A.N.: Yeah, I'm finally back, I'M ALIVE!
Syaoran/Kai --''''
Loki: Do we really have to be here?
Kouichi: Actually no, but we've got nothing better to do...
Syaoran/Kai: ANYTHING is better than this!
You can't mean that! Well, anyway, as you can see, this is a very loooooong chapter! So I hope you guys and/or gals appreciate my efforts!
Oh, and I SHOULD -keyword- be putting up a new Digimon Frontier fic and a Gundam Wing one along with this update, besides the "happy" ending of Beyblade fic Different Lives (only missing the sad/bittersweet one now) and probably another oneshot (of what, I'm yet to find out ¬¬'). Just in case anyone's interested.
Oh yeah, there's still the promised crossover... --'''
Loki ¬¬: On with the story!
Kouichi: DEATH ALERT!
THE LI GUARDIANS
Chapter 10 – THE REDEMPTION
The girls remained motionless, still prisoners of Kurotsuki's spell, a look of denial on their faces.
Suuki, regaining her senses, was the first to speak. "How do we know you're not lying? It doesn't make sense! You said you loved Shin'ya and that you would not harm Syaoran-sama, his descendant; but not only did you kill my master, you also mistreated him! And if Shin'Ya really died little after you, how can Syaoran-sama be his descendant?!" She asked desperately.
Kurotsuki, sitting himself on the cold cement floor, Syaoran's head on his lap, smiled at this and, while caressing the dead boy's hair, answered calmly.
"When we say Syaoran-kun is Shin'Ya's descendant, it's not supposed to mean a direct heritage. As far as I know, Shin'Ya never had any children, so Syaoran-kun would be related to his sister, Aoya. Mind you, I'm not using this kawaii kid or pretending he's Shin'Ya; I just needed his power, his soul, his energy and, most of all, the opportunity to end this misery I've been merged in for the last 234 years."
"Sumimasen, Kurotsuki-san, demo (Excuse me, Kurotsuki-san, but)... why did the elders go through all that trouble to separate you two?" Sakura questioned, shyness plainly detectable in her voice.
At this Kurotsuki shrugged before replying. "Not sure, probably because both of us were males, and the elders tend to have these prejudices, but it wasn't really acceptable for a heir to the Li family to fall in love with his or her Li Guardian, if there was one. The elders may sound like bad people, but they really only have the family's interests at heart... although I have always openly disagreed with some of their thoughts and methods, which did, by the way, make things worse for me. The fact that I somehow became more powerful than my master did not help much either... they thought I was a monster or some kind of demon to be able to do that."
"As far as I know, it's practically natural for the Li Guardians to fall in love with their masters; what usually isn't accepted is for the master to fall in love with the Li Guardian. Although we, Li Guardians, have our own independent thoughts and feelings, we tend to live for our masters... for their sake." Suuki tried to reason.
"Yes, that's true. I really don't know why there is that stupid law. I suppose it might be because we have the same essence, so it would turn out to be some kind of incest. The elders have always been the kind of people to prejudge others."
Sakura couldn't help but to feel pity for him. She really couldn't understand why things like age difference, family ties or sexual preferences should interfere in the love between two people. To her, what had been done to Kurotsuki and Shin'Ya was unforgivable. Shivering, she looked shyly at him and whispered without thinking, "I wish there was something I could do to help..."
Surprised, the older Li Guardian looked more intently at her and was almost startled to see a few tears escaping her jungle-colored orbs. He smirked as he replied, "I'm starting to see why this cute Li heir loves you so much, Card Mistress."
With those words, Sakura suddenly seemed to realize her situation, and Syaoran's, as she began pounding countless times on the imprisoning barrier, Suuki soon following.
Kurotsuki, noticing this, frowned and stood up, gently laying Syaoran on the floor as he did so, amber eyes never leaving the dead teenager's peaceful face. Leaving Syaoran behind, the "magician" took a few steps in their direction, his gaze now fixed on them. Both girls noticed his handsome face held a genuine sadness.
"Sorry, girls." He said. "But I have to extinguish your lives right now." A tear escaped one of his amber eyes. "Even though you were the best audience I've ever had, excluding Shin'Ya of course."
Sakura looked confused. Really, why should he kill them if he neither needed nor wanted to? The Japanese girl knew none of these two were Kurotsuki's case.
Next to her, Suuki seemed to be wondering the same thing, when, suddenly, realization dawned on the female Li Guardian. "You're still under that spell the elders cast, aren't you? Even though it's weakened due to time and the casters' deaths, but since you were locked and died with it, the spell followed you I death, didn't it? The elders must have added something else to that spell! And you need power to become greater than the incantation and so be able to break it! Isn't that correct?!"
Astonished, Kurotsuki stopped in his tracks and just stared at her. When recovering, he calmly answered, "You're 100% correct. Syaoran-kun's and his other Li Guardian's energy were enough to give me back my speech, a new body and part of my movements, but the essence of the spell still remains."
A few moments of silence passed as they stood motionless in their respective spots, eyes locking. Then, eventually, Kurotsuki raised both his arms, each aiming an open palm facing the two girls.
"Sorry." He repeated. "But your times are up."
That said, his hands began to shine with a lavender light around them, and as he was about to send both girls to another world, he suddenly stopped again, frozen in his spot, eyes wide with astonishment. "Nani desu ka (What is it)?"
