AN: wow - look at the update (and its only just over a week as well go me). I'm afraid that this will be the last update for a while as college has set me a ton of work to do, and most of it Is due in over the next two weeks. But I promise to update as soon as possible. If you would like me to email you when I update, just leave your addy in the review or email me (my email is in my profile).

And a huge thank you to all my reviewers, I am so chuffed that I finally made 100 reviews! I LOVE YOU ALL.

So this chappie is dedicated to all of you!

The Prophecy

Chapter 13 - Evil revealed


The four arrived back at Sakura and Tomoyo's apartment just before 12pm. Tomoyo was trying her hardest to look strong and happy but inside she as if some vital limb had been removed. No matter how close her and her mother may not be, she was still her mother and she was always there for her no matter what happened.

Tomoyo was shaken out of her private thoughts by the sound of breaking glass. She sighed, got up and went to see what the commotion was.

As it turned out it was only a strong gust of wind coming from an open window. Tomoyo shut the window and then realized - it hadn't been open in the first place. She quickly scanned the room and there lying on the table, like it belonged there was letter addressed to her.

Don't worry sweet Tomoyo, your mother has not been harmed, however if you and your friends are not at the appointed place at the appointed time then I can make no promises for her safety, or anyone else's for that matter.
Make sure that they keep their end of the deal, or I will be hard pushed to keep mine.
See you at midnight sweet Tomoyo, and don't sit their and brood, it doesn't suit you.
Yours
The dark master.


Tomoyo felt her face burn with rage. How did he or she know that she was the one that would pick up the letter, what was it to stop Syaoran or Sakura pick it up. And if he or she knew that then they must be watching them.

Tomoyo had a brainwave - if he could see them, they should fool him, and give them something to think about. Lull him into a false sense of security. She quickly went into Sakura's room and told her of her plan. Sakura nodded and agreed, this was just what they needed.

~*~

Both boys waited downstairs dressed smart. They knew what the girls where scheming, and boy that 'dark-lord' was going to be up to his neck in shit by the end of tonight.

Tomoyo was the first to descend down the stairs. And to put it bluntly Eriol's jaw hit the floor. She looked stunning. She was wearing a dark violet dress that settled just passed her knee, it was embroidered with silver butterflies and the dark colour of her dress made her skin look pale and almost ethereal, and made her eyes shine like sparkling stars. She had left her hair down, and it slowly cascaded in gentle waves down her back, framing her face beautifully. She had a simple pair of low heels on, black in colour. But the thing that Eriol looked at the most was the small purple crystal that hung delicately from a thin silver chain. He had given it to her nearly three years ago, as a birthday present. And sometimes her still wondered if she still had it, or even wore it. Syaoran elbowed Eriol in the side in an effort to bring him back to reality.

Eriol walked over and whispered something into her ear.. She smiled and looked at him, love shining through her gaze. They kissed passionately, his hands intertwined in her hair. Syaoran felt a pang of jealousy ripple through his heart. He didn't have anyone who he could hold, kiss or relate too, and if things didn't go as they where supposed to tonight, he may never have the chance to love.

"Hmm Hmm" came from the top of the stair, shaking Syaoran out of his thoughts and the two love birds out of there own absorbent of each out. Both breathing heavy and blushing like tow innocent children who had just been found doing something naughty.

Syaoran's gaze wandered up the stairs, and this time he was the one stunned into silence. Sakura looked; well she looked amazing for lack of a better word. She had a similar dress to Tomoyo but this one was a soft pink with dark pink cherry blossoms embroidered along the hem, and scattering up the left hand side. She had a pair of simple, flat strappy sandals, also pink. And the only piece of jewellery she wore was a small pink diamond, shaped into a heart, which hung from a thin silver chain. It had been a birthday present from her father. Unlike Tomoyo, Sakura had her hair tied up, held together by and elaborate maze of twists and curls. A few thin sections of hair still hand loose, framing her face in a mature and beautiful way. She looked just as beautiful as Tomoyo.

Tomoyo squealed 'kawaii', and shook Syaoran out of his current gawking state. Sakura blushed slightly, a pink glow spreading over her cheeks, she knew that Syaoran had been looking at her; in the same way a hungry man would look at food.

"You look lovely Sakura," said Eriol sincerely, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Yea you look really good," said Syaoran quietly, but everyone still heard him.

They all headed out to Eriol's car, seeing as Syaoran no longer had a car after his run in with one of the bad guys. Tomoyo and Eriol sat in the front, Sakura and Syaoran in the back, where an awkward silence settled over both of them.

The arrived at the restaurant and Syaoran helped Sakura out of the car, she hooked her arm through his and the four of them entered the restaurant.

