Well, hello! And Welcome to My Little World of Weirdness!

I state for the record that, despite the fact I really, really wish I did, I don't own any of the official characters that will grace this story; it's all CLAMP's! Always has been, always will be! I *DO*, however, own Marcibay Hilligans and Hei-ying Reed!! I also own Lord Maduokai, and the three of the dragons, T'listia isn't mine but on loan from one of my favourite reviewers and writers, Tam Chronin! And what the heck . . . I own both of the mansions (The Reed/Hiirawagizawa and the Tsukimine) as well! [Laughs] Also I don't pretend to have any Mastery over the language of Japanese or any clue as to correct grammatical structure. I put it in and hope it gets across the point I'm trying to make! And I don't pretend to be able to write any sort of accents so please don't hate me!

"Speaking"

*Stress/emphasis*

//Thinking//

Extended~

In This Tainted Soul . . . Find Redemption . . . 

By Dr Megalomania.

Chapter Five: Restoration

Sakura yawned as she padded up the stairs to the third floor.

Dinner had been filling, and the planning for the spell they were going to cast over Hei-ying was very tiring. She sighed. Syaoran was working very hard; he didn't want anything to go wrong at all. Spinel Sun and Yue stayed with him, as Kero, Ruby and Eriol tried to teach Touya some basic guardian control. Tomoyo had insisted that Sakura go to bed to conserve her strength and was in the kitchen making her best friend some hot cocoa. Sakura shook her head; at least she'd made Tomoyo promise to retire after that.

"One, two . . . I love you . . ."

Sakura blinked, the quiet voice was unfamiliar as it echoed around her. The singer was hidden from view, as she looked around. "Hello?"

"Three, four . . . love me more . . ."

"Who's there?" Sakura turned in a circle; the voice was come from above her. "Are you lost? Where are you?" Sakura turned again as a childish giggle sounded, and she stared up at the fourth floor railings. A child, with shadowy black hair stared down at her, and smiled. In his hands, he held the small point of light again.

It slipped lightly, weightlessly, from one hand to another as he tossed it between them. The child version of Hei-ying giggled again, his voice quietly disturbing in the silence of the mansion. "Hei-ying?"

"Five, six . . ." The child sang slowly, "The door shall stick . . ."

"Matte, ne!" Sakura called up, she pulled out her key, and asked the fly to grant her wings. She fluttered up and landed quickly on the fourth floor. She glanced around, the door to Ruby's room was open, and a pale green light spilled from it. A shadow moved before the light, pacing back and forth every few seconds. Sakura blinked, and glanced down at the child dangling his legs through the railings, "Hei-ying . . . but . . . how?"

The child looked up at her, and got up. He stared at her, his expression melting from contemplation to dark amusement that scared Sakura. "Hei-ying?"

This child Hei-ying ignored her as he walked toward the open door. Sakura frowned worriedly as she noticed the child was dripping wet with water, but where he had been sitting was dry. She turned, the slow drip from the cuffs of his loose dark green trousers, and the hem of his long pale green shirt adding to her rising fear. "Hei-ying . . . why . . .?"

"Seven, eight . . ." The child began to sing again as he turned to stare into the room, the light in his hands burning brighter, "All love turns to hate . . ."

Sakura felt pulled somehow, "Hei-ying . . ." She stepped closer to the door, unaware her staff and her cards fell to the floor suddenly dull in comparison to the magic of the little light in his hands. "What are you doing . . .?"

"Then nine, ten and eleven . . ." Hei-ying glanced at her and stepped into the dimly lit room. He smiled, and peered around the doorway at her with one glowing jade eye. Sakura walked up to the doorway and blinked as she realised the child version of Hei-ying was gone. The light in the room was blinding suddenly, a quiet murmur of voices overlapped each other as she stared in. Sakura stepped closer, hearing Clow's voice sound above the cacophony briefly.

"Water . . . Sakura, water is something that flows . . ."

She frowned and tried to look back, sure in her heart that there was something wrong with this room. "Hei-ying . . . where are you?"

The child's voice began to sing again, horrible surety in his tone as he giggled agitatedly; "I'm never going to heaven!"

"SAKURA!!"

Syaoran's wide, dark brown eyes stared at her filled with complete fear. She blinked, feeling dulled senses clear slightly, she was aware he was clutching her hard, aware that he was trembling violently. She glanced over; her brother was staring at her, his large hands cradling her head. Her wet head. She frowned slightly, why was she soaking wet all over?!

Tomoyo stood just behind Syaoran, her eyes were filled with tears, and her pale hands clutched hard against her mouth. She shook hard, her eyes wide with fear.

Sakura frowned deeply as she tried to take this all in, why was she lying on the floor . . .?

Above her, Keroberos and Yue swooped down from the fourth floor. Keroberos carrying the cards in his mouth and Yue holding the staff in the other hand. The sound of someone breathing unsteadily caught her attention. Sakura tilted her head slowly, and saw Eriol rocking Ruby gently, the butterfly-winged girl was hyperventilating, her eyes wide open as Eriol knelt beside her and rubbed her back slowly. He looked paler than usual, and Ruby's hands were grabbing painfully into his thighs, as if she couldn't even support herself. He sighed, and moved so he could pull her up into a sitting position. Ruby's body was virtually boneless as he held his hand up, "Stop . . ."

Ruby's eyes crossed and she slumped forward. Eriol glanced up and called Spinel down. The large cat looked as unnerved as the others, as he landed and padded over to support his sister. Eriol thanked him quietly and ran over to Tomoyo's side, to hold her tightly. Tomoyo lowered her hands from her mouth and embraced Eriol gratefully.

What happened? Sakura's sticky mouth felt like she had a mouthful of honey. Her speech was slurred as her brain scrambled to get her senses to catch up with everything that was happening around her. Keroberos landed nearby and ran over to her, spitting the cards out, as he demanded, "Sakura? Sakura?! What did you do that for?!"

"Do what?"