The girls, surprised, looked at him with confused glances: he was clutching the sides of his head as if they were about to burst out, yet his face held no signs of pain. It was strange... to say the least. The renewed Li Guardian seemed to be meditating, were it not for the strength he was putting on his hands.
"Doushita no kashira?" Suuki voiced their thoughts, as they kept looking forward at him. The barrier the lavender-haired man put around them wasn't faltering, fact that showed his high capacity to concentrate.
The female Li Guardian was startled out of her thoughts when Kurotsuki's voice seemed to echo the one word that could bring her to reality any time.
"Syaoran-kun..."
Both girlfriend and Li Guardian looked even more intently at him, trying to understand, a point of hope in them...
Kurotsuki then let go of his head, arms falling to his sides, head raised as if he was looking straight above, were it not for his closed eyes.
Sakura and Suuki, who had been pressing themselves against the magic barrier as they observed all this, almost fell flat on their faces when the "magician", after glowing a little with his lavender magic energy and muttering a few words, removed it, therefore suddenly taking their support, but the girls caught themselves on time. As they managed to look at him, not understanding what was gong on, he answered their unspoken question, yet again calmly, maintaining his position.
"Sakura-san, would you be able to set me free, with the help of the Li heir?" He asked.
Sakura, although unsure of herself, politely answered. "Shirimasen. Dekimasu kamo shiremasen kedo... hontou ni shirimasen (I don't know. I might be able to... but I really don't know). What would I have to do?"
"It wouldn't be different with what you did with the reincarnation of Read Clow: summon your wand, hold it high before you and chant the words I tell you... that way. There will be an outside force and an inside force to purify my body and soul from the essence of this strong spell."
"Inside force?" Suuki asked.
"Sou (Yeah)... inside force... that would be... Syaoran-kun." He said. Seeing their astonished faces, Kurotski answered hat he rightfully thought was the question in their minds. "Let me put it this way: when I took his life energy to make myself a new body, I also unavoidably trapped his soul inside it. Because it's his life energy, I also got some strongest physical and psychological aspects, including his knowledge; which wasn't much news to me, but good just the same; and Syaoran-kun's deepest emotions, although that was only brought up when I tried to kill you just now. According to what these things are communicating, the spell which was put on my soul was powerful, but not undefeatable. The only way to terminate it is to have two strong magic energies doing the same counter-spell simultaneously, one inside the spell-cast body and one outside of it. It's a kind of rarely used purification because it takes a lot of strength from both souls, but if done correctly, no harm will come."
The girls looked at him, still slightly confused, but understanding, if only a little. Sakura nodded and summoned her staff. Asking Suuki to stay away, since they didn't know what might happen, she called, a smile on her face. "Ganbarimasu (I'll do my best)!"
Kurotsuki let a small smile adorn his own face, in gratitude, before he started pronouncing the words Syaoran's soul was telling him to and explained how she should concentrate to use her soul's strength. When they were ready, Kurotsuki gave the signal and, as Sakura's eyes closed, Syaoran's soul and hers unknowingly synchronized as the incantation "played" in their very deepest essence, for the secret of the counter-spell was not for the words to be pronounced, but to be emitted from the soul.
"Hear thee soul lost within thyself
trapped for centuries in a
history of sadness and spells.
We now set thy spirit free
as thy life should have been
were it not for misfortune
encountered then.
With our wills and thy wish
may thee now finally rest
in the world where souls
find it best.
As sadness was what you met in life
may in death happiness thee find
for we shall pray for a happy end
hoping some cheers we might send.
What now remains of the spell
to trap this poor soul...
be gone and restore
the happiness you stole!" [1]
A lavender-haired figured walked lonely through the halls of the Li family mansion, absorbed in his own little world, light green eyes closed [2], thoughts completely submerged by a certain young chocolate-haired man.
His steps unconsciously brought him to the mansion's peaceful outside gardens, a large green space filled by innumerous kinds of plants, that held so many dear moments for the light-colored-haired man. In the middle of the paradise-like place, there was a small wooden bridge over s small stream perfect for meditation when there was no one else around.
And it was on that bridge that Kurotsuki found Shin'Ya on that evening. The Li heir seemed to be looking intently at the water below, but his amber gaze clearly announced he was elsewhere. When the Li Guardian came closer, though, as if electrocuted, the brown-haired man had turned around suddenly, coming face to face with the other. . and a smile instantly appeared on his face.
"I have been meaning to see you, Kurotsuki."
Coming up the bridge and standing right beside to his master, the long- haired man replied, slightly worried. "Really? What for? Nothing serious, is it?"
"No, no... it's nothing like that!"
"Then please stop waving your arms up and down."
"Oops!" The Li heir whispered, bringing his arms to their rightful place beside him. With a lopsided grin, he continued, "Actually, I just wanted to say that I'm really, really, grateful for all the efforts you've been doing for me lately and that... well... uh... I just wanted to give this to you." Shin'Ya said, stumbling on the last words, at which he stretched out one of his arms again before him and, opening his fist, revealed a small brown paper package. "Please, take it. It's a gift... from me to you... because you're always helping me... and because you love me so... that I've begun loving you too..." He whispered, face lowered to hide a huge red stain that suddenly appeared on the clear skin of his face.
