Disclaimer: I claim to NOT have created CCS, but I do claim it as my own. As I'm sure many of you CCS fans TRY to do. --...That's okay-we all do. ' (Meanwhile CLAMP is pulling lawsuits against crazy Otakus walking up to them with contracts to buy CCS off of them.) Just kidding...-...Or am I!? insane X-Files music in the background
Have faith! She thought uneasily. Open you eyes! Sakura felt her mouth open and a throaty voice escaped, "You have to see what happened-snap out of it!"
Sakura's eye lids flickered open slowly, one lid at a time. She gasped. She was surrounded by pink mist, which appeared denser in certain areas of the hall. The orb was gone as well. Sakura felt like she was alone in the hall, suddenly. She felt abandoned. She decided to walk around the hall and try to find someone. It didn't matter whether she knew where she was going or no-
"Ow!" Sakura cried as she stumbled over a log. "Log!?" She peered down through the mist, "Syaoran!" She cried helplessly. She threw herself down into the unconscious body. "Syaoran? Syaoran wake up!" her pleas echoed throughout the hall.
"I've found you!" Takashi had followed Sakura's voice to her. He dropped down beside the body, "Will he be okay?"
The mist was slowly clearing up. Sakura could see the hall much more clearly. "Argh! The emperor is gone! He probably took the orb with him!"
"He didn't," Takashi said. "I saw it explode-"
"Then why-" Sakura had interrupted Takashi only to be cut off by him anyway.
"What has been done to time has left its mark. It is not war that has begun; it is the quest for Earth." Takashi said wisely.
Sakura looked startled, surprised and impressed at the same time, "How do you know that?"
Takashi smiled, "A little bird once told me that we control fate...that same bird came and told me about the quest that has yet to finish."
Sakura looked puzzled for only a second, "Is this little bird blue?"
Takashi laughed, "I believe so. He is a great friend, ne?"
Sakura grinned. She got up as Syaoran began to groan and wake up. "Where is Mamoru?"
"I forgot about him!" Takashi looked blank. He helped Syaoran up onto his feet.
"Sakura, you're alrigh-"
Syaoran was cut off by Sakura's suddenly-cold voice, "Where is he? Where is Mamoru?"
Syaoran shrugged, unable to wipe off the offended look on his face.
"We have to find him-now!" Sakura ordered. She ran around the palace hall, checking all of the unconscious bodies scattered everywhere. She even went as far as to check the halls outside of the grand hall-just in case.
Takashi and Syaoran stumbled to where Sakura stood, dead in her tracks, screaming. They joined her to find an injured Mamoru floating above their head in a blue orb. He was obviously unconscious, but in a standing position, his head limp.
"We must get him down..." Sakura's hoarse whisper had urgency in it. "He cannot be hurt!"
"And just why not?" Syaoran protested coldly.
Sakura turned and glared at Syaoran. Her emerald eyes were tinted with red anger and her expression was dead serious. Syaoran was like stone staring into the deadly eyes of "Medusa". He turned away and hastened to find rope or some sort of tool that would help them bring down Mamoru. Luckily, Syaoran found rope tied around two of guards. They were unconscious anyway. He came back to the outer hall, proudly carrying the rope. He found Sakura had already brought the orb down.
"The Fly card," Sakura replied to Syaoran's unasked question. The orb was still glowing blue around Mamoru. Sakura held fast, not daring to let go.
"Why do you care so much about keeping him grounded?" Syaoran dared to ask.
Sakura stared at Mamoru's relaxed face as she spoke, "If he were to die, we would all die."
Syaoran snorted, "Why? Would you kill us all?"
Sakura replied, steaming, "Don't you see!? He is the one! Clow Reed didn't know it, but that stupid Obythian emperor did! That person we once called sovereign knew what Mamoru was! He bloody well knew!"
"What is he!?" Syaoran shot back at Sakura, flustered and confused. He moved closer to Sakura, daring her to take up his challenge.
Sakura looked disappointed, "He's in the friggin' orb! Isn't it obvious?" Sakura sighed when Syaoran did not reply. "We both have powers-we both can sense and read powerful auras. We can even sense a strong aura thwarting us away unintentionally. WE should have known. I knew, but only subconsciously! Kero knew, but he ignored it...We were all blinded by our own personal problems to even notice him-"
"Well said Sakura..." Meilin got up from a few feet away. She had been unconscious up until Sakura had begun her yelling.
"You knew too?" Sakura looked surprised.
Meilin nodded, "I always knew something was up-this afternoon confirmed it,"
"WHAT IS HE!?" Syaoran yelled, probably bringing a few more people back to consciousness.