"You called out to all the guardians again, and then . . ." Yue frowned deeply as he knelt by Keroberos, and peered down at her, "Then you climbed onto the railing, reached out to something, or someone and . . ."

"You fell." Syaoran finished quietly, "Without any magic; you just stepped forward and fell!" He closed his eyes and held her closer, "Sakura . . . you began to fall, and Yue and Keroberos were ready to catch you, but then you . . . you . . . it was like you were a ghost!" He shook his head, obviously not wanting to even think about it. "You fell through them, through Spinel, and finally Ruby managed to catch you. . ." Sakura blinked as she began to get a hold of the situation around her. Tomoyo raised her face from Eriol's chest, and stared at her, "Sakura-chan, why were you singing that horrible song?" Tomoyo shivered, "It was like you . . ." she shook her head, unable to comprehend it all. "Sakura-chan, why . . .?"

"What song?"

"One, two, I love you . . ." Touya closed his eyes as he recited the horrid poem his little sister had sung over and over since Ruby had saved her, "Three, four, love me more, five, six, the door will stick, seven, eight, all love turns to hate, then nine, ten and eleven, I'm not going to heaven." He opened his eyes and smoothed back a soaked lock of honey gold hair, "What did you see, Sakura-chan?"

"A boy . . ." She whispered back, "I saw Hei-ying, Hei-ying as a boy, as a child . . . he was singing that . . . I followed him . . ."

"Why?" Eriol asked quietly, "Were you aware you weren't moving anywhere?"

"No, I thought I was walking into a room with green light coming from it . . ." Sakura frowned, "I can't remember what happened after that . . . just that before I went into the room, Hei-ying was singing that song . . ."

Syaoran tipped his head back, and stared up.

Hei-ying was found on the fourth floor, slumped half way out of his room, his hand outstretched. His magic was too drained for him to try and stop Sakura from falling.

"Sakura, wherever you go . . ." Syaoran whispered determinedly, "I will go with you . . . this is too dangerous; these visions are too strong . . ."

He glanced down at her, and sighed. His overcoat was slung over her, and she was sound asleep once more, comfortable in his arms.

Dull black hair curled uninspiring on the floor.

It coiled more like ocean worn rope than the fine silk that it had once been. His pale hand reached out, covered barely by his tattered, patched up uniform sleeves. He lolled lifelessly, like a dirty, old doll whose owner had cruelly thrown him out to rot. Hei-ying's head tipped back, his matted fringe flopping aside to reveal a pale face. His dark green eyes, still lifeless and a horribly muddy green, were barely open.

The vision Sakura had had a few days ago had drained Hei-ying almost completely, the sheer act of getting out of the bed and racing across the room had sapped almost all his energy.

Touya stepped back, and looked at Yue. The angel had been quiet as they moved his brother from his bed to the study. Yue looked faintly sick to see Hei-ying so weak looking. It brought back memories of Kyree Mystrasa, the way she was rotting alive in reality behind her spells.

Eriol walked over to the desk and picked up a few sheets of paper, reading them over and over. The spell was done in the fashion of Clow Reed's incantations, a strange mixture of Japanese and English. "I command thee . . ." He murmured absently, "The guardian of the stellar . . ." He frowned and lifted his pen, striking the word out, "Of the stars . . ."

Behind him, Tomoyo fiddled with Sakura's simple costumes. The purple haired woman brushed her hand over Sakura's shoulder and squeezed, "Daijobu desu ka?"

 Sakura blinked, and looked over at Tomoyo. The other's eyes were filled with worry. Sakura smiled as best she could before her concentrated frown fell back, "Hai . . . demo . . ."

"Demo?"

"Demo . . ." Sakura sighed, "I wonder if this is really good for Hei-ying, he still seems too weak . . ."

Tomoyo looked at the dark angel as Ruby Moon cradled his head in her lap and Yue fixed up the broken clasps on his collar. Spinel and Keroberos sat a little distance away; both stared at Hei-ying intently and spoke quietly between themselves. The room was filled with tension, and Tomoyo was worried more for Sakura, Eriol and Touya. The three had been preparing to perform the strong spell for the last few days, Syaoran led all three in rounds of meditation, and for hours Eriol had been locked away in this study with Spinel composing the spell. On Tomoyo's part, she sat with Hei-ying talking endlessly to him, singing, telling him of what had happened since he'd died. She hoped to provide him with a voice he could recognise when he woke up. She knew on some gut level, Hei-ying would not be as he was when he died. She could see it when she stared into the dying pale face, when those sludge green eyes that grew darker as time passed opened, she saw that Hei-ying's mind would not be as perfect as the others hoped.

"Are you ready?"

Sakura clutched her staff close to her chest, and squeezed her eyes shut. "Daijobu . . ." she whispered to herself out of habit, "Everything will be okay . . ."

The cards in her pocket resonated with magic, as they sensed the gathering forces in the room. Yue paused, brushing a lock of hair form his eldest brother's brow, before standing. He turned and stared into Touya's intense sapphire eyes. The dark haired boy stared at Hei-ying before looking at Yue, "Are you ready for this?" He asked quietly, "We don't know what his reaction will be to this."

Yue swallowed, and raised a hand to his hip. He looked down; a tendril of dull black hair lay on the deep red carpet limply. "I don't know what my reaction will be . . ." Yue admitted softly, "but we have to know what happened to Oniichan . . ." He looked at Touya, "Please do your best . . ."

Touya nodded and turned his head to Eriol, "I'm ready . . ."

Eriol breathed in, blinking as he felt Syaoran's dark green aura brush behind him. Syaoran's voice was quiet, for him only to hear. "Calm down . . ." Syaoran reminded him softly, "Your tension filled aura is making the cards and the guardians nervous . . ."

Forcing his shoulders to relax, Eriol whispered back to his relative, "Easy for you to say . . . you're not resuscitating one of the most dangerous creations Clow ever created."