Kurotsuki could not believe what his master had said, happiness filling him up, but respectfully keeping his emotion in check, the lavender-haired man gently took the package from the other's quivering outstretched hand. As it was opened, the package revealed a perfectly round onyx pendant with the kanji's to his name, "dark" and "moon", engraved on it, and a silver chain that held it tightly.
Gasping, the Li Guardian couldn't say anything for a couple of minutes, completely in shock, but eventually, as his reflections seemed to kick in, a gentle smile was his expression and, with a very careful gesture, he lifted his master's face, making them eye-leveled once again. "Thanks, Shin'Ya. I love it... it's... beautiful, especially since you were the one who gave it to me. I'll be sure to wear it and treasure it always... the same way you know I'll always love you."
The Li heir smiled, perhaps in relief, and the bridge marked their first kiss... the first of many happy times they shared as a couple.
And that bridge turned out to be their meeting spot, their confident... and the guardian of precious memories to both of them. [3]
It was like Kurotsuki's very soul was smiling as that specific memory seemed to play before him... one of the many memories he would never forget...
Suuki observed perplexed that, as the words seemed to escape Sakura's soul, Kurotsuki's body, at first, only glowed, but gradually began to slowly disintegrate. When the body turned to nothing but dust, his voice was heard by them both and Sakura opened her eyes so as to speak with him, only to realize he no longer had matter, having turned only into an abstract presence. Listening to his voice, she couldn't help but to feel some happiness for him.
"Thank you very much! After more then two centuries, I am finally free to rest in peace thanks to both of you. I'm sure I'll be able to find Shin'Ya and make up for everything. I do hope, though, that our family will not happen to do such cruel things again, for they stain the Li family's name and honor. We will forever watch over them so as to guide the Li family in the correct path in hopes that tragedies like this don't happen again. Farewell... and once again... thank you!"
As the last words were heard, silence claimed them, and both girls knew Kurotsuki had finally gone after Shin'Ya in another world. Although they were a bit happy at first, but Sakura and Suuki soon began to weep as they realized what they dreaded most: Syaoran was also lost to them.
Running over to his body, they uselessly shook and cried out to him, but he remained silent and motionless.
Trying to look away from the view of his unresponsive form, Sakura's eyes stopped on the dust that remained of Kurotsuki's "new" body. She watched as it flew away when a sudden gust of wind blew, scattering all over... and a shiny black object caught her attention.
Standing up she walked over and picked it up, noticing it held the two kanjis for Kurotsuki's name... and on the other side, the two kanjis that symbolized "life" (inochi) and "energy" (ki). Touching it, the Japanese girl felt something more trapped inside it and, not knowing why, she knew what it was.
She went back to his side and kneeled beside him, opposite the other girl, who had silently watched Sakura's movements through tear-streaked eyes, unquestioning. Picking up his head and placing it on her lap, she seemed to have struck Suuki, for the girl began to cry again even more.
"I can't restore his life energy if he hasn't both a bit of it and his soul! Restoring his life energy is easy if he has some because, even if it's only a little, it will work as a link and catalyze the welcoming of more! And the process can't be done if there isn't any soul since, without it, there is no life! It would take an incredible amount of life energy to restore at least some of his body... and it would have to be his life energy if we want to restore his body! Magic is OK, that's something that depends on himself if he's destined to have some, but... I... can't..."
Sakura looked at her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Would you be able to restore it if he had only his soul?" She asked
Suuki looked at her questioningly, but answered, "I can, but... I'd only be able to return very little... and it would take at least 3 days for him to recover enough energy to wake up, a few more to be able to do regular things, but..." She trailed off, more sobs preventing ay other words.
Sakura smiled. "Then we might be able get Syaoran-kun back."
Suuki looked skeptfully at her, but the Japanese girl only offered the Li Guardian a small smile and showed the object in her hands closely. "Kore no naka ni Syaoran-kun no tamashii ga iru to omou yo (I think Syaoran-kun's soul is inside this)." Sakura explained, "I'll give him back his soul, you give him back his life energy."
The female Li Guardian nodded. "Thank you for caring so much, Kinomoto-san. Please, never cease doing that, if anything, make it stronger."
Smiling and nodding again, Sakura turned back to the lifeless body. Using The Sword to crack the round pendant in perfectly equal halves and immediately trapping the green vapor that came out of it inside her mouth, she gave one more glance at Suuki, who looked back encouragingly.
Lowering her head to the one on her lap, Sakura used her delicate fingers to gently open Syaoran's lips. Then, curving her back so as to be above him, she captured them with hers and slowly pushed his soul back inside his body with her tongue [4], almost like a heated kiss, except she was the only one doing anything, and his lips were already colder than ice.
A tear ran down her face. [5]
"Syaoran-kun..." She whispered against his cold lips. [6]
When her task was finished, Sakura raised her head to nod at the Suuki, who nodded back and offered a sad smile as she placed her hands above his chest and whispered a few more words while canalizing her life energy to her master.
"Ne, Kinomoto-san, onegai ga imasu: Syaoran-sama o makaseteimasu-kara... zettai ni omamotte kudasai! Yami to watashi wa hontou ni aishimasu... Syaoran-sama no koto. Desu-kara... watashi-tachi no tame... watashi-tachi no kawari ni... Syaoran-sama o tanoshimasu! (Kinomoto-san, I've got a favor to ask of you: because I'm entrusting Syaoran-sama to you... please protect him no matter what happens! Yami and I really loved him. So... for our sake... in our place... watch over him!)"