Sakura spoke stiffly, purposely taking her time in replying to Syaoran, "His eyes a mystery-" she chose her words carefully and abstractly. "-just like water. His skin of different complexities-just like land. His body scarred and burned by time-just like Earth." Sakura paused for only a second, "He is Earth. He is the spirit of our world."
Takashi and Syaoran fell to their knees in response.
"I hate Earth?" Syaoran asked himself aloud.
"No-you are jealous of Earth. You envy Earth." Meilin corrected.
"I take no notice of Earth?" Takashi also asked himself, "And occasionally help Earth out?"
Sakura spoke softly, "You take Earth for granted."
"I simply observe Earth. I'm fascinated by it-or him." Meilin added, unnecessarily.
Sakura smiled pleasantly, but frowned soon after, "I love Earth, but not enough to keep it alive-him alive."
Meilin changed the subject only slightly, "Why is Mamoru surrounded by the orb?"
Takashi's eyes widened, "That's it! It's the orb! The orb! He was engulfed by it! It never did explode...that was the Hope card. Mamoru is the Earth's spirit-he belongs inside the orb!"
"But the Hope card turned the orb pink. Why is it blue again?" Syaoran began and unsheathed his sword. Sakura stopped him.
"If you destroy the orb, Mamoru will be destroyed inside. We have to get him but, but some alternative way..." Sakura said.
Syaoran put down his weapon and sighed, "Now what?"
Sakura regained her old, much-caring attitude again, "Have faith."
Touya and Yukito were entering the palace after they had witnessed pink flashing and an explosion of color. Touya was determined to find Sakura, as he suspected it was her doing. Yukito seemed unnaturally pale as he raced after Touya.
"Yuki, what's wrong?" Touya led Yukito through the main halls of the palace. He knew where to go-the grand hall. That is where the emperor usually was-and certainly where Sakura would be. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Or rather talked to one." Yukito muttered to himself.
Why can't I transform or be freed you vile human!? Yue complained in Yukito's mind.
Yukito refused to reply and raced after Touya, into the grand hall. He saw Sakura clutching a blue orb with a boy inside. She was surrounded by a few of her friends.
"Sakura!" Touya ran to her.
Yukito stared at the unconscious bodies of a few guards-actually, the unconscious bodies of many guards.
Inside Yukito, however, Yue was screaming for release. My Mistress! Maybe she knows why I cannot-
Yukito fell over onto his knees, clutching his head. Sakura noticed at once and rushed to his aid, "What's happening to you?"
MISTRESS! SAKURA!
Yukito managed to look up at her, wincing in pain, "Refusing my re-fusal-won't-no-can't get-out-can't be re-leased."
"Yue, you can beat the illusion. I command you to come out! Guardian to Guardian!" Keroberous' deep voice echoed with in the hall. In his mouth he held a body, kicking furiously in the air. It was the emperor. "Go on dear sovereign-time to uplift the illusion. Rid Yue of his restraints on this world!"
The emperor stubbornly chanted something under his breath. A release spell perhaps. Yukito began screaming in agony.
"What is he doing!" Sakura tried holding Yukito down, but he kept breaking free and tried to crawl away.
Keroberous looked piteous, "Releasing Yukito's mind-it is a painful undoing, no doubt about that."
"That's where Yue always was..." Sakura said thoughtfully. "Clow Reed hid it from me?"
"No-" the emperor smirked, "I did."
Yukito began transforming suddenly. It took longer than anticipated, and for good reason.
"Yue!" Sakura exclaimed when he had fully transformed. She felt a small tingle of fear within herself. Ah, the old feelings. It felt good, no matter how silly they seemed. "Things are beginning to make sense where they didn't..."
"Well done," a familiar, grumpy yet pleasant voice boomed.
"Angelo!?" Sakura breathed.
"You got it..."Angelo stepped out of the shadow.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura asked.
"Just like Mamoru, I was spirited away from my duty. Mamoru, the spirit of Earth; and I, the spirit and guardian of the entire galaxy. I was forced to Earth and I will no leave without making sure you're ready and you'll be alright." he replied. "Besides, where's all the fun without me?"
Sakura smiled. Syaoran burned in seething rage, as usual.
Sakura's smile faltered, "I don't know how to-"
Angelo's expression did not falter, "You haven't even tried yet."
Sakura began thinking of things she could do, what she could use. "No card will keep Mamoru safe and set him free at the same ti-"
Angelo had raised his eyebrow, "Who said it only had to be one card?"
Sakura's face brightened up, "The Shield and the Sword card!"
"I await my position as guardian to be regained then."