Syaoran's hand patted his shoulder once and Tomoyo's lips brushed over Sakura's cheek before the two humans retreated to the door of the study. Syaoran held up his talisman and called his sword into existence. He raised an arm, and moved Tomoyo to stand behind him. The four guardians glanced at each other and took up compass points. Yue stood to the east and Keroberos to the north. Between them stood Sakura. She ran her white gloved hand over the dark red cloak, and patted her hand over the form fitting costume underneath. It was similar to one of the first costumes she'd ever donned, the one she'd battled the Shadow Card with. She glanced over at Tomoyo, the belt buckle ends on the hat ribbons clinking together as she moved. The purple haired girl held up her camera and smiled. She gave Sakura the 'thumbs-up', as the small red light came on the end. Syaoran shook his head, as Tomoyo whispered something to him. Focusing his attention on Sakura, Syaoran raised his sword in preparation.

To the south, Spinel stood facing his long time rival, Keroberos.

The panther breathed in and lifted his head majestically. Touya stepped forward, and stood between Yue and Spinel. The quiet magician squared his shoulders, and breathed out, flexing his fingers by his side slowly. Deep within his traditional mage's cloak, his silver key on its chain began to pulse with moon-laced magic. Touya lifted his hand and pulled his hat forward slightly. He stared at Hei-ying, still reluctant to help this fallen angel. He blinked as he felt calming magic flow subtly in his direction. Blinking he looked at Yue. Outwardly, the angel was composed as ever, but he channelled some of his magic toward Touya to create a link between the two lovers. 

Touya smiled privately, and reached into his pocket.

His deep blue magic circle appeared powerfully, sweeping up cool strands of glowing cerulean magic.

"O Key . . ." he opened his hand, revealing his silver magic key, "Key of the Moon . . ." Tipping his hand, the key swung on its silver chain as he raised his other hand. "Come to me . . ." The chain melted from existence as a small sphere of dark blue magic surround the silver key, "Grant me thy power . . ." The key began to spin, and lengthened to become the floor length staff as magic swirled around it, "Assist me now . . ." Touya's eyes opened, and they almost crackled with magic, "RELEASE!"

"O Key that hides the power of the stars . . ." Sakura's large white gold magic circle spun out from under her feet powerful, and out of the corner of his eye, Touya saw all of the guardians shiver with her magic. Even Hei-ying who seemed dead to the world responded. Her small pink key began to spin in the air before her as Sakura allowed her eyes to slide shut. "Reveal to me thy true form. . ." The force of her magic began to make the room vibrate, as she moved her hands. "I, Sakura, command thee . . ."

The small star in the centre of the key span, as the wings extended, and the staff lengthened. Sakura's beautiful emerald eyes snapped open as she reached forward to grab her staff.

"RELEASE!!"

Yue's wings twitched, and his breath deepened as he absorbed magic not only from Sakura but also from Touya's moon laced aura. He looked over at Ruby, who no doubt was reflecting his rather glazed expression. She stood opposite to him, to the west point. Between her and Keroberos, Eriol stood. He wore his red collared version of Touya's clothes. The large hat that had been handed down to him from Clow's time was changed from the dark blue borders to the deep, almost purplish, red that Tomoyo had decorated the rest of his uniform with.

He raised his hand and his golden key floated up from his palm. The small gold key began to spin in his hand, as his potent gold magic circle spread out from under his feet. Magic laced up, and poured into his hand as he began to speak strongly. "O Key, Key of the Sun . . ." he lowered his hand, as the key began to spin dangerously faster. "Come to me. . ."

Spinel jerked his head restlessly as Ruby's eyes lost their focus. Both their black tinted wings trembled nervously, as Eriol continued his incantation. "Reveal to me your power . . ." The spinning key slowed, and began to lengthen in the maelstrom of power, "Assist me now. . . Release!"

Sakura's white gold circle rotated slowly as Touya and Eriol's gold and azure circles overlapped hers. Magic resonated so brightly from all of them that the four guardians' magic circles, yellow gold, Ruby red, midnight blue and icy indigo, appeared faintly like shadows cast by the strength of three magicians.

Sakura glanced over at Syaoran and Tomoyo, beneath their feet their magic circles; very different from the Clow-influenced circles, also appeared faintly. She smiled warmly. The room was filling with so much warmth and magic, that everyone's hair and clothes ruffled as if blown by an invisible breeze. Her smile faded as she stared down on Hei-ying's crumpled body. Only barely could she make out Hei-ying dim, green circle. It was as dark as his eyes, and not even visible in some places. She nodded slowly, "Hei-ying-san . . ." she murmured, "I will help you . . ."

Closing her emerald eyes, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her cards. She opened her hand, and quietly whispered her practiced incantations. "O, Cards of Mine . . . To this fallen angel be kind, lend him your strength enough to stand . . ." The cards glowed in her hand warmly, "Release!"

The cards floated out of her hand quickly and surrounded Hei-ying in a circle. They glowed and spun until they were nothing but white light. There was a loud intake of breath as Hei-ying's eyes opened, and the angel rolled onto his front. He groaned, as he pushed up and stared at the ground. His dark green eyes blinked once, as he raised his head weakly. The cards sparked brightly, their magic beginning to become visible as they streamed as much power to Hei-ying as they could. Eriol frowned, it was taking more magic than he predicted for Hei-ying. He sighed and glanced at the guardians. The four watched with avid interest.

Hei-ying finally sat back until he was on his heels. His arms were limp, as he raised one hand to stare at it with almost drunken fascination.

"Guardians of the Sun, your duty is clear . . ." Eriol spoke, keeping his serious lavender grey eyes on Hei-ying. "Bind him with your cords to protect us . . ."

Keroberos and Spinel's jaws slackened and beads of orange flame and Ruby red energy formed whip thin ropes of enchantment and spun out toward Hei-ying. They cooled and wrapped tightly around him, Spinel's blood red rope tightened around Hei-ying's torso, clamping his arms to his side. Keroberos' was crueller and wrapped around Hei-ying's neck tightly, a silent warning between the brothers.

Touya tapped his staff on the floor, and both Ruby and Yue responded, their heads jerking up and loose strands of their hair flowing around them.