Sakura looked questioningly at her, and even though the Li Guardian had already closed her eyes she knew her master's girlfriend wasn't understanding... as always.
"I said I could restore his life energy up to some small extent, but I'll have to give all of mine, and consequently my life too, to do it. Yami has already gone from this world, which means that'll leave Syaoran-sama with no Li Guardians to protect or watch over him. I'm, no, we are leaving that job to you, since you have the same link we have towards him: love... and loyalty."
Sakura, finally understanding, let her tears flow freely as she cried out to the other girl.
"No, Moriko-san, there has to be some other way! You don't have to die too! Yami's... death," Sakura winced as she pronounced the heavy word, "will give him grief enough when he wakes up, please don't put any more weight on his shoulders!"
Suuki just smirked, knowing what the other girl was trying to do. "To put more grief on Syaoran-sama's shoulders is far from my intentions, but giving him his life back is the greatest offer I can give him. Kinomoto- san, onakanaide kudasai (please don't cry). For a Li Guardian, whose life isn't even his or her own, the greatest wish we have, even if it costs us our existence, is to be able to give happiness to our masters. Our greatest joy is to be able to reach that dream."
Sakura sobbed even more, as she watched how Suuki's body began to disintegrate, much like Kurotsuki's new one had, except her dust was not cumulating on the floor, it was floating around, looking like glitter because of the flashing sparkles, which charged right into Syaoran's body as if shooting him.
When the whole process was over, all that could be heard on that particular rooftop were Sakura's loud sobs and Syaoran's now struggled breathing, his chest rising up and down in slow movements.
As minutes passed by, her tears eventually came to an end and she stopped crying. Looking down at the one on her lap, only then did she finally realize he was breathing, slowly and calmly, in a rhythmic pattern.
Despite all her sadness, a broad smile spread across her lips, a few tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. Her hands flew to his head without thought, lovingly caressing his silky amber hair. Then she slowly lowered her face to his and kissed his slightly poorly up lips.
"Youkatta! Moriko-san, Kage-san, arigatou (Thank goodness! Moriko-san, Kage-san, thanks)! Thank you so much for returning and entrusting him to me! I... I... I can't even think about living without Syaoran-kun anymore..." She whispered to the silent sky and prayed voicelessly... a few more tears falling on the sleeping boy's face.
END of CHAPTER TEN – The REDEMPTION
[1] Who says spells and incantations have to rhyme? ;p
[2] Just remembering: the renewed Kurotsuki has Syaoran's amber eyes because of the life energy taken, but the original "version" of the "magician" had light green eyes, much lighter than Sakura's.
[3] Anyone remember that's where Kurotsuki was when Shin'Ya first appeared in the story/illusion?
[4] Well, I DID describe it as vapor, and vapor has matter, so it's theoretically possible. ¬¬'' I don't believe my own arguments... --'''
[5] Again?! Why don't they just spill out already instead of coming one by one?!
Loki: You're the author!
--''' Well, I don't have an answer for that...
Kai --''': Pitiful...
[6] Kurotsuki couldn't take the pendant with him to the "spiritual world" (suddenly Yu Yu?) for obvious reasons, so he left it to help them get Syaoran back.
[7] Without life energy and a soul in it, there is nothing that keeps a Li Guardian's body from disappearing. That also goes for Kurotsuki. However, for a normal person, the body is usually able to hold itself together even without them, mostly because they were naturally created, and not a product of one's excess or needs.
A.N.: I made Sakura cry a lot in this chapter! Reason? Well, sorry to say this to the Sakura fans, but, like it or not, SHE IS A CRY-BABY!!!!! And YEAH, I ALMOST HATE her!
Loki oO?!: Then why is this a S/S fic?
I started it about three years ago, when I still liked her... now I really think she should rot because of all the suffering she makes Syaoran go through in: Card Captor Sakura manga, Card Captor Sakura Anime Series, Card Captor Sakura movies AND Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle! I mean, please, give him a break!
Syaoran: At least someone is on my side...
-grasps Syaoran from behind and hugs him with all her might- I'll ALWAYS be on your side and by your side, Syaoran-kun! Or behind, or in front... or wherever you'd like me to be around you... but never far!
Kai ¬¬
Kouichi '''
The spell-casting "poem" on this chapter IS mine, even though it sucks, so if anyone wants to use it, please GET my permission first! That goes for other chants I've used on this fic too.
I wasn't able to kill Syaoran... not on this one, but I still plan to do it on some other fic!
Oh, yeah, MAJOR WARNING: next chapter, which is the last before the epilogue, contains some lemon, but it'll be separated by in case anyone would like to skip it, since it does not interfere with the plot. You have been warned! Actually, it's quite mild, as it was my first hetero lemon and anything too graphic would not go too well with this fic.
Does anyone "here" like "CLAMP Campus Detectives" (and associated mangas) or "Prince of Tennis"? I've got a small fics (as almost always) on these...
I'm THROUGH with LONG fics! From now on, it's only 6 chaptered fics or so (or not ¬¬)!
Mistakes, comments and the usual stuff that I'm tired of writing every single chapter... REVIEW! Please?