Sakura turned to the whole group and told them her plan. "I'll protect Mamoru with the shield, but at the same time use the Sword card to let Mamoru out-while I destroy the orb!"
"Take a breather," Meilin was wide-eyed.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Takashi urged.
"I don't-"
Tomoyo scurried into the grand hall, yelling across it without a care for what anyone else thought, "Oh Sakura! You're alright! I was so worried. Wait until I'm through with you! Argh! Why couldn't you at least come and get me afterwards!?"
Sakura grinned and replied to Takashi, "Encouragement." She looked down at the cards in her hand. She would immediately complete the task at hand. "Wish me luck, guys."
Everyone nodded, gulping, and fidgeting in anticipation.
"Shield!" Sakura cried with confidence. "Protect Mamoru with all the power you possess! Ignore anything destroying the orb on the outside! Do not let me down!" Sakura hesitated a bit. She tried to absorb in everyone's reassuring gaze. Syaoran seemed doubtful. "What's wrong, Syaoran?"
Syaoran shifted on his feet uneasily before he replied, "This may make you all a bit worried, but aren't the Star Cards all of equal power?"
Sakura nodded, "I guess."
"How do you know that?" Syaoran challenged.
"I-I don't?"
"Exactly. What if the Shield were weaker than the Sword. Mamoru would be destroyed within the orb!" Syaoran said clearly. "All of us would be destroyed with him."
Sakura shuddered. He had a point. She was taking the hugest risk possible. She felt as if she had no right to make such a decision.
Takashi's teeth were chattering, but he managed to grasp Chiharu's hand and talk, "Get on with it. It's worth the risk. I believe in you."
Sakura sighed and looked around the group to see nods of approval. She suddenly had many questions. Sakura turned to Angelo "Say everything goes fine-will everything go back to normal?"
Angelo replied with more ease than Sakura had anticipated, "Not exactly. You will certainly not find yourself in Tomoeda. You see, we're in the real world's Tokyo, but near-"
"Mount Fuji," the captured emperor interrupted.
"Yes, and you'll remember-" Angelo was cut off again.
"You didn't catch the joke-" The emperor began. "-Mount Fuji is my palace."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "Twisted humor."
"I love being amused, even after this..."
"After what?"
"THIS!" the emperor smashed a ball of gas and disappeared from the clutches of Keroberous.
"He's gone!" Meilin ran to check the halls outside. She shook her head after taking a mere glimpse of the halls, "He's not here."
Touya looked confused, worried and some other array of emotions at the same time. "If this area is Mount Fuji, then central Tokyo inside of the real-Argh-" Touya was wincing. Memories blasted back at him.
Meilin ignored Touya's flashbacks, "We gotta get the emperor!"
Syaoran spoke, "Relax, this should get done first." he nodded at Sakura.
Sakura turned to Angelo once again, "One more question."
"Go ahead."
Sakura took a deep breath, "When and if I destroy the orb, say we survive and everything is the way you said it would be. Will we, in the end-afterward-whatever, remember what happened or will some of us remember and some won't...or does everyone forget?"
Angelo snickered, "Good question..." he paused to smile at Sakura. "Hypothetically speaking you will only remember if you choose to remember. You'll remember what you desire memory of. Most regular beings would forget such happenings in the world, but because this event has scarred Earth forever, it may affect those inhabiting the planet. It is their own choice to remember, not destiny's."
Sakura nodded, accepting the answer. "Time to destroy that orb."
Syaoran tapped Sakura on her left shoulder, "Come outside for a sec."
Sakura followed Syaoran out into the other halls. "Yes?"
Syaoran simply kissed her. Sakura kissed him back, passionately, tears swelling in her eyes. She didn't want to lose him. Not now-it wasn't time yet. Sakura kept her thoughts to herself. They broke the embrace and she forced a smile on her face, "Are we really for this?"
Syaoran nodded, grabbed her hand and led her back into the grand hall.
Sakura hugged Tomoyo, who hadn't spoken at all since she had entered the hall at first. "I'll miss you," Sakura sighed.
"We're gonna make it through this-dead or alive, but together." Tomoyo encouraged.
Chiharu hugged Sakura as well, "I believe in you."
She then approached Keroberous and Yue. Sakura hugged Keroberous shamelessly.
Keroberous grinned, "Show destiny who's boss."
Sakura nodded, while looking at her feet, stumbling over to Yue.
Yue was standing stiffly, but Sakura couldn't contain herself. She really did love Yue as well. She hugged him adoringly. Yue surprised himself and the others by hugging back and saying, "Believe in yourself and the cards."
