MUWAHAHAHAHAHA - ::cracks back:: Ah. . . ow. . . ::rubs back and grimaces:: Well. . . er. . . gomen for taking forever to post this chapter. I'm in school now so ya know how it is with h/w and all. . . and not to mention I start my SAT 9 test from 5/9-5/15 So um yeah. . . I hope I'll be able to write this cause today my hand caught against somethin' while I was runnin' and my fingers bent back and it still hurts. Anyways, I wanna thank Sakura Golden Wolf for reviewing my last chap! Arigatou!!! And I will start doing a disclaimer. . .

*DISCLAIMER* I DO NOT own the cast of CCS *sighs* Though like every author. . . I wish I did, but CLAMP owns CCS. The only characters I own are the gods, goddesses, angels, Lord Hades and Lord Zero, and all the other made up characters.




Chapter 12: Crimson Lake





SilverFox and Jade galloped stealthily down the smooth slopes. Sweat beated down their brows and snouts as the heat from the sun beated against them. Sakura ran the back of her palm across her forehead, wipping away the sweat, but more immediately formed. Her shirt stuck to her skin from all her sweat. Shielding her eyes from the brightness and heat the eclipse let out, she squinted her eyes so she could see as far as she could. But all she saw was the same. . . land. The ground soon became hard for the two white stallions to gallop through. Pointy rocks rose and they trotted on, careful as not to step on any. Syaoran looked from the corner of his eye. He could see Sakura. Her face was red from the temperature and the sweat gleamed. Removing his hood, the temperature of the sun beated against his face, sweat immediately forming on his brows. Steering SilverFox by the reins, the stallion moved to the side so that he walked alongside Jade.

"Sakura-chan?" Syaoran asked, concern in his voice.

"Hm? Nani?" Sakura asked, as if snapping back to reality as she turned to face him.

"Would you like to use my cloak? It'll keep you cool," Syaoran offered.

Sakura smiled. "Iie. It's okay Syaoran-kun. I'm fine."

He gave her a look that clearly stated he didn't believe her. "C'mon! Just use it."

"I said I'm fine," Sakura replied, calmly.

"Iie, you're not. You're sweating. It's obvious that you're burning hot!" He pulled his cloak off and held it out to Sakura. "Take it."

She looked at it, then back at him. "I can't."

"Just take it," he said firmly.

Reluctantly taking it, she slowly pulled it over her head. Coolness suddenly washed throughout her body as she sighed. She could smell the sent of autumn coming from the cloak. . . and she knew who it came from. Syaoran. She remembered how when he held her she could smell the autumn leaves and air. How comforting it felt to be in his embrace. It made her wish he would never let go of her. A deep red hue crossed her cheeks as she shook her head vigorously to rid the thought. Then she looked at him, his cheeks red from the heat and beads of sweat beated down his face.

"See Syaoran-kun! Now you're the one that's getting burned!" Sakura stated, her brows furrowed together.

He didn't reply. -It's better then seeing you suffer- he thought silently to himself. After what felt like days, which was really hours, Syaoran called for a halt and him and Sakura dismounted from the tired stallions that crouched down to rest. Syaoran rested his back against SilverFox and right when his eye lids closed, he fell into a dreamless slumber. But Sakura's eyes stayed wide open. She didn't feel one bit tired. Instead she felt wide awake. -I'll just explore our surroundings for a few minutes. Syaoran-kun will never know I was gone.- Sakura thought to herself as she got up and began to explore. As she walked, she found leaves and dried roots at some places, and dark looking leafless trees. Small pointy rocks were scattered about and some boulders hovered a few inches taller then her. Her legs moved on and on, time slowly passed by. She never realized that she was already gone for a long time for it felt as if something tugged at her, urging her to come to it or them. Then, something in her snapped and whatever it was that urged her to come, broke. Stopping in her tracks, she decided to go back. Turning around, she took one last glance at her shoulder and broke into a run. For some reason, her heart beated rapidlly in her chest. Fear rose in her. But why was she scared?

It took her longer then she thought to get back, and when she did, she was panting heavily from the running. The hood hung behind her limply, her face red. Weariness suddenly overcame her as she stumbled towards Jade. Resting her back against the female stallion, she fell into a restless nightmare. . . .

(Dream Sequence)

She found herself falling. . .
. . . and falling. . .
. . . . and falling. . .
. . . . . . and falling. . . .
into nothing but darkness. Something pulled her down. But what? She couldn't move her arms, or her legs. What was happening? Where was Syaoran?

"Sakura!" a voice shouted.