Syaoran-Lover signing out!
02/23/2004
Syaoran/Kai --''''
Loki: Do we really have to be here?
Kouichi: Actually no, but we've got nothing better to do...
Syaoran/Kai: ANYTHING is better than this!
You can't mean that! Well, anyway, as you can see, this is a very loooooong chapter! So I hope you guys and/or gals appreciate my efforts!
Oh, and I SHOULD -keyword- be putting up a new Digimon Frontier fic and a Gundam Wing one along with this update, besides the "happy" ending of Beyblade fic Different Lives (only missing the sad/bittersweet one now) and probably another oneshot (of what, I'm yet to find out ¬¬'). Just in case anyone's interested.
Oh yeah, there's still the promised crossover... --'''
Loki ¬¬: On with the story!
Kouichi: DEATH ALERT!
THE LI GUARDIANS
Chapter 10 – THE REDEMPTION
The girls remained motionless, still prisoners of Kurotsuki's spell, a look of denial on their faces.
Suuki, regaining her senses, was the first to speak. "How do we know you're not lying? It doesn't make sense! You said you loved Shin'ya and that you would not harm Syaoran-sama, his descendant; but not only did you kill my master, you also mistreated him! And if Shin'Ya really died little after you, how can Syaoran-sama be his descendant?!" She asked desperately.
Kurotsuki, sitting himself on the cold cement floor, Syaoran's head on his lap, smiled at this and, while caressing the dead boy's hair, answered calmly.
"When we say Syaoran-kun is Shin'Ya's descendant, it's not supposed to mean a direct heritage. As far as I know, Shin'Ya never had any children, so Syaoran-kun would be related to his sister, Aoya. Mind you, I'm not using this kawaii kid or pretending he's Shin'Ya; I just needed his power, his soul, his energy and, most of all, the opportunity to end this misery I've been merged in for the last 234 years."
"Sumimasen, Kurotsuki-san, demo (Excuse me, Kurotsuki-san, but)... why did the elders go through all that trouble to separate you two?" Sakura questioned, shyness plainly detectable in her voice.
At this Kurotsuki shrugged before replying. "Not sure, probably because both of us were males, and the elders tend to have these prejudices, but it wasn't really acceptable for a heir to the Li family to fall in love with his or her Li Guardian, if there was one. The elders may sound like bad people, but they really only have the family's interests at heart... although I have always openly disagreed with some of their thoughts and methods, which did, by the way, make things worse for me. The fact that I somehow became more powerful than my master did not help much either... they thought I was a monster or some kind of demon to be able to do that."
"As far as I know, it's practically natural for the Li Guardians to fall in love with their masters; what usually isn't accepted is for the master to fall in love with the Li Guardian. Although we, Li Guardians, have our own independent thoughts and feelings, we tend to live for our masters... for their sake." Suuki tried to reason.
"Yes, that's true. I really don't know why there is that stupid law. I suppose it might be because we have the same essence, so it would turn out to be some kind of incest. The elders have always been the kind of people to prejudge others."
Sakura couldn't help but to feel pity for him. She really couldn't understand why things like age difference, family ties or sexual preferences should interfere in the love between two people. To her, what had been done to Kurotsuki and Shin'Ya was unforgivable. Shivering, she looked shyly at him and whispered without thinking, "I wish there was something I could do to help..."
Surprised, the older Li Guardian looked more intently at her and was almost startled to see a few tears escaping her jungle-colored orbs. He smirked as he replied, "I'm starting to see why this cute Li heir loves you so much, Card Mistress."
With those words, Sakura suddenly seemed to realize her situation, and Syaoran's, as she began pounding countless times on the imprisoning barrier, Suuki soon following.
Kurotsuki, noticing this, frowned and stood up, gently laying Syaoran on the floor as he did so, amber eyes never leaving the dead teenager's peaceful face. Leaving Syaoran behind, the "magician" took a few steps in their direction, his gaze now fixed on them. Both girls noticed his handsome face held a genuine sadness.
"Sorry, girls." He said. "But I have to extinguish your lives right now." A tear escaped one of his amber eyes. "Even though you were the best audience I've ever had, excluding Shin'Ya of course."
Sakura looked confused. Really, why should he kill them if he neither needed nor wanted to? The Japanese girl knew none of these two were Kurotsuki's case.
Next to her, Suuki seemed to be wondering the same thing, when, suddenly, realization dawned on the female Li Guardian. "You're still under that spell the elders cast, aren't you? Even though it's weakened due to time and the casters' deaths, but since you were locked and died with it, the spell followed you I death, didn't it? The elders must have added something else to that spell! And you need power to become greater than the incantation and so be able to break it! Isn't that correct?!"
Astonished, Kurotsuki stopped in his tracks and just stared at her. When recovering, he calmly answered, "You're 100% correct. Syaoran-kun's and his other Li Guardian's energy were enough to give me back my speech, a new body and part of my movements, but the essence of the spell still remains."
A few moments of silence passed as they stood motionless in their respective spots, eyes locking. Then, eventually, Kurotsuki raised both his arms, each aiming an open palm facing the two girls.
"Sorry." He repeated. "But your times are up."
That said, his hands began to shine with a lavender light around them, and as he was about to send both girls to another world, he suddenly stopped again, frozen in his spot, eyes wide with astonishment. "Nani desu ka (What is it)?"