Behind a bush, across the road from the restaurant a darkly clad man stood up and watched the scene unfold before him. He brushed the leaves that had stuck to him off his coat and watched them flutter to the ground. He growled dangerously as he picked his cell phone out of his pocket. This was bad news, and he was in for it. The master would not be happy to hear of the twos returning closeness. A moment later he disintegrated into dust, and his remains floated across the light evening breeze. All that was left to show that a man was once there was the cell phone, still connected, lying on the floor.

~*~

The four had decided to go all out on this meal, mainly because it may be the last time they would get to have a fun time out. The restaurant itself was one of the classiest restaurants in town, and its reputation preceded it. The inside of the restaurant was exquisite; it had beautiful oak beams, sprawled like spiders across the ceiling. It gave an almost gothic feeling that was offset by the lighting that cast shadows and softly lit the room.

They where led to the balcony seating, and the town of Tomoeda lay before them, sparkling like a million stars strewn across the horizon. Sakura sighed, thinking that this might be the last time everything would be so peaceful. Unbeknown to the others she had been having strange dreams, where everything around her was burning to the ground, the flames licked the very ground she stood on. And in the middle of all the chaos there was a man, a man she knew that she knew, but couldn't put a finger on who it was. He just stood there laughing as the world she knew burned down around her. And just as he was about to remove his hood, she woke up in a cold sweat.

And every time she had that dream, it reinforced her need to do something, and to save everything around her that she had come to know and love.

The waiter came and took their drink orders whilst handing out the menus and going through today's specials. The four of them decided to go for the restaurants buffet style barbecue. They helped themselves to a variety of meats, vegetables, sauces and herb's, and watched them cooked on the huge restaurant open grill, a huge semi circular sheet of metal that was heated by hot coals underneath.

They ate until they could eat no more, and then drinking their drinks the reminisced about all times, for to them, it may be the last time they had the chance too.

"Tomoyo," started Sakura, trying to hold her giggles back, "do you remember that time you bought a boy to my house and I gave him a hug, and Touya threw a fit because he thought he was my boyfriend, and chucked him out of the house."

Tomoyo laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Yea, it was only later he discovered he was my cousin. I've never seen your brother so humble in my entire life."

They all laughed at the thought of Touya being humble, this was the guy who chased boys away from his sister like a cook chases away flies that want to land on his food.

Eriol this time brought up a memory.

"Do you remember the last time we all went to the cinema, and we went to see Armageddon. You two," he said pointing to the girls, "Cried so much that by the time we got both of you home your mascara was running down your face and Touya thought that somebody had died or something."

They all broke off into peals of laughter, many of these stories where at Touya's expense, but Sakura felt happy to remember him in such a way. He had always been the caring overprotective big brother.

They finished their drink, paid the bill and headed out to Eriol's car. Sakura and Syaoran where once again sat in the back. Sakura felt her eyelids getting heavy, as when she slept she was interrupted by terrible visions of what might happen. She felt herself swaying slightly, and as soon as her head hit the nearest thing she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

The only thing was she had fallen asleep on Syaoran's shoulder.

Syaoran looked at the sleeping figure beside him, she looked so peaceful. No body would have believed the terrible ordeal she had been through over the last few days, let alone the fact that she had to carry this idea of the momentous task that lay ahead of her.

Sakura shifted slightly in her sleep, causing her to bury deeper into Syaoran's shoulder. She unconsciously breathed in his scent in her sleep, and a small smile crossed her face, the smell was so warm and comforting. Syaoran shifted uncomfortably, if someone had told him a couple of weeks ago that him and Sakura would be sat in a car with her asleep on her shoulder, he would have paid for them to be put into psychiatric care.

Tomoyo glanced into the rear view mirror, and had to stop herself squealing kawaii at the top of her voice. She nudged Eriol gently, and his eyes flicked to the rear view mirror and a smile settled on his face. Both knew how lonely the other had been, perhaps this upcoming battle would serve as guidance for both.

They arrived home shortly before 10pm, and Syaoran, not wanting to wake Sakura, lifted her up and carried her inside. He opened the door to her room using his foot, and placed her gently on the bed. He would wake her in an hour, so she could get ready before the battle that lay in front of them.

Just as he was about to leave, Sakura opened her eyes. At first she was confused as to where she was. Last time she had checked she was in Eriol's car on the way home. She looked around, and found herself in her room, with Syaoran standing by the door, looking as if he was about to leave. Suddenly everything in her mind clicked into place, the warm smell, someone carrying her to her room, it had all been Syaoran. Syaoran gently nodded as if to confirm it had been him, and was about to leave when a soft voice stopped him from leaving.

"Li-kun, wait" said Sakura softly.

He poked his head back around the door. For a second his eyes read a state of confusion, and he resembled that of a small child lost in a big city. Sakura felt herself smile.