-Syaoran?-

She wanted to open her mouth and shout, but no words escaped. Instead, the sounds of yelling rang in her ears. Low at first, then louder, and louder until it vibrated her ear drums. Tears sprang to her eyes. These were no ordinary yells, but these were cries of human beings. It sounded like they were being tortured, murdered. These were cries of pain, and agony. Childrens' wails mixed with the yells. It was unbareable. How she wished she could cover her ears to block them all and just break down and cry along with them, but she couldn't move. Soon she found her fall becoming a lot faster and forceful, and then there was a loud:

SPLASH

She had to hold her breath for she found herself being pulled into water. . . crimson water. It went into her nostrils and a scent lingered heavily in them. Her mouth opened as she coughed in realization, but only bubbles escaped. This wasn't water. . . . It was BLOOD!!! She struggled in whatever held her, desperately trying to get out. She wanted to get out. Her heart beated heavily in her chest. It made her feel that it could rip through her skin any second. Her lungs burned as they begged for oxygen. Looking down at her arms, she found what held her. It was another hand. Except by the looks of it, it was old and moldy, the outlines of the bones could be seen. She looked at her other arm, and then her ankles, where she found a hand on each. Fear gripped her heart like an iron bar. She wanted to get out of here. . . she wanted Syaoran.

-Someone. . . help me. . . - she thought to herself as darkness slowly covered her vision. -Syaoran. . . -

Then she saw a hand reaching out for her before all became black.

(End of Dream Sequence)

Sakura's eyes opened quickly. Gasps escaped her mouth as she clasped one hand over her rapidlly beating heart. Looking up at the sky expecting to see the moon and stars, she was greeted by darkness and the brightly burning eclipse. Tearing her gaze from it, her mind drifted back to her dream. Cold shivers ran up and down her spine, making her insides cold. Her palms were moist. The only thing she felt was fright. Then the smell of blood lingered in her nostrils. She cluched her stomach, suddenly feeling nauseus. Standing up, she ran behind a huge boulder and vomitted. She sat back down by Jade, not feeling well at all. The two horses were already wide awake, their eyes gleaming at her with concern. Smiling weakly at them, she ran her hand down Jade's smooth mare. Syaoran stirred lightly in his sleep and his eye lids slowly parted. Sitting up, he saw Sakura awake, stroking her hand against Jade's mare. He noted that her face was pale.

"Sakura-chan? Daijoubu desu ka?" he asked in worry, startling her.

She didn't realize he was awake. Turning to him she smiled, trying to act normal. "I'm fine." Then she got up. "We should get going. The sooner we get the stones, the sooner all this will end."

He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. They both mounted SilverFox and Jade and were soon galloping slowly through the rocky grounds. An hour or so went by and the two chosen ones' senses were alert. A dark power covered the area around them like a dark cloud. The eclipse suddenly let out a bone-chilling temperature as an ice cold chill rushed past them. Syaoran clenched his teeth to keep them from chattering as shivers ran up and down his spine. Sakura could feel the coldness penetrating through her cloak. But a light warmth still warmed her body. The earth under them slowly started to rumble.

"Sy-Syaoran? Wha-what's happening?" Sakura asked, her teeth chattering wildly from fear and cold.

He looked at her. The cloak wouldn't be able to protect her from the cold no matter how much magic was used. This other power was just to strong. "I-I don't know," he replied, not able to keep his own teeth from chattering.

The earth shook more and more. Small rubbles of rocks bounced up and down. Pieces of rock chipped off of boulders. Jade and SilverFox snorted and moved their heads and shook their mares restlessly. Sakura bent down and whispered soothing words to Jade to keep her calm, but fear held her. Suddenly, mounds of earth began to rise at all parts.The dirt moved away to reveal moldy hands, the outlines of bones showing. And then, bodies started to rise from the ground. A look of terror crossed Sakura's face. Those were. . . zombies. More and more rised all around them. Sakura and Syaoran turned their heads wildly about, trying to count them but it was useless. The zombies stared at them with empty eye sockets. Their clothes were tattered and torn, some of their skin weren't even there, exposing the bones. As the horses and the chosen ones breathed, they could see their own breaths infront of them from the cold. Gripping the star key that hung around her neck, Sakura quivered violently in fright.

"What are we going to do?" Sakura asked, her voice shakey.

Hiding his own fear, a look of determination crossed the warrior's face as he changed his pendent into a sword. The zombies wobbled mindlessly around them, blocking any of their exits. "We have to fight them."

"D-demo. . . . They're to many!" Sakura objected.