The girls, surprised, looked at him with confused glances: he was clutching the sides of his head as if they were about to burst out, yet his face held no signs of pain. It was strange... to say the least. The renewed Li Guardian seemed to be meditating, were it not for the strength he was putting on his hands.
"Doushita no kashira?" Suuki voiced their thoughts, as they kept looking forward at him. The barrier the lavender-haired man put around them wasn't faltering, fact that showed his high capacity to concentrate.
The female Li Guardian was startled out of her thoughts when Kurotsuki's voice seemed to echo the one word that could bring her to reality any time.
"Syaoran-kun..."
Both girlfriend and Li Guardian looked even more intently at him, trying to understand, a point of hope in them...
Kurotsuki then let go of his head, arms falling to his sides, head raised as if he was looking straight above, were it not for his closed eyes.
Sakura and Suuki, who had been pressing themselves against the magic barrier as they observed all this, almost fell flat on their faces when the "magician", after glowing a little with his lavender magic energy and muttering a few words, removed it, therefore suddenly taking their support, but the girls caught themselves on time. As they managed to look at him, not understanding what was gong on, he answered their unspoken question, yet again calmly, maintaining his position.
"Sakura-san, would you be able to set me free, with the help of the Li heir?" He asked.
Sakura, although unsure of herself, politely answered. "Shirimasen. Dekimasu kamo shiremasen kedo... hontou ni shirimasen (I don't know. I might be able to... but I really don't know). What would I have to do?"
"It wouldn't be different with what you did with the reincarnation of Read Clow: summon your wand, hold it high before you and chant the words I tell you... that way. There will be an outside force and an inside force to purify my body and soul from the essence of this strong spell."
"Inside force?" Suuki asked.
"Sou (Yeah)... inside force... that would be... Syaoran-kun." He said. Seeing their astonished faces, Kurotski answered hat he rightfully thought was the question in their minds. "Let me put it this way: when I took his life energy to make myself a new body, I also unavoidably trapped his soul inside it. Because it's his life energy, I also got some strongest physical and psychological aspects, including his knowledge; which wasn't much news to me, but good just the same; and Syaoran-kun's deepest emotions, although that was only brought up when I tried to kill you just now. According to what these things are communicating, the spell which was put on my soul was powerful, but not undefeatable. The only way to terminate it is to have two strong magic energies doing the same counter-spell simultaneously, one inside the spell-cast body and one outside of it. It's a kind of rarely used purification because it takes a lot of strength from both souls, but if done correctly, no harm will come."
The girls looked at him, still slightly confused, but understanding, if only a little. Sakura nodded and summoned her staff. Asking Suuki to stay away, since they didn't know what might happen, she called, a smile on her face. "Ganbarimasu (I'll do my best)!"
Kurotsuki let a small smile adorn his own face, in gratitude, before he started pronouncing the words Syaoran's soul was telling him to and explained how she should concentrate to use her soul's strength. When they were ready, Kurotsuki gave the signal and, as Sakura's eyes closed, Syaoran's soul and hers unknowingly synchronized as the incantation "played" in their very deepest essence, for the secret of the counter-spell was not for the words to be pronounced, but to be emitted from the soul.
"Hear thee soul lost within thyself
trapped for centuries in a
history of sadness and spells.
We now set thy spirit free
as thy life should have been
were it not for misfortune
encountered then.
With our wills and thy wish
may thee now finally rest
in the world where souls
find it best.
As sadness was what you met in life
may in death happiness thee find
for we shall pray for a happy end
hoping some cheers we might send.
What now remains of the spell
to trap this poor soul...
be gone and restore
the happiness you stole!" [1]
A lavender-haired figured walked lonely through the halls of the Li family mansion, absorbed in his own little world, light green eyes closed [2], thoughts completely submerged by a certain young chocolate-haired man.
His steps unconsciously brought him to the mansion's peaceful outside gardens, a large green space filled by innumerous kinds of plants, that held so many dear moments for the light-colored-haired man. In the middle of the paradise-like place, there was a small wooden bridge over s small stream perfect for meditation when there was no one else around.
And it was on that bridge that Kurotsuki found Shin'Ya on that evening. The Li heir seemed to be looking intently at the water below, but his amber gaze clearly announced he was elsewhere. When the Li Guardian came closer, though, as if electrocuted, the brown-haired man had turned around suddenly, coming face to face with the other. . and a smile instantly appeared on his face.
"I have been meaning to see you, Kurotsuki."
Coming up the bridge and standing right beside to his master, the long- haired man replied, slightly worried. "Really? What for? Nothing serious, is it?"
"No, no... it's nothing like that!"
"Then please stop waving your arms up and down."
"Oops!" The Li heir whispered, bringing his arms to their rightful place beside him. With a lopsided grin, he continued, "Actually, I just wanted to say that I'm really, really, grateful for all the efforts you've been doing for me lately and that... well... uh... I just wanted to give this to you." Shin'Ya said, stumbling on the last words, at which he stretched out one of his arms again before him and, opening his fist, revealed a small brown paper package. "Please, take it. It's a gift... from me to you... because you're always helping me... and because you love me so... that I've begun loving you too..." He whispered, face lowered to hide a huge red stain that suddenly appeared on the clear skin of his face.