"Guardians of the Moon . . . Your service is needed . . ." Touya breathed in, pausing in his incantation, "Bind him with your irons . . . to protect him . . ."

Pale hands came up simultaneously and cupped gently. Twin balls of rose pink and icy blue began to form in the guardians' hands. The sound of metal floated from them as delicate polished red and blue chains flowed from their hands, and wrapped around Hei-ying. Ruby's red chains wrapped around his waist and pinned his hands down, while Yue wrapped around his polished blue chain around his eldest brother's legs softly. The four guardians raised Hei-ying and supported him together, as they helped him float off the red-carpeted floor. Yue held his breath as Hei-ying's eyes, now a dull, unbearable bottle green, looked around the floor as he was forced to use the last of his magic for this spell. Yue wrapped his hands around his cool chain, and pulled it tight. The others grasped their bonds as well, and pulled. Keroberos snarled slightly and took a step back. He wasn't prepared to allow anything to go wrong.

Sakura stared into the face of the dark angel, the bruises on his pale face were stark, his eyes no longer the beautiful jade as she remembered. Despite their efforts and transferring of magic to him, Hei-ying's features seemed to fade a little more every day, getting paler and paler.

Beside her, Eriol stepped forward once more, his gold magic circle beginning to glow brighter. He raised his staff, and tapped it on the floor. Magical shockwaves resonated from the tip and illuminated Hei-ying's magic circle for a brief moment. He hummed quietly and then frowned as the circle faded again. Sakura glanced at Eriol as he lifted his free hand, "I command thee . . . Thy magic mark, appear to us. . ."

Hei-ying's magic circle began to form again. Like his eyes, it was a dull colour, a horrid slimy green, darkened in patches. Some parts of the magic circle were missing entirely; Eriol frowned even deeper as he analysed the circle.

"It's worse than I anticipated." Eriol admitted heavily, he shook his head as he pointed to various parts of the battered magic circle. "Parts of his memory and . . . some parts of the spells that created him aren't there . . ." He nodded, significantly, "The Obedience Spell, most notably . . ." He pointed to a large missing chunk of the circle, "That's been destroyed . . . see the edges around the hole?" They are jagged, "Torn from the place . . ." He motioned another piece, one that was neatly missing; the lines were like strings that had been cut. "Here, parts of his memory simply weren't brought back with him . . ."

"What do you mean?"

 Sakura clutched her staff close to her chest, as she looked at the circle. Hei-ying's half destroyed magic circle almost brought tears to her eyes, when she saw it along side her own and the others.

Eriol pointed to a part that was faded, darker than the rest of the circle.

"This occurs when a creation dies. . . Hei-ying was brought back from the dead by a force I can't see, nor could I recognise . . . but . . ." He glanced up at Hei-ying, the fallen angel's head nodded slowly, as he tried slowly to follow the conversation. The fallen angel clearly couldn't understand what was being said, but could hear. Tomoyo pressed a button on her camera, and its quiet whirring stopped, she couldn't film Hei-ying. Not like this. A proud creation, no matter what he was responsible for in the past, deserved not to be caught at such a painful moment. She looked at her husband, as he continued thoughtfully, "Whoever did this left no physical, nor magical mark of the spell . . ."

Touya nodded and tapped his staff on the floor again willing some of his magic to Hei-ying, and illuminating the magic circle again, "Perhaps he will know. . ." he looked at the faded parts, "If he hasn't forgotten . . . you say parts of his memory are missing, can you tell what?"

"Not yet. . ." Eriol raised his staff again, "We should complete the spell. . ." He swallowed hard, "Rejuvenating him will be harder than I thought it would be, but if you are willing—"

"Hai!" Sakura opened her eyes, "We must try our hardest!"

Eriol smiled at her, "Then everything will be okay, ne, Sakura-chan?"

"Un!" Sakura twisted her short staff around her wrist, and clamped her hands on it tightly. "Let's do our best! Tomoyo-chan, Syaoran-kun, stay back!"

"Hai!" Tomoyo called back, as Syaoran nodded, his expression apprehensive.

Eriol breathed in deeply and allowed his eyes to slide close. "I command thee . . ." As magic began to swirl around his circle, the tall magician let his head fall back and raised his staff. The magic started to whip about, the gentle breeze of magic became a wild gale of power; Sakura and Touya paid intense concentration to his words as he spoke, "Hei-ying . . . The Guardian of the Stars . . ."

The dark angel's head lolled toward Eriol as the dark blue haired magician continued to speak. Parts of Eriol's magic circle glowed painfully brightly and there was a quiet snap of magic as the lines doubled themselves, and the copied lines floated up. They rotated and twisted, reforming to fit in the missing parts of Hei-ying's circle.

"With all the Supremacy of the stellar forces at thy command and thy will . . . come forth and be reborn . . ."

Hei-ying's dull olive green eyes rolled back in his head, as the magic circle below him began to change and shift. More lines joined them, and from the new lines, magic bleed into the dark faded parts of the magical mark.  

"I, Hiirawagizawa Eriol, have so chosen . . . Thy Master, Kinomoto Touya, calls to thee . . ." Eriol raised his staff above his head, and struck it down. "Release!!"

The points of his sun struck some astral plane, causing bright gold ripples to spread out. It threw magic into the air wildly. Untamed, these strands of magic danced around Hei-ying. The angel's dull wings spread out from his back, and glowed dimly. As Spinel was forced to give the angel a bit of slack on his enchanted rope, Ruby grunted as Hei-ying jerked and pulled her forward. Keroberos snarled and jerked himself backward, trying to reign in Hei-ying's movements. "Sakura-chan!" He grunted, his voice muffled by the gold chain in his mouth, "Hurry!!"

"I command thee. . ." Sakura raised her staff into the air, "Hei-ying, the Guardian of the Stars . . ." She glanced at Hei-ying as he turned his face to look at her, his dull eyes had slid shut now, "With all the supremacy of the stellar forces at your command and will . . . Come forth and be reborn!!" She sucked in a quick breath as heady magic coursed from her toward Hei-ying, "I, Kinomoto Sakura, have so chosen! Thy Master, Kinomoto Touya, calls to thee!!" She cried out quietly as she threw her might into pulling her staff down to strike the astral plane. "Release!!"