"Sakura, in order to get away, we have to get past them first. And if you wish to get the next stone, then we have to get past them!" Syaoran said, his voice strong and firm. "And if you wish to get the stones and save the world, and everyone in it, then we have to fight them!"

Fear suddenly left Sakura's body as her eyes narrowed in determination. Her grip on the star key tightened. Her thoughts flashed with images of her family, friends, of the people of Tomoeodo, the people of Japan, and the people of the world. It was up to them to save it. . . and she was already cowering in fear! A fire blazed brightly in her eyes.

"So, are you with me?" Syaoran questioned.

A pause. Then: "I'm with you Syaoran. . . I'm with you 'till the end!"

He smirked. Dismounting the two restless stallions, Sakura removed the Star Key from around her neck as she held it out infront of her. The star seal appeared under her feet as a wild wind blew around her, whipping her auburn hair against her face. She opened her mouth and chanted:

"Key which holds the power of my star
Reveal thy true form before me
I, Sakura, command you under our contratct,
RELEASE!"

The Star Key grew into the Star Staff which Sakura clasped tightly as the star seal disappeared. Whipping out a card, she flung it out and forcefully brought her staff upon it.

"Sword!"

Pink ribbons wrapped around her staff and it transformed into a brightly golden sword. Syaoran and Sakura stood protectively infront of Jade and SilverFox as the lifeless beings advanced towards them. Their arms were outstretched as they talked in moans. Glaring at them, Sakura's grip on her sword hilt tightened. They got closer. . . and closer. . . and closer until their moldy hands were just inches from them, and that's when they attacked! Syaoran and Sakura slashed their swords at any zombie that was in reach. When one arm was chopped off, they still continued to advance at them. They either had to cut them in half, or cut their heads off. (yuck!) But no matter how much times they did that, two more replaced them. Syaoran pulled out an ofuda as he slammed the flat of the blade against it.

"Element,Fire!"

A flaming inferno fired at the beings. Many were burnt to crisp, an open path was made. Jade and SilverFox galloped through the path as quickly as they could and Sakura and Syaoran ran after them, the zombies stumbling after them.

"Syaoran? How are we gonna loose them!?" Sakura asked as she ran franctically.

"I don't know!" Syaoran admitted. "Demo we gotta try!"

No matter how hard they ran, the zoombies were always right behind them, never once stopping. TheGoddess of Light and the God of Earth panted heavily. The cold wind whipped against their faces like ice. Coughing, Sakura stumbled on. There had to be a faster way out of this. . . If she used Fly, then maybe it would give her and Syaoran wings to fly, but what about SilverFox and Jade? And if she used Dash to lend her and Syaoran its spead, then they could escape. But. . . What about SilverFox and Jade? They couldn't just leave them! She cursed. Just their luck. A boulder could be seen dead ahead and once they rounded it, Sakura, Syaoran, and the two stallions stopped dead. There, infront of them, lied a lake. Sakura's face went pale. But it was red. She clamped a hand over her nose as she clutched her stomach, suddenly feeling nauseus. It was a lake of crimson blood. Syaoran's face twisted in disgust, but he patted Sakura's back soothingly as she crouched over and vomitted. Then the pounding of their pursuers feets against earth could be heard coming nearer and nearer. And soon them and the lake was surrounded by zombies.

One by one the lifeless beings opened their mouths, an ear splitting scream escaping from it. Sakura and Syaoran covered their ears. These were screams of pain and agony. Of someone being murdered, tortured, burnt alive. And these were cries of hopeless children, being abused. Sakura began to shake violently again as she fell to her knees. A coldness rose inside of her. She was scared. These screams were the same ones from her dream. . . . The shouts became louder and louder. It was all to deafening. Then vines grew from the grounds and slowly started to wrap around them. The horses struggled but failed. Syaoran slashed at them with his sword, and Sakura did the same as her and him tried to free the horses and at the same time stop the vines from wrapping around them. Sakura's sword was knocked from her grasp by a thick vine which started to tangle itself around her arm. More started to crawl up her legs, her waist and arms. Syaoran tried desperately to break them but more just replaced the fallen ones.

Sakura wiggled and struggled as the vines tightened, squeezing her to death. Vines started to wrap around Syaoran, stopping him from helping Sakura. She was lifted off the ground and high into the air.

"Sakura!" Syaoran shouted, still struggling to escaped the vine's death-like grip. Once he was free of it, he ran towards the vines that held Sakura, but the zombies advanced towards him. They clawed at him, grabbed his shirt, trying to hold him back.