Sakura's eyes brimmed with tears again. She forced herself to pry away and turned to Touya. He was pale.
Touya grabbed her in a killer hug. "You can do this-I know you can, squirt, because I believe in you."
Sakura smiled and found herself in front of the orb again. Syaoran kissed her cheek and stepped back. It was time.
"Aishiteru..." Syaoran whispered to her.
Sakura grabbed his arm and forced his hand open. She yanked her necklace and dumped it in his hand. Syaoran accepted the winged-heart necklace without objection.
Sakura turned back to the orb she would cut with the Sword card, "SWORD!" Her wand as always, transformed into a long, swift sword. She positioned herself in striking stance. "Okay Sword, cut through everything, but the shield card-please destroy the orb!"
"Have faith!" Syaoran called.
"Faith!" Touya yelled in agreement-for once.
"Faith!" everyone else said in unison.
Syaoran looked around himself in confusion. Then muttered to himself, "Bunch of losers."
Sakura giggled, despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Everyone looked inspired. I need to get some of this faith stuff. Let me try it. Sakura closed her eyes. She could do this. She would do this. Her eyes opened slowly and a whisper escaped her mouth, "Faith."
Mamoru's body twitched slightly, but Sakura ignored it. She aimed to strike the orb.
Syaoran saw Mamoru twitch. Something was wrong-or was it? Could Mamoru still come back to consciousness? Sakura was striking, swiftly. Syaoran elbowed Touya and whispered to him, "Is it just me or is this so going slow mode?"
Touya glared at Syaoran, "I don't like you kid."
"I kinda figured that." Syaoran sweat dropped.
Takashi smiled widely at Syaoran, "You know this reminds me of the time when there was a singing sword stuck in a stone. Did I tell you? It was in my great great great great great grandfather's graveyard. No one could get the sword out no matter how hard they tried. It was a miracle when a young lady by the name of Kagome, a lady claiming to have come from the future, yanked it out easily and handed it to her future husband to protect her. Of course at the time they had just been acquainted and didn't know each other very well. Frankly, the guy hated her-some say he was half-demon and that his-"
Chiharu had finally gotten a hold of Takashi's ear, "Telling tales again are you? At a time like this too! Please!"
Syaoran sighed and turned back to Sakura. It looked as if everything was in slow motion except for himself and the other group. It was Sakura. Hm, some weird phenomenon. Kind of like a movie-or a story. Syaoran laughed aloud.
"What?" Meilin demanded.
"Imagine some weird kids reading a story or watching a movie about this..."
Meilin looked awkwardly at him, and laughed. "Yeah right!"
Before she knew it, Sakura had struck the orb. During her strike she felt her eyes burn and memories flash back to her. The last thing she remembered before she felt herself fly through the air was Mamoru's crystal blue eyes. He had woken up and she had just seconds to see what he was trying to say.
"Aishiteru."
A.N.: Hahahaha! Such random moments throughout the tension of the end. My English teachers always tell me that after tragedy or stress/tension you need some comedic relief and I thought-what the heck, why not in between so the audience is all screwed up!? Muwahahaha! I feel so evil. cough cough I spent my whole day on this! Bend down and kiss my feet. lol. Just kidding. I'm in the comedic period of my life. I've gathered story ideas for a manga AND I've started the rough copy for the manga. So I have a few rough copies of these sketches for the first chapter. I so wanna get those computer things where you draw it on the pad and it gets onto the computer automatically. Oo...must save up money. Anyway, just a lil' mention of Inuyasha and Kagome...lol-next to CCS (in TV anime) Inuyasha is my fave. Of course in manga Fushigi Yugi, Rebirth, CC/Tsubasa (CLAMP's crossover of CCS, xxxHoLiC, and other manga by them), IY, and Hot Gimmick. I so wanna start on Ceres! So broke..xX. You know, I spend half my day adding Japanese words to my dictionary (on Microsoft FrontPage) and then spend the other half of the day editing this goddamn stuff!!! My butt hurts-'nuff said! wait. I had more to say-hm, Eriol is the little blue bird if you didn't get the joke. Uh..what else? I don't have a list today...meh. I shall be my true-unorganized self. actually I'm extremely organized...oh yeah! No I remember what I REALLY had to explain. As you probably guessed I've stolen a few ideas. If you've seen Spirited Away, you'll know that I took the idea of spirits of certain earthly/universal features. Being captured-but I didn't use the name thing. My capture is unique... Anyway-I wanna recycle this crap...I mean-all my rough drafts-gotta go! R&R! (And if you are really desperate to know there are 3 chapters left: 12, 13 and the epilogue) Love ya guys!