one they each died in some way or another until there was only Clow left. He did his best to destroy the crystal but he just couldn't. So he did the next best thing, separating them into different pieces and hiding them. And that is what you saw Ying Fa doing… she was extracting a part of the crystal." Xiao Lang stated looking off into space as his mind wondered to Ying Fa.
"So basically we need to stop this Ying Fa from gathering the crystals right?" Sakura asked.
"It doesn't all add up…. You're not telling us something." Syaoran stated, "Xiao Lang…. Ying Fa… they mean Syaoran and Sakura…" Syaoran thought out loud trying to piece together the missing part.
"What?" Sakura asked dumbly confused.
"In Chinese." He answered staring straight at Xiao Lang.
"Yes… you are correct… of course… I am Li Syaoran… former heir to the Li Clan…descendent of Clow… once a competitor for the clow cards… and Ying Fa Is Kinomoto Sakura… daughter of Kinomoto Fujitaka and Kinomoto Nadeshiko… the true mistress of the cards."
"How… how is that possible?" Sakura asked not believing what she was hearing. How could these to strangers be them, she had to admit each of them could be twins; it was just so… unbelievable.
"We traveled through time… apparently the rest of the crystal parts can only be found in this time period… I have no idea why…" Xiao Lang added. The group fell silent again, Kero not even making any noise this time.
"Oh god… that that woman was me?" Sakura questioned shockingly trying to get it through her mind. She didn't need to see Xiao Lang's nod of affirmative to know the answer. She rubbed at her eyes slightly willing the head ache that was threatening to come away. She suddenly stood up heading for the door. "I need some fresh air…" She stated before walking outside into the brisk night. Syaoran got up as well looking at the door worriedly, he hadn't been as shocked having somewhat an idea of what was going on, he had been guessing something like this could be happening. He sighed making his own way to the door brushing brown strands of hair out of his fast.
"I'm going to go check on her, you two just stay here." And with that he followed her out into the night.
Xiao Lang fell back into the chair he was sitting in more fully. He was tired from just talking about the past, it brought up unwanted memories. He sighed following a similar action to that as Syaoran did. His vision clouded slightly as he was attacked by a vision from his past, one that was actually more pleasant than most.
~Vision~
Sakura bounced happily into her and Syaoran's apartment as she slammed the door shut.
"Syaoran!" She exclaimed excitedly running into the living area. Syaoran was sprawled out lying on the couch. Before he could react Sakura quickly jumped onto him catching him completely off guard.
"Sakura! Ow your gonna kill me if you jump on my stomach like that." Syaoran stated jokingly, Sakura only giggled at that playing with a stray piece of Syaoran's chocolate brown hair. The stray hair was in his face and was actually annoying the hell out of Syaoran so he tried blowing it out of his face, which only made Sakura giggle more. He finally gave up when he realized that Sakura was infatuated with the little piece of hair… He sometimes didn't understand his lover she absolutely loved to play with his unrulely hair; well actually he did kind of understand that. He himself loved to run his own hands through her honey brown strands.
"How was your day?" Sakura asked breaking the comfortable silence and kissing Syaoran lightly on the check.
"Better now that you're here." Syaoran whispered back, his breathe danced over the skin on her neck sending tingles throughout her body.
"We can't do anything to strenuous Syaoran! You were sick and couldn't move yesterday!" Sakura replied putting her head down on his chest. She took a deep breathe taking in his wonderful sent, that was another thing she could never get enough of, he had the most erotic sent ever that drove her insane.
"I'm better today! Really!" Syaoran replied wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer.
"You still feel warm to me." Sakura stated as the back of her hand felt his forehead.
"It's just a small head ache now nothing to worry about." Syaoran answering knowing that would never convince his love. Sakura was an absolute mother hen when someone was sick. Making them stay in bed and doing anything and everything she could for them. Not that he didn't mind getting waited on, infact it was kind of nice for once. He just didn't want her to wear herself out to much; after all with this new evil around they both had to be at their peak. Which is why Syaoran hoped that this sickness would go away very soon!