Parts of her star in the centre of her circle, like Eriol's, doubled and floated away. She gasped as the lines slowly rose around her, trailing behind them what looked like fine white embers. It sparkled before racing to Hei-ying, then glowed as they burnt themselves into new forms, reclaiming and stabilising Hei-ying's most basic spells.

Iridescent magic blaze hotly as it rippled away from the Star staff and wrapped around Hei-ying. It ruffled his clothes this time, his hair whipped around him almost hiding him from view. It grew longer, snaking out like dark tendrils. The matted, dry hair now became shiny, and silken as magic flowed through him. Yue gasped as he was pulled forward, Hei-ying's legs twisting. Spinel closed his eyes and tried to concentrate harder on keeping Hei-ying pinned.

Feeling his magic well up expectantly, Touya licked his lips and glanced at Yue, the moon guardian nodded to him. The eldest magician reached out with his free hand and grabbed his staff. "I command thee . . . Hei-ying, Guardian of the Stars. . ." he raised his staff with both arms, above his head. His magic circle extended eagerly, and overlapped Hei-ying's. Magic bled from icy blue, and flowed down every line of the dull jade, making it pulse hard. He held it so the end of his staff was straight over the part where their two magic circles overlapped.

"With all the Supremacy of the stellar forces at thy command and will . . . Come forth and be reborn!!" He opened his eyes, to see that Hei-ying had twisted himself so he could face his new master. "I, Kinomoto Touya, have so chosen . . . I, thy new master, call to thee . . ." He brought his staff down hard, magic flowing from the silver moon symbol, the final part of the spell ringing clearly in his mind, "RELEASE . . . AND AWAKEN!!"

Ice blue magic ripples sprung up from the floor as Touya slammed his staff down. He looked up as Hei-ying's hair suddenly flowed back; his wings spread and began to beat strongly. The angel's skin seemed to glow brightly, and he began to struggle more violently. His claw-like hands flexed as he wrenched at his bonds, his legs moved hard, frighteningly frantic as the fallen angel tried to get loose. The pale face of the creation seemed to glow, as the silken black hair was restored, Sakura gazed at him and saw a look of pain flash across his features, "Eriol-kun!!" She pointed to Hei-ying's throat, Keroberos' chain was beginning to cut the pale but vibrant flesh there, "He's bleeding!!"

"Guardians!!" His voice seemed to fail him for a moment, but Eriol quickly shook his head and waved his free arm, "Release him!!"

Yue's magic bond snapped off, fading away into a fine, glowing dust. The magic hung in the air for a moment, before it shot toward Hei-ying like shooting stars. Fine rose red magic and dark blue flecks soon followed as Ruby and Spinel released their charge. Keroberos held on for a moment longer, but relented, as Hei-ying's struggles got stronger. His own gold rope dispersed and seemed to circle Hei-ying hesitantly before joining his elder brother. The cards glowed brightly, as they started to orbit around the guardian, rotating their circle slowly. The three magicians stepped back, as Hei-ying's new magic circle, now a strange mix of Sakura and Clow's magic circle appeared below his feet. It threw up strong jade green magic, as unseen gusts of magic worked around him strongly. 

There was another intake of breathe from the guardian as his lungs began to work properly. 

"Sakura-chan!"

The emerald eyed card mistress blinked and looked past Hei-ying to see Tomoyo run forward.

"Nani?!" Sakura cried back, fearing something was going wrong. She looked at Eriol who looked curious, but calm. "Tomoyo-chan, what's wrong?!"

"Nothing . . ." Tomoyo smiled, "I just wonder if I could borrow your create card for a moment. . ."

"That's not possible while the cards are sealed!" Keroberos called back, roaring to make himself heard over the wild magic. "Only Sakura can use them!"

"I wonder . . ." Sakura said loudly over the noise of the spell, more to herself than anyone, "If it were possible to let Tomoyo-chan to use the cards with my permission . . ."

"Watch out!!"

Spinel called out suddenly, as Hei-ying turned to Sakura and raised his hand to her, his eyes were blank as they began to glow with magic. Sakura cried out as her staff started to pull away from her. "Na-nani?!" She looked at Hei-ying, "Why are you doing this?!"

He closed his hand and pulled back hard, pulling the staff out of her hands. It returned to its key form and hovered in front of him.

"Why you---!!" Keroberos snarled, but paused as Eriol held up his hand.

"MATTE!!" Eriol yelled at him, "Hei-ying's only channelling Sakura's magic . . ." he shook his head, "he's not casting any malignant spells."

"Key . . ." Hei-ying spoke quietly, bright magic filtered out of his hand as he spoke, "Change, Mistress Sakura has so commanded. Release . . ."

He opened his hands, and the old staff of Clow appeared. Turning, Hei-ying stared at Tomoyo dully, "So, as Mistress Sakura has wished, you may use one card of your desire . . ."

Tomoyo blinked as the old sealing staff floated toward her, Hei-ying clearly wasn't even aware of himself. Tomoyo frowned, and plucked the staff out of the air. She leant over slightly to peer at Sakura, who simply smiled delightedly, "Go for it, Tomoyo-chan!"

"Eetou . . ." Tomoyo swallowed, and looked at her husband. Eriol blinked, clearly amazed by this, but delighted. Syaoran stared on; concerned by the fact Hei-ying was capable of casting a spell that even Keroberos and Yue hadn't been aware of. Tomoyo squared her shoulders, and recalled some of Sakura's captures, "Create . . ."

A card spun out of the orbiting circle of cards and floated in front of her face. Tomoyo raised the staff a little and spoke softly to the card, "Create for Hei-ying-san hair ties and a new robe . . ." she tapped it lightly, "Clow card!"