"Thank you" she said quietly, " for everything."

"For what" asked Syaoran, growing more confused by the moment.

"For everything you've done for me, despite the fact that I was a bitch to you. And I'm really sorry for that. But you held me when I cried on your shoulder, for telling me something we never talked about when I lay in a coma in the hospital, for letting me change around you and never ask a question about it. And I hope that you will forgive me for everything I've said and done over the last few years."

Syaoran absorbed everything Sakura was saying. He gently padded across her room, and sat down on the bed next to her and gave her a quick hug, Sakura tensed at first but then relaxed.

"Of course I forgive you Sakura, I just wish that I had bitten down on my pride and forgiven you sooner." He said hardly believing what was going on.

Sakura grinned and held out her pinkie.

"Friends forever, no matter who or what tries to come between us?" she asked trying to keep her hand steady in the stillness that had settled over them.

Syaoran seized her pinkie in his, a huge grin spreading across his face.

He left a couple of minutes later to let her get changed. Even thought she was happy that they had made up, a single crystalline tear rolled down her face, leaving a thin silver trail down her cheek. And only one question repeated in her mind.

Why hadn't they made up sooner?

~*~

Syaoran stood in the hallway, an intense look of concentration on his face. In one hand he held a phone, in the other a pen, and that pen was in danger of being crushed through his nervousness.

He could hear the phone on the other end ringing, and ringing. At first he was worried that the same thing that had happened to Tomoyo's mum, might have happened to his family.

"Hello" answered someone on the other end of the line in chinese.

"Wei" exclaimed Syaoran, also in Chinese. "Please could you put my mother on the phone, it is a matter of urgency"

A few seconds later his mother picked up the phone on a connecting line.

"Xiao-lang" she greeted.

"Mother" he replied.

"May I ask why you have decided to ring me at such a late hour?"

Syaoran shook his head in amazement; he had completely forgotten about the time difference.

"I just wanted to ask you for some advice" he replied.

"Well then ask away," she said in her always-refined voice.

"What would you do if you where facing an unknown enemy" he asked bluntly.

Yelen was at first shocked by this question, and her heart rate quickened. What had her son gotten himself into this time?

"Well I would assess his greatest strengths as well as his weaknesses. Whatever you do, do not let your guard down, no matter how weak he seem." She said simply.

"Thank you mother."

"But Xiao-lang, please may I ask why you needed such information?"

"I'll explain to you tomorrow mother." He said simply said.

They said their goodbyes, and Syaoran had one last thought a he replaced the phone to its hook.

'Will there be a tomorrow?'

~*~

The four teenagers locked the front door behind them. The night held a sense of foreboding, and was tinged with a cold tingle in the air. Eriol watched his breath condense in front of his eyes and slowly float upwards to the burning streetlight.

Sakura led the way, a look of determination fixed upon her face, making her glittery eyes seem fierce and strong. This was it. The night she would finally meet the person who had ordered the execution of her brother, and the kidnapping of her best friends mother.

He would pay for his crimes, and Sakura would be the hand that delivered the justice.

She unconsciously clenched her fists continuously. Only when Syaoran put his hand on her shoulder did she calm down slightly.

"Don't get angry Sakura. He wants you to be blinded by your anger and make a mistake," he said softly.

"I know but even though I know that it doesn't stop me from being angry for the pain he's caused us all" she said, bitting back on the rising sobs in her chest.

Syaoran nodded understandingly. This was what the dark lord wanted. But he knew as well as anyone that Sakura could hold a grudge. And when she did there was nothing to calm her down.

They arrived at the park and an eerie silence settled around them. Sakura could feel her beating twice as fast, the blood pushing itself to its limit. She had never felt this nervous before, but then again, she had never had to save the world before either.

A thousand questions ran through her min. Why her? What would happen next? What if they failed? What if she died? Each questions answer was as unobtainable as the last one.

Sakura's thoughts where shattered as the bell began to strike midnight. The lights around her flickered and then went out, leaving only the glow of the fool moon, tinged pink.

But the clock did not stop it chimes at 12. It carried on for one extra chime.

The clock struck 13.

The devils hour.

All of a sudden the dark lord materialised right in front of their very eyes, his cloak swinging around him, making it look as if he had just performed a magicians trick. His face was hidden by a heavy hood, which cast dark shadows over his features. Slowly the hood slid back to reveal who it really was.

Kenjii.

~*~ End chapter 13 ~*~

AN: well I have worked it out that there are 5 more chapters to go after this. And I will try to get them all up for Christmas. I would also like to know if you would perhaps like a sequel. I can't say much more about it now because it will give away the rest of the story.
But anyway I hope you liked this story. Sorry for leaving you a cliffy *grins evilly*
Please remember to review!!
Ja
demi-kaijuu
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