"You shouldn't come with me tonight if you still have a fever." Sakura thought out loud frowning a bit. She didn't like the idea of leaving Syaoran home alone sick but what could she do? It was essential that she do these patrols.
"I am alright! I can go with you!" Syaoran replied running his hands up and down her back in a soothing gesture.
"We will talk about it after… right now I have something for you!" Sakura exclaimed sitting up abruptly. She pulled out a small box from her pocket and handed it to Syaoran. She gentle got off of him so he could get in a better angle to open it.
"Sakura you didn't have to get something…" Syaoran started but was quickly hushed by Sakura with a kiss.
"Just open it silly; of course I did it's your birthday after all." Sakura stated ruffling his hair up. Syaoran ignored the fact that she was messing up his hair even more than it already was and opened the small box.
"Sakura… these are engagement rings…and expensive ones!" Syaoran exclaimed staring at the two beautiful rings on chains inside the box.
"I know that its custom for you to give me the ring and all… but… well I want to spend the rest of my life with you Syaoran… I know I do! It's just with this darkness around we haven't had time to plan for our future. So I figured we could wear these around our necks… tell we are ready to make plans." Sakura quickly explained suddenly finding the carpet very interesting. Syaoran chuckled softly knowing what was running through Sakura's mind. She was afraid he would hate the idea or hate the rings, some stupid thing like that. He titled her head up slightly and claimed her soft velvety lips. Their tongues dancing together Sakura granting access to him.
"I love it… and I'd be honored to wear it… and I love you." Syaoran whispered kissing his lover one last time.
~End Of Flashback~
Kero stared at the older version of Syaoran who had been staring off into space for quite some time. The other didn't even seem to be in this world at the moment, lost in some far off thought as he fingered the ring that was worn around his neck. Kero took this time to study Xiao Lang's features. He noticed the slight difference in the two. Although Xiao Lang was only slightly older than the other cardcaptors their seemed to be a hidden age that was much greater locked up into his amber eyes. He noticed the soft barely seeable stress lines that marked under Xiao Lang's eyes. What was plan as day though was the sadness and despair hidden in the others eyes. He had been hurt and betrayed and it was starting to wear down on the boy. Kero wondered how much he could take before he snapped.
"Sakura!" Syaoran whispered as he approached her from behind. She was in the back yard staring up at the many stars that glitter in the sky that night. "Are you alright?" Syaoran questioned after getting no reply for the other. When she still didn't answer him he turned her around to see tears tracing down her cheeks. "Oh Sakura what's wrong?" He asked worriedly softly caressing her warm cheek.
"Syaoran." She whispered hoarsely burying her face in his chest. He enfolded her in his arms keeping a tight grip on her to let her know he was here for her, that he always would be. After a few minutes Syaoran urged her on to tell him what was wrong.
"Oh god Syaoran… has everything I've worked for been nothing?! Is it just thrown away in the future… everything I've done!..." Sakura sobbed her body shaking. He had a feeling she would take the news to her future side taking to evil, he had only hoped that it was less urgent than this.
"Hunny… its ok… the future isn't carved in stone… we now know about this… we can now fix it." Syaoran stated in a reassuring tone. "We don't even know how this happened… we will find out and I swear to you we will stop it."
"Syaoran… don't you understand… I I… betrayed you… I left you for for the other side!!!" She exclaimed the tears that he had wiped away spilling over again. Syaoran pulled her even closer running his hands through her hair.
"Shhhh that isn't you… you haven't done anything to betray me yet… and we will fix the future hun… Together we will get through this… like we always have." Syaoran whispered kissing her softly. She wiped away her last tear and nodded.
"Together." She answered nuzzling his neck. "We can do this." Syaoran nodded a force of resolve spreading throughout him. He was determined to protect what he had… at whatever the cost.
TBC
Thanks for reading!!! Hehe! Two Syaorans *Giggles* heaven… *drools*…. Coughs anyways hope you enjoyed!... and I shall be back with more… hopefully not to far away from now! LOL
Siberian