The create card span, and jade green hair ties appeared, tying themselves into Hei-ying's now long hair. As the angel tipped his head back, the old fringe grew out, all traces of the old Hei-ying's obsessively kept hairstyle disappearing completely. Eriol opened his hand, and the jade green earring containing his false form was revealed. Hei-ying flung out his hand again and with a pulse of magic, the jade earring flew out of Eriol's hand and into Hei-ying's. Perfect pale toes touched the dark wood below him as Hei-ying lowered himself, his blank, jade eyes closing.

The staff in Tomoyo's hand melted, and returned to Sakura in its true form.

New long hair, the same length as Yue's fell to the floor with a soft thud, new robes finalised and fell into place as the magical winds that rustled them slowed, and died away. Shoulders squared, as bones straightened and strong muscles moved. Hei-ying's whole white wings stretched out impressively before they glimmered and disappeared, leaving behind only a few snow white feathers. The jade green magic circle faded away, as Hei-ying raised his hand and attached his earring to his ear. There was a moment of silence as the angel did this, everyone taking in the miraculous transformation. Keroberos blinked, as Hei-ying turned around. It was almost like looking straight into the past. This was Hei-ying as he was when Keroberos had first been created, before his insanity fully blossomed into something really dangerous, the calm, cool and poised Hei-ying he'd almost forgotten. Hei-ying gave a small sigh, half way between exasperated and reluctant. It was frighteningly similar to sighs that Yue was known to give. He turned to face Touya, his back perfectly straight, the faint rose pink of life flushing into his cheeks, as he raised a hand to rest on his hip.

Yue's mouth fell slightly open, his amazement at seeing this completed version, this original version of his eldest brother managing to break through his usually calm and collected expression. He couldn't help but breathe the name of his brother, "Hei-ying . . ."

Hei-ying's jade green eyes slid open, burning intensely with magic, glowing - almost crackling - with his new power.

The dark haired angel stared at his new master for a very long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. He tilted his head slowly as he looked Touya up and down very gradually, taking in everything about his clothes and his staff. The angel blinked once as he met Touya's eyes again.

"You're . . ." Hei-ying's voice was quiet as he spoke, "You're not Clow . . ."

And with that . . . Hei-ying promptly collapsed.

"Can you wake him?"

"Touya should do it . . . he controls him now. . ."

"But you said it would be because of the Obedience Spell. . . even though I do feel him drawing power from me, I don't have the feeling that he will obey me . . ."

"I know. . ." There was a sigh, "The Obedience Spell is missing from his soul . . . I think it might have been destroyed. . ."

"How can he still exist if one of the basic spells that created him is gone?"

"It's not an exact science, Ruby . . . but there is some belief that if a guardian can destroy it himself, then he can survive . . ."

"Hoe. . . this is all so confusing. . ."

He opened his eyes slowly, the light, even though it was dim, still hurt his sensitive eyes. His head swam, buzzing with new magic. "Oh. . ." he raised a hand to steady his head, "wha . . .?"

"Shh. . ." A voice, familiar and warm, quietly soothed him. A warm hand pulled his own away and placed a cool damp cloth against his heated forehead. The scent of lavender struck him, making him open his eyes more. Focus came slowly, revealing to him a sight he thought he'd dreamt. Emerald green eyes stared down at him with worry. The magic that emanated for the owner of those eyes left him with little doubt, he'd found his sanctuary. He looked around at the others that surrounded him, a mixture of magicians and creations stood by his bedside. He swallowed, and tried to sit up.

"Careful. . ." a girl with rose pink hair murmured as she and a white haired creation helped him to sit up. He glanced at them, and tried to place them in the myriad of memories that surfaced and drowned in his mind, "I know you . . ."

". . . yes. . ." The girl nodded slowly, "Do you remember my name?"

He frowned, looking for a name. "No . . ." he frowned, "But I . . ." his eyes widened and he felt his mouth fall open, "I don't remember my name . . . I mean, I . . ." he shivered, "I don't know . . ."

"It's okay. . ." the dark blue haired man said, he leant forward, his voice was the same as the one who knew so much about magic. He reached forward and his hand glowed just in front of his face. The nameless creation on the bed balked away from the magic, knowing that it supplemented his existence, and yet . . .

"That's good," the blue haired boy murmured, "Sakura-chan. . . you try it. . ."

Sakura, the emerald eyed girl whose presence comforted him, nodded and reached forward in the same gesture. Her hand glowed warmly, the magic resonated with his own but still it didn't draw him near. Sakura blinked and looked at the other boy, "Eriol-kun?"

Eriol smiled, "t worked. . . Touya, now you. . ."

Touya, a tall, much older than the rest, blue eyed magician reached forward, and held up his hand. The magic didn't resonate with his own magic as much as Sakura's did, but it drew him. He stayed put, not shying away as he had with the others. There was a command to stay in the moon-influenced magic.

Touya blinked and glanced at Eriol, Hei-ying stared his hand, his expression dulling.

"He's responding . . .?"

"Yes." Eriol nodded, "Put him to sleep, we need to discuss what's going to happen next . . . you will need a little help with looking after a guardian, particularly a fully grown one who was never destined to be under your power."

Touya nodded and raised his hand in a gesture he'd seen Eriol perform, "Sleep . . ."

"Why . . ." Hei-ying blinked slowly, "who. . .?"

Keroberos watched with a grim expression as Hei-ying's features slackened. "He's too dangerous. . ." he rumbled darkly, "We shouldn't tamper with the way fate has dealt with this creation's life . . ."

"We haven't done the tampering. . ." Yue murmured as he dropped a hand onto the lion's head, "We've only fixed it . . ."

Hei-ying passed in and out of consciousness over the next few days.

As he grew stronger, and Touya sat with him more often, he gradually began to awaken. He stared into the faces of the people that cared for him, and spoke very little. Hei-ying was gaining more and more strength as the days passed. Keroberos rarely looked in on him, but accompanied Yue on his visits. They sat and watched as Hei-ying slept, but when he awoke, Keroberos stalked from the room refusing to face his elder brother.