The vines moved Sakura over the crimson lake. Her eyes went wide in fear. Its grip slowly loosened. Syaoran watched, his eyes wide in horror. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The vines let go of her as she plumeted down wards. He couldn't do nothing. She couldn't do nothing. The zombies were stopping him from using an ofuda, and Sakura couldn't do anything for her sword (staff) was lying on the ground. Her heart stopped beating as her breath caught in her throat. Then she opened her mouth.

"SYAORAN!!!" She shouted. "HELP!"

*SPLASH*

Her cry was then muffeled by the blood that flowed into her mouth when she fell straight into the bloody lake. It entered her nostrils and the scent of blood lingered heavily in her nose. Tightly closing her eyes and holding her breath, she moved her arms to swim upwards. But then something held her back. Looking down, she wasn't the least bit suprised to see moldy hands wrapped around her wrists and ankles. Then she looked over her shoulder, only to be met by many pairs of empty sockets. There were more zombies at the bottom of the crimson lake. Four of them pulled her down, each holding one of her ankles or wrist. She struggled in their grip, but it was a lot stronger and tighter. Her lungs felt like it was ready to burst. They burned and begged for air.


~

Syaoran's struggled against the zombies became stronger and forceful as he pried himself from them. Running to the edge of the lake, he pulled his shirt off and dived into the water. He saw Sakura being dragged deeper and deeper down as he reached a hand out to her.

~

Sakura's mind shouted for help as dizziness swam all around her. A wave of darkness slowly covered her vision. -Syaoran. . . Help me. . . - Before she blacked out, she saw a hand reach out to her and then remembered no more.

~

Syaoran swung his sword madly at the arms that held Sakura. Once they were off, he wrapped one arm around her waist as he kicked his legs, swimming upwards. But a hand gripped one of his ankles. Cutting at it with his sword, his head broked through the blood. Panting heavily, he heaved Sakura's head from the crimson water. Swimming towards the edge, he pulled himself and the limp body of Sakura out of the lake, red blood dripping from both of them. Then he hacked at the binds that bound Jade and SilverFox before he pulled out an ofuda. Slamming the flat of his blade against it, he shouted.

"Thunder! Come to my aid!"

Thunder bolt after thunder bolt struck at the zombies. They were shocked by a thousand bolts of thunder. Their bodies withered and slowly disintegrated into dust. A powerful gust of wind came and blew the dust away. Syaoran looked down at himself and then at Sakura, finally noticing that they were mostly covered in blood. He pulled out another ofuda. "Element, Water!" Water splashed on him and Sakura, washing the blood off them. Quickly pulling on his shirt, he made sure Sakura's heart and pulse were beating before he slumped back and heaved a sigh of relief. Destroying those zombies took a lot of energy out of him and he felt tired. Then he looked back at Sakura, her chest rising up and down heavily. She started to cough out blood as her eye brows furrowed. He crawled to her side and lifted her up in a sitting position as he patted her back. Once she stopped coughing, her eye lids opened and she looked around her. Then she clamped a hand over her mouth before she got up and ran behind a boulder, vomitting for the third time. When she was done, she slumped back down next to Syaoran before she looked around her. A look of bewilderment crossed her face.

"Hoe? Syaoran-kun? Where have all the zombies gotten to?" Sakura asked in confused innocence.

He chuckled. "Don't worry. I got rid of them."

She looked at him and noticed his power level was low and his face was pale. Her frown deepened. "Daijoubu desu ka?"

"I'm fine," he said.

Rolling her eyes, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Like I believe that."

"Don't worry 'bout me. I just used to much energy, that's all," he said carelessly. "We should get goin'."

Syaoran was about to stand up, when Sakura put her hands on his shoulders and gently forced him back on the ground. "Rest." Her voice was firm and stern at the same time. He reluctantly lied down, knowing that any arguements were useless against her. She smiled in satisfaction. The wind that blew was a gentle one, one that kept Syaoran warm. SilverFox and Jade crouched down. Syaoran leaned his back against the male stallion as he let out a sigh and slowly closed his eyes. Sakura pulled out the silver flute and began to play a soft melody that echoed all around them. It rang in Syaoran's ears like a lullaby lulling him to sleep. And in no time at all, he was met by a peaceful slumber.



(End of Chapter 12)


A/N: Yatta! It's finished! It took me two days to type this and I finally got this done! I had my SAT 9 test today (5-9) and I thought it was easy! And I actually had fun doin' it. . . hehehe. . . I know I'm weird. . . . Anyways, I hope you enoyed reading this chap and please leave a review telling me your opinion on this chapter! Arigatou. Oh and I will be changing my pen name (again) but that won't be until I add the sequal to Never Alone. ^-^

*Syaonara*