Kurotsuki could not believe what his master had said, happiness filling him up, but respectfully keeping his emotion in check, the lavender-haired man gently took the package from the other's quivering outstretched hand. As it was opened, the package revealed a perfectly round onyx pendant with the kanji's to his name, "dark" and "moon", engraved on it, and a silver chain that held it tightly.
Gasping, the Li Guardian couldn't say anything for a couple of minutes, completely in shock, but eventually, as his reflections seemed to kick in, a gentle smile was his expression and, with a very careful gesture, he lifted his master's face, making them eye-leveled once again. "Thanks, Shin'Ya. I love it... it's... beautiful, especially since you were the one who gave it to me. I'll be sure to wear it and treasure it always... the same way you know I'll always love you."
The Li heir smiled, perhaps in relief, and the bridge marked their first kiss... the first of many happy times they shared as a couple.
And that bridge turned out to be their meeting spot, their confident... and the guardian of precious memories to both of them. [3]
It was like Kurotsuki's very soul was smiling as that specific memory seemed to play before him... one of the many memories he would never forget...
Suuki observed perplexed that, as the words seemed to escape Sakura's soul, Kurotsuki's body, at first, only glowed, but gradually began to slowly disintegrate. When the body turned to nothing but dust, his voice was heard by them both and Sakura opened her eyes so as to speak with him, only to realize he no longer had matter, having turned only into an abstract presence. Listening to his voice, she couldn't help but to feel some happiness for him.
"Thank you very much! After more then two centuries, I am finally free to rest in peace thanks to both of you. I'm sure I'll be able to find Shin'Ya and make up for everything. I do hope, though, that our family will not happen to do such cruel things again, for they stain the Li family's name and honor. We will forever watch over them so as to guide the Li family in the correct path in hopes that tragedies like this don't happen again. Farewell... and once again... thank you!"
As the last words were heard, silence claimed them, and both girls knew Kurotsuki had finally gone after Shin'Ya in another world. Although they were a bit happy at first, but Sakura and Suuki soon began to weep as they realized what they dreaded most: Syaoran was also lost to them.
Running over to his body, they uselessly shook and cried out to him, but he remained silent and motionless.
Trying to look away from the view of his unresponsive form, Sakura's eyes stopped on the dust that remained of Kurotsuki's "new" body. She watched as it flew away when a sudden gust of wind blew, scattering all over... and a shiny black object caught her attention.
Standing up she walked over and picked it up, noticing it held the two kanjis for Kurotsuki's name... and on the other side, the two kanjis that symbolized "life" (inochi) and "energy" (ki). Touching it, the Japanese girl felt something more trapped inside it and, not knowing why, she knew what it was.
She went back to his side and kneeled beside him, opposite the other girl, who had silently watched Sakura's movements through tear-streaked eyes, unquestioning. Picking up his head and placing it on her lap, she seemed to have struck Suuki, for the girl began to cry again even more.
"I can't restore his life energy if he hasn't both a bit of it and his soul! Restoring his life energy is easy if he has some because, even if it's only a little, it will work as a link and catalyze the welcoming of more! And the process can't be done if there isn't any soul since, without it, there is no life! It would take an incredible amount of life energy to restore at least some of his body... and it would have to be his life energy if we want to restore his body! Magic is OK, that's something that depends on himself if he's destined to have some, but... I... can't..."
Sakura looked at her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Would you be able to restore it if he had only his soul?" She asked
Suuki looked at her questioningly, but answered, "I can, but... I'd only be able to return very little... and it would take at least 3 days for him to recover enough energy to wake up, a few more to be able to do regular things, but..." She trailed off, more sobs preventing ay other words.
Sakura smiled. "Then we might be able get Syaoran-kun back."
Suuki looked skeptfully at her, but the Japanese girl only offered the Li Guardian a small smile and showed the object in her hands closely. "Kore no naka ni Syaoran-kun no tamashii ga iru to omou yo (I think Syaoran-kun's soul is inside this)." Sakura explained, "I'll give him back his soul, you give him back his life energy."
The female Li Guardian nodded. "Thank you for caring so much, Kinomoto-san. Please, never cease doing that, if anything, make it stronger."
Smiling and nodding again, Sakura turned back to the lifeless body. Using The Sword to crack the round pendant in perfectly equal halves and immediately trapping the green vapor that came out of it inside her mouth, she gave one more glance at Suuki, who looked back encouragingly.
Lowering her head to the one on her lap, Sakura used her delicate fingers to gently open Syaoran's lips. Then, curving her back so as to be above him, she captured them with hers and slowly pushed his soul back inside his body with her tongue [4], almost like a heated kiss, except she was the only one doing anything, and his lips were already colder than ice.
A tear ran down her face. [5]
"Syaoran-kun..." She whispered against his cold lips. [6]
When her task was finished, Sakura raised her head to nod at the Suuki, who nodded back and offered a sad smile as she placed her hands above his chest and whispered a few more words while canalizing her life energy to her master.
"Ne, Kinomoto-san, onegai ga imasu: Syaoran-sama o makaseteimasu-kara... zettai ni omamotte kudasai! Yami to watashi wa hontou ni aishimasu... Syaoran-sama no koto. Desu-kara... watashi-tachi no tame... watashi-tachi no kawari ni... Syaoran-sama o tanoshimasu! (Kinomoto-san, I've got a favor to ask of you: because I'm entrusting Syaoran-sama to you... please protect him no matter what happens! Yami and I really loved him. So... for our sake... in our place... watch over him!)"