In the meantime Touya was taught commands to use with the guardian, safe words that would stop Hei-ying in an emergency and how much magic he'd need to transfer to Hei-ying over time. Touya sighed as Sakura popped her head around the door to the study, and looked in on his training. "Why didn't Sakura need any of this training?"

"Because when she received the guardians, not only were they destined for her use . . ." Eriol flicked over a page in his book and handed it to Touya to read, "But also they transferred their ownership to her gradually over time . . . Keroberos, by his acceptance of her as the Cardcaptor, and Yue by his acceptance that she was the card mistress . . . both of them came to depend on her entirely when Clow Reed's soul finally dissipated . . ."

"That simple . . ." Touya sighed as Sakura entered the room, "What is it kaijuu?"

"I'm not a monster!" Sakura shook her fist at her brother, and then glanced down at her feet, blushing slightly, "Ano . . . if you are done for the day, dinner is ready . . ." she smiled at her brother, "I'm going to wake Hei-ying and see if he'd like to join us, he's been cooped up in that room for far too long . . . if that's okay with you . . .?"

Raising an eyebrow, Touya glanced at Eriol who shrugged, clearly gesturing that it was up to Touya. The dark haired magician sighed, "Hai, it's okay."

Sakura nodded and sprinted off. She was hoping he'd agree. She ran into the lobby, and paused to look at the new floor. It was still dark wood with a magic circle burnt into it. But instead of it just being Clow's gold magic circle, the circle had been changed to include all who lived there. The metal used to fill the groves divided parts of the circle up, but the patterns flowed into one another. Sakura's part of magic circle was white gold, a strange white sort of silver; it glittered like a star when you looked at it from above. Near hers, Syaoran's family mark was engraved with jade metal. Eriol's was a deep rich gold, it was always warm to the touch for some reason, his part of the circle held the symbol of the sun, with one small addition of a Ruby-lined moon, and a glinting lilac coloured metal lavender flower. Touya's magic circle was mostly taken up with the moon, and was a strange blue silver. At night, it was enchanted to react to moonlight and anyone who had magic influenced by it. It glowed powerfully with muted blue magic.

Sakura smiled, as she brought out her key. She was getting used to living here.

With a few words, Sakura soon had her staff. Almost without active thought, she reached into her pocket and brought out a card; "Fly!!"

Pale pink wings grew out of her back, and she fluttered up to the fourth floor easily.

Syaoran was on the third floor, looking down as she came up, and she paused in the air. He smiled, "Visiting the guardians?"

"Hai!" Sakura fluttered closer to the banister and reached out to grab his hand, "It's dinner time, please go down without me . . . I'm going to get Hei-ying-san. . ."

"Do you think he'll be up to it?"

"He will! He's getting stronger!!" Sakura clenched her hand tightly, "I'm going to ask him now!"

Syaoran nodded, gazing up after her as she ascended. Keroberos wouldn't be pleased about this . . . 

He blinked his eyes opened as the knock came to his door, "Hello?"

Sakura pushed the door open, magic wings fading from her back as she entered. "Aah!" She smiled fully, and came over to his bedside, "How are you, today, Hei-ying-san?"

"I'm well . . ." He stared at her, before nodding, "How are you . . ." he tilted his head slightly as he looked off to the side, thinking, " . . . Sakura?"

"Ha! You remember me!! I told you it would be no time before you remember me!!" She winked happily and sat on his bedside. Hei-ying smiled weakly, she was so confidant he'd remember everything. He sighed and motioned vaguely, "I suppose so . . ."

"Eh!" Sakura pouted good naturedly, "You won't be able to if you don't believe in yourself!!" She bounced on his bed slightly, "Rei! Rei! Gan-ba-tte!!"

"Now you sound too much like Keroberos!" Hei-ying snorted scornfully before blinking, the words coming out before he even knew what they meant. Sakura looked at him strangely for a moment, but Hei-ying didn't really understand. Keroberos was a sulky character who never stayed around long enough to even talk to him, why would he compare this bright star to a gloomy cloud?

"I'm sorry . . ." Hei-ying murmured, "I didn't know what I was—"

Sakura squeaked, "Sugoi!! You remember Keroberos' character!! You'll get there, I'm sure of it!!" She grabbed his hand, "Can you get dressed and come down for dinner!! Tomoyo, Yuki-kun and Ruby made it; it's going to be so tasty!!"

"Yukito . . . the other version of Yue, and Ruby the other version of Nakuru?"

"Hai!"

He thought for a moment, "Will anyone mind?" He thought of Keroberos, unsure that the angry lion would want him there.

"Iie!! Please!" Sakura grasped his hand tightly; "It's not good for you to be in here all the time!!"

Staring at her thoughtfully, Hei-ying swallowed, her intense magic making his opposition to the idea disappear easily, "Okay . . ." he found himself agreeing, "I'll just get changed . . ."

Dinner was a tense affair and Hei-ying spent most of it staring into his soup.

He just couldn't join in any conversation, and Keroberos was watching him like a hawk, taking every sarcastic comment and cruel insult he could to aim at Hei-ying. The dark angel sat there and wondered why he was the centre of Keroberos' hate, he was aware that he'd had two lives before this third reincarnation, one where he'd lived in England with a man called Clow Reed . . . and the second when he'd lived with a woman called Mystrasa Kyree. Yet neither could he remember.

Hei-ying sighed and lifted his head as Keroberos lapped at his drink.

The lion paused as he sense he was being watched. Hei-ying's jade green eyes were narrowing slightly. "Eh?" Kero lifted his head further and straightened, his furry features showed mocking concern as he asked in German, "Was ist los, meine Scheisse aelter bruder?" 

The reaction was instantaneous, Hei-ying's upper eyelids twitched slightly as he retorted almost instantly, "Du bist eine dick Haus Katze! Du tust mir leid, du bist sehr haesslich!" Hei-ying smirked unpleasantly, unknown connections in his mind snapping into place as he stood, "Verdammt ausgestopft Spielzeug!!"

"Was?! Du Scheisse Daemon!!" Keroberos snarled ferociously, and upset his bowl of soup, as he slammed his paws on the table, "Ich habe nicht aber hass fur Du!! Mit Ihnen bin ich fertig!"

"Es ist mir schnuppe." Hei-ying snorted back and tossed his head, "Ich habe nicht aber hass fur du auch!!" He turned his glare on Yukito and snarled, as he motioned the snow bunny, "Und Dein kleine Mondstrahl! Er ist mir ein Dorn im Auge!"

"Hoe?" Sakura blinked, "Kero-chan. . . Hei-ying san? What's wrong?"

"Ihm ist nicht mehr zu helfen." Keroberos replied coldly, before looked at Sakura. She stared at him with wide eyes, the hate in Keroberos' usually warm gold eyes made her shy away, she glanced over at Hei-ying, as the dark angel looked at her with weariness. He sighed and shook his head as he sank back into his chair, "Sie haben nicht begreife . . . wir ansprechen auf japanisch. . ." he tilted his head, and snapped frigidly to Kero, "in Ordnung?"

Keroberos sighed sharply, before growling back, "Wenn Sie nichts dagegen haben."

"Das ist schon wahr."

The two refused to look at each other, and the table descended into silence again. Yukito blinked and his eyes rolled back in his head as Yue appeared, he stared coolly at both brothers before snapping coldly, "If you two have quite finished . . ." he stared at Hei-ying, "I thought you didn't remember anything . . ."

"Strange what you can remember when that stuffed animal stops treating you indifferently." Hei-ying sighed sharply; "I remember him and you now. You are my little brothers, created by Master Clow to be the Cardcaptor's guard and judge." He sucked in his bottom lip, unable to take his eyes off Keroberos, "he broke my wing—"

"Only because you tried to kill us!" Keroberos retorted loudly, "You seem to forget that fact quite easily, bastard brother!"

"Kill you?!" Hei-ying's eyes widened, "I've never—"

"STOP LYING!" Keroberos roared ferociously and jumped up, "YOU BASTARD, STOP LYING!!"

Hei-ying was silent for a moment before he stood. "Evidently my memory hasn't been as recovered as you think it has . . ." Hei-ying sniffed disdainfully, "The last thing I remember is you breaking my wing, that brat –" he motioned Yue absently, "- crying because I threatened to cut off your ridiculous little tail, and Master Clow refusing to fix my wing. He sent you and I to our rooms, and stayed with that brat. I went to sleep, and that is the last thing I remember."

"Oh. . ." Keroberos grinned darkly, "Then you don't remember trying to kill our little moonbeam, don't remember Clow rejecting you?"

"Master Clow would never reject me!" Hei-ying folded his arms and looked around, "Where is he? He'd tell you himself, where is Master Clow?"

Keroberos' grin grew darker as he hissed, "Clow's dead."

"Kero-chan!" Sakura rushed to her feet, she glanced at Hei-ying as the angel slowly turned his head back to Keroberos. He looked as if someone had just punched him. ". . . Wh-what?"

"Clow Reed died a very long time ago; Yue and I were there." Keroberos raised an eyebrow, "You weren't because he rejected you."

"I don't believe you . . ." Hei-ying whispered, pain in his voice, "I don't believe you . . ." he looked at Yue, "Is this true, little brother, is this true?"

Yue stared at Hei-ying for a very long moment, his amethyst eyes wide and sincerely sorry before he hung his head, unable to answer.

Sakura shook her head, "Kero-chan! That was too cruel!!"

"He deserved it." Keroberos sank back into his seat, and resumed eating.

Hei-ying stood stone still, and looked from each face, "Is this true? Is The Master Clow Reed dead?"

"Hai."

 Eriol picked up his napkin, and dabbed at his mouth, he looked up at Hei-ying sincerely; "I was his reincarnation until a few years ago. Hei-ying, you were sealed away because you'd become dangerous; Clow died twenty years after your sealing. Clow has been dead for quite some time now."

Hei-ying made a quiet strangled noise deep in his throat. His jade eyes were wide.

"Keroberos . . ." Sakura pursed her lips, "How could you? Couldn't you have wai—"

"Sakura." Hei-ying turned to her; "You are the card mistress now, correct?"

She looked at him, his jade green eyes were moist, but Hei-ying was composed. Sakura nodded, "Hai, I am."

"Then I've missed a lot it would seem . . ." Hei-ying smiled somewhat ruefully. He sank back into his seat, and stared into his soup again. "Keroberos . . ."

The lion looked up again, swallowing slowly. Hei-ying nodded dreamily.

"I should have drowned you when I had the chance . . ." he looked up slowly and stared at the sun guardian, "Even when Master Clow came back, I should have drowned you . . . at least I would have had the satisfaction of knowing I'd killed you before Master Clow sealed me away."

"Son of a bitch!"

Hei-ying smiled ruefully, "I regret many things . . . and not killing you is utmost on my list . . ." He sighed again, and stood. He breathed in calmly, "I will retire to my room. I wish to think . . . and remember . . ."

The group watched as the dark angel retired from the room. Spinel glanced at Keroberos, who still seethed at the door, "Keroberos, that was cold . . . a horrible cold thing to do to your brother . . ."

"It was the next best thing I could do . . . aside from kill him."

Keroberos closed his eyes sullenly and resumed eating, ignoring the looks from everyone else.

-------

And Now It's Time To LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!

DrM: [glomps]

Hei-ying: [groans, and muffledly cries out] Noooooo!! Not me! Not meeeeee!! I was happier dead!! Now I've gotta relive all this angst!! Noooooooo!

DrM: [grins happily] but angst is good!

Hei-ying: [sighs and mutters to self] All I wanted was to sleep the eternal damned sleep, was that so much to ask?

DrM: [very seriously] . . . Yes.

Hei-ying: [growls] Damn you . . . [turns to readers] Please R&R and tell her what you think . . .

DrM: [oblivious to veiled threat] Yeah, I wanna know!!