Sakura looked questioningly at her, and even though the Li Guardian had already closed her eyes she knew her master's girlfriend wasn't understanding... as always.
"I said I could restore his life energy up to some small extent, but I'll have to give all of mine, and consequently my life too, to do it. Yami has already gone from this world, which means that'll leave Syaoran-sama with no Li Guardians to protect or watch over him. I'm, no, we are leaving that job to you, since you have the same link we have towards him: love... and loyalty."
Sakura, finally understanding, let her tears flow freely as she cried out to the other girl.
"No, Moriko-san, there has to be some other way! You don't have to die too! Yami's... death," Sakura winced as she pronounced the heavy word, "will give him grief enough when he wakes up, please don't put any more weight on his shoulders!"
Suuki just smirked, knowing what the other girl was trying to do. "To put more grief on Syaoran-sama's shoulders is far from my intentions, but giving him his life back is the greatest offer I can give him. Kinomoto- san, onakanaide kudasai (please don't cry). For a Li Guardian, whose life isn't even his or her own, the greatest wish we have, even if it costs us our existence, is to be able to give happiness to our masters. Our greatest joy is to be able to reach that dream."
Sakura sobbed even more, as she watched how Suuki's body began to disintegrate, much like Kurotsuki's new one had, except her dust was not cumulating on the floor, it was floating around, looking like glitter because of the flashing sparkles, which charged right into Syaoran's body as if shooting him.
When the whole process was over, all that could be heard on that particular rooftop were Sakura's loud sobs and Syaoran's now struggled breathing, his chest rising up and down in slow movements.
As minutes passed by, her tears eventually came to an end and she stopped crying. Looking down at the one on her lap, only then did she finally realize he was breathing, slowly and calmly, in a rhythmic pattern.
Despite all her sadness, a broad smile spread across her lips, a few tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. Her hands flew to his head without thought, lovingly caressing his silky amber hair. Then she slowly lowered her face to his and kissed his slightly poorly up lips.
"Youkatta! Moriko-san, Kage-san, arigatou (Thank goodness! Moriko-san, Kage-san, thanks)! Thank you so much for returning and entrusting him to me! I... I... I can't even think about living without Syaoran-kun anymore..." She whispered to the silent sky and prayed voicelessly... a few more tears falling on the sleeping boy's face.
END of CHAPTER TEN – The REDEMPTION
[1] Who says spells and incantations have to rhyme? ;p
[2] Just remembering: the renewed Kurotsuki has Syaoran's amber eyes because of the life energy taken, but the original "version" of the "magician" had light green eyes, much lighter than Sakura's.
[3] Anyone remember that's where Kurotsuki was when Shin'Ya first appeared in the story/illusion?
[4] Well, I DID describe it as vapor, and vapor has matter, so it's theoretically possible. ¬¬'' I don't believe my own arguments... --'''
[5] Again?! Why don't they just spill out already instead of coming one by one?!
Loki: You're the author!
--''' Well, I don't have an answer for that...
Kai --''': Pitiful...
[6] Kurotsuki couldn't take the pendant with him to the "spiritual world" (suddenly Yu Yu?) for obvious reasons, so he left it to help them get Syaoran back.
[7] Without life energy and a soul in it, there is nothing that keeps a Li Guardian's body from disappearing. That also goes for Kurotsuki. However, for a normal person, the body is usually able to hold itself together even without them, mostly because they were naturally created, and not a product of one's excess or needs.
A.N.: I made Sakura cry a lot in this chapter! Reason? Well, sorry to say this to the Sakura fans, but, like it or not, SHE IS A CRY-BABY!!!!! And YEAH, I ALMOST HATE her!
Loki oO?!: Then why is this a S/S fic?
I started it about three years ago, when I still liked her... now I really think she should rot because of all the suffering she makes Syaoran go through in: Card Captor Sakura manga, Card Captor Sakura Anime Series, Card Captor Sakura movies AND Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle! I mean, please, give him a break!
Syaoran: At least someone is on my side...
-grasps Syaoran from behind and hugs him with all her might- I'll ALWAYS be on your side and by your side, Syaoran-kun! Or behind, or in front... or wherever you'd like me to be around you... but never far!
Kai ¬¬
Kouichi '''
The spell-casting "poem" on this chapter IS mine, even though it sucks, so if anyone wants to use it, please GET my permission first! That goes for other chants I've used on this fic too.
I wasn't able to kill Syaoran... not on this one, but I still plan to do it on some other fic!
Oh, yeah, MAJOR WARNING: next chapter, which is the last before the epilogue, contains some lemon, but it'll be separated by in case anyone would like to skip it, since it does not interfere with the plot. You have been warned! Actually, it's quite mild, as it was my first hetero lemon and anything too graphic would not go too well with this fic.
Does anyone "here" like "CLAMP Campus Detectives" (and associated mangas) or "Prince of Tennis"? I've got a small fics (as almost always) on these...
I'm THROUGH with LONG fics! From now on, it's only 6 chaptered fics or so (or not ¬¬)!
Mistakes, comments and the usual stuff that I'm tired of writing every single chapter... REVIEW! Please?
Syaoran-Lover signing out!
02/23/2004